Last month I accepted a position at Hamilton Maine, a local marine supply company as a graphic designer and marketing specialist. The commute is 35 minutes south, in Searsport. At first I wasn’t looking forward to driving that far twice a day five days a week, but the scenery is spectacular. I pass through rolling mountains, our sleepy small town along the shoreline, over the massive Penobscot Narrows suspension bridge, a field with horses, a boat yard, and a brief glimpse out to sea. It serves as a reminder of how truly beautiful Maine is. It’s easy to see why it’s coined Vacationland.

Back on the farm we have had our first few hatches of chicks and purchased a brandy-new fancy GQF cabinet incubator. The chickens we bought this past May are nearly nine months old. Given the short days and deep freeze their production has been slow—aside from the Olive Egger crosses who outlay every breed here no matter the weather. Our waitlist is crazy long and it’s a constant battle with the nighttime temperatures to get hatching eggs shipped.

Covid has struck our farm. We have made it three years without catching the virus until last week. I noticed I was more winded than usual on my snowshoe trail. I figured I’d just gotten out of shape with my ned desk job, something I haven’t had in several years. Later that day I shoveled out the stalls and my throat started feeling scratchy. When I came in the house to take a break our son, James, said he felt sick. The night before my husband had been stuffy. Sure enough, we had the plague.

Luckily the day before covid doomsday we finished wiring the lights in the barn. They are all simple pull chain ceramic ceiling mount fixtures, with one outlet in each of them. Of course, this made me notice the huge gaps around the stall doors from in the kitchen last night. Hopefully the extra light will help with the egg production now that breeding season was upon us.

Recycled packing materials

New tractor

Kevin’s father passed. Update on my parents.

Missing my art

The neglected she shed

Snowshoe trail.

What I’m looking forward to.