Circle M Farm

This first month of the year has already brought some difficult defeats and some wonderful victories. The sweetest victory is named Bounce, and he lives in front of our fire. He’s a tiny bottle lamb, born a month later than he was scheduled and in a far colder month than expected. My son Eli found him on a subzero morning last week at chore time, frozen to the ground in his own birth fluids, cold and unmoving. Nevertheless, when Eli touched him, the lamb was still alive and cried out gustily. Newborn lambs, before they are fed, have surprisingly capable lungs and bawl insistently if separated from their mothers. That’s how Eli found the second one, Bounce’s twin sister, who was up and running in circles, in pursuit of her absolutely oblivious mom, Lena. continued »

Our favorite winter proverb around here is “When life hands you cold, make something hot in the kitchen.” A cake or pie is always nice baking in the oven, but to really warm the house up on a miserable morning my hands-down favorite strategy is to make stock. Simmering on top of the stove for most of the day, the magical pot produces humidity, fragrance and the promise of a delicious soup or sauce when all of the flavor is at last distilled. continued »

We go down a walk now together, children, pledging that we won’t get weary in the difficult days ahead. We know you will not leave us alone with your hands of power and your heart of love. Help us then now Lord to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors and every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid, when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream. Lord in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for the day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right. Let all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen.

from Rev. Joseph Lowery’s Benediction for Barack Obama’s Inauguration

Wisconsin winters are supposed to be cold. One of the reasons we live here is because we want seasons and we think drifts of snow are pretty. But this past week has been just ridiculous. continued »

At last, the inventory of seeds I’ve got stored is complete, and I’ve learned a few things about myself in the process. continued »

My name is Kriss Marion. And I’m an addict. continued »