Merry Christmas Eve

From the Gryder Farm to you... we hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! This one is bound to be a crazy one for us! A 2 1/2 year old and a one year old... you can't contain the excitement!

The girls went and sat on Santa's lap yesterday. What a picture! Hopefully I can sweet talk someone into scanning it for me, as it is just too priceless to share. One day I know both girls will thank us for paying the $12 for a single 5x7 print!

Better late...

And now... for a few pictures from our tree decorating. A week late, but what were you really expecting??

Mary Claire immediately jumped in to help with the lights.
Although it was 4 pm, Emma started out with PJ's on (her 27th clothing change for the day). The PJ's didn't last long though...

And then out came the Christmas Bumble Bee.

Mary Claire's new favorite past time: climbing on stuff. Any stuff. Quite exciting. Living on the edge

After a lovely little mini-vacation to the Big City, I'm back home. Emma would not let me out of her sight from the moment I walked in the door... and I must admit, I loved every minute of it!



Now... back to the real world.... with a little Christmas gathering coming up this weekend followed by various other gift-swapping occasions, it's definitely time to get my present-buying in motion! At least we finally did get the tree up. Emma, of course, found it necessary to dress up as a Bumble Bee while decorating. Why not? Emma's job - decorating the bottom 2 feet of the tree with ornaments I deem to be "unbreakable" (unfortunately, my judgement on this was not always correct). Mary Claire's job - to pull down all ornaments on the bottom 2 feet of the tree and further test their unbreakable-ness.



We also introduced the Elf on the Shelf this year. Ours is named Jingle. Emma is deathly afraid of Jingle. Mary Claire doesn't know he exists. Hmmmm.... probably not what the Elf on the Shelf people planned. Emma looks at him, cowers, covering her chest, and says in a little voice, "I no like that eff". Maybe he will grow on her...

Post-Thanksgiving thankfulness

The whole family is now safely back on the farm after our Thanksgiving trip to Raleigh. We are also all sporting our post-family-get-together runny noses. This is Mary Claire's first cold in a while, and she is NOT happy about it. Needless to say, my plans to post a lovely "Happy Thanksgiving" message went to the wayside between work, planning, and packing, so feel free to imagine how it would have gone...

I'm thankful for my family, my friends, my farm, my job .... blah blah blah

You get the picture. Oh, and I'm thankful I made it all the way home from Raleigh without peeing myself or having to tote both my children into some nasty truck stop bathroom in the middle of the night where it would be impossible to hold/control both of them and their grabby little hands. But that's neither here or nor there. I'm thankful for any of my blog readers who haven't sworn me off because of that last statement of thankfulness.

I promise... I will actually upload my Thanksgiving pictures prior to leaving for New York... while my written word is riveting, my children are ridiculously good looking.

The Gryder Farmers, big and samll, are thankful for each of you following us on this blog... we are lucky to have friends/family like you! Happy belated Thanksgiving. Gobble gobble.

I love fall.

Seriously.

I love fall.

I can't think of anything more perfect than a warm autumn day, leaves in vibrant colors, sheets hung on the clothes line soaking in the sun, and my blond babies enjoying every moment of it. And of course, the delicious fall garden... looking at all the green Allen has growing, it's hard to believe it's November! Not a meal goes by in the Lowrance house without something freshly picked and prepared... creamed spinach, sauteed Brussel sprouts, steamed broccoli... but I digress....
Wow... Daddy's kale is almost as tall as I am!

Sheeba loves Mary Claire. Mary Claire loves Sheeba.

Yes, I'll be sleeping on those sheets tonight!

Don't worry... it will be running again in no time!

Leaves!

Is there anything more perfect that a warm fall day?

Blueberries!

Yesterday, Dad and Allen trekked up to the Triangle area in search of... blueberries! First stop... not a blueberry stop. But, an old stomping ground stop for Allen - Earl's place, complete with goats and plant nursery. After checking out OI's stock pile of plants in progress and loading some into the car (thanks TJ!!), Dad and Allen headed on to the blueberry-buying place. Finches, I believe. Lots of information, lots of things Allen now has to do to prepare to plant inside of the next MONTH! I can see Allen's mental to-do list growing longer.... (and my to-do list getting shoved further back in line).

Next stop, real life blueberry farm! After confirming that we are located in a completely different market and not at all competition, Mr. Blueberry (for lack of knowing his real name) was more than happy to fill Allen's head with more useful bits of blueberry-growing and managing knowledge. All in all, successful trip. Next time (Greenville), I am signed up to go along. If I'm going to be a blueberry farmer, I guess I need to know what I'm in for!

Side note - if you are asking yourself, "What did the other Lowrances do without Allen/Daddy at home?" the answer is simple - a McDonald's picnic on the den floor while watching the Wiggles. Organic? No. Wholesome? No. Fun? YES. Take that, fun-parent-Daddy.

Trick or Treat!

Happy belated Halloween from the Gryder Farm

Happy first birthday, Mary Claire

Fall festivities!

This Saturday we will be celebrating fall and Mary's Claire's first birthday on Gryder Farm. I am so excited to have our family and friends coming out to join us in a fall meal and hopefully (fingers crossed) bonfire. Hopefully the weather will behave for us -- I have been so excited for the last two weeks about having the fire. Some things revert us right back to being a child... this is one of my "things"!

I look forward to seeing everyone out (and for those of you who can't make it - you will be missed!). Hopefully I will have lots of great pictures to share next week!

Feels like fall!

(unrelated picture)

I love our wood stove.

Last night was our first fire of the season. Nothing beats snuggling up with a cup of Chai tea, a warm fire, and little crochet work while Allen pours over some blueberry research. I guess I don't completely hate cold weather...

The Good Life

Here as of late, the Gryder Farm has been pulling inspiration from "The Good Life" by Scott and Helen Nearing. Moving to the mountains of Vermont during the Great Depression, the Nearings lived a sustainable life, providing for themselves off their land, bartering for goods, and only making only enough money to pay for items they could neither produce or barter for. Their lifestyle has proven quite thought pravocing and inspiring for both Allen and myself. While we are not interested in going to the extent of the Nearings (no karosene lamps for me - I willingly accept paying for electricity), it puts into perspective how completely attainable the goals Allen and I have for our family are. To live on the land, to eat off the land, to raise our children in a simplistic lifestyle where they appreciate what we have and the work it took to achieve it. To share all this with our community. Simply put, to do more good than harm.

We came for salvation
We came for family
We came for all that's good that's how we'll walk away
We came to break the bad
We came to cheer the sad
We came to leave behind the world a better way

-Salvation Song, Avett Brothers

Evening walk

After seeing Emma and Allen off for their trip and eating some dinner (Mary Claire discovered the oh-so-satisfying "thump" of banana hitting the floor), Mary Claire and I headed out for an evening walk around the farm.

This weekend Allen and Emma are headed to Raleigh. Allen is going to be building a deck; Emma is going to be spoiled by Allen's parents. She keeps asking if Mary Claire is coming too. While she seems disappointed that her sister won't be with her, I do not imagine she will be missing Mary Claire once she arrives at Mi Mi and Papa's!
Anyhow... that leaves Gryder Farm in the hands of Mommy and Mary Claire! I look forward to some quiet moments this weekend with my more contemplative beauty (while the dramatic half of my family is on leave!) I am grateful to have this weekend alone with Mary Claire so close to her first birthday. I know it makes me sound like old people to say it, but it seems like only yesterday.... Be on the lookout for farm fresh eggs soon.... we are getting closer every day to "Emma's baby chicks" producing! Feel free to let me know if you are interested.

Cherry Place Farm

Saturday turned out to be a
perfect day for a pumpkin patch visit. Warm weather, cool breeze, and good friends to go with us. This was our second year at Cherry Place Farm (http://www.cherryplacefarm.com/). Emma loved it last year, as I waddled around behind her, my due date with Mary Claire looming only weeks away. This go around was a definitely easier with Mary Claire strapped to my back in the Ergo! (or as Emma would say - Mary Claire was in Mommy's backpack)

Emma's favorite part was painting her adopted
pumpkin, Bob. Mary Claire
seemed to enjoy "talking" with the sheep.
Aparently they were competing to see who could make the loudest noises!

Sadly, looks like the deer haven't only
been visiting Gryder Farm. Cherry Place
appeared to have a third of the production
from last year, thanks to these lovely
creatures with an affinity for pumpkin vines (they ate ALL of ours) and smashing pumpkins with their hooves. I guess we won't be the only people spending their winter devising deer-proofing plans.

We had such a great time at
Cherry Place. I am so very
excited with hopes that soon we will be able to open our farm to the community, allowing others the experience all the things we hope to make our day to day life.

Gryder Farm and Minglewood crossing paths

Allen is taking on a new project that grays the lines of Gryder Farm and Minglewood. With our baby chickens quickly approaching full grown chickens, it is time for them to have more space. What this translates into is more chicken tractors.

Taking this a step further, we are now taking orders for custom-made chicken tractors and chickens. Never considered having chickens? They are fairly low maintanence and so much fun to watch. Even in a neighborhood (our brother/sister-in-law have them in their suburban Raleigh backyard!), chickens can be fun pets while providing your family with fresh eggs. If you are interested, just leave us a comment, and Allen will contact you with more information. Hopefully I will be able to photodocument the making of the chicken tractors for later posts. I know the chickens will be excited to be movin' on up!

Mary Claire's first play date

Tuesday Mary Claire had her first play date. Normally bombarded by two year old visitors, Mary Claire was quite curious about the new friend her own size... even though she is about five months younger! After popping a finger in Aly's mouth a few times, Mary Claire decided that she was okay. Adorable Aly fit right in... she was even color coordinated with my girls. Aly's mommy (a friend I had not seen since way before kids) and I strapped on the babies and walked around the farm. Beautiful day to check out the chickens and cows while the babies enjoyed the ride.

Meanwhile, farmer Allen got quite a bit more planted for our fall garden. Emma was more than happy to lend a hand. After he carefully planted some greens, kale, and other leafy plants, Emma demanded that it was now "Emma turn." Into a small 6 by 6 inch square goes the remainder of all the seeds. There will be no denying Emma's presence in the garden this fall.

The farm is alive....

...with the sound of music!


Mary Claire's favorite new past time is piano playing. She is thrilled with her new found ability to pull herself up and pound away at the piano keys. It's a beautiful sound to hear!

She's not the only baby with new freedoms on the Gryder Farm. Most of the younger chickens are getting their first taste of free-ranging this morning. They are thoroughly enjoying exploring the field right behind the house, scavenging for bugs and grains.

The Gryders drop by

Three and a half years after Allen and Mr. Gryder's first phone conversation, we finally met Mr. and Mrs. Roy Gryder Jr in person yesterday. Emma, Mary Claire, and I didn't get much of a chance to visit due to the Gryder's schedule, but the girls were quickly won over since they came toting balloons! Emma wrangled all the balloons into her bedroom to ensure they were all hers (not Mary Claire's!). No one ever said sharing is Emma's strong suit.

Allen left the girls, the farm, and me behind to ride to Lexington, NC with the Gryders to look at some cabinets. I got the second hand version of how well Mr. Gryder tells a story (in a way Allen hopes to some day be telling stories to his grandchildren). Looks like I will have a revision coming on my original post of how the Gryders landed on this farm! Since Allen got to hear the story first-hand, maybe it will finally be his turn to write a post!

Even though this weekend was slightly warmer than the last week, the weather is still gorgeous. The whole family spent as much time outside as we possibly could. Emma, Allie (friend), and Mary Claire had a marvelous time playing in the sandbox, running around the pastures dancing, and checking out the cows. Emma had a slight meltdown when she wasn't allowed in the pen to feed her cows. Allen said it has just gotten too crowded in there since all of the cows come right up to him. This was demonstrated to be true when he had a cow stand on his foot while feeding them. Ow! But better him than Emma ;)

Refreshed

Allen and I sat to the task of going through the house, attic, and garage for a yard sale. Boxes that have not seen the light of day since we moved to the farm 3 years ago were finally brought out and gone through. The highlight of the day was finding Allen's banjo books that he has torn the house apart for. They were, of course, neatly packed away in my old college satchel up in the attic for the last three year. Hopefully this means the girls will be dancing to more banjo tunes in the near future.

With our first ever yard sale under our belt, we are loving the newly cleaned out spaces and are motivated to continue simplifying our lives. After talking to death all the details of how we can simplify and move towards a more wholistic lifestyle, we have no where to go from here except action. Hopefully this spring Gryder will start a journey towards becoming a fully function farm catering to our community. If you have an suggestions on what you'd like from your local farm... please speak up!

A weekend off

We enjoyed last weekend off the farm and in Raleigh. One of Allen's oldest friends was in town briefly from Fiji. The whole family enjoyed seeing some friends we haven't seen in years. Now looking forward to a few weeks of no travel to continue working on our fall garden.

Gryder in all its glory...

Growling -- Mary Claire's favorite past time.

Emma and Allen head out in the old farm truck to check on the new cows and their calves. Nothing wrong with wearing your "ballerina" while farming. It's important to half a nice mix of culture in with our farm activities.

Grass.

Sunday on the farm

Nothing like a beautiful Sunday morning on the farm. Allen, Papa, and Emma worked hard despite the heat starting early. Mary Claire isn't much for hard labor yet. She chose instead to hang out in the shade studying grass. I, of course, obligingly sat in the shade with her until my swing-pushing skills were requested.

Shoes

Living on a spot that we actually considering naming "Barefoot Farms," I find it somewhat ironic that both of my girls have shoe fetishes. Emma likes to wear them; Mary Claire likes to eat them. This creates quite the issue since Emma litters shoes every where she goes, whether it's one of her many pairs, my shoes, or even Allen's. Mary Claire spots the shoes and crawls as fast as her tubby little legs will take her, immediately popping the shoe in her mouth for a little chew-action. Not appetizing. Continuing in the way of shoe-irony, as much as Emma loves all things shoes, this is an inside hobby. As soon as her little feet hit the dirt, off come the shoes(exceptions occasionally made for "blip blops"). Whether farm work or play, no shoes is the way to go.

The business of baby animals

Emma has become quite the responsible party when it comes to the farm's animals. She considers it her duty to make sure all animals, dogs and cats included, receive food. She can often be found bending down beside the cat bowls, pointing and demanding them to "EAT!" Much to Emma's displeasure, this tends to have quite the opposite effect on the cats, as they instead choose run back outside and try their luck again later.

In the evenings, she will break from her playing and, giving Allen a no-nonsense look, inform him that it is time to feed her cows. She then runs ahead of him to the barn to watch him get the bucket of sweet feed. It is not possible for him to get the gate opened quickly enough for her as she calls for her "baby cows" to come eat. One small handful after another, she lays out the food into the trough, occasionally pushing herself halfway into it so she can give a quick pat on whichever cow's head is within her reach.

Once the bucket is empty and Emma is satisfied, her and Allen leave the cows and start back up to the house. Half way to the house, Emma decides it's time to feed her baby chickens. This involves dumping cupfuls of chicken feed as close to on the chickens heads as she can manage as they all scurry in various directions, until they realize the stuff pelting them on the heads is food. Emma watches them, reminding us a few times that these are her baby chickens, not Mary Claire's baby chickens, not Mommy's baby chickens, only Emma's baby chickens.