Newsletter 25 Fall/Winter 2015

Around the Farm
I don't mean to sound like a broken record, but Hazel Ridge Farm is our 40-acres of paradise. Lots of hard work, to be sure, but a labor of love. The spring garden began with a rough start. So much rain that I replanted beans, beets, carrots and parsley several times..and still they never flourished. But that just meant more space for "bee" flowers. No blight on the tomatoes this year and a great crop of potatoes...tallying seventy-five quarts of tomato sauce and two bushels of potatoes at summers end. After two years of hobbling along, I finally got a total hip replacement. Being without health insurance made it beyond our price range but thanks to Obamacare, I am now the bionic woman and worked pain-free all summer. Nick, on the other hand, endured an inguinal hernia for the first part of summer and recovered from its repair during the second half. This opened up time and "permission" to sit long hours in his blind photographing all manner of nature. A small sample of what he captured is: several bluebird families from nesting to fledglings, baby wood ducks surviving and raising themselves without the help of parents (tho Nick did see the snapping turtles pick off a few), watched a snapper laying her eggs, snapped a few blurry pictures of the new resident Pileated Woodpecker and many images of unsuspecting does and fawns. Nick's prairies continue to expand as he collects and spreads the seed throughout the property, benefiting everything that resides here. There was only one glitch in the summer of 2015... so many mosquitoes that if you opened your mouth you would more than likely inhale a mouthful. No leisurely walks or relaxing meals on the deck. August though October made up for it with wonderful weather! My bees. Don't get me started. I love them and could write pages about their wonders. They are my Zen and I am their steward. I caught 7 swarms this year and will go into the winter with 14 hives. I harvested from four of my strongest hives and they shared 275 pounds of honey. Kelly has returned to Michigan and has started grad. school at M.S.U. in journalism and communication arts. I think she has found her niche. Our gypsy daughter has finally put down roots..for awhile anyway. Heather and family have moved to a new place (still in Ft Wayne). Not quite the country, but lots more space for three active kids. Ahmed has already built them a tree house. I look forward to many tea parties up there. Heather is still maintaining very high grades in her nursing courses and was voted one of Ft. Wayne's 2105 top 20 Millennials Making a Difference by the Greater Ft. Wayne Business Weekly. It's nice to see our kids have turned out to be nice people.