A New Resident...

I always know that our most colorful season is nearing its end when this tree, along with a few others in the sugarbush, turn a brilliant shade of orange.  It's breath-taking!

Looks like we'll be there in just a few days [SIGH]....






Last weekend, the girls and I drove down to Pennsylvania to visit family and friends.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, er, our little homestead...



The guys were hard at work....eating pizza - just kidding!  They completed a few projects...

The back.

The front!

And, since our silly hens can't seem to lay their eggs in the chicken coop instead of in the hayloft or wheelbarrow, or other random locations in the backyard...















...the guys fenced in a lovely little chicken yard attached to the coop for the time being.  We'll let them range the property, again, once they develop the habit of laying in their nest boxes.

Don and Will also hauled some firewood out of the woods, splitting and organizing it for winter, as well as organizing some more of our supplies for next maple season.  

Sassy Anna

                                                              When the girls and I arrived home Sunday afternoon, we brought along a new resident...a pasture-mate for Lexie!  Her name is Sassy Anna.                                                                                                                                               You see, back in the spring, Don and Grace decided that they really weren't interested in trail riding anymore... which meant that L. J., our trail horse, was out of a job.

Knowing it would not be good for him to waste away in the pasture, we opted to sell him.  After several months, we found the perfect new owner for him.  Yay!

                                                          However, that left Lexie.  One lone horse in our pasture.                               Now, Lexie, being a Westbrook through and through, is quite sociable.  She needs lots of interaction.  But, allowing Rosie to move into the barn was NOT an option!

Lexie became quite depressed living all by herself, and that just would not do.  I adore her too much.  After all, she's been part of our family for over ten years!




Recalling that one of my neighbors in PA had inquired about a "retirement home" for one of their former harness-racers (presently a broodmare), I decided to give them a call.  Sure enough, Sassy Anna was still there. "I'd love to take her!" I gushed.  "She'll be good therapy for me AND Lexie!"
So, we would be her retirement home.

"I must be crazy!"  I thought as I drove north on route 10, hauling a horse home....for a horse. I really don't need any more "therapy"....of this kind, at least! That's why I have not one, but THREE goofy, obnoxious dogs!

They couldn't even tell me her exact age - only that she's between 18 and 21.  She's quite out of shape right now, but we're hoping to get her back in harness for some relaxing drives around the nearby state forest.

Whether she lives two more years or ten, we will do our best to give Sassy Anna what she needs to thrive - even if the only thing I ever get to do with her is groom her and feed her apples and carrots every afternoon!







So that's what's goin' on at Westbrook Farm.  
We'll be at the Homer Farmers' Market one last time this season - Saturday, October 24th.  Feel free to drop by for some delicious maple syrup or maple lollipops.  
And, follow me here to find out about our upcoming holiday specials!                                      

To Market, To Market...

Well, it is just about mid-October. And, a gorgeous time of year, indeed!


But, that means, roughly, FOUR more months until next maple season!

Between some inclement weather and a knee injury that Don sustained at work about ten days ago, our project completion has been a bit delayed.





However, we did put up some shelves, and we moved much of our maple supplies into the new sugar shack, recently.

What else are we doing?  Why, going to market!  Yes, we've been selling syrup and lollipops at the Homer Farmers' Market in Downtown Homer, New York, (about 7 miles from the farm) these last two weekends, as you may have noticed in our Facebook posts.

We've been talking about doing this since May...... In hind sight, we really should've just joined this organization for the entire season which runs Saturdays and Wednesday evenings from mid-May through October.  I guess we just weren't ready to make the commitment before now... 

You will find us there most Saturdays next season, though! 

While last Saturday was cloudy, drizzly and quite chilly, this Saturday was crisp but sunny - a perfect autumn day!


These two photos were taken as vendors were setting up.  Since the season is winding down, there have been fewer vendors and fewer patrons in attendance, but its been nice getting to know some of the regulars.








Last weekend, Rosie helped me.  This weekend, it was me and Grace.  I'm thinking, however, between the five of us, no one will need to give up every single Saturday next season, and we may even have time to do some Wednesday evenings, too!

At any rate, I'm quite sure we'll be able to sell quite a bit of maple products, while also getting to know our community better - who can beat that!

I don't think Grace really wanted her picture taken at nine in the morning....it was still pretty chilly out as we were setting up!













I decided to play "photographer-extraordinaire" between chatting with potential customers and neighboring vendors.  Here are a few of the beautiful visions surrounding us at market:

Normally, there is a honey producer, a specialty soaps and lotions artisan, a grass-fed meats producer, and a wood crafter, in addition to the fresh produce stands and bakery.  This market has grown consistently over the past few years, so I am excited to see what other local, small agri-businesses and artisans will be represented here next year.


Watch for more news about the market in Spring 2016!





In the meantime, we have just a few lollipops left,  which I plan to give to some special little folks in my family, whom I get to see next weekend....(let's pray I don't forget to pack them!)...

Yes, we'll be in PA for a very brief visit, so let me know if you need some syrup down there - I'll bring it along, Pennsylvanian Friends!

A Wonderful Saturday!

We were blessed with spectacular weather for the Ithaca Dog Fest, as well as our family photos. Couldn't have been any better!  It felt so good for this mama to have all her kiddos together for the day, too, what with Nate in PA, now, and Will at school every weekday and working on the weekends.

We didn't quite make the sales goal that I had in mind, but the puppy paw lollipops were a big hit, and we were able to make a small donation to the dog rescue organization.

We made lots of connections with interesting folks, and that's what life is really all about, right?

Here are some photos of our sales display table, as we were setting it up:  

Instead of trying to bring along our dogs, like a few other vendors did, we opted to set up a photo of each.  There were so very many dogs of all shapes and sizes and temperaments with their owners in attendance!  Additionally, we ended up having a couple of rescue dogs that were up for adoption on either side of us...so we made a wise choice.  

I shudder to think how it might have gone if we'd brought even one of our dogs along!

Saturday afternoon, around 5pm, our photographer friend, Roger, arrived to scope out the field and set up his equipment.  We weren't sure what time we'd begin shooting, as he wanted a certain level of natural lighting, along with his special lighting to get the best portrait.

We ended up starting earlier than anticipated, and we captured some terrific shots!  He was a lot of fun to work with, and he handled the dogs and horse so well, getting them to look in the right direction at the right second.












I purposely put my own camera away once Roger got started with us, but here are a few "pre-production" shots:

I am very excited to sit down with Roger in two weeks to select the photos we want.  It's going to be difficult to narrow it down.  We have several nice shots of the entire family, dogs and horse included.  But, he also took some great shots of the kids!  Don and I also posed for a few, too - one of Don's 20th anniversary gifts to me, I hope? (Hint, Hint)

I'll share a few, eventually, so keep following us right here!

And, if you enjoy a good lollipop, let me know:  we have some extras from this Saturday, and I'd love to make some more!  Shipping available.

Projects Update

We've had to turn the heat on for a few hours each morning for the past couple days....and you know what that means....






We've picked the last of our veggies, dried as much herbs as we can store, and canned some things for winter.

Now, its really time to get rolling on the firewood (we have a significant amount chopped, but it needs to hauled out of the woods)....

...And, of course, finish the buildings.  Actually, they are pretty close to completion.  All still need electricity, though....before daylight savings, preferably!

It's been a challenge for Don, between his work schedule, Will's work and school schedule, and the physical limitations of our girls, although they have done their very best.  They will be well-prepared to help their future husbands with all sorts of projects!

We've really been missing Nate, especially in the building projects department.  But, he's doing well in Pennsylvania, and we're thrilled about that.

With the help of Grace and Rosie, Don disassembled our old chicken coop, harvested the materials he needed from it, and assembled our new, larger chicken coop in ONE Sunday afternoon!  It still needs some finishing touches, but the chickens are able to use it now.

Looks great, Grace!

Chickens, not being the smartest of birds, are creatures of habit that do not adapt to change easily.

It was.....an adventure, shall we say?...
To convince them to abandon the pile of leftover material that lay in the spot where their old coop sat, and move into the new one....about 40 yards away.


As it got darker and darker outside, we stealthily crept around the backyard with flashlights, cornering and catching chickens.  I'm surprised no one called the cops to report the strange goings-on in this quiet valley!




I'm sure the neighbors thought we were killing them as they screeched while being transported to their new abode, one-by-one.

It sounded like Jurassic Park meets Westbrook Farms! Oy Vey!!  But, they'll adapt after a few more nights, I hope!  Until then, we're going to find eggs in all sorts of places....

We're praying for a nice day, and folks who are in the mood to buy maple syrup this Saturday at the Dog Fest in Ithaca, NY.














I'm pretty excited about this weekend - Nate's coming home for a visit and we're finally getting our family portrait done.  The last "professional quality" portrait we had taken was... 12 years ago! And, we still have this one, taken seven years ago, hanging on our wall...

I'd say it's time for an update, wouldn't you?