Colors of Summer

Every great dream begins with a dreamer.  

Always remember, you have within you the strength, 

the patience, and the passion to reach

 for the  stars to change the world    

~ Harriet Tubman 

These summer days have been long, rising early and heading outside for chores can feel less than desirable.  But the early morning hours are so preciously quiet, filled with bird songs, cool air, a vast sky, and the slight touch of dew.  There is so much to be done in a day.  Waking before the sun makes the day longer, a secret farm women (and men) must have known forever.

As the day is slowly beginning to unfold, I pause to appreciate some of the vibrant colors nature is producing.  Gravensteins in the orchard have been dropping like by the bucketful during the windy nights.  

An abundance of greens and purples decorate the garden with splashes of orange pumpkins everywhere, no longer able to hide under their large leaves.  Tomatoes starting to ripen on the vine, juicy red, yellow, gold, Green Zebra, and Purple Cherokee. 

Japanese Tricolor corn takes center stage in a bed by the barn, while the heirloom Bloody Butcher corn towers over our heads.

Strawberry sun tea steeps in the driveway.  

A satisfying experiment, Tree Spinach dazzles us with her hot pink inner leaves. 

The Blue Hubbard squash are forming down the hill, soon to be a knobby deep blue gray.

The big white rooster continues his crow while sleepy hens emerge from their slumber.  (The ducks who have been awake most of the night are the party animals around here.)  And an eager, hungry, orange jersey awaits her breakfast of alfalfa and grain.  How does she always know there is just an apple or two in my pocket for her?  It must be that nose!

Yes, there is always something to be done but summer on this little homestead is a marvelous place indeed.