Third week on the farm

Orange and Weasel

I made a new cat friend this week. Weasel used to dart down the basement stairs whenever she saw me, but now she hangs around and even lets me pet her (so soft). I caught her doing a bunch of weird flopping around and then wrestling with Orange:

Another highlight this week was getting to work with Nicole, a WWOOFer who wanted to spend her vacation on the farm. I'm always worried I'm not going to get along with new people, but she was great. It helps to share 1) introversion, 2) love of baking, and 3) a remarkably similar list of favorite movies. She might be back some Sunday, as her husband is a musician and might want to do an open mic on the farm.

Not coming close to selling out at the market was unpleasant. It's just so much work to get all that stuff ready! I guess the lesson learned - one that I'll take with me in the likely event that I sell at a market myself next year - is to resist the urge to make more after selling out the previous week. The cupcakes, tarts, and cardamom braids all sold out, but we had a fair amount of leftovers of everything else. And a lot of bread. I'm grateful that I'm getting this experience with market forces, even if it feels pretty disheartening. I think it's fair to say it was due to reduced attendance at the market, rather than to any problems with what we're offering. I mean, look at this lovely stuff!

Market goodies

We made:

• 18 loaves of white, whole wheat (two of which looked like aliens), and rye bread and 6 huge/9 normal loaves of multigrain
• 6 cardamom braids
• 6 carrot poppyseed loaves
• chocolate sea salt shortbread
• oatmeal raisin cookies
• fruit tarts
• cherry cream cheese turnovers
• greens, walnuts, feta, mushroom turnovers
• chocolate malt cupcakes
• rhubarb bars
• scones

Another sad happening was a hen getting attacked - probably by the roosters - and Sue having to take her inside in hopes of rehabilitating her. She's one of the sweet cochin hens with the fluffy feet, and now her comb is all torn up. I hope she pulls through.

My goals for next week:

• Do a lot more gardening.
• Keep reading the dairy goats book. Another surprising tidbit is that goat milk actually tastes exactly the same as cow milk.
• Relax a little bit about the baking (I don't mean I won't work hard, but I don't need to stress about it).
• Finish the little sweater I'm knitting for my niece, Sophie.
• Spend a ton of time with the new baby chicks! I can't wait to meet them.