Summer can be a very fruitful time on the farm. Besides baling hay, the garden gets a start in producing its treasures. After the asparagus and rhubarb emerge and produce, the berry blossoms silently make their presence known. As the mature strawberry crop climaxes and declines, the June berries, the currants, and raspberries take to the fore. Yes, fruit is in the making whether by design or by chance here on Heritage Farm.
One day, I trekked to our property fence line to pick currants. Every bush showed off its bobbles. Strung like colored beads on a Christmas tree, the shiny orange orbs dangled delicately from dainty stems attached to a fruiting stem. I snatched up the berries I could see easily. Then I sat on the ground, peering deeply into each bush to uncover the hidden berries. As I did, I heard the low drone of hummingbirds as they visited our hedge of trumpet vines nearby. Presently, I felt the warmth of something next to me. Our farm dog snuggled up by me under the shade of the currant bushes. Although I was the only one picking berries at the time, I was definitely not alone.
Later, I made two batches of currant jelly and currant buns. I also froze some currants for future use. The berries that the Lord has supplied have certainly shown us His generosity.
By this time, the raspberries began to ripen. My daughter picked our luscious golden raspberries. Coupled with my harvest of tart
currants, the honey-sweet of the raspberries made a delightful, refreshing juice.
Berries show us the Lord’s creativity. Different colors, flavors, and shapes and even the different harvest times all demonstrate for us the variety of His creative nature. So you can see, the Lord gave us a Berry Good Day.
Be sure to check out the cards available through our store. You might use the cards to send good wishes and cheer to a friend in need of a personal greeting just from you.
photo credit:Wenda Grabau
photo credit: quinn.anya via photopin cc
Christmas season is on the horizon. I am almost finished with my Christmas shopping! The decorations, the special festive foods, the concerts and Christmas-flavored movies, fantasies of elves and reindeer have permeated this time of year for more years than I know.
A few days after my family’s return from a trip, symptoms reared their ugly heads. Coughing uncontrollably, nearly sleepless nights, sore throat, and fever all descended on our little home in the country. Doing regular chores drained my husband’s strength. Life was not going as usual.
Friends and neighbors rallied to bring us soups, fruits, bagels, beverages, yogurt, fresh maple syrup, honey, cookies and even disinfectant cleaning supplies. The good wishes and concern coming from all directions were overwhelming. Neighbors down the road, relatives from nearby towns and out of the country called us, emailed us and sent us cards to lift our spirits.
Today, I went outdoors and got my “garden-fix”. I picked fresh asparagus and a few juicy stems of rhubarb. I got to pick up some brand new blooming stems of white and purple irises that opened during the night. I also picked a lone stem of a beautiful pink peony that burst open this morning.
The sights and sounds that our Creator has produced with his skillful hands bring a sense of awe and peace to the busy, weary soul.
On Thursday, April 11, 2019, the wind and freezing rain plastered their heavy ice crystals on the snow-laden county side of southeastern Minnesota. Many electric poles succumbed to the weight of the elements leaving many homes and farms without power. The Randy Grabau farm was one of those homes.
With television, videos, internet and radio all down, my family saw the opportunity to visit and play Pinochle by candle and lantern light.
of power for active work, the our family set about to use the time for quiet things like reading, studying, writing, needlework, and drawing. My husband began to read a novel to the family.
We got a puppy to help out as a farm dog when he gets bigger. Farm dogs have to be trained. Sometimes they self-taught, not by choice.
Second, later that day after he got over the pain of the shots, he made acquaintance with the electric fence. Now he knows not to brush with that zinging boundary. 
Dusty sensed something was different on the farm. He was right! Ambling around the farm yard was a black and white beauty that had just woken up from hibernation...A SKUNK! 
We have been without our beloved farm dog long enough.
These days in the fall bring us the time when we plan to butcher our chickens. We do that job in stages depending on when our children can come and offer assistance. Their labor is a trade for some of the meat we have raised over the spring and summer.
My husband took note and patched up any hole he could find in order to preserve the flock. The next night, our daughter heard some disturbance coming from the chicken house. She roused my husband who went out to see what was the trouble. The culprit was there! A nasty weasel had already killed another 2 roosters and 6 more hens. Since the holes had been mostly all blocked, the weasel could not get out as fast as he wanted. My husband was able to deal with him so that he will not be bothering the chickens again.
Baby, our 3-footed cat, comes into the house with our permission. She heads for the basement since she knows her dish is there. She rarely eats her portion of food, so leftovers from her last visit await her. Generally, I am the one who follows her down the stairs to load up her dish with fresh cat yummies.
My husband uses 8-inch leather boots for doing his farm chores. Some are lined for winter use which he stores beneath a table in the basement. He can use them at a moments notice without the use of work sock. That is just what happened. In a hurry to do a quick job, he jumped into his boots. Leaving his bedroom slippers on the basement floor, he planned to venture outdoor for his errand.