If you farm, you have faith. We have faith that the rain will spill over from the clouds when it’s dry. And understand Mother Nature is on her time, not our time. Faith. Farmers have faith that the baby calf is going to live. Praying that the sparkle comes back to her eyes, her coat shines again, and she jumps up at feeding time. If the calf takes…
Happy Memorial Day! We celebrated in true “Cilley” style, a trip up to Back Lake, in Pittsburgh, New Hampshire. It’s a family tradition. It was a bit different this year. It was just Sam and me, no Tyler or Jacob. Tyler is interning in Michigan this summer at a very large cucumber farm. Jacob’s high school lacrosse team was in a big sectionals game. So, off we went…
On Tuesday, November 5, 1985, my life and the way I think of goodbye changed, forever. Over the last few weeks, I have watched close people in my life suffer through losing people close to them. I have been affected. Loss is a trigger to reflect and go deep within yourself. And even though it may not be your loss, you can’t help but be affected watching people…
Once a day, once a week, or once a month. It’s an event to be marked, especially when performed with family members. Moving animals. Reading the moods ahead of time doesn’t seem to matter, as you know, dispositions are likely to change on a dime. It is nearly impossible to anticipate all of the loopholes that an animal or herd of animals will find. Some days it’s like…
Happy Holidays!!! Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! I am writing to you to wish you and your family a happy “holiday season.” As much as it is fun, it is also full of stress. 🙂 Really, it wouldn’t be the holidays if it didn’t have its challenges. As I sit here on this 23rd day of December, an hour after my last Christmas present was purchased, I…
A week ago my middle sister sent me a text, “Who thought it would be a good idea to do picture books for Christmas??” Yup, here we are, AGAIN…December 12th and I still do not have them done, not even started! With every picture that comes into my phone, I feel reminded. And with every tick of the clock, I wonder how the heck am I ever going…
It’s the little things that give me the energy to get through every day. I am so thankful for them. I thought I would honor those this Thanksgiving. It seems that the big things always get the attention. I am grateful for the big things like my kids, family, friends, and health. I recognize that what keeps me happy in my day-to-day life are these little joys that…
Finally! After taking a year hiatus due to Covid, the area’s largest Tractor Parade, coming from downtown Greenwich, took place Saturday night, and I daresay it was the best tractor parade yet! The floats just keep getting better and better. Even Barbie made an appearance in a fancy pink tractor–she is quite a farmer! But beyond that, it’s a great night of the year to live in the…
We have a problem in our family. Alcohol. We are no different than many other families. A few weeks ago, I lost a cousin because of it. He was my age. I didn’t know him well, especially in his adult years. I remember him as a child, playing together when he and his family came up from PA for a visit. More reserved and more cerebral, Seth was…
I feel a deep sense of pride when my children work and play with their father, uncle, grandfather, and each other at the farm. My heart fills up to the brim, on those days when I drop them off in the field to meet a truck, or pull up along side the bunk and watch them hop into the pack tractor. It’s work, but it’s play. It all…
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