Wednesday, October 12, 2011

tonight.

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bouquet in a tree

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mums_nea_sunset

nea

Our farm has a lot of apple trees on it. The couple who owned the property before us were true nature enthusiasts. Ken was an arborist. As we walk through the woods we find little flags he placed, marking new trees to keep an eye on. To take over a property like this is intimidating. I can identify lots of fancy flowers but am a novice at trees....and poison ivy, but that's another story for another day.

Nea is intimidated too. One night we heard what must have been a pack of coyotes celebrating a kill. Spooky stuff. Nea waits with ears on fire. Alert like I've never seen her. She doesn't know what to do. (I want my next dog to be a coyote.)

We sleep on a big inflatable air matress there. We cook outside on a grill, a generous and ingenious gift from my parents. The house inside is rough, a breeding ground for mold. Hundreds of varieties of mold. We used sheet plastic to make a shower curtain. I figured out the hot water heater the first week, a huge victory.

The lists we make of things we need is intimidating. Tractor, land grading, cover crops, greenhouses, another car. Physically, financially this list feels exhausting and overwhelming. But I said to Eric, we'll just take it one week at a time.

This week we have thousands of bulbs to plant and everything else can wait till next week.

Back at the studio things progress with beautiful, smooth, controlled efficiency. Flowers come in, they go out.
We're making the best weddings we've ever made, I say that with all confidence and knowing.
But I'm a bit tired. Tonight.
And I can be tired of flowers if I want to be.
We can't pretend to be enthusiastic every moment.

That wouldn't be very honest, would it?

(above are some outtakes from a shoot i did for a Once Wed post, see it here.)

19 comments:

Dona said...

Enjoy the journey!

Amy said...

I truly envy your duel upstate and city life. My heart aches for my upstate hometown when I look at these photos.

Unknown said...

I am so happy that everything worked out with the farm. It looks like an amazing property. Can't wait to see what you do, I am sure you will kill it (just like everything else).

rest up,
e

Daniella said...

Beautiful photos! Despite all the work, the farm sounds amazing!

lo said...

love the hues in the first image. I'm sure the farm will be a rewarding experience from start to finish (even when it feels lame).

Unknown said...

Hoping your farm is in the area of "upstate" that I am, I'd love to offer a set of helping hands if you need them! Beautiful images. What a great adventure you're on!

Anonymous said...

OMG !....How thrilling to have your own Flower Farm !

Unknown said...

You have such the right attitude for your farm--one step at a time. It's going to be a remarkable home, and there's no reason to try to do everything at once. Enjoy the journey--I have serious farm envy!

Maybe you need to add a couple Great Pyrenees to your farm? They're fantastic at keep coyotes away--and adorable, enormous teddy bears, too. Beautiful photos, as always...

Megan Dempsey said...

Such beautiful pictures. You inspire us all to make the leap from city to country! Can't wait to see how things evolve at the farm. That sunset is just haunting.

Jo said...

We have coyotes around here, too. They are some creepy sounding boogers, but I've gotten used to them. I just dug up and split my red oriental lilies the other day. I had so many bulbs it was insane! Take your time and enjoy the labor that comes with having a farm. It is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Enjoy it.

monica said...

The top photo is amazing, I want to frame it.

Sarah your photography is such art!!!

fleur_delicious said...

I didn't realize you got coyotes so far north! Yes, it's eerie to hear them get going, isn't it? Keep Nea in at night; coyotes are notorious for luring dogs out (one will pretend to be injured to get the dog to chase it, then the pack converges and takes it down).

If you get back to Southern California, they have a different coyote there. If you think the Arizona coyote is eerie, you should hear the SoCal one. It is the damned creepiest thing when they get going - like a pack of college girls having a wild party...until the gibbered laughter starts to sound like hysterical screams. It's a strange beauty. In two years of living there, I only ever once hear one howl at the moon. It was at 3am. I happened to have a recorder next to me in bed and I wearily put my arm up to the window (incredible serendipity, no?). It is perhaps the most otherworldly sound I've ever heard - a reedy screetch with a pitch that shudders upwards and breaks like a guitar string. Pluck.

good luck with the work, just keep your head down and keep trucking. Come up for air when you know it the landscape won't be too overwhelming. You'll learn your land in time - Sunset has some great identification books for local trees that may help you with that part, at least.

Volare said...

Congrats on all your progress! I think your tone of voice in the recent posts show that you've gotten a big load off your shoulders. I'm also vicariously daydreaming of running through those fields...

Flower Opera said...

I hope I can be that overwhelmed one day and do just what you are. I wish you the best in everything you are doing! One step at a time

Anonymous said...

I'm with Monica. That first pic should be framed. Ever think of teaching a photography class? I'll barter with you for farm help...:)

Heather Keyser said...

Sounds like you are overwhelmed, naturally, who wouldn't be? But how wonderful! how exciting! Embarking on such a grand journey... Nea beside you. It all sounds perfect. And who doesn't tire of what they love now and again?

Congratulations on the farm... keep the pics coming! They are, as always, beautiful.

DrawingRobbi said...

I hope you'll bring us along throughout the evolution. You have no idea how much power sharing a dream can have - it gives each of us at the other end of the line a little spark. In the overwhelming times, know you have a big squad cheering for you in the dark.

Engagement ring said...

Amazing images, looks so pieceful and special.

Jewellers said...

First image is amazing, really draws in the eye. Love the images on your blog, so rustic and pretty