starting work on the pumpkin patch

So Jim and I went up to the farm this past weekend and the Sarantopoulos family followed us. (John, Morgan and Zoe (3yrs) and Lily (2yrs))  We did see a lot of damage from the recent storms but we were very fortunate.  No tree damage, very surprising, just some chairs and stuff blown around.  John and Jim were able to clean up alot of tree branches that we had stacked around on the other side of the pond.  Jim drove my jeep over the dam, very scary for me, (apparently he had a near miss with the water on the way over) I video taped the first trip back to the fire pit. Check out our facebook page Guards Farm, not too exciting.  I missed the exciting trip..... and so did America's Funniest Video!
John and I marked off the flower meadow for the pumpkin patch but did not get finished.  We dug up some plum trees that had volunteered and brought them home to see if we can get some to grow here at Laurel Grove.  Was a really fun weekend.  Zoe and Lily loved wearing the boots, little big for them but it was very muddy up there. 
Came home and had our first Guards Farm board meeting.  In attendance was: Morgan Sarantopoulos, Betty Woodrow, Amanda Sutton (soon to be Fahy), David Fahy, Katelyn Figueroa and I.  Jim was "absent with the checkbook".  Had some good discussions about our October event "Art In The Holler".  Everyone is on "board".  "No haters allowed" 
Jim and I are off to Santa Fe and Taos with friends this week.  Morgan and Katelyn are housesitting/babysitting the dogs.  Living the Life of Riley, Sue Fahy

Working at the farm

This past weekend Jim and I ran up to the farm to check on the pond and start working on the meadow.  The wildflower meadow we put in 5 years ago was starting to look a little grown over with large bushes, wild brambles, etc.  Last year I could not get up there early enough in the year, by time I got around to doing any work it was too late.  So we were able to get through about half of it, and reseed with some new wildflowers. 
Then we were able to meet up with Bubba and Jerry about mowing the front part of the property.  Especially where we are planning to put the festival boothes.  And I made some decisions about the other meadow, Morgan and I want to put a pumpkin patch in with the very young fruit trees.  One of the fruit trees bit the dust, however, thanks to the marauding gang of goats that wander around up there!  They are so cute, but they stripped the bark right off this baby tree. 
Also got a very close look to our elderly neighborhood skunk.  He lives under the old house, keeps his distance from us and the dogs, thank goodness.  And a mother bird has made a nest on the top of one of the ceiling fans on the front porch of the cabin.  She gets very angry with the dogs and watches very carefully.  No babies yet, but probably by next visit they will be already gone.
Anyway, find myself up at all hours of the night trying to make decisions about "Art in the Holler".  Just want to make sure we can pull this off and make wonderful memories for all who attend.  Still having a little trouble putting the website out, vendor applications are just about done and work has begun on the advertising posters and flyers.  Wish us courage, luck and grace on this journey.