A New Start

I'm going to try blogging again, since I've missed getting our life down on "paper."  I'll start with our 2013 Bartlett Farm video that was created by Andrew, Peter, Jonathan and David.  There's lots more on our redesigned website located at:  www.BartlettFarm.us.  For some reason the video on the blog  doesn't give the full screen option, but if you go to our website you can view it in full screen.  It's definitely worth it to get the full effect!    Hope you enjoy it! 

Andrew Has a New Camera

Andrew recently purchased a Canon EOS Rebel T4i camera.  The photos are so sharp and clear!  Below are sample photos from his first photo shoot.

Check out the night sky ... If you look in the center of the sky, you will see the Big Dipper.  Can't wait for photos of the Northern Lights!

I was baking raspberry muffins that night.  

Stay tuned for for beautiful photos by Andrew!

Newest Bartlett Productions Film

Today

Andrew has been encouraging me to blog again ... So much so that he set up the photos for me and all I had to do was add the text!

 

I love blogging, but lack of time and computer availability have been deterrents.  Once I stopped blogging it was much easier to forget about doing it again.  However, there's something very satisfying about sharing our daily activities.  I just hope my thoughts placed on "paper" are enjoyable to others as well. 

 

Today Andrew took some beautiful photos of the farm.  

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for enjoying them with me!

It's No Longer Spring

The last time I wrote on this blog it was springtime ... Well, a lot has happened between then and now.  Fall is definitely here, along with all its activities. 

 

 Last week our family started processing tomatoes.  What a blessing it was to have everyone helping out!  There are still quite a few tomatoes in the garden and hopefully there will be enough time to let them ripen there before another frost hits.  Sunday we woke to a hard frost in the valley but thankfully not in the garden area.

 Jim was in charge of the celery.  We still have more in the garden, and hopefully we'll get them processed before too long.

Jonathan working diligently on my tomatoes.  He did that for me, and then the next couple of days involved butchering chickens for him.

 

When picking corn the guys discovered a hole in the ground in the middle of the patch -- and lots of holes in my sugar pumpkins.  A trap was set and a woodchuck caught.  We'll see if we can salvage the pumpkins.

 

Peter and David worked long and hard to bring David's Morgan horse named Darla to the point where she could be ridden.  So far so good!  Darla was used for a brood mare before David purchased her, and we are thrilled that she is ready for training in riding.  

Sounds of Spring

Yesterday morning I stepped out of the house after milk chores and heard a very familiar sound ... The grebe family has returned to the lake.  If you click HERE you can see one and hear what they sound like.  To the right of the photo is a spot that says, "listen", and click on the arrow.  

When we first moved up here I heard a grebe for the first time, and thought something was dying!

Another day I heard another very familiar and very welcome sound.   Click HERE and see what it was.  Every summer we have a family of these creatures on the lake as well.

Sharing Special Music at the Nursing Home

Last Sunday our family was asked to share music at the Good Samaritan nursing home in Bottineau.  It was a good time to do it, before the farm jumps into full swing.  At times it can be pretty difficult to find time for everyone to practice together.

During one practice session I was surprised to hear my mountain dulcimer being played.  This dulcimer was made with tender loving care by Jim's Dad, who lives in New Hampshire.  Grandpa and Grammy B brought it over years ago on one of their trips to visit us in Fargo.  I was supposed to learn how to play it, but all the hustle and bustle of finding a place in the country and moving caused me to neglect this beautiful instrument.

I was amazed that it was so easy for Jonathan to play it.  He told me once you learn one instrument it was easy to pick up another one.  Well, he has added the mountain dulcimer to his list which consists of the banjo, guitar, mandolin and of course, the harmonica.

And now, for your listening pleasure ...



Thanks so much, GpB, for making us such a beautiful instrument.

Oh, and here's one more: