Making Room to Grow

Fourteen years ago, when we were beginning to plan our move to the country, I had a very short -- but specific -- list of things I wanted for our new home: a willow tree, a big vegetable garden, an outdoor shower, a table to seat 12, and a guest cottage, which was at the very top on my list. I had hoped that it would be a place of connection and comfort for anyone venturing out to visit us in the country... a place for quiet reflection and peaceful rest. 

It has been that, and more. Over the years, friends, family, and visiting artists, have bunkered down in the cottage, which feels a bit like summer-camp living.  It primarily serves as Jack and Kasia's landing spot when they visit from Berlin. While they were here in November, they suggested that it was time that we finished the loft in the cottage. (The loft floor was put in during the original construction in 2010, but we never got around to adding a way to get up there -- or a railing to keep one from falling over the ledge.)

So a month ago, I called Jeremy Esposito, home-builder extraordinaire and the builder of our house, and asked him to come look at the space and give me an idea of how to best finish it. I was worried that he would not be interested in taking on this project as it was a very small project, for a very small space, with a very small budget. But without hesitating he and his project manager, Jeff Austerman, showed up, full of good ideas. 

The plan was to cut a 30" hole in the ceiling of the closet and place a ladder up to the loft. They reconfigured the closet to feature some cubbies, a deep shelf for extra bedding, and a short rod for hanging clothes. The railing was fashioned from cattle wire (from Tractor Supply) encased in a simple wood frame. 

The finished space is nest-like and cozy. There is only room for a double mattress and a small stool, that serves as a night stand. Hazel and Norbert have already conquered the steep ladder and are trying to talk me into putting their collection of 1990-era Beanie Babies up there. They have been dreaming up all kinds of cousin sleepovers for the space.

This past Thanksgiving, when all our children, their partners, grandchildren and grand-dogs, came to visit, we were maxed out on available beds -- and that was before Roscoe was born! Hopefully this space will allow us all to comfortably rendezvous at Farm Dover, even as our family continues to grow. 

________________

Here are some views from the new loft space...

And some photos of the main floor...

It is my hope that this new space is used often and enjoyed by many. xxx

Cousins: Bound Together by Pieces of String Too Short to Save

...Pull the strings

and out tumble green orbs. 

Peas in pod!

We were girls in families of brothers, 

Yet never made to feel we should do, or be, or think less. 

And now, in a newness of time, we celebrate our similarities.

--from Pieces of String Too Short to Save

A little over a year ago I got an email from my friend and amazing artist, Dudley Zopp, asking if she and her cousin might come to Farm Dover for a short artist-in-residence stay. Dudley lives in Maine; Bibby lives in Ohio. They needed a place to collaborate on a book project. Without a moment's hesitation, I said "yes!" -- for I knew what a delightful guest Dudley was as she has spent time working on her art at Farm Dover ever so often since 2015 -- and I was curious about the project she was cooking up with a long-lost cousin.

They came for a few days in mid-September of 2022 and were, as I knew they would be, easy guests. One stayed out in the cottage; the other upstairs. They would gather in the kitchen for breakfast and then disappear to the back porch where they would shuffle old photographs, small sketches of pea pods and hollyhocks, words and concepts, binding options, and paper samples. From my kitchen window I could tell that some serious -- and rather magical -- brainstorming was going on. 

They would take breaks, going off on solitary or companion walks through our trails and meadows, but eventually would make their way back to the porch and continue with their collaborations. At dusk, they would stop for the day, gather up their materials, and have dinner with Ed and me. And then disappear to their respective bedrooms for the night. 

Here's all I knew about their project: They shared a grandmother; their fathers were brothers. Dudley and Bibby were both only daughters in families of boys. They were born nine years apart and grew up nine miles apart. When their "Muzzie" died in 1964 in Lexington, KY, the family found a small box on an upper shelf of their grandmother's closet. Written on the box top was "Pieces of String Too Short to Save." The box, and its contents, became a family joke.

The years went by. Dudley and Bibby both moved away from Lexington and contact between the two diminished. Then in 2021, Bibby reached out to Dudley to offer condolences on the loss of Dudley's brother. The two women promised to stay in touch and later that year Bibby and her husband came to Maine to visit. In their conversation, the infamous box was mentioned and Bibby jokingly said that they should write a book about it. Dudley agreed. The concept for a book was born. (Here's where I picture these two women joining pinkies for a pinky swear and then tying a bit of string around their respective fingers so as not to forget to work on it together.)

Nearly a year later...

In yesterday's mail, I received a beautiful copy of their collaboration. It is a limited edition (15), hand-bound, book of vignettes in text and images, written by Bibby Terry; illustrated by Dudley Zopp. 

The book is a tribute to their grandmother: Sarah Louise Burton Milward. They acknowledge that she showed them that nothing -- neither a memory nor a piece of string -- is too small to save. 

The book is a thing of beauty. The best part is that the cousins, who have worked so hard to commemorate their shared stories and the legacy of their family, have grown closer and have developed a true and flourishing friendship. And that, tugs at my heartstrings. 

Blessed be the string that binds.... 

________________________

You can find out more about Pieces of String Too Short to Save, at Dudley's most recent Substack newsletter. 

On the Road Again...

As of last weekend, our big summer garden was (mostly) planted. Outside the garden’s fenced borders, tiny fruits are just forming on the berry bushes and the asparagus are ready to transition to summer ferns. In front of the cottage, the peas are filling their pods and the strawberries, only threatening to ripen.

With the garden edibles happily taking root, we saw a chance to get away for a few days. Last Sunday morning we pulled out of our drive and headed west with camping gear piled in the back of our Subaru. Other than a quick jaunt to Paducah, it was our first post-Covid trip and it felt oddly weird to leave the farm and venture forth — to points considered, but not confirmed.

Without a firm plan, and no reservations, we headed to St. Louis, MO, and ended up doing a loop as far west as Tallgrass National Preserve in Kansas, as far north as Omaha, NE, back thru Kansas City, MO, and then back home, via Owensboro — stopping for Old Hickory BBQ mutton and burgoo.

The trip was welcome getaway. To jog my future memory, here are the highlights:

Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (near Cottonwood Falls, KS)

Nebraska State Capitol, Lincoln, NE

Platt River State Park, NE

The National World War I Museum and Memorial, Kansas City, MO

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO

Kauffman Memorial Garden, Kansas City, MO

The Antler Room, Kansas City, MO
(photo from restaurant's website)

A few more notes for the record...

1. While in Kansas City, we stayed at the boutique hotel: The Raphael. It was conveniently located, our room was lovely, parking was convenient and the staff was delightful. 

2. In Lincoln, we had dinner at the locally-owned Green Gateau, just around the corner from the Marriott Hotel where we stayed. We especially liked the craft beer: Zipline Copper Alt, a hybrid style between an ale and lager. The next day, we found some in Omaha and purchased a case to bring home!

3. On our last night, we dined at The Antler Room, an intimate restaurant and bar offering elegant small plates. We sat at the bar and requested that the bartender select our dinner options. Each offering was amazing. Ranks as one of my all-time favorite restaurant meals! 

4. One last recommendation: After picking up BBQ at Old Hickory in Owensboro, we stopped at Niko's Bakery & Cafe for a selection of breads, biscotti, and desserts. Oh how I wish Shelbyville had such a fine bakery! Very European!

The Return of the Cousins!

For the past seven summers we have hosted a cousins' visit to Farm Dover as part of "Grandma Camp," organized by their Louisville grandmother, my cousin Glenda. It all began in 2013 as an afternoon outing for the two out-of-town grandchildren, but quickly became an overnight adventure, with the addition of one, then two, of the Louisville grandchildren. (Note: we send their Grandma home for a rest!)

As in past years, during their annual visit, we baked a peach pie, harvested dinner from the garden, climbed trees, did crafts, roasted marshmallows, and went on multiple hikes down to the waterfall and the fairy hangouts. I'm always amazed at how much the cousins change from year to year, gaining confidence in breaking eggs into the mixing bowl, tasting edibles straight from the garden, climbing higher and higher in the catalpa tree, helping with the cooking and cleanup, and producing crafts that involve hot beeswax, essential oils, and pressed flowers.

The day after they left, Ed and I took off on our Canada trip, so I did not have a chance to post photos from this year's visit. I present them to you now...

 

 

 

 And here's a little trip down memory lane...

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Ed and I are already looking forward to the 2020 visit of Nathan, Julia, Frances and Jane. We love them dearly!

Some day

Before she even gets out of the van, she whispers: Aunt Debbie, can we can go to the garden? She says she wants to eat a flower, like she did the last time she was here (when she was only four), and the time before that (when she was but three). She finds an old straw hat and a wooden bucket and announces that she is ready to go see what there is to see in the garden.

Can I eat a flower? Watch me eat it.
Are there any peas in your garden? I love peas.
I love okra! Can I just eat it now?
Look, there's a bunch of baby yellow squashes. How many can I pick?
Green beans! I love green beans. Can I eat one now?

There's one. There's one. I see it. It's a pink potato. There's another one, and another one. 
Purple? I've never heard of a purple potato. Can I get one for my brother's bucket? 
Can I wiggle out another carrot? One more? One more?

Look onions! They were almost growing right out of the ground. 
Oh look, it's a teeny, tiny pumpkin. It's so cute. 
I found a beet! I found a beet. I love beets. 

I love caterpillars. 
But I love worms more. 
Which do you love more?

I like to catch butterflies.
I don't mind the blackberry prickles; it's kind of like getting a shot. 

Guess what Aunt Debbie? she says as she slips her five-year-old hand into mine and turns toward the waterfall path, Some day when I grow up, I want to be a farmer.

Today's post brought to you by: Nyah

This past weekend, we played host to Cousin Johathan's family, who had travelled to Louisville for a party at Cousin Glenda's house: a combined celebration of Jonathan and Becky's marriage, a welcome to the newly blended family, and a shower for the baby girl joining them this spring. While Glenda got ready for the party, we got to enjoy spending the morning here at Farm Dover with Nathan, Julia, Nyah and Pacey and parents, Jonathan and Becky.

Nathan and Julia felt right at home as they visit us every summer as part of their "Grandma Camp." (Click here for photos from 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016.) They were anxious to show their new brother and sister around: the upstairs pool table, the porch ping-pong table, the cottage, garden and trails. Even though it was a rainy morning, they cheerfully went for a slushy hike through the woods and around the pond.

Nyah, age 8, mentioned that she likes to write and wanted someday to write a blog. I offered to turn over my blog to her as a guest writer and she took me up on her offer.

We had a blast, but don't take my word for it. Here's what Nyah had to say:

My first experience of Farm Dover was awesome!  There were so many fun things to do there like cooking, hiking, playing pool, and much more.  Even though it was raining, that did not stop Debbie and Ed from making the trip the best time ever!  Talking and the Talent Show are just the right things to entertain everyone at the wonderful Farm Dover."   

From left to right: Nathan, Nyah, Julia, and Pacey

Thank you Nyah for writing this post. Ed and I hope you and your siblings visit us again -- perhaps the sun will be shining next time. Much love...