July 27, 2007 –  Small things make for huge changes on a farm. Don installed a flushing hydrant in the big cow tank in the back (picture tommorrow) and it works wonderfully, sparing us the dragging of hoses and hauling water that we unaccountably did for four years. Amazing how long it takes to figure a farm out, even as we have installed other water systems all over the place. The summer will be easier, but we still have to deal with getting thawed water out to the cows without dragging hoses and de-icers all over the place. The high point of the day so far was a visit to Mary Kellogg (see her page on this site) my friend and a wonderful poet. I took this shot of Mary at work. She defines the whole notion of grace for me, a  gifted, loving and unfailingly gracious and generous human. I am blessed to know her, read her poetry and have her in my life. She tends a 30-acre farm by herself, and I wish I tended mine half as well.
  She was writing where she writes all of her poetry (a book of Mary’s poems will be published next year, and we will do some touring together) in the bedroom she shared with her late and beloved husband Dick. She seemed a bit weary to me, but telling her to take it easy is much like telling me.