The covid adventure continued this week and both Lewis and then Lovett tested positive. I am impressed with the vigor with which they took on the virus. Beginning with the first signs that they began to feel sick, then crashed for an early bedtime with heavy symptoms, then slept for an extended night’s sleep and essentially awoke the next morning feeling refreshed and ready to seize the day. For me and Racey the drag of the remaining recovery days left us feeling a now familiar sense of envy for the kids.
Lewis joined me for moving the last batch of chicks to the field, and we did the final clean of the brooder so it will be ready for winter, and the first batch of next year. During a week of no school for Lewis we found other creative ways to learn and explore. There are many fun tools to use on the farm and Lewis has been learning to use a bench sander in the shop, keeping his hands free from the spinning sand paper, and wearing hearing and eye protection.
I am inspired by his creativity. He started by making a boat, then came a large barge, and then boxes and containers for the boats to carry. We learned how to cut different lengths of wood with the hand saw and how to cleanup all the dust and debris after we were done working. The fleet continues to expand with the usual ebb and flow of supply and demand, first there are too many ships so more cargo is needed, then cargo is in excess and more ships must be built.
This weekend our local Fairgrounds hosted the Adirondack Harvest Festival. It had been many years since we had attended an in-person market, so we dusted off the canopy, and worked out the market kinks. Thank you Holly for all the ways you made the market possible. Our weather presented us with a glorious day, sunny and not too hot. There were many new faces and familiar ones as well. Thank you to everyone who came out to the festival.
Lewis and I especially enjoyed listening to the live music. There were a few bands throughout the day and I finished the afternoon playing with my band Ploughman’s Lunch. We have mostly played private events in the last few years and it was a pleasure to play for a crowd of familiar faces.
In short it was a whirlwind of a week. Racey and I optimistically finished last week feeling recovered from Covid and ready for the week to come, which included chicken processing and moving the last batch of chicks to the field. Then Lewis tested positive on Sunday and we reconsidered our involvement in chicken processing. Perhaps we should not spend all day inside with the crew…So we found a few generous helpers to sub in for us, thank you Cory and Joseph! And I am reminded of the personnel “risk” of having me and Racey on the same team. How do we manage the business and family? Is it too much to both be involved in the same task if it is likely that one or both of us need to stay home with the family?
Reber Rock Farm Blog 