a farm writer's dog
Gibson is a farm writer's dog. He understands when to be the bullet in the pasture, and when to be calm. Here he is on the floor near the register at Battenkill Books. We spent an hour or so there yesterday, and he behaved well. Shoppers came and went and with exception of a few hugs (Gibson actually wraps his paws and forearms around waists) he didn't accost anyone. However, if I took this placid pup to the gates of my sheep....watch out.
Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I'm getting ready to feed six people and myself here at the farm. Friends from the office, other farms, and out of state are coming to Cold Antler for some maple/bourbon glazed turkey, homemade pumpkin pie, farm potatoes, stuffing from homemade bread and more. It will be a feast to remember! Tonight the bulk of the baking will be completed, and the turkey rubbed all over with salt and garlic to brine in a bag till the oven calls her home in the early morning. This is my first ever Thanksgiving as a host, and I'm excited.
posted by Jenna at 1:02 PM
40 Comments:
Best wishes for a very Happy Thanksgiving, Jenna.
Gibson is one well behaved pup and that is a beautiful photo of him. You're so lucky to be able to take your dog to work.
Have a great Thanksgiving. Give Gibson a big hug from all of your readers.
Thanks for all the interesting posts.
Happy Thanksgiving, Jenna! This year will be my first time hosting - at Christmas! I'm excited, too. What fun!
Enjoy the day!
Is this going to be a Bun Baker baked Thanksgiving feast? How big of a bird can you put in it?
Happy Thanksgiving, Jenna!
Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I LOVE hosting, especially big traditional dinners. Your menu sounds awesome. Enjoy your day and the fruits of your hard work!
Jenna, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Please give Gibson a nice healthy size piece of turkey (and a hug).
sounds wonderful. would love to be your neighbor with an invitation!! :) good luck and enjoy!!
Good luck with your preparations, Jenna! Sounds like the perfect feast (lucky guests)!
-Jaime
Dogs -- all animals -- are awesome. Have a wonderful farm-errific holiday. It feels good to feel thankful.
We all miss Jenna very much and wish she would spend her Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays at home with the family who has loved and supported her for years. This is our only time to be together as a family and worship together as a family and we are heartbroken.
Sooooo jealous. Obviously we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Ireland. My mouth is watering at the thought of the turkey feast you will be serving. Hope you have a wonderful day as host and, of course, a very happy Thanksgiving to all.
This comment has been removed by the author.
I picked up my copy of Barnheart this morning. I showed CAF to my suburbia dwelling sister in law on Tuesday. We didn't see Jasper. She thinks you are pretty lucky. We already did Thanksgiving dinner this afternoon so now when I get home I can read Barnheart. Thanks for the autograph.Connie is a dear.
I have a thirty year old son and this year we will be traveling to his home to celebrate as a family. We recognize he is an adult with his own life and home. Sometimes you have to go there and still have a good time.
Amen Gayle, laying guilt on your family is no way to support them. Change is a part of life. We either roll with the punches or we become bitter old people. I prefer to pack up and go visit our daughter who moved 400 miles from us to live on a working farm. She is needed there for her animals.
Sounds great Jenna, I'd be excited too!! Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy your special holiday in your own special way!!
Jenna, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your blog family sounds like you have group here. Still checking the mail box for our book.... I should have used FedEx :)
I love you mom.
Mrs. Woginrich:
It's a little passive aggressive to post a comment like yours on Jenna's blog. People here also care about her very much, and what you wrote seems simply designed to make her feel guilty. There's no reason for an adult to feel guilty about having a rich life as an adult--this is what happens when children grow up. Has your family considered making the trip to her farm for the holidays?
Congrats on your first year to host - that like something of a milestone to me. While this year won't be my first, it will be my first year to serve our own homegrown turkey, and I couldn't be more proud!
Warm wishes to all of you - if you can't be with your loved ones on this day (or even if you can), share a meal with someone near you who is alone. There are plenty of folks adrift on holidays and wanting for companionship. Share it with some of them - you'll be glad you did.
Have a lovely Thanksgiving.
Mrs. W.,
I can "hear" how much you miss your Jenna. The decision to be a farmer means you stay home. It is your duty and responsibility. Maybe next year y'all can go to Jenna's house. But I know you miss her. My son is far, far away this Thanksgiving and I miss him, too. But adult kids have demands on them and we elders just have to go along for the ride. So breathe, enjoy your Turkey Day, and give thanks your girl stands by her duties. Her animals depend on her as they do with all farmers. Her decision to stand by her responsibilities reflects on your good mothering. You did a great job. Blessings.
Sweet Gibson. :)
Happy Thanksgiving to you and all of Cold Antler Farm. I'm sure your dinner will be a success!
Blessings,
Debi
jenna- thanksgiving wishes from our house to yours-you have a beautiful little farm and buckets overflowing with good friends. I think most of us that follow your daily routines are glad that you have found your utopia and are living the good life and share it with your friends-wish we were you neighbor and maybe could wiggle an invite to your farmfest.
Pat,
As the mother of two adult children I can appreciate your feelings. We raise our kids to be responsible adults able to make their own choices but it can be hard when those choices take them away from us to pursue their own dreams. Based on Jenna's accomplishments, you and your husband have done a great job. I wish you a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving.
Brenda
Tomorrow as I look out on our beautiful farm, I will be giving thanks that I stumbled across Jenna's book a couple years ago. I was living a good life in the city but something was missing. I didn't know why I wasn't completely happy. Inspired by Made from Scratch, I started baking bread, making butter and, much to the amusement of my co-workers, trying my hand at homemade cheese. I picked up an instrument. I bought a sewing machine and made aprons for my friends. Then I started taking riding lessons and began learning to care for a horse. This summer, my husband & I moved to an avocado farm in the country. We former city folk absolutely love being country bumpkins. We kept our day jobs, and I have one heck of a long commute, so yes, nothing is ever totally perfect. But wow are we happy! Thank you Jenna! Without your book, blog, and encouraging stories, we never would have ended up here.
Happy Thanksgiving Jenna-hugs to you and all of your family. Karen from CT
This comment has been removed by the author.
Love and thanks!
You've much to be thankful for, Jenna. And I am thankful for all you've brought into my life. Have a wonderful day, farmer!
I am not staying here over the holidays because I want to upset my family. I am staying here because I have too.
It takes a lot of gall to assume otherwise.
Wow, Kelpie--talk about a frenemy! That might be the harshest comment I've ever read on this blog. Taking care of one's animals is THE number-one priority of a farmer. And frankly, if I had a family that played guilt-trip games on a public forum, sacrificing the well-being of my animals to satisfy them wouldn't be my choice, either. Enjoy your sanctimonious turkey.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Jenna with your friends and your farm - stay warm and safe. Here we've had our first snowfall of the season - a whopper - and I'm waiting for a neighbour to come with his snowblower!
Blessings!
even though jenna can't be with her family this year did she mention she is also taking care of another farm so they can go home. Hugs to our Jenna on this Thanksgiving day and enjoy your dinner and company.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Happy Thanksgiving Jenna,thank you for your wonderful writing and sharing your life with us.
I just got turned on to your blog by my sister. We have both been training working border collies for more than 15 years. I was a homesteader, off the grid in Northern CA, for over 10 years. We had sheep, guardian dogs, rabbits, mules, and herding dogs. I enjoyed reading about your adventure--it brought back some fond memories of an unforgettable time in my life. Carry on, sister!
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home