A Season At River Hill Farm: July 2009

We love our pollinators!!! See the bee? We have a host of sunflowers growing all over the farm, primarily to attract pollinators, but also to shade basil, beautify the farm and market stands, and to sell at market. We love them! I recently returned from being away from Riverhill for 10 days, and I think the sunflowers grew at least five feet in that time! One of the best places to rest on the farm (hmmm... i need to do this more) is between rows of sunflowers, in their shade. Lying underneath them, you can just about hear them grow.

Recently we've been inundated by butterflies! We've seen many different kinds, even monarchs. Here is a pretty yellow one on some lovely purple verbena.

Our cockatiel friend has started to visit us in the fields, chirping happily and flying free! Here he is munching on grass near the carrots. Recently he's enjoyed riding on a shoulder or a hat for a while, doing what he can to show support for our work on the farm.

And have I introduced you to the Riverhill farm dogs? Here's Spot relaxing in his basket, Spike asking Susannah to throw a stick (he's quite obsessed), and Simon running happily with his sister Chayla:

I was fortunate to be able to take a trip to a friend's farm in Mendocino county in late June. They keep many animals there, including four steer, lots of sheep, chickens, and these two happy masters of their domain - the barn cat, and the lone rooster:

Here I am on the Mendo farm with my friends Tony, Shanna, Amy and, Sasha. New Moon represents!!!

A few weeks ago I went on a beautiful hike with three beautiful girlfriends: my dear friend Amy Lyons, and two of my friends from Riverhill, Susannah and Melissa. We hiked to Upper Loch Leven Lake not far from Donner Pass in Tahoe, and we had the solace of the lake to ourselves all afternoon. The silky water was kissed by the full moon, and we ladies of the lake celebrated our womanhood in wild style!!!