Monday, November 29, 2010

11/21/10 - Talking to the birds

I like this picture.
the end.
~Christina

11/20/10 - A toast

At the end of a long season it is a tradition to have a party with everyone who worked markets. This year mom had all of the hard workers come to the farm and served dinner there. No end of the season party would be complete though without a toast.

~Christina...who takes pictures instead of toasting

10/30/10 - Gold Coast truck

Mathew had to run over to the Gold Coast (Division) for something so I sent my camera along asking him to get some pictures of their market. He doesn't even want to know how to turn on my camera so he didn't snap any pics but Cliff did. It was dark so the images aren't fabulous but here you can see the back of their truck.

Way to go Marc, Maritta, Al and other assorted workers for rockin' that market all year!

~Christina...who unfortunately can not take pictures everywhere because she can only be in one place at a time!

10/24/10 - My siblings

Thought I would throw a picture of my family on here, especially since over half of us in the picture work markets.

~Christina...love them so much!

10/23/10 - Through the raindrops

Since it was rainy (meaning not busy) and I was exhausted from a long week and an early drive into the City I took a bit of a rest in the chilly (but not wet) truck. When I woke up I watched the action for a time through back window of the truck. It is an interesting perspective.

~Christina

10/22/10 - The road home

This is the road we both travel every day. The road back home to our cozy little apartment. I love how beautiful it looks in the fall.

~Christina...who will likely one day live on the farm

10/18/10 - Wild grapes

Sometimes in farm country grape vines will take over in places you do not want them. They are not profitable by any means but they an be beautiful.

~Christina...who is posting fall pictures while the snow is falling outside

10/14/10 - Out with the old...

The landscape is changing at the farm....in more than one way.

This fall several older trees were dozed out but next spring new trees will be planted in their place. The "new" orchard will be more efficient and a good move overall but it makes me sad to see trees that are still living taken out.

~Christina

10/11/10 - Light and Leaves

I love fall. This is one of the reasons why.

~Christina, who took that picture in the yard behind our apartment

10/9/10 - Politics

Our market was suddenly crowded with people that seemed to come out of nowhere. Why? Rahm Emanuel was the why. He had just left Washington and come back to the city to campaign as a mayoral candidate and he was at our market. Complete with fans, onlookers and reporters.

Tommy went to tell him what he thought of the City.
Mathew tried to tidy up our stand because of the camera crews.
I tried to make the best of it by selling to the unexpected crowd.

Such excitement.

~Christina...who has shaken Rahm Emanuel's hand

Saturday, November 27, 2010

10/04/10 - Rhubarb in the fall

The sun hitting the rhubarb plants as they turn color in the fall was just beautiful.

~Christina

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

10/02/10 - Saturday evening

Cliff's awesome truck looking quite rural

My handsome brother unloading the egg cooler from the Green City trailer.

Dad tilling up the sudan grass with a big borrowed tractor and disk...green fertilizer.

I took these after we got back from market and used them for the whole weekend worth of daily photos.

~Christina

9/30/10 - Wild and Free

This post was also queued up quite some time ago. The wild sunflowers made me smile every time I passed them during the fall months.

~Christina...who has a deeper love for sunflowers since they adorned her wedding with loveliness

9/28/10 - A boat...really?

I have had this picture post in the queue for over a month and didn't even realize it. The boat picture was me wondering one day why so many farmers seem to have a boat in the back forty.

Since that time the boat has been taken care of and is no longer cluttering up the landscape...makes me super glad I took the picture when I did.

~Christina...who just doesn't get it sometimes

Catch up pictures

I was sick and working and just gave up. I stopped taking pictures for about a week because I just couldn't handle one more thing. I felt really bad about it though...guilty and upset because I was letting the 365 Days project lapse. I really do want to make it through the whole year but I have come to a couple of conclusions.

There will be days when pictures don't get taken. This is especially true as the days get shorter and it is mostly dark out when I get to the farm. That is just part of our farm year and this project will reflect that.

I am also going to get sick sometimes and I will likely to continue to be overwhelmed by all I have to do. That also is a part of our life here and will be reflected in the final results of the project.

I may, when I have the opportunity, take several different images on one day and stretch them over several days on here. I will try and make that clear when I post.

This group of images was all taken on September 27th and will stand in for the week I didn't shoot. :)

Nothing like morning sun after a heavy dew. I cannot get over the wonderful scenery every morning as I drive to work.

Chestnuts are so intriguing.

Apple drops make us sad but they are just a part of farming fruit.

More of that awesome light in the field behind one of the apple orchards.

Because the temperatures have cooled considerably apples can sit in bins outside if need be. That is very much unlike many summer fruits that must be put in the cooler right away. This allows us to grow and sell a much larger quantity of apples.

~Christina...who needs to get going so she is not late for work!

9/18/10 - Cider Time

A fall market picture. This was our second week to have cider...it is a great seller and fabulously delicious.

~Christina...who happens to enjoy apple cider

9/17/10 - Fungus among us

Sometimes the small seemingly insignificant things in life can be important.
I saw this mushroom out in the grass and laid down flat to get this perspective. From a standing position it looks like nothing but a white spot.

~Christina

Monday, October 4, 2010

Thursday, September 16, 2010

9/16/10 - The fascinating change

9/15/10 - Highway views

I admit I forgot that I needed a picture until I was almost home. The sun shining on the foo foo grass actually reminded me. I dare say Michigan has some beautiful views from our interstates.

~Christina...who knows it is not a good idea to shoot from the highway

9/14/10 - Patriotism

I felt bad for missing my opportunity for a patriotic picture on September 11th....because like the rest of the world, we do remember.
Farmers are generally patriotic anyway, after all we attempt to feed our countrymen.
This image is actually of the flag that flies in front of Grandma and Grandpa Ellis' house.

~Christina...who is very proud to be an American

Monday, September 13, 2010

9/13/10 - Sudan Grass

The Sudan Grass is quite tall now and blooming. It is rather beautiful. Especially when the sun is hitting it like so:

~Christina

Sunday, September 12, 2010

9/12/10 - Walnuts can be hazardous to your vehicles

There are signs in the parking lot of our local public library that say
"Caution Falling Walnuts Sept-Nov"
They always made me laugh and were in fact the first thing I thought of when I noticed the huge walnut tree above our garage. Needless to say they have started falling.
Good thing I don't have to park there.

~Christina...who wishes she had an easy way to sell black walnuts

9/11/10 - Pure air

THis year has been the worst for me as far as allergies and hay fever are concerned. Normally I just suck it up and move on but this year I haven't been able to keep up. I guess maybe moving to the country really did make a difference...
A week or so ago Mathew informed me that I needed to find a new air purifier for the apartment. I had completely forgotten that I had shared on with my sisters for years. When I got married my sister let me take ours for the winter but I had to return it in the spring. I researched them and then dropped several hundred on this lovely machine.
We are hoping that it will help me to breathe! We also hope that it will take care of the cigarette smoke that makes its way through the floor boards of our apartment...

~Christina...who is hoping it will not need to stay on the dresser once the air gets a bit cleaner

9/10/10 - The mower deck

Mathew has informed me that he is planning on making our lawn mower last for at least ten more years. Considering it is as old as I am that will take some work.
This week he has been diligent in fixing the deck. I am excited that it has new, sharp blades!

~Christina...who loves it when her husband mows the lawn for her!

9/9/10 - Storing apples

When I got to the farm after work Mathew, Mom and Dad were all busy organizing the barn and getting several bins of apples loaded to take to cold storage. That is very good news for those of you who like to buy honey crisp at the winter markets.

I told them they looked good in brown and navy.

~Christina...who climbed on the truck bed to get this shot

9/8/10 - Juice apples

With cider officially being pressed this is not the only bin of juice apples on the farm.

~Christina...I like cider very much!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

9/7/10 - Working Girl

My life has changed A LOT in the last year.
I got married...love being married
I moved...even though I love my family, living with my husband is awesome
I switched farms...still miss the people at the other one but I am adjusting
Now I am beginning work full time for a local credit union.

I am currently in teller training, which is honestly not something I ever imagined doing.
I am excited about the opportunity and I sincerely hope that I will still be able to be a part of the farm. I love agriculture, I love photography and I like writing. I also love serving people and that is why I think the teller position will be a good fit for me.
I am transitioning over to "traditional" full time employment for many reasons that have to do with the goals Mathew and I have for the future...farming takes lots of capitol and experience you know!

All that said I am going to try really hard to keep up with the 365 Days of Farmlife project but it is proving difficult already. The posts may not come everyday like they did at first and a few of the images may not be from the exact day...I will put forth my best effort though. Oh, and more comments would really help! On the blog or on facebook I could really use the consistent knowledge that others are enjoying my work and my efforts are not in vain.

Thanks for your understanding and patience.

After my first day on the job Mathew and I picked some apples for a friend.

~Christina...whose wardrobe is transitioning from farm girl central to working girl

9/6/10 - Friends

After spending a day shopping with my uncle, aunt, sisters and awesome friend Liz I came home and made tacos for Mathew, Cliff, Cynthia and I. It was a fun Labor Day for sure and even though I was nervous about starting training the next day I had a great time enjoying so many friends.
Mathew announced that we were going to Sherman's for ice cream, that didn't really fit in with my plans for going to bed early but then again...
We hadn't been to Sherman's all summer, it felt like our last chance...
Cliff was up for it and we love hanging out with our "best man" (missed you Chantel)...
It's ICE CREAM, I love ice cream...

Needless to say we went. We had a great time. Thanks guys.

~Christina...letting her ice cream melt while she tries to capture the moment!

9/5/10

9/4/10 - Nested Crates

Personally I think that crates are much more picturesque than all the lugs we normally use. Crates also mean lots of apples. Hmmm, my favorite.
You know my crate attraction may also stem from the fact that I was more accustomed to them at my previous employment. Not to mention you don't have to flip them around until you get them stacked correctly.
Yes, the wooden half bushel crates are awesome!

Don't you just love how you can nest three together when they are not full?

~Christina...who is a little silly about these things!

9/3/10 - Wind Blown

On Friday the wind was blowing like crazy and everytime I tried to get something in focus it would move.
So I gave up and embraced the wind.

These are the leaves on the dogwood tree that are already changing colors and looking beautiful.

~Christina...I love fall colors!

9/2/10 - Rain

The above picture is an image taken from my truck because I had zero desire to get out in the rain. Yep, sometimes I am just like that.

~Christina

9/1/10 - Honey Crisp

'nouth said in the title ;)

~Christina

Friday, September 3, 2010

Pictures comming for Septmber

I have been taking pictures.
really I have.
I just can't seem to find the right time to upload them...and unfortunately this is not that time.

I will be back sometime after Saturday's market with all the catch up and some news. Hope all of my loyal readers (and who might you be?) can hold on until then.

~Christina

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

8/31/10 - Honey is hot in here!

Yesterday evening Aunt Helga had us over for a wonderful supper. Mathew needed to help Micheal with his trailer lights and I had never before been to their home. In fact I didn't even know that it is less than a mile from the the farmstead!
Anyway, as we enjoyed the cooling temperatures outside and toured their absolutely gorgeous gardens they pointed out the beehives. It is actually too hot in the hive right now so many of the bees were hanging out on the outside. I obviously took a few pictures in the fading light and was surprised that I could even smell a few whiffs of honey floating on the breeze.

~Christina, who entertained some of the party with the 365 Days of Farmlife pictures ;)

Monday, August 30, 2010

8/30/10 - Asian Pears

Mathew is a good one to go out and test the ripeness of fruit.
He checked the Asian Pears yesterday...
then he picked a lug of them...
took some to my sister...
and brought some home.

~Christina...needs to try one so she knows what they taste like!

8/29/10 - Supper at home

Mathew and I have not eaten at home very much this summer (you know being at the farm and all so much) and we have even at our table together even less.
We miss it dreadfully and are looking forward to winter for that reason alone...(we tend to eat better in the winter).
But on Sunday Mathew said that I should make dinner for when he got home. Ummm...it was better than a date out.
Yum.

~Christina...just in case you didn't know, I LOVE Mathew Gelder!

8/28/10 - Consulting the market list

When we return from market on Saturday's each market has to record what they brought back. Generally we do this when unload and count the lugs. Suzanne and Jim currently manage a market together so this is a shot of them consulting their binder on Saturday.

~Christina...who didn't feel very well and skipped her form this week, shhh

8/27/10 - Bountiful Harvest

Suzanne wanted some fruit promotional shots so we grabbed some shots real quick on Friday. The reason is simply because there was so much variety ripe at one time.


~Christina

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Today - Golden Raspberries

Remember yesterday? You know when I had my honey drive me out to the golden raspberries and then I ended up posting an apple shot.
Well today I had to go back. I was strong as I drove past all the chestnuts and apples and bins, have I mentioned that I simply cannot get enough of autumn/apple season and all of its picturesque views? Oh yeah, maybe a few times ;) SO I only took pictures of the golden raspberries. They were literally glowing. The light on them is just pure awsomeness.
Enjoy!

~Christina...who does like raspberries too, just not as much as apples

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

8/25/10 - Apple Season!!!

On our way home tonight I had Mathew take me by the raspberry patch to take pictures of the golden raspberries. They were nice, I took some good pictures of them. But then as I left I saw a beautiful sight! Apples all picked and gorgeous. I LOVE apple season! I mean really, it is my FAVORITE time of year.
SO you get to feast your eyes on apples in bulk boxes...yum.

~Christina...who loves sunflare, in case you hadn't noticed yet!

8/24/10 - Scary...huh?

Fruit has some natural predators. You know besides humans!
We must do everything we can to keep the bugs, mold, fungus, and BIRDS away from the ripe produce so that it can make its way to you. This funny looking beach ball type ornament thingy is one of the bird deterrents. It is currently at home in one of the blueberry patches.

~me

8/23/10 - 1000 Words

So a funny thing happened on Monday.
Maybe funny, maybe not...hmmm...
Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I guess I have to write at least that because I don't have a picture for Monday. Don't get me wrong I did take several, I was even at the farm and had a few that I liked real well. But I don't know how to post one on the blog. That's obvious you might think...she does it all the time why should one day be different from the rest?
Well it is because I took them on my cell phone. Yep. I have succumbed to the pressure and joined the hoard of young people who document their lives on a phone!
It wasn't intentional...I didn't realize...ah, it is no use, I cannot explain it away...
It just seemed so convenient.
A few years ago when my family was getting new phones my dad called and asked if I wanted a camera phone. "No!" I said "why would I want to take low quality pictures on my phone when I have an expensive camera that takes beautiful images?"
Now I am beginning to understand.
Several weeks ago a good friend gave me her daughter's used phone. My very simple flip phone was falling apart and dropping calls so it was necessary to suck it up and switch phones. For a girl who dislikes change that was borderline traumatic. Just so happens it was a camera phone.
So on Monday while I was waiting on my handsome man to unload and then load fruit onto the flatbed I decided to experiment with the camera on the phone...it seemed harmless enough, and even kind of fun.
I even gave myself an assignment.
And I did another common thing and took a self portrait of Mathew and I...you know, the kid where you hold the phone way up in front of you and hope you are actually in the frame. I love it. We are smiling so sweetly.
Then when I got home late that night I realized something. I had been enjoying the phone camera so much I never got out the big camera. So I got my phone and was going to download the images so I could post something.
One problem.
I don't know how to extract those silly pictures.
Really. This must make everyone doubt my competence.
I am still at a lose and since I refuse to spend enough money to have the internet on my phone I can't even email them to myself.
Maybe someday I will dig out the owners manual and figure this contraption out but until then you will have to be satisfied with my many words.

~Christina...who really does believe that the purpose of phones is to CALL people!


Monday, August 23, 2010

8/22/10 - Fueling Up

With as much as we travel around we use a lot of fuel. This is a shot of Mathew fueling up the flatbed on Sunday.

*Note: This picture makes me especially happy because Mathew is wearing his wedding band...I love the weekends! He doesn't wear the ring during the week because it is dangerous to have on when working with equipment.

~Christina, happy farm wife

8/21/10 - Peacefulness

Saturday was a crazy day for us. I was back on my North Center Market for the first time in three weeks and was excited about it. Unfortunately they were having a festival in our square! Everything was chaos. We were in different spots, people were confused, and they kicked us out early. We had to pack up an hour and half early and be out of their by noon! We are SO grateful for those of you who still found us! Next week I will be very glad to get back to our peaceful family market!
Anyway, when we got back home we were exhausted and my allergies were running amuck. We unloaded the truck and walked up to Grandma's to take a nap. We were supposed to go to the fair with my sister later so we rested. Got up took a shower and got dressed. When decided to watch This Old House before we took off I went back to bed. I really did not feel good.
He woke me up at 9:30 and said that I looked so bad he would just take me home...we were not going to the fair. That was wonderful, I am glad he takes care of me.
On our way to the truck I realized the camera had never made it out of the bag. Therefore I took this picture and it strikes me that it looks peaceful. So much more peaceful than earlier when there were trucks and people everywhere!

We went home. Went to sleep and slept as long as we could.

~Christina