Author: Pointes of View

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Murrock Farms – The Old Barn

IMG_2570 (1024x1024)A small section of the original barn (or at least it’s been there as long as Aunt Betty has been on the farm) still stands at Murrock Farms. Most of the barn was burned in a fire in 1984/1985 (I think I was there that summer? I seem to remember it, not just from stories).

IMG_2583 (1024x1024)IMG_2483 (768x1024)My cousin Darryl wants it to come down, but Aunt Betty likes it because it protects her raspberry bushes and peonies from the elements.

IMG_2489 (768x1024) IMG_2544 (1024x1024)For sure it is run down (the beadboard, though!) and doesn’t serve any other purpose but to store equipment and random odds and ends.

It also houses a chicken coop, which I forgot to take a photo of (urrrr!!). Aunt Betty told us there used to be more, but she suspects the weasels got the rest of them. The remaining chicken is a fiesty girl – she pecked the dog when it got too close.

IMG_2488 (925x1024)I love that it’s original to the property and of course it reminds me of my childhood and of my aunt and uncle, so I’m with Aunt Betty on this one. Plus, the raspberry bushes have been there as long as I can remember, so if anything were to happen to them, it would be super sad.

IMG_2529 (1024x1024) IMG_2490 (768x1024)I was drawn to the old bottles in the barn. Darryl let me take home several, but Aunt Betty made me put one back that she said she didn’t yet have in her collection.

IMG_2549Later she showed me the collection, which she keeps in the kitchen on display. It includes one milk bottle with the farm’s old logo on it. It’s quintessential dairy farm, I think. So retro, so perfect. She said someone saw the bottle at a sale (garage sale, estate sale) and brought it to her. Wish they were still using the same today.

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Murrock Farms

IMG_2548 (1024x1024)On our last day of vacation, we drove into Watertown to Murrock Farms, run by my cousin Darryl. When I was growing up, his parents, my Uncle Charles and Aunt Betty (my dad’s sister) owed and ran the farm.

After my Grandma died, when we visited New York in the summers, we stayed with Aunt Betty (Uncle Charles had passed by then). At 91, she still lives in the farmhouse on the property and watches over the farm, noting every car or person who comes by; she has all her wits about her. Amazing.

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Uncle Charles and Aunt Betty (far right. Okay, her eyes are closed, but it’s the only photo I have). Next to them, my mom and dad. Next over is dad’s sister Rosalind and husband Art. Then his brother Doug and wife Irene. Then his brother Fred and wife Anna and finally my grandmother, Lucy.

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Aerial view of farm without the calf barn or new milk barn.

On a side note, only a few years before Uncle Charles died did I find out that he hated his nickname Chuck. I was so surprised when someone (Aunt Betty? my Dad?) told me. It felt weird to make the transition to Charles, but I wasn’t about to keep calling someone by a name they didn’t like.
IMG_2528 (1024x1024)We showed up somewhat unannounced. I’d told Darryl we were planning on stopping by, but never confirmed when (sorry and thank you!!).  Jeffrey (Darryl’s son) and his dog Sarah pulled up in the truck and were the first to greet us.IMG_2557 (1024x1024)IMG_2405 (768x1024) IMG_2404 (768x1024)He was working on the new barn, which will house the new offices (currently in various rooms in the farmhouse) and new milking robots. I know. Whoa, right?

Current milking set-up…

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Blue container is catching milk for the calves.

New milking set-up (photo from Lely.com)…

I was fascinated by the milking process as a kid (I say kid, but well up into my teens. even now). I always made a point to watch at least once a day (there are three a day, the first one starting at 5:00am) when we were on the farm.

According to what I read online (click link for article), robotics milking not only saves money in the long run, but also includes other benefits like “more milk for cow,” “more freedom and improved animal well-being” and “better social life for farmer.” :)

IMG_2556 (1024x1024) IMG_2551 (1024x1024)We made our way to the calf barn.

IMG_2553 (1024x1024)The babies were super cute. The girls held out their hands to be licked. One calf got a pretty big mouthful of my daughter’s dress! The date on the tag is the calf’s birth date. Jeffrey started over at number 1 for their tags not long ago. I believe Darryl said they were up to number 3000 at that point.

IMG_2555 (1024x1024)IMG_2550 (1024x1024)IMG_2527 (1024x1024)IMG_2644Darryl made the move to organic farming I want to say about eight years ago. It took a couple years to become fully organic, as the entire farm (corn fields/feed, cows) had to meet all the criteria. Most of the farm’s milk ends up with the Horizon brand.

Such a fun day reliving childhood memories and sharing them with the girls.

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The August List 2015

August got away from me. I was on vacation in upstate New York for half the month, so I’m excused. But now I have a post to write and all I have is spiders. So I’ll start off with that and see where it takes me…

IMG_17961) We’ve had a terrible amount of spiders this summer. All the landscape and plant shop people have confirmed this. We’ve already sprayed twice (and yes SF, it’s safe for kids and animals), but every morning we walk into new webs. This guy posted up on our back gate. As I opened the latch, I disturbed it and actually said, “oh sorry” out loud. I get that they control the bug population (although not doing that great of a job in our garden!), but they give me the creeps.

IMG_2587 (768x1024)2)  This flower popped open, giving us a beautiful surprise. I didn’t know what the blossoms would look like when I planted it. It’s a monarda and one of the plants I got from my next door neighbor, Shirley (don’t ask me about the spots on the leaves. I can’t go there).

3) Speaking of Shirley, I was in her garden at the beginning of the month and spied an eggplant growing. I commented on how nice it looked.

IMG_1799 (1024x946)IMG_1800 (768x1024)You want it? Here. Is what she said and so I had an eggplant. I made eggplant parmesan and it was delicious. Even my husband liked it and he doesn’t like eggplant. I really hope to grow a vegetable garden next year (those darn bugs, though).

I mentioned to someone the other day how it has been hard for me to read people here because everyone is nice. As in cordial, super polite, well-mannered, etc. And so I can’t tell who is actually nice and who is just acting nice. Plucking your only eggplant and handing it to your neighbor without a second thought. That is genuine niceness, people. Take note.

IMG_1744 (932x1024)4)  This is someone’s actual vehicle. As in, not a working truck, but the car that you would drive to the Yacht Club for a day at the pool. God Bless America.

IMG_20315)  Shoutout to our dog, Sam who is the best traveler. Eleven hours in the car and he did not make one peep. Or say that he had to go to the bathroom 20 minutes after we left a rest stop.

IMG_2385 (1024x1024)IMG_2386 (1024x1024)6)  I love barns. I’m obsessed with barns. My dream house is a renovated barn. So of course I loved being back in dairy country for vacation. We drove past this barn whenever we went into town and one day I finally stopped to take a couple photos. I would have taken more, but I was technically trespassing and I’m not a risk-taker. In that sense, anyway.

IMG_2203 (1024x1024)7) While on vacation,we drove to my cousin’s spot on Lake Ontario one afternoon. I do love the quietness of my Dad’s place on Chase Lake, but being on a boat (and jet ski) was so fun, especially for the girls.

Hedge8) Remember how I complained about my yard guys last month? I met with our landscape company and went over what I’m going to start taking care of vs. what they will handle. Hedge trimming now falls under me. I’d never used a hedge trimmer before, but it wasn’t difficult to get the hang of.

However, after about 15 minutes, I felt like my arms were going to fall off! Haha. Good workout. (Also, I realize this photo is hideous. I don’t have a better one, sadly. I’d just gotten back from a run and am wearing a stained maternity shirt (why!?! I kept it because it was “cozy.” I threw it away within minutes of seeing this photo).

IMG_2563 (1024x464)9) I never heard anything back from the Yacht Club about the letter I wrote urging them to implement a recycling program, but I did see this blurb in the latest newsletter. It’s a start.

IMG_1783 (1024x851)10)  We got a new orb. Excuse me, magical orb. The old one we inherited from the previous homeowners was silver and in perfectly good condition, but we (my husband and the kids) decided that we needed a new one because something about old magic vs. new magic so… now we have a blue one.

image via missouribotanicalgarden.org

11) I had our magnolia tree treated for scale. Which are tiny little white bugs that don’t look like bugs but that are definitely bugs. Yucky bugs that wreak havoc on the tree. It was $120. It helped. I think. Yesterday I noticed that one of my lilac bushes was covered (I mean covered) with scale. I’m done spending money on the yard this year (budget is spent and cold weather is coming   soon), so I’m hoping and praying it doesn’t die. It’s my favorite. Please, please, please.

Acorns12) Acorns are already falling. Noooooo! Our neighbors have an oak tree that mostly hangs over our yard, driveway and garage. So plunk, plunk, plunk they go, all day long. When I was out planting the other day, I put a bowl on my head like a hard hat. I wasn’t taking any chances.

Here’s where I say I can’t believe it’s already September, but the truth is that I have been waiting for September for the last couple of weeks. I had the best summer, but I am so ready for school to start and excited for a new season to roll in. Have a great month!

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Updates and Corrections – Rutland Lake Farm

AuntIreneI updated and corrected some of the facts in my last post about Rutland Pond and Rutland Farm, thanks to my Aunt Irene (I knew I should have asked her first and posted later!).

The photo above is Aunt Irene and former farm intern Gerrit. The photo was published by the Watertown Daily Times and accompanied and article about their friendship and his return visit to the farm. http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20130414/NEWS03/704149917

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Rutland, New York – The Farm and The Pond

IMG_2125 (1024x1024)Rutland is a small town (smaller than Lowville with an estimated population of 3000) in upstate New York off NY Route-126.

My Dad grew up with his two brothers and two sisters on the dairy farm that is now called Centerdale Farm (It was previously called Rutland Lake Farm). The farm was in our family from 1928 to April 1987  (my Aunt Irene and Uncle Doug took over the farm in 1960/1961 and came up with its previous name and sold the farm at auction in ’87).

IMG_2126 (1024x1024)I’m so glad the new owners haven’t changed it much. It looks almost exactly like it did when I was a little kid. I loved visiting my Dad’s brother, my Uncle Doug and Aunt Irene on that farm.

I remember being fascinated by my Uncle using lye to clean the barn floors (I was heavily cautioned about it, so my fascination was in part, due to an extreme fear of it). I also remember great home-cooked meals, desserts made by my Aunt and ice cream churned by my Uncle. There was always lots of laughter and music (Aunt Irene is an excellent piano player, singer and former choir director) during those visits.

IMG_2127 (1024x1024)The pasture surrounding the farm is gorgeous. The cows pictured here are Angus, which sadly no, are not dairy cows. When my Aunt and Uncle owned the farm they only had Jersey cows (oh my gosh, the cutest cows ever). Here’s what she says about the changeover to Holsteins (black and white):

“Because of the high butter fat or cream in the milk, is the reason your grandparents produced butter and delivered butter into the city as well as selling at the homestead. When we purchased the farm, the value and price paid for high butter fat was not a profitable decision to stay with.  Therefore we decided to change over to Holstein cattle. It took selling 2 Jerseys to purchase 1 Holstein, so it was a slow change over, but we succeeded.”

I’ve always loved watching cows out in the field. They’re so gentle and calm, and sometimes silly, especially when they get spooked.

IMG_2045 (768x1024)IMG_2068 (768x1024)My Aunt (my Uncle died in an accident several years ago) still owns much of the land surrounding Rutland Pond, less than a mile from the farm. It has always been private property, but while my Uncle worked the farm, they didn’t use it much so local residents were free to fish and hang out. Today, trespassing is strictly enforced. Luckily, we had an invitation.

IMG_2049 (768x1024)My family and I met Aunt Irene at the pond one afternoon. I was so excited for the girls to finally meet her. She had a beautiful spread waiting for us. Bacon-wrapped chestnuts, homemade pesto, mini apricots, cheese, crackers, chips and nuts.

IMG_2124 (1024x1024)My Uncle built the dock in the winter of 1984. Aunt Irene says only two or three boards have been replaced since then.

IMG_2058 (970x1024)We had fun looking for frogs.

IMG_2129 (1024x1024) IMG_2089 (768x1024) IMG_2052 (768x1024)IMG_2062 (768x1024)And swimming (which I didn’t do because I don’t get in unless its in the 80s) and paddle-boarding. I never get tired of this view.

IMG_2105 (768x1024)After lunch we walked the trail (initially cleared by my Uncle and kept up by his son) to Aunt Irene’s house, where we enjoyed piano and pie. A perfect day.

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Small Town USA – Lowville, New York

IMG_2566 (1024x1024)The closest town to Chase Lake (see, I’m writing it like the locals now) is Lowville. Wikipedia says that it has about 5000 residents. It has the usual – a few restaurants, movie theater, some shops, post office and library within a couple blocks of each other.

IMG_1917 (1024x1024)IMG_1915 (1024x1024)IMG_2301The restaurants were what one might expect. For example, I ordered an “authentic Caesar salad” and got romaine lettuce, sliced onions and Wish-Bone Italian dressing on top (I used the stuff in college. I know the taste).

The girls and I did visit a nice cafe called Z Cafe, that was charming and welcoming. The coffee was surprisingly decent and the best thing I can say about the scones and muffin is that they were edible. BUT…we weren’t in town for the food.

IMG_2345 (768x1024) IMG_2388 (1024x1024) (1024x1024) IMG_2565 (1024x1024)I did love that the area is not a destination point. Which is to say that if you don’t have a reason to be there, you’d never go there. It’s not a tourist spot. The girls and I walked around town one day and we all enjoyed the quaint buildings and farmhouse-style homes. We took pictures in old doorways and played in gravel lots.

IMG_2643When heading back to my Dad’s place, I took a wrong turn and found this gem. A true treehouse. She’s a beauty.

I don’t think I can describe myself as a wanderer. I like home (whatever that is, nowadays) and all of its comforts. But I do enjoy exploring new places and being an observer. Figuring out what makes a place tick.

There’s something about a small town that’s so vulnerable. And I love that. I appreciate that. And there’s also an element of take it or leave it. No apologies. I wish I were more like that…. This is me. I’ve got nothing to prove. You want a Caesar? Here’s some Wish-Bone Italian. It’s so bad, but it’s also so awesome. Rock on, Lowville. See you next time.