Greetings!

We were surprised two weeks ago by SNOW!!! It was early in the winter for us, but such a treat. The flurries do not faze the sheep or any of the other animals! Any day now we should have baby pigs born; the gilts are constructing their farrowing nests out of big straw bales inside the barns. I've finished cookie and candy making, but still have some presents to finish knitting. I hope this email finds you snuggly warm, well fed, and richly Blessed!
 snow scene
January Schedule 
 
January 6, 4-6 p.m. East Nashville CSA and Retail Order Delivery**
January 9, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Franklin Farmers Market CSA & Retail Order Delivery, Retail Sales
January 13, 4-6 p.m. Linden Corner CSA and Retail Order Delivery**
 
**pre-order required for retail orders
 
 
New Dog!! 
 Baggins
My deepest appreciation goes out to those who expressed their condolences for the loss of my beloved border colie, Kizzy.
If you've attended the markets you've met Brenda, well she and co-conspirator friend Laura collaborated on a border collie stary that was bound for rescue. Unbeknownst to me, Laura took him home with her and tested him around other dogs, cats, poultry and livestock; then, Laura and Brenda called me to come out to their farm to "meet someone" and introduced me to my new dog! I've christened him "Baggins" due to his wandering ways and he is such a joy and balm for my grief.
 (Look for more--and better--pictures later!
 
Al Fresco Pasta 
 
While at Franklin Farmers Market you may have met the guys next to us with Al Fresco Pasta. If you have not already tried their freshly made pastas, I encourage you to do so! We're also working with them for our meats to be included as a filling in their pastas and with meat based sauces.
I REALLY enjoy their pastas when I am just too beat to cook. I put the water on to boil, jump in the shower, after exiting said shower, I plunk the pasta in the simmering water and in 5-7 minutes I have a hot, fresh, wholesome meal--just add butter and grated cheese.
The Pasta Guys, as Brenda and I call them, will be at the FFM once a month the same day as we are, and hopefully alongside our booth. Give them a try if you haven't already!
 
 
 
 

(The thoughts below are a reprint from a newsletter I sent out 5 years ago; I have more requests to repeat this than any other writing I have created.)

The routine of the farm is both a blessing and a curse; there is so MUCH of the routine, it is sometimes hard for even a holidayto feel special. My absolute favorite Christmas tradition growing up was the Christmas tree. I could take or leave all the other decorations, but I had always cherished a tree-until maybe 10 years ago. It takes time to put up the tree, it takes time to take down the tree, and while it is up, it squats in the middle of a very crowded floor in an already cluttered house. Bah Humbug. Yes, I sound just like The Grinch but allow me share the flip side:

When you strip away the decorations, scale back the presents, call a halt to exhausting road trips and stop baking enough to feed the armed forces do you know what you are left with?

A few days or even weeks to slow down, reassess life and listen. And do you know what you will hear? A quiet night in a stable a very long time ago. As I listen to our animals contentedly chew their cuds or softly call a greeting to me long after dark, I have the wordless joy of knowing that those were the same sounds that welcomed our Savior into the world so many years ago. And you know what, if it was good enough for Him, then it is certainly good enough for me.

Maybe I'll put up the tree this year, and maybe I won't, but I will take time to stop, listen, and relish all the sounds, sights and smells of a quiet barn on a starry night.  

Blessings,
 
Jenny Drake
Peaceful Pastures