Monday, November 1, 2010

Our Gardening Adenture of 2010



Having heard so much about community gardens and visited a successful one last year, we decided to start one here at the Feller House this season. We wanted it to be cross-generational and cross-cultural. It evolved to include seven families with three generations and what fun it was!

Folks came every Tuesday evening with hoe and potluck dishes in hand to share in the work and bounty of the garden. After greeting each other, the white board was checked for chores to be done and produce to be harvested. A number of children as well as adults shared time together in the garden, then it was time to bring out the many dishes of food to share. Eating together turned out to be a highlight of the summer as we made homemade ice cream, cooked big pots of corn and shared cross-cultural foods with as many as 25 gardeners. Much laughter, story telling and digging in the dirt together made for a memorable experience....and we're sure to do it again next year!





Monday, February 22, 2010

Signs of Spring





I love spring and am inspired at the first signs of it! Looking around me here on our little farm in the Willamette Valley, it appears that spring has sprung and it's only February!

The cheery yellow daffodils are in bloom and in the last few days the willow has been leafing out with its light green spring color and the star magnolia has popped out with beautiful white blossoms...and wait, that's not all! The seeds that were planted in our greenhouse earlier in the week are starting to show their green color above the soil. That is enough to bring me joy! Yet there is even more: this weekend our first mama goat brought cheer and wonder with the birth of two cute little goats and then this morning we witnessed the birth of two more. One of those is a very healthy little doe and the other a little buck who was stillborn, a reminder that there are sometimes disappointments along with the joys of life on the farm and so with life in general. We are looking forward to what the next days will bring as more little goats are born, more seeds sprout, and buds and blossoms burst!!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

My Dream

It was my dream for many years to own a bed and breakfast. Since opening almost two years ago now, it has proven to be even better than I imagined! From the remodeling and decorating to now welcoming guests has been and continues to be a delightful experience for Arnie and for me. It has been a lot of fun to share our guests’ stories as well as being able to tell our story about the transformation of the farmhouse to B&B and the history of the home built by pioneer Peter Feller in the 1860’s.

Guests have come from far and near for rest, celebration of special occasions, recuperation from surgery, plane purchases, antique shopping in Aurora’s Historic District, wine tasting in the Willamette Valley, family reunions, and even to stay in the house they were born in!

(Photo: Margaret Feller Meek and her sister Leona)