Dear Friends and Family,

We had an unexpected guest last night. She was barely an armful for our neighbor John who arrived with neighbor Mel. Mel, in turn, had got the fawn from his friend, Ural, who rescued her from a pack of dogs. Mel asked me to come out to the truck to see her. Madeline and I walked over to the truck and as I lifted her to see the fawn, Mel told John to turn the fawn around so we could "see its face and fall in love" with it. I told them to call the county animal shelter or the game warden. They left. I called Robin to alert them to the possibility of a visit. A few minutes later they were back saying that Paul had given them permission to put her in one of the chicken tractors (mobile pens). Right behind them were Paul and family. He said he would call the game warden in the morning and in the meantime the fawn would be safe in the tractor. I have learned to trust Paul's judgment about these things, so I relaxed.

The fawn seemed to have no fear of us and actually looked quite at home on the lovely green grass inside the tractor. As we knelt there looking at her we were utterly dazzled by this exquisite beauty. Mel was right, hers was a face to fall in love with, so tiny yet so alertly intelligent. Her eyes had the bluish cast of a soon to be brown-eyed infant. Along her neck and across her back was a lovely pattern of markings, white spots outlined in black, some round, some oval, on reddish brown fur. She could hardly stand on her very long legs, reminding me of the line from Robert Frost's poem about the calf, "so young, it totters when she [the mother] licks it with her tongue".

This morning Paul arrived with goat's colostrum from our dairy friends, Brad and Bernadette. We diluted it with water, warmed it slightly, and administered it from a genuine coke bottle topped with nipple, also from the dairy. You should have seen the little tail wagging as she sucked down that milk. Meanwhile Robin had also been in touch with Fish and Wildlife who put her in touch with a wildlife rehabilitation person, who arrived around 5:30 this afternoon to take the fawn. Terry confirmed that the fawn was a doe, probably 2 -4 weeks old, apparantly in good health. She told us that she cares for wild creatures until they are old enough/well enough to be released. Her foundation, Once Upon A Forest, supports her in this work. I was impressed that she had driven all the way from Bowling Green, 50 miles away, to pick up this dear little creature.

All of this was a "bonus" experience for the junior high students from Abinta Montessori School in Nashville. As they had arrived mid-morning, they each had an opportunity during the day to feed the fawn and let her nuzzle their fingers through the chicken wire.

Just one week ago today, the 3rd graders from Linden Corner School, also in Nashville, got to witness the birth of 13 piglets. The group had arrived the day before to see the sow with belly so big and heavy that she could hardly move. They had checked her in the morning. Then, to our delight and theirs, as they were returning from an afternoon hike over the ridge between our farms, they found the sow with three piglets and more on the way. They stood there for over two hours, persevering even through a downpour.

In the golden light after the shower I was pleased to notice a bluebird and a female cardinal hovering nearby. I took this as encouragement and blessing for the farrowing sow. At the moment there are 11 lively piglets enjoying the bright spring weather.

I started a new job two Saturdays ago. I deliver 5 baskets (shares) of produce to Glasow. The parish there, St. Andrew's, is in the process of starting a Saturday Farmer's Market- grand opening June 10. Meanwhile our season has begun, so I deliver the shares to the church parking lot as a pledge of things to come. Right now I can fit the coolers of produce in my faithful Honda, filling the baskets from the coolers as the shareholders arrive. Maybe, as the market grows…a pickup truck for me???

Early this month, Sasha and his friends planted corn to celebrate his 7th birthday. After that they spent most of their time getting thoroughly wet, running up and down the creek. At his request the official birthday cake was Robin's wonderful strawberry shortcake. Next year we hope to have our own berries to go with it.

We are looking forward to visits from John, and Phoebe and Rob early in July. I will spend a couple of days with Alice in Louisville at the end of June.

Love, Louise