Farm Journal
Thoughts and images from life at Foster Road
- Journal Entries
- 60: JUNE 30, 2010
- 59: JUNE 10, 2010
- 58: MAY 28, 2010
- 57: MAY 13, 2010
- 56: APRIL 30, 2010
- 55: APRIL 19, 2010
- 54: APRIL 5, 2010
- 53: MARCH 19, 2010
- 52: FEB. 20, 2010
- 51: FEB. 14, 2010
- 50: FEB. 9, 2010
- 49: FEB. 1, 2010
- 48: JAN. 27, 2010
- 47: JAN. 20, 2010
- 46: JAN. 15, 2010
- 45: JAN. 10, 2010
- 44: DEC. 18, 2009
- 43: DEC. 15, 2009
- 42: DEC. 7, 2009
- 41: DEC. 2, 2009
- 40: NOV. 22, 2009
- 39: NOV. 13, 2009
- 38: NOV. 6, 2009
- 37: NOV. 4, 2009
- 36: OCT. 23, 2009
- 35: OCT. 10, 2009
- 34: OCT. 9, 2009
- 33: SEPT. 30, 2009
- 32: SEPT. 23, 2009
- 31: SEPT. 12, 2009
- 30: SEPT. 9, 2009
- 29: SEPT. 7, 2009
- 28: SEPT. 2, 2009
- 27: AUG. 29, 2009
- 26: AUG. 21, 2009
- 25: AUG. 20, 2009
- 24: AUG. 18, 2009
- 23: AUG. 16, 2009
- 22: AUG. 14, 2009
- 21: AUG. 13, 2009
- 20: AUG. 12, 2009
- 19: JULY 23, 2009
- 18: JULY 3, 2009
- 16: JULY 1, 2009
- 15: JUNE 7, 2009
- 14: MAY 31, 2009
- 13: MAY 25, 2009
- 12: APRIL 24, 2009
- 11: APRIL 21, 2009
- 10: APRIL 16, 2009
- 9: APRIL 15, 2009
- 8: APRIL 13, 2009
- 7: APRIL 12, 2009
- 6: APRIL 1, 2009
- 5: MARCH 2009
- 4: FEBRUARY 2009
- 3: JANUARY 2009
- 2: DECEMBER 2008
- 1: OCTOBER 2008
Bad News
A week ago, it was a first-snow day, cars off the road, schools delayed, the house so cold I could see my breath. Clark had not returned my calls over the past day and neither Sam nor Eric appear to have been on site. Only dog footprints marked the snow, probably Nellie from across the road. A window was broken, one of my beloved wavery old ones, and the glass was still on the floor when I arrived in the afternoon. It was all so bleak I wanted to cry.
Had something happened? I sorely wanted a good reason why work had stopped so I could keep up my pitiful morale. But the reason turned out to be heartbreaking. After months on antibiotics, a gnarly lump under Sam’s jaw turns out to be cancer.
He’s out of the hospital now staying with Clark’s family. The crew is good to each other, hanging together during tough times, loyal even when they spat. I know Sam’s well cared for and hear that his prognosis is optimistic.
Sam, I look forward to having your curmudgeonly presence back on the job. In the meantime, you’re in my prayers.

