Twenty-six years ago, on April 20, 1993, we were getting ready to go to church for Easter Mass and asked Patrick, then 9 years old, to make sure the animals had been fed. He went to do his chores, then ran back in quickly. Our goat, Bonnie, had given birth to two little ones just moments before he had gone outside.
It was a year of babies at our little urban farm. Bonnie's twins, Blossom and Buttercup, were the first arrivals. Then came chicks and ducklings. And in July, our daughter, Emma, was born.
Those were busy years. We always seemed to have too much to do and too little time. Our lives were full. As our kids grew older and our parents grew older, we took on the task of hosting more of the holiday celebrations. There were always guests - family, friends, neighbors.
Now we have the opportunity to slow down a little and celebrate the holidays in a simpler way. We spent last weekend in Maine with John and Coco and the grandkids. Today, we'll have a simple holiday and celebrate our new life in Massachusetts by planting some flowers.
