Category Archives: Farm Diary

Sméagol’s Death Leaves a Hole in Our Lives

Posted on September 17, 2022 by John

Sméagol the cat, lived with us almost the whole 20 years we have been at Heatherhope. Being dog people, Connie and I often thought of him as something of a bother. He woke us each up at least once or … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 11 C: God Does Not Play Phone Tag with Our Covid

Posted on August 16, 2022 by John

The lessons for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost are: Old Testament & Psalm, Option I Old Testament       Jeremiah 1:4–10 Psalm                    Psalm 71:1–6 or Old Testament & Psalm, Option II Old Testament       Isaiah 58:9b–14 Psalm                    Psalm 103:1–8 … Continue reading →

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Breakfast Guest

Posted on June 15, 2022 by John

Breakfast at Heatherhope is a reward for completion of morning chores, prayer-of-thanks time for the long chain of harvest to truck to mill to truck again to middleman to grocery to cereal bowl…and a time for coffee brain and deep … Continue reading →

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Easter 4 C: Recognizing Care

Posted on May 4, 2022 by John

The readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter are: First Reading        Acts 9:36–43 Psalm                    Psalm 23 New Testament      Revelation 7:9–17 Gospel                   John 10:22–30 Our psalm and Gospel readings focus on shepherding. Revelation on Christ the Lamb, … Continue reading →

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Easter Lamb Triplets

Posted on April 24, 2022 by John

Easter reminds us that Christ has defeated Death and gives us new life every moment. An essential truth to remember these days of pandemic, war, and uncertainty. Lambs born on Easter add an exclamation mark! And triplet lambs three exclamation … Continue reading →

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Living on God’s Timeline

Posted on April 2, 2022 by John

It’s that time of year on Heatherhope Farm. We eagerly await and methodically make preparations for the arrival of newborn lambs beginning in a couple of weeks. Of course, to mark time, we also anxiously consult our human contrivances. The … Continue reading →

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Epiphany 3 C: The World’s Wordless Whispers

Posted on January 18, 2022 by John

The readings for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany are: Old Testament      Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10 Psalm                    Psalm 19 New Testament     1 Corinthians 12:12–31a Gospel                   Luke 4:14–21 The whole idea of the Epiphany season of the … Continue reading →

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Yes It’s Cold, Windy, and Slippery…But

Posted on January 12, 2022 by John

Daughter lives in Florida, where it’s right now in the 70s. Son lives in California where it’s just about 60. We live in northern Illinois where it bounces between a wind chill of minus 20 and just above freezing. Why … Continue reading →

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Max and Being Home

Posted on December 3, 2021 by John

Being at home is essential to being. We humans aren’t human without it; and dogs aren’t real dogs without a home either. We do well to bear this truth about humanity when we think of the homeless in encampments in … Continue reading →

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“It’s Life!” Happy New Sheep Year!

Posted on November 26, 2021 by John

Do you want a hint about the secret to hopefulness in dismal, pandemic times? Talk to a shepherd or a shepherd’s family looking forward to lambing time. They may anticipate days or even weeks of hard work and sleepless days … Continue reading →

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