Adventure 309: Brigham City, Utah/Redux/Post A

God willing, we'll pass this way again.

Bouyed by an excellent mid-day Sunday dinner, happy reflections of a wonderful week, and a delicious peek into  a few of the fabled Hooley family stories of long lasting pranks between brothers and sisters (Even Gram got into the act), we took our leave from Stoney Brook. Although bittersweet, our exit simply promised a quick return. The sale, as I predicted, overtook the previous record by a whopping ten grand (This year's total: $44,000). Obviously, everyone expressed joy, though drooping eyelids signaled the fatigue a week of frantic effort produced. At the Hooley home alone, the baking crew (Loey, Sarah, and Judy) had 4 cherry pies baking by 4:15 A.M.. The factory total for the week included 54 pies, 30 pans of sticky buns, 3 batches of semel, 6 loaves of rosemary/walnut bread, and 36 loaves of whole wheat bread. In addition, this group served three lunches for the "crew" at the church. So basically, these "sluggards" slept less than six hours per night, baked in the pre-dawn, worked the floor at the church all day, and not once did anyone throw a "pink fit". I had reported earlier that the term was "pig fit". It has since been corrected. It seems as if I heard incorrectly. However, there is still as yet no offered definition as to what a "pink fit" entails. I would suggest anyone interested mail a request for information from the dame of Stoney Brook Farm, Mrs. Gary Hooley (Lois by name). Our drive to Brigham City was uneventful, and we'll stay here another day in order to ride our tandem through the Bear River Migratory Bird Preserve, more on that tomorrow. I'd like to take a moment to reflect on the effects of our time spent with the Hooley family. Despite the fact that we're shirt tail relatives at best, we hold the Hooleys in our hearts as dear friends. Judy expressed the reason best when she described the dance she, Loey, and Sarah performed each morning. Joey said to Judy, "it's just like having a sister in the kitchen." Speaking of sisters, we also count Loey's sister Pat and her husband Tom as our newest dear friends. Everything I know of the Hooleys, the Lossers confirm. It illustrates not just the openness and frankness of life at Stoney Brook, but it suggests that this is just the way life is in Filer. For me, I couldn't help but notice the gentleness. Gary and Andy, who I imagine to be as nervous as teen boys on a first date as they wait for a weather window to bring in their primary crops, kept any sense of anxiety away from the surface. Instead, they kept their steady pace, performing their jobs and chores faithfully. Many of us can procrastinate. If a grower "takes a day off", there is a stiff penalty to pay. I guess what I'm saying is that these men show grace under pressure. My favorite part of the "non-working" week was Gary showing where he grew up. Two things are clear. He has great pride in his heritage, and he loves nothing more than sharing "his" land with others. In fact, this characteristic sums the group: Each member of the Hooley family is welcoming, selfless, and loving. We certainly felt loved, we certainly felt welcomed, and we benefitted the entire time from a group who model the selfless true love that Jesus preaches. I think it's safe to say, we'll invite ourselves back soon. In the meantime, we'll practice as much of the Stoney Brook Farm lifestyle as we can because it most certainly proves that life is good, especially today.

A last look look East from the driveway at Stoney Brook Farm. A few warm dry days would be welcomed in order for the hay and beans to dry.

 Farmers are creative by necessity. Here, Andy displays a pair of denim booties (Created by Sarah), which first and foremost keep the floor clean, but also dismiss the necessity of him having to remove his work shoes every time he comes in from the fields. 

 Patty, all grins as she showed off her new remodel. Andy did the work as  part of his commitment to tithe ten percent of his time during the winter months. Last year, he blessed his Aunt Patty.

Patty's new state of the art kitchen complete with soft close doors, a dedicated coffee station, and so many hidden nooks and crannies, it would take a TV show to display them all.

She and Tom wanted to create a throwback style to their home. Featured prominently is her mother's restored chair and davenport set. Also notice the huge gas fed fireplace.

 It's fitting in a throwback style home that Tom's "man" shack remains in tact.

 Robert Frost talked of two roads diverging in a yellow wood. The Hooley clan shows us that there is but one path worthy.