Building Dreams

As I stand amidst the sawdust and scaffolding, watching one of our barns take shape, I'm overcome with mixed emotions. The air is thick with the scent of fresh wood and the hum of activity, yet there's a bittersweet warmth that tugs at my heartstrings.

You see, this dream of mine—of ours—was born from the depths of our shared passion for the land and the promise of a better tomorrow. My sister, Mary, had envisioned Blackbird Acres, with hopes as high as the towering beams that now rise before me. But fate had other plans, and Mary's passing left me to carry this dream forward for her. As I help hammer each nail and lay each board, her absence is keenly felt, a silent echo that I feel in the very core of my being.

Yet, amidst the ache of loss, there's a flicker of something else—a profound sense of connection and continuity that transcends the boundaries of life and death. I've been contemplating the quote, "whatever good things we build end up building us," and it I know in my bones that it's true. Mary's spirit lives on in every fiber of this burgeoning farm. I feel her presence guiding me forward, urging me to honor her memory with every brick laid and every seed planted. She had dreamed of creating something extraordinary—a place where community thrives, and the land is cherished.

And so, as I stand here today, I vow to carry on her legacy with unwavering resolve and unyielding determination. Blackbird Acres may have been conceived in sorrow, but it will be nurtured in love—a testament to the enduring power of dreams and the resilience of the human spirit.

As the barn takes shape before me, I can't help but feel a sense of gratitude—for the opportunity to turn her vision into reality, and for the enduring bond that transcends even death itself.

In memory of Mary, and in celebration of the dreams we dared to dream together, let us continue to build, to grow, and to thrive. For in the end, it's not just about the barn or the crops or the animals—it's about the legacy we leave behind, and the lives we touch along the way.

With heartfelt gratitude and boundless determination,

Molly Elliot

Founder, Blackbird Acres