"The midday warmth of the November sunshine felt all the more precious because it was so short-lived. Darkness fell early now, and the chill lingered in the shadows. Still, the short days flew by quickly. In a little over a month, the daylight hours would begin to lengthen again." I had a terrible urge to linger on the sunny end of the couch today, soaking up the sunshine with the cats. The weather has been blessedly mild, but these short days give me an urge to hibernate. They also give me...
9 days ago • 2 min read
"Halloween morning began with the fog lifting off the big pond like wisps of smoke from a cauldron. Daybreak saw the land coated in frost, but the pond held enough warmth to welcome the duck patrol like a big, splash-filled hug." Our lives are so seasonal here on the homestead, and it's interesting to me to see how the place changes throughout the year, and from one year to another. Both of our ponds are still open because the fall has been mild, but only the larger pond was creating its own...
15 days ago • 2 min read
"Winter cat math: The diameter of the cat curled up on the corner of the couch is directly proportional to the temperature, up to a point of optimal compression. Lower temps = smaller bundle of cat. When temperatures drop low enough, an extra cat should be added to all laps." Animals can add such joy to our lives. Whether it's lap warmer cats and dogs, poultry romping around the yard, or a favorite riding horse, they help keep us in the moment. They can also encourage us to stay active, not...
23 days ago • 2 min read
"The morning dawned with frost covered grass as white and crunchy as the hair of a bleached, spike topped pop star. By midday the sun was mellow and bright, but the scattering leaves told the tale of the season's end. Garlic planting, trellis storage, wrapping trees in the orchard - the clock was ticking on winter preparations for the homestead." This year's main batch of sauerkraut is fermenting in a four gallon crock, and the elderberry harvest has been turned into juice. Using the steam...
30 days ago • 1 min read
"The sweet-musty aroma of fallen leaves lifted from the ground as we walked down the wooded path, while a faint hint of wood smoke blew in on the breeze. Fall had arrived in earnest, with cozy sweaters, cozy fires, and cozy food. The bracing coolness of the north wind made the warmth of home all the more welcome on our return." We had our first real frost this week, knocking out most of the cold sensitive plants. The ten day forecast has lows dropping into the mid to upper 20s, rebounding to...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
"In dark times, we hold onto hope, and do what needs doing to get through the day." We've been watching the situation unfold in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. So much devastation - but so many people stepping up to help others in need. It's heartening to see those with old fashioned skills like working with mules and horseback riding working right along with the helicopter pilots to reach people cut off by the storm. We've ordered supplies to send with a friend who's going to volunteer in...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
"How do you create wonderful things? With intention, and time." We had an interesting visitor on Friday, a young woman working with a group that's trying to get better power options for rural areas. We talked about the organization goals, and I gave her a tour of the house and grounds. One of the questions that came up was how we decided which way to place everything on the property. In our case, we started with the home placement, and then go to know the land, and designed from there....
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
"Fall seven times, rise eight." - Japanese Proverb Things are finally slowing down with the harvest enough that I'm able to catch my breath and do a little reading. I picked up the book, "Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life". It's another perspective on the Blue Zone longevity, and a pretty easy read. I like the examples and personal stories of mindset and behavior changes that improve resilience. I don't know about you, but when I was younger, I felt like I could take on the...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
"The summer-like heat stood in stark contrast to the diminishing daylight, creating an unsettled feeling. One part of my head wanted to madly keep stashing the harvest like a squirrel stocking nuts. The other part had a desire to find an ice cream cone and kick back and relax." This is the warmest start to September that I can recall, barring about 2 days at the beginning of the month. We're running 10 to 15 degrees above average, which is making fall chores rather toasty. We could use a good...
2 months ago • 2 min read