"One of the biggest problems with learning herbalism is trying to figure out where to stick more trees and plants in the yard and gardens." Deep winter is an excellent time to research and dream, and wander about the yard considering potential projects (when you're not in the middle of a storm or freezing your backside off). Each year we typically add (or discover) some "new to us" plants, though I could live until my eleventy-first birthday and still have some on my wish list. We started...
12 days ago • 2 min read
"A stiff wind blew through the tree line, carrying the bright scents of fir and spruce. The winter sun was hidden in the grey skies, but the temporary warmth was a call to enjoy before the next cold front moved in." We had picture perfect white Christmas (though I fell on my backside on the ice), followed by highs in the 40s, which led to a muddy mess and happy ducks. It almost smelled like spring outside for a few days, and it was nice to be out and about without being concerned about ice....
19 days ago • 3 min read
Can you hear the earth whispering, prompting us to turn our creativity and energy into healing and nurturing? What a different world it could be... We've finally begun the cycle of lengthening daylight hours as we spin around the sun. Though I know that January is typically our coldest month of the year here in northeast Wisconsin, having a little extra sunlight makes it pass more pleasantly. The longer we live on our land and work with it, the more connected to it I become. Don't get me...
26 days ago • 2 min read
"The air was so cold that it froze your nostrils with each inhale. Morning chores were icy, but the combination of dealing with the weather followed up by warming up in front of a roaring fire got your blood pumping. It was like night and day, or good and evil - the bitter cold made you appreciate the warmth all the more." We had another stretch of chilly days this week. It was a little warmer today, and Duncan thought he might be able to open the pond for the ducks, but repeated blows with...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
"The sunrise painted the southern horizon with ribbons of fuchsia and pale gold. I could hear the chatter of the ducks and chickens in the coop as they anticipated enjoying the warmer weather after a stretch of icy cold. Like toddlers, the remind us to greet each day with curiosity." It warmed up enough that Duncan opened the ice on the small pond yesterday. We're seeing ice thickness of around six inches already, which bodes well for ice fishing season this year. The last couple of winters...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
"Life as a duck can be confusing. One day, you're splashing in puddles and mud, and the next day everything is hard as a rock." This year, it was an overnight switch from Fall to Winter. The poor Duck Patrol members are disappointed now that all the "snacks" in the yard are frozen. The grass is still green, and hasn't been buried in snow yet, but the worms and bugs are either stiff as a board or in hiding. It's funny, because this is the first winter for the youngest members of the flock, and...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
"Do" starts with "try". Duncan and I were talking about Yoda's famous line from Star Wars this week, "Do or do not. There is no try." While it's a good line, and very memorable, it got me thinking. Sometimes the thought of doing some major task seems completely overwhelming. You can probably do it, but you may fail - and that's okay. Even if things don't go as planned, we still learn from the effort of trying. Then, we can make a better decision about whether or not we want to keep trying...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
"Mushrooms dappled the edge of the tree line, rising in circles like miniature villages of fairy houses. The fairly ring mushrooms were aptly named, as it was easy to imagine the wee folk dancing around the earth-toned whorls that emerged after the rains. The mild fall and gentle rains coaxed so many mushrooms to spawn that we harvested enough for several meals without making a significant impact in the display." Our mild November weather continues here in northeast Wisconsin, but I'm not...
2 months ago • 2 min read
"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...
2 months ago • 2 min read