Christmas Tree The Christmas tree has been a big deal for my entire life. We had Charlie Brown trees when I was a kid. Funny story, those trees, one I should tell soon. I’m a little fussy (Steve would not agree with “little”) when it comes to our tree. I’m not looking for perfect. The tree should be full, green instead of nitrogen-deficient yellow, and nicely shaped. Gaps are okay, they’re nice places to tuck in a birds nest or…
Coming Home-stead Vermont. October. Gorgeous. Foliage. Some of the most wonderful people I’ve met. Reconnecting with a friend. Sometimes I have to get away from something to better appreciate it, and other times I need to be away from it to see how detrimental it is to my quality of life. Coming home-stead after the weekend away was an experience in regrounding, importance and some thoughts on society today. If you follow me there and want to be sure you…
When Strangers Trespass I’m a little freaked out. I usually know what’s going on here. Intuition, observation and game cameras keep me on top of what’s happening. It’s nothing to grab a gun and meet trespassers at the end of the road in our wood yard. There have been four uncomfortable situations when strangers trespass in the 18 years we’ve lived out here in the woods. Once, someone took firewood. He didn’t know the land had been sold and that…
This writing thing… …it’s become all-consuming, this writing thing. It’s still very much winter on the homestead so I’m taking advantage of the last quiet days of the season. If I’m at home I’m working on the book. Thanks to Brenda at Forest North, the process is going well. She’s taught me a few things and given useful feedback to help me get and stay on the right track. “What’s up with the peas, Robin?” “I’d like to know more…
Winter’s Middle We’ve reached winter’s middle, the half-way point of the season. It finally feels like a real winter this morning. When I went out to let the ducks and chickens out, bring them water and yogurt I don’t like, and a drink of water water that will melt the ice in their indoor pan, it was 0°. Some days zero doesn’t feel bad but today it’s sharp and stinging. I thought I’d go for an early morning snowshoe through…
Musing mus*ing: a period of reflection or thought. I’ve been musing a lot lately, even more than normal for these quiet winter times. I seem to be at a loss for good words here right now. I write, think it’s pretty good, and then delete. My winter writing was planned with a four-month long workshop and gathering of creative minds but that’s been cancelled. It’s disappointing but something good is coming. Hang with me until the end. I’ve been musing…
Icy Icy Icy! Snow, sleet, freezing rain, high winds, icy everything – but minor. We didn’t lose power, dead trees are still standing, and the snowy, sleety, icy, crunchy mess isn’t too bad to walk on as long as I have cleats on my boots. WiFi is the usual lost but these days it’s out or so slow it isn’t useful (remember 28.8 on dial up? lightening fast in comparison, no exaggeration) often regardless of the weather. A few days…
Fishing Isn’t Only About Fish It was hot Wednesday, 88° when Steve got home at 5:30 pm. He called on his way home. “What’s for supper?” He suggested something simple like sandwiches because we were going fishing. Tuna sandwiches and drinks were in the cooler, the cooler in the boat, the boat trailer on the truck, and we were ready to pull out when bad news arrived via Steve’s phone. He made a few phones call and then became quiet….
Finding Peace of Mind Outdoors I wrote this yesterday morning when I was disappointed and disheartened. The state of the world and the inability to visit with friends online without having a lot of hate and discontent thrown at me is upsetting. I needed to set some boundaries with people who are not used to me saying “sorry…no…” Self-preservation is important, and that involves not setting myself up as a target in some topics that get ugly fast. I headed…
Friday Afternoon It’s Friday afternoon after a busy week. This morning I was up and out early, weeding and watering, transplanting onions that needed to be thinned, pulling carrots and radishes that are ready to be eaten, clipping tomato and gourd vines to twine, and glancing out the door of the high tunnel now and then to make sure Zoey Monster was still waiting patiently for me. She ran off a while ago, was gone for four hours, and scared…