hot apple cider

I've eaten so many clementines this week my tongue is feeling sharp, but I don't care... eating another as I type this! So good. And now, I'm following a simple, fragrant recipe for hot apple cider. It's a lovely time 'o year.

Tho it froze rain/hailed most of today. Luckily I'm getting my winter snow tires on on Saturday... this week's weather has kept me from driving into the city. Saturday is also Fenelon's big nighttime Santa parade, apparently attracting thousands to our small town. Hopefully it brings a little life to the store this weekend. D's building some window display shelving tomorrow and we'll set up a little Christmas'y display.

Luna's learning things from Mo:

We just did our first load of laundry in the new appliances. A marriage-y moment. I never thought I'd say this, but our front-loading washing machine is sweeeet yo.

Sitting by the fire... even tho it's a daily thing now it still feels worth mentioning, cos it's so nice. Lune's back sleeping at the top of the chair, I think she's officially laid claim to this spot, even tho she's getting big and the pillow sinks and she falls a little behind it. She's so cute.

Dang that cider smells amazing.

Oh one more thing - I've started meditating again. 10min each morning, that's it. Isn't it a Buddhist saying that every journey begins with a single step?

november timbre

A very fast slow Sunday. Made myself sleep in just cos I haven't done that in awhile... don't like it, but glad I did it. It's like a placebo for recharging. Husband visiting his fam while I keep the fire burning and pets fed.

Visited our lovely neighbours this morning. Their little one is now 5 months old and rocking the jolly jumper. R set up his deer-cam in our bush which will hopefully yield a neat snap or two. Apparently bear tracks back there too! Going to walk the bush soon to gather wreath-materials: cedar bows, berries, leaves. Hopefully bears snooze soon.

Big excitement this week was our washing machine died. Our dryer bit the dust months ago so yesterday we bought a new pair 'o appliances from bert's, in town. Good deal, tho biggest selling point is that Bert can fix it should anything break... buying local is a lovely thing. Still feeling the money crunch tho, still waiting for a pause so we can catch our breath. I think it's just how it is right now, so really trying to find peace in knowing that it will even out and all be worth while. Investments. Planning for the future is a funny thing.

What else? Oh I made a chicken video.

Winter tires, cleaning out chicken coop (gonna put poopy straw on the garlic), making new friends, Christmas, baking, piano tuning?

Only 30 more years till I retire!!

waking

Yawned, rolled over, hugged my husband, rolled over to the other side, hugged my dog who was whining gently at the side of the bed, nudging his nose into my arms. 6.15am - I've set Whisk to wake me up then. The way you set your dog is you set your alarm clock for a morning or two and let your dog out. From then on, he'll take over alarm clock duties. I much prefer a chilly, wet dog nose (attached to a warm fuzzy friendly little dude) to a loud, insistent beep. He even has a "snooze" feature. I say "Whisk lie down for a bit" and that'll give you another 5.

Feel around the drawers for a warm pair of D's socks, let the dogs out, light a fire. Roll the mat out and sit. Sit and feel the silent morning and smile.

jiggity jig

hello trees.

Trees, I missed you, but it was cool to be in a land without you for awhile. A lunar landscape here on earth, with volcanoes and glaciers and deep pools of boiling water and snow. Long open spaces of mossed-covered lava rock, then around the corner to majestic snow capped mountains, then a narrow road along the length of a fjord, then endless grassy fields full of beautiful Icelandic horses and sheep, then a jagged rock face, the edge of a tectonic plate. It can change a person, and apparently always does. M (lovely to have a sister now) was the loveliest tour guide, showing us the city (Reykjavik), the south, and the west. A summer house with a hot tub and northern lights, blue lagoon, air waves festival, fabulous restaurants and cafes and bars. Memorable weeks and great honeymoon.

I resisted buying a "Where's Bjork?" t-shirt at the tourist shop.

I'm now at home watching Luna fall asleep while chewing my birkenstocks, happily gnawing, eyes half closed. Mo's sitting above her, curious. Whisk is asleep across the room. Sometimes I think we have three too many pets, but usually not. They are sweet to come home to.

Trees, it's good to see you again. I like hearing leaves in the wind, sitting by a fireplace, and feeling protected in a forest. It's so nice.

Back to reality. The laundry needs doing, the garden pulled & garlic planted, the work of a 9 to 5 job again. But now with new and amazing memories to be inspired, energized, and soothed by. Definitely need to knit again.

heat before the chill

Been programming all weekend... the work is endless. Store has quietened down with the tourists gone and we're considering our options for the off-season. Maybe close down a little more during the week and fill it with less engaging, more profitable work until spring come.

We're gonna get lots and lots of seeds. Organic, open-pollinated. Lovely seed displays from lovely places.

Till then...

My back won't move much this week, unless to pick up a puppy. She and Whisk have learned how to coexist, possibly even enjoy each other's company. Learning that adding a small animal to a mix of small animals increases the rambunctiousness of a household exponentially. Our mornings are frenzied happiness.

Got a dehumidifier for the basement. 70% and lowering.

I've started letting the chickens out of the coop in the late afternoons, while Whiskey sleeps. The sun is back there then and they enjoy the grass and bugs.

Did I mention I drove the tractor? It was scary. Also, got rid of 3 roosters and picked up 2 new hens... so we've a rooster and 4 hens. "Awesome chicken" is laying an egg a day. She's a Red Shaver.

Iceland in just over a week. Sweet sweet honeymoon, finally. I need a vacation like I've not needed a vacation before. Just feel like I'm always working and desperately need to unplug. Need to move my body, walk around, bend, see things. Maybe even dance. Swim. Experience the chilly, geothermal lifestyle.

Then home to hibernate... and plan. Projects will include debt management, bathroom reno, kitchen island, and hopefully more.