As I was curled up contentedly on the sofa this evening under my requisite two comforters - as though some great drafty breeze were about to carry me off - a voice was heard to issue from a figure reclining in the deep and shadowy recesses of the armchair, next to the fireplace in the living room, where hitherto all had been silent, except for the dialogue of a peculiarly underdeveloped indie movie said figure had been watching:
"Don't we have any cookies or anything?" asked DH (a bit plaintively).
No, I replied, but I can make something, as I happen to have in my possession precisely those ingredients necessary to just such an endeavor.
"Okay."
A few moments passed while I perused several recipes, and then, having decided upon one in particular, I descended the steps to the kitchen. I made a lovely batch of chocolate cupcakes (from scratch - no horrible box cakes allowed!), and, in an attempt to keep DH's blood sugar from careening madly about like a car in a 70's cop show chase scene, I used organic spelt flour and relatively innocuous sweeteners (no refined white sugar). The final product was fluffy, light, sweet enough but not cloying. Placing several little cakes on a plate, I reversed course and ascended the stairs, fully expecting to find DH positioned pretty much where I had left him, but his chair was, alas, sadly empty.
(Oh noes!)
"DH?" I called. "DH?"
"DH, are you in the office..." No DH there.
I peeked into the bedroom, where the tale could clearly be read - DH had gone sailing with Wynken, Blynken and Nod. His primordial urge, that which has driven men from hearth and home since time immemorial, the potent desire for goodies which had assailed him earlier in the evening had inexplicably evaporated. He was asleep.
I whispered, "I baked."
DH murmured drowsily, "I didn't know where you were."
I replied, "I was abducted by aliens. But I'm back now. With cupcakes."
DH: (Unintelligible)
So, there you have it. Waxing philosophical, I'd have to say that while men, indeed all humankind, often find themselves at the mercy of conflicting urges (cupcakes? slumber? my goodness, how to choose?), no gift given in hope and grace is ever truly wasted (especially if you wrap it well or put it in Tupperware).
So, I raise a cupcake - to DH, life, love, chocolate and midnight baking adventures.
And with that random thought, I bid you good night.
I stayed up far too late last night watching a movie, so I had to kind of drag myself out to the barn this morning to feed and water the animals. As I was sleepwalking through my duties, not expecting any deviation from the daily routine, I stepped into the chicken coop and found this:
One of our girls had broken the ice and given us an egg! Our first! I woke up immediately, banished the rooster to the run and looked around the coop for any others that may have been left in odd spots (this one had been left right under the roost where they sleep). I didn't find any, but I praised the girls for a job well done - such good girls they are! To have given an egg, and not even twenty weeks old yet!
It just goes to show you, as I held the rather good sized egg in my hands and hurried to the house, that small moments can also make sweet memories. It is a delight to have labored over these birds, to have raised them from hatchlings, and to now see my care for them beginning to bear fruit. The satisfaction of having been (and continuing to be) connected to the process is undeniable. It is needful in some way, and too many human beings (or should I say Westerners?) have been missing moments like this one for far too long.
I thanked the Lord for the bounty of this one egg, and for the encouragement that I derived from this moment; life is not stagnant, events are unfolding, even though we cannot see what is happening behind the scenes.
It's very pretty, too, kind of a medium cream color (DH is holding it. Really, I don't have man hands).
Nice size, nice hard shell. I have no idea which one of the girls gave us the egg, but everyone gets a special treat (warm oatmeal mixed with applesauce, and yes, they love it) today!
Edited to add photos of the girls (and Stonewall) enjoying their warm oatmeal/applesauce treat this afternoon. Yum!
Well, I managed to add ONE photo. Why posting photos to this blog is so extraordinarily difficult is a mystery. I'll try to add the rest later.
Trying again:
Success! Yes, warm oatmeal certainly hits the spot.
Let's try another, shall we?
Wow. Two in a row.
And finally:
Delcie the Delaware expressing curiosity about DH's shredded work gloves. He has other sets, but seems inordinately attached to this pair.
It just goes to show you, as I held the rather good sized egg in my hands and hurried to the house, that small moments can also make sweet memories. It is a delight to have labored over these birds, to have raised them from hatchlings, and to now see my care for them beginning to bear fruit. The satisfaction of having been (and continuing to be) connected to the process is undeniable. It is needful in some way, and too many human beings (or should I say Westerners?) have been missing moments like this one for far too long.
I thanked the Lord for the bounty of this one egg, and for the encouragement that I derived from this moment; life is not stagnant, events are unfolding, even though we cannot see what is happening behind the scenes.
Edited to add photos of the girls (and Stonewall) enjoying their warm oatmeal/applesauce treat this afternoon. Yum!
Well, I managed to add ONE photo. Why posting photos to this blog is so extraordinarily difficult is a mystery. I'll try to add the rest later.
Trying again:
Let's try another, shall we?
And finally:
...I mean, this one really is not very far along. The image of the cat is only a placeholder at this point; the head is barely sketched in, the body is indicated with a couple of pencil strokes and I've paid no attention to what it actually looks like - yet. The boy's clothing has no detail - right now it merely looks lumpy. The face is forming, but much is left to do.
The problem with posting (or showing anyone at all) incomplete work is that people have a tendency to look at it, see the areas that will be corrected as the drawing progresses and say "hmm, well, isn't that nice."
But it isn't finished!
This one will be, and relatively soon, so I can complete other work pending (a portrait of a German Shepherd, a mandala, and a mosaic), so if you check back in a couple of weeks, I promise it will look very different than it does today.
I should add that, like most people, I tend to be blind to some (or many) of my own shortcomings. I am, however, cognizant of the fact that I am abysmally inadequate when it comes to photographing art.
Not that anyone needed me to point that out.
So there's that.
One view.
A detail view. (By the way, it just took me nearly a half hour to upload this photo. Can you say annoying?)
The problem with posting (or showing anyone at all) incomplete work is that people have a tendency to look at it, see the areas that will be corrected as the drawing progresses and say "hmm, well, isn't that nice."
But it isn't finished!
This one will be, and relatively soon, so I can complete other work pending (a portrait of a German Shepherd, a mandala, and a mosaic), so if you check back in a couple of weeks, I promise it will look very different than it does today.
I should add that, like most people, I tend to be blind to some (or many) of my own shortcomings. I am, however, cognizant of the fact that I am abysmally inadequate when it comes to photographing art.
Not that anyone needed me to point that out.
So there's that.
While I was busy appreciating winter this morning, I managed to squeeze in a couple of shots of one of the gourds I have been working/experimenting on. It's nearing completion, which is a good thing, since I'm becoming bored with it.
I'd like to see it go to a good home.
I sort of love the snowy backdrop, despite the fact that I ordinarily detest snow. When I haven't been appreciating it, that is.
Slightly different view.
It's sitting on a piece of fabric on top of a woodpile. How's that for rustic improvisation?
Parts still under construction. I worked on this last night so it's still wet from dyes and solvents.
More updates to come.
I'd like to see it go to a good home.
More updates to come.
It was -4∘F this morning when I went out to the barn to feed and water the animals. A bit chilly, you might say, but since the sun is out and the sky is blue, I thought I might shelve my uncharitable attitude toward winter, if only temporarily, and make an honest attempt to appreciate the glories of a snowy day. So - I trudged around the farm until I could no longer feel my toes, marveled at frozen stuff and snapped a bunch of photos, which I now share with you (provided my ISP & Blogger cooperate):
The ladies want no part of whatever that white stuff is lying on the ground, as evidenced by the empty run this morning.
Deer tracks! Nice to see they're about.
Ice crystals along the pond.
Snow covered log near the pond, near the woods.
Snow-covered branch, lying on the ground.
And finally, the barn in winter.
That was fun! And so is this:
Which is where I retire to regain feeling in my extremities. And no, I don't like white walls, but who has time to paint?
Long live winter! (As long as it doesn't live too long.)
EDIT: I see that I failed to mention a very intriguing experience I had the other evening as I was walking out to the barn to check on the animals (we do this before we go to sleep, it's kind of become our custom). I heard an owl! I checked with my son, who had worked with wildlife at a rehabilitation center for nearly two years, and apparently the "hoo-hoo-hoo" call I heard is characteristic of a Great Horned Owl.
So! Score two points (there is one, or more likely a pair of them in the area, and I got to hear one calling).
I had taken this photo a couple of months prior, but decided to post it here, because I like it.
That was fun! And so is this:
Long live winter! (As long as it doesn't live too long.)
EDIT: I see that I failed to mention a very intriguing experience I had the other evening as I was walking out to the barn to check on the animals (we do this before we go to sleep, it's kind of become our custom). I heard an owl! I checked with my son, who had worked with wildlife at a rehabilitation center for nearly two years, and apparently the "hoo-hoo-hoo" call I heard is characteristic of a Great Horned Owl.
So! Score two points (there is one, or more likely a pair of them in the area, and I got to hear one calling).
Finally, eh? But I didn't do this; my friend Char, who who is a fiber/quilt artist in SK, Canada, made this and sent it to me, and what a surprise! My poor point & shoot digital camera cannot pick up the detail in the patterning or the gorgeous color in the fabrics, but I wanted to post a couple of photos nonetheless. This is a portrait of Stonewall SIR, our rooster, and he has never looked better.
If you want to take a peek at more of Char's work, Hey Dooders (under Stuff I Like) is her site.
And now for the pics:
And the detail view:
I can't wait to hang it on the wall!
If you want to take a peek at more of Char's work, Hey Dooders (under Stuff I Like) is her site.
And now for the pics:
And the detail view:
I can't wait to hang it on the wall!
And my ISP has apparently taken this advice to heart, as my upload speeds have, of late, been creakingly slow. Ox-cart/wagon slow. Normally this would not be a problem, but it does prevent me from updating here with photos; by about the 10th or 12th try I'm out of patience; however, I'm tempted to post them as they appear, with all the groovy colors and distortions running through them, as an homage to technology.
Barring that, I'll have to see what can be done. Really, it shouldn't take 45 minutes to post a photo to a blog with a broadband connection.
Barring that, I'll have to see what can be done. Really, it shouldn't take 45 minutes to post a photo to a blog with a broadband connection.
To garden, that is. The whole enterprise is just around the corner, and I'm very glad to once again have a large plot of land in which to work. Every vegetable, every herb, every flower will be organically grown, Heirloom variety (and non-GMO).
I have ordered my seeds, and will shortly be making newspaper pots in which to germinate them. I should have some wonderful composted soil, made up of left-over cow poo mixed with veggie scraps and chicken poo, hay and straw, which has been "marinating" for some months now. I try to keep it turned and what is underneath is looking pretty good.
In case anyone is interested, my seeds are coming from the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company and Seed Savers Exchange. Both catalogs feature beautiful photographs and great tips for gardeners on not only how to grow crops, but how to save seed.
I have ordered my seeds, and will shortly be making newspaper pots in which to germinate them. I should have some wonderful composted soil, made up of left-over cow poo mixed with veggie scraps and chicken poo, hay and straw, which has been "marinating" for some months now. I try to keep it turned and what is underneath is looking pretty good.
In case anyone is interested, my seeds are coming from the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company and Seed Savers Exchange. Both catalogs feature beautiful photographs and great tips for gardeners on not only how to grow crops, but how to save seed.
DH and I cleaned out the coop today - we took advantage of the (once again) mild but RAINY (ugh) day to pitch out used straw, line the floor with sawdust and food grade diatomaceous earth, over which we spread a thick layer of fresh straw and another layer of sawdust under the roosts. We cleaned out the nesting boxes and relined them with wood shavings and straw.
The coop never smells; I remove "bad spots" and clean out the area under the roosts frequently, but I was glad we were able to fit in one more thorough cleaning ahead of the coming cold snap. All in all, we've had an extremely mild autumn and winter so far, thank the Lord. I can cool off much more efficiently than I can warm up, so I tend not to like cold weather much (actually, I don't like it at all). What little cold weather we have had hasn't affected the chickens; however, keeping humidity down inside the coop has been a bit of an issue, so even though the coop is vented above the roosts, I try to leave the screened windows open on mild, breezy days to increase airflow.
My girls are very social and friendly to people; when I show up, even with the camera (and without treats, which is rare), they come running, almost as though they want to be photographed, so I had some fun snapping photos today. Inquisitive, curious, with personalities as individual as they are, chickens add so much to a home. I don't think we will ever be without them, Lord willing.
Stonewall, or SIR, as I refer to the rooster, is more a little more skeptical. He is usually fine with me in the coop; every so often he will try to assert himself and I respond by picking him up and taking him for a walk. Nothing he hates more than to be separated from his ladies! After what amounts to time out, he usually calms down for awhile. I really can't find fault with the fellow for doing what he is hard-wired to do, as long as he shows some manners to his humans.
More pictures:
Edit: I just came in from feeding the animals and shutting them all in the barn for the night. It is very blustery this evening! The wind through the pine trees sounds like the roaring of the sea. I am so grateful the barn cats, horses and chickens have been blessed with a cozy shelter on a night like tonight. I am grateful we have been as well.
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