hayseeds and horsefeathers

my bags are packed..

2009-11-11T09:00:00.003-05:00

...I'm ready to go.

Not really. These are just some vintage suitcases I found, on which I stuck 'famous hotel' stickers. They used to reside in my son's room, but they were really only dust catchers (along with so many other things), so I've decided to put them away, and maybe one day I'll have a garage sale and get rid of them then.

Not really. I'll never have a garage sale, I only pretend I will, because it makes me sound organized and highly functioning. I'm all about impressing people. Well, not really.

On to more serious mattters:

A picture of my poor little remembrance day poppy, which either falls off whatever I'm wearing, or which I forget to pin onto whatever I'm wearing. Anyway, it's just a simple little symbol which prevents us from forgetting to remember. Don't forget to remember today. It's important.

warm

2009-11-09T10:15:00.003-05:00

It's really warm here folks! Despite the foggy dreamy morning we had on Sunday, the weather was warm and windless and perfect. No clouds.

We were able to spend time playing with horses and dirtbikes and kids.

Even if you woke up on Sunday determined to be a serious crankpot, you couldn't help but sneak a few smiles (privately, of course).

I hope you had a good weekend!

more november

2009-11-06T11:02:00.007-05:00

What is that strange light emanating from the sky....could it be? Yes, sunshine. Had to grab the dogs and head for a cool, foot-soaking, windless walk.

Have a great weekend :)

something simple

2009-11-05T10:06:00.003-05:00

I've been known to post some less-than-stellar photos here, and this one is no exception. I just could not get a good shot for love nor money.

It does serve to illustrate a simple idea, though. I'd been saving pretty soap and candle wrappers, thinking I'd find a good use for them someday. And here it is:

I framed them in inexpensive white Ikea frames and hung them in my newly-painted bathroom. Once you start using nice soaps it's hard to stop, but now you can justify the cost to yourself if you end up using them as artwork.

Must go now, to straighten the slightly wonky frames and read my camera manual. Have a great day.

november

2009-11-02T13:20:00.007-05:00

I always think of the colours of november as being greys and browns.

(Actually that last one was late summer, but it has a novemberish vibe, don't you think?).

Around here, things are taking on a really russet hue. Gone are the blazing colours and vibrant blue skies of October (and those dark mornings, thank goodness).....

Oh well, this guy is always russet, but he whispered to me that he was feeling alittle novemberish today, so I included him. Novemberish. You know, in between, enjoying the fading beauty, while at the same time hunkering down for a long (but mild, please, dear Lord) winter. I have a feeling it will be a great month!

made to order

2009-11-01T12:15:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was tailor-made: a windy, wet, howling day which then settled into a drippy, dreary full-mooned evening.

Fun (and chocolate) was had by all.

red skies in the morning

2009-10-30T10:18:00.006-04:00

...mean you must take warning....

....because before you know it, the skies turn grey.....

....and you must hurry to catch the last of the gold.....

.....before it's all gone...

*this post sponsored by the Excessive Use of Certain Types of Punctuation Society........

oh hi

2009-10-29T11:29:00.005-04:00

Hey, where has October gone? Or for that matter, September?

I haven't posted in ages, and I don't really have an explanation for it-(except both my boys had the flu-and both are fine now, thanks).

I thought you would be more receptive to my lack of explanation if I posted a few horse and dog photos.

Because those always make everything better.

blue

2009-09-24T11:18:00.005-04:00

Oh, it's not that I'm feeling blue or anything....

I'm just loving all different shades of blue right now.

It must be all of those autumnal skies.

It has to be the right blue though...you'll know it when you see it.

for those with soft hearts

2009-09-22T13:41:00.006-04:00

My husband grew up in the country, and as such, he isn't very sentimental about our animals. To him, they serve a purpose. Dogs are for guarding the property, and alerting us to anyone coming in the long laneway, and for an overall sense of security in this somewhat remote place. And also to keep the coyotes away from the horses. Cats are for rodent control, and other than that, he doesn't really feel they have a purpose. He does enjoy the horses, but doesn't really spend that much time grooming and fussing over them.

He doesn't talk 'baby talk' to the dogs, doesn't kiss the kitty and carry her around while rubbing her belly, doesn't coo to the horses and tell them how sweet they are. That's what I do. He does do one thing, though, which gives away his soft heart.

He is our resident bird and small animal rescuer. Ma nature is often cruel, and out here there seems to be a steady supply of birds pushed out of nests, and little creatures (mostly bunnies) separated from their mothers (usually because the dogs have nabbed them and carried them away).

My approach is to carry the animal to safety and then let nature take its course. The animals usually don't make it, and our success rate in the past has been something like 1%. My husband, however, always takes action, which usually involves intervention in the form of food, water, some sort of cardboard box, towels, and internet research to make sure he's done everything he can (with the enthusiastic assistance of the kids). He once built a splint for a baby blue jay out of a popsicle stick. He then called animal control to come and fetch the bird from a town one half-hour away. I still tease him about it.

Here's his latest rescue. This birdie made it-I hope it has a long and happy life.

a (slightly) different perspective

2009-09-16T08:53:00.003-04:00

I know this looks like all of my other 'field' pictures, but actually, it's taken from the end of the back field, looking towards the house. You know, sometimes it's good to look at things from the other side, to take the long view, get a different perspective...It seems that today is cliche day at H&H....hey, a girl's gotta enjoy her field while she can. Have a great wednesday :)

field of possibilities

2009-09-11T08:53:00.003-04:00

Earlier in the summer, what looked like this:

now looks like this:

The farmers who lease our land (or the FWLOL) have harvested the grain from the back field. I don't know what kind it was- not wheat, we had that last year. I'm hoping that this time they do not plow up the field before winter. It's so great to have that flat espanse, it feels just like an extension of our lawn.

Just think, we'll be able to go dirt biking (or trail biking even), ride our horses, maybe even let our dusty old cross-country skis see the light of day. Or we could just run out really far, and twirl around while looking up at the sky (you know, Julie Andrews-style -like in The Sound of Music)...OR we could get a sleigh and hitch Sadie up to it, and give people rides in the snow while they cozy up under a fur throw (note to self-check craigslist for sleighs and fur throws).

OK, getting a little carried away, but it feels like we've reclaimed the back field for our own use (at least for a while, hopefully longer).

Have a wonderful mellow weekend-I must go, I have the sudden urge to run out in the field, while twirling around with my hands up in the air a la Julie Andrews... before the FWLOL's get to thinking about plowing up this lovely flat field....where did I put that skirt and apron?! :)

it's for the frogs

2009-09-10T11:12:00.005-04:00

I know we're very lucky to have a pool at our place. It's a 'country' pool, though, and plainer and humbler than its sparkling chlorine-redolent city cousins. This is the time of year when we wage a losing battle against the leaves, and it becomes time to close it up for the season.

For some reason, I was in charge of its upkeep this rainy summer, and I can't say I was particularly brilliant at it. I don't think trying to wrestle it away from mysterious cloudy states with various strange chemicals and growing championship amounts of algae would qualify me as a decent pool caretaker. I have, however, become an expert at rescuing frogs and toads, and the odd rodent (some were beyond rescue). And hey, did you know that teeny baby field mice can swim? well they can.

There have been summers where you would have been able to find us swimming and frolicking at all times of the day. But in this summer of rain (and algae) it was mostly for the frogs.

back to school

2009-09-08T09:03:00.004-04:00

With the yellow leaves fluttering down, we rush around gathering new shoes, backpacks, supplies, haircuts, hopes. We note with amazement and pride how tall they have grown. Time for one last swim, long bike ride, ice cream cone. It helps, you know, to keep those fluttery back-to-school butterflies calm in the belly. Bittersweet back-to-school time. So long summer, hello fresh start. Everyone's getting straight A's this year, right? :) !!

late summer garden

2009-08-27T21:56:00.005-04:00

My daughter is growing gigantic sunflowers in a bid to win the 'biggest head' in the sunflower category at the county fair. The competition is pretty stiff, and even though she researched giant sunflower seeds, ordered them from some obscure catalogue, planted them early, watered, fed and lovingly cuddled them in her arms while crooning ancient plant-growing ballads, and transplanted them under a full moon, I don't think she'll win.

The problem is, first they had to grow about seven feet tall. Then, about two weeks ago, teeny tiny heads began to appear, and so far, they only look to be regular-sized. Perhaps with sheer luck and a blast of sunshine, they might grow to be gigantic heads. But I highly doubt it.

My tomatoes, on the other hand, are doing quite well. There has been a blight which has killed many local tomatoes, but mine have escaped. I'd like to think that this was due to my sharply honed and refined gardening skills, but I'd be lying. Mostly I think it was due to an overabundance of horse manure-which is magical stuff by the way. But I don't want to be seen as bragging too much about my tomatoes.

Because I mostly want to brag about these:

Never have I produced such an abundance of large butternut squash. We'll be eating those 'till we turn orange, I suppose. Can't wait.

Every summer is a gamble, in terms of vegetable-growing pursuits, isn't it? Ah well, it's not about the glory of winning the giant head competition, or the fabulous eight-dollar prize (yes, that's right, eight big ones-and I think cost of admission is twelve). It's about seeing how much edible stuff you can grow with a minimal amount of effort and and healthy dose of neglect. I'm surprised every year.

porch paint

2009-08-26T19:15:00.004-04:00

Well, we've had a DICKENS of a time trying to paint all of our exterior trim and porches this summer (and by 'we', I mean my husband). It seems that it rains every day, at least a little. Nevertheless, things are starting to shape up (slowly) around here.

I do love wooden porches and columns on old houses, especially when they're freshly painted and gleaming, but it's very time-consuming to do all of this maintenance. It's all fine and good to be a purist about things, but I have decided that synthetic materials are just swell, and that one's time in the summer can be better spent on leisure activities, rather than in the service of keeping this old white elephant of a place looking spiffy.

My next house will have a completely maintenance-free exterior, if I have anything to do with it. And metal-clad exterior windows, instead of wood. Live and learn.

the un-summer

2009-08-24T12:56:00.007-04:00

Do you know the writer Alice Hoffman? She writes in a very lyrical, poetic way and her books usually employ magical realism. Flowers grow or shrivel at alarming rates, turn colours, etc..., people speak like birds, sometimes pebbles or fish appear in their pockets-well, you get the idea. It's quite entrancing.

The summer that wasn't (i.e. THIS summer), has made me feel a little bit like I'm living in an Alice Hoffman novel (or maybe a gentle version of one). Endless rain and thunderous, dramatic clouds. Wind storms tearing the roofs off houses in certain parts of the province. Puny vegetables. The grass growing so quickly we can almost hear it. Swarms of insects. Bats.

And other things too.

My husband was coming home late one evening and saw this unusual phenomenon over the bridge in the neighbouring town.

There were clouds of insects around the streetlights, and the bridge was covered with piles of bug carcasses, enough to make the bridge slick and slippery, and looking for all the world like snow. Creepy mysterious summer snow.

Closeup of bug carcasses. Maybe someone knows what kind these are.

A shadow shot of my intrepid reporters (see how white the pavement appears?).

Because sometimes we all need a break from flowers, cats and horses.

And now, back to regular programming.

P.S. If you haven't read Alice Hoffman, give her a try. You won't regret it. Her books are not without humour-of the black variety, of course!

Daisy in the garden

2009-08-11T09:23:00.002-04:00

This is my cat Daisy, enjoying the flowers in the garden.

She may look mild-mannered and sweet, but in actual fact, she is a fierce and single-minded hunter. Daisy has no time for niceties such as cuddling and purring. Eat. Sleep. Hunt. Those are her main objectives, and anyone interfering with that should WATCH OUT.

I have tried to keep a count of the rodents she has caught so far this season (or the pieces of them I find on the porch every morning). So far? Daisy's summer mouse count: 42. Well done, my furry friend. May you hunt for many more seasons.

around town

2009-08-05T13:32:00.014-04:00

My little town, which has all of two traffic lights, celebrated its sesquicentennial this summer (150-year anniversary). The celebrations (which included a beard-growing contest and a parade) were quite well-attended.

This unassuming river-side town isn't grand by any stretch of the imagination, but if you make a little effort you can find some pretty spots.

This historic building adjoins the courthouse and was once used as the residence of the local jailer. I think it is used for office space today. The old stone jailyard was actually open today (a couple of police cruisers and a van were there). I suppose the old jail is still used as a 'holding cell' for people having their criminal cases heard. I'm guessing they're not appreciating the pretty landscaping and well-maintained building.

This is a detail of a building in town which used to house medical offices, a bank and a drugstore in the 1890's. I love the shingle detail, and the little louvered window.

Here's a gazebo in the town square.

This town is a modest, quiet place, and generally known for a speedway at its edge, and the fact that the residents tend to wear rubber boots (it is a farming comunity after all). I prefer to think of it as a place with a strong sense of community and a comfortable, peaceful place to live. (Sort of like that well-worn pair of leather shoes you've had for fifteen years, but just can't part with).

seeing

2009-08-04T11:29:00.004-04:00

Here's the problem with 'staycationing': you don't get to see your everyday surroundings with 'fresh eyes'. The 'fresh eyes' phenomenon occurs when you have been away for a good while, traveling or vacationing. Upon your return, you realize how lovely your surroundings truly are, how comfortable and homey your home is, how sweet your pets.

And so, lately, all I've been seeing is a lot of green (from all of the rain), and all of the chores that still need doing. I'm just not appreciatin'.

However. Sometimes you notice something new. New is good. These flowers are wild, and they look sort of like bee balm. I'd never noticed them before....they gave me pause, and a moment of enjoyment.

I also hadn't noticed the lacy banks of Queen Anne's lace with a path to the next field cutting through them. Pretty.

I enjoyed these too, until the mosquitoes picked me up and carried me away.

The skies this summer have been putting on a spectacular show, with their moody swirls and patterns.

They add to the variety of the landscape around here. Ah well, if I'm staying put this summer, I could do a lot worse. After all, it's not in the looking, but the seeing.

lilies

2009-07-29T11:21:00.007-04:00

Some lilies from my garden. They seem to thrive under my regimen of average soil and benign neglect. The bugs don't like them, and they spread. What's not to love?

wine route

2009-07-27T11:13:00.017-04:00

On Saturday, my husband and I went for a drive in Niagara wine country , which is only about a half-hour from where we live. This area has really come into its own in recent years, and now produces award-winning wines, known around the world.

The day was a rather soggy one, with intermittent rain showers (as per the weather we have been having of late). We still enjoyed driving through the vineyards with their waving, symmetrical rows of grapes, so beautifully tended.

There were so many wineries, we didn't know which one to pick for a tasting, but we happened upon this lovely barn, which turned out to be part of the Hidden Bench winery in Beamsville. I would love a barn like this. So would my horses.

The moment we stepped out of the car, the heavens smiled, the sun came out, and we were able to enjoy the winery's vineyards, and product (of course).

I love the simple architecture of the wineries, many of which are based on barns, with natural rough-hewn timber, and stone.

It was absolutely quiet there. I'm sure that makes for superior grapes. I know I do a lot better in a quiet environment. You could almost hear them growing.

We brought some of the wine home to enjoy, but while it tasted quite lovely (and miles above the usual plonk I serve), it wasn't quite the same as sampling it at the winery, steps away from its terroir.

There, on the hidden bench of the Niagara escarpment, it tasted grand.

summer

2009-07-23T14:30:00.008-04:00

Or is it?...... This long-awaited season has made its appearance in the form of atmospheric skies, low-hanging clouds, and rain.

And while the trees and plants are rather lush, optimal growth, as it turns out requires huge amounts of sunshine.

I really do appreciate the fact that this is perfect strolling weather, where a girl can gaze upon all of the lovely lush and luxuriant growth (while not even breaking a sweat)....

But all the while I can't help craving those hot, humid, unforgiving days, the days when you can really unfold and unclench whatever it was that collapsed in on itself during that endless winter. I want to complain, and whine and fan myself, while saying the words spoken since time immemorial: "hot enough for ya?".......and the always popular "I'm just no good in this heat".

Please, Ma nature, there's still time. Just go for it!

P.S. I seem to have no blogging manners, since I tend to fall off the face of this blog on a regular basis, without explanations. All is well, just another uneventful summer,....except for the blackberries. Those were good this year. And I got a canoe. Other than that, same old,....thanks for asking. Will try to be more regular.

bloom

2009-06-01T10:55:00.010-04:00

What's blooming on the farm today....

It's important to take a few moments every day to soak it all in. Ollie gets the idea!

birthday boy

2009-05-22T10:15:00.013-04:00

Ollie is two years old today!

'who, me?'

As you can see, he still needs to grow into his large ears and giant head, but it'll come. The time has gone so quickly....it seems only yesterday that he was born. Here he is, just hours after his birth (Sadie is still covered in sweat after all of her exertions).

Sadie has been such a great momma to Ollie. She has really turned out to be a most excellent horse. Ollie has inherited her even-tempered disposition and general unflappability. He has been a pretty easy horse to train, especially for two novices (o.k., one novice- my husband and our wonderful friend Ed did the training, I mostly watched, with my breath held, and my knickers in a twist).

My job was caretaker and official spoiler and smoocher. (Note to self: do not let people take pictures of me while wearing pyjama bottoms and a bun in my hair).

Ollie has always been treated with kindness, and he is a very open, friendly,trusting horse.

It's actually dificult to take photos of him in the pasture, because before you know it ....

he's practically sitting on my lap.

'Mwah'! here's your kiss, please don't eat my camera. My husband has been taking him for some trail rides with the other horses, and he has done very well, so far. I'll probably wait another, oh, I don't know, five years before I ride him (I'm that chicken of a rider).

Happy birthday little Ollie. Stay sweet.

In the pasture (finally)

2009-05-20T09:45:00.006-04:00

The horses have been put out into their summer pasture, where they will basically graze undisturbed (for the most part, except for the occasional ride, weather permitting) until October. It's a large, square area with a run-in shelter, so they can get out of the weather.

They have an automatic waterer, so horse care at this time of year becomes pretty easy around here.

The only dark cloud is...the flies!

We are finally having a hot day (cue the halleluja chorus), and so the May 'biting bugs' have appeared. This results in fussy, fidgety, stamping, snorting horses.

I must go to the feed store and buy some bug spray (which only grants temporary relief, and also requires sneaky application since two of the three horses are scared of spray-and white cloths- it's a whole procedure, believe me).

Despite the bugs, I do look forward to the horses getting all glossy and fat (well, not too fat-although Joe and Ollie are looking thin. Our farrier told us that many of the horses he's seen have lost weight because of the tough winter weather). They already seem so much more relaxed after a difficult winter. It's a lovely sight to see them hanging out in the pasture just...being horses, enjoying the sun and the wind and the all-you-can-eat buffet, and dreaming about sleeping (as I'm told they all do) and perfecting the art of doing nothing!

Lilac time

2009-05-19T09:46:00.006-04:00

It's lilac time . It's been very cool here, so all of the blooming plants are able to showcase their finery for an extended period of time. I keep telling myself that, as I shiver in my sweaters and windbreakers. That, and also, the cold is keeping the biting bugs and mayflies at bay.

There's a gorgeous fragrance in the air as soon as I step outside. It's a feast for the senses. I can bring armfuls of these lilacs into the house.

And that's because we have *the biggest lilac bush ever*.

Big, huh?

The lilacs scent the rooms. Have you ever noticed that bringing flowers indoors makes both the suroundings and the flowers more beautiful? They add a gentle sense of life to a room.

You can't really say that about people, though. People bring energy into a house, but they don't ornament it. And some people can just suck all of the air out of a room, or make it seem gloomy. I suppose one shouldn't compare people to flowers...I mean when was the last time a plant made you a nice cup of tea or rubbed your back? Exactly.

Enjoy your day, and don't let the gorgeous springtime make you feel too silly and giddy....it's too late for me, I am in the process of being bewitched by the season. Happens every year.

Heat

2009-05-11T09:35:00.003-04:00

....is something that has been sorely lacking here these last few days. Cold and rain has been the order of the day.

The pansies can handle it, and it hasn't stopped the apple blossoms .

Full-out blooms, baby!! (too bad the apples from that particular tree are tasteless and mealy).

On a somewhat related topic, my horse Sadie is in heat! I discovered this while letting her graze on our lawn while I held her on a line. Joe, our old gelding (who was roaming freely) decided to mount her then and there! (well, he attempted to, anyway). This was rather alarming on many levels. First of all, I wasn't expecting it, and didn't want to be that close to that much 'action'. Secondly, she normally doesn't give him the time of day. I think she finds him too short, too boldly coloured and lacking in refinement. He's clearly not her type. Plus, the dude's a gelding.

Yesterday, though, she was basically stalking him, and giving him all kinds of signals and overtures, most of them none too subtle. Poor Joe, there's only so much he can do.

Ah, spring in the country. Bursting with life. And heat.

(almost) blossom time

2009-05-06T10:39:00.007-04:00

A sunny day with a hint of cool breeze; the air smells indescribably beautiful. The only thing I can compare it to is taking a drink of cool clear water after a thirst that's been long in the making.

And it's just about full-blown blossom time. Sometimes a slow spring has its good points. Must get outside to breathe it all in. Bye.

visitor

2009-05-04T08:54:00.004-04:00

Meet Rusty. He is an Appaloosa gelding belonging to my husband's sister's family. He's visiting us for a few days because they wanted to ride out to look at a farm they are considering purchasing, which is just a few fields over from us.

He's a very pretty, dainty, quiet horse. His mane is just so lovely and straight. Poor guy, though. He's being ostracized by our crew of horses. They take turns either intimidating him, or standing around in a pack and giving him the evil eye. If looks could kill....

Eat up, Rusty, soon you'll be bossed away from that hay pile. I think he'll be glad to get home to his own barn. Herd dynamics are so complicated, and involve hierarchies and associations. Rusty's a lover, not a fighter, so he just does his best to stay out of the other horses' way. I think our guys will be glad when he leaves, too. You can almost feel the tension.

The thing is, his next visit will probably be a lot easier. It's very interesting to observe, and things went pretty well over all. If my sister-in-law does buy that farm, the horses will have 'met' and be used to each other on trail rides. We shall see. In the meantime, I'm enjoying just looking at him. He classes up the joint (sorry Sadie, Joe, and Ollie!).

get em before they're gone

2009-05-01T09:58:00.012-04:00

Blue skies

Mud

Boots

Dogs

Wildflowers (just a few more)

Have a great weekend.

wildflowers

2009-04-28T09:47:00.007-04:00

Yesterday we were graced with sun and heat and wind. Enough to make a girl feel truly giddy. Our forested area has hardwood trees which take a long time to leaf- but nevertheless, things are greening up, there's no denying it!

I spied some wildflowers near the house and grabbed my camera. I know I promised a ramble, but think of this as a preview-I'll try to do a proper hike with the dogs, and boots and all of that, when it stops raining (it's bucketing down right now).

The wildflowers are usually small and delicate and easy to miss. You have to get down low (mud on the knees of your jeans) to try and capture their beauty.

This is a Trout Lily. I know because I looked it up.

These are white trout Lilies, which are apparently less common. We have a great many of them, and so we must be special.

Here is a little patch of trilliums. They are the official flower of Ontario, and so they cannot be picked. They do look a little prim and official, don't they?

Here is more of a glamour shot of a trillium, hey even official flowers have to let loose sometimes.

At the heart of the patch is a grouping of dark red trilliums. This patch is here year after year.

This flower is quite bold- I'm not sure but I think it's a bloodroot. They're quite vibrant and really stand out on the forest floor.

I don't know what these delicate little fellas are called, but they're pretty.

I'll try to do a little more research on the wildflower names etc.... and failing that, I can always just make stuff up. And until it stops raining, I guess I can just take a little breather.....

Er, I mean, do some spring cleaning! :)

smoke gets in your eyes

2009-04-24T10:48:00.004-04:00

I know you're not supposed to burn damp hay....

It can get awfully smokey....

....awfully quickly....

....but I do it anyway

It is spring cleanup time, after all. Have a good weekend!

gotcha

2009-04-21T13:51:00.004-04:00

AHA!

Just figured out yet another reason why I won't have any prize-winning perennials in the county fair this year (not that I would stand a chance anyway, but a girl can dream).

found

2009-04-21T11:45:00.007-04:00

This is the time of year when the earth gives up its secrets.

After the heaving from freeze-thaw cycles, bits of debris, or bits of history, depending on your point of view, can easily be taken from the soft soil.

We have found so many artifacts, some broken, some whole, peeking out of the ground in the springtime. Last spring, while sowing the front horse pasture with seed (how's that for a somewhat romantic image) my husband found this old half-penny coin from 1844, and a child's play ironstone teacup.

We also have a collection of arrowheads, most of them fairly intact. We label them with the date, location where they were found, and the name of the finder.

Here's a bottle with only a little chip, with its oxidized patina. It's quite small, and must have been a medicine bottle.

I have a jar on the windowsill where my kitchen desk sits, filled with bits of broken china and glass. Those early house-dwellers must have broken a lot of dishes (or I suppose their servants did). The best time to go looking for this treasure is in the springtime, after a rain. It helps if you adopt a contemplative stance, with your hands clasped behind your back, and your head down, eyes scanning the ground. Walk slowly. You never know what you'll find.

sprung

2009-04-20T10:24:00.011-04:00

I know I'm a bit late with this, but I hope everyone had a happy Easter. On the other hand, if you're Orthodox, then my timing is almost spot-on and you'll appreciate this snapshot, since you'll inevitably still be digesting your Easter celebration meal.

Spring has more or less sprung in my part of the world, and we have been graced with some (but not too much) beautiful weather. It sometimes feels like counting chickens before they're hatched, though, as yesterday was chilly and windy, and today.....

...today is rainy and cold. However, the grass is greening up, and it will soon be time to torture the offspring with endless sessions on the riding lawnmower. Some things in my garden (namely the ones which have escaped being sat upon by two large dogs) are beginning to unfurl.

Others remain tightly furled.

These peonies are getting ready to put on a show- it's funny, last year they only had a few modest blooms.

It's the time of rakes and shovels and rubber boots and gathering twigs and branches and burning piles....and picking up doggy doo... I keep my eyes peeled while doing so, though, because inevitably I'll come upon a treasure....

like this little woodland violet...when it warms up a little, I'll take you on a spring wildflower ramble. Bring your boots.

peaceful morning sunshine

2009-04-06T09:09:00.004-04:00

Today, freezing rain pellets are being driven against my windows by a relentless, gusty wind. There have been some moments of loveliness, though, in this difficult, slow spring.

This old house is not the greatest light-catcher, to my never-ending regret. I think I would be a much more successful, well-rounded person, if only I were surrounded by more light. The window-wells here are deep, and the place was built to exclude the elements, not let them in. But a few mornings ago, I came downstairs to find the kitchen table in such a pretty, peaceful morning light, I just had to take some photos.

Can you feel the quiet? (can you see the dust bunny? :) )

sugar jones

2009-04-03T10:21:00.002-04:00

There are times when there is NOTHING to snack on in the house, and since it's a little far to walk, you ask your Dad if he can give you a ride to the store for some candy.

No problem. Meet our environmentally-friendly transportation mode.

By the way, when they got there, the store was closed:)

spring break

2009-04-02T12:36:00.004-04:00

Oh hi. I seem to have inadvertently disconnected from the interwebs for quite a while now. My only excuse is that my kids were home for March break and they commandeered my computer. This year we didn't travel anywhere, and instead took part in some championship lounging and relaxing, interrupted only by regular bouts of sleeping in (kids, not me). It turns out that the official uniform of March break is pyjamas.

So really, you didn't miss anything. Oh, except that I cooked quite a bit. I even made some chicken soup. It was good.

There was a great deal of greyness, rain and thawing/flooding. Mud, mud, and more mud.

But today the sun is out and it's bright and drying things out nicely. And signs of spring are popping up everywhere.

Finally!

the season of mud

2009-03-09T09:25:00.006-04:00

Is it a bit dreary where you are? Are you looking for something pretty, a colourful diversion in your grey day? Well, you won't find it here.

It's the season of mud, and if it isn't water-logged and damp and rain-soaked, ......it's stark.

I was going to show you a picture of my horses' feet in the muddy paddock, but I was afraid it would make you cry. This is as close to the mud as I'll let you get. yechh.

The only silver lining is that since the ground is so saturated, it will give up its grasp on any rocks and weeds and things I've been wanting to remove for a long time. I imagine they will come out with a very satisfying squoosh. I think I'll go find my rubber boots. Girl's gotta have a little fun, you know. Enjoy your day.

tagged

2009-03-06T12:11:00.006-05:00

I've been tagged by pony girl: for this game of photo tag, find your sixth folder, and then the sixth photo in that folder and post it.

A 'heavenly blue' morning glory against a blue summer sky. I won't officially tag anyone, but please feel free to join in!

It's the little things that count

2009-03-06T11:34:00.004-05:00

I found this little note attached to the kitchen faucet this morning:

Ten year-old boys: priceless. Have a happy weekend!

on letting go

2009-03-04T11:27:00.024-05:00

Here's another thing to add to the list of completely unnecessary yet wonderfully fanciful things to own : an island.

For a brief couple of summers, we were the proud owners of an island on a lake in northern Ontario. Before you think this was a posh place with all the mod cons, think again (well, it did have most of the mod cons, actually, but only because we put them in). It was just a rustic little cabin, built in the 1930's , probably as a fishing camp, on a tiny island. These boat-access properties are actually a lot more affordable than road-access cottages, which have recently gone up very steeply in price.

This little getaway had been for sale for a long time, because it was in need of repairs, had only a hand pump in the kitchen as a source of water, and an outhouse. The lady who had owned it for thirty or so years had died, and her family was selling it.

Being the impractical fools that we are, we bought it. But only because the place had worked its charms on us from the moment we saw it. We set about to refurbish the cabin using mostly elbow grease and endless cans of paint. That was the summer of being very tired, but happy (although my kids did not enjoy the three-hour drive).

As with many things in life, though, we had to let the island go. A change in my husband's career path led us to the conclusion that it wasn't practical to have this extra place anymore. And so, though we are not practical people a lot of the time in many ways, we decided to sell it.

With the cold weather and never-ending winter I have been thinking about it quite a bit lately, and thought I would blog about it. So, if you'd like, please accompany me on this semi-sweet jaunt down memory lane (but I'm warning you, the post is rather long and picture-filled).

First, you have to jump on this large old boat from the '70's. It's noisy and makes a huge wake. Don't worry, the driver's very experienced.

Here we go.....and it's a beautiful summer day.

It takes about ten minutes from the marina....once I got lost on a dark night by myself, and had to spend the night at the neighbour's place....they were very nice and gave me tea and homemade cookies and let my smelly farm dog stay indoors....but that's another story for another time.

Here it is! Told you it was small!

This photo is out of order, but it shows you our little morning sunshine deck (that's where you bring your coffee and toast and enjoy the morning sunshine and the quiet beauty.

Here's the little old gangplank that leads from the old dock. The water levels fell quite a bit at the end of the summer.

Here's the main room. All of the furnishings came with the place, because of the difficulty of removing them. There was a lot of old smelly stuff (couches, mattresses,etc...) that we disposed of (we had to haul everything by boat). But there were many vintage pieces that made my heart pitter patter when I saw them. Did I mention we painted every inch of the place (including furniture)?

Look at these quirky little feet-face it, you would have bought the place too.

There was even a stuffed fish on the enclosed porch. And horseshoes over every door-if that wasn't an omen that I was meant to own the place, I don't know what was....

Pretty hand-hewn beams on the ceiling of the porch- and a water view out of every window.

The ceiling in the main room.

Interior windows with old rippled glass, old maps of the lake, a little bookshelf and two thick vintage wicker rocking chairs with at least 4 coats of paint under the final fresh coat of white paint I applied.

The original ice-house with the old ice tongs hanging inside (and every imaginable piece of discarded junk as well as vintage tools).

This tree was basically horizontal, but very much alive.

Even a wee little beach, about ten feet wide, but it was enough to build sandcastles on.

A picnic table for al fresco meals.

The little sunset deck where you could sit and read, and ponder (with a rickety old ladder to the water).

No tv at the cottage, so the kids were forced to watch the greatest show on earth:

Yes, I'm a sunset picture-taking dork...

Despite its small size, the island has huge trees on it...this part was sort of park-like.

And water, water, everywhere you look...the quietest, most peaceful spot...made for dreaming and napping and swimming and reading. You would have loved it.

still here

2009-03-02T17:57:00.006-05:00

February, it seems to me, is a month for turning inward. The land about you is about as appealing as an unclothed person with an unfortunate physical appearance who hasn't bothered to groom him/herself in months. it's all about the blemishes, the scars, the dirt..., i.e., doggie droppings, mud, bits of garbage, muck. Nature is nekkid and it ain't pretty. When it does snow, it's about as welcome as an ill-fitting, out-of style outfit. I'm talking white polyester pantsuit here, my dears. And did I mention that it's cold? It is.

In the spirit of turning inward, and brooding upon the never-ending winter season (in the great melancholy tradition of my Slavic forebears), I came upon a scheme. I decided to watch (in my spare time, of course) all seven seasons of the ' Gilmore Girls'. Surely, once I did that, winter would be over!! Well, Rory graduated from Yale, and Lorelai reconciled with Luke....but winter is STILL HERE.

I'm still here too, and I apologize for this unplanned (yet perhaps necessary) absence from blogging. The month of March, I hear, is one for turning outward and emerging, with face turned toward the sun, from one's cave.

I'm told Spring is on its way. I'll believe it when I see it!

birds

2009-02-11T09:26:00.023-05:00

This is a photo of my circa 1890 pastry server (taken without a flash). How do I know that this particular piece is an 1890s pastry server?

Cause Martha Stewart magazine says so. Here is a photo spread from the March issue featuring the pastry server in the centre.

It's the same as mine! (way ahead of you on that one, Martha, call me anytime for TIPS on how to do STUFF). Here is a photo of my 1890s pastry server (with the flash). Pretty, huh?

Actually, there was an entire article on bird motifs in decorating. And here I thought that birds were so over. And weren't fish supposed to be the new birds? (or something like that). Anyway, the truth of the matter is that bird motifs are classic and have been around for a long time. I've always been drawn to them.

Here is a bird-themed needlepoint chair detail.

Bird salt and pepper shakers. I'd never really noticed before, but these particular birdies look somewhat unintelligent. Oh well.

Alabaster bird baths. Love these things, they have no real purpose, except to tickle peoples' fancy.

A birdy-themed wall hanging in my daughter's room (out of focus ceiling shot due to extreme toxic teen mess on the floor). Oh, and one of the bulbs is out in the chandelier.

Little wooden bird on windowsill.

Birdy votive holders.

Did you know that a bird dropping landing on your head is good luck? It's true. I'm looking forward to spring when there's a real bird extravaganza, complete with songs, laying of eggs, and much twittering and swooping. I'll be on the look-out for the first robin. Can't wait.

thaw

2009-02-08T18:52:00.007-05:00

We enjoyed some lovely, above-freezing temperatures this weekend. There was a melowness in the air, a feeling of winter slightly loosening its grip, and granting us the favour of allowing some of the tired, dirty snow to melt.

It wasn't that urgent, rushing spring thaw, but something much slower. A reprieve.

There's still quite a bit of snow left, but we've definitely turned a corner on this challenging season. Oh, I know we're in for some major weather wallops before it ends, but it feels great to have most of it behind us.

And by the way, look who's back!

Since our wonderful Ed is gone, there wasn't much point in keeping Ollie at the in-laws', so my husband brought him home. He loaded very well into the trailer. Unfortunately the driveway was very icy, so he had to park truck and trailer on the side of the road, unload this lively fellow while there was a break in traffic, and lead him (slip-sliding) down the icy driveway. I had enough of a hard time just getting myself down the driveway, so that was quite a feat.

And imagine, if you can, a sweet reunion of a little horse family. It was the bright spot in my weekend.

The time away has done Ollie a lot of good. He seems to have matured and has benefitted from daily handling. He' still just a giant baby, though. Welcome home sweet (and troublemaking) Ollie!

gasp

2009-02-05T09:51:00.007-05:00

This morning the thermometer read -30C (that's -20 something F, I think).

This means that the moment you went outside, your breath was stolen from you by the dry cold, and you were left gasping.

It was that hovering, still, windless, BURNING cold.

Ice on your eyelashes cold.

Frost on your whiskers cold.

'Double rations plus extra grain' cold.....are you getting the picture??

At least the sun is out, and the day is bright. Stay warm, wherever you are today.

Ed

2009-02-04T10:15:00.002-05:00

It is with great sadness that I share with you the news that Ed, our lovely horse-trainer and helper, and friend, died yesterday in a road accident.

I tried to find a photo of him, and the only ones I could find were not full-on shots. He was a very unassuming, shy man, but always helpful and kind. He loved horses and was a true natural horseman. His techniques were not fancy, but based on patience and kindness.

Ed moved to a slower rhythm than most people do. After spending just a few moments with this quiet man, you couldn't help but feel more peaceful. I'm so glad that he was able to help us with Ollie, our little horse- he gave him such a good, loving start.

I'll miss the sound of his blue pickup truck rumbling down our driveway. I'll miss shooting the breeze with him, and hearing his latest verdict on Ollie's progress (and hearing him say "he's growed").

He will be missed by his friends and family (human and horse alike). Happy trails Ed.

feather in the snow

2009-01-27T10:00:00.002-05:00

We have a great many blue jays around our place. They are thriving and vigorous, due to the fact that they dive-bomb the dog food on a regular basis. They're quite plump, really. My youngest found this feather in the snow, and I thought I would update my header. I seem to have a bit of a feather theme going on.

Thank you for everyone's comments on the kitty standoff. I suppose patience is the key. Have a great day!

all cats all the time

2009-01-26T09:20:00.003-05:00

Our older, dominant female cat (Daisy) is not enjoying the new kitty quite as much as we are, to put it mildly. Any tips on helping an older female cat to accept a younger female cat? Anyone? Anyone? (halp! iz getting a bit ugly!!)

a corner

2009-01-23T07:04:00.008-05:00

This is a shot of a corner of our family room. I took the photo this way because of the mess of video games and board games on the floor (which are supposed to be stored in the cupboard- but are generally not). The framed vintage photograph is of a man and his horse and carriage.

Here's a closeup, you can see a bit of glare from the glass. I love antiques, but I tend to stay away from old photographs. They usually make me feel as if I am appropriating a bit of someone's history, and the subjects are usually sombre-having one's photograph taken was a serious, rare and probably expensive undertaking. But this photo spoke to me. It's of a young(ish) man and his horse and carriage. Would this have been the equivalent of a young man and his first 'sports car'? The horse is so strong and healthy looking, and the man so proud. There's an energy to this photo. I like it. The setting is rural, and quite idyllic (a frame house along a country laneway). I like to think of this fellow as having a long and purpose-filled life. Hopefully he wasn't some dissolute gambler or Lothario (I don't think so, he really looks quite proper. He was probably boring, had a lisp and really sweaty hands!)

...but I digress-have yourselves a wonderful, long, and purpose-filled weekend!!!!

the critters in winter

2009-01-21T17:35:00.015-05:00

Have I mentioned lately that it's COLD outside? The 'outdoor' dogs have managed to wheedle themselves into the mudroom by looking pathetic and sad and generally tugging at my heartstrings with their 'sad puppy ' eyes. The little schemers.

I must say, though, they do seem to enjoy soaking up every last bit of heat.

The cats just generally loll about, and do not even entertain the remotest thought of braving the outdoors.

And when that gets boring, they break into song. Opera, mostly.

I haven't posted any photos of the horses lately, so here you go.

Just kidding, that's a little bronze Victorian statue. Quite fetching, no?

Here's Sadie, chowing down.

There's been a lot of chowing down going on around here (by animals and humans alike). It is patently obvious that I have officially entered the first phase of cabin fever. You know, the silly phase. This can last quite a while.

Please send chocolate.

sunrise

2009-01-20T10:35:00.002-05:00

It was -20C this morning. There is so much snow , so much frost, so much beauty. And the light,...gorgeous. But me? All I could think about was coffee. Lots and lots of really strong, hot, steaming coffee. And doughnuts, loaded with sugar.

I am also thinking of the Inauguration, of course. What an amazing day-I'll be watching (while sipping my hot coffee). Idealism and hope. Good for what ails ya.

details

2009-01-14T10:32:00.006-05:00

When we bought our farmhouse, it had not been occupied for thirty years, and had been without windows for the last ten of those. Yes, we bought the local abandoned 'haunted house'. My husband remembers dirtbiking here with his siblings when he was a kid, and sneaking through the rooms. It was already a broken-down old place then.

Of all the doors in our farmhouse, the only one still hanging was the front door. All of the other doors had been ripped off their hinges and thrown out the (already broken) windows. Any slightest bit of hardware, be it decorative or utilitarian, was stripped. The mantels were gone, as were sliding wooden pocket doors and even the stair railing and baluster (which is sad,as those old railings really give character to a place-and of course, they were all hand-hewn back then).

We managed to salvage and re-use all of the doors- but we had to scout around for the right hardware and knobs.

We did our best to improvise with our findings, and I think we did pretty well. All of the doors had keyholes in them. I guess those were the days when everything was kept under lock and key- we even found a rusted old key when digging out the flower beds.

I don't notice the knobs so much any more, but today I was thinking about how much time and effort I put into finding them. Details are important, don't you think?

blech

2009-01-13T08:49:00.005-05:00

If whiteouts, howling winds, and cold weather warnings are your thing.......

Then baby, this is your day. All that's missing is the sound of the moaning, whistling wind as it drives puffs of wet snow in your face and up your nose. Just thought you'd like to know what's going on in these parts on this miser.., I mean, uh, .....bracing winter day.

flicker

2009-01-12T09:20:00.011-05:00

Even though there's a hazy, beautiful, white sparkling frost coating everything outside, I'm not exactly rushing out with my camera to snap away. It's starting to get a bit ...old. Instead, I thought I'd post a few shots of my living room fireplace.

On Saturday night, I spent quite a bit of time staring aimlessly at the fire. A basic amount of reverie is required when you have a fire in your fireplace. It's a given. It always makes me feel very connected to the former inhabitants of this old place. It's one feature that we use in exactly the same way it was always used: warming purposes and dreaming purposes. And if you turn the lights off, the shadows reveal their ghosts. But only for a split-second, and then you can resume your aimless staring. I'm certain it's a well-established tradition in this old place, and one I am responsible for keeping up. And I take my responsibilities very seriously.

snowy weekend

2009-01-09T09:12:00.004-05:00

It doesn't matter if they're predicting snow again this weekend. We'll try to dive in.

and enjoy! (time to get out the cross-country skis, I think).

miaow

2009-01-08T09:12:00.006-05:00

Bitsie, Bootsie, Socks, Cleo, Sweetie, Abby (the tabby), Tiggie,.....none of the names 'stuck'. Except for Kitty. And variations on that theme (Kitty bitty, Kitty Bo Bitty, Kit-you get the picture).

It has been a month now, since this gentle, playful, sweet little Miss showed up on our doorstep.

(Almost) everyone is quite smitten with the newcomer. The senior cat (Daisy) is the only one who can resist her charms.

The rest of us? Goners.

river

2009-01-06T11:57:00.007-05:00

You can't really know a river properly over a short time. It takes years, maybe even decades, for it to reveal all of its faces, and all of its possibilities.

Because of our recent snowfalls and thaws and freezings, the river, which is across the road from us, and which we are lucky enough to drive along daily, got very very high, and overflowed onto the river flats. It really asserted itself this winter. It was wonderful to see.

There were even people skating on the river flats. You see, our river isn't a virile rushing water source. It's lazy. It laughs, and purrs, and gurgles. So it was lovely to see it expand its boundaries....

That's the beauty of a river, the fact that it's always changing, flowing, moving. And at the risk of sounding overly fruit loopy, it's really a metaphor for life itself. And the passage of time. It's beautiful. (And you also get to see amazing wildlife- you can spot geese, ducks, swans, herons, even a bald eagle nesting). So you see what I mean when I say there's never a dull moment here in the country. Especially if you have a river.

not necessarily wiser

2009-01-04T11:57:00.006-05:00

The time right after Christmas includes my wedding anniversary and my birthday which I share with my son. This year we turned 14 and 43. Ouch. Although, I must say, 43 isn't that much worse a number than 42, so I can deal. It's a lot of celebrating, though, and we generally 'opt out' of a big shindig. My son and I, we're anti-birthday. It's just too close to Christmas, and we enjoy being grouchy about it.

Here we are, about to blow out the candles on our cake, which my daughter kindly baked. (I'm posting this picture, if only to prove that I don't have two noses and three arms, although a third arm could come in handy around here on certain days).

I had to suspend the grouch routine in order to laugh at my son. He has a great sense of humour. I must say, though, I'm glad all the celebrating is over, and I'm looking forward to getting back to a (somewhat) peaceful routine.

Birthdays. Harrumph.

new year

2008-12-31T16:59:00.009-05:00

Snow again here today. I happened to notice that in our small round ring, one of the horses had made a perfect figure eight with its hooves. I bet it's Sadie. I like to think she's leaving me a love letter in the snow. She remembers that I traced that pattern with her in the ring. It's a reminder that I should be riding her more. Or else it's just completely random. Sometimes I look for symbolism in happenstance. It makes life more interesting. Do you do that?

The shadows are lengthening on the old year. It's time to move on, I think.

I'm looking forward to a fresh start. This year, more than ever.

But for now, let's just put our party hats on, and celebrate.

I don't make new years' resolutions, because I generally make (and break) them all through the year. I do want to resolve, though, to make the most of whatever comes my way. And I do wish you all joy, and laughter and peace.

And a wonderful new year.

winter wind

2008-12-30T12:58:00.012-05:00

We have been at the receiving end of some dramatically windy and strange weather. As a result of this, our internet and phones were knocked out and we also lost power for most of a day. Such a dramatic finale to all of the Christmas chaos. Those winds felt kind of cleansing, in a way. There was, after all, a little too much of this:

And quite a bit of this:

Some of us were able to seize the day and take advantage of winter, before the downpours melted all of the snow away.

Too bad there isn't snow right now, as it does provide a welcome diversion for the kids out of school. Yesterday afternoon was almost spring-like, with its gentle breezes and lingering sunset.

Not to worry, though, I'm sure we'll be walloped several times over with winter before the season's through.

As for our outdoor (stray) kitty:

She has gradually made her way into our house (and our hearts). I'm taking her to the vet this afternoon. But come spring, I'm totally kicking her outside...(maybe).

the silly season

2008-12-21T13:06:00.012-05:00

What happened is this: I got swept up in the Christmas season, and neglected my blog. I suppose I get sidetracked quite easily. Also, I just felt like there wasn't much to share. I was wandering around outside, taking pictures of tree bark.

And snow. It just didn't seem that interesting.

And wouldn't you know it, the lovely P of what possessed me wrote a sweet post about my blog and photos, which I didn't see until yesterday. I was so flattered because P is a funny, savvy and intelligent writer, her blog is always visually interesting AND she features pictures of baby animals which will just slay you with their cuteness.

And then some (mildly) interesting things did happen. I got my shopping done (mostly). The house got decorated for Christmas (sort of), we got our tree (tall and thin). Also, I survived my daughter's Christmas exams and my sons' school Christmas concert. And then we had a ginormous snowstorm. There's nothing like a snowstorm to really make you feel like things are back on track. And it's snowing AGAIN today. A lot. I love it.

Here are a few snaps of Christmassy things around the house.

I think I'll go bake something now. Enjoy the season, and be kind to yourselves (and others, of course!). Glad to be back!

kitty update

2008-12-11T09:41:00.002-05:00

Am keeping the kitty. She will be our barn/garage cat. Don't worry, I may even sneak her into the house if it gets too cold. Thank you for your input. And your warm hearts.

visitor

2008-12-09T07:47:00.007-05:00

I am being tested by the universe. A wee little baby kitty has decided to make its home on my back porch. This sad little stray showed up two days ago. (sorry about the blurry picture below)

I suppose it doesn't help that I've been feeding it and provided a little towel-lined box for sleeping purposes.

I think kitty has picked this as its home, despite the fact that two large superior guard dogs roam freely, and a domineering feline already lives indoors. The thing is, kitty is so friendly. So sweet. So forlorn. What to do, What to do.... Do you suppose it could live in the garage? That's where we keep our hay. Help.

gathering

2008-12-08T10:43:00.003-05:00

There's a downy snow falling. It's cold, but there's no wind, so I thought it would be a good day to try and gather some greenery for Christmas decorating.

I set out , secateurs in hand, with visions of myself loaded down with armfuls of greenery (a la Martha Stewart). I hiked around to the middle of the back field via our little trail, to a stand of pines I had noticed on an earlier walk. By the time I scraped my way to them through the undergrowth and thorny bushes, I realized the branches were a bit high. I did manage to jump up and grab a few, and cut them down. This is all I managed to get despite my valiant efforts.

Those red branches are sumac. I cut them by the front of the property, near the road. I guess I'll have to try and fill out my little urns with some dry hydrangea heads and things scrounged from the garden.

Three things come to mind, after today's expedition:

1. Nothing good comes without a great deal of effort.

2. Simplicity is really the way to go, when it comes to Christmas decorating.

3. The only thing Martha and I have in common, is that we're both Polish girls and anything Martha-related that I have attempted is inevitably doomed to failure. (Not that you don't totally rock, Martha, you do ).

still life, with fruit

2008-12-05T09:56:00.005-05:00

Today I'm suddenly reminded...

of why...

I appreciate sweet ten year-old boys!

Have a great weekend!

early winter walk

2008-12-04T09:49:00.012-05:00

I went for a muddy winter walk yesterday, wearing my husband's coat, my daughter's hat and my son's boots. With my camera bumping against my stomach , a mug of cinnamon tea, and two lively dogs accompanying me, I felt I could face the wind and gloom and perhaps try and find some of the stripped-down, austere beauty of this season. Mother nature's goods aren't wearing their white winter finery at this point. Beauty is still there, it's just more subtle, and you have to look a little harder to find it.

It's a good thing I brought my camera, because normally I would stroll by with my head in the clouds, and get a general impressions of greyness and brownness and cold wind. The camera allows you to stop and capture (and linger over) things like this: a fairy staircase! (I know I'm a dork, but seriously, I think that's what it is!)

The squirrels will not go hungry around here, I've never seen so many nuts. These are hickory, and impossible to break. Once you do, it's hard to dig out the meat....but they're delicious.

Ah ha! I'll be coming here to cut some greenery. I knew these were here, I'd just forgotten .

In a sheltered spot, some colour. This will be nice for the deer to find.

Gratuitous seed-pod photo.

Oh look, my superior guard dog, waiting for me at the house. Don't you creatures know we're a pack, and I'm, like, the leader? And you have to stick with me...Oh well, we had a nice walk, and feel the better for it. P.S. in the winter, long-johns are the secret to contentment! Winter walks (preferably with dogs); good for what ails ya.

snippets

2008-12-03T11:43:00.007-05:00

It's cold and the wind is howling. Some days you just don't feel like you have much to offer. Well, maybe just a few snippets,

of cat naps,

of clocks, and mirrors, and a chandelier (slightly blurry-totally intentional, yep, just going for an 'effect', you know)

of a chair detail,

of sunbeams- maybe I'll pull on some long johns and take one of my superior guard dogs for a long, muddy walk, and try and catch some of those weak winter sun rays. And that's all for today, folks!

In the piano room

2008-12-02T10:38:00.004-05:00

We have a small room off the dining room which we call the piano room (because, well, the piano resides there, and not much else- a small desk and a few chairs). This room gets the morning sun, and a vine grows over the window in the summer. As a result of this, I haven't cleaned the window in a while, because one can't disturb a vine which is growing so vigorously. It would just be wrong.

The room is painted a yellowish-green, and I've hung some leaf plates above the piano. The piano itself is very old and made of walnut, I think. It's also out of tune, because the last piano tuner who worked on it, made some rather insulting comments about it (i.e. something along the lines of 'this reminds me of a model T Ford') and I suppose I'm still smarting from that. The sound which emanates from this vintage instrument has a saloon-ish quality about it. This used to be considered by my children to be an instrument of torture, but I can safely say that after about 11 years or so, they are starting to enjoy it.

As with any surface, things tend to accumulate there over time; a bust of a little french girl, some photos, plates, plastic music trophies. Dust.

Music adds to the ambiance of a home, don't you think? Especially live music. Especially the theme from the Super Mario Video game. We're all about culture around here.

Baby Ollie goes to college

2008-12-01T08:54:00.005-05:00

Ah, they do grow up quickly, don't they? It seems only yesterday that our 'new' horse Sadie gifted us with this gorgeous little critter. We did not know she was pregnant at the time we bought her, and the vendor did not tell us. This is a photo of Sadie and her baby Ollie, just a short time after his birth. Since I knew nothing 'bout birthin' baby horses, I ordered foaling manuals and consulted experienced horse owners about what to expect when youre expecting a foal. What did happen was that on a beautiful May evening Sadie took matters into her own hands (hooves) and did everything herself. I'd barely even cracked open the foaling manual when my husband, early in the morning said there was a 'surprise' in the field:

What a goregeous little fellow he was.

Soon Ollie was out and about (literally, he was quite an escape artist when it came to fences) and delighted everyone with his antics and ciuriosity. Joe, our older gelding (male horse) was an excellent babysitter and playmate. Momma, after all, was a bit tired with all the nursing and supervision (It's a full time job ).

Ollie was taken away for a month, in order to be weaned and gelded . He was a little stallion, after all, and starting to cause no end of trouble. He returned to the farm (and the happy little family was reunited). Our trainer and helper, Ed, has made some wonderful progress with him, and we have decided to further his education by sending him to 'school' five minutes down the road to my father-in-law's barn, where he will get daily attention from Ed, who is really relishing this task (he's even talking of riding him, he's a spry young 74). My husband rode Ollie on Saturday. He is getting the idea of forward motion and cues for walking and stopping. He leads beautifully.

The only thing is, I have a case of 'empty nest' syndrome in the pasture. Sadie and Joe look somewhat forlorn (or maybe I'm imagining it). Either way, they will be getting extra grooming, treats and extensive hugs from me.

Ollie will be back in the spring (and I've explained it to Sadie and Joe) hopefully a more mature and better behaved horse. I'll keep you posted on his training progress and new digs (I'll be visiting him-for treats and hugs).

This (horse) parenting stuff, it's not easy, I tell ya!

local news

2008-11-27T10:02:00.004-05:00

In my local newspaper yesterday, I came across a couple of items which made me giggle. I don't mean to come across as a snob, or to belittle our little town paper (actually there are two), after all, this is a valuable source of information and links us to the community's goings-on. But.....

Item 1: an ad for a new spa, hair studio, and wellness centre. This was actually well done and caught my eye. The location? 'directly behind Sit 'n Bull gas station'. (Tee-hee).

Item 2: LOST: lower denture plate in either one of the two towns mentioned. (Wouldn't the person have noticed? How will the poor soul eat?).

..wait, in the comment by the editor, it says the county is "compromised of" several areas, instead of 'comprised of'....(hee-hee).

I suppose I'm easily amused, but I've found that our local newspapers are quite entertaining-just maybe not in the way they are intended to be.

And on a totally unrelated note, here is a photo of some found items: shed antlers, and a little nest under glass. We sometimes find the most amazing nests with our dogs' hair and horses' mane or tail hair intricately woven into them. You see, little details can sometimes amaze or amuse :)

domestications

2008-11-26T14:06:00.005-05:00

The wind is howling something fierce outside. I can't decide if the air is assaulting me at high velocity and pushing any remaining warmth out of me, or if it's pulling it out of me at the same time as it's making my hair go horizontal. The dogs are insisting on being let in, and the horses are obsessed with their feed, and prancing with anticipation when it's feeding time. If you met my horses on a day like today, you would find them less than charming (especially Sadie, the big Mama). They seem somewhat greedy and rude, but it's only the windy cold weather that's making them grouchy.

I wish I could say that I retreated indoors today, to polish silver (mostly silver plate, my dears), but alas I did not. Of all household tasks it's one of my favourites (that and loading the washing machine-not unloading it, or folding laundry, those are less hope-filled activities, don't you find?). I love the quiet ritual of polishing tarnished silver and bringing it back to a lively sparkle. No, today was one of those days when I try to tie up loose ends, and tick off necessary but uninspired tasks from my to-do list....and aren't most days like that?

I did have time to take a few snaps of a silver tea (and coffee) service which sits in my dining room. I don't use it, except, of course to polish it twice a year (hopefully) and to wonder, when I pass by it, who did use it, when, and wasn't it awfully heavy to carry around when the pots were all filled?

november

2008-11-24T08:43:00.004-05:00

Here's the thing about November: it's a transitional month. Because it bridges the gap between fall and winter, it can provide you with a real mixed bag of weather. I generally think of this month as being all greys and browns and darkness. But it's not, really. This weekend we experienced a little of everything. A few moments of snow-globe swirls:

Some wind-less sunshine, perfect for doing a little training of giant baby horses:

"I don't like to be trained. Look at the gear they make me wear. It's positively undignified".

And the proverbial greys and browns. The farmers who lease our land decided to fertilize and plow. It looks like a giant fudge cake right now (but smells oddly like salty beef boullion). I hope you all had a good (and varied ) weekend!

tea wisdom

2008-11-21T10:10:00.012-05:00

"You're not thinking of making me go outside, are you?"

With the advent of the cold weather, Scout has claimed his spot on the rag rug in the mudroom. He takes every opportunity he can to barge in, throw himself down, and promptly fall into a deep snoring sleep. If he's awake on his rug, he sinks into the floor, and avoids eye contact as if he's thinking, "they probably can't see me if I try to make myself really small". And for a hundred pound dog, that's quite a feat.

We all have our winter rituals, things we turn to, to bring a little warmth into our lives. One of mine is drinking endless cups of tea. I was inspired by fellow blogger Ladi Fi to try a kind that is new to me: Yogi tea.

I happened upon it at a health food store on a trip to the city, but they didn't have the kind she had written about (chili spice I think). Anyway, Long story short, I tried it and promptly floated away on a cloud of bliss. Seriously. It's that good. It's spicy, flavourful and warming. Black pepper is one of the ingredients, so it has a nice little kick to it.

And look! attached to the tea-bag are some words of wisdom:

So you can meditate and ponder while floating in your cloud of gingery warmth. Try it. (But only if you want to). :)

snow is softly falling

2008-11-20T08:13:00.007-05:00

A light, feathery snowfall, just perfect for the first snow of the season. Everything feels hushed and blanketed. Peaceful.

These two (Mama and her giant baby) have already had their breakfast, but I think they wouldn't turn down a pear or two.

See how feathery the snow is?

The bush looks mysterious but inviting at the same time.

Beauty in the everyday. I hope you find some today.

Instant Relatives

2008-11-18T20:20:00.007-05:00

These photos could have been so much better with natural light, but I took them in the afternoon when things get (agh!) dark early on. I obviously need to bone up on how to take good photos using a flash. Oh well, baby steps.

It's my preference to have original artwork around the house, rather than reproductions. Most of the paintings we have are original, most of them are old, and most of them (actually all) are by little-known, or unknown artists. (And most of them were a real bargoon).

I do like modern art as well, but this old place tells you what it likes and wants. No, really, it's true. I once tried to paint the front hallway a pale yellow, and you should have seen it! It looked all confused and unhappy. It cringed. After I painted it a non-descript greyish-putty colour, it took a deep breath and smiled. It's all about keeping the house content.

So anyway, meet my instant relatives! Instant relatives are people whose portraits were painted once upon a time, then one hundred years or so later, these same paintings ended up hanging in some out of the way antique store, or leaning against the floor in a corner of the flea market. When you purchase one of these portraits and drag it home, you get the dubious honour of pretending that these are your relatives, and you also get to name them. Really. This is Georgie. He lives in the dining room. He seems a little vain and self-centred. I don't think I would have liked Georgie too much, had I met him in person. The (somewhat) formal dining room seems like the perfect place for him.

This next painting is of my fake uncle Nestor. He's actually my favourite. He seems like he was a nice and jolly person, and he has kind eyes. He gets to live in the hallway, where we can see him every day.

Isn't there something kind of gentle about him?

This last fake relative hasn't been named yet. I'm not so sure what to think of her.

This painting is actually signed, and the artist was Irish (I looked it up). I wonder what her story was (someone's wife? A widow? A spinster? ) What do you think? How about a name? I keep thinking something starting with 'A'...Arabella? Aurelia?

Help me out here, folks, it's just not right to leave one's fake, instant relatives unnamed!

all is well

2008-11-17T09:28:00.002-05:00

I survived (and enjoyed) my 13-year old son's confirmation on Friday. And because I tend to take things a little far sometimes, I ended up going over-board with the cleaning (I even finished painting my kitchen floor, which I had been meaning to do for the longest time), and of course there was much too much food, but all in all it was a lovely event. All is well.

My kids laid claim to my computer over the weekend, and between assignments, games and watching of movies (and other high-priority items), I couldn't seem to get near it. I will be getting back to my regular routine of spending time with my horses and dogs, and taking photos, all the while letting the cobwebs re-establish themselves. It's as it should be, really.

Remembrance

2008-11-11T11:03:00.001-05:00

(photo by Steve Steel, Flickr).

burning break

2008-11-11T08:56:00.010-05:00

First of all, I just wanted to show you that I did not start a forest fire. See how the wood pile is burning down nicely, and there's lots of ash and glowing embers?

So anyway, back to the beginning. It's a cold and damp and grey November. I was stuck inside catching up on a monumental amount of housework. I needed a break. And what better way to snap out of today's monotony than to have a go at the burning pile outside. There's not much wind, the ground is damp and we have a burning permit until new year's eve (just covering all the bases, kids, I'm Sally Safety after all).

The pile lit up nice and quickly, it was mostly old dead wood. It's very cheery. It smells nice, and is quite mesmerizing to watch. Much more restorative than a tea break. And it's also extremely satisfying to get rid of old dead wood piles.

We have a lot of bonfires outside in the winter. And oh, the most wonderful ones are during a thick and heavy snow. The contrast between the cold and white and the fire is just wonderful.

You see, there's never a dull moment out here in the country.

Some of us with more delicate sensibilities also enjoy a nice fire. But preferably one we can flick on with a switch.

Enjoy your November!

the song that never ends

2008-11-10T10:02:00.007-05:00

My 13-year old son is having his confirmation on Friday. This is all fine and lovely and meaningful. However. This also means I have to throw a bit of a shindig. Which means I have to organize and prepare food and drink and flowers. Which means I have to get the house in order. Which means I have to clean and vacuum and dust. Which means I have to attack the dusty chandeliers I have neglected all summer. My husband has taken the step-ladder. Which means I have to get a stool. And several phone books. And try to balance on them, in order to reach the lights.

Housework is the absolute BANE of my existence. In fact, I'm pretty confident that in purgatory, that's what they make you do. That, and painting endless rooms and woodwork. With smelly oil paint.

But I digress. I should actually be looking forward to a family gathering to celebrate my son's special day. Unfortunately, I'm not a big entertaining-type person. I always seem to get into a huge flap. The proverbial headless chicken, running around, squawking....But still, look at all those darned crystals.....

Before I get back to my endless list of menial , fussy, neverending, unrewarding tasks, tell me, do you enjoy throwing parties, or would you rather just sit in a comfy corner with your nose buried in a book and a do not disturb sign glued to your forehead (like, um......me).

weekend

2008-11-08T11:24:00.006-05:00

Have a peaceful one.

warm weather walk

2008-11-05T21:48:00.013-05:00

November is the month of greys and browns. It's usually quite cold, and so if you're out on a walk, you hurry along, thinking all the while about that hot cup of coffee, of tea or steaming bowl of soup (at least I do, but I think about food all day) that will be waiting for you at home.

I had a few stolen moments yesterday, so I walked the little trail along the river in the neighbouring town. And because it was so warm, I was able to just enjoy all the beauty November provides, instead of fixating on a hot drink.

On a colder day, I wouldn't have noticed this little seed pod.

Or this fuzzy guy.

When your camera lens is dirty, you can get some neat light effects.

I think I enjoyed this excursion that much more, because I hear we're in for some soup weather just around the corner.

It was nice while it lasted.

mornings

2008-11-05T10:13:00.006-05:00

I like fall and winter mornings when everything is hushed and dark, and you (if you are a morning person) can see the day slowly emerging and taking shape. Here, the moment you stir, Daisy the cat (aka queen of the house) will start her morning meowing song. She has radar hearing, you see, and the moment you set a foot outside your bedroom door, she will hurl herself at top speed down the stairs. She keeps up her singing until she is fed, wherein her purr kicks in (and it's a loud, and gratifying one) .

'Ooh, turn that flash off, will you?' (morning people don't always take very artistic pictures when it's too early).

Scout the farm dog, who sleeps on the doormat right outside the back door, has his own way of greeting the mornings too. He likes to sing for his breakfast by letting out his famous 'morning howl'. He is promptly shushed and fed. It's his favourite time of day- that, and belly scratching time.

When you step outside, you will see that the horses are already waiting to be fed. The moment they see you, they will let out their soft nickering sounds. Such velvety sounds on a foggy morning.

Shane (the other farm dog) always supervises the feeding of the horses, then eats his own breakfast. It's a carefully choreographed routine, and he wouldn't want to deviate from it.

Scout feels no need to supervise (he likes to delegate most tasks) and tucks in right away.

Those are the sights and sounds of mornings here (and I'm excluding the human animals, because they are not very melodic in the morning, as you can imagine). It's nice to be greeted so enthusiastically when I wake up.

Even if it's just a case of 'cupboard love'!

last night

2008-11-05T08:11:00.002-05:00

Last night I watched a man make a historic acceptance speech. He spoke with a great sense of humility and sobriety. He has stepped into a most challenging time in the world, and so many people have great hopes that he will shoulder the burden with courage, intelligence and grace. The whole world is watching.

thank you

2008-11-04T11:31:00.002-05:00

To whom it may concern: thank you for this reprieve from the fast-approaching winter weather. Such balmy temperatures!!! Today was supposed to be a day of epic battles with dust bunnies, but now, instead, I am forced (forced!) to go out and enjoy some sweet sun and a soft breeze. Oh, and another thing....thank you also for the sweet little ladybugs (in November!).

Oh, give me a home...........

2008-11-02T18:46:00.007-05:00

There are quite a few blogs, some of them highly enjoyable and wildly successful, which feature cattle. Now, don't get me wrong, I do enjoy those blogs myself. I just wanted to point out that here, at this humble little Canadian blog, we sometimes go above and beyond the call of the cattle. Here, we sometimes give you pictures of: dunh, dunh, dunh, dah: Buffalo!!!

That's right, a neighbouring farm just down the road from us has buffalo roaming around its fields.

They appear to be kind of shy, "hey, Mr. Buffalo, I mean you no harm, don't run away!"

They seem to be such placid, content creatures, and somewhat ungainly and oddly-shaped, to tell the truth. The buffalo babies have thin legs and huge bodies, but they're very sweet looking. I hear buffalo meat is very good for you, because it's low in fat. I don't think I'll be having any soon, though.

Well, now that you've seen these critters, please rest assured that I can also provide you with cattle photos at the drop of a hat. I'm versatile that way. Stay tuned.

November

2008-11-02T08:12:00.006-05:00

Frosty, sunshiny November morning

It's a good time for.......

A belly scratch! (Scout's philosophy: any and every time is a good time for a belly scratch!).

all hallow's eve

2008-11-01T08:20:00.010-04:00

happy haunting

2008-10-30T19:32:00.006-04:00

Ghosts and goblins will be roaming the streets tonight, but not around our place. We have never been visited by any trick-or-treaters, our lane is a bit long and dark, and that is fine by me. My husband will be taking the kids out to the neighbouring town to gather loot. I will be sitting at home with my feet up, enjoying a glass of wine (it's as it should be, really).

I didn't think that my daughter would go out this year (she is fifteen after all), but she seems to be the one who is the most excited. She even sent me out to purchase twenty-six yards of tulle for her ghostly costume (assembled in a free-form, no-sew manner by yours truly). She makes a very effective ghost, don't you think?

Have a great Halloween, and remember, chocolate is good for you!

time pocket

2008-10-30T09:43:00.009-04:00

Sometimes you are unexpectedly gifted with a little slice of time. You'll be waiting for, let's say, your boy's piano lesson to be finished. While you wait, you will realize that it's a beautiful day. You'll also realize that you actually brought your camera with you. You will roam around the town. You'll snap a few photos.

It will be so still and windless that you will hear the papery leaves falling to the ground.

So still that the river will appear not to be moving at all.

You'll try to take pictures of the falling leaves, but this is very hard to do and you won't quite be able to capture them. You will instead remember the sound of them falling, and the dusky, earthy smell in the air.

You'll take a last look around, and take a picture of the piano teacher's japanese maple (and hope she thinks you're not a nut for lurking around in her landscaping)

You'll feel the sun on your face and feel peaceful. And grateful for this sweet little pocket of time.

collecting

2008-10-29T08:25:00.014-04:00

It's quite blustery out, and so I won't be venturing out with my camera, trying to capture whatever last fall foliage is still stubbornly clinging to the wind-whipped branches. In the summer, we take every opportunity to be outside. When the weather grows colder, our attention turns indoors (and oh, Mama, the dust!!!!!). We appreciate things we haven't noticed in a while. Like these sweet little dust catchers, er... I mean tea cups.

I have a collection of these 'Occupied Japan' cups and saucers (imported from Japan between 1945-1952, I looked it up). My favourites are the ones that have a luster finish, and have little feet.

They look like they might just walk away (albeit very slowly, kind of like a corgi with its short legs!).

They are very pretty in a 'funky granny' kind of way, and not too hard to find (and also not very expensive).

Many of the cups have unusually shaped and scalloped edges. They're fanciful, is all I'm trying to say, and people always enjoy using them . But not this one, it's my favourite and no one else is allowed to use it (just kidding).

Perhaps I've inspired you to start your own collection of these. Or not. Perhaps a collection of these is only the first step towards becoming a crazy cat lady who collects cups and saucers and various other tchotchkes.....

House of the Living Dead

2008-10-27T19:38:00.021-04:00

On a hot and humid August day this past summer, a stranger knocked on our door. The man was scouting properties for a movie to be filmed sometime in the near future. He left his card and asked us to call him. When I came home later that day, the kids were full of chatter and excitement about our house being used for a movie.

"Really?....What movie?" I asked.

"Well.....um....o.k......you won't like this....but.....it's for a zombie movie" said my husband.

"!!!!!!!??????"

Yes, that's right, folks, our property was scouted for a sequel to Night of The Living Dead (apparently a horror classic- I haven't seen it, nor do I plan on doing so).

And, o.k. the grass may have been a bit longer than usual (it was such a rainy summer), and some of the landscaping could have been a little tidier (we were busy, people!) but a horror flick? What was it about our place that made someone think "yes, zombies!"....

It turns out that my helpful husband gave the man a tour of the property, and let him take pictures, all the while pointing out the features that would make this the perfect setting for zombie-ish goings-on.

The forested area was declared a perfect place to film the part where the police chase the zombie children through a dark forest, shooting at them all the while.

No attic in which to keep the undead, flesh-eating children locked up? No problem! Helpful husband pointed out that we had the perfect spot above the garage (bats and dead flies thrown in for free)!

We haven't heard back from the property scout yet, and I hope we don't. I'm assuming they found a more zombie-appropriate setting. I'm trying not to take too personally the fact that my house puts people in mind of a cult horror B-movie- really not an effect I was going for when making my decorating decisions.

I'm trying to look on the bright side, and how this experience has provided me with an interesting anecdote about the house. It's funny, actually, Hah hah hah. Hah. Hm.

Would you allow a horror movie to be filmed at your house?

(rainy) weekend!

2008-10-25T11:10:00.005-04:00

Time to get cozy!

on being ridden

2008-10-23T18:54:00.010-04:00

Shhhh.....we must be very quiet, Ed is here and today is the second time that my husband attempts to sit on Ollie's back! (Ollie is our little one- and- a- half year old gelding. Ed is the lovely man who is training him-the horse, that is). I am very nervous because I know nothing about training horses, but it seems to me that attempting to get on the back of a young horse is best left to experts or absolutely crazy people who are adrenaline junkies. So I guess my hubby the farmboy fits the bill, and I don't mean in the horse expert department. Let's tiptoe closer, and make sure the flash is off....

I hear some nervous laughter.... Ed is getting Ollie all tacked up and ready....

Hubby gradually puts weight on the saddle and gets on and off a few times. It's o.k, we can come closer now, but we musn't startle the horse....

Mission accomplished! Ollie the horse is very very slowly getting used to having someone on his back. But it's only the beginning, and he's not too sure about this whole procedure!

We are so lucky to have Ed helping us- he's a bit of a horse whisperer, has been around them all his life. His techniques are based on kindness and patience. He was pretty disappointed that he would not be the first one riding Ollie, but he's getting on in years (I think he's 78 or so) so it's probably a wise decision, though I don't doubt that he would do it in a pinch- the man rides every day, and training just comes naturally to him.

I myself won't be riding Ollie for a while. I think in about ten years or so, I'll give it a try.

There, don't you feel better now, with that Dude off your back? Oh, and look, while you were learning about being sat on, your Mama went to the beauty parlour and had her hair done!

Isn't she purty?

my glamorous life

2008-10-21T20:50:00.006-04:00

How did you spend your afternoon?

Ah well, at least now it sparkles, my circa 1940's-1950's (?) Frigidaire by General Motors stove, that I bought ten years ago at a salvage yard for $125.00.

And no, I did not wear pearls and heels while doing this. Or lipstick.

dear daisy

2008-10-20T19:46:00.008-04:00

dear daisy:

We have known each other now for five years or thereabouts. Oh, I'm sorry, did I interrupt your nap in my 'clean laundry' basket?

Where was I? Oh yes...I was reflecting upon our relationship. It has seemed, of late, to be a one-sided thing, a relationship of inequality, where one party (you) takes, and the other party (me) gives. I give you food, shelter, warmth, comfort and love, and you take all of the aforementioned from me. I have grown to accept the ways in which you have made your presence known in our home; the soiled carpets (three of them, one irretrievably so), the scratched stair treads, the hair, the hairballs, the pulled threads, the 'upchucks', the periodic "gifts" you occasionally leave in abandoned room corners..... the expensive vet visits (one requiring seven enemas), your delicate digestion, how we have to mix metamucil into your smelly wet food (fish flavour only, of course!)....the fact that you won't even sleep in anyone's bed unless it's empty, and how you simply can't tolerate sitting in anyone's lap .

I have even accepted that I am at your every beck and call, your personal door-person if you will, letting you in and out and in and out throughout the day....Yes, I have accepted that you are basically the ruler of the house. And on any regular day, this would create within me a certain amount of resentment and thinly-veiled frustration. But not today. Today, to my unending amazement you caught a mouse. Today, you rule!!! Daisy, I salute you!

Your faithful servant, the hayseed.

first frost

2008-10-19T20:37:00.011-04:00

We had our first frost on Saturday night. Any last remaining flowers have been pretty much zapped. As far as outdoor tasks go, I still have to clean up my perennial beds before winter, and there's also some general leaf sweeping to be done, although the wind seems to do the job for me in the end. We have a great number of black walnut trees, and the huge nuts are scattered everywhere. We used to pick them up and toss them into sparsely-treed areas, hoping mother nature would do the planting for us, but we have also let them lie. The squirrels are very efficient gatherers, and there are rarely any left in the spring. So you see, my reluctance to pick up the nuts stems from the fact that I would be interfering with the squirrels. I'm all about equal opportunities for squirrels and squirrel rights (or something like that).

My husband has mown the final bit of grass, and claims his list of tasks is almost complete too. He'll have more time to monkey around with the kids now, something he truly excels at.

Being part-monkey comes in handy when he's on the (very, very) high roof (I can't look!) cleaning out the eavestroughs. Perhaps I'll be able to give him my camera for some panoramic shots. Let's hope we have many more good-weather days before winter makes its appearance.

weekend

2008-10-18T15:09:00.011-04:00

Have a great one!

the wise oak

2008-10-16T13:29:00.030-04:00

On a day when you just don't feel quite centered within yourself, when things are just a little bit off, it's best to go for a walk.

There is a trail which circles our back field and runs along the bush on the property. I think it's the old tractor trail for the farm, and a way to enter the different fields without trampling whatever crops are growing there. We try and cut the grass on it a few times in the summer and keep the brush from growing on it. It isn't perfect, but we enjoy it, and so do the deer.

This is the best time of year to follow our little trail, because of the fall colours, of course, but more importantly: absence of mosquitoes! It's best to take a trusty dog along with you.

It soon lets out into the first back side field, which is not to be confused with the second back side field. I call them that because my creativity knows no bounds. The first back side field looks pretty nice today, no?

We can't linger too long, though, since there is a purpose to this walk. We are here to see the 'wise oak'. In order to do that, we have to go into the bush itself. In the summer and spring it's not that hospitable, because of the bugs and all the undergrowth and brambles, but today? It's great.

There's stillness here. And peace. And squirrels.

A seasonal stream runs through this part.

And here, with its gnarled roots overhanging the stream, is the wise oak. I call it that because, like I said before, my creativity knows no bounds. This is one of the biggest trees close to the house. It's huge and very old. I am always drawn to this tree when I'm here.

You can get an idea of its size compared to my (fairly large) german shepherd.

This is a tree to linger over. You have to step back, see all of its limbs, approach it from different angles, marvel at its height, examine the trunk, admire its leaves......

Touch its velvet moss-covered roots. Sit awhile. Think.

When you feel replenished (and it doesn't take that long, this is the wise oak, after all), you can follow a deer trail back to the main trail.

Deer prints.

We can head back to the house now.

"Hey, why didn't you take ME along, I'm totally trusty too!"