near and far

How can something so close seem so far away?

A favorite place, easily viewed from my window inside, is not the same when I can actually spend time there. Just as viewing a place on a website far away, from a window on my computer monitor, visiting that place IRL (in real life)- must offer so much more -if only one could actually be there.

These are things I dream about.

Life is busy, and hasn't allowed much time to be at a favorite place.

Yesterday, while the sun was shining, I enjoyed this place. Enter.



There was a large ice cube at the base of the twining trees,



and the river was shimmering, full with the light from the winter sun.



The rocks are coated in snow and ice,



and the rim stands in stark contrast to the dark waters.



Walk with me!

Joy! to you and yours!

featherbeds and warm fires

Its time to snuggle down.



Even the whitetail want to do it.

Recent snowfall and frosty air was enough to send me into the closet to dig out the feather bed. There isn't anything quite as comfortable as snuggling under a bunch of goose feathers when the mercury plummets.



The yearlings came by to visit. It is the first time I've seen them since opening day of rifle season. One of them has been injured, and has been shot in the ear. The ear hangs down on the side of its head like a limp rag.

The other yearling seemed fine.



Yet still a litte shy....as it should be. The flag went up as I approached.



Hiding behind the tree and peeking out to make sure the coast is clear...



....and running to tell mother. old habits are hard to break.



it is ok, we all need someone to lean on.



So. I stoke the fire in the coal stove, and watch winter from the window.

lots of pots or counting cucurbitas

This past summer, my little gourds grew well.
I planted the seeds along the fence and allowed their tendrils to coil and cling to the poultry wire.
They bloomed, were pollinated (thankfully!) and eventually became fruit or little pepos.
Some of them grew very large!
I allowed them to mature on the vine, and finally harvested them just before frost.
I've been curing my cucurbitas in the mudroom, near the woodstove.
A few gourds have finished within 2 months time...and the mesocarp and endocarp are completely dry.



Now they are ready to be turned into flax water pots.



Once they are opened and cleaned, I sand and polish the exterior and create a hanger from my handspun linen.



Then I send them out into the world, to spinners near and far! They will hang on a spinning wheel and assist those who like to spin linen. The spinster will fill the pot with flax slurry, made from flax seed, and dip their fingers into the pot when they need to smooth the line.