A Treasure in Every Way

 On a beautiful fall afternoon, I found this special pendant in my mailbox and I've only taken it off to shower since then, except for this little foray out into the woods. Something about this piece made me want to take a photo on a bed of moss, and I finally did it! I should have taken out the real camera, not just cell phone, but another day. Great fun to display elements and gem in natural settings, and as much as I like how it came out, can't hold a candle to the way the afternoon light complimented in real life.

This came straight off the workbench of a talented artist that has had a shop on historic Jeweler's Row in Philadelphia for many years. This particular piece was created just for me, silver, gold and opal configured in such a way to include elements of symbolism influenced by Celtic design. Over the years, I've been gifted special pieces from my parents and this jeweler, treasures that mean a lot to me; but a piece made for me was humbling somehow.

Of course this isn't a random artist, Jane Theis is my cousin. She has been metal smithing since at least high school, if not before. Her accomplishments are many, and to say she is talented is an understatement.

We all need to feel special sometimes, and to think about symbolism and be empowered by the thought, care and love that went into creating art. Where would we be without art as a way to create, a way to appreciate, a way to lift us up, move our spirits and feed our soul ~~

Thank you Cuz

Yay! The cold snap has broken!

Phew, I'm sure since a large portion of the US was experiencing a cold spell for the last two weeks  so it isn't news to most of you, and everyone must also be feeling the relief! Mount Washington, in NH was officially the coldest place on earth the other day!

Yesterday around 20 degrees felt great, and today's 36 feels balmy! Yesterday my goats and ducks were visibly relieved and people's spirits were noticeably lifted!

 I try not to complain about the cold, because I like to grumble about the heat (and I don't think it's fair to do both! haha) but two solid weeks of it hovering either side of zero was draining. Still, there is the bright side, there is always a bright side... We had an ice storm the Saturday before Christmas, and thankfully it wasn't heavy enough to knock out the power and it was incredibly beautiful. When the sun shone through, everything, every tree, twig or weed simply glistened. The night skies had a rich color and the light of the full moon also lit up the branches in a surreal way. The iced remained for longer than I ever recall. When the winds kicked up, the trees broke free and it sounded as if tiny shards of glass we falling all around.

Enjoy your week, I will be basking in January thaw as long as it lasts (we might even see 50)!

there was a flock of crows sunning themselves in these trees, but I scared them -
did you know a group of crows isn't a flock, it's called a murder - yikes!

finally some melting!

happiness, sunny and warm
Cowboy, Millie, Jake and Lily

they are so relieved, they haven't ventured out for days
they have still been laying eggs, what good girls,
unfortunately most of them froze and cracked before I got them

had a beautiful round bale delivered
really nice hay, and feels SO good to have feed on hand

on the "to do list"

this window is never frosted!

made my husband turn the car around for this one

in the valley

pictures didn't do justice to the beauty

Good Morning

While it is difficult to adjust to having less daylight, the beautiful way the light is cast across the landscape when the sun is low in the winter sky makes a fair compensation. Sunrise and sunset are often enfolded in a golden glow that isn't nearly as prominent in the summer alignment of the earth and sun.

For a short window, the timing is right so that a trip to school in the morning coincides with sunrise, and the trip home after practice pairs with sunset. Of course the evening commute becomes a delicate balance (or rush) to make it back to get the ducks and chickens safely to bed before a fox notices them. 

 This is the time to find bright red berries along the roadsides, I briefly considered gathering a few and adding them to this farm's front door, but perhaps that would be rather audacious, so I refrained!

 It seems quite easy to be drawn to the reflections and refractions of light against old windows. Can you imagine the life of this barn back when it was in full use? What grew up that trellis, old fashion roses, morning glories?

Building along back roads: here the well drilling rig is set up and ready to drill. Snow will fly before we know it, our views will shift again.

Zipping Right Past Fall

Lunch at the diner with my Gram

 Bear with me while I cast a quick, backwards recap of a few glimpses of fall. I love the moon, this was after midnight on a full moon - all that was missing was the howl of a coyote, but I didn't stay out there long enough to catch that.

My Gram is quite a gal, pretty sprite for 96! We often pop in to the historic Miss Bellows Falls Diner it is #771 from the Worcester Diner Car Company.

Millie & Cowboy
siblings and partners in crime

country roads take me home

can you spot the deer?

 We had quite a dry spell, before the heavy fall rains came. Not sure why, but we are often compelled to see how much water is going over the dam.


An afternoon trip into Bellows Falls, VT. It certainly is a pretty little village.

Lola

 The 8th annual Susan G Komen Vermont Ride for the Cure 10/9/17
My Mom is the Chairperson of this amazing event. It is humbling how many survivor stories there are; and sadly we all know too many who were not as fortunate.

pinkest youth duo

pinkest team

ladies that have participated each time

Fairy House Tour
September
Grafton, VT

hay...

Last trail race of the summer season

I walk, while the kid runs

 I love these adventures with my kid, traipsing off to a running event, a cross country skiing event - generally an hour or two from home. The atmosphere is always fun, the competition can be stiff, but fair and supportive of all.

fun junk shop find

 Okay, I have to admit, I might have a problem... I need to declutter my house but if I set foot in an antique or junk shop, I always find something irresistible, and seriously, when would it be found again?

 The red maples in low, wet areas change color 1st. This year wasn't as bright as some years, but always a joy that never grows old. Great fun driving around, taking it all in.

Eclipse from Gramma's porch. One kid viewed it from a welding helmet at work, the other hiked a mountain with friends. They took along homemade viewing materials, but in the spirit of folks that hike, people that had the proper glasses shared with everyone else up on top.