Hens in Winter

January 30, 2019 / handmadebyjo / Leave a comment

The snow squalls have passed through and the very cold air is here. Once again the hens are loaded up with water, food and treats in anticipation of weather they will suffer through gracefully. I have 12 hens in a 12 hen coop. For the most part it seems to be the right size but with blasts of cold like this it seems like you could add another dozen and they would all be fine. They roost very close together when it’s cold. Hunkered down with their feathers covering their feet very close to their neighbor. I swear all 12 can fit on one roost that’s 4 feet long. I always feel bad for the girls on the ends but in my mind they swap spots as the ones on the ends get cold.

There is a heater in the coop for their water (5 gallons) and their feeder holds 5 lbs of pellets. I throw their treats in through a small opening rather than opening the coop to keep the wind and cold out.

The wait is on for spring, although I don’t mind the cold I do fret about the animals but they all do much better in it than one would expect. I check for non-existent eggs just to make sure they don’t freeze but I don’t light their coop so we are just waiting for longer days and the natural rhythm of egg laying to begin. The true signs of spring are the house plants growing again and the chickens laying. It’s those longer days and everything knows.

Solitary Goose

September 7, 2016 / handmadebyjo / 1 Comment

Summer is pretty much gone here. You can see that the trees and grass in the fields are tired. Gone is that crisp, vibrant green of spring.

I pass this field in Charlemont often. It’s along Route 2 coming into town from Rowe. This morning the air was thick and it was raining . . . and the goose was in the field. I did two separate u-turns to get to the right spot and stood in the rain in front of my car hoping nothing huge would come rumbling down the road to splash water in my direction. You do what you have to do to get the shot.

Last spring, as all of the Canadian geese were strolling out the new offspring I saw this goose in this field surrounded by a large flock of Canadian geese. It was odd, and still is. It has been in this field quite often throughout the summer. It has conjured up all kinds of scenarios about why it’s there but now there are just questions like where did it come from? Does it belong to someone? Why hasn’t some fox eaten it yet? Is it lonely?

Now I’m starting to worry about where it will be this winter, it doesn’t seem to have any friends to tell it to fly south. Maybe someone needs to round it up although I will miss seeing it brighten up a field on an otherwise gloomy day.

The Miracle of Seeds

April 18, 2016April 18, 2016 / handmadebyjo / 1 Comment

This morning I finally started some seeds for the garden. People may be shaking their heads and thinking it’s late but I have to tell you nothing goes into the ground before the first week of June here. You just never know. I think I will be building a cold frame in the next week or so to give them a little more growing space and sun and ease the hardening off process.

I love planting seeds, they hold such promise. I’m always amazed that for a couple of bucks you can get a little packet of seeds when planted and harvested could feed a hundred people. That’s not to say that every seed I plant will produce to that extent, there are variables but there are also the memories of those years where the harvest was beyond belief. Those I look forward too with a little trepidation. One summer I canned enough beans to last until the next harvest eating them every single day. I was really sick of canning beans.

Into the soil they go, in a few days their heads will be popping out of the soil, a couple of weeks and they’ll need new pots, more sun and more water. A few months, if all goes well, things will be picked and served for every lunch and dinner. Such freshness and flavor is something you will never find anywhere else and the personal satisfaction is something that can’t be beat.

Review 2015

December 31, 2015December 31, 2015 / handmadebyjo / 3 Comments

Every year I post a year in review that is largely visual in nature. It seems that this year may prove to be different. There have been so many profound changes that the photographs would only just scratch the surface. I’ll throw a few in for good measure though, I can’t resist.

After living with my father for a year and a half I put him back into assisted living. It was a huge learning curve for me – but I learned that I cannot live with negativity day in and day out. Living under a black cloud only drags you into that black abyss and it becomes more and more difficult to climb your way out. In my heart I know it was the right thing to do for everyone involved yet on some level it feels like failure. I’m working on getting over that in ways that feed my soul.

Living here helped me maintain my sanity. The close proximity to nature was a balm many times during each and every day. Being able to see magnificent sunrises so many mornings began my days in a positive way. It was a summer of rainbows – every day it seemed . Hiking trails at the park, new trails in old familiar places brought discovery and appreciation anew. Let’s face it, it’s quiet here, it smells good and nobody bugs you. What more could the introvert in me want?

Then there were weddings, lots of them. My favorite was the marriage of my daughter – here. Ten people, surrounded by my gardens in full bloom. My favorite moment – the family humming Pachelbel’s Canon in D while Amanda and her father walked down the little makeshift aisle, thanks Cait for getting it rolling. Although Amanda and Yusuf have been together for 9 years and we all knew this was coming it still felt like we were giving her away. It was a line for me, both joyous and sad.

As if all of this wasn’t enough November 11th was the birth of our first grandchild. A boy who dear husband Bill never thought he was going to see (and now has big plans for). Another shift in my life – from mother to grandmother. I’m not sure how it affects other people but the generational shift has always been a profound one for me. When Amanda was born it took me a while to wrap my head around going from daughter to mother, I’m still getting use to the idea of going from mom to grandma. He is wonderful and I’m enjoying watching them grow into a loving family.

All through this the constant has been craft. The ability to make and do things with my hands is the thread. It feeds me – no, it is a necessity. If I wasn’t able to create something, on a daily basis, I would have sunk into that deep, dark hole long ago. It sustains me. It seems odd to me in some ways to admit this. I have been a crafter all of my life. My modus operandi is to learn a new craft, work it to what I deem the best I am capable of (more of a plateau really) and move on to the next craft. This year was all about weaving – again. It was the realization that I’ve been searching my entire life for what my hands knew how to do. Weaving has connected me to my past, to people I remember and loved the most. It is something that will probably take the rest of my life to move towards perfection. Meanwhile it calms me and helps me to reflect on daily life, meditation. Something we all need and I daresay find in little things we do. We just need to recognize it.

The new year is promising in so many ways. Growth is what it’s all about. I’ll keep on sharing my skills and insights. I’ll watch my family and friends embrace the changes in their lives and hold them all close because really, that’s what it’s all about.

End of Season

September 2, 2015September 2, 2015 / handmadebyjo / 4 Comments

The summer season is winding down. With all of the pressure to prepare for winter it is still my favorite time of year. Maybe it’s that sense of urgency, the knowledge that every single day will have to be packed full of projects because that cold, snowy weather is right around the corner.

It’s so subtle, it sneaks up on you really. Mid August you begin to notice it getting darker so much earlier and the day doesn’t begin with the sunrise until after 5:00 AM. The birdsong is changing. The insects you encounter are different as well. You’re listening to crickets, huge grasshoppers leap in front of you on that afternoon walk about. Huge caterpillars are making themselves known with their size and color.

The leaves are changing to my favorite palette. Gone are the bright, cheery greens of spring, the steadfast greens of summer. Now comes the olives, golds and rusts.

The photo above shows the reality of my vegetable garden. It was so beautifully taken care of until August when I went on a week-long vacation. It got away from me and at this point there’s no going back. It hasn’t stopped producing. The blogs I read show immaculately kept gardens but in the back of my mind this is how I imagine they really are. The realities of doing anything agriculturally – especially by yourself – is that things are not as tidy as you wish them to be. So you pick your battles.

The fall party this year has turned into a family baby shower. I will be holding my first grand baby in my arms around the beginning of November. The grounds will be as tidy as they can be – Bill takes great pride in his lawn. The messiness of the chickens and that overgrown garden will be here in all of their glory as well as a building flattened and not yet moved and a back forty full of goldenrod taller than I am.

But you know. The goldenrod is in full bloom and it is the loveliest shade of yellow.

Gifts of the Garden

July 29, 2015July 29, 2015 / handmadebyjo / 4 Comments

When we first started clearing the property here in Rowe the trees were encroaching on the buildings closest to the house. The side field had been maintained but the pasture was all but lost. Our girls were probably in their early teens.

I had been photographing weddings for years before my children were born and they were brought up knowing that the back yard wedding was their only option. They would look at the backyard here and roll their eyes not being able to see the vision Bill and I had. I would tell them that someday they would be married here and it would be beautiful.

This past Sunday my oldest married the love of her life in a very intimate ceremony in one of the gardens. Their being married was something we believed would happen for over 8 years now but being cautious sorts they waited. Amanda is one who hates to be the center of attention in any situation and they told me about 3 months ago that they were just going to city hall in Boston and getting married there. The horror.

With much, much cajoling we convinced them to be married here with parents and siblings only. That was almost too much for them really, the nerves were palpable on Sunday. For what was to be one of the smallest weddings ever we did everything we could to make it a beautiful occasion and it certainly was. From Amanda walking down the “aisle” with her father to the tune of her family humming Pachelbel’s Canon to eating al fresco in the field next to the garden it was as perfect a day as it could be for them. It also allowed all of us to have a very intimate involvement in preparing for those vows to be said.

Bill and I built a rustic arbor out of trees we cut across the field a couple of weeks before the ceremony and set it up at the beginning of a stone path. It was a little wonky but fit the bill with our “rustic chic” theme. I ordered baby’s breath and lemon leaves from my niece’s flower shop to augment the flowers in my garden and picked some at my sister-in-law’s the day before. They were a huge help in the quick planning of this.

Draped and decorated.

I tried to put flowers everywhere and took a lot of photographs. Day lilies are so beautiful and fleeting and I knew once the sun set the flowers would be gone too. Sort of temporary art.

I had also picked some “weeds” along the power line and in the back forty. Queen Anne’s Lace and Joe Pye Weed. Places were set with sprigs of herbs that smelled heavenly – pineapple sage, rosemary, lavender, thistle.

A garden riot of flowers on the table.

Lemon Raspberry cake made with garden fruit. Molly Cantor made a cake stand just for the occasion.

Weddings are monumental occasions in people’s lives. They represent a new chapter for those getting married but also for the parents of the bride and groom. It doesn’t matter how long your child has been out of the house or how old they are when they marry. As monumental as this ceremony is it’s just a fleeting moment. In the span of a few hours my world shifted a little, in a wonderful, beautiful way. I did what I could to make it a beautiful memory in a place where more memories will be made.

Everything is now gone but the undecorated arbor and the flowers from the day. They are taking their time in wilting away, a little gift in a way. A reminder of an occasion but also of how much beauty is constantly around me that can be pulled together and shared.

Enough

March 24, 2015March 24, 2015 / handmadebyjo / 4 Comments

Sunrise this morning looks the same as most of the sunrises have for a while. It was 9 degrees. Yesterday’s high was 27. The sap has yet to start running (other than possibly one afternoon last week) but everything is ready to go. The snow has compressed some so the wind that has been blowing for the past few days is not whipping it into your face when you’re outdoors.

My chickens went on strike over the weekend. At first I was worried they were eating their eggs but there was no evidence. They are simply sick of the cold as well, I’m sure. They started laying again yesterday, much to my relief. I didn’t think I would worry about my birds as much as I have this past winter.

It feels as though I am in a state of suspended animation. I know spring will get here but at the same time I wonder if it really will. I’m waiting for the lamb part of March and we’re getting dangerously close to the end of its days without it really feeling like spring. I haven’t even planned the garden. I’ve been asked a few times these past few weeks what it will look like this year. I have a vague idea because there will be some big changes this year but haven’t commit anything to paper. Haven’t ordered my seeds, haven’t even checked out what I have. Guess I should do a germination test on some.

I think today I’ll do that, get out the seed, draw out the plan, dream about summer. The sun is brightly shining and quite possibly I could see some mud in the driveway before late afternoon. When I feed the chickens this morning I’ll close my eyes and listen to the birds singing their spring songs and dream about hummingbirds and orioles at my feeders. With that I may even start some tomato seeds just to see something green growing, even if it’s only on the window sill.

Dogless

February 25, 2015 / handmadebyjo / 8 Comments

I didn’t really realize the implications when Buddy died. I wasn’t thinking of being dogless.

My daughter has been “borrowing” Sophie to help her get through the loss of Buddy. I understand this and wholeheartedly support it. She slept with Buddy for 14 years, she needs something breathing next to her at night. I’ve been there.

Chester is truly Bill’s dog. He does everything and goes everywhere with him. He spent the last week in Rowe with me but I know he missed being with Bill (except maybe for the one night he got to sleep on the bed with Cait while she was visiting). He seemed to smile about that for days.

I realized yesterday that my life with dogs centers around food and being outdoors. I was baking all day and doing it with Julia Child’s style – in other words I was making a HUGE mess. Normally when things end up on the floor the dogs are there to pick it up. I’m thinking I may not even realize how much of a mess I make because the dogs are cleaning up after me. This may sound disgusting but I know anyone reading this who has a dog knows exactly what I’m talking about.

The other thing is they love to be outdoors. Every single time I open a door to the outside world they are out. There’s something to be said about not having to go out when the temperatures are below zero but there is also something about being forced to breathe fresh air regardless of the chill. They also show me how wonderful winter can be. They love the snow – LOVE it. I forget how much they love it each year until the first snow when their total delight and enthusiasm is hard to miss. The thing is they never get sick of it, no matter how long the winter is.

We can all learn lessons about loving our circumstances by hanging out with our dogs. They are happy and content with just being as long as they are with their people. Definitely something to aspire to.

One Fine Day

February 23, 2015February 23, 2015 / handmadebyjo / 2 Comments

The weather broke here if only for one day. Long enough to get outdoors, move some snow, clean the coop and then do some snowshoeing. The temperature got to a balmy 36 degrees which felt downright tropical.

The snow is deep. Anywhere from 3 to 4 feet, then there is the drifting.

Chester always wants to go with us. I was afraid he might quit halfway through this hike. It’s one thing to be on snowshoes, quite another to be sinking up to your neck with every step.

The sky was so blue and the sun so warm it was hard to remember how much we’ve complained about the snow. Truth be told I love winter when it’s like this. If it stays above 20 degrees and the wind doesn’t blow I can be outdoors.

What really amazed me was Chester still relentlessly following us around with that ball after the hike he just took. He carried it the whole way then sat with the snowshoes in the sun waiting for the next adventure and hoping it involved that ball.

Thank goodness for days like this. It’s like a reset for your soul. Spring is on its way it just may be June before all of this snow is gone.

Dead of Winter

February 11, 2015February 11, 2015 / handmadebyjo / 3 Comments

My plan to photograph the sunrise every morning from the same spot has run into a little glitch – the window will soon be completely covered with snow. Maybe if I stand on a chair it’ll work unless we get another couple of feet of snow.

The storms keep coming. Three Mondays in a row we have received over a foot of snow. The small “dustings” during the middle of each week have been more like 8″ to 10″inches. It’s beautiful, light snow since it’s been so cold.

Things are seriously buried. The lump on the left – the table on the patio. The other mounds are piles of snow we’ve moved to make room for more. Always planning for the next storm, that’s the mode we’re in now. The banks are pushed back and piled high waiting for the next storm. The town crew wings back the banks keeping the roads wide and the visibility good. I always took that for granted until I lived in an area that apparently doesn’t own a wing plow. The roads get more and more narrow with each storm and eventually a 4 lane highway is down to 2 lanes and the traffic is insane. Not missing that I can tell you.

Along with the plowing there are things that needed immediate attention with the forecast of yet another couple of snowstorms for the end of this week. The roof on the shed needed to be cleaned off. Although this building was constructed using posts and beams the weight of the snow could easily overwhelm the structure. Better to be safe than sorry.

A phone call made and help arrived. The neighbors dog enjoyed this whole thing quite a bit more than any of us. Dogs and snow are a wonderful combination and they always seem to lighten the mood of winter. They always see the play potential, we could do well to learn that from them.

Looking at the chairs warmer weather seems pretty far off but the sun has been out and the skies are blue. You can feel the difference. The plants know spring is coming. Sugaring will be happening in a few weeks – it always does but when the snow keeps piling up it sometimes seems as though it’s months away.

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