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.

New Bird at the Feeder

February 28, 2015February 28, 2015 / handmadebyjo / 4 Comments

This is the one and only time I’m really happy to have squirrels at my feeder. How beautiful.

Silent flyers. Barred owls are so light they don’t bend the tiniest of branches when they perch. Amazing.

Little gifts.

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.

Aftermath

February 3, 2015February 3, 2015 / handmadebyjo / 5 Comments

As much as some people hate winter I have to tell you that yesterday’s snowstorm was pretty amazing. This morning is one of those bright, clear, blue sky days. It’s really cold. It’s really beautiful.

We have a red squirrel that seems to love looking in the windows of the house. There’s a pile of snow in the corner of the house and the ell that is above the window now and it looks in on us several times during the day. This morning I looked out as the sun was coming up to see the evidence of its peeping. I love how even its tracks to the table are.

I know how incredibly destructive these animals can be but must admit I also think they are one of the cutest rodents there is. It’s a special treat to me to look out the window and have one staring back less than a foot away. Of course it’s not so good when the dogs see the squirrel at that close a range. They tend to be loud and rather destructive to the woodwork. Fortunately they are oblivious most of the time, not expecting to see a squirrel that close while in the house.

Surrounded by wonder and beauty, that’s so much of what happens here on so many occasions.

Our Buddy

February 3, 2015February 3, 2015 / handmadebyjo / 8 Comments

There are dogs and then there are dogs. Those of you that have ever been blessed with the company of a dog understand that throughout a lifetime some of them stand out. Their personalities are a total fit and they form an unforgettable bond. Buddy was just such a dog. After 14 years of making us laugh almost every single day we had to say goodbye this past Saturday. It was difficult yet not unexpected.

Buddy was our last family dog coming to us when my daughters were in junior high and high school. He was part of all of their circles of friends and enough of a character to remain in their memories even though they hadn’t seen him for years. He was the athlete, the clown and the sweetest animal I have ever known. He moved through the transition of a family of 4 to one of just 2 adults. He remained my youngest daughter’s best friend, she was his person. He was always part of coming home.

I’m in the same camp as Jon Katz when it comes to the end of our dogs lives. I believe Buddy’s job was finished here and it was time for him to move on to the next. We have dogs come into our lives with just what we need at the time. They have a job. They are the ones that get us through particular trials and contribute to the joys we have in our lives. When their job is done they move on. I like to think of Buddy’s spirit moving on to another family where he can entertain kids and adults with his antics and loved for the gentle spirit that he was.

We knew it was time on Friday and our vet came to the house Saturday afternoon. Buddy hated going to the vet more than any animal I have known and we wanted to do right by him. He died in Cait’s lap, his favorite spot for many, many years, giving us a peaceful closure so important to saying goodbye to someone you love. He will truly be missed.

Baby It’s Cold Outside

January 8, 2015 / handmadebyjo / 8 Comments

I went to bed last night with the temperature around -5, this morning it was -8. I lit the stove with the coals remaining from the overnight burn and sat down with my morning cup of coffee. The temperature in the kitchen was a balmy 59 with the furnace running almost constantly. Ahhh, the joys of living in an old house.

I’ve heard comments about the cold all day yesterday and last night. They cancelled school for today in Boston because of it. Yes, it’s cold but the wind should stop today and the temperature will rise to the more seasonal teens and twenties by the end of the week. I feel like people have forgotten the winter of ’14. We had this bitter cold weather for weeks at a time. For us frozen pipes were a weekly problem with repairs that were continuously made to the heating system. Yup, its cold – it’s January. It’s the time of year when handwork seems to be the best option. There’s nothing like having a heavy hooked rug sitting in your lap on a cold winter’s day or doing some kind of project that calls for a physical workout. Think I’ll warp the loom today, that’s always something that heats me up.

Being the multitasker that I am I’ll bake some bread and a goody for the rest of the week. I don’t usually eat most of what I’m cooking but there are always people to share it with that appreciate it. It will also heat up the kitchen.

So I’m off to feed the chickens and gather their eggs with Sophie following along. If I’m bundled up enough I will stay out longer than necessary. There’s something bracing about breathing in air that freezes your nose. The squeaking, crunching snow beneath your feet is something I love the sound of and I’ll use the opportunity to fill the bird feeders. God knows they need that seed just to survive the cold this time of the year.

I’ll come in, make a little soup and bread for lunch and wind a warp. All in all a perfect winter day for me.

A side note. There will probably be an inordinate number of sunrise pics this year. I made a commitment to photograph it everyday (even on cloudy days) to watch the sun move through the sky. Little things in long spans of time – must be the gardener in me.

2014 in Photos

January 2, 2015 / handmadebyjo / 6 Comments

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Photography allows me to look for the little gifts every day.

All in all an amazing year!

Another One Bites the Dust

December 30, 2014December 30, 2014 / handmadebyjo / 5 Comments

The road in front of the house in Rowe was lined with trees for hundreds of years – hundreds. These stately sugar maples provided shade from the western sun in the summer keeping the house quite cool. They provided places for hammocks and swings and places for children to climb. Big birds also nested and fed themselves from those trees – pileated woodpeckers and barred owls plus all of the usual smaller birds and squirrels. When you looked out of the upstairs bedrooms you felt as though you were in a treehouse. It was a great view.

It’s been 10 or 15 years since the last one came down in front of the house. The rooms upstairs are hot in the summer. There are a lot of trees across the road but they are all beginning to go as well. Early this morning another was cut down. It needed to come down, there were very few branches that had leaves any more. One of its neighbors had fallen not more than 6 months ago.

The video doesn’t do the act of cutting down a tree this size justice. The snap and shudder, the crashing to the ground, the silence. The house shook like witnessing a small explosion.

There are trees all around that I want to cut down, to improve the view or let more sun into my garden. Those decisions don’t come lightly though. I always consider what will be lost with the removal of any tree, also what will be gained. When it’s weighed out the decision is made. Some take very little consideration but others, the maples, are more difficult to cut down. They are beautiful in every season, they are strong, stately. They belong.

There is one such maple along the side of the garden. It’s grown quite large over the past 10 years my garden has been in that spot and now shades a good part of it for most of the morning. The vegetables aren’t fond of that much shade. We have cut everything around it and in doing so it has thrived. That wasn’t the intention, it was on the list to go.

After watching the old maple go down today I’ve decided I will move a good deal of my garden this year. I want it to stand there shading the yard for a good long time to come. A place for the orioles and bluebird to perch on the way to the feeder and bird bath. Barred owls perch there at night and talk to their mates and chicks. Those are things I’m not willing to give up and it really is an easy decision.

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