Nor'easter

They had been talking about it since last Tuesday... the BIG one coming our way overnight Friday to Saturday.  An Nor'Easter is never good, means a huge dumping of snow and a lot of wind.  I don't think we got the amount of snow they were predicting for our parts of the Province but man oh man did we ever get heavy winds.  We have huge snow drifts caused by said wind but other parts of the yard you can see the lawn.

 Our kayak is under there somewheres

 The post where our mailbox was sitting Friday.  Wonder where the mailbox is...

 

The sun this afternoon sure was a nice welcome



Consciousness

Took a walk in the snow this afternoon in our back field.  Everything is so crisp and fresh.  Not a whole lot of movement.  Seems like time stops.  I love that feeling.  Forces me to slow down and be more in the moment... consciousness.  My new year intention (I don't make resolutions) was consciousness.

Wishing everyone a wonderful start to the week.

Thankful

I am so very thankful to have this little guy in my life.  He brings so much joy to my heart.  Can't tell you how many times a day (and night) he crosses my mind.  I just came back from spending one week with them in New Brunswick.

Had turkey and all the trimmings for supper last night.  Look at those carrots and golden beets. 

Our yearly trek to a small remote community for our acorn picking...

... led us to a very small yield.  I think the squirrels got there before us.

Camping

Last week Dave and I went camping for 4 days at a very beautiful National Park.  It had been at least 10 years since we had gone.   What a fun time we had.  I'll let you judge for yourselves with these pictures.

Muffin thief

Saturday while ''the girls'' and I were outside pruning the raspberries...

... this was going on inside !

He (or she) spent two hours of home alone time bringing two coconut flour muffins in his stash upstairs (in Ginette's old bedroom). I love these little creatures of nature but enough is enough. We had to trap him in the humane trap on Sunday and brought him at the lake (a 10 minute drive from our home). So yes, he could be back.

Still here

It's been a while my friends. Truth is, I did'nt really have anything to blog about. We are all fine, enjoying life every single day as much as we can. You know, each day is a gift... but you knew that right.

Yesterday we had the pleasure of enjoying a Spring-like day !

I had help pruning the raspberries. These happy girls are still giving us 6 eggs a day.

Ahhhhh, the fresh scent of line dried clothes.

Neighbours on a morning walk with their horses.

Lovely wooden bird given to me by my daughter from a recent visit to Cuba.

Made muffins. Used coconut flour instead of wheat flour. And yes, they were delicious. Next blog post I will show you who else thought they were good.

My kind of beauty

Yesterday morning we got up to not a speck of snow on the ground. It started snowing (huge fluffy flakes) at around 11 a.m. and in four hours this is what it looked like outside... BEAUTIFUL !!!

Winterlude

Finally, it looks like the season we are suppose to be in. Today was a picture perfect day outside. After I cleaned the chicken coop I walked around in the backyard and here is what I saw :

Three curious ladies - Anysie, Aimée and Antoinette

We've had cold temps the past couple of weeks and with the windchill factor it always feels a little more crisp doesn't it. I love snow ! A nice covering of snow makes everything so quiet and peaceful. The chickens were happy to have a clean coop and especially happy to spend some time outside taking in fresh air. They must be happy because they are still laying each an egg per day.

It's been pretty quiet around here since Christmas. Seems this time of year is slower for us; we go into a sort of hibernation.

Wild Things

I've mentioned here before - I have a niece that's only 7 years older than I am. She's also my best friend. It is unfortunate that we live 4 provinces apart, we can't visit in person like we'd like but there's always the telephone, emails and skype. She's the one that started me (gave me a little push in the back kinda thing) on this simple living journey that we are living around these parts. Did I tell you she's smart and knows a lot about healthy eating and Mother Earth and so much more.

Yesterday this came in the mail for me with a beautiful message in the card. And yes, it's from Colleen. She and her daughter went into the woods to collect the items for that Christmas tree ornament she made for me... an early birthday gift.

There are three books that show you how to make projects with natural found items. She made the ornament from that first book you see over there.

Thank you so much Colleen. You know how much I love handmade gifts, especially those made by you and that it's made from nature is a double bonus.

Unrelated, but I wanted to let everyone know that I participated in my first drumming circle Friday evening. WOW !!!!! it sure won't be my last. The energy in that room was uplifting to say the least. Friday afternoon I sewed-up that linen bag for my drum.

Annual foliage drive

This afternoon Dave and I went for our annual fall foliage drive. We were a few weeks late, most of the leaves are on the ground but it was still pretty and peaceful. And I LOVE Sunday drives, I just love them... and Dave knows that. So he knows exactly when to suggest such a drive.

We stopped at our secret spring in the woods to fill our water bottles.

Mmmmmmm, so refreshing.

Filling Dave's bottle, because as you know, he broke his wrist so he has to be super carfeful about those yoga poses ;-)

I love the ocean but I sure was born to be a woodswoman. The deeper the woods the better for my soul.

Have a good start to the week everyone.

Baby, it's cold out there

This is the kind of day we had ALL day. Plus, extreme winds (which you can't see in pictures). We still have about 3 cords of wood to bring in. Dave broke his left wrist a week ago so I'm finding myself bringing in the firewood with Luc and Liette's help. Dave has a hard time accepting he can't do these things.... and that, for 6 weeks. This is making me realize how much he does around here... I miss that left hand (and the right one also).

There has been a whole lot of ''secret'' knitting around here in the past month. Dave and I are going to be grand-parents in May. Ginette and André are expecting our first grandchild.

And yes......... we are VERY excited!!!

Russets

Our property stretches out back 3 acres. There are ''very'' old apple trees over there. Like everything else around here... nothing gets sprayed or treated so sometimes the best pick looks a little distressed but that's how organic is - lumpy and spotted. One kind of apple way back there is Russet. Those are Dave's favorites. So today was our annual walk across our property to fetch a basket of Russet apples (and a few other kinds too).

I think I've mentioned before how much I LOVE fall but here I am saying it again.

We are still busy bringing in our winter firewood and Dave was working away at a storage unit in the laundry room. Divided in two - one side as a closet for our coats, shoes and such and the other half to store our canned goods. Pictures to follow when everything is painted.

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

Thankful

I have so much to be thankful for (actually when I stop and think about it, I'm thankful for everything). As I often mention, the number one thing to be thankful for is the health of my family. Everything else is secondary.

No turkey this year. It was a busy weekend with our son's wedding so we put the big turkey supper off until next year.

Firewood is arriving daily.

Dusted off the old scarecrow.

Even though we did'nt have turkey we still had delicious pumpkin pie.