The Homestone

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

And the years fly by ....



The other day I opened my inbox to find this email from a blog reader.  

"Hi Nicola,

I just wanted to let you know that I love reading your Homestone blog - it brings me peace and warmth every time I read it. You and David are truly living the dream out in the "middle of nowhere" and I hope one day to be living peacefully in a similar setting. I appreciate your updates and look forward to them every month. Your photography is beautiful as well. 

With gratitude and wishes for a happy and healthy Winter."

... such an uplifting email from an old friend we haven't yet met.
In this era of instant posts and updates, it is this kind of email that renews my enthusiasm about old fashioned blogging and warms me right down to my toes. This format for sharing snippets of our lives seems rather old school now, but I will carry on.  Buoyed by the recent letter from Valerie and similar sentiments expressed by so many of our visitors.  To all our readers and clients; Thank You for your understanding and appreciation of  our 'slow life' on the meadow. 
We are truly blessed. This morning, like many winter mornings ... we watched our moose grazing comfortably as we had our breakfast.
David and I are quietly celebrating ten years of offering Touch Wood Rings online.   Eleven years of living in this wonderful place we call home. And even longer sharing our lives online with anyone who might be interested in following along.  

This technology is a wonderful thing.  It has allowed us to live and work far 'away from the madding crowds' ~and to pursue an independent off grid lifestyle.  

It's not always easy, but every day is magical ... we wake up and are surrounded by peace and quiet ~ wildlife, wild flowers ... wild weather.  Each day and every season offering it's own particular flavour.
We provide all our own services; solar power, water, heat, fire protection; everything ... I cook on a wood stove.  We don't have a telephone but rely instead on satellite internet for all our communications. The sun is shining today so we have lots of power and there is a bitterly cold wind blowing but that's okay .... it's the sun we need.  
 
Happy news!  We are bringing sheep back to the meadow later this spring!!  We had sheep until a few years ago and we miss them.  They are delightful animals and we are happy to be their keepers in exchange for their grazing habits, the lovely wool which they are happy to be rid of come the warmer weather ... and the very best fertilizer.  They help with fire control; grazing the edges of things where we aren't able to mow.  Here are a couple of pics of some of our little flock from a few years ago ...
  David with a new lamb as mama looks on tenderly.
And so ... life goes on and we love everything about living here.  There is so much more we want to do and the years go by so quickly.  We remind ourselves to Seize the Day ~ Every day!    Thanks so much for dropping by and we always love to hear from you.