Winter settles on the meadow

The three of us spent a delightful December afternoon following the antics of one of our resident coyotes as he went about his business on the meadow. These photos were taken by David.

David captures yesterday's sunrise

Miniature worlds by Vincent

As promised, some of Vincent's photography. About once a week David and I and Vinny sit down to watch a slide show from our respective cameras.

It's fun to see our different styles and what draws our attention as we all interact with life on the meadow. Vincent's photographs are very often miniature worlds ~ here is some of his latest macro photography. There is no moving water on the surface of the creek here, just ice.

More November skies

Some of David's November sky pics and since we haven't yet got Vincent to start his own blog we need to get some of his pics up here too.... soon.

We'll get another first snowfall.

An extraordinary sunrise yesterday as winter comes and goes. The last few days have been sunny and windy so that lovely first snowfall has all but disappeared. Just little patches of white here and there and some gigantic puddles around the place.

The sunshine means lots of solar power and the opportunity to get some laundry on the clothesline. There is nothing quite as sweet as the smell of clothes dried on the line on a day like today.

A walk in the snow

Our place from the main gate.

The first real snowfall of the winter yesterday and a beauteous sight it was. I took the opportunity to go for a nice long walk, camera in hand. The fog moved in just after the snow let up. It was so quiet; just the crunch of snow underfoot.

And of course, a visit to The Old One under his first blanket of snow. The Homestone ... the stone that marks where home is.

The night that exists outside of time ....

Vincent carved our Halloween pumpkin today while David and I went to town to ship new rings off to some very lovely people. David's brother Vincent has carved alot of pumpkins over the years as a single Dad and an uncle. He was somewhat challanged by the pumpkin we had at hand here. The poor old squash had been adorning our kitchen counter since Thanksgiving and was past her prime to be sure. Still, when we arrived back home after dark, there on the old wooden table next to the greenhouse was a magnificent double sided pumpkin. It's a scene of our house and the meadow and as Vince described her "one lucky witch" making off over the moon wearing a Touch Wood Ring. The other side of the pumpkin is a close up of the ring that his happy witch is admiring upon her hand. There are no trick or treaters out here in the middle of nowhere and rarely ever visitors. The pumpkin carving was a simply a labour of love ~ one that the three of us enjoyed along with any wild critters who may have passed through the meadow last night. We thought it would be fun to share it with a wider audience. Happy Halloween & Blessings on Samhain, the Celtic New Year. Till next time (Here is a good dissertation on All Hallow's Eve should you be so inclined.)

And last but absolutely not least :) Happy Birthday Aiden. Our awesome grandson is One Year Old today.

Late October on the meadow ~ a couple of pics

October sunrises and Mom's birthday

The last few days have seen some spectacular sunrises. The mornings have been crisp and cold with lots of sparkle! It's become overcast and windy this afternoon so it's a great time for being hard at work indoors looking out at the changing season. David and I are staying busy and both feeling so much better than we did in September. The cranial palsy that I developed in early September as a result of the virus we picked up, hasn't let up yet ~ but if the docs are right, it should clear up within a few weeks now. After a month and a half of double vision in one eye and the attending rotten headaches, it makes me supremely thankful for my usual good health and the use of all my senses. Just a good reminder to take care and not take anything for granted.

Yesterday would have been my dear Mom's birthday. Happy Birthday Mom. She'd be 73 today.

She would have two beautiful granddaughters (my sister Laura's daughters) and would, without a doubt, be happily involved in their lives and marvelling at the bright, lovely girls they are. This time of year, she might be making 'Apple Crips' with them.

It's amazing how evocative handwriting can be ~ In her memory and in her own hand, here's Mom's Apple Crisp Recipe.

Time now for me to make some dinner and perhaps a dessert from Mom's cookbook which has a magic way of making me feel she's close.

Oh, how she would have loved the big wood cook stove I have in my kitchen and the view out my kitchen window ...

Love you Mom.

(Patricia at 18)