White

 

How’s the weather where you are?

Friday Morning

Would you like to take a walk with me?  There’s some chores to do but we won’t notice that, it’s such a beautiful day.

After checking on the animals (feeding, watering, cuddling) it’s time for a little walk around, taking in the view.  Everything is bathed in red gold light, the air is fresh but not cold.  The perfect day for a wander before breakfast.

The bees are being wrapped up for the cold season, despite the warm days we are still having.  We know the cold weather is coming so we bask in every mild day we get.  It is the golden season and we are loving it.  Now our walk is done we can head in for a cup of tea before the busy day begins; looking out of the windows at the evolving day, knowing there is nowhere better to be.

Hay Time

Over the last couple of weeks our neighbour has been cutting, tedding and baling our hay.  This weekend the bottom field was baled and the rest of the fields were cut.  It was beautiful.

 

The sun began to go down, tinting everything with a soft glow, the world couldn’t have looked more harmonious.  Walking our land, clear of high growth for the first time since we bought it (for the first time in many years actually), we began again to have a feeling of space around us.  The horizon seemed further away making the details more pronounced.

 

The next evening we took the boys for a good long walk across our land, we visited places we haven’t seen in a year.  The boys ran themselves ragged and we all enjoyed the excitement of the new hay and the resulting openness.  We let the longer shadows cool us as we drank up this new vision.

 

As the children and dogs chased each other in and out of woods, over long rows of grass and the kinder climbed on a bale Stephen tipped for them, we soaked up the feeling of well being washing over us.  We have a real crop, one that has value to us and our neighbours, that can sustain animals through winter or be sold to help build our farm up.

The sun dipped lower as we headed home, we talked of all the possibilities and forthcoming harvest.  We talked of a future full of goodness.

today in pictures

Kale for the chickens

 

Forbidden fruit

 

Afternoon pick-me-up

 

Leftovers

 

Blissful book on one week loan

 

Medicine

 

What have you been up to?

 

 

Sharing Beauty

Although this is something that happens frequently, I am still surprised by the way that life will organise itself to fully celebrate the sabbaths.  This weekend the brilliant weather led us to glory in the rise of the sun king, Bel shone down on us and we turned our faces to him in gratitude for the Earth’s abundance.  Today we shared our land with lovely friends, walking the trail that Stephen had mowed and enjoying the freedom our children had to run and share their joy with one another.

I think it is the secret fear of many of us that our children will never be loved by others as much as they deserve, as much as we love them.  So to see my children being held in high regard by others, adults and children, warms my heart.  To meet another child who embraces life with the same gusto, passion, openness of heart and spirit is uplifting to me.  To listen to them planning their future, the horses, the dogs, the children helps me to know that there are others now and will be in the future, who love my boys.  Who can see the light that shines in them as I do.

So if there is a wish that sings eternally in my heart, both on the solstice and for always, it is that they will be truly loved throughout their lives.  As I love them.

Sunny Kitchen

It is amazing to me how a simple task like baking can bring me a few moments of serenity in an otherwise busy and bustling day.

Flour and butter, eggs and cream.  The weighing, the mixing, the rolling out.  A pastry case turned into quiche, scones rising in the oven and eaten still warm.  Sunshine in the kitchen, warming as it touches.

Sights of Sunday

What did your weekend look like?

Sunday Morning

Happy weekend.

Making Spring

In lieu of actual spring ( it was -14C here yesterday) and the colours that it brings along with it, we have tried to create a little in our own home.  Some sweet treats, some coloured paints to celebrate the equinox.  It’s not much but it is keeping us going while we wait.

The temperatures are set to rise this week, hopefully giving us the chance to tumble outside and enjoy some fresh air and sunshine.  The boys both have spring colds (Huwyl particularly) and need a bit of warm weather to dry them up.

Come on Spring, we are all waiting!

Family Day

Here in Ontario we enjoyed a public holiday today, Daddy got to stay home with us and enjoy Family Day.  Of course, because we are a real family and not picture perfect, we had moments in the day that were annoying, loud, messy and not what we’d hoped for.  But as I review the day’s photo’s I see a delicious breakfast made with love and Daddy expertise, time to take a warm bath filled with the goodness of oats and herbs.  I see the children set free on our land to investigate the trees, find appropriate sticks for walking with, shoveling and just exploring alongside their Mum and Dad.

Under the big sky, that just seemed to get bluer as the afternoon wore on, I felt my frustrations and scratchiness slip away.  The frigid wind made all our cheeks red as we stomped around, exploring corners we haven’t seen yet.  Laying out plans for our future.  Driving away is always the hardest part of visiting our ‘place’ but I am sustained by the knowledge that this time next year, we’ll be living in this beautiful spot, planning a growing season.  In the meantime I hold onto the memories of cold air on my face, endless space to stretch out in and the bluest of blue sky.  All 95 acres of it.