My Home... Away From Home... Away From Home

The Small Barn.

I think I've already mentioned how similar in "feeling" and layout the Small Barn is to Lillian's (the landlady) carriage barn residence in Jericho Center, Vermont where I lived for more than half of my life.

It felt alot like "coming home" when I walked in to the Small Barn for the first time.

Jericho Center is a very cool little town, and I'm not just saying that because it is my home town either.

Two doors down from Lillian's home (where my parents rented the main house) you will find The Jericho Center Country Store, which has some significant history of it's own! Not as old as the buildings on the Bore Place property... but still! Check it out:
http://www.jerichocountrystore.com/home

Past the store, around the corner, and down the road a piece, on a little country road, is the homestead of a very famous person, Wilson A. Bentley, more popularly known as "Snowflake Bentley." He loved snow even more than me (if that is possible) and dedicated his life to taking pictures of it.

This is the link to the "official" Snowflake Bentley website:
http://snowflakebentley.com/

Jericho also has a few other "famous" landmarks:

1) The Old Red Mill:
http://www.jerichohistoricalsociety.org/mill.htm

2) Joe's Snack Bar... a burger, shake and fries with a "creemie" for dessert. Yum.

and, saving the best for last 3) Mountain High Pizza Pie... owned and operated by two of my favorite peeps ever, Kyle and Katina (I miss you guys!) Amongst other things they make the best Greek pizza, in the whole wide world, called the Mt. Olympus. Red sauce, spinach, feta cheese and black olives. It is to die for. And now... I am hungry!!!

So, that was a quick little 'tour' of my hometown... and now, back to my home, away from home, away from home... the Small Barn.

please come in!!!

see that red fire extinguisher on the wall at the right? That's where the front door is...

This is looking towards what will soon be the kitchen all along that back wall... the sink will be in front of the window! There is nothing better than having a sink with a view...

and this is the view out the window.. it is the Oast building-where they used to dry the hops and barley.  It is gorgeous. Those siding shingles are actually made of clay, which is a very common shingle making material in the Kent region. Saw them in Tunbridge Wells also.

through the gate and a sharp right is the woodshed... making it very convenient to keep the woodstove cranking! Walk through the gate and then straight ahead, past the Oast and that little road will take you to Fern Hill where most of the tree felling occured in January.

view from future kitchen looking back towards the sitting area...

and one of my favorite parts... the wood stove or "log burner"

and a couple John Waller baskets holding the paper and the kindling!!

sleeping loft

view from "my" sleeping loft

... decoration ...

The space has such great natural light, making it perfect as a studio space!!! I brought several projects with me... this is one of them... that I have so far been unsuccessful at finishing!

So, from January 12th until February 1st, this was "home" and I did not leave Bore Place for that entire 20 days! It was lovely.

A fire in the wood stove nearly every night, and that made the sleeping loft on that end, where I was sleeping, a warm and cozy place!

Chef Andrew kept me well supplied with food for my dinner meals. Becky and Elaine kept the fridge and larder stocked with all the essential breakfast goodies and especially the peanut butter, orange marmalade and real coffee!

I was invited for dinner "out" a couple times. The first was on Saturday, January 28th, by a group from Richmond College in London, who were also staying at Bore Place.

To get our dinner plate served we had to answer 3 questions...

1) who would we want to be friends with?

2) who would we want to have dinner with?

3) who would we want to sleep with?

Well. Golly. That was a bit of a challenge! Well, actually, #1 and #2 were fairly easy to come up with an answer for straightaway... though by the time I'd heard other people's answers I had other thoughts too, but I stuck to with my originals which were Beatrix Potter and James Taylor, respectively. My answer for number 3 was very generic and nebulous really, but, they accepted it... I mean, they weren't going to invite me to dinner and then not let me eat, now, were they?

Dinner was a delicious chicken curry, rice, garden salad, cole slaw and a multitude of breads and other sides... followed by a platter of cheeses and then a trifle for dessert!

There was great conversation over dinner. I was once again amazed at how comfortable I felt in the midst of a group of folks who all already knew each other. They were all very warm and welcoming.

They invited me to stay on after dinner for the evenings' entertainment, which consisted of a talent show of sorts. They were such a delightful group. It was a really fun evening for me, and gave me a chance to socialize, wear clean clothes and earrings even!

Then, a couple days later, Tina had me over for tea (supper) and fed me an authentic English meal, "bangers and mash" (sausages, potatoes and beans) with apple crumble topped with custard for dessert. Another wow meal.

(Eating the way I did I am hard pressed to figure out how in the world I lost 10 pounds during that stay! But I did. Hurray!!!)

Tina is the head gardener at Bore Place, and has done a pretty amazing job, by the way, with all the gardens on the property. I had met Tina on January 22nd, when I was out walking. I heard a chainsaw in the direction of the car park and followed the sound to investigate. Being the curious person I am. Turns out it was Tina and her hubby, Duncan, doing a little tree felling of their own. Oh, and lets not forget Basil, their adorable chocolate colored cocker spaniel.

Anyway. Duncan was away, but Tina and I had a fun evening. As I'm sure you can imagine - with her background in horticulture and at the Royal Botanic Gardens and mine in Landscape Design we have lots in common and lots to talk about.

Also, it was nice to have a little "girl talk" which I hadn't realized I'd been missing... but turns out I was. I mean, I've spent all of my volunteer work time here with guys. And, while there have been a few women, most of my fellow classmates in the Coppicing and Hedge Laying workshops have been guys as well. So, while all the men I've been in contact with have been absolutely lovely, it was nice to balance out the testosterone with a little estrogen and progesterone for a change!

The evening flew by... before we knew it, it was past both out bedtimes!

It had been dark when I walked over to Tina's armed with a little hand crank torch.  Not that it had gotten any darker outside as the evening progressed! But, I was grateful when she offered to drive me back to the Small Barn, it had gotten to be quite chilly!

Two fun evenings out in the span of just three days time. A very pleasant note on which to end a wonderful few weeks at Bore Place.

Enough for now?

Enough for now...

self portrait - one very happy camper!

hugs-
susie

Commonwork... Bore Place Part 2

Some pics from the gardens around the Main House...

a "hole" in the garden wall with strategically placed espaliered trees growing against the hedge on the other side of the formal garden and pool.

rustic chair and log stool!

espaliered apple tree

Seems like there is something new to discover every time I go out for a walk... Coming back from a walk one day along the driveway I spied an opening in the wall... found a little "secret garden" with this gorgeous living willow structure tucked in next to a little pond.

from the inside looking out at the little pond... the perfect place for tea on a summers day!

Is there anyone in VT who wants one of these... besides me?! Kathy? Hannah?

I can't wait to design and install one for you - and then cater a tea party for you in it!!!

Stay tuned for Small Barn pics!

xo-

susie

Commonwork...Bore Place Part 1

As with the whole of England, Bore Place has quite a rich history. The Commonwork Land Trust folks have done a wonderful job of documenting that history, which (hopefully) you'll be able to read about by following this link:

http://www.commonwork.org/heritage_bore_place.html

It is a beautiful, peaceful place... with out any furthur delay... check it out!

the Small Barn (my home away from home - away from home!)

the Large Barn/Small Barn

the Old Stable... Chef Andrews kitchen is through that door, far right... furthur right and you are in a kitchen garden area (below)

one of the garden areas with beautiful brick walks.

outdoor oven!

Boy would I love to have one of these someday!

the Main House

these beautiful pollarded Lime trees (Tilia x europaea) line both sides of the entrance driveway that culminates in front of the Main House. The picture doesn't really do them justice... all the new shoots are a beautiful ruby color.

Johns Green Wood Workshop off in the distance... you can see some hazel and willow leaning against the wall on the right... the single door on the right leads into the shop... the double door at the left is now Tina (the head gardeners) storage space.

the door

John's courtyard... a beautiful bench... a hazel hurdle leaning against the wall behind

willow garden structures

and a couple very cool chairs!

canvas covered shelter... the outdoor work area

entrance to walk and gardens at back of main house from the courtyard.

some beautiful Redtwig Dogwood (Cornus spp.) off in the distance!

something beautifully espaliered against the outside wall of John's shop.

willow drying

 

in a veeerrrry cool little building (that used to be where the game was hung to season)

and that's it for now... Part 2 coming soon!

xo-
susie

If I Had a Nickel...

For every person who has said in the past couple months, "You have a way with words..."

Would I be rich?

Well, not monetarily, no.

I'd have 25 cents. If I added to that 5 cents for each of the other comments along the same vein... I'd probably have another 30 cents... so 55 cents accumulated, American.

If I converted that for use here, I'd have a whopping 35p...

Initially, when I decided to blog about my adventure(s) here in England, I was viewing it mainly as a means of recording for myself, this 5.5 months of my life.

But then, a few people really seemed to enjoy reading it and told me so, and well, I guess the writing bug bit me. Again.

I like writing. I really like words. It is fun putting them together to convey a picture or a feeling. For me, here, it becomes a verbal snapshot of a moment in time... so, at worst, a reminder for myself, of all the emotions I experience along the way that would not necessarily be conveyed in a picture. At best, I hope it is somewhat informative, educational and entertaining for all of you... my 6 devoted "followers" and the few others who read but don't want to publicly admit to it!

Yeah. So. Too bad that I can't actually blog and get paid for it because, that would be a really cool way to earn a living. Or part of one...

There is no way that I would want to spend my whole life plunked down in front of a computer... but, at least with my laptop, it is possible to alter my writing environment when I need or want a change.

What I have discovered this last couple of months, is that I truly enjoy working in the woods; the process of harvesting and prepping the various woods for their intended uses. Working with my hands... and the rest of my body too.

Prior to coming to England I had been thinking that at this stage of my life I wanted to be done with all the hard manual labor stuff and just sit at a drawing board and do edible landscape or permaculture designs... that I didn't want to actually get my hands dirty planting them any more. Maybe I still don't, but I guess I am learning to be more and more open to all the possibilities.

In all things.

In all likelihood, none of the things I really like to do will get me rich quick. But then, I don't really want to "get rich" anyway.

What I do want is to find a way to make a modest living by doing work that is meaningful and creative, that honors this amazing earth we live on and that benefits people in ways that promote health of body, mind and spirit... including my own.

I am so excited to be here, learning and experiencing so much, and am enjoying making a record of that here in this blog for myself. That you are reading and enjoying it right along with me adds to the excitement.

To those of you who are "following," publicly or privately and have taken the time to email me or post comments to the blog along the way... thank you for your kind words of encouragement.

So. I have a favor to ask of you.

If you are reading... will you please sign up as a follower?

For one thing, the stats page tells me I have folks in the US, UK, Russia, Germany, Canada, Latvia, Malaysia, Ukraine, France, and Indonesia reading the blog... I'd really like to know if that is true or not.

So far, everyone signed up is from the US. It would be cool to have people from the other countries too!

Everything I've read says that if you really want to "get somewhere" with your blogging that you need to increase your readership... so, would you consider helping me with that?

Both by signing up yourself and by forwarding the link to friends and family you think might be interested?

I'd appreciate it... I really would! Because as one friend said, "you never know!"

So, now that I've asked, my fear is that you won't actually sign up... which would be kind of, I don't know... embarrassing?

We wouldn't want that now, would we?

Think I'll hold off on spending that 35p for awhile and see if I can maybe save up for a large Americano at Cafe Nero for which I'll need 2.30...

with love,
susie

Pause for Thought...

(i have managed to inadvertently make the text have this strange background...  which i hope bugs me more than it does you...)

Monday, December 19, 2012


The trains tend to be pretty empty in the middle of the afternoon, which is why that is my favorite time to travel. I love to look out and see what I can see, sometimes I make notes in my journal. This time I admit I was half 'seeing' and half 'vegging' out... pondering the past few days and savoring the wonderfulness of it all.


Then, when we were nearly to Reading, suddenly, I 'noticed' a sign I'd been looking past the whole trip


It said...


"How have you spent the last 20 years?"
"...And, what about the next 20 years?"


I have no idea what it was an advertisement for...


When it came into focus, I was sort of shocked and wondered how on earth I had managed to look right past it for practically the whole ride home...


and yet, it seemed almost to me like 'someone' was privy to my thoughts... because, the last twenty years or so was exactly what I had been thinking about... I had started out reflecting on the previous few days... but somehow, ended up going back in time. I think it was perhaps the similarity of the Small Barn at Bore place to Lillian's barn space in Jericho that made me look backwards... or, maybe subconciously I saw the sign?


If I had to pick one word to describe the last 20 years, (and it would be very difficult to pick just one word, I love them so...) i'd probably have to choose "bittersweet".


The first thing I think of when I hear the word, is chocolate. And, bittersweet chocolate is my favorite kind. So... am I saying my last 20 years was like chocolate?


Seems like it.


Research has discovered the health giving benefits of chocolate, with it's propensity for creating those mood elevating endorphins in our brains. And the darker it is... means it is all the more rich in critical antioxidants, something we all need more of!


Have you ever seen the movie "Chocolat"? Such a good movie... about choices... and acceptance... ... and loving people...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEzzbBc7Tw4


The other thing that comes to mind with the word bittersweet, is the plant. One I learned long ago (more than 20 years!) in my dendrology class at Kansas State University. American Bittersweet, Celastrus scandens, was given it's name by the European colonists because of it's similar growth habit and characteristics to the Bittersweet here in Europe, Solanum dulcamara, also called Woody Nightshade, and member of the Nightshade family, like potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, tomatilloes, paprika, chili peppers.


I didn't really mean to get into a lesson on plants right now.


The thing though, that strikes me most, is that darkness is part of or implied in both those things... and there was plenty of darkness in the last 20 years... Plenty.


And when you read that, you take that to mean, dark, in a "not so good" way. You are right to. That was what I meant.


These are a few definitions for "darkness" on the online dictionary that fit that line of thought...


Lacking or having very little light:  Lacking brightness; Reflecting only a small fraction of incident light; Characterized by gloom, dismal; Sullen or threatening; Difficult to understand, obscure; Lacking enlightenment, knowledge, or culture; Exhibiting or stemming from evil characteristics or forces, sinister; Concealed or secret, mysterious.


I was shaken, and stunned more times than I wanted to be since 1991, I can tell you that. All the above definitions apply.


But of course, all of life was not darkness! Some form of sweetness always came following after the bitter. Admittedly. Sometimes it took considerable effort to find it. Sometimes I needed someone else to point it out to me... sometimes I needed a magnifying glass...

aaahhh yes... THERE it is.


One meaning listed for the word darkness in the dictionary, and my most favorite one, by the way, is this...


Having richness or depth.


That has a positive connotation, doesn't it.


I have been a little obsessed the last few years at doing artwork on a black or dark background. There is just something very appealing about it to me... the colors seem all the more vibrant and alive, the picture pops when little bits of the black show through.


I absolutely love it.


To me, that is a tangible example of what 'richness and depth' mean.


The darkness provides the contrast necessary for us to fully perceive and appreciate the beautiful thing before us...


Maybe the obsession to draw on black paper is me 'working it all out' in my heart and soul? Putting everything in perspective.

So. I guess ultimately I chose two words to describe the last 20 years, didn't I? Bittersweet and darkness. Three if you include chocolate. Lets. Raise your hand if you don't include chocolate in your life...


I suspected I couldn't choose just one word.


You probably did too, didn't you?


The sign on the train asked, "and what about the next 20?"


What about the next 20 years... Indeed.


For now, I am just looking ahead to the one in front of me... and moving forward into it with great JOY!


Very much wishing the same for you.


I made this for you. Have been waiting to get it scanned for a better image, but, just took a picture and think it will do!

Happy New Year!
love to you-
susie

I'm just a posting maniac...

Hi everyone.

It's Saturday, Februry 18th and I am back "home" in Henley.

Doing a little house, cat and "Herman" sitting while the fam is off on a family adventure of their own for the weekend.

Snowball and Abby have been curled up sleeping on Chongs bed practically all day. I almost had to force them outside this morning before they had their breakfast.

awww... Snowball looking very cute... he is definitely an old gentleman.

Abby... thinking "will you take the picture already?!" This kitty adds new meaning to the word 'fluffy'. She definitely is that, and has enough fur for 3 kitties.

I've done my 2 little things... fed the cats and stirred "Herman the German friendship cake" that Melissa has growing on the kitchen counter. I'm working on laundry AND working on adding all the missing bits (pics, videos, references etc, etc, etc) to all the posts that have been sitting in my draft folder since, gosh, December and before even.

Sorry for the looooooooooooonnnggg delay.

Here they come though.

Finally.

For your reading pleasure...

Sunday Feb 5th, 2012

Look what I woke up to this morning...

That's the view out the back window. I'm pretty sure that is Cotoneaster frigidus... isn't it beautiful?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotoneaster

And my view out the big picture window at the front.

That is a gold fish pond at the very bottom of the picture... with actual goldfish swimming around in it... well, not swimming really, just moving around ever so sloooowwwly. So slowly in fact, that they appear to be standing still. Guess they are sort of in hibernation with it being so cold and all. I can verify they are alive and well though, because Friday I could see them quite clearly through a thin, glasslike sheet of ice. They kept changing position throughout the day though I never actually saw them in the act of doing it.

I am staying at a retreat center at the north end of Canterbury, called Centrespace.

Arrived here last Wednesday evening, thanks to Tina, the head gardener at Commonwork, (and her GPS system) who has befriended me and offered to give me a ride, even though it was over an hours drive from Bore Place.

Thank you Tina!

So. Long time no post, huh?!

I know. Mostly due to internet issues though, and it is quite possible I have gone from bad to worse in that department... but, we'll see how it goes. I can say it has been nice to hear from a few of you saying you miss my blogging... it's good for the morale to know I have a couple of fans out there in the world.

A quick recap of the last month or so...

~I arrived at Bore Place on January 12th.

~Worked with JW and crew in the woods on Friday the 13th. Loved it. Didn't get myself injured or in the way (too much, at least!)

~Attended John's workshop on Coppicing and Woodland Products Saturday, January 14.

~Sunday the 15th. Walk to Fern Hill then Bough Beech reservoir and back on the footpath.

~Monday the 16th- friday the 20th...more work in the woods PLUS I learned how to pluck a pheasant, and then ate it in a delicious woodsmans stew!

~The weekend, Jan 21 and 22... watched some movies via my laptop thanks to Jacqueline and the Wallers loaning me some... did some drawing... washed clothes... read,  went for walks and otherwise enjoyed the peace and quiet of Bore Place. Met Tina the gardener and her husband Duncan.

~Jan 23-27. More work in the woods. Tuesday was our last day at Fern Hill, then we headed into Bushy Wood for the rest of the week.

~Saturday and Sunday, the 28th and 29th... attended John's workshop on Hedgelaying. So excellent!

~Saturday night got invited to have dinner and hang out with a group staying in the House at Bore place. It was fun!

~Monday was a planning and catch up day for me in preparation for making the trek to Canterbury. And I also was invited to tea (supper) at Tina's!

~Tuesday I got to see both the wood chipper and John in action (woodchipper working on wood John harvested out of Bushy Wood 2 years ago... and John, making a potato basket).

~Wednesday I packed and tidied up the Small Barn a bit. Tina collected me at 4.30 or so... we had a great time conversing in the car on the way down, learning a bit more about each others lives and worlds and that brings me to Centrespace!

Tina dropped me off at about 6.15 which was, as it turns out, just in time to participate with Heike, Richard and the others gathered, in Circle dancing, which I happens every Wednesday evening. That was fun! It's been awhile since my last dancing opportunity. Which was, I think, way back in August with Jane, Lyn and the other good folks at The People Barn in Greensboro, VT.

I love dancing. Circle... Contra... Square... any type will do. It makes me feel somehow, graceful, though I know i'm no more graceful when i'm dancing than any other moment in my life. My left foot still doesn't know what my right foot is doing. But I love it none-the-less.

The dancing I mean.

Well. Actually. I love my feet too. They do a pretty good job of getting me around...

All things considered.

Thursday morning I had breakfast with Richard and Heike. We talked some about what my time here might look like and came into agreement that i'd do some washing up after breakfast along with some ironing in exchange for a portion of my B&B.

For the most part, I spent the day just being kind-of lazy. Trying to access email and do internet stuff... trying being the operative word. Drinking tea. Looking out the window at the goldfish and the wildlife outside, including a male pheasant that just wandered through the yard! Drinking water.

I caught a ride into town later that day with Richard. He showed me where the healthfood store was and then I went to Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral.

Wow! The architecture is amazing. I do remember studying it when I was in college. It is so much more impressive in real life though! I was just in awe really of the detail and while I did sort of participate in the service I mostly spent the time looking around... The singing by the boy choirs was lovely, crisp and clear with no amplification that I could see other than those gorgeous vaulted ceilings.

I don't know if this ever happens to any of you or not. Sometimes, while i'm reading or listening to music or someone speaking, maybe even something I've read or heard a multitude of times before, there can come a moment when I hear the words and they either have a new meaning or it's like I get it for the first time or they are highlighted somehow. Well, that happened to me Thursday. There I was, more or less engrossed in my own little world when suddenly, the priest, who was reading from the old testament, read this,

"The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former… and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts."

It was for me like someone turned the volume up for that part...

Or, like in a Charlie Brown cartoon, where the adults sound like 'wah waaah waaah wah, wa wahh waaah wah wa' and then imagine some audible words thrown in, in the middle.

I don't know. It made enough of an impact on me I came back to my room and looked it up online. That's how I know it is Haggai 2:9.

All I can say is this. After that stretch of time between 2008-2011? I'd definitely welcome something better into my life. And peace? Yeah. Sure. Absolutely. I'll take that too. Bring it on!

Back to the Cathedral. I did stay on for a bit and wander around. Looked at the amazing carved wood panels surrounding the pews. I think the program said services have been going on there for 1400 years... or maybe it was 1200. I'm not sure, but what's a couple hundred years anyway when we are talking something more than a thousand?!

It wasn't really all that late by the time I left the Cathedral and I wasn't long behind everyone else. Went out the same door they did. Which was on the opposite side of the building from where I came in. I got out there and there was not a soul in sight.

Hmmm. I was standing there trying to get my bearings when the choir boys and their leader came down the stairs, so, I approached the leader saying I was trying to find my way out and to locate a taxi.

Maybe I should have just stuck with finding my way out!

He pointed off to the left saying the main gate would be best... "just wind your way along" until you come to it… and then, well...... something about turning right… a queue of taxis…

“wah wa waaah wa waahh wa wah”

He seemed so cheerful and confident that I’d find my way out that it sort of rubbed off on me.

We waved goodbye and I headed off in the direction he had pointed, eager to get back to my room with my two small bags of groceries and have a delicious salad for dinner!

I was humming as I was winding my way along, thinking to myself, "I am winding my way along at Canterbury Cathedral!! In Canterbury, England for goodness sake!! How cool is that?! I was walking through a sort of colonnade… and at one point looked left and saw two intricately detailed stained glass windows. Lit from within. Gorgeous!

Just me. All by myself. Winding my way along to the main gate…

How far is it anyway?

It was probably 7pm by now. Dark. Thankfully, the walkway was lit.

Finally I could see a door off in the distance and it seemed quite well lit, so I thought, aha, that must be it! When I got over to it though, there was a sign that said “something” only… I can’t remember what exactly now, but I was clearly not the something it was referring to.

As perhaps no one else could do as effectively as me... I’d wound my way merrily along to a dead end.

Huh.

Does anyone ever feel like there is a re-occuring theme in my life?

Me too.

So. I wound my way all the way back to the door I’d come out of (not quite so merrily this time) and fortunately caught a woman who was locking up… explained I was "lost" and she brought me back in and through the Cathedral and out through the same door I’d come in by… re-explained to me where to find that queue of taxis, and I was once again, good to go.

Whew. Another disaster diverted. For one fleeting second I had a vision of a newspaper headline, "American tourist found frozen outside Canterbury Cathedral."

In a matter of minutes I’d located the taxis waiting. Spoke to the driver of the first one I came upon who explained to me that I needed to go to the first taxi in the queue, which I did. He was chatting with the second guy. I asked if he could take me to #3 Alcroft Grange and he said, “ hop in!” I liked him right away. He reminded me for everything like my cousin Joe (now deceased)… his appearance, demeanor, everything.

This guy likes to talk and meet people as much as I do, so we had a fun conversation on the short drive back. He is a carpenter by trade, has two great grown-up daughters who live with them, and a sweet 4 year-old grandson who also lives with them and is Grandpas "best mate”. He showed me a well worn picture. He also suggested I go visit the St. Martins church here in Canterbury saying it was the oldest church in all of England.

Friday I spent the morning ironing and the afternoon in Canterbury... did some banking and other errands and found a Cafe Nero for a steamng hot Large Americano, with cream! Yum!

Saturday I attended a Willow Cultivation Workshop with Alan Sage (more on that later).

I woke up before my alarm Sunday, and could tell by the quality of light stealing it's way in through the cracks in the curtains, that the weather forecast had been correct... we had gotten snow!

You might expect that I leapt out of bed and flung the curtains open to see... loving snow as I do. But, I did not. I stayed all warm and cozy under a pile of blankets and duvets, listening to the birds outside, until my alarm went off.

Even then I did not fling the curtains wide open... I peeked outside first...

My approach, much the same as the way I open a gift. Left to my own devices I'll gently shake it, dicern what I can from the shape and slowly peel away the tape, always thinking to save the paper (a trait I inherited from my Mom). Taking my time. Enjoying each step along the way and letting the excitement and anticipation build a little.

A gift it was, too. Good for my heart and soul.

I spent a good part of the day getting (TRYING!) some blogging done, but did go out in the afternoon for a nice long walk... which I intend to do again in a little while, but with my camera for company this time.

I'll post some pics and videos for you next time.

For now, I'm going to hit the publish post button. I'll proofread and check spelling later. Just want to get this up before I lose the internet connection... again!

love you lots-

susie