admin – Page 4 – This Old House 2

Time well spent

In my last post I shared with you our glorious fall weather down at our cottage by the sea. Back here on the farm I’ve been walking our little trail system with the dogs almost daily. The sweet scent of fallen decaying leaves is just as intoxicating up here. ( jeez, you just can’t use that word “decay” in any way that it doesn’t sound like death.) Anyway! … The trail may not be a super long one, but it has monster hills – a good workout indeed. This weekend my kids were around – My daughter to ride the horses and my son worked on his lot up over the hill where he will some day build his home. When they were done with their “stuff”, they came to sit by the fire with mom and dad and the dogs, and then we went for a woods walk to work off those grilled smoked Gruyere cheese, tomato and thin sliced deli ham sandwiches. We had calories to burn (damn it) !

This is a very large tree down at the edge of my son’s lot – it’s twisted and split,

and depending on a much thinner tree to remain standing.

Bailey doesn’t come on my long walks, as she’s older and would have a hard time keeping up. I warned my son that this was the case, but he wanted her along (she was his dog from the start, and they still adore each other all these years later) and so he ended up carrying her a third of the time. At one point she belly flopped right into the stream, that’s when we knew she needed a rest.

Now…

and

Many moons ago…

There is a thin stream running through the little valley at the back of our property, where the old spring is located. The farmers who lived here before used to bring water up to the house and barn from this stream and spring. The water runs cold and clear, and we do find the occasional fish, although it’s a rare occurrence. The stream dries out if we have a very dry summer.

Today I watered and fertilized the houseplants. This isn’t exciting, of course, but tucked among my christmas cactus (beginning to bloom) and the too-big-for-it’s-pot Violet, sits the lone geranium I brought home from Stella by the Sea. This little gem isn’t aware the seasons have turned and she should be brown and shriveled. Pink pedals stretch and leafy stems reach out to touch the warm rays of the sun through the windows. She’s content enough to bloom where she’s planted.

Instead of discussing the election (Voters showed up in record numbers to the polls! More than 100 women elected to congress! The House brings back some balance… woohooooo!) and instead of regurgitating the most recent false news rants and diplomatic failures of the twitterer in chief, I’m going to share this simple image. It caught my eye for my age old love of the characters and the action depicted…. and it’s powerful message in these simplest words.

Till soon, friends……

Off Season Island

Yesterday Connecticut experienced the most glorious fall weather – Although my editorial job begged for attention at the computer, I just could not waste hours inside while outside was so gorgeous…. T-shirt weather even! The leaves are peak, too. 🍁🍂So I put on my sneaks and drove down to our cottage, Stella by the Sea, to check on things after the recent heavy rainfalls and extreme high tides doused the landscape and burn off some fat cells (the never ending struggle).

Stella on the right was just fine – water turned off, lines flushed so no pipes will freeze during frigid winter months. She’s covered in acorns and oak leaves, the spent perennials need attention, but that’s a clean up chore for another day.

A few of the geraniums are still thriving, sorta hate to just leave them there to die. I did bring home one small pot and placed it among my houseplants, we’ll see how it overwinters.

After inspections I walked the winding roads of the “island” , which is actually more of a peninsula, to take in the fall splendor. Truly the shoreline is never more beautiful than when cloaked in autumn golds, reds and yellows. I wish I could shower you with the sweet scent of fallen leaves and woodsmoke as you browse these photos. There’s just a tinge of sadness, to see the chairs and picnic tables sitting empty, the boats tucked away, the window shades pulled down, curtains drawn, bikes stored in sheds, boat racks empty. Even the summer chicken coop in one cozy cottage abandoned till next year. There are many flowers still in bloom, but the original planters who enjoy them all summer are long gone. The little vegetable gardens abandoned too.

Below is an old outhouse located just across the road from Stella – once used by the occupants of the cottages before indoor plumbing. Now home to various critters in need of shelter.

I’ve heard the same sentiment shared over and over again from the “old timers” in this little 300 acre cottage community. While it’s been a waterfront farm in the same family for over 300 years, since the late 1800’s the camp Tents, and eventually cottages in the 1930’s – arrived to help the family support the farm. This no frills little place with two coves on long island sound in the Atlantic has brought so much peace to so many. In these difficult times when I’m feeling really discouraged about the fate of humanity if we can’t find our way to unity, Stella has come to the rescue time and again. Yesterday was no exception.

Thank you for your comments, I always appreciate that you give moments of your precious time to share with me. May we all find our way back to Peace on Earth in the little ways we’re capable.

When Words Become Weapons

     Words that have been weaponized by people in power who want to see a divided nation- Liberal, democrat, republican, conservative republican, immigrant. 

     Look up the actual definitions for each.  All goals for a healthy society- necessary components for balance.  Every one of our lives have been enriched in some way by various policies  pushed through by any one of the above referenced affiliations. Each has its strengths and weaknesses- Indeed there have been fails as well, as there always will be with so many things at stake.  That’s why it’s so important for any healthy functioning society to work through differences for common gain.

       We’ve fallen so far away from that. Yes, political figures are partly to blame, but Some actually have good intentions, and  shame  on all of us for feeding off the  greed of those who don’t. We are better than this.  So I’m asking anyone who bothers to read my posts, no matter what your political affiliation, to stop spreading hate. Stop fueling division.  Someone who may have saved your ass during a crisis may be of the very party you mock.  Customers who support your small local business, The teacher that protected your kid from a bully? Ditto. The cop who came to your rescue? The firefighter, the babysitter, the guy who removes your trash. 

     Have your beliefs, but research them and leave the hate out of them. If you call yourself religious but do not act with kindness, compassion or empathy , you need to find a new religion or give it up entirely- because that’s just a hypocrite. 

     With that said, I’m getting off this particular soapbox.   I hope someday the tide will turn in this country to stick with facts and civility as we tackle our many problems- what we have become is truly heartbreaking, and we will be our own demise if we don’t wake the fuck up.

Frosty Fields and That One Simple Word

For the past few mornings we’ve awoken to a coating of frost over the fields. After what was arguably the most humid, wet summer I can remember, the cool dry air feels rejuvenating.

The colors are a little muted this year – Sometimes we experience a blaze of glorious color, and some seasons, it’s just -meh. The summer weather determines what we’ll get. There have been a loss of many big old trees in our state this year also, so very sad to see them come down. We’ve lost a few here on the farm, and along the roads there are many dying, or that have already been cut down. It’s amazing and heart wrenching, the hole left in a landscape when a big old tree is removed. The reasons are several in these parts – severe storms in recent years, pests like the ash borer beetle and gypsy moth infestations. I’ve always looked upon trees as our friends, and truly they are in so many ways – how many uses do we find for them, besides their important ecological value. I see them as sentinels of the past, present, and future.

The ponies are growing their thick winter coats, the horses frisky from the chill in the air when turned out into the pastures each morning.

The chickens have slowed down their egg production, a natural process as the days grow shorter. I used to leave a heat lamp on in their coop at night for heat, which left them with light all through the night. I just don’t think that’s an awesome thing to do to them, so last year I discovered through another chicken keeping friend – the Cozy Coop heater – it works beautifully without disturbing their natural clock. Here they are enjoying oatmeal with raspberries (although blueberries are their favorite) which I give them occasionally on a really chilly morning. They love it and it helps them keep bodyweight on. You’d be surprised how skinny layer chickens are under all those feathers. They do not look like your Perdue oven stuffer roaster!

Eager to celebrate this favorite time of year, we’ve had our first fire in the fireplace and brought some fall decorations up from the cellar and in from the yard – I’ve cut some hydrangea and dried it – the fall hues are just a gorgeous dusty rose. The trick to drying hydrangea blooms that will last for a while is to cut them when dry – not in the morning covered with dew or after rainfall. Then, just prop them in a vase and don’t touch them. These will last for as long as we don’t disturb them too much.

The kids have carved pumpkins and roasted their seeds, and I’ve pulled out the fall recipes and found a few new ones. I always gravitate to the comfort food favorites, like homemade mac & cheese, beef stew, Turkey noodle vegetable soup with thick egg noodles, and the pies.. apple among my favorites. This is not good news for my chubby self, who has yet to lose that extra 25 lbs. UGH – the lack of willpower is something else entirely, I’m thoroughly disgusted with myself there. But – I’ll soldier on, hoping to find that magically combination of will power and exercise, which I already do regularly, that helps me shed the extra pounds.

ANYWAY…

Here’s a fun fall appetizer on a blog I recently discovered. I plan to make it this weekend for my daughter’s birthday dinner celebration … Link to the blog/recipe HERE.

Fall also means cozy clothes – and BOOTS! Which I love, but don’t always love ON me, because short people and boots don’t always look like they’re made for each other – just sayin. While I’m not a fashionista in any sense of the word, occasionally I find something that really excites me, like Freebird boots by Steven. Yep, they’re pricey, but they’re made really well and are comfortable.. so they’re an investment you’ll have for a lifetime if you take care of them. I just bought my first pair… the Stair Boot – and they are so comfortable and functional, with an edgy look.

I’m also coveting these… my wallet? Not so much. Maybe next year’s birthday 🙂

I hope you’re finding more kindnesses than adversity,

more genuinely good people than those with darker intent.

It’s out there – look for the good

and encourage it where you can.

In this time of political divisiveness I am reminded of

a very small word that if applied by all the powers that be,

and by each of us no matter what our myriad of differences,

would solve literally all our problems.

All of them.

Till soon, friends –

Woodstock, VT 2018

We just spent a few glorious days in Woodstock, Vermont, staying at the Woodstock Inn. This is our fourth visit and much of the same staff were in attendance. You know a place treats it’s employees well when they stay on year after year.

We also spent some time just up the road at the Billings Farm and Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park, touring the original estate mansion. (the main large home you’ll see in the photos below). We stopped briefly at The Vermont Country Store- do you get the catalog? So fun to browse the old fashioned clothes, soaps, candies, flannels, pj’s, blankets, dishwear, natural remedies of days gone by (that still work!)

I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

Vermont Country Store, Rockingham, VT

Jenne Farm, Reading, VT – the most photographed farm in the country – google it!

The Woodstock Inn

Town of Woodstock

The Billings Farm

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion Tour and Grounds

Ladybird Johnson slept in this room when visiting, having been a friend of the Billings-Rockefellers at the time.

The pool house, with greenhouses behind it.

It was a wonderful, peaceful, easy-going kind of weekend. We consumed ridiculous amounts of really good food, (good thing we did a lot of walking) some good hearty laughter and some drink, enjoyed fantastic fall weather and good company, mom and our son and future DIL having joined us. It’s a beautiful thing.

I hope all is well in your part of the world – thank you for stopping by. 🍂🍁

Autumn Gems

Oh, how I love Fall in New England. I’ve acquired a love for it over time, though – for when I was a young girl, my very favorite season was Summer 🌻- no school, barefoot, beaches, bikes, T-shirts and Johnny’s ice cream truck on Friday nights. We played outside till the cows came home – well not exactly – in a city suburb it was more like till the street lights came on. Then we hit the stoops with lightning bug jars. But fall held it’s own magic even back then… and just the other day I was reminded of it.

My husband and I grew up in similar surroundings and yesterday as we patrolled the fields surveying fence and weeds and flooding issues, the scent and crunch of fallen leaves underfoot reminded us both of our youth. So much joy was found in the simple things – like raking leaves into a pile out in our postage stamp yards, and then jumping into and out of those piles repeatedly. Trick or Treating was enhanced by the crunch underfoot, the jewel reds, oranges, yellows, brown hues all around and the earthy smell of fallen leaves, the crisp air carrying that scent as we trudged door to door to door.

Here on the farm, fall means putting the gardens to bed, hay fields retired for the year, fuzzy horses eventually blanketed, and chickens who retire to the coop much earlier in the evening. The racks on the porch are filled with firewood and the dogs are as eager as we are to sit by the hearth and enjoy the warmth of a fire in the fireplace. We allow ourselves more down time in fall – the shorter days are a welcome reprieve from all the chores around here that keep us going till dark. We both have jobs that require computer time, too, and somehow even that momentum quiets as our internal clocks slow down and recharge.

We’ll have the traditional Thanksgiving meal next month with family who are available to join us – and each year in the month of October I start hunting for a recipe or two that will add a little twist to the usual menu – Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy are forever, but the other sides can be jockeyed around without too much angst from the husband, we always hope. (six blueberries, you might recall). I found two recipes that seemed compatible and I gave them a try last week – Delicious! And they’ll grace our table this year. For the first, I combined several recipes –

Butternut Squash Soup

1 very Large Butternut squash or two medium

Approximately 4 cups chicken broth ( vegetable stock is another option)

1 cup finely chopped onion

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tbs butter or to taste. (use olive oil for dairy free version)

Sherry (or Vermouth) About 1/2 cup.

Preheat oven to 425, cut the squash in half lengthwise, drizzle inside of each piece with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and place cut face down on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Roast for approximately 45 minutes or until tender. Set the squash aside until it’s cool enough to handle.

In large soup pot, melt butter in pot and add onions – saute until browned and fragrant. Put the cooked onion bits in a blender, scoop the butternut squash out of it’s thin skin and place in same blender, add salt and pepper and chicken (or veggie) stock. Add the Sherry (or vermouth) .. and blend until creamy. – place back in the large soup pot and warm to desired temperature – and serve – delish!

I also made this Leek and Root Vegetable Gratin – Recipe HERE – this is a delicious twist on scalloped potatoes, although we love those so much I’ll probably make both. I added organic multicolored carrots in place of one of the parsnips and used yams instead of sweet potatoes, cheddar cheese, not muenster. I used a poultry seasoning blend to sprinkle on top of each layer. Slicing everything THIN is the key to success here.

When I’m cooking in the kitchen, the dogs are usually underfoot. If it’s a decent weather day, I open the sliders to the backyard and they sit in the sun patches, catching the breeze. They are the best company, truly my other set of kids.

Autumn means more reading time, too. I fell in love with Gladys Taber’s books a few years back – more HERE on that. She passed away in 1980 at the age of 81, and her books are no longer in print, but I’ve managed to find some online available through old book sellers, and a friend gifted me two as well. This just arrived in the mail and I am savoring every relaxing moment I get to read her quieting, uplifting and thought provoking recollections of a life well lived on a very old homestead in Southbury, CT – Stillmeadow farm. It is her pleasure in the little things, her kind and thoughtful disposition and her thoughts on troubling times in our earlier history that soothe my weary soul. Ironic that much of it still applies today.

I hope all is well in your neck o’the woods – If you’re so inclined, share your favorite fall treasures, recipes or memories in the comments below. Thank you for stopping by!

We The People

We have a President who repeatedly refers to half the nation as the enemy. He referred yesterday to Democrats as a party of crime. He described them as he would a toxic gas. The press as the enemy of our country, prisoners of war are not heroes, disabled reporters he feels comfortable mocking, he dismisses sexual assault victims and female reporters, and berates anyone who doesn’t agree with him. He has never given one fuck about the average Joe in this country, not one thing points to that direction. Acquiring wealth and stardom have always been his goal. He was a Democrat until he decided to run for office and knew a large portion of the republican base would follow his fear mongering rhetoric, he knew what to throw on the fire to win. His biggest goal is to win and be the boss and be glorified. My words are certainly not the proof- his own actions are.

I cannot lie and say I don’t agree with some of his goals for our country. But selling our soul to accomplish those goals just isn’t worth it and isn’t even necessary.

We have many things to be thankful for in this country, and we can thank members of both parties for those gifts. The reason I am not affiliated with a party is- there are sound ideas and plans and accomplishments from both camps, always have been through history, I believe the combination brings sound answers to whatever the issues are – and fair balance. We are no longer open minded and we have a commander in chief feeding the divide. We all lose in the end with this kind of leadership.

I’m real tired of seeing people I consider friends mocking snowflakes. As if a snowflake isn’t the first person who reached out to you in a time of need, or opened their home or wallet to you when you needed it most. Maybe that libtard stood up for your kid when he or she was being bullied. The same can be said of Republicans and Conservatives – perhaps they were the saving grace for you in a bad situation. It might be the right wing nut that changed your tire on the side of the road in the middle of the night. I’m tired of putting off an appointment because the person I would see thinks the man fueling this division is awesome. Awesome?? I don’t know how you can ignore the hate. Anything but awesome. But He shouldn’t have the power to divide us.

Anyone who bothers to read my social media posts knows I am open with my opinions and I use it regularly to voice them. I believe keeping the conversation going helps us solve problems and keep an open mind. I learn something from an opposing view sometimes too- isn’t that something. Social media is a great way to share family pictures , good news, lost dogs, items for sale, friends gatherings, jokes, recipes, and even political news. It’s also a good way to get really pissed off at someone you would otherwise have a lot in common with, someone you used to like and accomplish good things with .

Something we all have control over is how we talk to each other and what we put out there, what we promote. We also have control of who we let in our lives, and even who we allow to pollute it. I’m going to ask my friends ( anyone reading this) to stop promoting blatant hate in-the stupid petty mean ways the bots out there and our current President or any other politicians or people with agendas that are certainly not our well being promote unless it’s information only and not mocking and hate. They are not who we are. They don’t stand next to us at our volunteer events where we are actually accomplishing some good, together! They do not sit on the bus and share the weather or the family news or a smoke on the way to work in the morning. They aren’t holding the door open as you try to get in the elevator with many packages, they aren’t comforting you as you prepare to bury a loved one. They don’t bring food to your door when you’re going through a rough patch.

Investigate what you share, make sure it’s truth and not just a pathetic attack that happens to align with your party of choice. This applies to all affiliations. Truth matters. Decency matters. We are not each other’s nemesis. That is a line being fed to us to encourage the divide.

United we stand. Divided, we fall. We are better than that.

We are all – We The People.

This is where I drop the mic- because all this division is exhausting and disheartening. Whether you agree with me on the President or not, I hope you’ll agree to the rest of this post. I hope I’ll see a “like” or a comment from friends of all political affiliations. We as a nation can find common ground again, together. We are the fabric- not the politicians. … we… the People.

❤️

🇺🇸

Purple Mushrooms

Did you know there was such a thing? Purple mushrooms? In all my years of trudging through the woods on horseback or with dogs, I did not. A local friend who goes mushroom hunting on a regular basis posted a few pictures recently, and I was amazed! Purple Mushrooms? What?

The bullshittery that is occurring in Washington has me (and a zillion other people) on edge lately, and the best way I know how to get away from all the nonsense is to get out in nature – put my face to the wind on the water or take a hike in the woods with the dogs. Yesterday I left the dogs behind to avoid their tread on what I was looking for, and went exploring in the woods behind our farm – in search of the elusive Purple Mushroom. I knew the odds would be in my favor after the recent 8.5 inch rainfall in our area. I kid you not – local roads were flooded, some caved in due to rivers run amok adjacent to them… driveways washed out, a local restaurant with a river alongside it had water on it’s first floor, water coming in the windows – it was that crazy. ) Seems our weather is becoming more extreme with each year – this past winter brought unrelenting cold, then the summer held unrelenting humidity – and now crazy amounts of rainfall as autumn slides in.

The hunt!…

And the discovery.… for me it was almost like finding a unicorn

out there in the forest… and yet apparently, they are fairly common.

I was downright giddy.

I also spent a little time with my face to the wind on the water

with my niece, S. on Saturday.

If you love the water but have never tried Kayaking,

I highly recommend it. The practice is a soul soother –

you can go at your own pace –

a lake, a pond, a river, a cove, the ocean – any will do.

The typical boat does not cost a fortune, can be stored in a garage

or out near the woodpile and will

last you a lifetime with basic care.

My 74 year old Aunt still enjoys it, too . With a little planning

and practical caution the practice is ageless and the exercise

is good for you, body and soul.

I hope all is well in your neck o’the woods –

🍁Happy Fall!

Our Circus, Our Flying Monkeys

Our political system is absolutely ruptured- watching yesterday’s tragedy was heartbreaking on so many levels. I’m still in disbelief that that is indeed our circus- those are the flying monkeys that run our country. I truly feel we the people- Republicans, Democrats, left and right, are largely not being represented by those who stand for who we actually are as a country. The blame for what our system of governance has become lies all over the spectrum, and that’s largely why I am an independent.

As for Br*tt K*vanaugh, he is clearly emotionally unfit for a seat on the Supreme Court, whether he is guilty of the sexual assault he’s accused of or not. Funny how the people who are witnesses to the supposed act aren’t fit enough to testify. Would that have flown if it were a Democrat defendant? Hell no. Did anyone come away from her testimony thinking she was lying? How many times did he say he likes beer? His own yearbook reflects his attitude at that time , and classmates have come out saying he’s lying about other things. All that screaming and crying and spitting – While you might be a Hillary hater, and I was not a fan, – under 11 hours of scrutiny before the same committee being accused of murdering four men, not once did she behave like the raging lunatic Kavanaugh became. And she did not murder those four men, whether you’ll interpret that mess that way yourself. Me thinks he does protest too much. In case you didn’t know- he was playing to all beer drinking male voters who may have been “rowdy” in their young years- , right from the Trump play book.

As for the alleged victim- Who would put themselves in that position if they didn’t believe they were telling the truth? Nothing to gain! And a lot to lose. Starting with the polygraph experience! So tired of every woman who stands up for themselves being dismissed BY OTHER WOMEN and especially by that disgusting administration and their hypocrisy when trying to undermine the opposing party over the years- No wonder most don’t report it! L Gr*ham’s own words for his book regarding sexual assault victims apparently didn’t apply this time- of course! Hypocrite. All of it, broken.

Believe people when they tell you who they are.

Show Glow

Well let me tell ya – What a ride, literally! K and I experienced our first big horse show last week – five days away from our farm, attending the Empire State Fall Quarter Horse show at the Syracuse, NY fairgrounds. Ever been? WOW.. many buildings, an impressive Colosseum, parking parking and more parking areas, more cement and pavement walking than I think I’ve ever done. I can only imagine what it’s like when the big fair is in progress. My mom tells me we were there once when I was very little – I have a vague memory of walking through big gates and through some cow barns, but that’s it.

We stayed at a Holiday Inn nearby, but many who show often bring campers that they use for housing.

K and Leah had a great show – both were a little nervous on their first day, but by the second they settled in and did very well. I’m so proud of my girl and this little horse, a new team still getting to know each other – it’s quite intimidating to go out there with the seasoned folks, but she did just that and with ease I wouldn’t be capable of, I’m a bit of a wuss in the competitive atmosphere. The smile says it all 💓

Photos below are of a few of our friends – what a great group of people to spend five days with – all supportive of each other, even when competing in the same event – a welcome camaraderie we all need to see more often everywhere in life.

It’s looks all glittery in these photos but the truth is those jackets are worn for about 15 minutes – the rest of these people’s time is spent cleaning stalls, filling water buckets, sweeping isles, cleaning tack, feeding horses, exercising them, brushing them, practice practice practice and some sitting around waiting for classes too. By the end of each day, it feels as if we’re wearing as much dirt as we are clothing.

It’s all worth it, though – every penny and every bead of sweat equity. The lesson in showing is it takes hard work and dedication. It takes caring for another living thing who depends on you to do so, it means disappointment as well as triumph, building relationships, elbow grease, determination. It means learning the art of losing gracefully as well as celebrating the win. The friendships along the way are the icing on the cake – an important icing.

At the end of the show we were so ready to get home – we missed the dogs, we missed our people. The gorgeous sunset behind us and rising moon ahead were the perfect cap on a successful week.

I hope all is well in your neck o’the woods.

Till soon, friends…