Health and Wellness – Page 3

This and that and out and about

Just when we thought 2020 couldn’t get any more bizarre……

I need to make this clear before I go any further… I don’t wish harm or illness on anyone, ever. That being said… it’s no surprise that the POTUS contracted Covid, is it? As well as almost half his staff and a family member or two. Not to mention the myriads we don’t know about who attended his maskless rallies in recent months and the myriads of dead (over 200,000 now and counting) because he chose to treat the whole thing as a “Democratic Hoax” in the initial, crucial first months. He has no one to blame but his own arrogance, ignorance, greed. It’s mind boggling. A day ago I thought to myself….. perhaps… this experience will humble him some and he will come out of it with more empathy and smarts for the rest of us moving forward. No… yesterday’s photo-op in a sealed car where he is again putting his secret servicemen at risk proved otherwise. When he was initially diagnosed he also attended an event knowing he tested positive.. without notifying anyone until he was back at the WH. He is so unfit for the position he holds.. on so many levels. There are no excuses worthy of keeping him there. I implore anyone reading this.. PLEASE.. vote him out in November. Please.

The debate? What a sh*t show. What a shame. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.

My son’s house just over the hill is almost complete – move-in day is just two weeks away and I am so excited for them. As with my daughter’s home next door, the upstairs will remain unfinished for now, an effort to keep the mortgage down, expenses manageable. When either start a family of their own, the second floors will be finished. When we bought This Old House and renovated her beginning in 2009, this was exactly what we had envisioned for the property – Being in the home building business, my husband has a good eye for property potential and I have been in love with this old house (“Saving Grace ” or Gracie as I call her) since my teen years. We are so very lucky to have been able to acquire her and bring her back to life, and turn this farm into a family compound. That both of my children are as enthusiastic about this farm as we are is more than just icing on the cake.

M & M… at the granite/marble warehouse picking out counter granite…

Installed last week, and it is beautiful… She is also an “M”… when she saw the kitchen almost finished she said… I am not worthy of this kitchen!… but she absolutely is, in spades. Not only has she worked hard to pursue a career in the optics field, she is already a good cook as well. I couldn’t be happier for my son, who has chosen a great partner to share life with. More announcements on that front in the near future.

Meanwhile… I continue to find respite on this farm, my Saving Grace. The GoatGirlz, Star and Bella are thriving here. We are all enamored with these two silly girls and their calls to us whenever they spot us nearby.

Leah has become very comfortable with being a “home” horse instead of a show horse… and we’re thinking we aren’t going to return to the show world in the near future. The Sh*t Show is still out there.

On the health front, I have lost a solid 10 pounds in the last month, the next ten will be harder. My relationship with food is complicated. I love it, I love to make it for myself and especially for others, it is my anxiety and boredom reliever and has been for my entire life. Bad habits are hard to break! But.. with less sugar and carbs in my diet, I am feeling better overall – the fibromyalgia pain is less. Onward…

We have not gotten as much use out of our little seaside cottage this year, too much going on around the farm and work, and of course not having the bigger gatherings there due to Covid concerns. Stella continues to be a refuge regardless and next year we’ll spend more time there for sure.

I’ve been trying to instill this next thought in my husband’s mind for 32 years now. All work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy. It actually makes him a very grumpy, overworked overtired boy. Last weekend I did manage to get him to take a day trip to one of his favorite destinations, Vermont… and he actually smiled for a while and took a few deep breaths. We came home with apples, cider and a pie from the Scotts Farms Orchard in Dummerston and cheese from the Grafton Cheese Factory – it was a very good day. The colors are not quite peak here in New England, and after the recent tropical storm, here near the shoreline there are a lot of BROWN trees from the sea salt-stained winds.

Wishing you all good health and the happiness to be found in the places we call home, the family we love and the time we make for ourselves – it’s so important.

Till soon –

Like Gold

Here in CT, not much is more joy inducing to a horse woman than seeing the Holloway Hay Truck parked in front of your barn. The Holloway Family has been delivering their signature awesome Upstate New York hay to new England farms for many years. We used to get a delivery once yearly, but when we moved to This Old House (Gracie as I fondly call her) we had hay fields of our own and the Mr. wanted to capitalize on that to save money. Well, sounds good in theory, and we’ve been applying that theory for years now – but truth is, hay is harder to grow than you’d think, and not cheap. Weather is factor, good machinery is important, knowledge and application of seed and fertilizer, etc.etc. Good drying time and ventilation when stored is also important.

Also, cow grade hay and horse grade hay are two different animals, too. What we’ve been growing is mostly cow grade – stalky, not enough grasses, timothy too gone-to-seed by the time we bale it. So.. the cow farmer up the road who helps us with the haying gets most of it. The rest isn’t enough for me to keep my guys in hay all year, so this year we ordered a full load from my favorite, Holloway farms – and I now have 700 bales of GOLD in our lofts. It’s a beautiful thing. You’d be amazed at how giddy a girl can be over a loft full of good hay that will last a whole year or more.

There are two cuttings of hay in this load – first cut on the bottom, the lighter colored, and second cut on top – considered the prized hay, tending to be more grassy. Both are good feed hay, regardless. A hay field in a good weather season can get two cuttings, one in June, the next in September-ish.

Fall has officially arrived! Do you decorate for the seasons? As soon as the little pumpkins come out I’m all over it…. my daughter and I have already made our first trip of the season to Scott’s farm down the road –

On the health goals front – using the SlimNation.com apps and menu plan, I’ve lost almost 10 pounds in 3 1/2 weeks – about 15 – 18 to go. Feeling better, sleeping better, better attitude over all. Going into the holidays will be interesting and a struggle with the diet because I love to eat, and cook and bake. But I’m determined to keep it up, because feeling better is the only way to be if you can help it. We can certainly control what we put in our mouth, right? Lord help me please. 🙂

Till soon friends –

What will you dwell on

A wise person once told me… what we dwell on is who we become. I’d like to think most of us are not the noise pollution we are being fed by those who’s motives are not anchored in and for the greater good. Aren’t we all soul-weary from the onslaught?

Another wise person reminded me how important it is not to get caught up in that swill. We’re only going through this way once – be kind to yourself, be kind to others, look for the good, respect and enjoy our vast diversity, support your causes, don’t contribute to the divides, seek truth, have compassion, seek joy – it’s especially abundant in the little things. If something in your life is really dragging you down, let it go. Lift each other I’m starting this day with a renewed appreciation for all that is good and I’ll nurture it where I can .

Some inspiration for today –

Dear September…

….you’d better come in here acting like you’ve got some sense.

Boy, could the headlines be any more of a sh*t show? Actually I shouldn’t even tempt it. This post was originally (like 20 minutes ago) a political post. But I’m so tired of my own damned outrage at the insanity I deleted the whole thing. So here you go… a little lightness I need as much as anyone.

The goatgirlz!! Oh, the joy they bring. Star and Bella are like two toddlers we’ve adopted – they talk to us whenever we’re outside, even if we’re off in the distance. If we’re sitting among them they climb all over us, and they love to chase my son around the paddock. Goats love stuff to climb on – so our girlies got a picnic table we had up at the firepit that was getting a little dodgy, and they love their new perch.

Have you picked up any new hobbies or nurtured old ones during the pandemic? I’ve picked up painting again and have found it to be very therapeutic . I’m not a schooled artist and my paintings are a bit primitive, but I have learned a few tricks as I go along and while practice will never make me perfect, it has helped me get a better result when I paint. These two I am very happy with – they were so much fun. The first is a fall scene in Woodstock, Vermont – Sleepy Hollow Farm. I added my son’s cat to it after this picture was taken, as this is a gift for his new home, soon to be completed… and I call it Lily in the leaves. I really should go upstairs and snap a new picture but I’m lazy today, so you get the leaves without lily.

I just completed this one below- using a photo I took of a wave on South Beach , Martha’s Vineyard. Oh, how I have missed my favorite island this summer. Hopefully by next year travel will be a safe option again.

My vegetable garden is pretty much spent …. and for the 10th year in a row, our apple orchard produced zero apples – we’ve definitely done something wrong up there on the hill with the planting of those trees… but the raspberry and blueberry bushes provided bags and bags of frozen berries in my freezer for all kinds of baking and smoothies and cereal, etc. as the year rolls on. I also have sauce in the freezer from the tomatoes we harvested. It was just a -meh type garden year.

Down at the shore cottage things are looking a little brown after a freak storm battered the community, flipping boats on their moorings, tumbling trees, battering foliage and turning it a scorched brown. I’ve done some kayaking, mom has spent a few lovely weeks there and we all have frequented it for meals on occasion, but we did not get as much use out of it as previous years, mainly because of high heat and humidity and poor weather in general.

Here’s an awesome recipe I’ll share late in the season, but it is one of my favorites and because nowadays you can get just about anything any time of the year, you can probably make this all year long. Whoever thought of throwing blueberries and corn into a salad together and then that honey lime dressing? I thank them profusely for the gift of it.

My son’s house is coming along, tentative move in date is October 15th – his soon to be fiance’s birthday! (yes, that’s happening soon! shhhh…. )

I am so happy for my son, for our whole family… because this lovely young woman has become a much loved member of our family in the six years they have dated. Seeing them build the future together is such a joy. They guide each other through thick and thin, have aided each other in building their careers, and they are strength to each other’s weaknesses, bringing out the best in each other. It’s a beautiful thing.

Mom with her favorite grandson, on his side porch

As for me, I have started a new diet plan – day five and I’m down four pounds. I’m finding it totally do-able. I’m not hungry, I’m eating healthy, and the weight is slowly coming off. The weight loss will slow, for that was probably mostly water weight – but I am finding this plan is excellent – doable, healthy eating. I shop for the groceries and cook the meals, the meal plan and grocery listed are provided by the founder of the program. He’s traveled nationwide with his program and his clients span the globe, but he happens to live right here in town and has helped many of my neighbors, how cool is that!? Here’s my before picture – 27 pounds to lose at day 1, down 4 already. Believe me, this picture does not really show -all the fat -. I’ll keep you posted on this, but if you’re looking for a program yourself and others have failed you (like me!) …. this..is working.

myslimnation.com – Robert Nevins

BEFORE……….

Stay tuned for the progress…..

And here are a few funnies for this strange, strange year….

Ah… that’s much better than the miserable political post I had intended. Stay safe and sane, all –

Till soon –

This and that on a rainy Sunday

Not very creative with the blog post title, ay? But it is raining on this Sunday afternoon and I can justify sitting here to blog for a bit.

How have you all been, what’s it like in your neck o’the woods regarding pandemic living? Here in New England, many are abiding the mask wearing in public tight quarters spaces. Our town Hall is still only open by appointment and working via e-mail, phone, etc. for the most part. Businesses are open with the restrictions many of you are familiar with. Strange times. I don’t yet feel comfortable sitting indoors in a restaurant, but we have dined at a few with outside patios.

I feel sorry for the teachers who are dealing with a mess of kids wearing masks (talk about awkward and frustrating) … and the fear some of them are feeling being so exposed if they’ve been very vigilant in their own social distancing. And I feel sorry for the youth who have been so restricted in their socialization and education experience. Parents are trying to assuage their fears, balance work and home and childcare needs, a nightmare, really. Healthcare workers are now seeing the second wave, according to my friends in that field. Every sniffle, every achy muscle day (for me that’s always, damned fibromyalgia) every scratchy sore throat brings a little thread of dread – is it the virus? The bad kind, the mild kind or the no symptom kind? .. should I quarantine? Should my husband and I be sleeping in separate beds? (hey, sometimes that’s actually appealing anyway) Jeez I wore my mask, washed my hands,…. the anxiety of it all rolls on and on…. I no longer wipe down every single surface of every item I bring home from the grocery store though, as I did initially. That got old and tedious and felt like overkill. Washing the produce and washing my hands after handling feels like it’s enough.

We’ve been getting stuff done around the farm, my daughter and her significant other love their home nextdoor and it’s a joy to see them mowing lawn, weeding garden, seeing the back door light go on at night while they let the dogs go potty. And having my daughter nearby to share the barn chores again is a huge blessing. My son is building his home on a lot at the back of our farm. I may have mentioned it’s what we do for a living, home building, so this is one area where we -get stuff done- in rapid succession and at a more reasonable price than the typical homeowner.

A glimpse of my son’s home to be – the red “barn” is his garage… the interior of the home being done slowly as materials, labor and bartering come along, the upstairs will remain unfinished until they become a young family. The goal is to have as minimal a mortgage as possible (young couple and all that goes with it).

The joy these two goat girls give us are immeasurable. They are so friendly, talking to us all the time, from a distance and right up close. Truly they are like two toddlers looking for our companionship and attention whenever we are outside.

The upcoming election – oh, man. ( here’s where you skip the next two paragraphs if you still remain a 45 supporter, I’m not looking to insult anyone) – It has taken a toll on me, watching what I believe is the slow unraveling of America as we (I? I shouldn’t speak for you) believed it to be. I’m sad for us all. I’m not a huge fan of B*den but I also recognize he’s not the slow sleezy do-nothing some would have you believe. His running mate choice was his best option in my opinion. I look forward to watching K*mala debate the deadwood P*nce. I am encouraged by some of my republican friends who are now saying there is no way in hell they would vote for Tr*mp again. One dyed in the wool republican neighbor said 45 is a trainwreck he’s ashamed he voted for and he will vote B*den come November. I’m hoping there are many many more out there like him. And yet…. there’s the uncertainty of what will happen should he lose. I doubt he’ll accept the results, no matter what they are, unless he is the winner. And there are so many nuts threatening civil war, it’s frightening. We are at a crossroads, this country… and I hope and pray and beg and plead for our collective soul to rise and rid itself of all the corruption, hate and fueled divide – especially the politicians, including the current P*TUS, who feed it relentlessly. We the people deserve better.

Yesterday it was reported the P*TUS lost his younger brother, of which he was close. I would imagine that is a very tough loss for him, and even more so now. While I despise what he’s doing to our Country, I find I have empathy regardless. Although the reason for his brother’s passing has not been revealed, I suspect he may have contracted COVID-19. When he was first reported as ill was precisely the same time the P*TUS started wearing a mask occasionally in public. I don’t know if we’ll ever know the truth of it. After having dismissed initial warnings about the virus and playing it down repeatedly for a length of time, well.. the irony and indeed the tragedy of it is what comes to mind. Of course, I’m speculating only.

Stella by the sea remains a respite for all of us. We each use it together and separately when free time comes up. It does my heart good to see the kids enjoy the kayaks, the grilling of burgers and hotdogs and roasting of marshmallows in the firepit with their friends (small safe gatherings are possible outdoors). I am loving my new kayak – the one that is discontinued and I bought for a bargain price. She glides through the water easily and while a little more tippy than my old steady Ruby, she’s fairly stable regardless and is more agile, lighter to carry. I have yet to come up with a name for her that feels right- but every vessel must have a proper name…… suggestions welcome. She’s red orange and yellow.

A photo I took while kayaking – some of the Thimble Islands out in the distance..

We finally laid my father to rest thanks to the kindness of dear friends who have a lovely old 1976 Egg Harbor boat. It was a small gathering, just my sister and I, my husband, my niece, and the lovely couple who took us up the Connecticut River to the mouth of the river into LI Sound – just beyond the lighthouse at Saybrook Point. Since it’s not technically legal to dump ashes there , that’s not technically what we were doing . There was the traditional burial Psalm 23 reading, we tossed white roses out into the waves along with what wasn’t really my father’s ashes in a biodegradable urn, and read the following below as well… my tears were for several reasons, but the most important one was the overwhelming knowledge in my heart that it was exactly as my father would want it – exactly where he wanted to be in the end. I felt a sincere closure for him and for me, and that is such a blessing.

Wishing us all good health and peace of mind during these trying times –

The Saving Grace

Do I even touch on the shit storm out there in the greater world? I think not. So much to cover, so little desire to plunge into that muck today. I’ve started painting again and while I’m no professional artist, not by a long shot, I like the title one of my mother’s friends gave my art – Outsider art…

(fresh off the easel – “Cousins” … my daughter age 8, son 3 and nephew 2… many moons ago on MV)

Outsider Art basically means one who creates stuff without any formal training. That would be me.

Between creating and spending time with my animals here on the farm and down by the sea, I am finding some calm in the storm and I hope you have discovered little pieces of yourself again by indulging in those small but important things you enjoy but don’t normally give yourself enough time to do.

So… while the most intelligent life forms on earth continue to pollute it with their selfishness and greed and willful ignorance, the animals and nature and the creativity they inspire remind me there is still much beauty in this world and it’s forever worth fighting for

I’ll leave you with a few scenes from the spaces and creatures I am so fortunate to tend and love…. and some simple words of wisdom… Have a safe holiday weekend, all… I’m off to fold some clothes and mow some lawn. Focusing on the simple things I have control over has truly been a saving grace in these troubling times.

And you’ll know you’re on your path

when you really don’t care what anyone thinks of it –

Love in the Time of COVID-19

In recent years the political and ideological divide we’ve all been a witness to here in our Country and around the world has been tremendously disconcerting. It bubbles over as our governments and our peoples struggle to sort out and best react to the tremendous challenges of fighting a worldwide pandemic. Both economic and health concerns put an additional strain on an already beleaguered civil unrest and it can be hard to find a balance, to look for the good when it feels like the whole world has been shaken like a snow globe and the dust has yet to settle. Some of us have lost our jobs, our source of income – or it’s been put on hold temporarily. Others are on the front lines either in hospitals or food service stores, pharmacies, etc trying to protect their own health as well as that of their patients/customers. Many are isolated from their loved ones, most are not living the life they had just three months ago. The worst off are dying without family nearby to comfort them and say farewell.

When something as awful as this pandemic grabs us by the proverbial throat, something else happens along with it. Remember the response we all had to the 9/11 terrorist attacks? As horrifying as that event was, and I hope we never witness something like it again, it also brought us together. There were flags everywhere! People waved, honked, and thanked first responders, healthcare workers, police and firemen – those whose careers and COURAGE! put them on the front lines every day. We were nicer to our neighbors, didn’t matter what their political affiliation or nationality, they were us and we were them. We were proud of our flag and it stood for what it should – our pride and love for our Country. We were Americans, all. This virus spans the globe, not just our Country. We’re really and truly all in this together. Perhaps some good will come of it, a coming together of sorts as we figure out how to wade back into some sort of normal. Those flags are now rainbows drawn on sidewalks, hearts in windows and on mailboxes, red ribbons tied around trees. They say – THANK YOU, WE’RE WITH YOU, WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. And indeed, we are, once again. Let the good things that come out of this pandemic ripple out and the togetherness remain.

In the meantime… I’ve picked up my paint brushes again to see what I can create…..finished this last night … Little Cinnamon Beach, Peter Bay, St. John…

Made this a few days ago and oh, man.. easy to make, delicious too – give it a go if you like to cook, and maybe even if you don’t! It’s sooo good…

And… I’ve been playing with goats! Our new little Star and Bella have been a wonderful distraction from the troubles of the world. Goats are so friendly when raised with kindness. They call out to us when they see us walking up to their little pasture and come running to rub up against us. If we’re sitting with them, they’ll lie next to us or try to climb up on our shoulders, no kidding! No pun in tended!

As the world begins to lift the stay at home orders and businesses begin to re-open, stay safe and be kind. Those with significant health issues will need to be as vigilant as ever. Anxiety will still be present, the concerns are real and the virus has not gone away. As my friend Sean says at the end of every post… WashYourDamnHands.

Till soon, friends…

COVID-19 Perspective

For those who need perspective to understand the severity of Covid-19, in 2018 in Connecticut approximately 700 people died a flu related death. This year so far coronavirus has taken more than 3,000. Can you imagine if we had not used the difficult precautions put in place? Precautions we do not take for the flu. The symptoms have been growing as they learn more, and right now there are children at Yale with strange symptoms of the virus. In otherwise healthy people, Organ failure, heart inflammation, blood clots throughout the body are just a few odd symptoms for some patients with the disease. This is not a joke, it’s not a hoax meant to take down the President ( yes I still have a FB friend who believes it ) it’s serious shit, so Thank You to all who are on the front lines, thank you to those doing kindnesses where you can, Keep wearing masks in public for now and keep washing your damn hands, as my friend Sean hashtags regularly. It’s important. ❤️

Spring Cottage Gardens and Wild Woods Blooms

Having come off a mild Winter, I had assumed incorrectly we’d have a mild Spring. It’s been a cold wet one here in New England and today only underscores the statement with more rain in the forecast. In between the raindrops I’ve been visiting the cottage for things like tiny garden cleanup and beginning the restock of the refrigerator and cupboard. The 140 “island” cottages have many little gardens, not so much groomed as a bit random. Depending on water from little wells on a rocky outcropping of land jutting out into the salt water of Long Island Sound into the Atlantic, a peninsula not-really-an-island, water must be conserved so as not to use it up. Hence, big gardens are discouraged. Most of these cottages are seasonal and aren’t inhabited by their owners or renters until the summer season has arrived. For that reason I have been pleasantly surprised by all the spring blooming tulips, daffodils and forsythia planted across the community. On a grey day it’s a cheery sight…

In our Stella’s little waterfront garden, the Parsley from last summer is still growing in abundance. I have literally been pulling parsley from it all winter long , see it in the right hand bottom corner?- who woulda believed it.

The little cottages each have their own personality, no two are the same. I have had the opportunity to see the insides of at least 10 of them now and each has it’s own unique charm, I love seeing what people do with their spaces. Below are a few photos from a neighbor… Love the fireplace and the checked floor!

Yesterday I took the dogs for a walk down the trail behind the farm, and found wild spring blooms in abundance….

Swamp Marigold…

Trout Lily…

and wild violet? Pansy?…..

The goat girls, Bella and Star – have captured all of our hearts, even the Mr. They are so very friendly, call to us as we approach their pen and cry for us when we leave it. They lay in our laps, enjoy head scratches and are discovering the mini horses Coady and Lacey are their neighbor buddies.

We’ve loved having our show horse, Leah, home…. and she’s loved being a real horse again without all the constraints of show horse life. The show season has been postponed yet another month or two, which I think is very wise – and I am so glad we brought her home. Not just for the financial reasons, but for all of our well being.

I’ve started another painting, a tiny oil on canvas depiction of Cruz Bay in St. John – lots more to fill in…I’ll share it again when it’s done… I am finding much more joy in painting as an older person than I did when I was young. The reason is simple – I am … a simple artist. I will never have the patience to draw out and execute a spectacular painting, like those you see from the truly gifted, truly patient, truly educated greats – That used to disappoint me, but it no longer does. I paint for enjoyment, for stress relief. My simple method pleases me in the ways it needs to, and if someone else likes looking at it too, icing on the cake! but not the main goal. If you’re so inclined to create art in whatever form, don’t ever be discouraged by what you might believe is – not good enough – There’s no such thing with an expression of art. Just do it, and enjoy the process. There are some benefits to aging – and that’s been one of them for me.

During these strange social distancing times, have you picked up something you put down long ago? I’ve been painting, cleaning, cooking, baking, eating, cursing all the eating, wash, rinse, repeat. We are all well and I still have a job, thankfully – and have been working in my home office, thankful for that too. I hope you are all finding ways to enjoy this down time, also hoping you are staying well and have not come across too much financial hardship, sadly that’s the case for many workers and businesses.

Closing this post with a little COVID-19 humor, because we have to find ways to laugh, amIRight?

Till soon, friends…

A New Season

Who in their right mind would have ever guessed we’d be in the middle of a pandemic come Spring? How are you all coping, I hope this post finds you well and sane, if nothing else. We are all (crossed fingers) healthy here and practicing as much safe social distancing as is possible. My hands are sand paper from all the washing. I have now begun wearing a face mask in the grocery store, as are most other people. I also see others wearing them when walking outdoors – I think that’s a bit of an overkill in areas like ours, perhaps not in the big cities and in stores, etc. When will it all end? Well, when will we feel comfortable sauntering around a store or sitting in a crowded restaurant when someone coughs? *sigh. When there’s a vaccine, I suppose? …. we can only wait and see.

We opened the cottage for the season last week – water turned back on, lawn is mowed, garden beds raked out, the beds newly made with fresh-washed linen, floors and furniture wiped down, outdoor furniture back in it’s place. There is fresh dirt in all the pots and I’ll plant annuals once the threat of frost is gone – Mother’s Day is a good rule of thumb but this year I’m a little impatient.

I bought two new candy and dog bone glass jars for the counter – they look like Fire King jadeite type glass but I’m not sure they actually are. The Pioneer Woman’s line in walmart.

We moved our Miss Leah home because I do believe the show season is official deceased. I could be wrong about that but I don’t feel comfortable putting myself and my daughter out there while they find out. She has adjusted very well to home life and we continue to give her exercise as she would normally get at the show barn. My daughter and I have actually ridden together again for the first time in a long time! In the photo below I’m riding her old boy, Max. He has glaucoma in one eye now but we are managing it with meds.

The farm has been such a blessing as we wade through this time of quarantine, social distancing, etc. The fruit trees in the orchard are blooming, the berry bushes we planted last year are greening up, and most of the christmas trees we planted for the third time the wrong way are actually alive. They might just live to see Christmas in a tree stand some day.

My kitchen junk drawer got cleaned out and organized – holy crap, I found christmas ornament hooks I didn’t know I had, baby aspirin that expired five years ago, four pairs of dog nail clippers, at least five collars, 5,000 hair elastics, and I could build a bathroom with the tools in there, I’m almost not exaggerating. Below is the “after”.

I’ve been exercising more, which is a good thing, and I finished the painting of Opie, which I started last year after he passed on. It was just too sad to sit there reminded of him, so I left it unfinished for a long time. I’m no professional, my work is primitive for sure.. but I’m happy with the result and finishing it was therapeutic. And maybe that was because I was watching episodes of Outlander ( watching Jamie Fraser if I’m being totally honest) as I went along. The painting is of Opie standing under our ancient pear tree on a misty fall morning.

A few funnies for you below and an old recipe a friend shared – wishing us all good health and peace of mind as we carry on through and past these weird days –

Till soon, friends…