Nature – This Old House 2

A glorious October

Despite predictions that New England would have a drab fall foliage season due to the drought we experienced over the summer months, there’s been plenty of beautiful color. My walks and hikes with Kai have been fragrant with crunching leaves underfoot, the strong scent of pine needles along some of my favorite paths, the swirling breezy wiffs of autumn that always bring me back to childhood and fond memories – leaf pile making and jumping in. “Dog shows” on the front lawn with neighborhood kids and their pets. Making little trails in the leaves with rakes for my breyer model horses – For in the ‘burbs’ there was no room for real horses.

In our yard there are three shrub varieties that are beautiful this time of year… If you’re looking to add color to yours, these are a great addition.

Flaming azalea…

CrapeMyrtle –

And Snowball Viburnum – in spring months the flowers of this shrub are wonderfully fragrant.

Out on the trails and around the farm, the golden hues have been intoxicating…

Sometimes kai and I traverse a town instead of beach or woods walks. The Town of Essex does a spooktacular job during Halloween season, one of our favorite strolls.

The grands continue to bring me so much joy, and the holidays come alive again in a whole new way when we get to share it with them, and see their excitement and wonder and thrill –

Another joy of mine is getting to witness my kids become loving and engaged parents. Daughter K has her second child due in January – grand No. 4!

Two simple recipes Susan Branch has shared weaved into her art –

We had a celebrity visit here on the farm a few days ago…. If you know, you know. Well the picture helps if you don’t know 🙂

The Mister and I have visited a few farm markets, this month was the last hurrah for the farm market season and we took advantage… We are sixty-ish now and it shows, but those smiles and lines and gray hairs represent a lot of living that I am grateful for. Amen… and Amen again.

Up at the barn, it’s blanket season! Max is now about 30 years old, we don’t want the old boy to have to work his body too hard to stay warm… and Leah, bred for show… doesn’t grow a strong winter coat so we give her a boost as well.

I am tempted to dive into the tangle of current events, so much of it alarming… but I think I’ll leave this post as a reminder that there are many many things to be thankful for, and our peace is worthy of protection. Keep doing all the things you do to make the world a better place, even the smallest acts of kindness send a ripple out into the world. Hug those you love, love on them well and tell them often. Take care of yourself, too.

Cheers to hope for the future, from our moms, who are still with us, (so thankful for that)…. to you. To all of us! 🥂

Till soon –

Jane Goodall

I watched “Famous Last Words” last night with Jane Goodall as the guest- a new and profound Netflix documentary series where influential people are interviewed before they pass on, discussing their life’s work, their unhindered thoughts on a variety of subjects and giving their parting message for the world, not to be released until after their death.

Jane Goodall gave one of her last interviews, a genuine hero in my lifetime – a scientist, a humanitarian, an animal activist and conservationist. While I am horrified by how we continue to abuse this planet and the animals that live in it.. in Jane’s way, she gives me hope. Watch it if you can – and consider a donation to her foundation at the following website. There are also wonderful childrens books and apparel and other gifts that can be purchased on the website, all funds further the cause. If enough of us care about the world we are leaving to our kids and grands and so on, this beautiful place we all call home will stand a chance against the onslaught of abuses we all know exist.

janegoodall.org

Trailblazing… and a stuck moment

Chatfield blue trail loop –

Welp… for starters, really pretty trail with mossy ferned pine needled trails aplenty- the smell was intoxicating after the rains. Gorgeous rock outcroppings and ledges .

What I didn’t pay any mind to when I set out this morning was the slippery conditions one should assume on any rock scramble woodland trails after heavy rains. The rock formations are beautiful along this trail and it is reviewed as moderate and good for hiking with dogs. Meh… In general I take those kind trails and that’s worked till today. This trail on wet days with the steep scrambles in areas are so slippery and steep they’re treacherous, especially for older or very young people and with dogs in tow.

Kai and I squeaked through a few hairy spots until One spot in particular I could not convince Kai to jump Up with my assistance, and he was panicking instead of letting me lift him. At this point we were pretty high up the rock formation with a steep long fall if we slid at all and tumbled. And IHATE HEIGHTS – I tried going back the way we came- but the rock descent we went down on our butts on the way out was too steep and slippery to go back up. So… Trudging down into the woods to foster pond, the bottom of that ledge met us at the waterline and the choice was to swim across and hope I didn’t meet snakes or snapping turtles or lose my dog in the process. So back up the rocks to that trouble spot . Called my son as he understands these trails too, and I said- WTF- should we swim?

Mike jr didn’t know he was going to have to leave the job sight today for search and rescue- but search and rescue he did

Nope I did not get pictures of the high scrambles, I was too busy having a panic attack. If you’re local and adventurous and fairly fit, this is a really pretty hike I might do again without the dog and in dry conditions.

My hero…

Onward, by all means –

And Just Like That…..

… it’s August.

We welcomed our third grandchild last Friday! Much to his parent’s surprise, he has a shock of beautiful red hair. We are all over the moon, full of joy for this little guy, who joins his sister M and cousin J, all of whom are being raised on this family farm.

My daughter and her son… my son and his daughter in our vegetable garden on the hill behind our house.. This picture captures the dream my husband and I have been building for 37 years and not a day goes by that I am not grateful for this blessing.

Speaking of blessings… the fruits of our labor were on the dinner table last night…

Not pictured is my most favorite summer food… a simple garden tomato sandwich with mayo, salt & pepper. Sometimes some greens.

More garden shots…. I think planting things in your surroundings and nurturing them is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

If you’ve been visiting this blog for years, you’ll remember our cottage at the shoreline.. Stella. That was a wonderful renovation project and we enjoyed Stella for six years. What we discovered along that journey is having two places to manage/maintain when our main homestead takes up so much of our time and energy isn’t ideal. I found that most of my time spent at the cottage was doing the upkeep chores instead of the rest and relaxation it was intended for. So ultimately we decided to sell it. Mom had been renting a summer cottage down on the island for five years previously, and this year the opportunity to rent that previous cottage came available…. and so we headed down to the island again, moved mom in for a little over a week… and enjoyed what initially drew us to the area – rest, relaxation, sea air, shore birds, and a few refreshing gin & tonics.

Who knew cormorants had such beautiful greenBlue eyes! They are the color of jadeite –

Have you ever seen an American Oyster Catcher? They, too, have beautiful eyes. All of these shots I was able to get while out in the kayak in the cove.

Back on the farm… smoke from the Canadian wildfires has made our sunrises and sunsets eerily red lately. Sometimes we can smell the smoke of it….

One of my favorite quotes – “We’re all just walking each other home”….. I keep reminding myself to keep this mentality when I allow myself to peek at the news headlines or glance at the TV screen as the noise blares. And there is SO… MUCH… NOISE. I’ve not ever enjoyed politics, largely just keeping it out of my life other than to exercise my right to vote and cast my pebble into the ocean of what feels like the right trajectory for us and our fellow countrymen. I knew there were many things our governing bodies were not getting right, many things that needed change and action that wasn’t coming – and that blame lies across the entire political spectrum.

That being said… I would not ever have believed an administration and a leader who is so thoroughly corrupt right in front of our very eyes in every facet of the human existence could muster the kind of cultlike support he has managed to create. It’s mindblowing. Ignoring it feels like a cop out, so I can’t.

If your entire political identity is built on hating “the other” – immigrants, queer kids, people of color, women who speak up – then maybe it’s time to ask who really broke this country. Because it certainly wasn’t progressive ideas… and let’s be honest about what that actually means, those progressives… the idea of progress. Specifically, it refers to social progress, the process of a society lifting itself out of ignorance, injustice, and inequality, toward a future that promises enlightenment, prosperity, equality, and environmental sustainability. Why does that notion offend anyone at all? The answer to that isn’t comfortable.

No… what broke this country was the normalization of cruelty, the elevation of fear over fact, and the celebration of power over principle. We didn’t drain the swamp, we added pollution to it.

Loving your country doesn’t require hating its people. If your politics demand cruelty and hate, you’re not patriotic. That’s parasitic.

And I don’t regret losing a few “friends” because I choose to speak up about what we are all seeing and being honest about it. Because I know… where I come from is a place of fairness, justice, truth, equality, safety…the desire for economic and environmental soundness…. FOR ALL.

If you’re still with me, this blurb below is true too…. ” we are all saving each other every single day in tiny, seemingly insignificant ways”…… that. Keep doing it wherever you are. Let’s grow where we are planted, and water others along the way. That is where our power lies, in the every day interactions.

till soon –

The Doves

When we moved into this old house after the extensive resurrection, I put up a bird feeder and soon after, what seemed like a family of doves appeared. I did not have dove visitors at our previous farms, and really fell in love with them, felt they were a sign.

“There will be peace here, Karen.”

Fifteen years later, they still visit my feeder – which I placed right at the kitchen window so that when I do that dreaded chore (dish washing, bleh) I can at least observe my feathered friends. When they aren’t at the feeder, we often see them sitting on the roof of our house.. and at night they tuck themselves into the thick pine we planted at the front gate, now a large tree. Sometimes they are “birds on a wire”, sitting just in front of that pine tree on the power lines that run down the road.

Every time something really horrible happens here in this country lately… I watch with great hope.. to see if it will turn Tr*mp et al’s heart, bring him and his entourage the understanding that their own hateful rhetoric throws fuel on the fires of division that we all know will end us if we don’t quit the shit, and awful things happen as a result. When he was nicked with a bullet I had hope that he would see the error in spewing hatred, because that hatred came right to his home to roost. (Nope)

This assassination of a D leader and her husband this week, the critical injuries of another two… and a hit list of 70 more… should have been another turning point. There was the initial statement that seemed appropriate. But it was soon followed by a chaser of…

…”D’s are sick of mind, hate our Country, and actually want to destroy our Inner Cities – And they are doing a good job of it. There is something wrong with them.”

Just days earlier, the Speaker of the House who claims to be a devout Christian, called for the governor of California to be tarred and feathered.

Two people were just murdered because of this kind of hateful false rhetoric. People who are not sound of mind look to their “leaders” and act on what they are being fed. That is not rocket science and denying or ignoring it doesn’t make it go away.

I hate politics, always have. I choose common sense, accountability, decency… equality… freedom, prosperity for all. Not a party. Why do I speak up? Why do I think anyone cares what I have to say? Being honest here… I’m criticized by certain members of my own family for doing so…. but I don’t do it to please or annoy anyone else. NOT STANDING UP AND SAYING THIS ISN’T RIGHT, THIS IS NOT WHO WE ARE….. feels wrong. I’d love nothing more than to be able to go about my life blissfully unaware of the ugliness oozing from the pores of this country right now. But we owe it to ourselves, to our children, to our fellow countrymen…to not turn a blind eye, to be brave regardless of whether it will be criticized by your friends, family, neighbors. DO something, SAY something, and for God’s Sake… LITERALLY…… choose kind.

History has already taught us these things, why.. why.. why… isn’t this country capable of learning from past mistakes… so that we DON’T REPEAT HISTORY.

Peace.

Ogunquit

Just a three hour ride from our farm, Ogunquit, Maine has become a favorite place to visit. For the past 40 years we have vacationed on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, where I have certainly had a love affair with the rugged natural terrain and the charming New England villages, the cottages, the beaches and dunes and the restaurants, the artists…. the farming community and the summer revelries, the quiet ones and the big ones like illumination night at the campgrounds and the agricultural fair. All of those things are still wonderful… but tourism has really done a number on what used to be the vineyard experience. Now.. ferry reservations are hard to get and not always reliable, the price of summer rentals is through the literal roof, the crowds and traffic… I feel for the locals, they must hate it all, even as they need the income it brings. Sadly, in the past 30 years, the uber wealthy have taken over and caused a very real housing crisis. Families who have lived on island for generations have had to leave or are struggling to stay put…. employees and employers struggle to find help or housing because there is very little affordable housing. All of these things have changed the experience a bit, and it’s a little heartbreaking to witness.

A friend recommended Ogunquit… just a jump up the coast from the Vineyard as you arrive in the State of Maine…. and let me tell you… it’s a beautiful thing. Just as on the Vineyard, the sea air is refreshing.. the water clear and bracing… and strangly… in just that little distance.. the people are friendlier. Happier, it seems, less harried. My guy has a hard time unwinding, as his job is very demanding 24/7…. but here… he lightens up and that indeed makes my world a little lighter too.

Our sunrise walks along Marginal Way are our most favorite part of the day….

The red sun is caused by the smoke coming down from the Canada fires…. there was a faint smoke scent in the air during our visit.

The food… the food!! Halibut or Lobster, blueberry stuffed french toast, the bakeries, the ice cream…. two favorite breakfast places I recommend if you travel to this wonderful town are The Greenery Cafe (and order yourself a Honey Lavender Latte, you’ll be glad you did) … and The Egg and I.

Restaurants we love our The Maine Catch, Robertos… Barnacle Billys in Perkins Cover just down the road, and there are many others to choose from.

And speaking of Perkins cove… it doesn’t get more charming than this quaint little seaside town…

A charming shop owned by two lovely men….

I hope to return to this magical place for many years to come, God willing and the creek don’t rise.

As we were sitting on the lawn of Anchorage by the Sea relaxing with fellow vacationers, we witnessed the cat fight between The Orange Scream and the X-ecutioner. Now… the Mr. is a conservative republican forever and a day, so you can imagine the conversations we don’t really have, for they always become arguments. I could not revel outwardly in this Knew-it-was-coming moment , nor could I remove the “told you so” smirk from my face, but being on vacation had a soothing effect of sorts, so we both just kinda watched it unfold, one in horror but in disguise, and then there was me, the smirker.

In the history of ever… have you seen a more appropriate representation?

I don’t wish harm on anyone, and especially these United States and our fellow countrymen, no matter what your affiliations, religion, life choices, as long as you’re not hurting others. And that’s exactly why I am so alarmed at what this country is becoming… Tr*mp’s America. That doesn’t mean I don’t recognize the reason we arrived at this destination that is Tr*mp 2.0. And I blame that on the past failures of both parties, and the lack of solving our very real and long time problems, including immigration reform, healthcare reform, government overspending, corruption… the lobbying… and the division that has been encouraged for decades now, but more so in recent times. And it really comes down to this simple truth – together we stand, divided we will fall… hard. The End. Literally.

Anyway!… out of the muck of the place and back to the 🌟JOY🌟.. . and people…please give yourself this simple gift… let go of the crap that drags you and catch joy wherever you can. I find it in a good book, in the clear water I wade through, the smooth rocks and pretty shells nature provides, my children and grands… the smiles of strangers… good food shared with others… the animals (!) and even a 35 year marriage where we are really more alike than we are different, when we’re not waving vigorously our flag of the opinionated stubborn italian/irish/german cloth we are cut from. Immigrants, all of us. Remember that, too..and how empathy and kindness can go hand in hand with fixing what’s broken… and should.

I hope all is well in your neck of the woods…

Till soon –

All creatures great and small

I knew from a very young age my life would need to revolve around animals. Growing up in a suburb on Staten Island, there weren’t many farms, although I did eventually work on a few. I’m trying to remember the first animal I brought home with me… there were many, much to my mom’s chagrin. A pigeon with a broken wing… a few cats over the years… a few dogs too… a sick baby goat from the Staten Island Zoo, mice, hamsters, parakeets. My kids were bitten by the same bug, although perhaps not as intensely as me. I thought I would be a veterinarian… however some of the gore involved…and to witness so much of the abuses, turned out to be too much.

Farm life suits me well, and animal advocacy. So this is what I built my life into. At 60 years of age, I do feel the wear and tear of the physical work that has gone into it and continues… but I wouldn’t trade it for any other thing.

Yesterday we got a lot done around here… my son has begun the haying process… and we pray for four days of dry warm weather. The hay needs to be cut, then tethered into rows, then hopefully the breezes and sun dry it out good, then bale it, stack it on a truck and store it in the lofts.

Meanwhile, we did a little pony ride aboard my mini horse, Lacey. She was a trooper. The pony saddle is really too big for a mini but for these toddler years it’s workable. We may bring a pony home for the grands at some point. When I think of that I ask myself… do I really want to add to my work load around here?

We also gave our blind mini horse, Molly, her summer hair cut. Her coat is very thick and we help her to be more comfortable as the weather warms up with a clip job. For the same reason I wouldn’t ever be a hairdresser, I won’t ever be great with the clipping of a dog or horse, but I do it as necessary around here.

My girl rode her horse, Leah… and our old boy Max’s picture is below just because. At 29 years old, he’s doing great. This is what I wish every horse’s retirement looked like after a life of service to humans.

Meanwhile… just down the road a piece… we visited a thrift and rescue/rehab facility in the next town over… There aren’t a lot of places where you can visit with Tortoises, parrots, goats, peacocks, lizards, snakes, frogs and other creatures and then shop in a huge thrift store, all proceeds of which benefit the creatures in their care, and then some. The kids picked out a toy and books after visiting with the animals. A morning well spent and a great cause supported. My kind of day.

This is a great bread recipe for those of us who are a bit intimidated by the bread making process… It came out delicious and wasn’t hard to make!

These are my two loaves… the recipe below makes 2!

One more thing and I’m off to the barn for morning chores….

This… a thousand times… this.

Harkness and Seaside

Yesterday was one of those early May days that remind a person of the simple joys of being alive and being able bodied to *just do things*. It was warm, sunny, breezy… T-shirt weather, my favorite. I got my barn chores done early, took a quick shower and hopped in the car with my doggo, Kai…

The air smelled of fresh earth and spring blossoms and because I headed down to the shoreline, salty balmy air. I wish there was a feature on this laptop to transport the scent along with the photos. When I do these walkabouts I breathe deep and slow, sort of nourishing my lungs and my peace of mind with all that goodness, flushing out any lingering toxins.

Harkness park is such a jewel bestowed on the residents of this state, and the now abandoned Seaside Sanatorium is an eerie contrast, just down the road from it. Seaside has an interesting history…. you can read more about it here if you’re so inclined.

First, behold Harkness Park…. It never ceases to amaze me and truly my gratitude overflows for people who had the forethought and the generosity to bestow their properties to the general public, for the welfare of all. Amen for those beacons of light, for the humanity they embody and share with us all.

On to Seaside – it was an eerie experience, haunting, really. I was glad there were a few other dog walkers there. Hard to imagine why this property didn’t flourish for generations to come as a hospital, a respite, a recovery centery, an elderly housing complex …… any of these things could have been beautifully done here and right on the water, surrounded by a nice neighborhood and nearby bustling town.

I had a physical last week and thankfully all is as well as a 60 year old can expect. I still have 20 pounds to lose but I did lose a little weight, and the sugar and cholesterol numbers improved. Had my eyes checked a few days ago and all good there too, just a small bump in the reading glasses number. I’ll take it. The hiking and walking and barn chores and light weight training is helping me stay strong – I always remember what a dear older friend of mine said some years ago…. I asked her what her secret was to staying so fit and strong as she approached 80. She said… KEEP MOVING. KEEP DOING ALL THE THINGS. DON’T START BEHAVING LIKE AN OLD PERSON. And so I plan to do just that. I hope you’re taking care of you, too – it’s so important to find something you enjoy doing to help your body and mind stay active… if you’re not already doing so, it’s never too late to start. Just do it. Sadly…. she ended up with dementia in her late 80’s, but she is lucky to have strong family support and the money to live in an excellent facility near that family with her own apartment.

On that subject… I have several friends who are living with and caring for their spouses who are suffering from either dementia or alzheimers… and several community members have either died from or are living with the same awful disease. It seems more prevalent now than ever -scary! What I have learned from both of them is…. family and friend support is so important. One of them has very little of either and at this point feels very isolated and alone, feeling trapped in her home as she cares for her husband. The other has tremendous family support and has found a support group that really helps her in various ways. It makes all the difference. If you know someone who is in the same position, please reach out in any ways that you are able. …. and no small deed is too small. If you are unfortunately IN that position as care giver…. remember…. you matter too. Reach out, don’t suffer alone…. and carve out time for self care, whatever that looks like to you. It’s not impossible, and it might at first feel uncomfortable to ask or seek, but do it… for you. You are just as important as the patient.

I hesitate to say anything at all about the present political climate….. I and many others are sad for this country and hoping with all we’ve got that eventually most of this country will right the ship and lean in to decency, grace and humanity again….. We deserve so much better, we are capable of so much better…. The world deserves better from us.

Onward.

The Peace of Wild Things

It’s hard to find the balance when it comes to how much news to digest right now in this current whirlwind of upheaval. How to react and not react, to take some kind of action or to let it go, to remain silent or speak up. I tend to speak up. A lot. Trying for balance though…. Let go or be dragged is one of my little mantras… little quotes I use when I’m feeling the weight of it all to remind myself when I need to do just that. Also… keeping an open mind when you find your thoughts are completely at odds with those of others you respect and even love. Right now in particular, that can be a hard thing and some folks are losing relationships they valued for decades because of it.

In my older years (I’ve just arrived in my 61st year) as some of the responsibilities and pulls of a younger life wane, I take to the woods or beaches more often to ground myself and for better health. I’ve heard the term “forest bathing” but I’m not sure it’s that for me, exactly. The peace is in the trek and the observance of nature and its beauty… especially with my dog, Kai. He is a gentle timid soul who has known abuses I’ll never understand fully. But since coming to me as a 2 year old, he’s learned trust and love and to be (mostly) comfortable in his own skin. We are definitely a team… with my significant hearing loss, he is my ears on the trails and our surroundings. Having gone through this transformation with Kai, our bond is a strong one and I am forever grateful he’s in my life, and for the rescuer who trusted him with me.

Speaking of “Older”…. you’ve probably heard the saying… aging is not for sissies. And maybe you’re at the age where you can relate. Inevitably, we all experience a breaking down of this or that, some worse than others. If we’re lucky, we get to keep going, reasonably sound, for a while to come. Not everyone is that lucky and we never know when our time on this earth might be coming to a close… So.. I choose not to be too freaked about the lines in my face, the eyes that look weary, the extra pounds I’m constantly fighting… the aches of a life lived in an active body. I no longer have a uterus or any semblance of normal hearing. Every one of these things in, so far, sixty years, is a privilege, not a right given to all. I’ll take it, with gratitude.

The wild voilets, trout lily, fern and swamp marigold are all in bloom this week. I look forward to these signs each Spring heralding warmer days ahead. Finding that first yellow bloom with the dappled leaves beneath it leaves me a little giddy and a little hopeful. Don’t we all need a little of that.

The grands are of the age now where they love to explore… and so they, too, are enjoying little trail walks with us. Keeping them from getting completely soaked in the little streams is the challenge of the moment, but their wonder and excitement is contagious❤️

I’ll close this post with a breakfast shake I like to throw together… it’s delicious and good for you…. Spinach, banana, blueberries, honey, hemp seed hearts and ice… however much of each you prefer, and switch it up with any number of other healthy options you might have in the fridge. Just toss it all in a blender, pour in a glass and drink up the goodness.

Till soon –

It’s been a while

Almost a year since I’ve been here, so much to cover and where do I start? I guess right where most of us are struggling at the moment or at least have some concern.

This world and this country in particular are in quite a state. Depending on your leanings, most likely you’re either cheering or you’re horrified by what we are all witnessing. There doesn’t seem to be much in between. The division among us and how intense it is, is frightening. The mistrust and misuse of our government and our news sources even more so, their integrity in tatters. My son asked me the other day…. “do you think we’ll ever come back together as a country? The divide seems so huge, runs so deep, it seems impossible. ” There are times I think that’s the likely truth… but as I said to him… I’m reminded that this country has been in upheaval before. Just magine the divide during the civil war… where the north and south had completely different views on slavery and it was a very big part of the south’s way of life and prosperity. We all know how that ended. And the young country did seem to move on, eventually, mostly and for the greater good.

I am an unaffiliated voter, my husband a dyed in the wool Republican. Many an argument has infused our cohabitation since M*G* has arrived and right now the air is so thick with the discord we could cut it with a knife here in this old house. I can’t deny our governing bodies have been ignoring major problems for a long time… overspending, over taxation of the working middle class, immigration reform, healthcare reform, our crumbling infrastructure, corporate greed… the list goes on and these are the things the Mr. brings up when I question his loyalty to his party’s current path. The failures of both parties for a long time are why we now have an orange nuclear bomb dropped right in the middle of it and the fallout reach is everywhere with it’s tentacles in absolutely everything. That is where my significant other and I are in agreement. And that’s where it ends…. because as I watch the reckless behaviors and actions and attitudes of this Tr*mp. 2 administration, as I watch women’s rights being yanked back and the rules of law being blatantly ignored, abuse of power rampant (and they are giddy with it)…. the previously trusted relationships with our allies shredded, our environmental protections discarded, our public lands under siege, the words diversity, equality and inclusion pummeled, when facts no longer matter….. I cannot help but be appalled, embarrassed, ashamed for this country. And that brings profound sadness and even disbelief that we are where we are.

But you see how far down a rabbit hole one can be dragged, and so I have to remind myself to let go on occasion and search for peace within and out there in the universe of our lives. To do good things where I am, to grow where I’m planted… to assist where I can for the greater good. No matter where you stand on all of this… I hope you’re able to do the same.

I completed my 60th year this month! Holy shit! But I’m not complaining one bit. Sixty is not old… it’s damn lucky. I’m still pretty active and I plan to continue for a long time if life permits. I hike or take long walks regularly with my best buddy/rescue dog Kai. Getting out in nature is my respite, my recharge.

My barn chores and grands keep me busy. My arthritic neck and hands remind me I’m not a spring chicken, but it’s all part of the luck of still being here and having more good days than bad. I’ve cleaned up my diet some and try to get in more greens and berries and whole foods, much less processed crap. One of the things many older people hear when they end up at a clinic with illness is that they are dehydrated. So I’m making a concerted effort to drink more water because it’s not something I crave. Hydration is important so if you do just one thing for yourself in your current state of being, drink more water.

And be grateful for every.single.day. Don’t take any of it for granted, it all goes by so damned fast.

Farm update – with the sale of our little cottage by the sea, Stella…. we’ve had more time to focus on improvements here. Up at the barn we’ve still got our mini horses, our two quarter horses, two goats and 16 or 17 chickens depending on the day’s count and my patience for doing it. We brought home a rabbit and my granddaughter Mia immediately named her Hoppy. She’s very friendly and a welcome addition to our farm family.

The grands – they’re now 2 years old and almost 2, my daughter’s son and son’s daughter. Being a “Mimi” – a name my granddaughter chose for me, is such a wonderful chapter in life. We get to experience young personhood and all the wonders and discoveries over again through their eyes, but with less responsibility, LOL. A third is on the way! I am their caregiver for a portion of each week as both moms went back to work part time and it’s so true, they keep you young! ish….

We converted my office into an art studio with a little side of toddler toys now that I am retired from my editing/writing/family business responsibilities and I have been able to dive back into my art inclinations. I’ve set oils aside and have begun exploring the world of water color, a completely different universe.

A recipe I’ve tried recently and really like – This one is so delish and refreshing. I don’t really have an opinion about Meghan, but so many do. I’m glad I don’t live anywhere near the spotlight. I give this a thumbs up. I did use spinach instead of shard and shaved parmesan instead of feta.

Meghan Markle Sussex Veggie pasta salad

Ingredients

For the pasta salad:

12 ounces paccheri or fusilli pasta

Kosher salt

1 cup English peas, shelled

1 bunch Swiss chard (about 5 cups loosely packed leaves), chopped

Optional: 1/2 bunch lacinato kale, ribs removed, chopped

3/4 cup snap peas, sliced

Optional: 1/2 zucchini, chopped

1 cup feta cheese, plus more for garnishing

2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnishing

1 tablespoon fresh dill, plus more for garnishing

For the vinaigrette:

1 shallot, sliced

2 garlic cloves, grated

2 lemons, zested and juiced

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried chili flakes

1/3 cup olive oil Kosher salt, to taste

Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Method

1. Create a bowl of ice-cold water and ice cubes to shock your vegetables to stop the cooking process.

2. Bring 4-6 quarts of water to a boil and season with ¼ cup salt. Blanch peas for 30 seconds and move to ice water to shock.

3. Blanch Swiss chard leaves for 45 seconds to a minute, until tender and move to ice water to shock.

4. Add enough salt to the water so it “tastes of the sea” and boil the fusilli until fully cooked according to package instructions.

5. Drain the pasta and set aside to cool.

6. Dry peas and Swiss chard on a towel until ready to use.

7. Chop chard into bite-sized pieces.

8. To make the vinaigrette, combine the shallot with the dried chilli flakes in a large bowl.

9. Add cooked and cooled pasta. Toss to combine, add chard, peas, snap peas, feta, and herbs. Toss and season to taste.

10. Serve, garnishing with more herbs, feta, and lemon as desired. Enjoy!

I don’t keep track of the traffic here anymore when blogging, but if you’re visiting and are so inclined… let me know what you’ve been up to, and if you keep a blog, where to find it! I hope all is well in your neck of the woods –

Till soon –