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It’s Groundhog’s Day and Punxsutawney Phil predicts an early spring! However today it is still winter and we are in a real live Currier and Ives painting. Here was our snow stick when we started the day at 30″. Since then another 10″ has fallen. The past three days Jack and I have been raking roofs, shoveling roofs, shoveling paths and plowing. We aren’t so concerned about the current load on the roofs but if all of a sudden Mother Nature and Old Man Winter conspire to give us a rain event we’d be in trouble.
We set off to get the animals all fed and set for the day. I looked at the roofs on the way and thought “good grief, they were just done two days ago and it is time to do some more raking!”.
To the right of the little building in the middle is the hen house, buried!
But on the backside we built a day pen for them with a roof so they get out and about…happy as can be!
Luna and Kalie are total snowbirds..can’t get enough. Good thing!
Dear Jack got the porch roof shoveled off this morning while I shoveled out the generators, walkways and doorways. Who got the better deal?
Old Sid still loves the snow as well, although his hips don’t let him stay out too long. Look at that face!
Seemed fitting to make a fire this morning for the day and roast a few plates of root veggies…
and cauliflower with garlic for dinner. Mmmm good!
How do you manage with the winter?
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Call me nuts but winter is made to enjoy and whether you ski, skate, sled, snowshoe, snowmobile or what have you, the season flies by if you get out and about.
We have been snowmobiling for 17 years this winter and still love every minute of it. We’ve ridden all of NH and Maine north to Canada, depending on the snowfall. This week we have been enjoying our local trails as the snow in southern NH is fabulous this winter. The thermometer got stuck at 10 degrees most of the day and the wind was bitter but we were dressed right and have been having a ball!
Take a ride with me!
A parting shot as the sun went down on trail looking to the hills where our farm is set.
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New Year’s morn I started full throttle at catching up from the Christmas season. So much gets put by the wayside in order to spend time with family and friends and soak up the peace, joy and love that shines throughout the holidays.
These past few weeks I wanted to take stock of my year back and this one early unfolding. What would I accomplish this year that got sidetracked or forgotten in 2010? What matters most as I saw another birthday pass? Is it my work? My family and the farm? Getting in shape? Losing a few pounds? Traveling more? Reading more? Working on my dyeing education? The list is endless and in order not to spiral out of control it takes great balance and thought to keep perspective.
First I tackled the desk. Do away with what I could let go of and focus on the most important tasks for just January. One month at a time. Desk work is so boring though, isn’t it? A desk, at least mine, is layered with decisions. Ideas I jot down on post-its for future thought, a stack of files filled with upcoming workshops here at the farm as well as for my teaching, at the farm and away, dyeing projects for other clients, the items are many.
Mid-January I have pulled the reins in on the piles, sorted through the decisions with my plan of attack to focus on just one of the larger items a week with a smattering of niggley items daily. Yet even with that plan of attack, each day brings unexpected interruptions that are more pressing than the last and the post-its morph and exchange spots on the desk pad.
Something else I have come to realize is that entire days can be spent on duties rather than my art, my love for natural dyeing and working with fibers. Maybe it’s the time of year? Or perhaps it’s my method of peddling through the day and how I prioritize. The days are so short there is barely time to get going before the sun is down again. Or I’ll say, “I’ll just get these few things accomplished in my office and get them off the “table” and then get to the studio.” I always have a backlog of stories I’d like to blog about but by the time I get the camera in the office to download the pics another event comes and goes before I can post the first.
As I look across last year I achieved many of my goals and as I look into the eye of 2011 I am focused. The dreams and goals are in my sights.
Color Institute ~ Michele Wipplinger
Goal accomplished. The 2011 Summer workshops are posted and filling! I am delighted to be hosting The Color Institute with Michele Wipplinger, Earthues in July and Joan Morris will teach a shibori workshop in August. Both are sought after classes with these artist/instructors. Take a look…maybe one will appeal to you!
“forget ginger and bell”, detail,
Joan Morris, shaped resist dyeing on wool substrate
Goal in progress. Peach. She and Crystal are still in the big barn on week 6. Peach is balanced and able to put her weight on that leg and get about nicely. It is still inflamed on the front just above the fetlock so it has a way to go before I’ll bring her back into the flock. I think both ewes are quite comfortable at this point…treats, comfy digs and no competition at the hay racks. They have been able to get outside daily for the past week. The entry to and from the barn has a ramp which is risky for a leg injury so we put a rubber mat on it for gripping and it seems to work well enough.
The snow is 18″ plus deep now with a forecast for 5-10″ tomorrow so there isn’t much room for them to roam. Winter reigns.
During the storm last week when we were gifted with 24″ of snow, Katie and I stopped to talk during shoveling. The flakes were fast and furious and unannounced I tipped over backward whereby Katie followed suit. We laughed and chatted buried deep in white fluff! These moments of spontaneity, quick, fun and easy, are vital and so healthy!
I am staring at a file folder…it beckons me. Must be done. Purchase a plane ticket to Ohio for a teaching workshop in June. Balance, balance, balance.
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Winter snow arrived last night with a vengence although we are always ready for it in New England. We got about 18″ of snow overnight so getting to the barns this morning was a knee deep excursion. The wind was howling and the snow still swirling when we met our cheerful greeters at the winter barn this morning. 
Due to the storm’s wind direction we shut the flock into the open barn last night to reduce the blowing snow load inside this morning. Prudent decision. But in order to get the flock out for loafing Jack had to remove the snow from their area.
While cleaning and feeding I realized the spring lambs hadn’t seen snow before as they were born in April so upon opening the barn door what a surprise they found!
From their side they faced a flat wall of snow keeping them inside the barn.
While they licked snow and gazed out upon the morning’s wonder, we cleared away an area for them to roam about…they love the snowfall. Shown here are Wetherby and Maggie.
Here is Della with one of her lambs, Maggie. Striking genetic resemblance.
Welcome winter!
We set off to get the animals all fed and set for the day. I looked at the roofs on the way and thought “good grief, they were just done two days ago and it is time to do some more raking!”.
To the right of the little building in the middle is the hen house, buried!
But on the backside we built a day pen for them with a roof so they get out and about…happy as can be!
Luna and Kalie are total snowbirds..can’t get enough. Good thing!
Old Sid still loves the snow as well, although his hips don’t let him stay out too long. Look at that face!
Seemed fitting to make a fire this morning for the day and roast a few plates of root veggies…
and cauliflower with garlic for dinner. Mmmm good!
How do you manage with the winter?
