Stay at Home Time/Cleansing Time 2025

 

Full moon last night

Another full moon and another chance to see what we've been up to.

Stay at Home/Cleansing Time has been just as the name implies.

Our weather dictated the Stay-at-Home part.

Snow on Jan 29

We haven't had a lot of snow here at our house, but we've had a good deal of cold and high winds. Lately we've had several ice and sleet events, as they are called.

It's still very slippery out there and more ice is expected tonight.

We've gotten out for many of our daily walks, but no extra walks in the parks due to the ice. I have osteoporosis and really don't want to risk a slip on an icy trail.

Morning of Feb 12

This morning there was freezing fog and all of the trees were frosted. It made for a lovely walk.

Because we've had some very cold weather, we decided that Bob's friend (our porch cat) needed some additional support.

Bob's buddy

We purchased another heated water bowl to put on the back porch and a heated "cat hut" to keep him warm. He loves the hut, and on the coldest days he doesn't budge from it.

Mosty Toasty

For the Cleansing part of the month, I've finally decided to set aside a craft that I was planning to do but not carrying through on. This has been hanging over my head quite some time. I finally had the strength to let the idea go and give away all of the materials I had gathered. It feels better. I also weeded out knitting patterns which, realistically I'll never get around to making. 

It's like cutting back dead wood and clearing up my "garden" a bit.

Bob's been cleaning up accumulated building materials and has resumed work on one of his energy advocates projects.

It's been a difficult time for us since January 20th. Sometimes it's so distressing that it's hard to breathe.

I heard someone say that working on a creative project everyday can help you maintain sanity, somewhat.

A new hardanger project

So, in addition to working on my sweater, I have begun a new hardanger project.

Bob's gotten more involved with local political activities as a way to cope.

Once the weather improves, we are committed to getting out into nature more than ever. We hope this will help ground us more.

Ta Da! All done!

The bathroom is finished!!!

We finished the bathroom the evening of Feb 5, one year and one week after we began. We're so happy to be done. What's even better is that this was the last room to be renovated. 

We moved in Aug of 2011 and began work right away. It's been a long process!

We have just a little cosmetic work: minor ceiling repair and painting of walls and ceiling in one bedroom. This is peanuts compared to what's gone before.

Outside we do have two garden sheds which need new sheathing and roofing. When we get to them depends on the prices of building materials. We expect the costs of these to really spike, so we may have to wait a while before fixing them up.

Now, I'm sure you've all been waiting for the Before and After pictures, presented here for your pleasure and amusement.

Lovey Before closet and entry

New, smaller closet

Closet Before (minus doors)

New closet doors 

By making the closet much smaller, we created space for an alcove behind the door, across from the tub.

Alcove with bench

Vanity and sink Before

New everything

Lovely Before tub

And finally, After tub

Before I close, a little housekeeping.

We notify you folks of our newsletters in two ways. Some are on dedicated mailing lists and receive an email. Others are friends on Face Book and see our link there. 

We have noticed that Face Book has a tendency to "drop us off the edge" of their notifications, and many people do not see our posts. This situation may worsen in the future, or perhaps like me, you're looking at Face Book less and less. 

If you want to keep reading our blog here are some suggestions:

1) You can let us know by PM or email and we can add you to our email lists.

2) You can bookmark our blog spot and just remember that we publish a new edition on, or just after each full moon.

3) You can continue to watch Face Book for our links and take your chances.

Till next time, stay strong, stay sane and stay integrous,

Kathleen and Bob

Another view of the full moon

 

Frosted pines on Feb 12th

Cold Time/Renewal Time 2025

A warm fire

We have indeed had some cold and very windy weather here during Cold Time. We haven't had very much snow at our house, but we did have snow on the ground for the 25th. It actually came just in time for the Solstice.

Snow came on the Solstice

The weather that day wasn't the nicest, so we relaxed at home: played a game, watched a movie, had some nice healthy food and some less healthy treats as well. We don't celebrate the Solstice so much as a return of the sun, but as a joyous time of rest.

Taughannock Falls on the 25th

A few days later on the 25th, the weather was still cold, but better, so we walked at Taughannock Falls State Park in Trumansburg.

The garden rests, but the work is never really all done.

The 2024 bean harvest

I finished threshing out the beans on the 24th.

Straw on the strawberries

And I got out to put straw mulch down on the strawberry beds once the ground finally froze.

New Year's Day is my traditional time to inventory my seeds and make my order for the next garden.

The seed inventory begins

The garden has been plotted, the seeds ordered and they're on their way.

We've both been busy working on the bathroom remodel and it's really coming along.

Tub surround bracing in place

We hired a younger man with more muscles and expertise to help Bob get the new shower surround up and cemented to the walls.

Resurfaced tub

Then Bob resurfaced the cast iron tub. It would have been impossible to get the tub down the stairs, or a new one up, for that matter. We suspect that it was installed either before the reconfigured stairway and hall were finished, or before the old large window was replaced with a new, dinky one. Either way, our only options were to resurface or live with the dull blue one. 

The new finish was mighty stinky for a few days, but that has all dissipated now. We're letting it cure for a while before Bob caulks the tub and surround.

In the meantime, he's been laying the new flooring.

Laying the new flooring

He just finished it before lunch today and it looks good.
Here's what it looks like right now (before his mess is cleaned up).

Bathroom on Jan 13

Next, he'll begin to install the trim work which I have been busy painting.

Closet door trim

I'm still working on the entrance door and have yet to do the window and entrance door trim.

Our evenings have been used to pursue renewal.
I have been knitting.

Sweater in progress

I finished Bob's sweater in December and am working on one for myself.

Often Bob reads aloud while I knit. We're reading a volume on daily life in early America in this way.

We also have our own books that we read. Bob's currently reading about a naturalist that lived in Maine. I'm reading a guide to North American fossils. It shows me how much of my college geology I have forgotten!

Of course, I've always got my harps to challenge my brain power and my patience. And we're nearly finished watching the David Attenborough DVD set, The Life of Birds. Very interesting.

We wouldn't mind if the sun took a little bit longer to return, but we can't stay the cycles of the universe. In the month ahead we'll slowly begin the transition to more activity and preparation for growth ahead. But there's still some time left for renewal.

We hope this finds you all well, safe and feeling soul nourished.
Till next time,
Kathleen and Bob

Lower Falls at Taughannock State Park 12/25

This is the big falls 215'