Long Nights Time 2024

Sunchoke crock ingredients

The time of long nights is upon us. We hope you have been able to find relaxation in them. Our nights have been spent in reading and knitting by the fire or watching some of our classic holiday movies (1930s-1950s).

We haven't had any of the heavy winter weather you heard about, just a couple of light snows. We are too far south of the Great Lakes to be much affected by the lake effect snows.

A cluster of turkeys in the yard

We have had frequent company this season. A large group of turkeys have strolled up from the ravine on our property several mornings. It appears to be two large flocks totaling 24 birds.

A wild turkey for your viewing pleasure

 
They investigate thoroughly, especially the neighbor's truck, eat our fallen acorns, posture and fuss with each other. After a while they all filter back into the woods.

During the daylight hours, we have occupied ourselves with our projects.

Bob fills the crock

On Thanksgiving Day, Bob ground four quarts of horseradish root while I prepared the ingredients for our crock of sunchokes. Bob gets to pack the 15-liter crock because he's tall enough to reach inside easily. After sitting in our warm pantry for a couple of weeks to begin the fermentation process, it has now been moved into our cooler root cellar. Now it will continue to "work" at a slower rate.

Two crocks and horseradish "chillin"

I've been intermittently working on Bob's sweater. I've just finished all of the component parts. Next, I'll press and assemble them.

I'm almost finished threshing out the dry beans. Only three more bushels to go. I hope to finish by Christmas. Certainly, by New Years.

Together we've been working on the bathroom.

Priming begins

 

I spent a week priming and painting the ceiling and walls.

Topcoat going on

Now I need to get going on painting the trim work down at the workstation in the cellar.

Medicine cabinet installed

 
As soon as the painting had cured a bit, Bob began installation work. The medicine cabinet and toilet are in. (No more midnight trips downstairs!)

The reason for regular chiropractic

We hired a couple of strong guys to haul the vanity upstairs from the cellar (two flights of stairs, one with a sharp 90-degree turn). The brute weighs 160 pounds and was just too much for Bob and me to handle. Thanks to them, it's up there and Bob is installing it right now.

One sturdy vanity

We've still got quite a way to go: flooring, tub and surround, trim and fittings, but we're finally progressing.

That's what we've been up to. I'm afraid that we haven't taken time this month for any outings. We've been focused on these jobs. We'll have to be more deliberate next month with regards to taking time for ourselves.

Yuletide 2024

We have family and friends of many different races, religions, cultures and practices. We recognize your right to observe this season in any way that's meaningful for you.

As for us, we wish each of you joy, peace, contentment and restfulness now, and always.

Till next time,

Kathleen and Bob

Be at peace

 

Frost Time 2022

Snowflakes for the season

The moon is full, so you know what that means. Time for another "check in" from your favorite lunatics at Thistledown Gardens.

This past month saw us put the garden to rest for the winter.

Harvesting carrots

I harvested the beets and carrots. They are all packed away in the root cellar.

Last harvest of beet greens

The beet greens were enjoyed as our final fresh greens of the season.

Garlic (left) and shallots (right) go in

I planted my garlic and shallots. They are now tucked in under a thick layer of straw, as are the strawberry plants.

Bob grinding (swim goggles a big help)

The horseradish has been dug and processed. It, too is in the root cellar. We had a couple of jars left from last year, so we didn't have to put up as much this year.

Log spitter put away for winter

Bob has serviced the equipment and either stored it (log splitter and mower) or has it ready for use (snow thrower).

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

You all heard about the snow that parts of New York received during this last month. We didn't get any of this. We're far enough from both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, that we don't get the heavy lake effect storms so common to those areas.

We've had a little snow and some rain. The temperatures fluctuate between normal and slightly above normal for the season.

Cookie prep

We made a small batch of cookies to have ready for the Yule season. Our spicy cookies need time to ripen before we dive into them.

We've both been preparing for our gift exchange. Bob has ordered and received my nice chocolates. I'm nearly finished knitting his sweater, the 2022 edition. For our joint gift, we chose to order several Audubon Nature guides. 

Our set of  new nature guides

After using several types of guides, we decided that we prefer these, so we chose the ones of interest to us. Now we have a nice assortment. These will be a mainstay of our winter resting and rebuilding season.

Bob's award and gift

Bob was honored to receive an award (and a nice dinner) recognizing his volunteer work as an advocate for alternative energy sources and helping people to save money on their energy bills. Way to go, Bob.

After three years, COVID has finally found our house. (A gift bestowed by one of Bob's coworkers.) As I write this, we are in the midst of the struggle. We got, I suppose, moderate cases. It's particularly bothersome for me, because of my latent asthma. I'll be glad to stop coughing my brains out!

Oh what fun!

 
During this down time, we've been laying around, reading and I've been working on Bob's sweater.

Another ball of energy

We look forward to regaining our health so we can really enjoy our time of rest. Personally, I'm eager to have enough energy to sit behind my harp again.

So, take care of yourselves, especially with the holiday activities. Remember, there's a lot of junk out there, and some people could be more ill affected than you realize. It's the season to think about others, after all. Enough said?

Change your routine with this seasonal change. Hunker down like the plants and animals. Let go of some of the busy-ness. The benefits may surprise you.

Till next time,

Kathleen and Bob

Happy holidays, whatever they may be

Seed Fall/ Frost Time 2021

First Frost

The moon was full this morning, just before the lunar eclipse. I was up to watch that. I normally rise at 4:30 but woke at 3:45. I figured as long as I was awake, I'd watch the eclipse. It was a peaceful way to begin the day. That full moon brought to a close our month of  Seed Fall/Frost Time.

Most of the news this month centers around closing down the garden for the winter.

Celery has all been dried to use later.

Six celery plants here!

Pears have been dried or eaten fresh.

Pears dipped in pineapple juice. Yum!

Beets and carrots have been harvested and are in the root cellar.

Cylindra beets

Scarlet Nantes carrots

The sunchokes have been dug and set down in the fermentation crock with kim chi spices. So good!

Sunchokes

Ready to get started on the "chokes"

Bob has dug the horseradish roots.

Starting the horseradish harvest

The roots are all washed and waiting. We will grind them and set them down on the 20th. That's our last job to do.

The garlic has been planted. I also planted some shallots and walking onions to see how they will winter over.

Cleaning up a bean trellis

So, the garden is finally empty! 

Bob covered each planting bed with mulched leaves.

Adding a layer of leaf mulch

I shoveled the decaying wood chips from off of the paths and put them on top of the leaves that Bob laid down.

Layering on wood chips

It took a couple of weeks, but the weather held fair and the job is all done. Everything is tucked in and ready to rest. It's a good feeling!

A big job well done

Seed Fall is also the time when I process seeds I've saved from the garden. I only grow heirloom and open pollenated varieties, so I can save my seeds with confidence that they will perform as expected when I plant them. Here I'm putting away Dester tomatoes, castor beans, garlic chives, coriander (cilantro), and strawflowers. I also put away some white patty pan squash seeds.

Saving seeds, a part of the harvest

On the heat pump front: the crew returned and did some clean up work outside, but the ground was too wet. I think they'll have to wait until the spring to finish up that job. Our heat pump is due to be installed any day now. All of the parts finally came in and they said they should be here to install the middle or end of November. That's okay, we're still using up fuel oil.

This is the time of year when we transition to rest time. Our focus shifts from providing for our physical beings, to providing for our spiritual beings.

Ready to settle in

We spend time relaxing physically, reading, thinking, enjoying nature and exercising our creative muscles. For me, that's needlework and harp work. For Bob, that's planning or working on home improvement projects and tending the bird feeders.

To live a balanced life is to live attentive to both the physical and the spiritual life. We like to think of our year like the ebb and flow of the tide. It's a construct that makes the most sense to us.

Ah, the snow is starting to fall again, inviting me to settle in and recharge.

We hope that you can make an effort to do likewise. It will prove to be well worth your while.

May your Thanksgiving be peace filled. Be careful and be safe.

Until next time,

Kathleen and Bob

Holiday treat, shortbread acorn cookies

 

Who needs a gym membership?

Frost Time 2020

 

Hearty Fall fare from our garden

Hello again all,

Frost Time has now come to an end. It's the time of year when we might get all sorts of weather.  And, we did. There's been cold rain and snow that stuck to the ground. We also enjoyed about a week of "second summer" in the midst of that. The days were sunny and balmy - nearly 70 degrees.

The beautiful stretch of weather allowed us to finish our outside chores. The leaves are all picked up and piled for use in next year's garden.

Bob at the splitter

  

We finished splitting and stacking firewood the day after Thanksgiving. Now we have enough to see us through this winter and into next.

The garden at rest

The garden is emptied and ready to rest. The only remaining task is to put mulch on the garlic and strawberries after the ground freezes.

Bob digging horseradish

On the 28th we processed our year's supply of horseradish: 6 quarts...

Horseradish nearly done!

Bob and Lunette dig the sunchokes

... and on the 29th, we packed our 15 liter fermenting crock with Sunchokes (aka Jerusalem Artichokes).

Spices used for Sunchokes

Because of the fair weather, we spent our efforts on outside work instead of the pantry. Now we have to return our attention to that project.

Bob touches up his mudding job

Bob has finished the drywall work...

Walls all primed and ready

... and I primed the walls today. I'll be painting all of this week. Walls and ceiling should all be done by the weekend.

Bob will be making all of the new trim work while I'm doing the painting.

Lunette with her new aide

Lunette is aging quickly now. Her hips no longer function dependably and stairs have become an impossibility. Since I'm not keen on carrying a 63# dog up and down stairs, Bob has made her a ramp to get in and out of the house. She doesn't like to go up it, so we have to grab her collar and lead her up. She gets a treat for that. Now that (the treat), she likes. And don't you dare to forget about that treat! She lets you know in no uncertain terms!

As you may remember, we see winter as a valuable time to rest, relax, rebuild and reconsider. Rather than dread the season, we look forward to it eagerly.

Some of the activities ahead

Here are some of the things we'll be doing: reading, playing games, and observing nature. I'll also be working with my harp and doing needlework.

Work to be finished

There are also a few things I need to finish off: Bob's annual sweater and a mini rug for my large doll house.

And there will still be some chores to do: finish off the pantry and I need to thresh out this year's bean harvest.

We're never bored! Or if we are, it's our own fault, for there's plenty to be doing.

That's about all of the news for now. Be safe, smart and considerate of others: stranger, friend or foe. Learn to savor solitude. It's very good for the soul.

Till next time,

Kathleen, Bob and Lunette

Fallen tree blocks her path. Bad hips impede jumping.