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'

Awakening/Growth Time 2024

Bloodroot emerging

It's the time of Awakening and we can see it all around us. Trees are leafing out, others are blooming.

Rhubarb growing well

The rhubarb is up in the garden.

Red currant blossoms

The currants are in bud and bloom. Garlic and shallots are up and strawberries are perking up from their winter rest. 

Our shiitake logs are beginning to fruit (it's called buttoning at this stage). We're looking forward to fresh mushrooms again.

Tiny shiitake buds

We've been out in the garden a bit. The weather has been very rainy and cool. I have taken the winter mulch off of the garlic, shallots and strawberries. The raspberries have had the winter deadened tips clipped off.

Bob cleans out sprouted straw

We've cleaned the planting beds of weeds which escaped us last autumn.

Bob undertook the task of digging up and moving our large shrub rose.

Rose bush in its new spot

Once we had removed the back deck, this bush was in a bad spot (at the foot of our new porch steps). Now it is more properly located.

The cool weather plant starts are being hardened off and are soon to be planted. 

Inside of the house, we each have had our own projects.

Acrobatic freezer washing

I have consolidated the contents of the two chest freezers into one. Both freezes have now been defrosted and washed, ready for another season.

I also have cleaned the pantry and all of the kitchen cupboards and drawers. It's still too cool to wash all of the windows, but I hope to get to this before long.

Bob has of course, been working on the bathroom remodel.

New closet space

All of the Masonite is off of the walls now. The new, smaller closet is framed out and drywalled.

Vanity on its way out

The old vanity is on the junk pile! The next step is to update the wiring. There's a little bit more drywall to install and a ton of taping and mudding to do. The toilet will have to come out before that can be done. He's been putting that off because he is dreading the trips to the downstairs bathroom in the wee small hours. It's tough getting to be old. (I remember a Calvin and Hobbs cartoon where Calvin, afraid to travel to the bathroom, just peed out of his bedroom window (causing his parents to wonder why the rose bushes on that side of the house were dying). Perhaps Bob will resort to this?!).

Wind damage to a large pine

We had three diversions this month.

The first was on the afternoon of the total solar eclipse. It was very overcast here, so we didn't see very much. We viewed this from our meadow and did experience it getting very dark and then becoming lighter again. It was very eerie! This was our first opportunity to look over our property since last autumn. We found seven large Eastern White Pine trees that had been uprooted by the winter's high winds.

A pine, cherry and maple all down together

A few cherries were downed and some smaller maples snapped off by the winds or broken down by other falling trees. Most of these will be left to lie as they fell, but one is blocking our main path. It will have to be dealt with carefully because its trunk is covered with poison ivy vines.

Our next outing was at Buttermilk Falls State Park. It was a lovely day and the Gorge Trail had just been reopened for the season.

Hepatica blooming

We walked both the North Rim and Gorge trails. There were many hepatica in bloom and the falls were lovely, as always.

Just one of the cascades in the Falls

Our third adventure was a very muddy walk to Teeter Pond in the Finger Lakes National Forest, for Bob's birthday. There were only a few birds around: some Canada Geese and a Kingfisher. The most exciting thing was an American Woodcock that walked right next to us, about a foot off of the trail we were on. It's the first one we've ever seen. Sorry, but we focused on the moment and didn't take a photograph. Instead, here's a picture that Bob took of a very photogenic frog.

Phil the photogenic frog

We plan to get out again this coming Friday to walk the Rim Trail at Watkins Glen State Park. A fine day is forecast, so we should have an enjoyable time.

That's about all of the news from here.

We'll continue to work on the bathroom and in the garden. By the time the next update comes out, the cool weather plants will be in the ground and the warm weather plants will be in the process of hardening off. Hopefully the bathroom will be showing real progress, too.

We hope all of you can get out and enjoy some of the gorgeous spring weather and all of the loveliness that it brings.

Till next time, 

Bob and Kathleen

Colt's foot is blooming now

 

Can you spot the Bumble bee?

Blustery Winds Time 2024

 

Birthday flowers

Last night's full moon was beautiful. Our weather has been a mixed bag this month. We've had very warm days, followed by cold and rain. We had snow over the weekend. I believe it was only the second time that Bob got out his snow thrower all season. Sun yesterday and today has melted nearly all of it. 

During the nice weather we did some outside chores.

"Five, Six Pick Up Sticks"

 

I gathered all of the branches and twigs which had fallen in the yard during our windy weather. These will be used for stove kindling.

Bob prunes an apple tree

Bob got out and pruned his apple trees. He took some of the cuttings to Cornell Wildlife Hospital for a sick beaver to enjoy.

Shiitake logs

Then he set up his shiitake logs for the season ahead.

Now he's busy working on the bathroom remodel. We finally got a new toilet. This is the fourth try. The first had a molding defect. The second time they sent the wrong model. The third time the tank was broken. We had all of these delivered, but we had to take the returns back ourselves. We got tired of hefting them around. We decided to get a different brand and drove to Henrietta to pick it up ourselves. It appears to be fine. We're glad that nonsense is over. I was beginning to think we'd have to use a five-gallon bucket for the job!

Closet wall coming down

Bob's got the tub area drywalled, taped and mudded. Now he's removing the walls around the closet. It takes quite a bit of muscle to get the framing out. He also has to deal with a couple of different ceiling levels in this area. It looks complicated to me.

Seed starting begins

I've started many of my garden seeds: cabbage, kale, chard, tat soi, lettuce, spinach, celery, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and sweet potatoes. I'm still waiting for the peppers and sweet potatoes to sprout.

Three weeks later...

Everything else is up and has been potted up into the small sized pots. After they've filled these out, they'll be potted up into a larger sized pot.

I finished my hardanger project in plenty of time for spring decorating.

Pansy runner all finished

Lately I've been working on a cardigan for myself. There's just a little bit more time to enjoy leisure activities: reading, working puzzles and needlework. Our larder is emptying out. We still have a few potatoes, some frozen fruits and vegetables and lots of sweet potatoes.

Sweet potato fries

Since we have so many sweet potatoes left we eat them nearly every day. This is one of our favorite ways to fix them. 

I cut the potatoes into sticks and drizzle them with olive oil. I toss them to distribute the oil and then sprinkle on an herb mixture of salt, cayenne, black pepper, oregano, garlic powder and rosemary. These bake for 45 minutes at 400 degrees, stirring halfway through baking time. Since the potatoes get sweeter with storage, ours are pretty sweet. Neither Bob nor I like really sweet vegetables, so we like to dress the fries with vinegar. That makes them very tasty. 

Despite our cooler than normal temperatures right now, spring is at hand. By the end of next month we should be planting peas and setting out the cool weather seedlings. 

Nature's stirring from its rest and the pace of our lives will pick up in response.

Enjoy this final bit of rest and look forward to a new season of growth and life.

Till next time,

Kathleen and Bob

A foggy morning at our house

Foggy lane to our wooded property