How have we gotten to the middle of November???
It takes me a few weeks to adjust to the time change. When we fall back I have to apply discipline and daily effort to resist my mammalian instinct towards hibernation. Especially in the face of shorter daylight hours, even when or especially when the skies are grey. And when the sun does shine, have you also noticed how deep the shadows are now?
Our weather seems too cold for this time of year. The soft and brilliant days of autumn gone much too soon. Last week we seized an afternoon of temperatures just above freezing to dig the last of the leeks, plant the garlic, mulch the raised beds. The next morning the thermometer was close to single digits and the chickens refused to leave their house all day. They haven't given us an egg since last Wednesday! a whole week ago! Poor birds are in the middle of their annual molt just when they need their feathers most.
It feels as if winter is in a hurry, and by a trick of the calendar, this year Thanksgiving is the earliest it can be. (And don't get me started on how soon the Christmas season is thrust upon us.) The relentlessness of pressure from the outside creates anxiety, confusion, helplessness.
It's time to shake it up folks. Time to apply the brakes and purposefully choose. To take deep breaths, stretch, eat well, notice, plot a course and steady on.
Help can be as near as your keyboard. Though virtual, the internet allows the forging of connections as real as blood and bone. I find great comfort and much needed light on dark days reading your instagram and blog postings, dear friends. You inspire, instruct, illuminate. Move me to look within, see with more clarity, move me to be a truer version of myself. To realign my compass.
Karen, of Sew and Sow Life in Vermont, posted a quote that has been resonating with me daily since reading it. Perhaps it will help you shift your attitude as well. Karen, thank you for so often saying just what I need to hear.
Sharing grace and magnifying joy and gratitude the power grows.
Can you feel it? The corporal power of shared grace and gratitude? I believe even the earth takes notice.
sallymomsprouts muses: what is possible if we but believe?
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Thursday, November 1, 2018
our treat
Our town has a tradition of trick-or-treating on Main Street Halloween afternoon from 3 to 5.
Businesses dispense treats and for a couple of hours families delight in slowly moving up one side of Main and down the other.
Besides, Jerome has always loved seeing the kids in costume, and living out in farm country we don't get anyone at our door on Halloween. The past few years we've spent Halloween at Anne and Matthias' house in town so we could be part of the festivities.
Being new to this downtown event we had to estimate the numbers. We knew if the weather was pleasant there would be many. We estimated 5 to 6 hundred. We weren't far wrong.
The costumes were marvelous. Whole families were dressed and the handmade costumes incredible. I so enjoyed the little ones. One little girl made my day. Down the street from Machelp is an ice cream shop which was giving out ice cream bars. This tiny tot came to me with her ice cream in one hand and her jack o lantern for candy in the other. In the sweetest little voice she chirped "Trick or Treat!" Seeing the ice cream in her hand I said, "I know where you've been." And without skipping a beat she exclaimed "In Viroqua!" (And the name of our town is not easy to say!)
Seeing all of these wonderful families and kids was such a joy. And it helped to bring forward the memories of our own kids' many Halloween years.
I've been thinking about writing a blog post about how the young families I've gotten to know here bring me such hope. Here are links to two young women who have businesses in our town, are raising their children in ways I so admire, and who represent strength, respect, and creativity.
Rachel Wolf and Kathryn Ashley-Wright.
Viroqua is a magical place. And not just on Halloween.
oh, and that photo above? Matthias 2002! Couldn't find any other photo of him in what looked remotely like a costume in my iPhoto collection. love you, son-in-law!
Businesses dispense treats and for a couple of hours families delight in slowly moving up one side of Main and down the other.
My amazing son-in-law, Matthias, has a shop in our downtown called Machelp. Since his opening nearly a year ago, the response to his services and to Matthias himself has been huge. Jerome and I volunteered to see to the trick or treaters so he wouldn't have to stop working.
Besides, Jerome has always loved seeing the kids in costume, and living out in farm country we don't get anyone at our door on Halloween. The past few years we've spent Halloween at Anne and Matthias' house in town so we could be part of the festivities.
Being new to this downtown event we had to estimate the numbers. We knew if the weather was pleasant there would be many. We estimated 5 to 6 hundred. We weren't far wrong.
The costumes were marvelous. Whole families were dressed and the handmade costumes incredible. I so enjoyed the little ones. One little girl made my day. Down the street from Machelp is an ice cream shop which was giving out ice cream bars. This tiny tot came to me with her ice cream in one hand and her jack o lantern for candy in the other. In the sweetest little voice she chirped "Trick or Treat!" Seeing the ice cream in her hand I said, "I know where you've been." And without skipping a beat she exclaimed "In Viroqua!" (And the name of our town is not easy to say!)
Seeing all of these wonderful families and kids was such a joy. And it helped to bring forward the memories of our own kids' many Halloween years.
I've been thinking about writing a blog post about how the young families I've gotten to know here bring me such hope. Here are links to two young women who have businesses in our town, are raising their children in ways I so admire, and who represent strength, respect, and creativity.
Rachel Wolf and Kathryn Ashley-Wright.
Viroqua is a magical place. And not just on Halloween.
oh, and that photo above? Matthias 2002! Couldn't find any other photo of him in what looked remotely like a costume in my iPhoto collection. love you, son-in-law!
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