It's a wrap...

 Last Christmas, we expected grandbaby number two to arrive around December 28th. Since babies are not known for arriving exactly on schedule, I did my holiday shopping and wrapping very early so I would be prepared no matter when the birth occurred. The Cygnet made a late appearance, but it was extremely nice to be so organized in advance. Remembering that feeling, I shopped and wrapped early this year, too, and have had a cheerful pile of gifts stacked in Chris's office for weeks. There have been some last-minute gift additions, and today, I got them all bundled and beribboned. I had adorable almost-one-year-old help. 

Recent rain (and wild winds!) washed away our snow, but it has been cold. This morning it was 15 degrees when I fed and watered the animals. The goats have thick coats and don't seem to mind the brisk air. They look adorable in their festive ruffles. 

Yesterday, we took the girls to Farmer Cheryl's to meet Angelo, a Hackney/Clydesdale cross colt. He is as sweet as they come and has the kindest expression on his face. It will be fun to watch him grow and learn. 

This week we celebrated fifteen years of endless love and devotion from this little character. 

She has a bad heart, a bothersome hernia, a mammary tumor, and cataracts, but she doesn't let any of that slow her down much. She still plays fetch, beats Bravo (who is 5 times her size) up a few times a week, eats with gusto, and rules the house with all 8 pounds of her sassy self. I know we won't have her forever, but we treasure the time we do have. She's been a delightful companion. 

We also celebrated Chris's birthday. (He's been a delightful companion, too!)  We took the day off to be together. There was a nice drive, we did some shopping, enjoyed lunch out, and had a fun family supper. Rachel and Evans gifted him something very thoughtful. Chris has often happily remembered a bank he had when he was a little kid. It had a Santa figure on a chimney. When a coin was inserted Santa's eyes would light up and he would ring a bell. They managed to find one of these vintage items and surprised him with it. How kind and thoughtful is that? A new (old!) family treasure. 

The house is decorated and cozy, the holiday menu is planned, the gifts are wrapped. There is nothing left to do except enjoy these sweet days. 

Decking...

 Many years ago, a Jewish friend visited our home in December and said, "It looks like Christmas came and threw up in your house." She wasn't wrong. Today, it happened yet again. Four oversized totes full of snowmen, Santas, angels, and nativity figures were unpacked and carefully arranged. Seasonal music played, and the woodstove snapped and cracked and warmed our space. I loved every minute of it. 

My mother had two copper angel candlesticks she was particularly fond of. Years ago, a friend saw them and then gifted me several similar ones in various sizes that belonged to her mom, giving me an entire flock of angels. They are all a challenge to polish, so I have left them languishing in the basement for too long. I got them out this week and spent a while cleaning and shining them up. I think the mama's would be pleased. The candle snuffer was a gift from my niece, and it fits right in. 

At dusk, my pal Brenda and Rachel came over. We drank mulled wine, ate crackers and chevre, and decorated wreaths. It was a fun way to spend some time, and we had some lovely results. 

It feels like winter outside, and my house looks like Christmas inside. It's the cozy season, and I am happy. 

Train ride...

 Last night, we took the 3-year-old Owlet and baby Cygnet to ride on a vintage steam engine train in Portland, an hour-and-a-half drive from here. There, we met the girls' cousins (ages 7 and 9), their parents, and another niece of mine. The train and crew are set up to mimic the experience of the book and movie "The Polar Express." 

Everyone gathered in the train station first. Staff, dressed in old-fashioned costumes, greeted the children and answered questions. A lovely woman chatted to the Owlet and showed her where she could write a "letter" to Santa and put it in a special mailbox. The Owlet was all on board with this idea and spent a long time creating the perfect missive. 

She proudly placed it in the mailbox. 

The cousins were delighted to see one another, and it was with great excitement that we all boarded the train. We were in the "Caribou Crossing" car. Soon, the train chugged away from the station, and the Owlet delightedly looked out the window. We passed water views and people walking (whom she waved vigorously at!) There were Christmas lights and an illuminated Santa's sleigh to admire.  Soon, someone came and passed out golden tickets to all the children (most of whom wore their holiday-themed pajamas.) 

The Owlet lost her ticket behind the seat cushion. Her parents diligently tried to retrieve it to no avail. 

Cookies and hot chocolate were served. The story of the Polar Express was read out loud over the speaker while a staff member held the book up and turned the pages. 

The seven-year-old cousin noted the Owlet's parents' concern over the lost ticket. Apparently filled with the Christmas spirit, she kindly offered to give the wee Owlet her ticket. My eyes leaked a little. After a while, a costumed conductor came to punch the children's tickets (with the first initial of their name!) and cheerfully replaced the lost ticket, so all was well. 

Soon, Santa entered the car. The Owlet jumped up and down with glee, her eyes wide. But then she felt a little shy and wiggled up on the bench seat between her papa and me. Santa spent a long time talking to the Cygnet and gave her a beautiful silver jingle bell, but he walked right past the Owlet, hidden between big people. She realized what had happened and said, "C'mon, Lovie!" She hopped off the bench and followed behind Santa. I followed her. She flashed me a mischievous look and gave Santa a friendly tickle. Pleased with herself, she collected her bell from the elf following Santa and scurried back to her seat. 

After our delightful trip, we all gathered at a local restaurant for a nice meal. The entire adventure was an excellent way to kick off the holiday season. There was spirit and sharing, family and fun, cocoa and cookies, and tickles. What could be better? 

Gather...

 Thanksgiving is special to me. I love the preparation, from polishing the house from top to bottom to decorating with all my favorite autumn-themed things and making the place feel cozy. I love planning, list-making, and recipe searching. I love spending the day in the kitchen preparing the feast the day before Thanksgiving. This year, Rachel and I were the ones mixing and chopping with help from her wee ones. The Owlet helped whip up the delicious chocolate cake. 

 Aimee joined us after lunch and entertained the babes. When she arrived, the owlet squealed with joy. I felt the exact same way. Aimee did more than read a thousand books and play countless games; she helped me artfully arrange the food, flowers and table decor. It was delightful to see her work; she has a fantastic eye for beauty and detail. 

I was pleased with how all the food came out. Chris's smoked turkey was delightful, and my more traditional roasted bird tasted fine, too. 

There were fifteen people at the table. Our oldest guest was a feisty 90-year-old, and the youngest was 10 months old. We cooked many traditional favorites but also tried a few new things. I didn't hear any complaints, and nothing but crumbs were left on the plates as I washed them. 

Check out the homemade rolls on those baby thighs. I can attest that they were delicious. 

Rachel did a lot of the heavy lifting when it came to cooking. I was right in there hip to hip, but when I look back she did more than her share. Maybe after cooking this meal for 40 years I am slowing down a little? I'm not ready to throw in the dish towel yet, but I can see the time coming. It's good that I have someone to hand the ironstone platter to. 

Making Thanksgiving happen brings me back to my mother's kitchen. My grandmother would help wax furniture, shine silver, and polish brass candlesticks. My mother would create the feast.  For me it has always been a multi generational holiday. This year it was a special joy to be in the kitchen with my daughter and grands, knowing I was helping create traditions and memories for them.

When I smell the turkey roasting, the aromas of onions, garlic, sage, and so much more, I am transported through time, and every moment is delicious. 

Adding, subtracting and organizing...

 I mostly keep our house tidy. But some spots are habitually cluttered. The kitchen cabinets just don't stay neat, and the pantry? It tends to be where we all stash items we don't know what to do with. The area is not very large, maybe 6 feet by 15. There is a freezer, refrigerator, and three shelving units where we stash canned goods, pasta, rice, cleaning supplies, paper products, small appliances like the Crockpot and Instantpot, and bins of grandchildren's toys.  It also houses platters and cake dishes for celebrations, extra plates for parties, vases, extra silverware, candlesticks, etc. It's a wonderful, functional space, but sometimes it gets so messy I don't know where to begin fixing it. I've been thinking about it and recently decided to give up some of my decorative things to make space. 

My wonderful, capable daughter tackled a few kitchen cabinets last week. The difference after she worked her magic was striking. Then she said, "Saturday, we fix the pantry." She's a busy woman with a home of her own to care for and two small kids, but she cheerfully volunteered her time to help me move from overwhelmed to organized. She started by sorting through my decorative things, making a big pile of stuff she thought I didn't need. I argued about some items but let a lot go despite some pangs of longing. It took us (with "help" from the babies) the better part of two days, but now the pantry is decluttered, clean, dusted, vacuumed, mopped, and, dare I say, beautiful! I keep going there just to look at how tidy it is and smile. I have the best daughter. Her excellent attitude, hard work, and encouragement made this odious job (almost) fun. Mimosa's helped. 

On a different topic, about a year ago, I was gifted a toddler bed frame. We bought a new mattress and bedding for it, and I put it next to our bed. When the Owlet spends the night, she snuggles in there but can quickly climb to our bed if she wants to cuddle or jump around like a monkey. It was terrific, but it was plastic and hot pink and that was a little jarring. I meant to paint it, but that project was never near the top of my "to-do" list. 

Last week, my daughter and I found an adorable vintage, wood, and white toddler bed for sale about an hour away from here for under $100. Capable as always, my girl arranged to buy it and drove to get it last Friday. It's wonderful, solid, and oh-so-pretty. There is no hint of hot pink! The Owlet and Cygnet gave it their seal of approval. The right side can be latched up or dropped down, as seen here. It will be nifty for the wee Cygnet when she stays over. 

 

This weekend, we removed a lot of clutter, organized a few hundred things, and added the cutest little toddler bed. And I am grateful beyond belief. 

Greens, oddities and giddiness...

 Every year, sometime in November, my sweet friend Brenda shows up with a trunkload of greenery. She gets to work decorating the metal arbor that leads to our front door for winter. She also fills the planter by the end of the path and the old iron clawfoot bathtub at the end of the driveway. She does things a bit differently every year, depending on what goodies she finds in the woods. Sometimes, there are birch logs tucked into the arrangements; other times, dried flowers or unique sticks. But it is always beautiful. This year, the day was so warm that we had the windows open, and it didn't feel very wintery, but that will soon change. It was fun to see Brenda work her magic. The Owlet stood at the window and gleefully announced, "She makin' a beautiful Christmas tree!" 

Chris had cut a lot of pine boughs for the base filler, but more was needed. Brenda headed out to the woods to haul some. The goats were excited to see her and raced around joyously. While she was out cutting, she found a treasure. A "witches broom." 

There is a plant disease that causes abnormal clusters of branches to grow from a single point on a tree. It can be caused by insects, microorganisms, fungi, bacteria, or viruses. This unusual and unique growth is known as "Witches' Broom." Brenda found this big one in our woods. It's the size of a bushel basket. She kindly cut it and brought it home for me. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with it, but I will find a place for it somewhere. It's fabulous. 

It was a happy day because Brenda was here making things pretty, but there was more. Much more! I was giddy because we welcomed a new baby to our family yesterday. My niece and her husband are the proud new parents of a perfectly fabulous baby girl. She was much-wanted and is already well loved by our entire tribe. She is three years and three days younger than the Owlet. She is a precious cousin, future friend, and new wee branch on our growing family tree. 

Winter greens, witches broom, and a new baby. Who could ask for more? 

A Voting Story...

 When my daughter was seven or eight years old, she had multiple opportunities to meet and interact with a young man running for Congress. He was kind and friendly and made a positive impression on her. He was also undeniably handsome.

She accompanied me to the polls on voting day, and I was pleased for her to witness her mama performing her civic duty. We lived in a big city then, and the polling place was a very large room packed with people. My daughter was excited by our adventure and quietly asked me lots of questions, which I answered to the best of my ability in a soft voice. 

When I got to the part of my ballot that led me to choose the candidate she knew or his opponent, she piped up in a thunderous voice, "Mom, you have to vote for ____." I asked, "Why is that, honey?" hoping she would have some insight into what the man stood for. "Because, mommy, he is SO BEAUTIFUL!" The room erupted in laughter. 

It was one of my favorite voting experiences ever. And the beautiful guy won. 

Tea for a Three...

 The Owlet turned three with a tea party.  Her parents and grands collaborated to plan, shop, decorate, and prepare food and beverages. A gaggle of small children came with their mamas to help celebrate. Aunt Dovie gifted sweet little ceramic cups for the guests to enjoy and take home as party favors. 

Rachel made her signature three-layer chocolate stout cake with chocolate ganache. It was topped with a delightful vintage "Happy Birthday" topper that we discovered this summer at an antique show. 

The cake was as delicious as it was lovely. 

We had tea sandwiches, of course. Peanut butter and jelly, cream cheese and jam, tiny pigs in blankets, a beautiful fruit bowl, hot buttered popcorn, cheese and crackers, and more. The children were all delightfully well-behaved. They played in the bounce house, giggling and gleeful. They played in the studio with all the toys. They snacked. They painted kid-sized canvas bags to take home as a remembrance. 

And then we all went out to meet the goats. 

The children boldly climbed on Billy Goat Gruff Bridge, and the goats joined them, enjoying little hands stroking them. Then the Owlet pointed to my big, contractor-sized wheelbarrow. "How about that?" she asked. We piled a few kids in, and Evans and Rachel pushed them around the pasture as fast as they could run. They all seemed to enjoy the bumpy ride, especially the baby Cygnet, who had a face-splitting grin the entire time. 

The Owlet enjoyed her special day from start to finish, from helium balloons ("boons!") to friends, cake, and gifts. She will rock this three-nager stage. I can hardly wait to see her grow and blossom. 

Goat in a Coat...

 Mornings are busy at FairWinds. There is laundry to wash, coffee to brew, the house to tidy, dogs, cats, two coops of chickens, and six hungry goats to feed. There are water containers to fill and breakfast to cook. It's always a bit of a hurry to get everything done before the day's first customer arrives. So it threw a wrench into the works when Happy goat collapsed at my feet while I fed the girls their morning meal. She struggled to stand and get to the feed bucket, her appetite obviously unaffected by whatever was ailing her. 

Times like this are when I am extra glad for the miracle of cellular telephones. I grabbed mine and took a 15-second video of Happy and her out-of-control rear end. I sent it to my veterinarian, and within moments, she messaged me back, "I'll be over by mid-morning." As I continued my chores, I had flashbacks of Happy in the past few days. One day, she was lying off to the side, a little away from the herd. This is not totally unusual, but it was noteworthy. Another time, it looked like she was a bit wobbly when walking up the steep ramp to Billy Goat Gruff Bridge. I gave her a hard look, but she seemed okay. Puzzle pieces were clicking into place, and there had been subtle signs leading up to this morning's dramatic happenings. 

The veterinarian arrived around 9:30. After she took the goats temperature  (it was low, and she was a little shivery) and examined her, she felt confident that what was ailing Happy was a parasite called meningeal worm. They infect the central nervous system and are carried by white-tail deer, prevalent here in Maine. She gave Happy many injections. B vitamins, steroids, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, and more. She gave the 50-pound goat a dose of oral wormer big enough for a 500-pound horse, and I will repeat that for five days. She left me with a bag full of other medications; some I have to inject under her skin, and others I have to try to get past her sharp teeth. 

Getting back to work, I began brainstorming how to help Happy warm up. I remembered that I had a fleece vest that might work. I mentioned it to Rachel, and while I was drying the pup on my grooming table, she dug through my messy closet and found the vest. I looked out the window to see her with a toddler holding one hand, a red vest in the other, and an infant in a backpack. She caught Happy and put the vest on her, zipper side up. It was much too big. Chris arrived to help. He retrieved a zip tie and cinched the back of the vest, making a fetching bustle with the extra fabric. 

Happy is a little wobbly but seems better already. She has kept her red vest on, and when I slide my hand between it and her back, she is toasty warm. I will continue to follow the veterinarian's instructions to the letter and hope my Happy goat is soon back to normal. 

Create a life...

 "Create a life you don't need a vacation from" is a quote I am fond of. Chris and I have done a pretty good job of doing just that, but it is foliage season in Maine I wanted to get out and enjoy it before the bitter north winds blow the leaves away. I told Chris I thought heading towards Moosehead Lake for an overnight adventure would be fun. Quick as a wink, he'd researched and found a scenic route for us to drive, a historic inn for us to stay in, and a list of likely restaurants in the area to enjoy. All I had to do was leave instructions for animal care, toss a few things in an overnight bag, and we were off. 

The weather was perfect, and the drive glorious. One of the things that makes the foliage in New England so memorable is that while hardwood trees like maples and oaks put on a brilliant show, they are intermingled with dark fir and pine trees to contrast the splashes of gold, orange, and red. There is a reason people come from all over to "leaf peep," it's an incredible sight. We missed "peak" foliage by about a week. The red and orange leaves seem to fall first (though there were still some of each to admire), but the phase slightly past peak foliage is what I refer to as the copper season. We were treated to miles of road that led us through trees glowing in shades of burnished tones. 

We had a delicious lunch on the bank of the lake, then headed to the inn. It rose majestically at the top of a hill, as welcoming as could be. 

The innkeeper greeted us by name and gave us a tour of the downstairs. In the pretty dining room, each table was draped in crisp white linen and set with willowware. A fire danced on the hearth. A little bar was off to one corner. The innkeeper said, "If you want a drink and I'm not here, just help yourself and leave a note telling us what you enjoyed." An honor bar! Beside this room was a comfortable sitting room, and there was also an area with a vintage buffet set with various coffees, teas, hot chocolate, or chai to enjoy. In the center, a domed dish showed off a platter of fresh-baked cookies, and to one side, a small refrigerator held bottled water and soft drinks. A wide porch circled much of the house, and heavy white rocking chairs invited us to sit and admire the view of the lake and mountains. 

She then led us up a flight of stairs past a stunning stained glass window. 

A few steps more and we entered our "room." To our delight, it was actually an entire suite. 

It boasted antique furniture, fabulous views out the windows and a cozy fireplace to enjoy. 

The bedroom had a comfortable king-sized bed and the same epic view. 

Even the bathroom was picture-worthy, with unique vintage tile and a bathtub big enough to swim laps in. 

Once we unpacked and admired our new digs, we headed out to drive around the area a bit. We explored some dirt roads, a pretty pond, and a state park. Evening was approaching, and the local wildlife was quite active and amazingly unafraid. They posed obligingly. 

Chris planned a different route home the next day, so we had all new scenery to gawk at. We held hands, ate too much, laughed a bit, and enjoyed pleasant conversations. Back home, we had dinner in the backyard, watching a fire dance and our animals as they headed to their respective homes for the night. 

                                  photo credit: https://lodgeatmooseheadlake.com/blog/2018/09/best-way-to-see-maine-in-the-fall/

Our getaway was a smashing success. We have tucked the golden-hued memories away to enjoy in the future and are already planning a repeat visit. 

Feathers, wood and whimsey...

 As sure as the days are cooler, as the leaves change color, as the yard is filled with dew-spangled spider webs, there is also a delivery of whimsical pumpkins from our sweet friend Penny. It is something to happily anticipate every autumn. 

There are other signs of the change in season. The wood is stacked and ready for the cold days to come.

And the chickens are molting. The lovely feathers that have kept them warm and dry for an entire year are worn and falling out. They are everywhere in the yard and layer the coop floor in a downy, multi-colored pile. The birds look bedraggled. The rooster has lost his cocky tail feathers and seems somehow diminished. Looking closely at this Buff Orpington's neck, you can see the new feathers emerging in their casings. The birds will be dressed in bright new plumage in a few weeks, but they are a sad sight for now. I'm giving them high-protein snacks to help boost their nutrition as they go through their annual transformation. 

I ordered fanciful autumn-colored ruffled collars for the goats because it makes me happy to see them out frolicking in the pasture bedecked in plaid. Here they are checking out each other's finery. 

They seem to approve.