Quadruple...

 The Owlet had a party in her honor today to celebrate four circles around the sun —well done. Sixteen kids and 14 or so of their parents came to share in the happiness. We joined her mama and papa in planning and putting together a party suitable for a child of her stature. It started mid-morning, and we served delicious locally made donuts, hot mulled cider, coffee, quiche, Swiss chard pie, hot wings, chips and salsa, mini pigs in blankets, and the happy food for kids, Goldfish crackers. 

 The Owlet said she'd like to decorate gingerbread cookies as a party activity, and that was an easy request to honor. Rachel baked 5 or so dozen yummy ginger cookies, and a sweet, sticky time was had by all. 

I got a little crafty and made a garland to go along with the idea. 

The bounce house was up, and Evans spent a lot of time and energy running around the pasture with 5 or so kids piled into a garden cart. Shrieks and giggles ensued. 

Robin Evans (2) was intrigued by the cake, but did a fantastic job restraining himself and never so much as touched that tempting sprinkle-covered ganache. 

When Rachel was a teen, our house was the "place" for her and her friends to hang out. I used to love seeing the pile of kids' shoes by the door. They'd play loud music, dance till the house shook, empty our refrigerator, and hang out for hours. I had a little flashback today. These kids were a lot smaller, louder, and less hormonal, but the pile of shoes was just as enchanting. 

Being a part of our grandchildren's lives is a gift that we never take for granted. Every time one snuggles in, reaches for our hand when walking, asks for help on the potty or a snack or to pretend we are pirates we celebrate a little. And for milestones like birthdays? We celebrate a lot. 

"Little" projects...

 There is a distinct chill in the air, reminding me that the lovely seasons are over and cold, wet, and windy weather is on the way. Because I have livestock, I spend quite a lot of time thinking about ways to make them more comfortable in the winter and to streamline their care. I've had a little idea tumbling around in my head, and yesterday Chris helped me put my plans into effect. 

The main room in their cozy is 8'x12'. I asked Chris to put up a tall board along the floor, reducing their bedding area by about 4 feet. There were two reasons for this. The first was that limiting the bedding area meant that their shavings would be deeper and warmer. The second was that by doing this, I could move the hay bags to the end of the space away from where the shavings are, so that spilled hay will not mix with the shavings. When shavings, hay, and excrement mix, it gets heavy and difficult to move. By keeping the hay away from the bedding, I can easily sweep the spilled stuff up (goats do waste a lot of hay!) and make keeping their space clean easier. There is a saying, "goats poop where they eat." By slightly separating the eating area from the sleeping area, the bedding may stay cleaner and drier longer. We shall see.       

The goats look very snuggly as they sleep in their new, abbreviated space. I'm so pleased to have this little idea of mine put into effect. (Thanks, Chris! You are the sweetest.)

 Next up was a refresh. Many years ago, my sweet friend Chez sent me a marvelous gift. She bought a vintage silver-plated tray and painted the center with blackboard paint. I keep it in my kitchen and write a variety of messages on it. The paint has become worn from constant use. It looked like this: 

Chris kindly brought me some fresh chalkboard paint. To my delight, it took just a few moments to spiff up my treasure. 

Meanwhile, the final thing left to complete our wonderful deck project was to have some stones placed at the base of the stairs. The project is almost done, just a few minor finishing touches left. I am delighted. When the grass grows in around the edges, it will look even better. It is an attractive and safe place to land. 

We recently had the field fence that separates the pasture from the back yard moved out, giving us more "living space." While we were at it, we removed the fence between the hen yard and the back yard. In an ideal world, the birds would stay out of the backyard, but they took the fence as a mere suggestion. Removing the fence made our space look nicer, and it will make mowing and navigating in and out in bad weather more manageable. The problem was that the lovely little rock wall in front of the coop looked chopped off once the fence was moved. More stones were brought in to extend it a bit, and one huge flat one to merge from the human area to the bird area. It looks magical. I'm going to plant some daffodils around the rocks, and it will look oh so sweet in the spring. 

The flower beds are all cleaned up, the last lawn mowing done, and now it is time to turn inward, both figuratively and literally. As the days grow shorter, we can take a bit of time to rest, but I also plan to tackle some indoor projects. The kitchen cabinets need to be cleaned and organized before the "cooking holidays" are here, and the basement? Oof. It needs some help. 

We have managed to have a lot of "little" (and BIG!) projects taken care of this year, and I am tickled with all of them.  

Getting started...

 I often find that getting started on any project is the hardest part. If I sit down to write an article, I may struggle a ridiculously long time to get the first words typed, but once that is done, the writing flows.

 My fall "to-do" list is sitting on the kitchen table, and it is daunting. One thing on it was to move the firewood from last year close to the house so we could burn it first. This year's wood is neatly stacked along the driveway, and we wanted to keep the old stuff separate. There is a little grassy area just by the main entrance that was a likely spot to put it, but I was concerned it would look junky. Then I had the idea to stack it in a circle, which I thought would look tidy and nice. Over breakfast this morning, Chris asked which top three things on my list I hoped to get done today. Getting that wood taken care of was number one. I ran a quick errand, and when I got back, he had laid out a perfect circle and begun placing pieces of wood down to build the stack upon. I was so pleased to see that circle begin, I jumped right in to help. It was a beautiful morning, and we soon struck a nice rhythm, listening to the thunk of logs as our project began to take shape. 

We are both pleased with the end results. 

Next on my list was getting the windows put up on the goat house. Cold weather is coming, and (hopefully) some rain. We take the windows down in the spring so the goats have fresh air, but I love having the windows firmly attached before the cold winds begin to blow. 

In this picture, Charm, the little brown goat, is staring up at the new addition. I think she is grateful. They have already begun growing their thick winter coats, they know the seasons are changing.

The third item on my list was a doozy. The floor of the goat room is sand, topped by very (very!) heavy rubber stall mats. These mats make it easy to shovel and sweep soiled bedding up, give the animals solid, smooth-fitting flooring, and add a little insulation as well. One of the mats was deeply sunk down in one corner, making cleaning difficult. It was also a trip hazard. Chris gamely jumped in, muckling the mat with stout pliers to pull it out the door. We had a couple of hundred pounds of sand in the truck and filled in the hole. Then we (mostly HE) dragged the mat back into place and spread a layer of fresh shavings. The goats seemed to approve. 

We crossed a few other smaller items off the daunting list today, as well. Then a shower and a much-appreciated nap. I didn't need much help getting started on that. 

Getaway...

 Saturday morning, we scooted out of the house as soon as the chores were done and headed to Greenville, Maine, for a little getaway.  We spent a weekend in Greenville last fall and loved it, and could hardly wait to go back. Chris reserved us a lovely room at the Greenville Inn, a charming old establishment with gorgeous woodwork, vintage wallpaper, stained glass windows, and  wonderful staff.      

  Our room even had a fireplace, but the weather was so warm and perfect that we didn't get to try it out. 

We spent a lovely afternoon on Moosehead Lake riding on the tour boat Katahdin. The foliage was at peak perfection, the mountains rolling darkly on the horizon. A feast for the eyes. 

The cloud formations were stunning. 

Back at the Inn, we sat on the porch and enjoyed a glass of wine and more beauty. 

We had a nice supper out, thought the king-sized bed was ridiculously large, and were up early for more exploring. 

We met a friendly local and visited a bit.

We took in more beauty. 

And in general, enjoyed uninterrupted time together. It was a lovely autumn weekend, well celebrated. 

One thing leads to another...

 It all began last winter when an advertisement for wallpaper popped up on my Facebook feed. I am not a wallpaper kind of person. Rather, I am a white-paint-on-everything-that-doesn't-sit-still kind of person. But this wallpaper, with a smoky blue background and huge, fat roses, well... I found it wildly appealing. It occurred to me that it might look quite pretty in our teeny downstairs bathroom. Weeks passed, and I kept seeing that ad pop up, and every time I saw it, I got a happy feeling. I liked it so much, I asked Chris to buy some for me for Valentine's Day. And he did.    

Once it arrived, I held it up in the bathroom and liked it even more. Except it sort of clashed with the blue vanity top, which was here when we bought the house 21 years ago and was showing signs of wear. I looked at replacements and found they were quite reasonably priced. I asked the terrific guys who did our recent carpentry work if they would install a new vanity top, and they put me on their "rainy day" list.  While I waited for them to come, it occurred to me that I'd really like to replace the huge mirror that was firmly affixed to the wall. This was a concern because our house is very old, and much of it has ancient horsehair plaster walls. I imagined that taking that mirror down would leave some big holes in the plaster. 

My friend Angel was here visiting when the guys came to install the vanity top. She and I had discussed the hanging wallpaper project. I was having cold feet and questioning my ability to do the job well. Angel sneakily arranged to have the contractor do it for me and left him a hidden fat envelope of cash to pay for his work. Whatta friend! (I'll have to plan for a new project when she visits next year!) 

Here is the bathroom before. I had a funky little wooden thing with hooks to hang towels on, but it was impossible to properly affix to the old plaster and was constantly falling off. Maddening. In this picture, it had recently resisted my hanging efforts yet again. 

Here is the potty shot. 

The contractors removed the mirror, and I was right. HUGE damage to the walls. There was a lamp over the mirror that only worked when it wanted to, and it rarely wanted to, so I decided it needed to go as well. Another hole in the plaster. Fortunately, the contractors were adept at fixing such damage and did so beautifully.  Here is the new vanity top, new faucet, and the repaired wall. 

We got some paint to go with the background of the paper, and once the walls were repaired, the paint went up. The trim got a fresh coat of white. Then, today, Bill came and began working on the wallpaper project. My excitement knew no bounds! 

 

 The finished project was well worth the wait. 

I found this mirror while antique shopping with sister Deb in Massachusetts. I love the way it looks, and treasure the memory of the day we spent together. 

          

Rachel and Evans picked out this marvelous wreath for me at the Common Ground Fair. Made locally and both fragrant and beautiful. What started with a glimpse of pretty wallpaper turned into a rather extensive project, but I am delighted with the results! 

Our tiny bathroom got a glow up, Facebook roped me in with an advertisement, then one thing led to another. Beautifully. 

Change of season...

 Today is the official first day of fall, though the season has made its coming felt in the past weeks. The foliage is beginning to change. Not the in-your-face bright oranges and yellows yet, but some russet tones here and there if you take time to look. The days have been sunny and warm, but the air blowing in the still-open window at night is downright crisp. 

We've had lots of company staying with us on and off since June. Our dear friend Angel left today after a lovely visit. We first met her and her family when they moved in across the street from us in Memphis many years ago. Their oldest daughter was four at the time. This year, two of her all-grown-up daughters were here for a day or so while their mom was visiting, adding to the fun. We had some good times cooking meals together, catching up, and chatting endlessly. 

We cooked lobster at least twice, enjoyed fires outside, and the Maine vibe was strong. I hardly took any pictures, shame on me. 

I did manage to capture Field's carrying last night's lobster in for the feast. It was too chilly to enjoy our traditional picnic table perch for this messy meal, as you can see by the steam coming up off the crustaceans. They may be the last ones we cook until next spring. 

Last spring, as she often does, our kind neighbor Penny gifted me three dahlia tubers. Because we had construction going on for much of the early summer, with workers tromping around in the flower beds, I never put the poor things in the ground until early July. Then we had a very dry summer, and I barely watered my gardens because I worried about our well. Still, they grew beautifully, and now, when we are all holding our collective breaths waiting for the first frost, I am rewarded by some lovely blooms. 

This variety, according to Penny, is Fenna Baaijh. There are other buds ready to open, and I hope they make it. 

I bought a pumpkin so big I had to struggle to lift it, and getting it out of the tiny cart at the farmstand and into the back of my truck was a trick. A nice woman getting into her car next to me offered to help lift the smooth, heavy thing up and in. I noted her bumper sticker said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." She was living up to that slogan, and I was grateful for her kindness. 

Over the weekend, I tackled cleaning our pantry. I am so thankful for the small, yet functional, room we use for storage. Its narrow space is filled with a huge chest freezer, an extra refrigerator, and three metal shelves that hold bins of toys for grandchildren, beans, rice, canned food, and all the kitchen tools that I don't want taking up prime real estate on my countertops (the electric griddle, Instant pot, waffle iron and such) and all the glasses and dishes I use for entertaining. It tends to collect clutter, and this time of year, wandering mice like to check the place out to see if it might be good winter digs. I like to make it seem inhospitable to them, so I spent several hours emptying every shelf, wiping down every single item, and vacuuming, mopping, and waxing the floor. I filled a huge bin with items to donate and threw away outdated food, broken items, and random junk that had found its way in there. Angel helped me at the end when I was running out of steam, and having her energy and input made everything seem more fun. Then we went out to enjoy some time on her paddleboard and my kayak to celebrate a job well done. While I was on the water, a Bald Eagle circled overhead, then dove into the lake for a fish not far from me. What a treat to see! 

I started this morning by pulling every significant piece of furniture away from any windows and taking down all of our curtains. The window washers were on the calendar for their annual visit, a much-anticipated fall event. The curtains all went for a spin in the washing machine, and I watched in awe as the team wiped away a year of pollen, dust, dirt, grime, and spider webs (SO many spider webs!) from the many (40?) windows. The quality of light changed as they worked, and it made me happy to know that as the days get shorter, we will at least have every bit of available light shining unfettered through the glass. This afternoon, I'll have the chore of re-hanging all the curtains, but I know everything will look so fresh and bright when that chore is completed. 

I bid farewell to summer and its guests, and greet autumn by polishing the brass and copper, cleaning and organizing, and getting ready for the cool, then cold days to come. 

                

Important things...

 There are some important "new" things finding places to settle here at FairWinds. These things belonged to my sister Diane, who died over twenty years ago, far too young. "Dicy" was a character and dearly loved by many. She had quirky, eclectic taste, and wherever she lived, her home was filled with wondrous objects, delightful to see. Last week, her partner contacted me and asked if I wanted a few of those things. She is selling the home they shared and had a few items to gift. She kindly dropped them off with Chris at work, filling his car with memories. 

Dicy had this horse as long as I can remember, and it looks fine on top of a cabinet in our living room. 

I'm pretty sure these are the skis my parents used to put outside by the front door in the winter, with some festive greens. They are tall, the wood smooth as glass, and the metal tag on them says "Gregg Mfg." There are tattered leather "binders" and rusty metal bits remaining, fragile with age. I'm not sure what I will do with these, but I'll find a fun spot for them. 

Dicy loved images of cherubs, and this little container found a place on my bedroom vanity table in an instant. 

How sweet is this little thumb back chair? 

It has not found its perfect spot just yet, but it will. 

There was a slim blue folder that contained some newspaper articles, pictures of Dicy, my other siblings, and some cousins, all tucked neatly in its pockets. I looked through it while sitting at my kitchen table, and was transported back to the home we grew up in. I could feel the nubby, scratchy fabric of the living room chairs and smell the scent of home. The sound of our childish voices echoing through the walls my father built sounded faintly in some dim corner of my mind. I had a little cry with my breakfast, then moved through my day, checking off my long "to-do" list and feeling the lingering melancholy of time gone by as I worked. 

We had been gifted an entire bushel (54 pounds) of tomatoes, along with onions as big as a baby's head, and a pile of peppers. 

Rachel brought the girls over, and they played underfoot while we worked quickly to core the fruit and toss in garlic, onion, sweet and hot peppers, and a few random zucchini that were lying around into our huge cooker. The house began to smell like a fine Italian restaurant as fragrant steam seeped from under the lid. It's a late-summer tradition, creating delicious sauce to store away and enjoy the taste of harvest season during the cold winter months. 

I puttered about, finding places for Dicy's treasures to roost, breathing in the delicious aromas. A wonderful cook in her own right, a creator of coziness and welcome, I believe she would have approved of my efforts. 

I know that the "things" that surround me in this place are dispensable in the end, but for today, they carry the weight of happy recollections and solace. They nurture my soul, similar to the way the simmering sauce will nurture my body when the cold winter winds blow.