our carefree retiree

It's almost Christmas!

Our mailman is kind of a saint, carrying our business packages every day, so I always like to bake him something around this time.  This year, I made fudge (for the first time!).  It was much easier than I expected.  It sliced like a dream...

...and packaged nicely.

I also made gingerbread cookies with maple glaze...

I love packaging this stuff up! 

We managed to squeeze in a Christmas play during this busy time, too!

A Christmas Carol

It's been cold, and the birds are still raiding the feeders.  The cats are riveted.

Well, most of them.

Strangely, Claudia has become unwilling to spend much time outside.  In the past, she was completely unbothered by ice and snow...

...and was grumbly when we forced her to come inside when the temperature dipped too much.  Even with a foot of snow outside, she wanted to be out there in it.  

"So what if the snow is almost over my head!?!"

Now, she doesn't want to be outside at all.  Even on 50 degree days, she sits on the barn doorstep and scratches piteously until Todd lets her in.  She spends most of the time asleep in an old chair.

I mean, when she's not snugged up against my foot at my barn work station.  It makes it kind of hard to move around, but I don't mind!

She's quite the elderly lady now, and I think she's pretty sensitive to the cold.  It's not ideal to have a cat living amongst our merchandise (hair, litter box, etc.), but I'm hopeful that we can work something out for her.  She's been a hard worker and deserves a cozy retirement!

Meanwhile, our boys are still pretty spry and keeping us on our toes.

I've been able to observe the beautiful sunrises lately...

...but you may have noticed that I haven't been posting many nature shots.  The fact is, my Achilles tendon is still pretty painful, and I have not worked out or walked in well over a month.  I've tried resting it, and now I'm trying massage and physical therapy.  Walking for more than 15 minutes is pretty excruciating, so unless I can see it around the yard...

interesting mystery fungus by the pond

bird nest revealed when our maple tree shed its leaves

mysterious scrapes in the ice on front pond

...I'm not photographing it.  I'm working on tendon strengthening over the next two weeks and I'm hoping that by the new year, I'll be able to take some gentle walks...fingers crossed.

Have a great week!  

speed seeds

A busy spring week!  Daffodils are blooming everywhere and I love my first spring bouquets.

I realized, belatedly, that it was mid-March and I still hasn't gotten my winter sowing started.  Many winter-sown seeds require a good freeze to help loosen the seed coat, and our weather has been so contradictory.  A few 70 degree days will get things really popping in a greenhouse, so I needed to time my sowing for a chilly stretch.  After several too-warm days, I lucked into a really cold week - 20s overnight, 40s during the day.  Perfect!  I've worked for hours in the barn to get these greenhouses out.

Each mini greenhouse holds at least 4 varieties of seed.  There's quite a bit here!  I've been really hampered by my shoulder tendonitis - I can barely lift my arm - so Todd has had to drill air/water holes in the containers and heft water jugs and soil for me, which he has done cheerfully.  He also found another bag of seeds in the barn, so I'm going to be really busy this year!  

Besides the winter sowing outside, I've got seed tests going on inside.  I've got at least 50 of tiny baggies of old seed.  I don't want to waste time/supplies by planting it if it isn't any good, so I put a few samples of each questionable seed in a damp paper towel, which I inserted into a plastic baggie and arranged on a heat mat. In about a week, I'll check and see if any seeds are sprouting.  If so, they'll be planted.  Bum seeds will be tossed - finally!  I'm especially curious about the zinnias.  How did I end up with over twenty varieties?!?

Barnabas loves to sit on the sorting table while I work.  I have to watch him - he's very interested in everything gardening-related.  Last year, we had to run him to the vet after he ate some sweet pea seedlings!  He was fine, and his vet experience didn't deter him a bit.  He's always looking to sneak a nibble!   

Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day.  I love holidays and our traditions, so as usual I made our slice-and-bake rainbow sugar cookies.  This year, though, I gave myself a little challenge.  Did we really need 30 cookies sitting around the house?  Probably not.  I reduced the recipe to 1/4 of the original, which made a tidy 5 cookies.

Perfect...and delicious!

I also made Irish soda bread and a cabbage, sausage, pepper, and potato dish.  Hooray for holidays!!

Otherwise, we've been taking our short walks and longer hikes...somewhat less pleasant when the temperatures dip into the thirties!  Noting new growth...

American Elm

Ornamental Pear

...and enjoying the fresh air.  The kittens, too, are enjoying having the windows open when weather permits, and when not, at least taking advantage of the sunbeams.

Awwww...they love each other!

A very comfortable nap

Looking forward to slightly warmer days ahead.

Have a great week!