Our parish priest was away this week, presenting at the Healing Land Homesteading conference. Usually, when he’s gone, we take the opportunity to attend Mass at our previous parish in town. But this week, we decided to visit the Melkite mission instead. When we arrived, though, no one was at the church. Had I gotten…
Category: snapshots
Spring and Solitude
It’s been a busy time here in the woods. I really should get a good camera. There are adorable goat-babies frolicking around (and on) their mother. There are ugly goslings hissing at me from their tiny mouths. There are ducklings and chicks and their enthusiastic-but-over-large dog-friend. There are pigs rooting around in the earth. The…
Sunday Quiet
I hope nobody believes me when I say “I’ll be writing here more often.” Trust me, every time I say it, it’s a lie. But it’s New Year’s Day! The Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus! I’m feeling all wrapped up in potentialities. So here I am, plying you all with false promises again. I…
Today
Reading: through all the new books I’m collecting for the upcoming school year. We school year-round, but July is off completely and summer is lighter overall. The perfect time to plan for new and better things. Planning is one of my favorite ways to procrastinate. Listening: to Kate Wolf sing my favorite song: The trumpet…
Homemaking
Every day in the summer, morning comes early. The sun rises before I do -waking birds and squirrels and the puppy. The birds sound louder when you’re just waking up – especially the woodpeckers. I want to stay tucked under the covers – especially this past week, when our mornings are colder than they should…
At Home in the Rebellious Quiet
I love quiet mornings. The sun has risen long ago in these early hours, but the light is soft and slanted. The air is cool and even the grass has a new-born freshness to it after sleeping through the night. In the morning, I make coffee, take vegetable scraps out to the chicken yard, and…
Today…
The sun is shining down on the snow. At the edge of the forest, tea-berry leaves are peaking out from under the snow. We’re expecting another storm on Friday, but today the warm air and sunlight are mingling with pre-lenten joy. We’ve been splashing in puddles, bringing in wood, slow-cooking chili on the stove, and…
Little Changes
I like making big, sweeping revisions. I’d rather dump the whole drawer and replace it all, or pull the house to pieces and remake it. The tiny, daily things are difficult. Maintaining motivation is difficult. Grand gestures make more of an impression – and it’s so satisfying to start over again and again. But reclaiming…
Saturday Snapshot
The beaver pond is a perfect place for ice-skating. Recently, on Sundays after Mass, the kids have been spending afternoons skating with friends while the dogs harass each other and the adults huddle around the fire. This week, after two bouts of snow, the pond is covered, and we’re debating whether to go shovel it…
Y is For Home! 