thanksgiving

It is thanksgiving weekend and the snow is falling, the wind is no longer howling but it is still blowing. This cold weather snap is early it is not just me and only happens once every 25 years or so according to the weather channel. I haven't got the last odds and sods done in the garden yet so hopefully it will warm up long enough to rake the leaves out of the front yard and into the compost, roll up the hoses, empty and move the rain barrels down and away from the spout until spring, put away all marble into piles and the square pieces onto the work bench, and finally just clean up outside.
Then there is a ton to do on the inside, the last of the cranberries to get done up all ten pounds of em, the salsa verde and now with some rippening I may have enough for some solid packs, as well as pumpkin marmelade, sorting through Mom's stuff and stuff going out to the garage for a garage sale, the smoker is sitting out there taunting me to get to work, and I need to pick up fabric to make a costume for Josh for Halloween, plus we want to celebrate Samhain with all the comforts and fun that the holiday brings. I will do ritual privately, smudge the house but all of that has to be organized. There is also the need for firewood if this is going to be a long hard winter, and bird feeders, small animal feeders, to be cleaned and set out.
If the weather lets up maybe one last day of fishing and picking some rosehips at the pond. enough to dry for tea and enough to make rosehip jelly. Candles candles and more candles to be found for everything from my tapers to votives to pillars to wicks, wax and oil.
I love this time of year I always look at it as the time to shift gears from summer to winter, from busy doing, building, growing, to busy learning, crafting and being. The fall we start to slow down, look over the successes and failures, take notes make changes, we pull all the pieces acquired over summer so that when the snows come we will have things to craft with in the kitchen and in the workshop. Tools are mended and I have a lot of that to do this year, life slows to a pace that is easier to handle and a world that is smaller, quieter, covered in snow and scented with wood smoke and cinnamon.
Autumn is here and if the snow seems a bit early I don't mind a bit with all the hustle and bustle I need to shift back down from doing to being.
Bina

pumpkins for little boys

The boys all got to pick their pumpkins today....a bucket moment. The tomato vines are pulled and in the compost and the herbs have been harvested. There is some cleaning to be done though and the dirt from the potatoes needs to be dumped in another bed. The youngest was out with a mug of hot cider in one hand and his special little highland dirk to harvest his pumpkin.There will be snow this weekend and I am not ready I will empty the rain barrels when I plant the ferns, and bulbs and water Jay's tree in. I will grab one of those flowery pillow cases and see if that helps keep it safe. I really want to turn that into a place of beauty and zen calm type feeling.
I finally decided on an old fashioned purple crocus, white and purple tulips, with the ferns and the lady's mantle surrounding Budda with the cherry blossoms in the spring it will feel peaceful. A place for tea.
There are so many pots, and fountains, and bird baths, and garden furniture it's crazy, but with the marble and the grapes our backyard is going to be incredible. Hubby may even be able to use the computer comfortably out there and that is what I really want for him. I want to make a place of laughter, and food, music and conservation. That is the 3 year plan an edible landscape that takes into consideration the body and the soul, repurposing recycled materials to do it. With as many eco friendly solutions as I can think of.
The slugs are out of control, and I have snow fence so maybe I can figure out how to get rid of the slugs.....all decisions for another time.
cheers