cold Wednesday

I awoke this morning early expecting to see the earth covered in white but it was not. It seems we had snow all around us but none here in this part of the county. My children in Vermont had snow but not here. I was looking forward to it. I haven't bought a car snow/ice scraper or a snow shovel yet though. I am off today and will be off until Friday. I only worked 2 days last week so I decided to make it up by working 4 days this week. I worked Monday and am really stiff and sore from the cold concrete floors. I hope it warms by Friday.

I went to the gym this week and will go again today and tomorrow. It feels good to sweat and get my heart rate up. I only work out for an hour right now but plan on at least another half hour or so when I am more comfortable.

Well, here it is Friday and I am getting back to this post finally. Sorry about the interruption. It is 20 degrees as I write this. I am working today at the winery. Since I am the only person on today, I need to go in a bit earlier. I am bringing my book with me today since Monday was very quiet and there is just so much dusting I can do. I am waiting to see how many calls I get from the school district begining on Monday. Then I will pull back from the winery.

It is supposed to warm up a bit. My house is warm and cozy anyway. But I get cold at night. I ordered a lovely tartan plaid flannel granny gown from Bean's to help with that. Bought my car snow brush, dry gas and anti frost windshield spray. I tell you between the boots, the jackets, the gloves, scarves, hats, socks, long johns, snow shovels, brushes, tires etc. etc., it is very costly and complicated living up here. I have a friend from work, Bernice, who is willing to drive to FL with Bash and me sometime this winter. I hope it will be mid-Feb. but have to wait awhile to see about finances.

Here is a photo of my granddaughter as a hippy in a Halloween Costume class. Note to Wendy: Bashey loves his Wubba toy - thanks for the thoughtful gifts. Email yet?

Winter says Hi

I went to Pawlet, Vermont this a.m. early for a massage and what do you know?? It was snowing. I met some cars with heavy layers of snow on them. It is cold, rainy and blowy here in Hartford. I met Gloria at the gym for a dip in the pool which turned out to be too cold for me but I did manage to sit in the luscious warmth of the hot tub for a few minutes. Then grocery shopping and home. I had Bash with me since he gave me the big sad eyes this a.m. when I was preparing to leave. He is being velcro dog today. I worked on Monday at the winery but not since then. Friday I will work in Pawlet at the Flower Brook Acupuncture clinic where I will be doing Polarity and Cranial Sacral. Yes!!! My fridays will be spent there from now on. I think the winery and apple barn are too cold for my arthritic body.

A friend and I are speaking of going to Florida together in Feb. It sounds wonderful to me but when I think of the money required to do so and the wages lost while I am away, I get cold feet. I guess I should just go and to hell with the money part of it since I know I will be sorry if I don't. We can stay with Sharon and Brent in Tampa and stop in Richmond at my daughter's for one night on the trip. That leaves just one other night to stay in a motel.

Please pray for the right man to win the election at this crucial time in our Country's history. As women who have fought, died and sacrificed for years for the right to make decisions for our own bodies, we women must vote for Obama/Biden. Otherwise, our daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters will have to begin the fight for their rights all over again. As women of strength and power to stand on our own, we must unite and send a message that we will not be bullied by the old guard. Our bodies, our spirituality, our morals are our own private domain and do not belong in the US gov't. What do you think would happen if the gov't said men had to be castrated because they caused an illegitamate pregnancy?

'Nuff said -

May you be blessed with stars in your eyes, dancing shoes on your feet and love in your hearts,
Donna

A couple of quick quotes for the day

Learn of Me. Kill the self within. Every blow to self is used to shape the real, eternal, imperishable you. Be candid and rigorous with yourselves. Did self prompt that? and if it did, oust it at all costs.

--Two Listeners

But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end [is] not by and by. (Luke 21:9)

These two quotes were on my home page this morning and I felt the need to pass them on.

The leaves are dropping rapidly since we have had a killing frost every night for several days. Time to pull your energies in and think about your needs, your hibernation and your creative self. A long period of silence approaches. We may even have some snow flurries tonight.

Have a blessed day -

Rainy Thursday

I am home today with my growling low back. I had two days off as well but I must have overdid yesterday. I had an acupuncture treatment on Tuesday and it really helped. But yesterday I lifted on the kayaks that needed to go back in the barn and bang! there was the pain again. I just forgot. I am not used to favoring my back much. It is cold and rainy so the Orchard is quiet today. Hopefully, I will be ready to work tomorrow and the weekend. I hope to take part of Sunday off since Gloria is having a birthday party.

I made bread yesterday and a wonderful Plum Kuchen. Pete and I ate half of the cake last night. I also made a clean out the garden stew. We will have that for lunches this week.

Sat in the sunshine on the deck yesterday for about an hour. It was a wonderful treat. We are supposed to get some really cold temps in the next few days. I am going to clean my heater registers today to prepare to turn on the furnace for the first time. I have been using my electric radiant heater off and on when I have needed it. The sunshine streams into this house on sunny days and provides cheap heat.

I am completing this on Friday a.m. before going to work. Back is still about the same but need to go in after 3 days off. I post a couple of photos for you. One is of Pete's house with the cornfield beside it; one is on the road to work and one is a long view of the Adirondacks aflame. Also stuck in a shot of my house in the fall.

Play well together my friends and watch S&L.

Autumn Thursday

Cloudy and a light rain today. I am working at the Winery today but expect it will be fairly quiet. Who wants to pick apples in the rain? I am being educated in appleology (my term). I was pretty much a MacIntosh/Gala apple person - Wow, what I had been missing! I tried the Honey Sap, then the Mancoun, then the Northern Spy and the Liberty and today I will try the JoniGold. Hick's Orchard grows about a dozen varieties and I look forward to trying each one as they ripen for picking. We have had at least two white frosts now so the apples will really sweeten up.

Bash is anxious to go out in the yard each day since he discovered we have a cottontail in the hedgewrow. The bunny plays bunny games with Bashey. Bash will be rooting around in the bushes for that pervasive scent when I see the bunny dashing away behind him. At least we have had no more deaths in the yard from the mysterious predator. I think a Fishcher Cat.

I cleaned out the gardens yesterday all but the Carrots and Onions. I dug the potatoes from my old tires. What fun! I couldn't believe the volume of worms in the soil. Very healthy dirt. The potatoes numbered about 2 dozen from 4 holes. I dried them, put them in a bushel basket which is in the basement. I have also been cutting my herbs, tying them up and hanging them in the basement to dry. Then I mowed the grass for what may be the last time 'til spring. I drained the water from the motorhome to prepare for winterization. Pete came Tuesday to fill in my rutts in the driveway. Bless his heart for help. It had gotten really rough coming in. Today we are having a gentle rain which should harden down the crush and run gravel he put in. Two hard frosts have slowed up the growth of the grass and turned the leaves to brillance.

Here is the message on my google home page today which I want to share with you all.
My Spirit supplies the wisdom and the strength for your journey. Know I have prepared the way. Continue to pray on God's Will. Think of ways to barter for what you need and rely on one another.

See you in the orchard---

Moon of New Friends

The Cherokee people celebrate this new sliver of moon as do Jews, Hindus and Greeks. Socializing, meeting new people, opening your heart to Love One Another is the key note.

I am preparing for a busy day at Hick's Orchard today. Tomorrow too. We were quite busy yesterday, Friday, even in the wind and rain. The foliage color is nearly at peak - certainly will be by mid-week. If we get heavy rain and wind, as we usually do, many leaves will be down.

I have a new neighbor. I am grateful for her, a single gal like myself. Younger though. She is a teacher in Fort Ann. I hope we will be friends and look out for one another. The house on the other side of me is now for sale. I think that one is for sale for economic reasons.

My house faces East so I get the early morning rays of Sun. I open my front door since I have a glass storm door. It is like having solar heat. I hope this house will heat easily and cheaply this winter. Time is flying by, September is gone and here we are in October. I am looking for help to assist me in winterizing my motorhome. So many things that need to be done in preparation for winter which will come overnight. Today, October 4th, 1987, there was an incredible snow storm, 18" on the trees that hadn't lost their foliage. Power went out for days,trees fell down, it was a mess. I remember clearly since my oldest grandchild, Patrick, was born about 4:00 today 21 years ago. Luckily, I had gone to the hospital early in the a.m. because I never would have made it later in the day. My daughter, Jill, is having a party for him today in Vermont. Unfortunately, I cannot make it since this is one of our busiest weekends in the short intense season of apple harvest.

Gotta walk Sebastian before work. More later -

See ya