dulce domum

A bit of a holiday tradition I like to read "Dulce Domum", a chapter from Wind in the Willows.

This book was given to me as a birthday gift in 1959 and has been with me ever since. It did in recent years have an accidental dose of water in a corner away from my possession. But it remains readable and much loved. Dulce Domum, or Home Sweet Home is the story of Ratty and Mole returning from a day away and coming home along a path that takes them by Mole's old home underground. A sweet story with caroling field mice. I think that my love of this book and it's characters may explain my relationship with rats and mice, a good one.

christmas eve 2019

We made a run to White House Pool to collect buckeye balls for the 2019 crop. And then of course there was a lunch of fried calamari and Caesar salad.
Across from our parked car we spotted Mike's new project.

Photo project, that is....

anticipating solstice

The new quilt is on the bed.

 

 The fruitcake has arrived.

This is not just any fruitcake, this is Maureen's fruitcake, for people who don't like fruitcake.

thanksgiving

You might be wondering what is this photo? Well it is an elaborate cat toy constructed to lure an unsuspecting cat into the box. A new cat toy was suspended inside. The project was executed by my niece Katie. She did get cat heads into the box. But the cat below was not poking her head into the box.

The cat above is Minerva. She's spending a few days here in the neighborhood. She's a welcome guest.
An interesting Thanksgiving here, an interesting energy in the air, perhaps, witch-like. But good witch.

marigolds

A small altar this year, but marigolds everywhere. I even managed to fashion a ristra from the the marigolds I harvested from the garage roof.

New Mexico report 2019

On the first day I learned you can make ristras from marigolds.

We heard a knock on the door of our Airbnb and there was Susanna looking for Nancy, the previous occupant. Nancy was spending a month in Dixon and vacated our wonderful abode for the two nights we were staying there to return when we left. A lesson, make your reservations early. I was quite happy to accept the gift.

On day two we decided to document the many volunteer fire departments (there may be more on that subject in a later blog).

Day three, the bighorn sheep at Pilar on the Rio Grande, probably a herd of twenty.

By day four and five it was time to get serious about yoga, which we all did. Perhaps deeper and more intense than ever before. Something which can not be put into words but felt by all of us. There is an energy practicing in the shadow of Taos Mountain. After lunch I made my pilgrimage to walk Penitente.

Day six I took a morning break from yoga to spend time down on the Rio Grande with Mike.

Day seven, how soon it came. After lunch we visited the Fechin House.

And then a drive north where New Mexico treated us to the wide open skies I love.

After an evening of music, and laughter, day eight arrived and time to leave Taos for Santa Fe. A combination of time to catch our breath and take in the week before not to mention a botanic garden, a photo gallery, the Geogia O'keeffe Museum, Garcia Books and more.
We made our way to Albuquerque on day ten, looking forward to being home but taking a last stop to take in the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

'In most Pueblo Languages, there is no word for goodbye. Because we believe in the cyclical nature of our existence, we know we will meet again, whether in the near future or at a time far off. As we part with you today, we prefer to say "See you next time" or "See you later" or "Until we meet again".'

made it to a monarch

I've been watching my chrysalis closely since returning home from Agness (Oregon). I noticed darkening inside and the pattern of tiny Monarch wings.

With some warmer weather the butterfly decided it was time to come out.

About two hours later with wings fully grown and dried it flew off. Spawned two yesterday and three more getting ready.
I learned about Grandmother Agnes and the Salmon Blessing while at the Rogue River. I'm hoping for the Monarch Blessing. The Rogue was beautiful, especially with rain.

raising a monarch

Or at least hoping to get one to adulthood. I've managed caterpillars but this is the first chrysalis. The caterpillar fed itself on milkweed but then managed to move a few feet into the ground cherry. Keeping our fingers crossed and checking it often. Come springtime I'm going into a major milkweed planting.
And an Aero update. With the rain on Monday morning in came a wet cat, who had breakfast and settled himself in upstairs on Mike's desk. He hasn't done that in months, but somewhere in his brain he has programmed if it rains go inside. He knows we will welcome him. Sun came out and he left, but he's sticking a little closer and hanging around more. Aerojet my Farmer's Almanac, I'm happy to have him.

september

Or where did August go?

It disappeared into the Chinese fifth season spanning summer and autumn, falling between the sun and the fog.
The light and air are changing and usually I feel the sense to nest. But this summer has been so enjoyable I'm finding an urge to hold onto it. But even Aero feels the change, suddenly he is appearing every evening hanging out on the front walk, making sure we know he will be coming in soon.

craft day

Sometimes you buy things and then wonder what you were thinking when you made the purchase. And these items float around in closets and on shelves reminding you as you come across them that you are not always of sound, clear mind. Sometimes I can just give things away, chalking it up to mercury in retrograde or some such other excuse. But this morning I took to crafting, something I think I am just genetically predisposed. So that off white cotton sweater became grey with a bottle of Rit dye and a YouTube video watched.

Really, the color is quite nice and as long as it doesn't rub off on me every time I wear it, I'll be happy.
So then I moved on to that pink cashmere yarn I bought. Well it was on sale, but the pink,  it was pink. So another YouTube video on tea dyeing watched.

Eight teabags later, I may have some yarn I can actually knit into something that might be wearable.

No, I did not make the wind chime the yarn is hanging from, that came from a neighbor who was cleaning out a house of someone who must have seriously been into crafts.

august garden

The chairs needed some updating, so out came some new and old quilts that haven't ventured outside before. The red and black flying geese is just a little too bold for our bed, and the purple lone star came out of the cedar chest. Both the quilts and I are happy with the new arrangement.

And I put back my special corner with a view into the garage. I'm sure there will be future postings on the garage activities.

I've only partially given up on farming, even if I did convert one of the tubs in the "little farm", as my my neighbor Michael and I refer to it, to flowers. I have Swiss chard seeds started to take the place of the tomatoes.

celebrating summer

We made a visit on Friday to West Marin. The drive through Samuel P. Taylor State Park was nothing less than glorious. The light, the smell, the perfect temperature. I gave a nod to my father, who saw no reason to travel anywhere else. Yes Dad, perhaps your were right.
We stopped at Devil's Gulch to visit the Mother Tree, the one I propagate from in the fall and early winter. This tree has spawned many offspring, one growing in our backyard to full blooming adulthood.
After a brief stop for sandwiches  we headed out the Marshall Beach Road, where the fog had overtaken the sun.

Our lunch spot was the Coast Guard Cemetery, an off missed spot on the tourist trail.

After consuming our lunch we headed to a spot, definitely on the tourist list.

We'll come back in the winter. But the day ended with the Night Blooming Ceres showing it's glory. Something I often miss because it only blooms for one night.

A perfect ending to a perfect day.

back from yellow creek

Humbug valley was beautiful, some fish were caught, we secured campsite #4, we survived the pine cone attack that left a large hole in the tent, and if anyone knows what kind of a beetle camped with us please let us know.