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.