I am rather enamoured with the first real snow of the season.
This morning I woke up with the first strains of dawn coming in the bedroom window. My arms felt like ice to the touch, they were on top of the blankets, bare. I remember thinking it was strange to feel so cold beneath my down comforter and then I looked out the window and saw the slow fall of white on white (each one of those crystals is unique, can you imagine?). I rubbed my feet together. I imagine, when we have all the windows replaced on our house next week, that it won’t be quite as cold in the bedroom during the bewitching hours and days and weeks and months of winter. I might miss that a bit. There’s nothing this old lady codger loves more than a good, icy draft and a nose tip that feels glacier cold.
Some winter advice:
Wear boots with tread
when stalking across
wide swaths of ice. I
stepped out of the house
in a pair of Frys this morning
and paid for it dearly.
In the meanwhile, I’ve been trying to find all sorts of wickedly crafty things to do today. So far, I’ve eaten sushi for lunch and answered emails. Somebody please, give me something naughty to do.
I could catch a squirrel and put it in Sue’s mailbox. I could tie Penelope and Pinkerton together and then throw pine cones for them to chase. I could prank phone call my parents and tell them that all the horses got loose and have climbed into the foundation of the new barn they are building. But what I’ll probably do is hunker down and write a few letters, drink more tea, package up the jewels that need to be shipped out this afternoon and I’ve been planning on embellishing a dark blue, wool winter coat for weeks now. I should pull out the sewing machine.
I’m such a bore. The good news is that I think I have officially adjusted to having RW home after having him away for 6 months during the fire season. It takes some time for me to acclimate to another person in the house at all times. I’ll bet that sounds strange. I live a fairly isolated life in the summertime and when fall rolls around, the sudden appearance of my husband in my life again comes as a bit of a jolt. Additionally, I’ve been so doggone topsy turvy these past three weeks that I feel like I’ve been pinging off the walls of life. Living hasn’t been half-bad, but I’ve struggled and struggled and struggled (like I’m climbing K2 with a gorilla on my back) with settling into work in the studio. I think this is, in part, why the finished pieces I’ve been turning out have been so varied, not to mention the pile of half completed projects I have strewn about my work surfaces. I’m not sad. I’m not mad. I’m not depressed. I’m not tired. I’m just a ferociously kinetic ball of potential energy. It’s like someone was building a circuit board and forgot to close the system so I’m simply a patch of fizzing, white lighting shooting up and down the line until I fling myself out and up into thin air and dissipate. I’ll make your hair stand on end and when I’m done shocking you, you’ll stick to the wall.
Whew. It’s not really a bad thing. It’s just what it is. But it can be mentally exhausting. I’m sure you’ve experienced the exact same thing in your lives and can entirely relate. If you happen to be mercurial in character, it’s probably ten times worse and ten times better, simultaneously. I’m going to go pop a vitamin C and a zinc. Whew. Take ‘er down a notch.
Anyway, we’re in the throes of home improvement here at The Gables. There’s a mad dash to paint things and build things between October and Christmas. I’ve gone ahead and added to the complex chaos of sanders, circular saws and fascia by booking a plane ticket to Canada in early December. My lovely sister, Erica, is popping out a baby very soon and I’d like to try to be there for it. I MIGHT EVEN CATCH IT WHEN IT COMES FLYING OUT. After the trip home to Saskatoon I’ll have a few days to recover from whatever cold I catch while I’m there and then RW and I are off to Hawaii for our honeymoon. Between now and the Saskatoon trip, RW’s entire family is coming to Pocatello for 6 days since we’re hosting Thanksgiving this year. Crikey! We may have to annex the house to fit everyone inside!
We’re looking forward to hosting Thanksgiving and though I’ve never roasted a turkey before, I’ll have gobs of goodly help.
What are your Thanksgiving plans?
Lastly, since I’m oblivious to time, in general, I missed doing a Remembrance Day/Veterans Day post on Wednesday of this week past which I feel really sad about. Remembrance Day in Canada is one of the most moving days of the year for me. It’s a day that’s rich with heritage, feelings of gratefulness, swooping fighter jets crossing the sky in formation, red poppies and the intense feeling that comes with congregating with the ghosts of the dead who did not die in vain. I think half the world is haunted on Remembrance Day, the air is thick with the spirits of those young men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the face of tyranny.
There are memories of:
Rats and shell shock in the trenches.
The dreaded expanse of no man’s land.
The roar of artillery and the frigid sensation of sea spray on grim faces in landing craft.
The sting of mustard gas.
Small victories.
Huge victories.
Eyes wide open.
Brothers and sisters in arms.
Losing friends and family and perhaps happy homecomings.
Lost limbs.
Purple hearts.
Rumbling tanks.
Treaties.
Love letters criss-crossing the Atlantic.
Knowing the difference between right and wrong.
The triumph of good.
Real people.
I have seen the Flanders region and the white crosses row on row.
And even though I didn’t know them, name by name, I remember them all.
Rest in peace and thank you.
I hope you all have a wonderful and restful weekend,
no matter what you do!
Love to you all,
Jillian Susan
PS My absolute favorite thing about Precocious Penelope Pie is that she sometimes gets a little something on the tip of her very long sniffer and it will stay there for hours. I like it best when it’s a feather. She likes it best when it’s peanut butter.
Look at those stubby little legs…would ya?
This morning I caught Ina Garten's cooking show and she was making Turkey for Thanksgiving. I don't eat it myself but it looked simple and delicious and you may want to have a look at the recipe if so inclined: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/roast-turkey-with-truffle-butter-recipe/index.html.
I love your words of remembrance and gratitude for our veterans–they are so honest and touching. You put words to the complex feelings that I don't think I ever could.
Be well.
Jamie
My friend & I took our babes for a walk on Remembrance day and found ourselves in the middle of the parade.
We stopped to listen to the bagpipes and marching bands & the babes watched in wonder with us.
My husband was a test pilot in the US Air Force and had the opportunity to do an air show at Cold Lake one year. He was running low on fuel in his F-15 trip from Edwards AFB, CA to Cold Lake when he was arriving at the airfield and the air traffic controllers had your famous Snowbirds Demo team (who were arriving at the same time)stay in the holding pattern while he landed. He's always chuckled about that. He always had a wonderful time with the Canadians but could NEVER keep up with your pilots in the bar;) We always had a Canadian exchange pilot in the Test Pilot School classes and they were tireless….Have a great weekend and send me some of your wonderful energy;] By the way, he did some fine fishing while he was on that trip as well. Hugs, Sally
We took the girls to the Remembrance Day Service at SaskPlace. 9000 people were in attendance … largest indoor service in Canada, or so they told us.
Soldier and sailors and policemen and Mounties and scouts and cadets in full dress uniforms following bands and drums and bagpipes. Three separate bands plus the Saskatoon Men's Choir performed.
Wreath upon wreath upon wreath placed in memory of those who gave all for us.
Two veterans attended from the Saskatchewan Regiment … founded in 1939 … they went away to war for 5 years 10 months when they were very young. And many other veterans and/or their families stood to accept our thanks.
I'm glad that we went.
"And many other veterans and/or their families stood to accept our thanks."
[Michele]
This made me cry.
That word, "thanks" is so insufficient.
This was definitely a catch-up post! I can really relate to this phrase, "I'm simply a patch of fizzing, white lighting shooting up and down the line until I fling myself out and up into thin air and dissipate…" my brain is so like this…I think the arc of lightning is reaching across the world because my creative brain is wild at the moment and I don't feel like being consistent!
And I'd like to see Pen and Pink tied together…that cracked me up…
I'm not sure why the photo of you on your couch sent me laughing. But it did…
I can totally relate to feelig mentall exhausted from thoughts racing around. I love your description of being a ball of kinetic energy…
Happy you for snow! And storm windows!
Our secret to the bestest turkey, baste and more baste, baste all the time!
ok…i had no idea your sis was preggers! so exciting for everyone i bet! and as always, if you have time when you're home…a furdale walk perhaps?! farley can chase gophers (or mice, or whatever) 3 miles away from us and tip can trip us because he's walking to close. sound good? only if you have time, of course 😉
ps give that little dwarfy dog a kiss on the long schnoz for me, would ya?
lovely post….
and i'm so glad you came for a visit…
your jewelry is so pretty and original
all the best
michelle
good grief girl – you sound manic! if only you could bottle that energy and save it or sell it!
Send me some of your energy, would you? lol. Thank you for the heartfelt words for the veterans. They gave so much for us all. Thank you too for the picture of Penelope 🙂
Actually, I could use a jolt of that energy these days. Pity we can't all trade states at will: "May I have a dash of your wired for a pinch of my slows?"
Fabulous swath of writing there, girl!
The first snow is very nice indeed. Good hearing you!
xx
As far as the turkey:
1.Roasting Bag, all the way, creates nice browning.
2.Make sure to thaw it in the fridge at least two days before (not in the bath tub or sink, yes I did it).
3.Get a bird that has NOT been injected with bouillon, too salty.
4. Season and rub with butter, then bake to roasting bag specs.
5.Enjoy your juicy turkey dinner.
Hope this helps, xo Fletch
OOh! Great turkey advice. Wait. Is a turkey bag made of plastic?