tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52900524876996517672024-03-14T03:14:38.895-03:00twenty-two pleasantSherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.comBlogger1629125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-49813478793909280372015-01-06T16:18:00.002-04:002015-01-06T16:18:39.452-04:00the last post... well, sort of<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am so very excited to share with you that I *finally* have the new blog up and running! The chickens and I would like to warmly invite you on over to my new blog documenting our adventures at <a href="http://www.wellingtonfarm.ca/">www.wellingtonfarm.ca</a>!<br />
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There are only two posts up right now, so you can read them both and say you've read the entire archives. See you there!Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-4441841285561441022014-11-02T20:50:00.002-04:002014-11-02T20:50:25.990-04:00since the last post...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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... so, so very much has happened! We are settled in to our amazing new old house, with just a few little things left to be done. (Does everyone wait for so long for carpenters to finish up the last details? It seems to be a common experience.) I can't wait to share boatloads of before and after pictures... but the 'after' isn't quite ready yet. Moving is so. much. work. I had forgotten how much I loathe it, since we'd been in our last house for nine years. Ugh. My heart goes out to you if you're in the process! But we're here now, with the chickens and bees, and a <a href="http://instagram.com/p/s8hX6rFkvI/?modal=true" target="_blank">new kitty</a>, and life is pretty darn amazing - I thought I'd share a quick update.<br />
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I haven't touched the 'real' camera in awhile, and I'm missing it. I do love having my phone with me, though, for capturing all of those sweet moments that might otherwise be missed. Like P learning to pick up chickens properly, and the boys having some summer fun. T has very specific ideas about having his picture taken, and they usually involve him avoiding the camera in some way.<br />
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On my drive to work, if I take a tiny detour after dropping the boys off at school, there's a causeway over a lake. And on some mornings, I get to see the most beautiful sunrises. The extra 3 minutes is totally worth it. Especially if other cars don't come along and I can take as many pictures as I want to. (My artistic process involves stopping in the middle of the road, since it's a causeway and you can't really pull over.)<br />
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And from the back door at the new old house, I've been enjoying sunsets like this, over the back field. There are deer at the edge of the woods many evenings, quietly going about their business. It's so quiet.<br />
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Quiet except for two hooligans, that is. The boys are ridiculously cute, as usual. They love it here, too, and are usually very willing to help with chicken chores, stacking wood (our wood furnace is kind of awesome!) and P even helped me to clean the floors throughout the entire house today. We're in the midst of a really nice phase right now with much less bickering than we were dealing with. Moving is such a huge thing - I think we're all settling in and feeling more like ourselves.<br />
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The neglected garden that we started before moving in has given us plenty of potatoes, some hefty squash, and the tomatillos were bountiful. I'm dreaming of next year's herb garden and what I'm going to grow for the chickens.<br />
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And speaking of the chickens, I've been learning lots! Turns out that bathing one after work isn't too terrible a way to pass the time, even when she stinks and has vent gleet. It also turns out that mites are a thing. We lost one of the ladies to a mink. The mink was promptly dispatched with a bit of assistance from my Dad, with much drama and fuss amongst the other ladies. They've been molting, and I am proud to report that most of the formerly-bare bottoms are now beautifully fluffy. Sherrie's Chicken Rehab is working! I am completely in my element when I'm down at the barn getting them all sorted out and collecting eggs. They're good company, too - so gentle and quiet and funny.<br />
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And now it's November. We started lighting the candles at supper tonight, as we usually do on the first night after the time change. The hardest part of this time of year is definitely the darkness. But there are so many things I love about it - being cozy inside with wild weather outside (this weekend was perfect for staying in), ginger and cinnamon, cold, crisp air, apples, daydreams about potential Christmas decor in this new house, scarves and sweaters. I love this season!Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-66563033175594466762014-08-11T23:04:00.002-03:002014-08-12T09:54:39.390-03:00bock, bock, bock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Folks, this post has been a long time in the making. And when I saw 'long time', I mean several years. I have seriously wanted to keep chickens for at least seven years, for a variety of reasons. I wanted the boys to be able to know the joy and responsibility of caring for animals that provide food that we eat every day. I wanted the funny companionship of these lovely creatures. I wanted to be able to feed them kitchen scraps and compost their poop to use it in the garden, making a nice tidy loop. And the eggs! We eat a lot of eggs, and fresh eggs are just the very best. We've been living in town, so I first decided to approach <a href="http://townofyarmouth.ca/" target="_blank">town council</a> about <a href="http://twentytwopleasant.blogspot.ca/2011/04/score-another-one-for-chicken-lady.html" target="_blank">amending the by-law prohibiting backyard hens</a> back in 2010. That didn't go through, and since the spring of 2011, I've been patiently waiting. Reading every book I can get my hands on, visiting friends' hens, and daydreaming about collecting warm eggs. Waiting to find our forever home and property and have space to care for my very own hens and share the whole experience with the boys.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And so, I am so very pleased to report that I am now the proud owner of a flock of a dozen ISA Brown Layers. Allow me to introduce them, won't you?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">First, the hens are a year old and already laying. I wanted some instant success and to avoid some of the chick intensity, and these ladies came up at just the right time. The previous owner was having some trouble with pecking in her flock (these twelve were in with many other chickens) and so they arrived here missing lots of feathers "on their butts", as Phillip likes to say. I lovingly refer to my tiny chicken operation as Sherrie's Chicken Rehab, as they appear to be a bit of a motley bunch. Apparently their feathers will take five or six weeks to grow back in, and I'm hoping that since they have some more space and lots of attention, they'll grow back beautifully. I don't know much about their past life, and I've only had them for a week, so I'm always observing them carefully for anything untoward, and I'm hoping that there aren't any underlying health issues with any of them.</span><br />
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They are so sweet and personable already! After a couple of days adjusting, they come trotting over when I arrive, looking for treats. Especially this<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 20px;">beady-eyed beauty. She has been dubbed <a href="http://twentytwopleasant.blogspot.ca/2011/11/channeling-jessica-fletcher.html" target="_blank">Jessica Fletcher</a>. She's very much a busybody, and comes running as soon as I arrive. Unlike the others, she won't leave my side while I'm cleaning the coop, collecting eggs, and just having a little visit with the hens. She tilts her head from side to side to look me over, pecks at my toes, hands, pant legs, fingers, and waits patiently for me to feed her an extra little treat or two. She also solves murders in her spare time and is a wickedly accurate typist.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You can see the bare butts above. I'm watching carefully for any signs of broken skin or any other complications.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The coop was all set up by the previous owner. We gave it a very thorough cleaning, some fresh bedding, and these ladies settled right in. They really are a joy to hang out with, and they're good layers - we collect 8-10 eggs each day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This poor hen above seems to have lost the most feathers, and as she was grooming herself a bit, I caught this picture where you can see how bald her back end is.</span><br />
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Thanks to my sister, who bought me these boots for Christmas last year. Jessica Fletcher really likes to peck at the left one in particular.<br />
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Back in 2010, I bought this ceramic egg holder, in full faith that I would have my very own hens' eggs to fill it with someday. I didn't think at the time that it would be four years down the road, but here we are, and it is so satisfying.<br />
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If you have chicken experience, please feel free to leave any comments with tips, hints, suggestions, etc. - I'm completely open to any and all advice!<br />
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<br />Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-48454371103573741212014-08-02T21:14:00.001-03:002014-08-02T21:14:03.859-03:00midsummer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello, friends! I collected a few sprigs of lavender that I've been enjoying by the kitchen sink over the past few days, so I thought I would share it with you along with a little update of what's been taking place in my little corner of the world.</div>
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First, the bees are doing very, very well. Both hives are settling in nicely. We've been checking on them regularly, and have found both queens each time, saw eggs and larvae at different stages, scraped off a bit of extra comb and even had a few tiny tastes of honey! I am smitten. Adam really is in charge of the bee department, though - he has his beekeeper notebooks and makes the plans and does the research; I'm a more-than-willing participant.</div>
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I knew that it would be cool to have bees. I knew that I would be completely enthralled with them and have a sense of responsibility to my tens of thousands of fuzzy little wards. But what I didn't expect was how mindful I'm forced to be when doing the inspections. I can't be holding a frame of brood covered in hundreds of moving bees and looking for nearly-invisible eggs while checking texts or making a grocery list. The mindfulness is its own reward; the experience is such a fulfilling and pleasurable sensory experience that it would be a shame to be distracted. The hum of the bees working away at their tasks, the beauty of light reflecting on a nectar-filled cell, the stickiness of honey and wax covering fingertips, and of course the taste of honey are as rewarding as collecting a harvest from the vegetable garden. But my favourite is the scent - something elusive about the combination of warm moving bee bodies, smoke, honey, and wax is completely intoxicating. </div>
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House news: we're still in our same lovely house, but just for a couple more weeks! We will be renting it out, have tenants lined up, and I'm optimistic that things will work out beautifully with this long and drawn out situation after all. We will be moving to our forever home and farm (farm! I feel like an imposter just typing the word) very, very soon. There are boxes and piles and lists everywhere, and we have some wonderful family who will be helping to look after the boys over the next few crazy weeks as we move. I am doing my best to relax into the whole situation and trust that everything will indeed get done, but the part of me that craves complete order before attempting a task is trying to resist a meltdown since the nature of moving house is such that it... well, it's chaotic and messy and everything that I don't do well with when I'm feeling stressed. Wish me luck and all of the patience, love, and kindness I can muster! It will all get done, and I will do my best to handle it gracefully.</div>
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Instead of thinking ahead, though, I want to savour the lovely times that I've already enjoyed over the past month. I've had several great visits with friends old and new, and that really is my favourite part of the summer. I really need that connection with people unrelated to my school-year work-life to make me feel like myself again. And there's nothing quite like a lovely chat with an old friend on a lazy summer afternoon. I've been lucky enough to enjoy several of those over the past few weeks, and I've tried my best to soak in every minute and save it somewhere in my mind for late November or mid-February when I miss it most.</div>
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<br />Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-53329577909164956702014-06-22T15:03:00.000-03:002014-06-22T15:03:26.350-03:00pinch me - the bees have arrived!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The bees have arrived! It hardly seems real. I've been dreaming of this for years. And now it's really happening!<br />
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We installed them on Friday at the new old house, and they appear to be happy and healthy. Above is the nuc box that each hive came in. Each has four frames and many, many sweet little honeybees. The drive home was lovely - a gentle humming in the back of the car that smelled amazing. (And yes, I drove a little bit extra carefully.) Somehow, honeybees manage to make the combined scent of honey and beeswax into something even more rich and lovely than either thing individually. I wish I could describe it accurately. On Friday, we moved them into the boxes that we had ready, where they will settle in, spread out, and keep building. The boys were fascinated, especially Thomas, who pressed his face in as close as he could get for a good look. They're just the most beautiful little creatures. We're planning our move for July, so after that, if you need me, you'll find me sitting and watching their comings and goings.<br />
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I am over the moon - so excited to add another layer of life to our new old house!<br />
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<br />Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-19064786417676215632014-06-11T17:58:00.000-03:002014-06-11T17:58:08.768-03:00lilacs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We have an old lilac that has had a rough few years. The past couple of years, we've had almost no blooms. This spring, though, it is showing off a bit, and I love every second. There are a couple of lilacs at the new old house, too - I couldn't be happier about that! It's definitely one of my favourite flower scents. I should be a bee in my next life, I think.<br />
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Things are continuing on, as they do. The days at this time of year are so long! It makes me feel as though I could get ALL OF THE THINGS done every day. But then, after supper when I go outside to putter on the back step with all of my potted herbs and pansies (this usually only lasts for three minutes before someone needs me) I soak it all in and chill out a bit and realize that all of the things will never be done, so I might as well enjoy the sun and the warm breeze for a few minutes longer.Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-52637470742868391942014-06-06T21:22:00.001-03:002014-06-06T21:22:20.149-03:00all you need is less<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;">Sorry if this post appeared twice in your blog feed - my mistake!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;">I'm popping in with another little book review (the last one for now!) that I think you might enjoy if you're new to this whole natural living business and are perhaps overwhelmed and want one book as a go-to resource. It's called </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;"><a href="http://allyouneedisless.ca/" target="_blank">All You Need Is Less: The Eco-friendly Guide to Guilt-Free Green Living and Stress-Free Simplicity</a> by <a href="http://sweetmadeleine.ca/about/" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Madeleine Somerville</a>, a fellow Canadian from the other coast.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;">It's intended for "novice hippies", a term which I love, and which fits perfectly with the book. It's very hands-on and instructional, and includes sections on gardening, lifestyle, body, and home, with recipes for things like toothpaste, deodorant, cleaners, and general information about living more simply. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;">If you're already fermenting kefir and making your own soap and shopping second-hand, this might have a lot of information that you already know (library!). But if you're just starting on this whole journey of living a more intentional life with less of an impact on the planet, it's got plenty of good information, recipes, and how-tos. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;">My favourite part of the book is Madeleine's description of natural.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;"> "Natural is a bit worn and lived-in. It is welcoming and comfortable like the crinkles around a person's eyes that hint at a lifetime of happiness. Natural is forgiving and warm, and shouldn't be just another thing to feel bad about. If I had the power, I'd steer this whole eco-friendly boat away from the guilt and the one-upping and back to that warm space, back to that sense of feeling good by doing good." (p 165)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;">Madeleine blogs at </span><a href="http://sweetmadeleine.ca/" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Sweet Madeleine</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;"> (I love </span><a href="http://sweetmadeleine.ca/2014/06/02/june-2-2014/" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">this post</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;"> from earlier in the week; it captures parenting little ones beautifully,) and you can read </span><a href="http://allyouneedisless.ca/" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">more about the book here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;">.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.799999237060547px;">Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary copy of the book to review; all opinions are my own.</span>Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-67553585029097826492014-06-04T22:33:00.003-03:002014-06-04T22:33:43.475-03:00as of late<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Phillip turned seven on Monday. He's everything (and more) than I thought he would be at this age - everything is funny, silly and goofy, and "butts" are especially so. It's so much fun to carry on conversations with him about his plans (to marry a certain girl in his class, have Thomas live with them - oh, but he has to check with her first). He is his own kid, and is as strong-willed, stubborn and determined as they come, and some days, that just about does me in. I'm hoping these characteristics will serve him well in adulthood. He's also generous, smart, and loving. And he loves math. Someone at a yard sale gave him this adding machine on the weekend, and he has been having the best time calculating his profits from future egg sales. Adam got <a href="http://instagram.com/p/otxr29qghU/" target="_blank">an even better picture</a> on Sunday. I just love him to bits.<br />
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And <a href="http://instagram.com/p/ooKovmKgi4/" target="_blank">Thomas had his orientation day</a> for pre-primary last week! He was (and is) so very, very excited to go to school. He'll be there for the whole day, like Phillip. It's hard to believe that this season in our little family will be shifting so drastically this fall, with no little ones at home with Adam during the days. Bittersweet.<br />
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The apple trees are in bloom, and they smell incredible. This crooked beauty is at the entrance of the path to the camp; I made the little welcome sign last summer. Speaking of the camp, it's being overtaken by carpenter ants. We're trying borax and icing sugar and are hoping it's effective. Fingers crossed.<br />
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We're planning a trip this summer, and will be passing through Portland, Maine. I'm excited to visit <a href="http://alittlemorelikethis.com/" target="_blank">More & Co</a>., and I'm hoping that we'll have the better part of an afternoon to spend in that general area. Is there anywhere that we absolutely must visit? Eat supper?<br />
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The new old house is coming along beautifully! This is the dining room. The light! So much light. <br />
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And with that, I'm off to bed. Good night!Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-66983929135570911872014-05-30T21:16:00.001-03:002014-05-30T21:16:45.542-03:00Paradise in Plain Sight: Lessons from a Zen Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"What can I learn about my own nature from nature? I can learn everything."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The book <a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/momma-zen-walking-the-crooked/9781590304617-item.html?ikwid=zen+momma&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0" target="_blank">Momma Zen</a> by <a href="http://karenmaezenmiller.com/" target="_blank">Karen Maezen Miller </a>was recommended to me a year or two ago, and I really, really loved it. In fact, I was thinking about it again a few weeks ago (which is a minor miracle for this mama who has so many million thoughts in my head at one time that I rarely remember much from books I've read) just before I received an e-mail asking if I would be interested in reviewing Karen's new book. I usually immediately delete those e-mails, but having read and loved Momma Zen, knew that this would be a book that I would enjoy, and that I would be happy to share with you.<br /><span class="yiv4263810282Apple-style-span" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401492273805_3338"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401492273805_3485" style="color: #4d4035;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #4d4035;">The premise is this:</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401492273805_3339" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="yiv4263810282Apple-style-span" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401492273805_3338" style="font-family: Arial;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401492273805_3485" style="color: #4d4035;">While house hunting in the summer of 1997, bestselling author and Zen priest Karen Maezen Miller stood with her husband in the backyard of an empty house. The yard was </span>Southern California’s oldest private Japanese garden, an oasis of ponds and pines that had stood mostly intact for nearly a hundred years. While it needed a great deal of work, they knew in their bones the place could only be theirs and made an offer the very next day.</span></div>
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<span class="yiv4263810282Apple-style-span" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401492273805_3472" style="font-family: Arial;">Flush with faith but light on know-how, they moved in and started working.<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401492273805_3471"> </span>In <b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401492273805_4489"><a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/paradise-in-plain-sight-lessons/9781608682522-item.html?ikwid=paradise+zen+garden&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0" target="_blank">Paradise in Plain Sight</a><i><a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/paradise-in-plain-sight-lessons/9781608682522-item.html?ikwid=paradise+zen+garden&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0" target="_blank">: Lessons from a Zen Garden</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"></a> </i></b><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401492273805_3484">(New World Library, May 15, 2014), Miller uses her experience in that garden to help readers understand that the insight and contentment they are seeking “out there” actually reside right under their feet in their everyday lives.</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv4263810282Apple-style-span" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401492273805_3474" style="font-family: Arial;">“I began to garden. I got scratched, tired, and dirty. I broke my fingernails and ruined my shoes. I yanked out what I could have kept and put in more of what I didn’t need. I pouted and wept, cursing the enormity of the task. I was resentful and unappreciative,” writes Miller. “But when I ventured afield, sidelined by things that seemed much more entertaining or important, I always came back to this patch of patient earth. Time after time I realized that everything I want or need — the living truth of life, love, beauty, purpose, and peace — is taught to me right here, no farther away than the ground beneath my feet.”</span></div>
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<span class="yiv4263810282Apple-style-span" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401492273805_3476" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Miller’s teachings speak directly to the anxious ills that far too often overwhelm. Her writing is pragmatic and personal, grounded in the simple truths of the natural world. Gently insistent, her voice conveys the intimacy of a face-to-face encounter, the living transmission of Zen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As you may know, I am all about both gardens, plants and nature as well as the everyday moments which are the pieces that make up our lives. I really do believe that once we start opening our eyes (and hearts, really) to everything that's around us, right where we are, that's when we begin to live wholeheartedly. (I'm also currently reading some </span><a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/daring-greatly-how-the-courage/9781592407330-item.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Brené Brown</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and 'wholeheartedness' is one of her things.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let me say that I don't know much about Zen practice, and you certainly don't need to in order to enjoy the book and glean some wonderful truths from it. Karen's writing is lovely and thought provoking and not a chore at all to read.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm still mulling over an excerpt from </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">pp.90-91</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"... I hear someone say she is trying to live in the now. We typically say this with our heads tucked in humility, as if confessing a secret aspiration for which we believe we lack the talent, opportunity, and training. <i>Someday I'm going to star on Broadway. Go to the moon. Live in the now</i>. But we are all living in the now. Now is the only time there is. Right now, you may think you're living in the past or future, but you are only <i>thinking</i> about another time. Nostalgia seems like a harmless pastime until it renders you blind. Worry seems like a reasonable activity until it renders you insane. When our thoughts dwell in neverland, we're bound to feel sad, angry, afraid, powerless, inadequate, or overwhelmed. If you feel that way, it's a good bet that you've gotten ahead or behind the times. Perhaps it would be kind, even wise, to suggest a different way.<br /><i>Someday</i> must be the great lie of our lifetimes. We tell it for forty or fifty years. After that, we trade its false promise for the dead sentiment of the <i>good old days</i>. Both are thieves that will steal time right out from under your nose, and you will grieve your passing life as if robbed."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, yes, YES!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So get thee to thine library, or order the book and check out her others while you're looking. (I haven't yet read <a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/home/search/?keywords=hand%20wash%20cold" target="_blank">Hand Wash Cold</a>, but I'm looking forward to it!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Disclaimer: I was given a complimentary copy of this book to review. All opinions are entirely my own.</span>Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-75603681309023056412014-05-25T08:03:00.004-03:002014-05-25T08:03:49.799-03:00one of the last posts from this house<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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May is my favourite month. It feels like the summer and its warm weather are stretching out indefinitely before us, many of my favourite flowers and trees are in bloom, and the daylight hours are so long. Flowering cherry trees are the highlight of the month for me - they're so delicate and ruffly, pretty and fleeting.<br />
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We're going to start packing up this house over the next month or so, and we'll be moving to our new old forever home. I can't wait, but I will miss lots of things about this house. (<a href="http://modernrealty.ca/properties/157/yarmouthnsrealestate" target="_blank">It's for sale, and we just lowered the price, if you're interested!</a>) This giant cherry tree is definitely one of the things I'll miss, along with the <a href="http://twentytwopleasant.blogspot.ca/2007/05/tulips.html" target="_blank">tulips</a>, quince, woodland hyacinths, and the <a href="http://instagram.com/p/llGsPclkhU/" target="_blank">big willow tree</a>. It's the house we brought our baby boys home to - it's always going to be a special place to me.Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-42094049540986229372014-04-21T20:13:00.000-03:002014-04-21T20:13:16.945-03:00sunshine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Now that the snowdrops have pretty much finished their show for this spring, the daffodils have appeared. These particular ones are from the property at our new old house, and I kind of enjoy the greenish tint, and the ruffliness. It's like sunshine in a Ball jar. Yes, please!Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-8629114074765854632014-04-18T20:02:00.002-03:002014-04-18T20:06:54.041-03:00flying by<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been a very full time for us lately, in lots of good ways, and the time has just been flying by. Making time for things other than the necessities has been challenging, with work, the new old house renovations, and so on. Even so, I've been trying to walk at least three times a week, and have a friend a few blocks over who I'll often walk with. I mix up the routes I take, but one of my favourites passes by this lovely golden grass. The fresh air never fails to make me feel more alive, and I'm always glad that I went.<br />
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I almost always listen to a podcast when I'm walking on my own, and my new favourite is the <a href="http://www.risingshining.typepad.com/girl_next_door_podcast/" target="_blank">Girl Next Door Podcast</a>. And they mention me in the latest episode! A warm, warm welcome if that's how you ended up here. Browse through the archives and enjoy your visit! I'm also on <a href="http://instagram.com/grahamsherrie" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, which is where I post most frequently. I'm glad you're here!<br />
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We have some company coming tomorrow for a few days, which will be fun, especially since the forecast includes lots of sun. I hope that your weekend is lovely, too, and that you make it out for a walk.Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-76872216776680708112014-04-06T21:39:00.002-03:002014-04-06T21:39:42.834-03:00this weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Things are up in the garden! Snowdrops are the highlight right now, and the crocuses are trying really hard to be awesome, despite the great deluges we've been having that have beaten them down. And there's another 50 mm of rain forecast for Tuesday. Oy. Everything is so completely sodden and overflowing, I don't know where more rain will possibly go.<br />
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Chives! Our first edible of the season is officially... edible!</div>
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I took the boys for a walk in the woods today, and we carefully explored a bit in a junk pile. I found several intact glass jars which I brought home; I love how nature makes use of the available terrarium!<br />
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And a plumber working at our new house found a pile of these cards in the floor. We found one a little while back, and were delighted that he found a bunch more the other day. They're from the Authors Improved card game by Milton Bradley, c 1890. I thought it was funny that we only found one at first, because there's a certain little boy in this house who loves to slide things through the floorboard cracks, and he certainly wouldn't stop at one. I think that a hundred years ago or so, there was likely another little one who did the same thing. I love all of the little things that are telling us the stories of the house!<br />
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If you're interested, I've been posting more <a href="http://instagram.com/p/mdODC9FkjR/" target="_blank">pictures of the renos in progress</a> on <a href="http://instagram.com/grahamsherrie" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. (Browse through a bit, and you'll find a bunch.)<br />
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Other miscellany from the weekend:<br />
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<a href="http://instagram.com/p/mdVKg-Fkic/" target="_blank">Skunk cabbage</a>! We saw the leaves last summer in the woods on the new property, and today I found this year's growth just emerging. It generates its own heat! What a f<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symplocarpus_foetidus" target="_blank">ascinating plant</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.yemoos.com/faqwaintro.html" target="_blank">Water kefir</a>. I have some growing after trying a friend's that was delicious. And I can't stop smelling it every time I walk by - it's a lovely lemony, lightly yeasty scent. In a very good way.<br />
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Pad Thai at <a href="http://www.chabaathairestaurant.ca/" target="_blank">ChaBaa Thai</a>. I had some last week, and it was sooooo good.<br />
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<a href="https://www.davidstea.com/portal.aspx?CN=A4710131FF85" target="_blank">This tea</a>. (I'm not a fan of their artificially flavoured teas. This one is lovely.)<br />
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I've been catching up on Doc Martin. Love that show!<br />
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I hope that your week starts off well and that you stumble upon some skunk cabbage, too. (I can't <i>wait </i>to smell those leaves!)<br />
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<br />Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-65797190724940999362014-03-25T13:58:00.000-03:002014-03-25T13:58:06.961-03:00march 25<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As you may know, we're in the process of renovating a little old farmhouse outside of town, and trying to <a href="http://modernrealty.ca/properties/157/yarmouthnsrealestate" target="_blank">sell our beautiful current home</a>. (I wish we could take it with us!) We were out at the new place for a bit on the weekend. Things inside the house are just finishing up the 'it gets worse before it gets better' stage, and I'm so excited to see it come together. Adam's been cleaning out the chicken barn, and that little nest with a chestnut in it caught my eye. I'm so excited for the weather to start warming up and to see what comes up out there - I found a few snowdrops, and there are some bulbs poking up that appear to be daffodils. There's definitely an old rambling rose and a lilac up by the house, and who knows what other treasures we might find?<br />
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In other news, we have a blizzard warning for tomorrow (March 26?! this is crazy) and it's shaping up to be the worst storm of the winter. Errr... I mean early spring. So maybe the windows won't arrive tomorrow as expected.<br />
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Also, I seem to have caught some kind of disgusting something. I stayed home from work today and slept all morning, which helped a lot.<br />
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We have a <a href="http://modernrealty.ca/properties/157/yarmouthnsrealestate" target="_blank">house showing</a> on Friday! As usual, my fingers are crossed.<br />
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I've been reading every beekeeping book I can get my hands on. Did I tell you that we ordered our bees? They'll be ready in June. I am soooooo excited.<br />
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Oh! And one thing that I am most excited about in the new house is that we can fit an end cupboard for cleaning supplies next to the fridge <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllW4PY2Qv0Wtatsrr4N7cYkSDEF-2Opon_w_B505fVE8unkQ5yRvn9siJQdii1rSLNQ9-BZfwY_KmJJlgMusmrL7P-rfe8mHetaon_-toCiC6Ssitw5KudmtWCXJY_17yNtPpXsGEIeI/s1600/244249979761198349_f0qqrZex_c.jpg" target="_blank">like this one</a>! Wheeeee!<br />
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And the other special thing about this day in particular, is that on this day four years ago, a certain someone joined our family. He has been the happiest, most mischievous kid, and we're so happy that he's here. He loves anything that can BANG! BOOM! CRASH! or be otherwise destructive. He peed in the garbage can the other day. He loves to tell jokes, cuddle and read books, and to snuggle with a soft blanket. A few minutes ago, he unrolled an entire roll of toilet paper. Give him a tool (a lawn mower, perhaps?) and he's happy for the rest of the day. He is funny, and loves to put on a show for anyone who will watch. He's smart (he was telling the doctor a few weeks ago about what white blood cells do) and kind. And he talks non-stop, with the cutest little voice. Thanks to <a href="http://www.adamgrahamphoto.com/" target="_blank">Adam</a> for the picture of our fantastic four-year-old!<br />
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May you weather the blizzard with ease, and enjoy these last few days of March!Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-84899163594493179532014-03-20T21:35:00.000-03:002014-03-20T21:35:13.721-03:00spring!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has finally arrived.<br />
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I actually set a reminder on my phone to alert me when spring arrived at 1:57 this afternoon. And I am so glad that it is here.Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-53301853924739714702014-03-14T22:28:00.001-03:002014-03-14T22:28:22.507-03:00quiet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I went for a walk this evening, and took a quiet detour in Yarmouth Mountain Cemetery. It was especially lovely as the sun was starting to set. I love walking in a cemetery every now and then. Gravestones are sometimes the only tangible remnant from these lives lived years ago, and serves as a handy reminder that we'll all meet the same end sooner or later. Somehow, I find that reassuring rather than depressing. That said, I've heard news of several people I know being diagnosed with various cancers over the past few months, and my heart just aches for them and their families.<br />
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I've been quiet here on the blog lately, and I suppose it reflects what's been going on in my little world. Regular life has been busy with the usual daily duties and keeping everyone fed and clothed, and we've also dealt with the non-sale of <a href="http://modernrealty.ca/properties/157/yarmouthnsrealestate" target="_blank">our house</a> (frustrating and disappointing - <a href="http://modernrealty.ca/properties/157/yarmouthnsrealestate" target="_blank">it's still for sale</a> if you want to move to the most beautiful coastline in the world) and continuing <a href="http://instagram.com/p/lARMqTlknd/" target="_blank">renovations</a> at <a href="http://twentytwopleasant.blogspot.ca/2013/07/house-news.html" target="_blank">our new old house</a> (exciting and overwhelming). I've been trying to come up with some plans for how this little online space will evolve, and haven't made any definite decisions, but I know that it will be changing. So much of what I love to photograph and write about is centred on home, and without definite house plans in place, and much uncertainty about just exactly how and when everything will all work out, along with all of the time these house things have been taking, I've just not felt like putting all of that business out there. There will be some stellar before and after pictures in a few months, though. I also think that this winter has been long enough. I love me some snow and an afternoon sledding with the boys, and we had lots of fun this season, but I am officially ready for spring. I think that some warm, sunny days will bring some much-needed energy and motivation my way. Here's hoping!Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-60299376833829731032014-02-27T20:31:00.003-04:002014-02-27T20:31:38.998-04:00geese<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A flock of geese kept flying over Thomas and I a few weeks ago when we were at the beach. I thought they looked so delicate and lovely in their ever-changing arrangements. Quite unlike when they're on land.Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-24394516896738242252014-02-24T16:18:00.001-04:002014-02-24T18:20:55.900-04:00golden moments illustrated magazine: instruction, amusement, entertainment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is definitely one of the highlights of the last week or so. There have been a few low points including sick boys, trips to the doctor, a brand new furnace that wasn't working, and the sale of <a href="http://modernrealty.ca/properties/157/yarmouthnsrealestate" target="_blank">our house</a> that fell through (*sob*) but that's all the time I'll spend on those. There was also lots of time spent with friends, the renovations have begun at our new old farmhouse (!) and this gem from 1886 was found in the ceiling. I feel like a time traveller. I am completely smitten with the care taken in each little detail. As much as things have changed in 128 years, so much is the same. Like current magazines, it's filled with stories, music recommendations to play in the parlour with company, an ad for Singer sewing machines, some tips for farmers, and even a get-rich-quick scheme. Of course there's fashion, and even two illustrations which could be hung on the wall, which I find quite beautifully representative of life and all that comes along with being human. It's very brittle (I'm astounded that it survived!) and I haven't yet taken pictures of every page. I wish I could know who the last person to read it was. How did it get up in the ceiling? Did someone have a subscription, or did they bring it here after traveling in Maine? What were the editors like? What did their office look like? And what about the printing process? There was no electricity! Cars had not been invented. 128 years old - that's quite an impressive feat. Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-16919823602512045642014-02-15T21:21:00.000-04:002014-02-15T21:21:12.252-04:00february beach<br />
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Doesn't that look like a gorgeous necklace? I can picture it on a mermaid perched on a rock at the edge of the sea. </div>
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T and I went to the beach this grey afternoon for a much needed dose of fresh air between storms. A fleeting stomach bug found P yesterday (he's already on the mend), so just T and I bundled up and left the house. The variety of size, colour and texture in seaweeds struck me today. Maybe because it's February and so much of the rest of the beach is shades of grey. Whatever the reason, all of the browns, reds, yellows, and greens jumped out at me today. </div>
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T was being an explorer, leading me on an expedition, and chattering the entire time. It was a lovely way to spend some time this winter afternoon, especially since the rain took away all of our snow. (We're supposed to have more tonight and tomorrow, though!)</div>
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<br />Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-42001513199344788232014-01-29T15:37:00.001-04:002014-01-29T15:37:34.697-04:00january 29 odds and ends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thomas loves the moon, and we got this awesome print from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/alittlelark?ga_search_query=little+lark&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=CA&ga_search_type=all&ref=sr_gallery_1" target="_blank">Little Lark</a> on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/?ref=si_home" target="_blank">Etsy</a> for him for Christmas. He loves it, as do I. They have all sorts of gorgeous things.<br />
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Last weekend, we went snowshoeing for the first time! This snowy winter business is right up my alley. Our winters are often kind of half-hearted and we don't have snow that stays for very long. But this year, we've had plenty. <a href="http://yarmouthrecreation.ca/" target="_blank">Yarmouth Recreation</a> loans out snowshoes free of charge, so we borrowed some last weekend and went for a walk in the woods. (742-8868 for you locals.) I was pleasantly surprised at how easy they were to put on, and at how light they are! And no problem at all to walk in. If the snow sticks around, we'll definitely borrow them again, and maybe buy some. <a href="http://instagram.com/p/jmkPLOFkhW/" target="_blank">Thomas' legs are still a bit short </a>and he had some trouble keeping them apart, but <a href="http://instagram.com/p/jmkgSKFkhx/" target="_blank">Phillip</a> flew right along on the trail and had a great time.<br />
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We've had a couple of house showings this week, and a pretty amazing midwinter potluck (over 50 people in the house!) on Sunday. I'm trying not to get my hopes up about the showings, but apparently some potential buyers really like it. My fingers are crossed. But if that doesn't work out, <a href="http://modernrealty.ca/properties/157/yarmouthnsrealestate" target="_blank">you can always buy it</a>!<br />
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I found what is perhaps my favourite thrifted find, ever, at Frenchy's yesterday. I <a href="http://instagram.com/p/juiYu4Fklj/" target="_blank">posted it on Instagram</a>, and my plants just might be overwatered because I love it so much.<br />
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I'm going to make some <a href="http://orangette.blogspot.ca/2013/01/a-small-revolution.html" target="_blank">oatcakes</a> today.<br />
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And that is all for now. Happy Wednesday!<br />
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<br />Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-2364233614925704052014-01-18T09:27:00.000-04:002014-01-18T09:27:27.751-04:00on the windowsill & exciting news<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week's tips on surviving winter weren't that necessary here over the past week - it has been positively warm and spring-like. And wet, wet, wet.<br />
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We're working on some very exciting plans involving <a href="http://www.nsbeekeepers.ca/" target="_blank">my favourite pollinators</a>! Do any of you lovely readers keep bees? Have any super-newbie advice? There's a newly formed local beekeeping group having an initial meeting today, and I am soooooo excited. We have a vague plan which I'm hoping to firm up pretty quickly, and I think I've requested every book on beekeeping available from our library. I feel like it's such a great responsibility, and I want to do it right.<br />
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Oh, my. I just re-read that paragraph, and I can't believe it's really true.<br />
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With a start to the weekend that looked <a href="http://instagram.com/p/jTxwEAFku8/" target="_blank">like this</a>, I think it's going to be a very good weekend indeed.Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-45804432838479763732014-01-09T16:51:00.001-04:002014-01-12T15:49:05.425-04:00how to love winter (or at least help to make it tolerable)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I heard someone on the radio this afternoon talking about winter and how "we all hate winter!" Well, I disagree. I admit that it's a hassle to get everyone into their coats, boots, hats, mittens, and snowpants, and that slush is just really messy, and if you're not properly dressed or prepared, it can be unpleasant and miserable. <i>But</i> there are lots of things to love about winter, and I do a few little things to make it more enjoyable in our house that I thought might be helpful to share.<br />
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The best is if it's a pleasant winter day and we can dress really well and go shovelling, sledding, for a walk in the woods, outside in the yard, or just for a picture-taking stroll. The cold air is <i>so</i> refreshing, and it feels so good to come back inside. It keeps the boys' energy levels in check, and if there's snow, they're occupied for hours. (Thinking of the fresh air, you should hang your scarves out on the clothesline for the day. They will smell amazing.)<br />
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To address the darkness, we light candles. Always beeswax, some of which I've made, and some which a friend made for us. We light them for candlelight while we eat supper, and I usually have one burning on the stovetop for the evening.<br />
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Everyone (myself included) finds it easiest to hunker down inside during the winter, which might mean seeing less of friends and people you genuinely like. So a few years ago, we instituted a midwinter potluck which we host at the end of January. Everyone seems to enjoy having something to look forward to at this time of year, and it's a great way to see everyone, and try some new foods, if you're lucky. It's really one of my favourite days of the year!</div>
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Baking serves to warm the house, make it smell amazing, and provides delicious snacks. (And I find it <i>soooo</i> relaxing.) My Dad loves his white bread - this was a batch I made for him before Christmas.</div>
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We have a wood stove, and having a fire burning is just so darn cozy. And it warms the house with the most pleasant heat. (If you don't have a wood stove, see the candle suggestion.) That antique trunk is our woodbox. I found it at a yard sale for $5 several years ago, lucky me! Adam usually keeps the fire up and running, since I'm at work during the day, and he keeps the wood box full. Which I appreciate very much.<br />
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A couple other little things that I find helpful during these cold months: taking fish oil capsules helps my finicky skin immensely during the winter. I also find I need to exfoliate regularly - you can make a <a href="http://www.brit.co/homemade-face-scrub/" target="_blank">lovely scrub easily and inexpensively</a>. I love using my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lusa-Organics-Lavender-Lotion-Bar/dp/B004GSMMC6" target="_blank">LuSa Organics lavender lotion bar</a> at night (no one paid me to write that - I just love it!). It's a lovely scent to fall asleep to.<br />
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I hope that one of these tips will make your winter a little bit more pleasant!<br />
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Edited to add: I can't believe that I forgot the thing that I do every winter to make the last several weeks cheery and to remind me that spring will come again! I always force <a href="http://twentytwopleasant.blogspot.ca/2012/03/march-2.html" target="_blank">bulbs</a> and <a href="http://twentytwopleasant.blogspot.ca/2009/03/forcing-branches.html" target="_blank">branches</a>. <a href="http://twentytwopleasant.blogspot.ca/2008/03/forced-quince-and-star-anise-bath-bars.html" target="_blank">Quince</a> are my favourite! It couldn't be any easier - just stick branches in water. Really! Go forth and enjoy!Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-42300455268397105342014-01-07T19:44:00.000-04:002014-01-07T19:44:04.052-04:00a post for my niece<br />
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This adorable little girl is named Freyja, and she's my niece. Apparently, she's also one of my blog's biggest fans. (She memorizes excerpts. Now that's dedication!) I promised her that I would post some pictures, so here's my fulfilled promise. She came to visit us in December, and had lots of fun playing with Phillip and Thomas.<br />
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We loved having you visit, Freyja! I remember that we had lots of snow to play in, and had a fun time running around by the ponds at G<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">rand-mère and Bompie's house, even though it was very cold. Can you see Thomas hiding? And what did you think of the snow on your mitten? Was it tasty?</span></span><br />
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Uncle Adam, Phillip, and Thomas made a snow tunnel in our back yard! I think that was before you arrived. Do you think we can make a snow tunnel when we see you in the summer? I don't know... maybe swimming would be a better idea!<br />
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Do you remember our walk in the woods on Boxing Day? We saw all kinds of different tracks in the snow. And Phillip and Thomas were hanging upside down on the picnic table at the camp! They're so silly.<br />
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Here you are, walking with Mommy on the path!<br />
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It was so nice to see you, and I know the boys had fun, too. Maybe we'll talk soon on Skype! Love you lots!<br />
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Love,<br />
Auntie SherrieSherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-2795628925724642842014-01-05T20:08:00.003-04:002014-01-05T20:08:50.930-04:00a new year replete with houseplants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year, friends! We had a lovely holiday with lots of visiting with family and friends, and we're back to the regular routine tomorrow. As much as I love the chaos and clutter of the holidays, I adore the cleanup and settling into a new year that comes afterward. <i>A lot</i>. I've been cleaning and organizing and purging (even moreso than usual, so thanks for putting up with it, <a href="http://www.adamgrahamphoto.com/" target="_blank">Adam</a>) and the vacuum is tired out.<br />
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The sun made a very welcome appearance this morning, so I started taking a few pictures around the house. And I noticed that I seem to have accumulated several plants over the years, all of which I love and have somehow managed to survive. Since this is the sort of thing I would love to read about on someone else's blog, here we go - a history of the plants in my house. I <i>love</i> having plants around. They give a sense of life to a home, and I enjoy having something to nurture. They also filter the air, which is just kind of awesome. I've certainly managed to kill my fair share, but these are my standbys.<br />
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Above are some paperwhite bulbs I'm forcing in a south window. I do this every year after Christmas, for a few reasons. First, it's when they're on clearance, and second, it's just so nice to have something to look forward to to get through the depths of winter. And what better than flowers? A quick disclaimer: the flowers kind of smell like cat pee. But they're <a href="http://twentytwopleasant.blogspot.ca/2013/01/january-26.html" target="_blank"><i>so</i> pretty</a>. I'm also forcing a red lion amaryllis this year. In the past, I seem to have had mixed luck. <a href="http://twentytwopleasant.blogspot.ca/2008/02/more-amaryllis-i-just-can-help-myself.html" target="_blank">One nutty year, I had a bazillion double blooms on several plants</a>; others, I've had only duds. This one has two stems already started, it's firm and heavy, so I'm hopeful. (Always check the bulb inside the box before you buy it; sometimes they're dried up, moldy, or showing no signs of growth.) It's also great for teaching kids about plants, growth, measurement, and responsibility. Now is the perfect time to pick them up if you see them at the grocery store! Hyacinth bulbs are often available, too, but I've had more failures than successes with those. If you choose one that's already started, you'll have a better chance.<br />
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This is a plant I don't know the name of, but it has a great story. (It seems like some kind of jade, but the leaves aren't thick like that.) My maternal grandmother always had plants in her house, and she had one of these by her living room window. After she died, well over ten years ago, I took a leaf and plunked it in water, hoping that it might root. It took ages, but somehow it finally did, and this is the result. I can't seem to kill it no matter how much I neglect it, so I highly recommend it. It does well in low light and brighter light, too, and likes a regular good watering.<br />
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I'm still trying to figure out the care for this one - it's an asparagus fern which I picked up at a garden centre last summer. I repotted it not long ago, and all of a sudden it started exploding with all those crazy long fronds! It looks a little scraggly with the clump in the middle, and it seems to have some aphid companions I'm trying to control, but I love how I imagine it looking someday. It also likes a good regular watering.<br />
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This beautiful lipstick plant was a gift (thanks, Debbie!) and I have it on a shelf in the porch where it gets south and west light. I can't seem to keep the darn thing happy for long - right now it's content and the leaves are glossy, but I can't seem to get it to bloom. Which is fine, because I love the foliage on its own, but also means that I can't give you any help on how to treat them.<br />
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In Thomas' room, there's a little ivy. Can't kill it - it's great. Next to an awesome owl I found at Value Village, which hasn't yet been hung.<br />
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In the kitchen, I have one of three Christmas cactuses (I kind of ignore them a lot, and they seem happy about it) and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoya" target="_blank">hoya plant</a>, also given to me by Debbie. (Thank you! It's doing great!) When I was a kid, my mom's best friend had a massive hoya plant on her piano. The blooms are beautiful star shaped clusters, with a tiny dot of nectar at the base of each, and they smell incredible. She died when I was 15, and I think of her every time I see one.<br />
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I have an aloe vera plant in the pantry, which we use for cuts, scrapes, and the like. I like these little ones, since it's tidier to take a little bit when needed. Just pinch off a tip, squeeze out the gel, and apply it where needed. It's soothing and healing, and I wouldn't be without one.<br />
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There you have it. Who knew I had so many in the house? If you have any of the same plants and can give me tips or correct names, I'm happy to hear them!<br />
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I hope your new year is off to a good start.Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290052487699651767.post-1960689413407716422013-12-18T08:30:00.000-04:002013-12-18T20:01:01.408-04:00snow day #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's a snow day today. If once certain child doesn't change his behaviour soon, this might be in his stocking next week. (Any tips for keeping one brother from smothering another?) In related news, I came across <a href="http://www.steadymom.com/2013/12/hard.html" target="_blank">this post</a> yesterday and really appreciated it. <a href="http://www.steadymom.com/2013/12/hard.html" target="_blank">It's supposed to be hard</a>.<br />
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I made some bread for my Dad on the weekend, and it was delicious. I may have started to doze off shortly after I took this picture, though, and the bread may have exploded over the sides of the pans in the oven. Just maybe. Regardless, it was delicious. I do love the light when there's snow - it's my favourite for taking pictures.<br />
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Yesterday when I arrived home from work, there was this lovely fluffy, light snow falling gently. It was perfect.<br />
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So on today's snow day plan, there's a bit of rescheduling due to the weather that I have to work out. I'm making my first<a href="http://www.simplebites.net/how-to-makeclassic-tourtiere-qubec-pork-pie/" target="_blank"> tourtière</a>, which we'll have on Christmas Eve, as I type. If you've never had it, it's a spiced meat pie traditionally served on Christmas Eve in many parts of French-speaking Canada, and it is delicious. Cinnamon and cloves, ground pork (and beef, in some recipes) all in a pie crust. I've eaten it before, but never made my own, and the house smells lovely. There's an excellent recipe and tutorial, including make-ahead instructions <a href="http://www.simplebites.net/how-to-makeclassic-tourtiere-qubec-pork-pie/" target="_blank">over here at Simple Bites</a>.<br />
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I hope that you enjoy a lovely wintry Wednesday!Sherriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18101301185473329250noreply@blogger.com2