cold snaps

Christmas fern, Polystichum acrostichoides

Snaps taken this morning, after chores.

Strawberries, flowering a week ago in our "second Spring"

I had to be quick, because the sun was almost up and the frost would soon disappear.

Amsonia

I put a de-icer in the wildlife basin a couple of days ago.

It's an experiment, as for the first time, the basin is thick glass.

I've put the underwater heating element between stones, not near the glass. 

Fingers crossed.

~~~~~

looking back at november

November was a lovely month, and quickly gone.

There was a lot of rain, but also many clear, bright days.

I loved the clear mornings, often very cold, usually with frost or a dusting of snow.

More than once when I began morning chores I didn't even get as far as the barn before turning around and going right back to the house for a camera. 

Because when rays of the rising sun make it through openings in the trees,

the frost disappears in a matter of moments.

So much color everywhere.

This was new: multicolored leaves of the blueberry bought from a nursery in October:

Not all the November colors are bright, but just look at this:

in early light, the Chelona leaves glow like polished bronze.

November was a time for seeing the "first" of some things...

...and seeing the "last" of other things.

And we had to put a little more effort into being comfortable.

Piper will not allow a blanket on her couch -

I put one on every day, and every night she digs at it until it falls off.

So I experimentally made her a nightgown by cutting the sleeves off my lambswool zip-neck sweater.

She holds very still while I put it on her,

so I think she must enjoy the extra coziness.

She wears it when we go for walks on very cold days, also,

and looks Very Smart.

Moxie and Della divide their time between outdoors and inside,

and both enjoy sleeping in wooly beds by the woodstove,

which has been going non-stop all month.

But when I need to flatten out my back for a while, any time, night or day,

one or both cats will keep me company, which I appreciate very much.

Cats have taught me everything I know about how to be "in the moment."

 Last night I did the Daily Markmaking by painting this fern:

Painted with my left hand, because Moxie was sleeping on my right hand.

It was fun dabbing away with my non-dominant hand. I'll certainly do it again.

And now it's time to do tonight's markmaking before I fall asleep,

which will be very soon.

Goodnight, readers.

Here comes December.

Keep your fires fed.

~~~~~

wordless wednesday

~~~~~

morning path

~~~~~

frost

Saturday was downright balmy.

For much of the day, I worked in shirtsleeves.

Shirtsleeves!

Saturday night the temperature plummeted again.

Sunday morning was nose-bitingly cold,

but sunny and still.

Very pleasant. Very beautiful.

I took these pictures en route to the barn.

As the rising sun reached each plant, the frost melted.

Plants two feet apart looked completely different.

I had to work fast.

This meant chores were postponed for ten minutes.

Background music for these images was provided by

a cacophony of outraged goatsong,

courtesy of the Cloud Harvest gang.

I will not be uploading the audio.

You're welcome. 

The shrill voices of Tansy and Fern rose above the entire herd.

Ceaselessly.

Shriekingly.

You would not believe how indignant two tiny goats can be.

As if those two fuzzy little pudgeballs are lacking for grub!

I think they didn't want to set a precedent.

"Photography before breakfast?

Not on our watch!"

 

And now November ends as a new week begins.

And it's time to head for the barn.

I hope you have a wonder-full Monday.

~~~~~