Day of 'Git R Done'

Last week I was very disappointed in self, that I had not accomplished my winter chores. Surely, with the weather as miserable as it has been, I have had ample opportunity to be productive. So I printed weekly planners from my computer, and began to lay out my agenda. Part of my dilemma is that I am selective about performing the appropriate chores, dependent on the appropriate weather. I mapped out the forecast for the week (cold, chance of rain, sleet, snow), and began to pencil in the chores and dinner menus. One of my many goals is to work through our freezer to provide more room for extra garden produce. This only makes sense, as I had already worked through my menu of winter recipe favorites (need to cook all day, require greater than usual preparation, or utilize the oven). End result, success. My chores are getting crossed off the list, and my freezer is providing delicious meals and gaining space.

So yesterday I prepared breakfast, reviewed my email, then headed out to the hens with a window of opportunity of frozen ground to shovel the soiled shavings from the hen house and replace them with fresh. With all the rain, the ground surrounding the hens is incredibly swampy. Somehow, we managed to site the structure on high ground. Amazing stroke of luck. Then I containerized their food for the week, not entirely pleasant working in the garden shed with temps hovering around freezing.

Back inside the house, I cleaned all the bathrooms, almost calling it a day, but decided to get a headstart on one of those last winter chores. That would be scrubbing the cabinets, and surprise, before I knew it, I was done. After a quick lunch (beef and homemade noodles) from the freezer, I tucked a garbage bag in my pocket, walked over to Susan Case's to deliver eggs, get my walking in, and picked up trash along the highway on the way home. I finished up checking Mike and Marsha's, the snowdrops out back (in a state of limbo), then treated myself to an afternoon of painting in the basement. What a great feeling, to have only one winter chore left (taking the office apart to clean the desk and shutters). And how gratifying to spend the rest of the afternoon painting. I listen to NPR radio or beautiful music while I enjoy my artiwork. Annie, you suggested that I take a photo of my 'studio', so here it is:

Flirtations with Spring

Here in Ohio we have some pretty cold and snowy weather, but that is usually interrupted by some delightful days of cold and sun, or even warmth and sun. Not so this year, which has delivered two months of unrelenting cold and grey. The cross country skiing made it more tolerable, but even then, winter was becoming tortuous, and my mental outlook began to deteriorate.

Over the weekend we were treated to sunshine and an afternoon high of 57 degrees. Bruce suggested that we walk to the back and look for snowdrops, our first harbinger of the new season. We were not in luck, however, as the brave green shoots had not yet broken through the snow. Oh, well, perhaps another day.

This morning I decided to take advantage of the frozen ground, and spent about an hour cutting back our asparagus stalks. I fed two bunches of them to the hens, who made quick work of them. I'll feed the rest to them throughout the week. It was so much easier to work on the frozen ground, as opposed to the squishy mudville which is soon to come.

After lunch I decided to revisit the back property, in search of snowdrops. The ground in the back was still fairly snow-covered, shaded by the branches of the trees. I could still find remnants of our frozen xc ski tracks, from where we had compacted the snow. I then checked out the stream on the property behind our house, which has been running all winter long. The birds were very vocal, woodpeckers and Carolina wrens. I even saw a pair of bluebirds on Sunday, checking out our bluebird box by the sunporch. Come walk with me . . .

Disappearing Cross Country Ski Trail

Quiet Stream

Hurrah! The first snowdrops!

Sorry You Couldn't Make It, Susie

My niece has moved to a new address within their school system. Before she lived near the outskirts of her village, and last week moved to a lovely 1930's Tudor home in the heart of the village. We sisters are so happy for her. This is the house we dreamed of as children. I always wanted to live in one of the Tudors on Central Avenue or behind Aunt Clarie's home. We played in these homes growing up, and loved the architecture and bones of these very unique houses.

Clarie's home is on a quiet street, has roomy bedrooms that I did not photograph (Davey was painting), roomy closets, large bathrooms, and plenty of storage space. The fourth bedroom suite is on the third floor, designed as the maid's quarters, similar to Clarie's sister, Val's home in Toledo. The family plans on settling in to their new home, keep up with the maintenance, and evaluating interior decorators' ideas and projects with time. The house is very livable as is, so there is no hurry to rush the renovations. I spent some time in the kitchen with my sister Annie, and felt very comfortable and at ease prepping food in the existing set up. Of course, Annie was a great sous chef!

I took a few photos of the downstairs for Susie, who was watching Lola, Clarie and Mallory, while Alison had the family car repaired. Hope you too enjoy our wintry day and family time with Annie and Davey, Clarie, Steve, and Katie (Annie II had a volleyball game after school).

Front Door with beveled glass. Love the radiators.

Staircase next to front door. Exquisite woodwork. Dad would have loved it.

Sunken living room next to front door. I should have tried to photograph the detailing on the metal doors
on the window seats. For wood storage? They had lovely birds on them. How original!

Lovely sunroom on the east side of the house. You can see the lights of Blue Ash
at night from this room. Clarie's house is near the top of the ridge and has a nice elevation.

Annie in the very workable, cook-friendly kitchen.

Steve came home for lunch. To his right is a lovely archway into the kitchen.
Dang. I didn't capture that in my photographs.

Roomy dining room right past the breakfast room.
Davey scooted out of this picture too soon.

Downstairs bathroom. The upstairs baths are very similar: roomy with great details.

Now, I need to get back to Val's soon and give her some of my time. Val, start making a list. This weather has made taking care of hens, well, not challenging, but not something that you want to ask your neighbors to do: trek across the ice twice a day to water, feed and gather eggs. We've had to trouble shoot a few problems (doors sticking, iced handles) that I shouldn't leave for our dear neighbors. And I need to get down South and visit with my own girls, whom I've missed over this long winter.

Through Our Camp Colegate Windows

One of the fun challenges of building a house and then developing the landscape is developing one's mantra for choices. We purchased the property in 1996, and I began to formulate our ideas in 1997 for construction the summer of 1998. Cost containment was paramount, as was one-floor living and communication with the outdoors.  There was some debate over siting the house in the middle of the property, or toward the back (bye-bye bonfire area) where the house would be more sheltered from the elements. We favored the central location, in order to visually and physically extend our property. The central location provided us both a front and back destination, as opposed to offering a walk to only the front of the property.

The outdoor rooms have been equally important, as we wanted to be able to step outside in all types of weather to experience the sunrise, the moon and stars, the arrival of a storm, and any unexpected surprise from nature. We have woken up each other in the middle of the night to bundle up and lie in the chaise lounges on the back patio in order to watch spectacular meteor showers. I have practised my Tai Chi on the front porch with the first light of dawn. I have wrapped young grands up in my Indian blanket and hugged them tightly as we watched the sun rise. We were also dazzled witha spectacular lightening storm preceeding a devastating tornado. Denny, our best friend and builder, had woken us from our slumber to seek the safety of the basement, to which we then rushed.

From the blueprints and raising of the framework came my mantra, that the purpose of each room was to draw one's eyes to the outside. Well, that doesn't sound like a mantra to me, but some take off on that thought drove the design and construction of this house. Nature was to be the star and the main theme of this house. It was important that one's vision be directed outside, and not be detracted nor delayed by the interior or its contents. At the same time, Bruce and I also were drawn to outdoor sculpture, which nature and landscaping have provided for us.

So, join me one snowy morning as I walk around the house, snapping photos through our Camp Colegate windows or stepping out on our porches. You won't get chilled!



Dawn at Camp Colegate



View of the garden and pond from the front porch





Out the guest room window




Sun porch views




Sun porch vistas




Zooming in on our suet feeder and cardinal




Snow-covered spruces




Contorted locust trees through living room shutters



Goodnight, Moon  (and odd reflections)!



Just When I Was Bored Out of My Mind

I have consciously embraced winter in order to enjoy these cold, sometimes dreary months, as my retired friends had advised me how long and vexing the winter months can be. I must admit that I did fail this past week, despite lovely snow on the ground. I simply crumped. I had challenged my mind by cooking unique and new meals to add to my repertoire and choosing knitting/crochet patterns that had new stitches or concepts, but to no avail. I felt bored, depressed, and in a funk.

Today I was preparing for a trip to Columbus for a dental procedure, hurray! somewhere to go, something to do, when the dental office called to cancel. I knew I couldn't survive another day of mindless television (although I was listening when Regis announced his retirement), so I made a quick list of things I needed to do, and tackled organizing my garden charts and seeds, and ordering the necessary seeds from my favorite catalogues. As I sat here at my computer, I noticed movement in the front meadow.

I didn't dare open the door to step out on the porch, so I shot between the slats of the plantation shutters at my desk and the panes of glass at the front door. My visitor hung around for a good 40 minutes.

Come Join Me on the Ski Trail

For those of you in sunny Florida, or who don't have xc ski gear to make the trek out here, I took photos along the trail to give you the visual experience of a daily run with me. If only you could hear the sweet birds (yes, robins do survive here over winter) or see a fox cross your trail. Anyway, enjoy the photos and imagine your skis gliding over the packed snow:   swish . . . swish . . . swish . . . and, believe it or not, perspiration trickling down your back. Yes, you won't get cold, you'll get overheated!

Hope you enjoyed your winter outing!

Post Holiday Activities

Holidays are hectic, but I am always grateful for the opportunity to see family and friends. My sister, Annie, was in Ohio for nearly two weeks, visiting her daughters. We were able to get the sisters together here at Camp Colegate for brunch. Annie's daughter, Clarie, joined us, too. We had a Camp Colegate brunch, roasted butternut squash (homegrown) soup, steamed broccoli (thank you, Krogers), and sour cherry (homegrown, love that freezer) sauce on French yogurt lemon cakes shaped like birds nest (Williams Sonoma - sp?) with whipped cream. Although the snow was melting outside, we were still able to gaze out the windows at a snowy winterscape. Camp Colegate worked its wonderful relaxing, peaceful magic. Perfect for after the holidays.

Sara, Susie, Annie

Annie, Clarie



I've made a mad rush on the crochet projects, finishing hats for the boys down South, a scarf to go with AKs hat and sweater for her, and now I'm taking a slight break. I'm working on some new projects, probably for me, which will stretch my ability to interpret and utilize new patterns. My friend, Peggy, tooke me to two yarn shops in Cincinnati which were so inspirational. I was dazzled by all the different yarns and garments that were on display. Ann has graciously mailed Mother's old knitting/crochet supplies to me, which I can't wait to receive. I often think of her, as I pass the long hours of winter creating something.

   

We had a great snowfall in December, followed by freezing temperatures and periodic snow. I was able to cross country ski for days on end. We have frozen ground now which offers the opportunity to walk around without sinking into the mud. We have really wet ground here. The hens did not care for the snow at all, but don't seem to mind the cold. It's fun, watching them respond to changes in their routine. The native birds have been working on the pyracantha berries, and enjoy the suet ithat Bruce replaces in the birch tree.