This and That

Since moving in to our little cabin, our septic tank has had to be emptied four times.   We now know our septic man on a first name basis.  We only have to use our street name, and "Larry" knows why we are calling.  Heck...even his wife knows us by first name!

We have heard from neighbours, and from the septic folk,  that the previous owners knew that their weeping bed was going to cause trouble.  It matters not, in the long run.  We still love our little home.  If anything, I just feel disappointed that we were not informed.  I tend to take people at face value, and am very trusting.  I deal with others with integrity and expect to have the same in return.  I don't feel that that is too much to ask.  Regardless...  The weeping bed will be repaired, and as a result, other projects will have to be put on hold this year.  BUT...  I have my pellet stove...and I have a garden.  I am surrounded by beautiful fields, flowers, wildlife and stars.  What more could one ask for??  Well... how about a journey of small proportions?

On Monday we are heading down to Concord, Mass.  On the agenda is a visit to the birthplace of Henry David Thoreau, and, of course, Walden pond.  Thoreau was a poet, historian, philosopher and naturalist who lived for two years on Walden's pond.  You can learn more about him here.

A few quotes, by Thoreau...



A broad margin of leisure is as beautiful in a man's life as in a book. Haste makes waste, no less in life than in housekeeping. Keep the time, observe the hours of the universe, not of the cars.

A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone.

Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.

I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. 


How fortunate are we to be making a trip of this sort!

So... I will have much to tell you when I return.  Until then, have a safe and happy first week of summer!    

Life is Getting Smaller!

(Which is, after all, what we asked for!)

It is slowly sinking in that we have only one piece of property to care for...one mortgage to meet.  I am finding that I don't have that "oh I should be packing" or "oh, I should be over there" kind of feeling anymore.  Sure...we have a garage full of boxes to sort, but we can now do it on our own time.  My activities are now governed by the weather.  When the weather is inclement, I knit or sew.  When the sun is shining, I busy myself in my garden. 

In spite of being insanely busy this year, I managed to plant peppers, ornamental corn, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, kale, desert pumpkins, and watermelon.  everything has come up, but the rest is in the hands of Mother nature.  The weeds took advantage of my absence. and are testing my patience, however, my garden is my summer hobby.

I am harvesting the last of the Rhubarb.  I have made Chive Vinegar.

Life is good!

 

Tuesday Morning on the 'Stead

I am sure that you have heard the expression “up with the birds?” Well... Tuesday morning is the only morning that I do not waken to the sound of an alarm. I waken to the sound of crows defending THEIR territory, which just so happens to be MY garbage. I am pretty fast on my feet when faced with the prospect of cleaning up their gorge! Speaking of birds (of the nicer sort,) this fellow has been hanging around in our front yard. He does not seem to have a mate but seems very content. (Do you think that may be why?)