Our little room nears completion, and I drool at the thought of evenings spent at my sewing machine, or daylight hours spent at my easel.  I am so happy to have a corner to call my own!

It has been again, many weeks since I last posted.  I have been busy with work.  I have also started a portrait painting course.  I had a visit with my DIL and granddaughters, and another with my daughter, her husband and my littlest grandson.  Time moves so quickly that at times it is frightening.

Fall is my very favourite time of the year.  Our leaves are changing colour and dropping in great number.  I think that Eliot says it best...

"Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."  ~George Eliot


I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving.  It is a celebration where there are no gifts...other than the gift of good food, friendship and family.  I sometimes wish that Christmas was celebrated in the same manner.  Perhaps one day it shall be.

This picture was taken in the fall of last year.  The leaves are just turning as you can tell by the reflection in the water.  How I love it here!

I must go.  Evening calls.  My house needs to be put to sleep...windows shut and bed turned down. 

Goodnight!  Sweet dreams!

Progress!

Work continues on our little homestead...  A new roof including a four season room is almost complete.  I can imagine many days spent at my sewing machine, surrounded by light and nature, this fall and winter!  I am so content! 

We removed the window in our living room, opening it to light and breeze.  What a wonderful difference it makes!  Our roof is now leak-proof...and pretty!

Have we finished down-sizing?  Not yet...however...we have made progress.  We know that what has accumulated over a lifetime, takes time to sort and dispose of.   Soon! 

What I love about living small is that everything that we need is visible, or it does not exist.  This is our goal.  Soon!

I can! You can!!

Today I spent the day in my kitchen.  Because of its size (small!) I encountered one or two challenges- lessons learned for next time around...but all in all, it was a fun and productive day!  I have 12 jars of peaches and 8 jars of Concord Grape jelly to show for my labours.

Some might question why I bother...  After all, I could buy that product (that took me most of the day to produce) at the local grocery store.  I have bought at the grocery store, but I have difficulty accepting that produce that is grown in Canada is being packaged in China.    How nourishing can that product be after its long trip to and from that country?  I love the satisfaction that I get when I prepare my own food.  I love knowing what is in the food that I have prepared.  I love having the taste of summer in my home, in the dead of winter.  I love that I am reusing my jars and that I am not sending recycling to the curb.  I love how pretty the jars look on my shelf...  Wouldn't you agree?

Time Passes Quickly!

Hard to believe that three weeks have passed since I last posted!  We have been so busy around here!  On the 21st of August, we celebrated this young fellow's birthday.  (I am NOT allowed to say which birthday it was... but we are looking forward to the next big milestone which will be his 100th birthday!  Sixty friends and family members attended the celebration, and a Piper graced us all with the wail of the bagpipes.  How fitting that was, as dad began his life journey in Scotland...in 1921!

We have had some renovations done on our little home.  A leak which was supposed to have been repaired as a condition of sale wasn't...and we were concerned about further damage.  First we repaired piers under the cottage...many of which had toppled over or collapsed.  Once that was done, we had our roof line adjusted, as the pitch had caused the water to pool on the old roof.  A brand new royal blue metal roof has been installed, and the screen room we once had has become a four season room where I can paint, and sew, and where we will have a spare bed for company.  It amazes me what escapes the eye of the building inspector, but what amazes me more is how people can be dishonest in not disclosing deficiencies in a property.  Oh well...  Now we have a home that is truly ours, and one which will be stronger and safer.

This week we traveled to our daughter's home which is east of Sudbury.  She and her husband have done a lot of work on their home which was only purchased in the early spring.  A huge piece of land has been cleared for a garden, blueberry bushes and raspberry canes have been transplanted, and bunnies and chickens have been added to the menagerie.  This young couple is well on their way to a self-sufficient lifestyle.  In January their family will be growing, and one more little farmer will join their household!

My garden did poorly this year in spite of my best efforts to keep it watered.  The weeds took over and I was only able to harvest a few tomatoes, green peppers and strawberries.  This was not unexpected as the garden was in poor shape, and roto-tilling only spread the weeds.  Next year we will have a few raised garden beds, and the soil will be healthier.  I am hoping that the wild blueberry bushes that we transplanted from my daughter's property will survive and thrive.

Hopefully, I will be able to post more often now that our summer is nearing an end.  I have read your blogs, and have enjoyed your posts.  Thank you for inspiring me in all that you do!