GREETINGS
I am back from Ireland and have a working kitchen now. My next blog I will share the trip to Ireland with you. Hope to catch up in this blog. December into January has been super cold The temps last night went down to over 20 below zero and with wind chill it was way below that. This morning the temps are eking up but at 11 am its still not above 10 below. For the first time in 19 years my kitchen is warm and no broken pipes!!!!!!! (knock on wood)
NOVEMBER
I hardly remember November it went by in a whirlwind. Getting ready for the crafts of Colrain and the trip to Ireland and 2 shows the weekend before I left. But all these things were getting me ready for the best trip. Peaceful, fun and adventurous
THE KITCHEN
The front part of the kitchen is done and it looks great. It is wonderful to have a kitchen that works and has places for everything. I wonder how I worked in the old one for so many years. I have all new appliances and a huge sink or zink as my Mom Mom Morrison use to call them. Everyone helped and cheered me on when I was washing dishes in the bath tub. Even though it was a difficult few months it certainly showed me how important family and friends are in one’s life. I am so grateful.
The back part of the kitchen where the wood stove was will have to wait till warmer weather as the floor has to come up and a new base for the wood stove has to be built I sure do miss the wood stove on these cold days but it needs to be done The floor has sunk down about 5 inches. I am planning on replacing my Vermont casting stove with a smaller more efficient Jotul wood stove. I Don’t need that big of a stove anymore with the new insulated walls.
BOOKS I AM READING
I bought some books in Ireland and my favorite magazine The Lighthouse Keeper a memoir by Gerald Butler I had read a review on in a newspaper and decided it would be a book I would search for Every book store was out I was beginning to think that I wouldn’t find it but on a trip to Baltimore in the tiniest of stores there it was I started reading it that night It is about the life of one of the last lightkeepers in Ireland. His great-grandfather was a light keeper and so was both of his parents Most of his lightkeeping days were on the west coast of Ireland where we were staying Many exciting tales of his rescues and of his time at Fastnet Lighthouse with waves coming over the top of the light house A great read
The sea and lighthouses always have fascinated me. I always though I would live near them.
COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE UK
As many of my followers know I have been getting this magazine for years I finally found it at the end of my trip thanks to Cindy and Chris With stories about topiary, making casks, and so much more. I find it a back to the rural life plus views of the city magazine If you have never read this magazine its worth buying or borrowing a copy .
BACKYARD CHICKENS by Dave Ingham
I found this wonderful book at Avoca Weavers on Molls Gap in Ireland. I do have lots of books on Chickens but love to add to my collection Every person raises chickens differently and new ideas and how to handle illnesses are something I always look for in a new book This has them and it is a delightful read too
MARGARET
Margaret is in for the winter she is now in the cage I bough for Helen She is in back part of the kitchen She has had the sneezing and coughing thing before I left and was in the house briefly and seemed to be better But a few days after I got home she was sneezing again She still has some problems but is back to her old self talking and cooing I let her out everyday as it is a smaller cage She loves the private sleeping area She will be back with the flock in the spring
MYRTLE
MYRTLE came in today I found her standing still just trying to keep warm today not eating or drinking . Like Humans some hens just can’t take the cold and need some help. This is exceptional weather we are having and I think she would have been fine with normal winter weather. She will return out in the spring.
The personalities of these two birds is like night and day. Margaret is demanding and wants wants wants. Myrtle is happy with anything you do for and asks for little.
JUNIPERS WITH BLUE BERRIES
I have wanted to get 3 of these trees for some time Not many places carry them but I plan to go to a tree nursery in Hadley, Mass this spring and see if they have them to further my dream of having all my live Christmas decorations right in my own yard As a child I remember them in cow and horse pastures
I found some this Christmas season in a place where I would have never thought to look, Home Depot an it was the last bunch there I have scattered them around the house and catch their scent when I walk past .
Juniper Oil has been used in many things for years I love it for a bath It is said to help arthritis .
Many thanks for reading my blog on this cold winter day. Carole
Whispering Pines Farm 