First of all, thanks to all of you who subscribed to the blog! I had no idea so many of you stop by this little spot on the internet. It warmed my heart and filled me with gratitude. xo
looking west, out across the braintree range of the green mountains
Over the weekend we got 16-17” of fresh snow, on top of a few old inches. Our power and internet went out for a bit, and we are glad we invested in a generator last year.
looking east, across the road and up into our neighbor’s field.
I thought you might like to see a few pictures taken around our “bit of earth”. I’ve always believed that winter in Vermont is so much prettier with snow.
this is batman…we were taking a walk before supper last week, before the big snow came.
I’m just checking in with you, in anticipation of a very big week ahead. I think we all have strategies for coping by now, with the challenges that the global pandemic has brought. Added to those challenges, the life of American democracy seems a bit fragile right now too.
For my own good, and maybe for yours, I thought I’d review a few gentle reminders here.
A.) Keep moving. Stretch, walk, dance, ski, snowshoe, hike, do some yoga, tai chi, lift weights…just move! Read “Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life”, by Twyla Tharp. Bundle up and GET OUTDOORS!
B.) Rest well. See above. :-)
C.) Stay connected to those you love, even if it’s just virtually. I’m now part of a weekly Zoom stitching group, where three generations of friends and family stitch and chat on Wednesday evenings. We gather from Detroit, Boston, Brooklyn, NH, VT and Mount Desert Island, ME. My book group has been meeting once a month via Zoom for nearly a year, as well as my VTMQG. Heck, you could even join us for two months as a guest, before being asked to join officially. I have breakfast with wee Flora several mornings a week via FaceTime, and have been able to watch her grow into an adorable 8 month old child, even though I have yet to meet her. And Maggie, my sweet little magpie, has tea parties with me, shows me what she’s been painting and reads books with me via the internet. I chat with my Mumsie on the phone, and have pen pals I stay in touch with. Are these ideal ways to be in relationship with one another? Of course not. But thank goodness it’s POSSIBLE!
snow and icicles on the upper roof.
D.) Hang on to hope. What better way than to think about summer gardens! Our vegetable seeds arrived from High Mowing Seeds, and we have ordered potato slips from the Maine Potato Lady. We are going to try growing sweet potatoes in the hoop house this year. Sprouting micro greens and seeds on the windowsill here in the winter fills our salads with local freshness and hope, too.
E.) This one is oddly juxtaposed by “C”, above. Unplug from the outside world a bit. I know, it seems counter intuitive during this COVID isolation. But right now, there is just TOO MUCH going on in the world to process all of it well. I’m really not sure that we need to know about everything that is going on in the world all the time anyhow. Yesterday I deleted Instagram from my phone, and I’m monitoring my access to news. I think I will do better with quiet, reflective processing rather than scrolling through whatever comes up in my feed. I’m guessing I will find my way back, but for now, I’m pausing and creating some healthy boundaries.
meditation central. chopping, stirring, mixing, washing…being in the moment, nourishing with intention.
F.) Spend time in the kitchen. Cook to nourish. Cook treats. Cook for the freezer. Cook new things. Cook to connect. We have a family Zoom call on Sundays, when all four kids and their families dial in for an hour of conversation. Sometimes it’s just a “check in”, sometimes we get into heavy topics. This past Sunday, Batman, Lindsey and Hannah decide to bake together. They all prepped their ingredients ahead of time, and got up early to begin the process of making King Arthur Baking’s “recipe of the year”. By the time we were in the midst of our family call, gorgeous cinnamon buns were coming out of three ovens, one in Vermont, one in Detroit and one in Bloomfield Hills. The “ooohs” and “aaaahs” were giggle worthy! Such a fun way to share family time.
G.) Do the fun things that you enjoy! Read, sing, sew, paint, go birdwatching, watch a cheesy movie, do a jigsaw puzzle…you get the picture. Distraction is a fine strategy for the week ahead.
H.) Finally, I want to encourage you to spend a bit of time this week considering the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the role of white supremacy in our democracy. It’s uncomfortable work and it’s necessary work. There are resources all over the internet that can help us do some good soul work. Our future depends on the good work we do as individuals and together. There will be no peace until there is justice.
Let us know what strategies you have for getting through this week, drop a note in the comment box below…
Sending you love and light and hope friends. Stay home and safe this week if you can. xo