Autumn has finally rolled around again, and since I haven't posted in a while, I thought I would share a snapshot of what this hearth is looking like this time of year. In many ways it's a snapshot of my life right now. It's a little busy, and a little messy, but that's how it goes, and lots of good things are always in the works. Cider is fermenting away in three different flavors (plain, ginger, ...
Home is Where the Hearth is
Rosehips in Winter
Winter decided to really show up and linger this year, and since we're not really used to that in this part of Oregon, I've found myself gravitating toward things that are bright and cheerful. I noticed some flaming red rosehips peeking out of the briars along our driveway, and went out one morning with pruners and a basket to investigate. I may have gotten a little carried away, and ended up ...
Family Tree Day Traditions
Family tree day is a tradition we have enjoyed every year since we moved onto this homestead. Up on the the hill behind our house, we have a small lot of replanted Douglas-fir and Grand fir. They're planted pretty thick, and need to be thinned out, so we feel like taking one every year as our Solstice tree is at least a good start. One day we hope to really thin them out and build some kind of ...
If the Shoe Fits
My latest garden shenanigans have involved planting succulents in old shoes. High heels are one of those things where I really like and appreciate the way they look, but I am just not into wearing them. Ever. So, this way I get to enjoy them without wobbling around and worrying about falling on my face. Yeah for creative DIY solutions! There are enough various succulents growing around my ...
A Re-purposed Brick Patio Memorial
There is just something about old clay bricks. I have long admired brick pathways and patios with little ground covers like Irish moss and creeping thyme growing in between the cracks. My Grandpa Jack also recognized the crafted quality and value of old bricks enough to dismantle a brick hearth in their home and clean the mortar off of every single one to re-use for a future project.Years later, ...
It’s Good to be a Cat
While we've been working hard around the homestead, Little Sadie and Sundance are just being cool cats in the shade. It's good to be a cat. ...
For the Birds
I have always liked the Winter Solstice tradition of decorating a tree outside with various treats for the birds, but this time of year always gets busier than expected and I decided that just making some birdseed suet ornaments was the next best thing. My son has a real affinity for birds, so he was all on board for this project. I had some lard I had rendered a while ago in the freezer, ...
Let It Shine
As the Winter Solstice approaches, and the days are feeling very short, it's the perfect time to make a little light to shine out into the darkness. There is something comforting and warming in those flickering flames, for in spite of all we know to be true, sometimes we need reassurance deep down that the sun will return and it won't stay dark forever. This is the time of year when cultures ...
Family Tree Day
One of the many cool things about living at the edge of a forest, is we can always find a small tree to thin out for the holidays. Every year since we moved here, the four of us have climbed the trail to the top of our property and picked out our favorite fir tree. You can read about our past tree excursions here: Finding Our Family Tree and A Homegrown Tree. This year we had some ...
Beeswax Leaves
I am a lifelong admirer and collector of fall leaves. Sometimes I still find them tucked in the pages of a book I read years ago, or in the back of my flower press from the previous autumn. I had a friend in college who would dry them and hang them up in a string above doorways, and I did that for a long time until my kids got older and life got busier. I heard about beeswax leaves recently ...