First Real Snowfall of the Season

Today the snow sticks! Squirrelboy is terribly excited. He observed that "snow is way colder than sand." Dragonwood and the surrounding fields look so peaceful and festive in their whiteness. Little squirrels are also out and about, chasing each other and frisking their fluffy tails. It's a pretty day.

Squishy Sunshine

Frost lies on the fields in the morning. Most of the leaves have fallen, leaving the trees ragged. Our pretty brown dog blends in with the rustling cover of leaves. We've fired up the woodburner, keeping our toes toasty as the chill settles outside. Although it's been steadily getting cooler, this afternoon arrived sunny and relatively warm. This was lovely, since Squirrelboy had invited a few friends over to help celebrate his birthday. The boys enjoyed crashing through the weedy field in search of "squishy" spiders. In the Manor, we are almost finished painting. The Lord is grouting the first bathroom this evening. The Lady pauses to catch her breath after the birthday party, just long enough to sip a cup of tea and write this for you!

Midsummer's Eve`

Traditionally, this is the time you may see faeries. On the summer solstice, we stay up late because this is the longest time of daylight in the year. This Midsummer's Eve, my family harvested the sweet black raspberries that grow in our woods. I suspect the bees may have had something to do with the massive amounts of juicy ripe berries tempting us to delve ever further into the thorns and poison ivy. Wild berries do not yield their treasures easily. They are guarded by fierce mosquitoes, cruel thorns, and weedy neighbors. Yet to the intrepid, they are full of sweetness, such beautiful temptation that you stain your lips and fingertips dark purple. A day or two before, Faerygirl and I brought home over three quarts of hard-won juicy goodness. Ice cream topped with black raspberries and smoothies soon followed. Delicious!

This is also the time of lilies in the garden. Their bright colors and bold shapes remind me of stars or fireworks. I love the spiky yellow ones; my children like the ruffly pinker ones. My mother-in-law collects daylilies like some people collect knick-knacks, and I am the blessed recipient of several fabulous varieties from her garden.

This season has been quite hot and humid, unseasonable (as has been much of the year). It seems to me that everything in nature is happening about a month earlier than it used to. We've had terrific thunderstorms, and the puddles are full of tadpoles and mosquito larvae. Squirrelboy is keeping a few tadpoles as pets.

Dragonwood will start showing up at the Farmer's Market in July, so this month is full of creative work. Faerygirl is making new faeries to sell, and I am busy harvesting, drying, and mixing herbal products. Look for our goods at the Kokomo Farmer's Market. We'll have honey, too.

The Lord of Dragonwood has hired a young man to help with all the work required to build our Manor. Together, they are priming and texturing the drywall in the upper part of the house. It looks so beautiful. Soon, the Lord and I will be picking out colored paint! This is quite exciting, especially for the children. Their rooms will be done first!

The Passing of May

This has been a busy month for us in Dragonwood. It is the month of warmth and planting the rest of the garden, the month of asparagus for dinner, the month of bees swarming. I have caught three escaping swarms, bringing our hive count to ten! We have been eating asparagus several times a week, and I even put a couple of quarts away for the winter. I love asparagus - it comes up anew every day, and it is so tender and tasty. Our strawberries are starting to come on, as well. When I am weeding the strawberry/asparagus patches, I don't hesitate to nibble for some refreshment. This has also been the month of irises, which bloomed gloriously this year. Now it is getting hot, and the mosquitoes are starting to haunt the woods. They like the undersides of cool green leaves. Squirrelboy emulates his namesake, climbing everywhere he possibly can. When I am working in the garden, he wanders off on great adventures, absolutely fearless. I often must go hunt him when my tasks are finished, but he is usually found in one of his favorite places - a mud pit, a pile of wood, or a dirt hill. In the Manor, the Lord of Dragonwood and our hired man work diligently to hang our drywall. Most of the large rooms are being mudded now. Today I made a large harvest of citrus thyme, which I hope to sell at the farmer's market. We won't be selling until July, but there is much work to be done now. I also hope to make lots of tasty herbal tea. The mint is insane in my gardens, and I must pull it as a weed to make room for other things.

Spring Greening

The first green in the woods is low, a bright emergence above the leaf mold. Not long after, a fuzziness appears in the high branches. The wildflowers have a timing all their own, as the leaves of the trees begin to open. First out are the bloodroots, followed by spring beauties and toothwort. For those of you with gardens of your own, this roughly corresponds with crocus blooming. Next come the dutchman's breeches, a feathery-leaved plant with flowers that look like little bloomers or teeth. Faerygirl used to call them the tooth-fairy plant. This year, the early spring wildflowers were blooming in the first week of April. The children and I left for a week of vacation, and were able to enjoy the very end of their blooming. The trout lilies, too, bloomed. Then the violets and sweet-smelling phlox reigned for a week or so, and the May apples started spreading their umbrels. "Bloody noses", my mother-in-law's name for our red trilliums, now spread in great patches through the woods. The phlox and violets still bloom, but their time is ebbing. Wild geraniums have just begun to open, and I have spotted some Jack-in-the-pulpits. As each wave of wildflowers crests, more green rises, licking upwards in plant growth, reaching downward from the crowns of the forest. The thickness of the green in such a few short weeks amazes me. By May, most of the wildflowers will have had their brief time in the sun.

Creepy Night Music

The eerie whines of hunting coyotes awaken me. I go out to check the dog, who nervously presses close to me. She is afraid of them. A neighbor has told me to be careful. She says the farmers are hunting coyotes, that she saw one as large as a big dog, and dead, in the back of a local pickup truck. She usually knows what is going on in the neighborhood. I was worried about Tabby, our gentle but old dog. I'd felt her fear of other canines before, when the neighbor's dogs came over. She'd be no match for coyotes, or coydogs. This latter, dear readers, are hybridized dog-coyotes, bigger and perhaps bolder than their completely wild counterparts. We've been told they den in an old gravel quarry, not far from Dragonwood. Even in my hastily thrown-on bathrobe, the night is warm. But the golden gibbous moon lolls crazily on its side in the hazy sky, and the frog songs, so melodious earlier in the evening, have shifted into a nervous trilling. In the dark, every snap from the woods means something, as Tabby's attentive ears suggest. Something big is moving in the woods. Tabby lays across my feet, but she is not scared like she was before. She wants to be outside. I don't. The hairs on my neck gradually begin to settle. I realize I've been petting her to comfort myself as much as to reassure the dog that she is not alone. In the night, when one has a soft heart, perhaps one does these things. Love makes a person bold enough to face fears, even if it's rather foolish. I pat the dog one last time. "I'm going in," I say softly, my usual parting words to her. She watches me go calmly. Kitty Bucko races outside when I open the door, ready to prowl the roof again. And I, dear readers, slip indoors to pen this experience for you! (original written at about 2 AM last night)

April Green

It's warm in Dragonwood. Bees are visiting the crocuses and early spring wildflowers. Just yesterday, a notable green showed above the brown leaf mulch. In the field, wee beasties have left their winter homes behind. Great galls on goldenrod stalks now have holes in them, and strange pupal skins and coccoons are abandoned. Bloodroot is blooming, and the bees are quite busy. Tabby, the dog, snaps them out of the air for a crunchy snack. At the Manor, we are all quite busy ourselves, installing insulation and prepping for drywall. This weekend, we anticipate getting a good start on the drywall, with a little help from our friends. Spicebush buds are bursting into yellow stars. Faerygirl claims to have observed some tiger beetles, and the children bear the welts from their first mosquito bites. I have some peas, brassicas, and lettuces starting to emerge from the earth, in addition to my tomato, pepper, and brassica starts indoors. We also planted some rugosa roses! Every day brings new delights.

The Sacrament of the Woodburner

The Lord of Dragonwood and Faerygirl performing the Sacrament of the Woodburner in February

It is early when you find yourself at the top of the stairs, adorning yourself in thick layers. Chilly air hits your face outdoors, but the daily pilgrimage must be made. Perhaps you don't really want to go, but the sacrifice is important to keep your family warm. The dark lies heavy on the world, even though you know the glint of sunrise is not far from coming. The woodburner must be approached with solemnity and caution; after all, you don't know yet what you will find inside. Some mornings, the open door belches forth hot smoke that could singe the unwary, and some mornings there are merely warm ash and coals. Reach in with the broken garden rake, stir the ashes to find the still burning coals. Go forth, and hunt fuel. Sometimes, you must dig through the snow to find it. Bring the fire to life with sticks and scraps of wood from the Manor construction. Lay on great logs, to sustain the fire as it burns all day. Dust it, perhaps, with the creosote preventer. Then close the great door. Listen as the machinery clacks and whirrs its power, moving hot water through the house. By this time, you can tell the day is coming. The morning rush surges in your blood, and you are now ready for tea and breakfast.

Every morning, I have honored this time. It is my daily time to contemplate, and to sense the changing of the seasons. But last night, we let the woodburner go out. Although we may keep it going a little longer, the sky is no longer dark in the morning, nor are the temperatures so cold. Another morning ritual must replace this daily visit to the source of our warmth. Perhaps it is time to turn to greeting the sun! It's quite nice to take a cup of tea on the deck and toast the sunrise.

Quickening Moon

Some cultures refer to the second full moon of the year as the "quickening moon". I heartily agree with the name. Thawing has begun in Dragonwood. All the beasts and birds are becoming more active. We hear lots of birdsong, owl hooting, and woodpecker knocking. This past weekend, the Lord of Dragonwood started to feel better. I helped him strip wires and prepare for running speaker wires. One of the nice things about building your own house is that you can build in surround sound! The kids helped clean and clear the spaces that we are finishing up. Over the past week or two, I've observed the robins and the geese returning. Branches I brought into the house have opened into soft green leaves. The Lord observed a hawk on its kill right at the end of our driveway! All this melt is making me antsy to begin laying out our garden beds for the coming year. It's hard to be patient when you know warmer weather is coming!

A Winter Picnic

When Faerygirl was wee, I used to take her out for winter picnics. Sometimes we would slip into the kayak and paddle down the creek to an island. There we would find a log to sit on and have a snack. This was when we lived along the Wildcat Creek, so it was only a short trip...but always exciting. Today, I felt gloomy being stuck in the house for so long by winter weather and illnesses. So I decided to seek adventure. I put on my flashy earrings, bought last summer at the farmer's market, a jingly-jangly bracelet made for me by my girlfriends and some outrageous costume jewelry. I bundled up Squirrelboy and packed my dad's old army backpack with surprises. Then I donned my favorite leather jacket and my cloak. We set out into the snow. Squirrelboy is not very fond of the snow and the cold, and truthfully, neither am I. But sometimes you have to face discomfort to find what you need. We explored a little, worked through a tantrum (sigh), and then found a destination worthy of our expedition. In the woods, Faerygirl has built many "hollows". This particular one, her latest, is woven of branches and still-living trees bent over. It looks like an igloo. Being a grown-up, I had to dig into the snow just to create an entrance I could slither through on my knees and forearms. Squirrelboy enthusiastically followed. Once inside, I could sit upright, bundled in my cloak. Then I opened the bag and shared the clandestine treats I had packed. Oh, I did it right! Peanut-butter crackers, dried fruit and nuts, marshmallows, and kool-aid mini-packets to dump in water bottles (from last year's birthday parties). It was wonderful to sit in a woven shelter looking out at the snow and enjoying a forbidden treat (yeah, we don't eat a lot of sugary snacks here in Dragonwood). But it was so appropriate, and we were happy. As we finished up, we left a nut for the squirrels and marshmallows on sticks for any snow sprites that might be around. The moment I mentioned "snow sprites", a bunch of snow fell down right on my head!! I hope they like their marshmallows. Fingers burning from the cold, I managed to follow Squirrelboy out of the igloo and wander towards home. It was a short outing, but a merry one. I highly recommend a winter picnic to anyone who is feeling the winter blues.

Hoarfrost

It's been a snowy week. Three out of five school days were cancelled due to weather. I start feeling a bit isolated when we are snowed in for so long, but the heated floors and prudential grocery shopping (before the winter storm) certainly help. Unfortunately, the Lady, Faerygirl, and Squirrelboy have all been "under the weather" with sore throats and nasty energy-sapping colds. Still, nothing can mar the beauty of this day! As the sun started its way up the sky, the branches of the trees swiftly turned white. At first, a bare glisten graced the branches, but as we watched, a thick coat of hoarfrost formed. The woods became utterly enchanting. Every surface outdoors is now covered with perfect crystalline structures. It makes the forest look fuzzy. Above, the skies are blue and the sun shines. The tops of the trees are brilliant. Our family went out doors for a while to enjoy the bizarre cold beauty.

TreetopsBeehives

Dragonwood Manse

Window View

Blue (Da Ba Dee)

Blue is the color of the morning and evening this snowy February. Not the pale blue of a summer sky, nor the inky velvet of a starry night, but a bright cobalt you expect only in a painter's box or a child's plastic toys. And it's not just the sky. The snow also reflects, resonates, radiates this color blue. It's like being enveloped in slow bluesy jazz, smooth and vibrant. These mysterious sensuous blues don't exist very long, only in the moments before sunrise and after sunset. Stark trees stripe the landscape with their black silhouettes. It's ineffably beautiful and almost impossible to capture with words. Not even photos can do it justice.

From the Pit

Just hauled Squirrelboy from the La Brea tar pits, where he was playing with a fairy and a dinosaur. Sadly, the fairy had to leave early because "she had to be home by eight o'clock". Even though it's pretty chilly out, the boychild dug himself well into the mud. His snow pants and coat are thickly covered, and his hands looked as if he'd made himself brown gloves. All this happened while the Lord of Dragonwood, his royal parents, Faerygirl, and I were busy trying to finish the downstairs wiring.

Oh, and when the Lord checked yesterday, all four beehives were alive!! I picked up sugar to make sugar-water for them to eat. We want all our dear hives to be alive and well coming into spring.

Ice and a Warm Lap

Today it is so icy-slick that Faerygirl's bus cannot drive down our road. We slipped and skidded down the driveway in the dark only to find out that the roads are nearly impassable. Yesterday, I checked the bees. Three out of four hives buzzed when I lay my ear on the cold metal roofs and knocked. The one that didn't buzz might have expired. We won't know until we check it on a warmer day.

My lap is warmer, now, because one of our former kittens has returned to us. Bucko started out his life in Dragonwood, and then moved to my sister's house for a while. Now that my sister is moving far away, he has come back to live with us. He is a very affectionate cat, purring and snuggling and playing with Squirrelboy. It's nice to have him back. The two tigers, Mars and Charmer, are gone. Faerygirl's Skeezicks is still with us. The Lord of Dragonwood believes we've upgraded.

Two Poems for a Snowy Day

This first poem was written Tuesday, when I went to town.

January Sea

The sea has come to this Midwestern road;

Dry January snow undulates above dark pavement.

I do not know what lies beneath:

Black ice or safe purchase?

Holding the value of these lives I move,

I guide my vessel

Slowly along straight paths made mysterious,

Longing for the taste of salt.

The second poem was written this morning, after my usual inspirational walk back from delivering Faerygirl to the schoolbus.

Starfall

Little flakes like mica iridescent

whisper graces as they fall

to Earth below

filling footprints left in yesterday's snow.

Chips of stars they

shine, descending sparks

of light thrown

fuzzing vision while softer trees grow.

Dust from cosmic wind

drifts in cloudlets, cosmic

breath blown;

figuring this, I am, because of the glow.

How We Keep Warm on a Cold New Year's Day

A full moon shoots sparks from the snow on this first night of the New Year. It's cold. We hunker down in our little garage-house, warmed by the wonderful delights of a heated floor. Outside, the wood-fueled boiler burns our scrap wood efficiently, heating the water that flows through the outside of its shed. This hot water then courses through a system of PEX tubing that the Lord of Dragonwood installed under the floors when he built this place. Comfort radiates from these warm floors, with none of the drafts or noise of a fan-based heater. It's good to go barefoot upon them. As we work and dream towards the day when the Manor will be finished, we rejoice in the fact that it, too, will warm us toes first. All the floors and the pool will be heated by this powerful boiler that only requires feeding once or twice a day.