Find your place at Spring Bird
When I was little, I loved the book “The Christmas Day Kitten” by James Herriot. Not only did I covet a tiny kitten for Christmas, but I also wanted to flop on the ground in front of the fireplace alongside Herriot’s large, droopy basset hounds. …
This wayfaring tree has been calling to me. It grows near our patio, and I don’t remember its leaves remaining this far into December. They are such a lovely shade of purple. It is said that if you come across a wayfaring tree, you are …
This image is the cover of the “Winter 2022” Issue of Woolgathering. It’s the final issue of Woolgathering, my nature magazine devoted to our connection to the seasons, and it should be landing in mailboxes today! This year, I featured chairs on the covers of …
As a second grader I stood in front of an enormous Tom turkey during a field trip to a turkey farm. He strutted and stretched his wings, wobbled his gobble, and looked at us menacingly with his multicolored bald head. Who was this creature? I …
I can’t believe we are starting another week already! The weekend went quickly as it was spent in the good company of my family. With Pat’s sister visiting, we celebrated Thanksgiving early and therefore spent two and a half days grocery shopping, cooking, and preparing …
This week’s time change brought darkness to our dinners. Considering that we are only at the beginning of our dark evenings, I decided to be proactive and bring candle light to our tablescape. These are handmade beeswax candles – rolled by me – from a …
This letter was originally published in the 2022 Fall Issue of Woolgathering: Dearest Spring Bird, Let it be known that on this day and this day forward, I pledge allegiance to your land and to all who grow, inhabit, dwell, live, thrive and worship there, …
I have thoroughly delighted in making stickers for each edition of the Woolgathering Magazine. Each season, I get to design a sticker that resonates with that particular issue. This creative process satisfies my inner child, who had a sticker collection which she solemnly preserved in …
I have to say, there is a certain sadness that comes with the conclusion of Summer harvests. The exhilaration of growing food – of witnessing what worked – what didn’t – what worked too well (zucchini and tomatillos this year) is all coming to an …
Humans have considered mushrooms to be an important part of our cultures and diets throughout our time. In writing the Fall Issue of Woolgathering, I enjoyed learning just how captivating mushrooms have been for us. Did you know that reindeer like to eat Fly Agaric …
Happy Full Moon! In this Full Moon, I’m feeling the spooky season – the mystery – the veil parting and hoping to find some hidden truth – some secret desire – some immovable destiny there. Have a great day and a great week everyone!
Tasha Tudor was on my mind as I planted a mere fifty jonquil bulbs in the “island” between the house and the cottage. I used my little trowel and hacked away at the hard earth trying not to disturb the oak roots. I thought about …
Yesterday, Pat and I mapped our final trees on our property as we prepare our agroforestry and conservation plans. This process of meeting and greeting each tree has been enlightening. (I will share more about that later.) One fairly basic way that it expanded our …
Fall and Winter are my two favorite seasons. While I love these falling temperatures, I am a person who runs cold like a lizard. So without my heat lamp to keep me unfrozen, I turn to wearing many layers of wool to keep warm. Soon …
