Saturday, January 31, 2015

Snow, Snow, Snowshoes X3




Finally, some sunshine on Thursday!  Finally, I got to try out my newest snowshoes.  Wednesday I was just a bit too tired after the shoveling workout!  Snowshoes have come a long way since my first pairs.  The ones in the photo below were what we used for many years.  They are about 4 feet long and great in deep snow, a definite workout for your legs but, a bit hard to maneuver with in the woods.  The bindings were always a problem too.  



At the beginning of the winter I bought these snowshoes from LLBeans to replace the ones I wore out last year.  I didn't not care for these bindings.  I had a real hard time keeping them on and adjusted.  So I returned them...Thanks LLBeans for your great unconditional return policy! 


 Here are my new ones.  I had some trepidation since they are only 24 inches long.  I have been using 30 inch snowshoes since I graduated from the gut & wood.  With only 2 straps I wasn't sure they would stay on but they have super nice ratchet mechanisms!


Ready for the first test walk in post fluffy & deep Juno snow!





They are super! In about 3 feet of powder I only sunk about 8 inches which is to be expected in this fluff!  The bindings stayed on well and are easy to remove with gloved hands!  Thumbs-up!




FRIDAY'S SNOWSHOE 



Friday brought clouds and more snow but also, warmer weather...in the 20's!  Felt like a heat wave!  Spent a good deal of time outside getting some air...oh the work will still be there~~~

Pond Bench!
 So nice out the duckies even went for a snowshoe!  Here is where my new snowshoes received another test.  As I was "jumping" over the stream to take this photo I took a tumble.  I ended up in a position that would best be described as snow twister.  I was sort of stuck.  My left leg was behind me in the snow and I couldn't get up.  But my right snowshoe was nearly in my face.  I easily removed my right one and used it as a pole and pushed my way up.  Then strapped it on again and I was good to go!







Friday Night a Mini Blizzard


Friday morning more snow to shovel and plow....



Short little snowshoes worked perfectly for doing the morning chores!  Besides duck care this morning, included a trip to the mailbox with an Etsy order headed to Ireland! 





Thursday, January 29, 2015

Juno ~ Clean Up!


Here is a little photo journal of our clean up after Winter Storm Juno.  Not sure how much snow we got because, in some spots it was 4 feet deep and in others it was bare ground.  We got outside early before the sun was fully up to begin the plowing and shoveling.

 DH had to hand shovel the drifts in front of the house before he could plow.

 VERY grateful for the Tractor & the Operator!

Especially when back dragging those big drifts!




I shoveled out the Ducks...before

After


 Then the "Bears Cave"...before

After



Some pretty nice piles of snow!


The sun, finally, came out later in the day and it was beautiful!

Even the Ducks got in a little sunning!




Wednesday, January 28, 2015

~~~Gratitude~~~ Well Weathered Weather



blinding wild snow
blows, whirls & drifts about me...
in this world alone

Chora



This was what my world looked like before I went to sleep.  Quite beautiful if you ask me.  I am very grateful we never lost power.  It was nice to have a day home with my DH.  We tend to work a lot but this storm made us "lazy" and we took advantage of the time to putter and just hang out together. 


I did manage to get in a bit of weaving.  I am trying to use up yarn that I have by weaving scarves.  This one I am using some handspun for the weft that I am not particularly fond of.  I got the roving at a spin-in as part of a Yankee Swap.  I gotta say though it doesn't look half bad woven into this multi colored warp...what do you think?






In other weaving news:::> I am grateful to say I sold my Baby Wolf Loom this week right before the storm.  It leaves a nice blank spot in the house and my life.  I just have too many things on my plate.  I will always weave but, hopefully, now I will have more time to play with my little looms...& finish to some very, very, old UFOs (unfinished objects)!


You can find some of my Handwoven Items that are FINISHED here....


So Grateful for:::

Weathering the the Blizzard Well
Snow Beauty
Time with my Best Friend! <3
A little time at a loom
Electricity
Time


It is my intention, each week, to share something that fills me with Gratitude. 
I write ~~~Gratitude~~~ with the wavy lines to represent the gratitude ENERGY~~~~~! 
I hope you will join me and share your moments of Gratitude. 
~~~Amen, Blessed Be, Namaste'~~

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Winter Storm Juno ~ Morning



 Storm or no storm, duck chores must be done! Crazy blowing & drifting snow!!  One step is knee deep the next the snow is blown clear.  This snow stings the eyes---YIKES!  Needless to say we got  our outside stuff done quickly and returned to the safety of the house!  The wind is picking up even more!  Going to be quite a ride!!






Runa not exactly thrilled with the outside world!


Vern has the best seat in the house.



Stay Safe & Warm

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Something Green


Who couldn't use a bit of green this time of year? I know I enjoy it even with my deep love for winter.  Winter is my sprouting time of year.  They are so tasty and nutritious!  A little fresh chlorophyll never hurts!  I sprout alfalfa & mung beans for us and oats for the ducks!


A little GREEN interlude ~~~ Then the story!





New Ducks this year so they are unaccustomed to sprouts.  Ducks are naturally cautious creatures.  Anything new makes them skittish, even a delicious platter of oat sprouts!

First I put them by the door...the ducks all ran inside their house...


Then a bit closer...they all skirted around the intruder and went outside...


I put them in the food dish and left for a bit.
When I came back they hadn't touched them!


Finally! after putting them in the water bucket and leaving again did they eat them up!


I am on my 3rd batch of sprouts and they only eat them if I put them in the water.
I won't complain though... 8 ducks & 9 eggs this morning!
Someone is doing double duty!



Speaking of GREEN...here are a couple of Eco-Friendly Items from one of my Etsy Shops!




LOVE to all my readers!  
I have been sporadic lately... I hope to get back in the groove soon!  
In the meantime, know I Love You & appreciate your loyalty!

~~~~~~~~~~~My Lively Life~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Fiber Art, Weaving, Hand Spun




Hand Made Eco and Upcycled Cutie Buntings, Clothes, & Toys

Vintage Collectibles, Buttons, Clothing & MORE! 

Sea Glass & Copper Wire Ornaments with things I have gathered

My Blog~~Makings, Musings, &  Lifestyle on the Land:  


"Be Joyful because it is humanly possible"~~~Wendell Berry