CHOOSE

This is right out my window just moments ago.  Yes, more snow.  I have noticed a lot of sighing on my part, lately.  Winter is a bit wearisome this year.  But it could be worse...like ICE.  With all the snow and wind we have been fortunate to never lose power.  Yes, my right elbow is a bit tender from all the shoveling...but this too shall pass.  Last night I decided to fall in love with winter again so I watched The Snowman by Raymond Briggs on YouTube. My VCR from my sons youth is long gone but with the magic of the internet & electricity I was able to revisit this joy!  It reminded me of the beauty and magic of snow and like everything it is only transitory.  So if you are in a part of the world where snow is getting you down I recommend your favorite beverage and this 26 minutes of charm & delight.  OR maybe you are in a place that longs for snow, then the same prescription!

Also...I want to make it perfectly clear that I love living here in Maine.  I, actually, cannot imagine living anywhere else.  This poem came to my inbox this morning.   I love the expression of choice.  I wholeheartedly chose to live here. And last night I chose to fall in love with winter again!

I

I didn't fall in love with you.
I walked into love with you, 
with my eyes wide open,
choosing to take
every step along the way.
I do believe in fate and destiny,
but I also believe
We are only fated
to do things 
that we'd choose anyway.
And I'd choose you;
in a hundred lifetimes,
in a hundred worlds,
in any version of reality,
I'd find you.
and I'd choose you.

Angela Gail

A bit more of snowy loveliness 

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

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Sea Glass & Copper Wire Ornaments with things I have gathered

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

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

~~~Gratitude~~~

Helloooo~~ I am still around...I haven't been lost in a snow bank..... 

I have been taking a bit of a computer break.  This winter is sort of dragging on.  Usually, by this time in February, I am getting nervous the winter will be over too soon.  Well, this winter has got me wondering if it will ever end!  Besides copious  amounts of snow it has been bone chilling cold!  For 3 days in a row I skipped my daily snowshoe and I admit to getting a bit cranky.  But, Sunday we finally had a respite with temps in the low 30's.  I got in a snowshoe, a walk on the road with a good friend, and best of all, my duckies got a bath!  I have much more to tell you about this long month...including BEing here for 20 days in a row!!  But for now I will be content with sharing (and revisiting) this balmy Sunday!  Yesterday and today are frigid again....but at least the sun is shining and no snow is falling!!

GRATEFUL for Duckie JOY!!!!

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'~~

Winter "Blues"

I woke up this morning dreaming about blueberries.  At first I wondered if it was due to the fact that there was an unusual sight out my bedroom window....blue sky!  Yes! folks, a day without snow falling and temps near the 20's!  I had planned to tackle our income taxes today but it felt too much like a holiday!  I decide to change plans, an extended snowshoe was in order.  First though I decided to celebrate the day by making a blueberry crisp. (recipe at the end) Taxes can wait for a grey cloudy day...there are plenty more on the way!

Here are my blueberry bushes nearly buried by snow!

My woodstove was cranking so I bake the crisp in the cookstove oven.

 Scenes from today's wanderings~~~

 Here is where I startled the Ruffed Grouse 2 days in a row...

I had my camera ready to day...but no Grouse!

 Left a little offering of oat seeds.

Made it to the field today.  

Finally, "warm" enough to trek across without getting an ice cream headache.

Back at the house I decide to sit outside and soak up some vitamin D.

Blueberry Ginger Crisp with a Dollop of Vanilla Yogurt.

Runa enjoys the nearly empty yogurt quart.

Blueberry Ginger Crisp

4 cups frozen Organic (homegrown) Blueberries
1/2 cup Grated Fresh Ginger
1 cup of Organic Coconut Oil
3 cups of Organic Oats
1 cup Organic Brown Sugar (granulated sugar works too...just add a bit of molasses)
Cinnamon

Pre-heat Oven (or Cookstove) to 350F

Oil the bottom of a 9 inch X 9 inch pan with a little coconut oil.  Pour the Blueberries into your pan mix in grated ginger.  Sprinkle with cinnamon.  In a separate bowl cut together the Coconut Oil with the Oats and Sugar.  Cover the blueberries and ginger with the oat crumble.  Bake until the blueberries are bubbling, about 30 to 45 minutes.  Enjoy warm or cold!

~~~Gratitude~~~ Health

As of today, I have been home for 15 day without leaving!  My record is 16 days and it looks like I will beat that this week.  I try to go to town once a week to swim at the Y, do errands, and be with other people.  But everyday that I could leave lately, I have either been bound here by a snow storm or by the lack of a plowed driveway.  I am not complaining, just sharing an interesting fact about my existence.  I do not feel cabin fever at all.  I have been quite busy. I also, I maintain my sanity by getting outside each and everyday.  

My chosen fun activity is snowshoeing, as you know if you follow this blog.  You will also be aware of the fact that we have quite a bit of snow.  A few days ago I blogged about my snowshoes here: http://injoyemporium.blogspot.com/2015/01/snow-snow-snowshoes-x3.html  I talked about our old gut snowshoes that have been on the wall for years.  Well, folks they are off the wall!  The snow is too deep for my lightweight modern shorties.  So I have been packing trails with the old gut ones.  I have been packing down a bit every other day and using the light ones on the off days.  It is a pretty good workout!  These snowshoes are 60 inches long...yes 5 feet!  I am 5 feet 8 inches.  Each step includes a bit of snow lifting.  I have to say it is fun to be using them again!  They are quiet and beautiful.  I feel connected with days gone by~~~

We purchased these snowshoes December 1979 at Ed's Surplus, Lynnwood, Washington for $39.99 each.  At the time it was a pretty good chunk of change for us.  We had just returned from a hitch hiking trip around Alaska and the Yukon.  We had made vows of relationship commitment while we were there and these were "wedding" gifts to our Selves.  

Here are some scenes from todays snowshoe....

Unbroken Trail

Turning Around with these Shoes is an Interesting Side Step Dance!

After Turning I Go back and Re-Pack

A Nice bit of Trail....Until the Next Storm!

I Am GRATEFUL for my Healthy Body that Allows me to Snowshoe!
Today I know my heart is healthy...
I nearly stepped on a Ruffed Grouse that exploded into the air out of the snow!!!

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'~~

Shoveling through the Books!

Hope you are not tired of seeing snow blogs...but if I'm not tired of it you shouldn't be either!

Monday night brought nearly another foot of snow!  DH had to ram his way out to get to work...good thing we have a 4-wheel drive truck!  But, that left me snowed in the next day.  Which was fine I had no intention of going out, anyways.  I am not super comfortable on the tractor so I would rather be snowed in than plow!  After shoveling I forced my Self to get down to doing my year end bookkeeping.  I will admit that I was a half a year behind with these tedious tasks.  After a day of crunching numbers, making spreadsheets, & setting up a system to (I VOW) to keep up with this year I was pretty bushed. I'd take shoveling any day to bookkeeping!  Up to date now so next week I will do the taxes!

Tuesday Morning

Path to the water faucet for getting duck water 

Guardians of the Duck House

Upper Deck Shoveled

Enjoying the view!

Now below the below deck shoveling....

Bookkeeping at the Table

Stretch break with some help from Runa!

Tea bags getting a bit more use... then back to the books!

and Now a Poem...of Course! This one is perfect!

Poem of Bookkeepers Lament

Stress from bookkeeping mess

All the hassle, all the stress,
And oh my, I’ve made a mess,

Why did I even try?
Was it time I was trying to buy?

All the rules and regulations,
And did I meet my obligations?

You see, I’ve been shoveling uphill,
Now where did I put the dreaded bill?

With dread I fear the tax man,
Oh, but next time I have a plan,

You see, I won’t be doing it anymore,
Because I know the score,

Why should I feel so low,
When I can give it to BIZGRO.

Got to say I love a company that uses a poem as an ad!

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

Fiber Art, Weaving, Hand Spun

http://www.etsy.com/shop/injoyemporium

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

http://www.etsy.com/shop/InJoyEcoCutie

Vintage Collectibles, Buttons, Clothing & MORE! 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/injoytreasures

Sea Glass & Copper Wire Ornaments with things I have gathered

http://www.etsy.com/shop/InJoyGatherings

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

http://injoyemporium.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/injoyemporium

http://instagram.com/injoyemporium

http://www.pinterest.com/injoyemporium

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