It has already snowed up here on the mountain, several times in fact. Nothing that has stayed around, just wet, early winter snow.
And it’s been VERY cold some days, in the mornings especially, before I get the wood heater going.
As many of you know I heat my home with wood only and this year I bought the most beautiful stuff for the winter.
It’s a mixture of pinon and cedar, a couple of loads of oak and a load of aspen to clean out the chimney (it burns hot and fast and takes out any creosote build up).
In addition a couple of friends are letting me harvest already downed wood from their land that they’re not going to use. A lot of it is too gnarly for them to deal with like this sumptuous purple cedar…
… or twigs that are too small for them to care about. I’ll take it all.
And I tell you what, this brings out my inner hunter-gatherer in such a wonderful way. It’s like rock-hounding, looking for the prizes I want to drag home with me. There is something truly beautiful about this wondrous bounty of nature. As an artist I respond to it so much so that I will never grow tired of gathering and stacking it.
A really big storm is on its way to us and there were signs of it on this morning’s walk.
It’s supposed to bring a lot of snow… enough that I was inspired to get out my snow shoes at last (it’s been several years since I’ve needed them).
As the storm races in I am especially grateful for this gift of wood…
… the deep pleasure I get from harvesting and using it, picking out which twigs to use each morning…
… to keep my little family warm.
Love to you all,
Jeane
XOXOX 🙂
XOXOX 🙂 back at cha.
BBBrrrrrrr! What a great sharing! Thank you Jeane…Your hair is long again, and it was nice to see some of the kids. Can you update us on your Furry Family? I am wishing you a peaceful Thanksgiving and imagine you will feast with Truchas Family. Lovejoy
I like to think my hair looks LOTS better than it did in this early AM shot 🙂
Finny has perhaps made it through the parasite die-off (fingers crossed). I loose track of how long it’s been. But he’s growing fur back and is full of energy once again. Little Skye has become a “regular” dog at last, going for long walks with the rest of the gang and going in and out every day! Kelee is much older and feeling his age, but he’s still the #1 alpha around here. There are just 4 kitties left: Tobey, Bubba, Boo and Raven and they are all doing GREAT.
I wish you a happy Thanksgiving as well.
I feel the same way about the beauty of cut wood! I have wood stacked on my porch for that reason alone. I don’t even use it! My husband got a large circular metal “thing” from someone that didn’t want it and I immediately loved it and asked him to fill it with wood. He does landscaping, and tree work and grass cutting ,and snow removal so this was natural for him! I tried to move some in the driveway one day, and found out how heavy some of this wood can be!! Amazing! By the way, I am sorry I have missed you!! and your photos are beautiful ! Looks like you are letting your hair grow?? Hope you had a beautiful Christmas and Hope you are feeling better with less pain. I did some art this week. and my daughter is due February 20th with my grandson. Praying for a safe , healthy delivery and baby boy!! Can’t wait to hear from you!!
Hi Alison–I’m sorry it’s taken me awhile to get back to you–I’ve been busy painting, putting together presentations for galleries and applying for part-time work. I did have a lovely holiday (my hair is much longer than this picture shows–can’t wait for it to be all white!). Congrats on your beautiful valentine due on the 20th! What an amazing gift. Here’s to even more creating in 2014!