Monday. October 29, 2012

In Flight

Monday, October 29, 2012

A rather blustery fall day. The big storm is hitting the Atlantic coast and the front is coming in from the west. A drop in temperatures and increase in wind for tomorrow.

Last week, with it's warmth gave us the false security that perhaps the weather would hold on for a while. Well, Here in Michigan we always know that the weather is fickle and that even the good weather has the ability to bring disaster. Just remember last spring's warm up that killed our fruit crops.

Finding apples was a difficult task this fall. However, the weather after August meant a abundance of growth for our cabbages which now sit in a crop fermenting to Sauerkraut. 25 pounds of shredded cabbage from 5 heads. One alone was 8.3 lbs. Thinking of vegetarian Rueben sandwiches on those  early winter, late fall chilly days. Not to mention that Austrian peasant treat of sauerkraut soup.

Will place the recipe up here as we move into winter so keep posted.

Say a silent prayer today for those unfortunate souls along the main storm path. May they be safe from harm.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Spirits in an old house

October has brought with it the beginning of the season for Halloween and many residents in the Village are displaying their holiday spirit. It's wonderful to walk around and see the decorated homes, pumpkins, mums, and Halloween symbols.

The fall season is a time to enjoy the bounty of our gardens and the fruits of our summer labors. I like to think that Halloween is the last celebration of the summer as we will soon turn our minds to the upcoming winter. It's a time to just be a little frivolous and have a last little bit of fun as we trick or treat through the fallen leaves and around the Village.

An age old tradition of preparing for winter's dark days with the sharing of our bounty with our friends and neighbors. Also, a way to remember all those who we will miss as the winter closes in.

October - colored leaves, pumpkins, mums, children trick or treating, celebration of the harvests - a great time to enjoy the outside before the snow and cold get us holed up inside.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Went to the Community Garden today to show a group from Lexington how it was set up. Explained how we went about the project and explained our plans for next year.

It was bitter cold and we had a bit of hail fall on us for a few seconds. It was definitely nearing time to close the garden for the year.

After they left I gather a small bunch of broccoli rabe, which I ate. Also plucked a few turnips from the ground. As I did this and checked the beets and parsnips I realized that the deer have been feasting.

We didn't seem yo have a problem with them all summer but now the fields are harvested and the garden easy picking. I will keep gathering what I can. They will eat what they can.

Will cut the cabbages this weekend and begin to make sauerkraut. Haven't done this in years and if I remember correctly the fragrant smell should fill the house as it works! What fun but Reuben sandwiches and kraut with caraway seed are two of my favorites.

Fall is here!

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Sunday,September 30, 2012

It's been a busy few weeks with the ArtWalk in Grand Haven, soccer games, birthday celebrations, and just plain family conversations and activities.

Here in the Village some interesting things have been happening.

Volunteers have redone the planter garden and with the mums in bloom it looks pretty good. We will have to keep those pests of grasses under control. It seems to be the nemesis of gardening here. Plans for some Halloween decorations are on the table. Hope they get completed in time for this year.

The new playground equipment is all in place and if you check out the Village website - www.villageofcarsonville.org -   There is a slide show and a list of all the voluneers who helped make this dream a reality. More work is planned for the next few years as funds are available. If you have ideas be sure to let the Village Council know via the website comment pages.

Also, our new set of banners for the fall are up and dress up the road way a bit. We hope to get the fall decorations up soon also.

The Community Garden is slowly coming to a close and gardeners are reminded to harvest and close them before the 30th of October. Plots for next year's garden can be signed up for now.

So as fall continues and we get busy with closing gardens, raking leaves , and decorating for Halloween keep checking back to see what we have added to our blog.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Friday, September 14, 2012

Dark and cloudy morning. The weather report is sun later today. Will pick vegetables from the garden if the sun breaks.

The planter garden looks good just need to finish the mulch around the back and we'll be set until next spring.

Saw progress on the play ground but I'm sure it is over for the wwek. Start again next Monday.

Will work on getting things ready for the fire bay doors. Got to liven the old village up. Color and graphics will help. Got to try to move the village a bit closer to community,

the warrior

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Drove across the state to day . The sky was bright and sunny as I traveled through Sanilac and Lapeer Counties, but as I headed toward Flint the clouds began to gather.

Rather high clouds of gray and cobalt blue seamed to be running into each other until finally a bit of rain came down. Then as I passed through Ingham County the clouds began to disperse until the sun returned.

Will be here for a few days enjoying the family and preparing for the Art Walk project.

Celtic Tree Calendar

Momday, September 3, 2012

Monday, September 3, 2012

EILEAN DONAN

Had a wonderful weekend . Basking in the sun, swimming in the pool, enjoying the grand children! 

A surprise late night arrival brought three lovely girls and their parents to our door on Friday night. In anticipation of the beginning school year all the family believe they needed somemore pool time. 

Breakfast and by 9:30-10:00 am into the pool for the remainder of the day. Splashing, snorkeling, swimming, and above all floating on the rafts soaking up the sun. Of course there are a continuous flow of popsicles.

Finally somewhere around 6:00 pm we are forced to eat supper, our stomachs let us know.  The leftovers are few and make a nice small lunch for the next day.

Summer ends and fall begins.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Tir Na Nog

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Strange day, strange time of year, just always seems this way at the end of August. You still feel summer, the heat and humidity when old Sol popped out, from behind those dark foreboding clouds that made you think fall. The grays were intense with darkness and brought a feeling of fall coolness.

The flowers are those of late summer and early fall - Cannas, fading Phlox, bright colored Zinnias, Bright blue of Cupid's Darts and the glowing yellow and oranges of the Marigolds. Still some hangers on of summer Daisy, Lupine, Canterbury Bells, Pulmonaria and the last of the Roses trying to convince us that perhaps there is still another few months of summer out there.

However, when we check the Mums and Asters we see their beginning to peep there way to buds.

The pumpkins in the garden are starting to swell and slowly turning from green to orange.

Late summer, I am not going to give in to fall until sometime in mid September and then I'll only say that it is slowly coming on.

Well, weather in the 90's later this weekend? That's what they are saying.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Imbolc

Ein ganz normaler Samstag! What a beautiful Saturday. Some sadness this morning as the grandchildren and their parents pulled out of the drive on their way home. We headed to the Amish workshop and enjoyed the search for seeds to plant second crops in the garden. Found a few but will still keep looking for 1 more week.

We will see the grand kids again at the cottage. Gosh summer seems to be flying by!

Beat the heat today by drifting around the pool on our floating rafts. Enjoyed the crystaline clear water with its dancing sun rays as we felt the breezes blow over us and the cool water beneath us. Reminds you of why we have summer in the first place.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Monday, July 16, 2012

Well just another Manic Monday - really it's pretty calm not much going on . It's to darn hot and the day just seems to be lingering. Extremely quiet for a summer day. No one really out and about.

Got some rough sketches down for drawing 3 and will now begin to work on the details. Next drawing in the Berlin series needs to be formalized. Will begin to work on adding color to Ritterstrasse.

Pagan Calendar - center

Did some gardening before the heat started and it looks like tomorrow will the day to clean up the lawn.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Earth - Element

Sunday, July 15, 2012 - One my two favorite Son-in-Laws celebrates hie fortieth today!

Got up late and took a leisurely morning wake up with coffee and fruit laden Muesli. Got in the pool and did a few laps until the Thunder scared us out.

Love that thunder as it brought some nice rain- well needed here. Things should experience a growth spurt now. Will be checking the CG to see how those Zuchini are doing!

Large Pasta salad with a myriad of great ad exotic vegetables for supper. Can't wait to chow down.

Finished the inking on Ritterstrasse and now will begin to work out details for the final Bedtime series.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Air - Element

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Saturday is the day we usually head to PH for our weekly or in the summer biweekly shopping. Check out sales, pick up the items we can't get in Bean County, and head to our favorite grocery source Meijer.

Today we hit Kohl's, B&N, Home Depot, TJ Maxx, Lowes, Meijer, and GFS. All in a matter of four hours.

Ate at the Coney Island for a vegetarian NewYork Rueben sandwich, that's coleslaw and Swiss grilled. Decided to get a Slim Jim next time hold the Ham. Had an order of onion rings on the side.

The sky was overcast but no rain materialized. Perhaps tomorrow.

Returned home played 7 Little Words with my honey and worked on my Ritterstrasse drawing. Hope to have the inking completed tomorrow and then begin sketching ideas for the last of the Bedtime drawings

Thursday Night - July 12, 2012

Astrological Element - Water

 Thursday Evening - July 12. 2012


Just "ein ganzer normaler Donnerstag" here in Cville. Was a warm day, 88 degrees, and did the mowing of the lawn early in the day and then took a swim of 140 laps in the pool. Worked on my Ritterstrasse 11 drawing until the pointalism hurt my eyes. This will be the first of a series of drawings from my trip to Berlin, Germany.

Watered the Community Garden and am impressed with the growth there, in spite of the lack of rain. This is our first year and I think it is turning out better than expected. Hopefully, we get the word out and have some expansion next year.

Found myself in deep thought about ideas for a new series of drawing to compete with my Astrological Elements series and my Pagan Calender series, and tried to come with the third drawing for my Children's Bedtime series. So far I have the Sandman and the Guardian Angels. Thinking there has got to be something other than the Bogeyman for the third.

They are paving the Main street, a state trunk line and the driving within the 1 mile of or Village has slowed to even slower snails pace. You know the locals because they take the back route to avoid the traffic delay. This has caused a need to brine the back route. Got to keep the dust down in this old dusty town.

Sitting here now watching my virus checker going through my files, playing 7 words with my lady, and listening to Capercaille.

Life is good!