I am happy to say that my favorite gifts this year were from local sources. The first is a beautiful blanket given to us by our next door neighbors, Larry & Jeanne Foley. Larry told me it took Jeanne more than four months to make, and I believe it. I can't imagine ever having the patience to create something this.
I just love the detail she put into her work. We've got to keep the dogs away from this treasure
...Right now it lives on the back of mary's chair. Perfect for those winter evenings reading in the living room.
Here are Larry & Jeanne, the nicest neighbors anyone could ask for. They put up with all of the roosters this summer, and the turkeys jumping up on their car.
After the ice storm I spent the next seven days moving my generator back and forth between my house, the little cottage across our property that we rent out, and Larry & Jeanne's place. I'd run my freezers for a few hours, and then run the heat at the cottage for a while. Then I'd wheel the generator over to the Foley's and run their boiler and water pump. Another retired couple was camping out with them, as we were the only houses in the neighborhood with heat & water. We all had clean kitchens and warm beds, who could ask for more?
My next favorite gift is a little book titled 'A Book Of Country Things'. It is a collection of Walter Needham's reminiscences about his Grandpa L.L. Bond, born in 1833. Aside from his service in the Civil War, he spent his entire life in the Southeastern corner of Vermont. Published in Brattleboro, Vermont in 1965, this book is a window into life and the way things were done on the farm in the 1800's. From sugaring and planting, to haying and dealing with the local indians, this is a fun read... and the way things are going, I may be using this as a valuable reference to aid in our survival... or at least our future comfort. Heck, I'm already making my syrup in the same type of old cast iron cauldron that Grandpa describes using!
Well, that's it for now from the side of Mount Monadnock. Here's to a prosperous new year, or at least a good run of sap in the spring! I'll leave off with one more shot from the ice storm. Now where did I put those seed catalogs?
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