Tim's walking sticks

A year and a half ago, Tim cut down several small buckthorn trees and saved the trunks to allow them to dry.

This winter, he bought a whittling kit and gave them a very close shave.

He carved out the letters and then used a woodburning iron to make them noticeable. 

Once he'd finished two of the three, he and Mark used them for their reenactment of Robin Hood and Little Hood.

Here's Daffy with his 'buck-and-a-quarter quarter staff"

 

 Tim says it's his 'buckthorn-and-a-quarter quarter staff."

And here's Men in Tights with quarter staffs

 Enjoy!

Chickburns Delivers

With the lengthening days and the warmer temps, the chickens have started laying eggs- pink, green, and brown ones.

The ones with an X we leave in their 'nest' and the others we collect.

They have decided to start a community nest in the hay bales in the garage, just a few steps away from the kitchen.  

The slightly warmer garage keeps them from freezing quite as quickly and you can't beat it for convenience.

After trying so hard to collect eggs last winter 

only to find them all cracked from freezing,

I wasn't counting on a single egg until spring.

After trying with no success to track the hens to their well-hidden nests in the woods last summer,

I was pleasantly surprised to have them deliver!

Celebrating goodness in action

I received this letter in my mailbox today and was moved by William Sherk's generous response to tragedy.

This kind of genuine goodness in action requires celebrating and I immediately knew I had to scan it and post it for all of you.

How did we unintentionally wind up in a community like this without even thinking or trying?

Grace, my friends.  Pure undeserved kindness.  Beneficence.

As a newcomer, I am so grateful to have been received into this community by those who've labored faithfully for generations to make it such a good place to live. 
And I will do my best to join in the goodness.

First, celebrate.
Then, give.
Always, gratitude.
Pass it on.