And yet here, inside, I am warm and cosy, with nowhere I have to be; in the lap of luxury.
The groan was more about the perennials I haven't finished digging and/or pruning, and about the field of flax Scott still has to take off, although the snow won't stay long and there will surely be an opportunity to get the harvest in. We did get about two inches of precipitation though, before the snow, and that doesn't help.
I've booked a flight to Kelowna for the end of the month (thanks for the air miles, Pop! I didn't want to spend money on travel when I'm not working, although that is the best time to take a trip, isn't it — when you don't have to hurry to get there and back in a finite number of days) and Joan just texted that she is already making up the guest room for me. It's too bad our sister Karen won't be there at the same time, as it is such a pleasure for the three of us to be together, but her plans and mine haven't meshed this fall. She and her hubby are going at Christmas, while I avoid air travel in winter (long delays sat in planes on tarmacs while they de-ice the wings is not for me); but I've offered to house-sit with her three small dogs while they're away. Christmas, to me, has become a day like any other and I'm not sentimental about it, though I have fond memories of family Christmases in the distant past. I'll think of my week at Karen's as my Margo Retreat, when I'll have many opportunities to go and see relatives and old friends during the time I'm alone there.
Even though Margo is only 20 minutes down the road, I go there infrequently. One afternoon this week I went to Karen's to get some cheesecloth (to strain the motherwort tincture I made), and hoped the two of us might go into the village and to Mom's grave in the cemetery on its periphery. Karen had already been to town that day so instead we had a cup of coffee and a good long chat at her place, looking through the glass of her picture window at the lake upon which floated dozens of gulls and Canada geese. When I left, I hesitated a long time at the corner where I finally turned toward home, rather than toward Margo, which was tugging hard at my heartstrings. Home is home, I guess, and always will be. But I made the "sensible" choice and came home to GGFarm before dark descended and moose and deer would be more of a danger on the roads.
Snow! Oh Kate, today is like summer here in the south of Ontario, mild, sunny. There was a time though... the first time I moved north, around 1971 we had snow the first week of October. All the leaves were still on the trees, and many of the branches and young trees snapped and were destroyed. Usually though, the bad weather held off until into November. Glad you are philosphic about it. A trip to Kelowna helps to take the bite out of the white stuff!
ReplyDeleteMy friend Derek was a very funny guy, and he observed that even shit can command a price, but snow, you can't sell it!
Snow's beauty does not have the same impact in October.
ReplyDeleteI gagged when the CBC forecast a Winter Storm Advisory last night. Holy cow it's way too early for snow! Hopefully it won't show up here anytime soon. Take care and keep warm.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the weather out here on the edge but your post reminds me that the white stuff is lurking and shedding in old Sask. I love you descriptions of the sister get togethers.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW