Gehring Road

where i blog about the snow... again... i'm sorry.

One of the strangest occurrences that come with near constant snow is the absolute change in landscape that occurs right out the window... I simply have never seen this much snow.  Here in Connecticut we have about 4 feet of snow on the ground, more continues to fall and the snow piles are at about 6 feet on our deck (that was done to prevent the roof from collapsing... imagine the irony if the deck collapses... I've had those thoughts...). I'm not going to do a before and after because quite frankly, I might cry looking at pictures of grass and no snow.  So I'll just share the tundra that is our home in things disappearing...

 ...like the weathervane on the garage... I think it's pointing South... that might be a good suggestion...

 ...the chiminea... 

  ... the grill...

 ...the trees... and sort of the garage...

 ...the front hedge...

 ...the deck and the trellis...

All this should be covered with a lovely coating of ice coming during the day tomorrow... we're told to expect 1/2 to 3/4 inch of accumulation... sigh... frustrating I tell you, frustrating.  I hope that where you are, you are safe and out of the elements.  Good thing the groundhog will be unable to crawl out of his hole and see his shadow tomorrow, there is a light at the end of this tunnel.  Spring must be around the corner. Happy Tuesday. 

the one where I didn't blog about the snow...

The sun actually did come out after Wednesday's storm... and so did I, eventually.  Our school was actually open the next day, though I wasn't there... I was chipping and hauling the three foot bank of slush, ice and mud left at the bottom of our recently cleared driveway.  I have little recollection of where all that snow went... anywhere I could put it. I've discovered that I also have a block when it comes to writing about the events of those days... I took hundreds of pictures... some video... and they're here if you have a curiosity to see overwhelming piles and banks of snow. I have trouble summing it up... Rob away, using a snowblower to get through thirty plus inches of snow, starting the snowblower with the aid of said Rob who was across the country in Seattle, the unrelenting wind, the fear of the power lines coming down, the unbelievable cold, kind of sums it up.  I was outside to shovel/plow/clear at least ten times... that barely kept up with the snow.  We spent a few hours on Saturday cleaning up the lessons learned during my snow blowing.  I have bruises.  Tomorrow sounds like it might be another... accompanied by ice.  I will sew tomorrow, not (as I did on Wednesday read nervously, tend the fire and make a very bad batch of chili) glance out the window worried and incredulous. I will glance outside and wonder at this time of year, but the Rob is home and that truly does make it (and a lot of things) so much better.  I have reached my weather related posts quota my friends, let's hope Connecticut gets a breather!  Here are some images from that day...

comfort

New Year's Day Cherry Pie... it was as good as it looks...

Rob is away for work.  It is January in New England.  Yesterday we had the last of two different storms in twenty-four hours roll through.  This morning's (second solo) snow removal was accompanied by an angry North wind.  I couldn't help thinking, as I cleared the driveway and dodged that mean wind, that it would be impossibly wonderful to curl up in the house in front of the fire and forget the snow, forget the need to leave the house at all... with a piece of Rob's cherry pie.  Comfort. The cherry pie Rob made for New Year's day at my parents' is long gone, but apparently not forgotten... feast your eyes...

... that filling goodness was piping hot when the picture was snapped.  If I didn't need my fingers for work, I would have gladly suffered the third degree burns to taste it when it surfaced from the oven. So good.  What's not good... the weather. This is the punishing time of year when the wind blown snow that one is currently shoveling takes aim at the few inches of exposed skin and just pummels... that brings out the complainer in me.  I look to creature comforts... oh pie, how we miss you... to get through. Rob's Cherry Pie was a recipe from our favorite Cook's Illustrated. In the meantime, we wait patiently for our pie maker to make his way home, watch episodes of Pushing Daisies on Netflix (watching shows in part about pies might be torture, but so is shoveling so it's in season) while taking pictures of the most beautiful snow... from inside the house... 

... Kylie (who has been glued to my side since she saw Rob leave the house - suitcase in hand) and I wish you a very comfort filled weekend, and a lovely start to the week! I'm off to sew some, and rest my aching back... I'm lift-from-the-knees challenged. 

early fall outside

I'm just in love with this season... the changes happening just outside are stunning, exciting and oh, so welcome. Since my last busy and frenetic post, much has changed... celebrations happened, family visited, dinners were cooked, boxes of kleenex were consumed, harvests were canned, and now a lovely little calm has settled in our little world. A welcome change indeed. There's a crispness in the air today. We've taken down the garden, though the peppers continue to surprise us and one last eggplant waits to be picked.  The chimney was cleaned in anticipation of the fires that will be lit and enjoyed. While we feather this nest (the painting continues, a couch has been spotted and decided on) and the annual colds and sniffles arrive, I'm trying to take it all in and enjoy the process... of change, improvement and the familiarity of this most wonderful season. Happy fall to you, hope it finds you loving all that surrounds you. 

harvesting

  

  

    

    

    

    

    

We ventured off to Wright's Farm, a little orchard right down the road from us today (if you're lucky enough to live near this lovely little corner of New England, visit! The dried flowers are something to see...) picking the beginnings of our apple harvest.  A bit early indeed.  As were the pumpkins and gourds that we contemplated buying... soon.  Instead we're making tomato soup for dinner and possibly to can... and dreaming of the apple sauce, pie filling, and jam that will be made to keep us through the long winter. I've been thinking of doing a little post on our methods while canning.  I love your questions, thanks for asking how we go about things! Can't wait to share. The weather has taken a bit of a turn, just a bit... bright blue skies and just the hint of fall... I love this time of year.  

the colors of summer

We've been taking a very brief wall color break to enjoy some of the colors of summer...  

 

... even more tomatoes from the garden, few of these actually make it into the house ...

 

... roses potted and loving the back deck...

 

... the most fragrant thing in the garden... our fennel...

   

... our most unexpected triumph, melon from the garden...

   

... pesto and fresh pasta, our latest obsession...

 

... an absolute bounty of cucumbers...

 

... corn from Connie and Chip's garden...

 

 

... light and the rosebud...

   

... eggplant that turned into the most amazing dinner...

 

... blueberries in pancakes, sometimes we have this for dinner... delicious...

As you know, I adore summer... as I adore color, even though the search for the perfect grey for the bedroom alludes me. Right now I'm in a mood to hang on to these last days of summer, I so wish the end of summer and transition into what is my very favorite time of year (fall in New England, it really is an experience) didn't have such negative connotations, but alas, it does for now.  I think this year needs to be an exploration into why that is and if it should be.  In the meantime, my preparations for the coming season have begun.  I just got my copy of Amy Butler's Style Stitches and of course, found a new bag that so needs to be made for the coming year. More on that soon.  In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying all that is around you and embracing all that is to come.  Happy Thursday to you! 

this moment

this moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soulemama. Happy Weekend!

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how does our garden grow

The emergence of that hammock signifies summer to me... and I simply love summer. Have I mentioned that here before? Maybe once or a dozen times, I know... I can't wait to show you my view (usually book, dog, trees, sky) from that hammock... lovely. The emergence of really everything in the garden is what we're loving about summer right now. Here's what is coming up...

 

... garlic and shallots just pulled today...

 

... eggplants! We're so excited about this...  

 

...early black raspberries... already tasty...

 

... sweet baby zucchini's (and plenty of them!)

   

... tiger lilies up close and in focus... loving the new camera...

A very happy Solstice to you, I hope it finds you loving what is around you and enjoying the emerging season. Have a lovely weekend! 

around here...

 

Lavender from the herb garden... 

It was a mere second after I took this shot for this post that my camera slipped out of my hand and landed with a sickening crack on the floor in the loft.  A few weeks after Rob's slipped out of his bag and onto the floor with a similar result. So, this weekend we found ourselves camera-less and not quite ready to purchase the DSLR that is in our future.  Regardless of the big fancy camera that we end up choosing (if you have suggestions or warnings about cameras in your life, please share!) we've always thought we would have a point and click for work trips and hikes and other small camera preferable moments.  A new little Canon Powershot (SX 210 IS for those into that kind of thing...not me!) has entered our lives, and I'm in love... 

 

the detail captured (and focus!) are easy to get used to...

 

 

 

... Rob's home-made pasta and bolognese sauce... 

 

... and chocolate cookies... I know, I'm spoiled...

The camera so far has been fantastic... and it has been such fun to capture all the goings on of the weekend.  Rob found his way home from a work trip, as you can see plenty of cooking happened and plenty of pictures were taken of one very content Jack Russell.  Happy start to the week to you all and I'm loving this Monday! 

window out

I know this is the scene for many on the East Coast this weekend... I love the sounds of the fire and dinner being prepared in the background! We're lucky in that our 10 degrees is accompanied by the sun at least.  This was taken just a few minutes after the pictures from yesterday's post... how quickly things change! There are many little changes (mostly organizational) happening here and some big changes in the lives of people I love too... change seems to be a constant.  Hope you're weathering all of the changes of the season, whatever that may mean for you and yours.  Happy weekend (again) to all.