Merry Christmas. I wish you love, joy, peace, and rest for the holiday season.
I will be back in 2026 with more projects and more updates from the farm.
Happy Christmas
Category Archives: Country life
Finishing up the fall to-do list
December has arrived–and with it our first significant snowfall. That means time is up on my fall to-do list.
Winter came on fast this fall. I was waiting for all the leaves to fall from the trees before I cleaned the eavestroughs. Then temperatures turned cold. Weather got rainy (causing unfortunate hair-dos for Hair-Do) and then snow.
I cleaned the eavestroughs, but it involved a jug of hot water and a chisel. I turned off the last outside tap when temperatures were already below freezing. I dealt with some new to-dos, like resetting our mailbox post after it was knocked over by a street racer and setting up a cat house for Cedar who persists in hanging out under the lilac in the front flowerbed rather than in the barn.
“Inside is for wimps.”
“Never mind. This inside is perfect. I’ll stay here. Thanks.”
I also checked a bunch of smaller tasks off the list and tackled some (not all) of the tasks on my main fall to-do list. Here’s how I did.
Coop
The coop felt like the biggest task–and the most critical. I did pretty well here.
Clean out the pens – Done.
Put in fresh straw – Done. The chickens will keep getting new layers of fresh straw throughout the winter.
Patch drafts in the walls – Done.
Patch leaks in the roof – Not done. We had some big rains in the fall and the coop stayed dry, so I’m crossing my fingers that will hold for the winter. I’m hoping to revisit the roof in the spring.
Clean up scrap wood – Half done. (The smaller pile, of course.)
Set up a designated straw area – Done
Barn grading
This task was my biggest fail. Fortunately, it’s not a critical pre-winter task, so it’s moving over to the spring to-do list.
Remove old fence post – Done.
Remove bush – Half done.
Spread dirt – Not done.
Driveshed siding
Done.
Mowing
No photo evidence. Done.
Brush chipping
No photo evidence. Done. I’ve already started rebuilding the brush pile.
Swallow shutter
Spot the assistant.
Swallow shutter – Done. (It’s definitely not a shutter, but the broken window is covered.)
I feel pretty good about what I accomplished this fall. The birds, cat, barns, tractor, house, property have all had attention and hopefully we are all ready for winter.
How are your winter preparations going?
Odds & sods
Over the weekend we hosted Matt’s family for a pre-Christmas get-together. This gathering has been happening since Matt and I were dating–more than 25 years. Over that time, the family has changed. Four people have died. People have joined. Marriages have begun. Four babies have been born.
Family changes. There are losses and additions. Tragedy and joy. Friction and love. Family can be hard. But it’s worth it.
On Saturday, seeing these people playing, laughing, talking, eating, enjoying together was very special. It is definitely worth it.
Here are some other things from this month that are worth it.
I have a new niece! I knit this hat ages ago, and my Mom had it still, so it went to baby M. It’s such a cute baby girl design.
Another motivation to return to knitting, the Campaign for Wool Canada videos are so beautiful and inspiring.
I made these scones twice this month. They have the flavour of cinnamon buns with a fraction of the effort.
Our new bathroom is done! And it’s beautiful.
I love so much about this house. The small size. The traditional style. The colours.
A friend of mine posts beautiful thoughts of the day every morning. This one feels appropriate for a post talking about family, whether your family is two or many:
“A good relationship is just two people saying, “Hey life is hard, but I want to do it with you.” That’s it. It’s not a highlight reel… Love isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s just choosing each other again and again.”
I’m grateful my families (all of them) choose each other and value being together. It’s not always easy. But it’s worth it.
Odds & sods
Sometimes at night before I fall asleep, I play a little game with myself. I call it “Good Things That Happened.” As I lay in bed, I think back over my day and single out the good moments.
They can be as simple as my breakfast eggs, fresh from our chickens nicely cooked with perfectly runny yolks. They can be a hike with Cigo, a conversation with a friend, a fun adventure with Ellie, a get together with family.
Big and small, these moments are all good things. Taking a moment to celebrate them helps me appreciate my days, the people around me and my life.
October was full of good things that happened. In this month of Thanksgiving, I encourage you to think about the good things in your life and in your day.
Here are some good things from this month.
Dates, bacon, mayo, sour cream and cheese might sound like an odd combination. But they made a tasty dip that was a hit at one of our Thanksgiving celebrations. The recipe came from this fun, funny cookbook.
While I’m on Thanksgiving recipes, this was (kind of) the recipe I used to cook our first homegrown turkey. Smitten Kitchen is my go-to for all things cooking. Her recipes are so well tested and reliable. The way she lays out how to do Thanksgiving makes all the cooking very manageable. (I also made her stuffing and gravy.)
Moving on to a different holiday, Ellie is going to be a skeleton for Halloween. I used these free bones for our pattern and this week will be sewing them on the pink pants and top we already made. (Ellie wanted to recreate a pink skeleton onesie she wore for her very first Halloween.)
Preparing for the worst is still on my mind. This book had some really good tips and thought-provoking stories.
“There’s a joy in being the best you can be… Today’s efforts make tomorrow’s dreams” Another profound, fun song from Jesse Welles. (On the subject of profound, listen to some of his protest songs. His writing is powerful.)
“It is absolutely necessary, for the peace and safety of mankind, that some of earth’s dark, dead corners and unplumbed depths be left alone.”
H.P. Lovecraft, At the Mountains of Madness, 1936, quoted in Alone Against the North by Adam Shoalts
I’m rounding out the month with a visit with a friend I haven’t seen in a dozen years, a return to teaching after our mid-term break last week, and of course Halloween. More good things.
What good things happened for you in October?
Odds & sods
September has kicked my butt. I’m teaching again and loving it again. But I have three classes plus a new course that I’ve never taught before. Setting up the courses, making my lessons, marking assignments feels like it’s taking all my time.
Add in fall and the looming spectre of winter and everything else that I have to do for the farm and it feels like a lot.
I don’t like to come here and complain. I’m grateful to have a job that works with my life and that I enjoy. I’m grateful to have an amazing girl that is so much fun. I’m grateful to have this special place that feels like a sanctuary most of the time. Also a big part of my to-do list, but most of the time a source of peace.
Amongst the busy-ness of the month here are some things that provided some breaks and distractions
I’ve never been into historical sewing, but Bernadette Banner is so engaging, entertaining and educational. All of her projects are super interesting, but Greensleeves is a standout.
Another favourite sewing personality, Emily Hallman, has returned to Instagram, and she’s as full of inspiration and motivation as ever.
Another great sewing resource that helped me figure out the bathroom shower curtain. Jann Newton has tutorials from beginner to advanced.
Despite how full my day is, I try to start with a hike with Cigo. I’ve added a weighted vest to my routine to try and up my fitness a bit more.
I am also still trying to prioritize care. This podcast really helped me adjust my habits, and even though my schedule has been super full, I’ve been doing a bit better on sleep.
This week is about teaching, marking, month-end for some of my client work and a much-needed haircut.
What was September like for you?
Fall to-do list
Fall is here. That means the clock in my head is ticking as I review the things-to-do-before-winter list.
Today, I’m getting that to-do list out of my head.
There are the usual winterizing tasks like putting away the mowers and patio furniture, turning off the outside water, stacking firewood (thanks to Matt’s Dad, his brother and nephew for all their work last weekend), taking off the window screens, cleaning the eavestroughs. But there are a few special additions too.
Coop
The most critical item on my list is the coop. I need to make sure the chickens are all safe and set for winter. Some of my tasks are basic, like clean out the pens and put in fresh straw (the turkey pen also needs cleaned, though they obviously don’t need fresh straw). Others are a little more involved like hunting down a few drafts in the walls and leaks in the roof and patching them. I also want to clean up the scrap wood that has been scattered around since I took down the old coop and set up a designated area for my bales of straw.
Barn grading
I have been slowly working my way around the barn for years, clearing brush from along the foundation and mowing closer and closer. I was able to get a few loads of dirt this summer from the landscaper who did our patio. He dumped them at one corner of the barn where the grade needs to be adjusted. The corner also held a bush, a wire fence and an old split rail fence. I’ve tackled most of the fence and have just one post left to pull. The bush needs a bit more time with the saw and perhaps a shovel. Then I need to spread the dirt and finally finish this corner.
Driveshed siding
Some time ago (I’m talking more than a year), I noticed some boards on the driveshed were in rough shape. Just how rough became obvious when Cigo got into the driveshed while the door was locked. I didn’t know where he was, called his name and he popped out through the wall. I blocked the hole with a piece of plywood, but I need to do a proper patch with actual siding.
Mowing
I’ve made good progress at clearing the septic bed and alongside our front field over the past few years. To keep them clear, I need to mow them a few times a year with our big rotary cutter. I’ve done them once, but I want to do one more cut. Given that I haven’t cut the main grass at all this month, this is perhaps a bit optimistic. I feel like I have one more mowing in me, and while I have the tractor out, surely I can hook up the big mower and get it done. Right?
Brush chipping
After I disconnect the rotary cutter, the next attachment in line is the wood chipper. As always, I have a brush pile. In previous years, this pile has grown extremely large. If I can chip once a year, the pile will stay under control.
Swallow shutter
My final task is back at the barn. I uncovered a broken window on the back of the barn in the spring, so that the swallows would be able to get into the barn to nest. It worked well, but I now need to close it back up. I’d like to make a shutter so I can open the window again next spring. However, in the interest of time and simplicity, my “shutter” may be a piece of plywood I screw in place for now.
While the clock in my head is ticking urgently, making me feel like I’m already behind, I’m reminding myself I have three months until winter officially arrives. Laying my tasks out here is one step and a helpful one. Now, I will get to work.
What’s on your fall to-do list?
Odds & sods
Summer is such a special time. It’s hard to feel it coming to an end.
Ellie and I had a campout on Saturday. Probably our last campout of the year. As I was packing up the tent yesterday, I thought to myself, “I hope Ellie remembers this when she’s older.”
I hope she remembers the things we did and the fun we had. I hope she feels like her Mom put in the effort to make things special for her. I hope she realizes how much I love her and that she’s the most important thing in my life.
The two phrases below came up in one of the books I read this summer. They fit with how I try to live my life and feel especially appropriate now.
Hora pars vitae. Every hour is a part of life.
The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton
Serius est quam cogitas. It’s later than you think.
Here are some other things I came across this summer
We are in the midst of our summer tradition of raising monarchs. We’ve released two butterflies so far and our last caterpillar changed into its chrysalis this weekend.
The lifestyle of the world’s oldest chicken.
Ellie’s fascination with Greek mythology continues, and we’ve been “Greeking Out” with this podcast. The Oracle of Wifi is hilarious.
Another summer read that I’ve been thinking of as I prepare to return to the classroom.
“Every young person has the potential to contribute. When we respect, honor, and support that potential through a combination of high standards and high support, then we motivate and inspire young people from all groups to reach higher, accomplish more, and make our society stronger.”
10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People by David Yeager
We are continuing to “do” summer through this last week. There will be a park, possibly a beach, and our annual tradition of a “fancy waffle.” The more ice cream and toppings the better.
How are you feeling about the end of summer holidays? Do you have any favourite summer memories?
Odds & sods
I love summer. We’ve had beach days, cottage days, home days, adventure days. We are doing our best to “do” summer, and we’re having so much fun.
This month’s round-up is outdoorsy, cottagey and summer-inspired.
If you’re able to give this video a watch, you’ll be using YouTube to plant a forest. (Please take a minute to watch the video.)
I have cottages on my mind after our annual getaway with my family. I love Sarah Richardson’s designs, and her “Island Rescue” project was fun to follow. I think the living room is my favourite space. Or maybe the kitchen.
My love of summer started at my grandparents’ cottage. This cottage is on the same lake that I grew up on.
This unique multi-generational home (not a cottage) was built just down the road from my grandparents’ property.
This book was a call to keep moving, keep adventuring. Just what we’re going to keep doing this summer.
“I was also being given a continual positive primate about aging… I learned that one’s advancing years can be a time of growth and revelation. You march boldly toward the setting sun, marveling at the golden hour, then the twilight, becoming happier and more confident with each step.”
Caroline Paul, Tough Broad
We’re finishing off July with swimming, paddling, camping and more summering. Lots of fun and love and joy.
How has summer been going for you? Are you a cottager, camper, beacher, other?
Odds & sods
The joys of June. Haying. Ellie’s first trip to Canada’s Wonderland. The birds, Cedar and Cigo. Bathroom progress. The end of school. Our solstice campout. A cottage weekend. Strawberries. Fireworks and a fair.
Here are some other things I’ve enjoyed this month.
In case it’s not clear, I fully embrace JOMO (Joy of Missing Out). Turns out, JOMO can help your finances as well.
I read two books this month that had me looking at everyday activities differently: Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell and Breath by James Nestor.
As we mark Canada Day (and Independence Day), I encourage you to reflect on what kind of person you are, what kind of country you want and what you can do to make that happen.
Another PSA. If you smoke, don’t throw a lit cigarette out your car window. A neighbour had a grass fire very similar to ours last week.
This video helped me figure out how to install the bathroom panelling. (Plus I love The Grit and Polish.)
Is this light too rustic? Or farm fabulous?
“Slow go the days. Fast go the years… Someday turns to right now. Right now turns to way back when. Man you better live ’em. Cause you won’t get ’em back again.”
Tim & The Glory Boys
We are fully into summer here and working on filling our days with all the love and joy we can. I wish the same to you.
Odds & sods
I feel like May disappeared. When our days are full, time flies, and our days are very full right now.
Turkeys, chickens, cats, birthdays, celebrations, family, friends, a new term of teaching, renovations, mowing the grass… again. There’s a lot going on. I achieved a very high level of productivity this month.
There were also special moments that can only happen here on the farm.
Ellie and I walked out to the trillium grove and took our annual pictures with the flowers. Flipping back over our years of photos brings up so many memories. She launched her kayak on the pond for the first time. I love seeing her confidence and capability–and being able to have such a cool experience at our own property.
On the weekend, I took a moment to look around me as Ellie swung on her swing set. I’m so proud of what we’ve created and grateful that we get to experience this special place.
In between the busy-ness, here are some of the things that caught my attention this month.
The power of places to create who we are and how we view the world
“She, an autonomous human being, made a choice. My apology would, in a way, accuse her of making the wrong one. In that moment, I chose to thank her instead.” 11 powerful phrases to stop over apologizing.
The cats are here to help manage rodents in the barn (and they’re fulfilling their end of the deal already). I’d like to protect the swallows and other birds. I’m trying to figure out if one of these bibs or collars would help.
On the topic of cats, anyone have experience with compostable kitty litter? I found some at the pet store but it is expen$ive. I hate adding kitty litter to my garbage every week.
This book is a very cool way to present ancient civilizations for kids.
We’re going to end the month as we went through the rest of it–full speed ahead. Temperatures are supposed to warm up, and hopefully this means the birds can move to the coop. This also means coop construction will finally be done. The cats got free range of the barn last week, so we have officially moved them out of the coop (although Maple was missing yesterday and we’re pretty worried). I’m also planning to be back in our bathroom, where the renovation is well underway (I’m so excited to share an update soon).
Home on 129 Acres 