A beautiful day

     When I was younger I didn't live so much in the moment - always worrying about choices, relationships - the good ones and the bad ones, finances or lack of them, my young family's safety, health, the list goes on and on. While I'm still and always will be a chronic worrier,  ( Heck, I just stopped having "I didn't do my homework" dreams about five years ago)  I have learned with age to live far more of my life in the moment.  And... I don't give as much of a f*ck about trying to please everyone all the time, or even if someone likes me.  I have finally come to that place where I know in my heart of hearts I am a decent soul and I like me... maybe even love me.  Sounds silly, but that knowledge comes hard to some of us, and maybe you know the woe.  This was a day when I sat completely comfortable with myself and content with my life's direction. 

    Yesterday it seems everyone in New England was out and about, enjoying the beautiful 🌺SPRING🌸  day - temps reached 61 degrees!   On the road, some of my fellow Jeepers had their tops off and down at Stella, island folks were beginning the Spring ritual of opening up and airing out their cottages.  My daughter and I spent some time at the show barn with Leah - and I got to take her for a spin around the block a few times myself. 

  As I watched my daughter go 'round the ring practicing for the first show of the season, the warm sun beaming down on our faces, I was reminded again of all she has overcome, how lucky we are to have these experiences after all.   

    After time well spent at the barn, I headed down to the cottage where the Mr. was working with two of his crew to replace the split railing we initially installed at the waterfront.  When sitting on the blue stone patio, what greeted  seated folks at eye level were  clunky cedar beams.  It was a nice rustic look but took away from the water views.  So we've installed wire which will keep people from falling over but doesn't block the view.  It's almost invisible. as you can see in this photo. 

   We were so pleased with the effect, we decided to take the waterfront railing section  of the deck out and replace it with the same wire.  We have a lot of summer meals up on that little deck and the view now when seated will be a much fuller waterfront scene. That deck comes in handy as a "playpen" for Frasier and Sally as well - they are safe up there with a gate at the stairs, and someday the same will be true when and if we're blessed with grandchildren. 

     We brought some dirt from the farm down to the shore - we'll spread it in the waterfront part of the little yard to fortify the grass and level the footing some.  If you can believe it,  M wants to plant a little vegetable garden down there as well as the one I keep here on the farm.  The bunnies are prolific on the island-really-a-peninsula,  he'll have to put a little fencing up if we are to eat any of that produce. 

   

Frasier, Sally and I took a walk  after inspecting the new fencing... we are on a cove in the Long Island Sound - which you can see in the distance here.  The crocus have arrived!   And they tell me the peepers too, and while I can't hear the actual thing, I hear peepers 24/7 with the tinnitus and hearing loss, go figure - 😂

  I can usually find at least one piece of seaglass on each walk.  This one was a very pale blue, my favorite color.

The water hasn't been turned on yet so the cottage can't be given a thorough Spring cleaning, bed linens aren't re-washed or beds made  until April 15th or so, when the water is turned back on.   We don't spend too much time here until then, no toilets!   The new gas stove does a fantastic job of heating up the space when the nip in the air needs tucking.   Sally approves. 

    When the chill came in off the water with the setting sun I came home to feed the horses and chickens and clean the new chicks water for the tenth time.  Have I mentioned how piggy chicks are?  All doing well, by the way.  The  good weather had us all in high spirits, and it was evident in the people we encountered throughout the day, too.   I always hope that kindred spirit spreads far and wide. Wouldn't it be awesome to have a blanket of good will to cover this entire planet - think of all the problems we could solve, what a wonderful world this could be if only.   It was a restorative kind of day that I sorely needed.   Today I'm wishing the same for  you - 

 Till soon - 

Karen 🌷

Heated Exchange

      When we bought Stella two years ago, she had been much loved by the previous owner but also neglected. We kept all the rustic charm, she is still a very 1930's summer cottage, but the things that really needed fixing got fixed and an interior wall was removed so that the tiny  kitchen was open to the seating area that looks out over the cove.  For more details, search the Once Upon a Tide post labels where you'll find posts on her restoration. 

       At the door to the back deck was the only source of heat,  a gas operated heating stove, one we couldn't use because it didn't vent to the outside and so the odor from the burning gas flooded Stella's small interior. A few days ago we had a new one installed with a vent pipe that goes through the roof.  It still needs to be hooked up, but it will be a beautiful sight to see on chilly spring, summer and fall evenings when we want to take the nip out of the air inside the cottage. 

 The original... 

The new model

      The cottage and surrounding island , or what's really a peninsula despite it's name,  have a different vibe in winter months for the obvious reasons - and the cold inside the cottage is bone chilling.  The unmade beds, empty refrigerator and food pantry underline and highlight it.  When we began Stella's re-do, she was infested with rodents - mice droppings fell from the curtain tops and were embedded in the toaster left from the previous occupant.  There were nests in the seat cushions.  These things in particular freaked the Mr. right out, so he made sure she is now almost airtight, and we don't have meese in the rafters or the cushions or the toaster anymore. 

  While the guys were installing the new stove, I took a walk around with camera. 

 Stella from the road

 ... and from the waterfront 

    Meanwhile, we've had some glorious sunsets that 

I've captured with the good camera here on the farm

   As I type this, it's snowy-raining outside and the horses and chickens are waiting for their breakfast -  Spring is just around the corner, you can see it in the light cast across the fields at the end of the day, in the diamond sparkles on the water.  Just don't look on the ground, where there's still some of the white stuff that doesn't scream spring.  Out into that stuff I go..... 

Off Season Island

     Yesterday Connecticut experienced the most glorious fall weather  -   Although my editorial job begged for attention at the computer, I just could not waste hours inside while outside was so gorgeous.... T-shirt weather even!   The leaves are peak, too.  🍁🍂So I put on my sneaks and drove down to our cottage, Stella by the Sea, to check on things after the recent heavy rainfalls and extreme high tides doused the landscape and burn off some fat cells (the never ending struggle). 

   Stella on the right was just fine - water turned off, lines flushed so no pipes will freeze during frigid winter months.  She's covered in acorns and oak leaves, the spent perennials need attention, but that's a clean up chore for another day. 

  

   A few of the  geraniums are still thriving, sorta hate to just leave them there to die. I did bring home one small pot and placed it among my houseplants, we'll see how it overwinters. 

  

   After inspections I walked the winding roads of the "island" , which is actually more of a peninsula, to  take in the fall splendor.  Truly the shoreline is never more beautiful than when cloaked in autumn golds, reds and yellows.  I wish I could shower you with the sweet scent of fallen leaves and  woodsmoke  as you browse these photos.   There's just a tinge of sadness, to see the chairs and picnic tables sitting empty, the boats tucked away, the window shades pulled down, curtains drawn, bikes stored in sheds, boat racks empty.  Even the summer chicken coop in one cozy cottage abandoned till next year. There are many flowers still in bloom, but the original planters who enjoy them all summer are long gone.  The little vegetable gardens abandoned too. 

   Below is an old outhouse located just across the road from Stella - once used by the occupants of  the  cottages before indoor plumbing. Now home to various critters in need of shelter.

        I've heard the same sentiment shared  over and over again from the "old timers" in this little  300 acre cottage community.  While it's been a waterfront  farm in the same family for over 300 years, since the late 1800's  the camp Tents, and eventually  cottages in the 1930's -  arrived to help the family support the farm.  This no frills little place with two coves on long island sound in the Atlantic  has brought so much peace to so many.  In these difficult times when I'm feeling really discouraged about the  fate of humanity if we can't find our way to unity, Stella has come to the rescue time and again.  Yesterday was no exception. 

    Thank you for your comments, I always appreciate that you give moments of your precious time to share with me.  May we all find our way back to Peace on Earth in the little ways we're capable. 

Purple Mushrooms

   Did you know there was such a thing?  Purple mushrooms?  In all my years of trudging through the woods on horseback or with dogs, I did not.  A local friend who goes mushroom hunting on a regular basis  posted a few pictures recently, and I was amazed!  Purple Mushrooms?  What? 

    The bullshittery that is occurring in Washington has me (and a zillion other people)  on edge lately, and the best way I know how to  get away from all the nonsense is to get out in nature - put my face to the wind on the water or take a hike in the woods with the dogs.   Yesterday I left the dogs behind to avoid their tread on what I was looking for, and went exploring in the woods behind our farm - in search of the elusive Purple Mushroom.   I knew the odds would be in my favor after the recent 8.5 inch rainfall in our area.  I kid you not - local roads were flooded, some caved in due to rivers run amok adjacent to them... driveways washed out, a local restaurant with a river alongside it had water on it's first floor, water coming in the windows - it was that crazy. )   Seems our weather is becoming more extreme with each year - this past winter brought unrelenting cold, then the summer held unrelenting humidity - and now crazy amounts of rainfall as autumn slides in. 

  The hunt!... 

And the discovery.... for me it was almost like finding a unicorn

out there in the forest... and yet apparently, they are fairly common. 

I was downright giddy. 

 I also spent a little time with my face to the wind on the water

with my niece, S. on Saturday.  

If you love the water but have never tried Kayaking,

I highly recommend it. The practice is a soul soother - 

you can go at your own pace - 

a lake, a pond, a river, a cove, the ocean - any will do. 

The typical boat does not cost a fortune, can be stored in a garage

or out near the woodpile and will

last you a lifetime with basic care. 

My 74 year old Aunt still enjoys it, too . With a little planning

and practical caution the practice is ageless and the exercise

is good for you, body and soul. 

I hope all is well in your neck o'the woods - 

🍁Happy Fall!