Weekend, Snow, PT

Saturday we had choir practice at 1pm, which went pretty well. Then some folks went home and others went to the party at the M&Ms. We went there too, via Ingleside Mall -- finally made it to the post office to check the box there, and needed to return slippers (wrong size). It was lovely hanging out and chatting with various people about, well, nearly everything. Got talked into doing some singing... Em wanted to do Sicut Cervus, which we're doing pretty well with, but not after having cheese, eggnog, and doing it in a poorly lit room... we crashed and burned a few times, then insisted on singing something else, and entertained with pieces we have more confidence in. Stayed longer than we should have -- was completely exhausted the next morning. But it was fun.

Sunday morning, made myself go down to the sugarhouse, and the temperature kept me up and moving :) I'm making a point of going down there any day we have weather and roads that allow it. Some spots were a little tricky to navigate, but as long as I wasn't in a hurry it was fine. We need to get most of the stuff we have in the sugarhouse to the barn, apartment, trash or recycling by first part of February at the latest -- need the space for sugaring. Also, if we have a particular type of winter/spring, we'll want to minimize what gets wet (flooding happens -- rare, but it happens). L had hay to load, but moved some things between loads.

Also, the trips are part of my getting more exercise. The nice scenery going back and forth doesn't hurt either ;)

Once the last load was on the truck, along with a few pallets for one of the customers, we took off for ellid's place. She was having a little gathering, and we got to meet xrian in person. Another lovely afternoon, and we got to see the beautiful socks she's been knitting. I've never made socks but I picked up a few books on them this year as it seems like a useful thing to be able to do -- and a small enough project that I might actually do it. And of course L could make the socks in the books -- more knitting experience, and anyway it involves string, so of course he understands how it all works :D

sorcieredeneige and I got to chat a bit, both at the gathering and outside by her car as she was getting ready to leave. She's been reading a book she got at Yule called 6,000 Years of Bread. Fascinating stuff, but she's still stumped on what types of grain and yeast were available in medieval times. Which is to say, wheat today is not like wheat in the 14th century (or earlier!). Spelt is supposed to be one of the older varieties, but we've both known that for years. She posted some questions on bread regarding this sort of thing to the EK Cooks list, but no response. I suspect the information will be difficult to find... bread is such a common everyday thing... so often the things we take for granted as known aren't written down. And historically speaking, I'd think the only way we'd really know the difference in the grains is if someone found some at an archeological dig and did an analysis of some sort.

We talked a bit about other things that were different, like butter, sweeteners, etc. (diet of animals, methods/recipes, material availabilities, trade...) Then she really had to go, as she had a wake to attend.

Got home earlier than Saturday, L kindly browned the ground beef for me, and we took the evening easy.

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Today, have PT this morning! Yay! In 9 inches of snow, and still falling!!

But, while we're down in Northampton, maybe we can stop over at Webs, so I can get some yarn to replace the stuff that's currently packed ever so safely away...

Tonight, staying home nice and safe. No pajama party with movies in Holyoke -- I simply don't have the staying power for that level of activity, with so many people. Next Saturday is EK 12th Night, so I need to save up for that.

PT, Webs, Snow

fitzw was out clearing off the car, digging out, etc., for about an hour this morning. Then we got stuck briefly getting out of the door yard (he thinks the car acted like a plow when we were backing up, carrying some snow along). But he cleared the snow away and we went down the driveway where, as we approached the end of it we could see the town had plowed across the end... so we looked both ways, and he kept up momentum to bull our way through the couple of feet of snow pack. It was a little iffy but we made it, and then the roads from town on out were all sanded/salted (the more enviro-safe calcium stuff), so the rest of the trip was fairly uneventful. All the woods look absolutely gorgeous, of course, and I always enjoy seeing the snow-capped river stones, with the dark water running by them.

PT was challenging and good. There are still limits to what I'm allowed to do until after the 7th, but we're going for everything we can get in the range-of-motion department, and some gentle resistance work.

Then off to Webs, where I got some of the half-bleached 20/2 linen for a future project -- it's on sale, and their linen is almost never on sale. And, we replaced the wool yarn for our crane bags, as there's no knowing when we'll find the stuff we originally bought. Now I'm all set to alternate between weaving and painting. *happiness*

Probably only another 1/2" of snow fell after the initial 9" L measured this morning, but it's been very lightly snowing a good part of the afternoon. Tomorrow is when the next serious batch is supposed to come in -- anywhere from 6" to 12", depending on which forecast you hear/read.

Tomorrow I can weave, paint, and maybe do a little organizing in the southwest room and other indoor spaces. And snow viewing. No, I don't get tired of it. We've had so little snow the past few years, and snow viewing is one of my favorite winter activities, indoors or out. This year's winter is like the winters we used to have in the 70s. It may have its hardships, but it has its blessings too.