This summer was definitely a busy one. I do love every moment of summer – the visitors from near and far, the joy of showcasing Canadian wool, workshops on an almost daily basis and a weekly knit night. Plus all of the hoops and challenges in setting up the new wool pellet operation. The downside to such a busy summer? I never once dipped my toes in the ocean or walked on the beach. We only enjoyed a supper out a couple of times – although I did manage to savour one delish lobster roll!
So, instead, what I do is grab those tiny moments of enjoyment, notice and appreciate the littlest things!
Never in my wildest imagination did I envision having such fun with Gracie and Lilly – the chickens we rent from Barnyard Organics. For about 5 months, I can look out the kitchen window and see their chonky little selves pecking for bugs and enjoying the sunshine. Every morning when I head out to clean their coop and give them their breakfast, they chatter away at me. As summer went on, they demanded more and more love, coming to the upper level of their coop and wanting to be stroked and cuddled. Today was our last day with Gracie and Lilly – they are headed to their winter accommodations. I was planning to go out and take a pic of these silly girls before Mark and Sally picked them up but time got away on me.
photo courtesy of Barnyard Organics
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our family of pet crows – Clayton, Clarissa and their young ones. We watched as the parents taught the young crows how to hunt. At first, the mom would find insects and feed them to the babies. But it was fascinating to see how, later on, she would find a bug (with the babies watching), show it to the babies and then eat it – no matter how much the youngsters were begging! Occasionally, we would give them a treat and, in the heat of the summer, we had a large bowl of water out for them to enjoy. In return, we would receive a variety of gifts – a marble, an acorn, a sparkly rock and once a silk flower!
As I would head to the studio in the morning or back to the house for a fresh cup of coffee, I always kept an eye out for the fat little bumblebees who were enjoying the apple blossoms or the dandelions and clover in the lawn. And as fall approached, spotting the woolly bear caterpillars always brings a smile.
Of course, there was special time spent with family – getting to meet Zayne, my first great-nephew who lives in Ottawa and welcoming Oliver, a new great-nephew who shares a birthday with Zayne exactly one year apart. Watching my great-niece Charlotte take on the new role of older sister to Oliver. And truly enjoying the delightful young adults that my nieces and nephews have become – although I admit it is sometimes hard to believe that they are no longer kidlets. There was an incredibly sad goodbye, too, as my brother passed just days after a two-week visit home. But we are so thankful to have had that time with him.
As we approach Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada, it’s just so important for me to remember that a joyful life isn’t made up of bit splashy occasions like European vacations, it’s found in the small moments like taking a slightly longer route home from a meeting so that I can see the spectacular fall colours. It’s enjoying evenings at home knitting with a fur-beast in my lap.
I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving filled with joy, love and peace.
RSS Feed