Monthly Archives: December 2017

A White Christmas – Barely

Posted on December 26, 2017 by amanandhishoe

Christmas morning dawned with the faintest covering of snow. Certainly there was no inch of snow by 7 a.m. to make it an official white Christmas. There isn’t even enough snow to cover a chicken’s toe. Just enough snowflakes to … Continue reading →

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Art Unintended

Posted on December 24, 2017 by amanandhishoe

When we installed solar panels on the garage a few years ago, I didn’t realize we were installing an art piece. On frosty mornings, it’s a beautiful slab of ice, a metaphor for the transient nature of all things. By … Continue reading →

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Happy Solstice

Posted on December 21, 2017 by amanandhishoe

This year’s winter solstice arrives on a clear, cold, icy morning. 8:28 a.m. is the magic moment when the sun reached its lowest point in the sky for this year. You would think the earth would shudder and groan at … Continue reading →

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Patterns Erased, Patterns Revealed

Posted on December 17, 2017 by amanandhishoe

There is something calming about a stack of firewood. Each time I slice through the logs and remove a section of wood, new patterns emerge. It’s like watching Tibetan monks erasing an elaborate Mandala, only in slow motion. Every few … Continue reading →

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Royalty on Display

Posted on December 14, 2017 by amanandhishoe

The Prunus subhirtella is in bloom … delicately. From fall into early spring, this cherry is a pleasant reminder of what spring will bring. On a warm, sunny, December day, King Richard struts his stuff. Have a few roosters, and … Continue reading →

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The Play of Sunrise and Sunset

Posted on December 12, 2017 by amanandhishoe

The sun is sitting low in the sky these days, casting long shadows all day long. We’ve reached that curious stage when the sunset is the earliest it will be this winter, and in five more days, the sun will … Continue reading →

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Frosty Mornings

Posted on December 7, 2017 by amanandhishoe

Stepping outside these mornings is a trip into magic. Clear days, clear nights, create the perfect conditions for frost to spin its white web over everything. In one of the hoop houses, the young chickens have a warm place to … Continue reading →

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When Does Winter Start?

Posted on December 6, 2017 by amanandhishoe

When does winter start? There is the date on the calendar marking the start of winter, but really, once all the leaves are off the trees, it is winter. By the time swans are waddling over the fields, it is … Continue reading →

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The Rain Lifts, the Sun Returns

Posted on December 3, 2017 by amanandhishoe

After twenty five days of rain, drizzle, and clouds, and minimal sunlight, this morning’s sky is different. The pink clouds aren’t threatening to pour down rain. There are no puddles in the driveway. By afternoon, the soft winter sunlight is … Continue reading →

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Of Dreams and Shame

Posted on December 1, 2017 by amanandhishoe

The first step to making tofu is to soak the beans. Though what is happening is much more profound. The destiny of any bean is to grow, to find a spot in the earth, drink in the moistness of the … Continue reading →

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