A Better Morning at the Cottage

Good morning!
It’s a better morning after when you didn’t load a truck the day before, just saying. I found muscles that didn’t know they were still part of my body Monday, but today they’ve agreed to stop whining if I’ll promise to never move again.

Unfortunately a long truck awaits me this day to unload at the farm. Yesterday was a wonderful day of workshops, client meetings and teaching, and a fantastic concept called “relaxing” when I got home. We’ve not seen much of that lately.

It doesn’t matter how much work this is, when you wake up to a sunrise across the meadows, and hear the morning lulls of the neighbors cows, we simply know we made the right choice again.
Our berry happy cottage faces east so sunrises are spectacular. I love seeing the streams of light move across the grasses and to see the hardwood shadows become visible like a giant who has been slumbering and slowly stands back up after a night’s rest.
Our two bunnies had been the caretakers of the farm while humans were absent, and now they have decided we are simply part of the wildlife here. Feller talks trash about rabbit stew but he is the very one who will plant them a separate lettuce and cabbage patch next spring. He knows how much I love seeing them find it and enjoy it.

I got to spend some early morning moments today with my friend Brooke at Farmhouse 1820 in New York State. She’s a fun friend who is a blogger too. She’s building a house this summer out of windows for a green house, you’ll enjoy her words too. https://farmhouse1820.com/building-a-diy-backyard-garden-house/
This morning we continue to work on the cottage, and a rare trip out to pick up supplies near Tulsa. (Feller said he’s not sure what he needs but he’s sure we need a trip to town…anything to avoid the unloading…) no actually we have something to pick up so we’ll work doubly hard first to unload the truck.
I stopped at Spavinaw Creek yesterday just to take in the beauty.

I drive by it most days I teach in other spaces, but I had never walked out to the bridge to see it all. Spavinaw runs through several locations near us but this one is so very beautiful as I come home from Gravette.

The Ozarks are full of hidden treasures and I discovered a log cabin down the Creek yesterday. It was like finding a hidden paradise that some settler built long ago. I’d love to know its story, of someone settling and hewing logs so near the creek. It is perched where it continually sees the falls and the stream must have been refreshing as they worked. It made my heart smile to see that someone at least uses it as a vacation cabin, for the garden bed was tended.
It’s a rare privilege that the second half of your life becomes as exciting as the first in my mind. We’re not guaranteed a day past today, so I plan to make the most of it…cottages without walls and all.

Last night we had homemade fresh vegetable soup in the instapot on the countertop in the kitchen. I have a hot date with it tonight after working all day. I thought it might be nice to come home from church to a ready to serve meal with simply heating it up. I am so appreciative of the table top oven too, now that we have it home. Nothing is put together, just batching it until the joists are finished, but this bride is much happier with a countertop and a coffeepot plus hot water kettle. It may be foolish to have it this way, but I’ll be the fool, and happier for mornings with coffee and warm food. Hopefully we’ll be ready to install the cabinets soon.
Feller brought home 15 lbs of apples yesterday, he thinks he’ll have time to dry or can them this weekend. That would be him, this girl simply loves the work he creates. He’s good at both canning and at dehydrating things, so we’ll see what he does with this batch. (anything to get out of laying floor joists in the harder room ) We’ll love the applesauce, apple preserves and canned apples for pie later though.
We’re moving closer to installing the kitchen. 

I made ham and vegetable hash with fried eggs last night for the home crowd and they were appreciative. Fast food and sandwiches get old after several weeks of dealing. The grill isn’t here, and we don’t do microwaves, so it’s been an adventure.

What are you doing today?  Inquiring cows want to know. What is working in your world? I love seeing my friend Jill’s painting that she’s creating in Covid times (and now has been chosen for shows!) I appreciate my chef friends who are preparing meals for others and for the volunteers who are sewing masks for teachers. The kind things we do somehow helps balance this hard season. Don’t forget to be kind to yourself too!
Personally, it’s time for me to get after it, that truck has been calling for mercy to unload the stuff in it, they do enjoy adding charges by the day, and it’s time to figure out where we’re going to put all the stuff Mr Berry needs to have here (of course none of the extra is MY stuff..my things are NECESSITIES.. . Hope you have a great day!
~ Sweetie!