Happy Full Moon!

The temperature finally wasn't below zero, so I got outside for a walk.  I think the dogs were a bit excited for the little adventure as well!  Out past the hives the colors of the berries and spruce trees stopped me mid walk.  I love seeing the natural palette of the world.  I bring my camera a lot, but only take a quarter of the pictures my eyes see.  Because no matter how hard we try to recreate something we see outdoors, it never comes close to the real thing.  And because of that, it's important for all of us to get outside and soak it in.

Speaking of soak it in, last night as I was walking to the house I saw a lunar ring!  It appears when light of the moon passes through ice crystals in the sky.  I tried to nab a picture of it, but as stated earlier, it pales in comparison to what I was really seeing.  Folklore says a lunar ring is a warning of an approaching storm.  However, I do not see anything predicted in the forecast...we shall see!  Technically the full moon is considered tonight, but it occurred at 4 AM, so we basically saw a full lunar moon!   

After looking up details on the lunar and full moon last night, I found a great article on the theme of December.  I love perusing the site Mystic Mamma and this article was on her website.  I also discovered that this moon is considered a "mini-moon" due to it being "the most distant and visually smallest Full Moon of 2013."

So, enjoy the read and be sure to step outside tonight to take in the full mini-moon!  

P.S. If you tilt your screen down, it's easier to see the lunar ring!

Nature's Art

The morning sunrise was stunning today as I snatched these photos of the horizon and the inside of our screen door.  The temperature outside is negative five degrees with a windchill in the negative thirties!  I quickly shut it.  But I just love to look at the designs frost has, its intricate movements and notes of the previous night.  The cold mornings look so enticing for a walk, but I have found myself spending as little time outdoors as possible.  In fact, when we go to the main house I find myself running to avoid the gripping cold.  But even in the quick run, I feel rejuvenated, the air feels at its purest and at night the stars are their brightest.  

Hope your days are sunny and inspiring!

A Hallmark Commercial

I am quite fond of Hallmark shows during the holidays and I can still remember when I was little and saw this commercial.  It is actually magic and partially responsible for the holiday traditions I want to start, like Christmas Eve escapades at midnight.  The video quality isn't the best, but the video is!  Enjoy! 

An Early Winter Walk

And just like that it's December.  I can honestly say I have no idea where the month of November went.  Anybody else feel that way?  We found ourselves traveling for the majority of the month.  Weddings, funerals and Thanksgiving.  But now that we're back and have no travel plans for the month, my mind has started turning to old and new ideas.  What's next kind of ideas.  It's exciting because this next year holds changes...both Ross and I can feel it.  

I typically like to walk each day around the farm and let all those ideas ruminate.  This was the first time since the corn has been brought in.  Where I once had a little maze and secret area to wander; now I'm completely exposed and able to see the horizon.  Maybe that's even telling me something, I need to start sharing and acting on all these ideas.  

I checked on the bees that Ross has bundled up for the winter ahead and imagine them nibbling on their hard earned honey and congratulating each other on a successful season.  And then I'm back to what brought here, the land that Jerome gave us to work as a market garden.  Only the kale reminds me that at one point this plot was thriving.  Sure enough when I get back inside there are next seasons seed catalogs already delivered.  I'm so excited to see what we do with this place as we continue through the seasons.