Who knows why we sometimes choose to do the things we do. Something within you steers your attention in one direction and before you know it, you and your sweetie are washing all the windows in the south facing front room. He on the outside, on a ladder, you -- indoors.
I know we're rather focused on the way the front of the house looks right now, ever since the front entrance was reconstructed earlier this fall. Suddenly, (on my morning farmette walk), I care that the geraniums look pretty as you peek into the farmhouse from the road.
But it's not as if you can tell that these windows have not been washed for some half a dozen years. And yet, after breakfast, after we tick off all the things we should do today (move chips, trim that beard!, take a walk)...
... we bypass everything on that list and attack the windows, Ed using exactly three squares of paper towel for all seven of them, me -- well, slightly more generous on the towel end, but with the same sparkling result from both sides. (Guilt has me reuse some towels on kitchen windows, so long as we're on this glass cleaning trip.)
Don't be fooled by Ed's short sleeves (and shorts) outside. It is a cool day. Just a handful of degrees above freezing. Nonetheless, the sun is out and so a walk is definitely in order. Ed is really smitten with the vast new area of the Nature Conservancy that we explored just yesterday. We hadn't ventured more deeply into the woods. Perhaps today is a good day for it?
We drive the few miles to the trailhead and immediately change our minds. It's November 21st, the start of the deer hunting season (it lasts a week and there are many guns and many men aiming them at moving things). Not a fun time to walk the woods. But so long as we are at the southern tip of Lake Waubesa, why not explore the community that abuts the eastern shores of the lake? We often stroll along the lakeside road near us (meaning along the western shores). Why not check out its analogue to the east?
We've looked across the lake so many times, but we've never actually explored this area. And it's interesting! Hilly, with homes descending steeply to the shore. People are out on a day like this -- putting up holiday lights, playing ball in the driveway. The community has a good feel to it and as we stop to chat with one of the residents (at a great distance), we find out more about the village's commitment to clean lakes and restricted development. So we learn something too.
Wouldn't you call this a most productive day? I'll add to it grocery unpacking -- the bulk of all items needed for the holidays and beyond. And picking up one of the final CSA veggie boxes, with beautiful sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts and still some more squashes and pumpkins for future roasting.
I opt for doing one more day of leftover chili. Perhaps I should have been more ambitious, but still, with a salad, it's a healthy supper! I was reminded today of Ed's eating habits prior to our time together. The guy often leaves old scraps of paper in their place, way past their useful moment. He has a grocery shopping list on the side of the small refrigerator at the sheep shed. It has to be at least 15 years old -- from before the time of me cooking dinners for the both of us.
I think we are a step above that in terms of healthy eating.
Evening. Clean windows make for good views (this from the kitchen window)...
Primrose and her mom call, now beautifully on display on the small kitchen TV...
I stir up the chili, chop up veggies for the salad.
We are lucky: the gift of good, seasonal food, of a beautiful November day, of knowing that the kids are fine. And a quiet evening at home, with popcorn. Yes, so very lucky.
