Confessions

Ok, here it goes. Hi, my name is Leah, I live in Vermont, and I don't ski. There it is. The dirty truth is out. Cross country skiing is ok, as is snow shoeing. But the truth be known, I'm much happier inside where the temperature is easier on my joints. I'm content to look out a window at sceanic vista's of white, pine and red twig. I rejoice in the antics of my two boxers as they play in the snow, and I commiserate with my poor bunnies who despite hay, long silky angora coats and a heat lamp aren't happy with the winter "schtick" either. (Note to self: Give poor bunnies an apple twig treat).

It took from October to February to get the Shelves built in the library and studio. I'm emptying a minimum of 2-4 boxes a day trying to get the studio settled (if for no other reason than I can sit and spin, knit, bead, write, draw or pore over my seed cataloges) in the comfort of my chair and the warmth of a solid woodstove. If you, my dear reader, were to come and visit right this very minute, you'd look in horror at what to you would be a horrific mess. I see floor space where there was none. The bones of organization as things take their places on the shelving. Each empty box that gets put away (or in its pile for sorting) is a success for me.

Confession 2: I'm a hoarder. Not one of the people on the tv with dead animals, garbage and refuse,... I hoard the someday useful items. I must have a case of sticky notes, given to me over the years but yet to be used. Easily 500 pens. Many of which are so old the ink in them has completely dried out. I'm committed to changing this. I've given away TONS (not literally) of things on our local freecycle. I have a feeling the stickynotes will be going pretty soon too. The case of blank books I'm keeping. I use them at work, and as long as I don't buy any more... You see, there's the crux of the matter. Even as a room fills up so full that I can barely squeeze through the door, my mind can't pass up on a bargain. Tragic, no? I turned in over 85 pounds of fiber to a mill to be made in to roving. I have about 10 4 foot high bags of roving in cream, gray, sockyarn, light brown, dark brown, black, alpaca, silk, angora,.... it goes on. What did I do today? Contracted a fleece for a RED (actually auburn) alpaca fleece with a micron count soft enough for a babys delicate skin. Pittiful. Did I do it anyway? Yes. Sad. Very sad. No more though, and no more bunnies until I have a situation that allows me to care for them properly even in the winter time.

I'm saving my money for an outbuilding. It will serve as a rabbitry (I have 2 bunnies, and no more are coming till this is done), and a garden shed. No lawn mower, but all else will be there. Bunnies on one wall, work bench on the end by the ladder to the top where I keep the hay, and gardening tools along the other wall. Honed, oiled, and ready to use. My resolution is that this year my garden will be productive, and as weed free as I can make it. On hands and knees if need be. I'm also reading about fruit trees. This year, I have an apple tree, and I plan on purchasing a cherry and a peach tree (miniature). Next year, I plan on purchasing a winter hardy fig, another variety of apple, and a plum tree. That should do it for me. Canning is a secret passion, and I plan on having fruit to can, butter, leather and barter!!! I'll have to see what I can do to find barteree's!!!!

Thats about all for now. I just wanted you to know you hadn't been forgotten or abandoned.

Live well and dye happy.

Leah.