November Diary :: Sunday 18th

At the pond around 3 pm

This morning was the first hard frost of the season; it sparkled on everything thick and white like snow. When we walked in the woods this afternoon Luke wore the new hat and mittens I knit for him. We saw a belted kingfisher, Canada geese, coots, mallards, and geese. A man sprinkled birdseed on the wooden rail of the bridge and was photographing chickadees.

At home we drank hot tea. I made chocolate chip cookies and worked on my Super Simple Cowl. I talked on the phone with my sister-in-law, who is always good for a story and a few chuckles. 

In the morning I discussed the second novel of my writing project with Amy. We are both so excited about the characters and plot that I can hardly hold myself back from writing it, but I need to finish the first novel first--only a few more chapters to go!

Afterward, I did a few loads of wash, and then went outside with Elvis to clean the chicken coop and put fresh straw in the roost and nest boxes. The air was cold; the sky was very blue. I looked up at it for a long time thinking about how it stretched around the whole world, that all of us are breathing in and out the same air.

There is a pot roast simmering on the stove, along with squash and potatoes. Emmeline and a neighbor girl are playing Battleship at the table. Stars are sparkling in the night sky. The windows are steamed up.

I read a very good thing on Brain Pickings today: Eleanor Roosevelt's thoughts on the secret of happiness.

Each day is so full of things to do, ponder, work through, and enjoy--and love beats at the heart of everything.