December on the Mountain
2023 - Expect the Unexpected
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Another beautiful year on the mountain. So far this winter has been vastly different from the past three. Most days began with a bit of sun in the morning but became overcast in the afternoon. The month started with only a bit of snow on the ground which was nearly melted away by rain. Rain, in December!
I never would have thought, as by this time last year we had over 4 FEET.
Christmas Crafts
I love making Christmas gifts for friends and family. This year I made a serving tray for Rose. To me, the smell of Douglas Fir epitomizes Christmas and the Pine Needles have a sweet resinous smell. To keep some of the lovely aromatics I sealed the wood with only one coat of shellac and left the needles unsealed. Though it’s far from perfect I love the way that it turned out.
I made a rabbit fur hat for my friend Rachel. It was a great opportunity to improve on my original design and to practice sewing. I used two black rabbit furs for it, with slightly shorter hair. Since I’m inexperienced at hand sewing, it gave me a run for my money but I think that it turned out great for my second hat! (Yours is still coming, Jake)
A Bit More Firewood
Last month we stocked the woodpile with a cord of Douglas fir and spruce. To most people it doesn’t sound like a lot - but in the little house, a cord goes a long way! Already pretty happy with ourselves we decided to take advantage of the warmer weather and get some more. Over three trips in the blue Tacoma, we brought home another cord. With some supplemental off-cuts from the mill, that should last the rest of the winter!
**Random Sidenote - with so many Toyotas in the family, I’ve learned the easiest way to describe them isn’t by year, but by colour
A Scent Experiment
In the summer I made an edible natural vanilla extract using sweet bedstraw. It smells lovely, like vanilla-sweetgrass. So lovely in fact, that I want to try wearing it. I decided to try adding things to make it last longer and give it a bit of a musk, the first experiment being spruce pitch. I would describe it as smelling of a sweet foresty smell. Which other woodland scents do you think would smell good in a perfume?
The Spring is Still Running
The spring itself runs year-round but usually, the piping that takes water downhill to totes freezes up. By the time this happens, the snow is too deep to drive down and get it. This year, the pipes are still running however the road down is just a bit too treacherous to drive. Time for a new experiment.
We put insulation on the hoses and disconnected the line closer to the spring. If it continues to run, I’ll be able to collect water in jugs and walk it up. Walking uphill in snowshoes with 20L of water on your back is tough but I’ve done it before!
Bright Lights for Dark Days
For light, I’ve been using string lights and rechargeable lamps. When the sun sets at 4 pm, my world gets a bit dark. I found myself feeling tired far too early, and less productive. So, I finally installed lights! The front room now has 4 pocket lights, wired to the main solar system. Funnily enough, I’m so accustomed to the dim evenings, that the first few days after having them installed I forgot to turn them on until well past dark.
Ring Toss
After seeing a similar ring toss game for sale online I had to give building it a try. Using leftover pieces from building the roof and a cedar branch, I put this together. A person sits on either end and has to swing their ring onto the hook. The wood ring in the center is used to keep score by hanging it on the nails. The first person to reach the opposers end wins. We had a lot of fun playing it.. a little too much fun!
The New Year - 2024
2023 was much different than I expected. Going into the new year, I might’ve finally learned to expect the unexpected. With such strange weather so far, who knows what the New Year might bring. Will it snow 4 feet overnight? Could it possibly rain?
Time will tell - I’m very excited to find out.
Absolutely love the tray. I have it in a place of honour and when I sit across from it, close my eyes, I feel as I’m in a forest. The fragrance drifts from the tray and surrounds me with a sense of inner peace. Thank you for such a wonderful gift. I Will cherish this tray.
Has been a crazy winter so far but hang on to your snowshoes as I hear a polar vortex is heading your way.
Super interesting fun stories about your lives. Thanks for sharing Amy and Curt.