In between ...

 

November 1, 2025

Oh boy, I told you all that I would be quite prepared to

begin this month with a flourish and an upstep.

But I went outside at 7:30 am and did not come in until 3pm.

We had lots to do to get rid of the critters taking up space ( & food) 

in the coops. One poor rat was living quite comfortably in the soffit

of the old coop.

We rebuilt the area he broke into and made it very hard for anything

to enter. The tiny mouse family in the big coop/ cabin was also

eradicated on this sunny November day.

I hope they all find new homes quickly.

Our old barn in available but the groundhog family has dibs on that.

Perhaps they will co-exist.

Currently, my husband is trying to get the mice out of the house.

For 5 years we have not had much of an issue.

Then we found stashes of rice everywhere on the 3rd floor.

In our winter clothing, Christmas decor....

My guess is that we will be having a rough go of Winter.

I should make a note of it.

**

I have been in a mood.

A unique mood.

One that makes me question all things.

Odd for me.

I have also been a bit MIA from here.

I had to wrap my mind around what was happening before coming on here

and talking willy nilly.

I have been moving forward, grasping every moment that I can of life and

the blessings I have in it. I am less pondering and more just doing.

We are in that strange period of time between the commercialism of Halloween and Christmas.

Main stream life does not celebrate Thanksgiving with as much flourish

as it could- it should.

More than likely because it is about gratitude.

Gratitude is wildly unpopular these days.

Simply being thankful is an invitation to a fight.

What people these days do not understand is the people before them

lived in worse times and yet gratitude was seen abundantly.

I think we are just spoiled.

My generation had a father or grandfather in a war or wartime

deployment. We heard the stories of longing for them to return 

and being stoic here while they were away....keeping the home fires

burning. It was not an easy time but the photos bely the difficulties.

The stories told of homecomings and holidays were the best.

We choose now whether our family is worthy to be graced by our presence.

It is a choice, no matter the excuse, btw....

Why did we suddenly turn this way?

 How did this happen right under our noses?

I can say what I think... and I may one day ....

for now I will just leave it alone.

What is missing in peoples lives are the golden threads of generations

 sitting at one table. The people who came before us and their sacrifices

allow us to have the freedoms we enjoy today.

They are us & we them.

Personally, I have always been one who thought of the immense sacrifices

my family went through  so I can sit here in my cozy home and write this blog

on a blustery November day.

When it is raw and I just can not get warm I make this.

Mommy used to make me a thermos of it on cold school days.

I use honey and raw cream ( on top of the bottle of milk) now.

But it is still the same comforting happiness I remember.

Tomorrow is Sunday.

I am so looking forward to it.

A slow Sunday.....

I hope that you all get to slow down a bit.

Let this season of in-between be a most meaningful one.

xoxo

Raven