Solstice walk

 Greetings of the Winter Solstice to you, gentle Reader.  SOL INVICTUS!

First thing this morning, we went out for a walk in the park on the north side of town, where we have seen the deer the most.  

On the way there, I remarked to Dave that it would be so cool to see a deer or two, especially a boy, since it's still the rut, and any bucks would still have their antlers.

It had been over a year, though, since we had last come across any deer, anywhere that we usually go.   I saw some in October when I was with my friend Lori for the full moon rise, but that was at a park I have only been to twice, and it was just Lori and me.

We got there just minutes after the Solstice was "exact," and I got some nice pictures of the sun through the trees, and the winter woods.  I spotted some native mistletoe, and made Dave come with me so we could kiss underneath it.

As we walked, we heard a red shouldered hawk, and heard lots of chickadees in the woods.

Anyway, we took our walk, and I hoped against hope that we would spot a deer, but it seemed like that was not going to happen, so we headed toward the exit.  

I paused to give my usual blessing to the land, the deer (that I KNOW live there), and the other wild life and we headed out.

Just a few steps later, I spotted him, and grabbed Dave's arm.  

Off to our right, not far from the paved trail, was a six point buck with his back to the trail.  He was focused on something.... We watched him for a minute, and he turned and went into the cover of the cedar trees.

We lingered, and then we spotted a doe, and her twins, foraging near by.  THAT was what the buck was focused on!  

We watched the girls for a minute, and suddenly, the doe ran toward us, then veered, and the buck bounded out of cover and dashed after her, the twins disappeared into the cover.... it was SUCH an exciting moment, and such a gift to see the promise of life happening right before our eyes. 

On winter Solstice.... when our ancestors, and modern Pagans alike, reflect on the rebirth of light and life.

Happy Winter Solstice! 

Counting down

 Seven days until Yule, and my Midwinter's Night Feast!

Details are settling in, thanks to a couple of factors.  I ordered leeks from Kroger this past week, and they were HUGE, so I have a surplus.

That decided that I will make my spiced carrot soup on Yule, which calls for leeks.  

I went ahead and washed and chopped all of the leeks up, and froze the ones I will use next weekend, while having what I needed for yesterday's recipe.

So, that's settled, and I will probably do a mash with rutabaga for the other side to go with the HOPEFULLY FIRE ROASTED Cornish hens, stuffed with dried fruits.

I am cheating for the sweet, and ordered some mini-mince pies in shortbread from Walker's Shortbread, since I was unable to find currants, or candied citrus peel, or much of anything here in town.

(I had thought of making a tart with dried fruit, sort of like mince pie, but without the suet--but if all I can find here is raisins and prunes, well.... no.)

We are finally having more hard freeze weather this weekend.  It's been a while.... but it will be in the 60s next week.

Our tree isn't up or decorated yet, but it will happen on Wednesday, when it will be warmest out, and easier for Dave to get it out of the shed, and shake it out, which needs to be done outside.

I did manage to get some lights up on the front porch, including a string of flickering "candle flame" lights in the chiminea.  It looks so cool from the street!

Our friends from Switzerland have agreed to join us the week after next for Christmas Eve dinner, and my sister sent a box of chocolates to share.

That dinner is the same every year, so no need to worry about planning it.

I started round two of the chemo pills this past week, at full dose.  There has been digestive upset, which was expected after round one, but it has not been debilitating.

I see my doctor next week for an interim follow up, to tell her how things are going.  After that, no appointments until January.

Also this past week, our friends who we stay with in Missouri sometimes, were passing through town and we took them out for dinner.  It was nice to go out for dinner for the first time in AGES, and it was nice to go on a weeknight, when there were fewer people out and about.

Got my cards, and my gifts to my family mailed out this week, too, and sent gifts to the friends in Illinois who regularly send ME gifts.

(they got Walker's Shortbread, too, LOL!)

Yesterday, I made a new to me recipe for Irish leek and oat soup....it was exquisite.... and tonight, I am making spiced chicken thighs with rice.

Wishing you, gentle readers, a lovely week leading up to the Solstice! 

Oops! Almost forgot it's Sunday....

 HAHA!  I love being retired!

What day is this?

There's not much to report this week.  

My blood work looks okay, and no one called me from the oncology clinic to talk about it, so I will start my second cycle of the new chemo this coming Wednesday.

The only change is that I got a call from the clinic when I submitted my refill request (this was BEFORE my blood draw),  and my Dr changed her mind regarding the lower dosage,  so my next cycle will be at the full dose.

Today, it's chilly and blustery outside, so I am seasoning cast iron, which STINKS, but needs to be done during cold weather, since the oven goes up to 500 degrees for a while.

(If I had a fancy gas grill outside, I could do it in that, but we don't have one of those.)

We went to a couple of bigger, trendy grocery stores (think Whole Paycheck) this past week, hoping to find something different for my Yule/Solstice dinner, but we ended up with cornish hens again.

I am hoping the weather will cooperate, and I can roast them in the fire pit again, like last year.

My brother gifted me a little, boneless, pre-cooked Virginia ham, so we are set for Christmas Eve's main course, too.  The only friends who are interested in joining us for that evening have agreed to come over again this year! 

I am jealous of my friends and family in Chicagoland, where they are having a real winter....  I know it's not everyone's favorite, but I sure miss it.  

I do NOT miss living in that condo, though, with the big, open parking lot, where my car would be plowed into its spot (I had to keep a shovel in the back), or when the car doors would freeze, or my tires would get stuck in re-frozen snow melt that was 3 or 4 inches deep.

Good times!  Especially when I would call work, and the woman in charge of personnel (we didn't have an h/r department, per se...we were too small of a company) would insist that I find a way to get to work.  Through a blizzard, unable to close my doors, driving a stick shift, for my ten mile commute.

(She lived a mile away from the office, in a McMansion, with a heated garage, and a giant Range Rover SUV.....and had NO empathy what so ever for we lowly wage workers.)

I am SO GRATEFUL to never have to worry about working in a toxic environment ever again.... I had MORE than enough of that, for 90% of my working life.

Anyway, even in winter, I would go to the forest preserves and go hiking on Sundays.  It was my church, and I sure do miss that.  I miss snow, and cold, and get SO excited when we get some here in OKC.

I'm hoping to get myself motivated to do my holiday cards this coming week, and have asked Dave to get one of the bins (where I keep decorations) out of the shed for me.  That will hopefully happen when the weather warms up a bit this coming week.

There's no other news to report.  I hope my gentle readers have a good week!

ADDENDUM:  the state park refunded us part of what we paid for the studio cabin!