Amazes me that we are headed towards our twelfth year - talk about "tempus fugit". Tom continues to enjoy retirement as do I.
As a retired geologist and though our forest here fills the need to get out and wander, I'm sure he misses exploring new ground for mineral prospects. Once in awhile we go and look at an old mine but the last field work he did was in Northern Labrador and Apsley just doesn't cut it as the "wilds" of anywhere. Mind you the last few years I think he has become content and finds being here just fine.
In the past years Tom has built me a fabulous studio - you saw a wee bit of in the previous post, added a wonderful screened porch in which we can eat - entertain and sleep in on hot nights - a must in the bug infested springs - plus a super insulated growing room is just near completion.
Being an 1875 log cabin needless to say there is always something to be fixed, the fellow who built our 1965 "newer" addition was a fabulous carver but a rotten builder so things have been slowly gotten redone.
During the long winter months the bringing in the logs for our heat in the winter is a continuous chore, ( a couple of years ago he stopped splitting all those cords of wood by hand and now at 80 years young Tom enjoys having just to stack them after they arrive all cut and split.) - still to do especially on snowy winters as this is - the constant blowing of snow with the ever reliable Honda snow blower.
Working in the garden is an incorrect term as we both enjoy - we found a fabulous 2nd hand troy-built rototiller which made spring so much easier - now we have a mini greenhouse and the new growing room so getting early crops is so much easier. Seems that nothing ever tastes as delicious as fresh picked organic everything. We are truly spoilt.
There always seems to be something that needs Tom's expertise as he does so many things well. Since I acquired all my lapidary equipment to cut - slice - polish rocks for my jewelry he has also enjoyed participating in that venue. I'd still be lost without his expertise in identification and purchasing; but I am learning quickly. All the Tom accolades aside; I actually think I now have the larger rock collection and mind are so much prettier than the so called economic mine making rocks ;-)
Last year I finally was able to get him interested in using a computer and now he has his own iMac to check out what ever stock he is wondering about. Someday we hope to get a dish so we can get hi-speed from the nearby tower. Still waiting for a lottery win for some of our dreams - lol like a new roof.
We've added a new mini satellite TV dish, this time we're trying Bell's Express view - I honestly see no difference - not much of interest on either for the exhorbitent cost. A new wood stove in the cabin this year plus a back-up propane wall furnace and cookstove a year back changes the look and feel of the cabin area.
As for me "Sharon"; well I'm not too sure where I'm to at the moment. I am still enjoying the freedom of choice in my days. Gardening and working on outside projects in the summer. Making jewelry has turned into quite a concern. Seems my ideas and designs are not only unique but quite sought after - who'd have thunk it. Certainly has been an exciting and enjoyable journey so far.
There are still numerous changes that are and will take place as time passes. Here at the time of writing, mid February, I am about to send out our seed orders.
Next in line is to start seedlings for spring. I seem to always have a painting half finished on my easel, plus several new projects in various stages of "doing". My jewelry bench is a constant turmoil, as many pieces are moving towards completion at a different rate.
After all these years I do not miss the long hours that were involved with owning and running a garden centre as I had done for the fifteen years prior to coming here. It is terrific gardening for myself again and trying out crazy experiments each year. Finding things to do has never been a problem for me. Opening up my studio weekends to the public has been a success and my participation in the local studio tour a wonderful journey as so many stop in yearly I am overwhelmed. We are truly blessed.
My joy at wildforaging both medicinal and edible plants is rewarding and I have identified almost 200 medicinal herbs on our woods alone. Just learning my ediblemushrooms and fungii but it has to be the most difficult of plant areas to learn that I have met ..
My health continues to be a trial but since I have started seeing an Environmental Doctor in Ottawa - I have finally found good reliable help for all the crazies which evolve from being chemically sensitive. - she is so fantastic - should everyone only have a doctor as caring as she. We have met many new friends who take time to be unscented when they visit and some have also adopted an unscented less chemical based lifestyle so we can go and visit them. What a bonus!
Tom and I still so enjoy each others company; something to be said about being fortunate enough to be married to your best friend and soul mate. We have worked together in the wilds of Labrador; living in a small tent from June to September and still came home "talking" and "enjoying" each other. From watching thunder/lightning storms on the porch in the summer - to having lunch on a sunny winter's day in the 80 deg. growing room we continue to enjoy each other and our mutually shared world.
We have cut back on our large family/friend get togethers.. finding smaller gatherings and getting to talk to grandchildren and parents in smaller groups easier and much more enjoyable - it is time for the younger ones to take on the big gatherings if the wish to have them. Even with the fewer samller gatherings we are finding we get whacked out and are equally as happy to wave good-bye and settle into our quiet routine as we were to have them arrive.. All of our six children manage to stay in touch - (some more often then others) as a few are scattered hither and yon.. (one just back from living in Moscow now in Montreal; another still in Berlin; another in the US - Michigan and the balance in Ontario); they are all coming along well with their worlds and seem to be carving out happy lives for themselves.
At the moment we have eight beautiful grandchildren; and our youngest son just became engaged last spring so the numbers may change. Tom and I really enjoy this grandchild mode.
Well that's more than enough - I do hope you have enjoyed your visit to Musings from Apsley Acers. Once I get us introduced I'll head off on tangents - come back to visit. Thanks for visiting! Life is good - Sharon
I think we may be worth a bookmark.
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