Happy Winter Solstice, Subscriber First Name

Does it feel like winter where you are? It has felt like spring around here. We finally got our first snow flurries, some even stuck around for a few days, but then we got more rain. After that, everything is green, especially the native bushes and grasses.
Fall has been full of moisture and not too much wind to dry it out. I’ve never witnessed such green and growth here in November and December. So what will come now that it is Winter?

It doesn’t do any good to wish for weather, we will get what we get, and hopefully, the animals will fair well, and we get enough snow for less stressful future irrigation seasons. Everything is an ebb and flow; I am grateful to experience it all.

I will say that we won’t totally be dreading any legit snowfall and accumulation as Nathaniel made an incredible Craigslist find and purchase of a 7’ blade for behind our tractor. Nathaniel has used the bucket to push the snow clear of our .5 mile-long driveway in prior years. It may not sound that bad, but it is a lot of scooping and dumping. When it snows heavy, Nathaniel can be on the tractor most of the day clearing it.

The blade may turn clearing all of our travel ways(driveway, the road to shop, in front of barn and woodpile, etc.) into a few-hour task that we may even be able to share the burden of.

Maybe it was this year, or it may have been the year before, but I had decided that I wanted to become confident and proficient with using our 17,000-pound historic Zetor tractor. This Fall, I have definitely moved into proficiency. While riding the clutch is a full-body workout, I feel quite confident operating the bucket for feeding the cows and the blade for clearing weeds from my arena. Next up is learning how to move snow for me!

Now to catch you up on how our first Holiday Craft Fair went! The sun was bright, the sky was clear, and the wind was calm. So many people attended, including wonderful friends, family, and subscribers! All of our items sold well, especially Nathaniel’s cutting boards. He sold every single one!

That evening we were already talking about next year. It was so rewarding and fun. We especially enjoyed catching up with the other vendors as many were good friends. To be a part of something so special was a real treat.

The shop is CLOSED until January!

Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me this year. From selling garden goodies to sharing my first Cordelia starter into the world, it has been a year of growth and going out on a limb. I am looking forward to seeing where next year takes my creative, maker soul and Birdie Handmade.

Four years ago, I was pregnant with Clancy and suddenly realized the lack of holiday traditions Nathaniel and I brought to our new little family; we vowed to start a tradition. So this year, we took Clancy for (technically) the fourth time to find our Christmas Tree!

Each year we have gone with my mom and stepdad, sometimes our dear friend Molly, and this year we were so happy to include my sister-in-law and tiny house tenant, Robyn. We each found just the right tree. A tiny tree for the tiny house, a small tree for Molly’s almost tiny house, and two decent trees for our house and my parent's house.

We set out the first or second weekend of December and make a day of it. Each year, the weather has been different yet good. This year was no exception, but it was quite wet.

After we select the perfect trees, selecting ones that grow too closely to another healthy tree, we clip some boughs for decorating with. With trucks loaded, we scoot back to Sisters for wood-fired pizza at Nathaniel’s cousins cart, Boone Dog Pizza. This year we enjoyed their new community building and food court, The Barn.

With tummies full we zoom back to our homes, ready to decorate the tree with our favorite ornaments! This year I sliced fresh oranges and hung them directly on the tree. They have since dried on the tree and look amazing!

What are your favorite winter traditions? Did you know that you can reply to this email and chat with me directly?

This year, I am adding a new tradition. Sourdough muffins for Winter Solstice! We found this idea in a book about the soltice and are excited to enjoy a warm, tasty treat on the solstice. We are adapting this recipe.

Happy winter solstice and Merry Christmas to my newsletter community!