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Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Going full hygge

 I've given up trying to figure out the weather.  Once again, it will be a Winter of All Jackets.  Rain, vest, down, windbreaker.  In an effort to lift my mood, I have pulled out all the stops on the hygge.

The pups were all for it.  Lovey on top,
PB in the princess bed.



Although I am no longer canning and preserving like a 1930 prairie housewife, I did manage to put up some applesauce from a wonderful mix of heirloom varieties that Marianne gave me.


I have also been cooking up comfort foods, like mushroom rice.  There is a local business that grows the most amazing mushrooms - the concoction below has shiitake, lions mane and chestnut.


I've been doing a little knitting, but have been concentrating mostly on a big clear out.  I am girding my loins for a foray into the laundry/tool/garden/storage room.  My plan is to get rid of at least one third of what's in there, so that I can stop cringing every time I open the door.

Apria was finally buried a week ago, Sunday.  It was, unfortunately, as ungracious as I had hoped it wouldn't be.  (Sorry for the convoluted syntax.)  It broke my heart and I wept copious tears.  I think I totally unnerved the excavation guy.  When I asked him if I could write him a check, he said he would send me a bill and got out of there as fast as someone driving a large earth-moving piece of equipment could manage.  I haven't gotten the bill yet, which is like having the sword of Damocles hanging over your head.

Meanwhile...


...a sweet, older gentleman sheep is looking for a cozy retirement home.  He seems to be adjusting to the loss of Apria, but he is lonely.  Winter is never a good time to rehome a sheep or any other livestock.  He comes with his own hay and can be transported, so fingers crossed.

24 comments:

susie @ persimmon moon cottage said...

Oh, look at his sweet face. It may be my imagination, but I think I see sadness in his eyes.

Our little old Fuzzy Pomeranian is 17 years old and very arthritic. I was in my recliner and he was in his doggie bed when he got up to go into the other room to use his wee wee pads. On his way he fell over and was howl/crying for me to come and help him. I picked him up and brought him into my chair and sat with him held against my chest. He was panting and his heart was not pounding, but seeming a little slower than normal. He lay quietly in my arms until he got his strength back and then he wanted to get down and go to his wee wee pads. He was fine then. These falls happen every once in a while and I always cry after it's over. In June the vet said he probably had anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months to live, as his liver was failing, he has a heart murmur, and she thought testicular cancer. I'm thankful every day he is still here. Almost all of the time he seems happy and fine, and his eyes are bright and happy, but he limps from arthritis, but so do I from my arthritis. It is so hard when one of our sweet creature's time comes.

I hope someone comes forward soon to have Apria's mate at their farm

P. said...

Oh the face of that sheep is amazing. So nice.

Marcia LaRue said...

I sure hope the burial fee won't cause you to cry more years! Maybe the big rig operator will take pity on you and not submit a huge bill.
Take a deep breath and tackle the cleaning of your storage area!
Hope you can have a very merry Christmas!🎄

jaz@octoberfarm said...

oh i hope you find a place for him. he is so cute. your place looks very nice and comfy. i don't know if we will see winter this year. as much as i hate it at least i don't have to worry about willie slipping on the sidewalk.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

So sorry for the loss.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I hope the old sheep finds a new home where other animals will keep him company.

ellen abbott said...

We haven't had much winter so far. sorry to hear about poor Apria's internment but I suppose it really couldn't have gone much different. I've been using a lot of mushrooms on my days to cook but I'm limited to what the grocery store has and in this small town I'm lucky to get that I suppose.

AnnieK said...

Oh, much love to you. Burying your sweet animal is never easy and breaks the heart xoxo

Mama Pea said...

You're doing it right, my friend. The best thing any of us can do right now is to hygge the heck out of it in any way we can. Your pictures of your cozy home are lovely. So sorry the burial of Apria was so hard on you. There's never an easy way to let one of our animal friends go. Sending hugs.

Steve Reed said...

Oh, I missed the post about Apria. I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully your gentleman sheep is able to find a new home with some companions.

Ed said...

I love fresh mushrooms put into just about anything. Part of the bane of my existence is that I live somewhere where I'm lucky to obtain about three types of mushroom from a grocery store and a couple from the wild.

Nancy In Boise said...

Great to have those nice soothing lights up! Good for you cleaning out stuff I have been doing that too. So sorry that the burial went awry. And the sheep such a sweet face! Does he have some kind of livestock pals he can hang with at your place?

Michelle said...

Would it be too much too hope for a Christmas miracle of that excavation guy feeling so bad for sobbing you that he doesn't send you a bill? Probably, but I will still hope – and for Linden, too. Hygge on!

gz said...

Well done on the decorations..all I have done is start putting the cards up!
Just haven't had the inspiration.

Marcia LaRue said...

Goodness ... Tears not years!

Retired Knitter said...

awww, sweet face. How I wish I could offer him a home! The condo board would definitely make a BIG face if I tried.

Susan said...

Well good for you for fighting back with full on hygge after the stress and sadness. It's a tough old world but don't give up.

Nancy In Boise said...

Hey question for you, would you consider writing a blog post about how to save money during retirement? I am thinking about retiring soon, not sure when that will be, and any advice would be helpful!

Sandy said...

Thought I'd pop in for a visit, spotted you a mutual friends blog. It's always fun to meet a new blogger. And knitter. Good luck with your clean out. Sometimes the hardest part is figuring out where to start, it can be so overwhelming. Winter though is a good time to do that. I've not canned in years. It's so much work. Homemade applesauce though sounds good.

Do swing by for a vist.
Sandy's Space

www.self-sufficientsam.blogspot.com said...

My heart breaks for you on your loss. I'm sure the guy left because guys can't handle anything that cries. You could call and ask him how much the bill will be so you can brace yourself. I know the feeling!
YOur sheep guy does look so sad. I'm sure he's grieving just like you. I'm reading a book on the emotional lives of animals. I've never doubted that they have feelings and emotions.
Your home looks so cozy and your applesauce looks yummy. there's nothing like being warm and cozy inside and seeing your hard work from the summer lined up in those jars!
Your mushrooms look delicious. I just read something about Lion's Mane mushrooms being very healthy for you. Enjoy your Hygge home, stay warm and well and have a great holiday!

Rajani Rehana said...

Beautiful blog

Rain said...

That poor fella. I hope he finds a good home. ♥
Wishing you a Merry Christmas Susan! 🎄

Katrina said...

That mushroom rice looks absolutely delicious, I'm hungry now 😂

peppylady (Dora) said...

Hello from Idaho. I followed a link from "She Who Seeks" look like your quite busy. I'm close to retirement. Hope you have time to stop over and have a cup of coffee.