Feeling Thankful for This Day

Have you ever just wanted to give the big old world a good squeeze... try and say thank you for winning the birth lottery that you live in a part of the world where you can wake up in a warm house and pour yourself a cup of morning jolt, where the dogs are happy to see you, where the mist is warm on your face as you stand at the window or on the deck and look out over the lovely autumn colors.

Where the sounds that you hear are the sounds of the geese and cranes flying south and your chickens yawning and stretching their wings as they greet the new day.

When you realize that you don't have to hurry scurry off anywhere and there are no children to drag out of bed and hurry through breakfast and onto the school bus or worry if they have enough money for lunch at the university after they pay their rent in the big city this month.

Have you ever sat there and pondered your blessings over your morning cuppa and been thankful for the people who make your day special in so many ways, by phone calls, or text messages, or quick and funny posts on your Facebook page... or even the ones who are silent because they know that you are doing okay this week.

Have you ever been thankful for the work you did in the garden the last few days even if it was hard work and made muscles tired that you haven't used for a while, because now the air is misting and the wind is blowing and you can enjoy a day inside without feeling guilty but you know that you have enough food ready to put away that will keep your family fed for a while through the cold winter months.
Have you ever had those moments of such intense gratitude for all that you have been given that you just want to give the world a squeeze... but all you can do is have another sip of coffee as your dog snores at you feet with the warm Autumn mist on your face watching the geese fly past.

Autumn Equinox

It's coming right up... that time of reflecting and of gathering and of giving thanks for the food that we grew and the sunshine that warmed up our summer days.  Now it's time to send that lovely sunshine to our friends on the other side of the world so they can look forward to a season of growing.

I plan on lighting a candle and taking some time to think about the bountiful blessings that I enjoyed this summer.  But first - to get the potatoes dugs and set to drying so I can bring them in.. and the carrots and the beets and cabbage.. almost everything else is in already and is in some form of processing in my kitchen.
Last night was a hard frost.  One that left ice crystals on the picnic table for me to see when I got up.
Thank goodness it wasn't hard enough to hurt the hoses or animal waterers.
We spent some time this week putting fresh chickens into the freezer and soon will be hunting season so there should be enough meat to keep us for the winter.  There is a sheep in the pen that is destined for the freezer soon and a pig too.
I think we will be okay... now if I could only grow coffee - we'd be even better.  Or maybe people need to start drinking more tea around here.  I have that one covered with my herb garden. :)
Have a great Mabon. )o(
A great place to learn more about celebrating this balance day of equinox that only happens 2 times a year is here: 
http://www.owlsdaughter.com/2013/09/blessings-of-the-autumn-equinox-and-second-harvest/