12 Days Open House at BelleWeather Farm

Before the Demolition!

2009-2010
12 Days Open House at BelleWeather Farm
Friday – December 25th thru Tuesday – January 5th
5:00 – 8:00 pm

5:00 pm – Soup’s On the Cookstove
6:00 pm – Tree Candle-lighting

In this darkest time of year, come share in some of the richest traditions of the season, followed by the evening’s events.

…What can you bring?…
Pot luck desserts-gluten welcome!
Veggies for next day’s soup
Cider, fruit & cheese
Dear Friends
Instruments, Songs, Wintry Poetry
Slippers & Sweaters

In the home of the Mason Family at BelleWeather Farm
1216 State Highway 235, Coventry, New York
Use 1216 St. Hwy 235, Harpursville, NY 13787 for Mapquest
or call 607-693-3210 for directions

“The Twelve Days” Schedule of Events:

Fri 25: Song Circle- Our Friday eve song fest with Skm on the banjo, come sing along!

Sat 26: “Folk and Baroque”- Martin Bidney partners violin with translated and original poetry in a presentation exploring dance from baroque and Scottish tunes to the whirling dervishes of Persia…

Sun 27: Schmooze by the fire…

Mon 28: Longer Tales for Taller Folk- Tuck your young’ns snug in bed and come on over while we share in a longer literary piece that we rarely have time for. We’ll serve tea.

Tue 29: Schmooze by the fire…

Wed 30: Woolly Winter’s Eve- Bring along your current knitting or spinning project and enjoy a woolly evening together.

Thu 31: No Open House Tonight! (Masons at a New Year’s Eve Wedding)

Fri 1: Song Circle- Our Friday eve song fest with Skm on the banjo, come sing along!

Sat 2: Almost Epiphany Celebration
See end for details!

Sun 3: “Shepherd and Ewe”- Julian and Lee Shepherd, cello and piano, play from the English Country Dance repertoire. After a short concert, you’re welcome to join in. Bring your Peter Barnes Books, I and II (blue and red).

Mon 4: “Early On”- Tina Salasny-soprano, Barbara Kaufman- recorder, Paul Sweeny-guitar, Stephen Stalker- cello, Peter Browne-keyboard will grace us with selections from the Italian Baroque period, English and Brazilian songs with guitar and piano, and solo pieces for recorder.

Tue 5: Schmooze by the fire…

Almost Epiphany Schedule
Saturday January 2nd

4:00 pm BelleWeather Puppet Theatre presents:

The Thought Lion – Through ill luck, orphaned Annika has found herself the servant of the old troll. When he gives her tasks that no human girl can accomplish, she wonders, “Is there no one in the whole wide world that can help me?”…

5:00 pm Soup’s On the Cookstove

6:00 pm Tree-lighting Ceremony followed by the Young Friend’s Recital- Calling all young friends! Bring your instruments, your dance clothes, your favorite recitations or songs, and share your accomplishments of the year. (Piano available for pianists)

7:00 pm Gingerbread Village Demolition

7:30 pm “Musica Universalis”- Marie Lutins, soprano, alto and tenor recorders; nyckelharpa; zils, Allen Lutins, Irish whistles; lute guitar; clarinet; saz, and Adam Flint, fiddle join us in medieval garb for an evening of music and instruments from another era.

The Twelve Days

Where Have We Been?!

Celebrating the arrival of SophiaBella, born Oct 30, 2009, to my son Noah and daughter-in-law Winter, Lenox, MA.  Uncle Johannes could not be more proud!

Newborn SophiaBella

SophiaBella (6 weeks old) and Uncle Johannes

There is so much to tell, but it will have to wait for the completion of the 12 Days  Open House invitation! Off to work (who’s idea was it to ‘blog’ anyway!?). Check back in for Open House details in a day or so!

Yes, We’re Back!

It has been a long and full August, September, October.  No time for blogging. Here are some highlights:

Remember that empty garden?

Garden Gate

Garden Green

So Sunny!

Michaelmas, the first week of school.  We dyed silk with goldenrod for Johannes’ first sewing project. He learned to use the vintage sewing machine he has owned for many years. Completed; His Knight Michael’s cape!

Johannes Learns to Sew

Knight Michael's Golden Cape

Two birthdays:

Yes, I'm 50!

They figured it out, 10 candles times 5 waffles makes 50!

My Favorite Gift, from Amelia

Johannes is 9!

Thinking About that Wish...

Week two of school, the Creation and Sukkot:

Lulav and Etrog

Unexpected Guests in the Sukkah!

Uh oh! Orphaned kittens! (Can there ever be too many pictures of kittens?)

Smokey

Hungry Billy

Mittens Weighs In

Upsidedown Billy

Sleepy Bundle

Well, that’s if for now. We may not re-appear for a bit again, but if all goes as planned, the next entry will be the new grand (grandest!) baby!

Have a blessed autumn and don’t get chilly!

Tuesday Again!!!!!

… Tuesday Again …

It seems that “Riding Tuesdays” are going to be the impetus for a major growth curve in the state of my mothering this summer! Yet another Tuesday filled with ponies and challenges.

At last minute, Johannes was asked to meet the riding crew at THEIR farm 3/4 of a mile away. That meant getting him, on Binta, past highway, ditches, trucks, and numerous other things that make a mother cringe. I took the leap and found a route that nearly seemed safe, all in sight of my tailing vehicle… at least until Binta decided she wasn’t crossing a ditch! I got out of the car to help, and in moments Binta decided the ditch didn’t look so bad after all. One small detail… I was under her, in it! Thank heavens she’s a little pony and a patient girl, and I’m a patient mother!

Here’s the experience, from a mother’s vantage point in the car…

Off They Go...

Passing the First Neighbor's

Past the Farmstand (and farmstand dogs)

Survived the Ditch and Up the Hill

Approaching Their Destination

Round the Last Turn

Arrived!

Worth the Trip, Friends Ready and Waiting

And They're Off!

Well, while on this jaunt the leader’s horse bucked her off. I received a call at sundown… “I am anxious to get this misbehaving horse out of the woods before dark, can Johannes come through the woods alone back to the house now that we’re on your land?”  Hesitatingly saying yes, I took off running to meet up with him. He, of course, rode it beautifully, and made it most of the way before I found him.

What can I say… I’m learning how to breathe …

Motherhood…

Garden Green … Tree Down

… Garden Green and Full of Glory! …

In spite of a very late start, the greens are being served at last, and the flowers are too beautiful for words:

Flower Fairies at Work

Words Fail...

First Salads of Summer

… Tree Down …

Our neighbor friend helped take down a substantial oak that was failing on the side of the house. It was a bit painful to see a tree felled, but the resulting light and air movement are notable. In time, now that the shade is gone, the whole side yard will be additional gardens.

First Cut

Half Tree Down

Tree Down, Boys Up!

It’s hard to believe that all that tree processes down into such a small pile! Note the branches center-photo and the heap of leafy twigs upper left corner. With the help of friends who kept “appearing”, we had the tree cleaned up in 24 hours.

Light!

Welcome back tomorrow for
… The Adventures of Yet Another “Riding Tuesday!” …