2019 Highlights

Sometimes on new years day, I want to tell people, "you know, a new year starts for you each day you wake up still alive." Do something with it. Don't wait for some random day on a calendar to make resolutions and do new things. If it's something you want to or know you need to do, start right now. Whatever day on a calendar that is. 

That said, it is nice to look back through what happened in the last while every now and then. So here's some highlights

of life in and around Fy Nyth over the past year.

Burley did a lot of growing up from a little puppy to a mature looking dog through the winter. Which while starting out slow and a little below average, broke most snowfall records in February. If you want to see just how much of the year was snowy, check out this quick look from one fall to another.

The above photo is moonlight snow crust a bit after midnight. That's how bright nights can be here in the winter. And below is a shot from when it was far enough below zero for boiling water to turn right into frozen vapor when tossed in the air. 

The snow continued through the first day of summer!

Thanks to some huge wildfires nearby the year before, there was a record harvest of morel mushrooms this year. Which is wonderful as they are one of my favorite wild foraged foods. 

The gardens in their new gopher proof beds thrived. As did all the herbs and flower around the house. 

And all that greenery produced lots and lots of tasty nutritious food in all colors and flavors.

And led to the ability to have enough extra to preserve quite a bit of that bounty to enjoy through the long winter.

Which can sometimes leave a tiny house a little crowded and overwhelmed for a few days, but it all works. :) 

Burley enjoyed riding along in the tractor as we helped make hay.

And came along on several beautiful backpacking trips with different friends.

Like always, we saw a wide variety of wild things around the house, both large and small. 

The snow returned by the start of October and was followed by below average totals so far, but broke records for cold temps through November and while I haven't seen the official tally yet, December as well I think. 

Burley and I as always are enjoying the snow and the clear cold nights when you can see things like the milky way or the moon sliver as well as it's dark side, with Venus in the sky above it.

While there's many more, and of corse times of hardship long working hours, and sad events, that's a taste of some of the highlights of the past year. I hope you all have some wonderful memories to look back at too. And here's to making more every day we all are still alive on this earth!