What has transpired in the past three months? To think I haven't made a post for a full season. I apologize.
What to tell you of October, November, December? The rains came, snow came briefly, and ice. The clouds have blocked the sun for some time now, it seems. I had a distracted solstice, and observed the sunrise and sunset with only partial attention. I did recall, however, the summer solstice I observed while on the trail last summer, and how solemnly I watched the sun travel through the whole day. I feel I have passed through many places since then.
My Christmas was quiet -- my first day off in a long run of harried days caught between the stable and the bookstore, scattered here and there with little sun breaks with Clara and Lyle, the 20-month old cousins I care for several mornings each week. I dined Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with dear friends and spent the other holiday hours cleaning, washing laundry, and working in the stable. (I did spend midnight on Christmas Eve bundled in my sleeping bag on hay bales I'd dragged into Honeychild's stall -- I didn't hear any of the animals speaking, but there was certainly a lot of braying and grunting.)
I still don't know how long I intend to stay out here or where I might turn next. Part of my heart leans back towards Asheville, and another part sighs for Vermont. The folks at the bookstore where I am employed have encouraged me to stay for another year, but I admit I feel rather lonely being so far from my family. I've been hesitant to form too many attachments here, as well, for fear they would make my return to the East more difficult, and so perhaps I've isolated myself more than I really intended to. I realize that if I decide to stay through another summer I will need to involve myself more in the community and perhaps spend less time reading books in my kitchen -- a cup of tea is rather poor company, after all.
I will be returning to PA for a visit in early March, so mark your calendars and plan to drop by for a hug.
Enjoy these last few hours of 2008... We get to hang up our new calendars tomorrow.
~April and Honeychild
P.S. My photos spanning the past three months are finally online - I'll post them for you all as soon as I finish captions (very soon).
