Martinmas 2022

Friday, November 11, 2022

Laid back Martinmas. Cigar in the yard after work. It's cold out although it was 66 degrees a couple days ago. I'm still exhausted from all the pent up anxiety that built up within me prior to the recent midterms. "It could have been worse" has never sounded more comforting.

Pizza with Dale and Big Bang Theory tonight. 

Martinmas 2021 - Cigar & Remembering Athena

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Uneventful Martinmas. We lost Athena recently and the house feels empty without her. Had a cigar on the back stoop this afternoon. The yard also feels empty without her as she'd often sit out back with me while I indulged in a stogie. I checked this blog's Martinmas post from a year ago and in it I mentioned how nice it was having Athena around. I miss her so much. The holiday season won't be the same without her. 

Farewell, my love. 

Martinmas 2020 - Dinner

 Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Mid-week cocktail hour included martinis for me. Wine for Dale.

We had a simple dinner of salmon. Dove bars for dessert. Oh, and I had some Bailey's for 2nd dessert. 

And have I ever mentioned that life is just better with a dog in it? 

Martinmas 2020 - Evening

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

It was only yesterday I remembered Martinmas is today. 

For centuries this holiday signified the conclusion of the agricultural year; the harvest was complete, cattle were ready for butchering, wine was ready for consumption. For me Martinmas is becoming a specific date to look toward turning inward to not only my physical residence but also my person. 

It's looking like this year it won't just be the cold weather that keeps us at home but Covid-19 as well. Cases have spiked in just the last week at an alarming rate. Although the school district I'm a part of has been in distance learning since the beginning of the year, many that were doing hybrid will soon be returning to the distance model. It's looking quite possible that many indoor spaces that we turn to to escape cabin fever may be shuttered or at least turn to more severe restrictions. 

Above painting: The Wine of San Martin by Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Martinmas 2020 - Morning and Afternoon

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Another year gone by. Martinmas is upon us again. The sky as I walked Athena this morning was a steely silver blue. Wonderfully wintery. 

We had a rather substantial snow yesterday. As the weather drives me inside my thoughts turn more inward. It's a perfect time for reflection of the past year and for beginning to think of what lies ahead. 

The election this year went my way so it feels as if Christmas has come early. I'm ready to get in the holiday spirit but I hesitate to rush too much. It's not yet Thanksgiving. 

This has been a particularly rough year due to the pandemic. I've had to redo how I work and it's all been done with very little time to spare. Frustrating yet, at the same time, rewarding. I'm really going to work on staying positive throughout the season. I can't believe it's getting to be that time of year again. Here's to hearth and home.

Pre-Holiday Season 2019: Martinmas

Monday, November 11, 2019

Martinmas snuck up on me this year. Work has been stressful and I've already been sick a few times. That's unprecedented. Currently I'm dealing with a very mild respiratory condition, but still. Three times ill in just over two months of school?  No fun. Also, Dale's been dealing with some overwhelming work issues as well so things have been a little gloomy around our household. We're trying awfully hard to keep our spirits up but that can take extra energy which can be hard when one is exhausted. 

Anyway, yard work is mostly done. Leaves are raked and bagged. I didn't quite finish cutting back all the plants I wanted to but it'll have to either wait for spring or the increasingly less likely warmer day. It's gotten quite cold recently and it's snowed a little here and there. Today we only got up to around 15 degrees. 

Last year Dale and I made a chicken pot pie to mark Martinmas. Today we had no such special dinner. Nigel Slater, a food writer I follow, will make a ham on Martinmas as something of a practice run for the ham he'll make for Christmas. I'm not that ambitious, however, I will note that I ate a ham sandwich for lunch. 

For me, Martinmas is developing into a day to mark that yard work is done, winter is inevitable, and that it's time to turn my energies inward to hearth and home. 

Holiday Season 2018: Martinmas Day - The Coziness of Home Part 3

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Goose was not available to us for Martinmas so we settled on hen for the pot pie we made tonight. It was nothing short of divine. 

We watched Murder At the Gallop starring Margaret Rutherford. It's an old favorite of both of us. 

For dessert we had ice cream.

Tillamook of course. 

Holiday Season 2018: Martinmas Day - The Coziness of Home Part 2

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Dale just got back from walking Athena. He took her down to the Minnehaha Creek and remarked just what a beautiful walk it was. He mentioned that with the light snow on the many unraked leaves how pretty the mixture of white and brown on the ground and white and gray in the sky are. I agreed that it is rather pretty and peaceful at that. The last couple days have been this sweet mixture of fall and winter. It's all so very November. I found myself on our couch in the living room looking out of the window across the street and thinking how beautiful and peaceful it all is. The feeling of being warm inside and looking out at the cold serene day and the light coming out of other houses is very comforting. 

Listening to Autumn by George Winston adds to the warmth and calm of this beautiful day. 

Holiday Season 2018: Martinmas Day - The Coziness of Home Part 1

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Although the cold and snow can be invigorating and beautiful I still wouldn't want to be out in it all day. I think it really just helps one appreciate the joy of being cozy in one's home at this time of year. Here Dale and Athena look extra cozy.

Holiday Season 2018: Martinmas Day - Winter Weather and Walking Athena

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Inspired by Sasha's (see previous post) desire to be up and about and brave the world I decided to take on the cold and snow and go on a walk with Athena immediately upon arriving home. The Christmas cards I bought at Squire House yesterday features a linoleum print titled Morgan's First Snow by Leslie Evans. 

Now, Athena's been out in the snow many times  so it's nothing new to her. She loves it and it continues to amuse me how much so. 

I'm reading a book titled The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater. It features notes, stories and recipes for the winter season. I'm taken by the author's true love of winter and Christmas and all the sentiment behind it. The man really adores the season and looks for to it every year -  cold, snow, and all. He reminds me of Dale and his deep love of winter time. 

The author lives in London and he laments how little snow they actually get there now with climate change. He states that the last substantial snow they got was back in 2013. I may be feeling differently about it in March but I'm really appreciating the snow right now and how pretty and calming it is. 

We weren't able to quite get up all the leaves before the snow fell this year.

Out and about on a walk with Athena. Enjoying the cold, snow, and winter in general. So good to be mobile and able to explore my world. Thanks for the inspiration, Sasha. 

Holiday Season 2018: Martinmas Day - Church, Brunch, and Sasha

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Dale and I both slept like rocks last night. I think I slept for 11 hours. Church this morning at Gethsemane. We sang a couple of Thanksgiving-type hymns; very appropriate for Martinmas. 

After church Dale and I stopped by the Normandy Inn for brunch. We each ordered the corned beef hash which was delicious. Dale had coffee but I indulged in a couple of Bloody Mary's. 

There was a toddler there named Sasha who was really quite adorable. The place wasn't busy and she was taken on a few walks around the restaurant with her parents but also the bartender. She looked so enthused and excited to be exploring her world. Her parents mentioned something about taking her to the Children's Museum today. Based on her energy level and need to be out and about I'd say she's up for it. 

Holiday Season 2018: Martinmas Eve Part 3 - Shopping with Noel

Saturday, November 10, 2018

I've been feeling the need for Christmas much earlier than usual this year. It may be that I got an early Christmas present with the recent mid-term elections. It may be that we've got snow on the ground a tad earlier than usual. What's tipped it over the edge though was the Squire House Gardens holiday open house that Noel and I went to in Afton today. 

Although Martin's scaled it back a bit over the last couple of years, the place was festive with decorations and treats.

Glass ornaments and a Christmas tree with more glass ornaments adorned the front room.

Martin's hired a young landscape architect who helped tend the store today. Perhaps he'll one day take over the business?

Although there was no accordian player to add atmosphere this year and no mulled wine, the treats were plentiful and delicious.

Coffee, tea, cookies, and cheese and crackers...

 I sampled a ginger man who was quite tasty. 

Noel bought a baby seal ornament and some gloves. 

I picked up a lovely winter arrangement and some Christmas cards featuring a black lab which of course reminded me of Athena.

After Squire House we headed to Gypsy Moon in St. Paul. Marsha is beginning to set out many of her holiday wares. 

Of course there will be more holiday shopping to come...