Winter arrives so suddenly, skips autumn, and throws us deeply into darker days.

I welcome winter, the cold and the wind, but not the darkness.

I welcome rain if only it too would arrive.

(Photo shows Our Sourdough Bread Class: eating together as we wait for the bulk fermentation)

(Adding dried fruit soaked in alcohol in a chocolate bread loaf)

Our wetland is sad and empty.

Our trees are so thirsty.

(Stretching out dough to allow fruit to be incorporated).

I planted garlic with Pia and Charlie two recent helpers.

(Our garden is a huge gift supplying fresh flowers all summer)

I experienced great excitement at seeing a young friend of mine purchase her first home.

(There are plenty of flowers to share with students: Nicky and flowers for the trip home after our bread class)

I spent days photographing bread and the bread making process for a book I am writing, about sourdough. I forgot how much work photography is when it is done all at once. When done in a concentrated time frame with a goal to meet.

(More flowers for the trip home: bread baking class)

Exhaustion so big.

I have written 32,000 words about sourdough bread.

(Aleks our recent volunteer who helped soooo much)

This week I need to edit my book, turn pork bone broth into a shelf stable broth for winter use and tomatoes you need bottling too.

(Taking bread home).

I have had help and have more help arriving. And plenty more rich conversations to be had around our table.

(Inhaling the fragrance of warm bread)

I am deeply grateful for my beautiful partner Ralf, who I love deeply and who makes the work I do here possible.

To all of you out there reading this, a big hug to you, as winter appears to have arrived before autumn.