Here’s to the New.
Starting a New Year in the middle of winter feels odd, doesn’t it?
I have to confess, I always get all the feels when faced with a blank calendar or planner waiting to be filled with all the things that will be done. It’s a lot like the draw and trepidation of a blank page: both overwhelming and exciting. Full of potential. Full of expectations.
This year has particular pull as 2024 will be our first full year at Reachwood. What is Reachwood, you ask? Nearly 5 months ago my family and I moved to this incredible property. It belongs to friends of ours who are on a great Canadian experiment. They asked us if we would live in and care for this space while they took steps to see if Canada could become their permanent home.
Every single factor and facet of this place called Reachwood was pulled straight out of our dreams. Literally. There’s a vision board we made when we were first homestead hunting, and this place has every single thing we dreamed up and more.
Why haven’t I written about it? Honestly because I still cannot communicate about this experience in any form without babbling with excitement. Time has also been very full. The last few months have been spent getting to know the space, its residents, and the nearly 800 acres of easement land that surround the house. Our mission for the next few years is to take care of the buildings, keep the various machines and systems running, and spoil the 4 pigs and the dozen or so ducks and chickens that resided here when we moved in. Beyond that we are welcome to do as much or as little as we want with the massive gardens, numerous fruit trees, and extensive trail network around the house. And of course we want to do as much as we can possibly manage. Some days my ambitions outpace my ability, but we just try to take it one day and one project at a time.
So what is it like at Reachwood?
The sunrises are gentle here, easing you into the day. The breezes off the river bring the smell of the turning tides, marking time in a way your body understands on a primal level. The sunsets bring each day to a close with a blast of beauty and color that can be watched from the hot tub, soaking tub, or deck.
There’s peace here like I have never felt before. There’s hope. And yes, sometimes it is overwhelming, but it is the most exciting of blank pages. And I cannot wait to see what we can do here in the coming year.