February has come and gone, and here on the other side, it doesn’t feel like spring yet, but it does feel as though perhaps spring might come eventually. We haven’t had much snow this year, so I was able to take a walk along the path through the riparian willow grove and down to the bay. Last year at this time, the willows were still waist-deep in snow.
Image Description: A view of Malpeque Bay, the willows, cattails growing in the inlet.
Meanwhile, the cats continue to provide both glamor and amusement.
Image Description: Monty peeking out from behind a curtain. The Contessa perching on her mushroom scratching post. Bruce basking in the sunlight.
Reading
Image Description: Three novels laid out on a red chaise, sprawled upon by the Contessa.
February was another month of reading mostly for NPR reviews. I was hoping my latest – a roundup of three very excellent new adult fantasy releases (pictured above) – would go up in time for me to link it here, but it seems that you will have to wait until next month to hear my in-depth thoughts. I will say that The Magician’s Daughter has already landed a spot on my personal favorites of 2023 list. I took these pictures on my new antique chaise, which the Contessa has claimed as her throne.
I also had a chance to read Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, and absolutely adored every page of it. I will admit, I was skeptical about this one, because the title sounded a bit precious and it was getting enough hype that I worried it would not be to my taste. Fortunately, my friend Amal (you should definitely sign up for her newsletter while you’re there) recommended it very highly, and when she recommends something – especially something folklore adjacent – I listen! She was correct: It is a delight.
Image Description: The Contessa flirting with a copy of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries.
Emily Wilde is a late 19th century folklorist, but in her world, folklore is more akin to biology or anthropology because there is no question that fey creatures are real. In her quest to catalogue all the different types of faeries for her encyclopedia, she travels to the far north to a remote outpost to search for the elusive Hidden Ones. Her brusk manner immediately puts off the locals, but just when it seems like the expedition may be a bit of a bust, her colleague Wendell Brambelby turns up to help her – or possibly to take credit for her work!
Wendell is the sort of person who charms everyone he meets, except for Emily, because she is 90% certain that he is in fact a faerie himself. Together they get into a world of trouble as they go poking about looking for the Hidden Ones and accidentally become enmeshed in a saga that they don’t belong in.
Everything about this book hits right. The faeries of imaginary Hrafnsvik feel just enough like creatures from real world mythology to ring true while having their own unique vibe. Emily is immensely loveable as a person who is extremely competent at what she does but is utterly hopeless when it comes to dealing with other people. And Wendell Brambelby is frankly a gift, the perfect slightly foppish sunshine to Emily’s grumpy. This is another one that shot straight to the top of my best of the year list.
Crafting
Back in the fall, we were hit by Hurricane Fiona, and a large branch fell off our lilac bushes. It’s been sitting out in the yard since then, and I spotted it on a warmish day when I was out scouting for Wreath of the Month potential. I wasn’t sure how well it would work to craft a circle out of such large branches, but it came together surprisingly easily and made for a very dramatic effect.
Image Description: Me in a massive crown made from dead lilac branches.
I ended up hanging this one on the front porch as a sort of stark, winter décor. I love the way the gold wire looks against the bark and lichen.
Image Description: A closeup of wire wrapping branch.
Gardening
This month, I have been full of dreams for my 2023 garden. Last year was a big adventure in terms of adding a huge new garden bed and trying something completely new as I attempted growing cutting flowers for the first time. It was a major success, and I had the best time frolicking in flowers all summer, so this year, I want to grow a bunch of new varieties. I also want to try some new methods for starting seeds – for example, I’m switching from starting them in plastic containers to using soil blocks (compressed dirt cubes). None of that is happening until April, but I think I’ll try to share that journey here!
A selection of seed packets.
I’ve already ordered my seeds and supplies, so the very moment the time comes, I’m ready! In case you’re looking for a place to order seeds, this year mine are from a mix of companies. I did a big order from Johnny's Seeds, who set the standard for high quality, non-GMO seeds. And they’re employee-owned! If you’re ordering from Canada, the shipping and duties are a bit of a pain, but I think it’s worth it if you’re placing a big enough order. I always end up ordering a few rare varieties from Baker Creek Seeds, and I have to say, I think their packaging is the best. They put gorgeous photos on all the seed packets, and it makes planning so much easier when you can see what you’ve got and it all looks so appealing. I get a lot of my veggie and herb seeds from Fruition Seeds. All of their products are organic, and they’re one of the best in terms of social and environmental responsibility. They also share a lot of great growing tips on their social media! This year I also ordered specialty flower seeds from an Ontario company called Stems Flower Farm. They carry a lot of the more unusual cut flower varieties that I wanted, and the shipping was quite reasonable for me because they’re in Canada. I also ordered from a small company local to us here in the Maritimes, the Incredible Seed Company. It’s my first time ordering from them, and I’m excited to see how the seeds do.
Image Description: Flowers and veggies in last year’s garden.
With that sweet memory of summer, I think I will draw this newsletter to a close. I hope that the remainder of your winter will be as cozy as these three cats:
Image Description: Monty, Tess, and Bruce snuggling in their cat beds.
Until next month, wishing you the best books and the most berry-full brambles,
Caitlyn
I write this from the traditional unceded territory known as Mi’kma’ki. Two books by Indigenous authors that I really enjoyed recently are The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson and Saints of the Household by Ari Tison.
(All opinions expressed in this newsletter are my own and do not represent my employer.)
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