Greetings Everybody,
As we venture into a new world, we find ourselves straddling the bustling activity of the outside and the cozy, intimate world within. The first two months of winter felt like an endless summer, with mild days and sunshine lulling us into a false sense of warmth. But then, January arrived with a vengeance, and the snow finally descended upon us, blanketing our surroundings in a pristine white layer. Now, we are truly immersed in winter, with feet of snow insulating us, broken only by the rumbling sound of the plow keeping the roads navigable.
Linda has been hard at work, completing her second book of poetry (her first, Facing the Mountain, is available here). Meanwhile, I’ve been absorbed writing our other book, tentatively titled, The Chronicles of Sage Mountain Center, Featuring Sage Wall. To paraphrase Ernest Hemingway, “Writing a book is easy. You sit down and bleed.”
But winter has been more than just a season of mental work. We tackled three water leaks and replaced almost every motor in the Main House—two in the dishwasher, one in the washing machine, and the fan in the kitchen hood vent. They say mechanical devices have about a 20-year lifespan, and at 23 years, our Main House decided it was time for a major overhaul. Whether a stroke of bad luck or simply the passage of time, everything chose to simultaneously break this winter!
Despite the challenges, we are fed and warm, and our thoughts are slowly shifting towards the upcoming tourist season. Sage Wall inquiries are flowing in, and we’d like to remind everyone that online registrations for 2025 will begin on April 1st. Appointments will be available from May through September—May is typically when the snow and mud start to melt away. During most weekdays and weekend, our appointment slots will be at 10 am and 2 pm, so please plan your trips accordingly. For more details, check out the Contact and Tours section of our website.
In the meantime, we are savoring the respite from outdoor projects while keeping the home fires stoked. Please check back here for our random updates throughout the coming months.
Warmly,
Christopher and the Sage Mountaineers