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by Nisargo Troy Living in community is full of opportunities to come together. We work together, we have fun together, we grow together and we at Heartwood certainly know how to celebrate together. Fall into Winter has all of that and plenty of it.  Look at these smiling faces! Our carts, most of time used to bring groceries from the car to the house, or recycling and trash to their receptacles, can also be used for fun things, like carting kids around! What a treat!  We get to see our wonderful kids grow up right in our midst, watch them learn how to ride their bikes within weeks of each other, partake in community by helping with chores and learn to work difficulties out amongst each other. All while the babies are being passed around between the aunts and uncles. How wonderful!  And then we do this unbelievable other thing. In spite of the fact that we live in close proximity, eat and work together, we also go on vacation together! Really! Our annual camping trip to Canyonlands in October is always a big success.  At the end of October the little ones got to trick or treat in our small and safe community, all dressed up as witches, unicorns or dinosaurs, while the “big kids” enjoyed watching them. Scary foods were served afterwards.  In honor of the Dia de los Muertos a beautiful ofrenda was created and everyone was invited to place a photo or an item reminding them of a dear person who had passed. Look how beautiful this is!  And we celebrated yet another beautiful Thanksgiving, with family and friends visiting, expressing our gratitude for so many blessings in our lives and enjoying a splendid feast. The common house was decorated festively, and smiles were all around. Over the past few weeks the temperatures at Heartwood had finally been dropping low enough that one could imagine the arrival of winter, eventually. I have unpacked my winter clothes and put away my short sleeved shirts. I even got out my down jacket. Flannel sheets wait for me at night. It was getting cold! And then there was a forecast of “possibility” of snow. Exciting! But here in the Southwest we have mixed feelings about that kind of forecast. We can never be quite sure whether the moisture, be it rain or snow, will make it this far south for us to benefit from a storm, or not. But snow it did! Our little village is now covered in a beautiful white blanket! And we are grateful. Moisture of any kind is always welcome here.  So last night we gathered in our cozy common house, enjoyed a warm nutritious meal prepared by two members, friendly conversations around small tables and then were accompanied by the beautiful lights on our way home through the neighborhood. Last, but definitely not least, there is big progress being made with Phase 2, the “growing phase” of Heartwood from 24 homes to 38. It has been 28 years since the original plat was approved for what would become Heartwood Cohousing. Last week a most important step in this long process was accomplished. The final plat was recorded with the county, which means that houses can now be built in the 14 holes that have been waiting to be filled with homes for more members. All the infrastructure is in place, the forms to be filled with concrete for the basements and foundations have been constructed and the trusses are stacked and ready to go.  And lo and behold, even with snow still on the ground, the concrete crew arrived this week, with temperatures still rather chilly, to begin their work. We are getting closer!  We wish you a wonderful holiday season, a peaceful ending of this year and a joyful start into the next. In community,
Nisargo |