Hi Old Friends,
I really hope you are all well readers, curious onlookers, those that desire just beyond this insanity that is the now. Things are as well as they can be here – although I’m writing here today to both update you (on what may actually sound like nothing) but also start up this method of sharing again. I have a lot of plans moving into the future and writing and sharing is a big part of it, albeit in the absence of using social media.
So, first I need to apologies for essentially dipping out for dare I say it, almost 2 years. I’m not sure what magic is being worked on the universe right now, but time is moving SO quickly.
I am sitting here in Nova Scotia, on the cusp of what I feel like is the change that we moved here in pursuit of. The past 2 years have literally been full of working non-stop (first for a tech company and now for my province) in order to secure a life-long dream, to secure and care for a large forest retreat. After sacrificing all of my time and energy over the past 2 years, I feel like we’re so close to achieving this and I want to share it. I can taste and smell it and now if only it will appear! It has been quite the journey to get here however like I said, time feels like it’s being magically wielded.
Where to begin….
You may have imagined all the in-between time being spent knitting, however – I have always been a nature first human and this is so perfectly incapsulated by learning to surf and spending as much time as possible in the ocean.
No, I’m not (and probably never will be) a great surfer… however, I get up and ride waves into the shore (which took me a year of embarrassing myself to do) and spend the most magical, glorious twilights (and foggy mornings) of my life with the ever changing sky, stars, moon and the moody ocean. Seals are not shy at all and just writing about this now makes my heart swell with joy and excitement for the summer of 2025.
I get that surfing as a sport is probably not very interesting to most people. Honestly, for me it’s more the connection with the ocean that naturally develops from spending the time in it. It’s also just super fun, I think I may be the happiest I’ve ever been while just in my wetsuit, in the water for hours.
We also have travelled a little bit this past year.
I had not been to the States since I was a teenager. We found ourselves (due to a strange string of synchronicities) in Denver, Colorado to see one of my favourite bands at Red Rocks. Colorado… was otherworldly beautiful and electric. Ancient and sorrowful.
I hope someday I can go back, however if it doesn’t happen – I’m grateful for the time we had (but I have a strange feeling that I’ll be back).
We also travelled to England…. which I can’t even express to you how much it spoke to me. I LOVED Glastonbury and London and all of the random bus rides in between.
I have always loved Ireland and after getting a Celtic Studies degree and being very connected to my Irish ancestry, I never thought that England would be so incredibly compelling.. but it’s just an amazing place that I hope I can explore more in the future.
We bought this book Magical Britain while we were there, and if you’re interested I highly suggest it!
And then of course, still peppered among the furrowed brow while working, there have been hikes in rural Nova Scotia with my Mom, drawings and illustrations. Gardening and plant and the ever obsessive intrigue into our local folklore and history.
I sadly don’t have many projects to share (there are a few but time has been limited).
The shop has been updated with new mittens in one of my more recent patterns. The pattern will be released shortly, however for now I just have knit SO many mittens with the plan to release the pattern, that these mittens need to be freed. So please, check out out my latest offerings. Knitting and all my crafts have unfortunately been on the back burner while I prioritize working.
This is the key to achieving the life that I’ve envisioned since I was a child, a very odd child apparently who fantasized about living outside of society and immersed in plants and the stars. This life didn’t include social media period, so my goal is to first find the place and second create as much as possible. Do you think I can do it?
I have no clue how many people will care or read this, but at this point – I want to document for myself and to just push myself to continue to create. There will likely be some changes coming (i.e. the blog will be moving etc.) and I just want to thank everyone who has read my blog over the years and wish you all the absolute best ❤
Be well, Happy New Year and BLESSED BE!
Julia xo
Ways of Wood Folk 
What a pleasant surprise to open up my email and see your post! I look forward to catching up!
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So happy I could surprise you Debra! :)!!
I have a hard time grasping that it’s been 2 years because not very much has happened at all but the daily grind! I’m going to start writing again because I can feel that shift in my life is near (CROSS FINGERS!).
Hope you’re well!
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Welcome back Julia! I’m so happy to hear from you again. Can’t wait to see your new projects! Happy New Year to you too! ✨🎄🎉
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Thank you Ana!!!
It feels good to be writing again, I very much appreciate your comment!
Blessings!
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so great to hear from you x
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❤ ❤ Thank you Melly!!
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what a lovely surprise to get an update from you!
I’m currently at home over Christmas and new years and reading the second book in the Kristin Lavransdotter series by Sigrid Undset, and actually came to think of you the other day since I remember reading that you loved the first book.
looking forward to hearing more from you in the future. Your garden looks phenomenal with all that colour ✨
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Hey Emma!
Oooohh you’re reading Kristin Lavransdotter! It’s been years, but I loved reading all of Sigrid Undset’s books – including the Master of Hestviken. I hope you’re enjoying it!
Happiest of 2025 (can hardly believe this in the year, but hey) to you!
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The butterfly mittens look lovely- can’t wait for the pattern release!
happy New Year to you as well.
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What a pleasant surprise!
I’m looking forward to hearing more about your adventures.
Debra Blakely
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Hello from Downeast Maine, so nice to hear from you! I’m looking forward to following along with your efforts to protect the woodlands. I know you’ve had some rough weather up there so it’s good to know all is well.
(would love to know who you saw at Red Rocks!)
all best,
Karen
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Hello fellow East Coaster!
Of course! We went to see Heilung and Eivor play on the FULL MOON. It was amazing and I’d love to go back, any excuse really to be back and i’ll take it!
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Why hello and how great it is to hear from you. I’m so pleased to hear you’re back writing again and that you’ve been to my hometown of Glastonbury, UK. Looking forward to hearing about what you’ve been up to.
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I LOVE Glastonbury!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are SO lucky! I should maybe specify that we did not go to the festival because this is what everyone seems to think! I wanted to go for it’s otherwordly associations… and I could just stay there forever honestly. It’s not too far from the sea too! If only I had met a fairy… lol
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Live your best life! Happy to get an update but also inspired to leave the screens behind for a while. The world is too beautiful to ignore.
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Hello Julia!
What a lovely surprise to find you once again in my inbox! I was just thinking about you the other day wondering how you and Jamie were doing.
I’ve never tried surfing, but I did try sail boarding years ago while living along Lake Erie. It was very challenging and I managed to embarrass myself many times. It didn’t “stick” with me, or should I say I didn’t stick with it. 😉 But my niece and nephew took to it.
I am excited for you and your upcoming opportunities and adventures. Please keep me informed as you find your way and your adventure unfolds. Keep your hope and enthusiasm up for achieving your lifelong dream of securing and caring for that large forest retreat!
Blessings in this new year, ❤️ Bonnie
Bonnie Klatt handsofgrace@me.com “Sacred Geometry: where the chaos of Creation comes to order.”
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Hi again Bonnie!
Very Happy to hear from you here! I know we have been so absent, but Jamie and I have been well! Just keeping our heads down essentially working and focusing on our end goal which is FOREST LAND!
How cool you tried sail boarding, but I understand it not sticking lol, that seems intimidating! I’m not sure how I would handle anything with a sail, lol.
I’ll do my post to keep this updated again although I may move to a new platform as I find my way.
Many blessings this year to you!
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Hello!
Just a quick note to say I very much liked your email. It was a nice read in a busy parenting day for me so thank you for the beautiful words and photos during a moment I slipped away to steal for myself. Your garden looks lovely.
Wishing you all the best surfing and living your dreams!
Lauren 🙂
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Thank you so much Lauren <3!
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Welcome back Julia! It’s lovely to see you in this space and catch up with you. It’s also encouraging to see another creator heading back to the blog space. Looking forward to your future adventures.
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Thank you Nicky!
It has been a very dormant space lately – I feel an urge to share online with like minded souls, but it does seem a bit of a loss now where to actually go! Everything seems co-opted by ads and algorithm 😦
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Delightful to see you here Julia! I was thinking of you the other day as I hang up my medieval spinner print, it had been taken down while we painted the wall. Blessings for the new year, your garden looks beautiful (all the lupines!)
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Ooohh thank you so much and this makes me so happy to hear ❤ ❤ Blessings to you!
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This is SO wonderful! It is gre
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It’s so nice to see you back. I look forward to your new plans and adventures.
Kris P
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It’s wonderful to hear from you Julia! Hope all your forest dreams come true. I always enjoy hearing about your travels, surf adventures, seeing your garden, knitting and drawings. Many blessings in the new year!
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so wonderful to see you back!!! 🤍🤍🤍
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I appreciate your reflection that achieving your dream can feel very non-dream-like for a while. Glad to read more from you again!
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It’s the reality for so many of us! But I truly believe that even just those tiny steps and being patient will pay off in the future and when that time comes, you will NOT regret any of it!
Thanks so much for your words ❤ it's comments like these that help to encourage the growth and creativity.
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