Winter

Reasons I love winter:

1. There's more family time because there's no yard work to do.

2. Life's pace is slower.

3. Beauty of the snow, especially newly fallen snow on the trees.

4. I can see the birds since there are no leaves on the trees.

5. The contrast of the leafless trees (dark) with the snow (light).

6. The contrast of the red cardinals against the snow and leafless trees.

7. Snowmen are built in winter.

Things I'm thankful for in winter:

1. A warm house.

2. Warm clothes.

3. Flannel sheets.

4. Good traction from my van.

5. My down coat.

6. My Cabella's boots.

7. The beauty of God's creation: birds, snow, trees, etc.

8. Family time.

Now my sis lives in AZ and doesn't have these things in winter anymore. I know she misses them. And I know, without doubt, that I would also. So I was thinking that I'd have to learn to like winter if it were different than I described.

When we lived two hours south of here I didn't much care for the winters there. The first winter we lived there it was 40 degrees and raining from November to June. (I know I've said that over and over again to people who know me and I know it's a bit of an exaggeration, sorry.) It was a horrible winter, in my opinion. My favorite winter, by contrast, was when we lived in WI. It was way below zero for weeks, I think. When it reached 5 below it actually felt warm! I think it was the same winter that for several weekends in a row it snow 6-10 inces. You should have seen the walls of snow by the sidewalks and driveways.

I'll be thankful for what I have and try to be content if it changes.

Job. 38:22a Have you entered the storehouses of the snow... NASB

Have you entered the treasury of snow...NKJV

I think it's cool (pun intended) that God has storehouses of snow. : )

Dusting

Today I dusted! This is what I used, my Flylady feather duster. Gasp! No sneezing at all!

I'm convinced the reason for no sneezing is that since I've been doing the candida diet my allergy-type symptoms have dramatically improved.

Nature walk

I just love winter! : ) : )

Anyway, Amy & I went for a walk around our house in the deep snow this afternoon. (I think we should get snowshoes.) When we were still and quiet the birds appeared. I saw several nuthatches playing in the tree top making their little tiny noises and a chickadee being busy just four or five feet from me. We saw what appeared to be cardinal feathers on the ground. There must be a reason for that. There were tracks in the snow coming from the trees toward the yard. It was hard to tell what made the tracks until we got closer. Then we could see feet prints deep in the snow then evidence of a rabbit.

It was time well spent.

After we were in the house for a while I spied five mourning doves in the sycamore.

Super Heroes

I took this fun Superhero quiz and I am 'Miss Mighty Mouse'. Click Here or the above picture to take the quiz yourself.

More snow birds

If you look closely at the above picture you can see a chickadee perched behind, so there are three different kinds of birds on that feeder.

I got two in mid-flight.

Snow birds

The birds are so active when it snows. I love watching them flit here and there.

Gold finch.

Male cardinal.
I thought it was cool that I got the cardinal in mid-flight with sports mode on the camera.

Female cardinal.

Red-breasted nuthatch.

Mourning doves roosting in twilight. They flew off just shortly after these pictures were taken.

Snow Day!!

Who could resist making a snowman when there was perfect snow and perfect temperatures?


DH worked from home yesterday because of the snow. He was able to take his lunch hour to help.
We called this our art and nature period for school.

Birds & Bitty Baby

Today, after having serious technical difficulties with the computer yesterday, I was re-uploading pictures from the camera to the computer and discovered a picture Amy took of mourning doves in the sycamore tree. Now a day later I find out that dh took the picture. He rarely does that, so it's a nice treat.


And since we had those difficulties which required dh's time and expertise, I had time to finish this dress for Bitty Baby.

Dust

A quote from "Sabrina" by Lori Wick.

"'What are you doing?' Jessie Wheeler asked of Hannah, her older daughter, when she found her digging behind one of the counters of Wheeler's Mercantile.
'Looking for a rag.'
'Why do you need it?'
'I'm going to dust that shelf over there.'
Jessie, who owned and operated the mercantile, looked over at the shelf her daughter pointed to. It did need dusting, but the bottom ones always did. She had two customers in the store but ignored them in order to bend down on her daughter's level.
'I think you should go and play,' Jessie said gently to the child, who tended to take life very seriously. 'You just finished with school. Don't you want to enjoy your summer a little?'
'But who will dust the shelf?'
'I don't know right now, but I do know this: The dust will wait for us.'" (emphasis all mine)

Today's accomplishments

Bitty Baby is going to be well outfitted. ; ) I'm sort of on a roll here. The fabric I used this time came from my stash box. Maybe I'll actually make a dent in the amount of fabric I have. Although that's not going to happen if I don't quit going to Joanns. On the other hand, I've discovered remnants!! Oh no! Great way to make doll clothes.


I finished listening to Rainbow Valley, the seventh book in the Anne of Green Gables series. One more to go.

I also finished knitting another dish cloth. I'm really hoping to keep learning more so I can make other things. The next dvd lesson will have me making mittens. I found a book called Vintage Knits by Sarah Dallas. There are some really cute sweaters in there. (I am disappointed with how they model some of them-in underwear only. Bad taste for anything, but especially for a vintage style.)

And I mopped and vacuumed, cleaned a bathroom, sorted the Frontier order (with help from dd), started another Bitty Baby dress, did some laundry...I think that's it. Oh and I did not dust!! (That's for you, Hope Anne.) ; )

Bitty Baby outfit/Sew Crafty Friday

Here's my creation for this week. I think the rickrack is so cute.

Check others' projects at Shereen's blog.

Mother Culture & Amy's fun

I came across this blog post about Mother Culture. It's pretty good, so I'm providing the link here.


Amy had fun on our snowy cold afternoon with Adria Joy, one of her AG dolls. The pond was frozen enough for Adria to go "skating." Amy took some great photos, I think.

Bitty Baby outfits

Amy really enjoyed getting these for Valentine's Day. I had fun making them also. ; )

The New Look

--Here she is after much "pain & suffering."

--My first "real" haircut.

--Very adorable.

VA trip

There's a theme to this trip to VA. Dh's family, especially his mom, loves birds. The above bird belongs to his sister.

This fellow is "Rubber Ducky."

Dh's mom is very popular when she goes to the park.

This little guy is "Uno" because he has only one leg. He does hold his own pretty well, however.

Birthday

Here's what greeted me when I got up this morning. : )

Valentine's Day Party

There were six girls in our house today talking, crafting, laughing, talking and laughing more. They did have a good time, I think. These girls are from our Keepers At Home group. We meet once a month for Bible study and craft time. Amy & I decided to have them over for a Valentine's Day party.

They decorated mini mailboxes. They covered them with scrapbooking paper, ribbons, pom poms, beads and buttons. One of the girls decided to paint horses on hers.

They worked diligently while talking about books they've read and silly things that are silly enough that I don't have a clue how to record it. : ) They were all very polite and respectful, a great group.