Winter Storms. .Blessed Moisture

I often wonder about people who don't blog for a long time with no good farewell note. .

Are they OK? Sick? Dead? Throwing in the blogging towel?

I wonder about them, as I am sure you are wondering about me!

If I ever decide to give up blogging. .

I will let you know. .

So, in the meantime. .

Thanks for showing up to hear a story or two!

Better late than never!

I'm pleased to report that we got major snow and signs of spring in the same week!!

I lose count. .but I think it was 2-3 weeks ago now!!

On my second snow day home from work. .

In between games of slap-jack. .

I was awarded a short window break from the slave drivers children. .

I was pretty thrilled to see SIX bluebirds around the frozen pond!

By the time the second snow came and went. .

We had about 2 feet of snow to be piled up out of the driveway. .

so that every day life could take place. .

Like working :-)

The second snow came as a blizzard that lasted all day and into the night. .

I was glad to see the sun shine Tuesday morning. .

and impressed to see how the snow attached to vertical surfaces. .from all sides!

As well as how it fashioned such CRAZY looking icicles!!

I've seen others with similar photos at their houses. .

And here I thought we were the only ones with unique ice sculptures!

But, I'll add. .

I've NEVER seen icicles like THOSE. .

EVER!

We were thankful to get out of town BETWEEN the two storms. .

And to grandmother's house we went. .

Where all of the cousins were super excited to play together. .

Including an afternoon trip down the street to a hill that leads down to the river. .you can see the grates on the right where the water goes underneath the main street into the other side.

The object was to land in the snow BEFORE getting to the grate!

I think that everyone got the point!

My big boys and Uncle Chris. .

weathered the entire afternoon. .

With Haley, Teegan, and Colton winning a close second on sledding runs!

Even this old lady (NO, that is NOT me on the sled) made two trips down the hill. .

Totally exhilarating!

And I guarantee that I landed MUCH more eloquently than THIS one did!

I was glad to have gotten the first photo taken above with the beautiful snow about 10 minutes before my father in law came through with his big tractor. .Scooping massive amounts of snow out of his way so he could feed his heifers and their new babies. .that's what the plowed area was in the background. .It was comical to watch those new baby calves run through the snow in the path as they played!

It was good to be with family. .

We hadn't been back with everyone since Christmas. .

 And it was a great time hanging out. .and playing. .

AND I even smoked my sister in a game of Scrabble (which DOESN'T happen often. .unless my preacher's wife happens to call to chat. .and I coerce her into praying for me. .BUT that wasn't the case this time. .I won on my own. .just sayin!)

And while we enjoyed the snow play outside. .

It also meant a few fun activities inside. .

Like a little tea party for lunch!

Tuesday's sunshine was SO warm and refreshing. .

That Cami and I couldn't resist building a little snow buddy. .

And THESE girls. .who didn't leave their coop for nearly a week. .

were glad to get down for a bit of fresh air as well!

On our trip to mom's. .

We brought back a little piece of history. .

And I can't WAIT to show you what this will be soon!!

We are hopeful. .

That because of the winter scenes like these. .

our spring and summer might be a little more normal!

Hoping to be back soon to show some photos of the recent

BIRTHDAY BOY!

The greenhouse is in good use right now. .

and I know my gardening friends would LOVE to see what I'm up to in there. .

We also have a few "little things" up our sleeves around here. .

that will CERTAINLY be showcasing some photos in the next few weeks. .

I know that my family enjoys reading what we are up to. .

And I enjoy the comments from the blog-land friends I've made. .

and more than anything. .

I'm so glad you keep showing up right here for a visit!

Thanks for your patience. .

and your friendships!

Blessings for a wonderful week!

Spring. . or Winter?

The weather in Southwest Kansas has been very springlike. .

I have had all sorts of green things poking through the ground. .

Daffodils and tulips coming up. .

Crocus bloomin. .

and fish activity increasing with the great warm temperatures. .

It was in the mid 70's just a few short days ago. .

Nice enough, in fact. .

That I took all my snow people down and put out the spring flowers and bunnies. .

It was time, I deemed!

And then. .

WHAM. .

SNOW!!

Lots and LOTS of snow!!

I haven't been paid to work in two days. .

I've done enough laundry to clothe a small nation. .

We've enjoyed beef chili. .

and hot cocoa. .

And hunks of old fashioned oatmeal cake!!

And sinks full of dirty dishes to go with them!

I even tried out some Artisan bread from a book given to me by my friend Connie. .

And there is still enough dough in my fridge to make 6 more loaves. . 

We made some cute little necklaces yesterday using washers from Jeremy's shop and our collection of nail polish. .Idea courtesy of Pinterest!

Now to find some ribbons for them. . 

The kids are back out in this winter wonderland enjoying snowballs and tunnels. .

And me. .

I'm enjoying a few minutes of quiet without arguing, roughhousing, and weird body noises!!

It will soon be over. .

(the SNOW. .and likely the quiet moments!)

But we are incredibly thankful for this beautiful, WET, snow to replenish our parched ground and stressed out vegetation! 

Now. .off to the greenhouse to sow some seeds for the SUMMER garden. .

Wishing you all a very blessed weekend. .

The last one of February you know!! 

What's Happenin'

Wow. .

It's been 3 weeks since I have blogged. .

In a way, I feel bad. .

But. .

Life keeps on. .and I just do what I can!

I know you all understand!

We are all doing well. .

And have missed the sicknesses so far!

Grant and I finally got some more photos of Cami. .

the lighting was much better and I am really pleased with mine. .

Grant got some cute ones too. .

So, hopefully. .

one will make it to the fair next summer.

And she thoroughly enjoyed her bag of Hershey's kisses she got as payment!

She's starting to talk about what will happen in kindergarten next year. .

and advised me last night that she has kissed a boy. .

OTHER than one she was related to. .

YIKES!

That crazy time. .how it flies!

I haven't been the only working on projects lately. .

Devin got a cool leather crafting kit for Christmas. .

And has made most of the projects that came with it.

He gave his 4-H talk on making a tooled leather bookmark.

He gets to do it again at the regional contest in March.

He has really enjoyed working on them. .

I've also come across some cool woodworking projects for him to tackle in the near future.

Grant did a talk on making one of our new favorite treats. .

Coconut Bonbons. .

He also received a blue ribbon. .

and gave it again at the 4-H meeting earlier this week.

He has enjoyed driving his old truck around. .

and it seems to have stirred an interest around the town.

Tristan did his 4-H speech on HOW to give a speech. .

which went over well with the judge.

I think he is a natural at entertaining people and he did a really good job.

He gets to perform at Regionals also.

This weekend will find him performing at his first forensics meet this year. He has several things he is working on. .and it will be fun to see where he goes with it.

He and Grant will start golf practice in a couple weeks. .

Hard to believe that the school year is winding down again!

Me??

Oh, not up to much outside the usual.

In final preparation for our bedroom makeover and addition. .

I have been scouring pinterest and the Internet in general for the last few weeks. .

I have found several projects that I wanted to do. .

Several that I have gotten the things I need to create. .

waiting on the right time to do it. .

And I have come up with some super fun ideas for our new space. .

One of which includes an antique wardrobe. .

and a WET BAR! I'll keep ya posted!

One thing I AM sure of. .

is that when my kids leave home. .

I may NEVER leave my room AGAIN!

Location, location, LOCATION. .
I will be reminded of God's word every time I look at my own hair in the mirror. .

I did finish a project the other day. .

While I was working on the inspirational signs for my sisters that I posted about a month ago. .

I decided that I wanted to do a vinyl verse in my bathroom. .

I've had the verse planned for years. .

just never followed through.

My friend Cindy owns  a shop that does the vinyl lettering. .

and this past week, she was able to get my verse finished and cut. .

And I got it put on my wall Monday.

Do you love it??

I do. .

I struggle with a vanity issue. .

I want to wear cute clothes. .

have my make up and hair. .

JUST SO!

The aging process is not always glorious. .

But I LOVE this reminder. .

that I may have GRAY HAIR. .

but it is crowning my

EXPERIENCE at life!

The super cool part of this vinyl. .

is that I can move it. .

and did. .

multiple times before I was happy.

I think the chapter and verse numbers will need to be moved one more time before I am totally satisfied with it! Thanks Cindy!!

We still have had so little moisture.

The ground is dry and powdery. .

Most of my grass is dead. .

 We have a mole that we can't get who has tunnelled most of my yard and killed a tree.

The chickens are fun to watch. .

But they scratch all my flower beds and kick up the mulch like no one's business. .

You can see that I will have a lot of sweeping to do!

Because my yard looks SO BAD. .

My motivation to go out and look around the gardens has been minimal at best!

I did take a walk about Monday and was tickled to see some signs of life. This Mexican hat will be ready to go when it really warms up!

Though I have no crocus blooming like my friend GonSS; I was surprised to see such a healthy clump of sedum coming up from the base!

This clump of daffodils will need to be moved before the carpenters come. .

There were a few small clumps of hostas left there too. .

I hope I can find their roots and get them moved!

You may be tired of looking at my greenhouse photos. .

But the larger tomato plants seem to be ripening a lot of fruit at the same time. I suspect this is brandywine because of it's odd shape. .

Though, it could be Mater Sandwich. .

Can't wait a few more days to taste one!

I have finally tasted the chocolate cherry tomatos. .

I like them. .There are two plants producing these little morsels. .

They should give us much fruit over the next 4 months or so!

I'm hoping they will transition to a summer garden in the containers and continue to produce fruit for us!

I also finally took my big purple fountain grass clump and divided it. The photo makes them look REALLY bad. .

There is still green at the base of each of the 5 divisions that I made. .

I am hoping that they root in well and tolerate the interruption without too much rebellion!

Hoping that you all find lots of hugs and sugar for Valentine's Day!!

We will!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Have a blessed day!!