Wintertime News

Hey there!!

I got a Christmas card with a special request in it nearly 2 months ago now. .

I'm not the quickest. .

But I AM perseverant!!

Ms. Sue from Michigan was hoping to warm up her winter with some pictures of my greenhouse! And I did oblige quickly with some pictures. .and then took my time to get them up! In the meantime though, we endured a nasty ice storm. .and then some 80 degree days this past weekend. .so I have a few photos from that to share too!

A few years ago I bought a pomegranate tree. It flowers well. .and has grown some tiny pomegranates. I had read somewhere that the decorative trees aren't designed to be able to offer edible fruits.

So I was surprised that these little fruits appeared. .

They grew for a while. .but when they got big enough. .They split open. .to reveal the tiny little, normal looking pomegranate seeds inside! That was fun to see!

I have only used the greenhouse the last couple winters to house my succulent collection. .

But I felt like I might have some extra time to worry over tomato plants this season. I just did little grape varieties. .yellow and red. Jeremy is eating them as fast as they turn.

My two big ferns are looking mighty good for this time of the year!! I have been growing them in self watering planters on the east deck all summer. .which is the only way that this lazy over-scheduled gardener can keep them living. .and this is the first year that I have overwintered them successfully too! They should look great when the season changes! The big pots of succulents are doing well too. .but I think I neglected to get photos of them on!

In January we had a yucky 3 day ice storm. Our old elm trees didn't fare very well at all! This tree is in the front of the house by the pond. .

The guys had to use the tractor to get the branches out of the pond. They did this on day two when we were kind of in between systems!

It was BEAUTIFUL. .

But look how thick that stuff is on the lilac bushes!!

It took us a lot of days to clean up. .

In fact, we still aren't done yet-but the majority of it is cleared out into big piles, waiting for a match when the time is right!

Jeremy ended up taking down a lot of the old, ugly elms. .which I was sad about. I am still fighting for the few that are left. I want them mainly for the bird habitat until our younger trees get bigger! It is a battle of the wills!!

It was a little unnerving to stand in the house, listening to the CRACK-CRASH cycle all around.

But it was the quietest, still air in between the crashing. The ice-blanketed world made the atmosphere seem unusual!

CRAZY!

Fast forward into mid February!!

Two days above 80 degrees!

The boys got a very old fishing boat a few weeks ago. .

And spent countless hours cleaning it all up and fixing the brokenness.

Sunday it was ready for it's maiden voyage. .

It was a gorgeous afternoon with zero wind. .And while we didn't catch a thing. .It was great just to relax and soak up some fresh air and sunshine and DREAM about summer!!

I do have a few pictures uploaded to the blog already. .

Just waiting on a few minutes to spare so I can tell you what everyone has been up to!!

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!!