Happy New Year My Dear family and friends!

The New Year is upon us and it is now 2013! Isn't that amazing how time just keeps on flying by, without caring whether we are ready for it to go or not. 

Well, we had a nice quiet party last night and managed to be to bed by about 1 this morning. I didn't hope to get much done but rest and finish our holidays rather lazily, but a girl can dream and so I shared my dreams with the boys when Travis got up about fixing a shelving system from recycled wood for the back closet. It desperately needed attention. It is a very well used space and the dresser that is crucial to holding a lot of mittens, scarves, hats and leashes and balloons and so on was completely falling apart. I tried to mend it at the beginning of the cold season but it didn't hold for long. So I knew it was time to turn it over to the men.

But first we needed to fill the wood box, we were down to our last wood piece and it has been a bit cold these last few days. 

There, now we can start on our building project.

 In this picture you can see just how busy we keep this closet. All of Travis' things he needs as he heads out the door for work, plus much of the rest of the families outside gear as well, plus Henry's food, potatoes and squash and..... no wonder that dresser was trying to melt down.
This fall they replaced the back porch's decking because the steps were wearing out and we figured we might as well do the whole bit rather than have miss-matched treads. It isn't a big porch but it provided more than we needed of lumber for this project.

We are starting to fill it back up. 

It is full again and we can again access our winter accessories. I know it looks like I should have cleaned the top shelf but really it is organised, it is also very full.

 While the boys were busy working on cutting and measuring the lumber, we girls were re-potting some of my house plants. Almost all of them were getting root bound plus I received some lovely new flower pots for Christmas and I wanted to use them. Anyone want some peace lilies? Or bulbs that have a lovely pink flower in the summer? or some aloe vera. You do have to get the aloe soon because we are eating that excess. I also am rooting a bunch of angel wing begonias because I hated to just toss all that good plant when I trimmed them way back.

So there you have it, our New Year's Day project review.
Next up dress remodeling, Margaret is in a play and I need to refashion a couple dresses for that, and Bea has a dress we need to play with and so do I and so does Maggie, so I really do need to open up the sewing machine this week.
Merry, Merry January to You!

Winter Projects

I have wanted a Murphy bed in our basement for a long time. I felt that it would be the best use of our space and kind of fun. Dad was here one day to help "us" (Travis really) get started. That was good it gave us confidence, initiative and a boost start. Do you like their handy saw horses?

We had fun trying out all of the shelves as they got built. Travis really wanted them to be strong enough for what ever we ever thought we wanted to store on them down the road. They are holding up so far :). At this point we do not have any doors on them but maybe some day that would be nice to add, I mostly like open areas though so it likely will never happen. 

There are some minor glitches, like I can't put it away by myself since it is so heavy, but I have a few helpers around here so for now that isn't a problem. All in all it was a pretty fun project that we  are very happy to have. 
I need to have a complete cleaning in the basement to complete the project and I keep managing to put that off. Maybe the end will come soon and I won't have too.

Today

 It has been a perfect summer day today. I just wish it was actually summer. It worries me that it is so warm and dry right now. I sound like my Grandma, never happy with the weather. But seriously I am choosing to worry about the weather this year. This mild of a winter seems to me that we are going to have a ridiculously hot summer, and this many bugs in March doesn't make me happy either, unless they all die out by the time summer actually arrives. 
Well anyways, we did have a good day today. We did a little of this and a little of that, We got the house relatively cleaned, worked in the yard a little bit, took a bike ride with friends, I banned nerf wars for the day. Life is much more peaceful that way.

When we returned from our ride we washed the van. We aren't perfectionist, but it is much better than it started out. I thought maybe we would also vacuum it, but I forgot to mention it or do it myself. Now we have something to do on an other day. We also watered the apples trees. It seems so dry. 

In between activities a lot of board games were played, I like it when they play them.

Monday we wandered over to the zoo. It was such a pretty day in the conservatory. 
:)
~Anna

On The Twelfth Day of December

On the twelfth day of December my true love made for me three book shelves to sit on my stairwell. He did a fine job, if I do say so myself! He wanted them to match the shelves already hanging on the walls so he made them of oak and bought a router to create the proper edge on them.

 We tried to stain them to match the existing shelves but I think we managed to match the window trim better. At least they match something.
I am so excited about them, I had thought I might try doing them and If I had they would have been much simpler and clunkier looking so I am very pleased!

Canning

Summer is here and so is preparing food for the winter.

I did something this week that I have never done before. I was pretty proud of myself when I thought of it so I am going to share with you my lovely efforts at homemaking.

We buy a whole steer for our beef for the year and that totally maxes out our freezer space, or over maxes it when it comes in so this time I solved a little of the problem. I cooked down all of the soup bones the day after I brought home our beef and then canned the meat and broth so it is all ready to pour into soups or noodles or whatever I need broth for. I am just thrilled with my efficiency. It took two days of quite a bit of labor and now I have 29 quarts of beef stock all put away and ready for a quick meal.

One day while the broth was canning we also made 9 pints of hot pepper jelly. Margaret chopped all of the peppers for me. Which was wonderful and Travis stirred the jam while it came to a boil.

Such helpers I have. We love hot pepper jelly with cream cheese and crackers for a light meal or snack. So I am excited to have all of those jars ready for later as well. In other food preservation news we have canned 14 pints of black raspberry jam this month. I am always very proud of ourselves with that one since we have to fight for every berry from the very prickly viney bushes they grow on that don't like us taking from them. Unfortunately we have already eaten two jars. At that rate we will be through it before winter even sets in.

We also had a visit from Travis' parents this week and they brought us green beans, corn and other treats from their garden. Monday we canned 21 quarts of green beans and put several packages of corn in the freezer, now our freezer is completely full!

We have done more canning this past week than I have done in several years. It is so exciting to use my jars again!.

Happy food preservation to you!

~Anna

The Weekly Review

I am planning to do less blogging this summer and I decided to do a once a week, weekly overview. This will help me to not get completely out of touch and serve somewhat as a journal for me.

Sunday~

It was a big day for us! Naturally we went to church, it was also Gregory's 5th birthday, and Margaret had her first Violin recital. For Gregory's part we had the Morgan family over and a few random other kids for lunch and a playtime. He had opened gifts on Saturday so it wouldn't need to be rushed. The girls and I decorated his cake like the game CandyLand. We had fun doing it. Margaret's recital was at 5pm but we needed to be there about 4 so she could practice with the piano at that church building (really so I could, since I accompanied her). A couple families from church came and watched her and then we had supper together afterwards. Margaret did a really good job doing her song. We are glad to move on and have that past us since neither of us are performers at all!

Monday~

Is almost always violin lessons and a quick run to the library. We had hoped to ride our bikes to the library but ran out of time. It would have been lovely weather to do it in. Margaret and Harrison have been super into the Warriors cat series and got several more to read. They are going through these books like crazy, and they aren't little books. They don't look interesting to me but they sure love them.

Tuesday~

Harrison had his trumpet lessons. Travis and I worked awhile trying to figure out why some of our street lights are not working. Hence the picture above. We found out one is not getting any power and one is. Two lights work and two don't but they are at either end and seem to have different problems. We just keep running into dead ends on this. Travis changed the light bulbs last week (with the kids and I holding up the pole and ladder trying to keep him from crashing to the ground). He also worked on the grill today replacing some wornout parts. Now we need a chance to grill!

We, Nahum and Deborah went to Chuck E Cheese for supper with Gregory's gift card from Granny and Pappa.

Wednesday~

Gregory had his 5year old check up and went to see Dr. Goble. My kids love to go see the Dr. and I really like her. We don't get to see her near as much as we once did and for that I am grateful, but even so I am really happy with their Dr. I think I like her because she Oohs and Aahs so well over my children in important ways. When ever she looks at their legs she says some thing like "I love kids with bruises here, it shows they are up and moving", or "here's some busy feet". She often has practical tips for things rather than medicine, like "a nice vinegar bath should take the itching away". She is always impressed with their cognitive skills on the interview paper she has me fill out by asking them questions. Gregory is 55 1/2 pounds, 46 1/2 inches tall and he passed his hearing and eye test wonderfully.

We went shoe shopping for Margaret on the way home from the Dr. It took awhile and we were so worn out when we quit. We found tennis shoes and a pair of dressy shoes for Bea but No Sandals for Margaret that she and I agreed upon. She wants very sturdy playing sandals and none of the places we went had any. I guess we need to try Fleet. We went to church early for a teachers meeting. Margaret and Travis stayed home because Margaret didn't feel well at all. A head ache and stomach ache.

Thursday~

Now Gregory is sick. We had a homeschool end of year picnic with our group. It was very warm out with a nice breeze. Perfect weather for a picnic. The kids all played kick ball and Basket ball while we moms chatted. Travis stayed home with Gregory and they watched Lord of the Rings (the first one). He thinks that will be the next series he reads to the kids. I am really enjoying reading To Kill A Mocking Bird this week. Beatrice planted some carrots and cilantro seeds. I gave her my opinion on how to sow them. She also hosted a Tea Party. Deborah, Kristina and Margaret attended. They had mint tea, brownies and frosted vanilla wafers, She and Deborah did the decorating of them and I found blue frosting everywhere when I came back in the house!

Friday~

We did Schoolwork! What a novel idea. Travis and Harrison mowed the field and our yard. It looks so nice right now. I planted a few plants and some bean seeds. We got a few sprinklings of rain, and we tried out the grill. It works marvelously! Travis was pleased at how much better it works. We had pork chops that I rubbed a lot of paprika and steak seasoning onto. They were so yummy! Nati has been sick all week with a cold that keeps bothering me every time he comes in. At supper I prayed for him and when I got done he was grinning so big and said "that was nice when you prayed for me!". We read a few stories from Russia for bedtime stories (we have been all week, actually). I finished To Kill A Mocking Bird, such a good book!

Saturday~

I went grocery shopping. I have spent more on groceries this month than I do typically because I am trying really hard to increase my omega 3's, to clear up my skin issues. The verdict is still out on whether it is helping. Dr. Goble thought it was a good idea for Gregory's dry skin problems too though, so that was nice.

Harrison and Margaret had a Middler event at the Countryman's. A cook out and games. Margaret made truffles to take. They were so yummy. She has made them once before and I wasn't too impressed with the recipe, but this time they are really good. Practice makes perfect!

I planted a little more. It is funny how long I can take at it and I have so little to plant. Today we made a bean teepee. Travis gathered the poles with Gregory, Beatrice and my help. We can't wait till we have a living tent in our backyard.

Happy Spring to You,

~Anna

Signs of Spring

I suppose we will get some more snow here before the winter is actually over but, today the sun was warm and bright. It sure did feel like spring was here! With such encouraging weather we got busy with some much needed cleaning. We aired out all the snow boots and cleaned them up to put away until next winter. They'll just wear their mud boots from here on out. I am waiting a bit longer to wash all the mittens and snow pants. I don't like repeating myself, that much.

With the lovely weather we also had some bare chested conquistadors around the backyard! ~Anna

Projects

I was given some time last week so I thought I had better get something done with it. So I painted the upstairs bathroom green and the girls' dressers I sanded down, glued a few loose corners and then painted.

It didn't take me long to tell you what I did, but it took me several days to get the jobs done.

All I wanted to do was read a book I had started on the weekend. I like to read but I don't like to wait to finish the book. If I enjoy it I have a hard time doing my other responsibilities. I would like to just see how the book ends. I am still waiting to see how this book ends as I have only made it half way through it and I read more than I didn't read as I was riding to Bemidji this past weekend and most of the way home. Oh well someday in the next month I will finish it. In general I guess I prefer books that are for fun that aren't 1168 pages long. I am just to slow of a reader.

Well I am off to read,

~Anna

the Proper Way to scoop a Drive

First, you find a large scoop. Then, you find your sister. Offer to give her a ride and give her a smaller shovel.

Tell, her to push down hard to pry up any bits of packed down snow and gently, slowly, gradually push your shovel along the way. Work diligently for twice as long as it might take otherwise, but know that you will have twice the fun.

Smile from the pleasure of a job well done :)

Happy thoughts to you,

~Anna