Candle light skiing…and a great find…

Here’s where we went.

We didn’t do the full loop but a bit over a mile and a half was just fine. We thought about doing the full 3 miles but there were people everywhere. Each time you came to a hill you had to wait your turn to either go up or down and since I spent lots of time on the ground this time, it just wasn’t as exciting. The trail was so mutilated from the warm weather and all the skiers that I did terrible staying on track. I do however love moonlight skiing. Notice that we went 12 mph at one time. I think that was one of the down hills I stayed up for. Here’s some pictures of what it sorta looks like. Night pictures aren’t the best but you get the idea.

 

When we made it to the Interpretive Center they had cookies, apple juice and live music.

We had a great time and next week there is another moonlight skiing at Father Hennepin but we won’t be able to make it there, we have a Venture get together to start planning our BWCA trip in August.

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Look what I found at our local thrift store. Now I can take the kids biking and not worry about them getting squished like bugs. It was only $19.97.

I hope you had a great weekend. I know we did and now we are just going to relax and enjoy family time. Take care my friends and God Bless!!

Burr….

It’s been a normal week here in Minnesota. Cold, cold and more cold but they said it’s going to warm up and turn nice this weekend and next week. It’s going to from –25* to 40*’s next week. Do I believe the weather people?, well not really but I will take anything that above zero. In the past month we’ve gone though almost 4 cords of wood. That’s a lot of logs on the fire.

Last week the kids and I went to the library and for the first time in a long time Justin wanted to really be part of it so he volunteered for the story helper. It was so cool seeing him stand up there, follow Peggy’s instructions and enjoying himself.

We’ve been working on Valentine’s and birthday cards for Abby. The kids love to color, cut and create.

 

Anton has lost his front teeth and I just had to take a pictures and share. These kids grow up so fast. I have had 90% of my little ones since babies and it has been such a rewarding experience being part of their lives.

Even I got into the card making. This is Jim’s Valentine card I made for him. I filled it with sweet words and my love and gave it to him yesterday. Yep, I know it’s not Valentine’s yet but I have never, ever been one to wait for the day of. He’s been looking a long time for a John Deere mug so I went on-line and found him one.

 

Hannah wanted her nails done yesterday. I told her first she had to keep her fingers out of her mouth all day. Well she did so here they are.

Justin has preschool today and that means his Valentine’s party so yesterday I help him and his mama finish up his little cards. This little man has come so far this year. It is amazing the way he learns things. He’s like a sponge soaking up everything he’s learning.

So that is about all. I still haven’t crafted but right now my spare time is into my life style changes for health but I plan on making a tote bag soon. I have the material on the table, I think if I’d get it cut out I’d get it going.

Take care my friends and have a blessed and awesome day.

Weekend…

Yesterday the boy scouts, venture crew and us went skiing. It was a great day. The weather was weird though. It’s been warm the past couple of day, in the mid to high 20’s so there has been lots and lots of fog that makes frost on the trees. Here’s a couple of pictures showing the frost.

We also found a porcupines den near the trail. Didn’t see the porcupine but did see lots of his lunches.

Mike pulled me behind the sled again today. Boy after skiing yesterday and the muscle used to stay upright this afternoon my legs are sure tired.

 

Wilbur came with us today too. Though the snow was so hard for him to run after us so he hitched a ride back to the house.

This is what it looks like when I’m up…

 

And when I’m down.

My boy, my playmate, my protector, my friend.

A portion of our 180 acres.

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Both Mike and I are off tomorrow, Mike got his tax refund so heading to Best Buy to see if he can get a flat screen TV.

Take care my friends and have a blessed week.

‘tis the morning….

To want to complain about everything. I chatted with mama this morning and I don’t think I said more then 10 nice comments, the rest were complaints. Stupid if you ask me. It sets the day up for more of it, it sets the day up for crabbiness. It’s not worth it. I have so many blessings that complaining about this and that isn’t getting me anywhere.

So after talking with mama, gathering my wee ones, I sat down to check my e-mail. Guess what was in there? Something make, something written just for me. This came from my E-ministries and it didn’t just speak to me, it yelled…at the top of it’s lungs it yelled.

I am sharing with you cuz I know that this mood of mine is just weather related. It’s the blahs and the weather hasn’t been the nicest in a lot of areas so maybe I’m not the only one.

ANOTHER DAY
Another day is dawning
another day's begun
another day to turn to God
and pray, "Thy will be done"
A day to slay doubt's dragon,
To know within your soul
That as you give yourself to Him
He'll bless and make you whole.
A day to live with purpose
a day to show you care
When others turn to you distraught
Confused or in despair
A day to share God's blessings
In quiet countless ways
That touch the heart with hope and joy
And brighten cloudy days
A day for sweet rejoicing
For gratitude and praise
Because His love enfolds you
Both now, and all your days.

Have a blessed day my friends. Take care and enjoy your Friday.

Bunch of stuff…for a Tuesday…

              

Mike was home last Friday and what better way to have fun but have Mike pull the wee ones around the yard on the sled. When Mike first got the snowmobile Hannah was afraid of it but now, if Mike is there…heck wherever Mike is….Hannah is there.

 

                

MONSTER BOBBY!!!! This cat is a terror but also a wonderful cat. He can be loving, when he wants to be, but a terror more times that not. If someone pisses him off, and all it takes is pointing of the finger or looking at him crossway, look out. He loves to bite you on the behind while sitting on the pot, he loves to hide in a dark corner and wait for you to pass so he can grab your leg and give it a chop. My father-in-law told Jim to take a fly swatter and just tap him with it to teach him manners but Jim said Bobby would take that fly swatter out of your hand and beat the living daylights out of you. He’s one of a kind cat and puts up with the daycare kids. They try to carry him, play with him, love him and sometimes he lets them, other times he gives them a warning and they back off. A funny is when Justin knows Bobby is Monster Bobby for the day and he wants to go potty but Bobby is in the bathroom doorway and he’s afraid to go past him. “BOBBY’S GOING TO EAT ME” he’ll scream. That’s Bobby the monster kitty.

Hannah and I made laundry soap yesterday. Really we just mix a really great combination of things together that makes the worlds best laundry soap and a super cheap price per load. It works on everything from stinky clothes to the things Jim and Mike wear out in the garage to gardening and even delicates. I have been making it now for almost 2 years and figured out a years worth of laundry soap is about $20.00. You can’t beat that price or the power of it.

Last night before supper I must of not had enough noise for the day and really it was a quiet day cuz Justin had the flu the better part of the day so it was sorta of quiet in-between everything. Anyways, the kids played Hungry Hippo for at least a good 30 minutes. I’m glad supper didn’t take a hour to fix.

And last but not least, here is my latest visitor at my kitchen window. He’s a yellow bellied sap sucker. I took a short video of him on the window sill if you’d like to watch it, also of a blue jay.

Winter out there today. Right now it’s 1* above zero but with the wind-chill it’s minus 15. A wee bit chilly but the sun is shinning, I can handle that.

I hope all is well with you. We are all finally feeling tip top, let’s hope it stays that way. A new month, new challenges (if you’d like you could head over to my life style change blog by clicking here and see what physical challenges are happening).

Take care my friends and have the most blessed day today. Stay safe where ever you are, I know there’s snow, wind, sleet and cold out there this week. Just be careful with whatever you have going on. God Bless you all!!

Cute little ones…

 

This is just outside my kitchen window. I can tap on the glass and all they do is look at me. If I’m noisy or move to fast they run. I have counted about 9 squirrels that we’re feeding this year. This is the first year I haven’t had a cat out there eating them as fast as they come around. A few years ago we had a dog Tuna and a cat Bob that would work together to catch and snack. This year Wilbur chases them but hasn’t caught them and Bobby isn’t interested in them, he wants the birds.

My migraine is finally gone, 8 days of that was more then enough. I had the touch of the flu yesterday (or it may of been my new multi vitamin too but not sure about that). So now I’m feeling human again and ready to have my kiddo’s here and working on some Valentine goodies. Mike is off tomorrow and not positive what’s planned but I’m sure it’ll be a good day. I think we’ll go and see great grandma and all the new baby goats. I think Mark said about 40 of them now. Justin just love the goats. He sits on the hay and they come over and kiss, suck and nudge him and he giggles and loves it all. Hannah wants to pick up all the babies and cuddle them. The goats, well they love the attention. I’ll take some new pictures this week too to share with you.

So that is that for now my friends. Nothing to new, just surviving winter here in the northland. Snow is on it’s way and then cold towards the end of the week. Yippy skippy. UGH!!!

Take care and have a blessed week.

CSN….

I’ve been working with CSN for a gift code and review and today is the last post for this one. But you know what, it is a blast working with CSN. There are so many stores to look at and so much to find and they are always having some blog host a give away or a review or other things.

Mike’s been working in his room. Finally a grown up man’s room. He is wanting to get a 42” flat screen TV with his tax refund and of course will need a TV stand for it. He did find one at one of our local businesses but it’s not exactly what he wanted so I told him about the CSN stores and he found these…Corner TV Stands . There are lots to choose from and he’s really liking them. So just maybe he’ll want one.

If anyone is looking for anything or just wanting to pass some time, check out any of their 200 stores and enjoy.

Take care my friends and have a blessed day.

Recovered…

Well I never got to any crafts this week but I did get Mike’s office chair covered. It was such a disaster from the kids spilling on it so now it’s fresh and clean and a darker color. Not bad for a chair that’s 15 years old.

 

I took out my fabric, thread, sewing machine, scissors and pins. I am going to make something like this…

from here.

The kids and I are going to make these…

from here.

Here is another super easy craft we’ll make too, it’s from here, Martha Stewart crafts.

I love Valentine’s. I love hearts. I made a mobile a couple years ago so we’ll get that hung up and I’m sure we’ll come up with a few more goodies.

Tomorrow I’m taking the kids swimming at the gym. It’s just something we don’t do very often and Mike is off too so we can go and play, I can swim a few laps and we’ll all be ready for a good rest time after lunch.

Take care my friends and have a blessed night sleep and a wonderful weekend.

A blog hop…

It’s been so long since I’ve done a blog hop. I just haven’t had the time to go and visit everyone I wanted to but I so missed meeting and greeting new people too so this Friday I’m joining in with Java and her Never Growing Old blog.

Welcome to the 35th edition of the Follow Friday 40 and Over!!

I hope that you all had a great week and now that it’s Friday the week is just a few hours away and for me that means a work out at the gym and then some skiing with Mike. I’m not sure if we’ll go down to Kathio or just some cross country skiing around here or just maybe he’ll decide to pull me around on his snowmobile. We’ll just see.

Take care my friends. God Bless!!

Just an idea…

And I’m sure some of you have already thoughts of this, but just in case…. you know your old insurance cards, the ones lighter weight then a credit card but still with some bulk to them, they make the greatest pan scrapers. Jim bought me cast iron pans for Christmas and I haven’t remembered or had the funding to buy the special scrapers that you use on them and we just got new insurance cards so I tried them. IT WORKS WONDERFUL!!!!

I haven’t had much to say this week. I’m not feeling tip top, a migraine now for 3 days and a bit hard to function but life goes on, work happens so just plugging along.

I’ll be back later on this week with a new craft and a recovering of a chair. I’ve got to do something, I’m also bored out of my mind. Not work wise or stuff, just nothing extra happening and that’s not me, I love to keep busy but with this headache it’s not happening right now.

I hope you all are having a great week. I’m taking the kids to the library for story time tomorrow and a visit with Kim. She’s been working so hard on crafts and more that I hope I can get inspired to at least start something. Oh I did make this, this weekend. I’m not a pink girl but I think it turned out pretty.

I got a new batch of beads a couple weeks ago from Auntie Beads. Here’s what they look like. I know the lighting is terrible. I have got to make a light box one of these days so that I can really show you what my jewelry looks like.

Okay, it’s supper time. The kids and I made meatloaf, scalloped potatoes and berry crisp for supper and soon Mike and Jim will be here. Take care my friends and I’ll try and have something to share later on. God Bless you all!!!