Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. Henry David Thoreau

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

a peaceful night...






I've been wanting to go to the house and take some pictures of the snow we've had around here
since Christmas Eve.

First I was busy.
Then it was too cold.
Then it snowed some more.
Then it was really cold
and windy.

Then I got sick
and stuck around the house
because it was
really really cold.

Yesterday
I could not stand
being inside
one more minute.

We had planned to drive to Joplin
to run some errands,
but Jim wanted to keep on
with the paperwork
he had almost finished.

I whined and said,
let's at least drive out to the house
so I can take some pictures of the snow.






Boy howdy,

it's a good thing we went
because
this is what we found....


water water everywhere!
water spewing.
water dripping.
water soaking into things that were not
supposed to be wet.

Apparently,
since things were beginning to thaw
the water line into the house
cracked.
And the water came spraying into the basement.

It's not just the water on the floor,
becauase that was minor,

The spray must have created quite a humid environment,
because water seems to be on every surface on that half
of the basement.


While Jim scurried out to shut off the water
he slipped and fell into a hole of snow/water and hurt his leg.
Then he began dragging wet stuff over
to the dry side of the basement,
setting up fans and lights.

To complicate things,
the sump pump seems to have burned itself up.
We'll deal with that tomorrow.

Here is the site of the drama.






But enough on that.

Here is how things are looking
dusted with the lovely snow.

I think we are in for a heat wave and thaw this week.
It's supposed to get up into the 30's!





















There were deer tracks everywhere.
And it was sooooo quiet.

Geese calling overhead.
Little birds settling in for the night.

Peaceful.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010








It is winter.


Winter is usually 


 just something you get through


around here.


But this year,


we enjoyed


our White Christmas.




We built things.








As usual,


there was a debate
about who should be wearing the Santa hat,
where the pom poms
should go
and what to do with the pink belt.












Olivia is please with the results.










Off to the slopes.


Or in this case, 
Slope.


Slopes are hard to come by in this town.


But we found one
and it was even within walking distance
from the house!




It is a bunny slope


for little snow bunnies.













This little bunny hitched a lot of rides


down the trail!












It's fun to watch the action
from the top of the slope!
And it's also fun to watch your big sister
do tricks!

















It's also fun to watch
your parents
wipe out.










Woah.  What was that purple blur?




That was your Nana.  I think.








And a good time was had by all!

Friday, January 1, 2010

Travel Channel Wannabe





I've learned something about myself today.
Most of the things I enjoyed most
about my recent trip abroad
involved food.

Eating great local food.
Eating gourmet chocolates.
Eating chocolate croissants from a street bakery.
Drinking latte from a park vendor.
Eating in the evening on the cornishe with the sun setting behind us.
Eating shwarma from a street vendor.
Eating in a swanky French restaurant.
Eating in a pizzaria with Silent Night playing in the background.

One thing I really enjoyed
was shopping with Kellie in her
local grocery store....

just look at it!

I'd say that over half of the people in this store
were men.

Nice.







These are spices, people!









Can't you just smell the smells???







More spices, 
candies,
nuts 
nuts and 
more nuts!







These are olives.






tubs and tubs of 
olives.






And the produce! 

I took some pictures of produce
in some of the small neighborhood  stalls

dozens and dozens of beautiful 
fruits and vegetables
that I could not identify.

These pictures are lost
in cyberspace forever,
but next time I visit this beautiful place,
I will visit the markets
and take many pictures
of fruit and vegetables.

That's just how I roll.

Anthony Bourdaine,
you have met your match.

Bring it.
























it's a puzzle!

Today is the first day of 2010.

I just noticed that I have 
been writing this blog
for almost a year now.

Wow!
I think I will go down memory lane
today.

Then 
I will read some of my favorite new blogs.

Then
I will eat some leftover
Black Eyed Pea Salsa
from Pioneer Woman.

Then I will take a nap

and read some more blogs.

Then I will start on 
a new library book.

Then I will try to figure out
why my computer
won't let me post any pictures
on my blog.

It is making a lot
of that clickety clack noise today.
Like it is tired of me
switching cameras,
or browsing all over the internet,
or trying to do two things at once.

Sigh.

But today is all mine.
I will  drink hot tea, watch the Rose Parade 
and wish I was in California.

Then I will watch some football
and take a nap 
and blog
and eat chocolate.
And look at more of my favorite new blogs.

Next week
I will clean this disgusting craft room,
and help clean up the mess that 
the heat and air guys made 
all over the new house.

But for now,
I have many things to do
that do not involve me 
getting dressed up 
in 6 layers of clothes and
braving the cold.



So I will blog,
and nap,
and eat,
and read...

on the first day of 2010.

Life if good.


Happy New Year!!

PS...today I am having fun reading this blog...
www.snowmanhill.com

lots of fun links there too!



"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Welcome to my happy place. A place where I can share ideas, projects, and dreams. I am a nester, a crafter, a creator and a dreamer I hope you will find inspiration and encouragement for the journey you are on. I am a Jesus follower, wife, mother and nana. Blessed beyond measure, just trying to live my life gracefully and make a difference in my small world. Join me!