christmas !

we really got lucky with the weather! it snowed about 3 inches on christmas eve eve, which nicely covered the icy tundra of our yard.

the whole gang almost (lou, tricia, sean, larry, colin, moira and david "zamboni" garback) shovelled the pond as a surprise for bryan while he was at work christmas eve. he was very happy and we skated and played on the pond for quite a while chirstmas eve afternoon.

christmas morning was a great time with 5 kids! (though zamboni might protest being called a kid)
it was about an hours worth of flurry of wrapping paper and flying monkeys (a present from western PA)

good times!

snowing again! hooray!

just a little flurry action outside this afternoon, but it makes the cocoa taste better and the carols sound better!

i just came back inside after fixing up the chickens with their very own heated water fountain. i got the idea from backyardchickens.com and it uses a metal cookie tin with a bottle lamp kit inside. i used a 40 watt refrigerator lamp, so we'll see how it works! it's inside the pen, under the water fountain. all reviews online says it works well, and for $5 it's a bit better than the $35 100 watt pre-mades from tractor supply co!

i have more cookies to bake, and am making venison soup for dinner (stop by, there will be plenty). i didn't get to go hunting again this year, and uncle don only saw two deer, so we'll really be emptying out the basement freezer of what little venison there is left.
i am trying the meat-free monday plan (which is easy after so many years of vegetarianism) and intend to try being a locavore family as much as practical this year. a sound plan for our local economy and easy on the planet too.

bird feeders

i put the bird feeders up.
after much deliberation, i concluded the chickens aren't really congregating next to the back of the house (which is where the hooks are for hanging plants in summer, bird feeders in winter). there was some concern that the chicken could pick up all manner of wild bird illnesses, but i figure there is enough space for everyone to coexist.
plus, i missed watching the chickadees while i drank morning coffee.

did you know a balloon can balance on the air coming up a forced air vent? me neither. until this winter.

i want to join the Christmas Bird Count. I applied, but have yet to hear back. it's organized by Audubon, and limited to 15 mile circle groups. We'll see.

Good Morning Uncle! (my most loyal reader) I hope you are feeling even better this morning!

Plans for today: finish Christmas decorating (only thing left to do is hang stockings) plus start to clear out the office catchall (oy what a mess!) ebay here we come!

off to make breakfast.........

Daybook

FOR TODAY
November 16, 2009...

Outside my window...chilly, calm and sunny 42 degrees, 52% humidity

I am thinking...of making bread today. i think i may miss hunting season again this year. that makes me a bit sad. but the reason is happy, the littlest babe isn't quite big enough to be without mama overnight. unless any of my blog followers wanna babysit in the Catskills? hint hint

I am thankful for...baby smiles, fresh eggs, sunshine, family, furnaces, gas stoves, automatic coffee makers, so many things!

From the learning rooms...we are maybe going to a museum this week. NYS has the best free museum, and maybe a nice day on the carousel would be fun.

From the kitchen...mm, bread, and venison steaks (last of last years) and some potatoes.

I am wearing...blue pajamas, grey wool triangle sweater, black crocs.

I am creating...a holiday season plan, and maybe a large scale piece of art for our bathroom wall.i have an idea for the art, but the execution is always the trickiest part.

I am going... a little cabin fever crazy already. but no rain this week, so we should be able to play outside at least.

I am reading...webpages, no time for books this week with these crazy little kids

I am hoping...the plumber comes today to fix my heated floor. i miss it.

I am hearing...the boy racing cars on my cabinets, the girl toddling and cooing, the tv show they aren't watching, and my radio program.

Around the house...dust and leave pieces, time to vacuum!

One of my favorite things...hot fresh coffee with milk

A few plans for the rest of the week:
museum maybe, get the car fixed maybe, get the floor fixed maybe

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
foggy fog fogs.

the original daybook:
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

november cleanup

FOR TODAY
november 9, 2009...
Outside my window...clear, gray november dawn, 46 degrees, 43% humidity

I am thinking...i may have some more months before i sleep well with the end of night nursing for one and nightmares for the other.
i also am thinking of deer hunting. i don't think i'll get to go again this year, which makes me a bit melencholoy.

I am thankful for...the reasons i don't sleep, healthy and normal boy and girl babies. also for a husband who is in serious fall garden cleanup and nesting mode.

From the learning rooms...way is really getting good at sounding out letters (thanks PBS and leapfrog) i really don't want him to think this is work, nor push him at all, so he plays at learning to read.
and of course, nornor is learning to walk.

From the kitchen... the last of last years' venison roast tonight, with roasted vegetables.

I am wearing...black pajamas, gray wool triangle sweater, sage crocs

I am creating...hard cider for christmas, beer too. i have a name picked out, the under the desk brewing company.

I am going... no place like home today! though a fair amount of tidying to do, as well as setting up the 2010 calendars and such.

I am reading...childrens' books and childrens pyschology books

I am hoping...the plumber comes on wednesday to fix the floor

I am hearing...two little kids happily playing in the living room, chickens scratching leaves outside, coffee maker heat ticking on the counter

Around the house...it's a bit chilly, but should warm up later, warm enough outside today to open the windows for the afternoon.

One of my favorite things...coffee with milk

A few plans for the rest of the week: playgroup tomorrow with sarah and zeinab, nornor's birthday on thursday and grandma and grandpa come visit on saturday! we are going to the country store for dinner, woohoo!!
i also hope to get gardens more tidyed up for the winter, it looks better for these gray months, and it's so much easier to start in the spring.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
in the cupboard under the stairs

the original daybook:
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

fall cool sweet potatoes

it sure feels like fall today. the leaves are almost dying and falling off without changing color much. probably becasue we had so much rain?

way looks for snow every day now, and asks 'why does it rain?'
nor is crawling faster and cruising everywhere. i don't think it'll be long before she walks.

we are having candied sweet potatoes and grilled venison chops for dinner. plus the last of the fresh bread. i like baking bread this time of year.

gotta go. miss nor wants me NOW!

Daybook

FOR TODAY...august 11, 2009
Outside my window... uncomfortably hot & humid, 70 degrees, 88% humidity, no wind

I am thinking... about maybe turning on air conditioning today (i almost never do this - but today i might)

I am thankful for... love, health, little kids, chickens

From the kitchen... grilling outisde today. if i get ambitious, i might make a cold salad too.

I am wearing... white and tan muu muu, sage crocs

I am creating.. less clutter, maybe work on cleaning up the photo folder on the laptop today

I am going... no place but home. car is headed for the shop.

I am reading... the chicken blog. why won't my biddies lay?

I am hoping... to find an egg today

I am hearing... cicadas and song birds through the open windows. mr miner driving by. norah harassing a bagel half, waylon watching pbs

Around the house... the flotsam and jetsam of summer lack of cleaning. good clean dirt.

One of my favorite things... ice cold pond water.

A few plans for the rest of the week: miss baby head's 9 month checkup, garden rip out on friday, cabin on the weekend??

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

mr. curly head and miss baby head on their horses (midnight and sunshine) made by grandpa!

check out daybook original (on vacation until september)
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/