muddin & tapin'

The tree is all decorated and ready for the holiday!!! This is such a nice tree, and for the first time... in a long time... every ornament that I have is on the tree!!! This one has good sturdy branches, so it holds the ornaments and I didn't have to pick and choose which ones could go on the tree. We will definitely get our future trees from that farm!!!

My women's bible study group was suppose to come tomorrow for their fellowship/meeting/party, but according to this morning's weather report we are in for another messy day. So, thinking of some of the older ladies and such, the word has just come thru that it will be cancelled. Bummer, I was hoping to show off this nice tree.. though I was a bit concerned of "where" I would "put" everyone!!! I did tell the committee that if they want to "slate me for next year", we should be in the farm house and then I would have lots of space!!! Our dog club party is also on for this week (Thursday to be exact) so maybe this weather will blow out of here and we can still plan on that.

Just a shot of our back yard... at the farm. I do wonder when we get moved in... if I will ever get anything done.. or just spend time gazing out the window.

Not that the house was cold by any means, but we went to start the mudding and taping the sheet rock yesterday morning, I decided to get the "little stove" chugging. It didn't take long to have a nice toasty fire and it warmed the room up beautifully!!! However, the wood furnace is doing a perfect job keeping the house nice and warm, so we don't have any worries about the "mud" drying on the walls.

Ed is in charge of taping and mudding the seams... I don't feel confident enough to do that job, but I can fill the nail holes... lot and lots of nail holes!!! And by the early afternoon, we had the entire down stairs done, first coat!!! It went quick, and I dare say the upstairs will go just as well.. which we hope to be doing before the end of the week... then a couple more coats of the mud, and we can start to talk.... PAINT!!!!

At this point... even a wall that looks like this is... beautiful!!!!

it's beginning....

Saturday afternoon.. after bell choir practice, we zipped down to the "old town" to visit with Kas and Nate, and celebrate with Dave and Deb their 28th wedding anniversary. They had all been to the little Christmas parade in town, which we missed out on (just need to be able to be in two places at once!!!) and the town was all lit and very Christmas looking. On top of that, the snow was really beginning to fall and the roads were a bit on the messy side.

We had a great time with everyone and then made our way back home. I couldn't believe the number of cars that were off the road in different places!!! Shame on them in a way, because you could tell that they were off due to driving way too fast!!! It always takes a couple of snows to get used to winter driving, but people need to slow down and take it easy until they are "used" to it again...



Chester was totally in love with all this "white" stuff. If you are ever "sick of snow" or not ready to deal with the winter, take a puppy out that has never seen it before!!! He had a ball, and actually was buzzing around so fast that I was lucky to get this one shot of him. It had already been quite a day, he couldn't believe that we had brought a "real live tree" in the house to start with, and now this... "amazing!!"





Sunday morning I was up with the sun, and headed down to the barn. I knew there would be some great photo opts and I didn't want to miss them... here are a few that I got....

Then we were out for church.. I loved church, we are singing so many of the old Christmas hymns and it's just so joyous there. We know everyone now (unlike last year when we were still newbies) and it's like "home" to us.

After church, Rick was out to do another driving lesson with us. I wanted some pictures for our Christmas card, and asked Rick to shoot a couple for us. This one and another were the favorite two.. so, this one is on the blog and the other will be on the card. I am holding Tonka and Ed has Duke, gives you a good idea of how much they do look alike.



After our photo shot, we began to work the boys, and I have to say this week... it didn't go so well. I don't know what was (is) up with Tonka, but he was not being a good boy at all. He was pulling against Duke and really just "fighting" in the harness. We did a lot of ground driving and thankfully, Duke was very patient. We did hitch them to the wagon, thinking that if Tonka had more "to do" he might settled down.. but he didn't, time to call my "guru" Butch and see what we might have been doing "wrong"...

I actually had to leave Ed and Rick to the team, because there was a "workshop" at church later in the day. They had all sorts of activities, and needed help decorating the church. So it was a nice get together.





Lots of fresh greens for making wreaths. I invited Kelli to come along, as she wanted to learn how to do a wreath. She made a beautiful big wreath (which I DO NOT get a picture of !!!) and she got to meet many of my friends at church.

And the day ended with a nice church supper for anyone who had come to help or for anyone for that matter. So, Ed and Rick... cold and tired from horse play, came over to the church and had supper there. Such a nice day.. nice evening... with the new snow, the Christmas decorations going up... it certainly is that special time of year..

a Saturday morning...

The first Saturday of each month, our local "Lion's Club" puts on a pancake breakfast at the town hall. We always try to go, one because it's a nice breakfast (and cheap) and two because it supports a local club. Sometimes, it's quite busy and other times, not so.. but this was one of the month's where it was quite busy.

Sadie packed up Abbie, and per her "usual" style, she was rather un-impressed with the whole event and slept thru. We AGAIN got several comments about her hat... (I simply have got to make several over the winter time and see if I can sell them next year at the craft fairs)







The town hall had been decorated with these wonderful old decorations. I would love to know just how "old" they are, they're in great condition and all I could think when I saw them, was.. this is sort of thing you see in a Country Living Magazine under "what is it worth". I dare say, they are tucked away in the attic each year and come out just for the month, and it's been that way for years.There are several different ones, some really good ones of "Santa" - I wanted to take some more pictures of them, but didn't want people to think I was being "weird"

Course there were other decorations as well. It's nice to see that the "old charm" is still alive and well, and not every decoration has to be lit, moving or blown up!!!! though I like them too....

After breakfast, we brought the tree in.. just to be sure it was going to "fit" some where, and with the prediction of snow later in the day, it would keep the tree dry enough to decorate. As it turns out, it will fit where we had hoped, but we need to do some re-arranging of items before we start the decorating. So, that will wait for now, but at least it's in and ready to go.







From there we went to the farm, Ed wanted to be sure that "things" were picked up and out of the way and ready for plowing. I puttered around the barn, got Camille groomed (now just have four others to do!!!) And by the time I had to leave for bell choir practice...

Winter had begun to make it's appearance....

pickin' out the tree....

Today was another beautiful warm day... what's with this wonderful weather in the winter time?? I'm just asking... not complaining!!!! Because the weather was so nice, and being a Friday (not a weekend day) Ed, Sadie, Abbie and I decided that we would go and pick out the tree.












Every Tuesday when I go to teach dog classes - Camille and I travel thru "cow country" and Christmas Tree country!!! There are a couple of tree farms and I thought last fall that this is where we would go to get the tree. This tree farm was absolutely beautiful.. the rows of trees were large, the trees have been well cared for, and there were oodles and oodles to chose from!!!










Because the camp has a cathedral ceiling, height is not the issue (except when it comes to decorating it!!!) so we looked for a nice big, full one!!! We asked Abbie what her impression was... but she really didn't have much to say.... this year!!!!

And here it is....

Cute photo of Sadie and Abbie... but I think I should make a red hat for Christmas.. better yet, ... red and white stripped.. like a candy cane... (maybe I will get the "goods" tomorrow)

So, we threw the tree in the back of the truck and headed home. We didn't get it up tonite, by the time we did other errands, barn chores and the like, the evening was too late... but it will be up before the weekend is out....

makin' wreaths...

Last night at Kassy's church, we went to a night of making wreaths. It was a great evening of fellowship and passing on some good old fashion traditions. For a number of young women, this was their first try at wreath making....

The tables were filled with "greens", which considering we live in the "pine tree state".. getting good greens is hardly "hard" to do...

Here is Sadie..making her very first "real Christmas wreath".. once you get the knack of it, there isn't much to doing it....

and this morning, two wreaths (I made one to) decorate the doors of the camp... OH.. and that pretty little ornament we hung on Sadie's wreath... was a gift from Kelli!!!

We'll get our tree in the next day or two.. and the decorating part of the holidays has officially begun. Course I need to make a few more for the barn and the farmhouse.. but that's just on my list of things "to do"....

rainy day work....

We woke at 5:30 yesterday morning to pouring rain. Ed began to get ready for work, only to have his "boss" (hi Coz!!!) call and say it was raining too hard and not to bother to come in. Guess it isn't much fun to run the 'honey wagon" in such weather. So... suddenly we had a day to work on the house!!! Course, by 10:00 am.. the sun was shinning brightly and the temps soared into the high 60's.. it felt like spring!!! But, we had a game plan and were well at work by then.

Our house pretty much has an open concept design, I have this "thing" about open spaces and lots of light, and when we designed this house, that is what I kept in mind (along with "my big center chimney!!!) However, there can be drawbacks with too much open space.. one being no "definitions" of rooms. So, we needed to get a wall up in the dinning room that would "create" more of a "room" feel. This also makes a small hallway (if you will) by the front door.

Again, thinking "light" I didn't want the hallway to become cramped and dark, so the idea of having a set of pocket doors in the wall of the dinning room came into play. The doors would allow the closed feel if we wanted, and also allow the light to be in the front hallway. This is how is all looked before the wall went up... (this shot is from the hallway looking towards the dinning room/kitchen)

The dogs were home with Sadie - including Chester - I knew I was going to be busy helping Ed and wouldn't have the chance to keep an eye on everyone. But I did bring Camille down with us, she is good about sticking around and not getting under foot. At one point, I "lost" her and looked about, to find her sitting out on the front porch simply watching the farm and enjoying the warm "spring" day. She sat there most of the day.. silly dog.. and seemed to be greatly enjoying herself.




Back to the project.I didn't have a clue as to how pocket doors are installed. In all the projects that Ed and I have done together, I have never run across these before. But Ed knew pretty much how they were done.. and even though it was a whole day's work, I think the job went along quite fast... here goes the first door in place!!!

And the second... (notice those open windows... it was too hot in the house!!!)

In trying to keep with a "colonial look" to this house, I chose a "bubbled glass" for the doors. It's a little hard to see because of the protective plastic that is covering the glass, but I just had to peel a little back so I could see the effect. It's just what I was looking for!!! Once they are painted and completely in place I can't wait to get all the plastic peeled off and "really be able to see them"

Sheetrock came next...

And just as it was getting dark (which is around 4:00 these days!!!) we were finished up... wall, doors, sheet rock made just the idea that I was looking for. And now it feels more like a "real" room when we want it, or it can be left open to allow more room... when we have big parties....

So, for a rainy day that turned out to be almost summer... this was a job well done. and another
"thing" off the list!!! Days like this give me encouragement that we will ONE day be in this house!!!!

"most wonderful time......."

December (again).. seems like we just had December!!! However, this year has been nicely on the mild side and I, for one, am very happy about that. I need to look back at last year's blog, because if you remember we weren't too far into the month and dealt with the ice storm!!!!


Kassy has hung her count down calendar. This silly thing, I made this about 26 years ago and when the girls were little, they got to pick an "ornament" and hang it on the tree until it was Christmas Eve. I thought that it was looking a bit tattered and I made another one (cross stitch) and was about to retire this one, when Kas asked if she could have it. So, as "bad" as it looks, it is used each year. When we get into the farm house, I will get the new one out, and now I am thinking that I should be looking to do yet another one.. for baby Abbie!!!









Well, we're trying it again... the bell choir! Last year, we only got two practices in and then the ice storm knocked us out. This year, practices began a little sooner and hopefully, we can continue until Christmas. We're "scheduled" to play the Sunday before Christmas and might even do as many as five songs!!! We're doing "OK".. each week we're a little better and in some cases you can "almost hear the song we are trying to play"... Either way, it's great fun, and I am having the chance to really meet and talk more with the folks of the church. We do a lot of laughing and shaking of heads (when we get "lost") and it's just such an enjoyable time. I wished the bells were out more often and that we made this more of regular thing , instead of just a holiday thing!!!

They're beautiful in both sight and sound. I love bells anyways, whether they are "played" or jingle on a harness....

wish more people had the chance to hear them.....

more team training

I had to make another "chicken" hat for Abbie as she has already out grown the little multi colored hat that I made for her last summer. "We" get so many comments about these little hats.. I really need to put them into "production" and try selling them at the craft fairs next summer/fall. She is doing so well, growing like a weed and beginning to smile and truly look at things. I can't imagine life without her!!!!






I don't think I will EVER get tired of seeing our team together!!! And while all this training is going on, if you are reading the blog, you will just have to put up with picture after picture of them. Having a "team" has always been one piece of the "farm puzzle" and it's just so exciting for me to see this all coming together.

We have been so blessed to have Rick coming and giving us a hand with them. (Thank you Rick and Kelli..for giving up your Sunday afternoons!!!)There's "abit" to this team thing, and it's nice to have that extra pair of hands and eyes to help out. Especially where my back has been (still) tweeky and I haven't been a whole lot of use just yet. (can't "afford" to have these guys pulling on me).

Since the work went so well last weekend, we picked up where we left off and put the guys together from the start. I still encourage Ed and Rick to ground drive first (OK, so I'm cautious) because with this green team (especially with Tonka) I think it's wise to see where their heads are at before putting them in front of that beautiful wagon!! They were good, Tonka is still eager to do all the pulling, but with time, I am sure he will settle down and let Duke do some of the work!!! And with the ground work, it's a good time to get them out on the road and start working in that type of area.



But, before long both Ed and Rick said "enough of this walking business" and had them hitched to wagon and began to ride.

They took turns driving and the "boys" got a good work out.

We have pretty much decided that as long as the weather holds, this will be a weekend occurrence.And could be that the New Year's Day hay ride that I am thinking about.. will be horse drawn.. not tractor......