February

Ice storm results

February has been filled with lots of time at home and enjoying our time too.  We also enjoyed an evening out to celebrate a certain daughter's birthday, some time out volunteering for MMRG, some family game nights in and plenty of time at our jobs.  The construction field has been up and down for our youngest and our middle son is also on his off season so "side hustle" has been the name of the game for February.  Still, it's been nice to have more time with these young men when they were available!!  We've certainly had projects that they could help us out with AS some of their side hustles.  They each have talents to share.

The beginning of the month had a few really hairy commutes with strange weather but by the end of the month is was difficult to remember that it was February and not the end of March or mid April as it got warm and we have not had the typical volume of snow.  I've completely enjoyed walks with Millie nearly every day as very few were simply too nasty to walk.  I even got the trailer out and managed that one spring ride.  I'm not sure that will happen again soon as the roads are certainly feeling the effects of this roller coaster weather.  The warmups and deep freezes back and forth have really brought out the frost heaves.  This will probably be good for business at my day job...

February has also been a time for me to really get into podcasts.  Who knew?  LOVE them.  So many of them really.  I cancelled my audible subscription last fall and this has been an awesome thing for my commutes and I must admit to listening to podcasts pretty endlessly now.  New obsession!

Chores to do with snow...

"So Ben, what's your rate as a logger?"

John enjoying splitting up that old dead cherry tree.

My projects are more of an indoor affair sometimes.

Finally a chance to get some saddle time in!

A super rare sight.  Open bay doors in February!

The beauty of spending time out of doors.  Hi Doe!

A beach opportunity provided by a friend.  Thanks!  So.  Much.  Fun!

Local color.  True thing though!

Summer dreaming in winter...

January

Frost feathers

January is that quiet time to prepare for the coming year.  Ours has been snowy and quiet and enjoyable and a time to prepare for sure.  I've enjoyed the daily walks with Millie which take me out to see the beauty of the winter.  No bugs!!  The snow has only been deep enough for snowshoes for a short time--and that youngest boy did make some nice snowmobile tracks in the yard to ease the daily walk for us as well as to ease the pasture wandering on the old horse.  

2020 finds us nearly empty nesting.  The children are all out of school now and gainfully employed.  We are finding ourselves enjoying some time figuring out who we are now that the kids are grown and we are talking a lot about the future. a lot about how we will spend our time and the things that are important to us.  Preparing.  

peacefulness on Stone Bridge Farm

checking in on the neighbor's donkey

enjoying the new snow

riding on the local trail system

Testing, testing, 2020...

It's a new decade!

I've got a new computer and now that I've gone to a Mac it would appear I can figure out how to upload photos to the blog again!  At least that's what I think I can do. Testing, testing.  Is this photo coming through?

Stuff happened in 2018 and 2019.  2019 was the worst year in my life since 1988.  Notable bad years.  SO I'm wicked cool with NOT blogging about them and simply moving forward!  Here we are at Christmas with all of us in one place.  This simply doesn't happen often with 7 out of nine of the people in the picture on different work schedules (rarely anything resembling a 9-5) and 2 grand kiddos with their own schedules of Kindergarten and daycare.  So blessed to find time to gather together this Christmas.