Happy Valentines Day

 

Lauren’s greeting to me made out of a building toy, and Katelyn’s first real experience with a balloon, she was fascinated.

          

 

I had made some fun manipulatives for us to do in school……counting, shape matching and chocolate play dough

                         

                      

 

I tried my hand at some homemade doughnuts for breakfast.  We had our church small group meeting so we had a quick dinner of french toast.  We celebrated with a nice dinner the following night.  The heart ice cream brownie is a traditional favorite.

                 

                                 

I love any occasion to celebrate and have some fun, make some memories and traditions.

 

Catherine

A visit with Friends

 

Our good friends from NC came to see us in late January.  It was nice enough to snow right before they came.  As usual we had a great time hanging out and catching up.

   

 

                  the girls made some petal cupcakes that were as tasty as they were beautiful

of course some fun in the snow

                   

 

     

                            

 

Catherine     

Winter Beauty

 

We have some amazing sunsets.  These were taken from my kitchen window, looking out over the backyard and the farm behind us.   This isn’t the same sunset, but different ones.

                                      

         

                                    

 

 

 

Catherine

Catching up …..again

 

Well, it’s no surprise, that I’m behind on my blog, yet again.  Keep waiting for a time to catch up.  This will be a very brief, catch up.  Just too many cute pictures to pass up.    

Just so you know we did have a wonderful Christmas at home.  Lots of relaxing, traditions, food and family. 

Baking and crafting…..

            

 

    

 

Hannah had a Cookie Party again this year with her friends.  Making cookies and ornaments and then delivering them to a nearby Retirement home.   A fun time with friends while serving others,  a great Christmas combo.

                        

We really enjoyed having Ken’s sister Trina here for a visit after Christmas.  It was great fun hanging out with her.

                 

 

And well just cause she’s cute…..

               

       

Catherine

Overheard this morning......

 Child playing a song on the piano

       child:   Hey, dad did you like that? 

       Dad:   Sounded nice, think I've heard it before

       child:   It's by the famous composer Luigi

       Dad:    who???

       child:   you  know Luigi Beethoven

On a cursory glance maybe Ludwig looks similar to Luigi??????  Think said child has maybe been playing too much Super Mario Galaxy

Something new

I've been having trouble uploading pictures to my blog.........  I tried something new and so the post has lots of pictures.   Hopefully this will help me keep up with things a little better.  So scroll down, as there will be several new post, that have been in the works for awhile awaiting pictures.

Catherine

Little Delights

 

Not a surprise to most, but in case you didn’t know…..I’m a bit of a nature nut.   Love how amazing, creative, funny and peaceful it can be.  And to me always pointing to the Creator.  Sometimes there are things I think He leaves just for me,  a little gift of sort, because He knows how much it will delight me.

So some recent little delights.

We’ve been seeing an animal in the distance that we just couldn’t quite figure out, a bit large to be a squirrel and not the “right” color but……..Well we got a close up look finally as it was burying nuts in our vegetable garden.    It looks like it’s a white squirrel.  Not that common but found in the mountains of NC and VA.  Very cool!

              

I hear this guy often, but they are kinda shy and hard to see.  But I just happened to be getting the mail one day and there he was…..(so yes I ran and got my camera).  This is a pileated woodpecker, very large and beautiful.

                                                     

Feeling wonderfully blessed to have this as my backyard view.  This picture was taken off our back deck.  When we moved, one of my good friends said to me “ I hate to see you move, but so glad that God has put you in a place that speaks to how He made you”  and that is sooo true.

                           

                  

Though I’m a nature lover in general, there are a few critters that I hold dear.   This is one of them,  chipmunks.   I’ve known that we have them in are backyard and have seen very distant glimpses of them,   But I just happened to look out the window of our study to see this…

       

He was enjoying my potted plants and the bird seed on the ground.  It was a total day maker.

                                   

So though it’s possible that these chance encounters are just good luck,  I think of them as special gifts between me and the One who made me and who knows just what and when to give these little delights. 

Catherine