Warm Winter

Our friend Peter stopped by with sweet stuff from his Christmas in Europe. I liked the cookie butter.

My brother compiled a mix album for the Kelsey family years back called, "Warm Winter." I think it's time for a sequel. In the anticipation-filled days of Novembers, rumors were it was "going to be a cold one." Among a-hoodie-is-all-you-need days and lots of sunshine, I'm still waiting for a big ice storm. As long as I've got food, I'm good with that. It's kind of something to look forward to in the in-between month. I admit, February was never my favorite. To me, it was the time when nothing was growing yet, and filled with lots of grey days and grey moods to match. After a few grey days this year in January, I was begging a friend to bum a few B vitamins. Luckily, the sun came back out just in time for my birthday.

My parents' gifts really made the day. Also, Josie gave me $1. I told her I would buy myself a treat.

Whatever you do, no colored gelatin!

  A messy kitchen makes for happy tummies.

I finally organized the measuring cups and spoons.

I also added that little corner shelf on the left to our odd but wonderful kitchen.

Simon is getting to be a reader.

These long-fermented sourdough biscuits were terrific. And they worked great in the cast iron pans.

This winter, we have had a good handful of homeschool group park days and library days when it was too chilly or wet. We started back with school on Martin Luther King Day. For three and a half weeks, we did pretty well. I changed it up so that each kid would come in my room for their school time, with the door shut for no distractions. This way, I also got one-on-one time with each one. I'm pretty good at enacting a new plan for about three and half weeks. Today, we skipped it and squeezed in the library early. The kids are mostly just playing (and fighting with each other:) for the rest of the day.

Add caption

Spur of the moment Valentine crafting in which I didn't have to orchestrate anything

Doge

We walked to the cemetery. It was lovely on Sunday afternoon.

 I love to take the kids to SCRAP, a creative reuse center that is only 1.1 miles away. People donate craft items that may otherwise be thrown away. If you want to do a project, you can buy just about anything for not very much. The kids can spend 25 cents on seashell or some such item. It satisfies my need to see junk organized and to know there's a place where people can go to get things, without it being at my house!

The donation area shares space with a bike repair nonprofit.

bottle cap searching

a party where everyone is invited