Yes, I admit it….. I Have been avoiding my blog, and I can’t honestly say why. It’s true, the last two weeks have been busy, stressful sort of weeks. Oh, there’s been nothing hugely momentous, just plenty of little trifles, lots of running about and all our evenings full, full, full.
I think I blog more for myself than for any other reason. I like having a photo journal, a living scrapbook of sorts. Homeschooling three boys, and juggling all my other normal responsibilities leaves me no time to compile the beautiful scrapbooks that I used to make. I suppose this is my “new” way of preserving memories. Plus, blogging has it s perks…..comments from dear friends and readers. And so I blog….ha…or try to anyway.
This morning was another “normal” school day. We finished most of our work by noon and then headed outdoors to hike. The weather was perfectly gorgeous and wind was warm and invigorating. We had a lovely time!

But tonight I am tired, and I have a huge “to-do list” (I always do). Still….. maybe I will just make myself a cup of tea and curl up with a book near the Christmas tree. It sounds deliciously inviting.
What shall I read? Oh, I would love to hear your suggestions.

Winter Preparations

We heat with wood.........and we love it!

Today was a perfect day for taking care of a task that has been put off entirely to long.  Normally we cut, split and stack wood a year in advance.  This time we are rather behind the ball.  Fortunately, our neighbor has quite a few trees in his pasture that have been drying slowly for the past three years.  He was glad to have them removed and we are glad to have them for the winter months.

The boys were a great help this year.  They each worked right alongside of us the entire time.

 The day could not have been more beautiful.  The air was crisp and invigorating.  Fall is beautiful!

A stacked cord of wood is somehow almost a thing of artistic beauty.  There is certainly a wonderful feeling of accomplishment  when you turn to look at the product of your labor one last time before going indoors.  And, oh the joy of a wood fire on a cold winters' night.  I love the inviting curl of smoke from the chimney, the scent of wood smoke in the air outside.

There's something so deep-down satisfying about stretching out in front of a fully stoked wood-burning stove on a long, dark, wind-swept winter's evening.
Wood heat, besides being such a readily available low-technology source of energy, is just plain enjoyable!

Wordless Wednesday

Great Things? or Great Love?

"We can not do GREAT things, only small things with GREAT LOVE." - Mother Teresa

Today I read this quote and the thought has lodged itself deeply in my brain............I hope, permanently.

Celebrate Life with Birthday Cake!

Celebrate with a real home-made birthday cake, please.
This Espresso Chiffon Cake with Fudge Frosting has been calling to me for weeks.  I  saw this lovely gem on Smitten Kitchen.  Read all about it here:
http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/08/espresso-chiffon-cake-with-fudge-frosting/
  This past weekend I had a very good excuse to make it.  You see I really needed something festive and a bit extravagant  to celebrated D's 32nd birthday.

I made it just like the recipe.............well, almost.  I only made a very small adaption by putting vanilla bean whipped cream between the layers and Fudge frosting only on the outside.

Within less than 36 hours it was gone!Yes, that is right, ever last crumb and the platter licked clean too. :-)
It was quite nice, if I do say so myself.
I would offer you a piece, but as you know, it is already gone.

But that's okay, you can pop over for a fresh bagel.  I am just now pulling two dozen golden puffy bagels from my oven, and I'll share.