Snowshoes and a Bit of a Break

The snow was thick and powdery yesterday so I took the boys and set off right after an early lunch to enjoy another goal on my list.

We put on our snowshoes and headed down the trail.

It was gorgeous and sunny and we enjoyed seeing all sorts of things...even elephants.  Yes, that's right!  See?

No?  How about this one?

  See his head and trunk (on the left) and eye and front leg?

Can you see it?  The boys and I have enjoyed a couple exercises in this book and we've been looking for 'faces' in our hikes and outings.  After seeing the first 'elephant' we were on the lookout for more and we certainly found them. Fun!  Have I mentioned how much I love living in the woods?  :-)

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I'm going to be taking a month long break from this space...a blogging pause.  There will be very little computer time, lots of planning, dreaming, resting, enjoying, adventuring and family time.  I love taking a "pause" from things every now and again - even things I enjoy very much - and then coming back to them refreshed and re-newed. ;-)  I'll enjoy my time away and I'll enjoy returning to writing about our days in February.  I hope you'll return then too.

Wishing you a beautiful month.

More Snow

Yesterday the boys and I took all the decorations off the tree. 

The boys pointed out that the tree is pushing out new growth and we marvelled at the pale green soft needles.

We left it up last night with just the lights on so we could enjoy it for Just One More Night.  We none of us want to let it go this year, not even Kitty, as she has made her bed under it for the last month. 

Yesterday we got another 6 or 8 inches of snow and everything looks even more beautiful.  The tree limbs are heavy with snow and look just as they should.  Everything is fresh, white and clean looking.  The boys are enjoying having the space to sled to their heart's content.  And what a wild ride it is down this hill, I went out to join them for a bit too. 

Dog likes to join them and can usually be found chasing down the hill after them but yesterday he came charging too quickly down one hill in deep powder and lost his footing only to go face first into a heap of snow.  He decided to sit the next run out and waited patiently at the top of the hill with me.

Today there is enough snow for the snowshoes so we will go for our first tromp of the season later. (Which is one of the things on my list, I got to cross one off yesterday when I finished knitting the hat for S.  I'd show you a photo except he liked it so well that he put it on right away and took it with him this morning before I had a chance to even take a photo) ;-)

Skating on the Pond and Garlic Tea

New Year's Eve day found us at the pond with a group of friends.  The boys (especially the adult one!) LOVED skating outdoors and want to make this a regular part of our winter days.  I'm thinking if I bring my own shovel next time I'll be able to use it to help me keep my balance on skates.  Good plan, don't you think?

Yesterday we started the new year off "just right" and had a great day.  E and I took a break in the afternoon to enjoy a nice mug of garlic tea.

Sound yucky?  Not at all.  We originally used it as a cold prevention or remedy but we like it so much that we sometimes get a hankering for it when we're feeling great.  Directions to make it are here if you'd like to give it a try.