It's been a week?

I don't remember not blogging for a whole week before, unless I had a good excuse. This is supposed to be my slow time work wise. Maybe that is my problem, I start doing the mundane around here and worry about it boring everyone. I didn't used to worry about that, if you read back on some of my early posts, zzzzzzzzzzzz. Knowing I have at least a handful of you reading my posts, frequently about chicken poop puts a little pressure on this gal.

One of those readers is the lovely Joanna who gave me The tree of happiness award.

I love her, she has been one of my nicest blog friends, she is a relatively new goat mama, and is the caregiver of the famous Franklin, who has had his picture in Backyard Poultry Magazine.

Then there is Erica ,who was kind enough to give me this award. She is a homeschooling hands on mom with adorable kids. Talk about being creative. Thank you for putting me in the same Kreativ category as you.

So with the tree of happiness, I need to put 6 things that make me happy. So easy, I have tons of things that make me happy, the tricky part is narrowing them down.

1. My little family of four. My hubby who is my best friend and partner in taking on the world, and my two wonderful kids who own my heart.

2. My home and land. I love being home and cant imagine a better place to live than where I am right now, and having land to grow things is the icing on the cake.

3. My chickens and gathering their eggs. Makes me just enough of a farm gal to make me happy.

4. Sewing and fabric, does that count as 2 things? You all know that I'd sell myself for fabric and having the ability to make things from said fabric that people actually want to buy is really a dream come true.

5. Hot baths. What more needs to be said?

6. Bloggers and the friends I've made through them. Having you guys to share and laugh with has made me feel truly thankful and happy.

*

On the creative front, i do need to show a couple things we have been working on around here.

The boy took apart his last pinball game, added more things and has a new and improved version. When he has it finished and filmed, I'll share it with you. It's really cool.

I have been working on sock pups for the shop, so my girl took a pair of her old holey socks and made a hippo and named it Shamrock. Once again no help from mom, and so clever.

We had warmer temps this weekend and got more finished on our floating dock. Now this is set on the ice in our pond and with the temps near 50*, we were walking in a couple inches of water. Tomorrow is supposed to get near 60*, I think we need to hurry.

Last but not least, here I am in real clothing (not jammies). I had a 8:30 meeting this morning for a potential sale of 10 bags. I don't want to talk too much and jinx it, but it will be a great opportunity and may lead to future sales.

It's late,

kids are tucked in, hubby is at school, the house it warm and quiet. I should do something, brain doesn't want to. Brain wins. I'm tired from the Superbowl and The Office last night, even after my hour and a half nap after dinner, maybe thats why I'm in a fog.

I'm looking at my yummy yarn I got from frolic 'n fibers.

This picture doesn't do it justice. You can go to her etsy shop and see her yarn under good lighting. Now I'm torn between making something from it or just letting it sit and be admired. I never had real homespun yarn from real animals before. It's so beautiful.

*

We had a warm, upper 30's weekend, well just Sunday actually but it was a welcome change to the teens and the constant snow fall.

Dad called from Florida and after I told him about our day, he mentioned the fact that he is enjoying weather in the 70's. It didn't make me feel less about my day, I love winter days like these.

The Great Barrel Reef.

Hubby started a new project. I love the fact that he gets itchin for projects and wont let winter stop his plans. Floating dock for the pond, working on the ice means no need to move it when spring comes.

*

Remember my little chick Uno?

She has this habit of flying onto me when I walk in the coop. I tuck my hair up under my hat. I call it my sh*ty hat. She isn't polite enough to always have clean feet. Makes me worried if I will have constant sh*t in my hair this summer.

Being loved makes sh*t in your hair worth while.

I should go clean lunchboxes so I wont have to do it in the morning.

Goodnight.

Meet my guests

Big Boy and Henny Penny.

My dad and stepmom love to travel, sometimes for a month at a time.

When they were planning their trip to Florida, my dad told me that since their little old man cat passed away, he really didn't want to bother us with the care of his 2 chickens (he had more but they suffered losses this past summer from coyotes) and that he would just butcher them. He knows we are busy with our lives and families and like me, he has a hard time asking for help.

My dad loves his rooster, he loves to hear him crowing in the morning. He's had these two for four years now and the little hen was severely injured during the coyote attack and has bounced back.

So I let him know I had a guest coop they could stay in and it was no bother at all to care for them. Just an extra stop on what I normally do anyway.

He took me up on the offer, he's going to be happy to have his crowing boy when he returns home. It makes me happy to do something for the man who is always there when I need him.

They are Jersey Giants and this Rooster is huge! His head comes about mid thigh on me, he has these wicked looking spurs, but is a gentle soul. My daughter has even picked him up.

Henny Penny even gifted me with an egg!

Now these are the kind of guests I like having for a month.

proud mom

Like all moms, I find my children funny, smart, talented and beautiful.
So I am taking a little time to brag.

I had my niece over Saturday night and look what my girl whipped up on the sewing machine for their dolls. They then borrowed my camera and had a photo shoot.

These are their cheer leading uniforms.

Buttons in the back.

I found this splits picture hysterical!

The models then had a pillow fight.

Apparently played some guitar hero and then passed out.

*

I have 2 children so I have to brag about my boy now.

He has made many inventions over the years, I am always impressed but not surprised

He built this, no pattern involved, filmed and posted it on utube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zsmPLOJ_Do

It is so cool.

Etsy love!

The nice gal over at blushing mermaid picked my Mermaid Quilt to be in her treasury.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=35028

It's flattering to be selected and put in with other talented artists.

We're havin a heat wave!

We are supposed to be getting temps in the 30's today and part of tomorrow!

Our winter has been extra cold (this is where I would normally add some crack about global warming, my @$$, but some are sensitive to that kind of humor so I won't).

Which means our fall woodpile...

...that was 2 rows deep...

...is now this. So sad.

Luckily we have some standing dead trees that we should be able to cut over the weekend, of course the temps are dropping back down by then.

I'm trying not to start belly aching about the winter since we have at least 2 or 3 months left, but I'm fighting a cold so my usual sunny disposition is hiding under a large pile of mucus.

I'm expecting guests Monday, so I have a lot to get ready. They will be staying a MONTH! More about that another day.

Praise song for the day.

Praise song for the day.
Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others' eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.
Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.
A woman and her son wait for the bus.
A farmer considers the changing sky; A teacher says, "Take out your pencils. Begin."
We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; words to consider, reconsider.
We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, "I need to see what's on the other side; I know there's something better down the road."
We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.
Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.
Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.
Some live by "Love thy neighbor as thy self."
Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.
What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.
In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.
On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.
-- Elizabeth Alexander