Finally, a decent snow!

We had to run our little snowblower three times to keep up. Once on Sunday evening, once on Monday morning and once last night. The final time has kept the paths clear.

Finally the grass is covered! Today is clear, 3 degrees F. and windy. Think I won't venture out at all today!

Reclaim the room

Hilda had to have one last "sit" under the tree even after I took the blanket off the bottom. Must be a cozy spot!

Siblings, this is where we put the big mirror from Mom and Dad's. It says "Made in Italy" on the back. Fits what's on the rest of the wall.

This is the Christmas tree corner on the left. The chair on the right can swivel to face the big area for watching TV or to make a corner conversation. Drop in anytime!

New link added

One of our favorite teachers at Columbia Bible College, now Columbia International University, was Mr. Hatch. Recently CIU has made his classes available online on a new website called Buck Hatch Library. I've added the link in my "Other interesting links.." I would like to just post it top, front and center of my blog for the importance and helpfulness of it. Dennis and I have watched a couple of the Progress of Redemption videos and have learned (again) and been blessed so much (again) by this godly man's teaching!

If you get a chance, go to the website and check it out. There is the marriage class, a parenting class, as well as lectures that he gave on different topics not part of a class. I suppose one could use these as part of a Sunday School class, and we all know some Sunday School classes could use a little help!! :) We have enjoyed watching them on a Sunday evening.

Try it out. It will bless your socks off!

(I'd post a picture, but blogger isn't cooperating.)

Sometimes a light surprises

We've seen so little sun lately, I just had to catch it first thing this morning!  Unfortunately, clouds came over soon after and made the light rather thin. But what a beautiful sunrise.

I sure do appreciate the reminder of God's faithfulness every day, and every new year. Sometimes, our faith is a choice, not so much a feeling. But sunrises can evoke feeling! If I had been born pagan (and you know what I mean) I'd be a sun-worshiper!

Amazing Baci wrapper

 STEADY....

 STEADY.....

What one thinks of to do when sitting around the table after dinner. Will started it, and then the skill was perfected. Wow, that little piece of foil can hold up a plate! Will, Mr. Schmidt would be proud!

The Gingerbread men

 This has become a holiday tradition for Will and Linnea. They said they started doing this in 2003.

 It was very fun, though, to roll it all out in the new kitchen!

Piles of gingerbread men about to turn in to Harry Potter characters this year!

The tea cozy

 Linnea got a new teapot for Christmas, and she also wanted a tea cozy. I really didn't want to buy one and the knitted directions online looked too complicated for my level of skill, so I looked at the one we have. It was crocheted and I figured I could do pretty much the same thing. I would do a few things differently on the next one.

I chained 35 and double crocheted 25 and alternated rows single/double for the top ten. I crocheted 22 rows catching only the back of the stitch to give it the ribbed look. I made two and then stitched together the top 12 stitches and about 6 on the bottom. That way the handle and the spout have a place to come out. Finally, I did a row of single crochet around the bottom. But this is what I'd do differently. I'd single crochet all of the top 7-8 stitches. Ten made the top part too tall. If I make the top shorter then I could do a row of trim there, too.

I think I'll make some more. It was really fast to make. And fun too. And Linnea is really happy with it, that's best of all!