Spring is coming Right???

So we've had winter hit hard late.  Here we are in March when it should be warming up and we are shoveling snow!  We've had 10 inches over the last few weeks in a couple bouts of ice and snow.  So... We've stayed indoors for the most part having fun snow days watching movies and challenging the kids to Monopoly.

Super D remains the undefeated champ in our house.  But it was a close game!  :)

So Yes, if you see the plants in the back ground I am hoping spring makes it soon!  Those were a gift from a friend but I hope to get mine started soon...

Thankfully the weather man says it is supposed to warm up this week!  So we will be out hiking and planting soon.

We had a few beautiful 60 deg. days before the cold that the girls and I went adventuring a bit.  I don't remember what Sassafras thought she saw that made her jump.  We are looking forward to playing in the river soon!

And because I missed it....

Super D surprised all his girls with roses for Valentine's Day.  We had a fun day even though it included loading up fire wood for the cold that was moving in.  :) 

Garden season is almost here.  I will probably be a bit behind but I'll try and keep you all updated.

Winter Blues...

We are very anxiously waiting for spring here!  I know I haven't posted in a bit but really we haven't had much going on.  We've been staying inside trying to stay warm most the winter.  I didn't really have any projects going on. 
But Finally!!!! Spring is starting to show signs of coming soon! 
We have taken advantage of the nice days when we get them. 

The girls had fun playing outside in the sun!

"Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream..."

And here is the very beginning of cold frames we are building for the garden.  More to come on them. 
Hope your faring winter well.  I'll be back a bit sooner this time.  :) 

A Cold, Cold Winter!

I know we are not the only ones fighting extreme cold this winter.  I hope this finds you staying warm! We have been working hard to stay warm with temperatures dropping to -15 degrees our little wood stove is working overtime to keep us warm. 

 

Here's the girls and I cuddled up under seven blankets (we counted!) on the day we couldn't get the house above 50 degrees.  That night it dropped to 37 degrees!  We stocked our little fire religiously and Super D and I slept in the living room by it to keep it going all night.  The next day we got a much better supply of wood that is burning better!  The last stuff just didn't want to burn very hot and if you've never had to use a fire to keep a house warm I know that sounds odd. 
 I never realized all that goes into using a wood stove.  We sure didn't get much done for a couple days but had a pretty good time cuddling and watching TV. 

Even the dogs had to get in on the blanket action!  Thankfully the weather has gotten warmer since then and our stove is keep up much better.  I've been glad for some sunshine and hope the below 0 temps are behind us for the year.  I am looking forward to spring! 

Winter Wonderland

Here I was concerned I’d miss snow when we moved.  Well, I was wrong.  Missouri has not disappointed in giving me some snow.  Now it usually doesn’t stick around too long and I like that.  I think I got the better deal.  Ok on to the pictures.  As most of the US is in deep freeze right now we got this yesterday…

                                              Defiantly a blanket of white.  And it was still snowing. 

 

             This is about 6” and only the half way mark.  It snowed the rest of the day and we have at least a foot! I even got the day off work as the store                                       closed early.

                     Prince was cold too trying to stay out of the wind on the porch.  For some silly reason only  he knows he didn’t want in the coop with the rest of the hens.

So… If it doesn’t look too familiar these are all at the new place.  Which I promised.  ;)  Here are some not covered in snow so you can see the land…

 

 

Well, I’m not talented enough to merge these two so you’ll have to use your brain.  But bottom one is by the Hwy which borders our property and then continues in.  You can see the pond in both pictures.  (that’s the dark spot surrounded by trees)  These are taken from our porch.  Here’s one taken from the other side of the pond looking back…

I love the reflection of the trees in this picture! You’ll have to use your imagination for how pretty everything will be in the spring when it greens up.  On this land we have quite a bit more woods.  The border of our land is a couple hundred feet from the tree line in some areas and it borders a property that is just a 2 acre slice of trees it has a rich history that we are trying to learn about.   But that’s for another day. 

Just so pretty!  Hope you stay warm where ever you are!

When it rains it pours....

        This post has two meanings.  I started it to tell of hard times we've had with the death in the family, then losing all but 3 of our chickens, me getting sicker than I have ever been in my life, and Super D getting held up in Colorado longer than we wanted.  But really is has rained everyday for 2 weeks now and there is no end in sight.  Every time I look at the forecast it tell of thunderstorms. 

I have never seen so much rain in my life!  Here is Patrick Bridge where we often swim...

This has even gone down the water was up to where I am standing.  The river has even flooded some of our tall bridges.  It is incredible to see.  When this happens it changes the landscape of the river so when the water settles it will be a new place. 
 By the way, I am recovered from my sickness, we've ordered new chicks which should arrive this month, and Super D is progressing with all he had to accomplish in Colorado and will be home soon. 
In all we really have survived just fine, but I am tired.  Running this place with just me and the girls is a handful... plus my other job.  (at the local store)  It has kept us going but we really miss having Super D around.
 I feel as though we just got stuck this summer.  Instead of moving ahead we were only able to maintain what we have.  But we will pick it all back up soon and have some progress of getting things done around here. 
The plus of all this rain is that it is God's miracle grow!  My garden looks more like a jungle and everything is very green.  Quite the contrast to last years drought conditions.

Will do a Garden post next so you can all see how it's going.  Not as well as I had hoped but better than last year!  :)  Happy last days of summer!

Where is Spring?????

I am ready for spring to come in full force! Anybody else??

This picture was taken almost a month ago in April.  It was our first swimming trip to the river nice beautiful 80 degree day, although the water was still pretty chilly it didn't stop my kids from swimming to the favorite rock. 
Since then we have had lots of cold rain, sleet and several freezing nights and cold days.  Winter just seems to be hanging on a little too long for me. Last night it froze again getting into the high 20's.  Good greif it is MAY already we need some sun and warm weather, please!

The only plus is we have been so busy with work Super D solar installs and me with my new job we haven't gotten the garden planted yet as we wanted to but with the cold weather it was a blessing in disguise. So not too much new to report here. 
We have been mushroom hunting but the cold weather put a damper on that too.
I pray your spings are going better.  :)  Please send some warm weather this way if you can.  We made the mistake of taking out our wood stove in April when it was nice and warm so we've had lots of cuddle time to stay warm :)

Colorado Snow?!?!?!

  OK so I think we brought a little Colorado weather with us!  We just got 7 inches of snow in March!  It is a good wet snow that wil really help with water levels and we had a blast playing in it...  Now I am not one for cold, but if it must be cold I want snow to go with it.  I love the snow.  I love to play in it sledding, building snowmen, and snow forts.  Never been much of a skier, I think it was always just too expensive a hobby for us.  I love the night sky when it's snowing, so bright and light out in the middle of the night.  Best of all the beauty of a fresh blanket of snow untouched that layers the earth like a blanket. 

Pictures never do it justice!    By the way, the ditch there is for plumbing to the trailer.  :)

 Well, I think we miss 4 wheeling the mountians a bit. Super D pulled the canoe like a sled but slid down the hill ito the trees.

While Super D unstuck the jeep, the girls and I made a massive snowball....

We actually made two, I'm sitting on one, but they were too heavy to stack.

Fluffy found a nice warm spot to cuddle up. Of course Sugar bug doesn't mind.

I swear my kids and husband are like Tim Taylor on the TV show Home Improvement "Arr Arr Arr More Power" :)

Who knew water toys could be so much fun in the snow too!

So much fun and beauty!  Now, I'm ready for warm weather and spring please!