Snow Days!

We seem to be having a lot of snow days this winter, and I am loving it!  We just got back from a weekend in Illinois, (where we also experienced a small winter storm as well) and today we  were bracing for yet another storm system to move through.  We were excited when they upgraded the storm right before it hit, to 8" in our area, and now as I sit here tonight, it's still lightly snowing and they say we could have a much as 10" by morning.  It's such a beautiful sight! 

So I just wanted to share how we spend our snow days.  I was enjoying my day so much, I didn't even take too much time to get out my camera and capture it in pictures.  After we finished school and picked the girls up from choir (which was dismissed early because of blizzard like conditions) we came home.  I had a fire going, and popped some popcorn, and we all settled in for a movie.  It was very relaxing and enjoyable as the wind and snow blew and fell outside the window.  The kids also roasted marshmallows in the fireplace and really enjoyed themselves.

I had prepared dinner ahead of time and had chili and honey cornbread muffins ready for dinner.  I also, had a crockpot of stuffed peppers from last year's garden harvest.  I knew the kids would eat up most of the chili, leaving only a bit for my husband when he got home from work and he loves stuffed peppers.  The honey cornbread muffins were a hit.  The kids and Brent loved them.  I will definitely be making them again!

After dinner the kids and I headed outside to shovel.  We all took turns and Maddie found some fresh snow in the back that was untouched,so we brought some inside and made snow ice cream. The kids loved it, especially Menter and Marykate.  They kept asking to go outside and gather up more snow for ice cream.  I did let them bring in one extra bowl and we have it stored in the freezer for tomorrow.

It has been a very cozy day with lots of great memories.  I'm sure we will be snowed in tomorrow, or maybe if we can get out, we will head to the ski mountain!


Snow Ice Cream
4 cups of snow
1 cup of cream (we used half and half)
1/4 c sugar
tsp vanilla

Mix cream, sugar and vanilla together, then slowly add snow (fresh, clean, untouched snow) until you reach desired consistency.


♥  Shannon

My Sweet Valentine's

I was 17 when I started dating Brent.  This year, it will be 20 years since we started dating and 17 years of marriage!  Wow, time flies when you are having fun!  I can't think of a boring year yet.  We've been busy moving, having kids, and enjoying this life we've created together.  We aren't big into celebrating Valentines Day as a couple.  My husband doesn't have a romantic bone in his body.  He's not into cards and flowers.  And, this might sound strange, but that makes it all the more romantic when he does do something special, because I know he really means it and it's coming straight from his heart. He is not just doing something because, well everyone else is, so I might as well join in.  He's never been that type of guy.  To me romance is loading the truck full of firewood in the pouring rain, because you know your wife loves to have a good fire every day in the winter.  Even though he doesn't enjoy fires as much as I do, he did this for me over the weekend. (We needed to bring some of our firewood from Illinois over to our home in WI)  I looked out the window and caught him and the boys just as they were finishing up and it melted my heart.  He did that just for me.  He watches out for me, takes care of me, loves me unconditionally, protects me, and wants what is best for me.  What else could I possibly ask for this Valentines Day!  I am so blessed.

One tradition I have started is to write each child a letter (this will be my 3rd year).  I buy them some special candy and have it at there spot at the breakfast table, so when they come down for breakfast they find there special treat and a letter from me.  This year I really focused on demonstrating love to one another, just as Jesus loves us.  We need to love,  just as He loves!  The letters always bring a smile to their eyes and some choose to read it aloud to everyone and others choose to keep there letter private between us two.  I found this year, as I was writing to each child, it really made me stop and think about how unique each of them are, and what there character traits are and how they fit so perfectly into our family.  It was a blessing to me, just as much as it was to them! 

Maddie and Marykate working on Valentine boxes together

I also had a special find today.  Maddie is in need of a full size violin and has been for some time.  Today I stopped into a local antique shop looking for some chairs for our school room.  I didn't find any, but did find a 1950s violin in great condition.  It needs some strings and fine tuners, and we will be all set.  What a blessing it was to find this so unexpectedly.

 

So today has been a great day full of blessings all around.  Happy Valentines Day!

♥  Shannon 

Finding beauty in every season

Just wanted to share a photo of the view out my window this morning.  After 9" fell for the last 12 hours, it's breathtaking!  Me and the kids are heading to the ski mountain today, as temps are in the 30's.  These days don't come, but once a  year, if that... Definitely finding beauty in this season of life and loving it!

 

 

 

♥  Shannon

But the greatest of these is Love

We are right in the middle of yet another winter storm, and we are loving it!  We haven't had this much snow since we lived in Iowa a few years ago.  With all this cold snowy weather we are finding more and more time to stay inside and craft or crochet.  This may be coming my favorite time of year.  ( I say that during every season :) 

With this being February, the month where we focus on love.  I wanted to do something different this year.  I got my inspiration from pinterest, but as I usually do, I changed it up a bit and combined two crafts into one.  The kids and I wanted to decorate the house, so we made hearts to hang from every window.  This also looks very cute from the outside, as our home in WI is in a small neighborhood, so others can actually see our decorating.

I had the kids write scripture verses about love, on the hearts.  This was great for all of us, as we found many verses we had forgotten about.  Even myself was encouraged with some of the verses the kids came up with.  It was also great to see even my youngest daughter quoting from memory and then writing them down for her bedroom.  One of my favorites that we hung in the kitchen is Micah 6:8 " but to do justly, LOVE mercy and walk humbly with thy God".  Now whenever we walk into a room there is a lovely verse as a reminder how important LOVE really is, even in our every day lives.  I know I myself, am so thankful for God's love for me each and every day!

The kids also made some valentine candles, that we also placed in the windows.  We bought candles from the dollar store, wrapped them in burlap and glued felt hearts in the middle.  They were inexpensive, fun and easy for the younger kids. 

Here are a few pictures of our storm that's blowing through today.  The kids are having a blast!

 

 

♥ Shannon

Crocheted Baskets

It's been a crazy week of weather here in the Midwest.  The week started out with an ice storm, and the very next day the temps were in the 60s, followed by a day of thunderstorms and power outages. But not for long, because today we had a small snow storm move through and tomorrow, below zero temps are expected.  So we've decided to, stay in, stay warm and crochet! 

I decided it was time to move on from scarves and stockings and try to crochet a few baskets.  I'm hooked :)  I LOVE how they turned out! I have so many fun ideas for spring and Easter, I don't know where or when I'll find the time!

I have made 3 baskets (actually 4, one not posted) and it's only Wednesday :)  I started out with the larger one, and was so happy with the results I moved on to the other two.  I combined a couple different patterns and came up with this small Easter basket.  I am going to try and perfect it a little more before I share the pattern.  I then moved on to the small bowl, which I absolutely love.  It's so simple, subtle and cute.  I'm not sure what to do with it yet, but I'm sure I will come up with something.  Tonight I was working on a small basket crocheted out of twine, which will be a lot of fun to use, maybe in the kitchen... 

And while I have been busy crocheting, the kids have been having fun making valentines and valentine boxes and playing in the snow.

Also, my daughter takes the most lovely photos, don't you think?  She made my blog header and also took the above pictures for me.  Here are a few more she took capturing the beauty of winter.

 

(yes, today was garbage day, please just ignore the trash cans)

 

 

 

So tomorrow will find me once again, staying inside, by the fire, crocheting.  Of course, that is after I finish home school, laundry, dishes, have supper already prepared and the rest of the chores done :) 

 

 



 

♥  Shannon






Even if...

I cannot lie, the past few months have been difficult.  Don't get me wrong, I experience joy every.single.day through my children, husband and all my blessings.  However, this going back and forth between homes, is not a "homemakers" dream.  My "career" is at home.  Everything I do every.single.day, revolves around my home.  So pulling me away from that, or trying to make it work between two homes is not always fun.  We were in Illinois over the weekend, enjoying our home, and yet, I was sad because I want to live there full time.  We had so many plans that are now on hold.  Yet again, I am learning over and over again, that PATIENCE is a VIRTUE. 

This couldn't have been avoided.  There was nothing we could do to stop it.  It hit us hard, right in our tracks, and we were left with this, as our only choice.  We felt God leading and directing our path, but that doesn't always make it easy. 

So as I was doing laundry, my girls were cleaning up the kitchen and listening to the radio (as they normally do).  A song came on (K Love), that I've heard a hundred times "Even if" by Kutless.  It stopped me, right there and I just stood, (from the other room) listening to the words, really listening and letting them sink in.  "When life falls apart and dreams are left undone, You are God, You are good forever faithful one".  Wow, that's exactly how I was feeling.  Left undone, as if our life had fallen apart and dreams now on hold.  BUT, God is good!  He is faithful!  He will never leave us or forsake us!  I realized I wasn't doing my part.  TRUST!  I haven't been trusting Him.  I have put my fears and worries ahead of everything else and completely left fully trusting God, out of the picture.  God never promised life would be easy, always fun, everything perfect.  But, he did promise he would guide our path, never leave us and He never changes.  He NEVER changes! 

So I feel a burden has been lifted.  It's not up to me to have it all figured out.  God knows the path he is taking our family and He has never failed us in the past.  Why would I think different this time?  A favorite Bible verse of mine is "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10a   He has this one! 

So there I was, left to do nothing else, but count my blessings.  My husband HAS a job.  My kids are all healthy and growing strong.  We not only have one, but two roofs over our head.  We have the love or our families supporting us.  A wonderful church family who we have become so close to this past year.  AND, we have a God who gives us eternal hope far beyond what this world can bring.

So, I wanted to share this song with you all by Kutless:  Even If

"Lord, we know your ways are not our ways, so we set our faith in who you are..."

♥  Shannon

Cozy Winter Decorating

I don't know about you, but whenever I take down my Christmas decorations, it makes me a little sad.  I so enjoy the extra lights in the house and the warmth it brings, especially living in the Midwest, where winter can be long and dull.  So I have been leaving up little pieces of "winter" (as I like to call it) all through the house.  I wanted to share a few photos of some of my decorations around my home, that makes it feel extra cozy and not so bare. 

I have been adding splashes of pinecone and evergreen wherever I can.  As well as candles.  I also have a small tree I leave up through March, that I love to decorate with candles, pinecones, and any other homemade, or wooden objects I can find.  It adds so much warmth to the room and we all enjoy the lights at night after the sun goes down.

I have an antique ironing board, that I use as a sofa table.  My kids have found antlers in the woods near our home, and I love to decorate with them.  I added some pinecones and evergreen and now I  have the coziness of winter, without the Christmas theme.

This is my winter tree.  There are a few ornaments that may still resemble Christmas, but my youngest daughter was helping me decorate it.  She also crocheted a garland last year when she was 6 and just learning, and she put it on the tree.  I haven't taken it off since.  Sometimes it's not about how perfect it looks, but the thought that counts.

Another small evergreen sits on top of the piano. (As you can see there is also a children's music book and recorder in this picture).  I figure there is no point in trying to hide these things from the camera.  It is just proof that many children fill this home. 

As you can see, I have a deer theme throughout my home. I have added some reindeer over the holidays, and I cannot bring myself to pack them away just yet, as they add just enough whimsy to the room.

 

 

This coat rack is very special to me.  My husband made this for me about 15 years ago, out of an antique mantel.   He refinished it and I have had it in every home we have lived in. 

 

 

Lastly, I love to add a touch of winter through my dishes.  I just purchased these snowman plates 75% off after Christmas.  Again they add just a bit of whimsy and winter cheer to the room.

 

 

So, there are some of the ways I like to brighten and warm up my home, even after the Christmas decorations come down.  There are many cold days still ahead.  In fact right now, we are in the middle of an ice storm.  Even so, I really do enjoy these winter months. 

 

♥  Shannon