Blizzard 2013, Some of our Weekend:

This is where we spent our time indoors from Saturday morning to Sunday night.  The only room that wasn't freezing.

Saturday morning Peter made hot chocolate for the kids and tea for us.  (Going to buy a coffee press TODAY because I refuse to be without coffee during a power-outage again). 

Lots of bird watching:  this is a Red-Bellied Woodpecker. 

Just shoveled a path to the wood-pile:

Most of the weekend the kids were outside playing with the neighborhood kids.

A camping stove cooked pasta for us on the back porch:

While the wood stove heated beef stew and mushroom/kale/barley soup I made on Friday anticipating the power outage.

(This is the beef stew Friday night before lights-out):

Our street was CLOSED until about 1:15pm on Saturday.  That had never happened before.  Both access roads were blocked by fallen trees and downed power lines.  Our neighbors went cross-country skiing on our street.  Most of us were dying for coffee because no one could get out.  Coffee press, here I come!!!

State House Art Contest

Third grade art contest submission:

Killer skills I think.

Blueberry pie for my neighbor

My next door neighbor is a peach.  NOT.  She's rude.  RUDE,  all capitals.  She's also an atheist (she told me that), so I really feel sorry for her.  She believes in "the power of the crystals."  Her words, not mine.  Those crystals ain't doing a damn thing for her.

Girlfriend is poor in spirit, so I decided to make her a blueberry pie.  

I may need to make her a thousand pies, but we'll start with one.

I guess I can kiss my pie dish good-bye because she'll never return it.  

The recipe called for 5 cups of blueberries.  I only had 4.  It's the thought that counts.  

My crust is not pretty, but it tastes awesome.  Cause I made it!

This neighbor is something else.  I won't tell you stories because the truth is, we ALL know someone just like her.  I can't even count the times I have complained to God why on earth He picked the house next door to mine to house her in.  
Gotta go deliver this pie before I change my mind.

Birthday Ski Trip

 Joseph turned 9 yesterday!!!!!!  They had the day off from school so we went skiing.

Super happy to be skiing on his 9th birthday:

It was Olivia's first time on the lift!!  she was finally ready to go to the top of the mountain, and the 3 of them did that ALL DAY.

Getting ready to go back out.

This is what I did most of the time:  stayed in the lodge reading, texting, and drinking hot tea.

Some cake after we got home:

Snow this morning...

7:25 am:

Backyard:

Backyard, into the woods:

View from upstairs:

Next door neighbor's house:

We need more snow & ice

Hidden Pond.  This was 2 weekends ago.  It was the last time they could skate outdoors because it has been so unseasonably warm that everything has melted.  

We're supposed to go skiing on Tues.  Let's hope there's snow because even I (a non-skier) know that machine made snow is NOT the same as real snow.  It feels totally different.

Currently holding their interest:

(Why yes, that is a drum set in the middle of my living room.  Where do you keep yours?)