Sunday Shopping Spree

GG woke up feeling sick this morning, but didn't remember feeling sick by the time the rest of us were ready to go to church...NONETHELESS, I arranged care for Grandpa so the girls and I could meet Michael at church.  He DOES seem to be fine.  In "this day and age," it pays to be careful. 

Stacia is working on 3 cakes for Thanksgiving. She needed some obscure elements to complete a mirror technique. I don't know what I'm talking about here. ::snort::   Michael's is the best option we've discovered locally for cake supplies.  If anyone has other suggestions we'd love to hear them! 

Michael didn't want to spend the afternoon shopping;  he proposed lunch in our little town and then he would go home and we girls would head to the next town over to do some "serious" shopping. This was good in our eyes. ::snort::

We looked for cake supplies - Stacia thinks she can tweak what she found and make it work. She'll try a practice mirror cake and see what happens.  We looked at planners - I came home and ordered the same "Faithful Life planner" I have this year. I like it, and it's working.  We looked at office supplies - Allie bought some pens.  We looked at Christmas decorations - I bought a few strands of wooden beads for the tree, planning to go VERY simple this year and leave most the ornaments packed away. It's what I'm feeling this year.  

SomeHOW THIS jumped INTO my cart, and once it was IN the cart and rung up, it seemed to be in POOR taste to send it back...so we loaded it up and gave it a home in the girls' room. 

They also put a new strand of lights around the ledge in their room.  Seriously, Allie loves winter; Stacia struggles with it. My hope is the tree will add a touch of cheer and remind the girls how much we love them throughout the season. Being a basement room, it gets a bit dreary in the winter - the tree and lights brighten it up.  Stacia has darling salt dough ornaments from BreZaak's kids. Unfortunately, Millie ATE the ornaments on the bottom 1/2 of the tree. WHAT in the WORLD? 

On the way home I noted the gas gauge was getting uncomfortably close to empty. I did NOT want to stop as it was COLD...but I suspect it will be colder tomorrow a.m. when we need to use the car. 

That is the BOO - the YAY is getting .70 a gal off  - bringing the price down to $2.89 a gal.  AND not running out of gas in negative degree weather is always a big YAY. 

We got home and the girls decorated, we chatted, we coordinated calendars, lined up respite care for Grandpa where needed, shared Sunday night treats and we called it a day! 

Friday's Fun

 Cory asked me a couple of weeks ago if I would be willing to watch the boys so he could surprise Arielle with a date. I, of course, agreed! 😍 They dropped the boys off at 10:30 and headed for The Salt Cave. 

Danny - 1 year

I've got to say sitting in a warm, bright cave is appealing when it's -13* outside. ❄❅❆ They headed out for warmth and lunch....

Danny was happy to play with GG after his lunch. 

Stacia is making 2 smash cakes and a rocket cake for our Thanksgiving/Birthday celebration. I am making an ice cream cake for Michael.  ANYWAY - Benny helped Stacia bake the cakes for his Rocket Planet Cake. 

Benny - 4 years old

Benny and Stacia developed an unique style to quickly sift the flour, cocoa and sugar. 

 

We are thankful for the sketchy downstairs oven....and hopeful they actually fix the upstairs one on Tuesday. LOL 

The boys enjoyed spending a bit of time with Papa. We laughed when Danny went directly for Michael's flashlight, just like Benny does. 

We hope Cory and Arielle had 1/2 the fun we had here at home. 

Feels Like -12*.....

 

It's going to be cold tonight. It cracks me up when it says it, "Feels like -12." Um...yeah. About that...when it gets this cold I just stay inside...and it feels like 70* by the fire. LOL  With that being said, I have an 0730 meeting tomorrow....hmmm.....

We've had a somewhat lazy day...school, Bible study, laundry, doctor appointments... By the way, I am working through "Forgiving What You Can't Forget," with a young woman whom I mentor.  We have the book, DVD, and study guide. I think it would be a great read....the study guide is helpful in applying what one reads in the book. This is the best handling of the topic I've ever worked through. It has been the catalyst for much healing in my life.  I was thinking about it for our Ladies Bible study, but after going through it with another I wonder if it's one best gone through with one or two others, rather than a group.  Has anyone else completed it? What do you think? Did it work well in a group? 

The girls and I shopped to fill a box...Stacia and I will deliver it tomorrow when we got out for our study. We've hit Revelation...the year really is drawing to a close. 

This is a book we used last year during Advent. It seemed time to dig it out. I believe the first Sunday in Advent is Nov 28th. 

Jojo (Josiah), BreZaak's youngest turned one year old yesterday. We were having a bit of a "thing" yesterday around here and it wasn't a good time for us to leave the house.  Michael stopped by with a gift for Jojo. Sadly, no one took a photo! I will be sure to grab a photo of him at the family celebration...he's a doll.  Bre sent Michael home with birthday cookies. 

Michael turns 61

Michael  informed us he is starting his 7th decade of life. He turned 61 today. He used to tease me about my tendency to think in terms of "running" birthdays. In the Philippines one who turned 61 today  is "running 62" tomorrow...but shoot...7th decade sounds WAY more serious than running 62. LOL 

We will celebrate family wide on Thanksgiving, but we simply can't let a chance to celebrate go by around here. LOL  Rarely a day goes by that I do not thank God for bringing this man into my life. Doing life with him has been one of God's best blessings...valleys or mountains...he's steadfast, compassionate, kind and strong. 

Unfortunately, our day began out of kilter when I had to wake Michael to help me as Dad had fallen. Dad had a hard day, this would have been his 59th anniversary. He hasn't felt well all day. We got dad settled and Michael went back to bed for a couple more hours...it was 0600. 

In the midst of lots of  unexpected laundry the dryer, which came with the house, QUIT.  When the washer quit a year ago Michael had found someone giving a washer/dryer away on Craig's list. We stored the dryer as we'd been told by an appliance repairman the dryer in the house was on it's last leg. We got a good year of use from the free washer before it quit last month and we finally bought a new one. We are hoping to get at least a year from the dryer before we have to buy a new one.  In any event - free is a great price. The oven is STILL not working. They are checking to see when the part will be here. They were getting it from ANCHORAGE and it's been over a week now. LOL 

Prepping to move into the laundry room

We had planned to meet Nolan at Michael's favorite restaurant at 5 p.m. Since Dad was having GI issues all day we didn't want to risk a public outing. We called in an order and the girls and I picked it up....temps are dropping. It was -6* already when we came home.  We were glad both the boys were able to be home for dinner and gifts.  

While we picked up the food, the guys finished this...laundry must go on...and on....and on. 

After dinner Michael opened gifts....here are a few glimpses. Nolan got him a puzzle which will keep he and Nolan busy for most the winter. It's 2000 pieces and is of a couple of women and a girl in a PUZZLE shop. 

These red pens have a very specific purpose -  editing Allie's papers. ::snort:: 

Allie and Stacia laugh as Michael quips about his own red pens

Stacia's package was a bit of a scavenger hunt...there were 8 or 9 steps to reaching the gift...Michael began the journey. 

She gave him a copy of a story/book she's been working on. It will be fun to read it. 

I ran to the church for ladies Bible study after the last gift was opened. I couldn't get the door to open so we settled on going to a local restaurant. It was fun. The rest of the family watched a movie of Michael's choice while I was gone. Mega mind it was. 

When I got home we had ice cream cake....and attempted to SING Happy Birthday. 

Winter Recess!

Even very studious young ladies eventually need to blow off a bit of steam! Today, these two hit the back yard. Their mission - work on the sledding platform/run. Millie was thrilled to join them outside. 

I LOVE the time of day when the sun comes shining through the trees and over the mountain. 

Millie is so pretty in her coat and boots. 

See - off grid is doable in the winter. LOL 

The girls got the landing done and needed to pack down the run. It worked well - except for MILLIE. Millie was determined to get in the middle of the fun. 

Millie's legs are all off the ground....

Poor Millie. Stacia wasn't having any more interruptions. Sled run packing is a serious business. 

Millie tells Grandpa all about it. 

The girls determined it was time to come inside and warm up. There is no better way to warm up than a mid-afternoon tea break. Though this time they made hot chocolate mix and fixed themselves mugs of chocolate. 

Eventually, recess comes to an end and it's back to the ole books for these two.....

Brrrr - It's a WINTER Day

I have capitulated. When the temps drop below 0, nose hairs freeze, you need to bundle up, and the woodstove is burning... it's WINTER...regardless of the calendar. 

What do you do when it's -4* out and the animals need to be fed? You bundle up....

Millie is content to stay inside, warm by the wood stove. 

I have over 100lbs of squash stored for the winter. The oven is out. I heard the instant pot was great for baking squash. Is THIS what it always does? I wondered if it went to long....lost quite a bit as I tried to be sure to get the seeds out. It was a yummy butter cup squash. 

THIS is a new to us vegetable. It's Romanesco...a cross between broccoli and cauliflower. I liked it. I liked the texture better than either of the others. I will have to try to order it again next co-op order. 

Such a fun looking veggie

Not to worry about us Alaskans...we know how to survive the cold...Though I have to say I think THESE THREE have a great idea for surviving a cold snap.   I'm thankful they are showing us the way to handle this mess....next year...I may cruise from Nov-May.  Not that we're a bit envious or anything...

Photo by Carrie - Cy, Livy, Carrie

Other notes this winter day: 

Michael and Alex worked on the woodstove...gave it another good cleaning out...took the thing APART and cleaned it. 

Nolan is pushing forward with college. I really don't get why his bosses think 30 hours looks like 50 hours...but he's handling it like a champ. He got a hair cut and I love it - but that would embarrass him so I won't post a photo. 

Allie and Stacia are also making steady progress on school. I am proud of them for helping to instigate some group events outside of youth group. They are rock stars. 

Benny is Four!

 Benny's birthday is today!  

We had a little gift. The girls and I were going to run it over, but one thing led to another and it was late afternoon.  We will be celebrating all our November birthdays on Thanksgiving Day, but it seemed impossible not to make mention of the day to the kids....so I've been dropping by on their birthdays with a small gift. Michael and I decided to run out and deliver the gift when Benny and his Dad got home from their birthday drive. 

Benny excitedly let us know, "Holy Jolly! How joyous God is celebrating me."  - Snow. 

We arrived in time to share Benny's blue birthday with him. LOL Arielle was worried Stacia would feel they were traitors...but no, Stacia will have a suitable cake for Benny on Thanksgiving....praying that oven is fixed soon! 

Benny was excited to cut his cake with his knife...he cut very generous slices. 

He also licked his knife in between each cut. 

He invited Papa and I to sit and play the game we had given him. We didn't quite get the directions right - but it was fun. 

We love the young man Benny is growing into...four years old...it seems he and Gideon were just babies!  I'm going to have to find photos of Gideon...I think we had some covid thing going on that disrupted those plans.....