Sensational Saturday

 Our Saturday began with the mundane. I have 2 big stock pots of broth to can. This seemed a good day to can...I knew we had company in the afternoon, but a canner can work with company in the house....I got the first pot settled. I asked Nolan to bring in the next pot....Um...Frozen solid. He began to work with boiling water and levers....

Meanwhile Allie and Stacia continued our goal of trimming up Millie. She looks presentable again - a bit odd, but lovable. 

The struggle with the stock pot continued. 

Not even team work helped

Bad photo - but Nolan pulled the  strong, sturdy handle of the stock pot off. The pot was still stuck. 

Michael got involved with a crowbar and mallet and freed the broth.  Unfortunately, the solid block of broth in the pot was still thawing at bedtime. I'll finish this project tomorrow. 

Cy, Carrie and Olivia arrived. This was our first time to hear Hawaii stories since the boy trip to Hawaii. I'm thankful for the military friendships of our boys and the Harding boys - 16 years and going strong. Below you see Steven, Mikal, Jared, Jamin and Josiah...

📷 One of the guys via facebook 

CoRielle arrived. Benny yelled, "I got you, Uncle!" I had to check it out....not sure who has whom in this situation. 

Cy, Carrie and I ran out to check out local thrift stores. Carrie and Olivia have found a new apartment and she is outfitting it.  The rest of the afternoon was spent with games. Alex came and left. It was loud and chaotic. Jamin came a bit after Arielle and boys left...Krista was out all day with Luke...busy house....

Cy and Carrie

Arielle and Benny

I love this photo. Benny is a determined spoons player. 

I was the first out and so filled my time taking pictures. Carrie won the spoons extravaganza.  I finished two canners of broth. We cleared out the fridge with a YOYO night (Your On Your Own).  Grandpa, Michael, Nolan, Allie, Stacia and I watched the last episode of WandaVision....

We LOVE Fridays!

 We love Fridays and Saturdays!!!! The "work week" is over and we breathe a big sigh of relief. We had just settled into Friday after-school when Arielle and the boys surprised us. 

Baachan - look! I'm floating.

Benny jumped in and helped Stacia make brownies. I made some sugar free brownies.....

Papa helped with the mixer...it was a multi-generational project! LOL 

It occurs to me I have several Benny in the Kitchen photos where he is sampling the goods. 

We did not simply have a sugar attack. We knew we were having Aaron and Elise for dinner and Cy and crew are coming out tomorrow.  Brownies - and a sugar free option - were called for.  I was glad we had opted for pizza for dinner. There was no fussing or worrying about dinner. We were able to drop and while the afternoon away with CoRielle and still be ready for Aaron and Elise. They are expecting their first in one short week. We added a salad and fruit plates and were ready.  The laughter and conversation was perfect to send us into a relaxing weekend. Grandpa loves having folks drop by. It was a win win.  The only "sad" element is Nolan and Krista weren't able to join us. 

Nope, I didn't take one single picture. 

Winter P. E.

Stacia is perfecting on new skills. The driveway is a good spot to practice a bit of an incline...I knew she would like cross country skiing if we could make it happen. We found all but the boots for me....must make a trip to Play it Again Sports soon. 

Millie is not 100% sure Stacia should be outside without her. At this point Stacia doesn't need the chaos factor of our whackadoodle. 

While Stacia enjoys a bit of winter PE, Nolan works away on his new class at Western Governor's University. 

Sun. We have sun. We have 12 hours and 11 minutes of light to be exact. It would be an error to think we have warmth, tulips, or green shoots; but we have sunlight. It's been -2* the last few mornings when I take Alex to work. 

Seriously, do you get it? WE.HAVE.SUN. We can get OUT in it - and soon it will warm up enough nostril hairs won't freeze when one plays in it. LOL 

A Visit from The Boys

 This, of course, is the highlight of our day.  Arielle and the boys visited.  Nothing else to say. LOL  

📷by Arielle

Benny was game to try a new game....he invented his own rules as he didn't like the bouncing ball effect. 

The face of success!

Danny is full of smiles and giggles at 4 1/2 months old. 

We love having Nolan home more often - though it means he is working very late nights....GG made Benny a balloon with the bag his newspaper came in. He promptly turned it into a weapon to get an uncle. 

Benny LOVES Papa's late breakfasts. He can always score a bowl of cereal. 

Playing with G. G. 

Baachan's heart is captured. 

📷 by Arielle

📷 by Arielle 

March has been a hard month for our family since 2011. Playing together is good for all of us. 

Millie Gets a Trim

 

We need to get Millie into the groomer...things got way out of cycle with covid and quarantine and then LIFE since quarantine....her hair was so long on her face she couldn't see again and it stood up several inches all around her head....Krista clipped it all down. 

It was hilarious to watch Millie. As the hair disappeared, she laid on the floor, and her eyes moved around and around and around the room. She seemed to be amazed at all there was to see. LOL 

We are currently on a plan of snipping any matted bits we can't comb through with the detangler and getting her in from a shave again. Hate to do that with the snow outside but really don't think she'll make it until the snow melts. LOL 

Tea with Brenda

My goal is to host at least one person a week for tea...small groups allow for social distancing. Distance is "mostly maintained"...Hmm that famous line from Princess Bride leaps to mind..."Mostly dead is not the same as all dead." ::snort:: OK - except for the photo and maybe one brief hug, social distancing is maintained.  I am clear to let people know there are no hard feelings if they are uncomfortable meeting in person, and  we CAN wear masks if they'd like...with all disclaimers in place... 

Today, BRENDA joined me in the nook, the sanctuary. Again, like a broken record, it's been a year since Brenda was here at the house.  To sit, reminisce, collect our thoughts for now - is good. God has blessed me with so many dear friends and rich relationships in this season. 

I'm loving Mom G's "Hutch." I'd never considered the need for a "tea hutch" but it is great! The front pulls down to make a little table, and closes to hide tea "stuff". Today featured fruit, peanut butter (for the apples), chicken salad, milano cookies and someone to share it all...a small slice of contentment on this bright winter day. 

Sugar free syrups - I KNOW what you say
about sugar subs - works for me. ::wink:: 

Love this little sign - looking for one for each season. LOL 

I am enjoying my weekly "breathers."  I'm thankful for women willing to drive out to sit with me. Summer, with non-stop work and activity will be here soon enough. I'm content to savor the last bit of winter - as long as I stay away from spring social media.  We plan to share our home with other families at least once a month. 

Hello, March

 

What just happened? 

It's March 1st. 

March 2021. 

A year ago our state/country went into lockdown. Community which was building in so many areas (church, county, family) was wildly disrupted.  In some ways, I feel like I lost a year. Though we are "back" things still feel disconnected in many areas.  I turned the page in my planner, spent some time reflecting, and confirmed, "Yes, we, the Gherkins, are done." 

We are alert, cautious and will social distance as wise. However, we are DONE with the disconnect. The church is called to be a community. Jesus called us to relationships. We are commanded to show hospitality....we have done what we could during COVID...we have loved by distancing...but it's time for us to take wise steps to getting back to who we are called to be, doing what we are called to do....

To be clear there were many benefits to being locked down, to our months of quarantine....slowing the schedule is good, recognizing how important relationships  are is good, I discovered walking and walked MILES,  there was peace and margin and joy in the midst of the unfamiliar....

The winter has been long and we're a long ways from spring (you know GREEN spring) up here, but I've turned a page. It's time. I'm done isolating. 

February was hard in many ways....I haven't been able to work out for a month due to plantar fasciitis, Grandpa is getting cabin fever, four months of 24/7 caregiving and we are wearing down and out, a month full of family celebrations led to too much sugar consumption....

I'm turning a page. 

Hello, March! I welcomed you too casually last year, I welcome you with respect this year. 

Let's do this!