Ever Been "WOWWED" By Your Child's Talent?!

Travis has spent the last 6 months or so working on the interior finish of a log cabin with my father. It has been a 'building trades' or 'life skills' type of class for school credit as well as a wonderful, priceless opportunity for both of them to treasure forever in terms of the "deeper relationship building"! The exterior walls and roof were done by someone else, but they built all the interior walls, interior doors, closets, window & door trims etc....


Off and on over the last few months, Travis has come home telling
us how his day has gone and what projects he has been working on! I would smile and listen and relish the time he has had to learn ... but it never really 'sunk in' just what caliber of work he was TRULY doing!! I'm not sure if you can really tell in this picture or not... but the ceiling over the shower & toilet area are dropped lower then the rest of the ceiling area. This was one of Travis's ideas and he was allowed to implement it! (The reason was to hide the pipes from view!) He also did all the trim work around the tiles and the window and laundry shoot... not to mention fitting all the horizontal pine boards in for the walls floor to ceiling!!

Last Sunday, the couple who had hired them, held a 'House Blessing"
ceremony and invited us to attend and to check it out! Needless to say... my mouth dropped open even at entering their home!! We were given the 'grand tour' and Travis added a few comments here and there. I have to honestly admit that I UNDER ESTIMATED HIS GIFTS & TALENTS IN THIS AREA!! Check out the rail going upstairs!! My dad had the idea and he had Travis do the cutting and together they built these beautiful pine tree images!! WOW, WOW, WOW was about all I could say as I was walking around!! Can you tell I'm a proud Mama and Daughter!?! It is truly awesome to see such craftsmanship.... and especially awesome when the craftsmen are people that you love!!

Cupboards Half Full and Checkbook Almost Empty??

Ok, is it JUST ME or is everyone spending MORE at the grocery store and coming home with LESS! It use to take me a few trips from the van to the house carrying the big paper bags and now with the smaller plastic bags... it doesn't seem to take as long!! AND... after I put everything away the kids are still asking "Don't we have anything to eat?" (obviously popcorn or carrot sticks w/Ranch dressing don't count!!) LOL :)

I thought I'd share the cost of a few items. Just out of curiosity (if you are willing to share) are we all paying similar prices for our 'regular' purchases? (not necessarily the organic or specialty foods... sadly, they are always higher in price.)

whole milk at $2.59 per gallon (store brand)
1% milk at $2.49 per gallon (store brand)
3 lb. bag of baby carrots $4.99
1 lb. of unsalted butter quarters $2.29
11.5 oz. coffee $3.99 (Melitta Hazelnut Creme)
12 oz. coffee $3.69 (Harmony Bay French Vanilla)
8 oz. Pepto Bismol Max. (Liquid) $4.99
Broccoli Crowns (fresh) $1.49 lb.
12 oz. pkg. white mushrooms (fresh) $1.79
Dannon 12 pack of yogurts $3.56 (Light & Fit 4 oz. cups)


Why is it that heading in for a few things 'never' happens!! It is always after a minimum of $100 later that I can see my van again and head for the hills! Is there something in the lighting or a subliminal message being spoken over the loudspeaker "Hey you in aisle 5, you forgot the cereal... and now that I have your attention, check out the sale in the next aisle!" LOL :) Am I the ONLY crazy one out there that is wondering 'who is upping the prices' at the registers? And why I don't see the 'grocery store fairy' that keeps adding food into my cart that WAS NOT on my list!? LOL :)

Hmmm, I wonder if the grocery stores did away with shopping & delivering groceries to homes because we'd all spend LESS?! :) Not to mention the savings at the pumps!! (MAYBE they are working together!) LOL!! Last Wednesday I paid $2.17 (low grade) and then on Saturday it was up to $2.21(low grade) OUCH! Would this be because of the public school vacations this week and next?? :(

I'll step down from my soap box for now! Obviously, you can hear my sarcasm, but please believe me when I say, I do count my blessings!!! We are blessed in our country to have many, many groceries on the shelves to choose from!!! (MOST 3rd world countries do not!) I am thankful that my husband is employed, I am thankful that we can raise vegetables and chickens for eggs and chickens and turkeys for meat! I am SOOOO thankful for the blessings and freedoms that we do have... Ok, I'm down and off the box now. I truly hope that your grocery store prices are healthier for your checkbook then ours are for us!! :) New goal......??? STICK TO WHAT IS ON THE LIST OR SEND SOMEONE ELSE WITH MY LIST AND CASH!!

Have a blessed week!!

Fun In The *S*N*O*W* (3 days before the Nor' Easter!)

Last Sunday some of the kids went out on the back fields to make jumps and to snowboard & sled. Here are a couple of quick pictures that Audrey took! If you look to the right you can see a few 'teeny tiny' rooftops in the distance.... that's where we live! (plus the small barn roof, the garage roof etc.) As you can imagine, they had quite a hike to even begin all of their outdoor 'fun'!!


Audrey went out to take pictures and I'm not sure if she actually tried the run or not, but if I know her ... she did, or she will next time when she has mittens!! :) Don't her hands look frozen!! Where are your mittens!?! (Mom, I can't take pictures with mittens on besides, it wasn't that cold out!) :) :)



Here is TJ taking the jump........ It is really fun to watch them literally FLY over the jumps and bumps!! (Can you feel the pain in your knees after landing this baby?) For sure I'd NEEEED a nice hot bath or even better a hot tub! Why is 'youthful energy' wasted on the young!? LOL

Happy Valentine's Day!

As you may already know, it is a blustery, **Nor'Easter** type of Valentine*s Day here in NH, with a predicted 15-30 inches! I say bring it on, it's about time! We need it for a good sugaring season and the spring thaw for the wells! This means there will be NO dinner dates for us.... but, that 's ok!! I think I will spend the day baking and prepare a nice dinner 'in' for everyone instead! Thankfully, I have a turkey all ready to go...... just need to make the stuffing and peel the veggies and by dinnertime......... we SHOULD have the yummy aroma of baked turkey & home made bread filling the house!



I started to post my bread baking & recipe last Thursday, but I was sidetracked (which is NO great surprise around here!) LOL :) I'll share a picture for you anyways and post the recipe in another day or two, Lord willing! I HOPE to make some more bread today (ALONG WITH A BATCH OF PETE'S FAVORITE, but seldomly made, OATMEAL COOKIES!) I'll let you know how it all comes out... and IF I really am able to get it together, I'll take more pictures and post them!

Like I've said before, life with 4 teens is bound to be an adventure in itself! ANY achieved goals is the icing on the cake of life during these years!! If you have teens you'll appreciate this quote; "Raising teenagers is like trying to nail jello to a tree." It's a great visual huh!! :)

Have a WONDERFUL Valentine's Day..... remember to let those you love know how much they have blessed & touched your life! God Bless You All...