{ The tree is finally down }

Before I go on and show you what I was up to today, I wanted to start by saying that I'm so thrilled that so many of you are as excited at the thought of taking blogging back to the old days, as I am.

It would be amazing if we could get that sense of community back.  I feel that over the years it's been lost and blogging has become so commercialized that it's hard to find like minded bloggers who are as devoted to their homemaking and family, as some of us are.

I'm lucky in a way that I'm still surrounded by some many blog readers who have been on this journey with me for many, and I mean many years, women who share the same interests and who I have a lot in common with.


Anyway, I for one have made the decision to try my hardest to continue daily blogging, and keep my blog as close to it's original theme as possible.  It's always been about me, my family, homemaking, cooking and sharing with others, and I really hope to continue that into the new year.  If any of you join in, please let me know as I would love to start visiting everyone as often as possible.

I was so quick to put it up this year, and usually I am even quicker bringing it all down, because as much as I love Christmas and all the decorations, I start feeling overwhelmed and like everything is just a mess.

It's always a pleasure when everything comes down and suddenly the house looks and feels bigger, and cleaner and tidier.

I would have taken the tree down a day or two after Christmas but I needed it up so that I could get some photos taken for a blog review of a certain product that wouldn't have looked half as nice taken without the tree.

Here's a little sneak peek:

That review will be up by Friday.

Anyway, shortly after breakfast this morning, I got busy taking down the tree and the rest of the decorations that were still laying around.

It was a relief seeing all the Christmas boxes filled and put away in the closet where they belong.  Once that was out of the way though, I had to shift things around again and move furniture back to it's original spot.  Of course you know how it goes, you start moving this and that and then decide to reorganize or clean out or whatever, and before you know it, it's been a couple of hourse.

I was reorganizing all my crochet baskets and as I started folding and stacking the blankets, I was taken back by just how many I already have, considering I sold a few back in 2015 when we were moving to Texas.  My word!!!

Maybe I need to start selling some of these

It's not like I will stop making blankets just because I already have so many.  That is never going to happen, and as it so happens, even though I have WIPS needing my attention, I'm already on the prowl for my next big blanket.

My choices as of this moment are the Sweet Pea Blanket from Attic 24, and the 5th Dimension by Felted Button, I know I'm forgetting something, but those are the ones I can think of right off the top of my head.

It may even be that I do something entirely different, we will see.

By lunch time I was starving but the only thing I really felt like having was some coffee, and a bowl of Banana nut crunch cereal. 

Nicholas and I worked on a bit of schooling for a couple of hours, and before 4pm even came around, the house became dark.  We're expecting a winter storm to come through, with snow, ice and rain over the next 2 days.

We've all been walking around saying the same thing "it's a little late, isn't it?  Where was this winter storm for Christmas when we had warm temps and sunny skies?".  But as with everything, it is not in our timing or our choice, so we just accept.

I do love dark winter days, so I immediately turned on candles and warmers throughout the house.

Late afternoon found me back in the kitchen, of course.  I made a Fettucine Alfredo using leftover ham from Christmas, and while I was in the kitchen, went ahead and did some more food prepping.

I got my parsley and cilantro all chopped up and in the freezer, then washed two bags of grapes and placed them in tupperware bowls ready to snack from.  I find that if I do it this way, my husband and children will eat the fruit available, if I don't, it tends to go to waste.  I think what you call that is......lazy?  Hahaha

Ham Fettucine Alfredo and some Cheddar Bay Biscuits.  We enjoyed a delicious comforting meal by the fire, all the while watching the storm start to roll in.

I think one of the things I most love about living out in the country, surrounded by fields, is just enjoying nature in all it's glory.  Through our big windows we are privy to a myriad of changing seasons unfolding before us.  It's truly beautiful seeing the Lord's work first hand.

As my day comes to an end, I look around and can smile at the touches here and there that have turned this very big house into a warm and comfy home.

Freezing rain has began outside and the temperatures have surely plummeted, which makes me very thankful for the warm fire burning inside.  I'm going to get into my warm bed and get some more reading done.

Have a warm and restful night friends.
xoxoxoxoxo