How We Winter

So... how do we winter? No more going out to the beach every day with flip-flops and sunglasses now that we're back home. Instead, we pull out our slippers, pour a steaming cup of hot cocoa, and snuggle up in front of the fire place to read and play games. Oh... that would be lovely! But actually, we've been spending our winter days doing school, practicing for our upcoming traveling supper (so exciting!!), school, music lessons and practice, school, ordering garden seeds, and oh, did I mention school?! 

Actually, during these past few winter days, we've been able to squeeze in a few projects that have been needing to get done. First on the list are our new kitchen curtains! Dad and the boys spent the day on Thursday in Princeville filling some responsibilities there, and us girls finally managed to accomplish the kitchen curtains and oh does it feel good to cross it off the list! They are a year late, and took all day to make, but it's still a grand accomplishment!!

these are the curtains for the big window and mom deserves all the credit!

it took Mom another whole day previously to pick the fabric she wanted... but we love the way it turned out :)

this is the smaller window in the other corner... my spring home ec project :)

Another project that's been recently completed, is the desk that we repurposed for my room! It was brown and ugly when Dad brought it home, but we used a little crackle paint and finished it off with an ivory color and I love the way it ended up!! Actually... I can't take any credit for it. Dad did such a good job and even surprised me with the finished product one day when I came home from shopping!

I've loved having a quiet place for school as well. It's not as nice as in front of a fireplace though - in fact, I'm pretty positive it's the coldest place in the house, and it usually finds me shivering. oh well...

Another thing that I love is the trust banner above it that Haylie helped me make when she was here! 

Lily has been excited to be part of sewing class on Friday afternoons! This week she came home with a tote bag that she's using for her violin music :)

she did a great job!

 And lastly, another project that's a year old, but still worth mentioning ;). A door for the boys' closet! Dad and boys accomplished that this week as well, using some of the leftover barn wood and some old hinges!

actually it's not done yet... they still need a top one :)


And there you have it - a snapshot of the fun parts of our winter days :). I don't think any of us would mind a day at the beach every once and awhile, but for now we'll enjoy our winter days in Illinois. "There is always, Always, ALWAYS something to be thankful for." And actually, in our case, there are countless things to be thankful - too many to count! -faith