On Her Birthday Eve

It's crazy to me to think that tomorrow morning our sweet youngest daughter turns ten years old. One decade of Emma! How is that possible already?! In celebration of her birthday eve, as well as the glorious weather (68 degrees on February 20th?! What?!), we decided that a trip to Old Sturbridge Village was in order. As we walked into the Village Emma said to me: "Mama, this is the perfect place to celebrate my last day being nine!" 

Our first stop, of course, was the sheep. From the time she was one she has loved these sheep. 

 We stopped into the Fitch House where the girls made valentines, and where we also got to watch this very talented woman make some, too. 

 We also learned the history of the valentine and that they were not just given on Valentine's Day!

 After the Fitch House we stopped in to the Parsonage for some hot chocolate. It was made the way it would have been in the 1830s and was very delicious! 

 A quick stop into the Asa Knight store where we had a lovely chat with the shopkeepers before heading to the farm. 

 These two really need land and a barn of their own.

 After our day at OSV we came home for lunch and a bit of quite time before heading back outside in the glorious weather. We caught up with all the neighbors and stayed out until it was dark and we were all hungry! The girls had a quick dinner and then it was time for showers, bed and setting up the birthday ring. 

This year's additions are the fox and the bunny. Both a nod to Emma's Halloween costume this year (my dad kept teasing Emma asking her if she was a bunny)! I cannot wait for her to see these new pieces tomorrow morning! xo 

Yesterday and Today

Though the girls had a day off from ski practice yesterday (due to school vacation week) our intrepid skiers couldn't possibly miss out on six inches of fresh powder! 

View from the back door at 7:00am Sunday morning. 

And our view at 8:30am today. Perfect temperature out there this morning to begin boiling our first batch of sap! Nothing like the smell of maple right outside your back door! xo

The Branch

Around 9:00pm on December 23, Dave got a text from one of our neighbors telling us a massive branch just took out the girls swing-set. The ice from the storm had proven too much for the branch and down it came and with it the end of the girls' swing-set. It was absolutely heartbreaking to see this in the dark of night, and even more heartbreaking to get a closer look at the damage when we got back from church on Christmas Eve morning. Though they had outgrown many of the pieces of the swing-set, they still used the swings (and the four person glider) quite often. We most likely would have made the decision to take it down this coming summer (or at least by mid-autumn) but to have the decision made for us in such a violent way was just so heartbreaking. 

In addition to the decimated swing-set, the fence sustained a fair amount of damage too. It was already in need of some fixing and painting and now even more so. 

A few weeks later we realized that the other major question that we needed to figure out an answer to was who to offer this wood to. Free for the taking as long as they'd be up for coming to get it. Then it dawned on me: my friend Laura's family has a wood-stove! I quickly sent her a text and some pictures of the branch to see if her husband may want the wood. They replied back yes and Dave and Josh chose a date to deal with the branch. 

And so, today, Josh and his sons came over to tackle this massive branch. With the help of his trusty chainsaw the guys had all the wood chopped up and in Josh's truck in just a smidge over an hour. With the branch turned into logs we could now see just how much damage was done to the fence. And while, I do not have a picture of it (yet), I will say it is quite significant and rather sad.

Thank you Josh and Laura for adopting our branch! We are so glad that the wood could go to such a good home and that it will keep you and your sweet family cozy and warm! xo 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wishing you a day full of love and sweetness! Happy Valentine's Day from our family to yours! xo

Evening Crafting

It wouldn't be February without a copious amount of Valentine crafting going on! xo

{These Moments} Tapping Day!

{This Moment} A weekend ritual. A single photo (or six) -no words- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Wishing you all a sweet and lovely weekend! xo

Crafty Goodness

Not long after we arrived home yesterday a package arrived. It came addressed to Emma (which was super exciting in and of itself) and had three gifts in it to help her pass the time while she recovers. "Grace, would you like to come paint with me?" she asked and off they went. Once they were done painting she tried her hand at friendship bracelet making, and made a bracelet for Grace and one for herself. Many thanks to Katie for the very thoughtful gift! xo