The (almost) Perfect Storm

A farm overnight was planned for Friday for the teens, with skiing on Saturday.
However the weather forecast called for a storm.
We went out anyway, just in case the storm didn't show up and the kids did.
The storm did happen,
so we had some "alone time."
The Lord knew we needed it.

Blueberry heart pancakes for breakfast
We received the heart forms for Christmas
and this was the first time we used them.
They worked great!

Our own private Bible study together at the breakfast table
This happens more times than not when we are at the farm.

A little time to read a book I haven't read by a favorite author

Some crocheting

Finishing the quilt binding

Chili in the vintage crock-pot
If we lost power, which we didn't,
I could put the chili on the wood stove so we wouldn't starve.

After the storm

A beautiful sunny day

If it had been the right kind of snow,
we could have gone sliding.
But it was icy.

Why was it the almost perfect storm?
It didn't howl,
there were no white-outs
to give us that closed in feeling.
It was delicious anyway!

A Birthday Coming!

I'm not saying who or what, but I think it is pretty cute!

Beautiful New Brunswick

Last week we went to a funeral, a wonderful Christian funeral.
On the way back, we traveled along the shore to see God's beautiful scenery.
It was a sunny, cold and windy day.

Chance Harbour

I can't begin to tell you how many people we have taken on this tour.
We don't get there often now, but we enjoy every opportunity.

This photo was taken probably last November before the snow.
The ducks are standing on the frozen lake.

THE QUILT

Some time ago,
I won't say how long,
I started to put this quilt together for Andy.
We bought the sunburst patterns years ago at a yard sale
in Bangor. The patterns were all put together by hand.
The fabrics are all new, but from the 1930s or 40s.
The backing and sashing are repro vintage fabrics.

The quilt has been ready for quilting for quite a while.
I have considered hand quilting or machine quilting it myself.
I have tried machine quilting and also tried to get into a class.
Neither seemed to work.

Before Christmas, I was put in touch with a lady who does machine quilting.
She has a huge machine which takes up a whole room.
Her work is amazing!
She told me she could not have it ready before Christmas.
Andy knows about it,
it is his Christmas present.

I picked it up yesterday and am very pleased.

Now all that remains is the binding. Then I will send it to him.
That is always with mixed emotions.
Happy it is finished...
happy/sad to see it go.

I have enough sunburst patterns for another quilt of the same size.
However I can't start that until I finish a quilt which I started long ago...
AND I wanted to get back to rug hooking...

A Happy Reunion

Before we had the old house torn down, we had to pack up all the contents.
I have been frustrated because I could not find the electric tea kettle which I had given to my mom and which came back to me when we broke up housekeeping for her.
When an old kettle gave up, it became vital that I find this one...
and I did! Sure was happy!

Here's another view of the living room.

The side door...

and the cute little snow shoe hanging on it.
I love the ribbon,
which is wired flannel ribbon.

Short rest, company coming

Sure is quiet around here after the kids left!
It didn't last long tho. We had time to straighten, clean, do laundry and then...

More company! Our good friends
Mary,

Howard,

and Cecilia on Friday
Don't tell Celia you saw her photo.
#1 She wouldn't know what you are talking about when you mention the blog.
#2 She would never speak to me again!

We had invited our church family to come on Saturday.
However there was a glare of ice and the city was paralyzed.
We imported some locals. It was dry in the country
and just mild and wet when we went home.

Dave & the piano

We didn't get a photo of Dave playing the piano at the church.
That is okay, because he liked playing our piano at the farm better.
And play he did!

We enjoyed every mini concert.
Here he is playing one more time right before leaving for home.

More about Dave

Here's Dave with his passport.
He found out you have to sign it before using it.
(We aren't telling the whole story, Dave!)
I found that out too, but it was a little more serious when flying.
"Please step over here, Mam.
Step on this scale while we also check you blood type, etc., etc."
While not quite, but they did separate me from the other passengers.

The Solution

Our dear and only son-in-law has a great affection for Diet Coke...
not just any Diet Coke, but fountain Diet Coke.
While he was in New Brunswick, he could not find fountain Diet Coke.
So he took some of the beautiful, clean, white New Brunswick snow and made his own.
Soon the kids were doing the same thing -
one more 2011 Christmas memory!

The recipe:
fill glass with snow
pour Diet Coke on top

Grandkids Pics

To see pics of the grandkids, go to Gail's Grandkids.

HOUSE TOUR

Welcome to our house in the country!

People have asked if we still call it "the farm"
since we have a new house. It is still "the farm" to us.
We have been working on getting an old farmhouse look to our new home.
This is the door we always entered when it was a model home,
and we visited it dozens of times.

Now we enter at the side door which is right off our driveway.
Also the Christmas tree is partly blocking the front door,
so please come to the side door.
We like the doorbell there anyway.

Side porch

You will notice some old items from the old house
as well as molding which we kept and have used.
This thermometer will look much nicer when we paint the mudroom walls.
We are enjoying the contrast of the woodwork since we have painted.

This mirror is a recent find, but it is old.

When the kids were here, we had jackets, snow pants, scarves, hats, mittens hanging all over the mudroom. The only remnant of that time is the line put up for drying mittens. Works great!

French door between mudroom and kitchen

Kitchen

Dining Area

The wall paper is reminiscent of the old kitchen and the molding is from the old house.

The painting of the old house was commissioned by the lady who grew up here.
It reminds us of a Grandma Moses picture.

Looking from the living room to the dining area

Living room

We gave each other a cute little fireplace for Christmas.
We have a wood stove in the basement, but this isn't messy.
This makes the room cozy since it really puts out heat.

A good place for a good book

Master bed room
We love the big windows and want to let the outdoors in.

Den door
We set up twin beds in here for the boys.
We don't intend to use it for a bedroom, but it worked for now.
(more old house molding)

This is the wall paper that made me sick while I was hanging it.
I guess the stripes jumped out at me.

The twin beds are the ones I had in my room during all my growing up years.
I am really pleased to have them.

The deer picture was embroidered by Paul's old roommate (before me), Charlie Brown.
It is amazing!

Hallway to guest bedroom and bathroom

Guest bedroom

You are welcome to visit in person. Just warn us before hand so we are sure to be home!