Photo of the Week - Week 45 - SNOW DAY!!!

Week 45 of 52

Location:  Mecosta, MI
Subject:  Warm Snow Day

As has been discussed, we did not have any "real" snow in November or December.  January on the other hand, has given us plenty.  So much so that the kids had three snow days in a row with a weekend and a holiday thrown in between so they were off school Friday through Wednesday.  Whew - thank goodness for snow plows and salt!  Thursday they were off to school.

One of the snow days turned out to be pretty warm.  Well warm as far as a Michigan winter is concerned.  We got all the way up to a balmy 40°.  All the beautiful snow covered trees dropped their white blankets and we headed out to play in the white stuff.

J. and Z. had been working on a sled run and finished it off with a jump or two so the could catch some air.

Which they did.  Then they decided two would go down much faster than one so they gave that a whirl.

Then A. finally decided to come out and join us.  No sledding down hills for her however.  She said she would have until they added the jumps.  Our goal this year is to get her to discover the thrill of flying down the hill on a sled.  So far mission goes unaccomplished.

Probably because she saw too much of this:

Anyway they had a ball on their snow days and were not too happy to be headed back to school.  But soon enough they will be tired of all the snow and be whining about when it will be gone and summer here so they can head out to the lake.

Photo of the Week - Week 44 - Finally! The White Stuff!

Week 44 of 52

Location:  Big John Lake, Mi

Subject:  Snow!!

So it finally came.  Yesterday and all night long it snowed.  All day today it continued to snow.  Everything is so beautiful.  Goodbye ugly brown.  This morning I got up and helped Rachel shovel her way out of the driveway so that she could slowly make her way to work.  Ugh, what a job.  Thank you Dad for finding the house with the longest driveway in the neighborhood.  And thank you dear hubby for leaving the tractor with the snow plow and snow blower locked up in the pole barn.

So tonight is for cuddling up with some soup and a movie.  Maybe I can convince Cameron to build us a fire in the fireplace too.

In case it is cold at your house too, try out this Turkey Chili.  Oh so yummy.  I made it last night and actually took the time to write down ingredients as I went so I could make it again.  Very yummy, very spicey, and for those of you who really want to know, only 4 points for one cup on the Weight Watchers PointsPlus program.  That is without the cheese and sour cream of course.

2 t olive oil
1 C chopped red onion
1 T minced garlic
1 large jalapeño, finely diced
1 lb ground turkey
1 15.5 oz can light kidney beans
1 15.5 oz can great northern beans
28 oz low sodium, fat free, Beef Broth
1 small can Rotel Zesty Tomato and Green Chili Sauce
1 small can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
1 T corn starch
1/4 cup water

Saute onions in oil for 2-3 minutes.  Add garlic for 30 seconds, then add jalapeño for 30 seconds.  Add ground turkey and brown.  Drain if necessary.  Add beans, broth, sauce, and diced tomatoes, bring to a boil.  Turn hit to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes.  Stir together corn starch and water, add to chili and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.  Add your favorite chili toppings and enjoy.  This makes 10 cups of chili.

I didn't think about it last night but when you toss in the cornstarch some cilantro would be really nice in this also.  If you like a really thick chili then you could also toss in another tablespoon of corn starch.

Winter Fun - Week 7

Pure Joy

Week 7 of 52
Location:  Lakeview, Michigan  Townline Lake
Subject:  Playing Ice Hockey

I love this photo of J.  The pure joy on his face as they attempt to play ice hockey.  This was his second time playing the sport.  I think he likes it.  One of the many new things he has learned moving here to Michigan.  I think it is safe to say he loves it here!

History in the Making

Get cozy - this is a long one.

This week has been a crazy busy week.  My Grandmother has been in the hospital since last week and things were not looking good at all.  She needs surgery.  She needs surgery on her broken arm, she needs surgery on internal things that are not functioning as they should.  BUT, she is so frail, so frail that they said she will not survive surgery, so she has to live as comfortably as she can with the ailments she has.  It is all so, so very sad.

Last week my parents and my two older sisters decided they needed to be here.  They arrived on Sunday.  We were all so glad to see them.  Six months is a long time to be without them.  Tuesday my Grandma was transferred to a nursing home to see if they can give her some therapy to make her a little stronger so that she can go home.  So this crazy week has been spent back and forth first to the hospital, then to the nursing home, and trying to squeeze in some quality time with the family.  Whew - busy week.

It also happened to be the week of the Circuit Overseers visit.  Time for myself?  Nah, who needs that anyway.  Thursday we had to feed the C.O. and his wife lunch.  I planned on being all suzy homemaker and preparing a fruit tray with hand made dip.  That so did not happen.  Thank goodness for Meijer and their fresh fruit tray.  I will admit that I jazzed it up a bit.  I cut the fruit into smaller chunks so it would spread farther, added some I had at home, and put it all in a fancy little dish.

Saturday we did service.  Arizona people stopped early, it was too cold for them.  We tried convincing them that it was a "dry" cold so it really wasn't at cold as they thought but they didn't buy it.  So Rachel and I along with a couple of the munchkins and a friend continued on.  I got a very nice call with an older gentleman, 93, we talked for about 30 minutes.  Then I got back to the hall to discover that he was the only do not call on the street.  OOPS!  Then we got to attend the entire pioneer meeting.  So encouraging!

This morning I had to say goodbye to my sisters, again!  I hate that!  We went to meeting with plans of service afterword.  Rachel, Cameron and I are all auxiliary pioneering this month so we were trying to jump start our hours.  We walked out the doors after meeting to a blizzard.  No kidding, full on blizzard.  So crazy.  And usually Rachel drives like 90% of the time.  But today I thought I would be nice and offer to drive.  Mistake!  BIG Mistake!  We made it about half way home and I did a big giant spin-out in the street and almost went off the road.  So scary.  But we made it home alive and I am refusing to leave again.  So intended sleepover person for the night is postponed till tomorrow.  Sorry young person, please forgive me.

It was a very busy week.  So busy.  But all encouraging as well.  I love when the Circuit Overseer is here.  Everyone is so uplifted and encouraged to carry on.  He read us this letter from the JW Media site and congratulated all of us for being part of "history in the making".  I am so proud of our little family this month.  Cameron is pioneering for the first time ever.  So very proud of him and all the progress he has made these past couple of years.  Kids have all set goals of increased time.  It is going to be a busy month.  But busy in service to Jehovah is a good busy.

Love you all.

Red Berries in Winter - Week 1



American Bittersweet

Week 1 of 52 "Captured Moments Project"

This photo was taken on the shore of Pretty Lake.  The American Bittersweet is great food for wildlife throughout fall and into winter.  NOT for human consumption :o)

I love the twisty little vine like branches and the pop of the red berries against the snow!

Bye Bye Winter . . . . Sort of

Have I mentioned that we live by a lake? I can see it from my kitchen window. It is a cute little lake, very quiet, very pretty.

Pretty Lake (no really, that's the name)

My Dad told the kids that this winter they could walk on water out on that like. In other words, it was going to freeze and they could walk across it. They waited and waited for that opportunity.

Then, our world turned cold. Very cold. And the lake finally froze over. But looks can be deceiving and even though the lake was frozen they had to wait for it to get thick enough. Boys will be boys so they were banned from the lake until Hubby and I gave the ok for them to go out on it. Fishing shanty's started showing up so they were allowed to go out. New adventures in this new land of ours. They have even learned to ice skate.

Winter has been lots of fun. But we have had "warm" days for the past week. The snow has melted. A LOT! And even though we are all ready for spring to be here, it is a little sad to say goodbye to winter.

Today the boys decided to play outside. Their auntie then informed me about 20 minutes later that they had grabbed ice skates as they ran out the door. Being the mother that I am I started to panic that maybe they went out on the ice. And being as warm as it has been maybe it wasn't safe. So I was putting my boots on to go get them and glanced up and out the window. This is what I saw:

I guess they are going to get the ice where ever they can find it. Not a very big patch but less worry for me than if they were out on that lake. We still have a little bit of winter left, and we are slowly saying goodbye. We will miss you winter, but we will see you next year.