First Wintry Precip of 2025

 We had our first stint of winter weather January 9th and 10th. The Meteorologists were predicting 2-4 inches for us. I've learned that winter weather is very hard to forecast. All the right variables have to come together. January 9th started out with sleet and 32 degrees. It did change over to snow but the temperature rose to 33 and stayed there until nightfall. It rained nearly all day. So instead of the fluffy white stuff our snow was liquid. I was a bit bummed. Many communities around us got several inches.

It did drop back down below freezing after sunset and we had a little snow on the grass Friday morning January 10th but there were never any issues with the roads.

This is what the horse pasture looked like.

This is the wooded area next to the horse pasture.

Have a good one!

Someone Got Her Driver's Permit!

 

Please tell me it's not so! How can my Lil' Peanut be 15 and old enough to begin driving?!

She looks so natural behind the wheel!

Her daddy has been taking her practice driving for about a year so she is ready.

Have a good one!

Christmas Day

Vanessa always takes a great picture of their tree the night before Christmas. "The calm before the storm". 😉

Korin 10, Kashton 11, Kennedy 15

Korin's reaction to her "big gift".

Korin was overwhelmed.

Kashton gets a new ball glove. He really likes playing baseball.

Doyle got a new jacket from the kids.

Kennedy excited about getting a new phone.

Mom wanted a door camera that didn't charge a monthly fee. Doyle found one. Now to learn how to use it so I can teach her 😁.

I gave each of the kids a photo book. 

Kashton looking at the photo book I made for him.

Kennedy looking at her photo book.

Korin checking out her photo book.

Doyle got Keannon a battery operated leaf blower. He was excited about that.

I got Vanessa a couple more pieces for her Willow Nativity set.

Vanessa gave each of the kids a gift that had letters. They had to put their letters together to figure out what the gift was. Korin's response at discovering the identity of the gift was unexpected. Watch the clip here.

Have a good one!

Kennedy Turns 15! 12.18.24

 OMG My Lil' Peanut is 15!!! How did that happen??!! I brought lunch to have with her at school on her birthday. I am so mad at myself for not getting a picture! 

Mom and Dad took her and a friend to a concert.

I have no idea who they went to hear but I  know Kennedy had a blast!

We had the birthday family dinner for Kennedy on Monday night December 23rd. Vanessa had a taco bar.

I made my homemade chocolate cake and frosting. All the kids request it for their birthdays.

The girl beside Kennedy is her cousin Krystal. Keannon's sister's daughter. She is a year older than Kennedy.

The gift from Granddad and me were letters spelling her name. I decorated these letters when she was a baby. At some point in all the moves, the letters got wet running the papers that covered them. Vanessa gave them back to me some time ago thinking it would be a project she and Remi could do with me. I redecorated Remi's letters and gave them to her last year for her birthday. As you can see she was pleasantly surprised.

Vanessa told me that Kennedy wants to redecorate her room and show me the colors she wants to go with.

I picked papers I thought would work.

Her room will have a bit of a western theme

Have a good one!

Dancing at Merry Wells 11.30.24

Kennedy and Korin performed dances with their dance company in the Crazy Water Hotel pavillion.

This is Kennedy's dance group. She is third from the left.

Kennedy about to perform with her group.

Kennedy's dance group. I was bummed when I realized I wasn't videoing so I didn't get the whole dance.

Korin is the 2nd girl from the left.

You can watch Korin's dance here.

Have a good one!

A Little This and That and the Other

 

I love my little piece of country right in the middle of town. I get to watch sunsets and see wildlife. 

The family that live by my horse pasture recently purchased some chickens. They are so funny. They come out to the barn when I'm there. One of the hens has started laying one or two eggs everyday in my barn! 

Did you notice the critter in the photo that is not a chicken? Yet, an armadillo! He/she was visiting regularly but I haven't sent it in a while now.

Casper (mom) and one of the 5 kittens that were born in August.

(This picture taken 11-16)

I have a total of 8 cats! The most I've had in a really long time. They tend to disappear. Casper had her first litter April 2023. There were four. None of those kittens made it past 4 months. Her second litter was born March 2024. Two of those kittens are still around. Her third litter she had five babies born August 12th. They are now 4 months old.

As you can see the babies like to play with Fancy's tail. She doesn't seem bothered by them. Makes me laugh.

(Picture taken 11-28)

Here are two of the 5 youngest kittens. This picture was taken 10-11

Picture taken 10-14

Dooby on the top of the pipe. Casper and 4 of the 5 babies. I call them the "Fab 5" for now. 

My armadillo buddy.

My odd menagerie. I love it!

Have a good one!

Leader's Conference Nov 5th - Nov 11th

We again went to a Church Leaders Conference in Redding, California, November 5th-11th. We took

another couple with us who had never been before. 

We were able to connect with our young friend from Russia, Kamilla over breakfast.

Brandon Jordan is taking the picture. He and his wife Rose are the couple we brought with us. She was unable to come with us that morning due to a video call with a book publisher.

We took Rose and Brandon to the Sundial Bridge.

We connected with a couple we met last year.

Scott and Diane Ritchie from Michigan.

I also got the opportunity to meet a woman that I met through zoom three years ago. Her name is Ally. She is a Beliefs
Trainer with Igniting Hope Ministries who lives in Spain. She and her husband have a ministry to the pilgrims that travel the Camino de Santiago. The first time we met through zoom we instantly connected. I learned we have the same birthday and we both married our husbands in the same month and year! How interesting is that?! We met at the conference. Later in the week they came to the VRBO we were staying in to visit and really visit.

Ally's husband is on my left. His name is Stephan. (pronounced Stefen). We had a great time of learning more about each other and praying for each other.

On Saturday we took Rose and Brandon to one of the water falls we had visited. It is a smaller one but the bigger ones took longer to get to. 

This is Hedge Creek Falls. I've posted pictures of this fall before. 

View looking out from behind the falls.

We hiked a trail to a look out point.

View from the lookout point above.

We had a great week together!

Have a good one!