Winter Exploration!!!

I was getting stir crazy stuck in the house. There is still another week before the kids go back to school and the Christmas toys are all ready old news. So MD, Lou Lou, Dolly and I grabbed the camera, my i-pod (set to the best of Bonjovi ) and headed out to explore the desert.

Exploration is one of our family's favorite things. Whether its the pond by our house, a dried up canal bed, or the vast miles of Idaho desert, looking isn't good enough for us. We have to explore.

Explore, as we know it, means to get out, walk around, pick things up, sniff them, compare them to other objects close by and come to a conclusion of how we think they got there. This usually involves an elaborate story, millions of years and dinosaurs, but it makes us happy to imagine it all the same.

So without any further adieu.. I give you our most recent exploration.




It may be that I grew up in the desert.. but there is nothing more beautiful to me than miles and miles of open land.

Spring time is really the only season the desert has sharp color, but I think these muted browns and blues are wonderful!

It looks like home to me!






The European Starlings flock in huge numbers to grain fields here in the winter. They move as if one, and can take the form of a dark menacing storm cloud.

It's one of my favorite sights!









I wish you could hear the thunder their wings make as they all take off at once!











I have an obsession with old farm buildings...
I love the story that radiates from them.
























This old building just had "explore me" written all over it!





What trip to the great outdoors is complete without your proverbial cow making an appearance along side the road?














I think Dolly looks like a big fox here..
Mostly I am just showing off how well my new camera takes moving subjects.





We spent about 2 hours out exploring farm lands and the surrounding desert. No better way to spend a winters afternoon!

Animal Quote Monday

"In order to live free and happily you must sacrifice boredom. It is not always an easy sacrifice." -Richard Bach

Our Winter Wonder Land

Make a Smilebox photobook

Animal Quote Monday-a day late- again

Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee,Whether the summer clothe the general earthWith greenness, or the redbreast sit and singBetwixt the tufts of snow on the bare branchOf mossy apple tree. -Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Frost at Midnight

Tradition with a Twist

Every year we love to make snowflakes. I think this is the kids very favorite Christmas project. We stepped outside the "tradition" box this year and added in some Christmas wrapping paper to make our snowflakes more colorful.

Because of the back light it's hard to see all the color, but most of these or various shades of red, green, and pink...Lou Lou wanted to use birthday wrapping so she could have hers pink.

We have never strung them like this before...I liked it. MD is making one for his bunk bed.

I wanted to do one snowflake on each kitchen cupboard..but after over an hour of cutting I lost some steam. This will have to do for now. Charlie was at choir when the kids and I made all of them, so he will probably want to add some latter.

This is the only bad part to the project..but it's worth it.

Please get me something nice for Christmas

This year I have been thinking more and more about the economy...I know you're shocked right? It's not like the economy is a hot topic or anything. Well, it's true, this is the first year I have really dwelt on the less fortunate. That may be because it is in my face every time I turn on my computer, TV or pick up a paper. But I like to think I'm just that kinda of person, (slightly cheeky laugh)

What ever the reason you really can't help to think about money this year. There are just so many who are hurting so much. And yes, I know that there has been every year. There has never been a December when every child in the world went to bed healthy, full and warm. There has never been a month for that matter, that everyone everywhere had everything they needed. And I don't mean new socks for Christmas or a cheap plastic truck. I mean really important things like, water, food, shelter, safety.

This year I just can't do it anymore. I can't look forward to fancy, or even just fun gifts on Christmas morning when some have nothing. I can't buy my kids every little cutie thing I see so that the unwrapping will last more than 2 minutes, when some kids will wake up to nothing. And while every year our family tries to give canned food and a few toys in the bins...somehow this year that just doesn't seem like enough, maybe it never was.

This year this is my Christmas list. And even though most of you are strangers I am going to ask that you please pick one thing on my list to do for Christmas, and send me yours so that I can give you a gift too. If we all gave each other these gifts there really would be peace on earth...or at least a dang good start.

1. Smile at a stranger

2. Drop change in the bell ringers bucket

3. Buy a toy for the bin in the store

4. Give a dollar to the person on the street (not because of what he/she will do with it, but because in giving you also bless.)

5. Buy a bag of cat or dog food for your local shelter

6. Donate blood

7. Give up your seat on the bus to someone who has just as good of legs as you

8. Pay the toll for the car behind you

9. Pick up a plastic bottle off the street and recycle it

10. Say thank you to someone in a uniform

11.Wave to a total stranger

12. Let a car in in the mall parking lot and smile when you do it.

13. Tell the sales lady thanks for standing on her feet all day so you can buy your groceries

14. Give your kid's old coats to a family you know is struggling

15. (And this one I took from Charlie) Make an extra payment in your 401k for future security

These are the things I want for Christmas...and if you are one of my family and want to wrap something, write what you did down on a piece of paper, put it in a box and wrap it up for me.

I'm going to end with my Grandpa's favorite quote...

"I expect to go through this world but once, if I can do any good therefore, or offer any kindness to any of my fellow creatures, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

Christmas Show and Tell

I like my house best at Christmas time. The lights, and smells and colors can not be topped any other time of the year!

Here are a few of my favorite spots in our home...





This is my "fancy" Christmas tree. We have another in the loft where we hang all of our family ornaments.










The one thing I miss about our old house is the fire place....the stockings just don't look right without one.









We love to play Christmas music together in the evenings...Charlie on the guitar, MD and I take turns on the piano, and Lou Lou sings.

Front room looking out.

I love this rocking horse!

The basket is filled with cinnamon pine cones that hit you when you first walk in.....and I love the wooden train.

This is the back yard pond...I'm always intrigued by the pattern the waterfall makes. (click to enlarge so you can really appreciate it.)

Hope all of you are having fun with your own homes, and I'd love to see some pictures...you can never have too many good ideas right?