Category Archives: Winter

Snow Fun

We finally got enough snow for our Grands to enjoy sledding on their driveway.

JJ told me he learned how to turn the sled, too.

Meanwhile at our Country Bungalow we enjoy the views from inside.

We try to figure out what animals are leaving what tracks in the snow.

When our kids come to our place they pull around on our drive before they park by the front door. This next photo shows the fun result their truck tires made. This is what I see from our office window.

Double hearts!

Are you enjoying a winter wonderland?

Valentine’s Day 2025

Hope you are having a lovely Friday and Valentine’s Day. This is my catch-up post for this past week and the month of February so far with photos I’ve taken and photos that were sent to me. Trader Joe’s tulips were too pretty to pass up last Friday and after pulling my Valentine’s Day bin down I found the sparkly hearts to add to the bouquet.

When we were at Costco a couple trips ago the adidas warm-up sets were $10 and a set in size 6 made it into our cart. JJ is growing right on schedule into size 6!

Basketball is going on this winter and Baba finally made it to a practice.

My sister and her hubby flew into Seattle to surprise a close friend who was turning 50 and they had a bonus visit with our West side kids. Makes me happy to see them all together. They had a great time and sent us photos to prove it!

The first puzzles of 2025 got started and finished in the last couple of weeks.

JJ and I finished this glow in the dark puzzle during our Monday afternoon time. Later when it got dark we checked to see if it was glowing and it was. Woohoo!

This farm seasons quilt puzzle was a fun one to do. I finished it earlier this week.

A few close-ups showing the 4 seasons.

Addy and JJ went to a birthday party at Flying Squirrel in Spokane a couple weeks ago and we were sent these photos.

Tonight Addy and JJ are being dropped off at Gramps and Baba’s for dinner and a movie. Their parents are going to have some uninterrupted time together for a few hours.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone. May love fill your hearts and minds and actions!

Speaking of Groundhogs

A while back this unwanted groundhog showed up on our property and we did not enjoy the thought of a colony moving in and making underground cities here. As cute as he is, he had to be eliminated.

It’s time for Wednesday Hodgepodge and we are starting with Groundhog Day! Thank you, Joyce.

1. What area of your life feels like you’re stuck in a Groundhog’s Day loop, doing the same thing over and over?

The only thing I can come up with is that once all our morning and afternoon activity is over we tend to sit down in front of the ‘box’ and go into relax mode. We don’t have any regular evening activities to attend these days.  Winter darkness contributes to this. We’ve talked about instituting a reading hour or two instead of doing a lot of watching. We usually retire between 8pm and 9pm so it isn’t hours and hours of TV…but still.

Does it bother you or is that just how life is in this particular season? 

Being in the winter of my life and retired this does not bother me. I do welcome any interruption to the regular evening mode and am ready to venture out when the calendar calls for it. I am happily active during the daylight hours. 🙂

2. Something that makes your heart skip a beat?

The Aurora light shows we had last year made my heart skip!

Holding our newborn children and grandchildren, a beautiful sunset or sunrise, an eagle soaring, any wildlife that suddenly appear in our back yard, our grandchildren’s hugs, a phone call from a loved one, a favorite worship song/hymn, hearing God’s Word expounded, a prompting of the Holy Spirit.

3. Do you wear your heart on your sleeve or are you more of a closed book? Elaborate. 

I don’t think either of those describe me. I’m generally up front and direct and ready to tell the truth. I’m not an overly emotional person unless you attack my loved ones.

4. According to Prevention Magazine, these are 25 of the best foods for heart health-

wild salmon, sardines, liver, walnuts, almonds, chia seeds, oatmeal, blueberries, coffee, red wine, green tea, soy milk, dark chocolate, raisins, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, whole grains, apples, oranges, grapefruit, avocado, avocado oil, olive oil 

Which five do you include in your diet most often?

Avocado, walnuts, almonds, oatmeal, coffee

Are there any foods on the list you simply cannot abide? 

My body does not react well to green tea so I avoid it like the plague.

5. What was the last piece of furniture you bought?

The last piece of furniture we bought was a new desk for Greg.

Is there a piece of furniture you need/want to purchase this year? 

NO

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Saturday was the annual Awana Grand Prix and our Grands vehicles did well, My 2 Cents, and Finger-ma-Bobber.

The Grand Prix helped us get out in the late afternoon and evening and change up our Ground Hog Day Loop, woohoo!

Here is a photo I love, taken on Monday and texted to our family group of our DIL and our Granddaughter. It’s still winter, y’all!

Happy February Hodgepodgers!

Snow and Winter Cleaning

We are finally getting a few inches of snow here in Colville. It was a great day to stay inside.  The inspiration came to do a deep cleaning of the kitchen cabinets, trim and the ledge that runs around the upper part of our kitchen filled with tchotchkes.

It is a very good feeling to have all the dust bunnies and the grime cleaned. I’m ready for a white glove inspection.

Spring will take us outdoors to take care of things we didn’t do in the fall so winter indoor cleaning will work nicely for us this year.

Welcome February!

Winter Treasures Hodgepodge

Thank you to Joyce for another Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1. What’s a winter memory you treasure (can be from any winter in your lifetime)? 

All three of our children were born in the winter and their births are memories that I will always treasure.

2. Tell us about the last time or a recent time you were caught up in red tape. Does it send your frustration level off the charts or is it something you’ve come to expect when dealing with any sort of bureaucracy?

No red tape issues lately that I can think of. We did have a time back in 1996 with major landslide issues with the first home we owned in Washington state. Lots of red tape with FEMA and banks and city agencies…the list goes on. It was freeing to walk away from that home and leave all that behind us.

Some art that friends and our daughter drew for us during this traumatizing time in our lives.

The impact this crisis had on our children and us was a hard trial that God brought us through.

This is a lousy photo of the rear of our home and the hillside after the major slide showing how it came right up to our foundation.

3. Do you eat/like fish? Do you cook fish at home? What’s your favorite fish dish? Ever been ice fishing? 

For me personally, fish is an after thought and thought about infrequently. Growing up, fish was not part of my diet.  I do not like to mess around with little fish bones. I would go as far as admitting I’m concerned about swallowing a fish bone. If I’m going to eat fish I prefer a white chunk of meat like swordfish or halibut. I enjoy fish tacos. When we are in the United Kingdom I do enjoy ordering fish and chips. I have not been ice fishing but our son here in Colville has been ice fishing.

4. Did you watch any of the US President’s Inauguration coverage on Monday, Jan 20?

Yes, we watched the first hour of the ceremony in the Rotunda with Josh and Laura. We got to clap and holler a bit together which made it more memorable. The first lady was stunning in her outfit as was the second lady. Franklin Graham’s prayer was meaningful and good to agree with. Cheers to Carrie Underwood for stepping up and singing acapella when the music malfunctioned. Josh and Laura left for their 5ish hour drive back to the West side of the Cascades shortly after 11am here on the west side of the country.  After they left we kept the TV on for the rest of the afternoon to see all the pomp and ceremony.

On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being not at all and 10 being very very) how interested are you in politics in general?

I used to be more interested but for several years it has been so disheartening to follow politics and all the ridiculous attempts by politicians to control too much of our lives.

Do you follow/keep up with/ get involved with local politics? 

I follow and use my privilege of voting.

5. What’s the coziest thing you own and what makes it so? 

My jammies, robe, and ugg slippers…all three together because when they are all on it means I’m relaxed and have nothing urgent to do!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My sisters with our cousin Bill at the funeral of a friend. This was in Southern California this past Saturday. Hi cousin Bill, thank you for reading my blog! Good to see you in this photo. God bless you.

‘Soups On’ Hodgepodge

My Russian heritage borsch.

Chinese Egg Drop Soup

Mexican Chicken and Corn soup

xmas-stuff-004

French Onion Soup

Is anyone hungry?

Hello Wednesday Hodgepodge. Joyce has a new set of questions for us. Thank you, Joyce!

1. At the end of every year (or at least since the mid-1970’s) Lake Superior State University posts a list of words they think should be banished from the Queen’s English for misuse, overuse, and/or general uselessness. You can read more about the decision making process here, but this year’s list includes-

cringe, game changer, era, dropped, IFKYK (If you know you know), 
sorry not sorry, skibidi, 100%, utilize, and period. 

Which of these words/phrases do you use regularly or even just every now and then? How many did you have to look up? Which of these words would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word/phrase not on the list you’d like to add? If so do share, then tell us why. 

I’m sorry I looked it up, skibidi should be flushed down the toilet! It’s the only one I had to look up.
I have used sorry not sorry or game changer but not in an excessive way.

2. Your favorite soup? Do you make this one yourself or is it from a can? 

Sirloin Soup

Soup in general is a favorite of mine and not from a can. When we are on our way home from a shopping/doctor day in Spokane we stop at a restaurant in Deer Park that always has a soup of the day and I’ve enjoyed every one. When we are sick with a cough or sore throat we love to order Hot and Sour soup to go from a Chinese restaurant. Greg makes a famously good Tomato Rice Soup. I really can’t pick a favorite favorite. While in Scotland I added a new favorite with Cullen Skink!

3. How do you feel about winter? What’s one winter activity you look forward to? 

At my age winter activities are not high on the list. If anything it would be snowshoeing if I can get in and out of the snowshoes without getting a cramp! It is fun to walk through deeper snow!

4. The Pantone color of the year for 2025 is mocha mousse (sample pictured here). What say you? The website describes it as ‘a warming, brown hue imbued with richness. It nourishes us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort’. Is this a color I might find in your home or wardrobe? Is it one you might add in some big or small way in the year ahead? 

We have a variety of mocha mousse on many of our walls here at our country bungalow. As far as wardrobe goes I have a couple items that would fit in that category. No additions in this year.

In a similar, but not really vein…if I were to offer you a choice right now of either a cup mocha or a cup of mousse which would you say yes to? 

If I have to choose I’ll go with a cup of mocha but I’m a black cup of coffee kind of gal.

5. Which of the following winter related idioms can best be applied to your life in some way right now? Choose one, then tell us why you chose it.  

snowed under, on thin ice, tip of the iceberg, chill out, break the ice, snowball effect, not a snowball’s chance in hell, get cold feet, the cold shoulder 

Right now I’m hoping for a snowball effect with my goals to be more comfortable in my clothing come Spring and Summer. Between eliminating, adding movement, starting on a plan and some encouragement I hope to achieve my goal of comfort.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My Bible reading program for 2025 will be connected to this devotional.

“In Everyday Gospel, Paul David Tripp, ….encourages you from God’s word through 365 brief readings. Exploring Genesis to Revelation in a year, these practical reflections connect the transforming power of Scripture to everything you will experience in your Christian life.”

There is a suggested daily Bible reading and then a devotional to go with what you read. Asking for grace to accomplish my goals and that these goals keep me reverent and teachable.

Here are some thoughts from John Piper on reading the Bible through in a year.

Pray for your heart to be inclined, for your blindness to be removed, for focus instead of distraction and for excitement instead of boredom. Pray for illumination…don’t get bogged down. Expect your Faith to be deepened and strengthened, hope and joy more unshakeable and expect to meet God and see the glory of Christ in God’s Word!

One more tip for your 2025 goals from our pastor, “Ask for grace to accomplish your goals.”

A Winter Walk

On Saturday the 28th of December our kids and grands started the day off with a nice walk along the Rotary Trail in Colville. Andrew and Katie left for home right after the walk but Josh and Laura hung around for a few more hours before heading back west.

The resident eagles still grace the tops of the power poles.

She didn’t get those two front teeth for Christmas!

Thank you, Laura, for all these wonderful photos!

After the kids left I pulled out one more puzzle with a Christmas Carol theme and was able to finish it before the New Year rolled around. This one wasn’t tough and was fun to complete.

2025 has started quietly for us at our country bungalow.  On New Year’s day I made Eggnog pancakes with a Vanilla sauce that we enjoyed on that day and then we had enough left over batter and sauce to repeat that breakfast on Thursday. The recipe was good and you can find it here. I chose this recipe because we had a lot of left over eggnog.

On Thursday we pulled down all the Christmas bins so we could put Christmas away but then we got side tracked in the kitchen re-organizing several of our cupboards and our pantry. Our garage sale/donation pile is getting larger and larger! Several very outdated items got thrown out, too. Friday (today) will be put away Christmas day.

Enjoy your first weekend of 2025.

No Winter Lasts Forever…

…No spring fails to appear.

Our last door wreath had seen better days so we picked this one on our last trip to HomeGoods in Spokane.

Last Thursday, Friday and Saturday we were able to spend time outside clearing some dead growth in several of our planters. We got a very good start but aren’t finished, yet. It was encouraging to see signs of Spring growth in those planters.

Columbines

Daffodils

Rhubarb

 

I changed up my plate hanger with these dishes, Dreamtown Made in England by Johnson Brothers. I have 4 dinner plates. They were a thrift store find.

Soon I’ll be pulling out the Easter bin and changing things up again with lots of Spring accents.

Are you seeing signs of Spring in your corner of the world?

Woody Came to Visit

Our birdfeeders attracted this Northern Flicker and he tried his best to twist his body to get some seed.

We had more snow over the weekend and now we are having rain. On Saturday we realized our hot water tank was not heating our water anymore so parts have been ordered to fix that problem. Until the parts come and the non working parts are swapped out we are in camping mode. Thankfully we have a quiet week ahead.

Hope all is well in your corner of the world.

First Weekend in January

The first weekend in 2024 proved to be a busy one. On Friday we enjoyed a last minute open house at the home of our friends and met some of their neighbors. On Saturday a big pot of borsch was cooked from scratch with broth from a seven bone roast. A few quarts of borsch will be shared this week. One small pot was delivered to our neighbor.

On Saturday evening we attended a Karaoke party for a friend from church who turned 50. We met another couple from our community and had a nice time getting to know each other. There have been lots of predictions of snow that didn’t materialize until Sunday in the wee hours. We woke up to a pretty blanketed landscape.

The following collage is photos of our ride into church on Sunday morning. Our series in Colossians continues to be excellent.

We didn’t have anymore snow on Sunday but they are threatening us with more starting Monday Evening into Tuesday. Time will tell if they are right.