Warm

At our house its very warm. If we are cold we turn up the heat. I just love my wood burner! We run around in shorts like its summer. The snow is swirling and blowing outside. Inside is cozy,toasty,snug and at times roasting. I enjoy cutting wood with my husband. To me its a date, We get out out the tractor, dog running along side. The sounds of the woods inviting. The scenery fills the soul. Just one task at hand and nothing else to dwell about. Good hard work never hurt anyone. Its good to work your muscles. When the cords of wood pallets are lined up. It is a good feeling of accomplishment of a day well spent. With weeks like this one below zero I have a good feeling when I am prepared going out to chuck a few pieces of wood in the stove then hurry back into the warmth. It sure feels good!  

Dust

It is everywhere in this house. I see it in every room and hanging out on everything. Where does it come from? They say if you burn wood you have more. Its in every corner and under every piece of furnature. I sweep it up,suck it up and wipe it up. As soon as I turn my back, there it is again. Like the game of peek- a- boo. I see you dust. Ive used sprays and spritzes which seems to help for a day. Then it multiplies the next. Or maybe the dust fairy sprinkles it all over each night. When the kids where younger and whirling around in this house like Tasmanian devils I didn't see as much of it. Or maybe I was just chasing after them so I didn't notice. Of course that was a good week-end job for the kids -dusting. But now that they are gone,guess what , I have to dust again. And I see it everywhere. I do not like to dust. I need a magic wand so it disappears. Wishful thinking! 
*I did buy an enviro cloth- that does make it a little more fun when I turn up Meatloaf then dance around dusting! You should try it too!   

Rolls

When my husband opened the door from a hard day of climbing bins and being out in the cold all day, he said,"Something smells really good in this house". It was then that I smiled and knew I had spent my day off doing the right thing. Cooking grandma's caramel roll recipe. They are a lot of work. Because you have to warm this as wait. Stir this and wait. Add that and wait. Let raise and wait. But with all the time they take as soon as they come out of the oven the plateful disappears. In they past two days I have made 4 pans of rolls and they are all GONE!
It sure makes me happy to see them chatting about their day around the kitchen table as they snack on a warm roll.
I had to have lesson after lesson from my mother on how to make them perfect. I'm glad she made me learn. She would say, Tam they are just not quite tall enough so I'll be back next week." or."Tam, your caramel is not thick enough so I'll be back next week." I am so glad she kept coming back until they were just right... perfect~I will call her tomorrow and tell her.  

Call

I've read Ruth's blog and watched her inspiring video about her past ten little words. After that I had to join in the group of that long list of others that have their little word already. It was seconds until it popped into my head, saying I'm your word...CALL.
So that's my word, call.
I will call someone I haven't talked to for awhile and chat on the phone.  Not a text, not an e-mail a call, one voice listening to another. I have made my first call and had such a nice visit.
When I was sending out my Christmas cards I noticed that half the people I sent cards to haven't sent them back. People are losing touch with one another so this is my way of staying in touch with my friends.
You will be getting a call, when you least expect it. :) 

Trim

After two weeks of working on it, I have finished the task I started! Trimming back the brush (new growth) all the way around the yard. Which means all the way around the woods that outlines the yard. Each day after my husband goes to work I put on my cowboy boots, shorts and old tee-shirt. Then I spray myself thick with bug spray and head to the barn for the tree trimming tool. This tool has a small saw on the end with nippers that you pull with a rope. The tool also extends way over your head so you can reach branches way up high. I last only about an hour as I get hot, sweaty, and my arms and back ache. The mosquitoes and deer flies buzz and nibble at my skin. The thorny underbrush scratches me with poison ivy dancing around my boots. But...when done I come in for a tall glass of lemonade and feel good about how far I have moved around the yard. Each day getting closer to the end. Today I'm done! I called my husband to tell him I FINISHED, as he thought I never would stick with it. Now when he mows the yard, branches will not swat him in the face. Now I'm looking out over the yard from the swing on the deck thinking to myself - What am I going to do next? Ideas?.
* paint the deck
*powerwash the house
*butcher chickens
*paint the shed
For now I think I'll just have another glass of lemonade!   

Blog

Well writing group is meeting this week and I have not been able to get on my Blog. I touched something like I always do, then I don't know how to fix it. Well I told my daughter she just had.had.had to help me today so I would have at least something to contribute to the group. I was starting to feel the eyes of my group members peering at me. Asking, " Tammy, what have you been writing." So as my daughter sat down with me I timed her. It took a total of 3 minutes to help me. I said, "That was all it took?" "Yes, Mom!"
I can't believe I haven't wrote on this blog for months. All it took was 3 minutes. I have been missing out. WOW.
I guess its time to get writing...  

Inside

The snow has us all tucked inside together. We can not venture out because it is bone chilling bitter cold. We look at each other more than we have all year. We talk to each other more than we have all year. We laugh with each other more than we have all year. The living room is filled with each available spot taken up by a person snuggled under a toasty blanket. Our dining room table has been used for each and every meal together. After we sit and have conversations about life, hopes and dreams, games are played with giggles and laughter.Aromas fill the kitchen with scents of bread, comfort foods and summer canned bounty drifting in corners around the house. Family bonding is happening because of this snow, because of staying inside with each other. As a mother I am grateful for this snow. I am happy to be surrounded by my husband and children. I am thankful to have some time to stay... "inside".