Sunday....December 14, 2014....

AHHHHH.....thats really how im feeling about now.  Feet and back ache and im settled in my comfy clothes ready to enjoy a hot fire...when it gets hot that is.  Yesterday we spent the day working outside in the garden and barn area of the farmstead and cutting down the christmas tree and hauling to the cottage.  Then an evening of christmas bluegrass music in town.  This morning we were up EARLY and cleaned up and headed to our oldest daughters home.  We went to the company christmas party two hours away.  Home very late and very tired and sore.  Working on the fire while Husband works on the barn chores then we are DONE for the night.  Ready to settle into a good week ahead.
Be well,
Lisa

Friday.....December 12, 2014....

Husband took off today and we have three whole days together.  Breakfast was Apple Dutch Baby, coffee and oj.  Breakfasts are always so much nicer with him.  I enjoyed most of the day cuddled on the sofa knitting and watching him hammer away on the living room floor.  It is done all but the staining and poly.  Love that we recycled the wood from palletts and the feel and smell of the wood is amazing.  Cleaned up and picked up Firefly for our yearly Holiday shopping for her parents.  She was so much fun!  The older she gets the more fun she really becomes.  She had her own list which even included dinner!  She is so much like her momma!!  After she shopped for what she wanted for them she sat on Santas lap and informed us he was the real thing...because he told her he would have the presents under her tree and the last one told her he would make sure the real santa knew what she wanted.  Oh her eyes!!!  So full of belief and wonder....She took her packages to the salvation army wrap station and the girls there took her right behind the counter and put her to work helping with the wrapping.  She loved it!!  Then of course what would be a mall trip without a visit to claires!  And with PaPa at that!!  She is home with her mom and dad and I am settled in by the fire with a nice glass of moscato while Husband finishes the barn chores for the night.
Be well,
Lisa

Thursday.....December 11, 2014....

A beautiful day to be home snuggled by the fire.  It has been terribly windy here on the farmstead all day long.  And cold!!  Found myself starting a pair of mitties for a friend...only I should have started them sooner.  I need to have them done by Tuesdays dinner date in the evening.  And a busy weekend ahead is definately going to be pushing me!  So thankful for the breaks from knitting...pup walks...three of them to be exact....barn chores three times a day and time spent working on the garden area.  All of which get me out of the house and a break from the knitting.  The weeks mail was a good one....two of my favorite seed catalogs and a few christmas cards!  Deciding to follow a fellow bloggers lead and put the seed catalogs back until after new years!  Husband should be home soon and dinner over.  Keeping it simple tonight as he is off the next three days so there is room for some yummy breakfasts together.
Be well,
Lisa

Wednesday....December 20, 2014....

When I woke to put the pups out it was mild and sunny.  Ending this day it is cold and brisk with a heavy wind!  Not sure if we will actually get any snow out of it but we will see in the morning.  A slow day here at the cottage mostly.  Laundry, carrying some firewood, tending the animals in the barn and a trip to my Sisters for an external keyboard as the one on the laptop is having some issues.  Finished the machine sewing and tucked it away and made way for the Christmas tree this weekend.  Worked a very little on the knitting and some on the birthday flags.  Dinner was very good though.  Lamb, feta, kalamata olives meatloaf with some carmalized mushrooms!  YUM!  Now settling in with some reading out loud and netflix by the warm fire with Husband and the pups.
Be well,
Lisa

Tuesday.....December 9, 2014....

Just a bunch of pics from the day here at the farmstead

Craving these the last few days.....

Some knitting and sewing...

And holiday decorating.

Be well,

Lisa

Monday.....December 8, 2014....

Let the evening begin!!  Cleaned some of the cottage this morning as well as worked in the to be garden area.  Barn chores were done early as well.  I had plans for an early dinner date with a friend at a local Indian restaurant so an early start was definately best.  I did however have time before to finish a project I started a few days ago.  I have been pinning blanket scarves like crazy and decided to make one of my own.  Well....im hooked!!  Now two more are in the making.  Dinner and a few things picked up from the store and we are tucked in ready for a little snow that is coming our way this evening.
Be well,
Lisa

The Simple Womans Daybook....

http://www.thesimplewoman.blogspot.com

                                                                     For Today:
                                                             December 8, 2014

Outside my window.......Woke to a very heavy frost on the ground.  Now heavy grey skies and a crisp air.  Snow is to be coming overnight!

I am thinking.....How the balance between joyful events outside of the home balances so well with those days snuggled up by the fire this time of year.

I am thankful for......To have been giving life to celebrate another year.  I LOVE birthdays!!!  Getting older is such a huge blessing and I dont want to take one day of it for granted ever.

I am wearing.....Jeans, grey tee, blue jacket, a new aztec print blanket scarf and black boots, and a wristful of bangles

I am creating......Finished the azetc blanket scarf and starting on a grogeous red plaid, finished the sleeve to the navy cardy, finishing touches on the dress, and just starting on the birthday banner.

I am going.....To be preparing for the holidays like crazy this week.  We never rush into Christmas always wait until it gets closer to decorate and wrap.

I am wondering....Just what book we may read aloud next.  This is something new to us but we love that little bit of time together sipping on a drink be it hot or cold and immersing ourselves in a book together.

I am reading.....The harbinger.

I am hoping.....To have many more years of blessings as this last one has been.

I am learning......Where to start......

Around the house.....Laundry, cleaning, barn chores, finishing the living room floor, and decorating and wrapping for Christmas.

In the kitchen......So many yummys.  Starting with a smoothie a day as I have been craving them. Finding more uses for that amazing Hickory Syrup.

I am pondering......Rabbits on the farmstead.  With knowing someone who will butcher they may be a possibility.  And adding hickory trees to make our own Hickory Syrup!

A favorite quote for the day......"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees"  ~Henry David Thoreau

One of my favorite things.....The crazy little things Firefly comes up with.  Just like her momma and aunt...she can spit out movie lines like no one I have known.  Yesterday....As I was saying something about her new baby on the way....she looks at me and says "Zip it Happy Meal"...a line from a movie of course!

A few plans for the rest of the week......Dinner date this evening at a local real Indian Restaurant with a friend, Coffee date tomorrow weather depending with my birthday sister (we share a birthday and have been friends for quite awhile)  errands for some baking and decorating needs, Dinner and shopping Friday with Firefly and PaPa, Bluegrass christmas music and some Dickens of a Christmas event in our little town, and a holiday dinner party for Larrys work.  When I look at this it seems overwhelming but really it is all so enjoyable and as I said balances out so well for us.

A peek into one of my days from the past week.....Ok so not really this past week lol.  But this past summer...as I am ready to soak up and enjoy every bit of what old man winter has to offer, yesterdays bright sunshine made me long for the trail.  And we are so very blessed to have the most amazing rails and trails only a few miles from our home.