Winter Days

A few snippets from our winter days so far….

Early morning snuggles with Alan

Breakfast preparations

Jordan working on Axe & Anvil orders

Quite often this is what our early mornings or late nights look like – packaging up orders and getting them ready to mail! Really thankful for the growth our new Axe & Anvil business has had over the last year!

Little helpers love trips to the post office – and they are so happy when there are small boxes they can carry!

One of the last harvests of collard greens – sadly the last cold spell finished them off. Can’t wait to plant more soon! I sure miss the abundance of fresh veggies this time of year!

Jordan made these amazing cookies one evening – chocolate hazelnut!

Before Christmas we hosted a pie supper – we had a big turnout and a lovely evening – with lots of pie!

The house was full!

Baby naps are especially snuggly in winter. Makes me sleepy just looking at Elsie!

We finished off many winter evenings reading out loud. One of my favorite things!

Books I Read Last Year

In 2017 I continued to make it a point to read in my spare moments. Looking back at my reading journal –  a simple notebook where I write down a title once finished with any short thoughts – it looks like I finished 16 books last year. Not an amazing number, but at least it is something! I’ll highlight a few of the books that really stood out to me:

  • Song of the Cardinal by Gene Stratton Porter – You’ve probably heard me rave about my favorite novels by Mrs. Porter before! (If you’ve never read Laddie or Girl of the Limberlost – go get them now! Trust me.) This short novel was new to me, very much about the world of the forest, with some human interaction tied in. Made me want to run out into the woods, pay attention to the birds, and praise God! :)

  • The World of Jane Austen by Deirdre LeFaye – So, so good. Definitely a keeper. A very enjoyable and informative no-nonsense read about the historical setting of 18th-19th century England. Very good background if you enjoy the Jane Austen novels.

Comfortable Troubles

  • Comfortable Troubles by Elizabeth Prentiss – very good, deep thoughts and encouragements woven into a thoughtful narrative. This reprinted Victorian novel is definitely worth reading, especially if you are a mother or daughter whose work is caring for others at home.

  • Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne – A familiar setting – the Texas panhandle, where I grew up, and very interesting, but also very painful to read. I was very ready to be done with this book by the time I finished it. Lots of very interesting, enlightening detail, I felt it really fleshed out a lot of history I already know, and I had lots of ‘aha’ moments connecting dots in my mind to other former history studies and books. Not for young readers. Quite graphic. Also I found at least two instances of quite blatant false historical information, and the whole book had an obvious anti-Christian bias. However, this book will definitely stick in my mind for a long time, and gave me a lot to think about, especially as relates to the plight of early settlers.

  • Green Dolphin Street  by Elizabeth Goudge –  My first try at a novel by this author. Bizarre, aggravating but amazingly thought provoking. The life long narrative of two very different sisters who love the same man. This crazy story kept surprising me and making me rather angry! I basically stayed mad at most of the characters through the entire book. However, since finishing I have realized it really gave me a lot to chew on about motives in marriage, laying ones life down for another, and how small choices can affect the rest of your life. I am curious to know if the author built in the seeming allegories and marriage lessons, or if I am just imagining them. Anyway, not sure this will be a re-read, but I sure won’t forget it!

  • The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt – SO GOOD. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I suppose it’s actually written for teens, but anyone who enjoys a good Medieval adventure story would love this. It was clean, page-turning (I couldn’t put it down) and believable – I highly recommend! (if you have reading age kids, they would love it too! It would make a fabulous read-aloud)

  • Emma by Jane Austen – Jordan and I read this out loud to each other over the last few months, it was so enjoyable. I’d read it before, but not for years, so it was great fun going over it again and hearing Jordan’s thoughts as we went along. I included this book just to say – if you and your spouse have never read out loud together, you should! It’s seriously my favorite thing! Right now we are trying to decide what our next read aloud together should be.

Excited to see what the coming reading year will bring. I have many books already started that I want to finish, plus a lot more on my ‘want to read’ list.  Below is a sampling of some of the ones on my wish list (if you have any recommendations for me, please do share in the comments!)

Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry

The Life Giving Table by Sally Clarkson

Ishmael by E.D.E.N Southworth

House Progress Winter 2017

House tour time again! We don’t really have any big progress to show off, but a number of little things that have made this winter more cozy.

The most visible change would be our new living room arrangement. If you remember, before we had a stack of dry lumber stored along the long wall behind the couch. (we don’t yet have an outbuilding big enough for lumber storage) This really limited space and what we could do with arranging the furniture. However, when we brought the Christmas tree in, to make room for it, Jordan decided to move the lumber stack up stairs to our room – which I was reluctant about at first, but now I am really enjoying our new ‘bookshelf’!

So, that had an avalanche effect, and we spent about two days rearranging and deep cleaning the room – so refreshing! It’s amazing what a little change can do sometimes. We also had room to bring an extra rocking chair down from the attic, and bring a cedar chest downstairs for a coffee table.

A nook which we jokingly call our ‘momma and poppa bear chairs’.

Not too much has changed in the kitchen, although Jordan did get some more plumbing completed under the house, which brings us closer to running hot water! Exciting! Also, more skillet hooks, can’t ever have enough of those!

In this picture we were getting ready for a ‘pie supper’ get together we were hosting – normally the table with the green cloth sits more in the middle of the room for my main cooking work space.

I’m so excited about this update – a hanging lamp over the dining room table! This is a vintage lamp that we bought for $5.00 at a yard sale last year. Finally got it rewired and installed above the table – and it’s been so delightful having that nice overhead light at one of our main project spaces! Good lighting makes such a difference on these dark winter days.

The kid’s room.

The sewing room.

Our bedroom – notice our new ‘bookshelf’! It’s really coming in handy. I’m going to be almost sad when we have to use the wood to finish the wall paneling. (haha – almost.:)

We ended up with an extra set of copper twinkle lights after Christmas decorating, so they came to live in our room and give us a nice soft nightlight. I like the cheeriness of it!

What progress will be made in 2018? Hmmm…I’m hoping for a summer kitchen, finishing and painting the inside paneling….finished kitchen cabinets, and maybe a door or two! But,that’s an awfully big wish list, so we shall see! Jordan also must really build a barn/shop soon too, which will be quite the project!

I am so thankful for where we are now – when I look back on how far we’ve come since moving in to our log house, it’s amazing! At first we had no water at all (running or otherwise, haha) except for the creek, no bathroom, no stove, no sink or tub….and only one somewhat livable room! Compared to then, we are so comfortable now, and will just keep plugging away at all the finishing touches.