Christmas at the Farm

Yes, we are still alive and well up here in the north! Just barely though... The kids are cycling back through with the cold. Fionna added an ear infection to the mix! Too fun!

Since our return from the Farm we have been busy with lots of cleaning out and rearranging. Prepping for our homeschooling adventure... which will officially begin on January 5th but really...

I also took about 600 pictures while at Sugar Camp so I have been making my way through those too!

We arrived Christmas Eve, stayed until Sunday and had a wonderful time!

Here is a little sample of our first few days (more to come later)....

Christmas Eve...

Rained and snowed the whole way out so we were greeted with a very white winter wonderland at the Farm!

Dylan peeking in the china cabinet... 

Grandma's Village capturing the imagination!

The Village Church

Fionna aching to get in and play with all of the village folks!

Loving all of Grandma's candles and decorations!

Grandma!

Wearing the moose apron my mom sent up for our first Christmas at Sugar Camp! Too Fun!

Christmas Day

The elves (Grandma elf & Papa elf) worked hard on the most wonderful handmade/homemade gifts for the kids!

A local carpenter elf helped out with a wooden roller for Dylan... So super cool! 

He also got a dump truck with trailer to haul the roller and flat bed tow truck with car to tow... He now has such a fleet that I need to designate a parking area... part of the reorganizing! He loves those trucks and equipment!

Papa elf and Grandma elf worked together to give Fionna a village like Grandma's! The church was a big hit!

Papa with his "Love You" jar from the kids

An idea from SouleMama that she calls Joy Jars - jars filled statments from the kids - all things they love about Papa (Grandma got one too!)

Fionna opening the wonderful Doll House that Papa elf worked so hard on designing and building! Awesome! (more pictures to come)

Flashlights were a big hit too!

The storm cleared just long enough to get some blue sky pictures. 

Love taking pictures at the Farm!

This hill provided us with some good toboggan runs... 

More pictures of that fun later...

Grandma's studio light! So festive!

Christmas sunset looking out over the causeway back toward Nova Scotia mainland...

Thanks to Papa driving me around just moments before the sun went down!

There's those candles again... such wonderful light!

We finished up the night with work on a really hard puzzle Bedford Santa brought for Grandma! I was simply non-technical support on this one... grouping same color pieces together and a "try this one" here and there... I'm sure it is going to take more than a few sessions to finish this one!

As I said we also had some toboggan runs and a hike through the snow to the stream... Wonderful time! More picture will come when I get the chance! 

A huge Thank You to Grandma and Papa for making it such a special Christmas!

With Wes off for a few more days we are trying to get some family time in... most of our plans to get out and about have been foiled by the Halifax crud holding on to the kids... but hopefully they will get healthy soon and we can do some exploring this weekend before Wes heads back to work. 

Today Grandma and Papa arrive for New Years! Hope the skies will stay clear for them to enjoy the fireworks and parade in Halifax!

Thanks to all who sent Merry Christmas wishes!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas!!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas...

House on the Lake

Christmas Count Down & Giving to Charity

The count down is really on now...

The Winter Fairies gave Nana these great little chairs and baskets on the Solstice... (I think they must have thrifted the chairs... with a nice new paint job they came out adorable.)

Hopefully you have snuggled up in a nice cozy chair next to the tree to relax with family but....

I know some of you are still looking for gifts to give those you love. Instead of fighting the crowds at the mall for a gift I would encourage you consider a donation to charity in the name of said loved one. There are some great organizations out there who especially need extra help in these hard financial times. And really... if you have not found a gift by now that person is probably one of those people who "has everything" so why not give to those who have so much less...

Here are a few sites to get you started:

I have been involved with school groups who have raised funds for Heifer International in the past and I know Wes' cousin Megan has gifted to them in the name of loved ones... it is a really great organization. They don't just give a handout but give people the opportunity for long term change for their family and community.

If you are not sure where to start you can find more information at the Charity Navigator site where you can search by category, check out their top ten list or just get more information about a charity before you donate. Thanks again Megan for the heads up on this site!

Relax and enjoy the season.... 

Snow on the Beach....

Just dropping in for some pictures from this afternoon....

We went to Rainbow Haven beach... Dylan fell asleep on the way out there so Nana and I braved the cold while Wes stayed with the little man in the truck...

It looked a lot different from the last time we were there but beautiful all the same. It was amazing to see snow on the beach!

It has been -10C (12F) most of the day and with the seaside wind chill Fionna froze down a few times... When we were on the path we found little wind breaks and it actually felt warm... crazy!

She finally had enough and we were back to the warmth of the truck!

Hope you are having a great Saturday!

Cold Whirlwind....

Wow! The last few days have been a whirlwind... Have I been saying that a lot lately?

Today was COLD! I know I have said that before but -15C (6F) really is COLD!! I could go on and on about how I could not feel my hands on the walk home today and how the kids were fighting over the hot water bottle but I have more important things to share....

First of all I want to say a big huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Wes' Grandma Smith. She turned 85 yesterday and spent the day on horse back moving cattle in the snow! Yes, read it again... it's true! She is amazing. 

Happy Birthday Grandma!

We Love You!

Next... Our little bug sang her heart out yesterday in the school Christmas concert. "Gonna Eat My Turkey" got great laughs from the crowd and "Suzy Snowflake" was just too cute! Great fun! Nana is super excited about being out of school. I will share more on the school front later! For now....WINTER PLAY TIME IS HERE!!!

Nana all dressed up for the evening performance. 

Thanks for sending the beautiful dress Mom!

It was very thoughtful of the school to open the "dress" rehearsal during the day for family members... as the seating for the evening was limited. So Grandma and Papa came to stay with us and caught the day show... then they hung out with the little D-man while Wes and I took Nana for the evening performance. Always great fun having Grandma and Papa for a visit!

The Winter Fairies added a bird to Nana's collection... she was just sure they would!

This bird came about with a lot of technical support from Papa! I was just too foggy - still have that darn Laryngitis - to envision how I could put it all together... Thanks Papa!

I also finished some of my Christmas knitting... I will share more about this after Christmas!! Very fun!

Notice key word SOME above... I still have too many things to finish and as Fionna reminded me tonight.... ONLY 5 MORE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Off to do some knitting...

Have a great weekend!

Hailey's Doll

Snow! Snow! Snow!!

Everything is white outside and inside everything is crazy... oh, I mean crafty!

Meet Hailey's Doll

Fionna wanted me to make her friend a doll... 

We decided on a Wee Folk doll. The idea comes from this book. 

I have made quite a few in the past and Grandma McGuirk has sent Fionna a little collection. It is fun to see the different interpretations on the idea. Each great in there own little way!

While Fionna was not helping choose colors and designs she was creating clothespin glue stick monsters and subjecting naked headless dolls to the unmentionable....

That's my girl!

Cozy Day...

Oh, this little boy!

Today was a rainy cozy day filled with peek-a-boo, whisper stories (because I have laryngitis), and lots of smiles... along with some yummy oatmeal cookies when Nana came home!

Expecting snow tonight... Just might be another cozy day tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day....

Already Monday....

The weekend whizzed by and here we are already Monday....

Last night the Fairies left behind this cutest one little nest! So much fun... 

Fionna is sure that they are going to leave a little bird to go with it one of these nights...

We were happy to have Grandma and Papa comes for a visit and they added to our festivities with some popcorn and cranberry threads for our tree...

It was fun talking to Grandma and Papa about Christmas' past... 

and all the threads of the past.... 

It might be that I am die hard or just numb... literally

But I am going to keep trying to knit outside... 

I think I can! I think I can!

Fionna was smart to stay on the move - and keep warm!

Just happy to be outside....

A little desperate for some snow play.... 

Maybe we will get some good snow for them soon!! 

Maybe for Christmas!! Ya!

Day 4... Inside

So what do you do on Day 4 inside with threat of FREEZING RAIN outside!! Yes, you read it right... freezing rain! That's a new one for us!

 We braved the weather for a sail around Halifax harbor.... 

A cardboard crane and cargo ship filled with toys were provided by Fionna as part of the sightseeing tour...

I got a new project on the needles... A Christmas gift for someone special!!

And started reading "The Wind in the Willows"

The inspiration? The kids have this great book "Willow Buds" about how Toady and Badger from the story met when they were little... They just love it... I need to get the second one about when Toady met Ratty... so cute!

Thought a read of the original book was in order.

Investigation of the Christmas lights captivated both kids. I might regret this later when the tree comes tumbling down! 

A park... complete with parking lot and race track was built... 

some wishful thinking going on here.

Rock Candy?

Maybe... we will have to be patient! So Very hard to do...

When Wes came home for lunch he brought a hunk of quartzite with two chunks of iron pyrite 

(fools gold) embedded in it

This inspired investigation in many books about rocks and minerals... and reading about the formation of rocks.... on and on...

In our book "Rocks, Fossils and Arrowheads" we found a recipe for Rock Candy! 

Hard to pass up...

After baths... 

Fionna tucked Dylan into the couch and read him a favorite book!

Oh... what a sweet sister!

And we baked a little extra love into our biscuits...

Breakfast for dinner is so yummy... and comforting!

Homemade Christmassy Goodness...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

As I look around the house one of the things that makes me so happy is to see all of the homemade ornaments and decorations we have. With so many additions from our very creative and talented mom's we have a wonderful collection of ornaments, stockings, quilts, and other Christmassy goodness!

This little guys is from way back when I was about 6 years old...

My mom made a wonderful collection of clay ornaments while we were in Okinawa and I cherish the ones she has passed on to me!

Is there a special something you cherish this time of year?

Sugar Camp Farm Weekend

I am looking out the window... It's snowing!! It's 24 degrees F outside!! It's COLD... and I have only ventured out to feed the birds and to fight with the trash can and the 4 inches of frozen love and icicles on top!!!

Fionna has fully developed yet another cold she started working on this weekend! And the kind sister she is ... she has shared it with Dylan... Sweet!!

During a building session I organized my pics from the weekend. It was a short one but just as homey and fun as always!

Welcome to Sugar Camp Farm

We arrived late Friday night and it was nice to wake in the morning to the sights and sounds of the farm!

After a super yummy Grandma breakfast the kids were treated to Papa's model train. Sooo fun!!

Dylan was mesmerized!

The kids worked in Grandma's studio on some ornaments for the tree... 

It was fun to see some of the ornaments we made three years ago during our first Sugar Camp Christmas!!

These string ornaments are super easy and fun. Wax paper, string and glue! 

Fionna likes this one because it is "blue oceany"...

The guys out in the barn... Papa made a stand for our bird feeder! 

Thanks Papa!

Flashlight fun!!

The kids had too much fun running around the farm with flashlights. I guess there are some benefits to a 4:30 sunset! Please let me know if you can think of any other benefits!

After the kids were asleep and Wes too... Grandma lured me to the Studio with Little Women... and of course I had to knit. This is not Wes' sweater but it is something for Wes...

Speaking of knitting we headed back to the Yarn Shop in Baadeck Saturday too!! I was finished with half of the yarn I got last time and needed to get stocked up for some Christmas knitting... (more on this as I get the yarn on needles). I also found some great little needles made right here in Nova Scotia by the River John Needle Company. Love local made!... and got some wool wash for all of this wool we are wearing these days!

Sunday morning we ventured out to get our Christmas tree....

Dylan and Wes scouting things out from the road...

Found one!!

I felt better about just chopping off the top of a tree... 

so the tree will live on with a flat top existence... 

Fionna looking on... 

wonder what she really thinks of this whole process?

Grandma with some little trees... 

We thinned them from the side of the "drive way" 

Can you tell I am still having issues with cutting trees... Too many years of live Christmas trees to plant at the Ranch!

Heading back to the farmhouse...

Fionna found some ice next to the farm pond.

Papa brought over a batch of fallen apples to let the kids throw across the pond... 

they skidded across... 

But the rocks Papa and Dad threw went right through... Not ready for skating yet!

Fionna launching an apple...

With all of this Christmas tree excitement Fionna wanted one for the playhouse...

Ribbons added to the bark and pine cone decorations...

Oh, and the duck tape star Dad put together... 

Fionna was super excited about her tree!

Little Dilly Man loving the playhouse too!

Another great weekend at the Farm! 

I was hoping we would wake up to snow on Sunday just for the fun of it but was happy that we did not have to make the drive home in the snow...

I will post some pictures of our tree and decorations soon...

So happy to have the tree in the house... just makes it feel good! Very festive... especially with snow outside! 

What is getting you in the Christmas spirit right now?