A Day on the Ski Slopes

We signed the children up to participate in a ski/snowboard program at Mount Snow in Vermont. This is the first time skiing for the children. Gabe opted to snowboard, while Rachel and Hannah wanted to ski. Dan was too young to snowboard, so he also is skiing.

It took us a little bit to get all geared up at the rental shop, but here they are all ready to go.

There was about an hour before their instruction time, so they practiced on the little hill.  They had 1.5 hours of instruction time and then they had a short break to grab a bite to eat.

Back on the slopes, the kids were able to practice what they had learned.  Whoa, Dan, hang on!  He did not fall.

Gabe's snowboard group learned how to use the chair lift, so he was able to go to the top of the slope and he was doing well by the end of the afternoon, making it all the way down without a fall.

Brian was able to go with us to the mountain which was a big bonus for me.  The extra help was much appreciated, but the hours we were able to sit in the lodge and be together was priceless.

After watching the kids, I am thinking I might try it next year.  It sure looks like a lot of fun.

First Snow

Our first snow of the 2011-2012 winter season. It is always so beautiful and exciting. Now, if I can just remember what I did with all the winter gear.

Sugar House Field Trip

Today we went on a field trip with our homeschool group to the Dry Brook Sugar House. It was a very pleasant day, with sunny skies and not too cold. I kept Rachel, Hannah and Dan home from school so they could come and our friends Julie and Alexius rode up with us. Bessie's schedule did not allow her to attend this time. This happens more and more and is a more difficult reality of her growing up. Lots of lively conversation and a stop for donuts made the drive enjoyable.

The children watched as they saw a tree being tapped in the more tradition way with a drill, spile and bucket.

Then they learned how this particular sugar house does it with taps, tubing, large tanks and an oil fired evaporator. It is still a very labor intensive operation and during sugaring season, these folks work very long hours.

We had lunch in their very nice dining room and were treated to ice cream with maple syrup, yum.

The entire evaporating process was explained and questions were asked and answered. All the kids were given activity books and little bottles of syrup.

Before leaving, we wandered around the cow barns (the family that runs the sugar house also owns a diary farm). Everyone is always reluctant to leave their friends.

Gabe especially enjoys spending time with his buds.

I think Dan wanted to climb right in with the cows. All the kids had a great time.

If you live in or close to NY, they will be having Maple Weekends on March 19-20 and March 26-27. Many sugar houses will have open houses with demonstrations and activities. Check here for participating sugar houses. Visiting a sugar house is great family fun.

Big Snow

We had our first major snow storm of the 2010-2011 winter season overnight. This was a true nor'easter, working it's way up the coast dumping snow along the way.

It started last evening and snowed all night. I watched the snow swirl under the spotlight out back. It piled up very quickly.

It is hard to tell how much snow there is with all the wind. There are many places where it is well over two feet deep, but others only a few inches. My best estimate would be someplace in the 15-18" range.

This poor little bird feeder is somewhat protected from the wind, so the snow piled up high. The birds don't seem to mind the snowy hat on the feeder as they flit and fly back and worth for seed and peanuts.

The younger guys spend a lot of time making trails and sledding. The snow is very dry and powdery. It took quite a few runs down the sledding trail to pack it down enough to get a long run.

The birds are very busy today taking advantage of the steady supply of things to eat at the feeders. It must be hard for them to find food with so much food and I imagine the cold temperature and high winds tax their energy. We try and offer a wide variety of foods for them to make it a bit easier.

I usually bring the gazing globe inside, but I think it looks pretty interesting with a the snow cap and reflection of the house.

The wind caused some very interesting snow drifts.

I hope everyone in the snow area is staying safe and warm. Thankfully, we were all home today and didn't have any place to go, so we are enjoying the fresh snow, a cozy home and being together.

Make a Smilebox picture slideshow

Winter Falls

We have had a nasty cold working its way through our family for the last 10 days or so. I enjoy being home, but I was getting a touch of cabin fever. Today was the first day in many that I felt well enough to get out for a bit. Gabe and I took a walk down to the falls on "our" river. We love the river and there is always something interesting to see. Today the ice and water were very lovely.

Full Moon

Tonight's moon will be the brightest moon in 2010. It is often called the Wolf Moon for obvious reasons. With our new fallen snow, it seems even brighter outside. I enjoyed trying to capture the moon with my camera, although it was very cold outside. For a point and shoot, I was pleased with the results. If you get a chance, be sure to pop outside for a few moments and enjoy the gorgeous view.

A Bit of Excitement

We had a bit of excitement on our road this morning. The roads were extremely slippery from a few inches of snow that had fallen. A town sanding truck was heading down our hill to sand the road and it started sliding sideways, the load of sand in the back shifted and the truck tipped over.

The driver was unhurt, but it took two large tow trucks to pull it back over. I'm not sure how much damage was done but it must have been quite the ride for the driver.

The truck on it's side.

After the tow trucks pulled it back over. As you can see in the photo, it was still snowing quite heavily.

Warm Winter Days

We have had some wonderfully warm days for January. The children have made good use of these days with hours of outdoor play. The sledding hill has seen no less than hundreds of runs I'm sure. There has been many snowball fights and of course, snowmen made, knocked down and made again. Ah, the wonders of winter and snow.

Snippits of a Snow Day

The public school children had a snow day yesterday, so we all took the day off from our regular schooling activities.

Here are a few shots of what we did do today.

Christmas color pages were enjoyed.

Lego creations worked on.

Bessie worked on her Christmas songs.

Always a stack of books.

Willie busied himself with keeping an eye on the birds.

Lots of playing in the snow and sledding.

And the evidence thereof.

Add in Gabe's Boy's Club, Bessie's piano lesson, some shopping and an errand or two and we had a very full day.

And later in the evening, there is always time for some stitching and a nice cozy fire.

Sledding

Bess wasn't feeling well so we stayed home from church today. Gabe, Rachel, Hannah and Dan were up and outside taking advantage of the new fallen snow. What fun to watch them. They have been eagerly awaiting enough snow to go sledding. Their faces tell it all.





I have one happy crew of children today.

First Snow

We had our first accumulating snow yesterday and overnight. The children were so excited. They spent hours outside yesterday toting snow from the trampoline to the sliding hill so they would have enough to go sledding. A few more inches fell overnight, so the hill was covered nicely this morning.

There is always something so magical about the first snow.

Sunny Winter's Day

Today was a deliciously wonderful day. The sun was bright, the sky blue and the temps teased us by climbing into the 40s...a veritable heatwave by recent standards.

After church and lunch the children headed outside and for the first time in a long time, the snow was packy enough for snowballs. They stayed out for a few hours, sledding, building forts, throwing snowballs and soaking up the warmth and sunshine.

Despite the warm temps, Rachel is still bundled up. Poor dear, I don't think she is ever really warm, until mid-summer. Dan was content to eat pails of the white stuff.

Hannah and Gabe worked on a fort. They often team up for building projects. And yes, Gabe is in short-sleeves. He is always warm and most days wears short-sleeves and goes barefoot in the house. Today was so nice and warm, he shed his coat quickly and seemed quite comfortable with bare arms.

Brian and I made a quick run to the feed store for chicken feed, bird seed and shavings for the chicken coop. I also picked up a new birdfeeder for the window near my sewing table. Brian made a few modifications to it so now it holds birdseed, suet and peanuts. Hopefully the birds will discover it soon.

Even our Kittie enjoyed the sun today. When we first brought him home, the folks we got him from told us he was a she. We named her Tiger Lily. We soon discovered she was a he and have been sort of calling him Willy...as not to confuse him too much. Well, Bess started calling him Punchy Larue after a character in one of her Nancy Drew games and it has stuck. He is definitely a Punchy! He has lovely markings. Isn't he gorgeous?