January 30, 2021

We made a new friend today.  :)

 

January 29, 2021

I took a drive to a town closer to the mountains today.

Such a nice sight!

Not quite the Rockies, but I'll take it.  :)

 

January 25, 2021

One of Jed's favorite Christmas gifts.  :)
 

January 17, 2021

We wore her out.  :)
 

January 16, 2021

Today was a very large day!

Brad asked me to babysit the grands last night 

because he and Jenn had an appointment they couldn't miss.

This morning we headed outside to check out the "tree house" Brad built last week.

It's a combination deer stand, play house, and zip line platform.

The zip line was our gift to the kids last Christmas,

and the platform was this past year's Christmas gift.  

I'm so glad they're finally getting to zip!  :)

And I couldn't be more impressed that Brad built this...

he's pretty happy with how it turned out as well.  

I don't have any pictures of the kids zipping because I was too busy recording them!  :)

Then this little sweetie came home with me for the first time alone.

We had such a good time...

a picnic with her favorite meal...

...and a bubble bath in the "huge" tub

(which was her favorite part of the day).

She even went to bed with minimal fuss.  :)
 

January 15, 2021

This little girl is such a joy.
 

January 13, 2021

Interesting clouds this afternoon.
 

January 12, 2021

Out early again this morning running errands.  

No sunrise this morning, though...the fog was heavy.

The sun was trying to break through while I was headed home.
 

January 11, 2021

For the last four years, 

while Jed has been a student in an academic homeschool group, 

we've had the month of May on our own to meet the state-required days of instruction.  

In community college, we have the month of January.  

The month we work together, on what we get to decide to study, is my favorite month of the year!  

I miss actively teaching him and this is such a sweet time for me. 

He's working on a couple of academic subjects on his own 

but we're covering quite a bit of ground together.  

On the couch.  :)

 

January 10, 2021

I may have mentioned this sandwich before, 

but it's been long enough ago that I can't remember, 

and I hadn't even remembered the sandwich itself for quite a long while, 

until Thanksgiving reminded me of it.  

Turkey, provolone, spinach, and cranberry mayo...it's my all-time favorite!
 

January 9, 2021

The sun was shining on our Christmas star today and lighting it up sans electricity.  

I was hoping the photo would capture the brilliance...it didn't.  :)
 

January 8, 2021

The weather forecast called for 6" of snow today, starting Thursday night and ending Friday night.  

I was skeptical of that, but hoped it meant we would at least get a couple of inches.  

I was disappointed to see only a smattering of snowflakes in the mulch when I got up - 

not even on the grass!  

Then late this afternoon it started snowing in earnest and it continued for a good 15 minutes.  

*sigh*  

But it was beautiful while it lasted!! 

 

January 7, 2021

We got Jed another Gigamic game for Christmas.  

I am so impressed with this company...

all the games we've bought have been well-made (of wood) and very clever.  

This one is no exception.  

It's tic-tac-toe with a twist...

you can move the blocks around, so the game is constantly changing.  

I won this first game...

that's why Jed is pretending to be messing with his phone...

he's really just hiding his shame.  :D

 

January 6, 2021

I slipped out early this morning to get groceries before others were out en masse, 

and was rewarded with an amazing sunrise.

 

January 5, 2021

A beautiful sunset this evening.
 

January 4, 2021

I was intrigued by the Christmas tree lights being reflected in the glass while I was looking at the deck.

For just a moment, I thought it was fireflies.  :)
 

January 3, 2021

An ominous sky today.
 

January 2, 2021

The afternoon sun was hitting this card holder just right!
 

January 1, 2021

Two goals I accomplished this past year:

1. Using clippings from our yard to decorate plain paper packages tied up with string

(sorry, I couldn't resist typing all that)

I love this look!

2.  I completed my Project 365!!

I'm equal parts relieved it's over and wondering if I should continue it.

Well, I suppose it's more like 51/49, because I'm not continuing it. :)

But I'm giving myself a big pat on the back for this past year.