Saturday, February 29, 2020

Saturday Goals

Day 60/366
Saturday goals: chillin' on the couch with a giant container of cheese puffs, a fizzy water and a good movie.

Friday, February 28, 2020

Pottery Class

Day 59/366
We took a pottery wheel class at a local studio. It's something that has been on our list for awhile and we were really excited to try it out. Heidi, our instructor, gave us a lot of great information to get us started and the kids' projects quickly took shape. Today we worked on making a cup-like vessel and in the next few weeks we will also be making a bowl and a plate. I learned that I am not a natural at throwing pottery. My first attempt did not end well, as you can see below. Ha! Thankfully, the clay can be re-purposed for another project. I will hopefully do better with the bowl project next week.

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Sun, Snow and Wind

Day 58/366
The sun was deceptively bright, fooling us into thinking it would be pleasant outside. After a few gray days, it was lovely to be out in the sunshine. The wind, however, was the ruling force so our outdoor exploration was cut short.

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Through the Trees

Day 57/366
The line of trees acted like a veil, gently filtering the golden light of the sun as it set.

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Self-Portrait I

Day 56/366
I'm going to be honest... I am so much better at working behind the camera than in front of it! I decided to take a self portrait for today's picture and I pretty much immediately regretted it. The process of taking the picture is a bit of work, but I had my trusty assistant with me who helped with hanging lights in our old shed, removing junk from the background and being my stand in while trying to achieve focus. I'm not sure what it is about posting pictures of myself, but I really don't like it. It makes me feel kind of squeamish and uncomfortable... but it's also really good for me. So, I'm being brave and I'm posting this picture today. There are lots of things that I don't love about it, but in the end I can say I don't hate it. Ha! In an effort to desensitize myself to this irrational fear of self portraits, I'm hoping to do more of these. ;) Maybe, with practice, I'll become more comfortable being in front of the camera and can get creative with self-portraits.

Monday, February 24, 2020

Color Play

Day 55/366
A new knitting project is under way, and I'm having fun using up some leftovers along with some newly purchased yarn.

Sunday, February 23, 2020

For the Glory

Day 54/366
I attended our church's women's retreat this weekend, which is always uplifting, encouraging and lots of fun. The retreat center where we stay has a lovely view of the sunrise, and I woke up early so that I could watch the sun peek over the horizon. A few moments later I turned my head and I noticed that the light was falling on the piano, perfectly illuminating this sign. What a glorious reminder as we wrap up our retreat!

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Reflection II

Day 53/366
A sun-filled day with above-freezing temps left some large puddles, making perfect mirrors for the blue sky and winter grass at dusk.

Friday, February 21, 2020

Reflection

Day 52/366
The craft room is my happy place. I've been working on some journaling in my quiet time, reflecting on scripture, praying and trying to do something creative. I love the way the morning sunlight warms the room and invites to me create.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Last Light

Day 51/366
Have you ever watched as the sun slips below the horizon? Waiting, watching to see those last rays of light reaching to touch the earth before it leaves the day behind... it happens so quickly, it's almost magic. The sun is gone long before the light leaves the sky. The light lingers, clinging, slowly seeping from view. Every time I watch a sunset there's a feeling of fulfillment and I breathe out, watching the colors of the sky deepen and night slowly descend.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Leading Music

Day 50/366
Jevin has had the opportunity to lead music at Awana the last couple of weeks, filling in for a friend who is on vacation. I was wrapping up a few things at church and stayed for a few extra minutes to hear him play and sing. It is such a blessing to see our kids use their talents to worship the Lord!

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Reading by Window Light

Day 49/366
The golden light was just gorgeous this evening. We appreciated every minute of it, including reading while soaking in the last few rays of light the day had to offer.

Monday, February 17, 2020

Packing Snow

Day 48/366
Lots of perfect packing snow, so the kids went to work making snowmen. They got pretty creative, as you can see. They call their sculpture "Snowmen in Paradise."

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Rhubarb Pie

Day 46/366
Jevin made this rhubarb pie to share at a pie social at church. It tasted just as good as it looks.

Friday, February 14, 2020

Thursday, February 13, 2020

The Hat Exchange

Day 44/366
Enavi is diligently working on her hat for the hat exchange at The Cat and Crow. It's been a challenging pattern for her, and she's had to start over at least once, but she's learning new skills and has kept at it.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Monday, February 10, 2020

Trick Photography

Day 41/366
Jevin has been experimenting with some trick photography for his Lego pictures. He put some time into creating this shot, from crafting the wire and clothes pin holder to trying different techniques to get just the right snow spray.

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Taking Aim

Day 37/366
It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon and we took advantage of the nice weather. The kids enjoyed playing with the Hyperstrike bow and arrow sets and they did well with hitting the target. They also figured out that they can send the arrows pretty far, with some arrows landing across the road at Herb's barn.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Blank Canvas

Day 36/366
Time to create! It feels so good to craft something beautiful from a simple, blank canvas.

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

New Songs

Day 35/366
Jevin's been working on learning a few new songs on the guitar.

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Super Sunset

Day 33/366
The weather was lovely today - sunshine and warm temps. The sky put on a colorful display at sunset, just before the start of the Super Bowl.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Family Fun and Games

Day 32/366
We were able to visit with our family from the Appleton area today. It was good to see my aunts, uncles and cousins and catch up a bit. The kids especially enjoyed the outdoor game that Queenie and Todd put together using the bow and foam-tipped arrows.