We added 1 1/2" of snow and I lost 2 hours somewhere

There was snow this morning!  It was soft and pretty and so quiet, so we put on our hats and headed for the hot tub.  The hot tub is repaired and warm and is our favorite place to enjoy our morning coffee.  What a relief!

A little later,

this is the scene out our front door as the snow clouds disappear and blue skies prevail with a little sunshine peeking through.

 While out back, bacon is frying for breakfast.

 Inside, my geranium is again surviving the neglect of winter and I am so thankful for this hearty plant.  Soon it will be back in the flower garden soaking up sunshine and summer showers.

Time to head back to Amarillo, but only for a couple of days.  We are looking forward to our return to the mountains to host a fun weekend retreat group.

  With the time change this weekend, I am living in a state of confusion.  Within two days, we changed from CST to MST (a backward move) to MDT (a forward move) to CDT (another forward move).  I don't know if I am moving forward or backward, but I think I lost 2 hours somewhere along the way.      

We brake for Bungees and Beauty

It seems to have been a long time since we were here.

It is home...cozy and comfortable.

We are here for a very short stay this time, but will be back very soon. 

Along the way,

 mountain man had his eye on the road.

and it paid off in bungee cords.

The beauty of the mountains required my full attention. 

They appeared to be getting snow!

Right after arrival, the chores began. 

 Hot tub repairs were fist on the list.

Success! 

 With little snow on the ground,

it appears that the chances for more are really good !

 Let the fire building begin!

 Good timing!

Looks like a beautiful week ahead for our group arriving on Thursday!

Come on up!

Stressful Situations = Simple Solutions

I tried to blog from my iPad.  I didn't know how to make it work.

Back to our arrival in the mountains, where several things immediately went bad.

The hot tub was not hot and was losing water.

+

The water system intake valve was clogged.

+

The quartz tube for the water purification system broke.

+ 

No cord for the laptop.

=

Stress and extra work for a while.  My mountain man immediately got started on solutions.  A hot tub part returns to Amarillo for repairs.  The water intake valve was cleaned and the entire water system purified.  We usually do this every Spring anyway, so it is done for this year.  The quartz tube was replaced with the emergency tube.  All is well.

So, back to our retreat!

 Here it comes...

 Here it is...

 and here we are!

 On a snowy day, we plan the next remodel for our kitchen.  One of our favorite, loyal readers seems to have inspired the forward momentum on this idea.

I do love my chalk paint on old furniture.

It now matches another earlier project.

A new quilt project.

Actually, this is a very old project, started by an aunt, probably before I was born.  Shhh, please... it is a gift for my cousin.  More about it in a later post.

  

How do you spend snow days?

  "As soon as that mountain disappears, we can burn the brush."  Burning in the mountains is tricky, but a snowy day with no wind is perfect for it.

 Bubble bath?  

Bubble wrap?

Sea salt?

Or snow on the deck railing?

 About three hours later, the brush was ashes.

 A really big snow storm is brewing.

 But our concern is the one in Amarillo.

 So, this is the reason for the early return.

Challenging Arrival

Our arrival in the mountains today

brought several challenges.

One is the fact that I left the power cord for this laptop

in Amarillo and the battery is weak.

Posts this time may wait until our return.

Before our trip here,
we put together a liter of home made vanilla.

After reading about it on another blog,

I decided to try my hand at making vanilla.

After the wine, this is a breeze!

Ordering the vanilla beans from Olive Nation

was so easy and not as expensive as I feared.

We had the vodka already.

It is 80 proof and triple distilled,

whatever that means.

The beans are very aromatic and

not very pretty, but really interesting.

They must be sliced for the flavor to permeate.

I recommend a really sharp knife.

 Slicing from about 1 inch below the top, 

and all the way down. 

We removed a little vodka from the bottle,

added the beans,

 then refilled the bottle.

Into a cool dark place for about six weeks.
The only thing left to do is invert about once a week. 

Now, back to the mountain arrival...

We found the hot tub low on water
and the heater broken.
No hot tub this trip.  :(
There is an issue with our water, as well.
It looks like a work weekend ahead.

But, the mountains are beautiful

 and the clouds are rolling in

while the fire is warm and inviting.

Quiet Winter Beauty of the Mountains

Our intention was to enjoy a couple of days of rest.

Realistically, we have done just that.

However, there was a stubborn lock...

and a new tool to play with.

The wine bottles

\

that were naked

and needing labels.

 Done!

Back to resting.

This is where our Keens

took us today.

To the still, quiet wonderful outdoors

in the mountains.

Come sit with us!

Family, Four Wheeler and Food!

Our first trip of 2013 took us through Spartanburg. SC

on our way to DC.

For the first time in several years,

our entire family spent a couple of days together.

So, I tortured them by asking for a picture.

This is one happy Grammy.

My 4 wheeler kept three of our grandsons

busy at Christmas, but it is time to return 

to the mountains.

On our hike today we found

this ice patch at the stream.

There was an ice patch in the hot tub 

when we arrived.

As usual, my mountain man repaired it

and we enjoyed it this morning and afternoon.

 The afternoon view.

What's for dinner?

Homemade turkey soup

YUM!

Saturday Evening Christmas Post

Our view from the hot tub on our last evening.

 

 

These woods are lovely dark and deep

But I have promises to keep

And miles to go before I sleep

And miles to go before I sleep.

 

 And so, we returned to Amarillo

to prepare for Christmas.

 

 

What happened to the wine?

Well, here it is...

 

 

And the second batch?
Just completed

 

 

Bottled

 



 

Corked

 

 

Labeled

 

 

I do love Amaryllis!

This one travelled from SC with us.

It was a screaming deal at Home Depot

on Black Friday.

 

 

Our Christmas table.

Pretty red chargers are from Walmart.

(.99 each ~ shhhhh!)

 

 

My Merry Hearts Bible Study

has a fun party early in December.

Early is a key word for me,

as it gave me plenty of time to copy this

cute cute party favor from our sweet hostess, Bobbye.

The plastic stem glasses are just $1.98

at (YES) Walmart.

 

 

No Christmas Tree at our house. :(

For about 10 years,

I have bought these beautiful poinsettias at Sam's Club.

We do miss seeing our collection of 42+ years of ornaments,

but.... hmmm...  maybe next year?

 

 

So, here are the gifts that weren't mailed

wrapped in brown paper and Christmas duck tape.

 

Christmas dishes? 

 

 

These Longaberger Made In America pieces

are my favorite. 

 

 

The hearth room mantle

complete with hanging baskets,

instead of stockings.

 

 

Wreath Basket with the

Longaberger greenery and the

Cinnamon Stick candle.

 

 

This was a steal,

literally, I stole it at a naughty Santa

exchange and placed it in this basket.

 

 

My giant wreath has been a work in progress,

adding a Tree Trimming Basket each year

for the last 14 years.

 

 

Latest addition?

Top Hat Snowman.
Isn't he cute?

 

 

This sweet Nativity Set was

purchased after Christmas 35+ years ago 

with my gift money from my father-in-law.

 

 

Lenox China Jewels Nativity

For several years, we added pieces to this set

and to sets for our daughter and daughter-in-law.

It is now retired.

 

shopping done

cooking done

baking done

decorating done

BRING IT ON!

 

Merry Christmas!

 

"For unto us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be

on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6