The Cottage on the Hill

Who lay on top of one's knitting! This is Duncan, by the way.  He is a Cairn Terrier mix that we picked up from the shelter last June.

It is no secret on this blog that I sometimes get frustrated with this little cottage bursting at the seams.  Recently, I have been thinking about how families in the 1950s would have managed in such a small house.  There are neighborhoods not too far from me filled with post-war houses not much bigger than my own house.  In these houses families were raised, families much like my own, in two bedroom, 1 bathroom houses.  Some of these houses don't even have a dining room, just a small eat-in kitchen.  Thank GOD for my dining room! So, I started considering what in my house wouldn't have been there in the 1950s, or would have been different.  Would the lack of these modern items improve our living spaces and our lives?  Or would it be a detriment? For example, my fridge is a monster.  Next time I need a fridge, I am getting a smaller one. All those DVDs!  So many DVDs!  The Mister is a movie buff, and the kids have plenty.  I hav...

I looked at the extended forecast and it seems winter does not want to leave! Snow still covers the ground here. Snow is still going to fall. Temperatures aren't going rise much higher than 40 degrees. I want to complain, but then I remember something important. This is PERFECT weather for maple syrup production! Last year, Spring arrived early, devastating the maple syrup farmers. This year, sugar shacks around the state are overflowing with sap! The photo above is of part of my brother's small operation. That pale blue line going through the trees along the stream carry the sap from the trees down to his sugar shack by gravity. So, what is bothersome for some is a blessing for others.

Photography by my 4 year old! Church hair! Those vintage pearl combs were my anniversary present from my darling hubby! Here I am with my little girl, ready for church! We have so few mother-daughter pictures since I am usually the photographer. It's nice to have my oldest want to take pictures. I can finally get in on them!

1st Stripe Drill Sgt.

We spent a great family day together going to the Farm Show today. The children loved sitting in all the machinery. My son loved the combines the best. My daughter loved the John Deere Gators and lawn tractors and the goats. I was hoping to find a booth about fungicides and tomato blight. Hubby looked at some horse trailers. Eating fair food and walking so much did a number on my preggy legs, though. They're all swollen! Hubby was his usual loving and considerate self and kept making sure I was ok, and boy oh boy does he admire by belly!f

My latest project is using this reproduction 18th century lucet to make a cord for a hat hubby is putting together for re-enacting. Using a lucet is a very relaxing, easy activity. It's great to keep idle hands busy while waiting somewhere or watching television. My son was so thrilled to find out that he's finally tall enough to reach the pedals on his tricycle and actually pedal it around the driveway. Yes, it was cold enough for a parka that day and he insisted on wearing mommy's winter work gloves. Oh, and all those pine needles! We had a day of steady 30 mph winds and the woodlot next door has a lot of white pines. That combination made quite the mess of our yard! Oh, how we'd love to own that woodlot. It is a prayer of mine. Right now it belongs to the nursing home just down the road. They own it because their well houses (which I believe are no longer in use) are back in the woods where the springs are. However, they don't take care of it. The trees are in ...

It was a great birthday party for Bubby today! The party started at noon and the last guest left at 6:30! I am so thankful that God had me born into such a great family. We just chatted and yammered and the kiddos played and played. The atmosphere really left an air of fulfillment and happiness. It's like an aroma, still lingering in the house. I am contentedly exhausted. My son is fast asleep. My hubby is at the movies with my brother. My daughter is babbling to herself in her crib. Hopefully, sleep will find her soon.

Oh, how I love my dear husband! His birthday is just 3 days after our son's, so for the past two years, his birthday has sort of been forgotten. This year, I'd really like to do something special for him. I'll have to really brainstorm. I've been cleaning the basement out more. I'm really in a cleaning mood. I think part of it is that we've been cooped up in our little cottage for so long and the walls are starting to close in on us. For me, a good cleaning and a bit of decluttering and perhaps some arranging really opens the space up. For fun, I went on my local craigslist last night and found a beautiful cherry desk for only $65.00! I hope the gentleman still has it available because if he does, it's going in my livingroom! My current desk is way too small for it's purpose and is often bursting it's joints. Besides, I'm going to turn my little desk into a portable kitchen for re-enactments!

Hubby and I are actually considering raising quail! I'm excited! I have such a vision for our little bit of earth and raising quail certainly fits into that scheme. From what I understand, quail can't survive winters here, but they're usually bought as chicks in the spring and butchered in time for the holidays. Hubby expressed a desire to be able to work at the farm next door in order to spend more time with his family. The very same desire has been weighing heavily on my heart and mind recently, even more so than usual. Right now we cannot afford it financially. It would take a miracle. I'm stepping out in faith this Christmas season concerning it. How can we put our heads together and make this work?! My mind is swimming and I honestly feel as if someone is deep within my chest screaming, "Cry out to God!" Oh, if only the farm could at least pay him $20.00 an hour. We've gone through some tough and stressful times recently. I am in awe of God...