No heat at the office!

Fortunately, my co-worker gave me a heads-up so I was prepared. 

On our Tacoma, of course!

Patience is a virtue!

I may not be happy about this early spring...

...but, I'm taking advantage of it, and working on my new chicken coop. Straining trim today! 

Another skijor event!

Roberts Farm hosted another skijor today and the weather was perfect for running dogs - bluebird skies and chilly! Our friend Melissa came to check out the trails, and got roped into handling. She was a great sport and it was awesome to visit! We really appreciated the help! 

Before the racing started, there was a clinic for novices. Lady did a fantastic job pulling them slowly around the trails, and helping them get confident on their skis. Nobody could believe that she's almost 12 and just started skijoring last year herself. She's such a good girl! 

Ed and George ran their best race together! They posted a scorching time, and came in 2nd place. Unfortunately, Nate and Bruiser had a crash. Neither of them got injured, but they were kinda shook up by it. They finished in 3rd place. 

Hugs help! 

The snow is getting really thin, and there is bare ground in places. Everyone was extra determined to have a great time today because it might be our last race of the season. I really wish the winter would come back! 

A pop of color!

It's taken me almost a year to get up the courage to stain this window frame. When you build a log cabin, there is the expectation that there will be a lot of wood, and as a general rule, people expect it to be stained a natural color. Well, to each their own, but that seems boring to us! 

We agreed that we wanted a color that would pull together the kitchen, so that blue in the countertop was what we were looking for...it took a while to find just the right stain, but I finally did. 

That was the other reason to redo that li'l frame a few weeks ago - testing! 

I took the time to make sure that all edges were covered with painter's tape. I know that I'm messy with the brush! 

1 coat was good, and I was excited about how it looked. But quite dark enough though...

Yup. It needed another coat. That's better. 

That windowsill also needs protection from splashes. A couple costs of poly ought to do it! 

Those droplets make me happy! No more trying to mop up water before it soaks in and ruins the wood.

That's another project complete. This cabin might actually be finished someday! 

Facts

Chocolate makes it all better!

Believe it or not, these are actually not bad for you! 3 mashed bananas, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup cocoa powder and a handful (or 2) of dark chocolate chips(optional, but really, are they?) Spread batter into 8 inch square pan, sprinkle with a few more chips, and bake at 350° F. Recipe from Instagram @simone_anderson. Enjoy! 

No missing pieces!

It was a bit of a project to put together, but now we have a rower!

I hurt my big toe awhile ago. The doctors are having a hard time figuring out what's wrong with it. I can walk on it, but it hurts. Every form of exercise that I have tried hurts. And I'm afraid of making it worse. You don't realize how much pressure you put on your toes, until you can't.

A few weeks ago I thought, "Wait a minute! What about rowing?" A quick search of the internet revealed that other people have been able to row even with broken toes. Finally, I've found a solution, because not exercising is taking a toll on my body. It feels so good to move it again! 

Yikes!

We're counting our blessings! He drives on the highway to and from work, but this didn't happen there. He heard it clunking the other night and was taking it to the shop yesterday morning, so it happened at a slow speed, and he was able to steer off the road. Phew!

Happy 81st Birthday, Aunt Margie!

Jasper

Grammie's cat loves it when Nate comes to visit 'cause he always grooms him! 

Happy birthday, Grammie Lily!

Worn Navy

 We saw this quote in a coffee shop while we were traveling, and really liked it. 

I was happy to find a replica online, but not satisfied with the color. 

The painter's tape was a good idea, but unfortunately the color leaked trough anyway. Oh well. 

It looked really dark when it was wet, but i knew once it dried it would be a much better color! 

Now it's the same shade of blue that's in the countertop. Exactly what I wanted. 

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Mmmmm...

Wintery Lights

Most of our snow is gone, and what's left is an icy, crusty mess. But, my cowboy & cowgirl are still wrapped up in snowflakes! 

Back to "the land of the ice and snow,"

*title reference to Led Zeplin's "Immigrant Song"

We enjoyed another amazing day up in Norway, Maine! We visited with so many great friends, Ed and Nate did awesome racing, Ike enjoyed his volunteer role on the trail, and I took loads of pictures and videos. 

Today Roberts Farm hosted a biathlon - ski a 2k loop, shoot 5 rounds, ski a penalty loop for every shot missed, then ski another 2k loop, shoot again(with penalty laps, as needed), and finally ski one more 2k lap and finish the race!

Afterwards,  everyone pitched in to help put away all the equipment, and then we celebrated the skiers with an awards ceremony. What a fun day. Thank you Roberts Farm! 

It was unseasonably warm today!

I'm pretty sure this is not what running in February is supposed to look like. Not that I'm complaining...

I also didn't expect to get started painting the new chicken coop that Ed & Todd are building me, but today's weather helped me get a jump on it before spring!

Did it!

Roller Skiing

He hasn't been satisfied with his ski speed, so he pulled out the ol' rollers! 

Starry Nights

Trying to catch some good.

Luck, that is! 

Patriotism

Today was the very definition of a 'bluebird day'!

We drove up to Norway this afternoon because the conditions at Roberts Farm are still awesome. There may not be as much snow as others years, but they're doing a great job grooming what they've got. We're so grateful to have these trails to ski on! 

I was so glad that my niece, Cait, and her husband Noah, were able to join us! I don't see them nearly enough. 

Then, they took a break from skiing loops, and we celebrated our birthdays with the dogs looking on...

I'm not sure why they found it quite so fascinating, but they did! 

Silly dogs!