Pajama Day!

In my quest to keep myself from working on Sunday, I have announced to the kids that today is Pajama Day!

"Hang out all day in your pj's and do whatever you want!"

Of course there are limitations regarding the use of electronics around here.  Those are really limited anyway.

I do have the urge to write an article, what writer doesn't?  I have to restrain myself and rejuvinate for one day.  It's going to be a challenge, but as a mother of six kids, I need to do this for myself.  If I don't, what good will I be for anyone else?

The snow is not packing, so building another snowman is not going to happen today.  I woke up with my 8 year-old poking at my face.  I told her she ruined my good dream.  I was dreaming that I was ramping snow banks with a motor bike, and having a blast!

"That ain't gonna happen" laughs my husband.

We all remember what happened when I went rollerblading with the kids.  With a crushed wrist, I had to have him hold our youngest, at the time, so that I could still nurse with a broken wrist.  Well, at least I tried it and I did spend time with the kids.  And I made memories that we can laugh at now.

Making Homemade Detergents

 

Yesterday I made homemade dishwasher detergent and it worked great.  Today I made laundry detergent and detergent to hand wash dishes.  I used the recipe that makes the liquid form due to our well water.  So far, after 2 loads it has cleaned the laundry well.  I could not find Zote soap.  If I do, I may try it as well.  It will save us so much money, and require us to use less chemicals with our cleaning.

Sunshine Today! Cats, cats, and cats

The sun is shining on the wintery February day.  The snow is so bright, bringing in more light.  It's a good day to get outside and soak up and store up.  The barn cats are loving it too.  God is gracious today!  I love watching the cats stretching themselves out in the bright sunlight.  They look so happy.  The inside cats will most likely be searching the house for the best sun spot, so they too, can stretch out.

Speaking of barn cats, we have not see the stray gray cat today.  He/she sits on our wood pile and waits to sneak up to the house to eat.  I wonder if it will stick around or move on?

It's amazing how different our cats are.  We adopted our first cat over eleven years ago.  That's a long time to get to know your cat huh?  Now, not including the stray, we have six cats now.  I never thought I would even have more than one animal.  Now, here we are, considering raising goats too.

Snowmen and Snow and Getting Caught

Here is a photo of the two snowmen we built.  When we built them, the sun was shining brightly.  This is from yesterday morning, when we had a frosting of sorts. Can you see the evergreen hair on the larger snowman!  My kids keep telling me he looks "evil" so I have to build another one this year.  I was just working with nature to build my snowmen -sticks, evergreen sprigs, and a carrot.  If you look at the bottom of the smaller one, my youngest 8 year-old daughter made a baby snowman. 

Today, these snowmen are decorated with yellow spots.  One of our dogs decided they needed to mark their spot - on both of them!   I'm sure the kids will laugh about it when the get home from school.

As for me getting caught, well this is funny.  Last night as I was getting ready for bed, I hear my 13 year-old daughter yell "Mother!  I object" as she walked briskly to my bedroom.  Raising my eyebrows, I asked her what in the world was she talking about.  Trailing her footsteps, was my 8 year-old daughter.

"What's this I hear that you write her (pointing to my 8 year-old) notes and give her a piece of candy every day - in her lunch?!" she loudly demanded.

"uh..." was all I could say.

So, I was caught.  I was asked to write notes in their lunches and give them a surprise piece of candy.  Just after that, my 8 year-old daughter asked if I "notered her."  As I sit here, I just realized I wrote one for the other kids, and had planned to write out one for my 8 year-old, but forgot.  Ugh!  I'm going to be in big trouble when she gets home.  How could I have forgot?!  I better make sure she gets "notered" tomorrow with an extra piece of candy.

Building Snowmen ~ Winter Highlight Moment

Well, I did it.  I built 2 snowmen, and the kids think I have lost my mind.  In their opinion, what mother of my age goes out to build a snowman, without her children?  He he he!  The caught me.  As I was rolling the giant snow balls around the yard to pack on more, they were gawking at me from the upstairs window.

A few minutes later, my son came out laughing and helping build one too.  Not soon after that, my oldest daughter was peeking around the side of the house - with the video camera!  They were so  shocked at my "childlike" behavior that they had to out it on tape.

I can now sit in my work space, and view the snowmen as I write today.  I need two more on the other side so my view is all about fun, fun, fun!  You should see them this morning.  I put sprigs of evergreen on the top of the larger one for hair.  We had a bit of freezing rain or drizzle, so everything this morning has a beautiful coat of white.  Just gorgeous.

Finding my muse when the sun is not shining

The winter time is more difficult for me to stay positive and focused when it comes to my writing.  I have realized that it is very easy to fall into the sweatpants and t-shirt syndrome.  Years ago, I saved Fridays for my "T-shirt" days, and dressed casual for the other days.  By casual I used to wear nice summer or winter skirts with sweaters or jeans and a nice top.  I guess after this last move, I landed in the t-shirt zone on a daily basis. 

Today I dressed in an Indian top that flows past the knees.   It came from India and is decorated with sequins.  Immediately, this kids who are home for another snow day, sent me their "ews" and "ahs" as I walked into the kitchen.  I realized that after writing, I did find my "muse" and that is to dress for "work" and to accessorize with my the style I prefer. 

Today, however, I did not work at the built in desk in the kitchen.  I moved a table to my bedroom, and faced it towards the glass doors, so that I could view the outdoors.  I burned a candle, sipped ginger ale, and got a lot of work done.  In fact, some of the kids are now interested in what I did write for the day.  Could it be that I did not "hog" the family computer and they had more freedom?  I have not idea, but for some reason they are respecting my "work" time a little bit more today.

Blizzard of 2010 ~ Snow Day!

 

This photo does not even compare to those who got more snow than us.

The snow bank on the right of the photo is over 6 feet tall.  Just after we dug the mailbox out, the snow plow came back through.  Grrr!  The predicted amount of snow here today is 10 inches by tomorrow morning.  We shovel by hand and we need to keep at least one portion of the large drive clear.  Snow or not, my husband still has to go to work.  He will need to be able to get back in the drive after work.

After a nice warm cup of hot chocolate, and a nice long hot shower, I have articles to write and articles to edit and articles to submit.  Although I wanted a snow day pretty bad, it is very difficult to work when all of the kids are home.

While we were outside working, I glanced up at the snow mound from the snow that arrived the day before.  My 8 year old daughter was trying to ride her big wheel down the snow bank! Ha, ha ha!  Of course I had to be the bad guy and put a stop to it.  I have had enough visits to the emergency room to last a lifetime.

We've already split wood, shoveled, put out a small fire on the stove top, cleaned up a broken plate that one dropped a mug on, and just had lunch so we can start on the house work.  

"Still want to live like a pioneer Mom?" asked my seventeen year old son after we stacked the wood and could not feel our noses or hands.

"Yep!" I replied with enthusiasm.