My blogging has been sporadic lately.  Last week consisted of beautiful snow storms that kept my sweetie home by my side.  We were delightfully derailed by family time, and I was blissfully kept from the computer by snug, homey delights!

This week another phenomenon has kept me busy.  Although we are typically home-bodies, it seems we've had more going on lately.  When extreme weather shut down the city, last week became rescheduled to this week.  This week, however insisted on continuing a forward march of its own, and the two are rather superimposed atop each other!

Busy as the week may be, an important update is in order!  After pressing "post" on this blog entry, I will make a subtle but important change to my blog sidebar.  Kaira's age requires updating!  She refused to remain a nine year old, and has now accomplished a decade!  She had lovely medieval-themed party which shall be blogged as soon as I finish sorting through pictures. 

Yesterday after piano lessons we passed the roving maintenance herd.  To the children's delight, I determined we had time to stop and pile out of the van for a moment.  I think they've thanked me a dozen times since--Keegan especially seemed to think that it was the grandest field trip ever. "Thank you mommy for letting us visit the mowing goats!"

Sometimes it pays to pull over and take time to run across a bridge, smell the roses--or, perhaps, even stop to smell the goats!

Today I found myself calling one of the girls Kaiandra.  My desperate, sluggish brain scrambled frantically for a name, and instead latched onto a hybrid combination.  When my niece, Kaitlyn, visits I can call the four girls Kaiandralynn. 

Kaiandra are the girls previously known as Kaira, Kendra, and Keianna. 

Individuality?  Overrated.

Ken was scheduled to work the weekend, but yesterday evening after dinner when we checked road conditions, the road between here and there was closed! He was frustrated, knowing that the money would be nice, but I'll confess it was nice having him home. (Although, I was thinking, "Must be nice... sleep all day and all night too!") Seriously, he deserves the rest, and amazingly he was able to sleep most the night, rising just early enough to make us all a yummy breakfast while I was just rolling out of bed.

This morning is school as usual (with a bonus of extra Daddy involvement!, then snow-play scheduled after lunch!

Clifford the Big Red Van has spent the last few nights outside under the stars.  Ken's painting the barfice (barn-office), causing barfice contents to temporarily explode into the garage area, which in turn forces  poor Clifford out in the cold.

This morning, the following sight greated us!:  


Great excitement filled the house as the children woke to a wonderland of snow blanketing the fields behind us!  Something about the season's first snow thrills a child's heart.  (And mine too!)

We've been home several days now, but I'm only now getting a chance to post pictures from our get-away!  We had a lovely time, playing in the mountain meadow and climbing on the rocks:

swinging on the mountain swing:

following mountain paths:

and even dipping our toes in the river:

On one of the chillier days we went into a charming tourist town nearby to shop, enjoy delicious "homemade" ice cream, and watch the craftsmen.  The glass blower demonstrated and talked about his craft, and the pewter maker allowed the children to pour their own pewter ornaments into molds!  The four oldest have pewter humming birds they poured by their own hands.

We escaped to the mountain cabin for change of scenery!  It was splendid, and we were just in time to see the aspen trees in their golden glory!

Tonight, I'm heading to bed early, but here's a quick snap of two of my favorite guys. (More from our adventures to come.)

For several years we've been making our own herbal tinctures and infusions.  He does the tinctures and I do the teas.  Today Ken, along with his lovely assistant Keianna made up five tinctures that were running low.

Below I share a rarely glimpsed area of PrairieFrog land (drumroll...)  Ken's barfice!   ("Barfice" is short for barn/office--a little room in the barn.) 

Here's Ken and Keianna's five steps to a perfect tincture:

1. Get down the herbs from vast stores, high on the barfice shelves.

2. Add appropriate herbs to a quart jar for steeping

3. Put away herbs.

4. Add rum.  (This step isn't pictured because I have an alcohol free blog. )    

5. Steep for about a month.   (Also not pictured because it would require time lapse photography and be rather dull.)