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.)

Until a few weeks ago Kieran flatly refused to call me anything.  He'd come to me or point, and was full of loves and adoration, but didn't see a purpose in using a name.  Oddly, he rarely says his siblings names, but constantly says the names for friends at church and even the piano teacher's dog.

When I came back from Utah, Ken and Grandma both insisted he'd been talking about mommy while I was away. I was skeptical.  The word he'd been saying was "mama", which all my children used for "grandma" when first learning to talk.  I was always "mommie", never "mama."  I was certain that "mama" was grandma.  Sure enough, after Grandma left, often said "mama" and "bye bye" then make the sign for "drive" (indicating that she'd gone away).  To further cinch it, each time he'd sign grandma as well.  

Just this last week he decided to christen me!  It seems about time, since he says, "Dadeee!" quite constantly.  Now in addition to "Dadee!" he has "Mommu."  Not "Mommy", but "Mommu."  (Or is it spelled "Mommoo?")

 Why?  I've no idea,.  But, it is good to finally have a name, even an odd one that makes me feel a rather bovine. When he falls down, he comes running, calling for his "mommu". 

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.)