We had our first snow.  The flakes were the size of feathers and took their leisure time reaching the ground.  Of course it didn't stick long but still beautiful.  I have always loved snow.  Growing up in Montana it was a part of life.  As a little girl I walked to school in the snow.  My Mom always made me wear pants under my skirt until I got to school.  My brothers and I ice-skated in the park as often as we possible could every winter.  We were always sad to see the grass starting to poke through the slushy ice.  As I got older I began to appreciate snow in other ways.  I loved going for a walk after a big snow and hearing the crunch under my feet.  And it always seemed that the instant I got tired of the cloudy days the sun would come out and make the whole world sparkle.  and...I also enjoyed zipping around icy streets in my Honda....one good yank on the emergency brake and I was around a corner like James Bond.  Parking lots were a great place to spin your car  :o)  So here in California you will never hear me complain about the snow...the rain maybe...but not the snow.

I am utterly exhausted.  Our friends from Texas just left about an hour ago.  We had a great time staying up late and getting caught up.  Did lots of cooking...which is my favorite thing to do for friends...my way to show I love em. 

Tomorrow I have to hit the ground runnning again.  Just a month to get projects done...including taxes...before my folks come for a visit.  Then 3 days after they leave....we fly off to Hawaii for 2 weeks...ALOHA!!!!  Then the day after we get home my red-headed step child comes for a week 

So much to do...so little time.....I can't wait for summer!!!!

A year ago my husband was in Iraq.  He had left the week prior and I was alone to take care of our two girls not knowing if he would come back to us.  The first week he was gone my girls slept in my room with me...it may have even been the first two weeks.  None of us wanted to be alone. Then we started getting use to him being gone...but missed him terribly.  He is the laughter in our home.  The days we got down we would huddle in blankets and watch old movies.  Homeschooling suffered a bit.  On our good days we would get so many things done it made the bad days look not so bad.  And when we got really lonely for him...we called on friends.  My friends and the girls friends.  We didn't want to leave and be with family...that would have made it feel like he was even further away.

We had fun days.  I took the girls and their friends to see the Pink Panther.  We all dressed in pink my red-headed step-child let Kate(my 13 year old at the time) wear a big fluffy pink hat.  Then we all went out for ice cream.

The days would zoom when we kept busy.  We were able to talk on the phone and email to Iraq. 

My husband returned in April.  He was gone 4 months and when he got home he hit the ground running.  We had a new assignment to California to report to beginning of June.  And as I look back just 7 months ago...life was very hectic...very different.  It was very different just a year ago.  This past year we sent James off to war.  Sold the house...left all of our friends behind and moved from Arkansas to California with 3 dogs, 4 cats a turtle and a guinea pig.  We bought a house and we are planting roots.  I have made a friend that I hope to have no matter where we live...and I miss the friends I know I will always keep in touch with.  Wow...what a year!

The new fireplace is in and ready to be finished with the cultured stream stone.  And today the stockings are hung by the construction with care.  Despite the framing and piping still showing, the Christmas stockings look great.  The Christmas trees are up and sparkling and the first party is tonight. 

I find that with the improvements we make with this house, it becomes more "our" home. It is like we are building a new foundation after the last one was taken out from under us with this last military move.  But slowly we are constructing our new California lives and sprouting roots.

So, trying something new again.  This one by choice.  My 14 year old has a homeschool coop assignment to create a blog on this site.  Well...guessed I should see what this is all about.

We are new to the west coast, new to this house that we are putting a new fireplace in to make this old house look like new. I am use to new things...but don't always like having to do new things.  Since marrying a man in the air force I have had to learn how to adapt to "new" and quickly.  This last new is taking me awhile.  We moved to the west coast from the south leaving friends behind that were more like family.  Our house seemed to be the social center for all of our friends and today being Thanksgiving I have missed them all terribly!  I am used to having to put both leaves in the table to accomodate all the friends.  Today I put one leaf in the table just for the sake of the tablecloth.  Bear(my husband) ...his folks are here for the holiday.  Dad is helping Bear to put in the new fireplace.

The old fireplace was a woodstove with a 20 foot pipe going through the roof...not pretty.  Having family here is helping with missing friends.