It's a late winters day, almost spring. The thin sunlight is filtering through a cloudy sky turning the world bright so you have to squint no matter which direction you look.
 The snow is turning first to slush and then to mud.
 it is a day you can take a walk wearing only a sweat shirt, jeans and rubber boots. You feel free, not encumbered by that bulky winter coat.
 I spotted a few geese flying overhead. I hope they find food and a soft place to land.
 Hungry deer have ventured up on the hillsides looking for fresh shoots popping up.
 Boys are bringing out their toys. I just saw Willie spinning donuts on the still ice covered lake.
 The dogs search for tasty tid-bits in the woods.

What signs of spring have you noticed?

Have you seen any Leprechaun's or pots of gold?

Baby Girl

She'll steal your heart

Right from the start.

She'll giggle and coo

And that's not all she will do.

You can dress her up in lace and bows.

Oh, what fun to buy little girl cloths.

Take time to enjoy this precious gift

And in your hearts you will all be rich.

 I've just finished this quilt to send to my great niece Mazy, who will soon be joining our family.
 Her brother Noah can hardly wait for his little sister to arrive.
 And believe me the rest of us are pretty anxious to meet Mazy.



Outdoors Woman

 My sister in law Twila rode the midnight train to Rugby, ND from Minneapolis to go to an outdoor woman's work shop with me,

 We chose cross country skiing. I needed a few pointers, how to go up and down hills, and how to get up when you fall down.

 The first time I put on my skies and tried to get to the lake I fell down and was flailing around in the snow trying to figure out how to untangle my skies and get up when husband Willie drives by in the tractor honking the horn.

 It was 20 below the morning of the workshop but did stay warm all bundled up in our insulated ski cloths.

 It was quite a workout. We skied five miles up and down hills, over bridges, around corners.

Get up fall down, do it all again.

(Whew, we made it back)



Turn The Page Tuesday- An Untamed Land

   In "An Untamed Land" Lauraine Snelling's first novel in her Red River of The North series you will travel with the Bjorklund families on their journey from Norway to their homestead in North Dakota.
 From sea sickness on the long boat ride to arriving in New York not knowing a word of English.
 It is a fascinating story. The happiness and heartache this pioneer family goes through to prove up their land and make a new life in America.

 This book begins "Ingeborg Bjorklund shifted on the hard bench and fingered the tattered newspaper article in the pocket of her reticule. She lifted her face to the offshore wind that brought a fresh breeze to nostrils filled too long with only salt-scented air."

 Lauraine Snelling being of Norwegian heritage has dedicated this book to "The men and women who left Norway to forge a new life in America were pioneers of deep courage and fortitude. Leaving behind everything they treasured, they faced innumerable hardships as they settled across the territories of the West."

 I will defiantly be keeping my eye out for the second book in this series.

To find more good books visit Some Of a Kind

Still Winter.....

Here is our handy dandy snow blower.

 Winter isn't over yet. That was a nice spring teaser we had last week getting up into the 40's. The snow was melting and I was hoping that old ground hog was right with his predictions and spring was really here.

 We're back to the below zero temperatures, hats mittens and insulated coveralls.

 This February thaw does make winter a little shorter though and spring is right around the corner.

Funny Valentine

 Shortly before Valentines day ten years ago I picked my daughter Dawn up from kindergarten.

 She told me we had to go shopping. That she had to give a gift to everyone in her class.

 I replied "No, you need a card for everyone in your class. That's how it was when I was in school."

 She asked "Mom, when you went to school where there cowboys and Indians?" 

(Wow, she really thinks I'm old)

Looking forward to Spring

 Phil, that silly old groundhog didn't see his shadow this year. He is predicting an early spring.

Have you started planning your garden?
 It's so exciting to get the new seed catalog's in the mail this time of year.
 Wow, all the possibilities! Early Contender Bush Beans, Yukon Gold Potato's, tender sweet Carrots, Pixie Crunch Apples. I want them all!!!!

 In North Dakota the soil is so dark and rich, as soon as the snow melts off new seedlings are sprouting up. When the soil is damp and the weather  warm you can almost see the plants growing.