::this moment:: Maple Sugar Time

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.

Stop by Soulemama's blog to visit more moments!

Elimination Round

If you read some of my posts from last summer you will know how much I detest potatoe bugs.  I really, really hate them, I do!  So when I was looking through one of my garden books I came across a tip to STOP potatoe bugs. 

The best part - it's easy peasy!

When you are cooking eggs put the shells in a dish to dry.  Once they are dry crush them up and save them in a jar until you plant your potatoes.

When your potatoes are planted sprinkle the egg shells around the plants and apparently it is suppose to keep the potatoe bugs away.  I can't tell you whether it works or not but I think it is well worth it if it does work.

Do you have any ideas to keep the potatoe bugs away?

::this moment:: Frosty the Snowman

::this moment:: Frosty the Snowman

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.

Stop by Soulemama's blog to visit more moments!

Dreaming...

Most women will dream about their careers and where it will be heading in the near future, they will dream about what renovations can be done to their house, or they dream about their children's futures and who they will be.  I also dream about those things but in the cold, snowy winter months here in Canada I like to try and dream about other things.



Right now I am dreaming about what my new chicken coop is going to look like for these ladies.  I currently have 24 laying hens and am planning on getting around 40 more in the spring.  The current chicken coop is just big enough for 24 but it is also home to my meat chickens in the summer.  So right now I'll dream about what the possibility of the new coop will hold.

In this mild February weather the ladies LOVE going outside and tromping around.  I'm waiting for one of them to try climbing the snow hill just outside their coop!

What else am I dreaming about tucked inside my house while the snow blows outside?  My garden of course!  I received my first seed catalog in the mail and was so excited.  I am really hoping to open a vegetable stand full time this year. 

So I am dreaming about what veggies I'll plant and what my 'new' vegetable stand will look like too.  There is just so much to dream about on the long winter nights.

What are you dreaming about this winter?

Happy Valentines Day

Wishing you a very Happy Valentines Day.  Seth got lots of kisses from his sister when she discovered that lipstick leaves lip prints!!

Valentine Cupcakes

This is a really simple treat that I made for Sadie's class for Valentines Day tomorrow. 

All you need is a vanilla cake mix, or make it yourself and add some pink/red food colouring and you will have some yummy pink cupcakes.

I made a buttercream icing and topped with multicoloured sprinkles. 

Buttercream Icing

2 cups icing sugar
6 Tbsps butter/margarine softened
1 tsp vanilla
3 tsp milk

Mix it together and you have a DELICIOUS icing for your cupcakes!

Valentine Angel Craft

Here is a little Valentine angel that I found when browsing through the Craft Crow website.  All you need is a printer, scissors, glue stick and some tape.

First you print off the template that you can get for free here from the all sorts website.

I just cut out the 4 pieces and 'glued/taped' them to make them look like this cute little angel.

I made one for both Sadie and Seth, even though I am not a huge Valentine fan.  It was just too cute to pass! 

What are you making for your special someone's?

Harvest Moon By Hand's Diary of 5

Harvest Moon By Hand's Diary of 5

Just visited Harvest Moon By Hand and thought this was a nice way to begin the day.


I am seeing... my kids playing quietly on the toy room floor with Sadie in her 'makeup' and Seth with 54 kisses on his face from his sister's lipstick kisses.

I am smelling... pretty soon it will be the smell of cocking when I start repairing the salvaged wooden windows for my new chicken coop.


I am hearing...my children playing, the furnace fan running.


I tasted...a vanilla cupcake with buttercream icing.  YUM!


I am feeling... a little overwhelmed with the chores and 'stuff' that needs to get done today before we go to my friends birthday potluck dinner tonight.


Your turn...what are your senses sharing with you this morning?