Doilies--Accessorizing Furniture

 I love doilies but haven't used them the last couple of years because I just didn't take the time to wash, starch and shape them. This year I made time!

Shaping with wads of waxed paper and/or newspaper to fill tin foil "tents."













                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Accessorizing the beautiful vase Stacia brought home from Afghanistan.

This doily was SO full of ruffles. My first try definitely didn't work. The clothes pins were like dominioes--when one fell, they all went.

SNOW. . .and lots of it!

Monday, January 31--lots of snow
Tuesday, February 1--icy snow from the east
Wednesday, February 22--lots more snow
Thurs & Fri, Feb 3 & 4--Sunny days to dig out of snow. Shovels and snowblowers weren't enough. Tractors were needed to move the enormous amount of snow with ice sandwiched in between.

 Wishing I had kids to play with!

Saturday, Feb 5--6 more inches of snow
Sunday, Feb 7--only one service at church at 10
Monday, Feb 8--more snow removal (thanks to Bruce and Shane Lehman) and bigger piles

Not quite a 14er. . .but the biggest mountain we've ever had in our yard.

Owen's 4!

Owen was so happy on at his 4th birthday party. He could hardly wait to eat. . . and then to have cake and presents.

Kate Date

 What a special treat when Kate D. and I had wonderful one-on-one time.

 
 A ship in the center of the Fort Wayne Botanical Gardens was her favorite.
















We walked through the gardens but not for long.



















She was eager to get back to the ship where she was in constant motion!

George Washington slept here

Stephanie, Amy, Alec; Stacia, Judd and Jessa; Brooks, Masha, Tory, Beau and Jack; Hilary, Colin and Caroline: nieces and nephews who have all stayed overnight at our house multiple times for multiple nights. It never happened with Ike . . . until last Friday night, January 21st, in the year of our Lord, 2011.

Ike,  we're so glad you came! It may have been the first time you spent the night at our house but don't let it be the last.

The next morning Ike, his parents, Brent and Sandie, and Neil and I took blueberry sausage breakfast bake, one of Mark's favorites, to Swiss Village, and had brunch with Grandma Birdsall. A great time of visiting took place in the dining area and then back in her apartment.

Pristine Beauty

Low-lying shrubs, aspen trunks and evergreens.













So much "dead and down" was cleared in the first two years we owned the property that made way for new growth. This brave, little tree is just about 18" tall.

Just a few months ago the leaves on this aspen tree were all ablaze. Now snow nestles among some of the empty branches.

Snow really clings to the long needles on this tree near the side porch.

A picture of that same long-needled evergreen from the porch.

Clumps of grass are scattered in one of our little meadows. The moisture in the snow will help more of it to grow next summer.

Home Sweet Home

A bright blue sky after a new snowfall. Beautiful!

It was a little tricky getting up the driveway. 4-wheel drive really helps!

The trees were beautifully flocked with snow.