I love doing chores in the morning!

The alarms start to ring at 5:00 a.m. and continue at 8 minute intervals until one of us begrudgingly arises and starts the morning routine. Win and Remi pace restlessly around the bed from the moment they sense the first stir until the big race out into the dog world where fresh mornings smells greet them.


Slowly the house wakes up. Dakota’s cage gets uncovered and he makes his morning peeps, Cheyenne stretches and yawns with Jason, and someone makes the coffee…usually me.


It ebbs and wanes but the morning noise level is always a bit surprising. The TV blaring, the shower running, hairdryer, microwave, coffee perking, bird squawking, dogs barking and stomping around…It’s feels deafening!


And when it’s all done and we’re headed out the door there is one moment in my day that brings me absolute joy-

Morning Chores!

It’s an incredibly quiet task, if I choose it to be, and everyone is happy to see me! I call out to Skipper and Cinders and they respond in kind. The goats bleat just a little bit as they are still sleepy too. Howly Berry meets me in the driveway and walks with me down to the barn so I can feed the horses and break their ice. Sometimes I see deer bedded down or grazing on the sky line which is tinted pink from the impending sunrise.

What a lovely, calm, quiet way to start my mornings.

I am reminded that I AM LUCKY.

Sisters

She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink.

~Barbara Alpert

Grandma's Apron

The strings were tied, It was freshly washed, and maybe even pressed.

For Grandma, it was everyday to choose one when she dressed.

The simple apron that it was, you would never think about

the things she used it for that made it look worn out.

~excerpt from Grandma's Apron by Tina Trivett

Aprons may just be my MOST FAVORITE THING! For as long as I can remember I've been infatuated with them. Wearing, collecting and displaying, even creating aprons for my friends and family brings me joy.

Here's Karen wearing one of my creations, given to her by my sister, Lindsay, for Christmas

My most cherished aprons hang in my dining room.

This Christmas has already bestowed two new additions- the Turkey Brand Flour apron made out of a flour sack from Lehi Roller Mills in Utah and a reversible french country style apron. I wonder just how many I have these days?!?

There are even blogs named after and dedicated to the Apron, it's not just me.

Check out these great blogs for warm, happy apron feelings!

Apronista ~A site dedicated to aprons

Farm House Accesories ~This gal makes some ADORABLE aprons

Apron Strings and other Happy Things ~My apron loving twin

Magnificent Magnabilities!

Today's favorite thing: The Magnificent Magnabilities necklace!

MADE IN WASHINGTON (NOT IN CHINA) by the very talented artist Susan Fashel, these little gems don't hurt the pocket book or the eyes! A customer of mine came in sporting a Christmas insert that was JUST ADORABLE! She told me "Whenever you need a little pick me up, you run down and buy a new insert for a few sheckles and make your day a little brighter!"

Find them at Wild Ivy @ 275 Southeast Bishop Boulevard Pullman, WA (509) 332-1403

OR view all the nifty designs online by clicking the links above or below. Make sure you enter the code below for a FREE insert with your online order!

Did you catch that? FREE!

Here's my new necklace!

The round part has a magnetic back. IT JUST STICKS!

The other insert I got...SUPRISE SUPRISE... horseshoes!

CHECK IT! Here is a code for a free insert on MAGNABILITIES website-

Free Design Insert on your next online order of $10.00 or more: enter code: design350 at checkout. For online use only!

These are....

This week's theme shall be **drum roll please**

...A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS... Here's one now!

Today's favorite thing comes from my country kitchen! It's an old wooden Pepsi crate that I mounted picture hanging hardware to, hung from the kitchen wall, and use to store all my spices and bullion cubes. OK, (because I know Angela and Lindsay will read this) not ALL my spices, just the most used. I have a thing for spices, what can I say!

**********

Christmas is upon us. Our family has already celebrated as a whole, complete with screaming stomping elephant footed herds of children,
food, food, and more food,

*Xander munching some John Deere pop corn and packing TWO drinks around*

presents of course,

*Cody and Zacky unwrap gifts*

and tons of family to share the warm and fuzzy feelings.

It's so important to say...

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

~Skipper, ME, and Marley~

~Milly and I~

When you can get not one, not two, BUT three horses to tolerate Santa hats and picture snapping CALL ME! We'll discuss technique ;) I got the ponies all dolled up a few winters ago and had Angela (see "I want a pretty apron" post) snap a few shots. Turned out pretty cute, if I do say so.

Road Trippin

This is James, my Mom's new '10 Tundra Crew Max

She flew in from Southern Utah to buy him from James Toyota in Pullman, WA. They were excellent to work with, getting exactly what she wanted!

Mom and Grandpa at the Pendleton Woolen Mills in Pendleton Oregon.

We went on a tour of the Woolen Mill and stopped in at Hamley's Saddle Shop (we all know who wanted to go there, right?) and had a great dinner at Hamely's Steak House too!

On our way through Southern Idaho we stopped at Hagerman to see the Hagerman Horse fossil. "They" believe he's more Zebra than horse but he does have one hoof instead of two or three toes. Pretty neat!

Between Hagerman and Twin Falls there's a stretch called 1000 Springs. Fish farms, alligator farms and Bird and Wildlife Refuges are EVERYWHERE. We stopped at the state fish farm to check out the Show Pond. There were Yellow and Rainbow Trout, Tiger Muskee and GIANT STURGEON! My first time ever seeing one of these dinasours! Mom claims they taste really yummy at the Snake River Grill in Hagerman but I'd prefer to watch them swim about.

After leaving Twin Falls we encountered the beginning of some intense winter driving, a true test for James. We made it to Tremonton Utah for the night. THE ENTIRE NEXT MORNING was filled with snow and dense clouds like this one. PRETTY but intense.

And finally, the open road home! Storm clouds were looming but the drive was pretty great.

Do Not Eat The Kitty!

This is Dana. I know the picture is blurry but I had to REALLY crop it to get just Dana trying to eat the kitty he's holding. While trying to get family pictures SOMEBODY kept being silly!

Cherished

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill, is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of man and woman do run, when their time on the earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next, is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play, till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness, for here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed, their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care, until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back, then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met; together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past, the time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart, has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever, and then, side by side, they cross over… together.

Duke,

You will always be in my heart. You were my dog baby, full of smiles and happy tail wags. I will desperately miss snuggling with you. How did you always know when I needed you?

I can only imagine the reunion between you and Cody girl and it makes me smile to think of you together again!

Marley,
You came to us only a handful of years ago, but it felt like we were together a lifetime . You were incredibly sweet and gentle. I will truly miss spending time with you. I know you are now in a happier place, free from pain and limitations.