What we've been up to

After seven months of hard work (meh, we took a three month break in there...and by we I mean G did a lot of the work) we finally finished these magnetic beauties

Hand cut, hand painted.  We love them and they're beautiful.

I have been working on perfecting my bread, because we all know that store-bought bread leaves something to be desired.  Several years ago my mom gave me a double loaf bread pan that is larger than regular loaf pans, which made for some squatty looking bread from a regular recipe.  After many different recipes and many variations on proportions and bake times, I finally feel like I've reached perfection

Large, lovely top, perfect crumb, holds up to sandwich making, and perfect for snacking (not to mention, 100% freshly ground whole wheat.)

We have the perfect sledding hill out back, which we the boys have taken advantage of a few times when the temperature hasn't been too frigid

I like watching all the birds that hang out in that bush and trees up there (it makes me feel like an old person saying I like watching the birds) but having come from Utah where birds are all brown and pretty blahzei, I've loved seeing all the cardinals (the lady cardinals are a favorite), blue jays and chickadees.  G got me a bird feeder recently which I'm looking forward to having out there so the birds (hopefully) come a little closer.  Unfortunately, the cardinals and blue jays are extremely camera shy (read: skitterish) and as soon as you get in the window with a camera they fly away.  I must say, I could do without the noisy crows though.

Food, glorious food

Looking back through our pictures, I realized that 40-50% of them revolve around food.  And since everybody likes to eat, I thought I'd share.

(In case you were wondering, we are on the gluten-based diet.)

Not wanting to be left out, the little man-child generally insists on his food being photographed along with the pretty stuff

And I thought that was cold...

Back in January I took this picture thinking it was cold

But then I took this one this week:

Needless to say, we don't get out much lately.  But when we do, we make snow ducks.