Our 6th Day of Snow in the Seattle Area!

 January is the month I teach Anni about winter weather. I think we may have tempted the weather fates. They blew a cold front that's been drifting snow down since last Saturday.

 Anni's winter art.

 Snowmen rule the bulletin board.

 And they're taking over the mantel.

 Snowflakes hanging midair between the learning center and the dining room.

 We braved outside to feed the chickens.

 They were hungry and so not amused by the snow.

 A rhody in winter white.

 Barkley, have you been eating the snow again?

 Snowflake sugar cookies.

 No two are exactly alike.

 Is it nature or the unsteady hand of the decorator?

The flowerpot snowman standing guard over the garden. "Back you snow goblins!"

 A ginormous icicle handing right over the center of our front door, ready to nail the unexpected.

 Is this the rare Northwest tree squid?

 Nope, just a frozen wind chime anchored by an aggressive grape vine.

The official family snow-o-meter.

We've enjoyed our winter respite, but seriously Weather Fates, enough! My farm box is coming tomorrow and I don't want to have to sled seven miles to pick it up!

Lot of New Year Fun!

Happy New Year Everybody! Can you believe it's 2012 already?

We celebrated the turning of the year by all going out for a family dinner to our favorite local seafood restaurant for appetizers, dessert, and drinks. It was delish.

On January 8th, we celebrated Elvis's Birthday by playing music, watching Jail House Rock, and baking Hunkka Love Chunk cookies. The next day, I went out dancing in my blue suede boots and my mini dress. And to complete the Elvis trifecta, I went with a group of fellow writers out to see the Northwest Elvis impersonators' competition at the EMP last night. There were a whole lot of Elvi. It was fun!

Chicken Coop in the snow.

Greenhouse under a blanket of white.
David and Alex spent yesterday morning, planting nearly 700 trees along a stream bank as part of a restoration project. During that time, it rained, hailed, sleeted, and snowed. They looked like drown rats upon their return.

View out our front window this morning.

Anni having a ride.

Ari helping to bring back the groceries.
Today, the snow came down! We had a good three inches up on our hill. Anni enjoyed a ride on the sled before Alex, Ari, and I swiped it to go to the grocery store. It was a 4 mile round trip, lots of healthy exercise!

A tree in flocked splendor.

A cold day in the neighborhood; just right for soup, sandwiches, and fresh baked cookies.