WOW! FEBRUARY 2011 ALREADY!

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It's been a snowy winter for us thus far. It's already February! Our biggest snow fall was about 15 inches, but it hasn't melted very much; and we keep getting a few more inches (or 12) here and there! Here are some pictures of this winter's snow AND ice!

Snow play early in the season

Jared and Owen cleaning the car

Nathan using the "new" snow blower that Nana gave us--she had it for years,
but it's a John Deere!

Nathan and Jared working on snow removal

Thankfully, Jim came home early and was able to help the boys out with snow removal. I can't remember what we got that time--last week--I think 10+ inches...?

Our latest few inches from this morning (Tues. 2/8/11)

We've had a lot of ice build up this year as well. EVERYONE has. I don't think you go past a house that doesn't have icicles! Our neighbor has one that is probably 10' long.

This is what it does as it slowly slides down the roof!

Pretty wild, huh!

I've been trying to be more of a creative, "from-scratch" homemaker. I've been wanting to make my own vanilla extract for a long time now. Finally I found a place on Ebay to get the vanilla beans , called Vanilla Products USA, at a reasonable price, so I ordered them last week and got them in a few days. Yesterday I ordered more, because the day before I made up my first jar of vanilla extract! Jim got more vodka today, so I made up another 4 jars. I watched a Youtube video with instructions on this. I really like this woman, and I can't wait to watch more of her videos!

First you cut up 6 vanilla beans per 8 oz. jar

Fill the jar with vodka--this will NOT be 8 oz. of vodka

Close jars tightly and shake a little. Store in cool dark place. I put ours in the back of our pantry--behind the cereal. (the "pantry" has doors, so it stays dark) I will shake the jars every 3 days for 5 or 6 weeks! I even marked the calendar this morning when I should shake the jars and when they'll be read! I can't wait!

I will be adding more pictures of foods we've made and things we've done in the past few months (I hope soon). I'm also wanting to change the name of my blog. But I have no idea of a creative name to give it. Still waiting for my creativity to come back! ALSO, I want to make a more craft, creative title. I don't do digital scrapbooking, so I don't know how to do it...then again, I should talk to my friend, Sunflower! She's always doing that kind of stuff on her blogs!

Until next time....

blessings, joie