Weekend ~ Extended

We had a snow day today and it was so relaxing and wonderful. I got all of my cleaning done yesterday so I could totally enjoy being home. Ahhhhh! 

We got heaps of snow and the wind was howling. I was thankful to not loose power even though we were prepared and all charged up! 

On Saturday we went to NYC with our best friends. We took the train from Fairfield, CT  (we are bout a 2 hour drive or train ride from NYC). This time we ate a lovely lunch at Eataly and it was wonderful! 

We explored Soho a bit and just shopped, talked, and walked around. I love being in NYC for a day. (and I love coming home too!)  

I have been changing paintings, mantles, baskets here and there around the house. Taking down darker colors, heavier pieces in lue of spring coming. But this room I hadn't gotten to yet. And I'm so glad because it was just as wintery and cozy as could be when our blizzard came. 

Today on our snow day I got to 

❄️enjoy sleeping with out an early alarm 

❄️have a long, extra long workout with out watching the clock

❄️eat and snack whenever I wanted to

❄️wear the coziest clothes

❄️redo my china cabinet for spring in our kitchen

❄️have an extra long quite time in prayer and with my devotional this morning 

These days we will make up for in June. Each snow day is an extra day tacked on to the end of the school year but it was so worth it. I loved it so much!  

Nooooooo Snow!

Update Sunday Night: It's now up to 20 inches and a proclaimed blizzard with winds up to 70 mph! 

Friday: 

I'm not sure why I had the feeling that this storm was going to be our one and only big storm. 

There are still mounds of snow everywhere! Over a foot covering every surface. 

Well I was wrong. Very wrong. We have another one coming Sunday night into Monday. 

Although I do adore the cozy of a snowstorm, I really just want green grass and tulips please. 

Growing Closer to Him

"Lent is a period of preparation in our hearts and minds observed before the joy of Easter. During this season we reflect upon and participate in the sufferings of Jesus Christ that he endured for our salvation." ~ Kendra Tierney

Lent starts today.  It is a day of fasting and prayer for us and although Lent can feel long and also 'hard' at times, it is a wonderful time in our liturgical calendar to focus on the sufferings of Jesus. 

I did some preparation reading and brought some ideas to our dinner time table so that our family would all be ready for Ash Wednesday. 

"Lent is a time to perfect oneself with the help of grace. It is a time to grow closer to God, to take up new practices that keep lead us toward him, and to leave behind practices that draw us from him." 

I love this book and here are some of the things I loved from the chapter on the Lenten season. This is not a book to use as a focus or devotional during lent. It is simply a book that goes through the liturgical calendar with helpful advice. It helps you see things from a new perspective. Maybe soon I'll post some of my favorite things for lent... when I can! 

 

We weren't all together for Ash Wednesday today but this picture sure made me smile when it popped up on my phone! 

I went on the way home from my school (no getting me out of the house after being gone all day, ha!) 

And after our first no meat dinner... which was really good! 

Scott and Anna went later! 

"Our goal as Christians is to be attached to God and the things of Heaven and to be detached from sin and the things of the world." 

I love that and it (and other parts of this book) really helped me to decide on my focus for this lenten season. 

"For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also." Matthew 6:21 

Here is a past post on lent 

Lent ten years ago in our home 

Valentine's Weekend

Lot's of things in this post: 

💗 We had a long weekend (Monday and Tuesday off)

💗 We celebrated Valentine's Day

💗 Mardi Gras at our church

💗Bringing Abigail back to campus 

💗Antique finds

💗 Baking 

It was the best weekend! Lots of sunshine - bright, bright, bright! And oh how that hits different in February after a long winter. I'm no fool. I know here in New England we have a long way to go. We can have snow in early April! But still, that sunshine is won der ful ! ! !

One of the best parts of the weekend was that Abigail came home on Friday evening! She had Monday off from classes so home she came. My mama's heart is full full full when she is home with us! 

On Saturday she got up bright and early with me and went shopping and antiquing! So fun and home by 10:30 with still the whole day ahead of us!

In the afternoon I baked a pie (did the pie crust on Friday night) and I have so many pictures of this pie. What is it about a pie that makes me need to photograph it? I just do! 

Cooling on my pie cooling window 💕

Scott cooked up a lovely dinner and I made homemade bread and we brought it all over to my Mom and Dad's house. Such a wonderful evening all of us there! 

I found this pie basket at an antique store last weekend and she looks so cute in there! Adorable pie traveling! 

Later that night when we got home the girls opened their valentines from us! So fun! 

Sunday

On Sunday after Mass there was a Mardi Gras celebration! (Lent begins on Wednesday) So festive and fun! 

We spent most of that day doing little things at home. I started writing my report cards (have a goal of doing 6 per day and then done!) 

And some antique finds from the weekend: a 60's dress for Abigail for Easter, a chair pad that is so lovely, a pie dish for the fall, and botanical laser prints framed so lovely to hang in our living room! 

Monday

We brought Abigail back to college and took her out to lunch. Gotta take a picture of us saying goodbye til spring break! 

Tomorrow off too! We will be taking down all of the winter and Valentine's Day things around the house and I will clean and 'play house' with dishes, antiques and things deciding how I want things to look for the next few months! 

Valentine's Day

One of the reasons I'm so glad I ever started this blog ... the memories! All neatly stored here for me to look back at. Since it's almost Valentine's Day I thought I'd share some of the past favorite posts: 

2011 When I was just learning photography and I made these cards for them to give to their friends. They are so adorable! 

2012 It must have been 5 degrees out when I took these pictures! 

2013 Elementary school for Anna! 

2014  I remember this one so well. It is in my heart every time I think about Valentine's day! And that little video at the end! 

2015 

2016 This one with the cold weather, the little cherry dress Abigail is wearing, and going to brunch after Mass 

2017 This one had a Disney surprise and a blizzard! 

2018 My first year back as a classroom teacher. 

There are oh so many more ... but those little years! Magic! 

Never Posted ~ Valentines When She was in China

February 2026 ~ Two years ago Anna was in China for six months studying at a college there and becoming fluent in the language. I must have meant to post these pictures but never hit publish and just noticed it as a draft. Since it's about Valentine's Day, I thought I'd post it now.  

This weekend I got all of the little things ready to mail to Anna in China for Valentines Day. I know that Valentines is not a thing in China - and Chinese New Year IS a big big thing, but I wanted to send a little heart love to our girl over here. 

 All sealed up and ready to goooooo!

It reminded me of twenty years ago when Scott and I mailed another special package to China - one for a baby girl waiting in an orphanage. (pictures from albums)