Mountain Lane Homesteaders

Today I have been enjoying the pleasure of your company. I have read blogs I've never been to before (there are some neat new people here!) and I have visited some dear friends. Let me just say.......I have missed you! Although I've been popping in now and then over the past couple of weeks, I haven't read as much as I'd like, nor have I been able to write. Although I'm sure I have missed some wonderful posts I have been enjoying some extended family time.

It's always hard to know how to balance the physical needs of our project (nope, no potty yet!) with the less visible but equally important needs of rest and fun as a family (believe it or not, the kids DO NOT necessarily always agree that fetching firewood, working with the sawmill, peeling poles, sifting tiny rocks out of the garden, or doing yard work is as fun as we make it out to be.) One thing we've done to get ourselves (the grown ups!) to change the pace a bit for our family is to set the days from Christmas through New Years as a time for lots and lots of games, puzzles, drawing (well, the others enjoy drawing....I'm more of a colorer of pictures already there myself!), family movies, reading out loud together, and other various "together" activities that are not also "chores". Even though it's our desire to do these things all year round it seems as though it's the slower, colder days of winter, when we can finally make it happen. There are still a million and one things we "should" be doing but "should" is finally made to wait.

We have REALLY enjoyed our holiday this year and due to illness, the time has been extended longer than the expected date of January 3rd when school started up again. Sam took a couple of sick days right around that time and then I think everyone was at their perspective places for ONE DAY before our youngest came down with a bad sore throat/fever. She finally returned to school today and I have had time to myself to spend here catching up with all of you just a bit. As much as our special holiday family times are looked forward to and enjoyed I am ready to get back into some routines!

I need to get going for now, but my intention is to begin blogging regularly again. I don't want to miss any more good information or stories that you all might be writing about and I still have a story or two (or ten?) to share as well.

See you soon!