Busy Week

 This week has felt just like spring. In the afternoon I leave the back door open and breathe in the fresh air. Some birds kept flitting in and out of the bird bath, getting drinks and a bath. I had to patiently wait until the birds came to the bath to take a few photos before they flew off again. They kept coming back all afternoon.

 Penelope waited patiently too.

 On Monday, Kyla and Liam both got awards from school. Kyla's was for Respect and Liam's was for Academics.

 Kyla with her best friend Marley and her teacher, Miss Fry. 

 Last night we went to the hockey game. The Idaho Steelheads played against the Alaska Aces and won 6-5 after 4th period overtime and a shootout.

Wishing for Spring

The weather is starting to warm up, the days are already getting longer, and we have been hearing the birds chirping. I think spring is just around the corner. We spent a good part of the weekend outside.

The cabin fever was starting to get to us, so the kids and I went to the park.

 Liam and his BFF, Sophie

Will is starting to get the gardening bug so this weekend he and Liam built a raised bed where we grew our tomatoes last year. They also put together a little green house and put it in our veggie garden. Will got several things seeded already in anticipation for our harvest. 

The chickens were enjoying a nice dust bath. 

Suki got in a back rub. 

One night last week, the kids' school had a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Night and one of the activities that Kyla got to do was make a rocket out of pipe insulation, duct tape and an elastic band. Liam and Moira didn't get a chance to make one so we made some at home, using Kyla's as a model. Cousin Olivia was over and she got to make one too. The kids were shooting them across the yard and up into the air.

Making

I always feel so relieved when Christmas is over because my busiest time for creating is over. However, it's short-lived because Valentine's Day comes right after, not to mention a lot of birthdays in February. Here are some things that I have made recently for Valentine's Day: 


These were some mugs that I made for Liam's and Kyla's teachers and one for the bus driver. I decorated them with Sharpies. This is a popular craft that is going around Pinterest.

I made some geeky pillows for a Valentine's sale that a friend was having at her studio. These are my own designs and I hand painted all of it.

Firefly. I even created my own 'verse fabric. 

Dr. Who

Game of Thrones

Here are a few things that I made for Green Chutes. I made a few pillows, heart ornaments and embroidered heart brooches.

This is the blanket I have been working on. Since I took this photo, I have finished off my second skein of yarn. I will make it a little bit bigger before I start on the next phase.

A Visit Home

As you might remember, for Christmas, Will got me a plane ticket home to see my sister for her birthday. I flew up last Thursday and got back Tuesday of this week. It was a busy six days, but it was a lot of fun. Here are some random photos from my trip:

Chilliwack. It was so good to see blue sky. 

I miss the mountains.

My first day, Erica's friend did my nails for me.

Port Mann Bridge

The Fraser River looking towards New Westminster...

and towards Maple Ridge.

We drank lots of Tim Horton's.

Going out for dinner at a Japanese restaurant

My sister

My dad

Sushi!

 Heading into Vancouver on the Skytrain

 Cool shoes we saw at The Bay

 I love ketchup chips, but spicy chili ketchup chips are even better.

 Abbotsford: the raspberry capital of Canada

 Chilliwack on the one cloudy day while I was there.

My trip wouldn't be complete without lunch at The White Spot

 Notice we eat chips (fries) with vinegar

My niece, Emily, and Erica

Erica and her cat, Annie

On my last day I got to help Erica at her library.

I thought it would be interesting to post some pictures of the border crossing. There are no fences, gates or barricades separating Canada from the United States. There is a little ditch, though.

A little monument marking the 49th parallel, the boundary between the two countries

There is a road on the Canadian side of the border, 0 Avenue, that runs along the edge of the boundary

The border crossing on the American side. They have lots of cameras and thermal imaging devices to check your vehicle before you even pull up to talk to the border patrol. The Canadians have none of this. We are far more trusting.

Mount Baker, Washington

This is the type of plane I flew in on my way up and back to Boise. This shot was taken at Sea-Tac while we were waiting to board.