Stone House Scribblings

We went to a funeral of an old friend today. I think the obituary was the nicest I have ever heard in my life. The funeral was nice too, if I may say so. There were thoughtful hymns sung with old fashioned theology that I haven't thought of for years. I'm not sure I understood… Continue reading Musings

Forecasters are predicting a foot of snow to accumulate by tomorrow evening. It's a perfect day to keep a fire going in the cook stove. As long as the tea kettle sings or hums, I know that there's a sustainable fire going on in there. Silence means that I've allowed the kettle to go dry… Continue reading Snowy Day

I enjoy February, grey skies, blahs, and all. It's the best kind of recess after the big Holidays and winter illnesses, but before the rush of taxes, seed starting, and summer plans. I often go ahead with taxes and garden sketching in February, but the point is that I could put them off and still… Continue reading Home in February

Lately, I've been writing ten things I am grateful for, in my journal, every day. Of course, in my small world themes and the same things are bound to show up over and over on these lists. Surprisingly though, the more I do it the more specific and detailed I can be. Evidently this exercise… Continue reading Ten Things

Sometimes I feel discouraged. I mean, I AM discouraged with my need of the reminder to be thankful and gracious. Maybe you have this thing nailed for good. I don't. I feel anxious about what people think about our decisions or lack thereof. I worry about timing of events that involve us or our family.… Continue reading Graciousness, Again

It could be a dull January day, convalescing alone at home. My steamer purrs companionably or drearily depending on my attitude. The sun can't decide what to do and keeps hiding, but the sky that's showing behind the clouds is brilliantly blue. I've been detailing instead of moping. Detailing at homemaking is doing those little… Continue reading Details, Home Stuff

Winter is at peak performance. Pristine, negative zero cold settles in night after night. When it's warmer, we have a new snowfall. Most days the sunshine slants in making warm, yellow pools with snowflake reflections in them in the living room. The house plants bask in living green-ness. Brad flew back to his home in… Continue reading After the Holidays

Well, this year's Christmas Eve day has been lovely. I know this because I happened to find my journal from last year. I sat there on the floor reading. Then I stopped. No, I will not. I made three kinds of Christmas cookies today. And took a long walk in the balmy winter weather. Yes,… Continue reading Christmas Eve

A Picture Posting I guess I'll take it one at a time. Which will make it out of order because these pictures loaded themselves up any which order. It's been a good month. Dru and Lisl's children were here Saturday. We did all the things you do with grandkids in winter: played in the snow,… Continue reading December

All I had to do was to browse through my photos  to figure out what should be in this letter. A lot of changes took place, but we've said enough about those things. So here's our year from the photos mostly. There are pictures of when we went to Cheney Lake, our favorite little lake… Continue reading Christmas Letter 2021