Homemade Ice Cream...Even in Winter

The time has come for me to finally finish off this blog post and move it out of my drafts folder.  Don't know why I always seem to get stalled at this same point in the blogging process.  Oh wait!  I suppose I have 4 reasons to get distracted from completing my blog posts in a timely manner--the husband and three kiddos in my life--all good reasons, of course. :)

Ok on to a highly important topic...ice cream.  But not just any kind, the homemade kind.  As it is in most cases, homemade is just better.  If you agree with me and you have one of these....

a Kitchen Aid mixer--any style will do.

Then you really ought to consider getting one of these...

Boys and Books

The new year has started well for our little family--in the normal slightly chaotic way. We're enjoying the coziness of indoor activities this time of year.  But of course when the sun shines and it's not too bitterly cold, we definitely get outside.  And naturally there are times we need to be outside shoveling sidewalks, scraping windsheilds, tending to our chickens or hauling in firewood.  But when we can be inside, it doesn't get much better than to be near our new (to us) woodstove with a warm beverage and a good book. 

2011 Favorite Photos

Each year, I enjoy wrapping up my favorite photos from the past 12 months into one neat little blog post.  Usually I keep it to 10 or maybe 12 of my favorites, but this year I guess I got a little gluttonous and compiled a list of 25.  Maybe I can blame it on some improved photography skills thanks to lots of practice and a class I took last winter.  Whatever the reason, I worked really hard to whiddle my favorite photos down to just 25.  They are the best of the best.  The one's that bring warmth to my heart and a smile to my face.  Most of them have a specific story or memory connected to them.  But a few are just the perfect moment or expression caught at just the right time on the camera.  I hope you enjoy this year's round up of favorites.  If you'd like to see my previous year end posts, look here (2010), here (2009) and here (2008).

So here we go for 2011...in no particular order...

That smile...I LOVE it!  As my mom says, "he smiles from ear to ear".--September

Jingle Bells

I realize that some of you have already taken down your Christmas tree and your thoughts have turned to eating healthier or starting a new habit, but I'm finally getting a chance to sit down and fiddle with a new video recorder we got recently. We shot this video a few days before Christmas, but as usual the hustle and bustle around here kept me from doing anything with the video.

We hope you enjoy this little concert and that your 2011 ended on a happy note. :)
And yes, our Little Miss wanted both of her front teeth for Christmas.

**edited--video is working now**