A Coin Fest

Recently a few of us have become quite interested in coins, old ones in particular. So all winter practically, we have been trying to get together a coin fest with the coin collector extraordinaire/neighbor Daniel, and Mr. Reiche who dabbles in almost every hobby.

The amount and time range of the pennies we all had was amazing. We had a lot of fun sorting through the piles and finding the different ones that everyone wanted.


I think there were at least 5 different folders with varying years of pennies in them, most of them were over 75% full!

There were also a variety of silver dollars and foreign coins floating around being admired and discussed.


Mr.Reiche also brought along a gold windup pocket watch that was his uncles. He estimated that it was from 1890. I love clocks and watches in general and Mr. Reiche is letting me borrow this one for a photo shoot. Actually this watch is very special as it has brought to fruition an idea of mine which I promise to inform you of at a later date.

It was a wonderful evening of fellowship and learning!
~Chs

A Fragrant Messenger of Spring

To a Primrose
By Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Thy smiles I note, sweet early Flower,
That peeping from thy rustic bower
The festive news to earth dost bring,
A fragrant messenger of Spring.

(the first verse)

The Snow Storm

Last week we (along with most of the rest of the United States) were hit with quite a storm. Not the worst I have seen, but big enough to demand respect, and it delivered enough snow to create the need of shoveling.

In some places 24 inches of shoveling! But that was just in drifts, because the wind was so bad. I think we received an average of 10".


Speaking of the wind it created some very interesting sights with its wuthering around the house. Some were thin peaks of snow mountains, other cliffs with over hanging edges, everywhere stern beauty for the finding.


A nice smooth blanket of snow had laid itself over the garden, completely obliterating any of our rows. Only a few leggy herbs peek out from the herb box.


Though our house wasn't actually "buried" in snow, it was rather well covered, and I think looked all the prettier for the white covering.


On the other hand our little farm sign did get almost completely entombed in snow. I do think that we need a taller post!


Part of the reason for the burial of our sign was the clearing of our drive way. I am glad for our men's sake that we don't have one of those mile long driveways! This one is plenty enough hassle to clear.

We thank the LORD that the storm was not worse, and I thank Him even more for snows constant reminder of how he washes us whiter then snow! Thank you Father.

~Chs

A Puzzling Time of Year

When winter begins and the cold wind blows, we tend to search in the depth of the basement for a pile of puzzles all dusty and forsaken from the last winter. We unearth one of them and set up a table in the living room just to have something to do.


This year it all started with Josiah getting a new puzzle for his birthday, but as soon as it was finished we found one downstairs that we had never done, then another, then another.


We are currently working on our fourth puzzle since Josiah's birthday; the fish one in the pictures was our second. None of them have been up more than three days. One and a half days to make it and one and a half days to admire it. Josiah and Charity are mostly responsible for this quick pace, but the rest of us will occasionally put in a piece or two. It is an enjoyable winter family activity to pass the time.
~Chs

Lady Washington

Meet Lady Washington, Faith's gorgeous maroon geranium.


We first met Lady Washington in May and she lived happily on the steps outside our porch blooming cheerfully for most of the year.

But when it began to get cold and the snow flakes began to fall, we moved Mrs. Washington, who had long since stopped blooming, inside to our "sunny" window.

It did not take very long for her to perk up and begin to show herself in these dainty little pink buds which matured and bloomed into elegant maroon blossoms. What a cheery sight on a cold February day.
~Chs

Summation of January

Unlike many previous January's, this year the month has stayed quite level in temperatures. Other than the melt down on the first, we have had lovely cold winter weather with just enough snow to make things beautiful. One of the last days of January, (it was a beautiful sunny day) I took a walk out back, and came home with some gorgeous pictures. So here is a sample of January beauty.


That morning a light snow was falling and the snowflakes were simply exquisite. My only wish was that I was the owner of a photo microscope so that I could properly photograph these minuscule marvels of God's creation.


As the sun arose, one of the most striking beauty's of winter began to show. It is amazing how incredibly blue the clear sky looks; so dark, so crisp and clear!

The way my camera interpreted the glaring sun was amazing, especially, as I could not look at it without the lens intervening in between my eyes and the suns light.

The light made everything beautiful, even more so with the back drop of snow.


There were little pine cones on all the pine trees, a bit frozen but still very sweet looking.

On my way back up to the house, I passed our big maple tree and upon examining the branches closely, I found a bit of hope; a little piece of spring to come, for the end of the branches were swollen with little buds. Buds that in a couple of months will break into tiny baby green leaves and turn the world into a green haze!
~Chs

Sledding

A week or so ago, we had a sledding party of sorts. The older Kinne children, Joshua, Josiah, Mr. Reiche and I all went together to General Squire Hill. The Kinne's had never been there so it was fun to "show them the ropes."

At first they were all content to slide down the hill in the usual manner.

Well, at least, mostly in the usual manner. A few of them "accidentally" flipped around on the way down and went down the rest of the way backwards! =)


So as I said, at first everything was normal, that is until the boys noticed a relatively large bump/ramp that had been built on the other side of the hill. Of course they could not rest until they had tried it out.

When they did, they found themselves flying through the air before landing with a resounding bump!

Here is a video of them all going down one after another. It is quite amusing, I hope you enjoy!

~Chs

Growing Puppies.

The puppies that I told you about in an earlier post are growing up! And they are getting cuter every day!

They all have incredibly different personalities and charming ways.

This little puppy is Maggie, and I think she is the cutest! Though it is very hard to decide because they are all so adorable!

As you can see they still have a lot of skin to grow into;) but they are working hard at it. They eat as much as possible and even try to steal their Mom's and Aunt's and Uncle's food. But they are almost cute enough to get away with anything.

~Chs

Josiah's Birthday

Our family's "baby" turned 16 last week, and no we can't believe it either. Josiah has grown up to be a wonderful young man though. He has the delightful way of making anyone laugh no matter what is their difficulty, yet he can also be perfectly serious and have a intelligent conversation with someone. Some of his interests are: Creation (including AIG ministry), Old America and how they did things at the beginning of our country and of course biking and hiking outdoors.

His birthday started with breakfast in bed, accompanied by some new overalls from Mom and Dad.


Later in the morning Josiah and I experimented with a prickly pear cactus that I had gotten for him and made prickly pear lemonade. It was quite good, though I think we need to perfect our recipe before we bottle and sell it.=)


When lunch was concluded we went out in the weather for a hike at Beaver Lake trails. This had become an annual birthday event for Josiah and as last year, Mr. Reiche accompanied us. This time we headed out onto Beaver Lake since it was completely frozen. It was quite the feeling walking in the middle of a huge lake and knowing that there is water under your feet.


After hiking around all the paths, we made it to the tippy top of Pinnacle Peak. The sight from there is marvelous.


Josiah was sweet enough to pose for me for Birthday shots, some of them with his new grappling hook.


After the shoot was over we descended from the peak and took the shorter loop (which was still quite long). We went past a couple lakes and searched in vain for Winter Green berries.


One of the Lakes had an outlet that trickled across the paths on a little rocky bed, and then flowed into Spring Bank Creek which traverses all over Beaver Lake trail. We finally made our way back to the van and headed home.


As soon as we arrived home, I began my work on Josiah's cake which he wanted 3D. I called in reinforcements, namely Mr. Reiche, who helped me with the roof. Though it was very difficult, Josiah was pleased with it and it tasted good!


Josiah is an avid reader and also extremely talented at putting together puzzles. One of his gifts was a Farm Puzzle and he finished it in one day!
We are very thankful for our youngest and pray that God might bless him in his future years.

~Chs

The long overdue graduation program

Christianna Hope Sauvé, finished her Homeschool-High school education last June but due to many distracting activities in 2010, including Grandma Learned's passing, Joshua's graduation from National Guard training, and John's wedding, we forgot to officially recognize her graduation. Thus, we finally made an effort with family and a few friends to acknowledge her accomplishments via a brief program in mid- January, 2011.

Many of her drawings, school reports, creative writing and pictures of programs she participated in over the years were spread out on the tables for all to enjoy.

After a brief introduction and prayer by Dad, Cathy (Mom) gave an account of Christianna's academic and homemaking achievements, which included reciting poetry, acting in historical plays, making posters and displays for history and science programs, playing the piano and harp, and learning to cook, sew and knit. (The beautiful dress she was wearing was evidence of her sewing skills.)

Christianna shared some of her musical talents. She played "Abide with me" on her harp.

She also performed a piece by Phil Coulter on the piano.

She recited two poems as her audience listened intently; "My Shadow," which she had recited when she was 5, and "The Last Hymn," which was the last poem she learned.

At the end, Dad & Mom presented her with her diploma which said she had officially graduated from the Sauvé Christian Academy.

We then all enjoyed a piece of her graduation cake, ice cream and hot punch.

We are very thankful to God for Christianna, her love for the Lord and for the things He has enabled her to accomplish.