Colonial Snowland

February Verse:

(From Elsa Beskow's Around the Year)

Blue skies and ice, wherever we go

Slipping and sliding, deep in the snow

Uphill and downhill, neither leaf nor green

The sun bring and clear, no grass to be seen

Wollies and hoods, on toboggans all day

Gloves on our hands, and Spring far away

Back home Mama's baking, big loaves and small

How hungry we are, we'll soon eat them all! 

Our Justice Family Snow Cream:

1 Cup Whole Fat Cream

1 Cup Powdered Sugar

1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract

A full medium sized bowl and fresh snow

Directions:

Mix it together and eat it up quickly! 

This past week here in Virginia it has been cold, wet, and very snowy. The snowiest I can ever remember it being here in my 28 years.  Granted, I grew up near the ocean in Virginia Beach (and because of that we rarely got snow) but still. The children were out of school for the whole week and I out of work for most of it as well because of that. We Virginians don't do cold and snow well. I and my old lady Grand Marquis did not drive anywhere all week long. 

So we took full advantage of that and played in the snow. We played and played and played some more. So much play time. Then we made snow cream over and over again until we got brain freezes. 

We also did quite a bit of inside play and crafting, but I'll save that for a different post. 

We very blessed right now. We get to work and live in Colonial Williamsburg. The home we rent belongs to the Foundation and was built in 1753 by Benjamin Powell for his brothers. It large, old, and so so beautiful. There are lovely woods behind it that back into at National Park, the Colonial Parkway. Seeing everything here covered in snow was just magical. Even though by day 5 I was sick and tired of it, the beauty of the snow covered landscape nonetheless just blew me away. 

Next year... we're getting proper snow gear. 

Love & Light, 

Nicole 

Making Time For Play

Tonight was such a fun evening. We played and played and played. Right now our playroom, which is in our finished basement, is quite cold! Virginia has quite a bit of snow on the ground. So since it's a bit nippy downstairs, we've been bring up our toys into the study to play with. 

This evening the kids wanted to play with the farm. But then the knights attacked and the jungle animals came to the rescue. This went on and on for some time. I love that the children are still playing with toys that they've has since they were toddlers, and they're showing no sign of out-growing them yet.

Brynna is just discovering creative cooperative play in full force. I love to watch her role playing. It is such a joy. It also is a joy to see them playing with things that I made for them. The farm mat, the knitted animals, and a few wooden one were made my yours truly. Even now, as I am now working and have less crafting time, it warms my heart. They also remember that "Mommy made this for me". Then they will fight about WHO I made it for before I reassure that I made it for ALL of them (even if one of them wasn't born yet at the time)! 

Ah, those goof balls. Once played ended, we ate dinner, baked a whole cake (Deirdre's request since we don't seem to eat cake often...hmmm...) and then snuggled before story time. I am going on 5 years of stories about David the Gnome and well I think I need some new material. I might have to read up on other gnomes stories.

Until next time... 

Love & Light,

Nicole