Saint Valentine

Marie surprised us all. She filled the front room with balloons and chocolate. The boys were very surprised when they woke up this morning. The boys also made a few Valentine's candies. They were little mints.

Outside Corner

Marie made some really good spinach dip during lunch the other day. If you look close enough you can see identical chunks of chip hanging on my and Jack's lips. Samuel had a hard time reaching the bowl - but he found a way. We are making headway on the Silver Maple. We gave 2 loads of wood to the Sheep Camp and Donna got a lot of limbs. We are keeping what it piled up. The big log is awaiting the Alaskan Sawmill. Ted's friend is bringing one down. I am pretty much way excited about that. We cleared the juniper bush in the front. It's proximity was depreciating the value of the house. This spring we will replenish the landscaping value and plant a bush a bit further away.

Jack & The Front Porch (Room)

Our house was built in 1907. The front porch was originally open to the elements. Judging by the siding, it was framed-in and enclosed during the 1940s. Since its first enclosement it has scene a few different makeovers, and with each layer the room gets smaller. A few mornings ago while Marie and the boys were at a play-group I decided to take the hammer to the ceiling of the porch. After knocking off a layer of the plaster/stucco composition I discovered a layer of really nice wainscoating. I drilled a few small holes through the wainscoating and I am pretty sure that only a small skiff (about 1-2 inches) of 1940s insulation seperates me from the rafters. I save my breath and just say they that a wee bit more remodeling is in the near future.... how about the near rafters. Here is Jack. Perched high atop. Overseeing all chainsaw and wood loading activities. The boys and Marie splashed in all of the melting snow puddles today.