Checking out the big machines

A new bypass is being built right outside our place... which has it's plus and minus'! This is one of the positive things... Colton absolutely loves it!

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. ~ Amanda Soule

Easter pictures

Here in our house, we don't really celebrate Easter in the traditional sense.... we just do a little celebration with the Easter bunny bringing a little bit of this and a little bit of that. An egg hunt, and a good hearty breakfast. This year we didn't even dye eggs! But we had fun. I tried to keep the candy to a minimum... but my kids really like their chocolate. Also, we decided to not be candy police, and kind of let them decide what they would eat and when (for the most part!).

I love the books I got them...The Sun Egg, Children of the Forest, and Peter in Blueberry Land, all by Elsa Beskow. And The Story of the Root Children by Sibylle Von Olfers. Our Easter selection was expanded with The Easter Egg by Jan Brett. I know, it seems like a lot of books, but we are book hounds around here, and good books are worth it!
Oh, and we did a shared easter basket... we can get away with that still!

the "shared" basket

meeting the chocolate (and books)

Look!

chocolate for breakfast! Yumm!

getting creative

looking in the moss garden

my fav. pic of Easter... something about it!

How cute are they? This is their loot.

Finally; Putting the sign out

We finally put the sign out... so it is now official. We are selling our house. I am excited, scared and nervous all at the same time! Next May is when we will be leaving this beautiful area, but we really wanted time to sell our place on our own. With today's market, it is hard to say what a place like ours will sell for; and we wanted to make it as affordable as possible. Hence, the for sale by owner route.

So the sign is up, the website made, and the hope is alive.

Wish us luck.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. ~Amanda Soule

April One Small Change

I had a hard time trying to decide what to do for our April One Small Change (brought by Hip Mountain Mama). So I chose two different things:

#1: Hang out the laundry on the line when the weather permits. And I only add that because it could still snow here realistically (we still have the studs on our car!) I can't wait to do this every year, but this year seems so hectic, so I feel like having this as our Change, I will be more apt to follow through.... wish me luck!

#2: Take a plastic bag to pick up trash on my walks. Every time I go on a walk, I am saddened by the amount of trash that is just littering the roadway. I always think about picking it up, but often forget a bag... so I am going to work on that. Besides, my walking has increased with the better weather, and the need to get out of the house after dinner :)

March One Small Change

Our March One Small Change was so simple... we turned down the thermostat every night to 60-62 F. Simple enough, and SO effective! Especially if you have a programmable one (which we don't).
Looking at our February (that is when we started this change) and March energy bills, we have cut our usage almost in half compared to last year!! Granted, it probably wasn't as cold this year as it was last... still - what a result! Who knew something so easy could make such an impact!

Stay tuned for our April change ... I will post about it later today!