Cross Country

 

We went cross-country skiing three times so far this week out at Farragut State park.

The first outing was glorious and sunny, and we had such a great time.  I opted to hike along with Algy.  Next time out, I tried on the skis for the first time in a long time - at least three years!  I think we'll be doing this a lot for the remainder of the skiing season.

When life sends you ice and snow, just go skiing.

Simple Gifts

 

 

 

Christmas Eve melted into morning while we were baking Spritz cookies. 

I was jolted from sleep at six by a cotton ball drenched in peppermint oil wafted under my nose, the dastardly ruse of a little sister to get everyone out of bed.  Laughing, yelling, shaking with cold, Ellen and I rushed to the trailer where a warm fire was already going, the overnight omelette (Tradition) was steaming, and pineapple juice was heating on the stove.

My brother just moved in to a house in town to be near his new job, and I miss him so much.  He drove down mid morning to be a part of the fun.

Each brown paper package was torn open, the little something inside each one simple but full of love.  I got a beautiful pencil sketch of my tent and an accordion-style paperdoll family, and my absolute favorite; Walker's Shortbread and a packet of pistachios from my bro.

Then we gathered gingerbread and coats, rounded everyone up, and headed down to spend the rest of the day with some dear friends. 

December is nearly over.  A new year is just around the bend... uncertainty, worry, fear of change may threaten to steal our joy, but through it all, just remember;

Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!

- 2 Chor. 9:15

My Mother

My Mother is strong and brave, selfless and beautiful.

Words that are overused or misused often become empty, cliche.  Words like strong, selfless, brave.  Especially beautiful.

She gives a meaning to those words that makes them a reflection of herself in their truest form - they are the epitome of what she is.

I only hope I can be half the inspiration to others as she is to me.

(Photo surreptitiously snapped by Ellen and Algy while we were in town.  I miss my girls so much!)

I'll be pretty busy the next few days, getting ready for the real cold... just got my stove all freshly blacked and polished to set up tomorrow, planning to re-arrange the tent to make room, and most exciting of all, I have a tremendously marvellous new addition to the Wall Tent Studio family... any guesses?

xoxo,

--Me

Schweitzer Mountain

Saturday, my family and some friends drove up to the Schweitzer Mountain Resort, where a free ski lift day was going on.

I have never been downhill skiing, though I've grown up practically in the shadow of this world-renowned ski resort.  I've also never ridden on the ski lift.  I was in for the thrill of my life!

Just the view from the resort parking lot was breathtaking.

 

Sunscreen!

Zooming along 20-40 feet in the air on the ten minute ride up the mountainside was sooo fabulous!  I'd ride this thing every week just for the view  - if I could afford it. :grin:

Though I was a bit afraid of loosing my shoes...

 

My home.

my wonderful mother

The awesome Bronze Age moccosians my bro designed and crafted.New summer bag - thrifted for five dollars!  It's simply perfect.

Lunch time leads to nap time

I am inspired that for hundreds of years, thousands, this majestic beauty has stood, indifferent to the upheaval and turmoil of a mad world.  

Yet in all of it's glory, it stands as a picture of a fallen world, an earth ripped apart and destroyed by a terrible torrent of water.

God's creation is a marvelous and awesome thing.

And on the trip down, I clutched my shoes in my lap and kicked my feet in ecstasy.

More pics here!