March Unedited

A post about March...

It was fun to have a house full of 4-H kids and parents...
After the meeting and presentations, the kids decorated clovers for the St. Patricks Day parade...
In the basement...
Maya and Daddy enjoying the evening...
With the warmer weather, the kids have been taking Lita outside...
Love these two!
We saw our first robin earlier this month. Randy snapped this picture below. We are starting to hear the birds sing there early morning songs now. Love, love, love that!
Anther reason my days are always good days...
Grandpa Larry came to visit for a few days!
There was lots of visiting going on. Farming, sheet-rocking, wiring, weather, traveling, heavy equipment, engineering, camping, hunting, and fishing, lots of fishing. They also got a lot of work done too! I missed a picture of them tearing apart and rewiring Colter's room downstairs!
We enjoyed our traditional Irish meal (corned beef, cabbage, potatos, soda bread and Irish Applesauce cake by Kyla), with Grandpa Steve and Grandma Judy joining us...
Grandpa enjoying a story read by Colter...
Thanks Grandpa for the Kendama's! They are a hit! And we enjoy them too. And Melita still loves her ball. She calls it "Bop, bop!" Her favorite toy by far!
The beginning of Spring break started with a low key, play games Friday evening. Later we played "hands down" and "Memory"...
The last part of March saw us through a couple weeks of sickies. And just when I thought Maya and Melita were getting better, they both relapsed with nasty ear infections. After several days of antibiotics, I think we are headed in the right direction!
I couldn't resist picking up these beautiful tulips at Costco one day...
The month is almost over! Were did it go? Spring Break is almost over! Were did IT go?

Have a wonderful weekend!
Alison and family

Fotoflexer and Befunky

A BIG THANKS for helping me find some great, free, easy, online editing software. The collage I did above is from a program called Fotoflexer.com and so far I'm happy with it. I like it that I can do collages for online use.

The three pictures below are edited on a program called Befunky.com. It has a ton of artsy stuff on it. Check it out...


I still have my good ole Photoshop but I really like the fast, easy approach of these online programs.

So, it looks like I'll have plenty to keep me busy. So long Picnik!

Here's a little of what's going on here...

-We've been having snow and cold the last few days. It is only March after all...
-We've had a bit of sickness again at our house. Maya really got it this time! She's been home all this week so far.
-Grandpa Larry was here for the weekend and will return tomorrow night on his way back home.
-We're looking forward to spring break next week and time spent with my family! Yay!!!!!
-And in case you're wondering... I've been staying true to my New Years resolution to have no chocolate this year. Almost 3 months down, 9 months to go...

Happy Wonderful Wednesday,
Alison

Explanation

In my post yesterday I asked a couple of questions.

In the first question, I asked if anyone knew of any great blogs that they enjoy and would like to share with me. The reason I asked this odd question is this... I have had a small handful of blogs that I follow regularly over the years. These are random blogs, separate from my other list of favorite blogs of my friends, family, various acquaintances and otherwise interesting people. These blogs have been fun and inspiring and mostly share interesting ideas, beautiful pictures and entertaining descriptions of life in other neighborhoods. Same small world but oh so beautifully different!

Lately however, I think every one of these blogs (or bloggers) has written books and their goal has become to sell their books to their large blog audiences. Many have also become wrapped up in a cause. This is great! I have nothing wrong with writing a book (I'm writing my own book of life, every day) or having a cause (I have several of my own) but these blogs have become much less enjoyable to me when I hop on there to read a new post. There is always a blaring message in every post to buy a book, or give to a worthy cause, etc. It's over, I'm done... remove, remove, remove...

Regarding my question yesterday... I love blogs and people who share their lives with me. I love to see the seashores of Florida, the cities of New York, the rolling hills of Wisconsin and the farm land of North Dakota and Wyoming, and the desert sands of California. I love to travel to Ireland and Australia, and China. I love to see it all, to enter into life all over this world. More than anything, I love to see the the faces behind the lives and to know you, just a little, through the outpouring of your heart on your blog. Life is short, and someday, none of this earth will matter. But for now, I intend to enjoy this awesome life I've been given. Thanks for sharing it with me.

The second thing I asked yesterday was for comments. I know... that was kind of strange and weird! Most of the time I don't think much about whether a viewer leaves a comment or not. Asking for comments seems a little bit like asking for compliments, or pats on the back or something like that. Plus, if I'm mostly bad about leaving comments myself, why would I expect others to leave comments for me.

But every once and awhile, I'm just plain curious and I want to know WHO you are. And WHY. And WHERE. Stuff like that. For example... Who are you?(in all due respect) Can I come and visit you someday? That would be awesome! Why do you come to my blog? Where do you live? Do you have a blog? Do you have a dog and a cat? Do you enjoy Coffee or Tea? What's your favorite hobby? Can you do a handstand? Do you keep Ramen noodles in the cupboard for sick kiddos or do you eat Ramen Noodles for lunch? Do you do laundry every day or all in one day? Or do you try and do it in one day but it doesn't happen and ends up stretching out over 4 days, like me? Do you have light carpets and a muddy driveway? Do you live on the 17th floor? Can you play the harp? Does your address end with St., Rd., Dr., Way, or Ln.? Or none of these? Does your baby eat everything off the floor? Or do you actually vacuum on a regular basis? Are you happy when you finally get the last kid out the door for school and then can't wait all day to go and pick them up? Do you refuse to think about the day your kids will leave home for good? Or have your kids left home for good? Are you coping well?

Explanation over. I'm done.

Most Sincerely,
Alison

For Me, For You

Winter finally showed up in Montana. For those of you who don't know, we have had no snow, temperatures sometimes into the 40's and sunshine galore! But yesterday a new blanket of snow fell on the ground, and this morning there was a sparkling frost on all the grass and trees, and it was a frigid 3 degrees.

So this morning after I put Lita down for a nap I went outside and took some pictures. My hands were freezing and I was a little worried about the camera in the cold so I made it quick and got back inside were it's warm. Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Oh yes, it's definitely winter in Montana...


Love those rosy cheeks!
Alison

Attitude Up!

Attitude

by Charles Swindoll

The longer I live,
the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude to me is more important than the past,
than education,
than money,
than circumstances,
than failures,
than success,
than what other people think, or say, or do.

It is more important than appearance,
giftedness, or skill.
It will make or break an organization,
a school, a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday
regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

We cannot change our past..
We cannot change the fact that people will
act in a certain way.
We cannot change the inevitable.
The only thing we can do
is play on the one string we have,
and that is our attitude….

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me
and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you…..

Just what I needed today,
♥ Alison ♥

Farther On...

On this cold dark night, as we were gathered around our blazing warm fire Kyla asked if we could look up the lyrics to this song. We sang it together a couple times. I think it's our new favorite.

It is performed by a family from Southeast Alaska. We were introduced to their music on our recent trip to Alaska in September. The Father said that when they gather around their fire on their long and dark Alaskan nights, they sing and play music together. It helps them get through the winter and stay sane. You can check out their website here. The mother makes all their traditional Alaskan clothes. This is one of their favorite songs. I think I can understand why...

♪♫♪It is better farther on...♪♫♪

Alison

Soap Winner and My Thoughts on "Love"

And the lucky winners of the soap tonight are...

#5 Heather!

&

#44 Linda!

These random numbers were generated using Random.org

Heather, I already have your address so I will be sending your soap soon. Linda, I will be seeing you this weekend so I will give you your soap then!

Thanks everyone for your comments! I love the comments!

So here are my thoughts on "LOVE"...

Sometimes "love" seems like such a strong word to use when I'm describing things I really like. I often wonder if it is appropriate to "love" material things such as redone chairs, goat milk soap and blog post comments. Know what I mean?

But then I start to try and come up with another word that fits. Just "like" doesn't really cut it. I keep thinking what a monochramatic and dull world it would be if I only just "liked" everything. Things I like, adore, cherish, almost love, favor, care for... nothing, and I mean nothing, sounds right! So, I will continue to use "love" until I can find the perfect word to describe the huge range of things that fit somewhere between like and love in my colorful, exciting life! It is what we make it right?! ;)

With these thoughts in mind I loved all your comments. Some of my favorite...

...I love how excited my kids are every night their daddy comes home from work! -Anna (ahhh, me to!)

...I love that my kids are feeling better after a loong week of fevers and sleepless nights. -Heather (So true!)

...I love when I actually have energy to get my list of "to-do's" done on a quiet day. -Jesse (now that's a GOOD day!)

...I LOVE seeing how a memory of admired generosity and wholesome happiness trickles into the following generations. :)-Sarah (hugs!)

...Oh there is so much I love, my heart swells with love. -Cindy (beautiful!)

...I love my family so so much -MaryAnn (love!)

...Sitting down with my phone, a cup of coffee, and a good blog list makes my day!-JoEllen (smile)

...I love: happy kids...-Tammia (nothing so sweet!)

... Fun to watch my nieces/nephews grow up and learn new things!!-Emily (you are so lucky!)

...1 thing I love is my new country and really hope to be your tour guide one day :) xxoo-Lori (I wanna go to Ireland! Until then keep posting pictures! Hugs!)

...I love you-Kyla (thank you my sweet daughter! I love you to!)

Many, many of you mentioned autumn and the colors, smells, feelings of the season. (oh happy day!)

I loved all your comments! (have I mentioned that before?)

Thanks for sharing your "love",
Alison

Satisfaction

When I was sorting through my picture the other day, I saw this picture and was drawn to it immediately. There was something about it that was just stunning. I think it was the lighting in the picture that I really liked. But still... I wasn't completely satisfied with the picture...

I often slap pictures up on here and am not satisfied with them but I couldn't do that with this picture, so I opened it up in Photoshop and adjusted a few things until I was satisfied.

Can anyone guess where this picture was taken? You'll see it someday on post of our trip. Not today though... we're getting ready for special company this weekend and a special wedding!

A couple days ago when we got a call that we were going to have company for the weekend, Kyla said, "Wow, are we special or something?!"



So the kids are running around here helping me get ready for our company today...

Me: time to go clean up your rooms, do your best job!

(about five minutes later Colter and Maya come running downstairs where Kyla and I are cleaning the bathroom)

Me: did you get your rooms clean?

Colter and Maya: yep!

Me: so, did you make your beds and pick up your socks? did you pick up garbage off the floor?

Colter: yep!

Maya: um, can I go check?

Me: yes, you better go check! Colter, you have your closet cleaned up?

Colter: I better go check!

(and off they run. this is repeated a few times this morning until mommy is satisfied!)



Later today after Colter vacuumed the living room floor for me he says, "Mommy, this house is going to be very welcoming!" There is nothing so satisfying as a job well done! Even if it didn't sound very fun to do in the first place!



So now we are waiting for Melita to wake up from her nap so we can run to Costco.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone! I'm pretty sure we will!
Satisfaction guaranteed.
love, Alison

Nest Egg

Thank you for all your comments! Your greetings and thoughts mean so much! :)

Here are some thoughts that have been laid as eggs in the nest of my heart. I hope I can bring them to life in my days ahead...

-So easy to waste time and so hard to spend time. Time is our currency.
-The secret to success is success in secret.
-Experiences don't have to be "the end of us". Instead they can be "the making of us".
-No pride, no problem.

keep encouraged,
Alison

I would rather...

I love this picture that I took on the last day of April. The wild flowers by our road are abundant this year. Colter brought me a bouquet which I put in a glass jar and set on the table. This picture show him getting a hair cut later that evening. I loved how the light was shining in the window on his flowers and how he's grinning over the top of the chair at me.

I was having a hard time finding the perfect quote for this picture. I just started playing with some words and came up with my own quote.

Just waxing "rather" philosophical today.

Don't mind me,

Alison

Who Can Build A Mountain?

I love my sisters blog post today. Pictures and poem by her. Check it out here and feel inspired to face a new day... I am! :)

I am getting caught up so more posts to come here on From This Front Porch. Oh, and did you think I forgot about my Country Kitchen Recipes Blog? Well, I didn't. I have a new recipe to post there on March 20th, the FIRST DAY OF SPRING! It's coming folks!

All for now,

All Seasons Timelapse

I'm glad the seasons don't pass this fast, although sometimes I wish Spring would come a little quicker to this cold north country.

Memory Lane Monday: Phantom Homes

The above picture is of my great grandparents and other relatives on their homestead in 1915 in Eastern Montana. I like how well the following book excerpt goes with the picture above...

"Sometimes I walk up to the hill where my husband built that sod shanty and gaze about me at the wreckage of our dreams, wondering if I shall ever see anything here but phantom homes. Those of us who remain have lost the romantic vision, lost the dream that brought us here. I look less than seven miles from my old house and see seven phantom homes. Dry and deserted, I see the fields where plows have gone patiently up and down, now weed grown, and fences down. And I feel the hand of desolation.

"I look a little farther and see one tiny house. So small appears that fence field, but it is not small, except by comparison with the vastness of the untilled land about it. I look again, and in the immensity of the unbroken acres of range land, ... among the scattered bunches of cattle, beyond the sheep wagon, are horses.

"These horses are our only hope. We have no feed for them. They must fend for themselves... and they must be strong enough to pull sleds and wagons 18 miles to the nearest town. If our horses starve, and if the wild horses starve, we will starve...

"Through my tears I see them still, the phantom homes. Dear, painted, shingled houses... Stacks of grain... Trees tended by loving hands... Gardens loved and cared for... And fat, gentle, sheltered horses."

~excerpt from Montana Woman Homesteaders-A Field Of One's Own, Chapter 13- Life in the Badlands: Pearl Danniel (homesteader in Eastern Montana)

What's around the next corner on Memory Lane?

See you next Monday!

Grab my button and take your own walk down memory lane every Monday!
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Don't forget to leave me a comment so I can walk along with you!

Loving Longfellow

A Day of Sunshine

O gift of God! O perfect day:
Whereon shall no man work, but play;
Whereon it is enough for me,
Not to be doing, but to be!

Through every fibre of my brain,
Through every nerve, through every vein,
I feel the electric thrill, the touch
Of life, that seems almost too much.

I hear the wind among the trees
Playing celestial symphonies;
I see the branches downward bent,
Like keys of some great instrument.

And over me unrolls on high
The splendid scenery of the sky,
Where though a sapphire sea the sun
Sails like a golden galleon,

Towards yonder cloud-land in the West,
Towards yonder Islands of the Blest,
Whose steep sierra far uplifts
Its craggy summits white with drifts.

Blow, winds! and waft through all the rooms
The snow-flakes of the cherry-blooms!
Blow, winds! and bend within my reach
The fiery blossoms of the peach!

O Life and Love! O happy throng
Of thoughts, whose only speech is song!
O heart of man! canst thou not be
Blithe as the air is, and as free?

~Henry Waldsworth Longfellow

For more great Longfellow, click here!

Enjoying this "day of sunshine"!

Giddy-Up Let's Go!

The harness bells jingle, the horse's breath steams,

and he stamps his hooves impatient to go.

But not so impatient as my sister and me

As we sit holding hands-

then we're off through the snow!

~David Riel

Appreciation

(looking down on our valley below)

I want to rise above it all and soar on the wings of appreciation, gratitude and thankfulness,

It's A...

...GAME!!!

Somewhere hidden on this blog is the answer to the question...Is it a Boy or a Girl?

If you are the first to find the answer and leave a comment you will win a $15 gift certificate to the business of your choice.

So, just leave a comment of the year, month, and day of the post that you found the answer to the question. When you come to the right place it will be VERY obvious what the answer is! If you happen to already know the answer, go ahead and play along. The right answer is not WHAT the baby is, but WHERE the answer is found on the blog.

If you win you may choose a $15 gift certificate from one of the following businesses...

Coldstone Creamery
Starbucks
Lowes
HuHot
Target
Borders
Ross
TJMaxx
Bed, Bath and Beyond
Pier 1 Imports
Famous Dave's
Home Depot
Famous Footwear
Bajio Mexican Grill
Five Guys Burgers and Fries

One Hint: Our blog Archives on the side of the blog may make your search easier. But don't search back before MARCH 2009 because it is mostly slideshows and will slow you down.

Have Fun and Enjoy this Beautiful Day!

Life is Beauty Full

This post title and picture are inspired by one of my favorite blogs Flower Patch Farmgirl. I love Shannan's inspiring way and positive look at life.

Today is not beautiful. It's cloudy and yucky and black and bare out. My house isn't as
"neat as a pin" and I have company coming tonight. Colter is getting over being sick. It's Maya's birthday today and I still don't have a gift for her. I took a nap but I'm still tired. I ate but I'm still hungry.

But, life is "Beauty Full" and here are a few reasons why...
-the sun is shining somewhere
-Maya took cupcakes to school today with strawberry fruit snacks on top
-I took two loads of stuff to the thrift store last week
-We get company for a few nights
-the kids have all grown several inches this past year (we measured them Wed night)
-we live a quiet life
-I get to go pick up Kyla (my right-hand helper) in a few minutes.
-There are so many more reasons why... but my brain just quit.

No news on what baby is yet. She could be a boy or he could be a girl. We just don't know yet because I had to cancel my appointment this morning due to a sick child. So... we shall wait another week and see. :)

All for now...