Learning to enjoy the winter

As a kid I remember winters of building snow men, snowball fights, and tobogganing.  We would spend time outside getting fresh air and playing with our friends.  When my children were smaller I would take the time to help them build snow men (even a snow missionary) and go tobogganing. As they got older and didn’t need my help anymore I found I spent a lot of time inside trying to stay away from winter.

My 15 year newspaper job gave me about as much winter as I could handle, outside in the cold from 4-7 am every day was not always fun.  I did see some beautiful night skies though.  The most beautiful one involved a full circle of light around the moon.  The problem with night beauty is there is no one to share it with.

Since moving to the country I have tried to find joy in the winter.  We have had cross country skis around for years, collected at garage sales, but never really used them.  So this year I decided it was time to put them to use.  I have been out about 6 times this winter.  The first time I created a few trails to take around the field.  As I continued to use them they became quite nice to travel on.  I even got Rod out there with me and he helped make new trails in the front yard.  Then the snow fell and I had to go out and make new trails.  Last week I had a friend over and we went out skiing.  The trails were completely gone and so I was breaking ground with snow up to my knees.  It was hard work but we had fun. Once again it has snowed and covered up my trails.  So I will be out again this weekend making new trails thru the deep snow.

My next goal is to get a pair of snow shoes so I can get around without sinking so deep.  We have some snowdrifts that are up to my hips so it would be nice to stay on top.  Maybe next year we can get a ski-do and really have some fun.

Gracie and Mr. Snowman

On Sunday Gracie and I went out and built my first snowman in many years. He wasn’t very fancy but we had fun building him.  Gracie was so cute because when our little friend was built she knew exactly what he needed “A Carrot, A Carrot. We need a carrot!”

So I have found that winter doesn’t seem so bad or long when you take the time to get out and enjoy it. 

A name, a name, we have a name!

When we first moved to our little piece of heaven people started asking us what we were going to call it.  I even started a group on face book hoping for a spark of ingenuity in coming up with a name for our new home.  There were plenty of suggestions including, Merrill Meadows, Barbara's Vineyard (because Martha has one), Merrilly we Mow the Lawn,  Moschetta Acres (to celebrate our friendly mosquitoes), Belly Acres East (to remember Rod's farm in the West) and so on.

One day as I was thinking about the farm it was like a bolt of lightening hit me.  Why not combine the family's most common phrase and Rod's farm. I shared my idea with some of the kids and they thought it sounded pretty good.

As Christmas approached the kids started sharing secrets and getting all mysterious.  The closer Christmas got the more excited and nervous Talia seemed to be.  Christmas morning arrived and the kids were very determined as to which present Mom and Dad would open first.  This is what we found in our most prized Christmas gift:

So if you have a tendency to be a belly acher, come on over and join us at the BellyAcher Acres, and "Quit Your Belly Achin"

Sun Rise, Sun Set

Have you ever noticed what a beautiful world we live in?  I have been noticing more since we left the crowded, noisy city behind and moved out to the peaceful country.  One thing I have really noticed is the beauty in the sunrise and the sunset.

Our back yard and field look out towards the setting sun and we have had some of the most incredible sunsets.  I usually just admire them and forget to run get my camera.  I was able to catch one magnificent one in the fall.

behind my house

The picture doesn't do the colors justice

Then this week I saw the most incredible sunrise.  I actually had to drive back home to get my camera.  This was the morning after the Lunar Eclipse. I don't know if that had anything to do with the sunrise or if it was just a coincidence but I was very thankful to Heavenly Father for allowing me to see this beautiful sight.

on the road in front of my house

Beautiful sunrise

Have you ever seen anything more beautiful? 

Christmas Newsletter

2010 was an interesting and exciting year for the Merrill Family.  To start it off in January I finally secured a permanent job at the University as the Graduate Secretary in the School of Fine Art and Music. This means I now qualify for paid vacation and sick pay.  We also doubled up our dental benefits to help cover the cost of Zach's upcoming braces.

In April we celebrated the arrival of our 3rd Granddaughter, Sydney Sierra Rose Haw.  She is such a wonderful little girl, full of smiles.  Unknown to Amber when she named her was that Sydney is a family name. 

In May we had family from Alberta join us in celebrating Brock's marriage to Jenna Howey. It was great to have Cody and Mimi,  Grandma Humphreys and Auntie Sheila Hatch, Ginamarie, Richard, Storm and Lincoln Sefcik, Grandma Merrill, Aunt Karen Gordon and Uncle Phil Merrill join us for this great day. Maybe they can join us again in July 2011 for the next Merrill wedding!

In June we packed up our belongings and moved to our new home.  We had lived in Guelph for 20 year, almost 17 in our home.  For years we have been talking about moving to the country and 2009 we almost did it but the timing wasn't right.  We spent most of that year renovating our home - hardwood throughout, painting etc.  In March we found a place we loved and put our newly renovated home up on the market.  7 days later it was sold and we started packing to move.  On June 4 we moved into our new country property. 20 acres of peace and quiet.

Country living has been wonderful.  We have a huge garden that produced more beans than I could pick.  We have a 100 ft row of raspberries and 20 feet of asparagus.  We grew tomatoes, peppers, onions, carrots, potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and squash.  We also had our own pumpkins for Halloween. We also have 6 apple trees in the front yard and a mixture of apple, pear, plum, apricot and cherry trees in the back.  We are hoping to have our own little orchard back there.

We have over 2 acres of grass to mow weekly.  It keeps Zach and Talia busy, and even mom takes a turn sometimes.  We had 8 acres of barley this year which is now 8 acres of pasture grass.  We had hoped to get a fence put up this summer/fall but ran out of time and money.  The posts and boards are stacked in a neat pile waiting for spring.  There are stakes out in the field marking the fence line so we can imagine what next summer will bring.  Once the fence is up maybe we can add some animals to the place.

With the snow finally on the ground Rod has been out using our snow blower to keep the driveway clear.  It takes a while to clear 500 feet of driveway so we are looking forward to the delivery of our attachment for the tractor.  That will speed up the work considerably.

And now Christmas is almost upon us. The tree is trimmed, the presents are almost wrapped and the excitement is building.  We will have a crowd around the table but will miss those who are unable to join us this year.  Hopefully it won't be long before Cody and Mimi move back to Ontario and sit at the table with us. 

This has been a exciting and eventful year for us and we look forward to many more. 

May the Lord bless each of you with a wonderful 2011.

Spring Forward, Fall Back

Who came up with this idea to change the clocks back and forth year after year.  Spring Forward, Fall Back.  I think those folks in Saskatchewan have the right idea - set the clock and leave it alone! 

Some people seem to think that we need the sun in the morning to blind us as we drive to work. This morning was a real killer sun shining through the front window of the car.  Then we can stay inside all day and only catch a glimpse of the sun if we happen to be standing close to a window.  Who cares if we have to drive home in the dark?    I CARE!!!    UGH!!!!!! 

Last week the sun came up at a reasonable time.  It was still a bit dark when I got up but by the time I was leaving for work the sun was up over the horizon and lighting my day. It was still daylight when I came home too.  But this week the sun is up before I am and heading for bed by the time I was leaving the office.

I would love to be able to come home in the evenings in the long winter months and still have some sunlight to see by.  Then I could actually find my way to the door without tripping over the step and the key will go in to the lock so easily since I can actually see where I am putting it.  Think how much energy I could save if I didn't have to turn all the lights on in the house so that I can find my way around. 

The winters here are long enough without taking away all my productive daylight hours!!!!!

Books, Books, Books

I LOVE to read!!!! I would say it is my favourite hobby.  I always have a book or two on the go.  I like to keep one at work to read during the lunch hour and then I need another one at home to read at night.  Sometimes reading can take over my life.

I remember years ago when the kids were small, Rod would take off on Boxing Day to play hockey with all his buddies.  That became my day to read.  I remember that first year - it was the year my Mom sent me the first Work and Glory book by Gerald Lund.  I started early in the morning and I hardly put it down until the day was done.  I would pause only as long as it took to feed the kids and make sure they were happy.  The following Christmas my mother sent volume two and the pattern repeated itself.  Each year a new volume would come. I also developed a new pattern.  Knowing that I was getting a new book I would start early in December or later in November with volume 1 and re-read the series so that I was ready for the next one.  It took 9 years to collect the entire series and I have read volume 1 nine times!

I also have collected the Kingdom and the Crown (Gerald Lund), Out of Jerusalem (H.B. Moore), Promised Land (David Woolley), Women of Genesis (Orson Scott Card) and of course the Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites (Chris Heimerdinger) and a few other series. I have the beginnings Children of the Promise (Dean Hughes), The Great & Terrible (Chris Stewart) and Millennial Glory (Wendy L. Edwards).  Again using my re-reading technique as the new volumes have come out.

And those are just my LDS novel series.  I also collect books by Anne McCaffrey and her son - especially the Dragonriders of Pern, and Terry Brooks Shannara books.

I also have just tons of novels on my shelves (mostly LDS authors).  I especially like have the LDS novels in my home because I know that the content will be clean and wholesome.  My children love to read as well and I want to be sure that what they are reading is good literature.

Don't worry, novels are not the only books I read.  I have shelves of Biographies and Autobiographies of the prophets and other prominent people in Church History.  We have Mormon Doctrine,  Gospel Doctrine, Jesus the Christ, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, and on and on and on.

That is just one wall in my library.  I also have another huge bookshelf unit with books that are not by LDS Authors.  These are great reads as well.  And then there is the unit that has repair manuals, do it yourself books, gardening books, etc. And then there are boxes with books in the basement that I haven't even unpacked yet.  Is it no wonder I needed a bigger house. Trouble is I have less bookshelves in this house, so I have to be more selective which books I keep out and which stay packed away.

And now my newest read - FINDING ROSE by Stephanie Humphreys.  I have just started to read this one (on Chapter 3 now) but have heard such good reviews about it that I can hardly wait  for some time to really get into it.  And yes, it is by my sister-in-law.  That doesn't make me prejudiced at all!!!  I have ready many different authors so I think I am able to judge a good book when I read it.  I know what I like and so far I like this one!  I just wish I had been able to get a signed copy.  Maybe I will have to ship it to Stephanie (when I'm done of course) and have her sign it and ship it back.

Things I am thankful for

At the top of my thankful list is of course MY FAMILY.   I have a wonderful husband who works hard at his job as the greatest scientist on the planet, and then comes home and becomes my "Cinderfella".  He is a great table setter, dishwasher, tap fixer, mechanic, fence builder, and all around handy man.  Then I have 6  fabulous children.  They are some of the best people I know. Through them I have met 4 more wonderful people to add to my family.  These additions have add again to my family giving us 3 of the most beautiful granddaughters the world has ever seen.

In addition to my natural children I am thankful for a wonderful foster daughter.  She is a daughter and a friend. She has been a blessing to my family.  She and her husband have given us 4 handsome grandsons and a beautiful granddaughter.

I am thankful for the GOSPEL.  We are so lucky to have been raised as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We have a knowledge of who we are, why we are here and where we are going. I am thankful for TEMPLES that seal families together forever.    

Pumpkins from my compost heap

I am thankful for a beautiful HOME.  We have been so lucky to find this wonderful place in the country.  With a large GARDEN spot I am able to grow food to help feed me family (all of them).  We had a bounty of beans, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, potatoes, raspberries and others.  We also have the beginnings of an orchard to provide us with fruit.  We also enjoy the beautiful trees that adorn the front yard and the two wooded areas front and back.  And the night sky! What can I say about a night sky without street lights.  There are so many stars up there!  I love to stand outside at night and gaze into the sky.  This past week the big dipper was SO large. I felt like I could reach out and touch it.

I am thankful for FRIENDS.  There are friends and then there are FRIENDS.  I have some of both and am thankful for all of them.

I am thankful for THANKSGIVING, where we can stop and reflect on what we are thankful for.