Raindrops = Snowflakes

No sun today, but I am o.k. with this as I know that with each raindrop another snowflake melts.
Do you think that they match equally one for one?   Does that mean by the end of the day there will be no more snow?

I am excited and feeling alive with the possibility of spring.  I have told a few friends lately that I would rather have to bath the kids a few times a day to clean off the mud than feel stuck inside with the snow.
It helps that bathing is something that everyone loves here.

I am excited yet the kids are restless with a rainy day.  I am going to have to pass some of my energy to them.

Any rainy day suggestions?

Maple Syrup Festival

Today was a beautiful and amazing day.  The weather is getting warmer and the sun shone all day.  I am literally starting to see the light of Spring around the corner!  

To celebrate Sam's first March Break we have planned a few special trips and today was the Maple Syrup Festival at Bruce Mills Conservation.  

Watching them boil the soon to be Maple Syrup.

Lily's taste of pure sweetness.  

After taking a group shot Sam's head bumped the bucket sending syrup flying everywhere.  I think this was the most exciting part for the kids. 

Big Sam and Little Sam.  Can you tell which one is which? 

Feeding the sheep

Lily wanted to get right in the pen with the animals.  I think being at Nana's farm she thinks that we always get into pens to see animals! 

I was so great to get out with the kids and friends today.  Almost feeling free and alive again.  

Sun?

I woke up to the sun shining in my face for the first time in what feels like forever.
This week they are calling for lots of sun and warmer weather.

Maybe Mother Nature has been listening to all my pleading.

Painting

With the forecast calling for lots of rain and some more snow (yuck!) for the next few days we have had to find some more inside activities to help starve off the crazies.  

Painting with my old Watercolours seems to be the biggest hit. We have tried using kids paints but I find that the Sam and Lily really enjoying using my old Watercolours so much more.  I am not too sure if it is the vibrancy of the colours or the ease in which it paints on.  Either way it makes for a longer and less frustrating painting session.  

Even Paul has gotten involved in a few painting sessions.

The next night after the paintings had dried Paul and I went to bed to find a painting for each of us next to the bed from Sam.  He said it was just a little present.  Yup, this Prego Mama tried a little.

Hoping

It is now nap/quiet time at our house.  Today was one of those days in which I felt time this time was a) never going to come or b) couldn't come fast enough.
I am now sipping a hot coffee, thinking about it is that I want to eat, while I scan the endless pages of knitting patterns on Ravelry.
We had the glimpse of Spring on the weekend, it was taken from us, and as I look out the window I see that the called for snow has begun to fall.  The winds make the house creek and the gate that was not latched this morning bangs against the fence.  In March this weather makes me slow, sad, and sleepy.  I want to stay in bed, do nothing, and wake up when Spring comes.  This does not happen as I am lifted from sleep to the sounds of Lily saying 'Morning Mama, time to wake up' my glasses are waiting in her hands.   
I think we are all tired of Winter, restless and need to connect to nature again.  This makes for some difficult days here at our house.  Today all I can hope for it that the called for rain this afternoon will wash away all of the snow and I will see grass again soon.

A Space with a Door to Call my Own

With the closing of the studio and converting the once basement studio into a basement apartment for my brother I have had to move and create new space for myself in other parts of the house.  

In our room we had a huge walk-in closet that had up until now been used as unproductive storage (really just a place I could throw stuff without having to really deal with it).

One afternoon last week I had a huge brainwave and realized that if cleaned out and a few other things added that it was the perfect size and location for a craft space for me.  

After some cleaning, organizing, and sorting through the crafts supplies I wanted/needed/used this is what we ended up with.  It has a very bright light (even better than the one in my old space really) and the perfect amount of space.

I have an organized space for all my yarn and craft books. I am actually down to only yarn that I am using for current projects.  Yes, that means I have really no stash to speak of  meaning that with every new project I start I get new yarn!

I have a space for my sewing machine instead of the kitchen table and all my usable fabric stashed under the table.  I was also able to put up my vision board as well as the cork board for added space for inspiration to be stuck.  I have found myself in the last few days just sitting in there realizing that even though it used to be a closet that I have a small space (with a door) that I can call my own.

Weekend Weather

Saturday we played in the rain and ran around sliding on the icy driveway. 

When I looked out the front window I saw grass.  

Sunday we woke up to this:

I was just getting hopeful that spring was on its way! I am not too sure how much more I can take of this snow and cold.  I want and need Spring to come.  For no other reason that I am getting too pregnant to pull the sled or push the stroller up the snowy hill to get Sam from school.