9 Months of Log Cabin Living!

It's hard to believe we've been living our log cabin life for 9 months already!  Actually, it is now 9 months and 2 days, being that I didn't think about it on Jan 4th.  Time is passing so quickly!!!  In celebration, here is a picture of a handsome Purple Finch...I've been trying to get a decent picture of this fellow since the first time I saw him back on the winter solstice.  Today, I was standing on the porch watching birds come to the feeders (I do enjoy watching and listening to them) when I saw him land on a branch just off the porch...it was as if he was saying 'thanks for all the sunflower seeds, my favorite, I'll sit here for a minute so you can take a picture' (a girl can imagine, can't she?)...I love the detail and color of his wings!  They have a beautiful song, though I have to admit I am still working to identify it in our woods.  Another thing I love about Purple Finches is the female is also beautiful, though she doesn't have the same coloring, her markings are detailed and intricate.

Yesterday, I wrote about making Chicken Pot Pie because I was busy in town most of the day.  I forgot to include adding half a soup can of milk (use the cream of mushroom can and stir the milk in it so you can get all the remaining soup) in the recipe.  I've updated my post, but thought I'd share that with you today too.  Just in case you are inspired to make an easy dinner tonight!

When I got into the car (yesterday) to head into town, the windshield was covered with frost crystals...this first photo is looking from the inside of the car out, so you see the bottom of the crystals laying on the glass...

...this one is from the outside looking in, so you are seeing the top of the crystals...

...incredible, aren't they? 

I mentioned that I found an awesome treasure while in town (yesterday)...this is it, a vintage Revere copper boiler tub with lid.  I bought it to put our firewood in...we've been using a wooden crate, a wicker basket and a typical firewood holder to collect and keep the wood in, but they all allow little bits of wood to fall out, keeping my rug dirty all the time.  This then results in my having to sweep up those bits every day, and though that is not a big deal, I believe in prevention...so, a solid tub to collect and store the wood is a good solution, donchathink?  It will replace at least one of those other containers.  I do believe I got a good deal, I did negotiate a cheaper price than they were asking, but it wasn't cheap (all the research I did showed similar tubs selling for more than I paid, so that is encouraging).  I figure it was worth every penny though, being that it will keep the wood chips in the tub!

And it works like a charm!

This is a random piece of information but I thought you might enjoy it.  Rhododendron plants curl their leaves up real tight when it is below 25 degrees or so to protect themselves (I am still determining what the actual highest temperature is when they begin curling themselves up, the 25 degrees is my observation at this time).  We can always tell how cold it is outside just by looking out the window! 

As the day warms up, they start to uncurl...

...until they eventually unfold completely.

It is really awesome to watch nature at it's best!

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise