Never a Dull Moment --

(I finished reading The Solitary Summer. I'm still working on Touring Through France, reading it in between other books.)

My mother's mantel. She still had little Christmas decorations up, when I was there for Daddy's funeral. The beautiful clock belonged to Daddy's mother. Adam put a new mechanism in it a few years ago, so Daddy wouldn't have to keep winding it.

I'm painting away on my next story about the Thanksgiving Mice. 

The farm wife is up very early on Thanksgiving Day.

Mrs. Mouse takes notes on the farm wife's cooking.

I'm working on the dining room picture.

I've had very sweet responses from friends regarding my "Punkin" story - thank you! It was fun. I'm now assembling and mailing out the second printing. (If you asked for one, please send your money. If you want one, please leave a comment.) Instead of copying from the originals at Staples, Adam scanned them onto the computer and cleaned them up. Some of the backgrounds I am not pleased with, and I am retouching some images in each book as I send them out. I still have not found a printing option that I am totally happy with. I may need to rethink and start again.

The woes of the spinning wheel!!! I have struggled with the treadle, the wheel, and especially the bobbin. I told Adam it was time I had a real wooden footman, instead of a string. A yard stick is actually just the right thickness. (I may paint it later.)

 The treadling and spinning were immediately better. I'm able to pedal slower, without the band coming off. This means I won't overtwist my yarn. It's just too complicated for words. Will I ever conquer it?
Then, just as the footman was done, this leather bearing broke.

 Goodness! I can't complain, however, because it's probably original to the wheel, and therefore nearly 200 years old. If I'd been spinning a bobbin that long, I'd be ready to be done too. The leather bearing fits in here:

 Adam made one new bearing for me (on the right below), so now he's making me another. They are so stiff when they're new. 

I have much to learn. 

Our weather is warmer. We worked outside today. My baby chicks are doing just fine.

This was from yesterday. Today I removed all adult birds from the coop for 30 minutes to give the babies a chance to eat. The mamas love the babies' food, the crumbly, dusty stuff you see there. Poor babies. Their little tails are starting to fluff. Before I know it, they will be big fluffy hens like their mothers.

Oh! Remember these two?

Guess what? They got engaged over Christmas break! Everything got so crazy with my daddy's illness and death, and I'm not sure if I ever said it here. Gramm proposed to Anna in Clarksdale, Mississippi, his hometown. They'll be married here at our church in June. We are just thrilled! They are so well-suited for each other. Anna is busy, planning away in Japan. I'm sure there'll be lots of wedding news this spring.

See you gals (and any guys?) later! Remember ... spring is on its way!