I love the first few months of each year. There is something so magnificent to me about the trees going dormant and my garden taking a rest before planting season. The clear, winter, star-laden sky amazes me. The crackling of our wood stove, and the extra read aloud time with hot cocoa all add up to winter wonder for me.

As I write tonight, with a warm cup of Earl Grey, I can see the full moon has risen over our pond illuminating our land, The water on the pond is slowly rippling from the new flock of ducks I bought at my first farm animal auction last weekend. I also can hear the wood quietly popping and sleepy heads going into a deep sleep.

~Awe, it’s Winter~

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Since our oldest child is a senior, this will be the last winter that I homeshool all 7 children. The days are slipping by as sand in an hour glass and so I am grateful that I have made it a daily rhythm to do a morning time with all of them.

“Morning time” is a time I will cherish always.

I love seeing them grab their watercolors and art paper as I begin the routine of memory work, a devotion, discuss a piece of art, read an intriguing book, and listen to a piece of music we may be studying.

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I also love the holidays that this season brings. Chinese New Year is now a favorite along with Martin Luther King Jr’s Day, also my incredible father’s birthday, and of course Valentine’s Day.

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The buttercups have popped their heads out of the sleepy winter ground this week. My favorite winter bouquet presently has about 40 stems on our kitchen counter. Blake has picked a buttercup bouquet for me EACH and EVERY February for 22 years now. It’s a splash of color and a burst of sweet scent to remind me that spring will be here before we know it.

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May each of you enjoy the deep winter wherever you are.