In my last post, I mentioned I was about to leave for a cross country ski through my backyard into the tree farm behind our home.  I decided to take Miss Riley with me, because she stays close by me, and I don't need to keep her on a leash. A dog on a leash and cross country skis do not mix!

It was a beautiful day! The snow was sparkling as the sun shone down and the world was bathed in the joy from the snowshine sparkles. From the moment we headed out from the house, I realized it was going to be slow-going, as my skies sunk down into the snow almost to my knees.

I wanted to enjoy the sunshine, so I persevered. On we went through the woods, enjoying the glorious sunshine-filled afternoon.

The grandeur of the scene before me carried me onward.

As my path meandered through the trees,  breaking through the snow with each step, the joy in my heart grew.

But all was not well... no indeed... my little companion was not as happy as I with the struggles through the snow.

Perhaps her eyes and ears were tuned to the smells rather than the sights!

But in this glorious snow-lovely landscape, my heart pounded both with joy and exertion.

My skis sunk through the snow with every swish-swoosh and Riley... exhausted, began to put her feet on the back of my skis, and so now I was carrying both of us!

I came to the logging road where I had intended to ski down, but.... the exertion just to get there had worn both of us out!

I know Riley had high hopes for this adventure, but now, exhaustion had set in for both of us, and it was time to turn around.

The unbroken logging road trail called out to me, and I had to ignore it. How I wanted to, but my legs just couldn't. Imagine wading through a foot of sand... each step takes all the breath in your body!

And because Riley was tired, she was using my skis to carry her, thus I was bearing twice the load.

As we turned around to follow our path back home, I could almost hear her sigh with relief!

Oh how I hated to leave this winter wonderland, so I stopped for several moments to just soak its beauty up.

Riley thought it would be the perfect time to just sit on my skis, as we both rested.

I don't think she was as captivated by the view as I was!

Oh! It was thrilling to just be there, in that moment! My heart raised in praise to the Lord in glorious joy and praise. How majestic is this world He has created for us to enjoy!

But as you can see in this picture, Miss Riley was looking at me as if to say... c'mon, let's get on home!

So I obliged and told her... Let's go home.... and this is what happened next... I happened to get it recorded on my phone, so you get to see the little drama played out!

Here we are, back on our property, and close to home! Somewhere she found the energy to race along in front of me now!

One last longing glimpse of the beautiful woods, as we skied on back to the house.

It was time for a delightful cup of hot tea as I got back home :)

This winter to date had been very mild with very little snow, to the point that the newspaper had just published an article concerned about the lack of snowpack in our mountains, and the potential it could have on our dry summers here.  Not less than a couple of days later.... winter did a 360-turnaround, and decided to show up.  We really did need all the extra snow, as our trees depend on the snowpack to deeply feed their root systems to sustain them through our hot and dry summers. 

So while the snow has been falling, we have been making the most of it! Winter just happens to be one of my favorite seasons (I actually love the seasons here year-round)!  I've found making the most of each one, and enjoying it to the fullest makes the days pass easier.

Our family took to the ski slopes for a day of downhill skiing.

The views were magnificent!

My little Parade rose that my husband bought for me last year for Valentine's Day has still continued to bloom month after month!

A dear friend had invited me over to learn a new craft, dot painting!  It was a very fun afternoon!

A new quilting store in our community is holding classes, and so I took the Paper Piecing Class. How I loved learning this technique, and it amazed me just how easy it was to do!

All set up for an afternoon of quilting with my Ironstone teapot (found at a thrift store for $4!) and a fun new teacup made by BTaT (Brew To a Tea).  You can see one of my paper pieced blocks in the background.

Our son brought these home to show me what would be going into his lungs while he welds.  The left filter was only worn for 4 days, while the right is a new filter.  Thankfully he wears a mask with these filters on while he works!  I reminded him, as any mother would, to be sure and change his filters every third day!

This sweet little face loves to bury her face in the snow!

Hoar frost astounds me with each tiny magnificent strand of loveliness.

Deep fog has set in on one of our morning walks.

I took Riley with me as I went for an afternoon cross-country ski at a local park that is closed for the season. The sun was shining, and the day was glorious!

This was before all the snow we received last week.  I had to take my skis off to walk down to the river.

This beautiful old stone walkway leads down to the river bed.

Turkey antics! The turkeys were determined to eat all my birdseed, so my bird feeders had to be rearranged! Quite clever of them though!

Cold winter days call for healthy doses of comfort food ... a favorite of our family, gumbo with Iron Skillet Biscuits, comfort food at its finest. I made the gumbo in my Instant Pot, which I have really used a lot!

My Iron Skillet Biscuits.  The recipe can be found at this blog post here.  I think these might just be the best biscuits you'll ever taste!

I've started a Ladies Prayer Meeting at my home every Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. I made these Prayer and Blessing Journals for the ladies who come.  It helps to record the prayer requests and blessings/testimonies from week to week and to see how the Lord answers our prayers! They are very easy to make.  If anyone is interested in directions, let me know, and I could do a post on how to make one for yourself.  The design is simple, and could easily be "gussied up" if so desired :)

I think this poor little bird feeder needs dusted off and refilled, lol! This is the amount of snow we received overnight last Tuesday....

These two would live outside in the snow, I know winter is their favorite season!

Hoping I will take them for a walk... who cares if it is snowing?

One of the sad realities of getting over a foot of snow overnight, the roofs must be shoveled!

More winter-time comfort food!

I always enjoy seeing my favorite red barn when I walk each morning.

Oh my, this face!  She knows how to get what she wants :)

And this face too.... walking is their very favorite thing to do.  5 miles a day and still they beg for more!

Down by the river at sunset.... can you bid good night in a more beautiful way than this?

Those sultry skies at dusk just grab my heart with their stunning ambiance.

I can get through the gray days when the skies put on their wintry delight at daylight's exit.

One morning before a massive winter storm moved in, the skies danced with these glorious colors!

Another rose blooming from my Valentine's Day plant.... isn't it a beauty! It brightens my world!

Oh dear... another Riley face!

Orange tinged tree-tops amid a glorious late afternoon sunset that warmed the earth with its golden gaze.

Annie-girl in the snow, her favorite place in the world!

The moon making an early appearance while the sun kissed the tips of the trees goodnight.

Another winter sunset... I never cease to be amazed by winter's last rays of sun dancing before their last goodbyes to daylight are said.

For many, winter days drag on and on, and I can understand that seeing gray and white color schemes day after day does get wearisome.  I can honestly say though, that just getting outside and lifting my face to the sky, gray/white or not... seems to calm and ease any winter blues there may be! 

I'm finishing off this post and am about to don my cross-country skis and go for a winter wonderland ski.... the sky is bright with dabs of sunshine, and the snow is deep.  I'll lift my face to the sky and be thankful for these winter days... soon enough spring will come, but until then, I'll enjoy the beauty that awaits around me :) Blessings to all!