I pray everyone had a Merry Christmas! We hosted our annual Christmas Eve family gathering this year. It was a great time with family, especially all the food :) We had our traditional food of Lasagna, Salad, Bread, Cookies and Chocolate Cream Pie. Christmas Day was just us (PS#1 did join us too!) at home.
We continue to scale back our gift giving, with the intention to focus on why we celebrate Christmas. Each child received one gift from us (plus a few from family). PS#2 asked for a camo tarp and tent stakes. Pretty strange gift (I thought) for a 5 year old boy, but he is happy with it. He has made himself a camp site in the trees, complete with fire ring (we have used it twice to roast marshmallows), log stools, camp kitchen area, and a small, wood pile. He spends a lot of time in the tent, and has been upset that I won't sleep outside in the tent with him. I'd need a cot for that...I would hate to wake up with a rattle snake snuggled in the sleeping bag with me.
Gifts we received (not a totally prepper Christmas) were: Chromebook, Nintendo 3DS, gift cards to Home Depot and Olive Garden, ammunition, 2 cast iron pots, a knife, fire starter, knife sharpener, machete, a digital/wireless thermometer/weather station (part is outside, and the other sits inside), camo shirts and jacket for PD#1, sewing supplies, and crochet supplies. Hopefully, next year we can concentrate and focus on only useful items. That is the goal for next year. I did give two useful gifts 1) a gun cleaning kit and 2) a knife set.
The weather has been pretty chilly lately. Tonight it is 40, supposed to be in the mid 30's in the a.m. Rained early this a.m. until about noon. It was nice this p.m., sunny but a high of 48.
We have been focusing on cleaning, decluttering, organizing more, working on housing projects (sheet rock and paint), and keeping the land picked up. PH has been splitting lots of wood (we received six live oak trees from FIL).
I recently completed a one day herbal medicine class on Cold/Flu. Very interesting and informative. I am continuing my herbal medicine studies. I am going into my 9th year of study. I don't think I will ever be done learning about herbal remedies. In addition, I am still studying and looking for births to observe as part of my midwife training.
We will be working on the garden in the a.m., to get it cleaned up to plant in early February (at the latest). I am very thankful that PD#2 is an avid gardener. She knows my love for plants, and brought me back several plant pieces (chocolate mint, garlic stalk, beautyberries) from a botanical walk in the gardens in town today. Very cool that she thought of me!
PH and I are still working towards our plans of getting bees this Spring. Hoping he gets the hive built soon, I need to place my bee order.
Hope everyone has a great, safe New Year celebration!
