That, my friend, is a beautiful bit of writing. Happy impending autumn to you, may each of those moments be sweetly savored!

I'm so proud of you making a hat! I never made it past the dishtowel stage. One of these days.... of course if I had a nifty caddy, I'm certain I would be inspired!

I love a boy that knows just who is and just what he wants. Ezra you are an amazing little man!

Okay, I'm officially going to break down and do it. I've had that book for ages and have been to chicken to try the bagels. I'm on it!

Oh Amanda! Hugs to you and all the sweet Soules. Our thoughts and prayers are with you!

Well I will tell you this.... its much harder to get the dough to rise this time of year. Well, perhaps not harder but it takes longer. I keep ours by the radiator, or even turn on the over to its lowest temp, then turn it off, wait a few minutes and put the dough in to rise. I have never used butter, but it would be a fun experiment. I almost always use the oil now. Let me know how it goes! Off to round up the boys to church. I hope the rest of your weekend is lovely. Best, Stefani

I sure do! It's Albin Preissler, and you can find it here: http://www.thewoodenwagon.com/ AND you can find US at www.blueyonderranch.com. We've moved our blog! Happy New Year to you!

perfectly beautiful, and so very true.

I LOVE it! I heard about it on NPR, an interview with the author, and it sounded very compelling. I really could not put it down. I got the kindle app for my phone. I really didnt think I would like that. I like books, real live turn the page books, but I do have to admit that it is SO nice to have your book with you everywhere you go!

Thank you! Working on lots of changes around here... kind of a new year, new me, clean up and organize :-)

Well.... I liked her in her material girl days... I was rocking the crucifixes and fingerless lace gloves right along with her. Maybe "cool" isn't the word I was looking for, but I don't know it is. Come to think of it, maybe she's still cool ... maybe it's ME that's changed! :-)

All those people under one roof sounds fun! Glad you guys had a merry Christmas! I highly recommend getting the player. There was this one song, "Stand by My Woman Man" by Ronny Milsap, that I listened to over and over and over as a kid. It seemed like the perfect love anthem, like it encapsulated every little thing I hoped for in my future. We played it the other night with the kids running around and my husband cleaning up in the kitchen and I just cried like a baby realizing that I got just what I was hoping for all those times that I sang along with that song. Anyhow, something about the crackly goodness of vinyl and playing your childhood songs on a record player, it just takes you back in a way I can't explain. But you get it. Right?

Oh boy! Did they come with earplugs? You know... just to quiet down all that fun just a wee little bit?

Oh I love this girl! Anyone who can love Beethoven and the Black Eyed Peas at the same time is my kinda girl!

We didn't start lessons until he was real close to six, and he'd been asking since he was two. We even have video of him at two years old saying he wanted a guitar for his birthday! He's been taking classical lessons on the acoustic and we decided that if it stuck and he kept his interest for two years we'd think on the electric version. Well the boy loves to play his guitar. It's just in him, you know? Good luck to you and your little rocker too!

And many blessing to you as well Mary!

ask away!!! It was time consuming, yes, but not so hard really. I think that homemade beer would have to be the perfect accompaniment to tamales!

and to you!

Well that makes since because I do a good bit of crying myself. I'm a sap like that. :-) Happy New Year to you!

Well all of the tamales in my past have been homemade in some home other than mine, so yes, to have them emerge from my own kitchen was nothing short of a christmas miracle. I actually got a little weepy. That might be the first time I've ever cried over food!... well, there was this one time when I was pregnant and desperately hungry, and the cashier at the Chik Fil A said that they no longer took checks, but that's a whole other story :-) I hope your Christmas was wonderful, and that you are in for a happy new year!

And a happy new year to you and yours!

Thank you so much for your kindness, Lucia. And a bright, wonderful new year to you as well!

Well thank you so much for that! I hope that your Christmas was cozy and sweet, and that your new year is full of every good thing!

you noticed! My sweet husband surprised me with it. I could not have been more excited. I think it will go down in history as one of my very favorite parts of Christmas, and I know for sure that we'll be so excited to see it unpacked each year. Christmas blessings to you too, Jody!