Finally feels like winter

Another week has passed and we finally saw some snow. This means one thing to me. Cross country skiing!! Alas, we still have to work and clean house and buy groceries. I try not to let that stuff get in my way too much.  As I've told most of you, my job is pretty cool, and the work load is similar to what I did when I was teaching.  On the other hand, I have a lot less control about how I use my time after school hours and am often at the school until 8 or 9.  Honestly, the work is usually somewhere between fine and fun, but it does take a toll on me to be away from Sarah, the dogs, and my home.

We had teacher appreciation night last week at one of the girls basketball games.  It was really cool and lots of teachers showed up for the game.  We all wore red to show our support for the team.

The action was intense.

We had a house guest last weekend.  That's Carli in the background.  I love her.  She is such a dog.  Sarah nailed it when she said that Carli reminded her of the dog from Up!  She wanted to go for lots of walks and was a good natured pest about it.  So that's what we did.  Jonas was a little pouty about the attention she got, but he also played a little with her and benefited from her walk demands, so it was really a win win.

Walking the gingers... for like the third time in one day.

Margaret was kind enough to get us our first children's book.  It's got cardboard pages and is scratch and sniff!  I'm sure the kid is going to love it.  I like it alright, but it sure makes me thirsty!  Notice Carli in the background crashed out on Eva's queen bed.  It was quite a spectacle to watch everyone vie for nap space.

SNOW!  This is how I like it.  No tracks.  No people.

After I went skiing, and had to keep stopping to cross logs, I went home, got Carli (because she was at the door polishing the floor with her tail), and headed back out to do some trail maintenance.  My shadow was pretty cool with the axe slung over my shoulder.

Undercut champion.

Nathan gave me this awesome horse skull a long time ago and it sat in my shop.  It didn't look bad sitting on my desk, but I always wanted to figure out a way to hang it up.  Since Sarah got me a bandsaw for christmas, mitered joints have become a lot easier, so I slapped this frame together real quick and made some space on the desk... which I immediately filled with something else.

And on to another project!

Night skiing.  Because that's when I get home and it beats sitting on the couch watching TV.

Morning skiing!  Because it's awesome.  Still no tracks!

Afternoon hike with Jonas.  "You didn't finish the job, dummy."  

"Well, I got tired.  The axe isn't exactly meant for this kind of work."

"Excuses, excuses.  Get up here and fix my trail."

"Ok"

Note that I only cut it wide enough to walk or ski through.  No snowmobiles!

Gobble gobble!