Winter Dance

The snow was falling silently, music wafted through the air and a gentle light softly shone through the community center windows, beckoning friends from near and far.  Finally, it was here, the night of our much anticipated Christmas dance.  Sir Knight, Miss Serenity, the Littles and I decorated the hall in winter plaid, prepared the food and made the punch while Maid Elizabeth readied the sound system.  Before any guests appeared, our family danced through the empty rooms, singing Christmas carols and anticipating a wonderful, fun-filled evening.

The Punch table (sans the punch bowl)

Very soon, the community center was filled with children and families, young adults and teenagers, every generation joining hands together, dancing steps that had been passed down through the ages.  Oh, what a joy to see faces filled with anticipation and flushed with excitement!

The dances that we do are old-fashioned - The Virginia Reel, Posties Jig, and The Grand March.  We dance Whip-the Willow and Hunt the Fox, the Pattie-Cake Polka and more.  These are not the awkward dances that you remember from school, these are dances that include everyone, in every age-group.  Some are mixers, other you dance with your partner for the entire dance, but every one of them are fast-paced and laughter filled.  No one is ever left out.  We have young people that are disabled, others that are socially insecure - none are shunned and all are included!  It's just plain fun!

Whip the Willow

Getting ready for the Willow (Miss Serenity is talking to a new-found friend)

Teaching the dance

Master Hand Grenade bowing to his partner

Princess Dragon Snack (the blur in blue) sacheting down the middle

One of my favorite things is seeing multiple generation dance together - delighting in each others company.  Last night, one cherished scene was seeing our tall and burly 60 year old neighbor holding the hand of his tiny 4 year old dancing partner and she looked up at him in complete adoration!  Oh how I wish I would have had my camera at the ready!  These are the things of memories.

Princess Dragon Snack and her partner

They really have to duck to make it under the little kids!

Master Calvin and his partner

The Pattie-Cake Polka

Sir Knight and I don't put these dances on because we need one more thing to do - we do it for our children.  We want to tuck a happy childhood under their jacket, and these dances help create memories for a lifetime. 

These truly are the good ole' days!

The Wonders of Winter

It snowed!  It snowed!  Last night, as we all lay snug in our beds, our world was blanketed with a glorious covering of new fallen snow.  Such beauty we awoke to this morning!

Shortly after tea and seeing Sir Knight to the door, I woke the children and listened with great delight to their squeals of joy.  After a hurried breakfast, we all put on our coats and mufflers, hats and gloves, ready to explore our winter wonderland.  As I pulled the 4-wheeler out of the shed, the kids hooked the Pelican sled to the hitch and piled in for some early morning fun.  I sped through the fields, cutting doughnuts, winding through serpentines and maneuvering figure eights.  With rosy, smiling faces, Miss Serenity, Princess Dragon Snack and Master Calvin held fast, their gloved hands curled around the edges of the sled.  On the straighter paths, when their grip could be loosened, one or the other would scoop up a handful of snow and launch it at me as I drove, laughing as their snowball hit the mark.  Yay snow!

The 4-wheeler with the sled (upside down, of course)



Princess Dragon Snack being attacked by the ferocious Tibetan Mastiff (who happens to LOVE the snow)

After our morning of fun we settled in for school.  The shouse was cozy and warm and so pleasant that after we finished school, we thought twice about heading back into the winter weather, however, we couldn't resist the gorgeous wonderland that beckoned.  We spent the next few hours splitting wood and stacking it in the woodshed (taking a quick sled ride in between each load) and finally, after much playing, attached the snowplow to the front of the 4-wheeler.  Now we will have to limit our sledding fun to the driveway, as the snowplow is too low to go through the deep snow of the field. 

With the snow plow (after plowing the driveway)

It has been a beautiful winter's day, deep in the American Redoubt.  As the gloaming unfolded, Sir Knight and I took tea in front of the wood cookstove and thanked God for the blessings of our family, our shouse and the snow, glorious snow.

Hello Again....

Please forgive my extended absence - it's so nice to be back!  Our family has been working, schooling and generally keeping the home fires burning.  We have weathered a few wind storms (we were none the worse for wear), helped neighbors manage power outages and kept our local grocery store in hot coffee (nothing beats a wood cookstove!).  Now, we are busy making candy for Christmas, trying to finish school for the year (we'll be back at the books in January) and preparing for a dance that we are hosting at our local community center.  I'll keep you posted on the happenings......

Now, some photo's of our nativity.  We have been collecting "Willow Tree" for a number of years, adding to it every Christmas season.  Generally, I clean off a shelf, and set the nativity safely out of the way, but I've really always wanted it front and center.  This year, I tried something new - I used and old galvanized beehive top and, with double-sided tape, secured the Willow Tree to the hive top and placed it in the middle of our living room coffee table.  It worked like a charm!  Now the children and the dog can bump into the table, yet the nativity holds fast.  I'm thrilled! 

When they saw the Star they REJOICED exceedingly with Great JOY.

Matthew 2:10

Land of Promise

Today's the day!  James Wesley, Rawles' newest book "Land of Promise" has hit the shelves and is rocketing toward the top of the bestseller's list! 

This newest book is somewhat of a departure from his previous work in that it is classified as Science Fiction, however, it's classic Rawles in its call for alert awareness and preemptive preparedness.   This is a page-turning, edge-of-your-seat wake-up call! 

This book is Volume 1 of what promises to be a highly anticipated series.  Bag your copy - now!

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Until Next Time,

Enola