Ice Skating

One of the advantages of having the sewer fail shortly after we moved to this old farmstead was the fact that there were lots of big digging machines out here which meant that we could easily justify the little bit of money that it would cost to dig a pond in the middle of a low spot in the field. At our old house we had a pond that we all enjoyed year round and it was one of the things that we really missed. Frogs to catch, turtles to chase, little boats, cattails, mud and ducks. When we dug the pond here we had them leave an island in the middle.The little arbor was one of my first construction/salvage creations around here made from the remains of an old corn crib the boys tore down. We also requested a big dirt pile for a sliding hill. It also makes a wonderful mud sliding hill in the summer we have discovered (not me personally, but the kids, I have somehow avoided this thrill in life so far). The pond has also doubled as the Boston harbor, the Columbia River, the greatest mud bath spa around, and generally a highlight for any kid looking to get muddy on a hot summer day. In the cold months the pond becomes a winter wonderland for ice skating. Rob has officially declared the ice safe. The kids were thrilled!

Trent set to work and cleared a big spot for skating after the snowstorm.

And the best part about ice skating this week is that we get to enjoy it with one of the pancake-eating-cousins. She never knew she was such a good skater! Oh thats right~ she came to Aunt Terri's house to quilt this week.