Mountain Lane Homesteaders

These are among just a few of the things that make memories during a visit from Grandma and Grandpa! What a wonderful visit we have just had with Sam's parents who were here staying with us for just over a week. They have been to visit us once each year since we've moved to Montana and this was their second stay here in our little cabin. We had hoped we would be able to offer them flushing amenities this time around but alas we made due once again with one porta in the loft and one porta downstairs.

We so enjoyed all the time to just talk and catch up. Of course the kids all enjoyed showing grandma and grandpa all their games they like to play, shooting guns with grandpa, and having grandma fix up their hair special for school and church. Then there are the cups of tea. And tea cookies! Did I mention TEA?!!! My goodness. No wonder we were emptying potties every single day! There is tea first thing in the morning with breakfast. Then there is mid morning tea and of course tea again with lunch. Let's not forget about mid afternoon tea and then pre dinner tea. Tea with dinner and then again later in the evening. That's at least 7 times a day the kettle was a singin'. At 2 to 3 cups each time I guess that figures out to between 14 and 21 cups of tea PER DAY (Per Person!). Ah, the simple joys of life.

When we were not making tea, drinking tea, and cleaning up after tea, we managed to play some fun games (whoops, I guess tea was involved during those as well!), put together a 550 piece jigsaw puzzle in 4 1/2 hours, read stories out loud, fix up pincurls or braids, chop wood, sing songs, play a game of charades (I was quite proud to get someone to guess "Custer's Last Stand" in about 4 seconds and enjoyed telling Caleb to act out "Nutcracker Ballet"!) and make plans for this summers Family Reunion on the east coast. We will get to all fly out for a 3 day reunion with many of Sam's brothers/sisters/spouses/ and children. There are some of the younger neices and nephews we haven't yet met and many have not met our own children so we are looking forward to getting everyone together to get aquainted!

In other news, we were in the city on Saturday to get Sam's parents to the airport and while there spent some time shopping. We were so excited to go to Wheat Montana and pick up a 50lb bag of Prairie Gold Wheat Berries for $12.95. Tax money had arrived and I wanted to get that grain before I talked myself out of spending the money on a grain mill! We've been planning to get one for a while now but I always get squirrely when making that big of a purchase. The plan worked though because Monday afternoon I worked up the gumption and clicked the buy button on my new Nutrimill. I have to put in a mention here that it was so fun to be able to purchase it from my friend Theresa right here at homesteadblogger. Something wasn't working quite right with the online system so I actually got to talk to her on the phone. Feeling like we knew each other a little made making that big purchase not quite so scary. Thank you Theresa for the personal service and conversation. I've just had an e-mail from Federal Express that my mill is set to arrive here March 1st. That's TOMORROW! Fresh bread for dinner!

Thanks friends for popping in for a visit today. I've missed you all this past couple of weeks and am beginning to read and get caught up with you all. Have a great day wherever you are!