The December issue of Minnesota Parent Magazine is available throughout Minnesota and online now.

Inside:   Baking, cooking and a Thanksgiving Feast shared with family and friends.

Outside:  Nordic & alpine skiing, lots of fun in the snow!   

It has been an abundant Thanksgiving holiday.  All now that is missing is our girl,  who is traveling home from Montana, who has been making memories through her experiences on a trip to West Yellowstone with fellow nordic skiing athletes.  We are looking forward to her safe arrival home today. 

Hi all!  I want to make sure you know about some great opportunities for your holiday shopping where you can get some great wares made right here in Ely, Minnesota by two of my maker-mama friends:

Shop Tara's Grey Duck Bag Co. site Black Friday through Cyber Monday the long  take advantage of big discounts:

Tara's zippered bags can be used for a variety of purposes and would be a great gift for just about anyone.  Don't forget to add a strap to make it the perfect package.

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Beth is also having a great online sale Black Friday through Cyber Monday with her Gypsy Bandanas headbands, bandanas and ponchos on the Gypsy Bandanas site.
Beth's Gypsy Bandana headbands certainly one of my wardrobe staples. I wear them about town, to work, while running and they work great under ski helmets too!  

Be sure to check out her new colors styles (including winter, fleece-lined headbands).

Beth will be selling her products Friday, November 29th, 12-4 & Saturday November 30, 10-4 at "A Handmade Holiday Christmas...in Ely" as well as in the Homespun Minnesota pop-up shop in the Edina, MN mall.

Happy Shopping!

Around Here...

We had our first snow day!  This past Thursday we woke up to a dumping of 8 inches of snow, that combined with poor road conditions gave us a day off of school!   It certainly was a gift to be at home.

Around Here...

I did not get much done around the house this weekend.   Our nearby ski hill opened this weekend and the boys and I took full advantage of the opportunity to be outside in the sun and snow.   It was exactly what I needed: sunshine, time outdoors, and time with my kids.  I was on my telemark skis for most of Saturday and today (Sunday) I spend the afternoon snowboarding.   I absolutely love spending time being active in this way with my kids.  Our season passes and   season gear rentals are worth every penny.

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This act of sharing photographs and ramblings of our daily life is a practice in gratitude that brings me joy.

I encourage you to reflect on the good in your life.

What are you grateful for today?

11/17/2019

Winter is working on taking its hold.

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This act of sharing photographs and ramblings of our daily life is a practice in gratitude that brings me joy.

I encourage you to reflect on the good in your life.

What are you grateful for today?

The cold and snow have arrived in my neck of the woods!  Winter weather is feeling like it will be here to stay.

The November issue of Minnesota Parent Magazine is available throughout Minnesota and online now.

Around Here...

We are taking advantage of the sunshine and seasonable weather to get out of doors.  We live in such a beautiful area - and we make the most of it, taking to the woods and exploring nearby lakes.  Fall is such a great time to get out in our nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness because summer crowds are gone and we can truly experience the solitude and beauty of the wilderness.  


Around Here...

We have been taking part in fall pumpkin traditions: carving pumpkins, making pumpkin puree, making pumpkin baked goods and roasting pumpkin seeds.   I enjoy sharing these experiences with my family, with my students at school and with others with my writing.

Around Here...

We have not only been feeding our family from our bountiful garden harvest, but also from our game harvests from the lakes and woods.   Just recently Otto harvested his first deer on a youth hunt accompanied by James, and the boys had luck fishing the other day and brought back a good meal of fish.
Around Here...

The cross country running season is coming to a close.    Zoe had a great season and I did too in my role as an assistant coach.  This weekend our boys team will be competing at the state level as they advanced, as a team, to the Minnesota State Cross Country Meet.

Around Here...

It is time to say farewell to fall.   Soon our lakes will be freezing and rocky portages and trails will be covered with ice and snow.   The shift is in the air with cooler temperatures and already a few dustings of snow.   Winter weather will be here soon!

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This act of sharing photographs and ramblings of our daily life is a practice in gratitude that brings me joy.

I encourage you to reflect on the good in your life.

What are you grateful for today?

Happy Friday Friends!

Here's my "Friday Fave,"a series highlighting fun and interesting things (products, experiences and/or ideas) that I would recommend to others.

This week I would like to share and highlight some of the new fabrics and prints Beth has for purchase on her Gypsy Bandanas Site and when she is out and about at craft fairs:

Gypsy Bandana Ponchos - shown above is the Orange Navajo Poncho

Gypsy Band cozy cable knit ponchoBlack and White Buffalo Poncho

Check out other ponchos here.
Beth also has some bandanas and headbands out in some fun new prints.

Check out her bandanas through this link

and headbands here.

Keep these products in mind if you want to treat yourself to a practical, handmade item or if you are looking for a great gift!

photo credits:  Gypsy Bandanas Instagram