Wordless Wednesday - Logs for the Fire

My parents live way up north in Minnesota, almost to Canada. They routinely have bears and moose in their yard. They can hear wolves howling not far away.

They heat their entire house with wood. It's not a little wood-burning stove in the living room. It's an industrial size wood furnace outside, away from the house. Someone has to add wood to the fire 2-3 times every day in winter.

These photos are of my daughter (when she was much younger) helping Grandpa haul some logs to the furnace.

She's using a Norwegian kick-sled to haul the logs.

That's a big log.

Now the house will be toasty and warm.

I'm linking up today with these Wordless & Wordful Wednesday blogs:

Wordful Wednesday: Path in the Woods

After weeks of weighing all the options for where my daughter will attend high school next year, we have finally decided.

It feels good to have a plan.

It also makes me sad.

She's heading down a new path next fall.

My wish for her, is that she skips down that path happily.

Check out other Wordful Wednesdays at:

Wordless Wednesday - Wide-Awake Sloth

There's a cool little zoo near our house. They have a sloth. This is what she usually looks like. A ball of orange-brown fur tucked in a tree.

In all the years my daughter and I have been going to the zoo, we've never seen the sloth awake. Until one day. . .

She's awake! And eating a piece of lettuce.

Apparently she rarely leaves this tree.

Sloths aren't lazy . . . they're just very mellow!

I'm linking up with these great Wordless Wednesday blogs!

Wordless Wednesday - Christmas Tree

Soon we'll be taking down our Christmas tree and putting away the ornaments and lights for another year.

So here's a final picture of our pretty 2011 Christmas tree.

(If you look closely, you can see one present, up front, wrapped in two different kinds of paper. That's because our cat shredded one end of the wrapping paper. Since he doesn't have claws, it's unknown how he accomplished this feat.)

Nephews are Nice

Today is Wordless Wednesday where a picture speaks for itself. Except, I'm actually doing "Wordfull Wednesday" because I can't not talk about my nephews.

I adore my three nephews! I don't have any sons, so it's especially fun having nephews.

I love buying things for them, especially clothes. My sister-in-law calls me "Gap Auntie" because I like shopping at Gap Kids for them.

This year, I bought them all matching, blue button-down shirts. I can't wait to see them all dressed alike!

These photos were taken at my middle nephew's birthday party. He's smart and very crafty. I bought him a jean jacket. I mean, what cute, independent, slightly wild, 4-year-old boy doesn't need a cool jean jacket?

My daughter said, "Now he can look like a Greaser from The Outsiders." Excellent!

Wordless Wednesday - Round Barn

My mom's side of the family comes from Wisconsin. My cousin still lives on one of the original farms. This is a photo of their unique, round barn.

People come from all over to take pictures of their barn and several other round barns that dot this part of Wisconsin.

I used to play with my brother and cousin in this barn. Then it housed dairy cows on the lower level and mounds of hay in the upper part.

This is inside the upper, domed part of the barn.

On the farm, my uncle installed a parking meter for fun. If you look closely, you can see 2 nickels will buy two hours of parking. What a deal!

These pictures remind me of my childhood and farms and barn cats and cows. For a city kid, visiting the farm was a magical treat! Even though things are very different now, I try to go back when I can. And bring my daughter. She needs some farm magic too.

Today is Wordless Wednesday, where pictures speak for themselves. I'm linking up with these great blogs, plus NapTimeMomTog.

Wordless Wednesday - Garden Gnome Blues

I took some pictures in the garden this week. Oh, my poor, poor garden. Tended so well in the spring, neglected by mid-summer, and totally abandoned by fall.

Here's a little garden gnome that's seen it all.

He seems to be saying to me, "Come closer, My Dear. I have something to tell you."

Then as soon as I lean in to hear his whisper, he'll hit me on the head with his stick and say, "That's for neglecting my garden!"

At least one flower is still hanging on.

The very last geranium!

Maybe I should stick to pumpkins.

Our Halloween pumpkin never got carved, but at least it looks good on the porch!

Turkey On My Patio

Today is Wordless Wednesday where the picture speaks for itself. (But sometimes I speak a teensy bit for it too.)

This turkey visited my patio in September, along with his 10 turkey family members. I live in a big city so it's always amusing when the turkeys visit.

I think he's saying, "Whoa, camera lady. Where'd you come from. I'm outa here!"

Here's the whole family. They look a little skinny. Come back for another visit - in about a month - when you're a bit plumper!