Private Nook

We had a fun week with Hayley baking banana bread during the snow storm. Hagan didn’t care much for the snow until later in the weekend during our visit to the Poconos. I snuck out early Friday morning to peak at the 14 acres of astonishing beauty. I encountered an owl, a vulture, a thousand birds (cardinals and chickadees) and I’m fairly certain a coyote. On Friday eve I hurried home to pick up babe and stuff so we could arrive in time to watch the latest treehouse episode with the crew who are currently staying in the PA mountains working on a lovely treehouse near a stream. While the workers slaved, hagan and I hot tubbed and played in thick snow (hagan skated on the surface while I struggled through hip-deep). Sunday afternoon we headed home with Datty in arms.

Last weekend we went to a sugar maple festival which was beautiful and tasty. Since then, the universe has decided to blow a whole winters worth of snow at us. I can tell Spring is coming with the arrival of slightly warmer temps, birds and tree buds. But, honestly, we have not seen grass in far too long. SX just took off for a job in PA mountains.. Talk about snow! And we will rendezvous with him this weekend. After which, I will jettison to Boston for a conference and then meet up with everyone in Indy to attend a memorial service for the matriarch of the SX Brauneller family. AND THEN! SX will go to Idaho for ANOTHER jobby. Crazy times ahead.

After partying down with the Datty, we all caught the winter yuck and spent most of the week in a foggy haze of mucus. We are all better and snappy for the weekend! This weeks pictures include a trip out to liberty science museum, hagan’s first movie (Spongebob!), funning around the house, snow and more snow, Chinese New Year celebration at work, and the completion of my artsy home project: a purse for Camille. I made the whole thing up from pattern to product and I’m beyond excited with the outcome. It has flaws but it also feels decadent, regardless. I learned so much and am excited for the next imagining.

The Fam is back together again for a couple weeks until the next treehouse in PA. Just in time to spend Valentines together enjoying chocolate, snow and sun. We got a membership to the Liberty Science Museum and although I haven’t gone yet, it’s clear that Hagan loves it. Other than that, we are playing house and enjoying time together.

We finished up a fun week with Hayley and started the weekend with a long sleepin (so rare, has that ever happened before!?) We slept in until 8:30! After that luxurious snooze, we got up and cleaned house for the Philly girls that came to play for a day. We hung out in the back yard and they slid Hagan all over the place in our wee sled. We investigated the pond (frozen solid) and found some flicker feathers. It was such a big day that after a hot bath, Hagan just passed right out for an early night. I was able to get started on my crafting..pictures to come.

The next day we went to meet up with some work peeps for phillipino food in Jersey City. We had a great time while Hagan flirted with the ladies….and ended up crawling all over the floor under his table fort.

We are looking forward to the Datty this Friday…until then, Hayley is playing with Hagan while the momma is working…and sheets of ice cover everything in sight.

We are surviving the ice and snow. I have finally invested in a ton of salt to ensure safe travels down the driveway. It is a truly impressive amount of ice. Other things on the property include a beautiful red fox and my growing suspicion that our great horned owl actually lives in the bamboo forest next to the garage. I am fairly certain that he swooped me in a warning as I went in late at night to take out the recycling and salt the drive. Not much else to tell other than Hagan prefers the inside to outside (as do we all, I think- anything below 20C is just downright unbearable no matter what you’re wearing). He has been playing with playdoh, magnetic set, soft-bowling toys and measuring set with pantry items such as dry rice/beans/maccaroni. We are all excited to get outside again…whenever that is, who knows.

Hayley is happily entertaining Hagan while I humdrum at work. It’s been fun so far! And I’m looking forward to the Superbowl with Seattlelites in philly!!!!  The Datty is enjoying sun and hard work down south… Making us all drool with sun envy.

I completed my first workweek just in time for a three day weekend. We enjoyed a relaxing few days watching the Seahawks, visiting a local Washington monument and a brief visit with some Philly friends who came out to see the new space. We are finding a nice groove so far but that’s all about to change this weekend as the Datty will go to Baton Rouge for another fantastic treehouse build. Our friend/nanny will come from Philly and stay with me during the weekdays for the duration of the build so that Hagan can be properly entertained.

We are getting settled, new surroundings, new car, new job, new life. It’s all a bit much to swallow. So big, so fast. It is pretty spectacular so far. Hagan seems to love the new home. The deer are a daily amazement and there looks to be a great horned owl that calls our forest home! My first days on the job have let know how much my specific knowledge is quite a coveted specialty and that everyone seems very eager to get to know me and genuinely friendly. I’m still in shock over it all and am waiting for everything to sink in.

I have a week until I start the new job which means more time to unpack, get situated and play in the snow around the 14acres of foresty goodness.