Some Recent Pictures

Making Bacon

I just returned home from a visit with Mom and Dad. Among other things, Dad and I decided to give making Bacon a try. I brought some Pork Belly from a local farmer here in SC that raises pigs on pasture. I "cured" the pork in a mixture of Kosher Salt and Pure Maple syrup for 5 days. Then Dad Smoked the cured bacon. In the picture here it's ready to be sliced and fried for breakfast.

Ermine Update

Here is a necklace David made me during school. He called it the necklace of power. It keeps away evil. I should wear it all the time.

Here are the children, playing in the chest together

The Ermine family has been surviving the winter very well. The weather here has been slightly dissappointing due to the fact that we have only had a couple of inches of snow, and nothing deep enough to sled in. I feel put out that I have to deal with cold weather but do not have the benefit of a good snow. Never the less, the children and I have been getting out to play. We have a usual spot along a river that we visit for nature walks when it is not too cold.

Little David is progressing in his preschool aged learning. He now seems familier with most of his letters and some sounds. He has asked me on occassion what something says and we sound it out together. The other day, he wrote his name for the first time, and I was a very proud mother. Amelia is as independent as ever. She will keep herself busy for hours in her little world of dolls and babies. Although lately, David and Amelia have been playing together. It is a great consolation and answer to my prayers. They ofter play Lois Lane and Clark Kent, but today we played Little House on the Prarie. I was Ma, of course, and Amelia was Laura, David was Almanzo, and Edward was baby Carrie. I did not tell them that Carrie was a girl. Edward is just sweet, plump, and wiggly. Big David continues to work very hard at his business and it is going well.

We miss you all, and hope to visit someone sometime soon. Love, Heather

Little Edward in His Wooly Onesie

Little Edward wanted me to thank Auntie Amanda for his new wooly onesie. We continue to be amazed at the skill of our crafting family members. Edward has worn this onesie on many cold nature walks and it had kept him very warm. Thank you so much Amanda, it is really beautiful .

Kayak Trip

Maria, Anna, Philip, and I (Andrew) went on a short Kayaking trip on the Ogeechee River on Saturday. Maria had the 17' red kayak all to herself, and did quite well with managing the journey. Anna, Philip, and I shared the blue 18' kayak, and brought it to its weight limits. It was cold and windy, but a lot of fun. Philip took a nap before we reached our island. Maria and Anna circumnavigated the island to explore its boundaries. Anna kept her lifevest on just in case she fell off the edge of the island into the river (just kidding, she just didn't want to put the vest back on after taking it off). Philip stayed asleep most the time. When we got home, Philip and Maria tried on some sunglasses that resemble those of the late Kim Jong Il (see link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/jan/14/this-weeks-new-film-events).

Stella has red hair

Not too much has been happening lately. We are just getting ready for our move to Germany. Here are some pictures of the kiddos: