New Year, Winter Storm ION, New Blogging Focus

Like that blog post title?  I thought you might.  I've got the computer in front of me and I'm blogging so I want to get as much off my mind as possible :)  Sorry, I'm efficient.

So, let's see....

Happy 2014!!!!  I'm not sure where 2013 went but I don't really miss it so I guess it can go.  I'll try to post a new "goals" post soon.

We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Winter Storm Ion tonight (insert sarcasm).  Forecast has us receiving 8-15 inches of snow and windchills as low as -40 degrees F.  Fantastic.  (if you didn't get the sarcasm there then I can't help you).  So we have a woodstove but it is outside the house and heats a water boiler system that heats the house.  Not the most efficient use of wood and requires electricity for the blower.  Old farmhouse so the insulation of water lines is questionable.  We've got straw around the house.  Norman and I have been taking turns staying up nights keeping the woodstove going.  We are exhausted and it is only going to get worse.  Oh well.  I was in a panic yesterday about the whole thing but I finally just gave it to God this morning.  We've done all that we can do.  We have gas for the generator but I doubt that we can heat the house with the space heaters.  We can however eat.  We will stay warm (even if we need to live in the smoke house with the woodstove for a few days).  This has cemented some ideas in my mind about our perfect house should we have the opportunity to implement these ideas.

We've been planning the garden :)

School will start here at home again on Monday (I doubt the big kids will have public school for a few days)

That brings me to the last part of my blog title.  I am sure that you have noticed that lately this blog has mainly been about reviews.  I really enjoy doing reviews and until recently was part of 3 reviewing teams.  One disbanded, one disbanded and I chose not to join the new one and one is still ongoing.  So there will still be reviews, but not nearly as frequently.  I'm not sure exactly what the focus of the blog will be but it will definatly be more homeschooling, homemaking, personal development, crafts.  I have a broad focus for my audience.  If you have stuck with me this long, I'm sure that there will be something for you.

Assuming that we keep power tomorrow I might try to get some of my homeschooling thoughts together and do an update post there.  We shall see how it goes.

I look forward to the new year and hope that you do as well.  Blessings friends!