The Hills

 We took Ranger Blue for a ride up to Smoky Hills Tower.  You can see a long ways from up there. 

The leaves have all fallen off...

Far Side

Inside the red coffee can

 The most important part of the winter survival kit is the red coffee can. 

Here is ours refreshed.

The metal can on the left hold the tea lights...you would be surprised how much a tea light heats up a metal can!  (The pretty wrapped tea lights came from my parents 50th Anniversary in 2000) the lighter and matches also go into the metal can.  Then there are hand warmers and snacks. It all fits in the red coffee can nicely. 

Cross that project off my Fall project list!  Note that many people have shovels, bags of sand, jumper cables etc inside their vehicles all Winter. 

Years ago we had a friend who was stranded in a snowstorm...before cell phones were popular.  He burned newspapers and all kind of paper in his car to stay warm.  He was a salesman so he had lots of stuff to burn!

Minnesota weather:  Cooler   High was 44F or 7C   Low was 36F or 2C 

What's cooking?  Spaghetti and GF cheddar biscuits

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Happy Birthday Jody!

 It is my other baby brother's birthday today.   I was nine years old when he was born. 

Here he is sitting by his birthday cake when he was 2 years old back in 1962.  Others in the photo are maternal cousins  Dwight, Dean and Tim. 

Photo was taken at the farm...I still have that table in the garage...we found it at the dump one day many years ago and rescued it.  The table is grey as are the chairs.  The curtains our Mother sewed ...the fabric was yellow with shades of brown circles. 

We went out for a late lunch on Saturday to celebrate Jody's birthday!  

Happy Birthday Jody!

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Progress on Projects

 I finished painting the last of the Christmas ornaments and a few more have been delivered.  One of these days I will have a wrapping and packaging party!

I finalized the Christmas card design for this year.   I like it very much...but it will be time consuming.  I have been working on it while watching TV...it is a stamped watercolor card. 

Far Guy is wood carving roses...he may have to move from the garage into the greenhouse/woodshop where it is warmer. 

I updated the Winter Survival Tote in the car and got out the ice scrapers.  I have yet to refresh the snacks in the red coffee can in the tote...that will happen soon.  I need to buy some hand warmers.  We have extra mittens, a hooded sweatshirt and a quilt...and the red coffee can that I am updating.

Sadly I brought in the outdoor dog water dishes...probably no visiting dogs for a bit. 

Minnesota Weather: High 59F  or 15C   Low 31F or -1C  It rained.

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Books and a friend

Friday afternoon I met with long time friend Susie for lunch.  We try to get together twice a year for our birthdays and Christmas.    We had a great visit and then we played the slot machines.  I won a little and Susie won a lot!!  It was a fun afternoon!

I gained four books.  My total is now back up to 69 books waiting in the wings:(

I sent three books with Susie...The Midnight Library which I wrote about a few days ago. AND

Fighting Back by Deena Burnett a recommendation from Betty.   It was a faith filled book.  It was also sad in some parts...I gave it a 9 out of 10 stars.  I finished reading this book back in September.  

Foxfire Bride by Maggie Osborne.  Historical Romance at its finest that takes place out West during the Civil War.  I give it a 9.5 out of 10. 

Susie belongs to a book club that meets in person vs my virtual book club. We need to get together more so we can talk about books! 

Minnesota Weather...a cold front came through and it rained.  High 70F or 21C   Low 56F or 13C.  We will have a couple of days of highs in the 50's and then the 40's.  November is close to being upon us. 

Far Side