Goodbye January

 I saw my Rheumatologist on Friday.  He said " I can do nothing for you, I think you have Chronic Pain Syndrome."  He is tapering me off of the daily prednisone dose and I should be seen at the Pain Clinic.  Alrighty then.   

Far Guy had his infusion appointment...while he was there I picked up groceries at Wally World and then stopped by Aldi to get fruit.  I had a very long nap in the afternoon. 

Not much progress on my various projects.

Today we say goodbye to January...perhaps February will be better! 

Far Guy will have his Thyroid Biopsy in February...nothing heard about his other appointments...stress test and echocardiogram.

Supper was leftovers...all good. 

Minnesota weather: High 4F or -16C  Low was -14F or -26C.  We have a Winter weather advisory until noon Sunday.

Far Side

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON SATURDAY TO NOON CST SUNDAY... * WHAT...Mixed precipitation and areas of blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 1 and 3 inches and locally up to 4 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Portions of northwest and west central Minnesota and northeast and southeast North Dakota. * WHEN...From noon Saturday to noon CST Sunday. * IMPACTS...Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Plan on slippery road conditions. Falling and blowing snow will lead to areas of quick and sudden reductions to visibility, making travel difficult, especially in rural areas that are prone to blowing snow.

Watercoloring and more

I finished up a bunch of water colorings for cards.   I only have a few more stamped...however I do know where a bunch of stamps are in the craft room.  Possibly I will call this project good and move onto something else. 

We had a very quiet day, I cleaned two bathrooms except for the floors...I am still not getting down on my hands and knees to scrub. Maybe one day soon.  I did some laundry and worked on a baby blanket while watching The Closer on Netflix. 

Sadie keeps one eye on us all the time.  When she sleeps she lays in front of the front door so we cannot escape.

Her people will return late Sunday night.  Last we heard they were boarding their flight in Cincinnati and that 90% of the flights had been cancelled due to weather.  Jen was visiting a friend in Ohio and Andy was Master of Ceremonies at a Vex Tournament.

We made homemade pizza using a Pillsbury Pizza Dough for supper...just as good as a Pizza Shop.

Only six medical appointments this week. Sure hope it warms up for the appointments on Thursday and Friday!

Another cold day in Minnesota: High -10F or -23C  Low was -20F or -29C eh! 

Extreme Cold Warning in effect until Monday, 9:00 AM CST. Source: U.S. National Weather Service

* WHEN...Until 9 AM CST Monday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 45 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.

Far Side

Stitching

 After the photo project cleared my work space I got out the diamond squares that a blog reader sent me.  

The diamonds needed to be sewn together with a mattress stitch.   That is a difficult stitch but I finally conquered it... mostly.

It is a lap afghan size.  It is not perfect... it will be donated to one of the stores in town that benefits people...Salvation Army Store most likely or the Dakota Boys and Girls Store.

I began this project before Christmas and then I packed it away now I am pleased to get it off of my to BE finished list!  The pattern is called Tulip Cube Throw.

It was a cold day here, I took Far Guy to his Infusion and waited in the parking lot for him while crocheting and talking to my best friend Susie! 

Supper: Far Guy browned some brats and warmed up some potatoes and corn.  

Minnesota weather: High -12F or -24C  Low was -24F or -31C 

Weather Advisory

EXTREME COLD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST SUNDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 50 below. * WHERE...Portions of north central, northwest, and west central Minnesota and northeast and southeast North Dakota. * WHEN...Until noon CST Sunday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 50 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes.

Far Side

Cold

 It is cold here.  

We have enough snow, we have enough cold. 

Far Guy and I had a quiet day, he ventured out to the mail box and that was his outside activity for the day. I opened the door and took a photo for your enjoyment.

Far Guy is organizing his medications, woodcarving and making ice for the ice bin...there are three of us that like the softer smaller ice cubes that the on the counter ice machine makes! 

I did some laundry and completed my photo album project 2026 for now...yeah me!!  I must go through some archived photos and order reprints...I will put that on my list to BE tackled at a later date....before Winter ends for sure.

We made a pan of lasagna for supper.

Minnesota weather: High -13F or -25C  Low was -26F or -32C eh! 

Here is the weather warning.

The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 55 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes.

Far Side

Snow

 Yes it snowed, it was not an April Fools joke.

Before we left.

After.

It was not a fun trip thats for sure.  It kept on snowing after we got home.  We have more snow now. 

The roads were mainly wet and the temperature hovered between 31 F and 33 F.  

We are still in a Winter Storm until late Wednesday or early Thursday.  They say we may get up to 10 inches of snow...we will see.  We are happy to be at home safely. 

Far Side

Crochet Projects

 I finished another baby blanket, a hat and booties. 

Lots of young ladies are having babies.  I need to have a few blankets etc ready to go. 

It keeps me out of trouble. 

We had a quiet day on Friday, we had thunder like in the summer but very little rain after all the rumbling.  Again the changing weather and the system coming through was the pits. 

Far Side

Windy Day

 It was very windy all day yesterday (Friday) not sure what the windchill was but winds were gusting around 50 mph...the snow is all a grey color now...some of the finest soil in North Dakota was airborne.  We are in the deep freeze now for a few days. 

Even Sadie wanted to stay in... the wind scared her.  Jen went out with her so Sadie could do her business. 

Three of six crochet projects...and a puzzle.  I wonder which one will be finished first. 

Supper was "What is in the fridge"  in my case that was peas and scalloped potatoes. 

Evening activities are...a hockey game on TV, petting Sadie, crocheting, maybe some Deal or No Deal Island, petting Sadie. 

FYI when I play tug with Sadie I should not sit in a computer chair on rollers...

Far Side

Nothing new

Not much new here.

I ran an errand for Far Guy...he needed some stuff... the store he sent me to had yarn for sale...more yarn may have been purchased for yet another project.  I am not doing very good on my word for the year ...focus.

Colorful artwork at the shop in Grand Forks.

flippin' happy home decor and more

We have one more day (Friday) of decent weather then our neighbors to the North are opening the deep freeze again:)   We have nothing planned for the weekend other than staying inside where it is warm! 

Far Side

Word for the year: Focus

 Five days into the New Year and I finally decided on a one word intention for the year.  Focus.

I need to focus on many different things and my list is in my head...perhaps I will share it in detail someday. 

For now I am focusing on going through my photo files...I have so much to do...but I have to start before it gets so out of control that it will be impossible.  Going through the photo files will help me with another project on my list...update the Grands photo albums.  A Grandma with a camera has its advantages.  I gave Paige a flash drive of her wedding photos...so I can cross that off my list. 

You can see we still have a bit of snow.  It has turned bitterly cold.  The high yesterday was -1F or -18C eh.  And it was windy...someone described it as teeth breaking, snot freezing cold.  I cannot argue with that.

We had a quiet day yesterday...I made vegetable beef soup.  Some was frozen for quick meals during the Winter.  As I write this on Saturday evening Jen and Far Guy are watching Sioux Hockey, Andy is of town for a Robotics tournament and Sadie makes the rounds from person to person for attention.   I am going to focus on my crochet project unless I get distracted by the puzzle. 

Far Side

Don't forget your hat

 or mittens or scarf or extra heavy parka or below zero boots and maybe even a blankie! 

The deep freeze is here.  40 BELOW zero windchills...uffda...such is life in the frozen northland.  What happened to Global Warming?  Apparently it does not apply to Minnesota.  The only good thing about the cold weather is that it is making good ice so the fishermen can get out on the lakes without drowning. 

I heard there were sundogs and saw photos on Facebook...I was not going to venture out for a photo.

Far Guy and I attended at Virtual Craft Get Together sponsored by the VA.  They mailed us supplies.

They are Gnomes...you need the cardboard from a paper towel roll or tp roll, yarn, a pine cone and something for a nose.   The yarn is measured and then cut to length and wrapped around a small ring of cardboard from the paper towel holder, turned inside out and then you tie off the pom pom add a hanger, glue on a pine cone and a nose and VIOLA you have a cute gnome.  Perfect little project on a cold Winters day. 

Christmas card report: 10 more are done drying the total is now 117.  One more productive day and I should be done...but tomorrow is filled with many appointments and errands. 

We got the Christmas letter printed out..not without some drama...upside down a couple of times as the paper was all mixed up....must have been the Christmas Elf:)

Far Side

Miserably cold

 Activity for last evening...warm a rice bag, put on your warmest nightgown and a pair of socks, climb into bed ...flannel sheets are your bestest wintertime friend...watch TV. 

The wind is just raw...the windchills are -45 F roads are closed to travel in parts of North Dakota. 

I believe this is Bad Medicine Lake in Minnesota a few years ago. 

I ordered the photos for the Grandchildren's photo albums for 2017 and 2018.  So I am making progress on that project! 

Stay warm!  

Far Side

Trip back

 Yesterday we went for a short Ranger Blue ride in the morning to check on the roads, the snow plow opened the roads.  We packed up and headed to town, we saw our accountant, signed the papers and our taxes were electronically sent.  Cross something off the list!  Then we visited with my parents.  It was a good day for my Dad as he knew who I was.  He told us once again that he is ready to go anytime the good Lord calls him home.   

We headed North and as we drove it got windy and more windy until it was a ground blizzard.  

Here is a photo of the ground blizzard when you could still see the road.

I did not take any photos when it got worse and we could not see the white line anymore.  Around Crookston Minnesota it was really bad, just out of Crookston there was a huge snowdrift over the road that attempted to pull us into the ditch ( sometimes when you hit a drift it acts funny and pulls you toward the heavy snow it is all part of winter driving) ...Far Guy drove like a race car driver and saved us from the ditch.  It was scary.  

We arrived back at Andy and Jens safely.  Sadie and Little Elvis were happy to see us. 

More bad weather is forecast and we will just stay put.  No more snowy adventures this week.

Far Guy facetimed with his sister again, she was sleepy.

Far Side 

Shots

 Far Guy got his second Moderna Vaccination and I got my first one.   I have a bit of a stiff arm and so does Far Guy...no big reactions so far.   We are thankful to finally begin the process together.  In about six weeks we should both be "somewhat protected." 

I have not been in a building with lots of other people for a long time...I was a bit uneasy and felt a little claustrophobic....but happy to finally be doing something to fight this terrible pandemic. 

We had clear skies for the trip.  It was -35 F at our home in the morning.  Relief from the severe cold weather always seems a few days away. 

We went through a drive through for lunch (a big date) and came home and had a nap. 

My baby brother in Oregon finally has electricity.  Apparently one of the cell phone towers  that serves the area was destroyed in the ice storm so cell phone communication is spotty at best. 

Far Side

Lemons

 I made Far Guy lemon pudding with meringue topping for his birthday, just like lemon pie but without the crust.   I am no good at crust....and who needs a whole pie anyways.

I put it in custard cups and there is enough for two nights.  

He had a good birthday with many calls throughout the day.   He requested steak and a salad for supper.   We had a quiet day at home.  It was a tad bit warmer...a few more days and we should be out of the deep freeze. 

My baby brothers home in Oregon sustained damage from trees that fell in the ice storm over the weekend.  They don't have electricity...or heat.  Luckily they have neighbors and friends that are helping them clean up the mess.  As most trees in Oregon are huge it takes many days to do the clean up. 

The weather is crazy all over...stay safe out there...just when we thought 2020 was bad enough 2021 isn't looking like a walk in the park.

I have a pillow from a dear friend that says "When life gives you lemons make lemonade. "

Far Side

Still cold and a new computer

 It was -40 F when Far Guy got up on Saturday morning.   I snuggled back in for a bit and then got up to take a photo. Which at some point will appear on this blog....maybe.

***** Update: I had a facetime tutorial with Jen...I loaded this photo from my old computer onto a flashdrive and got it to the new computer and drug it over to the desktop...all by myself.  It might be a miracle!  Jen gave me a great tour...and now my head is full of stuff to process. 

After household duties were taken care of we moved my old Windows 7 across the room.  Then we unpackaged and set up the new computer an IMac...desktop.  I ordered it a few weeks ago. 

So...I am learning more about Magic Mouses and Lightning Cords and red, yellow and green dots... and I have no idea where or how I got that photo up there but there it is..I took that photo this afternoon and found it under ...recents.  It is someplace that has liquid water! AND get this the screensaver changes with the daylight etc...now the stars are out...:) 

I tried to import bookmarks from Chrome...I got some really really old ones...but it was better than nothing.  It all takes time.  I have sound now...I didn't for a while and it was bugging Far Guy....so he fixed that for me.   I stupidly plugged in my old speakers which obviously were not compatible.

We are cozy and warm and we are expecting another brutal night of sub zero weather.  At least we have electricity...some people do not in all the ice storms around the country.  What a bunch of crazy weather.

Oh yes Happy Valentine's Day to my husband!  He is a keeper! Everyday is Valentines Day around here!!

Far Side

Brrrr

 Friday morning it was -35 when Far Guy got up...I asked "How cold is it out there?"  He said -35 so I covered up and went back to sleep while watching the morning news.  

I eventually got up and cleaned the bathroom, did some laundry and dusted. 

My other baby brother delivered our mail.  I poked my nose out to get the mail...brrrr. 

While cooking supper I kept announcing the falling temperatures...-14 to -20 when we did the dishes.  Announcing the dropping temperatures irritates someone I love ...but I do it anyway...I think he expects it.  

We are warm and cozy.  The new furnace seems warmer than the old furnace...another heat register was added upstairs.  It is noisy in a different way...but quieter than the old furnace...this one sounds like a jet engine warming up.  I CAN hear the television over the noise of this one...

My new computer ( I Mac) came during the furnace adventure...we may set it up today if we feel like having a technological adventure.  We have not unpacked the box yet.  My old computer (Windows 7) still works but it has driver issues and is slow as a turtle crossing the road on a summer day.  We will set up the old computer across the room until I have some photo files transferred.  I plan to transfer some photos by flashdrive and then load them on the new computer. Like I said it will be an adventure. 

In the meantime here is a puzzle for you. 

Stay safe and warm! 

Far Side

Normal?

 We are back to normal...if there is such a thing! 

It is very cold.  -26 for a low and -8 for a high.  Anything done outside should take as little time as possible!  We recycled on the way into town, I dropped Far Guy off at the Infusion Center I picked up our online grocery order, went by the Post Office drop box and the drive through at the bank, filled the gas guzzling car with its 4 gallons of gas so we have a full tank and then waited in the parking lot for Far Guy's call...I crocheted while I waited and watched people.

The grocery adventure was not without drama...seems they overcharged us...and when I called the gal said "Oh my I recall that and it is my fault."  I hate calling them to complain...but I refuse to pay for groceries I did not get.

In the mail was a tiny box of chocolates and some lip balm from a local retirement home...they said it would be sweet of us to move there. 

We disinfected groceries at home and washed fruit and vegetables.  

I mixed up a bunch of stuff; brown sugar, apple cider, Worcestershire sauce, and Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce...poured it over some miserable pork shoulder poor excuse for pork chops that I got one week last Fall...put the whole works in the slow cooker for about five hours...and it wasn't too bad served with vegetables and a baked potato.  

So we are normal for these pandemic times.  It is supposed to get colder in the next couple of days...brutal they said.  Oh well at least we will be warm! 

Lupines in the Wild Gardens 2009

Far Side 

Warm again

 The furnace guys were here early Wednesday morning, in no time at all they had the old furnace out and the new one installed.  By noon we had heat!  Heat and a furnace are a wonderful thing.  

Our 96 plus hours without a furnace were miserable.  Drafty...cold floors...but we were able to dress warm, stay positive and keep the entire house from freezing up! . What an adventure.  Far Guy asked me...did you ask me on Friday what we had planned for Saturday...I usually don't ask that anymore as something happens that requires all of our attention. 

The tile floors will catch up after a few days.   Our weather is still brutally cold.  It was -27 F yesterday morning....and the high was maybe 2 above zero.  Nippy! 

I crocheted some more wasp nests while the furnace guys were here...the outside door was open quite a bit...letting in blasts of cold air.   After they left we cleaned the floors and had a nap.  Staying warm takes lots of energy.   We have a well insulated house...with six inch walls filled with insulation...I can only imagine how cold it was for the early settlers to this area. 

My other baby brother delivered our mail. 

Today is grocery adventure day. 

Stay warm and safe!

Far Side

Wasp Nest Pattern and Furnace News

 To keep busy and warm  I wrote my wonky not at all professional pattern for the wasp nests. 

Yarn 4 ply...Grey, Green, Beige color about any color will do     Crochet Hook I as in Idiot

Make a magic loop...you can find out how to do that on the Internet better than I can show you.  You could also do some chains and connect it and stitch it up...magic loop is faster! 

Single Crochet (SC)  8 stitches into the magic loop

Pull the circle closed...pull it tight so no hole is seen...slip stitch last stitch to first stitch and chain one

* SC twice in the first stitch continue with a SC in each of the remaining stitches.  Slip stitch last to first stitch at the end of the round and chain one

Continue to repeat * adding two stitches at the beginning of each round until you have a funnel shape.  The side where you have added all the stitches may look a bit strange but it is all good.

When your funnel is a good shape do not bind off.  Instead anchor a stitch along the last row and chain 30 to begin a hanger, SC back across to the beginning and anchor well.   Pull your yarn through the last stitch and leave a long tail.

Fill the nest with plastic bags.  Use a yarn needle to stitch along the top of the nest.

Draw up the tail tight and stitch in place several times, tuck in the other end of the hanger and stitch it in place several times. 

The wasp nest on the right was done using this pattern...the others were created watching TV and adding stitches when ever I felt like it.

I will dip these nests in Mod Podge one day in the Spring when it is nice outside and hang them up to drip and dry.  That way they will shed water should they get wet.  

I have been tempted to make some smaller nests...and see if they work as well. 

Furnace News: Day Four 

Finally found a furnace that will fit our space...we may have to remodel the laundry/furnace room a bit next summer....we will see.  He may be here today to start the installation...he was looking for a hard to find kit...that converts a Natural Gas Furnace to Liquid Propane....at any rate things are moving in the right direction.  Good thing too as our weather is not getting any warmer.  We are okay.  I like it cooler to sleep at night anyway...but during the day I like to be warm...our tile floors seem to get colder everyday. 

Far Side

Day Three: No Furnace

 Still no news on a new furnace.  They must be hard to find.  

I finished up the Christmas Letter and Christmas Photo Card project. 

I have four folders full.  Some of the longer photo cards had to be trimmed. 

It is fun to read all the old letters again.   

Fireplace

We are staying warm. Sometimes it is a bit chilly/drafty in the house so we run the fireplace for awhile or the furnace fan to help circulate the air.   If all else fails the corn bags get heated in the microwave and join me under the down comforter!  Far Guy sometimes wears a stocking hat! 

Our weather is still horrid I believe our high for the day was -5 F. 

Far Side