Ready or not

It is snowing here and the ground is white, of course it is late at night on Thursday so I will have a photo or two tomorrow. The wind is howling…snow is blowing around. It is officially our first snow….usually we can get by with a few snowfalls that melt before winter settles in.

We worked on a few Fall Projects this week.  All the lawn furniture is put away except for two chairs which were kept out in the hopes that it will be warm enough one day soon to sit outside again.

We found a spot for the snow stick….just in time.  Trust is when one person holds the stick while another hits it with a big flat rock cause someone (me) is too lazy to go get the hammer.

Far Guy moved my small flag holder.  It looks good near the old wagon wheels.

I decorated the wreath by the door.

I vacuumed out one of the vehicles…one was all my hand/wrist/arm could take. I sure do like those custom floor liners…easy peasy ...well worth the $ spent on them.

The Third Snow

The rain turned to ice and then to snow.  It wouldn’t have been so bad if we could have stayed home.

Far Guy had an early appointment in Fargo ( 85 miles away).  We slipped and slid there early in the morning.  His Doctor ordered a CT Scan of his lungs and an Ultrasound of his liver.  All tests were completed in 42 minutes. The technician said “I thought for sure you would call and cancel.” Nope we wanted to get it over with. The sun came out and the roads dried out and they were just fine until Detroit Lakes where we stopped for breakfast…blueberry pancakes for me yum!  Far Guy had some Chicken Biscuit Gravy thing.

The price of gasoline is  under $2.00 a gallon.

The last 33 miles home were icy.  Three cars in the ditch.  We slid a couple of times.  Enough to say “Oh crap” or worse a couple of times.

This car crossed over three lanes of traffic to hit the ditch.

People were driving too fast, and it didn’t help that the wind was gusting to 40 mph.

Winter is here.

I took a photo of the snow stick just before taking my afternoon nap.  We were glad to be home safe and sound. 

My report:  Far Guy does have a gizzard (gallbladder) all these years I thought he was missing his…but I saw it on the ultrasound.  He also has a liver, and he has a small cyst on his right kidney…which according to the Ultrasound gal is a normal occurrence.

Snow and Sparkly Things

There are four inches of snow at the snow stick.  So we must have got a whopping two inches in that last snowfall.

The white snows helps clean up things a bit.

These are my Cousin Todd’s trees.  The sky was blue and the temperatures were cool but we went for a ride anyway.

The Mother and Daughter bracelets arrived at their destination safely.

They sent me a thank you photo!  These are Peyote Even Stitch Bracelets made with Japanese Delica Beads.  I am experimenting with some different patterns.  I like this pattern very much.

Snow for the New Year

We woke up to snow on New Years Day.  We got about 1 1/2 inches.

The snow stick has something to report!  I took this photo at sunset just incase we got more snow during the day…but we didn’t.

We had a quiet day.  We worked on the puzzle.

We were certain it was missing pieces…but it wasn’t.  They were all there.

We finished it just in time to use my desk for an ornament packing station.

We took the ornaments off the downstairs tree and packed them away.  The tree and the lights are still up…maybe tomorrow we will attack the rest of it.  The upstairs Shiny Brite tree will be up for a few more days.

I made a lovely meal of lobster and vegetables for supper.  Chance likes lobster.  There was a bit of moonshine out so in the evening Chance and I played ball outside.  Nothing worse than a bored Border Collie who lays his head in your lap and drools on your pant leg and looks up at you with big brown sad eyes.

We are both feeling better just a tad tired.  So we are being kind to ourselves and resting whenever we feel like it.  We don’t want any relapses! 

Snow Stick Contest 2014

Yes, I am all set for the snow stick contest!  You can enter by guessing the date and morning or afternoon that the snow will be totally gone from the snow stick.

There are 17 1/2 inches of snow at the snow stick.  When will it melt?  Here are previous melt dates.
2011 April 8
2012 March 13
2013 April 30 
As you can see we have about a six week window.  So guess away…guess the date and morning or evening.
The winners..there might be more than one will get a bark carving.

These are my last three creations, none of mine ever look alike, they are all one of a kind.  These three are Linda in Colorado Johnson’s Cottonwood bark.  It is a lighter bark than we have here in Minnesota. It carves beautifully!
They have joined the rest of my carvings in an old shoe box awaiting homes.  I give some away, and occasionally I sell a few.  They can sit on shelves or they can be fitted with an eyehook for a ribbon and become a Christmas ornament.

These are not huge carvings…the pen is for a reference.  I like carving them as they fit comfortably in my arthritic hands.
I have a few more in the works…so you never can tell which carving you might get.  I carve at least one afternoon a week.  Sometimes more…Minnesota winters…ya you betcha nothing better than an afternoon spent with sharp knives. 
This is one of my favorite bark carvings.

I will probably keep this one for myself as it has a very fragile back…bark is what it is and I like the tree that the bark told me was there.
Guess away.  I will add the guesses to the bottom of this post.  Guessing closes Sunday night March 9 at 9PM.  Those of you that are bashful can email me with your guess, my email can be found by clicking on the yellow flower on the left sidebar.


Guesses:
March 29 Evening Kathy
March 30 AM Linda P.
April 3 AM Muffie
April 5 Susan in Glyndon
April 7 Terri @Backward B Ranch
April 12 PM Nancy Wyoming Breezes
April 13 L.D.
April 13 PM Elaine Sanders
April 14 PM Terry and Linda
April 15 AM Iggy
April 15 PM Kathy b
April 16 Am Alvina M.
April 16 PM Deanna Fort Worth
April 17 AM DJan
April 17 PM Red
April 18 PM Marlys H. Seattle
April 19 Pm Lisa J. Bemidji MN
April 20 Leah
April 21 PM Shirley
April 22 PM Barb B. Hoople ND
April 23 PM Furry Gnome
April 24 PM Jess Noling
April 25 PM LindaG
April 26 PM Phyllis Pritchard
April 27 PM Kay Lloyd   Kansas City area
April 27 PM Sandy B. Ada MN
April 28 PM Karen Wyndson Farm
April 29 PM Wendy Danielson
April 30 PM Country Gal
April 30 PM Linda M
April 30 PM Francine Primitive Stars
May 1 ladyfi
May 1 Grandma Barbs This and That
May 1 PM Linda Reeder
May 2 Ryker
May 3 AM Mildred Blackberry Lane
May 3 Karen M. Wisconsin
May 7 PM Rita
May 10 PM Cathy Monroe
May 13 Judith Bell ( It better be gone by the time she returns to Tamarac or she will be unhappy)
May 14 Evening Robin
June 1 Cynthia ( a fellow pessimistic Minnesota gal)

Snow Report

We still have snow, it hasn’t melted yet.  Only in my dreams.  I dreamt we bought a two person speedboat just a tiny little thing and we were someplace where the water was blue and pissy warm…so obviously it was not Minnesnowda!

The snow stick is holding steady at 16 inches of snow cover. ( Last year at this time we had 20 inches at the snow stick.)  Those tracks appear every time it snows.  I think it is a squirrel that finds the distance too great for him to leap from one tree to the next so he has to make a run for it.

Then there is this little creature that burrows just under the newly fallen snow.

Patterns like this show up in the driveway.  Chance is very interested.  He caught a mouse once and enjoyed the hunt.

Out on the prairie there is a sea of snow.  If you look at the snow long enough you can imagine waves of snow.  Those are the Smoky Hills looking smoky in the distance.

You can find snow banks to admire. You don’t have to look too hard either.

Far Guy says “Thanks for all the birthday wishes!”  We watched the USA vs Russia Hockey Game,  we went out for breakfast with my parents and then we ran some errands in town, came home and he took a nap.  I fixed steak and vegetables for supper and he fried some potatoes.  Other than the Hockey game it was a quiet day…except for the phone ringing with birthday wishes!

Loose ends

I am kinda at loose ends these days after Christmas.  I cleaned out the fridge, and cleaned out a Christmas ornament box that I had not seen the bottom of in years.  I also had a meeting to attend…I hate meetings…much ado about nothing.

Far Guy started gathering “stuff” for me, we hope to put his Military career in a scrapbook. I have the book and the pages and papers galore. I started a folder for photos.  Gathering is the first step.

I need to make a list of all the things I want to accomplish in the next few months.

Big Bluestem in the snow

It is too cold to venture out of the house/yard.  The wind came up yesterday late in the afternoon and the artic blast arrived. Friday it was almost 30 degrees and felt like spring could come any moment and now we are plunged back into the deep freeze. Old Man Winter will do that to you…give you one marvelous winter day and then a week of bone chilling cold just to remind you Minnesnowda weather is not for sissies. Besides that it keeps out the riff raff.

We have gotten about 35 inches of snow so far this winter ( She who sees robins first is keeping track).  It has snowed a little every day for many days.  The snow stick shows about 11 inches.  Snow settles.  Chance even found one of his lost balls on Friday in the warm up.  Up here in da nort even a ball found in a snow bank is good news.

We will probably de-decorate the downstairs tree for a bonding indoor activity today.

This is our Rachael and Chad Ornament.  Rachael had all the supplies out on a table at the wedding reception and Far Guy made an ornament for our tree.  There is red and silver tinsel and a slip of paper inside that says:  “So they are no longer two but one flesh, what God has joined together no man can separate.”  It was a nice activity for people indoors whilst everyone else was tubing or taking photos

Snow

We are having a snow event.  We are safe at home and have no plans to leave.  It has been snowing since late Sunday night.

This snow event is supposed to last a few days.  It has snowed enough as I write this I can hear the snow chugging down the roof…as it slides down the steel roof it makes a noise.  Of course the dog barks..cause it sounds like someone is beating on the house…then he realizes it is snow falling in huge amounts and goes to hide in the bedroom where he feels safe.  One time when he was a puppy he was covered by snow as it slid off the roof…Far Guy had to rescue him.  He has never forgotten.

So far..at 5PM on Monday afternoon the snow stick showed a little over four inches.

Just like that our world turned from gray and brown to white.  What fun.

We made a supply run to town and mailed all of the Christmas Ornaments to relatives far away…so if you are a relative be on the lookout for a package in the mail.

Far Guy is supposed to be writing the Christmas letter.  I think he has a beginning. It is a start but nowhere near complete.  Some year the Christmas letter may be abandoned completely…just not yet as we like to send greetings to many people who do not have computers.

I accomplished nothing Christmas again yesterday…unless buying Poinsettia Postage Stamps counts.   I am still thinking about what kind of cookie I will be making for the cookie exchange…no big decisions have been made yet.

Remember to leave me a comment about your favorite cookie HERE to be entered in the ornament giveaway.

Gift count: two.  Gifts wrapped: none.  Cookies made : none. Cards written: none.  Home made ornaments: Complete!  Homemade gifts: in progress.  Decorations…none except the snow outside.  22 days and counting.

October Happenings

The weather has turned cold and damp.  Bone chilling dampness that makes your body hurt all over.  I got out my snow boots.  I should have gotten out my parka too. Hindsight is twenty twenty or perhaps I am delusional and think it will warm up.

The snow brought out the Juncos to the grass under the feeders.  The Blue Jays are passing through too, I hope they don’t stay. Squirrels and Blue Jays can be within a foot of each other and still not be bothered.

There are still a bunch of leaves in the trees.

There is a Red Bellied Woodpecker in that tree.

Our usual birds are still here; Nuthatches, Chickadees and Woodpeckers…Downy, Hairy and Red Bellied.

This is a female Downy Woodpecker…they have a shorter beak than the Hairys.

We put the snow stick up yesterday.  We will have some fun with that and have a snow stick contest like last year and the year before.  This year the stick has larger numbers…for us older people.

As you can see there is some snow on those leaves.  I hope it melts so we can mulch the yard at least one more time.

Far Guy got the Wild Gardens all mowed down.

Someone got some snow on his ears.  It is that time of year that makes dog owners nervous.  The skunks are out.  The other night we saw two running along the road and there are sail skunks ( dead as a door nail flatter than a pancake and uber smelly) on the roads…and we all cheer…well Chance would cheer if he could.  I take Chance out at night on leash only.  Far Guy is braver and goes outside and barks and then takes Chance out off leash.  I question that…better safe than sorry I say…but they are males and I am out numbered. It will almost be a relief when we finally get a foot or more of snow on the ground and the skunks go into their semi hibernation state. It will be warmer once the snow blankets the ground too:) 

Snow Stick Contest

Alrighty then!  I am all set for the snow stick contest!

Please leave me a comment stating the date and morning or afternoon of your guess.  Guess whatever date you think the ruler placed next to the snow stick will be free of snow and or ice.  We have about 28 inches of snow at the stick.  We had 31 plus inches but the snow settled some.  I am not trudging out there to get an exact measurement.

Last year the snow was gone from the stick on March 13 and in 2011 it left the stick on April 8.  I could hardly believe that last year at this time we had the start of green grass and I photographed robins through the window.  How depressing.  BUT it could warm up and start raining any day now.
Anyways.  I finished the small carvings for the Snow Stick Contest.

One carving will go to the Area Voices winner ( The local newspaper) and one will go to the Blogspot winner.

Guess away..and I hope no one guesses July.  Guesses will be accepted until Thursday March 28 at 9PM.
The carvings are from Cottonwood Bark that was collected along the shores of the Red Lake River near Fisher Minnesota.  We only collect dead bark.

I like carving with bark..the pieces fit nicely in my hand and are easy to carve.  They are painted with an acrylic paint and have a Bee’s Wax finish.  Each piece of wood has a different house in it ( In my mind)..the house on the right leans a little..as if it was anchored someplace where the wind blows all the time and it has slowly shifted over time..and I gave it a wonky roof.  The one of the left is a Springy little house..possibly on a tropical island someplace where it is above zero ALL the time:)

State the Date and Morning or Afternoon and I will post all the guesses here! 

Lanny April 8
Red April 10
Country Gal April 10 Afternoon
ladyfi  April 11 Noon
Blissed-out Grandma April12 Morning
Muffie April 13 before noon
troutbirder April 13 Afternoon
DJan April 14
West Side of Straight April 14 Afternoon
Pauline Persing April 15 early morning
Two Paws April 15 Noonish
Harriet April 15 Afternoon
Lynne Ft Worth April 15 afternoon
LD April 16 Afternoon
Maple Lane April 17 Morning
Nancy April 17 Afternoon
Dreaming April 17 Afternoon
Grandma Barb's This and That April 18 Afternoon
Blue Ridge Boomer April 19
Angela Cruz-Garcia  April 20 Afternoon
Alan April 21 morning
thecrazysheeplady April 21
Laura April 22 afternoon
Terry and Linda April 26
Kathy April 27 Afternoon
Primative Stars  April 29
Lisa April 30 morning
Iggy April 30 Afternoon
Shirley May 2 Afternoon
Jen May 4
MT Waggin June 1 Midnight
Far Guy July
Guessing has now closed..Thursday night the 28th:)  Thanks! 

Snow Report

Ya, You betcha we have enough snow for a little while.  My snow stick shows that we have 24 inches of snow on the ground.  Ten inches fell in that last storm.

A snow  monster walked out to the snow stick before the last snow.  It measured 14 then.

 She it left huge tracks that were filled in by the new snow.  The snow was over the snow monsters boots.  She might need some of those gator things or woolen leggings…or snow shoes.

No one is going to venture that way for awhile…not even the snow monster.  We will watch the snow stick from afar. I think a squirrel visited the snow stick.

This is the view from my bench on the patio.

Besides moving snow around. I have been busy doing “stuff” on my list.

I had another big project to work on for the museum and it is ready to go out in the mail…pleas for memberships to be kept current.

Chance and I enjoyed some golden time outside just before sunset:)

Chance: Snow

I like the snow.  As much as Far Side hates it..I love it.  Nothing better than playing a good game of ball and then flopping down in the yard to rest.  Far Side throws the ball for me until I am tired..then she takes photos of birds until she gets cold and needs a nap.

I have a great vantage point to view the back driveway.

One of my favorite people drove by and didn’t even wave.  Oh well..

Far Side thought I might be sticking my tongue out at that favorite person..but I was actually licking snow off my nose.  That is my story and I am sticking to it.

Far Guy  and I put the snow stick up.  Far Side ripped the last one out of the ground and broke it off..so we have a new one:)