10 things

I have decided that instead of being in a funk about this virus situation I can do certain things every day.  This is day 24 for us being safe at home.

1. Do something to make someone smile.
2. Do something for Far Guy...like let him cook.
3. Reach out to someone....check on the elderly...mail a card.
4. Complete a small project...clean out a drawer or a cupboard.  Organize something!
5. Go for a walk...
6. Do something volunteer related...indexing, find a grave or crochet for charity
7. Do an activity that I enjoy...making cards, knitting, crocheting, watch a movie or taking photos.
8. Put my feet up and close my eyes for at least 30 minutes.
9. Disinfect something! Clean clean clean!
10. Pray many times a day ( easy). Accept the things I cannot change (very hard).

What would you add to your list?

I like to be in control of our situation...and this whole nasty virus has me feeling like I am in a tornado spinning out of control.   So I suppose I am a bit of a control freak (who knew).

Sometimes my thoughts get the best of me.

 I like to know that Far Guy is not taking any unnecessary chances that would place him in peril...

that he isn't walking too far running out of oxygen without having his phone turning blue at the edge of the road about to be run over by the Speedee Delivery guy that drives too fast on our back road that might accidentally encounter a spike stick someday...  see that is what it is like inside  brain at any given moment when I don't know what the heck Far Guy is up to.  He has a very worn out beat up Guardian Angel...that is probably on strike.

We are melting more every day.

Far Side

Muffins!

I baked!  Well first I cleaned out a cupboard in the kitchen and found a partial bag of Bran Cereal that I was supposed to use for muffins.  Saw it and threw it on the counter...that top cupboard is awfully tall so I have to use a step ladder to clean out all the corners real good.  I recalled the tart dried cherries I had in the deep freeze...would they still be good? 

There were more bran flakes than the recipe called for...so I didn't measure I just dumped and added more of everything....I could not replicate the recipe to save my life.

They turned out just fine...another baking success!  I found a bunch of corn meal...that will wait for another day.

Years ago I used to make muffins for Far Guy every week, he would grab two out of the freezer on his way to work...he would thaw them out on the 90 mile drive.  Back then he took coffee with him but he had a small coffee maker that plugged into the cigarette lighter so he could warm up his coffee or make some fresh.

It was a nice day here yesterday...in the evening it turned cool with the wind coming from the East across the lake. During the day Far Guy woodcarved outside and I cleaned up the solar light garden.

There is still about five inches of snow at the snowstick. We may get rain on Thursday.

Goodbye March....you were not a real pleasant month for anyone.  BUT I am thankful we made it through the month.  Stay safe everyone!
Far Side

Melting

We had another warm in the 40's day.  We lost another two inches of snow at the snowstick.

7 inches at the snowstick 

My other baby brother and she who sees Robins first saw a whole flock of Robins down at my baby brothers home.   They stopped by and visited ( staying 6 feet plus apart) and brought us a bag of carrots and gave us the grocery store report.  They made a grocery run and drop off for our parents also.  There still isn't TP at the store but they said that the canned goods were starting to rebound, not much left for pasta either.

The carrots were excellent with a pork roast, potatoes and gravy for a Sunday meal.  Comfort food at it's finest and we have leftovers for a few meals! 

Far Guy worked on his woodcarving project.  I did some laundry and tore a crochet project apart and started it again....it was just too heavy...no one would have enjoyed wearing it.  

Proof that planes are still flying...some idiots are still going places. 

We are safe at home, happy with each others company. 

Far Side

Cards, Snowstick and almost 50 degrees!

Cards from friends make any day better!  This week I got cards from Betsy and Sam...thanks gals!

I always put cards in the window for many days after I get them...or above my computer.  Old fashioned flower frogs make great holders for cards.

We melted some snow yesterday!

48 degrees is not very warm when we still have snow...the wind was a bit raw but I sat out on the patio anyway after supper.

The snowstick sits at 9 inches down 2 inches from yesterday.  It is a slow melt.  Sorry late March snowstick guessers.

We had one Purple Finch visit yesterday and a whole flock of Juncos....they must have been passing through because they didn't stay long.

Our big project for yesterday was cleaning up the winter dirt off the garage floor...before the Virus I bought a new floor squeegee and it works great!  It is remarkable how a yucky job can be so much easier with the right tools.

Far Side

Snowstick Contest

It is that time of year again.

The snowstick is at 14 inches...when will it be free of ice and snow?   See that ridge of snow...it came off the roof and almost made it to the snowstick!

Leave me your guess...   just a date will do.  The winner will get something in the mail.   Not sure what yet but it will be worthy of a good guess!  I will accept guesses until Sunday evening at 9 PM.   Those shy people can email me with their guess.

I worked on some bark carvings last Fall and had some carvings almost ready to paint and I put them someplace safe...can't remember where that safe place was...but I shall be looking for it.

Far Side

Here is the Snowstick History:
2011  April 8
2012  March 13
2013  April 30
2014  April 10
2015  March 11
2016  March 8
2017 March 20
2018  April 22
2019 April 17

Your guess will appear here!
March 25 LAS
March 26 Sam
March 27 Sallys mom
March 28  Red
March 29  Chain Stitch Crochet     Linda Reeder
March 30 MJM   Betsy
March 31 Sara     Roz     thecrazysheeplady
April 1  silly girl     JT
April 2 Maebeme  DJan
April 3 Sonja
April 4 Wendy
April 5 Grace    Terry and Linda    At Home in New Zealand
April 6 Rita
April 7 Miss Merry
April 8 Harriet
April 9 marlu
April 10 Kay L
April 11 Bonnie     Cynthia
April 12 Jean
April 13  Alvina
April 14 Victoria Zigler
April 15 Lynne Ft Worth      Cathy    Bettina Groh
April 16 Mark o     linda m
April 17 Gemmas person
April 18 the bennie
April 20 Shirley
April 22 Debi    Diane in N Wisc
April 23 Joyce F
April 25 Andrea C
April 26 Marilyn
April 27 Lori
May 1 Tired Teacher

Snow

We had snow yesterday, not much but it sure came down.

There is still 17 inches of snow at the snowstick so I am not wading out there to get that branch.  The snow has quite a crust but I would certainly fall through...

Our snow curl has icicles.

We are done at the Dentist for another six months..."Look Ma No Cavities!"

 We did a few things before the appointments...housework stuff and I managed to pack up two more containers for the big sort.

Today is a day off for us...no appointments! 

Far Side

Time

I wasted some time yesterday frogging a crochet project...it just was not right and it didn't look anything like the photo in the pattern.  I began again...by golly I think I've got it to a point AGAIN where I can watch TV and crochet. I was determined...mostly because I like the pattern and it can be done again and will make a really nice gift!

It was time to shovel. The patio before I shoveled.  Nice clean snow to cover up the old dirty snow.  Take it from me it looks like it was warm...but it was not.  The day started out -23 F  or -30 C eh and warmed up to a balmy +7 F or -13 C eh.  Whoopie!  So it warmed up 30 degrees F or 17 C.

Time to photograph the snowstick! There is still 19 inches of snow at the snowstick.

I am not certain where the day went but before I knew it...it was time to help with supper....steak and salmon.

Far Side

Quiet Day

It was a quiet day Sunday, the phone only rang once! 

I worked on two of my crochet projects, did some laundry and worked on the Farm Diaries from 1926.

The sun took care of what little snow was on the patio and walk...sun shoveling...I love it!

 Started watching a new show on Bravo called Spy Games...I found it very entertaining.

I took a photo just before sunset.  The snowstick measures 19 inches  in the yard.

I made ribs, vegetables and baked a loaf of bread for supper. Not homemade bread the kind that comes frozen in a loaf...it was really good! It will make wonderful toast.

We have a real busy week coming up so a quiet day was much appreciated!
Far Side

Winter Storm Jacob: Day Two

It snowed yesterday.   I have decided that the snow stick lies...perhaps the wind blew some snow away.   It says 24 inches at the snowstick.   That would be a four inch gain in 24 hours.

 If that was so...how come it looked like more when I shoveled?

My Great Nephew Mason came by shortly after this and plowed us out.

The snow was blowing around so I saw no need in moving anymore snow until it calms down.

I took Shiny Brite Ornaments off the tree upstairs...and put them away.  The tree itself is still standing.  One day soon I will get it packed away.

I did  something with the "big sort"  I emptied a drawer and put everything in it on my table to be marked for a garage sale.  Then I turned out the light and came downstairs...enough for one snowy day.

Far Guy did some woodcarving and some coughing...he cannot seem to get rid of that horrible cough.  He had a nap and made supper for us...ribs and vegetables.  He is a great cook!

Far Side

Piled high and deeper

It snowed again ...we got about 5 inches of the white stuff.  I shoveled and power shoveled again.  My Nephew Josh came by with the skidsteer today and moved more snow.

The snowbank named June is getting larger.

We have 21 inches at the snowstick now.

The snow is piled up on the roofs. This is the snow curl on the west side of the house. It will eventually come down and then we won't be able to see out the window!

After shoveling I worked upstairs on the big sort.  I sure am finding some interesting "stuff."

We are plunging into the deep freeze again today. Wind chills will be horrible. We probably won't get above zero today.  We have to go out for appointments for Far Guy and the vehicle needs an oil change and tires rotated....so I will handle that while Far Guy entertains all the Nurses that he sees several times a week.  After a quick stop for a few groceries we will come back home and hunker down for the storm that is supposed to arrive on Friday.

Far Side

More snow

It snowed again at least two inches of snow. ( Seemed more like 4 inches of snow to me) My other baby brother came by with his skidsteer that has a big ole snowblower on it and cleared us out once again...he made me big paths to the bird feeders.  I love my brother!

I power shoveled some and regular shoveled some...the walk and in front of the garage doors. It is supposed to snow again.  I did not work on the patio at all...maybe today.

I did not sort anything yesterday...we caught up on house cleaning.  Far Guy ran the steam mop over the tile floors.  I did some laundry and I made Chicken Enchiladas for supper.  So along with my shoveling it was a day.  No nap either.

I took a photo out the window...18 inches of snow at the snowstick.  Sounds like a snowy week with a storm forecast for the weekend.
Far Side

A bit better

We are both feeling a bit better.   Yeah us!  We will live to see a few more days.

Cold Minnesota winter days...it was -29 F yesterday morning.  That is -33 C eh!

I ventured out in the afternoon for a photo.

The squirrels have a trail from the tree to the snowstick to another tree.  There are 16 inches of snow at the snowstick.

I knitted for awhile and then worked on taxes...I have them ready... just waiting on a few more papers to come in the mail.  I always breathe a sigh of relief when they are at the accountants.

I watched several episodes of  Once Upon A Time on Netflix huddled under a down blanket with a warm rice bag under my feet.  Gave up ...found an electric blanket and finally got warm.  My old bones must store up the cold.

Far Side

No Fun

It snowed.  We got 10 inches plus plus.  The snow stick shows 21 inches now.

The morning began with a phone call from my other baby brother...my Dad was having issues he couldn't see or breathe.  Mom called the ambulance.  Mom could not open the front door on account of the snow so the ambulance attendants had to shovel their way in.  Dad's heart was in A Fib...in the ER they shocked his heart and he converted and by the time my brothers and I got to the hospital on really crummy roads Dad was better.  They kept him awhile and then got him up to walk around and sent him home.  This is my Dad's second bout with A fib....Christmas several years ago he had another episode.  Anyways my sister in laws shoveled at my parents house and my other baby brother got someone to plow their yard and we got them all settled in again before coming home.

On the way home I got a text from Miss Paige...her Mom (our oldest daughter) was taken to the hospital.  Paige reported back that her Moms vitals were good and she would be okay but they were going to admit her to the hospital.  We tried to take her to the ER or the walk in Clinic on Friday but she refused to go.  She has a multitude of health issues.  The roads are too bad from the ongoing snowstorm  to go up North right now.

So anyways it was a no fun day...but no one died.

Far Side

Its beginning to look a lot like

Christmas!
The Christmas Cards with Far Guy's annual Christmas Letter were mailed yesterday.  125 of them.

Glad to have that done.

Another pre- Christmas snow arrived.  I shoveled.  It turned really cold.

We got five new inches of snow.  The snowstick now says 11 inches.

I am trying my best to keep the patio and walk free of the worst of the snow.
We will probably have a white Christmas.
Far Side

Snow report

We got snow.

The snow stick shows 9 inches on that side of the house.
Ha..Ha...

It was more like 12 inches of snow on the patio.   It was a work out but I got it done.  Far Guy helped for awhile then he ran out of oxygen...so he came inside to gasp for breath.

It was a heavy snow...it had lots of moisture in it.  I shoveled a path around the bird feeders, sure would like to make that area less of a fall hazard....although soft snow is not a half bad place to land.

The electric snow shovel was worth it's weight in gold...still hard work...and some areas you just have to shovel with the good old scoop shovel.

My nephew Josh came by and cleared out the driveway!

Ready or not here Winter comes....I thought we had 20 some days before Winter arrived...it should still be Fall.
Far Side

Well it is December

Youngest daughter Jen brought the Christmas tree downstairs when she was here, plopped it on the love seat and said "Perfect snowy day activity."  We didn't get around to it.

We ventured out in the morning to go to the Dump...we go once every three or four weeks...it is only open on Saturday mornings in the winter.  $3.25 is the going rate for one garbage can.  We recycle so that really makes a difference.   We filled all the bird feeders when we got back.  It snowed on and off all day long.

On the way...you could still see the high line poles so it was a good day.

Just before dark I took a photo of the snowstick it said 4 inches.

Yesterday I worked on laundry, I organized my craft suitcase...I keep adding projects.  I did some paperwork....I didn't even have a nap.  I shoveled the walk one time.  Far Guy had a nap and worked on a couple of his woodcarving projects.

We cooked supper together...salmon for him, steak for me, fruit and vegetables oh yes and some french fries in the air fryer.

December is here along with the snow like it or not. 

Far Side