Snow and a baby

 We got about 7 inches of snow...it blew around a fair bit in the night time. 

Well at least it covered up the dirty old snow for now. 

In the night my phone was beeping...it was my baby brother sending a photo of his #13 Grand!  

9 pounds 4 ounces welcome to the family Kian!  We will probably get to meet him next Summer. 

We had a quiet day...some laundry...some crafts and a pan of lasagna for supper. 

Minnesota weather: High 18F or -8C  Low was 4 or -16C  We are headed back into the deep freeze for the weekend...

We completed 11 out of 21 appointments this week...we could count it 12 out of 22 because we had to go back to one clinic because they forgot to do a test....we barely got home and they called and said to come right back.  Can you say ...organized???

Far Side

Threads

 Embroidery threads are part of my recent days.  

I brought ten dish towels with me to be embroidered over the Winter.  Five are done...so I am making progress.  Slow but sure.  

Far Guy is doing good...he is back on the treadmill and doing at least 5,000 steps a day.  He has his sense of humor back and that is a relief.  We are waiting for the genetic testing to come back on his Thyroid Nodule biopsy.  He has two nodules inside his Thyroid...one is benign and the other is questionable hence the extra testing that takes weeks.  

We had breakfast for supper..we all cooked!  

Minnesota weather: High 42F or 6C  Low was 32F or 0C eh!

Winter Storm for Wednesday and Thursday

Description

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT CST WEDNESDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation and areas of blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 5 and 10 inches with locally higher amounts. Ice accumulations of a glaze. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Portions of north central and northwest Minnesota and northeast North Dakota. * WHEN...From 6 PM this evening to midnight CST Wednesday Night. * IMPACTS...Travel will be very difficult. 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. The hazardous conditions will impact the Wednesday morning and evening commutes.

Far Side

Roses

 Andy gave Jen roses for Valentine's Day!

They are lovely and smell good too.

Monday appointments are done, I had a recheck with my Primary Care Dr and then in the afternoon I saw the Pain Management Doctor.  They want to try one more injection in my back before trying a implantable device.  

What ever lets just get this show on the road.  FYI it was a two month wait just to get to see the Pain Management Doctor.

I have one more appointment this week and Far Guy has two.  

We have wicked weather coming in soon.  I suspect our February thaw and nice weather with bearable temperatures is over. 

Far Side

Ground Blizzard

 We had some ground drifting on the way to Fargo for Far Guy's Cardiology appointment.  His appointment went well, it created three more appointments in the future. He had an EKG, saw the Cardiologist and went for his six minute walk for Pulmonary.  The Cardiologist wants to check out a few things so she ordered a stress test, echocardiogram and a virtual follow up appointment.  

I drove and Far Guy took a couple of photos for me.  Here is ground drifting...at least we could see the road. On the way back to East Grand Forks...just out of Fargo it got really icy...a couple of semi's in the ditch and several cars.  

Then the visibility turned to crap...really sh$##y crap.   Traffic slowed into the 20 mph range...some places you could not see the fog line.  

About 40 miles of really slow going...high stress driving hanging onto the steering wheel until my hands hurt.  I must be an OK excellent driver because we made it to Grand Forks in one piece.  We picked up our grocery order from Wally World and then headed to Perkins for supper.  It was good to get out of the car and be safely indoors.

Thursday I am not leaving the house...same with Saturday and Sunday.  Friday Far Guy has his Infusion so we must venture out then....but my errands are all done for the rest of the week.  Jen and Andy will be gone to Ohio for four days.  So it is just us and Sadie.

Supper at Perkins was a skillet breakfast for Far Guy and I had a Patty Melt on sourdough bread. ( It was lunch and supper all in one meal as we missed lunch)

Minnesota weather: High was 16F or -9C  Low was -11F or -24C.  Snowy and windy.

EXTREME COLD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM THURSDAY TO NOON CST FRIDAY... ...EXTREME COLD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...

* WHAT...For the Extreme Cold Warning, dangerously cold wind chills as low as 53 below expected. For the Extreme Cold Watch, dangerously cold wind chills as low as 46 below possible.

Yes it will be freeze your butt off cold...Stay Warm!!

Far Side

Cuckoo

 Far Guy had a project.

It had so many tiny parts, every time I walked by his work table I shook my head.  He has patience to find all the parts, follow the directions and put it all together. 

Sadie on the other hand decided to be a lap dog one day....

We got more rain....real slick out there.  The next 24 hours we are in a Winter Storm watch...snow and wind are forecast.  We will be staying put.  Jen and Andy are painting their bedroom...so everyone has projects.  Jen is on Sabbatical and Andy is home for Christmas Break.

Minnesota weather : Dreary,  high was 38F or 3C and the low was 9f or -3c eh!

Supper was ham, scalloped potatoes, fruit and cornbread.  I puzzled most of the day in between cooking. 

Far Side

The Blizzard

 The Blizzard kept us inside all day Thursday.  I took some photos out the window.  It rained, snowed and we had wind gusts up to 60 mph.  It will be icy out there for sure.  

Sadie had a boring day.  She went out a few times to sniff the air.  When it is really cold someone takes her down to the treadmill where she can run off some of her energy!

Far Guy's weekly Infusion was cancelled due to the weather...they rescheduled for today (Friday).

Minnesota weather; Cold but at least it's windy!  High 5F or -15C Low was -16F or -27C.  The wind chill factor is in the -40F range...downright cold. 

Far Side

Storm is a coming

 We have a rain/ice/snow event coming this way.   The wind makes Sadie nervous and clingy.   Jen and Andy should be home before the storm hits. 

The barometric pressure falling makes my arthritis miserable.   I am sure Far Guy's lungs don't like the change either...but there is nothing we can do about the weather. 

Far Side

Poof

 The winter storm went South of us.   It was a big ta - do about nothing. 

Here is the lawn before the big bad three day storm.

There was still a bit of ice in the neighbors lawn.

After the big storm.

The sun came out and it warmed up...and poof all the snow is now gone....so it looks like the first photo again. 

Far Guy had an appointment with his Pulmonary Doctor.  She says it will take a long time to get back to normal...many, many weeks.   So he should be patient... 

One day at a time. 

Far Side

Storm Day Two

 The wind blew, it snowed and the wind blew some more. 

Here are my shovels. One Toro Power Shovel the best $100 I ever spent and one regular grain shovel that I like for shoveling snow by hand.  It is plastic and light to lift!

My wonderful nephew Josh plowed our drive and yard yesterday and shoveled the walk for me.  So  much appreciated!

I hope the sun comes out and melts the snow on the patio...it was almost clear before this storm. 

Toward supper time we made a quick delivery and the township road had lots of big drifts...Ranger Blue plowed right through the drifts made by the wind coming off of the fields.  The road will be plugged with snow in just a few hours.  The back way around through the woods was okay.

I made one of Far Guy favorite meals for supper...roast pork, potatoes, gravy and baked carrots.  Minnesota comfort food! 

Far Side

Storm Day One

 It was supposed to start snowing about noon and it began about 9 AM.  Far Guy had an appointment at the Clinic, I dropped him off and ran a few errands.  We were back home before noon when it began to snow really hard. 

We had a quiet afternoon and a nap.  I shoveled the walk twice.   The second time I used my Power Shovel!

So far it looks to be about four maybe five inches of new snow and it is still coming down and blowing around.

June is looking like a mountain.  

I can hardly wait to see what day two or day three brings.

My baby brother had back surgery in Fargo yesterday and reports that he has no more back pain which is a huge relief for him.  He will be there a few more days in the blizzard.  Glad his surgery was scheduled on day one of the storm as so many things are cancelled and roads closed. 

Far Side

Storm aftermath

 It finally stopped snowing.  We have enough.

The kids should have a snow stick! 

My desk in the craft room.

I  need to get this mess organized this week...I cannot work on anything without moving something. 

Sunday evening...everyone is watching the Hockey game and I can tell just by the cheering what is happening...I will now join them for a few minutes...they all enjoy Hockey much more than I do.

Far Side

AND it Snowed

 It snowed and snowed.  Andy and Jen moved lots of snow...must be way over 8 inches of new snow and it is blowing around.  It is a blizzard. 

I worked on cards and my Nordic Afghan was finished shortly before supper!!  Yeah me!  I will take a photo of it when it stops snowing.  

Far Guy woodcarved.  

Andy tore a hole in the wall upstairs made a doorway and put up shitrock and made the old opening into a wall...I suspect that custom cabinets will fill a huge walk in closet and this is just step one. 

Jen sewed on her newest project.

One more day of windy crappy weather...the blizzard might be over by noon on Sunday.

How about a photo that is partially Springy as we remember that only the clocks are springing ahead.

 

 

Remember to change the batteries in your smoke alarms...I don't care if you say your batteries are not dead yet...spend the money on batteries...you are worth it.  

Far Side

A blizzard

 We had a blizzard here, the snow total was about 8 1/2 inches.   It blew around some here in town, I can only imagine what it was like out in the country...a white out for sure. 

I took this photo in the morning before it was done snowing.  It was interesting to watch the neighbors deal with their snow, the little kids and the Black Lab Nova had lots of fun in the backyard while the parents shoveled and snow blowed.   A lady across the street shoveled for a long time and then someone showed up with a snow blower.  Andy went out several times to move snow out front and out back.  He has a snow blower also. 

Far Guy's sister was released from the hospital after tests showed that the subdural hematoma was not growing.   She is supposed to take it easy for awhile.  They have no idea what caused it, she did not fall or hit her head.  She will have more tests from time to time to make sure it isn't getting larger.  From what I read it can take months for the blood to be reabsorbed into the body. 

We had a quiet Sunday, in the afternoon we watched a movie called Red Notice I can only give it a 3 out of 10 stars because I fell asleep...

Far Side

Winter Storm Jacob: Day Three

It snowed a bit again yesterday.  I shoveled the walk again and in front of one of the garages.  It was quite chilly out there.  I think I need some new gloves as my hands got cold and that hardly ever happens.

This sea of snow on the patio will wait for another day.  The squirrels made all kinds of tracks...they even stopped by the front door.  They were busy digging around in the snow looking for seeds... Far Guy said he felt sorry for them.  I

I started  a new project...I knew I shouldn't ...but it is a different Charity Project.   It is simple enough to do and it  might make a difference.

Peyton Heart Project

Their mission is to bring awareness to mental health issues especially suicide and bullying. 

The hearts are crochet or knit and the tags are downloaded from their website.  The hearts can either be mailed back to them with or without tags OR hidden throughout your community with tags attached.  Patterns for everything are at their website. 

My hearts are crochet.  If any of my neighbors or relatives would like to help by leaving hearts in different places please come over and get some! 

Since I spend a good amount of time in waiting rooms this is a good project to take along with me. 

We have only four medical appointments this week. 

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

Winter Storm Jacob: Day One

The Winter Storm named Jacob began in the afternoon on Friday with windy conditions.  Snow was blowing around in the wind.  The snowstick is at 20 inches of snow...some either settled or blew away.

It was a dreary day.  I got the mail and Far Guy filled a bird feeder.  Other than that we hunkered down for the day.

For reference I took a photo of the patio and bird feeders before the storm kicked into high gear.

We are home for the duration of the storm.

I put away some cards that I finished this week.  A local pharmacy that has a photo shop sent me an email saying that I had not ordered photos in a long time and would I like a coupon for 25 free photos?  Sure.  Their photos are not quite square with the world but they were free.

Now for the big question is a project unfinished if you never started it?   I found this tucked away in a drawer upstairs...pillowcases to be embroidered....apparently at one time I gathered the embroidery floss for the project...some needles and a hoop are still needed before I can begin...easily attainable I have several hoops and lots of needles ...maybe I will put it in the craft suitcase.

Far Side

Early Morning Trees

Surprise Surprise we got more snow Christmas Day evening and night.  About 4 inches plus or minus fell.  It made the roads slippery.

We have another winter storm moving in.  Not sure if this one has a name yet.  This one should last three days....we shall see.  We will be safe at home. 

The light in the early morning caught the snow filled branches of the Oaks very nicely.

There are 11 inches of snow at the snowstick as of yesterday.

We ran errands up north yesterday.  Delivered baby shower packages to Maddie.  Her baby shower is today and we will miss it on account of the weather.  Their trip back to Michigan will be delayed a day or two.

 After dropping off packages we stopped by Hobby Lobby for one skein of yarn and I came out with two...so that's not so bad!

I stopped by and gave Savannah a hug and then we visited our oldest daughter.  We got home just at twilight.  The moon was a beautiful sliver of orange in the western sky and straight south was Venus very bright in the night sky.

My computer went all wonky on Friday morning, Andy got it into safe mode and I copied everything I wanted to keep.  While we were gone the computer fixed itself...but who knows for how long. ..Windows 7 was a long time ago.

Thursday;  Andy and Jen came down to my baby brothers for a holiday meal and then they went to Bingo with my Dad and I.  Jen and I both bingoed so it was a good night and we can go back again next week.

Far Side

Snowy

It stormed, it started raining Saturday night or maybe it was sleet and then it snowed. Then the wind blew….and blew.

We had a quiet day at home.  Far Guy went out and shoveled the walk once.

There was some big game yesterday, we didn’t watch.  The Food Network was more entertaining.

Kinda nice to have fresh snow, but with it comes the hazard that it has covered up some icy spots. 

Chance :The Storm

Hiya!  It is me Chance, it is finally my turn! Far Side says they named the freaking snowstorm Cleon..what kind of a name is that anyway?  I can think of a different C word to suggest CHANCE!

It has been a stormy week.  I only leave the yard to walk to the mail box with Far Guy.  Far Side has been real busy ..not sure what she is doing but she has been busy upstairs.   I think it involves cleaning and organizing and cussing.  Cussing because of a glitch with her eBay account funneling her funds to a son in laws account because once upon a time he used her email address.  I am not sure if they will ever get it straightened out.

She did play ball outside with me… as a reward after I walked her to the sauna to see if the little bird was still sleeping there. There is a little Finch that decided to sleep under the eave of the sauna.  He or she has been there cuddled up in a sheltered area behind one of the posts. It wasn’t  there..we have to go back and check at night…but the snow is way over her snow boots now..so she will have to shovel a path or find taller boots.

She shoveled for a long time yesterday..the patio…and it kept snowing all day. She will have to go out there for more glorious exercise again today.

The snow stick measured about 9 inches at 10 AM yesterday…and it kept on snowing.   I tracked lots of snowballs in the house.   The clean snow melts in puddles on the floor.  Far Sides socks get wet and then she goes “EWWW..Chancey.”

We watched a bug out the window.  Not sure what kinda bug it was..maybe it is a snow bug.

A very cold bug who we watched for a long time until he disappeared into a crevice. ( one of my tracks) So much for the afternoons excitement.

Far Guy worked real hard on the Christmas letter and Far Side says she will sleep on it…but it sounds pretty good to her…she only had a few edits.  They are discussing a photo for the Christmas Card.

I am supposed to relay the countdown:

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.  20 days and counting.

Spring is postponed

Winter Snow has postponed Spring.  Way below zero weather and sub zero wind chills have postponed spring.  Who would want to show up anyway?  What a greeting.

My feeble attempt at Spring decorating was covered in snow.

It began snowing on Sunday.  It snowed all night..then the wind came up. It wasn’t fit for man or beast.  Monday afternoon the sun tried to shine through the blizzard.  Chance and I went out and wandered around.

Only the tops of the fence posts are visible toward the center of the photo..the railings have disappeared.

Here is the snow stick.  Good thing I have a zoom on my camera.

I have to stand on my tippy toes to peek over the snow bank to get the photo.  We have 31 1/2 inches at the snow stick.  More in other places..where the wind blows the snow and where it slides off the roof.

I wonder if that steel wagon wheel will be covered up before it is over.  I wonder if the snow stick will completely disappear.

I got my computer back.  It was wiped clean, I still don’t have all of my programs loaded yet.  Luckily I have simple saves for my photo backups.  I do a double back up and had it on my list..I usually save to disk. So I need to catch up with that..it is still on the list.  I also use Drop Box..it works great between me and the museum…I can access info when ever I need it.

I am still working on “Winter House Cleaning”  I would call it Spring House Cleaning ..but I am being realistic:)