Ash Lane Farm

My Pillow was Frozen!

2012-01-23T13:23:00.000-06:00

Thursday morning I headed to Marshall for a weekend Fiber Festival at the Purple Iris, the local Yarn Shop. This was the owner’s (Jana) birthday, so she had a special sale and the Fiber Festival at the same time, in the shop. Last year she had the festival at a Mall, but it was very cold and she never had exactly the right stuff to sell so always had to send the customers to the shop, where she had someone working.

This year, everything was in the right spot and it was warmer! Well, inside ... it was about the same temperature as we had last year, but less snow.

When I got ready to leave on Thursday morning, I waited until the sun was up and shining because the temperature was -13º when I got up. It didn’t make much difference, except that the sun was bright, because it “warmed up” to -9º by the time I got to Marshall, an hour away.

I planned on spending two nights with niece Cookie, but went straight to the yarn shop to set up and spend the day. There were several girls there that either knit or crocheted, and also a spinner. People came in to join us or they came in to purchase yarn, needles, patterns or just get help in something.

One gal headed out at noon and brought us all subs from Subway. For supper, we ordered from the neighboring Chinese place.

Then I headed over to Cookie’s to unpack my over-night things and join them for the evening. As I was unpacking, I discovered that my memory foam pillow had frozen (by then it was “warmed up” to -3º but still felt very cold. We put my pillow near a heat vent so that by the time I was ready to go to bed on her couch, it was warmed up and thawed out (thank goodness). Frozen memory foam is almost like a brick!

Friday was all day except that I went “home” at 5:30. I discovered that Jana has dolls of all kinds that show off knitting and crocheting patterns. Plus she had other dolls that were for sale. I fell in love with a baby doll; I am going to do some weaving and sewing and (yes) even knitting for her. Her name is Mackenzie. I have gotten flack for getting her, but I love dolls, especially baby dolls, and I don’t care if I AM 68 years old, I STILL love dolls. I ordered pizza for supper that night and we watched a movie and visited.

Saturday I went back to Purple Iris, planning on staying until 4:00. However, we got snow overnight on Friday and it started to blow on Saturday, so Norm told me I’d better head home by 1:00. Sister Candy stays at Cookie’s during the week and works there for H&R Block in the tax season. She didn’t go home on Saturday because Sunday was supposed to be worse. I could have stayed but knew if I did it would probably be Monday before I got home.

The weather was nasty - cold winds, blowing snow and +12º as the high. But the roads were not as bad as they could have been and I made it home in good time.

I got home and struggled with Internet problems. For some reason my Internet keeps popping on and off. A technician will came today and figured out what’s wrong. I got a new receiver, my router re-set and some funky stuff between the receiver and the tower straightened out. So I’m online again (whew!) and able to do some work.

I have some lovely pictures to share ..... it was a wonderful weekend. I love going there, staying with Cookie and spending time with she and Binni and Candy.

My view of the store and some of the ladies who were there

Some of the crafts that were being made

A "woven trivet" of hot-pad for Jana (in her purple). This is a "Whig Rose" pattern

Mackenzie is 8" tall. She is sitting on a bronze-brown "Whig Rose" trivet

We have fog, freezing drizzle and wind. We got about 2" of snow overnight. Despite that, it's a beautiful day - you have a beautiful day.

Wistful Wednesday

2012-01-18T09:32:00.000-06:00

This is my grandfather Childs with cousin Roger, second son of my Dad's only brother. It was taken in the late 30s, probably, because Roger is about 5 or 6 years older than I am. Roger now lives on the west coast and he visits with my folks, often.

This is almost as exciting as getting electricity!

2012-01-09T10:05:00.001-06:00

When Norm and I first moved from Australia back to Rapid City in 1977 (yes, my friends, waaay back then!), we bought 20 acres out in the country. And there was no electricity for us, as we were the last people on the line. We went for 9 months without - and survived a winter, thank you very much, with no problems. But when they were ready to set us up, we sat and watched the power poles go up, all the way from the second to the last place, over a mile away. Then I would go out and watch the meter clicking away for entertainment (well, for the first month, at least).

Now we are having something else that I am watching with almost the same anticipation! We are moving from sattelite internet to MVTV wireless .... twice as fast and almost $20 a month cheaper! Wooo HOOOO!

I will have a new email that I will announce when all of this excitement is over.

Because of all our trees, the only way to hook us up is to to the receiver (is that what it's called?) on a tree in order to reach the tower in Jeffers. Then the cable will come over to the house; Norm will cover it with wood this winter and bury it this spring. Soon, soon, my children, I will be up with most of the world!

Not to say that Federated Wildblue hasn't been wonderful ... it's so much faster than dial-up, but it is still pretty slow and expensive for what I pay for.

Norm and technician, Mitch, discussing stuff. Jeffers is just left of the tree ... about 6 or 8 miles away

Cable leading to the house

It's going to be a beautiful day - nearly 50º. You have a beautiful day.

(Added later ... new email is cpthegreat@mvtvwireless.com) ... and I love it already!

It's my birthday ..

2012-01-08T11:05:00.000-06:00

And look what I GOT!

Jill is getting ready to go out to walk the dogs

The boys got team bandannas for Christmas

Visiting in the living room

I finally finished hemming the last three "woven trivets"

We had a lovely sunset (thanks, Norm, for being the shutter-bug!)

It's been a beautiful two days and will probably be so from now on. You have a beautiful day!

Happy Birthday!

2012-01-08T09:44:00.008-06:00

Somebody is having a birthday!!!

Love ya.....

It's 2012!

2012-01-01T10:02:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T20:10:00.000-06:00

May you have a blessed New Year; may you have all you need; may your hearts remain happy all year long.

Home again.

2011-12-29T12:58:00.000-06:00

Got home yesterday afternoon, stopped and dropped Candy's present off and picked Peanut up. Now we are in the unpacking mode and organizing again. Laundry will be tomorrow -- not enough energy today.

So, what did I get for Christmas? Well, now that Candy has opened hers (haven't heard her reaction, yet), I can show you what I got.

The doll head came from my Great-Aunt Millie (on my mom's side); cousin Esther had two heads with no hair - remnants of dolls that Millie had given her at one time. So Dad asked if he could have them - thirty years ago - and decided to fix them up for Candy and I. The head is a Armand Marseille that was made in Germany about 1915. He got body parts, wigs, clothing and, with my doll, he got a dachshund and a spinning wheel. The dolls' name is "Emily" (a friend asked me how I knew and I told her that Emily told me her name). I'm anxious to see Candy's.

We had a great time - saw the Peterson relatives that live in the area on Saturday and / or Tuesday.

We headed home yesterday and had a great trip - even stopped at Al's Oasis in Chamberlain. I have been going there off and on since I was in college. I had a buffalo burger yesterday - they are famous for those. We had beautiful blue skies and very little wind the whole way home.

We picked up Peanut, dropped off Candy's doll (still wrapped) and got home in time to have a simple supper.

How wonderful to have the chance to travel and see relatives. How wonderful to be home again. It is a beautiful day today - calm and partially sunny; you have a beautiful day!

Santa was good!

2011-12-25T14:47:00.000-06:00

My mom got what she wanted for Christmas ... a Kindle! So guess what I've been doing, off and on, for the past fourteen hours or so!

I can't tell you what *I* got, because we are delivering Candy's gift from Santa (guess he got lost along the way or thought we were together). Anyway, her gift is supposedly similar to mine (haven't seen it yet) so I don't want to spoil the surprise. I WILL show you mine when it's safe. Trust me, it's a doozy!

Meanwhile, Mom is enjoy her Kindle .. didn't go to bed until after two last night!

It's a beautiful day - in the mid forties. Hoping you are all having a beautiful Christmas.

May the Light shine for you this Season

2011-12-22T15:01:00.000-06:00

We are heading to Rapid City for Christmas this year. We will be leaving here tomorrow morning and not get home before Wednesday night. I am not sure if I will have time to write, so I want to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a very Blessed Christmas. Ours will be brown, but it will be special, non-the-less. We will be spending time with my folks, who, as I have mentioned several times, are now ninety-one (and a half). And just WAIT until you find out what my Dad is getting my Mom for Christmas! Can't say, now -- she reads my blog!

And, Mom .... nanny-nanny-boo-boo ... I know and you don't!

It will be a beautiful time - you have a beautiful Christmas.

Wistful Wednesday

2011-12-21T10:39:00.000-06:00

This is my Grandpa Childs, my dad's dad. Henry Childs was very handy with his hands and with tools; when he came to visit, my mom had things that he would fix in the house for her. At one time, when I was in first grade, he and I made a bird house together and painted it green (guess I loved green even back then).

He lived in Anacortes, Washington during the latter part of his life. We would go out to visit relatives, especially my Grandpa. He lived in a small house surrounded by berry plots. We would pick blackberries, take them in the house and have cream and sugar (well, I had milk and sugar) on them. They were still warm from the sun!

Grandpa died when I was in the eighth grade - we lived in Oklahoma, so Dad flew out for the funeral and we didn't go. I didn't see his grave until I was several years older.

He was my favorite Grandpa because he was my only one. My mother's father died when she was a teen, so I never met him. When I was younger, I wished that Nana would marry Grandpa so they would come to visit us at the same time and we'd have double the visits. It wasn't until I was older that I realized people did not marry for the convenience of children (or grandchildren). I still miss Grandpa!

Puppy Love

2011-12-14T16:40:00.000-06:00

Instead of looking to the past today, I chose to look to the future. This picture was taken by my friend, Jody; she raises German Shepherds and has some ready to go out the door. I am tempted but am reminded by Peanut that I promised her that she would be an only child!

However, that does not stop me from admiring these sweet faces. And they ARE for sale, if you know of anyone who wants a very good quality Shepherd -- their parents are of excellent bloodlines and have all kinds of awards behind them.

Enjoy, even if you don't want one!

---a date which will live in infamy ---

2011-12-07T09:12:00.000-06:00

Today is the seventieth anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day when the Japanese Government ordered planes to attack Pearl Harbor, thus thrusting the United States into World War II. Where were you when this happened?

I don't remember (as most of you, I am sure, do not remember, either) but I grew up knowing of this date and I remember it every December. The date has been engraved in my heart - so many young men and women went to war to fight against tyranny as so many had gone in wars before and so many have gone since.

When will these wars end? When will there be true peace in the world? When? I pray it is my life-time - that I will live to see the end of hostilities in this world.

I hope everyone takes a few minutes to pause and thank all the veterans now living or passed on that put their lives on the lives so that we could live in freedom. And perhaps we could all do our little bit to begin Peace in the world.

New blogger

2011-12-05T10:56:00.000-06:00

Norm's niece, Glenda, was raised in South Dakota .. she grew up with our girls and shares many memories with them. She now lives in Colorado with her husband and two cats. Her life is full of surprises and (yes, admit it!) accidents! Join me in enjoying what another woman goes through in her daily life!

Go to Glenda's new blog for a good read!

Great Thanksgiving Weekend!

2011-11-27T18:56:00.000-06:00

The weather was perfect ... almost! It was so warm (it got up to 61º on Thursday) that we couldn’t “run” the wood stove as much as we wanted. We warmed up the house, then let the fire go out. On Wednesday, the temperature in the house was 78º and I had to open the bedroom window so that I could sleep without feeling I was in a sauna!

Joy, Ken, the girls and Ken’s dad, Bill, came on Wednesday. My folks came the same day and were at Candy’s. Since we had seven and Candy had six (Cookie and Binni, as well), we had two dinners, one at each place.

Bitty spent time knitting

Bubba loves to crochet

Cribbage, as usual, went on all weekend.

Friday afternoon, Mom, Dad and Wayne came over for pie and visiting. Candy stayed home and napped while Cookie and Binni went home, as Cookie had to work that day.

We had the traditional foods: turkey, dressing, potatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli with cheese, scalloped corn. Ken is our resident turkey man, so he was in charge of the turkey, and it was wonderful, as usual. All of us over-ate, as usual, too.

Bitty was excited to discover that I had acquired a "REAL" turkey platter!

Our turkey man carved the turkey

Getting ready to eat

Tasha, stay out!

Saturday morning, everyone but me, myself and I (and the dogs) went shopping in town; Ken and Bill left from there and went home to the Cities, the rest came back here.

Joy is spinning llama

Can you see the fine yarn in her right hand (your left, of course)?

A touching moment

Tasha needed a bath so was wrapped in blankets to dry

This morning was church, then the traditional macaroni and cheese (we have to have that at least one time while the girls are here). After the girls had packed their things in the car, we made lefse with some of the left over mashed potatoes. I got the recipe from Nana’s cookbook (we made one for her 100th birthday); the girls were excited to know that Joy has one as well. I can imagine that there will be lefse making over there this week.

Holy lefse, Batman!

The barber shop is open

Lifting off to go on the griddle

So now the house is quiet. Peanut is wondering where the kids and Tasha are; I am taking it easy and Norm has been working outside; he just came in with another armload of wood.

Now it is time to get serious about a Christmas letter and Christmas presents. Most of them will be home-made this year; I certainly hope people will like them!

It has been a beautiful time here at Ash Lane Farm. I hope you all had a beautiful time yourselves and will have a beautiful day tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:54:00.000-06:00

The family at Ash Lane Farm would like to wish all of you a blessed Thanksgiving! May your day be full of laughter, love and good food.

Wistful Wednesday

2011-11-23T10:18:00.000-06:00

Norm's brother, Robert, is scanning in a lot of the old Peterson pictures. This one is of Lars John Peterson, who was a "real" cowboy. He worked on Texas ranches some. Folsom is the home place; I would be willing to bet that this is the ranch that Norm grew up on.

I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving! I hope it is filled with love, laughter, family, friends and good food.

A Day of Celebration!

2011-11-22T11:37:00.000-06:00

Six years ago this evening, Norm fell in the garage and broke his neck.

He had been working at a packing plant as a maintenance man. His shift was the swing shift and was supposed to be an eight hour shift, but required overtime made his shift anywhere from nine to eleven hours. He would come home about two, sleep until about noon and then try to get something done around the house, as we had just moved in a month before.

Both Norm and I decided it was just too hard for him and we were starting to look for another job for him when he fell.

We figure that he was so tired that he was not thinking straight and over-extended on the ladder, caught his feet when he fell and landed straight on his head.

I took him to the VA in Sioux Falls; I thought he had a bad whiplash but he knew his neck was broken (but didn’t tell me - I had a hard time getting to the VA as it was). The nurses didn’t believe him when he told them he thought it was broken but soon changed their tune when they saw the X-Rays. The VA sent him via ambulance to one of the civilian hospitals and requested a “neck” man to come operate.

However, Norm had shattered the vertebrae and the doctor could not operate so Norm was put into a “halo” which held his neck firmly in place; he wore this for three months, then was put into a hard collar.

When either of us felt like complaining about the inconvenience or uncomfortable-ness of the halo (I had to clean the points that went into his head daily), we would remember what we were told.

Norm should have either been paralyzed or dead. The chances of him surviving were so slim that it was a miracle!

So, on this sixth anniversary, I am stopping to give thanks to all who helped us with morale, prayers and even money (thanks, Charles ... I am eternally grateful to you) because we had no income at all at that time. And to thank the Universe and the Good God that Norm survived and is nearly normal in his movements.

Celebrating a Christmas that might not have happened!

It is a beautiful day today; you have a beautiful day.

A Fantastic Weekend

2011-11-21T09:36:00.000-06:00

First of all, we had our first snowfall, which was only a couple of inches. It got cold (+4º yesterday morning) but the wind was moderate, so it was "tolerable" outside.

Secondly, and most importantly, Jill came down for the weekend and brought my grandpuppies ... Remy and Hank. We had a great time.

Hank is a ten month old puppy and is still ALL puppy; delightful, getting into trouble at all times and very loving. He delighted in sleeping in Peanut's bed ... which was too small for him, but he insisted on fitting in there! He is Basset cross, perhaps with Beagle.

Remy is Beagle and possibly Basset cross. He's an adult now and very well behaved. Jill says she has yelled at Hank more since they got him in July than she has ever yelled at Remy in the time they've had him (three years or more, can't remember). He never tried Peanut's bed but slept in his own bed.

The two of them really enjoyed being warm by the fire. Because Remy is a Beagle, he cannot be left off lead at all; Hank might be able to some day, but not now. So Norm locked the sheep up in the south pasture and gave the boys their own little dog park to run; this was in the east pasture. Unfortunately it was too cold for Remy so he came in quickly. Hank stayed out a little bit longer. However, they enjoyed it and so when they come down on MILD days, they can have their dog park to run in.

Jill requested Dough-Gots for supper on Saturday night - this is fried bread for those of you who do not come from the Saueressig family. My mom said that when Nana had bread making day she would keep out some dough and fry it for supper. We put butter and syrup (mostly corn syrup) on them; Norm is a weirdo (you knew that, didn't you?) - he puts peanut butter on his!

There was an accident when I was frying the Dough-Gots - I let one slip in too quickly and it spattered onto my hand. I quickly slathered aloe vera on my hand so it is starting to feel better now, but there is a nasty blister!

Jill stayed until mid-afternoon, then took the boys and headed home. Eric was in North Dakota with his family, hunting - it sounds like they got two deer among the whole bunch of them. They hunt on Eric's grandmother's land.

Jill was tempted to stay longer - niece Cookie called to say that she and daughter Binni had gone to Joseph and the Technicolor Coat - a high school version. It was so good, she said, that we were tempted to go up on Sunday to see it. However, Eric was flying in from Fargo and didn't have a key to the house, so she had to be home to let him in. I guess she didn't think he'd enjoy sitting on the patio in the cold for a couple of hours (sorry, Eric ... I voted for that idea!).

Once they were gone, it was very quiet; I missed Jill before she was out of the driveway! I am so grateful that she came down to visit!

It was a beautiful (cold) weekend; today will get up to the low thirties and be sunny. You have a beautiful day.

Wistful Wednesday

2011-11-16T09:50:00.000-06:00

This is a picture of Norm's Peterson grandparents: Lars John and Lena. The date on the scan is 1948; it was scanned in my my sister-in-law Eileen, so I am pretty sure that there was a date on the back of the picture for her to go on.

Norm was named for both grandfathers - John (for Lars John) and Norman for Clarence Norman DeWitt. At least he's pretty sure that the Clarence Norman is correct - he says "That's my story and I'm sticking to it!"

Eileen, if it is not correct, please let me know. (Eileen is our family historian!)

It's warmed up to +16º and supposed to get up to about 29º or so. There is a brisk breeze but sunshine. Our nice new wood stove is warming the house up wonderfully. So it's a beautiful day - you have a beautiful day!

Thank you!

2011-11-11T20:00:00.000-06:00

I could not let the day go by without saying "Thank you!" to all the veterans of all the wars that we have had, either here on American soil or over-seas in some foreign land.

"Thank you" to those gave their lives, either as a direct result of war or as an indirect result.

"Thank you" to those who survived, for you put your lives on the line.

You are all heroes!

I must mention my personal heroes:

my father (91) who fought in WWII, Korea, and was in the Berlin Airlift.

my husband who served during the Vietnam War.

my brother-in-law, serving also during the Vietnam War.

numerous cousins who served before, during and after the Vietnam War.

And there is my brother, who fought in Vietnam and fought the battles of health until his untimely death at the age of 64.

Thank all of you for your dedication and your sacrifice that enables us to have the freedoms we all so cherish.

Happy Birthday, Beanie!

2011-11-11T17:46:00.000-06:00

On this day our youngest, Jill Naomi Peterson, was born in Tumut, Australia. She was names “Jill” because we wanted a JN to match Norm’s name (John Norman) and Joy’s (Joy Natalie). Jill means “Little Girl.” We didn’t know what we would have (back in the days when we had no choice of finding out) so we had a boy’s name and a girl’s name. It was a while before Norm and I could come to an agreement on Jill’s name but before she arrived, she was named (IF she were a girl!).

From the time she was a tiny babe, she was a clown. Norm nick-named her “Bean” .. it started out as “Silly Jill,” then “Silly Jilly,” then “Silly Jiily-Bean” and ended up as “Bean” or “Beanie.” Granddaughters call her “Auntie Bean.”

She has been a delight since she was born; she is still a delight. “They” claim you can’t have favorites in your children, but “They” are wrong. Jill is my favorite YOUNGEST child. No other will match her!

We are so blessed to have two loving daughters and we love them both. But today is Jill’s day - so we will wish her a Happy Birthday and many, many, many more.

We both love you Beanie!

Joy and Jill with a friend at an Australian zoo.

Wistful Wednesday

2011-11-09T14:34:00.000-06:00

This was taken at a Heritage Fair in Minneapolis one fine summer day. We were still working for Murphy's Landing and it was our job, that day, to represent the Landing. A photographer took this picture for a newspaper somewhere. The time frame was about 2004 or 2005. I am still using my demo loom (and have that runner in my house); the shave horse in the background was one that Norm built for the Landing - the one he has now is a bit different.

Splendiferous Saturday.

2011-11-06T11:59:00.000-06:00

A corner of our living room went from this ......

...... to this by last night.

What a great way to start the winter! Hope yours is as warm as we hope ours will be!

A "New" tractor

2011-10-24T12:41:00.001-05:00

We have had an Alys Chalmers tractor for several years; when Norm got it, I questioned the size - I felt it was too big for what we have to do here. But he wanted it - and, yes, I did, too. It is the model tractor that my uncle had when I was growing up. However, it has given us trouble from the day we brought it home ... transmission going out, starter going bad ... on and on and on.

This last Spring, brother-in-law Wayne sold Norm his tractor - a McCormick Farmall. He finished paying it off on Saturday and drove it home.

Now we will hopefully sell the Alys; the Farmall is much easier to run, starts like a dream (if you remember to turn the gas line on!) and drives much easier. It has a bucket on it for snow removal, too.

Now we need to get a snow blower to run on it so that we will not have to worry as much about the snow and Norm won't have to drive the Farm's tractor here to blow snow.

After we got home with the tractor, we loaded up a kitten and took her to Westbrook to a new home.

As we drove into the lane, we saw a young deer in the front yard. He (she?) hung around for awhile, then bounded away, so we drove in, got into the house and lo! and behold! there the deer was, drinking out of my freshly filled bird fountain / pool! And a closer look showed it to be a young buck!

What a wonderful gift!

It has been beautiful these past few days - and sounds like it will be, again, for several more. You have a beautiful day!

Wistful Wednesday

2011-10-19T10:30:00.000-05:00

I was trapped into talking (tomorrow) to the Sons of Norway lodge I belong to; they want to hear about my childhood in Japan. I kept saying it wasn't Norwegian based but they didn't listen. So I've been spending time getting slides scanned in for this talk.

I haven't broken a leg, yet, so guess I will have to go and talk tomorrow (sigh).

However, I thought I'd share some of the pictures (again) that I will show.

Hope you enjoy and hope the lodge enjoys tomorrow.

This is an actor from the Kabuki theater - it is a young male, posing as a young woman. No women acted in Kabuki.

This is one of the largest Buddhas in the world, as you can see by the people walking up the steps.

I have been to this one and walked inside and stood in the hands of this Buddha.

This is a bathroom in a tourist spot - we stayed here one week.

The stool is the porcelain item in the floor - you squatted over it and then flushed it when done.

More modern than just a hole in the ground like most county people had.

When we left Japan, we flew past the famous Mount Fujiyama - Dad took this picture from the plane.

Out of commission

2011-10-13T17:42:00.002-05:00

I went to a foot doctor last week and found that I have tendinitis on the left inner ankle. No wonder it's been hurting for several months! He gave me some pills to take, use ice several times a day and limit my physical activities. To those of you who know me well, I hope you are sitting down as you read this. I thought Candy was going to drop her phone, she was laughing so hard!

Day three of my pills, I started to get sick and had the same symptoms for flu and for pill reactions so called the doctor who said to stop taking the pills, just in case.

Doesn't matter what it was, it's taken three days out of me and I really HAVE been taking it "easy."

So, I missed Wednesday's look into the past and I thought I'd put a picture on today. I am (slowly) going through my Dad's slides of Japan, as I need to give a talk next week at the local Sons of Norway meeting (sigh). This one is a little girl, all dressed up for some festival. Most of the local Japanese wore kimonos rather than western dress unless they had contact with Americans. Notice the little girl's shoes. Look familiar? The Japanese were the first to have "flip-flops" or whatever popular name they are today. We wore them as well, around the house. The thong was of material, usually flannel, and were called "zoris." In the winter they had wooden ones with two "feet" to hold them up from the mud - called "ge t as." If you will notice, the little girl has white socks (sort of) on. As it is probably winter, she wore a split cloth sock that hooked in the back. They were used as slippers in the house and then could be used as cold protection when outside. It must be dry and cold for her to be wearing zoris and "tabi socks."

I don't think she was very happy about my Dad taking her picture, but she sure is a sweetie and dressed very prettily.

Well, enough Japanese lessons for today ... it's a beautiful fall day out and I am slowly recuperating. You have a beautiful day.

Dere be hurricanes a blowin’ !

2011-10-07T15:37:00.000-05:00

........... or practically, nearly, but not quite!

Okay, we left here Wednesday morning and got to Albert Lea at noon - grabbed lunch at Arby’s and went to check in. We got our usual spot on the back row - nice and quiet and away from the vendors. Then we started to set up, a lengthy process.

There were wasps and beetles and bees, oh my! And no-see-ums (biting ones) and flies! We were in the afternoon sun; it was hot and I was nervous about the bees and wasps. Norm sprayed inside and out to hopefully keep them away and I kept my eyes open. But we finally got the tent up and everything put in it’s proper place. Norm drove out to the store to get ice for the ice box and supper for us so I didn’t have to cook that night. I laid down for a short nap but soon got up to rearrange things so that we didn’t have to make too many changes for school tours.

Our good friends Patience and Harley showed up - they live in Albert Lea - and brought us a present - our very own popcorn popper! We have a tradition of having popcorn every time we get together with a fire; lately I’ve been supplying the popcorn, lard and butter and they have supplied the popper. Now I have my own!

Thursday morning bright and early we got up and got ready for school tours. I had a later tour than Norm so I made breakfast - cold granola and store-bought rolls! The “promised” wind change had hit during the early morning hours so we had to batten down the hatches. Da hurricane done happened! Norm’s fly - separate from the tent so that he was demonstrating away from me - went down early on so he just took it down. We had gusts of wind that knocked my demo loom off the table, knocked boxes of their tables and tore a rip in one of the canvas sides. I had a crock, a jar and a bowl break. We later heard that the winds were gusting to about fifty-five miles an hour! We also heard that Albert Lea had trees down, lost some electricity and some people got hurt. There were tents that went down, one with a friend of ours in it! She didn’t get hurt, though.

Despite the wind, the school children came and we had a very good day. A lot of interested, well behaved children make my demonstrations much easier.

Thursday night, despite the wind, we had Blacksmith Wally over for supper. I like to have company over to eat - it gives me incentive to make more than just cold sandwiches for Norm and I. That night we had hamburgers with home-made buns, canned baked beans and fried potatoes and onions. We also had an apple cobbler. Using my brazier makes it easier to cook and sometimes even fun. Norm helps lift hot, heavy cast iron pans on and off the fire, hauls water for heating to wash and even pours water from the big coffee pot that we use for water into the wash basins.

The wind died down towards sunset, so we lit our outside lanterns, lit the chandelier inside and got ready for bed. I usually wash dishes in the morning, so we poured hot soapy water over them and let them sit overnight.

Friday was a duplicate for school tours but nicer, as it got up in the eighties and there was very little wind. (Whew!) Friday after tours, Patience came over to rest and visit. Norm headed to town to get ice and biscuits .. I had baked biscuits at home but left them there. By the time Harley got there, supper was nearly done. When we had visited on Wednesday, I gave him the option for supper (every meal was pre-planned and nearly pre-fixed at home, so all we had was a choice of what night to fix them); Harley had requested chicken dumpling soup (egg dumplings), so that’s what we had. I had planned on a desert but then we had popcorn in mind, so did not.

And we did have POPCORN!!! A most important part of the week at Big Island! Our new popper worked great!

Saturday and Sunday were open to the public. It was also the time for a relaxed breakfast; I made biscuits and sausage gravy, inviting dear friend Ole Oleson (actually Roger) to join us. Norm had gotten a tube of refrigerator biscuits and I fry-baked them on the brazier. Not as good as homemade ones, but they worked to carry the gravy and sausage.

We had visitors from other parts of the site come - with my knee, my back and now my ankle, I don’t walk to far from the campsite, so am very pleased when friends come to see me.

The most important part of the weekend was the visitors that came on Saturday. Daughter Jill and Grandpuppy Hank showed up to surprise Norm, wander with Norm and I (limited on my part), have supper and meet some friends. Made my day, my week! Thank you, Jill, for taking the time to come!

Being at Big Island during early mornings and evenings are magical. Everyone dresses in proper clothing and not a modern thing can be seen. It’s like being back in time! I love it!

Sunday afternoon is tear-down and the magic goes away. Big Island is on a peninsula (think I’ve mentioned that before) so there is only one road in and one road out. People go out to get their cars mid afternoon and sit in line waiting for all the guest to leave; then they are allowed on, a few at a time; there is a pattern to the way they drive on. After sites are torn down, people can start leaving, again in line, again in pattern. It takes hours just to get in and out, let alone tearing down.

The magic is gone

So Norm and I have finally gotten smart! We wait until Monday morning! While everyone else is packing up, waiting for a partner to bring in the vehicle, I sit and watch, visit with those who are like us, waiting until Monday, pack up some of the plastic tubs (yarns, table cloths, etc), fold up tables and chairs, get extra clothes ready to put in the van, change to modern clothes. Norm helps others tear down; about 7:00, he goes out to get the van and trailer. We put the tent stove in, pack up his shave horse and tools and start loading. Then have a glass (mug) of wine and hit the hay. Monday morning we get up and start tearing down for earnest. We got done about noon, said goodbye to friends who were still on site and grabbed some lunch (Arby’s again - we don’t have one near us) and headed home.

This is the fourth year that I have been “bee free” - the last bee sting was at Big Island five years ago so I was very pleased. And, please all the good gods, I will remain bee free for the remainder of the fall!

Now the season is over, we are washing and packing up items we won’t use until next year. The next period event is in March, in New Ulm, an indoor Trade Show. We have been invited to a February one in Albert Lea, but we haven’t decided, yet, about that one.

It’s a beautiful but windy day today - we have had high wind warnings for several days, but it’s supposed to be over by midnight tonight - I certainly hope so. You have a beautiful day.

Answers

2011-10-07T09:45:00.001-05:00

First of all, the lady with Mom is Mrs. Gomer, not Mrs. Robinson. And her husband was a pilot. Mrs. Robinson's husband was a pilot, as well, not a chaplain.

I remember a lot of the time in Japan - I have many memories of my childhood. It was a great time for a child to be there. I look at pictures, now, and see how dirty the place was - dirt roads and dirt streets - but never saw that back then.

Our maids were Japanese girls who were hired (and cleared) by the military before being allowed to work for the families. The greatest fear at that time was that someone was communist. The girls were trusted with the care of the children while the mothers did other things, like play bridge or travel.

Because they were young women, they were not technically "Momma-sans" --- and the correct spelling, Fran, IS Momma-san. Any American word that was made to sound Japanese had "san" added to it. Poppa-san, baby-san, Connie-san, etc.

It was a great time, as I said. And now I am trapped into talking about that time at the Sons of Norway meeting this month. One of the gals that does the scheduling of entertainment started talking to me about Japan and talked me into giving this talk (jeeesh!) ... so that's why I have the Japanese pictures.

And here is one for you to enjoy - Me, under an umbrella (it rained a lot) with Candy hiding behind me.

It's a very windy day, but beautiful, non-the-less. You have a beautiful day.

Wistful Wednesday

2011-10-05T14:52:00.000-05:00

I am going through some of Dad's slides of Japan (we lived there while I was in 4th, 5th and 6th grade). I ran across this pretty slide.

It is of my Mom and a friend, Mrs. Robinson. Her husband was one of the chaplains, I believe. The folks traveled around the Asian area with friends, leaving us with Japanese maids. This was one of the spots that they went to.

Packing up again

2011-09-25T11:12:00.000-05:00

Time to repack ... it's Big Island week and we are getting more things ready than for Pepin. Now, in Pepin, it's only two nights and someone else cooks. At Big Island, it's 5 nights and I do all the cooking.

Breakfast - for school days, it's bacon, toast and cold cereal. For Saturday and Sunday, it's more (I think biscuits and gravy for Saturday), not sure what for Sunday.

Lunch - lunchmeat, bread, left overs from supper.

Supper - soups, hamburgers, maybe steaks ... with bread, potatoes, something.

So the menu has to be perfected. Boxes are filled with coffee, tea, sugar, flour, bread, salt, pepper, etc. The ice box will have eggs, meat, milk, etc.

The cast iron pots are picked and packed. The tables (total of 5 for all uses) are packed. Chairs, tent, stove, brazier, wood, kindling, charcoal. Coffee pot, water pot (for constant hot water), water pails. Gallon bottles saved from fruit juices full of drinking water (Big Island's water is not very good). Rugs, shave horse, looms, spinning wheel. What else? Bedding - lots of it as it tends to get pretty cold at night. Peanut's crate and her food.

The list is two pages long and we are checking off everything as we go. It takes about 5 days to get packed in a n organized way and not forget anything.

Yes, we are close to a store, but to get to the store we need to ride in a camp-organized bus to and from, as the van is parked about 5 miles away. And then the groceries need to be hauled from the bus to the campsite, and we are in a far corner, so it's about half a mile - and not fun to carry a lot of groceries that far. Therefore we try to have as much as possible as to not have to make store runs.

Once we are there, once the campsite is up, we will enjoy ourselves immensely; two days of school tours and two days of public days, all in period clothing, doing everything (as much as possible) with period tools and equipment.

We will be leaving on Wednesday morning in order to get unpacked and enjoy an afternoon and evening relaxing. We will be tearing down on Monday morning in order to avoid the rush and bustle of nearly everyone else trying to get home Sunday night.

Big Island is held on a peninsula with only one road in and out. So Sunday night the road is packed with cars trying to get in while others are trying to get out. We have done the Sunday night rush and it takes about 4 hours for just getting in and getting out. So we sit by the fire and visit with others that wait until Monday and enjoy watching the rush.

I will probably be busy and not able to get on-line much from now until we leave. And will not be able to get back on-line until Monday night at the earliest.

It sounds like it will be a nice mild week ahead. And we will have beautiful days. You have some beautiful days until I return.

Wistful Wednesday

2011-09-21T13:41:00.000-05:00

We lived in Japan between 1953 and 1956. This is Cara, swimming in the Japan Sea. We went there nearly every day during the summer and swam. We were not really swimmers -- we usually wore swimming jackets or played in floating toys. The sea was too strong to really learn how to swim. But we all became very comfortable in the water and practically lived in it. When the skies were gray and the wind was strong, it was the time to "surf" the high waves. We usually were the last to leave the beach, which probably frustrated the life guards, as they couldn't go home as early as they wished, since some crazy kids wouldn't GIVE IT UP and go home themselves. Mom usually sat under a beach umbrella and read or sat in the covered little place where we could get drinks. We would pack a lunch; we had to stay out of the water for an hour after lunch so would play in the sand.

This was back in the day when an 11 year old was content to play with siblings in the sea and the sand and not want to be off with other girls, being google-eyed at boys.

Notice the bright blue sky and the dark blue sea. The beach was not as clean as most people today like - it had seaweed and driftwood, but we could play with that, as well. I think Cara was looking for a whale to spear!

Another wonderful year at Pepin

2011-09-14T10:33:00.000-05:00

Okay, we got to Pepin about 3:00 on Friday afternoon with lots of sunshine. We set up the tent and bed and all the good stuff, stopping to go hug and talk to people as they came in - we are usually one of the first ones in, as we travel about 5 hours to get there and want to rest after setting up. At about 7:00 we went to Kitty and Tom's for a chili supper and more visiting.

Rise and shine was about 7:00 in the morning - the sun was up and I could hear quiet talking in a neighboring tent. Norm went to the kitchen tent to get coffee as I got dressed and walked Peanut around. When breakfast was ready I went over and grabbed some but headed right back to the tent, as there were guests already starting to wander around.

My neighbor's young boy, Nathan, is my "apprentice" - he loves weaving and always comes over as I allow him to work on the demo loom.

The family brought goats again and did milking demonstrations.

Kevin was making a bowl but the wood was so hard that he started to burn the hole in and scraped out the ashes. He hopes to be able to carve eventually on the inside.

Sherri spins, sells dolls and sunbonnets. She also brings bunnies for sale - you can see the little girls playing with the bunnies in the basket.

This man comes every year - he plays the harmonica and has a "pet" panda who plays, as well. He always plays "There's an old spinning wheel in the parlor" for me as well as "The old rocking chair."

Waking up in the early morning, it's like being in Brigadoon --- it's so foggy that you don't see anything modern.

Gary (from "the family") is making bunk beds. I asked if his children were 300 pound midgets and he said - no, just rambunctious.

My newest friend, Saga, makes brooms. We met last year and just clicked - it's like we've known each other for years and years and years. Possibly in a past life?

On the way home, I had Norm stop to get a picture of the beautiful river. This is the "Lake Pepin" area - even though it's the Mississippi, the area is so large that it's called a lake.

It was a beautiful weekend - it is a beautiful day; you have a beautiful day.

Jeanie's Packing Up!

2011-09-08T13:04:00.000-05:00

Oh, sorry .... a song from Brigadoon is running through my head ....

"Connie's packing up!" It's time for Pepin - Laura Ingalls Wilder Days - again. Norm has gotten the trailer loaded and we will load the van tonight.

Let's see ..... headboard - footboard, bed rails, bed slats - check! Tent, poles, ropes, pegs, peg puller - check! Stoves? No, not for Pepin - we don't cook and it rarely gets cold enough for extra heat. Commode - check! Bathroom box re-loaded and ready - check. Lanterns and candles - check! Norm's shave horse - check! Extra wood folding chairs - check! Tables - check! Most everything is in the trailer.

Now for the van ... a long list - rocking chair, spinning wheel, loom; bedding (mattress, sheets, blankets, pillows); clothes; wool for spinning, yarn for weaving, knitting for the trip and for break times. Norm's spoons and spatulas in their bags. Norm's leather "possible bags." Peanut's bag with food, leashes, bedding. Cooler to be loaded tomorrow morning with snacks, pop and water. Two bags of apples from the broken tree (they still ripened, thank goodness) to add to the food supply for the weekend's cooking. Large cooking pot for Molly.

Yes, I think we have everything. The barn is prepared for us being gone - Candy will check on the animals one day while we are gone.

We will leave tomorrow morning, as it takes nearly five hours to get from here to Pepin, Wisconsin. We head up to Mankato, then over to Wabasha. over the Mississippi and up to Pepin.

This is our annual "family" reunion - our best friends, who we see only once a year, for the most part. We will camp in the history area, period correct all the way I'm excited to see them once again.

I will take pictures and post them when we get back. If things go as planned, we will tear down on Sunday, have a pizza "party" with everyone before we leave, sitting on the picnic benches, then head home and get home around midnight or so. If the clouds stay away, we will probably travel with a full moon - an awesome way to travel.

It sounds to be a beautiful weekend and it is now a beautiful day - you have a beautiful day.

Twelve days of total fun!

2011-09-02T10:46:00.000-05:00

As I said before, Joy and Ken came down two weeks ago to bring the girls. J&K stayed a couple of days - Ken helped Norm work on the siding on the upper level of the house. Then they went home, leaving Bitty and Bubba here to play with me.

On Monday morning, we went up to the Cities after nine days here and I stayed up there through Joy's birthday. Normally Norm and I go up and we stay only a few days - but since he had to work, I was able to stay longer. Peanut stayed home with Norm - I think Norm wanted her there for company.

I just got home yesterday and now I have pictures to share. The first is of Joy taken around Christmas time which would have made her nearly four months old. The backdrop wall-hanging is one that sister-in-law-in-law, Mavis, embroidered for Joy. The picture is in black&white because I was experimenting with that medium; an uncle had a darkroom that he taught me to use.

This next picture was taken on Joy's birthday this year - Ken and the girls got her a lighted number sign to go on their signpost.

Then Bitty was showing me some of her tricks on the trampoline.

And collapsed and "died" when she was done.

I could only get Bubba to jump once and I missed the flip ... so here she is, with her beautiful long hair flipping in the air.

I spent some time with my youngest, Jill. She and Eric have a new puppy, Hank, so I got introduced to him and spent time talking and cuddling Remy - Hank didn't want to cuddle, he wanted to chew fingers and toes.

Jill got me hooked on a now-defunct TV show -"FireFly" -- so I have to order it on Netflix and watch the whole first (and only) season.

It was hard to leave yesterday morning - even twelve days wasn't quite enough - we were still doing things. I was starting to get Bubba ready to dress her loom and ran out of time (sigh). She and Bitty will have to do it with phone calls to me for help if they need it.

Speaking of looms, I stopped at Jody's and helped her put the rug loom together. I had given it to her this spring and she finally had room to put it up. It was a struggle - remind me next time to label EVERYTHING, not just the main supports! But it's up and she can thread it (warp is already on the warp beam) and get started weaving.

It's a beautiful day today - good to be home even though I miss my family. You have a beautiful day.

Happy Birthday, Joy!

2011-08-31T10:06:00.000-05:00

Today is my favorite oldest daughter's fortieth (gasp) birthday! Forty years ago, my life began. Neither Norm nor I can remember just what we did before we had our girls but we remember distinctly what we did after they came and brought LIFE into our lives. Joy is the joy of my life!

I do not have pictures of her as a baby as I am at her house and my pictures are at home on the backup external drive. So I put some up when I get home. I am staying here until tomorrow morning. Until then, here is a picture I took from the dining room window of my three girls working in the yard.

Happy Birthday, sweetie!!

Granddaughter heaven!

2011-08-26T17:04:00.001-05:00

Bitty and Bubba have been here since Saturday and will be here until Monday — a total of nine days. They are so grown up - Bitty is fifteen and Bubba will be thirteen in about a month. They have been a great help around here as well as a pleasure to have.

They have washed dishes, set the table, cleaned the table off, washed dishes. With two extra in the house, we do use a lot more dishes and pots and pans.

They have also done chores for me in the morning, then Norm’s chores at night. Also they have helped water the little bit of garden we have and my potted herbs. When we washed clothes on Monday, they hung the clothes up and brought them in.

I am limited to the amount of time I am outside at this time of year. The sweat bees that “everyone” says are harmless are the ones that have caused me grief (and trips to emergency rooms) in the recent past; I stay inside to avoid any chance of getting stung. Having the girls here has helped immensely with that problem.

Let’s see what we’ve done - salsa sauce one day; they went over and helped brother-in-law Wayne with weeds one day; four dozen ears of corn frozen today; working on the siding with Norm, helping re-build my front deck (was taken down two years ago when the front was re-sided). They are taming down the wild kittens in the barn. Oh, yes .... soap made one day, too!

Craft wise, they have been embroidering, crocheting, tatting. And listening to “Les Miserables” ... over and over and over again! I’m glad they are “into” my kind of music but it gets a little tiring to hear it all day, every day. I put my foot down and said we’d listen to some other music today - so it’s been other musicals that they know and like.

I have enjoyed having them here - they are so happy, bubbly and loving, as well as helpful. Norm and I will miss them when they go.

However, I get to take them home and will stay until Joy’s birthday, so I will be around them a little bit more.

Bitty is tatting

On the roof with Grandpa, painting the siding

Spook is a GREAT help!

Crotchet work

Bubba loves her crochet hook!

Corn, corn everywhere!

It’s a beautiful day today, even though it’s hot and muggy again. You have a beautiful day.

Wistful Wednesday

2011-08-24T16:43:00.000-05:00

Today's picture is of my grandmother, Nana, and the three Childs great-granddaughters. These are, from your left, Joy, Jill and Brook. Brook was born on Nana's birthday, which made her a favorite. I believe this is, I believe, Nana's 95th birthday. We started celebrating every 5th year with a special celebration when she hit 90, then every year, I think, from 95 to 100.

Nana lived to be 101, dying just a few days before her actual birthdate.

I used to tease her, when I was young, that I was her favorite grandchild. She said - at that time - that she couldn't afford to have favorites. With 8 children, numerous grandchildren and uncounted amounts of great-grandchildren running around, even at my young age, if she had a favorite, the others would be upset.

However, when Brook was born, Nana HAD her favorite and no one objected. Not that she treated her differently, monetarily, but she just had a little bit more twinkle in her eye when Brook was around.

Threshing Bee

2011-08-23T09:09:00.000-05:00

Norm and I did not go to the Threshing Bee in South Dakota this year - and missed seeing my cousins, Ruth and Jerry. But Candy and I did our (now) yearly stint in Butterfield, about forty-five minutes away from us.

We do not demonstrate in costume (Candy’s request) but we have two tables that carry samples of a lot of the stuff that we do, books and tools. I spin and weave, as well as knit a little bit; Candy normally does her rug hooking. How many of you can brag that you have a hooker for a sister?

We went in separate cars - Wayne and Norm joined us for the day and helped us set up. Wayne yelled at me (well, fussed and picked on me) because I had forgotten the extra chairs that I like to have. I like having a chair next to the wheel / loom for guests to sit down and really talk. I remembered the next day, for sure!

The boys then went wandering around, looking at tractors and looking for food. Candy and I got to work, demonstrating and talking to people, mostly women, about the crafts that we do, the crafts they do and would they like to learn more?

Since it was our anniversary, Norm took me out to lunch - a Polish “hot dog.” I was going to get something else but the food options are not very good there - there are three places that offer meals but the lines are always very long and the wait is long, as well. The only other choice is popcorn or ice cream or the Polish.

Joy and family were coming down and they stopped at the Bee as well, to look around and have lunch. The girls didn’t do much walking around. Bubba had brought her spindle and sat (we had found a bench by then) or stood, spinning. Bitty grabbed my wheel and spun, as well.

Everyone headed home after the parade, then I took Candy home and headed home where pizza, pina coladas and cheesecake awaited me!

Next morning I collected Candy, taking some chairs along, and headed back to Butterfield. We demonstrated, talked, walked, drank water, demonstrated and talked. We both had sore throats after we were done! At four, we tore down and put everything in my van and I took Candy home (well, she took ME to HER house, as she usually drives when we are together); we unloaded her stuff and I drove home to find everyone either on the roof or around that area - Norm and Ken were re-siding the east end of the upper part of the house.

Bitty and I made supper (leftovers) while Bubba and Joy helped outside. Another pina colada helped me sleep overnight!

Joy and Ken stayed overnight then headed home Monday morning. Bitty and Bubba are staying until next week when I take them back up to the Cities.

Plans are simple - freeze, can, make soap, do crafts, watch a few movies. The girls are trying to tame down the three wild kittens in the barn; they also are doing chores, hanging out clothes and doing most of the outside stuff that I should be doing.

However, the sweat bees are out and I need to avoid them so I stay inside as much as possible during this time of the year. It’s great that the girls can do a lot of my chores right now!

So, now, here are some pictures of some of the demonstrations that we had in the craft building at the Threshing Bee. I don’t have pictures of the girls, yet, but will get some this week.

It’s been beautiful this past week, it’s a beautiful day today - you have a beautiful day!

We had a cyclist from Anchorage, Alaska, ask to spin as she was getting withdrawals

Candy is getting closer to finishing her Scottish Thistle pillow top

This gal paints gourds, plates, anything!

This is a "cannonball" gourd - and Wayne purchased it for Candy (I'm jealous!)

There is a group that does candles - children can make their own candles - it's very popular!

Caning a chair

Beautiful work!

A group of spinners - the young gal is using her antique wheel

She spins extremely fine yarn

Forty-five years ago!

2011-08-20T07:23:00.000-05:00

Happy Anniversary, Norm! It's hard to remember not being married!

Wistful Wednesday

2011-08-17T14:31:00.001-05:00

This is a picture of my dad and some of his family. My dad, his mother and father in the back and his youngest two sisters in the front. Annabel is on the left (from our view) and Betty is on the right.

This picture was taken in about 1936, a year before his mother, my grandma Childs, died of cancer. That would have made Dad about 16.

My dad had an older brother and two older sisters, who were probably all married and gone by this picture.

Fran is back!

2011-08-15T09:01:00.000-05:00

My Scottish friend, Fran, had gone "walk-about" on the Internet. Her site was not coming up and I couldn't find her anywhere - and had lost her email address in the move from one computer to the next. But she has posted a comment on my blog so that I could find her again.

Her new address is Witchcraft Extravaganza Inc, and a lovely place to visit it is! Welcome back to my world, Fran!

Baking Stones

2011-08-11T12:48:00.000-05:00

I have been the proud owner of a pizza stone for nearly ten years. Well, I’ve gone through a few, so it would be honest to say proud owner of several - most of them now deceased.

I love making pizza and son-in-law Ken loves it, too. When he and Joy were first married, they lived 45 minutes away from us (normal speed / traffic). If I told him that pizza was in the oven, he’d make it to our place in less than 30 minutes!

Pizza stones are fantastic for pizzas and for bread. But when I started making longer loaves of bread and wanting to do two pizzas at a time (our now larger family loves pizza and one - homemade - is not enough), I started looking into baking stones. These are rectangular and I would be able to put two pizzas or two large loaves of bread on one. The size is about 14" by 17", whereas the pizza stones are about 16" in diameter; the rectangular stone would almost double the baking surface.

Saving money is always a priority around here, as long as the item will work. As I was looking for baking stones, I read an article about purchasing paving stones instead of the more expensive baking stone.

I measured my oven, looked at the normal sizes of the baking stones and started to look for the paving stones. I was warned to get the un-glazed ones because of chances of lead in the glazing.

Norm thought I was being foolish, but agreed to help me look in several of the self-help stores (Menards, Home Depot, various hardware stores). I finally found paving stones at Home Depot - they were 8" by 14" so I got 2 of them for 68¢ each. They were 2" deep and very heavy (about 12 pounds each), but I figured that at least I could tell if I truly wanted a baking stone and if I didn’t, they would be handy somewhere in the garden.

I got them home, washed them (without soap) and put them into the oven to dry. Now, I have a pilot light so the oven runs about 100º on the average even if it isn’t turned on (makes a good drying rack for herbs but that’s another story), so the stones dried quite quickly. The next morning, giving the stones a good chance at drying, I turned the oven on and baked them at 400º for about 30 minutes to give them a test ... would they break?

However, there was a concern that the oven rack might break. The weight of the stones made it bow in the middle, which also made the stones uneven instead of flat. Not much, mind you, but enough to cause a little concern.

Look at the bowing of the rack

No, the stones didn’t break from the heat so I whipped up a pizza dough and baked a pizza that very night. All instructions for stones say to pre-heat the oven at 500º for about 30 minutes, so I did so. Then I put my dough on parchment paper just in case there was some “foreign” stuff in the stones and turned the oven down to 400º for the suggested 20 minutes. I turned the pizza (my oven is not quite even) at 15 minutes, then took it out when the crust was brown and the cheese was melted.

Even though the pizza had a thin crust, the bottom was not quite cooked crispy like I wanted, so the next pizza, I pre-heated the oven for 45 minutes and the crust was a little better.

I thought my problem was that the stones were too thick and it would take a much longer pre-heat for them to heat through for the desired crispiness. I was not willing to pre-heat the oven for an hour, as that would be a disadvantage, financially. However, I DID like the stones .. they were almost the size of the oven and made a great size for my breads (although the breads didn’t have the desired bottom crust, either, and some were not baked all the way through).

I looked, again, at the “real” stones on-line and decided to go with a commercial one from Amazon.com that was only about half an inch thick. The cost had dropped from $50 to $35; I have a “Prime” membership which, for $75 a year, gives me free shipping on almost everything that I would ever need.

Since I live an hour from any “decent” store for electronics, baking essentials, books, movies, music, etc., I get most of my personal and gifting items from Amazon.com; therefore the “Prime” cost is well worth it.

I told Norm that I would get a “real” stone, which he first objected to, because of the cost. However, I told him that I felt that I would eventually save money because I wouldn’t have to pre-heat the oven as long; he finally agreed. Ordering it from my favorite on-line store gave me the two-day free shipping and I had it in my hot little hands quicker than you can say “Jack Robinson” (or nearly, anyway).

I took the paving stones out of the oven and asked Norm to take them outside, then washed the new stone (without soap, of course) and placed it in the oven to slowly dry. The size is right - almost the same size as the two paving stones put together but the weight is half - only 12 pounds total. The oven rack was still bowed, but it has now slowly relaxed and straightened itself up.

The new stone is much thinner and a lot lighter

Extra large pizza

I whipped up some pizza dough, pre-heated the oven for 20 minutes (maximum time I wanted to have the propane oven heating), placed the pizza on parchment paper to protect the stone’s pristine surface and baked it for 20 minutes. The crust was perfect!

Just LOOK at that crust!

I then baked some French bread, with the 20 minute pre-heat and was totally impressed with the bottom crust and with the middle of the bread - there was no doughy-ness as had been with the thicker paving stones.

Norm was impressed, as well and did not fuss at the extra cost of the “real” stone.

And my expensive 68¢ stones? They are out on the edge of the driveway, holding an old board which is the shelf for my containers of herbs. The containers are off the hot driveway, which helps keep the soil from drying out too quickly. A happy solution for all concerned!

It is a beautiful day today - our excessive heat has dissipated and the dew point has dropped to a VERY comfortable 57º. The humidity (the old way of measuring moisture in the air) is a comfortable 44%, as well . You have a beautiful day.

Wistful Wednesday

2011-08-03T12:15:00.002-05:00

Well, sort of - this is a moment in MY past.

I was cleaning out my corner cupboard (reasons will be explained, later) and re-discovered this:

And, opening it, re-discovered this:

Now, of course I know what it IS! It's an Eastern Star pin!

But the question was: who gave it to me?

My Mom, Dad, Norm and I are (or were, in our case) members of Eastern Star. But I knew that Mom hadn't given it to me. As you can tell, the lining is rather stained - and the pin itself is very old.

I asked Mom if she knew - and she couldn't remember.

But then I remembered that my Uncle Goosey (Gus) was a Mason and he started Dad in the Masons. Therefore, Auntie Pete (Mildred) must have been an Eastern Star.

Then I started thinking back in my foggy little memory - and remembered that Auntie Pete gave the star to me years ago. And, if I remember right, it was an heirloom from a relative .. and if I remember RIGHTLY, I think it was my Great-Aunt Clara or her daughter (my second cousin) Esther. Mom, am I remembering right? Were either of them Eastern Stars?

Anyway, I wouldn't wear it because I am not longer a member but I will treasure it and write down the history as I remember it so that my children and grandchildren will know where the star came from. I have dusted it off and will put it back into the re-organized corner cupboard for enjoying.

And that is something that I hope to do with all my treasures - let the ones that follow me know the history of what I have so that it will continue to be treasured.

It is a beautiful day today - the humidity is down drastically and the actual temperature is how it feels. Such a relief after all our heat in the recent past. You have a beautiful day.

The heat also rises

2011-07-31T08:42:00.000-05:00

Pickles and Petticoats

2011-07-28T18:16:00.000-05:00

These past three weekends have been the Laura Ingalls Wilder Days in Walnut Grove. They have a pageant in the evenings (Friday and Saturday) and a festival in the park on Saturday.

Now, Walnut Grove, one of Laura’s homes, is only about 30 miles from us, so it’s easy to go demonstrate there. We started about 4 years ago with an invitation given only a week before the festival started. Since it was a fast decision, we told the organizer that we would appreciate having an awning of some kind so they put up one of those plastic tarp covers up for us. Since then they have provided the cover each year, which makes set-up much easier since we don’t have to put up a tent or awning.

Most of the festival is food vendors, craft booths and music. We are there in period clothing, our friend Wally is there with his covered wagon and blacksmithing tools and there is also a Civil War reinactor group. Other than that, everyone else is either in modern clothes or in imaginary outfits. (By that I mean they think they are in costume but there is a lot to be desired to make them look period correct.)

I pride myself on being reasonably period correct. Everything on the outside is as it should be. On the inside, however, there are modifications. I do not wear a corset and I only have 1 petticoat. The dresses I have are called Prairie Dresses - they have a yoke, two long sleeves and the body is a lot of material gathered into the yoke and flowing down to the top of my foot (ankles should not be shown). This is a convenient dress because the women would often change sizes out on the prairie - either pregnant or not, losing or gaining weight. They would not have to change dresses at all. The waist is tucked in with an apron so that it doesn’t flow all over the place and give no form to the body.

As I said, the Walnut Grove festival is held 3 Saturdays of July. Usually it is hot and hard on a body. This time was no different. We always leave Peanut at home because of the heat and noise (cannons going off many times during the day). The first Saturday was hot and I was not comfortable. The second day was the beginning of our horrible heat wave. Norm had found a roaster pan that fit just right for my feet. So I kept cool (well, sort of) by keeping my feet in the water and having a wet cloth around my neck. Norm had a wet cloth under his hat.

That Saturday was a “2-fer” - 2 snow cones during the afternoon (each). And lots and lots of water. This past Saturday, the heat wave was abating so it was not as bad, but still as bad.

I threatened to strip if it got worse. I would have taken my petticoat off (shock!!) and even taken my apron off and let my dress float in the little breeze that we had. Fortunately for my sensibility of decorum, it didn’t get that hot. But I HAVE taken my petticoat off on the worst days that we end up - making my layers only 4 instead of 5.

Norm is dressed as cool-ish as he properly can. I can never convince him to button up the top button of his 2-button shirt and he won’t wear a vest. But putting a cloth under his hat does help him, as he can’t be barefoot like I am.

Another way to keep cool, besides drink water is to eat dill pickles. We all need salt to help us keep hydrated. I am not sure exactly, but I think the salt makes you feel thirstier and you drink more water. I have some pickles I made a few years ago that turned out waaaay too salty so I cut them into bite sized pieces and we ate them and drank water immediately afterward. That helped keep us cool and encouraged us to drink more water.

I have some pictures to share. The one of me was in the Marshall newspaper, advertising the Festival. The others were ones that I took.

Military Camp

Wally, resting (I was too lazy to walk over to take his picture - I took it from my chair)

Norm showing his spoons

Working on a spoon

Spoon is nearly done

It was great to have been at Walnut Grove and I am grateful that we survived yet another year of hot weather. The heat wave has lessened and we are now just “hot” not unbearable with dangerous warnings. It’s a beautiful day today - you have a beautiful day.

Just where ARE we, anyway?

2011-07-17T16:01:00.000-05:00

In case you don’t live in a hot area right now, you might not realize just exactly how HOT it is in many areas.

Here in Minnesota, we have ‘wet’ heat, compared to ‘dry’ heat of places like Arizona. We have high humidity and also have high dew points. I know what it means to have a high dew point, but I looked it up for those of you who don’t live in an area with that measure of temperature.

The dew point temperature is the temperature at which the air can no longer hold all of its water vapor, and some of the water vapor must condense into liquid water. The dew point is always lower than (or equal to) the air temperature.

SOUPY AIR: When the dewpoint approaches 75 ºF, most people can "feel" the thickness of the air as they breathe, since the water vapor content is so high (about 20 grams of water vapor per kilogram of dry air, or 2% of the air's mass).

At high heat, high dew point temperatures, it gets hard to breath if you have any kind of breathing problems. It is also dangerous for those with heart problems. Those people should try to avoid the heat by being in air conditioning, if at all possible.

Dangerous, as well, for normally healthy people who have to work outside, so those people should wear light cotton clothing, drink lots of water, have salt (we eat salty dill pickles when we are outside demonstrating) and take lots of breaks.

Last night our weather man said that our dew point of 70º was higher than the jungles of the Amazon. Right now, at 3:00 on Sunday, the thermometer reads 93º and the relative humidity is 68% and the dew point is 79º. That means, boys and girls, that outside my house the heat index is 109º F! (Heb and other Canadians, that means about 45º C.)

I have a love/hate relationship with my air conditioner. I hate the closed windows, the noise and the cold air blowing. But I love the cool air in the house and the fact that we can sleep without melting into the bed. It has been running nearly continually - as it gets hotter, the house gets hotter as I keep turning the air “up” so it doesn’t run the whole time. Right now it’s 77º in the house, which is pretty comfortable - and the wooden floors are not wet - nor are the wooden chairs - which they were before I closed up the house on Friday and started the air.

This morning as I was doing chores, I swear I saw this bird laughing at me in the tree!

It’s a beautiful day - if’n you don’t have to be outside - you have a beautiful day.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2011-07-17T11:04:00.000-05:00

Ninety-one years ago today, my father was born in North Dakota.

Brother Earl and two of Dad's sisters (sorry, can't remember who) with Dad

Dad lived is entire childhood in North Dakota, went to college in North Dakota and then joined the Army/Air Corps at the beginning of World War II.

I think this was his high school picture

Dad married Mom in 1942 and they have been together ever since. He fought in WWII, flew on the Berlin Airlift, fought in the Korean War and then served in the States until he retired.

Dad went back to collage to finish his schooling that was postponed because of the war. He worked in insurance, in the Red Cross, in the Boy Scouts, and as a Probation Officer before retiring.

Dad learned to drum when he was about eight and has been drumming ever since. His last band dispersed just a few years ago because the others were getting "too old."

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Things and such

2011-07-15T10:15:00.000-05:00

I’ve been pretending to be busy for the past two weeks. Not that I have fooled anyone, but I’ve sort-of fooled myself into believing!

So, what has been going on in my life since I last wrote?

Well, let’s see. I’ve finished the weaving projects on “Cherry” and have washed and hemmed them all. I got the wedding present sent off (hope they like it). I’ve been weaving more on “Matilda” but ignoring “Harriet Dare,” which is not fair to her or to me but I have so many needs to finish on Matilda that Harriet Dare just has to wait. I’ve also started “dressing” Cherry for the next project -some log cabin place mats for someone who cannot be named here. (No, Glenda, they aren’t for you — have you been nice enough to me to “deserve” some?)

Our cat, Scooter, had kittens under / behind the entry way freezer. It took awhile to figure this out until one day she was waiting at the door and scooted quickly behind the freezer and I heard little kitty sounds! Scooter is the kitten that Norm picked out from his brother’s ranch when we first moved here. I had promised sister-in-law Mavis that I would get a kitten when we could have one here and Darrell kept trying to put one in the car every time I was there visiting (he still does that but I know if I brought another one home, I’d lose my happy home!).

My requirements for a kitten was a female and a calico (Mavis has such pretty kitties). Norm picked her out and named her and she went directly to the barn where she has grown to be a fantastic mouser and a great mother. Her one kitten we kept several years ago, Spunky, is also a great mouser although she will no longer be a great mother as she went to visit the Vet last summer.

Anywho, Scooter had the kittens in this weird place and we couldn’t get behind to see them. So we made sure that one door was always open so that she could get in and out easily. The kittens are about a month old, now, I’m guessing, and they are finally starting to come out to play. They are pretty skittish but we are working on taming them down. Candy was over last night and we sat outside and cuddled them and hopefully calmed them down a little bit. I think the milk / cat food mix I’m starting to give them will help with the taming down.

Unnamed male

Muted calico, "Little Lady"

"Pixie"

Besides kittens, we also have young pullets. We purchased some day-old ones a couple of months ago and they are growing well. We also have two banty babies that I THINK are pullets; Mrs. Banty hatched out three but I was afraid that she would lose them so I had Norm catch them. One didn’t make it but the other two are growing well.

Garden? What garden? We (Norm) planted cucumbers, lettuce and my pumpkins. We are going to go to a farmers’ market to get our tomatoes and peppers and potatoes and onions ... it’s just not working out here - Norm spends so much time and energy at the Farm that he’s too tired to garden when he’s home. I can’t kneel and I have to be aware of bees so I don’t garden, either! But I think the cukes are coming on well. The lettuce and pumpkins surely are.

Last Saturday was the first of three Saturdays for Walnut Grove’s Laura Ingalls Wilder days. A festival in the park and the open-air play in the evening. Norm and I demonstrate there but we have never had the energy to go to the play. It is normally too hot to do more than tear down and sizzle home. This Saturday is supposed to be terribly hot so we are planning pickles (for salt intake) and lots and lots of water. Plus, Norm will put a wet cloth under his hat and I will put one on my neck when it gets really bad.

And speaking of weather, starting tonight, we have a heat warning until Wednesday — high heat and high humidity will make the heat index in the 100º to 110º range all week! OOFTA! So grateful I am for air conditioning. I hope all of you that have these heats have air. I know a few friends who have broken down and bought window conditioners so that they can survive.

Yet we continue to have rain - almost an inch again yesterday morning (which is what makes the humidity so high). And storms almost every night. I have given up putting bird seed out because every time I do, the winds hit or the rains and the seed is scattered to kingdom come! The birds will have to survive without me this summer!

I have finally set up the Etsy account for the “Sisters” business. I have been promising to do so for over a year. The business that Candy and I have is small but fun. It is called “A Sisters’ Thing;” we sell yarns that Joy, mostly, spins, some of my weaving, some of Candy’s photo cards and a few other items. If you want to visit, it’s here.

Other than that, not much has been going on. I keep on weaving, reading, trying not to do housework and trying to stay away from the computer. And, lately, trying to stay cool with OUT the air conditioner - but we are going to have to break down and use it this next week. I do not like it running at night but there won’t be much choice - it will be too muggy to open windows at night for about a week, at least. (Sigh)

It’s a beautiful day, despite the humidity and threat of storms and threat of heat. You have a beautiful day, as well.

Sixty nine years later

2011-07-05T12:56:00.000-05:00

There have been some requests for the "now" picture of my folks. This was taken last month (June 7th, to be exact) with Bubba and Bitty before the folks left our place to head back home. So here it is!

It's a beautiful day after the 4th .. did you celebrate? It's a great day to remember those who have fought and died so that we CAN celebrate. As I watch fireworks, I remember what a dear friend once said.... "We sit and watch these symbols of celebration while others in the world see similar displays in fear because they are signs of flak and are symbols of destruction. We are blessed to be watching them here in America rather than in other places where there is no freedom."

You have a beautiful FREE day!

Happy Anniversary

2011-07-04T10:26:00.000-05:00

Today is my parents' 69th anniversary. My Dad got his wings from the Army Air Corps on the 3rd of July and he and Mom married on the 4th. This was in 1942 and Dad was preparing to go overseas to fight in the War.

They have remained together all of these years and, at the age of 91, they seem to be planning on forever together.

Happy Anniversary, folks! I love you!

Back to Plan A

2011-06-29T18:27:00.000-05:00

Okay, I’m here at Rapid City, watching thermometer climb to about 102º. I’m not used to this heat, but then, neither are the resident Rapidians; it’s been so very cool and rainy both here and at home that just sunshine has been difficult to get used to.

Mom had a great night last night and is doing very well today. She is stronger, able to get around without feeling so wobbly (being in bed for 5 days makes one wobbly, wouldn’t you say?) and she is able to do a few chores around the house. She is one armed ... her left arm is velcroed to her side so that she doesn’t lift it over her shoulder. She need to be this way for two weeks so that she doesn’t accidentally pull the wires out of her heart by raising her arm too far. After two weeks, we are told, the wires will be “welded” into her heart and there will be no problems. Until then, she won’t be able to drive, either.

I did some research about pace makers. There has been artificial stimulation of hearts since the mid 1700s. The first “real” pacemaker was implanted in 1956. Interesting!

So, back to the plan. I am going to talk about the flooding of North Dakota. My cousin Jimmy says that Fargo and Moorehead, MN, were fine - they have been prepared since before the spring flooding and there is little to worry about there.

However, the North middle and western areas are in trouble. We saw many “lakes” in the fields as we went across I-90. The Interstate was covered with water in some places, as well! The gravel road to the family farm had water over the road until Friday when the road department raised the low spot higher.

When we headed home, we saw more water, more flooding. Several roads were closed but we were fortunate that Highway 200 east from McClusky had “repaired” the roads that had been flooded so that we didn’t need to detour.

I will not mention Minot, as we were not there and there is more detail about their suffering on the national news. Bismarck was building dikes and ditches to keep the water out of there. We had planned on a picnic on Friday night for the first night of the reunion and the girls couldn’t find a park that wasn’t under water.

Yes, we have had some flooding and a lot of fields under water but we haven’t had the troubles that North Dakota has had.

Sooooo, now I’m in Rapid, like I said. I will be heading home tomorrow and Candy will be coming here on Saturday to be with Mom for some time and to help the folks celebrate their 69th anniversary on the Fourth. I understand that I will be driving in hot weather and I thank the good gods that I have air conditioning.

It is a beautiful day even if it is hot. There are small clouds, a lot of sunshine and a brisk breeze. You have a beautiful day.

We're home!

2011-06-28T15:00:00.000-05:00

I escaped!

2011-06-27T21:50:00.000-05:00

This afternoon I sneaked away from the hospital to go shopping (gasp!). Mom needed rest and I hoped that if I went, Dad would sleep in the recliner and she would nap, too.

It has been a long day for all of us. Dad and I had to be there before 6:00 to give her a hug before she went into surgery. The surgery itself only lasted about an hour so Dad and I had breakfast and had just gotten settled into the waiting room before we got the call that she was heading back up to her room.

The difference was amazing, already. Her cheeks are rosier and she seems to be more chipper that she was even yesterday. She was on total bed rest for 6 hours and had to have her head at least 30% up (the hospital beds have percentage markings so that the nurses know how high the bed is raised) and she couldn’t even put her legs over the side until 1:30 this afternoon.

Once she had had lunch (and shared it with Dad and I .. she didn’t eat as much as I thought she should), I borrowed Dad’s car and went looking for material.

I have a table that is about 42" wide so a 45" piece of material for a tablecloth is not what I would like. I need 54" or 60" wide. The material is so geared to the quilting obsession that most of the material is 45" wide, or even only 44". Frustration!

But Hancock Fabrics had a spectacular sale on their upholstery fabric so I got some 54" for three new tablecloths. One is a red checked material (I love red checked tablecloths), one is a blue pattern and one is a blue Toile.

“Toile” (pronounced twahl) means "cloth" in French. “Toile de Jouy,” or “toiles de Jouy,” are terms that refer to fabric that was first manufactured at a factory in Jouy-en-Josas, a village located southwest of Paris, near Versailles. Founded in 1760 by German-born Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf, a textile entrepreneur, the factory site was chosen primarily because of its proximity to the clear running water of the Bièvre River. Oberkampf knew that water is a crucial element in the dyeing process. Only the highest quality goods were used in the production of the factory's printed fabrics made of cotton, one reason for the enterprise’s success.

When I was in First Grade in Moorehead, MN, I had curtains in “red” (brown) Toile and have never forgotten them. I have wanted some material for something special but it’s so very, very expensive. But today it was on sale for (shock) $3.00 a yard! So I’m going to have a tablecloth of this lovely material!

I took the material home to the apartment and had a nap before going back to the hospital, then out to eat at the best restaurant in Rapid City ... The Colonial House (thanks, Mom!). It has been owned by the same family for 30 years - the father of the family who bought it was a co-worker and friend of Norm’s when he taught at Ellsworth AFB. We used to go to the Colonial House often. It is Mom and Dad’s favorite place as well.

Now I am home and ready for bed. I was going to go down to the pool to swim but I don’t have the energy - perhaps in the morning?

Mom is doing well and might be able to come home tomorrow ... the surgeon and the doctor (his partner in the heart clinic) will make that decision tomorrow.

So that’s my day today. There were storms on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings with a total of 3 ½ “ and hail. But today it got up to about 75º and lots of sunshine. It was a beautiful day - you have a beautiful day.

Quick update

2011-06-27T16:59:00.002-05:00

The pacemaker went in this morning and all is well. She has more color in her cheeks and hopefully will come home tomorrow. Time for a nap!

Change of plans

2011-06-26T20:41:00.000-05:00

I WAS going to post some pictures of the North Dakota flooding as we saw it. I WAS going to post pictures of my uncle's barn that is being transferred into a hunting lodge. I WAS going to finish my weaving and get it hemmed and get the wedding present sent.

However, Mom must have decided that she wanted to see me again. Thursday night Dad took her into the emergency room because her heart was acting up. She spent the night and the morning having discussions with doctors who felt that medication would smooth out her erratic heartbeat and she was cleared to go home at noon. She called Candy and I while we were shopping in Mankato and said she'd be home soon. Less than an hour later, Dad called and said that Mom's heart had stopped beating and there were a whole lot of people in her room.

Two hours later, we finally gave up waiting and called the nurses' station and got the news ... Mom's heart stopped for seven seconds (the nurse said it was the longest time that she had ever experienced!) and although Mom was "fine," they were discussing options.

Candy and I talked and decided that I would leave in the morning for the eight hour trip over here. Candy had already planned on coming over for a doctor's appointment and the folks' sixty-ninth wedding anniversary and would be here next Saturday. So I said I'd stay most of the week and we'd see what was going to happen.

I actually talked to Mom and she said they were going to put a pacemaker in her heart on Saturday morning (yesterday), so I headed over here as quickly as I could so that I'd be here when she woke up from the operation.

Dad called and said the surgery was on hold - there was some kind of emergency in the operating room. Then called later and said the surgery had been postponed until either today or tomorrow (Monday). So I headed straight to the hospital and spent time with Mom.

Actually, considering the condition she's in, she's in pretty good shape. I have spent most of yesterday afternoon and today over there with her. The surgery will be at seven, so Dad and I need to go over very early - and I WILL be there to wish her luck when she goes into the operating room!

Having a pacemaker put in is considered a piece of cake --- a two inch incision, a small box with a battery and wires connected to the heart. The surgeon said that if all went well, as he expected, she should be able to come home on Tuesday!

Then I will go home on Thursday and pick up on my plans that were interrupted. So, just to pay Mom back for my change of plans, here is a picture I took at the hospital today. She won't like it, but that's too bad, Mom!!!

She doesn't look like she needs surgery, does she?

Good luck, Mom! Safe surgery! I love you and I'm glad I'm here!

Reunion!

2011-06-21T11:12:00.001-05:00

This past weekend was a family reunion in North Dakota for the Saueressigs. It started as a cousin reunion for the farm kids but ended up to be bigger. The cousins that planned it are the children of MY cousins and I heard about it and was then invited. Then some of my West Coast cousins decided to come and so it was a “cousin reunion” on several different levels.

Mom and Dad came - Mom is now the matriarch as she is the oldest Saueressig remaining. Cousin Jackie claimed matriarch status once she had bumped Mom off but *I* claimed it as being the oldest daughter of the youngest child of the family (Mom is not only the only remaining “original” Saueressig, she was the youngest child).

The first level was Mom, as a child of Robert and Caroline Saueressig (founder of the Saueressig farm). By the way, “saueressig” is German and means “sour vinegar.”

Second level were the children of Mom’s siblings, those born on the farm and those born elsewhere but with heart-ties to the farm. This weekend it included Jake and Tom, who still farm there, and Jim, who lives in Fargo and their sister Jean Marie. The West Coast cousins are Karren, Jackie and Vici (pronounced “vicki”), sisters; Roberta from Alaska and me, from Minnesota. Spouses and significant others joined us.

Third level was the children of the children! These were children of Jake, Tom, Jim and Bob (who didn’t make it) - the farm boys.

And the fourth level was the grandchildren of the second level. Children galore were running and dancing and singing and having a scrumptious time.

Most met in Bismarck for a Friday night supper; we stayed there overnight, as did most of the third level. Saturday was an open house at the farm. There was also an open house for Jake and Marilyn’s new home; many friends from the area came to join us for food, music and dancing.

Saturday night Norm and I got a room at the motel in McClusky so that we didn’t have to travel all the way back to Bismarck.

Sunday was a quieter day - most of the third and fourth levels had headed home so there weren’t as many around. It was full of visiting and laughter. Roberta and Bud headed to Bismarck to fly back to Alaska in the morning; Norm and I headed home in the afternoon. Karren and Vici and spouses were in a motor home and were heading to Canada on Monday. Jackie will fly back to Portland on Wednesday or Thursday and the farm will go back to it’s “normal” activities.

I had not seen any of the West Coast cousins for about thirty years, although Karren and I have kept in touch for quite a while.

Karren has always been my favorite cousin; I tagged along with her from the time I could walk. Karren is four years older but has never acted like I was a bratty little kid to avoid. We lived in Portland twice in our wanderings so I was able to be with her quite a bit as I was little. She taught me how to roller skate and took me many places with her.

I don’t know if you can imagine the feelings but they were ( and still are) unbelievably awesomely exciting when Jackie told me that Karren would not come until she knew I was going to be there! Thank you, Karren, for feeling the same way that I do about you!

So we caught up with each other’s lives, all of us. I spent most of the weekend glued to Karren’s side but also spent a lot of time with the others. Jim and I had great talks ... he has always been my favorite farm cousin - we did a lot together (much of Uncle Hookey’s gray hair came from us).

I spent so much time talking that my throat was sore and I voluntarily asked for water to drink!

I am going to put the pictures on a slide show because there are so many. I took over one hundred thirty pictures and have picked out the best for your pleasure.

It was a beautiful weekend. It has rained off and on since we got home, giving us more than two inches of wet stuff in two days, but it is a beautiful day, none-the-less. You have a beautiful day.

A family weekend

2011-06-13T16:38:00.000-05:00

Last weekend (the 2nd through the 6th, actually) was filled with family.

On Thursday, the 2nd, Norm and I went to Sioux Falls for doctors’ appointments. We then met Mom and Dad for supper at the American Legion. Dad was flying to Washington DC on an Honors Flight – taking World War II heroes to DC to see the WWII monument and other special sights there. Mom drove over here from Sioux Falls on Friday morning and spent the day and night with me.

On Saturday morning, we went to Stitches where Candy, Cookie and Binni met us. Norm and I went to a wedding in the afternoon, so Mom went home with Candy.

Saturday night, Joy and girls came down to spend a few days - on Sunday they went to church with Norm then went over to Candy’s to see Mom and Dad. Candy had gone to Sioux Falls and picked Dad up, as he had gotten back from DC on Saturday night.

The time here was spent doing crafts, as well as other things. Bitty did some weaving but spent most of the time tatting (she loves that craft); Bubba wove on Harriet Dare for awhile then moved over to Matilda while I worked on Cherry. Joy spent time helping Norm around the place and did her knitting - socks for Christmas, I believe, is her “WIP” (Work in Progress).

Monday evening we went over to Candy’s for cake and ice cream and visiting - Candy’s birthday that day, you know! The girls enjoyed the short time they had with Binni before heading she and Cookie back home - Cookie had to work the next day so couldn’t stay longer.

Tuesday morning we all met at the local café for breakfast before Mom and Dad headed back to Rapid City and Joy and girls headed to the Cities.

A busy time, a fun time ... not all the family was here but it was enough to make it a good time.

The weather has been goofy, to say the least! Last week, the 7th and 8th, we had record highs - 103º on Wednesday. Then we had cold, rainy, overcast, windy weather - enough to be tempted to turn the heat on - or at least put socks on! This morning started out rainy and windy so I hung my clothes up inside on the laundry rack - but now it’s nice enough to have them outside (but I ain’t a gonna move them out ... they can dry inside, thank you very much!).

But it’s been a beautiful day - you have a beautiful day.

Weaving is such fun!

Tatting is fun, too!

Bitty, Binni and Bubba

Wayne is showing off his antique wheelchair

Norm

What to eat?

Four generations

June 10, 1920

2011-06-10T09:07:00.000-05:00

A day that will live in the hearts and minds of all the Charles Childs family. Today is Grace Anna Delaine Saueressig’s 91st birthday! She was born in McClusky, North Dakota in an apartment above a saloon called the Bloody Bucket, so we have always teased her that she was born IN a saloon.

My mother was the youngest surviving child of Robert and Caroline Saueressig. They had a farm 10 miles from McClusky where she lived in her early childhood. My grandfather died when she was around 14 years old and Nana struggled to keep food on the table for her children. By the time that Grandfather died, there were only two girls left in the household. The rest of them were married and independent.

The family farm was taken over by my two uncles, Hugo and Vernon, but Uncle Vern soon moved to other pastures and Uncle Hooky continued on. Right now is it owned by two of my four male cousins, John (Jake) and Tom. Bob is an artist and he has moved around with his art. Jim moved to Fargo and has been busy with his four boys. There is also my only girl cousin from this line, Jean Marie, who lives and works in Minneapolis.

Nana, Mom and her sister Roberta (Auntie Nute) moved to several different towns where Nana supported them by being a housekeeper.

Mom was able to go to college because of Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. During the depression the government made jobs for people and also allowed young adults to go to college by working their way through. Mom was one of those fortunate ones and received her two-year teachers’ degree.

She met my dad at college and wrote to him while he was in the (then) Army-Air Force, learning to fly so he could go overseas to the war. She taught in a one-room school house then went down to Georgia by train to meet Dad and marry him a day after he received his wings (which meant he was officially a pilot in the Army-Air Force).

Mom stayed home while Dad was in Europe during World War II; I was born in Florida before he left, then she moved up to Bismarck, North Dakota to wait for him to return.

Once the war was over, Mom followed Dad where ever the (now) Air Force sent him. He would fly to the new Air Force base and find a place to live; Mom would drive with the ever increasing brood of children, even if it was across the nation. The “brood” ended up to be 4 of us ... Me, as oldest, Charles, 2 years later, Cara, 4 years later, Candy, 7 years later. We even ended up in Japan, but she didn’t drive there! We went over in a troop ship, as it was during the Korean War. Dad worked on a base in Japan during this time so we spent 3 years there.

When it was close to retirement for Dad, we moved to Rapid City, South Dakota. Mom started substitute teaching, got her four-year degree in education and started teaching full time. She taught 4th grade until she retired.

Once she retired, she remained active in many different organizations, especially Eastern Star, where she has been an officer many different times, including state offices and representatives to other countries. She and Dad have continued traveling, often in a motor home until just recently.

This last week, she and Dad drove to Sioux Falls where he took an “Honor Flight” to Washington DC and she drove over here to spend the weekend with Candy and I. Then Dad came up and they just left on Tuesday (day after Candy’s birthday) to head home.

She is 91 years old and still going very well. She is slowing down but loves to go out to visit and to have friends come visit her. She has her own computer and reads my blog (hi, Mom!) as well as Candy’s. She also sends and receives e-mails from many friends across the nation and world.

Happy Birthday, Mom! You’ve had a good, long life! May the rest of your life be as good.

I think this is her high school picture

This was taken Tuesday, June 7, 2001

Wistful Wednesday

2011-06-09T16:45:00.001-05:00

I was going through a pile of papers that I had stored to look at "some day" .. and that day happened to be today. I found some pictures that I need to put in with all the other pictures but found this one:

This is of sister Cara - the back side says "Japan - 6 or 7." We went to Japan in 1953, when Cara was 5 so this evidently was a school picture.

I love her buck teeth ... they were such a cute part of her smile! She had braces when she was older and had them fixed but they were SO cute when she was little. She also has long hair and the traditional pony-tail with a ribbon. The bangs as well as the back hair are curled - she had straight thick hair (unlike my fine hair) which stayed beautiful all her life.

Note the big collar! I bet it didn't stay clean and fresh long ... she was a tom-boy like me and wasn't a "prissy" clean little girl!

What sparkly eyes ... bet she's thinking of some kind of mischief! The original is an 8x10 studio photograph.

D Day

2011-06-07T06:44:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was the 67th anniversary of D Day ... the day that the Allies stormed the beaches of France to fight the Germans.

I was negligent about mentioning this yesterday but was busy with granddaughters and sisters and parents.

But I thought of it all day and hope that others remembered, as well.

A male friend said, the other day "I don't think I could have gotten out of the ship and onto the beach. I would have been a total coward!"

No, Mark, I don't think you would have ... I have discussed this with my mother and Norm and we have agreed. Your buddies were your brothers and your closest friends. You would not have stayed behind to let them die without you there to try to protect them. Plus, it was almost mass hysteria when everyone poured onto the beaches ... everyone was "revved" up to go and the body would have taken over and left the brain behind. There were no cowards on the beaches and no-one stayed behind!

The men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom should never, NEVER be forgotten. Thank you all!

Happy Birthday, baby sister!

2011-06-06T18:05:00.000-05:00

Today is Candy’s birthday - she says she is celebrating her 23rd year. Well, I won’t argue with that but I KNOW it’s more!

Of course, I remember when she was born. That was back in the ‘dark ages’ when children weren’t allowed into the hospital to see anyone (dirty children!) so we stood outside the hospital and Mom waved at us through her window ... once they allowed her out of bed. That was also the time that mothers stayed in the hospital for extended days.

From the time she was born, she was my precious baby sister. I think we all felt that way! As she was the youngest, she often tagged along with us ‘big kids’ and we often let her. We traveled a lot because Dad was in the Air Force and we had to be friends because many times we had no one else to play with.

I have watched my sister grow from a tiny baby to a delightful wise woman and I enjoy every minute I spend with her.

I am blessed with the fact that she lives so close so we can do things together.

I am blessed by having Candy as a dear sister.

I love you, Candy!

Oops!

2011-06-02T21:33:00.000-05:00

In my Memorial Day post, I forgot my other brother-in-law, Wayne ... Candy's husband. I thought of him all day but in the process of searching for pictures, I over-looked writing about him.

Sorry, Wayne .... mea culpa!

I don't have a picture of him, but he was in the navy about the same time that Norm was in the Army.

Sorry!

"New" Friend

2011-06-01T08:36:00.000-05:00

Because I am a fiber fanatic as well as a weaver, I have stashes of fiber in my studio but am always looking for new yarns. My favorite yarn (at the moment) is cotton and the best place, in my little mind is Cotton Clouds. I have been purchasing all my cottons for about fifteen years from them.

They just recently started a blog that is enjoyable and informative. If you are interested in cotton yarns, you should pop over to either their website or their blog. Not only weavers need cotton - a lot of knitters and crotcheters use cotton.

Cotton is a natural fiber and is wonderful to work with. That and wool are about the only things I use ... I do not like the acrylic yarns much at all .. although there are SOME that are okay for knitting. Someday I'm going to try bamboo - and there are new fibers out there - corn, sugar, etc.

I have just finished one project - need to take pictures, now - and am starting another one on Cherry.

Matilda still has a lot of warp on so I'm working on several little extraneous things so that I can get her cleaned up and started on another project that is planned.

Poor Harriet Dare still has a Christmas warp on her and is a little bit ignored. But I need to finish that for THIS Christmas because I have another project, this time with wool, that I need to get done before winter.

It is a beautiful day with sunshine, no WIND and no RAIN .. we have had two inches of rain this week, alone. But it is promising to be dry for several days, now, so we will enjoy that. You have a beautiful day.

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T10:48:00.000-05:00

Today is the day set aside for remembering our soldiers fallen in battle, dying in hospitals, surviving but suffering throughout their lives.

Many have returned from wars but none have been the same afterwards.

In my family, in recent years, there have been:

My father:

My husband:

My brother-in-law:

My brother - rest in peace

Please take time out today to remember those that have given everything so that we can enjoy our lives in FREEDOM.

A Serendipitous Weekend!

2011-05-25T19:37:00.000-05:00

This last weekend was spent in Iowa, of all places! Jill and Eric have a friend who had rented a cabin on a lake near Forest Lake, Iowa, but couldn’t keep the “appointment,” so we were gifted with the opportunity to spend the weekend there.

The cabin is about three hours away (if you consider stopping for lunch and things) and was a very pleasant drive. We drove in rain for awhile but as the day went on the sun started shining and by the time we got to the cabin it was about 75º out and just slightly breezy.

The cabin is a small one-room one with a nice large handicap accessible bathroom, ramps up to and into the cabin. There is a bunk bed that sleeps two on each level and a futon couch that opens into a double bed. I forgot to take pictures of inside, sorry! There is no phone, no TV and no Internet service. Very quiet, indeed.

There is only the one cabin and only a few campsites, which are across the lake from the cabin. There were a few boats on the lake - but only electric motors are allowed. There were also a few parties of land fishermen.

But, for the most part, we were alone. I took my computer for some writing, a DVD for watching a movie (“Lady Jane”), my Kindle for reading and some knitting. Norm took his fishing gear and his Kindle. I read too much and knit not much at all. Did get some writing done but not as much as I should have done.

Peanut enjoyed wandering around (under supervision, of course) in the tall-ish grass and sniffing the good smells.

We grilled steaks one night and hamburgers and brats the other. We also ate out on the picnic table on the deck and enjoyed being outside.

We left here Saturday morning and got home Monday evening. A short amount of time gone, but because it was a distance away and totally away from any kind of work, it seemed longer. Norm did N*O*T*H*I*N*G but fish, read and cook the meats on the grill. It was good to see him so inactive for once.

We had a lot of birds around - the staff has bird feeders near the kitchen window. We had swallows that swooped so close to the window that I thought they were coming in. They had a nest above the window! We saw Goldfinches, Rosy-breasted Grosbeaks, Warblers, sparrows, crows and grackles. I heard a turkey - we had ducks and geese that flew around overhead. We saw two swans but they were too far away to take pictures of.

The staff had arranged to have the combination lock set to our password so we went directly to the cabin and didn’t see them until we checked out. I didn’t see or talk to anyone but Norm. However, Mr. Social Butterfly talked to several groups of fisher-persons. All-in-all, a wonderful weekend. Thank you to Jill and Eric, thank you to their friend, Ann, and thank you to the staff of Thorpe Park for having such a wonderful spot to rest and relax in!

When we got home, we found sunshine and trees blooming. All four apple trees and my lovely Flowering Almond were in bloom.

It’s a beautiful day today - you have a beautiful day!

Can you see Norm under the arched branch?

It was chilly in the morning so Norm needed to bundle up some

From the other side of the lake

Coming home to our blooming apple trees

And my Flowering Almond

Wistful Wednesday

2011-05-18T15:04:00.000-05:00

The news that I've heard about the South losing millions of dollars because they can't plant rice --- too much water in the fields --- makes me yearn for the "good old days" ... when it didn't seem to matter how much water was in the fields.

The Japanese did it... Not that I'm saying that we go back to hand planting, but still ... it has its appeal!

My Dad took this picture in the early 50s (1950s) in Southern Japan

I don’t need an aviary!

2011-05-17T19:39:00.000-05:00

For as long as I can remember, I have loved birds. When I was only about four or five, we lived in Texas for a while. A neighbor had an outdoor aviary with lovebirds in it. I would go over and watch for hours and wish I had one like it.

When I was in Junior High (Middle School for those not old enough to remember Junior High), I had a parakeet called Brenda after a friend of mine. I kept her in my room and was allowed to let her fly in the room when I was home, if I cleaned up after her. My mom would put her in the kitchen in her cage sometimes to entertain Candy when she wasn’t in Kindergarten. Brenda would sing like a canary (she was raised in a large pet store with canaries and other birds) when Mom would fry meat ... Brenda must have loved the sound of sizzling meat! I had to leave her behind when we moved but never forgot her.

When we lived in Australia, we lived next to a man who had an outdoor aviary (maybe I should move to a mild winter climate to get MY aviary?) with native Australian birds, including a twenty-five year old Cockatoo that he had raised from the nest. Norm (who does NOT like birds) let me get a lemon yellow parakeet for the girls but she would not tame down and was actually rather mean. I gave her to a young girl who felt she could tame her down. My neighbor said he could get a nestling Cockatoo for me; if I owned it for more than a few years, I could legally take it home with me to the States. But Norm (of course) said “No.”

When we were home from Australia, I was visiting my brother and his wife (no, not Donna, but Robbie, mother of my nephew, CJ). Robbie was working for a pet store and could get me finches and supplies at cost. I asked Norm if I could bring some home and he said “No” (of course).

But a few years later we were in Keystone - small town in the Black Hills - shopping for Finches. I had broken down his resistance! I made an aviary of sorts - a cage that was about four feet long, two feet wide and about three feet high. I had two pairs of finches and they actually laid eggs. But (with my great skill as a breeder) the eggs never hatched.

Gradually the finches died of old age and Norm wouldn’t let me get any more. (Sigh)

When we moved to Minnesota, Jill and I moved first; Joy and Norm stayed behind for a year for Joy to finish High School. While I was foot-loose and fancy-free, I purchased a Cockatiel .. a female that wasn’t supposed to be noisy. I loved to have her sit on my shoulder while we watched TV. She even ate popcorn from my lips! But Jill threw socks at her to keep her quiet and Norm objected when he moved in from South Dakota. So I traded my sweet bird for the harmony of the family and got a pair of canaries. They lasted for awhile the female died and Norm accidentally let the male out while feeding it and the cat got him. (Sigh)

But I have never stopped measuring any new home with my eye and figuring out where I could put a cage (large, of course) of finches. Always planning just in case Norm would ever weaken again and say “Yes” instead of “No.”

But now? I have admitted that I don’t need an aviary or inside birds. I have one just outside my window! I have been feeding the birds since we moved here and finally we are getting them to come in numbers!

Norm likes them, now, as long as they stay outside. And I have, at the last count, seven pairs of Goldfinches who are going mad in the sun and warmth (a FaceBook friend says that they are “twitterpated,” which describes them to a tea. I also have at least one Baltimore Oriole and two females which I think are Grosbeaks, but could also be Orioles. Then we have our woodpeckers, our Nuthatches, our Blackbirds, our Blue Jays (which are in hiding right now), our Sparrows and a pair of either Purple Finches or House Finches ... can’t tell for sure.

So, I’m enjoying the outdoor “aviary” and so is Norm. I love birds!

It’s a beautiful day - you have a beautiful day!

Is it Spring, yet?

2011-05-15T18:20:00.000-05:00

The birds seem to think so .. the flowers seem to think so, the animals seem to think so.

So why am I so hesitant to say so, myself?

It’s been a while since I’ve told all my thousands of fans just what I’ve been doing (besides hibernating).

Mother’s Day weekend, we went up to the Cities. Yes, dear ones, we actually left our little safe area and traveled up. It’s been since November that we’ve traveled up there!

We arrived on Friday afternoon and spent time with our favorite granddaughters. My, they are growing. I don’t want to say it out loud but they are taller than I am!

Saturday, Joy, Norm, the girls and I went to the Shepherd’s Harvest. This is an annual event that is held in St. Elmo; it celebrates fiber of all kinds. There are llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats. There is fiber from almost anything imaginable - camel, yak, buffalo, cotton, corn, sugar, rabbit. You name it — natural - it’s probably there, and for sale!

Plus finished items - felted, knit, crocheted, hooked. Mittens, hats, scarves, shawls, sweaters, purses and much, much more.

I only got a few pictures taken - too busy visiting to think about pictures.

We came home, exhausted - well, at least me!

Sunday, Mother’s Day, Norm and I went to see Jill and Eric. They live only about 25 minutes from Joy’s so it’s just a hop, skip and jump to get there. We spent the afternoon visiting and eating. Eric was cooking on their new charcoal grill; between trips to the grill, he worked on some of my computer problems.

We watched the new Star Trek movie – I don’t know how “new” it is, but it’s new to us, and we enjoyed it. Even Norm, a non-Trekie (yes, there are some out there), enjoyed it!

Back to Joy’s for overnight, then headed home on Monday, stopping at friend Jody’s to visit and see her German Shepherd puppies. At last count, she only had one left to sell, which is pretty good for such a large litter.

Then home! It was great to be home - I love traveling, even for a short time, but I love being home even more.

Tuesday and Wednesday were school tours in Windom. The museum pairs with the legal system for the third graders in the county. I portray a pioneer woman (wow, what a stretch for me!) and get the kids for about 10 minutes at a time to talk about life on the prairie back in the 1800s. One of the fun things is that the next “station” is the Victorian lady who is right across the isle from me. So the kids just turn around to look and listen to her. We both bring up the comparison, especially when she says she would not let me into her parlor!

When I came home from the museum on Tuesday, I had a surprise. Soot finally had her baby - a sweet little girl that we have named “Tinker.”

Thursday we went to Sioux Falls and purchased my greatest desire (well, for now). We got a wood burning stove for our living room! Norm and I will re-arrange the studio to put my large corner cupboard up there and then put the wood stove in a corner of the living room. This should help take the chill off on cool days and help keep the house warmer on cold days. It should also help with propane. I’m anticipating very little use of that next winter, what with the pellet stove in the basement and the wood stove in the living room.

So, now we are home and enjoying the lovely weather - well, at least today - we will have frost or freezing tomorrow morning but the weather people “promise” at least 4 days of sunshine and normal temperatures! Right now it is about 60º with a breeze and sunshine — SUNSHINE!!!

It’s a beautiful day today - you have a beautiful day!

My Brother

2011-05-13T15:33:00.000-05:00

Today is the anniversary of my brother's death. He left us a year ago.

It is hard to believe that he's been gone a year, yet it seems like forever since he left. There are times when I think: "I need to ask Charles this...." and remember.

Even though it's hard to have him gone, my heart bleeds for my "good-sister" Donna, who knew him and was married to him for such a short time. I had him for 64 years.

I have a few pictures of Charles to share .. the first two are of him in Japan - he was very active in sports as he was growing up.

The last one is of Charles and Donna; Candy and I met them in St. Joe just a few months before their wedding so that we could meet Donna and (hopefully) approve of her. And we did!

I also have millions of memories ...
Like the time he was playing in a garage and threw a metal pipe - which hit me on the forehead; I needed stitches for that, and I can still find my scar.
Like the time he was playing Tarzan and threw a spear - which hit Cara on the forehead; she needed stitches for that and she took that scar to her grave.
Like the time he decided to have a picnic with hot dogs in the woods - the firemen brought him home to Mom and told him that if he did it again, they'd put him in jail.
Like the time a friend stole some cigarettes from his dad; he and Charles talked a bunch of us into trying them. I tried three puffs and threw mine away (never smoked again!).

But then there was the time that I was in desperate financial stress; Charles stepped in and paid my bills for 9 months until I was able to get back on my feet.

Silly memories, wonderful memories.

Charles, you are loved and you will be missed.

Wistful Wednesday

2011-05-04T07:22:00.000-05:00

Hey! It's Wednesday! And I remembered!

This is a picture that was taken in Japan. My dad liked to stage pictures and he calls this one "Three Little Maids" (from the Mikado).

The walls behind us were of bamboo, cut in half and nailed to the walls. It lightened up the room; you can see that the original walls were almost black in their darkness.

The kimonos that we are wearing are actually our bathrobes. We had the traditional umbrellas made of paper and held open by bamboo sticks.

We had a great time in Japan. It was only when I was an adult and saw pictures that I realized how dirty the village was. We lived off-base for a while, then moved on-base (which was secured by guards at the gate and fences all around).

The adults were busy with their lives and as long as we didn't get caught by the base guards doing something wrong, we children pretty much had free reign.

Weaving Weekend XII

2011-05-02T15:25:00.000-05:00

This weekend was our annual trip to Aberdeen, SD for the fiber weekend. This, as the title shows, is the twelfth one and Candy and my third one. Aberdeen is about four hours or more from us, so having the weekend extended to two nights made it much nicer for us.

Since we have been going for three years, now, it’s “old home week” when we see our friends. A lot of people seem to think that you can only be friends if you communicate or see each other often. But fiber friends CAN be friends even if you only see them once a year.

Even though the weekend is called a “weaving weekend” it has morphed into mostly spinning but there are many knitters and many crocheters, as well. Everyone had a project or two (or three) to work on. There were also new people for me to meet and enjoy.

I took my loom, Cherry, along. I am now almost finished with my project and have another ready to start as soon as I finish this one. I also took a knitting class from Kathleen Taylor which was pretty enjoyable.

Candy took her wheel, Belle, and was spinning some green that Kelly had dyed and blended for her last year. She also brought four (I think) fleeces to be dyed and blended this year. However, she found, and fell in love with, some fleece that was already dyed and blended that Kelly had brought along. I gave Candy flak for purchasing some more when she complains she has too much. But as she spun it, I could see why - plus she figured out a reason for it, which I approve (but can’t talk about right now).

We were at a camp on Lake Richmond near Aberdeen. They have dorms for the students who come which we slept in and then used the large main building for gathering and eating (and eating and eating and EATING).

Friday night was a potluck; Saturday morning was an egg bake; noon was leftover potluck; Saturday night was a bring-in meal; Sunday morning we had fruit and cinimon rolls that Ann made on Saturday night. No lunch on Sunday - we packed up all food and took home anything that was left.

My “neighbor” on my left side was Annikki - a woman from Finland who is very skilled. We visited quite a bit about looms. She fell in love with Cherry and wanted me to take pictures for her to show her son (I think) to make one like it for her.

I also met a fellow weaver, Julie. She does recycled weaving - the only thing new is the rug warp she uses.

Then there is Kelly and Marie - daughter and mother who “run” the group. Marie has a store in Groton and Kelly works there - Kelly also has a wool processing business at her home. They both raise sheep, spin, knit, weave, etc. Marie fell in love with Cherry and has asked Norm to build her a loom just like her.

When I got home, I made arrangement to watch the news at ten to see if the world was still standing, only to find that it’s pretty much turned upside down right now because of the news that President Obama gave us. Norm and I went to bed with joyful hearts. I don’t like to “celebrate” someone’s death but knowing that one less monster is living in our world makes me pretty happy.

This morning I was watching my birds and planning on going out to re-fill the bird feeders that had blown empty or even blown off their stands; lo! and behold! There was a Brown Thrasher on the suet feeder. And another one came while I was watching! What a gift!

It’s a beautiful day, today, despite the wind and cold. You have a beautiful day.

Meet Annie and Louie

2011-04-23T13:11:00.000-05:00

Annie, on the left, Louie on the right

A lot of my FaceBook friends offered names; I got ideas, also, from Joy, Bitty and Bubba.

Some went from the sublime (Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth) to the ridiculous ( Marzy Doe and RamaLama), but all were accepted in honor.

The "disinterested party" who voted was Norm. He lifted his lip at some, shook his head at others and chose "Anna and Lewis," but changed them slightly.

The honor goes to Bubba, who offered these names; they are a couple that got married just a little while ago.

Thank all of you who offered names. Keep thinking --- hopefully Soot will have one or two lambs in the very near future.

They are still in the barn. Every time it THINKS about sun, it rains again; the weather is soggy, cold and windy today. Therefore, Soot is locked outside, as it's not raining and Lulu and babies are locked inside.

But it's a beautiful day, none-the-less and I wish you a beautiful Spring Day and a blessed Easter tomorrow.

New additions!

2011-04-20T19:44:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, Norm got in the mood to do some traveling. He gets “house bound” sometimes. He also was getting “antzie” to go visit the new Menards store in Marshall, where niece Cookie lives. So we packed Peanut up and headed northwest to Marshall for a day at Menards.

Any new store is busy and Menards was no exception. It was busy and noisy and crowded. We collected several things that Norm felt we needed. I couldn’t buy anything for myself because Joy told me she had gotten me my Mother’s Day present and not to buy anything. Well ..... food doesn’t count, so I got some Spice Drops on the way home. And I doubt if she’s gotten me any corner rosettes - Norm is working on trims in the living room and studio and I want rosettes in the corners of the doorways.

So we survived Menards, packed the car with all of Norm’s goodies (craft glue, wood glue, tools for working in the house, a lamp for the living room corner (no, I don’t think Joy got me THAT, either) and headed to Cookie’s to visit. It was Candy’s last day of work on Monday so she was looking forward to coming home. I gave Cookie a cast iron griddle (I’m gifting my family with cast iron - an inventory showed me that I would never use all the pans at one time and my dad gave me a “new” griddle that I like better).

We headed home and Norm went out to do chores; he came in saying “dress warm and come to the barn!”

Yup, Lulu had given birth to two very healthy lambs! A young ram-ling (male) and a young ewe-ling (female). Fortunately for all, Lulu is a good momma and all are doing well.

We are hoping that Soot will have her lambs, as well. She looks to be fattening up and looks to be “bagging up,” as well. So we will see.

As far as names, I have asked FaceBook friends as well as Joy, Bitty and Bubba to supply me with ideas. Norm has picked out two of the choices and I will think about those over night to see if they will fit.

It’s been raining, snowing, blowing and being not-very-nice. The lambs are in the barn with Lulu and will not go out until the ground dries up some and the sun comes out for more that 15 minutes at a time. But it’s a beautiful day, none-the-less. You have a beautiful day.

Little girl on the left, little boy (bigger than girl) on the right

Wistful Wednesday

2011-04-20T10:30:00.002-05:00

I actually remembered that today is Wednesday and I have 3 photos to share.

In 1952, our family moved to Japan for 3 years. My dad scanned in a lot of slides that he had taken while we were there.

The first is self-explanatory ..

Mom is holding Candy --- Cara is beside Candy. I am in the back with always-grinning Charles.

The second is of Candy with our live-in maid, Tsuru. She was an orphan who was hired by the military to be a maid. She lived with us for several years and looked on Candy as a daughter. Tsuru means "crane" in Japanese. You pronounce it "Suru" but stick the "T" on so you actually say "T-Suru."

Tusru's very first birthday party with her very first birthday cake.
Candy is in the back, holding a present; Cara is holding a paper-folded crane on a toothpick.

In Japan they made a bit thing of birthdays. I am wearing a new dress with rhinestones around the lace.
The cranes are Tsuru birds that were paper-folded by our own little crane, Tsuru.

He didn’t think I could do it!

2011-04-15T09:30:00.001-05:00

Norm didn’t want me to go to Rapid City by myself, but I said that if I was not pushed for time and could take it easy along the way, I COULD do it. I ended up traveling 1,000 miles in a week. It was tiring, but I DID it!

I told you about my week with the lambs. We are having a hiatus with them, right now — hopefully none need my assistance in the near future. All went back and Norm says that “Tiny” is doing very well ... bouncing around and enjoying life with a hay-covered floor, not a linoleum one.

And my week with the folks was very busy. I stopped on Wednesday night at the ranch to stay with Mavis and Darrell (Norm’s brother) then headed into town on Thursday. I saw friend Nancy on Thursday night - that visit lasted 4 hours.

Friday is a blur as to what I did or who I saw.

Saturday I went with Mom and Dad to listen to Peter Vodenka, who wrote a wonderful book - “Road to Freedom.” He is a Czech who escaped through the Iron Curtain in 1983 with his wife and 2 children. I strongly recommend that you visit his site and learn more about this courageous man and his family. They know what freedom is all about!

Then met friend Sally for a short coffee that lasted 3 hours (Mom called to see if I had gotten lost).

Sunday I went to sister-in-law Eileen’s to meet Peterson family for a nice visit and meal. Sunday night Mom and I went to see cousin Kathy.

Monday (whew) was restful. We went shopping to get Norm and Wayne their traditional boxes of cookies, went swimming in the pool that afternoon and had supper (Dad fixed it).

Got up early on Tuesday, packed and headed home. I planned on going through the Badlands but not the route I actually took. There are several loops through that end up in Wall. I was going to take the straight-through that ended up somewhere between Wall and Kadoka, but took a loop instead, adding an extra half hour onto the trip. But it was worth it — I hadn’t seen this loop for many a year and really enjoyed the scenery. I arrived home in time for supper, which I supplied ... I stopped in Worthington and got KFC for Norm and I.

So, now I’m home and catching up. Laundry on Wednesday, not Monday. It was too wet and windy out to put the clothes out, so I used my faithful laundry rack. Hopefully by next Monday it will be decent enough to put clothes outside.

It was a great trip! Fortunately for my sensitive mind, the Farm didn’t have any more stressed lambs to rescue. I was worried that some would be born while I wasn’t here to foster. However, the ewes decided to cooperate and the remaining pregnant ones waited until I got home. I think we have a little bit more time before these last ones start “popping” out lambs - hopefully strong and healthy with good mommas.

I promised some pictures of the ones I fostered, so here they are.

Velvet and Tiny - Tiny is almost a week older!

It was 75º on Tuesday and I used the air conditioner to keep cool. Yesterday I went to town to a “home-made” Antiques Roadshow which had our local antique dealer telling us what our antiques might be worth. It was 42º at the hottest, with a very strong wind and a lot of rain!

It’s windy and cool this morning but a beautiful day, none-the-less. We have a pair of Wood Ducks swimming in our “lake.” You have a beautiful day!

Babies, babies, babies!

2011-04-08T15:58:00.000-05:00

I apologize to my millions of fans for not being on for so long. I will try to catch you up with what’s been happening in my little world since the 25th of March.

On the 26th of March, Norm called from the Farm to tell me to get the boxes and the heating pad out - he was bringing some orphan lambs home. He brought home twin boys for me to foster and care for. The first one, “Feisty,” was strong and did well with my care. The second one, “Tiny,” was half the size of his brother. Norm said he thought the lamb was dead when he found him.

Feisty was able to get up and around and running (and eating toes, ankles, fingers, anything that was in nibbling range) so he went back to the Farm on Tuesday. Tiny had to be fed by syringe for several days and was unable to walk. He laid on the floor, looking like a frog swimming in water. In fact, he moved around by crawling, swimming. It took him almost a week before he could curl up like a normal lamb.

The day the Norm took Feisty home, he brought a black ewe lamb for me to care for. “Velvet” was unable to suck, as well. Even with a syringe, she could not swallow properly and it took over 24 hours to get her to be able to get more than an ounce down without swallowing it into her lungs (which gave her a “smoker’s cough”).

Therefore, I was up every 2 to 3 hours during the night and busy feeding and cleaning lambs, washing lamb towels and keeping things in order.

Peanut thought these precious young things were her babies and assisted me in washing their faces to get the formula off and keep their chins from caking up.

And while I had THESE babies, my own baby, Jill came for a weekend. I was able to visit with her and she was able to cuddle the lambs.

The week after, Joy and family came down so THEY were able to cuddle with the babies and I was able to cuddle my grandbabies.

Once Joy and family went home, I started making plans for heading to Rapid City to see my folks. I had promised my mom that I would try to visit in April and figured that if I didn’t make it this first week, I would have the month slip away.

Norm took Velvet back to the Farm once she was strong enough and the only baby left was Tiny. Norm promised to care for him and take him back to the farm only when he felt he was strong enough. Tiny was now able to walk, even though he was a little shaking on his pins and was eating quite strongly. He even slept the entire night through, 3 nights in a row before Norm took him home yesterday (Thursday the 7th).

So on Wednesday, I headed west. I stopped at Norm’s brother’s place, the home ranch that the Peterson clan was raised on; I spent the night with Mavis and Darrell and wandered around while Mavis fed her cats.

Then headed here yesterday (again, Thursday) to the folk’s apartment. I have already visited with friend Nancy and hope to get in touch with friend Sally soon. Mom and I are going to go to see my cousin, Kathy, on Sunday.

Sunday afternoon, Norm’s sister, Eileen, is having lunch with some of the Petersons so that I can see them.

I had planned on heading home on Monday but Mom has talked me into staying another day and heading home on Tuesday.

It’s around 500 miles from our house to their house and it’s a long trip. However, I took my time, stopped often and rested (and ate) so I took only about 1 ½ hours longer to get here on Wednesday. I hope to have as good a trip home as I had here.

The weather is really nice -about 60º right now - with sunshine and little wind. Spring IS coming … the trees are starting to bud out and some of the tulips and daffodil’s are starting to creep up.

I don’t have pictures with me of the lambs or any of my family, as I didn’t bring my computer, but I do have them at home. I will post the pictures after I get home so you can enjoy the pretty little lambs and my pretty little family.

It’s a beautiful day out today …. You have a beautiful day!

Three birthdays today

2011-03-25T22:23:00.001-05:00

Yes, I know I’m running a little late but today has been busy, and then to top it all off, Norm called and said to get the heating pads and boxes ready - he was bringing home twin lambs that momma rejected. I’ll show pictures of that, later.

But back to birthdays ....Nana was born on this day in 1883, in Norway. At a young age ... 8 or 9 or 10 (we’re not exactly sure when), she came to America with a foster mother and adapted to this country. Nana traveled on nearly every mode of transportation there was: potato wagon, ship, train, covered wagon, horse-back, buggy, car, plane, jet, motorcycle, boat. Not a space ship, though, although she did watch the landing on the moon! Nana was of the generation who went from the beginning of automobiles to space travel! She died at the age of 101; she was moved to a nursing home just a few months before she died. Until then she lived in a senior citizen’s home for the last 11 years of her life.

A piece of table cloth that Nana brought from Norway back in the 1890s

Nana's 80th birthday

Norm’s niece, Glenda, was born on Nana’s birthday, but I won’t say what year. Until she reaches her 80s or 90s, she might not be willing to say how old she is! Norm’s brother and wife live (still) on a ranch in western South Dakota about an hour from the closest hospital and Glenda was their first child. Knowing Mavis was due in March, the (then) snowiest month of the year, many friends and relatives wanted her to move into town that month for safety sake. Mavis wasn’t worried - she told everyone that Darrell had delivered calves all his life so if they got stuck, he could deliver their child! (Horrified everyone who took her seriously!) She was born back in the days when only the husband and parents could visit the mother and child. But I snuck up and had planned on saying I was a sister (close enough) to see Glenda in the nursery and found Mavis and Darrell walking in the hall; we were able to visit briefly before I went out, undiscovered!

Glenda and brother Wade

Brook and Nana on Nana's 95th birthday

Brook, Joy and Jill

My niece was also born on Nana’s birthday, in between Joy and Jill; they have been a trio ever since we came back from Australia. Sister Candy had decided that the baby WOULD be a girl and WOULD be born on Nana’s birthday. She was named after Nana - Cotelena Brook - Cotelena is an off-shoot of Caroline which was Nana’s name, although most people called her Lena.

Nana had 9 surviving children and many, many grand children and many great-grand children. She always said that she couldn’t afford to have favorites, but Brook was definitely her favorite! And no-one blamed her. After all, having someone born on your birthday makes that someone pretty special!

So, happy birthday to three special people. I love all of you!

“Uncle!”

2011-03-23T14:09:00.001-05:00

I tell you, children, this winter / spring in Minnesota is enough to make grown men (and women) weep!

I have talked about the excess amount of snow and cold and wind and snow and cold and wind, haven’t I? And that’s just in the winter.

Spring was coming and things looked like it was on the up-swing. The snow was melting, the temperatures were staying above zero (well, for the most part!).

But I tell you, again! This first week of Spring is something else! My favorite weather-forecaster on TV last night cried “Uncle!” She stood in the back yard (the TV station has a “backyard” that the forecaster go to so that we can see what the weather is like there) with a warm hat, mittens and boots; she was talking while sleet was hitting her hat and body and telling us that the flooding waw getting worse in many places and starting to get bad in others. Since Sunday (technically the first day of Spring), we have had: thunder and lightning, rain, snow, sleet, hail, wind and just all kinds of nasty weather, all over the state.

We woke up this morning with snow - up north it’s supposed to get up to a foot of new snow. Our sump pump has been going for a month and it’s “sped up” to going every ten minutes; when it is not running, I can hear the water seeping (rushing) from the furnace room floor into the sump pump well and then the pump starts up again and pumps the water out to the back yard, where we HOPE it is flowing away from the house!

We also woke up this morning to no running water (well, in the pipes, that is). Norm has been suffering from a bad cold and cough for over a week but had to bundle up and go out to check out the problem. Well ....... the problem was in the well house - water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink! The sump pump in the well house had died and because there was a drift of enormous proportions over the roof / door of the house, Norm had not gone down to check. And with the melting, the snow melt had filled the entire area. Norm is worried that the electrical equipment, normally well out of seeping water, is damaged. So he put in a replacement sump pump which is pumping the well house sort of dry. And we have a man coming this afternoon, hopefully, to repair or replace things.

Fortunately for us, we have drinking water - there was about a gallon of frozen water in the freezers that we take with us to keep coolers cold and use for drinking on trips. We also have the water running into the well down in the basement so Norm brought some up for the toilet (a necessary evil that is not normally mentioned, but still .......). And he will bring some good clean water from the Farm when he comes home this afternoon when the well-man comes. And I don’t have to do dishes today!!!! A good thing, right? Except I have a big pot that I cooked a chicken over night and need to wash — maybe I’ll bring up some well water from the basement to at least rinse the pot with soapy water!

It’s been a heck of a winter / spring and it doesn’t sound like it’s going to get much better, soon. So, along with my TV forecaster, I will say! “Uncle! Uncle!” And hope that you have a beautiful day and don’t have to say “Uncle!”

At least I got to see the "super moon" this weekend!

PS ..as of 4:00, we have WATER! Well-man came and fixed the problem. Thanks be to the good God!

New Ulm Weekend

2011-03-16T16:48:00.000-05:00

I usually call this the “Great Minnesota Sleep-Over” but not this year. The downstairs sleepers have dropped from 15 or 20 to only 6 this year (us included). The upstairs used to have the isles as well as under the tables filled with sleeping bodies. I didn’t go up, this year, but friend Molly says that there were no bodies in the isles and less than half the ones under the tables.

Can it be that everyone is getting old? Preferring to pay for motel beds instead of saving money and sleeping in Turner Hall? Well, we were some of the few, the brave, the TOUGH and we slept there!

We arrived early Friday afternoon and carried all of our things down the stairs to the basement area (there is remodeling going on and NEXT year there will be an elevator!). We take along our tools of the trade: Norm has a shave horse, two plastic boxes of spoons and spatulas, knives, draw knives, mallet, etc. I have my big rocking chair (when there’s room, I take the big one, not the little one), two plastic boxes with yarns for sale, tablecloths, eating plates and cups and utensils, spinning and weaving tools, my loom (and table), my spinning wheel and a basket of wool for spinning. We also have to bring sleeping things. This year we brought our new double bed mattress and put it on the floor. And I was able to get down AND up from the floor with no help from Norm, just a chair to help me pull myself up! Good news from the tricky knee department! Plus our sheets and blankets and pillows.

Then there is Peanut’s stuff . Not much, but her food and treats, her kennel and her special blanket for sleeping on the bed.

Of course food stuffs! The group has a potluck on Friday night, so I brought some bread for that. Our special “family” group has a potluck on Saturday night, so I brought a crock-pot of Swedish Meatballs and some breadsticks. We also brought the cooler with pop, fruit and lunch things.

A lot of stuff? Yes, but when you are locked in a building for two solid days and are demonstrating and selling, you need these things. It’s not as much as the Leather-Man brings — he has four tables and several boxes of leather and skins that have to be carried in and then out .... it takes him much longer to set up and tear down than it takes us! And everyone else has the same - if you don’t sleep in, you don’t need the sleeping stuff, but you still need the tools of your trade and things for sale.

So, we’re set up - we went up to get our potluck food and visit with others for awhile. Then back downstairs to finish setting up and visiting with our downstairs friends as they come in and set up. We also visited with the General Manager, Virginia ... she enjoys visiting with Peanut, as do all of our friends. There are many who know our faces but not our names (same goes for us) but everyone remembers Peanut’s name and everyone comes to talk to her.

Light’s out! Those who go to the motel say goodnight and the rest of us hit the sack.

At about 8:00 in the morning, the lights are turned on. If you are awake before then, you are quiet for those who want to sleep late. By 8:00, though, everyone is up and organizing for the day. There are coffee and rolls upstairs in the bar; Norm goes to get his coffee and our rolls while I take Peanut outside and heat up water for tea (I have a small hot-pot for tea water hidden in the area that we sleep). Guests start coming to buy and visit.

We have several friends who come to shop and visit; they often sit at our stations with us so that we can catch up with the past year. We also have many friends who are selling / demonstrating who come to visit, too. I have two chairs next to my spinning wheel so that guests who are tired or want to watch and ask questions can sit for a spell. The chairs are also convenient for friends to sit and visit.

And so the day passes ... I spin and weave, Norm works on spoons or spatulas and we visit, talk and demonstrate. Closing is at 5:00 and we start setting up for the potluck supper. There are others, upstairs, who come down to join us; we eat and visit and have a great time. Then clean up and reset the area for the next day and fall into bed.

Peanut, during most of this time, spends the day in her kennel. She feels that it’s a safe place from noise and strangers. I cover her kennel with a tablecloth so that it’s hidden from view but I can watch it to see if she starts moving around, wanting to come out. She also spends a bit of time on the bed, where we peek at her once in a while. She chooses where she wants to be and is content, as long as the evenings are spent with Norm and I and she can sleep with us in bed at night.

Sunday is more of the same but a shorter day. We had daylight savings time happen over night so we were up earlier, but we close at 3:00, so we didn’t have as much of a day before tearing down.

New Ulm is only an hour from our house, so the trip is not as long as when we go to other weekend events. And it’s an indoor event so we don’t have to set up the tent. This is the first event of the year so everyone is glad to see friends and get started on the new season.

It was a fun time, seeing old friends, getting to know new friends better and enjoying teaching guests about our crafts. I had one little 11-year-old girl spend almost an hour, total, sitting with me; she is going to save up money and buy a wheel and a loom and is going to hone her knitting skills. I gave her grandmother a card for our good friend Detta who has a store close to where they live, hoping that the parents and grandparents will see that this girl continues her love of fiber that she discovered while visiting with me.

Peanut and Norm, still in bed

Leatherman

Beth, from MacGregor Historic Games

That's my rocking chair in the background and my work area

Upstairs area

Friends Molly and Ole'

Norm always has a spoon in his hand

I am wearing a shawl that Jody made for me

It's a beautiful day that is masquerading for Spring. You have a beautiful day!

Happy Birthday, Norm!

2011-03-01T08:27:00.000-06:00

Today is Norm's 67th birthday! MY, he's old, isn't he? He's a lot older than he would be if he was born a few hours earlier.

You, see, he COULD have been a leap-year baby. Legend has it that his mother held on as long as she could so that she could make it past midnight on February 29th. But she made it, he made it and he was born just a little while past midnight on March 1st!

I remember a boy in high school that was a leap-year baby and we had a lot of fun on his birthday. Who knows? If Norm HAD been a leap-year baby, I might have met him in high school. We graduated together but didn't meet until I was in college and he was out of the Army. The class was too big to know everyone. (We had e the biggest class and were the reason they built a new high school and split the school.)

I grabbed a couple of pictures from Norm's sister, Eileen (thanks, E!) to share with you.

This one was taken when he was about 6

This is when he was about 8, with his younger brother, Roger, and his Dad.

Norm says he remembers that white horse fondly!

Norm might have been close to 15 here!

And here is the birthday boy, holding my Kindle

(His will be here tomorrow!)

Ah! The Beauty of It

2011-02-26T09:45:00.000-06:00

Say what you will, snow IS beautiful! Yes! There is too much. Yes! We are tired of it. But it’s still beautiful!

As of right now (9:30 am on Saturday), we have a fresh inch of snow but NO WIND (“Yet,” she says as she holds her breath, knowing the wind WILL come!). And it is beautiful. Almost Christmas Card perfect.

As others have said on their blogs, I know you are tired of snow pictures - but I just had to get these this morning. I love my birds and it is nice to see that despite the cold (-3º) that they are taking advantage of the feeders. I have Goldfinches (Norm calls them “Olivefinches” in the winter) and Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Blue Jays — don’t know why others haven’t come - and I’m surprised that the Sparrows and Juncos have disappeared for most of the winter. Norm goes out with feed on nasty days - I go out when I can hopefully walk to the feeders - to keep them coming.

So, I have some bird pictures to share and also the snow pictures to share. I have been told that SOMEDAY the Spring will come and we will once again see green grass and be warm. But until then, it IS beautiful. You have a beautiful day.

Downy Woodpecker on the suet feeder

I love my Goldfinches

Snow coming down

And it KEEPS on coming down!

George Washington

2011-02-22T18:29:00.000-06:00

Today is George Washington's birthday. I don't think I need to tell any of you anything about him. He was the first president of our country; he was the leader of the Continental Army; he was a devoted husband; he loved farming better than politics or the Army.

George Washington was offered the kingship of the country. Many of our founding fathers thought we should have a king; George refused, saying he'd rather go home to his farm than be king of the world. He was the one who set the "four year" standard of being president by resigning at the end of his second term. Until Franklin Roosevelt, everyone followed his standard.

"First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen." Happy Birthday, George!

The day after

2011-02-22T12:07:00.000-06:00

We made it through this storm (and are holding our breaths for the next one)! It is hard to tell how much snow we have because we have very few places that the snow doesn’t blow and make drifts. But Norm figures somewhere between 10" and 14" of that white stuff.

We had over 36 hours of snowing - either hard stuff coming down fast (and sometimes sleet) and slow, flaky stuff coming down slowly.

But there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. As I have said before, Mother Earth usually gives us some beautiful days after the storms and this was no exception. We woke up to +2º, no wind and sunshine (yes, SUNSHINE!).

Because of the cold and no wind, we had frost - and it’s beautiful (if’n you don’t have to be out in it). So I snapped some pictures to share with you.

Norm is amazed at the depth of some of the new drifts and the hardness of them. Some of them are like trying to shovel or blow cement.

The weather people in the Cities are saying that this is the 10th snowiest winter and we have “only” 25" left to make it to the snowiest. This last storm was February’s snowiest. We have at least a month left of possible snow, if not more. Sigh .....

So, now we have sun and warm-ish weather for awhile - but they are saying snow “showers” for the weekend - and who knows what that will turn out to be.

I am watching the shadows fall on the bright snow, am weaving and reading my new Kindle (yup, I got one - yup, I love it!) and starting some hamburger buns for supper. I finished our taxes, thanks to H&R Block on-line and niece Cookie’s assistance. Peanut is sleeping in the sun and Norm’s resting after blowing snow this morning.

So all’s right in my beautiful world; you have a beautiful day.