Happenings in our neck of the woods

I have NO idea where this past month has gone, it was gone that fast.

A few notables, Rowan was in the 4-H play and, although he didn't have a speaking part, he sure enjoyed it. The people in charge weren't well prepared however. It rained on the 1st 2 performances and was wicked cold. The 3rd performance, the one I attended, was a matinee. It. Was. COLD - and windy. But to see his little face on stage warmed my heart so much it was worth it. Plus, the play was very cute. They did Kid Frankenstein (I think that was the name of it). Rowan was one of the students in the class.

He's the one in the Teenage mutant ninja turtle sweatshirt. ❤

Then, of course, there was Halloween...

I forgot to get a "line up" picture but here they are nonetheless. 👍

And, last but not least - November Fun Socks - yippee!

We have been getting snow here all weekend. I'd say a good couple inches and it's been windy and cold. 17 degrees as I type.

Card night has been hit and miss - This week we tied.

South Dakota Visitors, etc.

Dale, Crystal, and grandpuppy Tucker arrived this evening for a visit. They will be here for 4 days! Things around here have been hectic and we're looking to spend some quality time with them. Tomorrow Crystal plans to take Dale to see where she attended college since she hasn't been back to that town for quite a few years. Friday she and I are planning a road trip to do some shopping.

School is underway for the grandkiddo's. They are doing an online schooling this year called Connections Academy - so far so good. Ang has been homeschooling the little boys in the previous few years but this way she can still keep a watchful eye. Rowan has joined Milo with Taekwondo this year as well.

I haven't posted in quite awhile. I have been kind of "out there". I finally was able to kick the smoking habit on August 18th after more years than I care to admit. I did choose the e-cigarette method and it seems like it was a good choice for me. I've tried almost every other method to no avail but I'm confident that this will be the ticket. Finger's crossed!

Oh, Milo!

While getting ready to go in for Franko's Birthday party on Sunday I got a text from Ang - from the E.R. (heart sink), Milo had hurt his hand and she thought it could be broken. It was.

He let his temper get the better of him and decided to punch the floor. Well, it punched back in the form of a "Boxer's Fracture". I don't think he'll be doing that again anytime soon. He was slated to come out to our place for a little vaca before school started. Well, he is here but his activities have been sharply impacted. Today he got the cast on and that's for 4 weeks. It may impact the first couple weeks of Taekwondo but the Doc thinks it will heal up just fine.

What a face.

Anyway, Franko's birthday was fun. He got mostly hunting stuff since that's what his current interest is. Well, besides growing his hair out. He turned 14 this year.

Rowan Time

Last night was Rowan's FIRST overnighter all by himself. No brother. Just him.

We had a grand old time.

There was card playing - he really likes UNO (Grampa won that one)

There was game time after bath time in the big bathtub (a ritual with the boys)

And morning hide and seek after his breakfast favorite - Waffles (funfetti one's this time).

We treasure these overnighters and, I believe, they do too.

Sunny update - notice the tall kid in the back.

P.S. We won last week - Huzzah!

Fun Times

We had an impromptu overnighter with the boys this past weekend. They are so much fun. We all get worn out!

We had movie time - Despicable Me was playing at the Sprucehaven Theater. Popcorn was flowing freely!

We had bath time too. They get a kick out of the jacuzzi tub - we don't use the jets but we turn them on so they can see. They make plenty of turmoil as is. There are rubby duckies that they like to load with water and squirt ALL OVER the place. It's a highlight for them at every stay over.

They love games so usually there's a game of tic tac toe, Go fish, or whatever. This day it was UNO.

They bring SO much life into the house!

P.S. They won

SeussOdyssey: The Production

Hubby and I went to the Theater tonight to see the 4-H Play, SeussOdyssey, held at a local stage. It was pretty funny. The kids did an awesome job. Our Milo was Reginald in the play and he did pretty well. Tonight was dress rehearsal so family could come and watch and let the public enjoy it for the next 4 performances.

The stage pre-performance. It's a cute little theater and holds about 100 people. We appreciated the fact that it was relatively empty. Just parents, grandparents, and relatives of the cast and crew.

Angie made the masks for the character Scylla - she did an awesome job! She made several costumes for this play so she's been crazy busy the last couple months between costume making and rehearsals, etc.

Milo as Reginald.

It was a good time and I hope a good experience for all of them even WITH all the crazy.

Christmastime on the brain

It's hard for me to think about much else this time of year. Christmas is my favorite holiday - bar none! I love all of it, Christmas Carols, Christmas programs, Choirs, Giving, sharing, family. Especially family. We have a Christmas Eve party with friends and family and that way the little ones can be home Christmas morning for their own family time.

I'm an online shopper, have been for many years. Shopping is done and all that's left is the wrapping. I'll admit, the wrapping isn't in my top 10 list but, hey, it has to be done.

This past weekend was the little boys Christmas program at church. It was preceded by a concert of the bell choir. That was a treat. The boys did a good job. Rowan had a hard time but he's only 4. He actually hung in there pretty good for a little guy. Milo is becoming a ham :)

It was a fun outing.

Even managed to get the tree decorated. I couldn't find the tree skirt I had planned on but with all the sorting I've misplaced a few things. This one is one I made for Mom several years ago and it works out fine.

P.S. They won

All Hallows Eve

"A grandmother pretends she doesn't know who you are on Halloween"
 = Erma Bombeck


The candy is all bagged up and ready for our little goblins. We don't get trick or treaters out here in the boonies but the Grandkids need to have their sweeties. And their Mom and Dad get some too :)

We have eye doctor appointments this afternoon. I am SO ready to get some glasses that just do the job. I have been wearing reading glasses on and off for 15 years now and it's getting to where it's mostly on but I know it's hurting my eyes too. A couple three years ago I did get some but they were trifocals and the only thing they are good for is distance vision. I hope this time it's a better fix.

Hope today the weather is nicer for the kids so they don't have to cover up their costumes with winter gear! It's not as windy so far so that would even help.

More pictures of the kiddo's to follow....

Milo and Rowan

Grandkids and friends

P.S. They won.

First Snow

The news has been talking all week about the Winter storm we were to have starting Thursday through 7 am today. Well, we got a bit of snow and a lot of wind and cold but, luckily, it was not as bad as expected. We hunkered down and rode it out. The wind is still blowing and it's still cold but we've retained power through it (so far) and kept warm and well fed.

The past couple of days everyone (myself included) ran around picking up necessities, gassing up the car, getting out the shovels, etc., so that we were all set. Minnesotan's have the drill down!

This is what things looked like on the Sprucehaven this morning.

Even Coop is under impressed with it all. He isn't a fan of wind OR cold.

Yesterday I took Milo his new red scarf I knitted for him, he seemed to like it. It was around his neck, around his waist, tied to a stick as a flag, and tried on the kitty. It seemed to pass all the tests.

Tonight is Card Night so last night I tried a new cookie recipe for us - I pretty much used the recipe as a guide only. It called for milk, which I haven't seen in a recipe before and I used orange juice instead since it was for cranberry cookies (it called for craisins, which I did use). They turned out pretty good and it's nice to try something new.

TGIF

This past week I've had some kind of allergy thing going on and every day it seems to be worse. Today was pretty miserable, I think it has to do with all the wind we're having blowing around who knows what. My ears have this buzzing sound that drives me batty.

I got home from work early today and then got a call from Ang - Mike was in the E.R. again. It's not like it hasn't happened before but it's usually something in his eye, a bad cut at work, etc. but she said he thinks he's having a heart attack and wondered if I was still in town to come sit with the boys so she could run up there. I drove in immediately and got her on her way. The boys and I chatted for awhile about Halloween costumes and Milo read part of a story. We even dressed up Grandpuppy Hugo, we didn't mention that to Ang, and he was a good sport. Then we went outside. Other than the ridiculous wind it was a beautiful day, 72 degrees above the donut! At the end of October that's a big deal.

Hugo and Rowan

Luckily, Mike was alright. His blood pressure was pretty high but they thought he may have pulled a chest muscle at work. He had been lifting heavy barrels. He will need to make an appointment to be checked out by his regular doc to see if he should be on meds for that.

I found an interesting knit stitch on Pinterest and decided to try it on a scarf. I like it and it's EASY, just an 8 row repeat. Red is Milo's favorite color so I guess it will be for him, I'll dig out some green yarn later and make one for Rowan.

{Cast on multiples of 4. Knit all right side (odd) rows. Row 2 and 4: p1k3 across. Row 6 and 8: k2, *p1k3 across to end, end with p1k1. Repeat 8 rows for pattern.}

P.S. We won!

Along came a spider

“If you don't know where you're going, any road'll take you there”
― George Harrison

Yesterday we had a visitor on the back patio. I tried to put it in a jar but it hopped out so I just covered it so Frank could see it when he got off the phone. I had to go to work so I told him to kill it!

YUK! I'm not afraid of spiders but this one was huge and all I could think of was I didn't want it getting in the house and crawling on me while I was sleeping.

He opted to release it, rationalizing that it would kill a lot of bugs. So, a second chance he got.

I went over and saw Angie and the boys the other day. They were busy outside catching asian beetles. Luckily we haven't had a bumper crop of those this year, at least so far.

It's much cooler today so I am in Fall cleaning mode. We will probably start the wood stove today 😀

P.S. We won - I think they are starting to get agitated with all the "girl power"

Taekwondo Take 2

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” 
― Albert Einstein

Tomorrow is Milo's first "class" in Taekwondo. He had registration and some demonstration on Monday and he called to tell me how excited he was. Angie said he was listening very intently to the instructors. I hope he can maintain that demeanor. Last time we tried was 2 years ago but he had too much trouble sitting still, listening, and just behaving at 5. He's 7 now and he thinks he can do it and so do I.

We've had a lot of heat here the past few days but, supposedly, it's going to start cooling back down now to the 60's. Just the way I like it. We've been watching the trees change color so we'll be taking a road trip this weekend or next to see the "Fall Colors". One of our favorite things to do this time of year.

Crystal called last night and is heading to the hills for a fall campout with the girls. It's been even hotter there so hopefully it will be nice for them. Not sure exactly where the "hills" are but somewhere in South Dakota. 😎

Overnighter with the boys

This past Saturday we picked up the boys after picking up our CSA box. Weather was pretty brisk so we did inside activities. There's always tic tac toe, wii games, drawing, and of course baking. It is so fun to see them and an everyday activity has it's own special spin on it when there are little people involved.

While Rowan played tic tac toe with Grampa Milo and I made a batch of M&M cookies. We packed up most of what was left to take to Mom and Dad.

Next up was Super Mario, Rowan prefers to be Luigi simply because he's green (his favorite color) and Milo needs to be Mario who's red (his favorite color). There was the usual bickering that goes on between siblings but they managed to keep it to a dull roar :)

Sunday morning Grampa showed Milo how to make omelettes and of course we had the standby of Blueberry pancakes which Milo decided should be now called "Grannycakes", what a monkey!

Kids always bring a lot of life into the house but by Sunday, mid morning Gramps and I were pretty worn out - time to load up and get them back to Mom and Dads. Until next time...

P.S. We switched partners - Guys vs Gals, WE WON!

Will the rain come?

Been upper 60's the past couple days but I'm nervous about fire danger. We've had a lot of wind and no moisture to speak of for a while. So what does the neighbor do? Burns off his field, luckily it didn't go anywhere and the wind calmed down. I won't lie - it always scares me when people do "controlled burns"

Angie and I are planning a girls getaway in June. We decided on Brainerd since it's going to just be an overnighter. The room is booked and now it's just to decide what we want to do while we're there. When I went to Sioux Falls with Crystal in September we had almost 3 days and only had a couple things planned to do but we stayed busy and I bet the same will happen here. We're excited!

Ang and the boys were out to see us yesterday while Mike took Abbie to the Father/daughter dance at the school. She said they had Grand March and the whole shebang. I haven't seen too many pics yet but it sounded great.

P.S. They won

We've gone to the dogs

Elke is settling in nicely. Last night when Jim and Eileen came to play cards she barked at him. Not sure what that was about but she did it when he left too. Maybe she was saying, since he brought her here, "NO, I'm not leaving here yet!" - who knows.

The crazy weather continues and the wind never stops. Day before yesterday while I was out getting wood into the stove it was sprinkling and quickly turned to hail. Crazy!

Yesterday Grace had her surgery to have her ear tubes removed. For whatever reason they didn't just fall out as normal and were causing her problems. She came through it fine and hopefully will heal up quickly.

Tomorrow is Abbie's 11th Birthday party. These kids are growing up so fast it makes your head spin. She has mostly brothers and they usually get a remote controlled something or other so I thought it was high time she got one - a little red corvette, hope she likes it.

P.S. They won...

Milo's 7

Today was Mister Milo's 7th Birthday - time flies. He was in a good mood :) We had a good time at the party and the kids seemed to too. We came home after and watched some T.V. and that's about it, lazy Saturday.

He decided on a Safari theme this year.

P.S. They won

Belated Birthday

Sunday was Rowan's Birthday Party. His actual Birthday was on the 22nd but we waited for the weekend that all the kids could be there.I can't believe he's 4 already! He's into caterpillars and green is his favorite color so green caterpillars with red heads were everywhere. Angie made cupcakes with green frosting and arranged them into a big caterpillar with, of course, a red head - really cute.

Their driveway/yard is just as ours - an ice skating rink. So far, knock on wood, we haven't fallen. I came close yesterday while we were out getting the woodstove filled but I recovered. Weather is still pretty nice but has cooled off some now and is supposed to be quite chilly the next few days but after we survived the cold blast earlier this should be a walk in the park!

The big cleanup is still in full swing. The basement is the current task. It's musty down there so everything porous is ruined. Pictures and papers are stuck together so there's no saving them but even so we've found some pretty good memories. We've so far hauled 8 big bags of garbage out and did some paper burning yesterday. It will be so  nice when it's all done...

Foggy

Foggy again this morning. Can't get any sun throughout the day to melt what is now a very icy driveway. The temps are great, just above freezing.

Thursday the 45th President of the United States of America was sworn in and got right to work on some key issues. There are alot of protesters and riots. Why do they think that will make a difference? Whether you were for or against Donald Trump is irrelevant at this point. I was for him, I believe we need to start thinking about America and American's instead of getting involved overseas. I also would like to see American companies do business IN America or be treated the same as other countries on import. That's my take on the situation.

Today is grandbaby Rowan's 4th Birthday. Time sure flies! We will celebrate next weekend when all the kids can be present to celebrate.

Time to make breakfast...

Snow Mountain

In spite of all my cursing about all the snow this year there is one huge benefit. Snow mountain, the grandkids and Cooper just love it and this year has been the best in a while. Sometimes you just have to find that silver lining.

Mike and Angie's vehicles both took a dump this week so we dug out our old Explorer in hopes of reviving it for them. They've been here the past 2 days but so far things aren't going as we hoped. It might have been better left behind the snow.

Tomorrow is MLK day so the Courthouse is closed. I have expectations to get a lot done but the reality is we'll just see how it goes. I do want to take advantage of the warmer temps and get some wood up closer to the stove because I'm sure it won't last. It's still 17 above the donut at 9 pm. I would be ok with riding out the winter with these temps but I've lived here all my life - That is NOT going to happen!

Merry Christmas!

I know, technically Christmas is past but since I haven't gone to sleep yet it's still Christmas Day. We did our celebrating Christmas Eve and we all had a blast! We had Mike, Angie, and ALL the Grandkids plus Mike's Dad, brother, and cousin and his 2 kiddo's. Kids bring so much life to a house but by the time they had gone home we were beat - even Coop. The only ones missing were Crystal and Dale (they were here in spirit).

Abbie, Rowan, Milo, and Frank - Grace was missing from the picture

We did a White Elephant exchange this year (A first for me). We had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs and plan to do it again next year with a higher price limit. We did $5 this year, tough to find good stuff for that price point.

Tomorrow I think the tree will be coming down, we will be doing an overnighter with Mike, Angie, and the Grandkids on New Years Eve and the space is needed for sleeping bags. Crystal and Dale may be able to come for that as well (weather permitting).

The wind is still howling out and I'm not sure how slippery it is, freezing rain this afternoon with snow following. Luckily the temps are reasonable.

Ice build up on the East windows just before dark

I guess we'll see how things look tomorrow...