yes, it is Monday

 

and no it isn't snowing yet, I really, really hope it lands somewhere else.

 

 

Yuck !!!

from the St Peter Police Department's Facebook Page...



...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM MONDAY TO MIDNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT...
* EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP AROUND 6 AM MONDAY AND THEN DIMINISH AROUND MIDNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT.
* THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL RATES WILL OCCUR BETWEEN NOON AND 6 PM MONDAY.
...

* LOOK FOR SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN VISIBILITY AT TIMES.
* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 7 TO 10 INCHES ARE EXPECTED.
* PLAN ON DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS, INCLUDING DURING THE EVENING COMMUTE ON MONDAY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL, KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT, FOOD, AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

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really -- I'm not in the mood for cold, snow, winter, crap!!!!!  I'm guessing by 6:00am tomorrow -- they'll already be closing schools.   There goes water aerobics ... I have a couple of client appointments coming from out of town ...

 

really -  

 

ARGH>>>>>

 

crazy bird woman

I've become the crazy bird woman of Daisy Lane ...

Mama cardinal is as beautiful as papa cardinal.  The morning sun was at the perfect angle this morning.  It was cold, crisp and frosty.

 

and the black capped chickadees

always busy

 

 

 

Thanksgiving

 

I flooded facebook with many pictures of the cardinal invasion -- evidently snow makes them hungry -- the buggers were at the feeders most of the day .. and I was lucky with the picture taking.

 

Jean - reviewing the "black Friday" advertisements.

 

 

after the dishes were washed and the pie consumed -- took a walk to the patch

 

15 hours before the rain / snow ... #1 disked up the patch ... and the garden ... it was ready for snow ... well, the leftover watermelons are chopped up -- they freeze hard and solid and it's a bit nasty to hit one with a snowmobile....the deer had cleaned up most of the pumpkins and squash

 

and the view on the trek back into the yard ... it was a nice way to stretch the legs



so many blessings

ruby ...

so on Tuesday, Ruby got pampered ... washed, waxed, inside and out ... smelled wonderful just sitting in the garage ... and today, she went into storage .....

snow / freezing rain is in the forecast for Turkey Day and early next week -- it's just better she gets tucked away for winter.

she really doesn't do snow (or mud) very well.

sigh.  I really haven't driven her much the last 10 days or so .... a lot of night driving and rainy weather and the truck has better headlights.  that is my only complaint about Ruby -- those new fangled halogen headlights are too small. 

I took the sunrise pictures on the inbound work commute one morning. 

Happy Thanksgiving ... we all have so much to be for which to be thankful.

m
 

breakfast!

on the menu this morning!

scrambled eggs via the microwave ... not too bad.   the girls are starting to slow down on the egg laying .... 15 vs. 20 a day ...

M
 

casualty of winter #1

winter - the evil season ... as I age I rue the arrival of winter -- the prep work, the cold, the ice, the media who think WINTER is newsworthy.  get over it -- winter rolls around every November and hopefully leaves in mid March. 

I prep for winter with the squirrels, fuzzy caterpillers and other rodents ... this weeks (and weekends) efforts have been directed towards windows.  our friends at 3M manufacture those lovely indoor plastic window kits -- after 14 years I'm a pro at installing them.  every window on level one gets them -- the windy drafts disappear and the heat bill is tolerable. 

We're still cold -- but the heat bill is tolerable.  11 of the 12 windows require a ladder and a ladder dance that is worthy of an award. 

 

and so far this is the only casualty of this war on winter ... a shoulder bowl of Joyce's ... I literally bumped it with the table leg -- and snap in half .... I think this is the only bowl left -- I sold (donated/shared) several of them -- she had several (10+) -- argh!!!!

 

Snow is forecasted for Turkey Day -- oh joy, cleaning, cooking and shoveling all in one day ... makes my heart sing - NOT!!!

 

I'm already working on my 2016 NY's resolutions -- "embrace the crap I hate" ... that should be a challenge !!!

 

Happy Sunday

M

 

 

 



 

at my funeral -- please

 

ought to be entertaining.

 

 

 

winning the race

yep, major meeting overload week is just about over ... one more meeting, one session of water aerobics and "paint by numbers" remaining.

it's killing me.

left the house this morning and forgot where I parked the truck.  not good. 
Ruby gets detailed tomorrow -- then off to storage.

snow is in the forecast.  ugh.



 

season of change

 

06/10/15

 

07/20/15

 

11/15/15

 

02/15/15

 

drip drip drip

good grief it's raining again.

the alternative is worse.

skills I have and don't like

shoveling

it was a good thing I was running the camera instead!

11/13/10 !!

the snow season that never ended

 

 

 

 

and the race is on ....

  the finish line ---  is keeping myself sane by Thursday ...

tonight ...
   off to water aerobics (only 45 minutes) so then I can be on time
   for Planning / Zoning at 7:45

tomorrow ...
   8:15 Department Head Presentation
   9:15 Board Workshop
 12:30 Joint Commissioner Meeting w/Blue Earth County
   5:00 Leave for New Ulm for Sioux Trails Meeting

Wednesday ...
  8:15 Brown Nicollet Comm Health Conf Call
 10:00 cancelled the dentist appointment
   3:00 R9 Budget & Finance Meeting in Mankato  then back home
                 to pick up Dad for the next gig.
   7:00 Township Officers Meeting in Nicollet

Thursday ....
   da nada

Friday
  8:00 - 1:30 Chamber Board Retreat ...
  6:00 paint by numbers at the scrap shack.

If I survive this week I can survive anything

November 15, 2015 61'

 

the girls with a snack of watermelon ...

 

per #1 -- the patch is going down on Monday --- I've heard that for a couple of weeks but since deer hunting is almost done ... it's probably going down ...

 

so sad this time of year ... I even miss the weeds .... although there are patches of green grass attempting to grow ...

 

 

#1 is working on the girls winter home -- it got expanded -- cleaned out ... new window and doors ... a false ceiling and a new electric space heater.  pampered chickens. 

 



my faithful red F150

All winter long she hauls my old and tired body to work ... and gets me there.

Every day -- 7 days a week.  Freezing cold, snowy, slippery -- good and bad.

 

And has done so for 3 going on 4 winters.

Except for the 4 months between #1 trading her off and me buying her back ...

she's been in the family all of her 11 years.

 

 

Barely fits in the house garage -- (the garage door has 4 inches of clearance)

 

In the summer -- I drive Ruby for three weeks and then switch to the truck for a week ... market season it hauls all my crap -- this summer it was my lake vehicle -- hauling "crap" to and fro from the cabin

 

This morning --- she didn't start -- 2nd time ever.

The first time #1 left the keys in the ignition and "on" and the battery went dead

 

edit -- #1 tells me the battery is probably original.  Good grief -- I didn't know truck batteries lasted 11 years ... it gets better -- the last time I put gas in it --- August .... at $2.59/gallon.

 

This morning -- it sounds like the battery went kaput. 

It's only the 2nd battery in 11 years.  It was time.

 

Next week is some mechanical stuff and maybe tires ....

After all she's on her 2nd set of tires too ... a little fluff and buff to get her thru the next couple of years will be needed. only 71,000 miles --

 

She needs to keep hauling me to work in the winter!

 

Since the white shit is in the forecast -- she'll be the wheels of the season.

Ruby will head into storage ....

 

 

yep white shit -- 4 years ago today ...

 

 

 

 

 

Self explanatory

copyright infringement

Dresden Germany -- Joyce M posted on her facebook page a while back .. I love everything about this photo ... I've had it as a background on my desktop (both screens) since she posted on FB.   They are on vacation.

And since hell will freeze over before I ever travel to Europe -- I travel thru the eyes of others.  I would love to travel thru Europe -- but alas, no time in my crazy life to take enough time to truly see it all and see it well. 

Even though the world is full of gorgeous things to see and do -- I keep pinching myself because frankly I think this Valley is God's country -- we are so blessed to live here --

Except for November and March when the weather stinks.  Darkness be gone -- I need my sun !!! 

Cheers
M




 

weekends on the farm

hmmm ....

  Saturday was a fun day --

  Sunday was not a day of rest ...

      on the go with projects all day long -- the lawnmowers are stored for winter and the snow removal equipment is accessible.   most of the patch supplies have been stashed and/or stored -- still have 2 bushel of squash.
 

 

finally got this dude off the post

it was a mouse townhouse

6 of the buggers and their offspring were in it ...

I watched from a distance

#1 ... did the honors ...

 

mid afternoon -- hopped on the Vking to retrieve my scrapbooking stuff from Jean -- rounded the corner -- saw the BIG BUCK ... and then saw the hunter -- so in reverse I went ...

 

 

 

 

 

women on a mission

 

never leave home without the chocolate

 

and really -- how much of this stuff got used?

 

bags unloaded and organized?

 

the rest of the mob

 

so, my list of finished projects

 

50 photocards

20 +/- scrapbook pages (stuck down -- need words yet)

1 - turning twenty thanksgiving throw cut out

pink baby girl strips cut

blue baby boy strips cut

large (full) turning twenty cut

 

Christmas card project -- epic fail.  I wasn't liking the idea so I put them back in the box.

 

9,725 steps on the fitbit.  

 

 

the bags are packed ...

well, not exactly like this -- it is November!
(this was May)

Saturday is ...

Arlington Green Isle Women of Today

Annual Scrapbooking Day ....

15 hours of work time -- food, treats, games, vendors, massages 

I have a tub full of scrap booking stuff - card making pictures, Christmas card supplies

and

another tub of fabric and quilt patterns -- all ready to be cut and prepped for sewing

and

I have a tote bag of crochet projects, books to read, notes to make, life to plan

ya, I'm weird.

ps.  I will be wearing the blue paisley flannel pants -- after all the creative vibes are stronger when wearing stylish attire ... (let's hope the car doesn't break down -- )

tape, adhesive, glue

so I had a mini road trip last night to Hobby Lobby ...

who knew that double faced tape/adhesive was so expensive.  granted I bought a lot.  prepping for Saturday scrapbooking in Arlington.  16 rolls.  a few yards. 

I also felt the need to purchase a few other gizmos.

sparkly tulle ribbon for xmas decoration
xmas trinkets for a new door wreath
3 - 50 packages of cards/envelopes
adult coloring book -- not that adult
tissue paper
twine
yarn (I've finished 15 scarves so far)

so, no fabric or paper was purchased ... things are looking up.



Auntie rode along -- she showed great restraint -- 2 yards of flannel.






 

post election

poor voter turnout.

nasty.

when you don't vote you give up your right to speak ....

it is important to VOTE.


 

just breathe ...

I took this shot from the top of the driveway hill this morning.  Around 6:15ish ... I was at the office by 6:30 and I dilly dally'd taking pictures -- iPad.  Posted on facebook while at the breakfast meeting -- probably not appropriate ... at least I wasn't playing with my phone like everyone else.

 

I really really hate the darkness of winter -- I keep telling myself to embrace it ... so this is my first attempt.  Enjoy the sunrise and sunset ... it's only 48 more days until the winter solstice and longer days ....

 

The darkness tends to keep me office/house/working and the summer months I'm still office/working/commissioning ... but the nights/early mornings I'm in the garden.  I like 5:00am daybreak. 

 

I'm weird -- I know.  

Guest Blogger

So I volunteered to be a guest blogger .... here's the link ....Minnesota Farm Living ...

Check it out ... always a good read ...



and now back to the flu  .....   I brag about not getting sick and not needing the SHOT  ... today is ugly ...