Yes, I know, it has been way too long. Just trying to keep up with everything here, at the Jobe’s family farm, has been way overwhelming recently. It just has been hard to get on here and write about what all has been going on, but here is a little update….

First of all, my last blog was about learning Face book. Well, I have it down pat and love it. It is such a nice tool to keep in touch with family and friends and know what is going on in each of their lives. I find myself on it daily, and that is one reason for not writing on here more.

Let’s see, I bought a new car. Well, it isn’t “New”, but it is to me. It is used Impala, 2008. I love it and I have my moon roof and self starter I wanted to have. I am not going to carpool this year, and I needed a car that wasn’t in the shop more than out. My old car was in the shop being fixed more than out, so it was time for a new one.

We had to also replace our dishwasher and washing machine this year. Both broke! We have had Murphy’s Law here for some time, and it can go away anytime! It has been a very expensive summer here on the farm.

 Not only is everything breaking, but we have had 5 grad parties, 2 weddings, and now a funeral. Then, Nathan had wisdom teeth pulled, needs a crown, and so do I. I also have grad pictures coming up yet! Where is that money tree?

Then, farming is not a money maker at all, and we seem to be pulling out money for parts, oil, gas, paying for renting land, twine, every time we turn around. I know, that is farming, but for some reason, it is getting harder by the year. I keep telling my hubby we could buy a lot of beef for what we are putting into those beef cows. Yet, it is his hobby he loves, and wants to keep doing it.

Then, if that isn’t enough, a very good friend and neighbor died this week of a rare cancer that took him in just days. It is such a sad story, and he was only 53, and leaves behind a wife, and three children. They had a dairy farm across from us and we have been friends and neighbors for year. They of course had to sell their milk cows; which was their main income. He is certainly going to be missed and was a good man. We use to see the barn lights on over at their farm every morning while we drank our coffee, and now it is dark over there; just seems so unreal it happened. Darn Cancer!

I have been to the campground, but not enough to make me happy. My schedule has been so busy that every day I have something to do, and can’t seem to get my butt out there. We did have our annual 4^th of July potluck out there this year, and that was great! We have been swimming only a few times because our weather has been so bad this year. Then, when it is nice, I can’t seem to get there! Next week I have something going on every day! Monday, I have a girlfriend come to visit, Tuesday, I have a woman coming out to help Nathan with some things, Wed. Nathan has a doctor’s appointment, Thursday, Nathans has his grad pictures taken, and Friday we are going to the county fair. However, the weekend is open so far, and I intend to get there after the fair on Friday! Then, I want to stay for a few days, but I do have a dentist and hair appointment, but that is it that week! So, FAR….Summer goes way too fast.

Then, it is back to work the 8^th of Sept. I do miss the kids though and I sure could use the money! It will be different for me this year as I am going to be in the high school and not the elementary, and a new boss in the EBD room. We also have some new staff members joining us this year, too.

It is funny, at the end of the year, you can’t wait to leave and need that break, but by the time school comes around again, you are ready to do it all over. That is way it is important to make sure you take that break during the summer so you don’t get burnt out. Special Ed/ EBD is a hard job, and the burn out rate is high, so those summer vacations are important to us.  

I didn’t even grow a tomato this year, only flowers and I am glad I didn’t because as busy as I have been, I don’t know when I could do it all. But our family will not be short berries this year. We went out and picked bowls full of raspberries at my mother-in-laws, and then we found a blue berry patch, so we have lots of wild blue berries, too. Then, yesterday, my husband came home with two crates of strawberries! Our freezer is full of berries for this winter.

My hubby and the boys have been cutting the wood for winter. Yes, we are doing that again. We bought enough wood last year to heat the house this year as well. I hope this winter isn’t a cold one, and I see our crab apple tree has red coming on the apples already!

Haying this year was not good. Our hay crop was very thin and it looks like we will barely have enough hay for ourselves this year. Usually we have some extra to see, but it looks like we will not have that this year. Again, that will hurt us some. It has been such a weird year; our hay was so thin, that our baler didn’t even want to bale it. It has been so bad; we had to feed hay to the cows all summer!

Nathan had a birthday and is now 18 years old! I keep teasing him that he is an adult now! One more year, and all my kids will be out of high school! Wow!

We took a nice trip to see the grandkids last weekend and boy are they getting big. Kyle starts school this Fall, and the other two grandkids are much taller than I am.

Well, for now that is it. I will try to get on here more often and keep this updated better than I have been. If you like, get on facebook and join; be part of my friends list to know more day by day what is going  on at the Jobe’s Family Farm….~Nancy

Learning To Use “Facebook”

First of all, if you don’t know what Facebook is, it is a popular social networking site that gives people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. Millions of people use Facebook everyday to keep up with friends and upload an unlimited number of photos, share links, videos, and learn more about the people they meet.

It’s becoming more and more important for us “older” people to understand new technologies like Facebook and social networking. If you’re clueless about technology, you will be lost in just a general conversation a fifth grader may be having with his buddies. Believe me, I know. I work in a school district, and those kids know what they are doing when it comes to a computer and social networking.

I often hear my students throw the words, RSS Feed, My Space, Facebook, Dig, and they “tag” to each other. I just listen to them and feel real OLD, because for the most part, I have no clue what they are talking about. To me, it is like a Morse Code they use to keep the enemies out of their worlds; which by the way is us adults! They carry IPODs with them and watch TV shows, listen to their music, and they even have pictures they uploaded on them for all to see. Yes, my daughter gave me an IPOD for Christmas, but she uploads all my music on it, because I have no clue how to do it. When I ask the students about their little devices they so firmly hold in their hands, they just tell me I needed to “get with it” and snicker at me, shaking their heads.

So, where am I going with this? Well, it happened one day. I was invited to join Facebook by a friend.  Now, after dealing with months of peer pressure, I finally decided to sign up and see what this whole Facebook thing was, and join into the more “techier” world.

Well, I joined, and that was easy enough, but the first thing I seen on my friends “Facebook” site was she had a “wall.”  This wall was for her friends to write message to her on. After looking around some more, I seen I had my own   “wall” to be written on, too!

As soon as I distinguished this, the first thing that came to my mind was that writing on walls is sort of a graffiti thing gangs do on buildings or trains, isn’t it? Also, my mom always told me never to write on walls, and now I need to, in order to communicate with my friends?

But, after looking around some, I seen that was just about the only way to send her a message, and all her other friends were writing on her wall, and it was the norm thing to do. So, taking a deep breath, I put a “hello there” message on my friends “wall” and I felt kind of naughty doing it, too; if only my mother knew I was writing on someone’s wall!  But, I got over it, and started to search around her site some more and took a look around.

Wow! She sure has a lot of friends. Lots! I feel kind of inferior to her with all the friends she has. I don’t have that many friends outside the Facebook walls!

Now, feeling pretty friendless, I started to read other people messages to my friend on her “well written on” walls. The messages all seemed really short and I hate to say it, but dull. That made me feel better; I might not have as many friends as she has, but at least my friends are not so humdrum!

Well, if someone can post they drank coffee in the morning, I can certainly surpass that! Then I seen I didn’t have a picture for my “profile” and EVERYONE else who sent my friend had a picture for their profile, so I thought I better get one so she knows who wrote on her wall.

After looking for 20 minutes through my pictures I had on my computer, I decided to use a cartoon looking one I had found on another site that actually looked like me; in a cute, cartoon way.  After uploading my profile picture, I started to feel more Facebook worthy, and now I had a picture of my profile, I could write on my friend’s wall.   

Once I started to write a message; I had a lot to say to my friend about this whole “Facebook” thing; and how lost I felt about using it. That’s when I found out I couldn’t send long messages, only a few lines at a time. Gee, I could only write short messages on these walls? Well, for heaven sakes, why would they do that? If you are going to be allowed to write on someone’s wall, why can’t they make it so you can at least write a substantial message?

I had my mind made up right then and there, this “Facebook” thing wasn’t going to be for me. Yet, not quite ready to give up, I shorten my message up in a shorthand way, and sent it to my friend’s wall. Pressing, “Enter”, I held my breath. There, it was sent! Now, I am an official Facebook, techy person, which writes on other people’s walls, and has a cartoon “Facebook” worthy picture of herself for a profile, for all my friend’s humdrum friends to see. Does that make sense? If it does, you’re doing better than me!

Next, I looked for a blog to write on or something else where I could send my friend a message that was a little longer than a few lines. After clicking on this and that, I couldn’t find any blog or page to send her a longer message on.  In order to send my friend a long message, I would have to send her an email, which I could do right there on her site. Well, I did that before I was on Facebook! So what is so special about writing on a wall? I knew there had to be more than this for everyone was doing it.

Going back to my friend’s page, I noticed that now everyone could read what I had written on my friend’s wall. Yes, it was public! Everyone was going to see who had written that message on her wall, which said I was totally lost at this Facebook thing! I felt kind of stupid, and naughty, and a feeling that said, “big brother is watching you”, all at the same time. Gee, it was a good thing I didn’t write anything bad!

After that, I decided that was enough for one day. This all took me hours to do, and I really didn’t have the time. So, I got off the site and decided to wait for the next day and hope my friend will write on my wall and explain a few things to me about all this.

Well, before even having my first cup of coffee the next morning, I booted up my computer to see if my friend had written on my wall. Yep, there she was, on my wall! I now had a couple messages on my wall. Yippy! I am doing it!

That kind of gave me a smile and a jump start.  But wait, what is this? My friend had sent me a tree?  Yep, on the right hand side of my page, right on top, there sat a nice green tree. Not only a tree, but and a “hug”, too! Under the tree it said I needed to harvest my tree! What the heck was I going to do with a tree? I had no idea why my friend would want to send me a tree to harvest. How was I to harvest it or where was I supposed to put this tree once I harvest it?

Deciding it was safer to leave the tree and not kill it; from the lack of not being able to plant it somewhere. I wanted to forget the tree, but send my friend a “hug” back. If she can send hugs, I should be able too! But, where are the hugs? Finally, after much searching, I found that if I clicked on the hug she sent me, it went to a page where I could pick out a hug to send my friend one too! Oh, there we are! Okay, I will just do that! Maybe that will make her feel better for not harvesting her tree she sent me.

Looking at all the hugs, I wondered which hug to give her. Gee, there are way too many of them! How does a person pick? Shrugging my shoulders, I just looked for a pretty one, and clicked on it. Oh, no! I see it takes points! I don’t think I have any of those. How do you get points? Gosh, I hope I don’t have to pay for them! Looking further down, I seen I could have sent her some hugs that were FREE! Darn! I didn’t see that. I better see if I can take that expensive hug back and give her a free one. I managed to delete the expensive hug, but couldn’t make the free hugs work, so I just decided to not give my friend a hug after all. Besides, my family was starting to ask what was for dinner. Was I on THAT long?

The next day I decided when I got home I couldn’t wait to see if my friend wrote on my wall and answered my question about this tree she sent me and how am I to harvest it. I hate to see any tree die from the lack of me not taking care of it, especially if it is from my friend! I wouldn’t be happy if a friend did that to me, much less not even able to give her a hug back; because of the lack of points that I didn’t know how to get. Are you still with me?

I went pass the family and straight for my computer to booted it up. Gee, this Facebook thing is actually getting to be time consuming. Yes!  My friend sent me another message on my wall telling me I better harvest my trees or they would die!  Looking over to where that tree and hug was she sent me that last time, I seen not only the tree and hug still there, but now I had about 7 more trees, and now I had a Holstein COW standing there, too!!!

What!? How am I to take care of a cow, if I can’t even harvest her tree? I am guessing that is what she wants me to do with it. Right?  I will have to put it in a barn and feed the darn thing. Really, I don’t have time for this, my friend!  Maybe, I can find some hay on the page where they keep those hugs for points. Yes, maybe there will be some FREE hay, too. But where am I going to get the barn? I’m I going to need to milk this cow now and then?

Okay, FRIEND! I am having problems leaning how not to feel guilty for writing on someone’s walls, much less leaning how to harvest trees and take care of cows on here! I decided I had enough of my “friend” for one day. I shut the computer down, and went to bed. Besides, I was spending way too much time trying to figure out how to get around on this site; and do all these weird things like harvesting trees, when I should be making my family dinner and washing my clothes. However, as I tried to sleep that night, I thought about those darn trees and that poor cow, and how I had no shelter for or hay for it. I hate to see anything living die because of me.

First thing the next morning, before coffee or even getting dressed, I opened my Facebook site. Sure enough, there was my friend again. She had the gull to say good morning to me, after giving me a cow, all those trees to take care of!  She also explained to me that the trees and the cow were part of a game she plays on here called the “The Farm Game.”  She said she plays this game with all her friends on her Facebook!

Looking at the clock, I decided to write a VERY short message to her before going to work. I asked her to please stop sending me trees, and cows, that I didn’t have time to play the “farm game” and if I did, I wouldn’t know how to play; to just stop sending any for now! Then, I signed off and went to work; with a headache.

Later, I got home, booted the computer up before even looking at my mail on the table, and signed into my Facebook. There my friend posted a message on my wall, saying she would stop sending me anymore trees and cows. Thank goodness! But I still had the darn trees and the cow sitting there on my page and that really bugged me; I still felt unfeeling for not taking care of them. So, after playing around some, I found out I could click on them, and bring up a menu to “ignore them.” Good, out of sight, out of mind. I did just that, and they disappeared! 

Now, not feeling like a killer, I had time; and a clear mind, to go on with my research on how to work this site. Reading more messages, and Goggling the words, “What is Facebook?” I found it was a site where you should put up messages on your wall throughout the whole day on what you’re doing. This was to keep your friends more “connected” with you. Gee, isn’t that kind of invading someone’s privacy? Plus, my days are just humdrum, what would I put? Oh, that word, “humdrum” sounds familiar, doesn’t it? I guess I am just as humdrum as the rest of my friend friends. The light is starting to come on….

I sent another message on my friend’s wall; that I didn’t really know what I was doing and I was having a hard time learning how to work this program; and I didn’t know if this “Facebook” thing was for me. Well, I wasn’t going to get out of it that easily because she sent me a message back, asking me to please not to give up, but to just give it some time. After thinking about what she said, I thought, you know, she is right. I tell my students all the time not to just give up easily, but to keep trying. What kind of representation would I be to my students?

So, I could at least give it more time, and keep making an effort at it. Right? So, I went on trying to be a good Facebook Buddy, even if it felt like I was losing my pirvacy. I started posting what I was doing during the day, where I was going, what I was make for my meals, and what chores I did during the day, and my friend and I wished each other a good day every day. Soon, I was beginning to look forward to knowing what my friend was up to, and I bet she was looking forward to what I was up to, too. Plus, just the pleasant good wishes of bring in another day was a nice change and welcome for me.

Soon, after getting on my Facebook page each day; posting my boring days, and looking at all my friends boring days, I started to get it! I started to feel more “connected” to my friends, and I even found a couple of my other friends on there, too, and they too, joined my Facebook world. Even my daughter-in-law is now on my Facebook, with all my wonderful grandkids pictures posted up for me to see! I even had my sister’s join me on my Facebook because we do EVERYTHING together. And just the other day, I had my hairdresser join my Facebook, too. Isn’t that cool?

Now, after a few weeks of trying to learn Facebook, my walls are now covered with graffiti from my friends, and I don’t even mind, or feel guilty for writing on someone else’s walls. I post my daily “doings” a couple times a day, and a lot of my friends, do too. We all know who is doing what, and when their doing it, and with whom. We pass nice messages, wishing each other a good day, and even what we are eating for our meals. Pictures are passed on to each other; that we would normally never have seen with out Facebook, and recipes are exchanged with one another, along with some interesting links. I even found I could chat live with my friends on the site.

So, it took me a few weeks to “get with it” and I know I have a lot more to learn, too, but I am glad I did give it a chance, and didn’t give up. Like a lot of other things; it just takes time. The only drawback thing is, now my usual bedtime is two hours later than what it used to be. And, maybe, just maybe,I  will even be able to take care of trees and cows on my Facebook, too. In ending, I guess this old girl can still keep up with the times “somewhat.”   Now if I can only find out how to “Tag” someone!

Spring IS Coming

It's hard to believe that it's March already. This year is already off to a rapid start.  Last week was a really busy one. For work, we took the whole 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grade skiing at Spirit Mountain in Duluth. The weather was perfect, and all the kids had a magnificent time. I do have to say, though, at the end of the day I was exhausted; and I didn’t even ski! The kids were all tired, too, and very sore the next day.

 Just think, next Sunday ends Daylight Savings time, and then spring really is just around the corner (21st). I don't know about anyone else, but I'm definitely ready for spring.

There are signs all around that spring is close at hand. Let’s see, those nasty Asian beetles are coming alive in our home, and yesterday, I even seen a fly spiraling around on the floor, trying to fly.  I can see dirt on our driveway again.  I can actually go outside during recess without having my big fur mittens on that go up to my elbows and downgraded to just gloves.

The seed catalogs came in the mail, and swim suit ads are in the paper.  My car is really dirt inside and outside, and needs to be cleaned, along with the windows in the house. The barn cats all going to have their kittens, and the beef cows are going to have their babies as well any day. Our deck outside the house is made of wood again, and not ice and snow! It is light out when I drive to work, and still light out when I come home.   Yes, the signs are there, folks.

I'm praying that this summer I can get some raised gardens built and put in. I'm so itching to feel the dirt between my fingers again. Last year I couldn’t do much with my hip replacement surgery, but this year I am ready to go for it. Besides,  with the economy, I want to do a lot more canning this year and stock up our pantry with homemade canned food.  

Yes, I see rows of dirt just waiting for the precious seeds that we will plant, and then waiting for the first signs of life. I hope I am able to have rows and rows of yummy goodness just waiting to be picked and either eaten or preserved for next winter.

I'm anxious to see the trees in full bloom again and to feel the soft green grass tickling my feet as I walk barefoot in the yard. I can't wait for the warm, days when we can go out and mow the lawn and hear the birds. And most of all, I can’t wait to get to the campground and sit around the campfire, visit with the neighbors, play cards, drink my morning coffee on the deck, grill food, walk,  and swim.

Don't get me wrong. I do NOT want this year to go any faster, I would actually like to slow it down, but this time of year always has me wishing for the time when I can get my hands (and feet) dirty, and open my windows up to let fresh air in, and have the sunshine’s heat hit my face.

 I guess, for now, I'll have to be content with dreaming of all that a little longer and make visions of what my garden will be like full of home grown goodness! I can't wait!

Monday, Feb. 16, 2009

Weekend/Monday

This weekend was wonderful! We slept in Saturday morning (not too late) and it was great! We spent our Saturday just kind of relaxing at home and enjoying spending time together. I did come up with a "to do" list for this week. I figure having a list where I can check off the things I finish will help to make me feel I have accomplished something that week! I made my menu up for the week, and  I will see how it goes this week!

Sunday, again, we didn’t do much.  Sherry & I did go to Super One and saved $41 in coupons on my groceries! I love to watch that cash register keep deducting the amount I owe them! Then, we came home and unpacked it all.  Later, I invited my sister and their family over for just some visiting.

There was no work for me today because of President’s Day! This morning I still woke up early because I had a doctor’s appointment in Duluth.  I had to fast, so there was no breakfast for me. Sherry came along, and later we went to Target to pick up a few things.

I had nothing but good news at the doctor’s office. My cholesterol is down to 136! Everything turned out great, and no need to come back for another year!

After my exercise, I did laundry, cleaned out my spice cupboard out, and did the dishes.  I still have some things on my to do list for the week, dusted the house, organized his another cupboard, put some earrings on E-bay! I have been not so good about doing that. So I feel I have had a productive day and hopefully will have a productive week!

It’s going to  be tough getting out of bed early again tomorrow morning!

Hello everyone. Yes, I haven’t been on here for some time, but it has been so eventful, that I just don’t get the time to update as much as I would like to on here.

First of all, our Christmas was wonderful. Actually, we had a nice quite Christmas Day at home, with just us. Sometimes, that is okay. Then, we had our big party at my mother-in-laws, on the 26^th, and that was marvelous, too. We even did something a little different this year with the menu; we had chicken instead of the usual ham or turkey. I think we were just all sick of ham and turkey, and the chicken was an extremely pleasant change. Otherwise, it was a potluck, where everyone brought something, and all the food was outstanding, too.

For New Years this year, we decided again, to think outside the box and do something different. We went and visited some friends in Grand Rapids, Faith, Rodger, and Lillian. I am so glad we decided to do that because it has been a long time since we have been there; as it is almost a two hour trip.  Just Harry and I went, and it was just a very nice trip! It was just one of those things you always mean to do, but don’t get to it. Well, we did it.

 We also stopped at my friend’s daughter place, Arlene’s. She just moved there and we got to see her new home. Her place is especially nice, and it was her little girls, Olivia’s’, birthday, so we got to celebrate that, too. Anyhow, it was one of the best New Year days we have had.

I guess we are just too old to go out and sit up until midnight, in a bar, waiting for the clock to strike 12:00AM to blow that horn and yell “Happy New Year!”  Besides, this was much better way better way to bring the new year in; being with friends, and not waking up with a hangover!

My son and his family couldn’t make it up until January to do Christmas with us, so a few weekends ago, they came up to exchange gifts. I got to see my grand kids! It has been months, and I missed them a lot. They are all getting so big, and Kyle is going to school next year! I have a few pictures of them, too, on here to share!

So, all in all, we had a wonderful Christmas and New Years, and I hope all of you did, too. Now, if this cold would go. Last week it was almost -40 with the wind chill, and the schools even closed! Then, we had two bomb threats at our school I work at, and so now they might extend our school year. However, they caught the person that was responsible for the hoaxes and now things are getting back to normal at work for all of us at work.

Well, that is about it for here. I hope all of you are doing well, and enjoy the updated pictures!

-Nancy

Winter Wonderland

Yes, it is a winter wonderland here, but we made the most of the storm with lots of holiday baking!

 My friend, Emily, and her daughter, Anna, came up for the weekend. What better thing to do during a winter blizzard than to do your Christmas baking? They were stuck here for a few days because the roads were too bad for traveling and we had a lot of time to have some fun.

Along with baking, we also played lots of cards and other games. Emily and Anna introduced Sherry and I to a new game called Doodle Dice. Fun! Enjoy our pictures!-Nancy

Here is my wild rice soup recipe. I love making this on those cold days!

Wild Rice Soup

6 Tablespoons of Butter

3 Tablespoons of chopped onion

¾ Cup of all purpose flour

3-5 cups of chicken broth

1 cup of cooked white rice

1 cup of cooked Wild Rice

½ cup of shredded cooked carrots (you can add sliced or baby carrots, too)

¼ Teaspoon of salt

A little pepper

1 Cup of milk

Add about 3 cups of chopped chicken or turkey or ham. (With the ham, I like to fry some bacon, crush it in the soup, too)

Instructions:

Melt butter of medium heat, add flour slowly, stirring until thick.  This flour mixture will be very thick, and that is what you want. Next, slowly blend in the chicken broth, and stir until smooth. Put your cooked rice’s, salt, pepper, carrots, and meat in next.  Then, just before serving, add the milk. Heat until nice and hot, and serve. I like to have those small garlic crackers on top just before I serve it, or on the side of the plate. Also, homemade bread is very yummy with this soup.

Serve hot or cold. Great with Ice cream, and you can bag it and freeze it, too.

BURRR….W e can feel the temps drop down and we need to turn the heat on at night. I know it has been a while since I have been on here, but we are certainly busy getting things finished up before the snow flies. As you can see by some of the pictures, my dear husband and sons have finished most of the wood.  Most of the wood pile is gone, and the woodshed is full of fresh cut wood.

Also, you will see the yard all dug up. That is the new line my husband had to put in from the wood stove to the house. The old one was so bad that it really wasn’t doing much of anything but keeping the ground warm. However, with this new line in, we will cut our wood usage more than half, and that is a big savings on the wallet.

I even blew the dust off of my food dehydrator, so I could dehydrate some of my vegetables from the garden.  I dehydrated a lot of fresh tomatoes out of our garden, pears, strawberries, and apples. I was in the baking mood and made three big pans of banana bread, and homemade applesauce.  I froze a little of both, so in the cold winter, we can pull that out, and have it on those cold winter days.

This weekend, I had my friend, Emily, and her daughter, Anna, stay the night. We played cards, and I made a big turkey for dinner with potatoes, and gravy, with fresh garden salad. It was so good, and I have lots of leftovers for our lunch pails this week.

I took some pictures of the beautiful landscape with the fall leaves. They are really starting to fall off now, and the guys are all talking about deer hunting. I took some pictures of the farm, a sunrise, and just basic farm work, and my applesauce, and tomatoes. Also, you will see one of my co-workers, Brent, trying to feed our cows. He did manage to get them to come so he could pet one.

Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy the update at our farm.

Reflections of Fall

Hello, everyone. I finally have a few minutes to write a line or two. I have been so busy between work, beading, and getting ready for winter, that I haven’t had much time to write much on here. Also, I have been sick with an awful cold, and I am still coughing a lot, but I can tell I am getting over it.

You certainly can tell that fall is here; as you can see in some of my photos. However, I have some lingering flowers still in bloom in my flower beds and pots.  All the blossoms on the apple and plum trees are done, and my yard is full of fallen crab apples. We no longer hear the hummin’ of birds and bees that once occupied those trees not so long ago.

However, as you can see in my pictures, the landscape of the autumn days is a picture of color! The trees are not in their full bloom yet, but I was excited about sharing what I had so far with all of you. I took pictures at the lake, yard, and some of sites around our home. My kittens are no longer kittens, but cats, and they, too, have grown and carry a heavy winter coat on them. They are all healthy and doing well.

Not only is the landscape making a transform, but so are we.  We are starting to alter our wardrobes and accessories for the season. I have pulled out my long sleeve shirts and sweaters. Out went the shorts, and in came the long johns for those cold days standing outside to watch my students at recess. My winter boots are now sitting in the front of my shoe rack, and the sandals are in the back. The fall coats now hang on the entry way coat rack, and the swimsuits are all packed away until next year.

Like the animals, we are storing our produce from the vegetable garden. I have made tons of pickles, and we are eating lots of tomatoes.  To keep ourselves warm, and ready for winter, we have filled the fuel tanks, and took out the air conditioners and closed and locked the windows.

We have been also doing those fall chores such as checking the sewer, cleaning the yard, and winterizing the cars. We even closed our camper up at the lake, and it will sit there all winter, waiting for us next year.  

We still have a long ways to go before the snow flies, though. I still need to put all the lawn ornaments away, along with flower pots, the gazebo, deck furniture, and gas grill. I need to do more tomatoes, and dig out the boys’ mittens, boats, and winter coats. We also need to dig a line from the woodstove to the house with the skid steer, because the old line is bad and we waste a lot of wood by having it.

At work my students are talking about deer hunting season, Halloween, and MEA weekend. Yes, fall is here to stay for a few months, and then, in no time, the winter will follow.

So, as you can see, we have been working hard securing our home and family for those blustery days ahead. It is sad to say, summer went by quickly again!

 I hope all of you are also safe and well, too.  well. 

Until next time,

 Nancy 

Winter Closing In On Us  

The air is getting colder, the leaves and foliage are changing colors, and you can just feel winter in the atmosphere.  It is time to think about putting that furnace on at night again, too. In my bed, I have put the electric blanket on for the past few nights to stay toasty warm.

I hear a lot of crows during the day and less song birds. Acorns are falling to the ground, and one only needs to stay outside to hear them hit the ground now and then with “plunks.” I have some wild rabbits in the yard, and their coats are changing from a brown to white. Even my new kittens are getting a thicker coat.

I have been busy at work this year, but not as busy as last year. Well, it seems that way for me right now. However, when you work in Special Ed, E.B.D., just one new student can change all that.

 The kids all have grown, both outside and inside. It certainly is great to see them all again, and hear their stories of the summer fun they have had. Now it is back to hitting the books, and learning, and I think a lot of them are getting a slow start at kicking back in with the early schedule, bus rides, and homework.

I know I haven’t been as good as I should be, keeping up my posting on here, but just trying to keep up with daily life has been a struggle. Now that I am back to work, it gives me less time to do household duties, and fun things such as postings on here.  

My recovery is still going good. During the day at work, I walk outside every day. I go out with the kids during recess, and I watch the kids at the same time I walk around the football field; for about 40 minutes.  I do this five days a week, and I can feel my leg is getting stronger all the time.

I still use my cane only at that time; when I walk during recess; because of the uneven ground, and I can go faster. However, I can feel I will be not using my cane even at that time soon. I love to walk and it is my favorite way to exercise, so I am killing two birds with one stone by doing this.

It is hard to believe in just a few more weeks, it will be three months since I have had the surgery. I do feel so good, though, wakening up, and finding I can walk without pain each morning. I can tell my hip is healing well, and I am able to put stockings on by actually bending over to do it. It is amazing how far hip replacement surgery has come.

It is when I get home that I really rush about even more so. I get home a little later than before because I carpool. But the savings in gas is well worth the 15-20 minute delay, plus I have some wonderful people I carpool with, and make my ride more enjoyable! It will be nice to have the company each night when winter comes and that winter driving!

Then when I do get home, I do clothes, fix dinner, do dishes, read the mail, and pick up a little around the house. I do most of my deep cleaning on the weekends, and pay the bills and do my bookkeeping for the farm. There are some nights I have appointments and by the time I get home, I just want to put a pizza on the table; except my family wouldn’t like that every night.

Also, I walked in the porch to find a big basket of cucumbers and tomatoes my husband picked that need to be canned the other day. Geez, I have two zucchini’s already waiting for me to make bread out of in the refrigerator. Yet, by the time I get home, and just do the daily household duties, my day is done. So I don’t know when I will get that done, too.  

This weekend we need to get the camper finished, or at least close to it, and we have a birthday party, and Harry has to work. That leaves me one day to get everything else done….

On top of all this, Harry has many 12 hour work days ahead of him. We started to clean out the camper last Saturday, but we have a lot left to do, and somehow we are trying to find time to get that done as well.

Just leaving the campground is depressing! I hate leaving for another 8 long months. It is sad to know that there are going to be no more campfires, visits, or the walks to the lake.

Now that winter is just about here, it will be back to plowing snow, dressing up like an animal before going out doors, static electricity, very dry skin, chapped hands, cracked feet and lips, many types of flu’s & colds, starting the car 15 minutes ahead of time to “warm it up” before going anywhere, driving in a snowstorms and ice, and having to pry your fingers off the steering wheel after you reach your destination, because you were hanging on to it so tight. No, folks, it isn’t pleasurable and I don’t look forward to it, but that is just winter in Minnesota. Amen.

We do have some good news, though. Tony passed his driver’s test and is now a legal driver. That is one big thing off our goal list. He still is unsure of himself and driving alone, though, but I remember being that way at first, too. It will just take a little time for him to gain some self confidence, and soon he will be driving all over.

However, he loves collage, and that is a terrific thing. He seems to come home in an excellent mood, and says it is “a walk in the park.” He has a day off in the middle of the week, and does all his homework on that day. He loves his banking; business classes the most.

Nathan is having a good year, too. One of his old teachers came back from Japan and he was very excited about that. He loves history this year, because he has another teacher he likes. So, for him things are going well, too.

So, that is about it for now. I hope all of you are well, and until next time, bye, bye.

Nancy

Fine Tuning It Into Fall 

I can’t ignore the signs anymore, but fall is almost here. I tried to overlook some of the signs, but when those cold mornings and nights, bite you, you just can’t ignore it anymore.

My husband and I have been busy making my refrigerator pickles. Yes, I am talking about bowls full! And, the cucumbers just keep coming. My tomatoes are doing really well, too. I am going to be pretty busy with those as well.

Tony is in collage. He loves all his classes and has his head in the books again. He took some classes in business, and those are the ones he seems to really enjoy. It seems funny having him in college and not getting on a school bus.

I had one of my good friends, Emily, and her daughter, Anna, over for a few days this week. It was a lot of fun having them here again. We got to play lots of “Nertz” so I got my “fix” for a while because nobody at my house will play Nertz with me.

I taught Emily and Anna a new card game I play with the girls at the campground, called “Seven’s”. They seemed to like it a lot. In fact, we played with my friend at the campground that taught ME how to play it, Anna. Yes, another Anna. So we had two Anna’s at one table. Anyhow, we had hours of fun playing card games and just spending time with each other again.

We had perfect weather this weekend for my friend and her daughter at the campground, too. I see a lot of the other campers are starting to pack up and getting ready to close for the winter. The acorns are starting to fall off all those oak trees around our camper and hitting the roof of the camper. The chipmunks’ are all running around, gathering them for storage.  I haven’t yet started to pack, and I know I will need to do it in a few more weeks, but I just hate the idea of leaving it all behind for another 8 months.

So, in ending, this was like my last big hurrah for the year at the campground. We will have a few more weeks of sitting around the campfire, but we will have to pack up and go soon.  I see dog days have set in the lake and the nights are getting colder. I am going to missing hearing the Loons, and sitting out on the deck with my husband and family drinking coffee each Saturday morning.

On the lighter side of things, tomorrow is my first day back to work with the kids. I wonder if I will have any new students to work with this year. I will find out more tomorrow when I get my schedule. It is going to be nice to see all the kids again, and see how much they have grown over the summer. I love my job, so I do have that to look forward to in the winter. For me, it isn’t like I HAVE to go to work, but I GET to go to work. So, I do have that to look forward to.

Sherry is going to be 26 this Thursday. She didn’t want a cake or anything big this year, just a day out to go eats she said. Well, I bought her a cake anyways, and she will still get to go out to eat, but a birthday just isn’t a birthday to me without a cake. My parents always had grandparents over and cake and ice cream, and we have always done that, too. So, I plan on doing a little get together with coming weekend for her. Happy Birthday, dear daughter!

In ending, I hope to get on here and keep you all updated. I know I will not be able to do it as often when I am working, but I will try to keep it updated as much as possible. Meanwhile, leave any comments as I love to read them and it lets me know you are still checking in and reading what I am putting up on here. Until then………. Nancy

Sherry's New Car  

Hello Everyone! It has been an extensive and busy week for us. My husband took my mother-in-law to Duluth, to find a car for her. She did get one, and now she has her wheels.

Not only did my husband help find a car for my mother-in-law, but he found one for our daughter, Sherry, too. Not the same place or day, but she was looking for a new car too. I posted a few pictures of it on the site, here, for all of you to see. It is so cute, and what wonderful gas mileage! The color of it is Victoria Red! It is sporty and nice looking!

For me, the best feature it has isn’t the heated leather seats, or the great gas mileage, or even the XM satellite Radio, but the moon roof! I just love it!!! I want one of those! It flips up, but if you push the button again, it slides back and opens the whole roof up, kind of like a convertible! The first time I discovered this, I wanted to put my whole top half of my body out of the  roof, and wave at people as we drove along, but Sherry told me if I did that, I wouldn’t ride in it again. She told me to “behave” myself and not get all wild on her. HUMMMMM.  I suppose it wouldn’t of look too great having a 40+ woman, with a cane, hanging out your moon roof, with the radio playing, loudly, waving at people. I think it would look like a bunch of Rednecks…… Oh, I was tempted, though….

At night, when you drive with the moon roof open, and it is a nice clear night outside, you can look up and see all those stars! It is just so cool. However, I did make up my mind, though; my next car is going to have a moon roof just like that one! 

Then, my car has to be serviced now. I was going to town to get the oil changed, and this little picture of an engine popped up on me. Now What! So, for now, I am driving Sherry’s old car until we get that looked at. You should see our driveway; it is starting to look like a used car lot!

We have Tony all set for college and his first day is the 25^th of August. He is going for Political and Economics Science. He is going to a community college for his AA, and then he is transferring over to a four year college in Duluth. He has some pretty intense classes, and loves math, law, and science. Well, I should say, he loves money! Now, I am not talking about spending it, but SAVING it! He can pinch a penny until Lincoln cries from the pain. His major should fit him good! He loves to learn and watch the stock market and all that stuff. Anyhow, he is so smart, and should do a lot with it. We are pretty proud of him.

The Carlton County fair is here. It starts today, and that is the first sign of fall around these parts. We plan on walking through it on Saturday. We will not be able to stay long, as we have a family reunion on my husband’s side that same day, but we are going to go. I plan on taking pictures as we go through it, and post them up for all of you to see. Of course, before we go home, we always stop get a big ice cream malt and Teeny Weenie Doughnuts! It is our tradition to do so. Not that I need the doughnuts, but I eat them once a year and that is that. YUMMY!

Well, for now, I will sign off and come back with some updates. The weather man says that is going to be in the 80’s and very nice this whole weekend and into next week! YIPPY!  I intend to enjoy it all week; too, between the campground, county fair, and the family reunion, it should be a busy one! Until then…….Nancy

Hello everyone,

I know I have received some email, asking where I have been. Well, I have been busy with a few things. First of all, we had a huge family reunion on my side of the family. It was so nice to see some of my relatives I haven’t seen for a while, and there was lots of wonderful food. I even met some relatives I didn’t even know I had. The day turned out just right, and I took a few pictures and uploaded them on here for all of you to see. My sister’s didn’t get to go, so here you go girls, take a look. I wish I would have taken more now.

Second, my brother-in-law and sister have their patio all completed. I uploaded pictures of the finished project, too. As many of you know, I took pictures all through this whole project and it turned out very nice! So nice in fact, my husband wants us to put this type of work outside our walk out basement next year.

I want to thank all of you for sending me emails, saying how much you like the pantry list I put up, you’re welcome and thank you for your kind words. All that work was worth it I guess, and I hope it has helped you stockpile for that emergency that can happen anytime.

Also, thank you for your comments on my earrings. I have been doing a lot of bead work, too. I spent a lot of time at the campground last weekend and did some more beading. On the sadder part of the whole thing is at the coffee shop I was selling them at, well, I had to take them out. I had so much stealing going on there, and even losing one earring from a pair.  I just got upset and pulled them out and took them home. I worked on them way to hard for them to be lost or taken.  Maybe next spring I will put up a table at a craft fair.

It was our anniversary on the 6^th of August! We have been married for 20 years! Boy that sure has went by fast. One thing I have to say is that while I was recovering from my surgery, that man of mine took such good care of me.  Not only was he forced to pull on those tight white socks, but shower me, help me get dressed, get up and down, and just about everything I did, he helped me with. He even shaved my legs! You can’t get a man to do all those things unless he really loves you. While he did all these things, he did it with a smile and a kiss. He sure pulled through for me; for better and worst. I am ready for the next 20 years, dear! We are going to go out to eat tonight at a restaurant we had heard suppose to be really good. We haven’t had a chance to go out to eat in a long time, and I can’t wait to have a nice quite dinner with him, just the two of us.

Well, I am down to a cane, and I can walk without it, but have a limp. So, the doctor told me to keep using it, until the limp goes or I could have a limp the rest of my life. So, I am doing that. I walk a lot at the campground because it is so nice to walk there. My one side is still bigger than the other yet, but the doctor told me that it could take up to 6 months for that to go down! I feel better now that I can move more and do more things. I have vacuumed the house and washed clothes, and all sorts of household duties again. I was able to get down and do some weeding in my flower beds this week! I couldn’t get in the back, but I did get all the flower pots and the front part. I am feeling so good, not having pain that I am looking forward to next year, where I can do it all!

Meanwhile, I am planning on taking in the sunshine the weather man promised  this coming  week. Well, that is it for now; I will try to write more next week….. Nancy

                                                            Nancy’s Refrigerator Pickles

Here is a recipe I’m asked for over and over again. This recipe is for Refrigerator Pickles. I made a lot of these pickles because my husband, family, and friends love them. What I do when I make them, I triple the batch and put them in quart jars. I do this several times throughout the summer.  You just make a batch and put them in a big bowl in the refrigerator; they keep for months. I make enough to get through the whole winter and into the next planting season.  I put my pickles in glass quart jars instead of a bowl to save room, plus I can just pull out a jar when I need it. Then again, I have a spare refrigerator to keep them in, so I am not short room; you might not want to do this.  This recipe is so easy to make, but so good to eat!  Once people try them, they usually want the recipe, so here it is. Enjoy!

7 Cups of Cucumbers unpeeled and sliced into thin rings.

1 Cup of Onions, sliced in thin slices (I like the sweeter onions)

1 Cup of Red or Green Peppers sliced in thin slices (I like to use both peppers for color)

3 Cups of Sugar

1 Tablespoon of Celery Seed

1 Tablespoon of Canning Salt

1 Cup of White Vinegar

Slice your vegetables in thin slices with food processor, and put in large bowl. Boil the rest of the ingredients together for a minute, and pour over the vegetables in the large bowl. Stir a little, cover bowl and put in the refrigerator! That’s it! Wait for a day or so to eat them. Yummy!!!!

                          Nathan’s Birthday

Nathan turned 17! Hard to believe my baby is that old. He had a great birthday party at the house, and at the campground, too. His sister, Sherry, made him another cake for him to bring to the campground. He shared the cake with all his friends at the campground. Here are some pictures of his day.