BRRRRR!

We have two thermometers outside. Both on the north side of the house. This one is under the eaves about 9ft up with a shield around it so the sun never touches it.

This one is outside the bedroom window about 2ft above the ground. Take your pick. I'm going in the middle and saying 22 below.

Here's the plow truck waiting for me to pull the starter out and replace it. Not happening today. Maybe Tuesday.

Here's our reply to "Old Man Winter". Take that old man. Be good, be careful and be sure to wear your long johns and mittens. Ta.

Gramma Update III

Well, Gramma has been saying that she's excited for her foot to heal so she can wear sandals again after many, many years. I guess it's a girl thing, cause I don't really understand. I'm excited when I get a pair of boots that have fairly smooth soles so that the chicken poop doesn't get stuck in so bad.

Anyway, she came out of the bedroom this morning wearing these. A happy girl. Yay Gramma! Ta.

Gramma Update and Turkey's

Monday we went back to see the doctor. Everything is healing fine and he took "The Boot"away. 

Here she is with just plain old shoes and socks. Scary! She's using the cane, but also walking some without it. Doing well, although there is pain, but the doc said it will continue to lessen. Go back again in a month for another x-ray. By summer she'll be running barefoot through the hayfield.

Also on Monday a flock of turkeys came out of the woods and made their way down the west field almost in single file. Counted 18. Cool. Ta.

Grampa Shoots, He Scores

Well, got a buck this morning. The rack was small, but he had a big body. My friend Mike and his son Brian came up to hunt today and I'm glad they did cause they dragged him out of the willow swamp for me. Unfortunately neither one of them got a deer.

My back has been bad lately, so I haven't been out very much. Glad I went out today. Gramma and are having the tenderloins for supper tonight. Yummo! Ta.

Snow Again

Here's what we woke up to this morning.

Had some last month too, but this somehow prettier and more accepted,cause it's November.

Don't know if it will last yet, but it's been awhile since we had snow for deer opener and that's always a plus. On the other hand I was hoping to get in one more round of golf. I've managed to take about ten strokes off my game this summer, so I don't want to quit yet. The course I usually play at is about 16 miles north as the crow flies and they have a live webcam. Checked that out this morning and they didn't have any snow there, but they closed the course last week. Bummer. Not putting the clubs away   yet, cause there's always hope. Be good, be careful and be sure to get your snowplow mounted before the big storm hits. Ta.

Gramma Update

So on Monday we went back to the Doc for a six week checkup. They took x-rays again and he said it is healing nicely. Now she can walk on it with the boot on. Still using the chair, but walking some too. Baby steps, baby steps. Here she is upright, which we haven't seen for six weeks. Yay! We go back again in four weeks and he wants her to try walking without the boot in 3 1/2, cause he said he's going to throw it away when she sees him next. Yikes! Cross your fingers and pray for her.

In other news, the snow melted, but it's still freezing every night. The sun came out for a little bit today, but not long enough.

We have had quite a few deer feeding right up next to the house lately. One of these two was eating the frozen flowers in Gramma's flower pot on the deck rail, but I wasn't fast enough to get a pic. Fun to watch though.

Reckon that's all for now, catch ya on the flip flop. Be good, be careful and be sure to get your boat inside before it gets snowed on. Ta.

Snow?

Well it's started. I'm not ready. I'm usually ready.

Morning.

Early afternoon.

Pretty? Pretty ugly. The boat isn't inside, I've got Jess' lawn mower torn apart on the garage floor, my 4 wheeler up on blocks not running and it looks like I'm going to have to pull the engine on the bobcat to fix it. With the bobcat broken down I can't spread manure on the hay fields and if the snow stays it'll be too muddy to clean it up anyway. Haven't done anything to get ready for deer hunting yet and the dock is still in the lake. Oh well, life happens and the only thing to do is chuckle and move forward. On a positive note, Gramma sees the doc tomorrow and we hope he'll say she can start walking on her foot. With the boot on of course. This will be a major milestone and a welcome event. So cross your fingers and pray for her. Anywho, that's all for now. Ta.

Grampa Bakes A Cake

So Gramma wanted a yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Easy-squeasy, right? Buy a cake mix and some ready made frosting. What could go wrong? Me, that's what can go wrong. There are too many rules in this baking business. Why can't you just brush on some olive oil, salt and pepper and slap it on the grill? That's how things are meant to be cooked. Right?

It actually tasted good, but when I took it out of the pan, it broke. What? Yeah and a chunk fell off of the side. Heidi thought that this was a real baking break-through and should be included in all cooking endeavors, but I think I'll try and skip that part in the future. Anyway I tried to fill the hole with frosting, but it just wasn't fluffy enough. Another baking adventure gone awry. Maybe I'll try sticky buns, or not.Ta.

Dog Sitting

Well on Tuesday Great,Great Gramma (Isn't she great?) Called and told us she was going to Duluth to Linda's and then to the hospital because she apparently had some kind of infection in her sinuses and jaw. They had her in ICU for awhile, but she is in a regular room now. She is doing better and will probably go home on Sunday with antibiotics to take. So Wednesday Gramma and I drove up to Hoyt Lakes (AKA "The End of The Road At The Edge of The World) and picked up her dogs and brought them home. It's been interesting, but going well. The dogs are adjusting pretty well considering the circumstances. Our dogs are too. 

Here's me with Cheeblue the dog that doesn't like anyone but GG Gramma and Gramma. Turns out she thinks I'm pretty cool too. Doesn't everyone?

Guess not, here's Rex who tolerates me and just thinks I'm ok, but not that cool. Oh well, can't win 'em all. Anyway GG Gramma's getting better and we'll take the dogs back up there when she gets home. Ta. I almost forgot, Happy Birthday GG Gramma Scotty. Sorry you had to spend it in the hospital. Ta, Ta.

Grampa Bakes Banana Bread

Today for the first time, I made banana bread. I'm actually a pretty good cook, but I never bake. When I got done putting it together and into the oven I realized I had forgotten the milk. Then I sat down and the dog got in the chair with me and I discovered he had batter on his head. Guess I was a little sloppy.

Ready.

And done.            

Here it is. It actually tastes pretty good too, even without the milk ingredient. So I won't have to feed it to the chickens 'cause we'll eat it. Too bad for the chickens. Be good, be careful and be sure you don't forget the milk. Ta.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAMMA!

Today is Gramma's birthday.

As you can see she won't be dancing today in celebration, unless she does the one-legged bunny hop. She is doing really well, much better than we both expected. She jumps in the wheel chair and gets herself to the bathroom, lets the dogs out in the morning and yesterday made her own lunch when I wasn't looking. Awesome woman, and cute too. Happy birthday sweetheart.

In other news I need to cut hay again. Here's a pic of our "new baler". It's only 34 yrs old. The other one was from the 60's. Cross your fingers and hope it works. Ta.

Jumpers

We have quite few new additions to the deer herd this year. One set of triplets, at least one set of twins   and I'm not sure how many singles.

The twins.

One of the twins chasing my cat.

The triplets. It was foggy.

We also have a set of last years twins hanging around almost daily. They come up close to the house in the front and back yards. A doe and a buck. Sure has been fun watching them. The twins were checking out a couple of Sandhill Cranes in the south pasture the other day until one crane got tired of it and pecked the one fawn right on the end of it's nose, that made them lose interest quickly. Anywho,  be good, be careful and be sure to keep your chickens cool in this heat. Ta.

More Birds II

So after three months and getting a new computer, (Thanks honey) I think I'm back.

Mama oriole.

Papa oriole. We have been getting young orioles too.

Mr. Rooster.

Grosbeak, house finch, (we call them rosy fiches) goldfinch.

We have a large contingent of humming birds this year. Lots of young ones. I'm constantly refilling the "two" feeders. I've counted as many as ten at one time and it's not easy counting these little speedy guys. Thanks for looking, there'll be more. Be good, be safe and be sure to keep your hay dry. Ta

More Birds

Just some more birds that are here all the time.

 

Pileated woodpecker

Turkeys

Redwing Blackbirds

Blue Jays

Chikadees. We also have lots of different sparrows, swallows, sand hill cranes, geese, ducks and we usually have bluebirds, but we haven't seen any yet and I don't know why.

Here is a surprise this year. An Indigo Bunting. So very pretty. Poor pic, but it was raining. See ya later.

Birds

Here's some of our regular visitors.

 Rosebreasted Grosbeak.

 Mrs. Grosbeak.

 Goldfinch.

 Ruby Throated Hummingbird.

 Downy Woodpecker.

 Baltimore Oriole.

 Mourning Dove

And the ever-elusive and seldom seen Barred Rock. More to come soon. Ta.

Last Calf

So the last calf was born today.

 He's a cutie. Another red cow and another bull calf. I guess that's all Frank can make is bulls. So, a red calf.

 A brown calf.

A black calf. Now if that's not diversity, I don't know what is. Mom and baby doing fine. Thanks for stopping by. Ta.