Another try at Spring!

On Tuesday afternoon we had snow. Today the temperature as reached 75 degrees.  The windows are open so I hear the birds, frogs, ducks and geese and  other sounds of spring.

The wind has been strong drying out the grasses and fields.  We are in an extremely high fire level alert.

DH. DS, and friend have been working at clearing some wooded land next to one of son's fields.  Isn't there somethink about a boy and his toys....a man and his toys...

Jessa spent the night with us.  It was time for bed when she announced, "I'm sleeping with you and papa tonight."  Now, we only have a queen size bed.  It was an interesting night.  I learned she talks in her sleep and as with most children,  I never knew when there would be an arm or leg coming across me.

Today we went for a short ride on the Ranger to see what we could find.  We saw a young eagle in a tree.

When taking her home tonight she called from the back seat, "Grandma." 
"Yes, Sweetheart."
"I love you Grandma."

Those words take away all the thoughts of things I had planned to accomplish last night and today.  The baby quilt will just wait for another day.  I do have twenty blocks put together!

Changing Times

An interesting  Tuesday morning at school. Around 9:40 the emergency lockdown announcement played over the speaker system. The entire staff immediately went into lockdown mode using the training we had last year. As staff  we knew it was not a "normal" drill due to events that were occurring. The city police department,  Washburn County Sheriff's Department, and SWAT teams all made an amazingly rapid response.   It was determined a tech person working on the phone system accidentally triggered the alarm.  After it was over all the classes discussed how it had not been a drill. This is the reason we practice and do what we need to do, including the reason to take our drills seriously.

Since this was unplanned it was treated completely as a full emergency lockdown.   All of the departments and staff reacted as we would in an emergency situation.  We pray it never occurs in our small corner of the state in the midwest.

I will admit ,when it was all over and we knew everyone was safe, my knees did begin to shake.  It was a little unnerving to see the SWAT team in uniform and carrying their weapons to walk past the windows.  We have now assured parents we are equipped to care for their children in an emergency!

Until next time...

Stay safe,
Linda

April Fools Trick

Parts of Northwest Wisconsin woke up to a cruel April Fools Day trick by Mother Nature!

 

By the end of the afternoon the snow is mostly gone. 

I have started on the quilt for my "to be born soon" granddaughter! DIL-2 is due around April 20.  I had lost my mojo for quilting for a few months.  I think it was from being so very stressed at school and tired out when I arrive home. 

Tonight I hope to make great progress on sewing the churn dash squares together. 

Tomorrow I head with friends for our annual trip to a quilt show in Rice Lake, Wi.  It is now a very large show. But, does have some awesome vendors.  Not only do I get to walk around looking at awesome things with my friends! Afterwards we head to Applebee's to eat, talk and best of all, laugh. 

Have a GREAT day!

Oops--just found out my nine year old grandson has a basketball game at 5:30 tonight!  The quilt may have to wait.

Unusual Weather for North West Wisconsin!

What happens when the temperature reaches 66 degrees in early March in Northwest Wisconsin...MUD!

On Tuesday the two older grandkids ride home with me from school. We stop to pick up the youngest at his day care.  My motto has always been, "Kids and clothes wash.  Have fun." 

It was a great 90 minutes at grandma & papa's before mom arrived from work. 

Finally some quilting completed!

Baby showers for special people require special quilts be sewn with prayers and love!

The first was for the daughter of friends who are missionaries in Nicaragua. It is difficult for them to be away when their first granddaughter will be born! Once again, I used the Moda Pinwheel pattern with the prairie points.  Rikki has decorated the nursery in pink and gray. I didn't expect her to use it as a wall hanging!

The second quilt was for the 2 year old grandson of the same friends.  He is the son of Rikki's twin sister.  Trisha has been going through an extremely difficult time in her life.   In an email their mother (grandma) told me the toddler loves trucks.  I had fabric left from Cole's quilt to I made a toddler size quilt for Greyson. He didn't have a special blanket of his own. 

Today was the shower for a gal at church.  Her mother-in-law is one of my very good friend.  It was a fun afternoon.  I had one flimsy together and decided I didn't like it.  So up to the "fabric collection" I went where I found flannel I purchased 1 1/2 years ago when a local shop went out of business.  It was easy and quick.  The fabric is from the book, "Guess How Much I Love You."  

Now the sewing machine and fabric will need to be put away until I finish our farm taxes!  Then on to a Christmas tree skirt for a shower gift, a baby quilt for my next grandbaby coming in April/ May, and a for my nephew's baby due in August!

Beauty of Winter..

The view from my kitchen window this morning.

 

I am going to try something new.  I am going to try sewing wool applique.  I know it won't be as perfect as the awesome ones everyone post pictures of on facebook.  I will give it my best try.  Hopefully it is something I will be able to work on at night after school. 

 

Memories Made

Merry Christmas  My Friends,

In an attempt to not become overwhelmed this Christmas season I attempted to focus only on what was the most important and try to let other things go.  No cards, not as much decorating, and no baking.  Also, no sewing!!

One of the important things was to attend the Christmas programs for our grandchildren.   They started on December 6 with the church program for Conner, Tatum and Jessa.  Tatum was in a candle light angel dance with the "big" girls...beautiful (even if I am grandma.)

Jessa is our drama queen.  She loves being in front of the microphone. 

Kasey, in the black sweater, and Cole, in the plaid shirt with his hand in his pocket, were part of the bell choir at our church.  Kasey is very intense to do it all correctly.  

 Our Elementary and Primary schools still have Christmas Programs.  Each grade sings two or three songs.  The gym is packed with parents, grandparents, and siblings.  A true small town community.

 Since Kasey is a 2nd grader it is her last program in the primary school.

 Tatum, a first grader, in the blue dress helped direct the students in one song.

Cole in the plaid shirt in the back.

Chad and Katie live in a small unincorporated village.  Across the street from their home is an old extremely small Lutheran church.   A gal from the church as a Wednesday school on Wednesday afternoon.  She always invites Conner, Tatum, and Jessa to participate.  She puts together the "old fashioned" Christmas program with memorized pieces, songs, and a pageant.  Nine children participated.  If you notice on the way the is a sign to report there were 24 people in church that morning with an offering of $445.00.

As we have done for many years, we spent Christmas Eve at my mom's.  I attempted to talk her out of it.  She is living in a small duplex.  She will be 90 year old in April and I can tell she is failing.  She told me she hates to give it up.  So my DIL's and myself brought the food.  We don't do gifts that night, only time together. 

At Great Grandma's house are the same toys left from their great uncles and their daddy's played.  Great Grandma's carmel corn is always a hit.

And then,  I  wonder why we can't have a good picture.. It is hard enough to have seven grandkids all look at the camera.  It doesn't help when Papa is goofing off also.

I didn't have a chance for pictures on Christmas Day.  We had 9 adults and the seven grandkids here for Christmas Morning Brunch. In our small home it is more than crowded.   Our family now includes our nephew and his fiancee who moved to Wisconsin a year ago.  They are with us for all holidays and fit so well with our crew.

Until next time, 

God Bless my friends!

Linda

One More Birthday Gift

When Kasey saw Kylie's Moses Basket in August, she whispered to me, "Grandma, will you make me one for my birthday?' What else is a grandma to do?

She needed it large enough for the American Girl doll she was able to pick for her birthday from her Mom and Dad.  She selected "Kaya." Kasey and her mom made a trip to the Mall of America to the American Girl store.  They ate lunch at the restaurant where they had a high chair for the doll to sit in at the table. 

It is deer hunting season in Wisconsin.  This afternoon Conner and Tatum came with their dad to hunt with Papa.  While DS-2 headed to his stand, the others went to Papa's stand.  The new stand makes it possible for the kids to safely spend the afternoon with papa.

They didn't see a deer to shoot.  However, many memories were made.  Conner had his Daisy BB Gun along just in case there were any squirrels in the tree.

We have the week off of school for Thanksgiving (Hunting season) Vacation.

Until later,

Combining in Northwest Wisconsin

Today DH is driving the combine while son and nephew are hauling semi loads of corn to a facility about  90 minutes away one direction.  Our grain bins are full which requires the corn to be hauled away.   I went to the field to ride with him.

The head is 20 feet wide which takes twelve corn rows at a time.  

The combine is equipped with a computer.

 

This is one of the touch screens.  It shows a running bushels per acre, the bushels per acre for the field, the moisture of the corn,  and many other things. 

 The main control for the head is a type of "joy stick." Each of the buttons controls part of the head.  Another computer screen is on the right.  Usually it shows how full the grain tank is.  When it is 4/4 full it signals with a "beep".   Another amazing feature is "auto steer."  When one of the yellow buttons is held until it beeps twice the computer takes over to drive the combine down the rows. 

This is the view from the drivers seat.  This year they have chased several bear out while going through the field. 

If you look closely you can see our dog, Pepper lying on the floor watching or sleeping.  Sometimes when Colby is riding with Todd he will lie their also and take a nap.  One day he slept over two hours while riding with Todd. 

When the grain tank is full the corn is emptied into either a wagon like these, the grain cart, or one of the trucks. 

They start extra early and work long after dark.  

This year it continues to be all family.  From DH to our son to our grandkids riding safely in the combine.  Also, our nephew moved here from New Jersey and is helping.  He is learning farming is hard work, long hours, and yet he is learning why his grandfather, Herb and now Todd spend the hours farming.