My ole cowboy is on his way home from Sioux Falls, and by all accounts the roads should be in good shape. The temperatures are on their way up with the two inches of new snow that has stayed right where it fell. Did I have a good Valentine’s Day? Oh yes. After making a batch of Bar-B-Q for sandwiches, baking and frosting a Lemon cake for supper, I sat on the sofa and took a nap.
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Noreen
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Noreen
We, meaning the livestock and me, are settling in and taking the cold in stride. As luck would have it, Fuzzy and Honey Bunny were both home before seven last night. I gave out a few special treats and left them all for a good night’s rest.
Today has been uneventful. I am rounding up on a quilt project and scratching my head on how to finish it off. I may have to actually purchase some fabric for the borders. I checked and double checked and came up with nothing that would compliment what I have done thus far. Dennis talked about going to Mankato next week. I may have to make a stop or two to see what would be available and what would make sense. It does hurt when I need to purchase fabric.
This evening I am looking forward to some toasted egg sandwiches from the sandwich maker. I do enjoy the English Muffin Bread trimmed down a bit for it to fit perfect. Just a great toast on the bread with the egg still soft. Good eating.
Another cold night and snow coming. The livestock and I am prepared.
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Noreen
Wow, I feel the power. For the weekend I am in charge here on Stauffer Avenue. Dennis left this morning for Sioux Falls for his annual trade show. For 25 years, it has been an annual trip. Dennis sets up his wares on two tables and meets and greets people from all parts of the United States. It has always offered 250 tables, but this year they changed the venue and another 150 tables were offered with people still on the waiting list for future years.
I was thrilled when Dennis called that he had set up his tables and was calling from a motel room. The amount of visitors for this weekend is a real cash cow for the area. He did mention that he had a bath towel or two stuffed under the door as the wind has really picked up in that area. We had an agreement: if the weather is blustery, he stays for one more night. In years past we headed out for home and it was not a good decision. The pickup was in four-wheel drive and my mouth was in the “shut” position. There were so many people who were awaiting road side assistant as the ice welcomed them right into the ditch.
I will be camped out in my sewing studio with making multiple trips out to the garage just to take in some fresh air on the trip and to check in with the cats. Two of them, Fuzzy and Honey Bunny, are outside and sooner or later, they will be tucked up close to the porch door to be let in. The old stray, Tabatha, that we let in the the porch several weeks ago, welcomed me with a meow. I let her smell my hands and then nuzzled her head and back. I have a box of special treats that I give the cats once in awhile and I did put a few on the chair pad of the chair she has claimed for her very own. Everybody was happy when I bid them a “See you later.” About dusk, I will go back out for a sitting spell and wait for the wandering ones. My luck, it will be one in and one out until they have all cooled themselves off.
My hope is that all my people are safe as the warning to be out in this severe cold is serious.
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Noreen
Keeping it Positive
We are in the midst of a cold blast, but it sure could be worse. We only listen to the news over the supper hour to realize how sweet and carefree our abode is compared to all that makes the headlines. I agree, the news is not the best for proper digestion, but living with our heads under sand doesn’t sound wise either.
One thing that was prevalent during my childhood and a few homes that Carrie and Kevin grew up in when the temps dipped below zero, was frozen water pipes. One thing Dennis and I don’t worry about during frigid cold is having water pipes freeze. When Kevin redid our bathroom and kitchen a time back, there was everything possible done on a step by step basis as we were down to the bare stud walls. Again, Dad’s favorite words, “Don’t have time to do it right, but always have time to do it over.” Believe me, Kevin did it right, right down to building the bathroom sink out into a short shroud to pack insulation between the water pipes and the east house wall. It did allow for a great shelf above the bathroom facet area. In case there would be a problem, the shelf lifts off for access if needed. With that, that would be the tip of the iceberg as to how the rest of the project went with preventative measures.
Not quite six foot high and rising, but when it begins to thaw, it may well feel like it.
Looking outside, I don’t think there is any preventative for what is in store come this spring with the thaw. The snow, north of the patio, has to go somewhere before the frost leaves the soil. We will be making preparations to evacuate the porch as spring creeps up on us. In hind site, yeah Dad, I hear you. We should have poured the concrete for the porch about six inches above grade and the patio following suit. Dennis has already commented that it will be time to take advantage of evacuation and put down a much needed new carpet in the porch. The porch is enjoyed whether there is snow hanging on the boots or if there is mud on the shoes. It was built to be enjoyed, come hell or high water.
The mess ahead can’t be dwelt on when there is beauty in the winter everywhere I look in our backyard. It is amazing how snow can find a place to land and remain there through sunshine and wind. My brother Calvin built a wonderful trellis for our gardens. Plants love it during the growing seasons and the snow takes refuge on it in the winter. Taking the little things in, makes me smile and allows me to have a very positive feeling about each day as it comes. -
Noreen
I know I can’t live without technology, but it sure is a pain the butt. My laptop loads updates periodically at the end of the day when I indicate that I am shutting down. Last night there were 26 updates. Seriously? I left the little beast to do its own thing and I went to bed as I knew it would configure the updates in the morning when I booted the laptop up.
Low and behold this morning, there was a message that I had been notified I was using a counterfeit Windows application for Window 7. Yeah, right. Come and get me. After seven years of using the same application, they are now just questioning it? I went on about my usual checks-ins on the computer and it is still humming right along. More and more, I am enjoying the HP Notebook in my sewing studio. I did question whether I needed the Hp at the time, but while I am taking a break from sewing, or the embroidery design that I loaded is to take 84 minutes, I can enjoy several sips of coffee in between changing the colors of the threads, while looking up something on YouTube. Oh yes, I am so spoiled and I do enjoy all of it without taking it for granted.
In the early days of December, our stackable washer took a dump. For a period of a month and a half, we used the laundromat here in town. It was a godsend. After being back on board with a new unit in the bathroom, it does amaze me as to how much dryer the clothes are coming out of the washing machine. This certainly makes a difference in how they come out of the dryer. We are back to making linty dust bunnies in the bathroom and we are happy campers about it.
If I am not mistaken, several times a week, one or the other of us comments on how we have it made here on Stauffer Avenue.
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Noreen
Nothing New
This last weekend was a bit nasty with the high winds and snow. Is it the worst I have even experienced . . . no. In 1973, we lived on an acre of land, complete with a two story brick schoolhouse and a brand new 14 x 80 mobile home. The mobile home was quite an adjustment from the two story farm home, complete with a basement.
In those first couple of years on that parcel, I don’t think we could have begun to adjust if it had not been for the empty schoolhouse to help with the overflow of belongings and activities. Carrie was in third grade and Kevin was in kindergarten. The gymnasium hardwood floor was a perfect place for the kids to burn off energy and that included riding their bicycles around in circles. With a lot of elbow grease, there was no shortage of corners to clean for Orlin and Kevin to have a tool bench in the back room that ran the entire width of the building. With a Warm Morning wood stove set up in the gymnasium, weekends could burn up a lot of energy by cutting some of the older dead trees for firewood.
The first winter there was a blizzard that hit with a lot of snow. It blew so hard, it did take the pilot light out on the gas furnace in the mobile home several times during the storm. We had some protection from a sparse tree line to the north. We lost power for a short time and the handy dandy oil lamps that had been Grandma Schafer’s were put to good use. Extra clothes and blankets were used and we enjoyed the fact that the schoolhouse did offer some heat from the hard work of having plenty of chopped wood on hand. The storm lasted several days and there could always be seen tracks from the mobile home to the back door of the schoolhouse. As much as the howling storm could be heard in the mobile home, the gymnasium, partially below grade, was a quiet safe heaven. Luckily, no water pipes froze in the mobile home.
When the storm had exhausted itself, our driveway out to the county road had a drift that made the height of the mobile home seem insignificant. There was nothing to do but sit tight and wait. In that day and age, it was a kinder world. The county crew punched a hole through the snow bank, so our neighbor, Bob Dascher, could finish the job with his farm tractor and large snowblower.
In this day and age, it might sound menial, but land lines that meant using the phone, calling across line systems, meant a toll charge would be placed on each call. We didn’t use the phone Willy-Nilly. Calling my parents in the next township, or Orlin’s mother in Hector: those phone calls were short and sweet. The calls were just long enough to let everyone know we were okay, and hoping they were also. That winter had a few blasts that made it memorable.
Now, there is no such thing as being totally immobile. City and county equipment can take storms in stride as well as four-wheel drive vehicles that seem to be standard in most households. Nonetheless, I respect weather. I make sure I hit the the grocery store when the forecast calls for bad weather, and I will venture out when I see a whole lot of traffic being out and about. We also try and keep a vehicle filled with gas in the off chance that someone needs to go somewhere in an emergency.
This last weekend makes me very happy to note that the official day of spring is just twenty days away.
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Noreen
I did think our little home would blow away at times during the night. The wind howled and made noises and still is having its way 24 hours after it started. There was not very much drifted onto the drive, but Dennis took care of what there was. We happen to be protected from the north by our neighbor’s shrubs.
I often wondered why some of my friends had more than one sewing machine on board. I now know why. While the Bernina is doing an embroidery design, I have again enlisted my 45-year-old Sears Kenmore for straight stitching. It’s a good thing.
In the end, it all comes down to both Dennis and me having a satisfying day.
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Noreen
There are some days when I reflect on the past 24 hours. I feel humble and live in thankfulness. I am no one without my Lord watching over my family’s safety. It leaves me speechless.
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Noreen
Super Ball Frenzy – Not!
It may be a frenzy for many, but not for us on Stauffer Avenue. We have way too many important things going on to even realize what particular Super Ball teams are playing. I do know that the fellow that does a catchy commercial, Payton Manning, may be on one of the teams, but I am not sure.
We do have one very happy cat in the garage . . . Harriet. I went to pay the ransom at the veterinary clinic this morning. We had used the smaller of the carriers thinking Fuzzy would be a patient as well. The carrier was put on the counter and there was not a sound coming from within. Peeking in I could see Harriet crouched down in the farthermost corner. I talked to Harriet all the way home telling her how brave she had been. We have seen too many stray cats that are barely kittens themselves end up have litter after litter. That is not for our girl cats. We just want them to enjoy our porch and yard and bring us an occasional mouse. More than likely a bird. When we got home to the porch, I set the carrier on the floor and popped the top open. Harriet just sat there as I talked to her and petted her. It took a long time before she stepped out to quickly find a spot to hide. Just watch your back Fuzzy, your time is still coming.
Kersten and Kevin brought over a turkey at Christmas, and today the aroma of it roasting filled our home.
I knew I would 
have a window of four or five hours to settle into the sewing studio. As portions of a larger quilt top is to come together, there a few seams that are bound to be ripped open for either a larger or smaller seam to be applied to allow corners of the four patches to meet and be pleasing. It teaches patience if you want the end result to bring about a smile of accomplishment.There is another threat of sleet, mixed with snow and high winds coming our way. All I need to know is that my people are safe and sound as they go about their travels and their days. Getting that short message when destinations have been met safely is the peace that passes all understanding. When my Mom was in her nineties she had said that that short phone calls from me when I had arrived home safe was better than all the money in the world. Lena was a very smart lady.
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Noreen
Can you visualize a cat roping rodeo event? No, I did not mean a calf roping event. I did mean a cat roping event. This morning our intent was to get Fuzzy and Harry, aka: Harriet into the veterinarian for shots and also to take away the possibility that Dennis and I were contributing to the rampant wild cat population.
We had a plan that sounded pretty good as were sitting at the dining room table last night over supper. The vet tech said that when cats were netted they would not put up much of a fuss, but rather just become immobile while hanging in the net, thus allowing us to position the net in close proximity of the carrier and then reach in and grab them by the nap of their neck. We were prepared with a possibility of two different sized nets, plus Dennis’ heavy leather gloves.
This morning, with coffee cups in hand, we ascended onto the unsuspecting group of porch cats. They were all excited to see us, as Dennis has put the food bowl away last night before he came into the house.
The first of the two nets was too much of an oval and didn’t appear to have the look of a circle of netting coming straight down on the cat. The hardware on the net needed to be flat on the floor after it had been thrown over the cat. We found that out on the first try. A sliver of space and Fuzzy was gone and in hiding.
I put out a bit of food on the floor and of course all six were upon it as if they had not eaten for a month. We decided to get either one and Harry was nabbed. Talk about a blur of gray fur and netting material. It was all Dennis could do to keep the frame of the net pinned down flat onto the floor. It took a bit and Dennis was able to lift the net with Harry swinging in the bottom of it. Sure didn’t look like an immobile cat to me. Cautiously, the cat, the net and Dennis’ arm were in the carrier. It was much like trying to flick off a piece of sticky gum off of your finger, only there were teeth and claws involved. Finally, one down and one to go. Harry in the carrier was tucked into the back seat of the car.
It didn’t take long and Fuzzy was back checking out to see if he couldn’t quiet his hunger pains by finding a piece of the dry cat food. Voila! The net was thrown and Fuzzy was under it. When Dennis lifted the net to navigate toward the carrier, there was no way Fuzzy was going to swing low in that sweet chariot. In a heart beat, he was climbing his way out of that three foot long webbing of net. Dennis tried to push him back down and guess who won?
Okay, so one of the cats ended up at the veterinarian’s this morning. Fuzzy is back to chowing down with the rest until such a time when Dennis will strike again. Fuzzy is so dog-gone fuzzy that Dennis thinks he is a male. Worse case scenario, Fuzzy will wander off to spread his seed, but Harriet won’t be giving us any wee ones.
Life on Stauffer is anything but boring, and that is the tale of the cat roping rodeo. Dennis thinks calves would be easier.
