KILL ME IT'S 24 BELOW

6am, kids just got up because.they wanted out at 2am.  Jim just commented that the wind even froze because it finally stopped blowing.  It sure blew yesterday.  Wow it blew.  Today is a busy day, crafters this morning and I am driving, it's at Gloria's in town.  I am going to have to get Jim out there to snowblow because some of the paths no longer exist.
Tonight I work at the Muni selling raffle tickets for the Lions and I have a free day on Friday but Saturday I work at I the Library - after my last job there they probably don't want me, I eraced everything I did by accident, no recors of anything.
Good job PJ.
MY KITCHEN IS SO BEAUTIFUL.
I just had to add that.
Well I need to be ready in two hours.  I need to send a package off for Skye today.  I am so excited about her birthday present. I am going to have to give it to her early.  I can't contain myself.
What fun to find thing for people - I got Heidi the cutest Rooster wine stopper.  I can't wait to get my sewing room back.  It will take money for the shelves and bookcases, we will see, I hear K-mart in the Rapids is going out of business.  Maybe they have something.  Who knows, I looked at a consignment store yesterday when Jim and I went to the Rapids.  The only thing that would work are I old hutches and sideboards.  I am sick of old junk.  I have an old desk in their now I would like to get rid of.
Hummmmmmmm, I will have to rethink the whole thing I think.
Oh well busy day and to heck with the miserable weather.  More important things to think about.
Coffee for instance.

HOME AGAIN HOME AGAIN JIGGITY JIG

My Mac is 36.  My goodness how time flys.  The weekend was wonderful.  I didn't leave Mac's house for four nights and that was perfect.  We watched a lot of figure skating because of DVR and of course Cinderella, Peter Pan, we watched Tangled,which I had never seen And The Sound of Music with Julie Andrews.  Skye made a ton of dog treats and Hudson helped her and on Sunday Hope was really sick with a cold we cuddled on the couch.  She didn't feel well at all so on Monday we dropped Huddie off at daycare and went to Skye's Salon and she spent the day there.  It was so fun to spend time with Alexis, River and Autumn, I only wished traveling for everyone could have been easier, roads were so frozen and rutted.  
It is now Wednesday and the wind is something fierce, what a nightmare outside, still 20-30 below every morning, we went grocery shopping yesterday and Jim drove me to Weight Watchers yesterday and I only gained a pound,  the Special K bars were so good.  I was bad.
At least I went and didm't try and hide from my obligation.  I will get down to 145 by hook or crook. I have a long way to go.i weighed in at 170.  Uffda.
Well I need to get to bible Study, we are on Matthew 10..

It is Saturday

The big big storm is over and what a storm it was.  Tempatures fell, a foot of snow came down, a lot of it sideways because of the big wind.  Mac and Laura got out yesterday for San Francisco and landed and headed for Napa Valley.  Good for them.  His birthday was Friday so a wonderful present for him and Alexis arrived last night with River and Autumn about 6pm.  A long road trip for them, it should have been 2 hours on the road or less and it was 3 1/2.  It took Skye an hour to come from Mounds View.  A 20 minute drive. Can you stand it. Took her an hour.
Skye came over with life saving milk yesterday, we were out and I didn't feel like going out with rather kids. She also picked up our favorite pizza from Jets pizza.  It is really yummy.

WOW HERE I AM IN MOUNDSVIEW

OK I have 6 band aids on my fingers so it's hard to type well.  I will have to leave Skye's before the snow gets bad and head for Mac's.  It sounds like I picked the best day to travel yesterday.
A recap.Tuesday I can't think of anything that was on the calendar except I did go to Weight Watchers with Sue in Walker.  Lost 2 pounds so that's 4 so far but I still feel fat as a pig and I can't believe I have lost anything but I am doing some things right.
I think.
Got the laundry caught up, got packed, my goal was to leave by 5:30, didn't really do back because I was on the road by 6:30am and had a good drive down.  Unloaded at Skye's before I stopped at the salon.  Her snowblower is on the fritz and her driveway is a nightmare.  Maybe this morning I can help with her driveway a again.  We need a snow shovel.  I may run and get one.
Home Depot probably opens at 8am.
I managed to get from Mounds View to Eagan where Sharon lives via 35E and I don't take that often, I took 35W back because I know it like the back of my hand and it was after dark.  It is quite a commute. Sharon and I went to Ikea and had lunch.  I can't believe the size of that Swedish store.  I found some bookcases that would work and bar stools too.  Jim told me I can have them but no FL trip.
It was a fun day and seeing what Sharon is doing with her townhouse.
We got together with Sarah and Gwen, former ChartHouse employees , what am I saying, Sarah still works there, and I wish she was out of there.  Not a healthy environment.
Well it's light out now and I am hungry.
Later.

MONDAY - LION'S MEETING TONIGHT

Decisions decisions decisions. I may just take Skye up on her offer and leave after I drop the kids off at daycare on Monday and come home then.  She can come over, pick up the kids from daycare and wait for Laura.  I then may go down on Tuesday instead of Wednesday. Don't know.
I skipped church yesterday, now I wish I would have gone to The Congreational Church.  I was so tired yesterday morning I let my body deside for me and that wasn't good.  We went shopping in the Rapids for groceries about 10:30 and got back in plenty of time to go to Outing to church to vote for a new Bishop for our region.  Vote to put him on the ballot anyway.  Bishop Tom is so wonderful I hope we keep him as long as I am alive.  I wonder if there is a term limit, like with President.
Coffee is good today, mixed two together.
We do have a problem this year.  The frost has gone down at least 8 feet and that is unpresidented.  The frost doesn't usually go down nearly that far but it has been such an unusual year.  I want you to know my door between my entry way and dining room won't shut properly anymore,  it is just too tight at the top.  I think my house is just too crooked from the ground frost. Weird huh.
I am sitting by the fire, couldn't find my slippers so I put my feet in a warm fuzzy wuzzy blanket that I bought at the Rummage sale.  I know the tempature is 16 degrees so I shouldn't be that cold.  Face it we have 6 hard months of winter and that's that.
There is so much to do.  I have so many project going on.
I can't wait to sew some mew towels.  I may need some new fabric. I did buy new towels but I think I need to wash them first.  We will see.
I sure need to cut out the pattern and get started.
You should see the roses Jim got me for Vday, they still look very beautiful, I will have to try and download some pictures. From my camera.
I felt like such a dweeb on Saturday when I worked my Library shift.  At 5 minutes to 2 just before I was to leave it asked me if I wanted to save my changes and I said NO, well it reached everything I put in for the day so about 6-8 people aren't checked out of movies and videos.  My goodness I am sorry, I called Jean and we talked about saving what you put in as your doing it, I just didn't think of doing that.  Makes me furious with myself.

SUNDAY MORNING

Church is cancelled.  Water lines and sewer froze up at church and parsonage, Jim was at church most of the day.  He really has had to pick up the slack in all departments at church.  We also have a leak in the roof that will need to be fixed at church.  He is good at contacting the right people to get in a d fix things.  We are at the end of the line in the community when it comes to the water line and I guess it makes a difference.
I have a big week coming up.  I am going down to Minneapolis on Wednesday to visit Sharon.  Will be good to see her new place and see what they have done.  She is going to go to Ikea with me.  Hope I can come up with something for my sewing room.  Looking forward to seeing all my kids.  We are having a gathering at Mac's.  I will be at Mac's for 4 nights and will have help from Skye and Alexis. Lucky me.  It was perfect having my girls first.  Sometime I wish they had life mates.  Jeff abanded ship, couldn't take the heat of a family and all that entails.  Skye just hasn't met Mr. Right yet.  She does have a rich full life.  This beauty shop is coming around but it is a slow process.
I am looking at an almost full moon right out my window.  It is so beautiful.  I am listening to music from WWII and you just can't beat it.  "We Kiss and the Angels Sing", what a great song. "Long Ago and Far Away",  what words. Chills run up and down my spine,  love the words.  They were so clever and the big band sound.  Transcends you to another time and place.  Love the music from the 40ies.
Well this morning I am going with Jim to Grand Rapids.  We need a few groceries.  I am going to make soup today but I need Mexican Corn for it.  I made fresh Fiddle Faddle yesterday.  Love the pecans in it.  Crispix cereal, bugles, pretzels rye crisps.  Just a bunch of crispie stuff.
At 3pm we have to be in Outing for registration for the synod assemble.  It's just an early meeting to get us excited about Tne meeting that takes place in May.  I thank God I have the kind of husband that will participate with me.  It's May 2-3-4th I think so if we go South we will need to be back by then.  They always have such good speakers.  My first assembly was too wonderful for words.  Went with Jim that year and Janet and I went one year.   Was wonderful.
I wish you could see the babies.  They come with me where ever I go.  I will miss them this week, and Jim, and Jim.    I wish Mac and Laura could allow dogs then Jim could come with meTheir allergies.  And of course there is Otto who has to mark his territory.  Kill me I would never have another male dog.
Coffee sure is good today and I love having my coffee maker from the kids.
Well here I am doing too many things at once.  Making copies of movies, working on a pattern for my stove towels and the brain is going 100 miles an hour getting ready for next week.

ITS VALENTINES DAY

My sweetie got me a dozen roses with some babies breath.  It's beautiful to get roses.  You should see the lovely Valentines Day card.   Of course I did my usual.  Nothing.  I am going to make a breakfast wrapped in Lefsa.  Jim thought it was a good idea.  We will see.
On Wednesday we went to Bible Study, Jim in the morning and mine in the afternoon.  We did Matthew 8 and having insight from others in the group makes all the difference in the world.  It started snowing early Tuesday so we cancelled Bethany crafters at Elaine's so I walked over to June and Linda's to knit and play cards.  I lost 75 cents, like a twit I set it up and helped Linda have the grand slam of Golf and she won double.  My fault, I wasn't paying attention.
We did have time to write down two recipe's after.  One I want to Make today is meat loaf in muffin tins.  The other is a chicken soup tortilla chowder.  It just sounds wonderful.  Will try that out today too.
Jim had to be in Brainerd and Lorretta called me up so we could get flowers for Pam Paterson! she has some surgery on her hand.  I had Jim get a beautiful Azalea plant.  We took it over to her house after Jin returned and plowed out the church.  We must have got at least 4 inches and lots of wind.   When we hit Pam's driveway, Jean was already there stuck in the middle of it and dug her out,  what a mess, his hearing aid fell in the snow but he was able to find it.  Had a nice visit,  she live out on the Swatera Road, Renee mad Jean live back there in the boonies too.
The kids were with us.   It's an adventure for them too, they need to get out, when we got home the hop out and can't wait to run out in the field by the windmill where the deer feed.  They romp and jump and play in the snow.  So fun to watch them and the come in to the door when they get cold.
Happe Valentines Day to everyone and especially to Mac & Laura, Hope and Hudson and Kissa.  To my wonderful Alexis, Ricer and Autumn and Buddir and to Skye and Nico and Monty who is in her charge for 2 months, she will probable end up with him.  Tony isn't much of a master.  Not much of a person to move to Hawaii and leave his beloved Monty the English Bulldog in care of others.

TUESDAY ALREADY

I have to download some pictures , I was so tired last night I didn't stay awake through all od Westminsters Dog Show but I did see the Schipperkee.  A poodle won his class of non-sporting dogs.
Sunday morning Heidi and I skipped church so we could sew.  We did have a good time making infinity scarves.  Mow I just have to get some lightweight material.  We played Mexican Train Dominoes, drank beer, played Yatsee, drank beer, played Racko, drank beer - get the picture here.  We had a nice dinner and watched The Olimpics but both fell asleep when the ice dancing was on.  We really wanted to see that.  On Monday morning we were on the road by 7:30 to Bemidji to go to the Ben Franklin store.  Was fun.  She headed home by 12:30.  Wonderful time. How fun to have the sister I have.
I am going to Weight Watchers though I don't know why, I bet I put on 5 pounds.  I am a very sick woman to pay for meetings for gaining weight.
Meeting Susan at 3pm for the drive over to Walker.
Have some errands to run.
Have a Dr. Appt at 11:40.  Routine.

THE FESTIVAL OF THE FALLING SNOWFLAKES

We had a wonderful breakfast at home of hash browns, bacon, scrambled eggs with lots of veggies and cheese.  Yummy yummy meal with fruit and wonderful coffee.  Heidi brought some wonderful coffee. Some wonderful wine, my Christmas present, a wonderful dish that says "Mirror Mirror on the wall, I am my Mother after all."  It's a hoot. And you should see the wicked witch bookmark.
I love it. You should smell the wonderful Frasier  Fir candle in it pretty green plaid glass holder.  It's lovely.
Back to the races, we were at The Woodsman around 9:30am and got our final instructions and we were off.  We had two places we spotted at because they were short people.  We started out at spaghetti junction (five streets that come together at one intersection),  and once the three teams of 8 dogs left Remer we headed out to Holker Hill to spot there and make sure the dog sled teams headed for Windy Lake to cross and head for Outing.  After they passed we were done until 2pm when we headed back to Remer.  We had time to play Mexican Train Dominoes.  Too fun but she beat the pants off me.  It's ok though because I cleaned her clock playing Sequence last night.  I am sure having fun having Heidi here playing games.  She is making breakfast this morning so I can blog.
We are having left over steak and hash browns and fun eggs with vegetables.  We had our favorite meal of sweet potatoes cut up and tossed in olive oil with sea salt and ground pepper in the oven and a salad with our steak.  Eating those potatoes is like eating candy.  So good.  Breakfast is ready.  Gotta go.

20 BELOW - IT IS UNBELIEVABLE - HEIDI IS HERE - LET THE GAMES BEGIN

OK maybe I am a worse.   I wonder how you spell worse, worse, woose. Woooooooose.   You know wimp.  It is 20 below and I don't want to stand outside with a bunch of dogs.  I will use  at least one tank of gas.  We have to show up at The Woodsman Cafe by 9:45 for final instructions.  I love seeing the dogs go by but I could do that as a spectator.  The weather has not been kind this year.
It's 5:20 or was when I woke up.  Nice to sleep in.   I want to be quite until Heidi awakes.  I did make coffee in my Kuherig.  All of a sudden I can't spell.  What's with that.
I so badly want to put a picture of Dot, myself and Nancy.  Jim took one but I am such a non-techie that I don't know how to. Pas the it here.  I will have Jean teach me.  The photo is in my camera and phone.  Now to extract it and paste it here.  Shouldn't be so complicated should it.
Dot and Nancy came up on Tuesday, I don't recall leaving the house.  We had so much fun.  We had snacks Tuesday afternoon.  Maybe a little wine.  You would think I would remember what we made for dinner that night but I can't.
We really had fun Wednesday, we started prepping early   We made a heart'y winter root vegetable soup.  It sure was good.  Roasted butternut squash, sweet potatoes, carrots and parsnips.  Purée it and add either vegetable or chicken stock and serve with chopped parsley on top.  It was wonderful.  I got the recipe from Heidi and she got it from The Barefoot Contessa.  We also had war chibatt bread to dip I. Olive oil with pomegranate balsamic vinegar.  All a little sea salt and ground pepper.  Yummy.
We had cole slaw that Susan made.  Very yummy, by the way we invited Gary and Susan Selinski over for dinner.  They were here the night I broke my neck so I could hardly exclude them.
We made stuffed red peppers and grilled chicken.  It was lovely.  I think we even made sweet potatoes cut up and tossed with olive oil sea salt and pepper.  Yummy.  Like eating candy.  What is funny is I never yet have found the white sweet potatoes South.  Always yams.  Here we can. Get real sweet potatoes.  Lots of wine of course.  We have so much fun in the kitchen.
So that was really almost all of what we did.  The next day, that would be Thursday, I went to weight watchers with Susan and weighed in.  Gained 2 tenths of a pound.  I think I am the brunt of a bad joke.  Without walking I am not going to loose a pound.  I had better get off my duff and get busy.
I also picked up some jacama heck I can't spell.  I love dragging it through some humnace.

SUNDAY ALL DAY - SUPER BOWL

I wish I could say it means something to me.  It doesn't.
After church I am working the meat raffle with Sue Selenski.  Will be fun.  We are selling 48 instead of 36 a game.   We will see how that goes.
First church and afterwards I would like to go to Grand Rapids shopping.
I worked on the house yesterday and the closets, we waited for the plumber, Clayton, to come so we cold hook up the water to our new sink in the entry way.  Looks great.   I will try to take some pictures.  Did you hear the the comma is becoming obsolete.  Interesting.  It was on the news.
I an using some new cream on my hands.  Jim thinks this one will actually do the trick.  My hands are so split with this weather.
I was trying to order some labels on line.  It won't let me.   I am sure it's operator error but that doesn't help.  Drives me nuts.
I think Jim and I need to escape this winter.
It is becoming long.
It would be Gulf Shores and Florida of course.  Jim loves Florida.I love traveling.  Do't care much where I go.  Would like to try the pan handle sometime in Fl. Or Sarasota.
I need to get back to the museum in Sarasota, I have yet to see the home of TF Barnum.  I wonder if those are his initials.  I just made that up.
I do 't know about weight watchers.  I am working on it but what a pain.  I am eating much better.  I am on my third clementine this morning.  I like them a lot.  I am working on a lot mor fruit and vegetables.  Heidi sent me a vegetable soup recipe with squash, sweet potatoes,