Whirlwind sighting...

We are heading into another whirlwind weekend! I'm getting ready for company again, as Josh, Debora and Thomas will be arriving sometime tomorrow evening. Haven't seen that little fellow (or his parents) in a while - should be fun!

Had a nice chat with Mara this morning while I was doing my shopping in Point. She was heading over to Debora and Thomas' to spend the day with them - sounds like fun! She seems to be getting in some much-needed R&R!

Tomorrow looks really busy here, as after chores in the morning I have to go over and get Doc Debbie's monthly statements out and back home in time to head to Milwaukee for Beth and BJ's 3:30 wedding! We will stay for the dinner and maybe a little of the dance before we head back to Amherst. Josh and family will probably beat us here. Short night, with chore detail the next morning, then over to Greenvale Cemetery at 10:30 for Pa's interment. I think the plan is to go to the Woods in the Mall at Waupaca for dinner, then back to the farm. The family has to have the reading of the will and deciding what to do with the memorial money. Not sure how the rest of that day will pan out, but we are on chore detail for Saturday night. Sunday is our day off, so we plan on having some quality time with our younger grandson and his family. Most likely, I will not be doing any posting until later on Monday or possibly Tuesday. Believe it?? Me neither.

The guys are busy planting soybeans today. Hope it all goes well. Rumor had it that our drill will be hooked up to another tractor (we borrowed Borgen's no-till drill, that Roger is running) and I have planted beans other years....I am mostly organized here at the house and the last of the laundry is in the dryer, so I could be available if they need me. Think I better get stuff organized for our trip tomorrow, too...make sure everything is pressed, etc.

Have a great weekend - looks like it is supposed to be pretty nice, in the 70's. The younger Bacon's will be here through Monday morning, so if anyone wants to see them, come on over! I am not planning any formal get-together, but drop-ins are welcome any time.

More Sam Pictures!

Here are a few more pictures from this past weekend. Sally and Scott got quite a few more on their camera, but I figured I would leave those for them to share. Sam even got to go in Gatfly's tractor! It was so much fun to have him around - all of them! - Scott even mowed some lawn for me! Thanks Scott! And Sally re-discovered washing dishes the old fashioned way. Thanks! Between us, we found a good way to describe Sam's diaper-changing ordeal - "Greco-Roman Diaper Changing"! A boy simply can not lay still for such like! If you are lucky, there are no "escapes", but you do have to pretty much "pin" him!

Pivot Moving Pictures

Well, I got a few photos anyway. Roger was in the (red) tractor, while John rode in the cart (green) to steer the back end of the pivot section. Dan was on the backhoe (yellow) and I was driving the pickup, which held the tools we needed. I only took shots of unloading the section after we were up in the field. The loading was similar, just in reverse. We were able to get three sections of this pivot moved yesterday, and moved the fourth section rather quickly this morning when the new ones pulled in. One will be on the land we purchased from Kenny Jensen, across highway 10, and the other will be where we moved this one from. The older pivot is now up on Harold's field, behind Batten's pasture, across from Andy Gaines'. We have yet to move the last two sections into place, but I think they are up working on that now. I guess they don't need me this time (at least nobody hollered at me!). Rumor has it that Roberts Irrigation will assemble the new pivots - yeah!
Murphy's Law says that now it will rain plenty this summer, but that is the way it goes!

Happy Birthday Lorrie!!

Happy Birthday to Lorrie (Krueger) Hansen - my brother, Mike's, wife!

Still looking good after all these years, and a Grandmother, too!

(I think I need an updated photo of you and Mike!)

Hope you have a great day!!!

Happy Anniversary (Monday) Kristin & Mike!

Happy (Belated) 2nd Anniversary to

Kristin & Michael Harvey!!!!

Looking forward to seeing you on Friday!

Happy-Memorial-Pivot-Moving-Day!

First off - Happy Memorial Day to all who are in or have been in the armed services! THANK YOU!!! Our hats are off to you!

After a wonderful weekend, Sally, Scott and Sam headed for home this forenoon. It was great having them here - got a good dose of Grandson! Can't wait til next weekend when we get to do it with Thomas!
About 5 minutes after they pulled out of the drive-way, Dan stopped in to see if I would drive the pickup for their pivot-moving. Sure, no problem (who wanted to sleep away the day anyway??). By 12:20 we had the first section moved up and put in place. Then they discovered that the backhoe (used to lift the sections on and off the cart, and also to hook them together) had sprung an oil leak - one of the hydraulic hoses had broken. Dan is up fiddling with the pivot while Roger ran into Waupaca for a new hose. I'm supposed to be watching for Roger's return, so that kind of put the nix on my naptime. Oh well. I didn't have the camera with this morning, but will take it with this afternoon to try and get some shots of this process. So much easier this time around as we are only moving the four sections about a mile, with the fifth section being in an adjacent field already.
Oops - Roger just got home. Got to go!

Memorial Weekend Pictures

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Sunday AM notes...

I had planned on going to the wedding dinner/dance last night, but because we had to have others milk for us in the am (I was a bit short on sleep anyway), I stayed home and milked with Roger and John. Actually, Roger and I milked and John did all the other stuff that gets done during milking - cleaning, feeding, calves, etc. We were done really fast (home by 7:30), the way Roger likes to milk. I don't mind doing it that way occasionally, and the cows seemed to be milking out okay. Kind of feel like you ran a marathon when you are done, though. Got home and fixed a snack for Dan and myself (kids were at the wedding doings) and crashed. Boy, did that bed feel good!

True to his word, Dan got up with me and milked cows this morning. It went fine, although he gave up on trying to scrub the parlor and headed out to scrape manure instead. Less bending over. I imagine it doesn't feel good to have the blood rush to your head when your nose hurts. Also he was complaining about a sore back this morning. John said that when Dan went down the other night (he witnessed it) that it looked like he was trying to do a headstand without using his hands - his feet and legs came up off the ground a ways before he landed. Ouch! That would make for a sore back. They kept asking him in the ER if anything else hurt, but that hadn't bothered then.

Dan is laying in on the daybed right now, snoring away (I thought maybe he wouldn't snore so bad with his nose packed, but it was only one nostril!). A nap sounds like a good idea to me....talk to you later!

And the Sainthood Nominees are....

....Linda Jenner and John Bacon - for being dragged out of bed at 4:30 am and 4:45 am respectively, to do chores on their mornings in! I had to make the calls from the ER at St. Mike's in Stevens Point, as Dan wasn't done being seen by the ENT yet.
A little after midnight we decided that the bleeding was beyond what would be considered normal and headed for the ER. The short version: he had his nose chemically cauterized, passed out, threw up a bunch of blood and then the ENT was called. He first trimmed Dan's nose hair (what a nice guy!), then, as Dan relates it, he stuck a screwdriver up his nose and reamed! I don't think that is exactly what happened, but that is probably what it felt like. He was sent home around 6:00 am with his left nostril packed with seaweed (the Dr.'s explanation - the packing is actually a seaweed product) and some pain pills, and told to take it easy today. Seeing how he hadn't slept other than a fitful nap while he received 2500 ml of fluids, that won't be hard to enforce. I had snatched about an hour before the trek to Point, and probably about 2 hours after we got home. Then Sam got up, so I did too so I could visit with his mom before she had to head to Point to start wedding prep. The wedding is at 1:00 pm and I will be going with Scott and Sam. Dan hadn't planned on going anyway, as he figured he would be too busy.
Well, it is time for me to go and get beautiful - or at least presentable. I think we can trust Dan to stay put and behave himself....oh yeah, his nose is broken. (but at least it's not crooked!)

Move Over Jackson!

Dan declined to have his photo taken, but he definitely is in the running with little Jackson Stokes in the messed-up-face department!
He had gone out with John to chase in a fresh cow, and was running full-tilt when his rubber-booted foot caught on a rod sticking out of the ground(?) and he took a digger with his face in the gravel! He has a bad scrape the length of his nose, both lips are split and he has a small gash on his chin. That and he has had a nosebleed on and off since it happened (around 7:00 pm), and it is nearly 10:00 now.
Fun times at the Bacon Household! Scott was a dear, and drove him to pick up the sawdust wagon - just had to do it tonight, you know. Hopefully he will be able to sleep tonight. He plans on getting up in the morning. We will see.
'Night all!

The Best Antidote!

It's simply amazing - one of the grandsons show up and everything is rosy again!!
I had just finished what cleaning I figured I could get done and in drove the Aho family.
I highly recommend getting a grandson/daughter whenever you can! It's amazing how the tiredness goes away and how quickly you are down on the floor for a little romping!
Picture me grinning!!!!

I'm Still Here!

You all got a break yesterday - I was busy pretty much from the time I got up until I went to bed!
After chores in the morning, I started in on the house (wouldn't be such a project if I did it more oftern!!), then decided I would run into Waupaca in the forenoon so I would have the afternoon to work on housework, uninterrupted. Then Dan called to warn me Roger had some more fieldwork lined up for me in the afternoon. I had already cleaned up to go to town, but decided that if I had to be in the field in the afternoon, I wouldn't get everything done. So, I changed again (I'm pretty much a quick-change artist!) and went back to cleaning. (here I got waylaid by a couple of things lying on the sewing machine that needed mending, and I wanted to close the machine up - so mended them first.) About half hour later, Roger stopped in with my orders. Getting a bit frustrated, I dropped everything and headed to the field. Got a good portion of it done before dinnertime and my bladder demanded I quit. (Usually when I know I am going to be in the field, I cut back on my coffee. Had two cups, plus a big glass of water before I found out I was going to be in the tractor!) Home for lunch. Back to the field. Got that finished by 2:30. Home and changed for going to town. Roger had run in to me at the farm and asked for a ride to the field. No problem, I dropped him off on my way into Waupaca. There are some things I like to get at Aldi's, but not everything. I was just about done in there when my cell phone rang. Dan wondered if I would mind running over to Dale to get a part for the corn planter. What time is it? 3:30 - okay that would work out fine. Five minutes later, he called back that Roger was going for the part, so I didn't have to. Fine. Then I would bring home some ice cream for Dan. (would have melted if I had to run to Dale) Happy Dan. Got home, hauled in groceries and put away. Got supper on. Headed to the barn. Milk, milk, milk, milk - then home to clean up to go to WalMart to finish my shopping (sorry if some of you don't like WalMart, sometimes you have to shop where you can afford to!), riding with Dan who went to Menards for a couple of culverts. That meant riding in the diesel pickup (no problem, usually do it that way), but pulling the fifth wheel trailer behind. He managed to drop me off at WalMart without running anyone over (whew!) and was waiting for me way out in the parking lot, with two culverts strapped to the trailer. Finally headed home and did the hauling-in-putting-away again. Time to hit the hay!! Thank goodness for Friday morning in!!!! (Linda = goodness)
Oh, on the way to Point, we called Josh and Debora. They will not be coming this weekend, but will be here for next weekend (Grandpa's burial). Josh is taking advantage of some time off to get things done around their house. Don't blame him at all. He spent some of the week on the road and sounded pretty tired himself. We could hear Thomas, as he was 'napping' on his Daddy's tummy. It will be fun to see them!
Today I need to do the floors yet, but otherwise think I am ready for Sam. They may be here for lunch today, if their morning gels. I will have to fit Doc Debbie's books in there, too, unless she calls and cancels this week. So I best get at it!

Oh - so I don't forget about it: Have a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend, and don't forget to hang out your flag!! (I was chagrined to notice I missed Armed Forces Day the 17th!)

Doc Debbie just called and cancelled me for today!! Her opening line is always, "Hello, this is the Great Procrastinator...." Works out all around, today!

What Dan Does for Fun

My husband likes to make fun of me because I like to change rooms around. Not just the furniture, but room use. Pictured above, is said husband moving a pivot point (for irrigation) from one field to another. This is not routine work. If I am able, I will try to take pictures of when we move the towers. They are sitting in the field beyond him, in the picture (across the road from our house), and will be moved up to the field on Harold's farm just west of Andy's house.

The scary part? The Iola-Scandinavia bus came down through on that same road (Floistad) about 3 minutes after he turned onto the field road. I was on pins and needles until I saw him turn into the field and the bus hadn't come. There are several small hills before the big one that he had to go up over, so there would have been no warning for either one. Yeah, I chewed him out....

There WILL be spotters when the towers go up!

Happy Birthday to Marina!

Happy Birthday to Marina Bacon (John's wife)!

Marina works at the King Veterans' Home,

doing mowing/plowing, flowerbed creations,

setting out of flags, digging graves, etc.

Have a great day!!!

....more of the same....

Finished up on Wally's this morning, then Dan and I ran into Waupaca to do our banking and grab lunch. Back home to more field work. This time I got to run the field cultivator that John usually runs because he was picking rocks in that field (Pipe/Peterson). That was a bit different for me, as I am used to a narrow implement and this one is about 3X wider. Not sure what they will have me doing tomorrow. If there is nothing urgent, I might just have to clean the house!

Sam and his parents will be here on Friday for the weekend, as Sally is standing up in a wedding (Jenny Kropidlowski - if anyone knows her). Sally warned me that I needed to make sure all my floors were clean (what is she insinuating?? hee, hee) or that we would have to put Sam in a pillowcase. Now there's an idea! Just spray it with Pledge and let him go! Sounds like a plan to me. I imagine there may be a few things I have to put up out of the reach of little fingers. Having Jackson here for that short time last Saturday pointed that out. I will have to roll out the rug with the roads on it and get out the wooden cars, too. Grandpa already got the pedal tractor out of the little shed. He can at least sit on it and steer. I think a boy needs to be about 3 before he can handle that one. I suppose Thomas may be taking that home with him someday, as it belongs to his Daddy. (Must make it an antique, huh??)

I got home from the field this afternoon about 3:00, so I went upstairs to see what rearranging I could do for the weekend. I managed to get the crib moved into Josh's old room, where Sally and Scott will be sleeping. I mainly put it in there so he would have a quiet place for naps. I will see what I can do about darkening the room. The blinds let in a fair amount light, but a dark sheet hung over the windows may do the trick. (he is used to a dark room for sleeping) That and I need to see what I can do about blocking off the opening down into the kitchen. He may just have to stay up off the floors up there for this weekend. We have some stuff to make a rail, but want to have it removable because some of the furniture up there had to go through that opening, as the door from the hall is quite narrow. So - it has to be substantial enough to deter a toddler, and removable, too. Dan has some ideas....Dan always has ideas! It's time he is short on. Hey - that would make a good project for Sunday.....

Can't wait to have the kids here this weekend! Maybe we will have to rattle Josh and Debora's cage.....

Uff Da!

Sometimes that just says it all! But you must know me by now, that I won't leave it at that....

This was one of those really long days. When 4:30 am comes and you couldn't get to sleep the night before - that sets you up for it in a big way. I contemplated taking a nap after breakfast, but somehow that never happened. Roger stopped in with our paychecks :) and my marching orders :( before we had left the table. I was mixing up bread for the breadmaker when Linda and Tom stopped in to borrow Dan's work truck. It was good to see Linda - don't see her often enough! - and the birds were agreeable and showed off for her. Off course all the cats had to come and say hi, too. They were greeted like royalty by the dogs outside. After they left I headed for the field. This time over to Wally Shulfer's. I got the two smaller fields out in front of their house done and a decent start on the BIG back field when John picked me up at dinnertime. (no, he hadn't made me dinner, just took me home so I could eat) After a quick lunch, it was back to the field. I think I might be half done with that one. Not sure where I will head next, but will probably spend most of tomorrow there anyway. I headed home a little after 4:00 to get supper on. It was nice that we had calls from both of our girls during supper. Finished eating quick and headed to the barn at 5:00. We were over half done milking when the Surge/Westphalia tech arrived to test our milking system. Our fieldman came with him and changed inflations while we were milking. It was more than a little crowded in the pit! That slowed us up a bit, and the tech hung around and kept us from finishing up the cleaning as quickly as we would have normally. Oh well, I am home now and looking forward to my nice warm bed and no morning alarm clock!
Sweet dreams everybody!!

Oh - for cute pictures of Linus, check out M&M's blog! A nice one of Lucy, too. Mara and Mike have tests this week, and then Mara has one more next week to finish up the quarter. Then for some well-earned time off! Hang in there kids!!

The Evil Deed is Done....

I finally got the lawn mowed this morning - well, actually I just finished it a little after 1:00. Dan was busy working with the backhoe, so he wasn't concerned about lunch. He is in the shower right now, and then we will head to Plover for Taco Bell and Menards. He wants to get some shelving to organize in our garage. We have a couple of pallets of 'junk' out in the back of the shed that came out of our outbuilding that we tore down the year Mara and Mike were married (3 years ago already!). We need to sort through to see what is worth keeping and junk out the rest. We haven't seen any of that stuff in all that time, much less used it, so you think it would be a no-brainer. Unfortunately, I am a major pack-rat. I'm sure I will find all sorts of 'treasures' that I forgot we had! Oh well.
When I was mowing the yard, I kept going around bunches of daisies that are coming up. I absolutely love them! I also noticed what I think are forget-me-nots in the 'flowerbed' between the two houses. That and LOTS of violets. They are so pretty, too. There were quite a few of those coming up in the yard, also, but I didn't try to mow around them. Unfortunately, until the daisies open up, it will look like I mowed around bunches of dandelions. Somehow, the dogs always think that I leave the areas of long grass (what the daisies must look like to them) for them to run through and roll in. It's not hard to figure out why I don't try to have a pristine yard. It would never work.
Well, I hear Dan finishing up with his shaving, so I had better make sure I am ready to go. Have a great rest-of-the-weekend!

It's Official!!

Yesterday at 3:28 pm, Josh emailed our itinerary for Brazil in December! We are really going!!!! We are so excited to be able to return, and especially to be celebrating Thomas' and Giulia's first birthdays, plus Christmas! We fly out of Appleton on December 17th and return on December 29th.
We don't have the words to thank Josh and Debora, who not only found the tickets for us, but used their frequent flyer miles to purchase them. There WILL be payback - rest assured! I think maybe Debora ought to consider a career as a Travel Agent - she is very good at ferreting out the deals.

Also, on Wednesday (don't think I mentioned this earlier), we purchased our tickets for Montana in September, for Steve and Erin's wedding on the 13th. We will fly out on Friday evening and home again on Sunday afternoon, being gone the 12th-14th. It will be a quick, but fun trip. When Mike and Lorrie's older two kids got married, I hadn't flown yet so didn't really consider it. It seems that most of the nieces and nephews plan their weddings right in the middle of our busy time, but by flying we will be able to go.

Today was again spent in the tractor. I finished the field south of hwy 10 (known as the Pipe/Peterson land) and brought the tractor home. I hope to be able to mow my lawn tomorrow (yeah, I am capitulating....). It was either that, or drag Jerzey down here to 'mow' it for me. Unfortunately, along with her comes her poops. While Dusti would probably appreciate that (don't ask), I think I will pass. Dan figures that we would need a whole herd of goats to keep up with it. That's an idea.....

John had a bit of trouble with his rig today. He discovered that he had a flat tire on his digger, but even more upsetting, that he had a leak in one of his tractor tires. And of course, being Saturday, we can't get anyone out to fix it until Monday. So - enjoy your day off tomorrow John!

When I came home to fix dinner this noon, the Stokes' family dropped in for a visit. How nice! We had been wanting to see Jackson - boy, has he grown and is he a busy little fellow! His face is all healed up from his tangle with the plant stand (see Stokes' blog, via M&M's blog), so when he grabbed a piece of fire wood out of our rack by the wood burner, I told him to be careful. Well, I discovered just how sensitive the little guy is - he burst into tears! I felt awful, but would have felt worse if he had poked himself in the eye. He didn't really want too much to do with me after that, until I offered him an animal cracker. Those he liked! Of course, we had a good chat with his folks, Michelle and Chris, too. Thanks for stopping guys!! Try it again sometime!

Oh, last night after chores, Dan and I went down and burned up a brush pile that he had made when he was knocking down some dead trees and brush between our field road and the Pipe farm. It was kind of fun, but could have used a bottle of wine. Next time. Wine and bonfires seem to go together around here. We didn't turn into until after 11:00 pm (had this am in, thank goodness!) and Dan said that we were practicing for being in Brazil - 7 months from now!! That was a bit of an adjustment for us, the late nights and thus, late mornings. I would still wake up early! Of course, an early swim in a deserted pool wasn't all bad....

"Our Boys"

I was very excited to see that Josh and Debora got some new pictures of 'little' Thomas, and their trip to California, on their blog! You have to check it out!

Also, Sally and Scott have some really cute ones of Sam (and his parents) from this past weekend.

We just have the cutest Grandsons - and man, are they growing fast!!

Correction About Folks' Itinerary!!

Got a call from Heather while I was in the field this morning, questioning the foks' route. She had also had a call from them, and understood that Mike would be picking them up in Shelby, MT this evening. THAT IS CORRECT! Not only couldn't I hear Mom on the phone very well, I have a horrific memory! I do have a copy of their itinerary (that I obviously didn't consult before I posted this morning), if anyone wants it, but in a nutshell, they will spend today through the 22nd with Mike and Lorrie and head out to WA after that, coming home on the 28th. Sorry for the misinformation!!

It's Gonna be a Beautiful Day!

We are expecting 70 degrees today - yeah! I will be spending the bulk of it in the field, but that is okay. Glad the tractor has a cab, as the field is really dusty, having been spread with lime. I got Josh's field done yesterday (he is purchasing some land from Walter Nichiporuk, that we have rented for years) and will be working on the field just west of it today, behind the Pipe House. Not sure where I am headed after that, but that will probably take most of the day.

Just got off the phone with Mom and Dad. They are enroute to Washington state, by train. Sounds like things are going pretty good, although they are running a couple of hours behind because there was engine trouble and they now have a freight train engine, which is slower. She said the room was small, but the windows were big, so they got a good view. They are enjoying the food, which is really good, and included in their ticket price, with their stateroom. They have met some nice people and seem to be having a very good time so far. They will spend a long weekend with Heidi and Paul and then head back to Montana to visit Mike and Lorrie. The phone was breaking up when she was telling me the schedule, but that was the gist of it. I'm surprised the phone worked at all inside the train.

Well, I'm going to grab a short nap here before heading out. I get so drowsy in the tractor sometimes! The rock 'n roll motion, combined with the sun coming in the window undoes me! Have a great day!!

Resemblance....

Josh in the fall of 1978
Sam in the Spring of 2008

Sam is definitely his Daddy's boy, but there is a resemblance to Uncle Josh! Their heads are shaped a little different, but I think it is probably the smiley, blue-eyed, rosy-cheeks that are so much the same. Both little cuties, huh?

Busy Couple of Days....

Yesterday afternoon and most of today I spent in the tractor, digging. It is going pretty good, but the best news was that the co-op finally got some fertilizer spread so Roger could start planting corn today! We were waiting on them, and it was getting frustrating, to put it mildly. Anyone who knows Roger knows his patience level....pretty much non-existent. By the end of milking, he had 40 acres in, so is off to a good start. They have been calling for rain (spotty) the last couple of days, and it finally felt like there were a few sprinkles out there after chores. My cousin Trudy from Algoma area said they had rain moving in earlier this evening. Hard telling how much we will actually get.

Got a call from Debora this afternoon, all excited, that she had found tickets for Dan and me to go to Brazil in December! It's really going to happen! We need to pin down the dates and get the tickets reserved in the next day or so. We are so excited to be returning for another visit with her family - such wonderful people - and hope to be able to converse a bit better this time around. I will have to buckle down and get to work on my Portuguese - or should I say português!

That and I was talking back and forth with Heather who was surfing the internet helping me to find tickets for Steve and Erin's wedding in Montana in September. Quite the travelers we have become! Still working on those....Heather had a few minutes she could spend on the computer, while I was in the tractor.

I was able to get out into the weavery yesterday am as I didn't head to the field until after lunch. It felt good to be weaving again, and I got one rug done. I also washed a few loads of clothes and hung them out. Pretty windy, so they dried well. Sooooo glad it is nice enough to hang clothes out!

We have tomorrow morning in, and it will feel nice to slow down a bit and breathe....

Sunny Monday Morning Ramblings!

Nice day yesterady. Not necessarily the warmest we have had lately, but not too bad. We bummed around most of the day. We did get to talk with Josh and Thomas, a brief 'hi' from Debora as she headed to the shower. They were still at the hotel in Fresno, but were flying to Iowa at 11:30 am. Sounds like they had a good time in CA. Also spoke with Sally around noon. Sounds like they had a good day (see their blog for some cute pictures!) We had that nice visit with Mara a couple of days ago, so hadn't expected to hear from her yesterday. Visited my folks, and then went down and checked out the cemetery to see if we needed to do any clean-up. We removed the Christmas wreath - have the wire 'easel' that it hung on for someone to re-use next year. The wreath was pretty faded. Also, the cemetery had been mowed and the mower must have run over a plastic arrangement or two, so we cleaned up pieces of plastic flowers that were strewn around the Bacon plot. The rose that we planted a couple of years ago is starting to green up and might just make it. It is one of those dark pink ones that we got from the bushes that grew around the little house. I haven't checked over there lately, but Dan said earlier that he didn't think it looked like they survived the fire. Hard to tell, they would have been dormant at the time. We'll see, won't write them off just yet. Then Dan wanted to show me the displays at Lensmire Greenhouses in Plover. Very neat, but VERY expensive! They also had a little shed with some pigmy goats. We had been discussing goats yesterday (saw that big herd over by the cemetery) and were contemplating getting a couple to 'mow' our grass this summer. I'm serious, people! I HATE mowing lawn and it is such a waste of fuel....(you buy that one, don't you??)...Dan actually checked the ads in the State Farmer this morning. One year, years ago, I decided not to mow and let my lawn be natural. I don't think Dan liked it very much. I mowed trails through to various points in the yard. I think that only lasted a month or so and I buckled. Now that I am older, my resolve is stronger. Maybe. I need to plan out my raised-bed veggie garden. I am always really late getting that going and then wonder why my stuff is so slow. Go figure. The big thing about the lawn is that it seems that the only time I am ever out in it is when I am mowing it. That's not right, is it?? I still need to get out and try to tighten the bolts that hold the gazebo together - it is really leaning. Dusti will lay out in that sometimes. Of all the seeds I started for climbing plants, I only have a few plants that look like anything, and I'm not sure they are going to make it. I'm not feeling very motivated about the yard this spring. (could you tell???)
I wonder if goats can be trained to the electronic fence.....

Would-be Grazer

I went to the computer to check email and looked out the window. this is what I saw - a cow on the front lawn down at the farm. It was Jerzey, one of the gimps who gets to go outside, only she is supposed to be shut in the barnyard, not wandering all over the farm. She is a free spirit though, and when given the chance (the wire was not put back up after they were fed) she wastes no time heading out to 'greener' pastures. Actually, she is a pretty little thing (a Jersey/Holstein cross) and is pretty easy to herd back into the barnyard when caught-in-the-act.

My phone just rang as I was writing this up. I had seen a vehicle go down through and drive really slow past the farm, obviously concerned about a loose cow. It was Chris Stokes, who was hunting, and he called me on his cell to report her AWOL status. Thanks Chris - Dan will put her in as soon as he is out of the shower. (if his brothers don't get home from breakfast first....)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU MOMS, GRANDMOMS AND MOMS TO BEINGS OTHER THAN CHILDREN!!!!!!

Back into the Field!

7120 Tractor with Soil Saver

Finally!

About 10:30 this morning I headed over to Kotz's (rented field) to run the soil saver. John had driven the tractor over so he could pick his tractor and digger up to take home. I finished the field a little after 3:00 pm, earning me an ice cream cone from Roger, who said I wouldn't get it done today. :)

I worked right through lunch because rumor had it that rain was moving in again later today. I really didn't want to have to be in the field tomorrow, as I intend to spend the day being pampered by my husband.

(we are all entitled to our fantasies....)

Actually, he got a headstart on it today when he picked up a Sub sandwich for my lunch, which I devoured when I got home this afternoon. Thanks Hon!

DOOFUS MOMENT (it's less embarrassing if I tell on myself...)

I swear, I think the guys just keep me around sometimes for comic relief!

John and Roger had hooked up the digger for me, and John had taken it over to the field. I arrived right behind him and when he got out to unhook the gate, I got out to flip down the stops that keep the digger from dropping in transit. I was proud of myself for remembering to do this. Well, pride goeth before the fall.... After John pulled the tractor into the field and I pulled the pickup into the lane, he got out and went over and got into his tractor and started it up. I hollered over to him to ask if there was anything I needed to know. "No" was his answer. Well, it should have been "Yes". I got in and revved up the tractor, shifted it into gear and proceeded to drop the digger down as I moved forward, or rather try to drop it down. Nothing. I tried again. Nothing. There are three hydraulic levers, so I tried #2. Nothing. Probably I tried them several times. I think I tried #3, but I won't swear to it. I turned to open the door to ask John what was wrong and he was laughing and holding up three fingers. I turned back to the levers and tried #3 - for sure, this time, and sure enough, down it went! While trying the levers, I, of course, was looking behind me at the digger watching for a response. In the meantime, the loader arms were going up and down in front of me, and probably the bucket plate was tipping forward and backward. It probably did look hilarious. I chuckled with him and proceeded to start digging the field, while he pulled out and left.

Should have been the end of the story. But no, I got to hear it from my husband first, and later my brother-in-law, Roger. I guess I will just have to add it to the l-o-n-g list of things I have to live down around here!

Bringing humor to the lives of those around me - it is the cross I have to bear....

Roger's New Car!

Roger finally buckled and traded in his BRIGHT yellow Chevy Aveo. I don't think he was ever very happy with that car and it ended up spending alot of time in his garage. He now is the proud owner of a 2006 Buick LaCrosse. It is a gray/silver 4-door with all the bells and whistles. It has a V6, so quite a bit more power than the Aveo, but probably not a lot different on mileage. The LaCrosse has 35,000 miles on it and looks very nice - not as grandpa-y as some Buicks. He figured he would need a tutorial on how to run it though, as it has power everything, including remote start. I will try to snap a picture of it sometime when he has it out and about. Hope he enjoys it!

OTHER STUFF: With any luck, I will be headed to the field with the soil-saver sometime today. Until I hear from the 'bosses' though, I will find something else to work on. Should mow the lawn....

Wonderful Day Yesterday!

Drippy and cooler out today, so thought I would tell you about my great day that I had yesterday instead.

First off, it was our morning in. That's the best way to start any day! I got up at 7:00am, went to the bathroom (okay, a little less detail....). Anyway, after breakfast I decided to work on re-doing the buttons on the quilt for a while. I got everything set up (see photo) and once I got started, worked until noon. I am not sure how many rows (15 blocks each) that I got done, 4 or 5. Will work on it again today.

At dinner time, Dan and I were entertained by the many beautiful birds that are frequenting our feeders right now: Mr. and Mrs. Rose-breasted Grosbeak; Mr. and Mrs. Baltimore Oriole; many pairs of Goldfinches; a White-Crowned Sparrow (at least we think we have that one ID'd); Nuthatches; House Sparrows; Chickadees; a really odd-looking one that we could only guess was a female Starling - she kept stretching her neck way out so that her head looked really little; many Downy Woodpeckers, along with the occasional Hairy Woodpecker (looks like the older brother to the Downy). The day before I saw a male Cardinal at the feeder right up by the window, and this morning we were treated by the arrival of the male Indigo Bunting - he is soooo beautiful - especially when the sun hits him! Oh, and we had put the hummer feeder out the other day and it only took an hour or so for the Ruby-throated Hummingbird to show up! Of course, the Orioles also enjoy that, along with the suet.

After dinner, I went out to the weavery and started warping up the loom. It went really well and I was able to get the 16 sections wrapped on and threaded through the wire heddles. If it warms up this afternoon (we are supposed to hit 60), I will go out and thread it through the reed and tie it up. Then I will be ready to weave whenver I get the chance. Rumor has it 'my' tractor is coming home today, but with the rain I may get a reprieve. I plan on doing a slide show just on the loom some day.

Oh, during our lunch-time, Mara called and visited with us for about half an hour. We don't usually get to talk for so long, as she is terribly busy, but she called on her way home from class. Thank goodness for cell phones, and being able to call from anywhere. We really enjoyed our time with her and catching up on some of the things she has been doing (studying mostly). Mike was still in class. She is having tests everytime she turns around, but it sounds like she is keeping on top of things so far. We are so proud of her, and Mike, too.

Enjoy the pictures!

Stephanie Wheeler is Graduating Today!

CONGRATULATIONS STEPHANIE!!!!

We want to congratulate our niece, Stephanie Wheeler, (Heather's daughter) on her graduation today! She is receiving her Masters in Social Work, and starts her new job on Monday. (I swiped the picture off Heather's blog and cropped it. See their blog for full photo.)

In her words: "I will be working at Jewish Family and Children Services as a family therapist. We are contracted with Child Protective Services. I will be doing in-home therapy/counseling with children and their families who are involved with CPS. Basically, I will be providing therapy for families once children are placed back in the home from CPS custody (either foster care or group homes)."

Way to go Stephanie!!!!

Video Call with Sam and Fam

We decided to see if the Baldwin Folk were available to do a video call last night, and they were! It was a lot of fun - Sam was very entertaining, Grandpa giggled a lot...They had set their computer on a chair with the stool in front of it, I think, so that Sam 'bellied-up' to the stool and was right in front of the camera. I'm not sure if he was seeing us or himself, but he was just jabbering away, telling quite a story. I can see that this is going to be lots and lots of fun when he starts talking and understanding that we can see him, too. He had to show off his crawling skills - trying to get away from Daddy down the hall, up and over anything that happened to be in his road and also showed us how he used Mama for a teething ring - her hand, leg, whatever was available. We were concerned about Scott's bare toes, but Sam seemed to know better - what a smart grandson we have! He also showed us how easily and quickly he could pull himself to a standing position. What a fun way to top off an evening!
I know that Mike has grabbed still photos from a video but I don't know how to do that, so you will just have to take my word for it - Sam is cute! Actually, he looked quite similar to the photo that I posted for his 10 month post.

On a different note: The manure spreaders pulled in Tuesday night, just as it was starting to thunderstorm. They are here this morning, spreading up a storm. They have three big tank spreaders that they pull with BIG John Deere tractors, and yes, it is knifed in. I imagine Jack will go crazy with all the tractor-traffic just across the road, but what is new?? Right this minute he is laying out by the gazebo and 'watching'.

Nice sunny day today, but 'my' tractor (7120) is in the shop, probably ready to go tomorrow. I may get to work on those buttons, and maybe get out to the weavery to boot! Have a good one!

News from Josh, et al.

Josh called from California this afternoon that they had made the trip just fine. This was Thomas' first flight - sort of a 'practice-flight' if you will, for their trip to Brazil in December. Josh said that Thomas slept the whole first flight (don't remember where they flew through) and was awake for the second flight but didn't cry for the entire trip! Wonderful! I hope the trip home on Sunday goes as well. I'm so glad that Debora and Thomas were able to go with Josh (business trip) because Debora will be able to visit friends and show-off her beautiful son. They were having lunch at a Mexican restaurant and Josh said that Thomas was going bonkers because there were FOUR ceiling fans, all running! He is entranced by the one at home, so this was basically overload for the poor little guy. I think he was being good there, too. I hope they have a really good visit and come back refreshed. I think Josh is enjoying having his family with, too!

Completed(?) Project!

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This slideshow is of my 'Crazy Gatfly's Quilt'! I still want to re-do the buttons and put a small white button on the backside of the quilt, to keep them from pulling through (aqd I am sure little fingers will try to pull buttons off!). I did that on the shams because they weren't quilted, and it wasn't that hard. The hard part will be getting at the center buttons, unless I put it back on the frame. Not sure yet when/how I will do it. I also have some late-arrival buttons that I want to work in as they are pretty cool. Technically, it is finished, but for that.

Thanks again to all who contributed buttons for this project. It is very special to me, having materials from all the baby quilts, and buttons from friends and family, too!

Happy Belated 10 Months to Sam! (oops!)

I hope it doesn't get me kicked out of Grandma-club! I did remember it on the day, I just didn't get anything done about it. His pictures lately make him look soooo grown up! Slow down little Sam! There were rumors that he stood by himself the other day when he was 'helping' Daddy get ready for work. Soon....

Happy Birthday to Bert!

Happy Birthday to Bert Stone (niece Andrea's husband, and Wyatt's Dad)! Bert is going to school to become an auto mechanic. Hope you have a wonderful day!

(for some reason the picture wouldn't show up any larger)

Nurses Day

Connie Onan, RNDiane Aho, RN
Sara Janssen, RN

According to my calendar, today is the day to celebrate the Nurses in your life! By 'borrowing' Scott's mom, Diane, we have three in the family - Diane, along with Dan's sister, Connie, and Alice's daughter, Sara. Plus, Kristin (Wheeler) Harvey's husband, Michael, is pursuing a career in nursing as well. Kudos to all of you! I hope you all have a wonderful day!!!

Monday!

Yeah, it's pretty much every week that I like Monday - although this was our morning in! It's a beautiful day outside and I am washing and hanging stuff out on the line - line-dried sheets - YES!!

That darn neighbor to our west (aka Roger) went and mowed his lawn yesterday. Doofus! Now ours is going to look scraggly until we (read: I - although Dan was pretty good at helping with the lawncare last year....) mow it! Oh well, that's what happens when the neighborhood goes to rack-and-ruin...(probably his thoughts, more than ours!)

Had a good Mother's Day Brunch yesterday. Mary and I were both Mom's guests - thanks Mom! - and we shared a table with our cousin Evalie and her two daughters, Karen and Allison, along with their two daughters, and here I'm having a brain-fart and can't recall their names! They were around 10 and 11 years old and added a little fun to our table. Good meal, good company, and some good entertainment to boot - all around, a nice time. Thanks again Mom!

My digger-tractor is in getting some work done on it and I have the stalks chopped that they wanted me to do, plus they need that tractor to agitate the manure tank. The custom spreaders will be here by tomorrow, I think, so take that as a warning if you live very close! I think they usually knife it in, so it isn't too bad, but it kind of reeks around here because of the stirring of the tank. Oh that good country air!

I have about 5 loads of wash (been waiting for a good hang-out day) so I will probably putz with the quilt between loads. Thanks to Tanna Bacon (Jim's wife) for dropping off some buttons. I'll work them in. Hope you all have a fantastic, colorful Monday!

Happy First Birthday to Jackson!

Jackson Stokes is turning one today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKSON!

As you can see, he is quite shy. (I don't think that's the dog dish he's licking!)

To see more pictures of him, go to M&M's blog and click on the Stokes' Blog on their list of friends and family. He is really a cutie and on the go all-the-time!

[I could only 'borrow' a still photo off their blog, as their slideshows are private.]

Happy Sunday!

Beautiful day out today! I should be chopping stalks, but I have a Mother's Day Brunch to go to with my Mom. It is at the Best Western in Waupaca, sponsored by their church. Should be fun. At least I get to dress up a bit for a change! I am wearing the sweater and tank top from Debora that she brought from Brazil for me a couple of years ago. I feel very chic - thanks Debora!

Happy note: John was able to get up for chores today so that was good. He was a little stiff on the outset, but limbered up as the morning went on. I imagine there are certain movements (no pun intended, but that would have been a good one!) that will remind him of his injury. He seemed pretty good natured about the whole thing. That's John!

I will close with a quote from Robert Fulghum: "Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life — learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some." Sounds like a good mantra to me!

Saturday Ups and Downs....

UPS: My quilt is all assembled, except for the binding! I also finished the pillow shams. When it is all done I will put it on the bed and take a picture for the blog. Frankly, I'm getting a bit tired of it....but it is looking pretty good.

DOWNS: John had a run-in with the bull today. Or rather, the bull had a run-in with John! He was working on the bunk-feeder on the lot (John, not the bull) and Jasper (that's the bull) came up behind him and butted him in the behind! (at least that is what I think happened - I haven't actually spoken with John, so got the story 2nd and 3rd hand) According to Roger, who was the lucky one to be taken into John's confidence, John's backside is rather black and blue! He did go in to get things checked out to make sure he didn't break his tailbone, but the Dr. assured him that he didn't and to go home and put ice on it. So, for the next day or two John will be the 'butt' of our jokes......sorry, that's the best I could come up with! Whether or not he is able to get up in the morning remains to be seen. Roger, who has the day off, told him that he could call him (Roger) if he was too stiff. I can imagine he might be. Linda also said she would be available, but John doesn't usually baby himself too much. Hope he heals quickly or we will get 'behind' in our fieldwork! (was that better??)

ANOTHER UP: It stopped raining and the sun actually came out during chores tonight. I think it was as nice as it has been all day, on my bike ride home from the barn. It is 54 right now. :)

Quack, quack, quack...

Need I say more???

Thanks for the Buttons...

I just want to thank everyone who donated buttons for my quilt! I think I am good now - Connie had a TON! Lots of beautiful colors - I will take a picture when I am finished. Thanks to Alice (got them today!), Mary, Mom and Sally, too!

I DID IT...
Those of you who know me best knew this was coming.....the clippers were applied once more! I know, but it is sooooo easy to take care of and it always looks the same, wind or no wind, cap or not, and there is no such thing as a good/bad hair day....It is a tad longer than sometimes, 'cuz I wanted to be able to spike it for the weddings. I had tried several times to style the cut I had given myself last week and my hair was completely lifeless. It was amazing, as I used the clippers I could just feel my mood lifting. I guess it is just my haircut. I always seem to gravitate back to it. I don't like anything that I have to mess with. I am inherently lazy...It's also fun to get out the long dangly earrings again. :)

Remark-able Events in May

5 - Jackson Stokes (First Birthday!!)

7 - Bert Stone

14- My Folks leave for 2 week train trip!

21 - Marina Bacon (John's wife)

21 - Ryan Golke (my friend's son, turns 30!)

24 - Jenny Kropidlowski's Wedding (Sally's friend)

26 - Kristin (Wheeler) & Michael Harvey - 2nd Anniversary!

27 - Lorrie Hansen

30 - Beth Schmit (John's daughter) & BJ Van Engen Wedding

31 - Becky & Trent Towne Anniversary

31 - Grandpa Bacon's burial at Greenvale Cemetery - 10:30 am

Happy May Day Everybody!

Consider yourself May-basketed!

Do you remember when you were little and made a May basket to hang on someone's door? You would make a little 'basket' out of a paper cone or something else, fashion a handle, fill it with flowers - whatever was available at the time, or you could make them out of paper and pipe cleaners. (okay, we were easily entertained....) Then you would go and hang it on someone's door, knock, and run away! They were supposed to come out and chase you and give you a kiss. So, obviously, you were doing this on somebody's door that you wanted to have do that. (That is a really poor sentence, but I'm gonna leave it.)

Anyway.....Happy May Day!