Just another week....

I see I haven't posted in over a week. I could blame Facebook, where I am a newer member, or just plain laziness. Probably a bit of both.

It's been a weird week. Farmwise, not all that great of one: we lost three animals this week - two younger heifers out back on the lot and one cow that had just freshened. On the upturn, the milk check looked a little better this time......I'll bet not many farmers turn to gambling - just a hunch.

Personally, I'm not sure where the week went! Thanks to Mary, we got out into the weavery several days. When other things aren't going very well, it's just about always a good bet. Beating on the loom (to make firm rugs, you know) can vent a lot of frustration. Plus you get the added benefit of a finished product. We have a couple of weddings and other events coming up, so I had some projects to do. Mary has been cranking out beautiful placemats (I find those putzy to do) and even a cool rug! Plus it is just fun to spend the time together.

One of the other bright spots of the week was getting my ticket booked for Jordan and Kailea's wedding in July. That I will get to see my newest grandson at the same time, is icing on the cake! Dan and I have opted for separate vacations, as this is a busy time of year for us and I would rather he 'meets' Phoenix in a bit cooler weather. He will go down to help Mara and Mike pack up for their move to Phoenix and haul back stuff that they will not have room for in their apartment there. Mike's Dad, Larry, and sister, Michelle, will also be there to help with that, so I think they should be in good shape. Also, they seem to have a pretty good network of friends in Kirksville. By being gone at separate times, we aren't scrambling for coverage at milking time or for animal care. I know Linda will be back in the game soon, but they also have spring fieldwork coming up. I'm not sure how late into the season we can count on Peter's help. He has been a Godsend, though, and we appreciate his availability.

Well, today is our day off, and Dan is ready to take the sawdust wagon back. I guess I will go with and get some groceries.

Have a wonderful weekend everybody!!

Sam-Time!

I had the pleasure of heading to Baldwin yesterday to spend some time with Sam! I consider it a privilege to get to do a little day-care for him, but was sorry that the family has been sick. I was in such a hurry yesterday when I headed out that I forgot my camera, so no pictures. :( I took some on Sally's camera, so maybe they will post a couple. Sam is such a little ham, even when he isn't feeling 100%.

Here's hoping that everyone (Ramseiers and Bowers, too!) is feeling better soon!! That was some nasty bug!

Our Day at the Dells!

We had the wonderful opportunity (thanks Larry and Deb, for including us!) of joining the Syring clan, Sally and her family, and Cari and her kids (later on Saturday) at Wisconsin Dells! We didn't head out until after chores on Friday night, and were back home before 10:00 on Saturday night, but we sure packed in a lot of time with our grandsons, Sam and Rohan, while we were there! Oh, and their families, too! Special thanks to Mara for letting us "babysit" Rohan on our own for a while - that was especially fun!

Of course, we had to spend some time at one of the many indoor waterparks at our hotel complex - there was something for every age, and they even got Grampa to go down the waterslide! (Grandma begged off, as she can't take too much water in her ears) Most of the others even rode the Hurricane - looked like fun.....but I will take tubing down the Lazy River, instead, thank you.

Later on Saturday, the kids went and discovered the "dry" play area - which for that age consisted of a really cool "tree house" with lots of areas to explore. Of course the Moms and Dads had to go in with them.... :)

It was great seeing all of the Syring Clan - even Great-Grandma Syring! We were all together to eat (in the Stokes/Syring suite), several times! I learned about Made Rite (Maid Rite??) - looked like bbq's to me....but I guess they are different. Must be my Wisconsin upbringing, as I was assured it was an Iowa thing.

It was a really fun 24 hours for us - was that really all the longer we were there?? Got in LOTS of walking - we couldn't believe how huge that place was! Amazing! Of course, it was the company that made it so fun - so glad to have that time with Rohan and his family!!

THANKS A BUNCH!!!!

YIPPEEEEE!

WE'RE GOING TO SEE OUR GRANDSONS, ROHAN AND SAM TONIGHT!!! AND WE'LL BE THINKING ABOUT THOMAS, TOO!!!

YESTERDAY: Happy Birthday Roger!

I forgot to post this yesterday - oops!

Roger and Sam had fun at IHOP on Sunday morning.

I think Sam found a new buddy!

Finally - the pictures of Gabrielle Rose!

As you can tell from the pictures, even if they aren't the most clear -

Granny Marina and Grampa John are smitten!

(John brought the pictures to the barn the next day, but I kept forgetting to take them home and scan them in!)

All Warped Up and Ready to Go!

Actually, we warped the loom last Thursday, but we did just cut off 4 rugs on my loom and I have one more mat to make on Mary's loom before that warp is used up. I had made 3 rugs and Mary just finished one. There is quite a bit more warp left on the rug loom, so I tied it up and it is ready to go again. Mary made 2 sets of placemats on her loom, and there wasn't much left, so I am working on making a couple more placemats from thrums (leftover warp). I had made two the last time we wove (in November, I think), and really like them so thought I would do some more. They are putsy, but look pretty cool.

Other than that, not a lot going on. The 6-8 inches of snow that got dumped on us yesterday is partially gone, thanks to 39 degrees and sunshine today. It makes the snow much easier to take when it leaves almost as quickly as it comes. There is supposed to be some freezing rain but I won't miss that if it doesn't happen.

Oops - Dan just got home. Better make like I'm busy..... :) Tchau!

Happy Birthday to our Montana Stephanie!

A big birthday wish goes out for Stephanie Hansen - Paul's wife, and Julie's mama!

We hope you have a wonderful day, and maybe even celebrate the entire weekend!

Congratulations to Marina and John!!

I don't have a picture yet, but "Granny" Marina and "Grampa" John are pleased to announce the arrival of Gabrielle Rose Ehr! She was born yesterday afternoon, March 5, 2009 and weighed in at 8 lb. 10 oz., and was 21 inches long! [Rohan turned 2 months the day before that and weighs 8 lb. 6 oz. now!] According to "Granny", the baby is absolutely perfect, with a porcelain complexion and dark hair. We await the pictures! Parents are Marina's son, Scott, and his fiancé Kim.

It Only Took Us 13 Years!

Most of the materials to make the railing have been around for a number of years. I sort of had a picture in my mind how we would make it, just never got around to it. It took both of us brainstorming to come up with the final plan...

There were a few tense moments when we weren't quite sure that we had enough hands to put it together, but I am married to a very handy man, so we got 'er done!

The finished product looks even better than we had hoped! I think I will probably do a rubbed oil finish on the wood. I plan on painting the upstairs "mezzanine", probably this spring/summer. I alternated colored pipes for the spokes in the railing - black, green, sand and brown. I think I will chose a sand color for the walls up there.

It was one of those rare times that everything worked out nicely - no nasty surprises! We made the rail removable, as this opening is how we got some of the bigger furniture upstairs. The door between the hall and the mezzanine is quite narrow, so not everything up there went up the stairway. Even though it is removable (with a screw driver) it is quite sturdy and will be a fine deterrant for the grandsons. :) I think that Pelé will not be able to jump from the top of the pantry to the upstairs either, as it is a fairly narrow opening between the pipes for him to hit from that distance. Hope not, anyway. It may take a crash or two before he figures that out, though....

So, all in all, a wonderful day off! Dan had to go and fuel the car up and run get a piece of metal that Dick Treb. had turned for him, so he is getting to do something fun, too. I am supposed to be reorganizing the upstairs (we sleep in that room, in the winter) so that it stays more open, for sunlight.

Better get to it! Hope you all had a fantastic weekend, too!!