Blizzard # ?

That is what I woke to this morning.  I took the video standing in my house with the screen door closed.  Still, the wind sounds horrible.  I had no idea this was coming.  When we watched the local news Friday evening we didn't hear about this blizzard for today.  I don't see how Tim will get to work this afternoon as it seems to be zero visibility and the roads surely must be plugged again.  

Last week a friend from church sent us a blizzard package.  In it she had some fun things for the kids.  They each got a puzzle and a coloring book.  Since they haven't been able to go outside and play much this past week as the temperatures are dangerously low they have enjoyed the gifts.  I found Leah especially liked the puzzle and was really good at putting them together.  When I was at Wal-Mart I picked up another 100 piece puzzle for them.  

 

I am really glad I went to town on Friday.  The plow came through on Thursday but it was so cold that day and I didn't want to be out driving.  On Friday I got up early and did my weekly house cleaning.  After the children and I finished a light day of school we headed to town.  It was windy and a little drifty but the roads were pretty good.

Before we left for town I was happy to get a call that day that my new glasses were in and ready to go.  After we shopped I stopped and picked them up.  This is my second pair.  For the first time I needed progressive lenses.  Those didn't work out for me.  So I'm trying a new type of lens and right now can't remember what they are called.  They are somewhat like a tri-focal but more modern.  While it is going to take awhile to get used to them I think they will work.

We did have church in Alfred yesterday.  It was the first time in a month.  How nice it was to see everyone and share a meal together.

A few weeks ago Whitney told us that our son-in-law, Ryan wanted to loan us a tractor for the winter.  If we would buy a snow blower for the back of it Tim could use it to open the road so we can get out of here.  Since Tim needs to get to work five days out of a week all the snow was getting to be a big problem.  We are so appreciative of this nice gesture.

Two weeks ago Whitney went with the children and me to Fargo for Daniel's vision therapy appointment.  On the way we decided to stop at the meat market in Valley City.  Whitney noticed some used snow blowers at a dealership there.  Ryan called them the next day.  They had two that would work on the tractor.  By the time Tim called that afternoon they had already sold one of them.  They are doing a good business in snow blowers this year.  But Tim was able to the other one.

Here is a not very good picture I took through my window of Ryan teaching Tim how to use a newer tractor and snow blower.  It is so nice for Tim to be able to go out and the tractor starts right up.  His old M takes about three hours of babying before it will get going on a cold day.  You can't really see the snow blower on the back of the tractor as the flash is reflected on the window.  Some of you might not know what it looks like so I will try to get a better picture of it.  The driver has to drive backwards when he uses the snow blower.

Stay warm and safe.

It's still snowing!

As I sit here writing I can hear the wind blowing. It still looks pretty nasty out there but it isn't snowing as hard as it was. I wonder what the road looks like? I haven't been brave enough to venture out in that wind to check it out. Yesterday I did go out and take some pictures but I was protected from the wind.

Daniel and Leah were outside again this morning. They wanted to go out so they could shovel the snow out of their fort. Daniel said he got stuck in a snowbank by the quonset that was up to his chest. Tim said there was at least 18 -24 inches of snow on one of his trailers that is setting out of the wind. It will be interesting to see if the guys get out of here tomorrow. Tim has to work Sunday afternoon and Brandon will need to get back to Fargo if the interstate is open.

I had fun mixing up dough for spritz cookies yesterday. I used my mother's recipe and looked several times. I thought it strange that there were no eggs in the recipe. When I took the dough out of the Bosch bowl to chill in the fridge I thought it very dry and wondered how it would work. After I put it in the fridge I looked again at the recipe. There I saw 1 egg!!! in the ingredients. As I made a double recipe I should have added 2. I didn't know if it would work to add the eggs after I had added the flour but thought I might as well try it. I sure didn't want to waste all that butter. I put it in my Bosch mixer bowl where the Bosch mixed it up just fine. I'm glad to report that they turned out to be very delicious!

Brandon helped with the cookie press. Tim, Daniel, and Leah frosted and decorated them for me. This morning there is only one cookie left on this plate. But I have more stored in a Tupperware container.




Tim and Daniel are shoveling a path for Sunny to do her business. Sunny is 10 years old and not liking to go out in the snow. She used to play out there for hours. Now she runs out and runs back in as quickly as she can.



Smile for the camera....

I like this one of Daniel.

Brandon worked most of the day on the old snowmobile. He replaced the bar that helps it steer as well as doing other things. It seems every time he rides the thing he needs to work on it. Since he likes fixing things he doesn't seem to get tired of doing it. He did enjoy some time riding it, letting Tim ride it, and pulling Daniel on his toboggan behind it.

I tried to get a good video of him riding and didn't really. But I will include one anyway. I'm off to make some waffles and eggs for brunch. Have a blessed Sabbath and stay warm!