Making Lefsa

 Lefsa.  It is a process.  Jen and Andy cooked up the potatoes, riced them and put them in the fridge overnight on Monday.  Far Guy and I heard lots of commotion in the kitchen and wondered what they were doing.  Tuesday evening after supper Jen showed me how to mix the butter, salt, half and half and honey. Andy showed me how to mix the flour and riced potatoes.   So I was a mixer, Andy a roller, Jen and Far Guy were the flippers on the lefsa griddle.   It was a group effort.

Boys will be boys. 

Far Guy is feeling lots better today.  His appointments went well.

Oh yes it snowed and blowed around.  Our first snow.  The Interstate highway from Grand Forks to South Dakota was closed. 

Far Side

First Snow

 Rain turned to snow in the early morning hours on November 20th.  We have enough to almost cover the grass.

Isn't it beautiful?  At least some of the brown is covered up with white.  I shoveled off the walk. Typically it snows three times before the snow stays...we will see what happens...our weather forecast looks like wintery temperatures for the rest of November.  

Jen sent a photo of Sadie in the snow...they got more snow Up North than we did. 

Looks like she walked outside on the patio and laid down.  I am sure she was racing around like a wild girl before long.  

I had a sorting day...sorted out some more "stuff" and labeled a bunch of photos.   I also cleaned out the old toy box...threw some old hiking boots out and began a donation pile for scarfs and hats no longer worn.  I tried to clear some odds and ends or "I will get to it later" stuff off my desk.  I was partially successful. 

Far Side

It snowed

 It snowed a bit but it mostly melted when it hit the ground. 

I went over and visited Baxter.

He is a little lonely. 

My sister in law, Beth has been in the hospital the past few days.  She has been really sick.  UTI and Ischemic Sepsis. No fun.  She is a little improved but is still having pain.  She got great care in the ICU as our niece Stacey was on duty. Hopefully each day will see some improvement and next week she will be able to come home.

Far Side

Old and First Snow

 It was my Mothers 93rd birthday yesterday.  She was having a hard time with my Dad.  We were supposed to go out to lunch but since they had a bad night and morning we stopped by to see how they were doing.   Dad was asleep, sometimes I think he has his days and nights mixed up just like a baby.  He woke up and had lunch, later in the afternoon he was moved into the nursing home next to the assisted living apartments.  Mom can walk over there to visit him.

And so it goes.  

Far Guy and I got the high dose flu vaccinations yesterday.  So cross that off our list.  The gals at the Infusion Center where Far Guy goes for his weekly infusion take good care of us. 

Grocery pickup was mostly uneventful.  The peanut butter shortage must be over!   Town was busy.

And it snowed.  In some spots the ground was white.  So we have officially had our first snow.   Early in the morning we knew something was up as our yard was full of Robins and Juncos.  I think the Robins were just stopping by on their way south.

Far Side

sNOw

 It is white here and more white stuff is supposed to join this white stuff.  We have had snow before but it melted, so this is the first snow of the season that has stayed on the ground.

It was a rough day Friday with the after effects of the 3rd shot; headache, joint aches, chills and being tired.   I hope today is better..if not I will resume my spot on the couch watching and sleeping through Norsemen on Netflix.

Far Guy is taking good care of me. 

My baby brother came over and shoveled the walk. 

Far Side

Snow and Great Grands

 Yesterday we had a weather event.  Snow/sleet fell on Sunday afternoon.   Our first snow this Fall. 

If I had been napping I would have missed it.   It melted quickly. 

Maddie sent me photos of our Great Grands on Halloween! 

Cee Cee was Pebbles from the Flintstones

Pebbles and their Dad and a Dirt Bike Rider (Hey Mikey)

We put our outside light on to welcome anyone that might wander by last night. 

 Far Side

Bread and more

 I got the recipe for the bread at King Arthurs site. 

The only change I made was that I used half white flour and half wheat flour.  

From now on I will bake the bread on my baking stone....and forego the Dutch Oven.  I just baked half the batch...so in a few days I will try the baking adventure again....the dough is supposed to be good in the fridge for up to a week. 

Artisan Crusty Bread

View out the window on Saturday afternoon.

 Sunday  the snow melted a bit.  The ground is still white and we had snowflakes in the air again yesterday...not sure it counts as the second snow. 

I caught up on some housework and laundry and worked on Christmas Cards.  I also have a new crochet project that is really fun! 

Far Side

First sNOw

 It snowed on Saturday morning.

We got well over three inches of sNOw. 

My baby brother and his bride came over for a visit...he wiped off the chairs with his gloves and then I gave him a towel to finish drying the chairs.  It was a cool visit.

On Friday Far Guy and I got a few more Fall Projects done...another window washed and the bedroom window well cleaned out...there was a family of frogs under the leaves...I could start a bait business.  I blew some leaves away and did a quick trip through the yard mulching the last of the leaves.   Good thing I did too as the coming days are forecast to be real cool.  I still have the West Wildflower gardens to mow...the East Wildflowers stay until Spring as they are over the septic system/drain field.  So I am not sure I will get that mowing done...or the mower washed up before storing it for the winter.

No snow stick yet.

Far Guy says Winter is here...I was hoping for a warm old fashioned Indian Summer. 

sNOwy day activities involved trying out a new recipe.  No Knead Crusty Bread...lesson learned...you are supposed to make two or three loaves at a time...and store the dough in the fridge...and mix it in a ice cream pail...well the pail I chose "There's a hole in your bucket dear Liza a hole" (you are welcome for that earworm) so I had water and yeast all over the counter....then due to an overestimation of olive oil spray the cast iron dutch oven nearly smoked us out of the house. BUT the bread was really good.  The house probably needed a good airing out anyways.  

Far Guy said "Wouldn't  that frozen bread dough be a lot easier sweetheart." 

Far Side

First Snow

Well we have our first snow.  It turned really cold.  I had to get out a heavy Fall coat, my snow boots, a hat and gloves.

I think the little pansies that have been so cheerful all week might have died.

I had a list of “stuff” I needed so we waited until afternoon to go to town, the roads were good by then.

No sitting in the chairs for a few days.

This snow will melt.

We made comfort food for supper…a pork roast with roasted carrots mashed potatoes and gravy.

Far Guy is still struggling with his bronchial infection, the Pulmonary Doctor has been advised and says if there is no improvement by Monday a different antibiotic will be started.

Ready or not

It is snowing here and the ground is white, of course it is late at night on Thursday so I will have a photo or two tomorrow. The wind is howling…snow is blowing around. It is officially our first snow….usually we can get by with a few snowfalls that melt before winter settles in.

We worked on a few Fall Projects this week.  All the lawn furniture is put away except for two chairs which were kept out in the hopes that it will be warm enough one day soon to sit outside again.

We found a spot for the snow stick….just in time.  Trust is when one person holds the stick while another hits it with a big flat rock cause someone (me) is too lazy to go get the hammer.

Far Guy moved my small flag holder.  It looks good near the old wagon wheels.

I decorated the wreath by the door.

I vacuumed out one of the vehicles…one was all my hand/wrist/arm could take. I sure do like those custom floor liners…easy peasy ...well worth the $ spent on them.

Sunshine after the snow!

The storm named Argo brought the snow in from the North and the East.  We usually don’t get snow from that direction usually it is North or North West or West or South West.

The squirrels were pests today, they were hungry.

Chance got a squirrel by the tail today but he let it go…pretty exciting for an old dog.  Old dogs can run faster through the snow than fat squirrels.

We shoveled, then we shoveled some more.  I did some shovel leaning.  Finally we got the walk done, in front of the garage doors, the patio and a path for Chance to go to the woods.  The snow was very heavy…very wet and full of moisture. The walk melted quickly once the snow was removed.

I hit the feeders with the broom until the snow was gone.  I am sure the birds figured I had gone mad.  When Far Guy took the feeders to be filled, the Chickadees put up quite a protest.

Our side roads are pretty good, but any road with shade is rutty and icy.  It will take a few days for the roads to get better.  I don’t know if this snow will stay, part of it may melt, it will certainly shrink in height.  I cannot imagine that it would all melt.  We will see.

First Snow

It had to happen.  I am surprised it didn’t happen sooner.  Lets see May 18 was our last snow and we made it all the way to October 28…that might be about 163 days without snow, must be some kind of record!

This was earlier yesterday morning.  As I let Chance out a whole flock of Wild Turkeys were coming down the drive looking for a snack…and a certain Border Collie chased them off.

It snowed and snowed and clung to everything.  Then it rained, then it snowed again…

We finished with the leaves on Tuesday afternoon.  Far Guy cleaned up the lawn mower and will put new mulching blades on the mower for next spring IF it warms up.

What few leaves are out there will just have to stay out there.

One day I collected and cleaned up all the glass flowers.  They are put away in the woodshop/greenhouse for the winter.

By adjusting the 2x4 fancy smancy storage area most are stored face up…I may cover them with an old sheet.  The ones with huge vase bottoms are stored sideways.

I still have lots of glass to work with…no shortage of old glass.

Fall Work Yet To Do :

I need to pound the snow stick in the ground someplace…and move the patio table to my garage and change the flags and put the witch in the wreath by the door.  I also have a bunch of cardboard boxes that need to be cut up and recycled…oh and both vehicles need to be cleaned out…some days the list is never ending.

161 Days without snow

Yes.  I am not loony.  It snowed.  April 25 2014 to October 3 2014…is just 161 days without snow…not nearly enough.  Five months and 8 days.  Bummer.

That white crap in the air is snow.  I tried to ignore it all day long…the wind was wicked, it blew more leaves out of the trees.  The snow shows up real good against Far Guys garage.

It snowed off and on, melting as it hit the ground.   Chance caught a few flakes for me.

I made baked beans.  I make a large batch and then package them into individual servings and freeze them.  It made the kitchen all warm and cozy.  I could have cooked all day…well not quite all day but you get the picture.

There is snow in the air in this photo too.

I made such good progress with the leaves on Thursday.  Now there are more to rake or blow or mulch.  Gosh I love my mulching blades!  I drive that lawn tractor all over the yard…smiling.  Far Guy says now that he knows what really makes me happy more blades are on my Christmas list.  After the wind…I think 90 % of our leaves are down and out of the trees.

Snow Daze

It will snow one of these days.


Would you like to guess when it will snow in North Central Minnesota?  Would you like to guess when it will snow in the Okanagan area of British Columbia?  Do you like notecards? ( Mostly with flowers on them?)
If so leave me a guess.. the date ..and then morning, afternoon, evening or overnight. The person with the closest correct guess without going over will win!!
Then head on over to Jen’s  Muddy Boot Dreams.  Jen moved to the Okanagan last December.  She is anxiously awaiting that first snowfall…so enter a guess at her place too!  Take it from me a trip by her place is a treat for your eyes..she takes beautiful photographs!

Here in Minnesota we are not so anxiously waiting.  I wonder who will have the first snowfall?  I hope it is Jen…I wish her lots and lots of snow:)

Guesses so far:
Oct 11 Rita
Oct 13 Morning Blissed Out Grandma
Oct 14 to 15 Overnight Geri W. (my cousin)
Oct 19 to 20 Overnight Mo and Steve
Oct 21 5 PM  mary s @ momandad00
Oct 22 Geraldine
Oct 25  Afternoon Karen
Oct 25 Evening Muffys Marks
Oct 27  7:45 AM Muffie
October 27 Evening Lisa from Area Voices Blog
Oct 28 to 29 Overnight Shirley
Oct 30 Muddy Boot Dreams
Oct 30 Country Gal
Oct 31 linda m
Oct 31 evening MJM from Area Voices Blog
Nov 1 to 2 Overnight DJan
Nov 3 Crafty Gardener
Nov 4 to 5 Overnight Judy Area Voices Blog
Nov 6 Afternoon Stephanie
Nov 7 Ann Area Voices Blog
Nov 7 to 8 Overnight Lanny
Nov 8 early afternoon marlu
Nov 9 to 10 overnight Cathy Monroe
Nov 15 Nancy
Nov 17 Kathy
Nov 17 Maple Lane
Nov 21 evening Susan R. Area Voices Blog

First Snow

It started snowing yesterday afternoon..then I had a nap..when I woke up the ground was white.  I thought it might be an apparition or a nightmare..but it was not.

This is our first snowfall of the winter.  I have been wearing my crocs with socks..it may be time to put them away.  Winter doesn’t officially arrive for another six weeks or so..I knew it would be early again and it was only a matter of time.  I have to go upstairs and find my parka..and my mittens… and maybe my cheerful winter attitude too.

I am so not a winter person..I like it 72 degrees year round. I like sunshine and warmth…not cold and darkness.  Since some idiot decided to change the time..the sun sets at 5PM.  I think I would like to hibernate like a sleepy old bear..or a stinky old skunk.  ( I am hoping that all the skunks are sleeping away the winter..I let Chance out this evening off lead.)

We started the outdoor woodstove this year on October 30th. The woodstove keeps the house and the hot water toasty warm.  Far Guy is still cutting wood for the woodshed, he has enough cut for the winter but would like to fill it up …it must be a guy thing. 

**** Area News: Someone I have known for years ( since high school) is growing one of those Jack Pine Savage beards.  He looks like he is impersonating someone who wears a hat and has a horse and buggy.   I wanted to get a photo of his beard..since it was so interesting looking with multiple colors..brown, blonde and grey.  He was fairly uncooperative.  He only let me look at his beard when I put my camera away.

In our Senior Class in High School he was voted the “guy with the prettiest eyes” and  “a wolf” ..

I did get a shot of his other assets:)

October: The First Snow

It had to happen.  Sooner or later it was bound to snow. I slept in.. much of it had melted before I was awake for the entire day.  This was our yard yesterday October 27, 2010.

The wind had howled like a banshee on a rampage. Even back here in the woods it was windy. Sticks were falling out of the trees and they were swaying back and forth so much that Chance refused to go outdoors by himself.

 

We will have to have one last round up of all Chance balls in the yard before winter sets in.  This time of year Indian Summer can always return… I am hopeful.

 

There were many leaf skirmishes, they were chopped, they were blown and they were raked.  Now they are collecting snow at the edge of the woods. As long as they stay away from the front door.  Chance did his share to help..he herds the rake..and his big old fluffy tail did an excellent job of carrying many leaves into the house. The arrival of snow signals the end of the leaf battle..even if you are not done. But I am done..and I am once again victorious over the miserable leaves. Far Guy doesn’t rake..but he does use the leaf blower and he does chop them up with the mulching blade on the lawn mower.  In some spots the leaves were knee deep..it is the price we pay for deep shade during the summer.  We also don’t have great looking grass..as in well manicured thick and luscious..it is what it is.

All of the summer lawn ornaments are put away..the patio furniture was put away dry..and my garage has been cleaned. The patio table remains like one lone wish that it would be warm enough to sit and relax around it one last time before the patio is filled with snow drifts. I guess I must be a dreamer:)

I say sNOw

Yesterday, the sun was shining, it was about time, it was our first day of sunshine in October. I loved it, I soaked up some rays..and captured some leaves.

Ah Fall..you have it all, beautiful colors, warm sunshine, blue skies...

In the afternoon, the snow clouds loomed on the horizon. Maybe they will go north, maybe they will track south..they might miss us...they might

Last night it began to sNOw.

This morning, we have been transported from Fall into Winter. Just like that, yanked into winter, almost without warning. No I don't like snow, or winter, it is way too early for winter to begin..I don't have the lawn furniture put away yet..it just needed two days of sunshine to dry off. Two lousy days, and we just got one. I don't have my parka out yet, I guess I will have to get it out..and those red crocs I really like..I guess those will have to be put away. I have had my snow boots out for a few days now, not in anticipation of snow, just because my feet got cold outside. What happened to global warming..it has not made it to Minnesota yet. It is exactly 30 degrees F (-1 C) out now, next February that will be a warm spell, I would be out there enjoying the warm balmy weather..not so much today:(

October, dreary cold rainy days = 8, sunny crisp days=1, first snowy day in progress.