Friday, January 7, 2011

3 Comments

Creative forces




Today, started off with a little frustration, I had picked up a new hay bale yesterday but left it on the trailer overnight so I could unload it in the morning light. I pulled into the lot with the bale, and got backed up to the feeder, almost got stuck (Ashley) but I managed to get moving again.

I moved the feeder which was froze down from all the rain we had a week ago. Then proceeded to pull the outer layer of the bale of to get the strings removed, and to roll it off the trailer. Well no matter how hard I pushed I could not get it to roll, I then tried using a pitchfork to get some leverage on it, but to no avail.

Then I went in the house, and asked my dear wife to get dressed and come outside to help roll it off the trailer, she was still in the warm bed, but she replied "really...." Then I said, "hey at least I am not telling you the animals are out of the pen" which she was thankful for, she hates it when they are not where they are supposed to be!

I went back out, filled the wood stove for the day, and proceeded back to the trailer, in a couple of minutes Crystalie, was walking across the yard all bundled up, I helped her get in the trailer next to the round bale and in a minute we had it rolled off, the trailer and in the spot where it needed to be. "Is that all" she said and I said "well if you could open the gate for me when I get there it I would appreciate it" "sure" she said.
Not that she was mad or anything, just still a little sleepy, and unloading hay before coffee is not a good thing.
The joys of farm life once again, but hey the Llamas and the Bucky appreciated our efforts, as they all stood filling their faces!

The pictures above are of a snow creation, that Crystalie made today, the idea is from her daughter Ricki, who found one similar and send her a picture of it. Do you know what it is????

A Hedgehog, which our granddaughter actually has one, named Emerson!


Thursday, January 6, 2011

0 Comments

Smarkle and Tootsie




Dogs can be so special!

When I get home, they hear me come in and Tootsie begins whining, loudly mind you, I have to go back and pet them and then let them outside, so they can go check to see if I left anything out for them to eat, and to check out my truck. You know smell the tire in case I was around another dog.

When they are ready to come in Tootsie will sit and whine by the living room window, and this is not just some whimpering, this sounds like she is going to die, unless she can get in back in the house where it is nice and warm...she doesn't like the cold or the dark...sometimes I think the dark is more of the whining then the cold.

All the while they are outside, Smarkle is jumping on or pestering Tootsie. The only time she isn't is when she is playing fetch or when she is checking out the yard or even the llama pen. She likes wandering through the Llama pen in the mornings, she actually tries to get them to play with her sometimes, by fake jumping at them and they either back up a little or they just stand there and look at her.

Crystalie, snapped these photos of her yesterday in the llama pen, which isn't easy because if she hears the door open she will come running to the house, so these are taken through the window. Crystalie, is my official photographer unless otherwise noted!










Wednesday, January 5, 2011

1 comment

Special Freinds!

Tonight, we dined at one of our closest friends, home about 5 miles from us, Colette's!

Crystalie and Colette have known each other for over 30 plus years, not sure how many. They met each other working at one of the restaurants they both worked at over the years. When I met Crystalie, I was introduced to Colette and she is an avid golfer and she has been a great golf buddy, and we enjoy getting out and playing a round of golf when we can.

This was our Christmas dinner get together with her, and it involved exchanging gifts also. Colette prepared for us this year, crab legs, broiled shrimp, and chicken breast encrusted in a nice crunchy breading, along with green beans, and some seasoned potatoes, along with a fresh green salad. For dessert a French Silk Chocolate pie she purchased.

Needless to say it was all fantastic and along with some beverages and also lots of conversation about what we have been doing and what she has been involved with and also how each other's family's were all doing, which takes alot of time as Colette is part of a family of 15 kids.

Colette, is a special friend, and we both enjoy our time catching up with her and of course her cooking which is always fantastic!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

1 comment

Bright Sunshine












It was a sunny day all day today, not a cloud in the sky. So Crystalie, got outside and took some nice photos of all the ice and snow coating we received over the New Years Holiday. So I wanted to share what she saw, she likes playing with the digital camera, and we have a little Canon S2 which is like a small 35 mm camera.
As you can see the rain froze to everything when it changed over to snow and the wetter snow stuck to the ice that formed, hopefully we don't get a wind storm, before it is allowed to melt off, which may be a little bit as it is suppose to be chilly for a few days.
The roadways were helped by the sunshine also and some of the salt ate some of the ice off the highways, today but things are still slick.
Work has been busy, trying to close a bunch of ad sales this month for our March/April issue. Which goes to print in early February.
Enjoy the photos!




Monday, January 3, 2011

1 comment

First work day of 2011


The New Year begins, and work begins a new year also. I work for a company called Lake Country Journal and Range Printing, and I am in sales, selling advertising in our publication the Lake Country Journal magazine a premiere lifestyle publication. I also sell other services that we offer, like web site development along with design and of course printing.


I like what I do and it is a challenge and allows me to meet new people, all the time. I spend a lot of time driving around and sometimes a night away from Coffee Lake Farm, to save some miles and get more sales calls in area without driving so many miles. I have been in sales for 20 plus years, and I enjoy the print and graphic design world, and marketing which is changing constantly.


The low last night was 15 below zero and our wood stove was definitely working a lot last night, pretty empty at 7 this morning, and I filled it late last night. Our roads are a mess and the max speed was about 45 mph, and I drive about 25 miles into work, in Brainerd.


Around the farm, things are quiet right now, just making sure the water tank is not froze, and the wood stove is full of wood.












Sunday, January 2, 2011

2 Comments

Full House

Well we were fortunate to have our daughter Jennifer and her husband Matias, come and visit us last night and stay the night which made for quite a house full. With Misty and Chris, Livia and Addy still here, we had people sleeping everywhere.

We had a great supper last night, a lot of what we were going to have out in Fort Ransom, ND. at the CFC. It was great and then we played a game of Clue, some of us and guess who won??? Jennifer of course.

After the kids went to bed we vegged out and watched a movie, and then got to bed. This morning, we had some scones, and banana bread, along with Lucky Charms for the girls!

I did do some work today, plowed out the yard again, it wasn't a lot of snow but a couple of inches that fell NYE. The wind had died down but it was about 5 above when I was out plowing the snow, nice and sunny today though.

All our company left and then we watched football...Coffee Lake Farm is Viking territory, but they lost to Detroit today, the end of a disappointing 2010 season! I also worked on the 1000 piece puzzle, we started yesterday. I am going back to it now to see if I can finish it tonight.

The highlight this afternoon was a call from my daughter Raquel, wishing us a Happy New Year, and also to see how things were going. Her and Eric are doing well in Ann Arbor, Michigan and she is feeling good now starting her 8 month of pregnancy, she is due in early march, which is exciting to us all!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

2 Comments

New Years Eve Day and New Years Day






The end of a year brought a massive snow storm, that made roads slick around here and another 6 inches of snow. But is also closed down western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota, where were supposed to be heading for Coit Family Christmas or CFC on New Years Day, but roads are closed and nobody can get to Fort Ransom, ND.
The first picture is of me plowing snow, cleaning out the yard, fr0m our snow and rain on Thursday, day and night, I wanted to get it ready for the next snowfall.
But last night we did attend the annual Farm Fest themed NYE party host again by Montina and Coralie hosted at Scott and Montina's house in Aitkin. Games, puzzles and medallion hunt and also lots of food all around a farm theme! This year Misty, Chris and there two girls Livia and Adeline, came with us..fun was had by all and we all got lots of prizes, to take home with us. We got home about 1:00am and put the kids down and visited till almost 2:00 am even Crystalie!
New Years Day we were supposed to head out North Dakota as I mentioned above. But we all slept in, and then I made some breakfast for the girls..lucky charms and clementines..then scrambled eggs and bacon and toast for everyone else.
After breakfast, Crystalie snapped the pictures above...Addy keeping Smarkle company, and her new best friend...Livia getting to play some games on the computer. Misty and Chris taking advantage of the free time starting a 1000 piece puzzle..a Llama picture.
Plan for the day is up in the air yet....but I am sure it will be amusing!
Have a great New Years Day everyone! CFC is being rescheduled, not sure when yet, but whenever it will be a fun time!