Friday, January 14, 2011

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Christmas Weekend

Okay, I know Christmas was 3 weeks ago, but this weekend we are celebrating Christmas, with our immediate family. We try to schedule our family Christmas at a time when there are not other commitments.
That way we can enjoy a Christmas dinner together, prepared by Crystalie, and then spent some time, opening our gift from each other.

This year only half our family will be here, Misty and Chris and their two girls Livia and Addy, along with Jennifer and Matias and their puppy Joya. Our other two daughters, Raquel and Eric are in Ann Arbor Michigan and will be opening our gifts this Sunday about the same time we do. Ricki and Grant and Ashley and Rebekah, have already shared Christmas with us, as Crystalie was out there in early December and they sent some things back for me.
You will see more on all this later this weekend.
In the meantime, I am plowing snow tomorrow, since we received another 4 inches over the last few days and the llamas, need more hay also and then the NFL playoffs resume! And of course helping Crystalie prepare for Sunday...Christmas at Coffee Lake Farm!








Thursday, January 13, 2011

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Winter Doldrums

All I have heard for the last week, are news stories about our long winter and yet we are less than a month into the winter season which started on Dec. 21st.

The fact that we have received snow 32 days out of 42 days, even though some of it was less than an inch of snowfall, during those days. Seems to have a lot of people tired of winter, and looking to get away, or wish the season was gone. Well spring is only 9 weeks away technically!

So I provided the lovely picture of flowers from last summer at Wooden Nichols, to brighten your day! or when ever you read this.

But let's remember there are some things to enjoy this time of year.

1. The serene snow covered fields, and ditches, hiding all the trash we see sometimes along the road and cluttered yards, that some how look so clean and different.

2. The bright clear blue skies, that appear when things get colder...or the cracking of the ice on the lake, on a cold night.

3. Fresh Clean Air, no pollen, no strong odors typically because the drier air doesn't hold smells as long.

4. The images of Pine trees sugar coated with snow and ice.

5. The occasional snowman in a yard, created from the white stuff, showing someones creativity...have you ever seen an ugly one?

6. The screams of fun and laughter, sliding down a snow covered hill!

7. The joy of having heated car seats! which I don't but they are sweet if you have them..or a remote starter so your car is nice and toasty when you get in it.

8. Treats made only during the winter, Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, sweet candies and all those other tasty treats.

9. The warmth of a roaring fire in a fireplace, when the temperatures are below freezing, and the snow is falling and the wind is blowing outside.

10. No flies..no wood ticks, and of course no mosquitoes....

11. Besides we live in Minnesota and we are proud of it! Enjoy the Season!



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Wednesday the 12th post!



Bright sunny day, and not a lot going on here at home, but was on the road traveling around the area for work again today!

I visited the towns of Staples, Wadena, Long Prairie and Little Falls, talking to various Ace Paint dealers and other potential advertisers. The trip was about 160 miles of driving, and the road conditions for the most part were good.

The photo was taken a couple of years ago for a work related campaign on who I was as a sales person and we went with the angle of owning Llamas, along with that I actually sell their manure, for plant food! Which the second photo is an actual bag of the end product!
I will have an entry later this spring, on how I process the product and I don't think you need to see how the Llama's produce it!
Have a great day!




Tuesday, January 11, 2011

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Slippery Snow


Today, brought some light snow that was just moist enough to make every road with snow on it a skating rink. It wasn't much snow less than an inch.


But all the streets in Brainerd and County Roads which had packed snow on them, became very slick...making getting going from stop lights and stop signs, difficult and of course trying to stop really tricky for those driving to fast. I saw numerous accident scenes, where people slid into one another, and were waiting for police to get there or they were assessing there damage.


Other than that, work was busy with some meetings and also a chamber event called Business After Hours, that was hosted by Madden's Classic Grill, which is where my son-in-law Matias works as a chef. The food was fantastic and about 60 people enjoyed a great atmosphere and a scenic setting on the Classic golf course all covered in snow! If you left hungry t was your own fault. They had a number of stations for food, here is the run down...

Cheese Fondue Bar

Barbecued Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Chili with steak tenderloin as a meat and also all the trimmings

Epanadas and Coconut Shrimp

for dessert...Freshly prepared Crepes, and poached pears

Along with Shrimp Shooters and Veggie Shooters

with beverages of your choice, wine, beer, and mixed drinks...

All graciously provided by our host Madden's Resort, which get a chance to showcase their facilities and their staff and what they can do for your business. Thanks Madden's Classic Resort, the photo above is the Madden's Classic Grill all decorated for the winter season!






Monday, January 10, 2011

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Collections and conversations!


Today was back to work and I spent some time on the road, travelling to Walker and Longville and Emily. I am trying to figure out ways to cover the area I need to cover for the Lake Country Journal. So I am trying to break it into ciricular trips that allow me to see potential and existing advertising clients. Today's trip is a good route that allows me to see a significant market area, without two many extra miles.


I had interesting conversations with about 6 different places, and others I picked up a business card and introduced myself. I like getting to know people and their business, and the only way to do that is to meet them.

In a time when email and the phone already occupy our time so much, people do enjoy talking to people, and it gives me an idea on how they conduct their business. Which can tell me a lot about how good of a client they can be, and how I can help them find their audience for their goods and services.


But, Crystalie, had an interesting day also today... she visited one of her customers home, at her invitation to see a collection of Santa's she has, and she loved displaying them in her home close to Hanging Kettle Lake.

Well Crystalie was surprised to see over 700 plus Santa's on display throughout her large house. I know 700 plus..maybe even close to 1000 is what the lady thought she might have.
I can only how much time it takes to unpack them all and then to repack them after the holiday season, and then find a place to store them all! I guess I should not even think of complaining or bragging about the trailer load of stuff I bring into our house every holiday season...it could be more!
Crystalie enjoyed the visit a lot and was totally amazed by the collection, but even stated she did not see one Santa like the 50 plus she owns.
Tell me about one of your collections...
We have more to share also but that is another post!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

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Cold day outside!



We awoke this morning to an overnight low of -13 which, was one of the coldest days we have had this January. We have seen colder of course but anytime it gets that cold, things move a little slower, including me all bundled up, while out doing my chores.




The animals were all fine and enjoyed the bright sunshine during the day, you can tell the darkness of the fur was absorbing every little bit of heat the sunshine provided. Not a cloud in the sky all day.




Not much going on here otherwise, I did fill the water tank today, and of course filled the woodstove a couple of times today. Football playoffs again on TV along with some scrabble both online and on the actual board.

Hope everyone had a safe and warm weekend!


Saturday, January 8, 2011

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He Cooks too!




Saturday, at home nice sunshine and cold...about -5 this morning, but not a lot of wind.

Making it tolerable outside for some chores and also plowing some snow, making the driveway wider. I spent some time cleaning the wood stove out, removing the ash in the bottom and getting the clinkers out also.

I also cleaned out my hay hauling trailer, as it had quite a bit of snow and ice in it, and also some scraps of hay. Then I worked on moving some snow back along the driveway closer to the house.
But before all of that, I had told Crystalie, I would make some stew so I took out a venison roast, last night and let it thaw out over night. My recipe for stew is as follows...
1.5 lbs Venison cubed rolled and flour and browned in frying pan
1 can mushroom soup, plus 1 can of water
1 can of mushroom parts
1 bottle of beer
3 tablespoons of Italian seasoning
1/2 medium size onion diced
3 tablespoons of barbecue sauce
2 teaspoons of worchester sauce
1.5 cups of carrots chunks
7 med size potato's peeled and chunked
1 tablespoon of hot sauce

All of this mixed, into crockpot, and then simmered for 6-7 hours on medium..thicken if you need to with corn starch mixture
Also made dinner roll dough in bread machine, shape into buns in let rise, and then in the oven for 25 -30 minutes!
So supper is still cooking and the buns are in the oven, and watching some playoff football on the TV. I do enjoy cooking, when I can and I also enjoying grilling a lot.