Still Camping

Here I am, sitting on the hearth and drinking the first coffee we've made. The generator can handle about four extension cords, so we juggle among the various choices..TV? coffee? Internet? Heat? I am strangely content. I think adversity draws family closer and makes you appreciate what you do have. What you don't have can go in it's own box, but does not represent the whole picture. I promised to clean house today, but it will just be dusting, sweeping and picking up. We did half the laundry at Betty's last night and left the rest for them to start another load this morning.

Richard is holding his own, still with a nasogastric tube until his bowel feels better. He is sleeping a lot, and has an IV for nutrition. It is hard on the family to see him sick. From my distant point of view, he is still peeing, and breathing on his own and didn't have a temperature during the night...a good report.

I will stay home today so the generator can run and keep the house warm. I am on call, so I may go back and forth if needed. I promised Dr. Laura I would call the minute the lights went on. They are eager to go back home, after living in town all week. I, on the other hand, wish I could spend the day at the quilt shop, my happy place. There are two stacks of fabric about chest high that need to be cut into kits for a block-of-the-month program. It will still be there when I get there.

I think of each of you and hope you have a happy place of your own, to bring beauty and creativity (and light and heat) into an otherwise gloomy day.

Daily Progress Note

The farmer brought home a generator Wed. and got it set up on Thurs. We have enough power to run some space heaters and living room light and the TV. We went out to eat with Betty and Rhonda and Dave, and didn't have much time to warm up the house before bedtime. We shut off the generator at night. Needless to say, it was another chilly morning. Mike had frozen milk on his cereal, and we both got the giggles when Tucker ate his breakfast and then burped on us. I told Mike his day could only get better from here.

Richard is still in the hospital with a bowel infection. He is worse today, but they are adding some medications and starting total nutrition by IV to rest his gut. We will see how tomorrow goes.

Got to go, I'm at work. :)

Wishing

You would think that farmers worry only about moisture. I learned this week that power,the electric kind, is a big issue too. When we got home from skiing, the house had no power. Since we planned to use the garage door opener to get in, we had to move to plan 'B'. Lance broke the door jam to the back door in the garage, and we got in that way.

The fog that iced up the power lines covered a fairly big area. Crews have come from all over to fix the broken poles and downed wires. We still don't have power (day six). We have been heating with the propane fireplace, and two days ago, Lance borrowed a kerosene heater. The livingroom stays about 60 degrees and the bedroom is about 46. We are cozy under down comforters. We have a Coleman camp stove we cook on and candles in the kitchen for light and general cheeriness. The last three days, we have gone over to Betty's for showers and TV in the evenings. Town has power now, though it went out twice. I worked at the quilt store Monday and yesterday. The warmth and hot coffee were great.

Richard is in the hospital again with an abdominal infection. He is on antibiotics, but doesn't feel good. Rhonda and Dave will come home tomorrow for the weekend. We were suppose to leave for the hospital board retreat this weekend but we may stay here if things don't improve.

It is funny how dependant we are on electricity. Our home phone doesn't work but my cell phone does. I can use the laptop, but not connect to the internet, so we haven't checked email this week. Our water works, but only runs cold. We put the food from the regridgerator in the garage, and the frozen foods on the back porch. Some families are renting houses in town, but I'm glad we can be at home and sleep in our own beds. Mike is hit the hardest because all his entertainment is computer or xbox related. We all do crossword puzzles together, and have played numerous games. Perhaps there is good as well as bad in difficult circumstances.

Just wanted to touch base and let you know we are fine. Marmee

Last Ski day

This is Lindsey working on her quilt. Today, I finished with the tying, and I should have time to do the binding so she can have it for college. I think everyone who works at the quilt store eventually starts quilting. It is contagious.

We hear it is supposed to snow and blow the minute we get home, so we are leaving very early in the morning. If we do have a blizzard over the weekend, I would rather be home than on the road. It will give me two more days at home to sew before I have to go back to work. I am looking forward to rescuing Tucker from the kennel. He is always meek for a day or two, then back to his leaning and shameless begging. He's a dear.

Ski Day 3

As we drove down the mountain for a shopping day in Bozeman, we saw Big Horn Sheep. One was right by the road and these were uphill. Lance turned around so I could take a picture out of my window. Cool!

I went to the bead store and bought two strands of beads. One is goldstone, which looks like it has gold shimmer to it. The other name slipped my mind but it is jade green marbled with similar gold as the first strand. I bought a necklace kit. We'll see how it turns out. I know I don't need a new hobby. Since I found the French General web site, I have been fascinated by her story and designs. "I could do that."

I told Lindsey I would work on tying her quilt today. She wants to take it with her back to college. Then I can work on the one I just started. How do I get so busy while on vacation?

Since I make lunch and take it up for the skiers, I have about two hours to play. Have a great day! I am thinking of you.

Day 1

We arrived last night, and settled in. The fireplace is now gas...so much easier. This morning, we dropped off the kids. While waiting, I took pictures of skiers unloading. There must be a competition because two teams pulled up . They seem very colorful. Note the cowboy boots. I bet they are snowboarders.

We also checked out all the cars in the parking lot, since we are thinking of replacing the van. No decisions yet, but there are some beautiful ones out there. Today is a Vikings playoff game and the beginning of my new sewing project. So much for the New Year's resolution to finish prior projects first. So much fabric, so little time.

Ski Week

We are on the road today heading west for Big Sky. Lindsey will go on from there to school on Friday. It has been a busy week, so of course I am still drying clothes and packing. I wanted to touch base first so my dear readers know where we are.

Yesterday, the doctors saw a presentation on the first choice of four electronic medical records. Some do not want to give up paper and others can see a great potential in it. The government has apparently mandated it, so we are on our way. Since my schedule is not busy, I should be able to learn it and not get too far behind.

This week, I'm taking with me a good book, a sewing project, and my study materials for my board exam. Alex helped me pick the fabric and it will be really cute! More later. Marmee

January Sunrise

I love the colors of a frozen sunrise. We were up early to take the van in to be cleaned. It is time to trade it in for a different vehicle. We still need cargo space and comfort for travel. I hope for seat warmers and 4-wheel drive. Fuel economy would be great, but I'm not sure the hybrid choices have all of the above. We will see.

I tried to encourage Alex to let Jessica sleep in rather than taking her coyote hunting this morning. It is still way below zero. He is enthusiastic. They already got a deer, and processed it in the garage. One can take in only so much at once.

A trailer home just east of Betty Nelson's burned yesterday. They were trying to thaw frozen water pipes with a propane heater. I saw the huge plume of smoke when I went back in to work after lunch. It does not take long for news to travel in a small town. Sad.

Stay warm. Keep safe.

20 below

Like the rest of the country, it is COLD here today. The thermometer said 2o below when I woke up. Yesterday I left work at 10:30 so I could be home before the wind blew drifts across the county road. School let out early and Lance called Lindsey after lunch to tell her to be home by 2 pm. Living in North Dakota, you develop a respect for the weather, and know when to give in. If I am going to be snowed in, I want to be home. At the clinic, the doctors were calling patients and doing care over the phone rather than have older people or sick kids out on the roads. Common sense and experience take away the guilt feelings for opting out and staying warm and safe.

I put away Christmas decorations, and made a pork roast for dinner. It was Lance's birthday, the magical time of year when he becomes as old as I am for two short months. I like being the age I am. I am happy, healthy and have creative outlets I enjoy. I do not worry about money, and pay off my credit card on time. Family relationships are good, except for Tucker, who is on the naughty list for running off in the snow and showing up a Grandma's two nights ago.

Stay home or get a ride to work today. Do not freeze you nose or toes. I am thinking of you.

New Wine

Lance is on to the next step in wine-making. After "racking" the wine into this glamorous bucket, he adjusted the sugar and the acidity. We tasted some and its not too bad for a first try. It still needs to sit more (I'm not sure why).

This is my next pincushion. This week I put the binding on the barn quilt, and pulled out a brown and blue nine-patch project that got sidelined last spring. I still love the fabric, but was dismayed to see how many blocks I had planned to make. I need to be more restrained when I fall in love with new fabric. It will be beautiful, I just need to be patient.

Rose Bowl Cheers

Until Christmas, I didn't know who was playing in the Rose Bowl. Then I found out its Rachel's college against Ohio. I'm practically related to the team! Go, big O!

I finished another pincushion...so cute. I'm toying with the idea of selling them at quilt shows next time Laura and Wes are vending. I need to get prior permission from the pattern designer, but since Wes and Laura know her, I am hopeful. Then the question is how to price them. There is a difference between a hobby and a job that can be self-sustaining. Beanie Babies were small and cute and sold like wildfire. What if I can't keep up with the demand? Do I need a business plan? It would be ideal to offer them as part of the store online, since they have an established customer base. Would I need to rent "store space" or pay a commission? Too many questions. I should pass my board exam first, since I need to keep my day job.

May all your wishes and dreams come true this New Year, and in the years to come.