Fence Done

 Astrid finished her pasture fence.  It just lacks the gates.  She is closer to being a college graduate—December 8. 

Merry Fitness

Merry Fitness and a Happy New Rear 🤭😉

Laura and Astrid have what I’d call fitness friends.  They work out in one friend’s garage and take turns leading the work out.  All have bikes in the garage and some days they ride!  They have hiked, biked, kayaked, and climbed mountains together.  I guess Phinnie is my workout pal.  It helps to have an encourager in any endeavor—someone who wants you to succeed.

 

Beautiful Sky

 I wanted to post a photo of the beautiful sky Phinnie and I saw when we walked to get the mail.  It was spectacular.  I walk in the morning, but my mail runs late.  I walk to the mailbox usually about 5.  It’s almost half a mile round trip.  

Bible study is today.  We are in Romans Chapter 8.  I’ll read Chapter 9, too, in case we get that far.   Romans is mostly concerning the fact we are saved by Grace not works.  If we are saved, works will occur.  We are to follow our Shepard’s example.  

I had lunch with Astrid yesterday.  I had a Ruben sandwich.  It’s one of my favorite sandwiches.  Astrid had smoked chicken.  She drove me to all my errands.  I hate driving.  We went to hobby lobby and she helped me select a frame for her nursing photo.  Her fence is only lacking the gates now.

I will add my sky photo later.  I may make potato soup today.  I love soup.  

See No Evil

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil!  

Sigrid puts things off.  She’s the baby of her family.  Over Thanksgiving break, she worked diligently to get her work caught up. She and two sweet friends stayed over night at Astrid’s house.  Siggie tries to think of fun activities.  They made a cake, but like the little monkeys Sigrid could not talk, Sadie was blindfolded and couldn’t see, Ellie had on ear phones that blocked all sound.  Sadie had to make the cake.  Looks like it was a success! 

 

Teach ‘em to Work

The farmer built fence all afternoon yesterday.  When she wants something done, she’s learns and does it.  Soon Astrid will have a second pasture so she can separate her herd.  Also, she graduates from college December 8 with a BS in Nursing.  She’s going to make a good hand at the hospital, too.  Learning to work is an important trait to develop in our children.

J

 

Computers are a Pain

I updated both laptops and got them both running again.  I have Microsoft updates.  Why do I have to enter a password?  Grrrr.  I have three computers that use Microsoft.  So....three different accts.  Which goes to which.  They never work and I have to reset the pw.  But today I did that.  On this laptop I found the above photo saved.  This was right after Larry and I bought our first house on Dog Alley in Pottsville.  1972, September!  I was teaching 3rd grade and Larry worked for Bill Price and Son.  Our house payment was 104.98$.  It seemed like a lot then.  Larry always wore a white t-shirt under his work shirt.  I think that has changed and men don't do that anymore.  

I also listened to a sermon by Charles Spurgeon from October 1866.   The topic was "the Lord is my shepherd".  I am just a "sheep".  I am to follow the shepherd and stay in the pasture he put me in.  I am not to wander off.  I am not to tell him where he needs to take me next.  He's in charge.  Rev. Spurgeon said to be careful and look to the Master and not your pastor for guidance.  He said if you idolize your pastor that will push you from your Master.  David wrote the psalm used in the sermon.  David knew all about being a shepherd.  Rev.  Spurgeon also reminded the flock that they should never forget where they came from.  I started as a poor farm girl.  The Lord put me there and it is where I should have began my life.  I am thankful for that start and all the pastures he has led me through since that time!
 

November Ending

 These two will be heading back to work tomorrow.  Erin will too.  Fleta has one more day.  It is supposed to be above freezing most of the week.  December welcomes Ingrid's birthday.  She will be 21.  Astrid will be graduating from ATU December 8.  She starts her new nursing job December 12.  Laura is working on another degree and is finishing her first class.  I need to get focused on doing something.  

I have starting a new way of eating.  I won't call it a diet because it's really not.  I can eat whatever I want, but I only eat during an eight hour period.  If I eat breakfast at 8:30, I have to eat my evening meal at 4:30.  My weight is coming down slowly.  

Guess I'll get dressed and take my walk here.  Laura, Astrid and Faith are going to walk up Nebo Mountain this morning.  I'll just stroll here.  

Walking for Life

I noticed this oak tree when we walked this morning.  It’s showing pretty colors.

I think my walking habit is getting established.  I walk almost daily.  One good habit, but I have numerous bad habits that I practice.   

History

Thanksgiving is about being thankful for good food like the Pilgrims?  Eric said turkeys are so expensive, let’s just have steak.  So, we did.  They said bring mashed potatoes, Gigi. Wow, that’s all I made.  Life is good when your family takes over all the planning and cooking and you just have to show up with a side dish.  It was nice to be with both my girls and their families.  

Sigrid said yesterday that she was nervous about high school ending and having to “grow up”.

Ada had a conversation with Ingie.

Astrid made Mac and cheese casserole and it was a hit.

Laura found toys in the attic for Ada to enjoy.

 

Happy Birthday, Erin

Happy Birthday to my baby girl.  Always a blessing…

 

Take a Hike

Astrid, Laura, Eric and some good friends hiked King’s Bluff and Pedestal Rocks today.  I have hiked it and would recommend the trail to any family that would like to take a pretty easy hike with spectacular sites.  Greta was only 3 when we hiked it  and she walked the entire way.  Take a hike!

 

Chicken Sass

Astrid chickens enjoy the sun.  She has more varieties than I do.  

Sigrid’s ride needed new battery cables and she is able to go again.  I know she is thankful.  We’re often not thankful for things until they’re gone.  Things like running water, heat in the house, a car that starts,  electricity—when they don’t come to pass, one realizes how much they mean to you.  Even a loved one that’s passed is thought of differently in absence.  I don’t want to take any of my blessings for granted today.  I’m so thankful.  

What a Blessing

I feel blessed just to begin my day above freezing.  It was 32 degrees when I arose at 6 AM.  I know the birds and horses rejoice more than I.  

Laura is off all week.  We will walk at the Park.  I have Bible study today.  It’s in Romans.  I learn something new each time I go.  I love understanding and knowledge.  I enjoy study.  I know I am weird.
 

Cold

It’s been really cold for November, but this week a warm up is coming. 🤞 it was 25 here last night.  I hope Ada is better today.  Laura is off from school this week.  They arrived back from Minneapolis safely.  Astrid has finished preceptorship in nursing.  She graduates December 8 and starts at St. Mary’s Hospital December 10.  She will be an after surgery nurse at night.  Her hourly wage is good and she will receive a sign on bonus.  They will pay off the one small loan she had for this semester.    

The tree is an oak from the park where we walk.  Oaks aren’t very pretty in the fall.  Their leaves turn brown and hang on most of the winter.

Fleta is sprucing up her bedroom.  She’s painting and Greg is replacing some wall sheeting.  Helen sounds like she is staying in bed most of the day.  I have nothing to read and am feeling very worthless.  

The day the shooting stars were to fall, I went out looking and looking and saw nothing.  I am such a sucker.

Greta to the Line

 Greta is playing basketball now.  Soccer is over.  Ada is sick.  Hope she is better soon.

All in a Name

 My Sigrid’s name is not common.  It fits her.  Sigrid /ˈsiːɡrɪd/ is a Scandinavian given name for women from Old Norse Sigríðr, composed of the elements sigr "victory" and fríðr "beautiful".  So Sigrid means beautiful victory.  She’s a winner, I think.

Wordle Yesterday

 Yesterday's Wordle was a hard one.  I got it in 4 tries.  How?  In the first two, I had guessed all the vowels and the word had no A, E, I, O, U so I knew the word had to have a Y as the vowel.  I had the letters l, h, and g by the 4th time.  I knew the first two letters had to be a blend.   I thought well gl is a blend and the h was at the end of the word.  So....I guessed glyph not having any idea if it was a word.  It was and I made it in 4 tries.  I immediately looked up glyph--ARCHITECTURE an ornamental carved groove or channel, as on a Greek frieze.  So, I also learned a new word.  I am really not very smart.  Donna W. talks about "hard mode" in wordle and I don't know what that is!  I enjoy doing word puzzles.  The three sisters send each other our results each day.  Sometimes, if one of us can't sleep, we do Wordle at 2 in the morning and have to remember not to hit share....as we would wake our sisters!  Today, I got Wordle in 3 tries.  That's a good score for me.  I have failed on getting the answer a few times but not many.  Lots of folks gripe about Wordle.  I don't that much.  NY Times had to add words.  They have used most of them.  They can always start over as I for one forget the words within a day!  I say "don't gripe.  If you don't like it, don't play."  I like that the game is not complicated.  I enjoy the interaction with my sisters each day.  

Spied deer and snow geese across Galla Lake when Phinnie and I took our early morning walk. Six deer were coming to get a drink of water. I think I saw horns on one. Try to take time today to look and be aware of all things. Take heed! “Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.” James Thurber

Snow Again

Erin sent this picture this morning.  They had snow again.  I think third snow.

 Laura and Eric made it to Minneapolis.  Eric spoke at his grandfather’s funeral.  Laura said if you think it’s cold here try Minnesota and you’ll think AR is warm.  

And as of this morning Erin has lost 69 pounds.  I am unbelievably proud of her endeavor.  I want to lose 10 pounds but I’m not very successful.  I’ve now lost the same pound 5 times.  I’m not giving up though.  I’m going to keep trying.  Usually this time of year I gain weight so at least I’ve lost one pound not gained 5.

Greta Knows Facts

I am so proud of Greta for joining the 100 club in her math class!  She completed 100 math fact problems in 2 minutes!  Way to go!!  Greta knows her facts.

Basketball Time

Alex Hill

ATU 2022 Team

 It’s time for basketball again.  My friend Kay and I attended the first ATU Golden Suns basketball game Monday evening.  Our team won by 50 points.  We are looking forward to a good season.  We both graduated from ATU—Kay in ‘72 and me in ‘71.  College recruiting was really messed up by the pandemic.  This years group of girls hold promise.  Alex Hill is from Alpena and she is now a starter.  I love basketball, but it isn’t much fun to watch if your team is lacking.  

For the Birds

 

I still feed the birds.  Recently, the feeding station Larry built for me was destroyed by a little storm we had, just high winds.  I could not even express the event because it filled me with such sadness.  Yesterday, I burned the pile of limbs and under it the feeding station.  When we choose to live, we can't spend our days in remorse.  I know this, but it will take a while for me to rejoice as fully as before.  

I noticed the day the station was blown away, all these Redbirds came.  Sometimes there were too many to count.  I think he was checking on me.  How silly I am.  I had one of those stick in the ground hangers and my sweet Astrid bought me a second one at Tractor Supply.    I will still be able to feed the birds and enjoy them coming and going, but for awhile the view holds some sadness for me.  I see the Snow Geese on Galla Lake each morning when Phinnie and I walk.  I just have a cheap camera, but I will tell you are are beautiful!