Loading the snow machine, Grpa G's way....

When you have a shortbed truck, and a long snow machine, you need a little in-Geo-nuity ...for the puzzled, that is what happens when Grpa G gets an idea!!

This is taken through the window screen .We have to keep every vehicle plugged in with an engine heater if we want to drive it, as it has been so cold. We just have to remember to unplug before backing out!
All done.

I learned a new word....

I read about a "day-cation" yesterday...It is when you don't have time to go for a real vacation, but just a few hours or a day to do something different or fun. It helps break the winter blahs and gives you a new outlook on life. It sounds like a good thing to me. Ideas, anyone??

Speaking of sunrises and sunsets....

These are some of the sunsets that stick in our memory. They are from a cruise ship in Mexico...Hmmm, I wonder if we should go check them out in person again!!

Oh what a beautiful morning!

I have a question for all you readers of this blog. Where do you think the sunrises and sunsets are the most beautiful, over the mountains, the ocean, the prairies, off a cruise ship, in the city?? Where was your most memorable sunrise or sunset? What were you doing that made it wonderful? Grpa G and I have been discussing all of the above and trying to decide which was our favorite. Right now, I am dreaming about doing research from the Carribbean or some place warm ;) I see people checking the blog from all over the USA and the Dominican Republic, Australia, and Spain,....so surely there are a lot of different views on this subject.

Cat tracks

Scenes from the 2nd day of the new year....

Picnic anyone?

I think this one could be titled "Gone South for the Winter"

Grpa with his various tarps to try and keep warm....it has warmed up to 1 degree above zero at lunch time.

The jetstreams are outstanding since it stopped snowing and blowing. Is it the extreme cold? the moisture in the air? Please tell me if you know ;)

Gittin goin on a COLD day!!

This was the final successful combination to get Grpa's cat dozer going. The snow was so deep and drifted that they couldn't get to the feed grounds to feed part of the cattle. The day was so cold...many minus degrees that the cat wouldn't start. Grpa knew it would be a long day...so took some water and fruit for a snack. By the time they got the cat dozer started, the fruit and water had frozen...note no cab on the cat! Soooo, about 1 pm, Kate, the little boys and I drove down the newly plowed road...oh, oh, it is drifting shut again....to take a hot lunch to Grpa and Chris. Grpa got into the truck to try and warm up a little, and wouldn't you know, the county comes by and the man says..."Who gave you permission to push snow on a county road?" Chris, who is diplomatic, said we had to get to our cows to feed them and the road was drifted shut. The county men pulled down that road with their "new" roadgraders and proceeded to clean that road in a few minutes where Grpa had struggled and froze for 5 hours to push the snow to the side so Chris could get through with a chained up 4 wheel drive tractor. The men got in at dark after plowing Chris's yard so he could get back in....one little bonus for Grma and Grpa, we got to have Chris, Kate and boys over night Sunday night. Another bonus of being snowed in....we have been totally healthy...we haven't gone anywhere (except to run into the grocery store when the roads got open and the snow stopped blowing), or seen anyone for a month, so haven't caught any germs!! There is a bright side to any situation if you look hard enough!