Patent Pending

I recruited Spence to help with the outdoor Christmas lights this year. We started with a Swifter to help get the lights up high enough on the trees but that was not working. Spence came up with his own tree light applicator. He used a plastic paddle he uses on the cattle, a rake tooth , and shipping tape ( we could not find the duct tape other wise that would have been our first choice). It worked awesome. Spence will be taking orders for this if anyone is interested. A price has not been set, we are waiting for the patent. We will also be up grading to duct tape.

Reflections of the sunrise

Spence and I both commented how beautiful the sunrise was. When he left to go to the farm he called and told me to go out and look at the reflection in the windows. I thought this was really cool.

New addition

Dylan and family have a new addition to their family. They have a new puppy called Stinker. He is a Blue Heeler-Border Collie mix. He really is a good little puppy. On this day Grandpa was babysitting.

Happy Birthday Sutton

Sutton celerated his 3rd Birthday in October. Tanis made him a great cake with cows and corn growing in the field.

So much sand so little time

We were fortunate to be able to take the boys to Sue and Bob's cabin over Labor Day. Stetson and Sutton have never been so lucky to have all this sand to play in, and they gave it their all. Auntie Sue helped them build a castle with a mote.

Stetson is off to school

Stetson started Kindergarten this year. He looks so little next to the bus. He goes everyday all week. By Friday night he is wiped out.

Were not in Hecla any more

As many of you know we moved to Oakes in August. We found a great home with everything on one level. Still adjusting to neighbors, but enjoying it very much. There are 15 children in the neighborhood so there is a lot of activity.

Our Redneck Day

In August we went to Vinnie's mud blog. It was a huge swamp.People attempted to drive through it with anything that had tires on it.These guys just about made it across. They had tractors to pull the vehicles out and they would go right back at. It really was quite entertaining.

Dads helper

Dylan went to central South Dakota to do some custom combining. Stetson got to go along to help.With his John Deere hat and shirt, one glove and his pliers in its holder, he was ready to go.

Art in metal

Spence and I were fortunate to have my niece Tessa back to visit us this summer. On our way to the lakes we like to stop in Vining Minnesota. There is a man in Vining that welds statues and  places them through the town.The elephant is made out of mower blades. I have included some of his other creations.......enjoy.

Minnesota Loons

We spent the 4th at Sue and Bob's cabin. While out on the pontoon a mother Loon and her babies were out for a swim. She let us get extremely close, which is very unusual. Bob told us that the babies still have downy feathers and it's hard for them to go underwater. They are beautiful birds and were very lucky to get so close.

My Bombardier

For Father's Day, Dylan and Kayla's gift to Spencer was a ride in a B-25 bomber. Spencer has always been interested in World War II planes so he was thrilled for the opportunity to fly in this one. He got to sit in the nose of the plane where the bombardier sat. They flew out of Aberdeen so we took Stetson and Sutton with us. Grandpa told the boys they would fly up in the clouds. When the flight was over Stetson asked Spencer if he saw God. Spencer said no, and Stetson asked him if he wished he could  have touched God. Pretty insightful for a 5 year old.

Water wildlife

Coming home from Hecla, Stetson and Sutton like to drive really slow and look at all the wildlife that lives in the water. These are just a few of what we saw. The first is a Blue Bill Duck. I was very excited to get a picture because they slip underwater fast. The second bird is a Ibis. They are in the shallow water, sticking their bill into the mud. The next picture is the turtles sitting in the on the dead tree. The last is a Coot with her new babies. I have never seen baby coots so young with such bright colors.

Gathering eggs

 We are lucky enough to have a neighbor that raises chickens and we get fresh eggs to eat. Stetson and Sutton got to pick their own eggs on Sunday. With Donna's help Sutton is feeding the young chickens that are not quite old enough to lay eggs yet. Stetson got to gather the eggs. What a great experience for these kids.

Drying out

This is a Double-Crested Cormorant. To dry off it strikes an erect pose with wings outstretched , facing the sun. We have a perfect place for them to roost in the dead trees by the water. At sunset all the Cormorants are on the top half of the trees and all the white egrets are on the lower level of the trees.

Calving time

It's that time of year again. Calving time! Dylan has calved out around 250 calves so far. He is close to the end with about 30 more to go. When I drive by the pasture on a sunny day little calves are running around everywhere, just like kids out on a playground.

Songster

The other day I was in the kitchen and heard this bird singing outside my window. This is a Brown Thrasher.
My handy dandy bird book says the male has the largest documented song repertoire of all North American birds, with over 1,100 song types. My question is, who sat and distinguished that there were 1,100 songs coming from this bird!

Another year gone by

 I celebrated a Birthday yesterday. We went out to dinner with Dylan, Meagan and the boys. Spence asked Stetson how old he thought I was. He smiled at me and said "27". I am sure in his 5 year old mind that was really old , but in this old mind  I was flattered. 

 Thank you for all your Birthday wishes everyone.

Lions and tigers oh my !

Sutton and Stetson were lucky enough to go to the circus with their neighbors last weekend. I think they were the cutest lions and tigers there.

Good Morning

Just another beautiful sunrise in South Dakota.

Moving through

The weather has been beautiful and the geese are starting to move through. Thousands of them ciricling above the corn fields making a lot of noise. They eat, rest, and the next day they are off again.

Crazy !

I found this apple at the grocery store yesterday.  I've never seen anything like it. It's like two apple's in one.

The line on either side is perfectly straight. I did not photo shop this. ( I don't know how)!  Is it a red apple or a green apple.......that is the question?

Road art

Every time I drive to Ludden, I see this face on the road. The tar crew must of had a little time to doodle while they were working on the road last summer. It's not Van Gogh but I chuckle when I see it.

More eagles

I am surprised that everytime I see eagles I am still in awe of them. There is a group of trees I drive by when I go to Aberdeen that always has a group of eagles there. Today there were 5, but of course I did not have my camera. I as really surprised they have not left for the winter.

Not to worry

Do not worry. The moon does not have a crack in it!. The moon has again been spectacular these last couple of nights. When I took the picture I did not realize there was a tree branch in the way, it looks like the moon has a crack in it.

A trip down memory lane

Spence and I went for a drive and I saw this old merry go round. It is just like the one that was on the playground in Oakes when I was in grade school. We would run as fast as we could and jump on. If you missed the seat when you jumped you would get drug around and our knees would get all skinned up. We would brush ourselves off and do it again.

Mother Nature's work

We had two days of really thick fog. With all the moisture in the air the trees were covered with frost (on one side of the branches only). I don't think I have seen frost so thick. It was beautiful!

When pigs fly

This is my flower garden pig Polly. I love this little pig.There is something about her that always makes me smile. I thought she looked especially lovely today with the frost and snow that adorns her.

It's wrestling time!

Stetson has started another season of wrestling. He had a tournament Saturday and there were 350 kids from 5 years old to 12 years old. It amazes me in one year how he has improved and the wrestling moves he knows. He doesn't care if he wins or loses, he is just having fun.

We have snow

We finally have snow. It wasn't much but it covers up all that brown. I have to say I have missed it.

Frost Fairy

 

The little frost fairy did his magic on my window over night. It looks like etched glass. A lot people don't know that there is a frost fairy,he doesn't expect a lot of attention, but does one heck of a job. Has he been to your house!

Butterflies

We visited the Butterfly House in Sioux Falls. There were so many different varieties of butterflies. The brown butterfly ( in the first picture) opens its wings and you see this beautiful blue on the inside ( second picture). It's such a surprise!

Happy Birthday Stetson !

Stetson turned 5 years old last week. Where did those five years go? He starts kindergarten this fall! So glad he is the only one getting older.

The other day coming home from Aberdeen, there were 3 eagles sitting in the trees. All you could see is their silhouette's against the sun. I  can't ever remember seeing so many eagles around all year long. Every time I see them I am in awe of them.

Starting a new Year

 A New Year and no snow ! With the nice temps and no snow it seems like November. I was driving to Aberdeen the other day and noticed these trees. The rings on the trees is how high the water was this last spring. What amazes me  most, is how the water has dropped 3-4 feet and there is still a huge lake out there. We could lose that much more again to get back to normal.