New Year's Eve

The guys finished the roof yesterday! Hooray! We decided not to put the small gable over this window on the right front. It looked too small compared to the gable over the garage and seems to look fine without it. There will be less problems with water and downspouts this way. Mark says it can be added later if we really think it needs it. I think what would be perfect is a couple fake dormers but Bill says no way!



I took the Pilot to Glenn & Amy's shop yesterday for an oil change and right front door adjustment. Here's his building, Dunkerly Ag & Truck. He does semi repair, tractors, golf carts, etc. Diane's hair salon, Di's Hiway Style is here too.








It was - 2 when we got up this morning but Mark & crew showed up by 8:00! At least it's sunny! They finished putting the Tyvek on the house and now are doing inside work. I hurried up and made some choc. chip/oatmeal cookies for them since they're only working until noon since it's New Year's Eve. I thanked them for working on our house when it's so cold. As I was walking back to the house I heard someone say "they're still warm!" and all hammering stopped. :) Pretty soon the empty container showed up!

While waiting for the Pilot yesterday, Diane, Lacey & I went to the appliance store. We need to have that decision made soon too. We know we want a French door refrig. with freezer on bottom but I'm struggling on whether to get a gas (propane) or electric, smooth (glass) top stove! If any of you have opinions on these, PLEASE leave a comment or send an e mail! The glass tops are a pain to clean (I had one) and you have to use very flat pans (no grill pans or anything warped). I've never used gas. They say propane doesn't heat as hot as natural gas. I'd also love to have one with 2 ovens - the one on top is small and would be used most of the time. Large enough for a cookie sheet, pizza, etc. I don't know anyone who has one of these. Many times I've needed to bake 2 things at 2 different temps. Help!

Tomorrow Martha Stewart's show is going to be all about blogs for those of you who really don't know what a blog is!


Happy New Year to all!

Cindy & Bill

Bill's Christmas Present

Bill signed for the "new" combine Fri. It's a 2007 John Deere 9760 with new 30' bean platform. They will use the old corn head. He rounded up all the odds and ends for the old combine so they can turn it in for the trade. The new one is being checked over. Right now there are 7 used combines sitting at the JD dealership in West Bend.

Shingles started going on the new house today! We went to Algona today to pick out the kitchen counter top & sink and dropped off house plans at the flooring place so that they can get the carpet ordered. They tell us that companies are not making carpet ahead right now so it's best to get it ordered ASAP. Next is a another trip to the appliance store and need to start looking at the books of faucets! We got home after dark so couldn't see how much of the roof is done.

A First!

I finally got to babysit Lacey while Diane did the mail route! (she only does the mail on Saturdays) Lacey was kind of worried and wanted Mommy and/or Daddy until we got here and in the house but then was happy the rest of the day. She likes to look at pictures I've saved on the computer and "type". We watched cartoons, baked cookies, played on the stairway and folded towels. She brought all of her new toys, and Uncle Bill got her Hannah Montana doll unhooked from it's packaging for her. When Diane came to pick her up, we went out and looked at the new house and then Diane and I practiced Guitar Hero and singing karaoke. Hopefully Lacey will want to stay with us again now! When she left she said "thank you so much!" - good sign!
Lacey's pink boots are so cute!

Christmas in Poky

We went to Glenn & Amy's last night for our 3rd Christmas celebration. Both of my sister-in-laws are really good at entertaining! Amy had her Christmas dishes out and candles and we had ham, smoked turkey, broccoli salad, cranberry salad, dressing, cheese potatoes, rolls, vegetable tray & dip, chili/cheese dip, pumpkin & pecan pies, and more. Lacey loves black olives!





Lacey got Guitar Hero from Santa so that was the entertainment for the night along with some karaoke. Glenn is holding one of the gifts we all got from Mom - a bag sealer.

Christmas in Blue Earth

We had a fun Christmas in Blue Earth. Lots of pictures so I uploaded them small but you can click on the ones you want to see full screen. Then just use your back arrow to get back to the blog post.
We walked in to this spread and this is only the snacks! Karen made 2 kinds of baked French Toast, an egg & ham bake and a sausage one plus fruit salad. She set the table with white china over red chargers and we even had snowman silverware! She goes all out with the decorating and food!
One of our favorite things!

This is only about half the toys! Notice the very small combine in front. Bill never comes up with a wish list and this year said all he wanted was money and a new combine. So Dave & Karen gave him a new combine and $1!
Bill, Dave, Matthew & Dave's dad.
Niece, Ryanne, playing her new Nintendo DS.
Bill's brother, Jim, Taylor & Memaw.
Bill's sister, Karen.
Where Dave spent all afternoon! Putting together Taylor's new kitchen. Dave, Karen & grandparents were up until about 4 am putting the other stuff together.
Some first time visitors to our new house this morning - Jim, Paul (Bill's cousin) and his wife Terri. Wish I had a video of all of their "oh my goshes" when they saw our old house! They had not seen it since it was just Bill's bachelor pad! They seemed to think there is quite a difference. :)

Christmas

This is one of the things that got done yesterday. They're trying to get the snow off the roof. I don't think I could walk on a dry roof let alone a slick one! The guys worked until about noon today - it was really cold again even with the sun shining.







I got to go with Lacey and Diane to see Santa today! This is the first year that she would talk to him. Think she asked for Wii and V Smile games.










Then we joined all the last minute shoppers at Walmart but it didn't bother me - I was done.









The church Christmas Eve program was tonight. Rob & Ross were shepherds and Reed was a wise man. Rob looks like he's more ready for the nursing home! The Christmas Eve Kemna soup supper at Tim & Bette Jo's was also tonight. Bill's cousin, Paul & his wife & daughter from Missouri were home for Christmas and so is his brother Jim who also lives in Missouri. Tomorrow we're headed to sister-in-law Karen's. We went to Indiana last year for our 1st Christmas together so this year I'm getting to experience the Kemna Christmas.

Christmas Eve

The M & M's Christmas Story
by Pam Ridenour

As you hold these candies in your hand,
and turn them, you will see...
The M becomes a W, an E, and then a 3.
They tell the Christmas story. It's one I'm sure you know.
It took place in a stable a long, long, time ago.
The E is for the East, where the star shone so bright.
The M is for the Manger, where Baby Jesus slept that night.
The 3 is for the wise men, who came bearing gifts.
W is for Worship. Hallelujah, praise His name!
So as you eat these candies,

or share them with your friends,
remember the meaning of Christmas.

It's a love story that never ends.

Merry Christmas to all!

Bill & Cindy

Windows!!!!!

All of the windows are in!!!!!!! They've put in temporary doors. It's 27 out today so we feel "warm".

The 2 glass block windows are in the garage. The one with the 2 guys is the front/office window. The one with 3 double hungs is the great room.

Chores

Since the fuel prices have gone down, Bill and Tim decided to get their fuel supply for Spring planting. Kind of a gamble whether prices will go down more or back up before it's needed. That was delivered today so Bill had to move snow out of the way at 3 places - plus here at our 2 houses. :) It was - 12 when we got up and stayed near zero all day - but it was sunny!

I delivered a stamp order, took carpet samples back to the flooring store in West Bend and picked up more and went to the lumber company to look at bathroom vanity top samples. We're trying to decide if we should go with the steel shingles since they're nailed down (I think) or the regular shingles - since we don't exactly have heat for them to stick down this time of year. Quite a price difference. Greg says the regular ones will go on fine. Also trying to decide if we need the small gable over the right side. We're thinking it looks fine without it and would be less valleys. Lots of decisions! Any advice?

Easy Chicken Recipe

I thought there was nothing to blog about today. About all we did was watch blowing snow. It was - 6 when we got up and is - 3 now. Churches were canceled, the community caroling was canceled. Did see 2 sundogs again most of the afternoon - really bright. But they were not there when the sun went down like yesterday.

I did make this Whole Chicken Crock Pot Recipe. I got this recipe from friend and good cook, Marie. She doubles the spices for it, but this is how we like it. So easy, smells good while cooking, the chicken is very moist when done and there is chicken left over for chicken & noodles! Let me know if you try it!

WHOLE CHICKEN CROCK POT RECIPE

1 large roasting chicken
1 t. salt
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
1/2 t. thyme
1/2 t. garlic powder
1 t. paprika
1/2 t. onion powder
1/2 t. white pepper
1/4 t. black pepper
1 chopped onion

Remove giblets from chicken and clean the chicken. Combine the spices. Rub spice mixture onto the chicken. Put the onion in bottom of crock pot. Add chicken. No liquid is needed. Cook on Low 8-10 hours.

More Snow

Uh oh!! Greg, can we rotate the house around some? Snow seems to drift in front of the doors!

We had more snow and the blowing snow started early afternoon. Churches have already canceled for tomorrow. I think I've seen more single digit temps. and below zero this month than I did my whole life in Indiana! I'm thankful to not have to get out in it too much and it's nice to have a husband with tractors to move the snow! In my earlier single days, I was out early shoveling the driveway to be able to get out to work.


This is my little angel that sits on the front steps - covered up to her neck in snow!












I'm so excited to get this picture! I had never heard of sundogs before moving here! This was a double one that started as the sun was going down and the colors changed as the sun got farther down. They look like vertical, straight rainbows! Bill says they happen when it's really cold and there are ice crystals in the sky. The picture doesn't do them justice. We have an awesome view of the sunsets from our house so you'll probably be seeing lots of them on here. I need to read my camera book to find out how to take them better.

Holiday & Snow

Today we're getting some snow but the real news is the blizzard conditions that are supposed to start at 6 PM and through 6 PM tomorrow. Our builder came yesterday with 2 guys and they stuffed a bunch of pink insulation in all the holes they could, boarded up the garage door openings and put up a temp. side entry garage door.



I go to Pilates in West Bend. Usually class is at the Park View Inn & Suites. (it's a nice place to stay if you come out before our guest room is ready!) They have a nice pool and hot tub and some themed suites. They have an entry that is always elaborately decorated for the holidays. My favorite is the Fall but they're all nice.

Reed & cats

We did get 7-8" of snow last night but it didn't drift as bad as usual - not much wind - but that's supposed to come tomorrow with more snow. They're saying 40 mph wind. Don't think much is going to be done on the house today. They did get the rest of the garage covered yesterday right at dark.

My nephew, Reed, is an animal lover. Recently he saw a little black and gold kitten he had to have. It was pretty cute. It ended up causing lots of problems at Glenn's shop where it was staying. It had been a barn cat and had ringworm and gave that to Lacey, Amy, Glenn, Ross & Reed! Also something it was carrying made Glenn's cat sick with a 105 temp. So Chris, Glenn's cat, had to go to the vet. It's ok now. The other day, the boys were moving some really big tires and unfortunately Reed's little kitten, Carrie, was rolled over with a tire and had to be put to sleep. Really traumatic for Reed and sad. Their friend, Kathy, at the vet's office had a fluffy gray & white medium size cat that she asked Reed if he wanted and he did. Here she is with Reed.

Good Day so far

It's a good day here - it's sunny and warming up nicely (from 5 - 12 so far) so it can snow later, 3 loads of laundry are done, gifts are on the living room floor ready to be wrapped, the windows were delivered, the guys have half the garage covered and lunch is in the oven! Bill and Tim have 2 different dealers figuring out their best price for that new combine. :)


The blog is about to have its 1000 visit since I started Nov. 1! I didn't know if I'd like doing it, but it's been fun and makes it seem like you all aren't so far away. I'm thankful for e mail and blogs! Kind of fun for many of you to "discover Iowa" along with me and glad you can see the house go up.

After living here almost a year and a half, I've now heard of most of the towns around us and know if they're north, south, east or west of us and can drive to many of them without the Garmin now! When I look at the weather map during the news, I know where we are. When we drive by houses, I know who lives in some of them. I've found out who all the Pampered Chef and other vendor ladies are and how to get a hold of them if I need to. I've been taken to some fun places like tea rooms, a carousel and an Amish area. I've been to the apple orchard several times. I know where to get the couple of Merle Norman cosmetics I use and what grocery stores have what. It was a really strange feeling after knowing where almost everything was in Indiana to move here and not know where anything is. I have been saying that it still feels like I'm just visiting here, but it's starting to feel like I really do live here!

Progress Before the Storm

Conditions were a little better today. ?? It was - 6 when we got up and still less than 10 all day but sunny and no wind. Mark and 2 other guys have worked all day getting the gable above the garage up and here at the end of the day are finishing putting Tyvek all around which is a welcome sight to us! Bill and I swept snow out of the house today and Bill shoveled it out of the garage (no roof over it yet). With this Tyvek covering the window openings that will keep most of the snow out of the house at least. Starting tomorrow evening we're supposed to get up to 8" of snow but we're right on the line between heavy snow and lots of ice. We hope they can maybe at least get plywood over the garage tomorrow and maybe get the garage door openings boarded up.

Pocahontas' New Scarf

Glenn and family moved from Rolfe to Pocahontas last Fall. It is the next town west of us and about 20 min. away. There is a huge "statue"(?) of Pocahontas on the east edge of town. Legend has it that the princess guards the community and keeps it safe. There used to be a teepee by her but it was torn down. This Fall, the owner of Ewe Phoria Yarns, the yarn shop in town, solicited online help in keeping Pocahontas warm this winter. People from 21 U.S. states as well as 5 foreign countries made knitted swatches that were put together to make a 30 foot scarf for her. I think the scarf could've been wider really. She's going to need the scarf with the weather forecast for today: 1-3" of snow and it's 1 degree this morning, high to be 7.

VERY COLD

There's not much to talk about today because it's soooo cold. It was
- 6 this morning. Our school did not even have a delay - some did. At noon now it's still only 0 with a Wind Chill Advisory, and that's at - 24, until midnight tonight. At least it is sunny and at least Pro Coop got out here to fill our propane tank since the furnace is running non-stop. You can see your breath in our office. It's the front porch and has no insulation or heat. Tomorrow we're supposed to get 2-4" of snow and up to about 10 degrees.

We just need a few decent weather days to get the rest of the roof done, the house wrapped, windows in and siding on. They are not working today due to the weather.

Bill and Tim have gone south of Ft. Dodge to look at combines. I'm cleaning up dust, dirt (we had mud on Sat. with the warm temps.) dead flies, and washing back door rugs. With all the mud around the new house, it's easy to track it in. Good news is the flies are almost gone with these temps!! Hooray!! Also hoping to finish Christmas cards today.

Christmas at Faith Lutheran

I really miss my church in Carmel but so glad to have found this church here. The outside looks very similar to Central Christian where I went. This is not a traditional Lutheran Church - more like an independent church. I think the way that they decorate the sanctuary is really pretty. When I was taking these pictures someone suggested it would be a really pretty backdrop for people to take nice family photos in front of.


Our workers showed up by 7:30 this morning but the temp. has already dropped 10 degrees, it's very windy and misting. They've got the rest of the black paper on the roof. Bill just came in at 9:15 and tells me they're quitting for the day - too slick and nasty out.

Roof!

Yesterday Bill had a 2nd fire run. A utility co. worker was electrocuted - mostly his hands. The dispatch was that it was someone out in the middle of a field east of Rolfe and 5 miles north. That was about where Tim was working on cutting down some trees so I was worried until we finally got him on his cell phone (he didn't answer the first time).

The temp. got up to about 41 today so the guys have been working like crazy to get the plywood roof over our house. We're supposed to get freezing something tomorrow and there's chance of snow about every other day next week. Looks like they're going to get everything but the garage covered by dark tonight. We gave a few tours today - Glenn & the boys (they were out delivering FFA fruit orders), Peggy, Tim & Bette Jo.

Brother-in-law Dave is here deer hunting today.
Front of the house.
Back with guest room on the left, screened porch sticking out, kitchen is in the middle and master bedroom on the right. Bill sure likes this piece of equipment they're using to haul and lift with. I don't know what it's called.
South end which is the office in the front, guest bathroom window in the middle and guest room on the back. The sky sure was a pretty color today!

Shopping - Big & Small

We are going to Ft. Dodge today for an eye appointment and Christmas shopping - all day. :( While we're gone the roof trusses are going up!

The other night Bill and I were discussing the possibility that he and Tim (and me and Bette Jo!) might be getting a new combine (John Deere) before the end of the year! I can't remember all the details about the bean head and this and that and all the pros and cons but did ask if he was going to get one of the new corn heads that chops the stalks at the same time you're combining - because that would mean I'm out of a Fall job already! He said not yet but not to worry - there are plenty of opportunities for advancement for me with my farming career from ripping to combining to driving the grain cart after Pam retires! (please Pam, don't retire for many years!) They're looking at a used one with new bean head. He tells me that a new combine ready to go would be about $325,000, used about $250,000. I'll keep you posted but I know there has been a lot of calculating going on, looking on the John Deere web site & brochures, phone calls and e mails to the banker!

We have a house!

Bill had a fire call at 5:50 am - propane tank on fire at a hog confinement building. He and another guy were the ones that turned the valves off on the burning tank. :(

Work started on the house at 7:30. Much nicer, warmer day for them to work today. Bill and I just walked through it and I took pictures of course! I'll post them small but you can click on them to see them full screen. Today they've put up the garage walls and are going to be working on interior walls. I'm going to West Bend this afternoon to look at flooring. Greg says some of it is taking longer to get in than usual so we need to get decisions made on that.
This is the great room (bigger window) facing west/front - faces the road.
This is the office with a west/front facing bigger window and smaller south window.

This is the master bedroom with a large east window (back of the house) and a north window.
This is the door to the screened porch and large window - both in the eating area to the right of the kitchen and on the east side/back of the house. The smaller window on the left will be over the kitchen sink (looks out to the back yard & fields).
Bill is in the screened porch. The doorway looks big. They are all 36". This one will be mostly glass to let more light in and see out from the eating area and Great Room.