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.