Wednesday, January 31st Somewhere in Sherman Hollow Woods....

Tuesday, January 30th Cold Clouds Over Nebraska Notch

Monday January 29th Fun Times and Not So Fun Times

While we enjoy a yummy, cozy dinner at The Bobcat Cafe in Bristol

poor Dave suffers in a hospital bed, recovering from back surgery and the unhappy side effects of pain medication.

Sunday, January 28th Sad Skis

So far it's been a bad year for X-Country Skiing, the skis just sit in the corner like they are in time out

Saturday, January 27 There Must Be Something in the Sunflower Seed....

Friday, January 26th Yellow Bellied Sap Sucker

Ivy and I came across this downed tree in the woods and I was impressed by the precision of the drilled holes, and curious what would have made them.  Don did some research and learned it was the Yellow Bellied Sap Sucker Woodpecker
http://www.post-gazette.com/life/garden/2016/06/03/Sapsucker-the-likely-culprit-for-holes-in-maple-tree/stories/201606050057

Thursday, January 25th Your Typical Morning of Retirement

Wednesday, January 24th Don builds a Great Fire and Makes a Mean Venison Stew

Tuesday, January 23rd It Rained all Day and

then the sun came out!

Monday, January 22 Puzzle Progress

It's a good winter for a jigsaw puzzle....

Sunday, January 21 Getting Organized

by starting with new shelves in his barn

Saturday, January 20th Dwarfed

by the stalagtites they came across on their hike.

Friday, January 19th Cutie Pies

Greta, Leah and Daphne are curious about Ivy.  They were in Vermont to visit Maurine and stopped in to say hi to us as well. Greta and Daphne are two adorable little girls and they helped to train Ivy to not be afraid of little people!

Thursday, January 18th It Worked!!

No more afib!!!

Wednesday, January 17th Lunch in the Sugarhouse

Pat and Don spent the day chopping wood for the sugarhouse, and warmed up with some soup for lunch.

Tuesday, January 16th Rural Route in Winter

Monday, January 15th Crystal Cold

Sunday, January 14th No Wonder Midwesterners Never Complain..

They get to eat Tater Tots on their casseroles and Snickers in their salads.  Scott made a regional dinner....featuring the best recipes of the Midwest.

First there was Tater Tot Hot Dish:

Start with a base of ground beef mixed with onions, corn and peas

Top with a yummy mushroom infused white sauce

And crown it  with Tater Tots

Complete coverage required.  Then cook it in the oven a while. 

Ketchup is the perfect accompaniment 

Every bite has a Tater Tot.....perfect!

Dessert is really a salad...or maybe it's the other way around.

A base of creamed cream cheese is mixed up with Cool Whip, mini Snicker Bars, and chopped Granny Smith Apples.  I think it's allowed to be called salad because there are apples in it.  

It was REALLY delicious!

Saturday, January 13th

January 13, 2018 Winter on 48 Hour Leave

Thursday, January 11th Exit Photo

Work at Runamok is all behind him now!  Farewell to good friends, hello to new adventures.

Wednesday, January 10 A Beautiful Day for a Ski

A place we haven't been before, down in East Warren

They allow dogs on all their trails!

Tuesday, January 9 Not Much Happening Around Here

Monday, January 8 Walter

Sunday, January 7 Light Patterns in the Snow

Saturday, January 6 Preparing to Plow in minus 20 wind chills

Start with the facemask

then the hat

followed by pant shells

Which you tuck into your winter muck boots

Then you dig into the closet for 

your big puffy jacket

zip it up well

Ivy is questioning  why it's taking so long

but sits patiently none the less

not done yet

The first layer of gloves

The head set so you can listen to tunes while you plow

Then the second layer of gloves

Ready to get to work

Ivy wanted to go out too, but it's too dangerous with the tractor

It was dark by the time he got to the top of the driveway

And the snow had really piled up!

Job done!