You want jelly with that . . .

Here's a sad tale.  Or tail, if you want a bad pun.  We wondered where one of the cats were last week, cause it was really cold and they all usually keep pretty close to the front door - so much so, that when we open it, they tumble over each other and try to sneak in - all at once in a frenzied mass of paws and whiskers. But, one had been missing.  Well, a couple days ago, we saw a black clump in the tall grass by the trees, but didn't know what it was.  India decides to go check it out and here it was a cat that had gotten her head stuck in a peanut butter jar and couldn't get it off.  I couldn't believe it.  The poor little thing.  Talk about your nine lives.  For Pete's sake.   She must have gotten into one of the garbage cans out back and somehow found the empty can and couldn't resist.  India pulled the jar off and we let her into the house to warm up and clean up.  She shook for hours.  Can you imagine the trauma?  She's fine now, but I imagine she'll switch to something else to eat for breakfast . . .

Heat wave!  46 degrees today!  Can you believe that?  We were nearly sunbathing!  Absolutely beautiful.  One of those days when you go for two walks, play football, sit on the patio and stare at the wispy clouds against the azure blue sky and smell the cool crisp air.  Ahhhhh.  Marvelous.

Black Friday.  I avoid it like the plague.  Always have.  Hate massive crowds.  Hate shopping.  But - when someone accidentally broke the food processor, and the sale catalog enticed me with a 50% off sale of all appliances, well, I just had to go.  My goodness there were a lot of people.  Frantic people.  All crazed and spastic.  People people everywhere!  And the funny thing is, I saw a lot of people I knew and each one of them said the same things -    "I never come shopping on Black Friday, but. . .  I hate shopping, but . . .  I can't stand all this craziness, but . . .    Isn't this insane?    I can't believe I'm here, cause I don't usually do this, but . . . "  And yet, there we all were, arms and carts loaded with stuff.  I say we're brainwashed.  Or more likely -  it's a conspiracy.  That's it.  And here's an example.   Gary was looking at computers online, and found one he decided to get, but got distracted and didn't order it right then.  Now - note -  this was 4 days before the biggest shopping day of the year.  You know, when everything is on sale for the lowest prices of the year.  Well, a couple days later, he gets an email from this company with their Black Friday specials and that very computer was on sale!  Hey, we thought, that worked out well!  Well, except for the fact that it was 100 dollars MORE than it was BEFORE it went 'on sale'!   I know.  Scary, isn't it?  Beware people.  Beware.  :)

 

Politics as usual . . .

Well, well.  My daughter, the one who hasn't really been too politically minded or politically vocal, has now gotten a job as an intern for Senator John Thune!  She's so excited about it too.  How fun.  I think she'll learn a lot and will certainly get a ton of really good experience that she wouldn't get any where else.  And hey, there's talk he'll run for President - wouldn't that be something!  Funny what life throws at you.  This was certainly not even in the realm of possibilities she thought she'd be doing.  Ever.  Great fork in the road, I say.  Well, maybe not a fork, just a frontage road - along side the main highway of life.  (Hey, there have been worse analogies.)

No travel for us this holiday - we got about an inch of freezing rain on the roads, and driving is ugly.  I watched one guy miss the turn because he just slid right passed it and nearly went in the ditch.  That and the fact that it's supposed to snow another 3 inches tonight and the winds are to pick up to 20 -30 mph - which could make things downright dangerous - we are staying put.  No football on the farm with the cousins this year.  Rats.  We'll just make our own vegan meal, stuff ourselves, and sit around playing Catan and watching bits and pieces of the NFL online.  At least, that's our plan.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring.  Kind of feel a little guilty about that, actually.  We're so blessed and we have so much to be thankful for - and if I started to list everything, I'd be here all day.  I do hope we all can find some things to be thankful for - even in the midst of pain and sorrows and loss and struggles.  We all have them, some more than others, I know.  I just hope we are all given the strength to get through them.  And that's why it's good to remember the blessings and thank God for them.  Every day.  It just helps to keep on keeping on.  

Well - Have a Happy Thanksgiving and be safe everyone!

And save some mashed potatoes and gravy for me - that's my favorite part!
Oh - and the Soy Nog. (it's good - really)  And the Tofurky. (looks and tastes nothing like turkey, but we make it just for the fun of it)  And the stuffing.
Okay - I have a couple favorites . . .   :)  

Are we there yet . . .

Okay, if you ever want to tour Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, Mn - just ask India and I, because I think we saw it about 4 times this weekend.  From all sides.  See, we dropped the boys off at the Target Center to watch the Lakers beat the Timberwolves and we were going to go shopping.  But, between someone who is geographically challenged, map challenged and direction challenged - and one who can't see the road at night, we were lucky we didn't end up in Nebraska.  We were also lucky we didn't get killed!  We did start to worry and knew we took a wrong turn when we watched two guys cross the street, one of which pulled a gun out of his pocket and then stared at us.  YES!  A REAL GUN!    I KNOW!
I said, um, is that a gun?  No reply.  I was very thankful I was driving a 1 ton 4 wheel drive diesel pickup that sounds like an army tank, for they just watched us pass and, well, didn't shoot.  Yes.  Thank God.
We turned the corner, and another corner, and another, and then she speaks, Um, why is the city over there?  I looked, and sure enough, the city had moved and was on the wrong side of the lake.  Again.  I turned another corner and  there we were, crossing the freeway we had crossed 45 minutes before.  Before seeing the other side of the lake - twice - and before the guy with the gun.
I just gasped and thought, no, please, not again!
Just take this road here, she screams at me - because for the first time in her life, she knew where she was going, well, this time anyway, and we got to the mall just in time to almost turn right around to go back to pick up the guys.
And I don't think we bought a thing.  (Although it did cross my mind to look for a bullet proof vest - if they would sell such a thing at Southdale Mall)
Maybe we just shouldn't be let loose in the city.  Alone.  In the dark.  Without a very, very, VERY detailed map.  That or a 6 foot 8, 350 lb body guard named Mondo.  Or I guess we could just get a GPS . . .

Okay, so, we're back home, safe and sound, and did not get picked up for speeding once!  I have to tell you, it's hard going from a 70 mph speed limit in South Dakota down to 55.  It feels like you're crawling.  But I was good and obeyed the law.  Really.

Tonight it will get to 1 degree BELOW zero.  Yeah - tell me about it.  Hey. You think we enjoy this??  No - we do not.  We simply endure it and then complain about it!  It's a way of life up here.  It's in the genes.  We actually pass it down from generation to generation.  Just like the Israelites.
I will tell you though, it snowed today and they were those really huge puffy snow flakes you'd see in the movies.  They just floated down like feathers.  It was beautiful I have to admit.  But 3 inches is enough.  It could not snow for the rest of the winter and I don't think too many people would complain. (well - we just wouldn't complain about THAT)

Okay - enough.
So, if you ever get to Minneapolis and need  someone to show you around - um -well, maybe you better call a tourism operator . . .  :)

Wonderful winter wood heat . . .

Ah, the best heat on the planet.  The boys got the tractor, the chain saw, axes, and their muscles all fired up, and whal-ah - we have fire.  There is nothing like it.  Don't you just love the smell of smoke from a wood burning stove on a cold, crisp day?  I do.  Hey, we have to find something good out of this frigid northland.   Like sitting here just now, we watched a teenage deer with little stubs for antlers walk across our yard.  A blue jay landed on the tree outside our house, the black birds are darkening the sky, along with the geese - which is unusually late, I think.  (Maybe that's a sign it's going to be a mild winter. Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?)

 But really - there's just something - I don't know - mountain-like - about the smell of a smoke in the winter.  Even though the highest hill we have around here is a man-made sledding hill that's 30 feet tall - well - we just have to pretend we're in the mountains.  Yeah, it's a stretch, but we Dakotans are good at trying to convince ourselves of things like that - you know.  Like - it's not really that cold - it's just - um - refreshing.  Or - it's not really that cold - it's just the wind.  And - the classic - it's good for your lungs.    What - not convinced?
Come on - where's your sense of adventure?
Um, actually, mine is more along the lines of running on the beach, or snorkling, or hiking in a rain forest.  Snow boots, mittens, wool scarves, and thermal underwear - I can do without.  

The boys made a fort with some of the wood and they and the cats hide out in it.  That's about the extent of their outdoor excietment when it's 20 degrees and there's no snow.  I say, as long as it's so cold - we could have at least a smattering of snow - if nothing else - so the critters have some moisture to 'drink' when all the lakes and rivers freeze -  if you know what I mean.

A hunter - all dressed in camo, carrying a bow just walked in front of the house.  He was empty-handed - which means our teenage deer friend is probably okay.   Maybe he got scared and ran away when Gary started his diesel truck.  That thing could wake the dead.  Sorry, Mr. Hunter.  Maybe next time . . .

Keep warm, and the hot cocoa hot!

Who's the optimist . . .

I talked with someone yesterday who lives life in the extreme end of ick.  He sees everything in his life and in the world as horrible, terrible and bad.  I don't talk with him much, because when I do, I get sad.  Sad because he sees life as so hopeless and sad that he can't see joy in anything.  I try to keep the conversation light and happy, but he'll have none of it.  (I wonder if he somewhat enjoys to wallow.)  I've heard the saying, hope for the best and expect the worst.  This guy doesn't even hope for the best, he just expects the worst.  He says, if you expect the worst, and it happens, you won't be disappointed.  But, that's such a cynical way of looking at things, isn't it?  (And this is coming from one big cynic herself.)   But to not have any hope.  Wow.  That is the depths.  I admit, I have thought that a few times in my life, and it is ugly - plain and simple.  'Life is horrible, everyone is horrible, the world is horrible and it stinks'.   It is not a fun place to be.   For you, or anyone around you.  

I think of David, running for his life, being stalked by his own father-in-law and king.  Shunned and in hiding, he had reason to be hopeless. I mean, come on.  Someone wanted to kill him!   And you see his despair in his writings.  But you also see his hope.  Hope that his pain will end.  Hope that things will get better.   And through it all, he doesn't curse God and blame Him and deny Him just because things are not going well at the moment.  He questions Him, and cries out to Him, sure, but in the end, David still praises God through it all.

I love the Psalms.  They show how life can hurt and how things can be hard to deal with in a real and honest way.  And it also shows that in the midst of  it, God is still there.  Still sovereign.  Still trust worthy.  And He'll get us through, one way or another.  It's just that we might not like the way He gets us out of it, but He will help us out none-the-less.

So I pray for this man I talked with on the phone.  I pray that he will see the hope of God in his life.  I pray that he would start to see beauty and joy, even in the middle of  his ick.  Yes, the cold and dreary weather is ugly and depressing.  But, the clouds don't stay forever.  The sun will shine again.  And that is something I have to remember myself.  I can let my circumstances rule my attitude, or I can let God do it.  I choose God.  And I hope he will too.

Enjoy it while it lasts . . .

Right now, it's 66 degrees!  Can you believe that?!  For mid-November in northern South Dakota - that is phenomenal.  And boy howdy are we loving it!  And we better, because it's supposed to snow tonight.  (I know)  So - get out and run.  Ride bike.  Go for a walk.  Sit on your porch in a tee shirt and smile at the sun! Enjoy the day.  It's a beautiful one.  And it just might be the last one for - months and months.
Do you get the feeling that all we have to talk about up here is the weather??!

Last night we stopped in at the book signing for Don Meyer's new book, 'How Lucky Can You Be?'  It was so neat to hear the author talk about the coach in such an endearing way, sharing some funny stories and some emotional ones, to a packed house.   You have got to admire this guy and what he and his family went through.  He credits God for everything and it's so refreshing to hear him do that in a bold way.  They say there might even be a movie made of it.  Now wouldn't that be something?  And I don't know, just living here, watching the games he coached, seeing him break the all-time winning record, being on ESPN and the national news, and then standing in line with him at Qdoba is pretty cool.  Kind almost feel a part of it, you know?  Anyway,  if you have a chance, get this book, and be prepared to be wowed.  It's a fabulous and yet unbelievable story.  Snipets can be found on youtube also, if you want to take a look.
 We of course bought a book and even got it signed by both the author and Coach Meyer. I usually detest standing in line for autographs, because to me, it really doesn't matter that much, but after we bought the book and started to walk down the hall, there was the table where they were sitting and only about 20 people in line.  I figured, what the heck, so I just walked up, and in 5 minutes, got the book signed by them both.  Not bad.  Of course, my boys, ever the entrepreneurs, (or greedy mongers, take your pick) wanted me to buy more so they could immediately turn around and sell them on Ebay for a nice profit!   Kind of scary, isn't it?

This weekend we went to listen to a musical group from Israel play and sing.  It was quite good.  It wasn't your traditional Israeli music, but it was enjoyable.  We were kind of waiting for 'If I Were a Rich Man' type of stuff from Fiddler on the Roof, but there was no 'Tevye' or 'To Life' to be found.  Rats.  Watching the percussion guy was fun though.  He was rocking out like mad, playing 8 different kinds of drums, goat toe nails and bells and cymbals.   So there, we do have a bit of culture up here in the prairie.  Once in a while.

Well, good-bye - I'm going outside for my last hurrah before we have to break out the boots and mitts.
 I'm being paged to be the ref in an intense soccer game.  Or maybe just the cheerleader.  Then again, probably just a spectator.  I better not push it . . .

Newton or Pascal . . .

Ok, neither.  But Ezra did win the 7th grade Mathcounts competition held this morning.  With well over 100 middle-schoolers participating, he squeaked out first place.  Not bad!  Way to go, Ez!

And the elections are over and for the most part I am quite happy.  There are a couple of races I could weep over, like Nevada and California, and we're still waiting to hear about Alaska, but all in all - I think a clear message was sent.  Down with Socialism!  Down with mandatory health care!  Down with Cap and Trade!  Freedom!  Liberty!  Our money - our lives - our choice!
Ok - I'll get off the podium now.

My daughter was so thrilled to be able to vote for the very first time!  I remember that feeling - well - I kind of get that feeling every time I vote.  What a privilege.  And, yes, there is corruption and fraud, but we still live in the very best country in the world and so, as much as I chastise my ancestors for moving to such a decidedly barren, cold, harsh area; they did come HERE - to the USA - and not, say, Cambodia or Columbia - or Indonesia - and for that I am so extremely grateful!  So, thanks - great grandpa!
(Now - if we just move to a different part of the USA - a warmer part - yes - just for the weather - I'd be pleased as punch!)

I'm reading Job right now and my only thought is - and yes, I'm going to emblazon this on a tee-shirt -
  BE A REAL FRIEND - Not a  JOB'S  FRIEND    
or maybe you just put  JOB's FRIENDS in one of those circles with the line through it.
Not the kind of friends you want to have, are they?
'Mourn with those who mourn' or 'weep with those who weep.'  
Wow. In other words - don't say (preach) so much.  Just be there.   Good lesson, eh?
Yeah.  I'll say.  

And so now -  you newly elected servants - let's get on with restoring our country!  Whoo-oot!  (as my daughter would say)

Ah, the sun - finally . . .

Well, the 5 day storm finally passed and left us with quite a lovely weekend.  And what did we do to take advantage of it?  Nothing.  Nothing at all.  We sat around, talked, watched a few episodes of psych on the laptop, ate, read scripture, the guys played football and made a fort out of willow branches, all the children played tag/hide-and-go-seek/some spy-running-in-the-dark game, Gary and I took a couple leisurely strolls down the gravel road, ate some more and napped.  I think we fulfilled the 'day of rest' commandment - and then some!

By this time of the year, we are usually swarmed with lady bugs, box elder bugs, spiders and attic flies.  So far, all we've really gotten are the spiders.  Gary and I will go for a walk and we come back covered in webs.  It's like going through a haunted house.  Creepy.  But interestingly enough, those other critters are quite few and far between.  Which is nice.  So very nice.  I'm not a fan of critters.  At all.  Of any kind. Well, I'd take ants on a log every now and then, but that's as far as I go!  ;)

And here it is - November!  And it's nice out!  What happened?  The weather is so mixed up around here, we can't get our minds to figure out what's what.  It's 57 degrees as I sit here, looking out at the calm, gorgeous, sunny day.  Nary a speck of wind, millions of black birds covering the skies, the bluebirds are stopping by here and there and it's just splendid.  I mean, the trees are devoid of leaves, but the grass is still very green, not brown and hard and crunchy as it's supposed to be.  So, my mind says it must be September or possibly the very beginning of October - but not November.  Crazy.  We'll take it - certainly - but it is crazy none-the-less.  And as far as I'm concerned - it can stay like this til - March.   :)

Here's wishing you a magnificent Indian Summer.  Have a great week!

Oh, and PS - for those of you who read my last post - I found the check for the taxes.  In the flower bed.  In front of the house.  Soaking wet.  Go figure.  And the boys fixed the mailbox, and the scratch in the pickup wasn't all THAT bad.  So - all is right with the world once again.  (For now . . .)