How many more weeks of winter?

We've had quite a winter.

 Tom and Dan shoveling, or as farmers say, "scooping" snow.

As Marta says, on the plains it's all about the sky.

 Not even subzero temps keep Tom away from the grill.

I made Noelle a cherry pie for her birthday. Tom was sure I could handle a lattice top for it, but not without several choice words.

Cat - Dog issues

On my "private" rural road to work it's fine to stop and sit a spell in your car while you photo deer.

This is from our latest winter storm (yesterday).

Hitting the "skinny ski" trail! (cross country skiing)

Fashion failures.

Shadow keeping watch over the farmstead.

 Tom Terrific

Oh dear, my mom took a spill the other day. She has a few bruises but she's in good spirits and is fine.  And ole Dan is under the weather out in college.  I wish I could take them both some chicken noodle soup!

Ho ho ho!

With Dan riding with me for the last 2.2 miles, I achieved my 1500 mile riding goal for 2013.  Dan wore shorts.

Ping pong wars

Karen was so pleased one night when she beat Dan twice...until she learned he was playing with his left hand.

 Joel plays ping pong Thai style.

Christmas Eve - the choir, as Pastor called them, played 7 songs. Dan had no French horn music so Brianna, our next door neighbor, played her trumpet parts over the phone. I then tapped out the first note of each song on our out-of-tune piano. Then we called music teacher Mary to figure out how to transpose from trumpet to out-of-tune piano to French horn.

Finger-licking sticky bun preparation on Christmas Eve.

 Pursuit

 Joel counted 15 bald eagles on our hike at Starved Rock State Park. We made it out to Lasalle Canyon to see the ice fall.

Photo by Tom. He claimed that the image in the viewer kept drifting right, hence the slightly off-kilter picture.

We knew something was up when Shadow, while on night watch, was being troubled by an intruder.  Dan and I discovered the intruder in the barn when we went to feed the cats - a possum.

It's gone now.

 New barn addition

 Burn pile

Checking up on the cook in the kitchen. This usually involves adjusting pan locations over the fire, turning the fire up or down, some stirring, and advice.

AARP membership...what was I thinking?

I joined AARP because Marta and Amy said I can get some good hotel rates, not to mention this riveting reading that comes in the mail! Tom finds all of this so funny. 

Late afternoon Midwestern sky in December

Washington, IL - the town that was struck by an EF-4 tornado in November.

Washington, IL - the upright piano survived. We live 60 miles east of Washington on Rt. 24.

Washington, IL water tower. The power lines and poles were replaced right away.

Winter wheat on the organic 80.

Big Grey, taken back in September.

Tom is grilling up some salmon in the storm.

We awoke to 7 inches of snow!

Home, Home on the Range

Dan came home from college for the first time last weekend! It has been great to see him!

Some students paid a visit to the farm a few weeks ago!

Yikes!

Papa Del's Pizza in Champaign!

The family

Thanksgiving

November 2013

The fall colors have been beautiful! This red maple was originally planted in front of our red barn, and we could never enjoy its color! A few years ago Tom dug it up and switched places with a yellow maple. The farm aesthetics are much improved as a result.

We went to the folk and roots festival in Urbana last weekend.  I attended a songwriting workshop where the leader wanted us to sing songs we've written and then critique them. I got to play "The Pharmacy." While it was well-received, I think I'll keep my day job.

Tom's organic farm is planted in winter wheat!  Next June it will be a golden sea.

Shadow slept soundly as these deer walked across our lawn.

 The new addition to the barn is underway.  This is looking south.

The builders say it will be finished by Thanksgiving.

Lazy dog napping in the sun.

Carolyn's severed finger cookies were a Halloween hit!