Category Archives: Weather

2024, education, Family, Farming Update, Travel, Weather

What Day is This?

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The weekend Farm Report comes to us from Ben.

I have been completely discombobulated since returning home from Seattle. The weather did hamper our Sunday return flight and because I had purchased my plane ticket separate from Kelly and daughter, Delta automatically rebooked me on a redeye from Seattle to Minneapolis, while leaving those two on their own. Eventually they were able to get on the same flight. We left Seattle at 12:30 AM Monday, arriving at MSP about 5:30 AM and back to RST about noon Monday. We were all exhausted and needed naps.

But the extra day in Seattle allowed me to see the ‘gum wall’.

It’s… something.  It’s kinda gross. Glad I didn’t have to pay for that.

The dogs were mildly excited to see us. They had good sitters while we were gone, and those people said they did their best to turn the dog’s loyalty. I think a few more days they could have done it. I laughed that all the dog treats were gone. No wonder the dogs liked them best.

I attended that workshop called “Psychology of Stupidity”. It was presented by a group called ‘Risky Business Resources’. The room was full, standing room only in fact, which I thanked the crowd for being that interested in safety, and kudos to the presenter for his title. If he had called it ‘Analysis of theater Safety’, it wouldn’t have been so full.

We discussed how people make decisions, and the factors that lead to people making mistakes. He had us play ‘rock paper scissors’ with our left hands, while thumb wrestling with our right. It can’t really be done. Some takeaways: Sleep debt and fatigue increase risk taking. Underestimating risk is a big one.

What stuck with me the most was discussing step ladders. We’ve all stood on that step second from the top. The one that says not to stand on. So why is that step even there?? Some ladder manufacturers have tried removing that step. People complained the ladders weren’t tall enough then. And there was nowhere to put the sticker saying not to use that step. It made the whole room laugh.

On the last day, I took part in a Kazoo parade.

It’s part of a fundraiser.

By Tuesday I was right back into things. A ceiling leak at one theater. Striking lights at another. Back to my set at the college.

I saw a killdeer! It’s nice they’ve returned.

I ordered some extra tough shoelaces off amazon. I got some that are fire and heat resistant. I could  see the need for that if I was a firefighter. But if I need shoelaces that are fire and heat resistant, I’m doing something wrong.

WHAT’S THE DUMBEST ATTRACTION YOU’VE SEEN?

Family, Fantasy, Food, gardening, Nature, Weather

Dreaming of Summer

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As I’m driving in the snow the other night, this quote came up on the CD I’m listening in the car, compliments of  Susan Albert-Wittig:

“It’ll be like eating summer out of a jar”

Now I’m not complaining AT ALL about the snow and rain.  After the dry dry winter, I’m glad to have the moisture and I’m sure my gardens will be happier for it when spring/summer rolls around.  But hearing the phrase about eating summer out of a jar reminded me of one of our old favorites:

The only canning I do these days is jam: strawberry and raspberry every year and then blueberry every couple of years.  Normally I enjoy my jam all year round but I’ve never spent much time thinking about it.  Hopefully I’ll try to think of it as summer in a jar in the weeks to come!

Do you have any foods that you think of as “summer” foods?

2024, Family, Travel, Weather

Where in the World is….YA?

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Second airport run of the week yesterday morning.  YA going to Cancun for a week-long program.  Besides her work clothes, she took plenty of other outfits as well saying “well, it is a WHOLE week”.  Two suitcases (one checked, one small for carry-on) along with her backpack. 

As is normal when one of us is traveling we keep each other up to date on the process.  Texts like “at the gate”, “on the plane”, “wings up”, “just landed” are the norm.  I’m not sure why we started doing this but we just keep on. 

It was pretty chilly when I dropped her off at the airport so her first text from Cancun was a bit of a lemon-juice-in-a-papercut when she landed and texted me this photo

Then about an hour or so later, I got the photo in the header.  Sigh.  She had told me she thought she was staying downtown, but I actually recognized the view from her window… it’s on Coral Beach in the hotel zone….a pretty swanky place that I have visited a couple of times.

I’m still glad I’m retired and not doing the kind of travel I used to do, but it did give me a little pang of jealousy when I looked at the photo.  Who would have thought we’d have this turnaround in our lives, where now she travels to glorious places and I stay home with the dog and cat?  Maybe all this texting when we travel isn’t the best idea?

Tell me about a view you’ll never forget!

2024, books, Fantasy, Mysteries, Nature, Weather

Bowled Over

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Around Christmas I decided that I wanted to re-read the Inspector Gamache series of books by Louise Penny.  They were favorites of mine when I first re-read them and I enjoyed the tv shows although I wasn’t happy they cancelled after the first season.  Short sighted.

I’m on the third book right now, listening to it on CD in the car.  Last week there was a huge thunderstorm in the book and Louise wrote one of the characters as saying that their mother had explained thunder as “angels bowling”.  This caught my attention because this is exactly what my mother told me about thunder when I was a kid.

As an adult I know in my brain that thunder is caused by the shockwave of air that expands rapidly around a lightning bolt.  But it’s way too easy to remember bowling angels or the Zeus in Fantasia orchestrating a huge storm. 

What kinds of stories were you told as a child to explain natural phenomenon?

2024, animals, Family, Farming Update, Nature, pets, Seasons, Weather

Almost There

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The weekend Farm Report comes to us from Ben.

The chickens and us survived January’s cold spell and the only casualties were my truck batteries and the electric bill. The truck, being a diesel, takes two batteries. I’ll replace them next week when it’s in positive temperature digits. Last Friday, as the storm was winding down, Kelly and I took the truck up the road just to see how bad it was. (It was only bad in spots) Then Tuesday when I needed the truck, it cranked pretty slow, but I ran it for a few hours and figured it would be fine on Wednesday. Nope. Just the dreaded click. Changed my plans and took the dog to the vet in the back of the car. (Humphrey tore a toenail and needed that trimmed off).

The chickens did fine hanging out inside and waiting for me to bring them more food and water. They didn’t seem to mind either way. Egg production went down a bit; 18 eggs per day rather than 24.

From this photo, you’ll see many of them seem to prefer this one nest box. They still like their groups of 3 and I often find nest boxes with three eggs in them. And nine is a variant of three, so it still works I guess. Production will recover as it warms up. I was taking corn to them by their pen as they didn’t venture outside very far. Above zero and a nice calm, sunny day and they do pretty good. Below zero and they just stand peeking out the door.

Kelly saw five male pheasants down by the barn and it’s always so fun to see them. There should be about 10 or 11 or, at least, there was last year. I assume the rest will find the corn eventually as word spreads in the pheasant community.

The deer community has come together in this cold weather. Here’s a picture of a herd spotted in our fields this week.

And a little further down the road, another group this large. I’m telling you, we have too many deer. Stupid deer.

This fall I put a smaller tank heater in the water tank down by the barn. It works fine when it’s above about 10 degree’s. It isn’t worth diddly in temps below that. When I put a frozen water bucket in the tank, I have to chip it out of the ice again in the morning, but the bottom will be thawed and I can knock the ice out and refill for the chickens.

I think by Monday I’ll be able to turn off the wellhouse heater. (see electric meter) I put 25 bales of straw around it last Thursday before it snowed.

Doesn’t seem to help hold the temp above freezing when it’s less than about 10 degree’s outside. Which makes me wonder: I’d think with the cement floor, the ground inside should be warmer, so am I losing that much heat out the roof? Should I put bales on the roof too? I rebuilt three of the four walls in 2013. The fourth wall is against a tree so it was too much trouble to rebuild.

I am lucky I didn’t need any tractors this week, but I kept the one plugged in just in case. (again, see electric meter). Kudo’s to all the people working in this weather and doing what needs to be done.

Next week I’m going to wash the car!

WHAT WILL YOU DO NEXT WEEK?

2023, animals, home, Nature, Uncategorized, Weather

Brrr!

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Last Saturday we reached a milestone in our community of a record breaking windchill of -70° F. I can’t say I was glad to be a part of this. The cold interfered with a lot of things. The guy who is putting new carpet in our basement had to beg off from coming over as his diesel vehicle was completely frozen up and he couldn’t haul the things that he needed. We didn’t leave the house from Friday afternoon until Monday morning. We kept the curtains and blinds closed to keep the heat in and the cold out. I can’t imagine how hard it was for ranchers to keep their cattle safe out in the pastures.

The dog has suffered the most with the cold. He finally got a walk yesterday. Last Friday he went in the yard and got so cold that he couldn’t move and Husband had to rescue him. That was after only a minute or so outside. He wouldn’t be cooperative with booties, and the enforced inside stay has made him constantly begging for attention and doing zoomies around the house since it was too cold to go for walks.

Daughter tried to explain to her West Coast friends how cold it was here, but they just couldn’t relate. It is hard to explain that the cold interferes with the pressure in vehicle tires, and how hard it is to put air in tires when exposed skin will freeze in less than a few minutes. Warmer weather is predicted for next week. I think the dog will be relieved he can finally go for walks.

How do you cope with extreme cold? Any experiences with frost bite?

2023, Family, Uncategorized, Weather

New Moon

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There was a beautiful full moon on Tuesday night,. I believe it was called the Cold Moon by the Farmer’s Almanac, from a Mohawk tradition. I always wonder who names the moons, and why, and who decides what the names will be. If I were to name the moon tonight it would be the Fog Moon. It is really foggy here in Brookings. I am glad we reached our destination by dark. Grandson thought that we should name the moon the Cat moon.

I don’t know what the track record for accuracy is for the Farmer’s Almanac. I don’t seem to think it is that accurate. We have a native friend who thinks he can tell how bad the winter will be by how thick the chokecherries are in the spring and how high up from the bottom of the draws some of the flowering prairie plants are growing. He is never right, but he likes to try anyway.

Come up with some new names for the full moon this year. What is your go to source for weather prediction?

2023, Business, Food, holidays, Weather

Advent Calendar Day

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I’m finally warmed up.  This time yesterday morning I was sitting in my stadium chair outside the Aldis in River Falls.  That’s right, the annual advent calendar day at Aldis. 

Even arriving at 6 a.m. (store opens at 9), there were already two gals there – they have been the first in line for three years straight now.  So I set up my chair in the #3 spot and since it was 22°, I retreated to my car and the heater.  I was in good company – for awhile it was only carts holding spaces.

 I got stiff and tired of sitting in the car so I settled into my chair with my blanket and big mittens at 7:45 a.m.  At that point, the other four women and the man in the #6 position came out as well.  I brought cookies this year and shared them around.

Aldis corporate made changes this year (because of course since it wasn’t broke, they tried to fix it).  No tickets to guarantee an alcohol advent calendar and no limit on quantities per customer.  The manager did come out at 8:30 and explain the changes and he repeatedly suggested that everybody have a little consideration for those further back in the line.  You know that didn’t happen; the picture above was taken at 9:03.  The two women in front of me were particularly piggy. 

But I got the one I wanted as well as the cheese advent calendar so I’m happy.  Can’t wait to get started on December 1!

Have you gotten your winter coat out yet?

2023, Food, home, pets, Seasons, Uncategorized, Weather

The Nose Knows

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Yesterday was a snow day for me as my agency was closed. Husband had a morning Zoom meeting for his Bismarck agency, which he did on his computer at the kitchen table. It didn’t last long, and we made a somewhat treacherous trip to the grocery store before the snow got any deeper. The city plows hadn’t been out and it was very slippery.

I made banana bread when we got back from the store, which filled the house with a wonderful aroma. Smells can be so evocative. The smell of Charteuse brings me back 45 years to memories of warm summer evenings in Moorhead having a drink after dinner with friends. I wouldn’t touch the stuff now with a ten foot pole, but the memories are good ones.

Kyrill has a very powerful sense of smell, and he can tell whenever we have been to the pet store and picked up treats for him without even taking them out of the bag. He mobs us when we walk in the door and tries to get to the bags. He can smell wrapped hard candy in my pants pockets, and tries to put his nose down my pocket to extract them. He may not see the bunnies as he walks past them, but he can smell where their holes are and tries to dig them out. I think it would be very distracting to have such a keen sense of smell.

What smells and tastes are evocative for you? What are your favorite smells to have wafting through your home?

2023, gardening, home, Uncategorized, Weather, work

Surprise!

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Two fairly major surprises happened here this week. One involved tomatoes. The other involved wind.

Before the first killing frost a couple of weeks ago, Husband and I picked about 80 lbs of green tomatoes. I had little faith they would ripen given their immaturity, but they did, thankfully not all at once. I just piled them in laundry baskets and cardboard boxes and set them in a warm room all covered up. I haven’t had good luck in the past ripening green tomatoes. As of yesterday we had only about 10 lbs left. Most went to the Food Pantry. I canned another five quarts of sauce with some. The remainders will get taken to work.

The other surprise was less pleasant. On Tuesday I drove home from work at a little before 5:00. I drive west and then north to get home. I live about 2 miles from my work. It was sunny with a dark cloud bank on the western horizon. It got quickly and increasingly darker as I drove west, and when I was halfway home I saw a huge wall of dust barreling towards me from the west, obscuring everything behind it. It was the very edge of a fast moving cold front. As I turned north to get to my house the wind and dust hit the van. Leaves were flying off the trees and swirling madly in small funnels. Small branches and grit hit the side of the van, and then it started to rain. The wind was clocked at 70 mph. The temperature dropped by 15°. I have never seen a cold front move in that quickly, nor have I ever been at the utter forefront of one.

What surprising things happened to you this week? How do you ripen green tomatoes?