February 13, 2011

A real quick trip to Mo today found quite of bit of snow on the ground yet.  There was blue sky and good roads to get there and back again but no good way to get into the drive at the cabin.  The local Twin Lake snow plow had thrown up a good 2' barrier at the bridge and the end of the driveway so we hiked in from the north road through 8 - 12" of slushy snow.   

We carried down several loads of nails and power tools and fun, antlered lamps.  Himself has been gathering electrical, drywall, plumbing odds and ends, materials and tools so as to be ready when the snow melts and the frost is out of the ground.  We had thought the weekend of February 19 was going to be warm but the Forecasters are changing their minds and waving omens of frigid weather.  Thank goodness we have had a little respite from the artic deep freeze the last couple of days and we might have another day or two of warmer weather to look forward to before it turns off cold again. 

Winter visitors have left their calling cards.  I can't "read" a lot of the prints but there is definitely one good size deer that comes calling . . . and several smaller critters.  I think that deer looked in the back window of the cabin!  That would be fun to wake up too -- a window peeking deer! 

As we were moving things in and putting a saw table together,  I could hear sounds of someone else working out there.  We finished up and drove through the Lake to go back home and saw a few new community boat docks, anyway we assume they are lake-built and community owned.  This dock is down the hill from our little cabin.

This new dock is on the Lake right below the "kids" lots. 

Fun!  The Small Frey and other children will be able to stand on this dock to fish. 

Himself is just like a kid at Christmas.  He can barely contain his excitement.  He has been planning the attack -- the order of finishing the interior of the cabin.  I'm sure he has it all sorted out in his head . . . he just hasn't given me a blueprint yet.  I do know we will put down a floor for the room upstairs, first thing.  Then we hope to figure out a stairway and a guard rail upstairs.  We'll have a place to store tools, furniture and supplies while we work downstairs. 

We both are looking foward to physical activity, learning new skills and trying new things.  You all drop in, anytime, and bring your skills, energy and ambitions along as we finish the interior of the "big" cabin.  It will be fun!

Good News / Bad News

Government surveyors came to Ole’s southern Iowa farm last spring and asked if they could do some surveying. Ole agreed, and Lena even served them a nice meal at noontime.

After their work was done, the surveyors told Ole, “You were so kind to us; we wanted to give you the bad news in person, instead of by letter.”

“What’s the bad news?” asked Ole.

“Well, your farm is right on the state line,” the surveyors said, “and after our work was completed, we discovered your farm is not in Iowa. It’s actually in Missouri.”

“That’s the best news I’ve had in a long time,” said Ole. “I was just telling Lena this morning that I don’t think I can take another winter in Iowa !”