When I Am Away The Cat Will Play!

This is what I came home to yesterday from work. That is Mia she was sitting there waiting for me to see her decorating touches. She brought up a ball of upholstery remnant that I had in the basement that I use for making rugs.

This was about a 48" round ball. Tuesday when I came home she had placed about a 10" ball in her food. Wednesday while Tim and I were eating dinner she came up the stairs into the kitchen carrying a different ball and went to her hiding place. Which is behind a plant.

I am not sure what this means? I am either not making rugs fast enough for her liking or she doesn't like the colors of this particular rug. She has never done this before. It is kinda funny. We are going on vacation soon I am going to have to put all the remnants in a tub or the house will be completely taken over by upholstery remnants.

                                               Cat party at the Janssen's!

BRRrr, It's Cold Out There!

The worse thing in the winter for a farmer is when the water to the livestock freezes up. This past Wednesday that very thing happened here. The water to the horses froze up. Tim replaced the heater and it still didn't work. Three days later he got it thawed out, fixed, rewrapped and working again, all while battling 18 degree temps, snow and blowing winds. Where was I? In the warmth and comfort of my house looking out. I did have a hot meal ready when he came in the house but this cold is not for me. To tell you the truth usually this time of year we are planted in lounge chairs on the warmest beach we can find. This year we decided to go later.

This frozen water problem usually happens while we are vacation. My poor dad usually has to deal with it and that always gets us a call. Then the guilt settles in for about 10 minutes. Dad will call one of Tim's friends tell him to bring his wife's hair dryer and they would get it fixed. Of course we would hear all about it when we got home.

 Hopefully this year the problem has happened while we are here and things will go smooth while we are relaxing on the beach where the temps are always in the 80's, very little rain and a lot of sunshine. We will sit and think of all the project we want to do on the farm this year, the things we need to purchase, and who we need to sell (Andy you are safe, we mean the animals).

So if my dad calls any of you, would you grab the hair dryer and help him out? We would greatly appreciate it, and we will try to bring back some of the great temps!

Oh To Be An Eagle!

     Saturday Tim and I went to watch the Eagles down by the Des Moines River in the Saylorville area. Us and about 25 other carloads. It was a beautiful 50 degree day and the area was full of Eagles, there must have been about 22-25 of them.  They were sitting in the trees. Then they would take flight over the water and just glide it was beautiful to watch. We took pictures hoping to get a "Great" shot to maybe frame. First off We need to be able to see, yes Tim, I mean you as well. We are at the age where one can not see close up but if I have my glassess (me), cheaters for Tim we can not see far away, that doesn't make it easy to take pictures. But we tried.

     We then went to lunch and ran some more errands. On the way home we saw three eagles in the neighbors bean field and then low and behold we pull into our driveway and there is a Eagle sitting at the top of tree along the timber. Absolutely thrilled us to death. I wanted to drive closer to take more pictures, but the ground out here is a little soggy. As soon as we get into the house I run to get the binoculars so I can keep watch and wouldn't you know it another tree is in my way I can not see him or her. Not to worry a couple of hours later it moved to a tree where we watched it from the living room. We watched it until it got to dark to see it any longer. It didn't do anything but sit, probably starring at us!

First thing this morning Tim grabs the binoculars and goes cruising outside to find it. With 50 mile an hour winds all night it could be in Illinois some where. No such luck, yet! But how cool, now if it would find a partner and they would build a nest I would never leave the farm. Yes were glued to the Decorah Eagles last spring and we actually found our own Eagles nest to stalk east of my dad's house. We would drive over frequently to check things out. They hatched out eggs as well you just couldn't get a close up.

This is our Eagle, yes I am claiming it, now to give it a name! If it comes back!