BLIZZARD CONDITIONS

Hard to believe that Monday and Tuesday

it was almost 50 degs up here -

It was raining and snow was melting fast & furious

Now its white out conditions and a whopping 3 degs.

The wind is blowing so hard I have watched it blow

birds right off the bird feeder!

They are saying we will get a couple days of reprieve

then two more storms??!!

Now
Winter Storm Warning in effect until 5 PM EST this afternoon... At 9 am...blowing snow. Snow showers. Temperature around 9 above. Visibility one quarter mile or less at times. West winds around 31 mph with gusts to 45 mph. Wind chill around 14 below. At 11 am...blowing snow. Snow showers. Temperature around 7 above. Visibility one quarter mile or less at times. West winds around 30 mph. Wind chill around 16 below. At 1 PM...blowing snow. Snow showers. Temperature around 5 above. West winds around 28 mph with gusts to 40 mph. Wind chill around 18 below.

The Ice is READY!!

My dad has been working frantically

trying to get his rink ready -

Its done & bigger & better than ever -

Come on over

No worry if you don't have skates

He has PLENTY!!!

Sad Day

We discovered yesterday

that our camera screen gave up the ghost &

when you are taking pictures

you may actually be taking a movie instead!
So until we find a camera my posts

may be pictureless or with past pictures!

Lake effect...

Jeremy learned to snow blow...

He is more convinced than ever that

a move south is in order!

"Snow Caps"

I am Happy to report there are no golden arches in this County...

Smoke Signals

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?"

Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

The Moral of This Story:
It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

Do the animals mind the cold?

Heading up for feeding time...
Stretching out after a mid-afternoon slumber
"Hey lady, got any of that YUMMY Stone House Bread??"
How many pork chops do you see....

We get asked that question alot &

no they animals don't seem to

mind the cold - the only ones

that really seem to stay inside are the chickens

Sun, Wind, Cold & Snow all in a Michigan Day!

A beautiful but cold winters day...

The birds could not stay away from the feeder -

After lunch it had warmed up to 15 deg so I bundled

up and went for a hike on the trails Jer packed down for me.

The trees had big fluffy snow comforters on -

but w/ every gust of wind they lost thier covers!

The drastic difference in the sky coloring today between the

dark grey snow laden clouds and the bright blue beyond!

We were happy to get more work for WestSide Tool -

yesterday and have been promised that we will be quite busy!

Hibernation!!

Ruby says;

"Snuggle with your loved ones and keep warm"

If the bears had not hibernated yet - they will today;

A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 7 am ESTSunday. Occasional snow showers will persist through at least Saturdaynight. Accumulations through any 12 hour period will generallyrange from 1 to 4 inches... though as is typical for lake effectsnow showers... localized higher amounts of up to 6 inches in a 12hour period are possible.In addition to the snow... temperatures will struggle through thesingle digits both this afternoon and again on Sunday... with windchills of 10 to 20 degrees below zero. Some minor drifting of snow is also possible.

Its a good day to sit beside the fire(if you have one)

and drink 'hot" stuff!!

Our news of the day is that my cousin Gladah

had another baby boy last night -

7 lbs 19.5 inches long - all are doing well!!!

Trails thru the woods

Today on my wandering I was happy

to find the trails I hike all packed down

by snowmobiles

(thank you Jeremy & whomever else ventured there)

by the sounds of the weather report

it will need it again tomorrow

and the pigs will need Highland fur to keep warm

as temps drop into the artic chill of single digits

Also spent a bit of time admiring;

the snow in the trees &

the evesdropping... (on Bruces shop;-))

Our update;

Bruce’s shop was busy during all of December & he is in the process of finishing up a big job that he had but now there is no work coming in ...No work means no income - no income means no bill pay and for some reason they don't like it when you are "Fashionably late on paying them"– so we are not sure at all what the future has in store for us here at Wests Windy Acres! We have cattle for sale & lots of people interested but no one showing us the $ - So we contemplate again – what's next– as the prospects here just seem so bleak!! We pray a lot (sometimes get impatient) wishing for a Clear – black and white picture of what his will is for us?!
Jeremy is still here at the farm – he got laid off last week – he really would like to move to GA but his funds don’t allow him to do that at this time? So he applied for a job in Leland at the Stone House Café – they need a manager – he is waiting to hear on that - - I am thinking that if this does not happen that a Trip to GA may be in order to find work down there - we have been looking on-line & there are A LOT more jobs down there than here!! And his sister wants him down there!!!
Krystal has a new job – she is a customer service rep. for Windstream a ommunications company – its A LOT closer to home (Only 10 miles) so far she really seems to like it –(She had a 2.5 hour commute am & pm where she was working) Her Jamie is an electrician during the day and goes to school at night by spring he should have his associates degree –
My folks keep well – my dad has frantically been trying to get the ice rink done
all winter but the weather will not cooperate –

oh well keeps him busy and out of the house ;-))) (Mom likes that) HA
My brother Dennis is living in our old house right now

and renovating it for us incase we need to move back there –
My brother Donnie and family seem to be doing well & he keeps very busy with his excavating business!

Little thought that has been good for me to remember ;
Its not important to leave a legacy of wealth but

more important to leave a legacy of love & faith - -

Take care & thanks for keeping in touch –

Don't Faint!!!

Those that know me well, know I do NOT scrap book...

But

things like this happen when your only daughter gets married!!!

LARGE Farm Fresh Eggs for sale 3.00 dz

CAUTION

A good example of why children & young adults should never

play around with electrical outlets!! (ROFL)

Let there be light!!

The light came from my grandmas cottage -

I wanted a light over the kitchen sink here at the farm -

Last night Bruce hung it for me!!

There are those that LOVE Winter

My brother Donnie, Brooke & Austin

Enjoying the snowman snow!!

Crusty Cows

Even the tree has snotsicles and droolsicles!
Cows just seem to LOVE this cold weather & are well crusted over

Annie standing her own against DelMonico
Del sneaking back thru from the goat pen....

he DOES NOT belong in there!!

And it snows

It continues to snow - its gently falling & no wind for a change so its sticking to everything- they say if we did not have any of the thaws that we have had we would have over 63 inches on the ground - now that would be AWESOME!! This snow that we are getting now is a HEAVY WET snowman snow... So heavy in fact that Bruce broke the window scraper trying to clean off the car... he more ready than ever to move south!! We have come to the age of - it would be nice to visit snow!!!