Ok, another group of snow pictures. The snow built up quite a bit this week. Earlier this week at least 8 inches, and last night it was coming down early and still this morning. But spent a fair amount of time getting the driveway and walks cleaned as best as I could. Pushed snow back to get the driveway a little larger again. And took the roof rake to the roofs so if we get our promised warm up tomorrow and Monday the snow melts off and we don’t get any ice dams along the overhangs. So spent a number of hours out there but the temps were the warmest in awhile, made it up to 27 earlier. And tomorrow should be better. So I am hoping the melt shows some more gravel of the driveway. The snow built up even on the trailers and the fence posts. We had some neighbors over for some snacks and drinks last night and had a wonderful night of socializing. So the weekend was off to a good start. Put some pork chops on the grill for lunch – did not grill in the below zero weather! And just goofed off at the computer the last couple of hours. Time to put another log on the fire and think about going to church tonight. I hope everyone’s weekend is grand, relax and enjoy.

I posted up a few pictures from around the yard. Very clear and crisp. 11:30 am and we broke through -5. We have not broke through 0 in the last 24 hours. I’m looking forward to that +10 degrees to feel warm again. I should probably just make sure to run the car a little today to give the battery a charge before work tomorrow morning, I’ll see how the spirit moves me. The Cat (Yes Craig the cat) stays inside her house most of the day, but they are amazing in how they can take as much cold as they do. Craig, a cat we can leave for days on her own, eats and drinks just enough, can use a liter box. Dogs can be too dumb to stop eating everything that is left out and can’t be left alone long. Anyway, I will need to bring another wheelbarrow of wood up from the pile. A good day to spend in the bar room watching the fire! Can’t wait for the game to come, I hate these late games. It should be exciting, I never feel comfortable no matter how many people pick the Pack to win. Go Pack

All of you who winter in Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona.  Do you realize what you are missing?   You are gone from the winter wonderland.    The weatherman predicted winter storms today, but it was not as bad as they thought.  But it still meant snow last night, snow all day (again) and now wind and drifting.  Remember what that was like?  Check out albums.   The pictures don’t do it justice.  When I got home the highway was not bad, the temp was still 32 degrees.  I look at the thermometer now and it just dropped to 12.   For this part of the old January winter just check into the Packer Game on Sunday and I am betting they lead with a shot of the famous Ice Bowl, 40 years ago, and blend into Lambeau field Sunday January 20, 2008.  0 degrees, wind chill?   I am hoping they are wrong enough that Brett can keep a good hold on the ball and keep the passing game going.  But to be sure, it will be a memorable Sunday in NFL lore.  I for one, would rather be in Florida, watching of course (Check out the albums for Chris, MJ, and I watching a game from a bar on the Intercoastal).      So everyone be safe, for those of you in warmer climes you are really missing it!  Oh, and yes Craig, we have a cat.

A weekend at home for us. A chance for both of us to get caught up on things around the house. I moved some firewood and set up the rack close to the house for the start of the week. And got a lot done in the garage and workshop. It was still a mess after our bathroom remodeling project, so it felt good to get it someone cleaned up and organized. And some work near the mailbox chopping some ice away so the mailman can pull up without a problem. And our cat Sassy spent some time out with me before the snow started. And did some organizing on our truck which is going up for sale.

So now about to settle in for the Packer game. They are off to a terrible start so I had better get a beer and help them out. Let’s hope for a happy ending, and here’s hoping you have a great weekend!

A weekend at home for us. A chance for both of us to get caught up on things around the house. I moved some firewood and set up the rack close to the house for the start of the week. And got a lot done in the garage and workshop. It was still a mess after our bathroom remodeling project, so it felt good to get it someone cleaned up and organized. And some work near the mailbox chopping some ice away so the mailman can pull up without a problem. And our cat Sassy spent some time out with me before the snow started. And did some organizing on our truck which is going up for sale.

So now about to settle in for the Packer game. They are off to a terrible start so I had better get a beer and help them out. Let’s hope for a happy ending, and here’s hoping you have a great weekend!

Randy

What is with this January weather?  Tornado’s and thunderstorms.  But sounds like it will be cooling down tonight.   And tomorrow some sunshine for a day, which will be welcome.   And then the weather back to normal.  We would not want a football game at Lambeau Field in January to be in the fog and the rain.   The fuzzy tundra just doesn’t sound right.   So we do have the foorball game Saturday to look forward to.   Otherwise Chris and I are still settling back into being home.   Putting Christmas presents away and looking to plan our next Florida trip.  Looks like early to mid February we will try to leave for a few days.  

And I am trying to clean up my truck, know anyone wants to buy a 1997 Dodge pick up?  Excellent shape!   I gave up trying to get the bolts out of the hitch and will drop it off with someone tonight to take the hitch out for me.   Then at the end of the month when I get my new used truck we can get it installed into the new one.  Once I get the hitch out I can post the truck on some web sites and at work and see if I get any interest.

 So really just rambling today.  I need to test out a couple of things on the web site that I have not figured out yet.   Have a fun week!

-Randy

We made it home!  We had a relaxing day yesterday in South Florida.  There was a pool party put on by the ladies club, serving burgers and hot dogs down at the pool and new clubhouse.  And yesterday was warmer than the previous few days.   So things turned out well.  Everyone was looking to get in the sun and feel the Florida heat work!

Then we did some packing and clean up and got ready to leave the condo around 6 pm.   The plane in West Palm was on time, a nice change from the last couple of weeks!  I had checked in earlier in the day and we had no baggage to check so we could go direct to security and get to the gates.   So we had time to watch a little football and have a beer and pizza before we left.  The flight home was smooth and arrived in Milwaukee a few minutes early.  44 degrees at 11 pm was welcome.  But there was a lot of fog for the drive home.  And this morning it is 41 degrees here at home, but still very foggy.   Looks like we will get a couple of more warm days, so I may not have to shovel the driveway,   just let it melt!

So today is settling back in at home, doing a couple of projects, and preparing for a work day!

We had a great New Years in Fort Meyers with Noel and Jo Ann.   I did not get a picture uploaded the other night so I added one in todays album.  As usual Jo Ann was cooking for us.

Cool and overcast today, but it was a good day anyway.  My Cuban friend Jose invited me to meet him for breakfast.  So he ordered me the Cuban food, all of which was great.  The pork croquettes, potatoes stuffed with pork and fried, tamales – it was a great start to my day.  After spending a fair amount of time there and visiting with Jose’s friends, he took me to our next stop. 

His good friend Yojanny has a cigar store.  Yojanny worked in a Romeo and Julietta cigar plant in Cuba and when he came here worked for someone here rolling cigars.  And then he started his own business.  He has a wonderful clean shop where he and another couple make cigars.  Yojanny buys the tobacco leaves in a warehouse and then takes care of the leaves and they mix and roll the cigars.  A wonderful selection of very tasty cigars.  I think I needed a bigger breakfast to have a double madura before lunch, but it was great.  Besides having room for customers to relax and have a smoke a number of friends gather there to catch up on the days happenings.  Good friends and I got to see how cigars are made.   Yojanny and Marta are masters at what they do and I got an education today.  Check out the pictures in the album or www.habaneroscigars.com .   We left after Yojanny ordered in pizza, made us some Cuban coffee, and I had my  second cigar.  Nothing like catching up for lost time.   His cigars can be ordered and he will ship them out, or let me know and I’ll see what I can do for you!  See me soon when I get home if you want a geat taste!

And Chris and I had a great meal tonight at our neighbors Al and Viv, who you can see in some pictures from earlier in the month.  A great couple who treated us to a wonderful meal and cocktails.    I did not have much time today to notice the cool weather!  And this evening is warmer than yesterday, so I think our weather is taking a turn for the better. 

So life is good.  We leave Saturday night, so we have more quality time to put in.  And it sounds like the weather at home is nothing to run back to!

Happy New Year to all!  May 2008 be healthy and happy for all.

We spent New Years Eve with good friends Noel and Jo Ann Enders in Fort Meyers.  They took us out for some great ribs, then we attended a New Years party in thier rec hall at Shady Acres.    Food, beverage and dancing ensued.  We had a great time and rang in the new year.   And Jo Ann cooked for us today and in between meals we watched the Badgers play hard in a loss.   A young team that will get better. 

So we came back to Boynton Beach late afternoon, it took just over 2 hours across Alligator Alley.  A pretty easy ride.  So now having a Shipyard blue fin stout brewed by Shipyard Brewing in Portland Maine.  Just to relax from the ride.   We had rain today and it cooled down a little, but still in the 70’s at6:30 pm.  But tonight supposed to get cold and a very cold day tomorrow for the Floridians with a high around 60.  But then the next days warming up quickly.  But I think we will survive it.   With the temperature back home looking to be around 2, and MJ and John continuing to get snow in Detroit. 

So again a very Happy New Year!