Updates

Well, we survived the 2 weekends in a row of ice and snow! The first weekend we got about 3/4" of ice and then it snowed about 10" on top of that! Louis had to prop up some of the branches on the pine trees to keep them from potentially snapping our power line into the house! The 2nd storm actually happened on a Thurs. & Fri. We got more ice and then another 8"-10" of snow again! We hadn't even dug ourselves out from the weekend before. Needless to say, I did not venture to work those two days. The first attempt at getting out was on that Sunday and then I still wasn't able to get out! Both Louis and I managed to get the Vue stuck in the driveway! Louis did go to work since the dispatch center really needed him there to answer 911 calls, but he had the police driving him back and forth between Ames and Boone. The kids (& the dog) had a great time with all the huge snow piles in the school parking lot! We were lucky in that we never lost power, but I know a lot of houses were not so lucky. We also only had 2 branches on our lilac bush break off, while lots of people around town were losing entire trees! It was a mess for quite awhile. The last couple days we have had 60-70 degree weather, so all but the biggest piles of snow are gone. Now we just have mud everywhere!! I am hoping since we are already half way through March, that we are done with the snow storms for this season! The pictures above are of the lilac bush and it is usually standing pretty upright! There was a lot of weight on those branches.

In other news, my pregnancy is progressing quickly! The baby dropped this past weekend, so I have been pretty uncomfortable the last couple days. It's the worst at work, since I don't have anywhere to lay down to relieve some of the weight on my hips and back. I've been experiencing Braxton hicks for about a month now which adds to my discomfort. I've been trying to tackle unpacking all the boxes we still have in the library and piano room but it is pretty slow going since my movements are pretty awkward. I did get all our books organized and put on shelves along with sorting through all our video tapes and DVD's and getting those organized. My stash of "garage sale" items is getting quite large. The kids are very excited about having a garage sale this spring and hopefully we will get it done this year! Both kids, especially Caisha, are always looking for ways to earn a little money, so they have been pretty good about going through their toys and weeding out the ones they really don't want anymore. Louis and I are planning that I will take 3 months off work (as long as money holds out), and in June, Louis will take a month off and spend it up at his parents (Jack & Lynne) along with me and the kids. I will probably be making a few trips back to Boone just to check on the cats (neighbors will be caring for them). Bronx (the dog) will be with us up at the farm. I don't think he is going to want to come back after an entire month there! Sometime in April, after the baby is born, I hope to get my garden started and planted. So far I have sweet corn, beans and carrots planned along with some flowers to plant around the dog run. Some day I hope to put in a sand box for the kids where the (very sad) pine trees are. Hopefully we can get someone to come out and cut the trees down for us. Louis has gotten a good start on clearing the branches off, so it will just be a matter of cutting them down without taking down the power lines that run through them! If anyone has the inclination to do a little manual labor (I don't have a tiller) I could sure use the help breaking up the ground in my backyard for the garden! Over the years I plan to expand the garden and flower beds to take up most of the backyard, that way we don't have to mow very much lawn! The biggest chore to tackle will be digging up the bushes in front of the house and transfering them to the back yard. I am hoping Louis will get the carriage house completely tore down this spring, too. Any help on that would be greatly appreciated, also! I would love to have visitors after the baby is born. If you are going to be in the area or just need a short vacation you are here-by invited to stay at the "Johnson Manor"!