Just had to post this one!

Al and Tai, asleep as can be. Al snoring, Tai cozy as a bug in the warmth of Al's butt! Sorry, but it was cute. He's going to kill me when he finds out about posting it, but what the heck......

New Arrival

Appropriate for today

Sunday I went through old paperwork that I hadn't had a chance to deal with and sorted, tossed, filed and scanned everything. I found a folder that was Matt's from high school. It looks like it was from a writing class of somekind. As I read through them, I found two writings that he must have written 5 or 6 years ago, but they are appropriate for today. I'm not completely sure he can be credited for them, or if someone else wrote them, but I like them so I thought I would share one today. I will save the other one for a later date!

It is time for a change.

Time for a change in the way we are
A change in the way we live
In the way we work in the factories
In the way we buy fancy things
In the way we drive without care
In the way we consume without a watchful eye

It is time for a change
A change in the way we act
In the way we play together
In the way we argue against each other
In the way we talk with each other
In the way that we walk by each other

It is time for a change
A change in the way we love
In the way we care for the sick
In the way we help the needy
In the way we treat each other
In the way we love each other
It is time for a chance, for it will not happen on its own.

So it's official.

We officially have tied the record for the coldest day EVER in Waterloo. It was -34 yesterday morning. Of course it really doesn't feel much different at -34 than it does at zero, but it's the mental thing of it. -34! I know it's not Wyoming cold, but it's cold. Now, after I just wrote that I was curious what the coldest and snowiest has been. Here you go:

Wyoming: coldest temp: -63 on Feb 9, 1933 at Moran, highest temp: 114, on July 12, 1900 in Basin. Annual precipitation (rain & snow): 5" to 45" depending on the year.

Iowa: coldest temp (statewide): -47 on Jan 12, 1912 in Washata (never heard of it) and again on Feb 3, 1996 in Elkader, highest temp: 118 on July 20, 1934 in Keokuk. Anual precipitation (rain & snow): 26" to 36", although last year Iowa ranged from 34" to 75" of precipitation. We had around 54" of snow last winter season, 4th highest ever. But we are on track right now to beat that. We have already had 35" this year and it's only January.

There you have it....your useless knowledge for the day!

Matt's Birthday

Matthew turns 23 on Sunday. We are going out with him in Cedar Falls tomorrow night (we were told not to stay out all night. (maybe he has a new chick he might meet later, or else we might just cramp his style in case he meets one)). LOL....On Sunday we are having dinner at the house with everybody. Wish it was nice out so that we could grill, but oh well. He said he wanted Famous Dave's like food. So I'm thinking roast chicken, pulled pork and I might try to do a brisket. Al is making cornbread, and probably will have potatoes and green beans.
Nothing else exciting going on this week, just working.
Have a good weekend!

A new year, but thinking of family that are gone

We are home from Wyoming, and it's back to work tomorrow. We had a nice trip. Short, but nice. And a bonus: nice weather (at least on the way home). We had freezing rain again last night but it wasn't too bad. Only .10 inch or so, but enough to make it very slick. Needless to say we didn't go anywhere today. Matt and Sarah came and visited, though, even with the icky roads. They said Highway 21 was fine, Dysart was a little slick.

While we were at mom's, she and I scanned in some old pictures that Grandma Sara had at her house and I thought I would share a couple of them.

This one is Grandpa Lawrence with a couple antelope. It looks like it was at the ranch. He looks quite young, maybe early 20's I would bet.

This is one of Grandma Sara when she was a child. I just like this one. She was very cute.

And last, but not least......one of us. Looks to be maybe 1978 or so I think.