12.30.2025

 Our ice storm hit as predicted overnight on Sunday, so we awoke on Monday to bent over trees and an ice-covered world...

Even though Jim is still under the weather, he went out twice to clear the driveway so that I could get out.  It got warmer and we had rain later on in the day, so he wanted things as clear as possible before the deep freeze set in today.  

This certainly has been a year of medical issues and challenges, and they continue.  Kyle had planned spinal fusion surgery, involving two different surgeries the week before Christmas.  He's home and recovering nicely.  Then on Sunday, Mom fell again at her care facility (#19 since this all began last Christmas week!).  Unfortunately, this one resulted in a pelvic fracture.  She's not a candidate for surgery, so they will control her pain with medication.

It's almost the start of the new year, so while we are so grateful and blessed in so many ways, we are hoping for less medical issues in 2026!

12.29 - High 30.4/Low 20.4 - ice storm overnight
12.30 - High 20.5/Low 16.5

12.28.2025

 Jim's still not feeling great, but it's hard to keep a good man down!  I headed to Wesley to see Mom this morning and do some errands.

In the afternoon, Jim headed down to the metal shop to work on rebuilding his floor jack...

All done and testing it out!

High 24.7/Low 10

12.27.2025

Yesterday evening, Jim started feeling bad with some sort of respiratory thing.  He looked much worse for the wear this morning, but lots of rest and some drugs had him feeling a bit better by mid-afternoon.  I hope it ran its course and it's not just biding its time until later.  

The winter weather forecast was spot on and we woke up to over 5" of new snow.  More wintry weather is forecast over the next couple days, so Jim really wanted to clear the driveway...

 We're staying home this evening and will watch Mass on tv.  

High 24/Low 10.7 - 5+" of snow

12.26.2025

What a glorious start to the morning - just a beautiful sunrise!  Pictures never do it justice, but the sky just glowed.  It was really cold this morning, plus we are under a winter storm warning for tonight through tomorrow night for 5-8" of snow.

This afternoon, Jim started working on rebuilding his jack...

It's going to be complicated, but he's got things started...

High 13.4/Low 4.5 

12.25.2025

Merry Christmas to all - hope everyone had a wonderful day.  Even amongst all the challenges, we are especially grateful this year for our blessings.

We had a quiet Christmas Eve.  I saw Mom in the morning - one of the staff members made headbands for the women and bowties for the men.  Too cute.  Jim and I went to Mass later in the day.

We're always grateful for a beautiful White Christmas on Angel!

We had a nice, quiet morning with cinnamon rolls as per tradition.  After lunch, we headed to Wesley to visit with Mom...

High 35.2/Low 12.1

12.23.2025

We've been having steady snow all afternoon, but thankfully it mostly waited until I was home from seeing Mom and getting my hair cut.  We'll see how that affects tomorrow's plans, but it was beautiful all afternoon.  I finally made a couple kinds of Christmas cookies so the snow coming down outside just felt festive. 

Jim went back to working in the control room on wiring up the new receptacle.  It ended up being more complicated than he originally thought because of the wire placement.  He ended up having to work through the insulation and do all four wires...

All buttoned up on the inside...

A working receptacle on the outside!

High 30.2/Low 25.9 - light snow in PM

12.22.2025

Jim cleaned up the mess from yesterday's job of putting in the new light fixture in the stairwell.  Then it was time to put the wall back together...

Both pieces of drywall back in place and Jim is fastening...

He also wants to put a receptacle on the outside of this wall, accessible in the metal shop.  So another cut in drywall...

Opened up and placement marked...

Cutting it out...

Fitting the box in...

High 30.1/Low 19.1

12.21.2025

 

The temperatures remain chilly for the first day of winter, but the driveway is clear and there's snow on the ground for Christmas, so all is well!

But still a good day to stay inside and work.  Jim finished wiring up the new fixture at the bottom of the stairwell...

Putting up the fixture...

Screwing in the bulb...

Putting on the glass fixture...

Then finishing wiring up the receptacle...

Power back on and we have light!  It's perfect; just a low watt bulb that will stay on all the time for safety.

High 35.8/Low 27.2

12.20.2025

Jim got the box placement marked in the control room today...

Then started cutting out the hole...

Cutting through...

Box is in place...

Jim went out to the pole barn attic to get wire and started wiring...

The inside view...

Time to clean up and get ready to go see mom and go to church.

High 31/Low 20.9

12.19.2025

Yesterday, Jim knocked off early and we headed to Home Depot.  He got the boxes and fixtures he needs to add the extra light at the bottom of the stairwell.  We also bought a new ladder to use in the kitchen to reach those high cabinets!  Then we went to give blood and ended up at The Local afterwards.

We certainly have had a big change in the weather over the last couple days, and another change is blowing in as we speak.  Today started off really warm, with rain and very strong winds.  In fact, we lost power at the house this morning and the generator ended up running for about 3-1/2 hours.  The good news is that with the combination of temperature and rain, our driveway is not completely clear of any snow and ice, so when the temperatures drop tomorrow, we should be good.

After visiting Mom, I spent the afternoon buying things to make Christmas treat bags for all the Wesley and Hospice staff that do such a great job taking care of her.  We are so grateful to all of them.  We take in frequent treats but it's hard to get to everyone on different shifts, so hopefully this will reach everyone.  I came home and spent the rest of the time assembling them.  Thirty bags ready to go...

With the weather nice, Jim took the opportunity to take some tubs up to the shed attic.  Then he sprayed all the layers of salt and grime off my car...

Cleaning out the pole barn floor...

12.18 - High 44.7/Low 23.8

12.19 - High 52.1/Low 30.2

 

12.17.2025

Jim did some inside work today and then mid-afternoon, he headed out to the pole barn to put the newly-sharpened blades in the chipper.  Putting it in place...

Tightening...

All the blades are in and we'll be ready to go in the spring!

High 39.2/Low 18.6