Back to Michigan for a short visit......

It was time to return Colton and Brennan to their family....and school, so we headed back on Dec. 8.  Arrived with that nasty "lake effect snow" bearing down on us when we hit Michigan City, Ind.  At one point (when he could see good) Gary looked back and there was no one behind us for a long ways ......we had been protected and we're pretty sure the pile up was back there!!  Thank you Lord!!!!

Our first event was Clayton's 7th Grade Band Concert at the High School Auditorium.   He's the one peeking around all the others.  Earlier Clayton had gone to a Solo Ensemble Festival and received a 1st place rating.   WAY TO GO CLAYTON!!  The band sounded very good.  We're hoping Clayton continues on with his trumpet!!

Gary always needs a project and Dennis helped him out.   The bad part was that Gary didn't have any of his wood working tools along, but he made do.  Dennis did have a good table saw for him to use and that was good!!  Notice his handy dandy hammer!!

Before that project was finished, however, it was Wednesday --- and that was the evening of Oliver's School Christmas Event.   It was like watching a TV show.  There were no kids who forgot their lines, or kids doing goofy things....... EVERYONE was in place and in time and it was grand. 

Oliver is front row - far right.  His first grade class did the Twelve Days of Christmas - with twelve groups of kids coming running in singing their line when it was their turn. Oliver was in the 8th day of Christmas.......  What fun! The "Partridge in a Pear Tree" did his line all by himself - twelve times.  He was great.

But now it was back to the "project".  The drawers gave him a fit....but it did all work out.....it would just take a little time.

 On Friday night we had a get-together with everyone at Mike and Julie's new home.  We kept it simple and just had dessert.  They really have a nice home....sorry I didn't get more pictures.......

Saturday --- it was back to the project.    Oh --- we did do other things.   We went out for Breakfast with Dale and Barb (cousin) and then another time with Hazel and Paul (sister).  We had supper and played cards with Dale and Barb another evening and ate out with my brother Bill........visited with my sister Linda and Dave......and went for supper with Glenn and Beth Kleinheksel....meals with the kids........   So this project did NOT consume our time......just kept Gary (and me) busy - which is all good.

OH BOY!!  It's not going to go in.......without removing some parts of the cabinet.  

 He finally decided the drawers were ok.........

And now to put things back together........  Finished project.

Sunday evening was the Overisel Reformed Church Christmas Program.  The only grandchild in it was Sawyer.  The program was a musical and Sawyers Choir did the music part of it.  They were the sheep, and the angels, and Joseph and Mary, and the shepherds......  and those sheep had ears.  :)  :)  We're not too sure that they were happy sheep...anyway some of the boys didn't appear to be happy sheep.   Sawyer sang in good form....the little gal next to him sang with her own set of motions........
                                      

And I think it was here that she encouraged Sawyer to "move a little bit"......anyway - Sawyer started to sway just a little to the beat of the music.   :)  :)    It was a really good show and the message of Jesus' birth came out loud and clear.   We thoroughly enjoyed it!!

And the next morning --- Monday --- we headed for home.  The weather would prove to be a little wet - but it was NOT snow......and we can handle a little rain.  By the time Tuesday came along -- it was a sunny day.  We had good travels and good times.  Once again, it was a fun time with family and friends.

Now I better get busy and get the rest of our Christmas cards out.   Patience people -- if you haven't gotten one yet --- it will be on the way soon.

May the Joy of Christ surround you in the coming New Year.

Merry Christmas

Gary and Barb

OK --- I can post some of this stuff.....

HHhhhmmmm-----  Thanksgiving is long gone....but there are things to post from that time until now.   Colton and Brennan -- two of our son Mike and Julie's kids stayed for two weeks with us.  Gary had really planned on lots of ice so they could go ice fishing......but we all know that didn't happen.   Don't think there is ice yet --- but hopefully soon!!!

Anyway ---- had to come up with things for these boys to do.   They had all been watching "Forged in Fire" on TV  and Brennan had already put those "learning sessions" to use......so they set to work.  Made beautiful knives --- but "don't tell mom and dad --- we want to surprise them".    So ....  the boys are back home and mom and dad have seen them  --- so we can now share it with all of you.

First, you have to know what they made them of..............the springs that are part of the struts on our car!!  They didn't have a forge -- so  they used up Gary's Acetylene tanks......  and THEN they made a forge.   Too expensive to continue with the tanks!!!!

That little tube standing up in the background is where they "quenched" the knives - in oil.   I missed lots of pictures ---- I guess Gary had fire coming up around his arm when he quenched  his knife.

 There was lots of grinding.......   I missed all the hammering on the anvil.   Sounds like they were all 3 beating on it.

 This photo shows it all --- what the knives were made of...... the sheaths they each made, a belt for Brennan so he could strap his knife on and Brennan's knife (on top) that started it all

Here you have the mean, tough look ........ they are ready to go on to competition  - well not just yet!!

But this one shows you what they were really thinking...... pretty proud of them and they had good reason to be proud.!!!

I even got a new kitchen paring knife out of the deal....And you can see close up the nice looking sheaths they made......Brennan's....Gary's ...... Colton's.....and then the paring knife....which, by the way, works like a charm!!

I think Gary is in the process of making another paring knife because he isn't happy with the handle on this one.   He's going to make the next handle out of a plastic -- so I can put it in the dish water more without making the handle go bad.     YUP --- it's in the vise right now letting the handle dry.

There was other fun to be had with the boys.....moving cattle for Dan and Deon......practicing with their slingshots.......playing cards.....prairie dog hunting.....eating------ Oh! did I tell you how those boys can eat?!?!?!   We had a great time and lots of memories were made.  When we have these times with the boys.....we are kinda glad they are home schooled!!!  .......and they are too!!!

Gary and Barb

Holiness Chapel - St. Francis ....the walls are up.

What a glorious day for building a church!!!!   The sunrise was awesome - the sun was warm (Oh it was cold though this morning - 19 degrees!!)--- there was NO wind (yesterday it was blowing something fierce!!).    And so began the process of placing the cement walls.

I didn't arrive early enough  to see them put the first walls up ...... things were progressing well.  Gary had worked on the footings and had also offered to help with the welding.   So he was busy at it....

 This is what he was welding --- floor plate to wall plate....

and then up in the top also.   Ron Patton was also welding....     

The men (Hutterites from north of Platte, SD) were good at their job ---all working smoothly together.   We couldn't always understand what they were yelling.....they speak both German and English.

They put lots of braces in to hold the walls in place.

 Styrofoam strips were placed along the wall on the footing.....and later grout was poured in ---- to seal the bottom.

You can count the pieces.....4 sides and 4 ends....Corners were placed first and then the 2 middle pieces.  Gary welded way into the late afternoon - in fact it was getting dark before he quit.   There were breaks as he waited for a new section to be put in.   And, of course, there was GOOD food.  Becky Patton, Lori Lesse and Sheila Stephens put on a fabulous noon meal and then for supper - one or two Native Ladies helped by making Indian Tacos. 
I believe the day ended with the other corner wall pieces in place.........  Oh -- and then what  a glorious sunset!!!


This morning - I went to see what was going on at about 10:00.  Quite the change....

...It's looking more and more like a church!!

Colton and Brennan got to help by putting some rubber strips into the cracks where the walls met.....to seal them.....  These would be placed on the inside also - but Colton said "they told us not to do that right now".

This is not the final section -- but the last section I stayed for.  The next picture is of the pillars that will be in front of the entrance.

Getting that piece straight and level in all directions took a little doing.....but finally it was welded down.

What an interesting couple of days.  Strange though ---- there were no Native people standing around watching.  A few cars went past --- but no little kids after school let out.   Perhaps they were told to stay out of the way.  I often did feel like they might yell at me to "watch out lady".......  There was so much going on all the time.   Men working in many different areas all at the same time.......

A lot of work remains ---- they will be placing the roof trusses also.......lots of dirt to be filled in around the whole building.   But what joy ..... so apparent on the faces of those who minister here in St. Francis.   I know Gary was so glad to be able to use his talents for them -- and for God.
Gary and Barb

Family out to SD for Thanksgiving........and Christmas

What a fun time we had this past week.  All of our kids and grandkids were out --- except our oldest son, Rick and his wife, Claudia....they live in the Netherlands.     We  (well, we slept in our own beds) -----all stayed at the Schelhaas Hunting Lodge.  Such a neat place ---- and so much room!!!  Full kitchen, Great Room, two bathrooms with showers,  and 14 beds.  Everything you need and more!!

"Tumbly" the Tumble Weed Snowman was our Christmas mascot............took lots of pictures around her...(note the flowers in her "hair")

Our Grandkids..........(Bottom row - L to R) Keller, Sawyer, Oliver, Halle....(Middle Row) Brennan, Sidney, Colton, Clayton... (Standing) Austin, "Tumbly" and Trenton   No! I haven't lost my mind - Tumbly is not a grandchild!!

We took our two 4 wheelers over and so they got used a LOT.  There was deer hunting and coyote hunting --- success in both.......   Then there were those nasty prairie dogs -- hunted them too.

Trenton

These two guys (Brennan and Clayton) were pretty happy too.   Not every day you find some with horns.

Grandpa said Colton could shoot all the Pheasants he could ---- WITH A SLINGSHOT!!  --- He got one!!!!  Yup - a tailless one, but oh well!!!  It was a pretty good shot too....."from across the road and then a little more".

Our two little grandkids who live in the city got to feed Don's cattle with Grandpa and
Brennan.   I found feed on the floor --- must have come in with their shoes.....they had fun on the grain pile. 

Oh -and then there was a clay pigeon shooting......and walks.......and cookie baking.....and picture drawing......

Top one is Sidney's ---- she's a Junior in High School and bottom one is Halle's ...she's in the 4th grade.  Anyway - they both just looked at a picture on a phone and went to drawing.   Halle didn't like her first one .....so she started over....this one is perfect.   And then, much to my joy!!!!!  - they gave them to me ----- They are hanging on our wall!!!

We were lucky enough to have a Raptor/Falconer -- what is it....come out to Don's Preserve to get a couple of pheasants.  Don and Jeannie were gone - so Gary caught the birds.  Anyway, it was too windy to send his Perigrine Falcons out (they are in training) but he did come out and "display" them --- which was so nice!!! He said he would come on another day to work them.  They (two of them) were born this spring.

Part of our "gift giving" was some crazy saying Tee-Shirts.  Here is a sampling.....

Holly didn't agree with that one --- that she snores --- but Dennis TOTALLY agreed!!

 Dennis is work work work.......

We did a lot of laughing over some of them!!!!

And then for our entertainment----Keller recited the entire poem .....

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

By Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.   

His house is in the village though;   

He will not see me stopping here   

To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   

To stop without a farmhouse near   

Between the woods and frozen lake   

The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   

To ask if there is some mistake.   

The only other sound’s the sweep   

Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   

But I have promises to keep,   

And miles to go before I sleep,   

And miles to go before I sleep.

He's in Preschool!!!!

And every morning and every evening we had grand displays of glorious beauty!!!!

Thank you Lord for everything!!

Gary and Barb

Sausages from venison +++

We made some "bratwurst sausages" about 2 months ago.   We used about 5 lbs. of venison and then ground up our (delicious) pork roasts to make 12 lbs. of meat.   They were delicious.....but - wow - what a lot of work.

Yesterday we used up the remaining venison, some pheasant breasts , 1 package of pork roast and 1 lb. of bacon.  Gotta use what you have and see how it tastes - right?!  This was about 15 lbs. of meat -- so we figure it was 2/3 venison --- just in case you are wondering.

We use the REAL pork intestines for stuffing....adds to the excitement   :)  :)     After stuffing them we let them sit in the refrigerator overnight.   Come morning -- it was out to the smoker.  About 3 hours total cook time --- a 1/2 hour of drying time --- 1/2 hour of smoke ---and then an hour at  approximately 190 degrees until the sausages reach an inner temperature of 160.

We just did a taste test --- and they are a success.   We hope to go over to Don and Jeannie and vacuum pack these.   Our first batch got a little freezer burn just being in zip lock bags.

It was real cold this morning and windy --- so Gary put 2 tarps and a blanket around the smoker in order to keep things working properly.      I think there might be a couple of changes in batches to come........ a new electric grinder and some new recipes (Gary wants to get away from the store boughten mixes).

Anyway --- fantastic way to use that venison!!!!
Gary and Barb