Temple

Back into the deep freeze.
It was -1 degree when we loaded hogs this morning.  Thankfully the gales of last night had died down by morning, and we didn't have any problems.  Working outside in this weather makes for rosy cheeks, chapped lips, and split fingertips.

Last Tuesday I went to Eureka College to hear Temple Grandin speak.  She is an internationally known author, proponent of Autism rights, an expert on animal behavior, livestock industry consultant, and a designer of humane animal handling equipment.  She is currently an animal science professor at Colorado State University.  She received her doctorate from the University of Illinois and I had firsthand knowledge of her work when she designed the kill floor for the ill-fated co-operative packing plant that we were involved in.  In 2010, a movie was made about her life.  Her speech was very interesting and she had many unique insights on many topics, including livestock handling and autism.
She was disgusted with and made fun of colleges that have a curriculum/degree in Public Administration.  "Why do we need to teach people how to be government bureaucrats!"

Wednesday we attended the Pesticide Applicator Training Class in Bloomington.  The long morning was followed by the test which we have to take every three years.  I passed, so I can legally purchase and apply restricted use pesticides.  We have almost all of our pesticides custom applied now, but it's still good to have the license.

Thursday was the Precision Planting Winter Conference in Washington.  I always learn something, and they always try to convince me that I haven't spent enough money on their products yet.  Gary Wiegand's steak dinner never disappoints, and there are people from all over the country (and international), and there is always plenty of good fellowship.

Friday we attended a seed sales/seed treatment meeting near Bloomington.  The grilled steak sandwich lunch was excellent.

Saturday I spent a couple of hours at the Fellowship Hall learning how to make mocha slush punch with a Hobart industrial mixer.  I learned that if you don't watch what you are doing, you can get ice cream and punch all over the walls, floor, and yourself.

Sunday was Aaron and Kendra's wedding.  Kendra is my niece who is the same age as daughter #2, and Aaron's dad and I were friends back in our young group days.  It was a nice day and a nice wedding.  Unfortunately, I didn't get to visit with much of the company that came to be a part of the day.  It will be fun to have Aaron in the family, and we wish the two of them God's Blessings on their marriage.

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
Proverbs 27:23

 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
Proverbs 12:10

Stormy

Stormy Kromer that is.

I asked for and received a Stormy Kromer wool hat for Christmas.  My family always makes fun of my hat choices (I have a number of unique hats) and this one is no exception.  But I have learned as I have aged that practical trumps fashion when seeking protection and warmth.
My new hat is a classic.  George "Stormy" Kromer was a semi-pro baseball player and a railroad engineer from Wisconsin.  In 1903 he had his wife, Ida sew him a custom cap that was warm and wouldn't blow off in windy weather.  Soon other railroad workers wanted a hat like he had and when Ida couldn't keep up with demand, a business was born.  So this style hat has been around a long time and has proven itself.
I am enjoying my new hat!

 O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
Psalm 140:7

Deep Freeze

I spent nine hours outside working last Saturday preparing for the arctic blast that was predicted. 
Church was cancelled Sunday because of the cold and blowing, drifting snow.  We listened to a sermon by Bro. Ben Maibach visiting Morton church in 1967.  I always liked his commanding voice.  Then I caught the tail end of Bro. Tom Klotzle visiting Phoenix

I dressed so warm the next few days, that I had to be careful not to work up a sweat doing chores.  The cold didn't do any serious damage or cause any major problems, so we were thankful.  The hydraulic oil in the feed truck was so cold that I killed the truck putting the PTO pump in gear.  The chain that swivels the auger snapped, but I was able to fix it in the warm shop.

All 50 states saw freezing temperatures at some point on Tuesday.  It was even 18 degrees on top of an inactive volcano in Hawaii.  At -15 degrees here, it was colder than much of Alaska and Antarctica on Tuesday.

And I thought it rather ironic the global warming scientists' ship that was trapped in the expanding polar ice on their way to measure the shrinking polar ice.  Two ice breaking ships were not able to rescue them.  After about two weeks, they were rescued by helicopter.  Of course, most of the liberal media didn't report on the purpose of the voyage.
Not warming as much as they thought.

And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
Acts 27:12

Holidays

We had four Christmas gatherings this year, and I enjoyed them all.  Christmas Day, we were with our kids, their spouses, and grandchild at our house.  After a great meal (our traditional Cornish hens), we opened gifts.  Books were again a gift of abundance, and we counted 47 books exchanged among the ten of us.  At our big family Christmas marathon on the 30th, I received five more books.  I now have lots of good reading material for the new year.  I also received a motion-activated candy dispenser which, when filled with Skittles, was a big hit with the kids (including some of us big kids)!

Tuesday, I took year end inventory and then started on a Balance Sheet for our lender.  We want to keep him happy, because he gives us lots of money!  I also started going through files and closing the books on 2013.

After New Year's eve church services, we brought in the New Year at Matt and Lena's.  We enjoyed good food and fellowship, and were brought up to date on the improvements and additions to the farm set. We stayed out until 2:00, which is pretty late for us old folks.  But when you are playing rousing games of Balderdash and Psychiatrist, it's not too hard.

The days around the New Year celebration are a good time to stop and count our blessings and evaluate how we are living our lives and our spiritual growth.
We are humbled by the blessings that were ours in the past year and pray for God's continued mercy, love, and grace in the coming year.

The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;
Esther 9:27