I don't think the storm last week lived up to its name here, but we did end up with almost a foot of snow. It shut things down for a day or two, and made a lot of work for those who have to clear the snow. I spent parts of two days moving, pushing, and blowing snow. The wind was mostly from the North this storm, so the drifts were not in the typical places that our NW storms usually place them. I actually had to move some snow just to get in the hog house to do chores. I was supposed to ship hogs on Thursday morning, but the packing plant was proactive and put us off until Saturday. That helped me out a lot, by giving more time to clean up the lots and driveway.
The prior week, Virg and I went to Fritz's lake to ice fish. It was a nice morning to be on the ice and Phil, Ed, and Summer came out fishing also. The fishing was good, and I caught enough nice bluegills for two meals. Ed caught three nice sized channel catfish and he gave Virg and I each one of them. The catfish made another nice meal. The others also caught plenty of fish. I'm a fair weather ice fisherman, but I wish I could find the time to go out more often. Or maybe I should buy/make a shelter so that plans wouldn't depend so much on the weather.
We spent this past few days in Grabill helping watch grandkids to give Nathan and Michelle a small reprieve. They are now alternates, but because of personnel shortages, they are doing double duty. Which means in a months time they spend their time in thirds living in three different houses (three different beds). That's hard on the parents and their kids. We enjoyed our stay and I finally had time to visit the Sportsman's Cove sporting goods store in Grabill. I was impressed. I also had time to read two books.
She Is Mine: A War Orphan's Incredible Journey of Survival, by Stephanie Fast, is a book that I highly recommend. It is similar to Yeonmi Park's book
In Order to Live, which I read in early winter and also highly recommend. We all know this, but we take our freedoms and blessings so much for granted. Reading these kinds of books are great reminders of what so many in the world face that we can hardly fathom and hopefully makes us a little less selfish and more open to how we can help. I also reread
Hatchet after I found it on the shelf at Cypress House. Boys of all ages should read that one!
We stopped in Fairbury on our way home to attend Bro. Lloyds visitation. We really enjoyed and appreciated him as he attended church with us in Washington the last twenty-five years. It was the second visitation in Fairbury in a little over a week, as we attended Sis. Anna's after her untimely passing.
Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. John 21:3
