North Dakota Skies

What beautiful skies. It just amazes a person all the beauty God has provided for us.

Building the Pond.

Another one of our many projects this summer. It is still a work in progress.We have it all dug out and planned.The planned part and all the supplies we have had for a couple of years,but it has a ways to go before we can add water. It will be a big waterfall on top,running into a small pond then a stream running down into a big pond.

We tore our old one out a few years ago and started planning a new one. You know what they say about ponds, you always tend to wish it was bigger. The other one was just a little one, with a stairstep waterfall. We absolutely loved it, but wanted to go bigger.

Next summer hopefully we'll be able to finish this one.

Alex, Brandon Ryan and Casey all helped with it. Alex and I removed all the old rock out of the old pond. Then it was time to start the digging. Boy does that rattle your nerves watching Duane and Brandon running the skidsteer. They both know what they are doing but they go so fast and get so close to the edge that I can't hardly watch them. I'm so afraid they are going to tip over.

As you can see here Duane is running the stidsteer while Brandon, Ryan and Casey rest. It was really hot out that day, and we had our share of digging with the shovels to do.

Next year hopefully I'll post pictures of the finished project. I can't wait we really miss our old pond. It was so relaxing to just go out and feed the fish watch them swim, and just relax. I'd take my cup of coffe and just sit out there. We liked to go out in the early morning and in the evening when Duane wasn't busy with farming we would just sit out there and relax.

Our 4th of July bonefire.All the kids lined up on around it.Duane, Tyler and I are seated behind the camera.

Alex trying out Casey's newly invented bottlerocket shooter.

Alex and Casey shooting bottle Rockets. The first few times Casey wore goggles. To protect his eyes until he knew if the invention would work. Well, a combination of protecting his eyes, and just being the silly clown, comedian he likes to be.

Casey all decked out to do fireworks.

Joann and Grandma visiting while we waited for it to get dark enough for fireworks.

The whole crew sitting arround visiting after supper. Just waiting for it to get dark.

Moving Day August 2007

This is the day we helped Alex move to Bismarck. It was in the last week of August 2007.
The whole family was there to help.

Right Alex and Nicole putting the kitchen in order.Left and above,Brothers all working on getting the furniture set up.

Brandon and Julie parking his New Harley in front of Alex's, to come and help Alex move.

Deck Project summer 2007

Well for some reason I can't get my pictures to move where I want them so they are kind of mixed up but basically these are all taken on one of the week ends while we were working on the deck.As you can see we had lots of help. All of the kids have had some experience with projects like this. Brandon and Alex even worked for a carpenter for a few summers. So when it came time to changing the blueprints to build it so it was more sturdy we had lots of help figuring it out.Not that Duane couldn't have figured it out by himself but its always nice to have help expecially when your figuring out angles.This is the end result.I absolutely Love it. We haven't even put any furniture on it yet, and we already spent alot of time on it. Duane can just step out the back door to grill,etc..

Tyler was here to help too. He had so much fun
We set up the sprinkler for him to cool off . He really wasn't interested, was not going in there until Brandon grabbed him and ran through then casey went and sat in it by him just acting goofy, and pretty soon Tyler was having fun chasing Casy with the sprinkler.We set up an umbrella for Tyler to sit under and watch after he cooled off. Of course Casey and Grandma sat under there awhile too.

Here's Casey trying to secure the umbrella to the pine tree, so it wouldn't lean.

Alex didn't help alot with the deck because he was working on his pickup. I don't remember what was wrong with it, but he was having some problems with it.But we used his pickup to get wood, and then he unloaded it by himself (everyone else was busy and he wanted to get started on it) and then he stacked it all in piles for us.

Casey, Brandon,Ryan and Duane

Ryan and Casey

Casey, Ryan and Duane taking a break from the heat.

Duane, Casey, Brandon and Ryan. Well, I gotta go for now, gotta get ready for Church.

Haying summer 2007

Here are a couple of photos from this summer. Duane, Ryan, Brandon and Milo were all taking turns to get the last of the haying done. We had one tractor raking and one baling. It was cool to watch, because they just were all going around each other in one fairly small area.

Tyler and I brought them over and stayed for awhile because we weren't sure if one of the boys was going to want to go home right away or if they were going to just stick around and take over later.

I just got a different scanner as the old one quit working. So I'm finally going to post some of the summers pictures.

Duanes surgery

Here is my dear hubby. Busy working on the Church bookwork.He's gonna kill me for putting this on here. But I think it's a good picture.

We went in on Friday to preregister him for surgery. We have to be there at 5:15 Tuesday morning. The doctor gave him a couple of pills to take one before he goes to bed monday night, and the next one first thing Tuesday morning to help relax him, so I'll be traveling with a doped up man .I just hope he is good enough on his feet to get into the hospital. I'm sure he will be fine otherwise they wouldn't give it to him so soon.

Anyway he will be in intensive care for about 2 days. You know how that is when you go in to preregister, they tell you everything that could possible go wrong and have you sign off for anything that might possibly. I know they have to cover all the bases, but I could do without thinking of the worst case senerios.

I'm sure you all know we are not looking forward to this. But I think when it is all over and done with he will be a different man, back to his old self. He tires so easy since his heart attack. He doesn't complain, but he does have to stop and rest quite often basically he's just always tired.

Please keep him in your prayers for us. That he will have a successful surgery with a quick recovery. He keeps saying we need to discuss if something would go wrong and he wouldn't make it. I refuse to think of it. God will watch over him and keep him safe, I strongly believe that and couldn't deal with this if I thought otherwise.

Allis Chalmers D-15

This is one of our new (old) tractors. Duane and Milo spent quite a bit of time on taking it all apart and repainting it. Doesn't it look nice?

Gas Mileage

My Dad just called me about a device you can put on your car to increase gas mileage. It is a two step process. The first step is 100% guaranteed to increase your gas mileage by at least 50%. The second step is totally optional. Also sounds like the second step won't be available for several months. After the second step is installed, which is a pre-ignition catalytic converter that installs in the same place as your old CC, it looks like most cars will get over 100 MPG! Here's the website www.preignitioncc.com/northstar If anybody checks it out I'd like to hear what you think of it. I watched the video. They had a Briggs running on 60% gas and 40% water. The video is about 20 minutes long but I thought it was interesting. Dad called the number in the ad and a guy in Bismarck is the dealer. He has his own mechanic that installs them and tunes your engine. He told Dad if you drive 15000 miles a year you can pay for it in a year. Probably sooner if gas hits $4.00-$5.00 this coming summer as some people are predicting. Gas in Strasburg today: 10% Ethanol $3.19 Regular unleaded $3.29.

Happy New Year !

Brandon was home for the weekend. Duane and Brandon worked on putting in Duanes speakers, and put a 140 amp alternator in Brandons car.
Ryan came out in the afternoon and we all had Chili for supper. Duane started it in the crock pot first thing in the morning, boy was it good.

We all went to church Sunday morning,came home and ate dinner.Then we went to visit Ryan. Brandon and Casey helped him get his treadmill moved upstairs. Brandon and Ryan played darts for awhile. Then Brandon left for home and we left shortly after.

Monday I had to work, so Casey and Duane worked around home. Casey crushed pop cans, played computer, and watched T.V. Duane cleaned house a little. Monday evening we watched a movie, live free or die hard. It was pretty good, as Ryan said it is kindof over the top,a little unbelievable ,but other than that it was pretty good.

Tuesday morning we had New Years Day service at 10. Duanes mom and Dad asked us out for pizza for dinner we met in Linton at Thatsa Pizza and More.Grandma Slagh and Ryan were also there.We had a nice visit and the pizza was yummy.

Today I had to work, I switched shifts after New Years. I was suppose to start at 7:30 AM. Usually I am always about 30 minutes early just to have extra time to get all my programs up and running and be able to take my time before getting on the phones. Boy was I glad I came in early, because today I forgot about the schedule switch. When I drove on the parking lot and seen some of my classmates were already there I remembered. Oops, Oh well I was just 10 minutes late. I only have one more day left before I go on Personnal Leave, so I have been trying to keep my stats up and really get alot accomplished. Not that I don't try otherwise. It just pushes me a little harder since I know I'll soon be out for a month.

Duane has his appointment for blood workup and preregistration for surgery on Friday morning. His surgery will be on Tuesday.

Well, Casey just got home from catechism and he has a paper to work on for school tomorrow, so I guess I'd better turn the computer over to him.
He came in and told me he needed to work on his paper and immediately went downstairs and started playing drums, so I guess I'd better get off here or he won't get done.

Quote of the Day: If guns kill people, then pencils misspell words and cars make people drive drunk.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will sour on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:29-31