StillwatersIowa

 Yesterday my hand bumped a button on my pickup steering wheel. It accidentally changed the radio station and ended up on a National Public Radio station. I listened as I was getting ready to change it back. The show host was talking about re-imagining how capitalism should look. The next subject was what to do about the increasing amount of white power. The third subject was how after our countries latest inauguration, Illinois decided it was safe to send kids back to school. However the teachers union said they had no desire to go back to in-class teaching. The final subject was introducing a law in Illinois to abolish cash bails for prisoners.  There are times when I feel a sense of purpose for our family that includes helping this country be the best we can be. And then there are days like yesterday when I feel like Jackson on top of the knipco heater. And think our family needs to stay in the hill country of rural America like the Sackett family Louis L'Amour writes about...

 When Jan builds a quilt the material, the size, the shape, the pattern, the border, and the purpose tells a story. Jan has made a number of quilts this winter and has been using her leftover material. She made this quilt to be used as a bedspread on a bed in the bunkhouse. Jan's plants also tell a story of very good and proper care. Our south sunroom has three window walls lined with plants that are dark green, shiny, growing, and blooming. We hung some half inch black pipe that Jim and Mike threaded earlier. It carries hot water to different parts of the machine shed across the road. Alex has been busy getting our toolbar ready to finish our NH3 application next spring. BJ, John, Alex, and Kurt have been tiling. Our current snow cover hasn't allowed the frost to go very deep. Karl, with Kurt, Mike, Layton, and Alex's help have been busy sorting and selling hogs this past week. Mike enjoys ice fishing and has spent a fair amount of time in his ice shack. One of these days ...

Over the past ten months our culture has been obsessed with fear, hate, and the promise of rules from folks that I'm not sure I trust or have our best interest in mind. You know you're loved when someone selflessly turns your heater on in the bathroom or quietly brings you a cup of coffee. Baby Brynn knows shes loved as her older sister Sydnie sings to her on the living room floor. Thanks for the picture. As we've discussed before I think our elderly are struggling about being loved. I'll have to ask my family however since the weather has turned cold I'm not sure I've seen any other visitors at our mother's assisted living residence. We are starting to wave and "visit" with the other residents. Last week Bill and Julie's son Michael and grandson Austin pulled a patio table up to the residents dining room window and built a snowman on top of it so the residents could watch from the inside. We have sung for them as a family and kudos to Bill and...

 Good morning friends. We are in a winter season. Winter can be dark, harsh, and bitter. This can be a season of stormy and dangerous days when we can't see where we are going. Our roads and paths often get slippery and we become afraid of losing our way.  And yet winter can have it's bright and brilliant moments of beauty. Winter is when I assess the past and plan for the future. This picture was taken after a foggy night on our way to Montezuma. Our country has temporarily put covid on the backburner. Yet guidelines and rules are still in place. So Jan and I walked through the snow Sunday to visit my mother through a closed window in her assisted living room. The darkness is getting darker and yet those that let their light shine are becoming more vivid. Alex is cleaning up his truck after a day of hauling grain. With uncertainty in the future we are working hard at getting in seed for next years crop. Karl and Malaki went after a load of seed corn yesterday. I forgot to t...