Grandma Barb’s This and That

Monday, January 27, 2014

Frozen Falls

Friday was one of the nicest days we have had in a long time.  It was sunny in the morning when I took my friend to Sioux Falls for a doctor's appointment. It did turn cloudy in the afternoon but was able to reach 37 degrees.

After the doctor's appointment we drove down to Falls Park where the Big Sioux River spills over the falls.  Of course they were frozen.


This building was a Light and Power Company Building built in 1908 and is now turned into the Falls Overlook Cafe.


There was a little open water at the bottom of the falls near the building


A closer look at the falls





You can read more about the falls and see photos of them during the summer here

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Our World Tuesday Graphic

Thanks for stopping.  Have a great week
Until Next Time
Barb

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Sunset on the prairie

This is what the sunset can look like on the cold, snowy prairie. I captured this on my way home from my daughter's a couple of weeks ago.  I just had to pull over and snap the photo.



Sharing with these link parties this weekend.

Orange you Glad it's Friday
Skywatch Friday
Weekly Top Shot #119
Sunlit Sunday

Wishing you all a great weekend.  Stay warm or cool wherever you live.
Until next time
Barb




Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Word of the Day - Doldrums

Rose  over at Rambling Wild Rose did a post about doldrums.  Number 3 of the definition describes how I'm feeling.  It's been a long cold winter and I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling like that.  Yesterday I had an appointment with the eye doctor right after lunch.  I had planned to stay in town and do some shopping and then go to the Y to swim.  After my appointment it was snowing and blowing so bad that I came right home.  I wasn't feeling productive so I sat and read a book the rest of the day.  I haven't been down in the basement the last 3 or 4 days.  So much for my 1/2 an hour a day.  I have completed one project that I will show you though.

The top part of this cupboard I got from a neighbor who was moving about 2 1/2 years ago.  It was filthy dirty and this photo does not even show how dirty it was.  It has sat empty all that time. The bottom cupboard has been in the basement for years and was full of laundry products and other junk stuff.  I forgot to take a picture before I cleared off the shelves.





I liked the color of the top part and I had some paint that was similar in color.  So I painted the whole thing with that after cleaning off all the dirt.  Then I collected all the bottles and vases that were scatter around the basement and put them in here.




It looks so clean and fresh and all organized.  Now on to another project.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you are having a productive day.
Barb

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Woodpecker

This little guy/gal has been coming to my feeder this winter.  But he usually doesn't stay long and is on the other side of the feeder so I couldn't get a photo of him.  The other day he stayed longer so I was able to get 3 photos.  I googled woodpeckers and I think he is a red belled woodpecker.  Maybe a female.  If any of you know for sure what kind he is let me know.






I am joining Eileen over at Viewing Nature with Eileen for Saturdays Critters.  Fly on over and see what critters others are sharing or share your own.

Thanks for stopping.  I hope you are having a great weekend.
Until next time
Barb

Friday, January 17, 2014

Random 5 Friday

It's been a busy week and I'm sorry I haven't gotten around to visit everyone.  Is it really because I've been so busy or am I just getting old(er) and slower?  Anyway here are 5 random things that I've been doing.

1. I finished reading JoAnn Bayne's book "Are We Walking To Alaska?"  It's a true store of her family moving to Alaska when she was a 6 year old girl back in the 50's.  They lived on a fishing boat for several months after moving there and eventually moved to one of the small islands off the coast of Alaska where they had many adventures.  It is a very interesting book and brought back many memories of my childhood in the 50's.  You can check out JoAnn at her website,  Scene Through My Eyes.



2.  Working at least a half hour most days to try and make some headway in my basement.

3.  I have painted a couple of old cupboards and moved all the old bottles and vases that have been scattered around the basement into them.  I'll show pictures of that later.

4.  Spent last weekend with my daughter near the Twin Cities to attend my granddaughter's Show Choir. They are such a lively, spirited group and so fun to watch.

5.  My daughter and grandson came down Wednesday to help me move my booth from one spot to another at the lighting store.  I'll have to show you photos of that later too as I forgot to take my camera.  It's still not all styled but at least everything is moved.

I'm joining Nancy at A Rural Journal where you can see lots of randomness.  You can also join in the fun with your own 5 random thoughts, ideas, fun facts, or whatever.

I hope you had a good week and will enjoy your weekend.  Thanks for all your sweet comments on my note cards.

Until Next Time
Barb

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

4 Season Note Cards

It's January Note Card Party over at A Haven for Vee where you show photos you've posted before or new ones too that would make nice note cards  I'm doing floral photos from the 4 seasons.

Spring Crab Apple Blossoms



Summer Clematis 


Fall Sunflowers


Winter Rose in the snow


Summer and fall are photos I've posted before.  Spring and winter are new, although I do have winter in my header.

Thanks Vee for hosting this fun party.  I hope all of you will stop over and see all the amazing note cards.

Thanks for stopping by.  I'll see you next time

Barb

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Cold Winter Sunlight

The other day when it was not quite so cold I took a little drive to get a photo of this country church south of Walnut Grove.  It was sitting in the snow with some cold winter sunlight shining on it.





Sharing with Karen at My Little Home and Garden for Sunlit Sunday and Beth and Sally at inSPIREd Sunday.

I hope wherever you are it is warmer than here.  But if you live in the Upper Midwest it could be even colder.

Have a great Sunday and stay warm
Until next time
Barb

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Siberian Husky

This pretty boy sat so nice for his photo shoot even though he is just a puppy, approximately 6 months  He belongs to my friends at Onamia and I took his picture while visiting there in October.  I'm pretty sure they said he is a Siberian Husky.  He is quite mischievous but after all he is just a puppy.



Sharing at Viewing Nature with Eileen for Saturdays Critters #5 and Camera Critters Meme #300

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you are all having a good Saturday

Until next time
Barb

Friday, January 3, 2014

5 random facts

Today is Friday and it's Random 5 Friday over at Nancy's  "A Rural Journal".  Since the weather is crappy and not nice to get out, I thought I would post 5 random, boring facts.

1. I was going to go to Marshall today to get some blood work done since the weather was supposed to be warmer.  Instead we are in a blizzard warning.  Even though it's not snowing the winds are so strong that they are causing white out conditions.

2.  While I was not feeling well on New Year's Day, I finished the book "One Breath Away" by Heather Gudenkauf.  Tanya Breese at Around Roanoke had mentioned that she was reading it and it sounded good.  So I checked it out from the library and it is a good mystery.

3.  When someone mentions a book that they are reading, I go to Amazon and read the reviews and the few pages that they let you read.  That way I know if I might like to read it and then go check it out at the library.

4.  Since the weather has been so cold and I haven't been out taking pictures I think I will go back through my archives and post some of those photos.

5.  I've decided that I will spend a half hour or so a day sorting things in the basement.  So I guess I better get at it.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great weekend.  Stay warm and sage.
'Till next time
Barb


Thursday, January 2, 2014

Happy New Year

I hope everyone had a fun and safe New Years Eve.  Pretty quiet around here.  I have come down with a miserable cold and didn't even get out of my PJ's New Years Day.  A lot of you have been reviewing 2013, but I have decided to look ahead to 2014 instead.  The first 6 months of last year were pretty stressful with my mom being sick and then passing away and all the doctor's appointment for me while trying to find out what was going on with me.  The second half of the year was pretty uneventful except for the fun time at the Tall Ship Festival in Duluth.  And then of course Christmas Eve was pretty special with my daughter getting engaged.  You can read about that in my last post.

I'm not making any New Year's Resolutions because I don't usually keep them anyway.  I do better if I set goals for myself.  The biggest goal for this year is to clean out and organize my basement.  I had started that last year but then after mom passed away, all of her things ended up in my basement.  Wish me luck because it looks like I am a hoarder.  Well maybe I am.  I have some fun things to look forward to this year.  One being my daughter's wedding and possibly some traveling!

It has been way to cold here to go out and take pictures so I have been taking some through the windows.
This one if on New Years Eve morning with the snow coming down.



These 2 were taken this morning with the frost on the windows. The sun was shining brightly.  But the frost was so thick you can't even see anything outside except a few speckles of sun shining through.


The frost does really  make for some interesting patterns. 



Thanks to all of you for following along with me and all your nice comments.  They mean a lot to me.

Until next time 
Barb