Monday, October 13th

I had an eye appointment Monday morning and since it was Columbus Day and Alex had the day off I decided to take the whole day off as well. After my appointment I called my mom to see how work was going and she told me that Sarah and Joe had had their little one the night before. Alex and I finished up some errands we had to run while in McCook and then went to the hospital to see the Vrbas family.

Dad, Mom and lil Sawyer Jane! She is just so adorable! I told them I was going to bring big sis, Peytie, a present too (a big bag of candy) but I didn't think the 'rents would appreciate that! Sarah and Sawyer
I absolutely love this picture!! I just think it's a great picture of Sawyer. She looks so much like Joe and she has the prettiest hair ever!!!
I was able to hold her as well! I was excited to hold her but I was so nervous I would drop her on the "hand off"!! I mean seriously, she wasn't even 24 hours old yet - that is the youngest I have ever held a baby - No lie! It was nerve racking - but she was so well behaved! For a little while then I had to hand her back because I think I was making her cry! Anyway - Congrats to the Vrbas fam!!!

When we were finished at the hospital it was time to get to work. We moved a bull and two heifers to the farm in Danbury. Did I mention it rained all weekend, too?

Here Bob is pulling us out because we were stuck!!!

A present from Bob while he was pulling us out!Bob sliding around on the road after he pulled us out.
Washing the Dodge. Needless to say, we didn't go and get the rest of the heifers because it just wouldn't have worked!

New Vehicle

Yes, it is true! I finally broke down and bought a new vehicle. I didn't actually break down like you might think - the 'ole Cav is still kicking! Anyway, on Saturday, October 11th I bought a 2003 GMC Envoy! I still have the 210,000 mile purple prize that you all know and love but I just won't be using that to travel any where outside of town! So, here is a picture of my newest purchase!

As soon as I bought the vehicle then it started to rain so here it is a little dirty from that!

Feed Rack

I am sure many of you were starting to worry that Alex and I haven't been spending time at the farm - but no worries - we have been! I looked through all the pictures that I have taken this past year and I could not find a before picture! I know that I have one but I obviously didn't save it to the computer. Alex wanted to build a feed rack on the west-ish (yes, that is a direction!) side of the pens at the farm. If I could have found a picture from before that would have been nice but here are some pictures as we (he) was working on it and then when the feed rack is almost complete.

Here is the work site.Alex cleaning out the holes.
Some more cleaning out. I actually did help this day. I believe I cleaned out one hole, possibly two, and then I was either bored or tired. Can't remember which - I just know I wasn't really of much help!

Here Alex is again working. I believe this day we came back and had to re-clean out the holes because it rained and had filled them in again. Yeah, I definitely did not help this day. I had already cleaned out one from the time before so I passed on helping this day!!
I did actually help him load up the railroad ties to be moved over to where the feed rack would be built. I guess I did help a little more than I thought! This is a picture after all the dirt work had been completed.
This is the feed rack. I only took a picture of the part that is actually complete. If it wouldn't have rained I am sure it would have been complete this past weekend - oh well I guess there's always next weekend! Farmer Al

Then we went to the Rocket after we left the farm and this Alex with Dan Haag. I think this is their way of hugging....

House Update

It had been a while since I had been over to Alex's house to take some pictures of the progress. You will recognize some of the pictures from a previous post but I wanted people to get a pretty good visual of what it was like before and now with some changes that have taken place. The house is coming a long, seems like it is taking a long time but when we sat down the other night and figured how long it has been since Alex closed on the place, it really hasn't been as long as we thought. Anyway, here are some updates.

This is the picture standing at the front door looking towards the kitchen.
Here is that same wall with the two entry ways made. The one on the left is the new entry way they (Bob and Alex) cut and on the right the entry way was shifted a couple feet to the right. The entry way on the left will lead into the kitchen where the bathroom door will be to the left. There will be a six foot wall between both entry ways that will be easier to see once the rest of the drywall is installed.
Here is the lovely green room!
Here it is blue. In this picture it looks a little more purple but it really is blue. Kathy also pulled up the carpet and will be working on the wood floor.
This is the only decent picture I could actually find to show the difference in the size of the main bathroom. This is before the wall was taken out and I was standing in the kitchen to take this picture. It is sort-of hard to see in this picture but if you look on the right side of the photo you can see a cupboard that is outside of the bathroom...

...and in this picture that same cupboard is inside the bathroom. Right now the new tub/shower is installed and the wood stuff on the floor for the linoleum or tile.
This is a picture of the door on the left that leads to the garage and the basement.
This is now the outline of where a little porch-like area will be when you come up the stairs and then on this side in the kitchen will be cupboards and counters.
This is looking down the stairs towards the basement and the garage.This is now the new "hallway" looking towards the basement and garage.
A picture of the bathroom in the Master bathroom.

This is the bathroom now. The walls are painted a light blue and then Alex will stain the "wayne's coating" (I have no idea how it is spelled or if that's even close - so the wood stuff) so that it matches his vanity and then I think he wants to add a thick trim around the top.

That's all for now but I will keep you updated as progress is made.