I lost count....

OK. So I've been a little busy canning and preparing for the fall/winter, but I haven't forgotten how to post on this little blog of ours.

I have accomplished 60 pints of beans, 28 quarts of spaghetti sauce, over 30 pints of chokecherry syrup & jelly, 15 quarts of corn, over 40 quarts of potatoes (still have 30 pounds to go...), and over 35 pints/quarts of pickles....whew!

The tomatoes are coming off the vines like there's no tomorrow. The beans just won't quit, so I've been giving them away (just can't get myself to pull them yet.) The beets are gigantic - the size of 2 of my fists and more. The carrots I haven't pulled yet, but if the beets are any sign, I'm going for size not quantity. I'm a little disappointed in the squash & pumpkins (not to mention the 4 foot corn, ugh!), but it was quite a cool summer and they didn't get much of a chance. The onions are done and they did much better than last year, but I'm still wanting them bigger. Gotta work on this one. At least my largest one was bigger than a golf ball this year.

Well, those tomatoes are calling me and I need to get them processed. Stay tuned.......

Pretty jars all in a row....

There is something satisfying in looking at completed canning jars. I love it when it's done!!!

This is summer in reverse. You can look at the pictures and think backwards faster than I can rearrange them...

Hanna's Birthday party - she planned it mostly by herself. She chose a Jungle Game Night as her theme this year.

4th of July was spent at Tom & Carol's lake cabin with all of Judd's sisters and their families. Fireworks, Itasca State Park, logging camp, s'mores, and fun was had by all.

At the logging camp you say how many eggs you want and that's what you get, no ordering more. However, you can have as many pancakes and hashbrowns that you can eat.

We were lucky to have Kevin's blessing (Lisa & Luis' youngest) while everyone was up.

Brigit get a well deserved nap after getting her hand in the van door. Ouch!

The next ones are from Brigit getting a hold of the camera....

Judd was working out of town quite a bit in June and July, so the kids wanted to welcome him home...

We made a weekend out of biking through Itasca. 27 miles in 2 days. The kids did great!

This is what the kids have dubbed the "Silly Cycle"...

Last day of school...

Summer????

Well, it's been a weird summer. Not too hot - ever. Quite a cool one actually, which leads me to dread the upcoming winter. I just hope it's not going to be too cold.

With what summer we've had we've managed to pack a lot in. Camping, parks, pool, lake, fishing, playing with friends - you know, the usual. The only major things that have happened is Hanna got stitches on the top of her right foot from the back gate (fixed that) and Brigit broke her right ring finger just off the knuckle. Hanna is healed and the scar is going to be minor. Brigt is still healing. They are letting her finger remodel and she is getting more of her mobility and strength back. Xander has had the usual bumps and bruises kids get from playing hard, nothing major to report. (I hope I didn't just curse myself!)

The only thing left of the summer (planned anyway) is Judd gets to bring the scouts to Boundary Waters and I don't get to go this time. Hopefully we'll get to go as a family next year. Of course we'll get more parks and pools in and probably some more playing with friends. Enjoy the rest of your summer!!

Closet - DONE!!!!

This is a bit of a personal victory. We have this closet - you know, the one everyone has that seems to collect the "quick, pick it up" stuff. Well, you can now stand in it a use the filing cabinet like you are supposed to, get to the stuff on the shelves without causing a paper avalanche, and even open and close the door without threat of burial. I was about half way through the project and Judd said that he though he was going to have to put up a wall and just call the space lost! Yeah, it was getting pretty bad. Now, it is all filed, boxed, sorted, thrown, and put away.

Love it!

I Quit!!

O.K. So this one is a bit of a rant and rave post, but I'll feel better when it is done.

I have scheduled my evening perfectly: 5:15 drop off Xander at Tae Kwon Do, go to bank 1, go to bank 2, drop off bouncy seat at Tom's, drive through BK for supper, pick up Xander by 6:15 and go to meeting starting shortly after 6:30. Cinch! Piece of Cake! No Brainer!

WRONG!!

Everything goes well up until I pull forward from the speaker to the window at BK. Hmmm, my right front tire sounds funny. It's wet, rainy, maybe just water - keep going. Get the food start to pull away - nope, something is wrong. Drat!! Flat tire. (I have 7 minutes left until I need to pick up Xander at this point. It would have been perfect.)

So, I pull into the gas station next door to BK, which also happens to be a mechanic. I quick run in and talk to the counter person. This is how the conversation went:

"Are the mechanics still in?" I ask.

"Nope" says the ~19 year old at the counter.

"Crud! Do you know how to change a tire?" I do know how, I’m really just in a hurry and want some help to make it go faster, but why not play the 'I'm in a hurry and need to change a tire and I am a woman.' card?

"No, I don't know anything about automobiles."

I stare at him blankly thinking, "Seriously, my 10 year old knows how to change a tire! Are you Kidding Me!!!' "All right then," I say in disbelief. How can a male of obvious driving age not know how to change a tire!?!? I'm still baffled....

I proceed to go back to my van, two kids inside, and have them start on their supper - at least some of us will have a hot supper. I call the dojang and let them know I am running late and to please tell Xander I will be there as soon as possible. No problem there.

I get myself to a level spot, get the jack and tire out and start to change the tire (still in disbelief....). Did I mention it is raining - and not just a sprinkle??? I get the van jacked up on the right spot (there are directions on the jack, just in case one doesn't know how to change a tire), bring the spare over to the side, and start to take off the lug nuts. One doesn't move. No problem, I move to the next one, that doesn't move either. Next one....next one... next one...Drat again!! Push! Pull! None of them are moving!

I am now getting quite wet and thinking fast, "Who can I call?" Judd is out of town - Mike!! I am meeting with his wife anyway, they live close by, quick call before she leaves. I get a hold of him, good, she hasn't left yet. He's on his way....I decided to sit and eat my still slightly warm supper while I wait. He comes over and he even has to step on the iron to get them to move. Now I don't feel so bad. Tire's changed, I'm soaked, off to get Xander.

Get Xander, he eats on the way to the next meeting. Oh, yeah, there is construction in front of the house I am meeting at...I now need to walk a half a block, with three kids, in the rain because you can't park in front of their house. What does it matter, I'm already soaked at this point, and the kids even stayed out of the mud puddles - hurray! I finished my meeting, and got the kids to bed, fairly painlessly.

Again I asked myself, "Why didn't he know how to change a tire?!?!?!?"

Fishing 2009...so far...

Judd has had a few chances so far this year to go fishing. I think he has already fished more this year than last - yikes... Anyway, here are a few shots of the crappie and walleye that we have more than enjoyed eating!

Crappie - all of them 11 inches or more.

The fishermen and their catch.

"Marie, do you think it will fit??", asks Judd. (The tank is 30 inches and the fish is over 24 inches.)

"Go for it, Judd!" says Eric.

If you hold it away from you they look bigger!!

Latest Events...

O.K. I didn't forget Hanna's Ice Show, my video didn't turn out and I'm waiting for a copy from another mom. Meanwhile, here are some clips from Xander's 1st Grade Program last Friday. (Please excuse the fuzzy wobblyness, I need a new camera.)

This one even made Judd want to shave!!!

Really cute...gotta watch...

http://www.veryfunnyads.com/ads/25900.html

Yay!!! We're under 35 feet!!!

The Red River has dropped under 35 feet this morning. We're still not out of the woods yet, but it makes the next crest lower every time the river drops. They say we should crest a second time in late April. We can only hope for the next few weeks to be dry - no snow and no rain.

Let's make more snow angels....he he he...

I still can't figure out how to flip a video....so....turn your head to the left and enjoy this one...

2009 Fargo/Moorhead Flood

This is an awesome video found on YouTube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdxtwROYTgE

And a comment from someone on YouTube about our area that I think sums us up pretty good...

If the earth needs to be protected from approaching asteroids, these will be the people who will step up to build the shield to save the planet. Don't make them angry.

Quick breath...and hold...

Well, we're still here, we're still dry, we're still holding our breath. The neighbors are back, the river is dropping (for now), a couple of nights of straight rest (a little longer, but not much), and I think a little hint of order is well overdue. I'm still going to conserve on the water, but things just need to get done. I actually washed a load of dishes last night and everyone has had a bath/shower within the last 12 hours - long overdue. Laundry is next on the list. I'll have to do one load at a time, instead of my 4-5 in a day, and see how the drains handle it. I don't want to overload our system since the city's system is overwhelmed. It's kind of like eating after being sick. One little bite a time until it all seems to stay down, then a little more, then wait. Kind of a weird analogy, I know, but you get the picture.

Speaking of pictures, I have loaded a bunch onto my facebook page. It is easier to do the mass download there for now. Most of my comentary is on this blog, since it is easier to do that here.

There have been a few more breeches in the dikes on both the Moorhead and the Fargo sides of the river, but the contingency dikes put in place are still holding. It's sad to see the loss of one battle, but the war is not over. We are all staying to fight the Red until one of us wins - and may I dare say we're not going to budge.

Moorhead 2009 Flood Pics

"How high's the water mama?" It's 40.8 feet high and risin'...

Well, another day safe at home. The drains have quieted down. The kids are sleeping. The bags are ready just in case. And I'm exhausted, yet can't seem to settle my mind down enough to fall asleep. I did get a little rest in this afternoon - as Judd walked in the door.

One of our neighbors has gone with their daughter to Grand Forks for a week or so. They are older and he walks with a pretty good limp. We are watching their home as well and they are having more seepage than we are. I love my wet/dry shop vac!!! Makes this job easier and it's only two doors down if we need it.

Once again, the Risdal Family is safe and will keep you posted........zzzzzzz

The stories...

First, we are not being evacuated at the time of this post. We are staying put and should be OK.

The pictures below are a few that we took on our way home last night and today on our walk. The brown house is one that we worked on quite a bit yesterday, but the pumps couldn't keep up with the seeping water. They pulled the pumps last night and let it go. The one where they are pumping out the water is a few houses down from the brown one and another one we worked on yesterday. For now the pumps are keeping up, but we have quite a few days to go. Keep up the fight guys!!!

The "Dead End" sign was a sandbagging station, but the river wanted that space. The long black things are super sandbags (that's what I'm calling them). These are only a block from our home. They stretch for blocks at a time and are a contingency to the ones along the backs of the homes on 9th street. The rest of the pictures are of homes & parks along the river straight west and moving north of our home (4th Ave & 10th St North). Pretty much all of them have water up to the dikes you see in the pictures. The snow is kind of deceiving because it is only just covering the water. In most places it just looks like snow banks. If you look carefully at the trees and stuff around, you can tell the water is higher than it looks.

Of course the kids wanted to get in a picture - why should the river get all the attention, right?? At least the house behind them is not ours. River level as of 2:15 pm - 40.69 feet.

We'll keep you posted....

Moorhead Flood 2009 Pics - none of our house

We broke the record - I wish it was a good one to break...

The Red River is officially over the all time record as of 8:15 this morning the level was up to 40.48 feet. We haven't had any more problems since last night, but we are continuing to prepare for the worst. There have been two evacuations for Moorhead, some homes are mandatory and some are highly suggested. One of them for sure was because the storm/sanitary sewer systems are completely full and things are starting to back up. There is a city wide "plug your drains" for anything west of 20/21 Streets. For now we are OK and I will continue to keep you all posted as to our status. If we do get evacuated, we are going to call one family from each side and they will call the rest of you.

Tom is in one of the areas that is highly suggested to leave, but they are staying. This morning he and Judd went to Menard's in Detroit Lakes to pick up a load of tube sand bags to put around his house, just in case.

"How high's the water papa?" She said it's 40.01 feet high and risin'

The Red River passed the 40 foot mark tonight at 12:15 a.m. - 0.19 below the all time record river level set on April 7, 1897. The big flood in April of 1997 only went to 39.57 feet. I was planning on being asleep for this event, but our sinks and toilet started gurgling so we spent a few hours clearing a few essentials from the basement and prepping everything else for a possible light water intake. So far Judd has plugged a few drains and it seems to have stopped. The 72 hour kits are ready to go along with a few extras. Cooter even has her own stuff - leash and all.

The crest has been raised to 42 feet with a small possibility of going to 43 feet. We are still staying put, but we are ready to go if they say we have to. I'm going to try and get some pictures of where I was sandbagging today. The river was only a couple of feet below the top of the 4 foot dike I was working on.

Hmmmmm ... maybe I shouldn't have said "We're moving if we get to 44 feet."

"How high's the water mama?" It's 36.07 Feet and risin'...

They just increased our flood crest and we get to sandbag for another foot up to 43 feet. Thankfully that is just a precaution and the water won't get that high...I hope. Unfortunately, they haven't shortened the length of the crest. We are still looking at about 3 - 4 days of crest before the water starts to drop. Please keep our area in your prayers...we're gonna need it....

"How high's the water mama?" It's 34.89 feet and rising...

With the river levels rising, and our area on the national news, I thought I would put a word out to our family and friends letting you know that we are OK. Our house is actually out of the 500 year flood plain and good until 42.5 - 43 feet. The 6-8 inches of snow we are getting today is not going to help the end result, but the colder temperatures are going to slow the melt. The area is continuing to sandbag and build dikes. The response of volunteers is amazing. There are bus loads of people coming in from miles away to help. For example, yesterday there were 4-5 busloads of high school kids that came in from Fergus Falls, MN - 55 miles away! It just goes to show how people pull together in a crisis situation.

By the way, I told the kids if the river gets to 44 feet.....we're moving. (and so are a lot of people in the FM area!!)

It's how cold outside???

I forgot about our experiment. You may have seen weathermen do this on TV, but we decided to try it at home, since it was cold enough. In January we saw temperatures ... well ... let's just say that after a week or so we were excited to see "0". When the temps get cold enough you can take boiling water and throw it in the air and it will instantly evaporate, completely skipping the frozen ice stage. Xander and Judd ended up with the best videos for us to share. (I couldn't get them turned, so you'll have to watch them sideways - tilt your head to the left!)

No Holds Barred...Brace Yourself...

I will never get caught up if I don't just lay it out there. So I have decided to give all of you the quick version of the last few months and get it done with. (If you want more details, you'll have to call me!)

Thanksgiving: My parents, brother and his girlfriend came to our house this year. Of course we all ate too much, but enjoyed the company immensely. The kids helped me decorate the name cards for the table. I didn't get a pic of the final product, but if you use your imagination for a minute - they are painting the feathers of a turkey and we glued the body over it and wrote the names on the body.

Xander decided that he wanted his birthday at McDonald's this year. I decided that having someone else do all the work was O.K. this year, too. He and his buds had a great time playing in the tubes - and burning off just a little energy. Of course, when you throw in a couple of sisters and someone else showing up for another birthday party, the decibel level was way up there. Overall, fun was had by everyone.

Christmas was an extra special one because we were able to go to both sides this year. We went up to my parents' place over Christmas. My brother and his girlfriend and my sister and her husband were both able to make it. We also got to see Great Grandma Angie and a couple of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Three of Judd's sisters and their families and one of Carol's sons and his family came up the week of New Years. We missed Lisa and her family, but hope we can see them soon. One of the favorites this year was Webkinz. We added 8 new pets this year. I even got a chicken! Thanks, Billy!

Hanna's music class had an assignment to build a keyboard this year. They could use anything they wanted with only a few requirements as to the size and amount of keys. The assignment was given before the Christmas break. When did Hanna finally decide what she was going to use? The day before it was due. After hemming and haahing over paper, food, and a variety of other ideas, she settled on wood. The next drawback - she had to wait until Judd got home from work, which was around 7 p.m. So, like the great dad that he is, Judd put her to work and helped her do a great job. For the most part she did the whole thing herself - the measuring, the cutting, the gluing, the clamping, and the writing.

Well, there you have it. A history of the Risdal's last few months. We'll work on February in, oh let's say, a few months... ; )