The Passing of Time

Time point Zero

We woke up this morning to rain.  Lots of it coming down hard.  As we watched we saw it change to sleet.  The ice piled up on the bottom's around trees  and on the grass.

15 minutes

15 minutes later the sleet turned to snow!

30 minutes

The snow piled up and started to cover the grass.

45 minutes

The tips of the grass are only slightly visible.

1 hour 

The grass is no longer visible.  

By the end of the day we had lovely white snow covering everything.  The roads were treacherous and there were several 50+ car pile ups locally.  We made the determination to stay in all day.  Fortunately, JoAn had the day off and Paul only goes to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All the schools were closed as they knew the storm was coming.  Don't know which number snow day this was, but we have had a lot this year!

We live on a state route.  It is normally well plowed an salted.  Tonight you could barely see any tracks from vehicles.  I did see a snowmobile zipping down the road followed by a car.  Winter will soon be over and it will be time for spring and getting the garden ready.  I can't wait!!!!

Super Bowl Sunday Ohio Style

Church parking lot on Super Bowl Sunday

 Super Bowl Sunday arrived in a white way.  Our parking lot at church is getting smaller and smaller as the snow piles encroach on the parking spaces.  Something that is never an issue in warmer climes.  

Our Chapel has AWANA earlier on Super Bowl Sunday.  We decided to eat lunch at church as we wouldn't really have time to drive home and eat and make it back before  AWANA started.  My niece stayed with us, as my brother had to go to work.

To entertain themselves, Elizabeth got my camera out and did a photo shoot with my niece and some others.

They went outside, without coats, to get the snow pictures.

The branches were lovely with all the snow lining them.  It was so beautiful.  Miss R.  reminds me of a cardinal in the brush. She likes the 'prairie' look.

 Thomas posed also.

Everybody worked on getting the food ready for the AWANA super bowl party.

The games included a touchdown celebration dance.  Dee did a great job!

Miss Sadie all dressed up in her cubbie uniform.

TaDa!  The party trays were ready for the hungry kids!  They enjoyed the warm pretzels with sauces and all the yummy snacks.  And this was BEFORE the game.  Ha!  We know how to celebrate in Ohio!  Bible lessons were done and verses recited in between all the fun and games.  We mustn't lose sight of our priorities!

Saturday on the Farm

One of the reasons we wanted the farm was to get the kids outside and playing together. We also wanted a place where others could join us and we can be an encouragement to them.  Today was a nice day at the farm.  It wasn't terribly cold, high of 33 degrees, and it was sunny after several snowy days.  It was a wonderful day!  Enjoy the pictures!

The morning was quiet.  The kids worked on their chores and checked their computers.

Sadie and Elizabeth

Then the younger cousins came over.  They played outside for awhile (but I was busy and didn't have my camera out) and then they goofed around inside.

The kids played keep away and wrestled over a small ball.  All in good fun.  No tears or anger.  It is the simple things in life that children enjoy!

The closest, in age, cousins.  Levi and ELizabeth were born the same month.

Mr. Ian is rocking 1st grade.

Poor JoAn had her wisdom teeth pulled yesterday afternoon and is enjoying some quiet time.  She is resting, icing, taking supplements and is doing well.  Her face is hardly swollen at all.  She has to heal fast as she starts her new job on Monday!

We (Mary and I) were enjoying the chickens.  We had peeled and cut up a bunch of apples so we took the chickens the scraps. 

They sure enjoyed them.

T-Bob assured me that all the cool dudes go down the hill with their hands in their pockets.  They also don't look at cameras.  One has to be totally nonchalant!

Elizabeth tried the same methodology, but she looked at me and smiled..

and she couldn't keep her hands in her pockets.  She is still a cool dudette in my book.

One word of warning!  Don't trust big brothers to push you down the hill on your sled!

That's much nicer!

Then it was time to teach vehicle maintenance  to the younger set. They had to change the oil on the ATV.  

Paul and Steve were the instructors.  They verified that the oil was to the correct level.

Then it was time for our Cincinnati relatives to leave.  We had a nice visit.  They are always so helpful and cheerful to have around!

The ATV was taken out and the children were pulled around on the sled.  They had a great time!  They stayed in the front so as not to scare any deer away.  Today starts muzzle loading season.  We have seen quite a few deer lately.

It looked like a hunter exploded in our side yard, but I think it was only Paul airing out his hunting clothes.

Dallas kept surveillance on all the activities.  He is a great sentinel.  He announces visitors,  both animal and human.

Riding the sled does make you very snowy!!!

It was such a nice day!

New Years Day at the Mango's.

New Year's Day at the Mango's is always a day spent with family and friends!  We had 26 people at the dinner table.  We spend the day playing games, visiting, and watching football.  We have done this for my entire life.  I am enjoying continuing the tradition.  All local family is invited and then we invite others who we want to get to know better, or just enjoy hanging out with.  It is a day rich with our family traditions.  It has changed a bit over the years.  We no longer watch near as much football.  We used to have three TVs going at one time, as most of the games were on New Year's Day.  Now they are all spread out.  The people we meet with have changed a bit as some have moved and others have passed, but the good food, game playing and wonderful fellowship continues.  Here is how we spent our day....

We woke up on New Year's morning to fresh snow.  T-Bob manfully got out the snowblower and blew out the driveway.  He did a nice job and did it cheerfully.  I think he's growing up!

Elizabeth decided to try to find a place to sled at the side of the barn.  Not sure why she thought a rake was the right tool to add snow to her ramp with.  Silly Girl!

She did have a good time sledding there on the little hill.  When Levi, Ian  and her friend came over they joined her in sledding.  At least you don't get tired walking back up the hill! LOL

Thomas spent the day speechwriting.  You can't let a holiday interrupt your plans to get something done.  He's a man on a mission!

Paul was around.  He came over mid-morning and then just pitched in to help out.  He has been house sitting for a friend who has animals that need tending while they are on vacation.  He likes the quiet at their house.  Home alone.

My nephew Daniel brought his photo album over from his safari to Zimbabwe.  He is a big game hunter at only 19.  He got some pretty impressive animals.  He holds the record for the largest kudzu ever shot in Zimbabwe.  (Not sure if that is the right animal, but one of those deer with big horns)  He was on a leopard safari and he got almost every kind of animal except for a leopard!  He was sad.  Did I mention that he is an award winning taxidermist?

My three sweet nieces came along with their brother.  It was so good to see them and get to spend time with them!  They are very talented young women.  Today was a treat!

The album of Daniel's trip got passed around and everyone looked at his safari pictures.

Isaac was cheerful today and lived up the meaning of his name, despite not having a nap.  I think he is starting to get used to the farm.

Dad spent the day reading.

The older cousins and our other guests got together for a rousing game of 'spoons'.  I don't think they did the elimination version, just multiple rounds.  They seemed to have a good time.

The guys played 'Loose Change' with the younger set and when the little ones got tired and left, they switched over to 'For Sale' an auction game.

We had our traditional pork and sour kraut with mashed potatoes for dinner.  Later, after a tour of the farm and some target shooting, we served dessert.  Mom made chocolate mousse, tapioca pudding, and  ribbon cookies.  I think she was trying to serve everyone's favorites in one meal.

Michelle made a cheesecake with either cherry sauce or lemon curd on top.  It was totally yummy!

We sure missed our Filippino family, but it sure was nice to have some other older cousins to hang out with.  Too bad they live so far away most of the time also.  Daniel is a world traveller, Julia is on the west coast, Joy is moving to Switzerland for college and Kay is still local.  It was so nice to be together even if it was only for a day.

Here are all the Mango Cousins present today.

These last two pictures are for Grandma, who doesn't always check facebook.  

Happy New Year to one and All!