No point - the last week of school

What good does the last week of school serve? Children dragging their feet out the door, one in tears over having to go. Field trips, extra recess and playground time, free time all day (yes all day for my 4th grader) yesterday, the lessons are taught and the minds have shut off.... what purpose does it serve for the Elementary school to even be open?

I have moved into the summer mindset. I lose track of time at night - it is still warm and light at 8pm.... hard to remember it is time to lay their heads down.

Next year all four of my children will be in school. I realized this morning that these are the last three days my youngest and I will be alone until my third child graduates (and hopefully) moves out. Wow.... that is 10 no 11? years from now. Amazing to think about.

Off to hang the last hammock and to water the garden again... because I am in summer mode even if the school calender doesn't say it is

I didn't think it could happen

If you remember last week it was cold - REALLY cold -28.5 F.....
I have seen it colder, but, not much. Until this morning.... It was -33.9 F. (-36.9 at the airport) The wind chill was -56 F. (that is below zeroooooo)


A few things happen when it is that cold.
1)School is 2 hours late
2) The sky is a molten grey color (see church pic)
3) You see plows coming and going
(orange is MN D.O.T. , yellow grader is from the County)
4) Propane stops flowing and freezes at -35 degrees.... that is how we heat our house
5) The furnace doesn't stop running all day
(I can just see the money flowing out the heat vents)
6) Things freeze up,(like our sliding glass door, which won't open), birds don't fly, small animals stay hidden (see pine bow)
7) Cars don't start and if they do they ice up quickly. (see van-Vehicles get covered in sand and salt from the roads)
8) You dress in layers - long underware, pants, snow pants, t shirt, long sleeve shirt, sweater, thick socks or two pairs, coat, scarf, hat, mittens, boots, and blankets in your vehicles (just in case)
8.5) It makes my resolution to exercise impossible! How can one walk miles in all those clothes?
9) You warm your car up before you go anywhere - letting it run for about 15 minutes before going. Then, run to vehicle and from car to location etc.
10) However... We are a hearty bunch and if you are out and about on these cold days, everyone that you run into is in the best mood. They seem to get a kick out of being able to survive this type of environment and the ones that can't, the grumpy ones tend to stay indoors!

What the news is saying....

Greetings from Brrrrrmidji!

Greetings from Brrrrmidji (Bemidji, MN)!
It is cold cold cold this morning! Thought this might make your side of the world a little bit warmer (knowing you aren't me!)

School was two hours late. I am off to tootle them in right now. Facing the cold (it is still -25)