tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83961137115612602842024-03-12T18:54:34.800-05:00Barnyard UpdateFarmer Joe's (myopic) take on life...and your source for farming updates.Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.comBlogger334125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-40282797220827618432011-12-17T21:07:00.002-06:002011-12-17T21:11:41.418-06:00"Little Moab" with LoganWe (Logan and I) dropped in to "Little Moab" on the West side of Utah Lake this evening. It was the first time either of us had been out there, and it was the first offroad adventure in the "new" (1990) red Wrangler Jeep. It was a great evening for it and though there was some snow on a few spots, we managed to keep the rubber side down and had some good fun. Logan even learned (a bit of) how to drive a stickshift.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MOXMcgipEsg/Tu1Zzb9X3fI/AAAAAAAAA34/sUUWWWE5h28/s1600/IMG_1180.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MOXMcgipEsg/Tu1Zzb9X3fI/AAAAAAAAA34/sUUWWWE5h28/s400/IMG_1180.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687300644652178930" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OZae66fgjIM/Tu1ZyWuD22I/AAAAAAAAA3w/g-tjd_YdJDg/s1600/IMG_1178.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OZae66fgjIM/Tu1ZyWuD22I/AAAAAAAAA3w/g-tjd_YdJDg/s400/IMG_1178.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687300626065906530" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D07R7ZftD6g/Tu1ZxlOYrEI/AAAAAAAAA3g/7iQSbihOPcg/s1600/IMG_1177.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D07R7ZftD6g/Tu1ZxlOYrEI/AAAAAAAAA3g/7iQSbihOPcg/s400/IMG_1177.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687300612779715650" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SPdzE-kgBDs/Tu1ZxW8_dLI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/JIrZn0qZJlw/s1600/IMG_1176.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SPdzE-kgBDs/Tu1ZxW8_dLI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/JIrZn0qZJlw/s400/IMG_1176.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687300608948663474" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PA7e2QgvnIA/Tu1ZxB2W9yI/AAAAAAAAA3I/tTNOG-GBAeM/s1600/IMG_1174.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PA7e2QgvnIA/Tu1ZxB2W9yI/AAAAAAAAA3I/tTNOG-GBAeM/s400/IMG_1174.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687300603283699490" /></a>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-40274164553095397332011-08-18T12:31:00.004-05:002011-08-18T12:36:34.748-05:00What to do with the Specialist?This is a Specialist:
<br /><a href="http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n150/joedola/MtBike/Photo_030709_007.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n150/joedola/MtBike/Photo_030709_007.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>
<br />I LOVE this bike. I love to ride it and I love the way it rides. I love the tires, I love the story of where we got it, I love the seatpost, everything. There is one tiny problem. It is really a bike that is designed with a razor-sharp focus on dual slalom racing. The problem with that is that when you don't feel like dual slalom racing or at least going down hill (which in my case is quite often) it is not really the right bike to be riding. Since the frame is so very small, the geometry for riding long distances over relatively flatter ground (which I often do) is not right. The result of that is sore knees.<div>
<br /><div>Anyway, I have thought of selling it before, but never could bring myself to do it. I think now I have fogured out the solution. Here she is:
<br /><a href="http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n150/joedola/MtBike/IMG00200.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px; height: 600px;" src="http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n150/joedola/MtBike/IMG00200.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div>This way, the bike stays in the family and Winter gets a new bike to ride (and I''ll just buy myself a new one too). What do you think?</div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-34265472459793159352011-08-08T02:54:00.000-05:002011-08-08T02:55:31.844-05:00Recap of RSM / Vacation in AustriaI’ve not been a big blogger lately.<br />Thus, I guess I have to run through one of those long recaps of what has been going on over the past 6 months.<br />Holland is great. We all love the weather. It has been such a great break from the heat of Texas. Spring this year in Holland was unusually warm and sunny and I was almost starting to fear that it was going to be too warm when Holland lived up to its reputation and shifted the weather for the next 3 months or so back to the expected overcast/drizzly. But really, the weather has been pretty much a non-issue for me. I hear my friends at school complaining about it, but it just hasn’t bothered me at all. I have a nice plastic rainsuit that I don when the weather looks bad and it keeps me dry during the 40 minute scooter-ride to school (and back). I still love to see all the Dutch scenery and last week we had our friends from TX come out to visit and we took them to some classic Dutch tourist locations which was great because we haven’t really done a lot of touristy type things since we came this time. It has been great to live so near Jessica’s family and we are really happy that our kids are both having the opportunity to learn their mother’s native tongue and to really get to know the Dutch side of their family. While my own Dutch language ability still lacks quite a bit, the level the kids have achieved in the last 6 months is really amazing. The kids still miss things (family, the farm, friends) from Texas, but they are having great experiences here that I know they will miss when we leave too. We really struggle with the fact that we wish we could roll up all the good things from all the places we have ever lived and bring them together in a single place. Unfortunately, we know that we will soon be leaving Holland and our friends and family here.<br />In calendar terms, I am just over half finished with school. In reality, I’m mostly done. We just finished the third term so I’ll be starting up the fourth term as soon as we get back from our Austrian vacation. The thing is that while the fourth term is spread out from August to November, the actual time spent in class during those months is nothing like it was for the previous 3 terms. There is a lot of dead time (days off, half days, etc.) built into the schedule and I wonder if the intention isn’t to provide us with more time to be able to attend job interviews and the like as we all prepare to reenter the workforce. Regardless of the intention, I am treating the time as exactly that – time to polish up my resume, apply to jobs and hopefully to land the perfect job. Some very interesting possibilities have already been opened up for us – it is a pretty exciting time for us since we have no idea what we will be doing next year (or where!) But I digress - about school – it has really been great. I don’t think I will ever really be able to put into words how great it has been and what a great learning experience it has been for me. I really do feel like I’ve made some great progress in my ability to work in a team with others and to be more empathetic to others and whatnot. Aside from all that “soft” stuff, the knowledge has been great and I’ve been “awakened” to some new interests (like strategy and consulting). The real challenge for the future will be to balance new learning with continual review of the material I have learned here. For example, when I was taking my Organizational Behavior (OB) class, I thought to myself that it would be great to review my OB notes or read a chapter from the OB book every day to keep fresh on the topic. (That is actually ironic because I remember feeling like my OB class at BYU was a waste of time – I think the lens of experience has changed the color of the subject).<br />One of the highlights of the program so far was our “Living Management Consultancy Project” where the group I was assigned to received a business case from Eneco (a European energy provider) and we were tasked with generating and presenting a solution to the Eneco executives. We worked (more than) full-time for a week in our group, experienced the whole range of emotions as we struggled to understand the problem, frame it and research it, come up with a innovative solution and figure out how to present it. There were times when we were totally lost as a team and it seemed like we were not going to be able to come up with anything, but we kept at it and eventually came up with a solution that we felt confident about. When we presented it, our hard work was validated and they were very enthusiastic about our solution. We received very positive feedback and it felt really good to have our hard work validated. <br />We’re right now in Austria on vacation. Wow! As we drove through Germany (stopping at several lovely little towns for the night along the way) things just kept on getting more and more scenic. We are now staying at a beautiful lodge that is perched on one side of a little valley amidst the mountains with views of all the other beautiful “Swiss chalet” style lodges, green meadows, thick forest and mountain peaks on the other side. Last night I sat out on the balcony of our little suite and just enjoyed the mountain air and the view in total relaxation – it has been a while since I have had the luxury of having nothing to do but enjoy the scenery. Today we walked up into the mountains and spent the better part of the day just picking mountain berries and looking for antlers (the kids saw some shed elk antlers at the entrance to the lodge and when they discovered that you could find them just laying around in the mountains, they were all about looking for them – the problem is that they think I am holding out on them and that if I would just tell them what area to look in, they would be able to find some – I imagine there are some out there, but I am not sure we are going to be able to find them this time of year). This is pretty much the first vacation I have had in a long time where I have had the luxury of no cell phone, no internet and no responsibilities. It feels strange (to be honest) but I am hoping that since we are just now at the beginning of the vacation, it will start to feel a bit more normal as we get further into it.Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-46141148443777263242011-05-13T12:48:00.002-05:002011-05-13T12:50:46.720-05:00The kids learn DutchThis is a letter that we received from the kids school:<div><br /></div><div><blockquote>Dear parents of Sterling Winter and Ginger A.,<br />We would like to inform you of the results of the Dutch lessons. Over the past months we have done five modules with the children in which a large number of words were presented.<br />They have been working hard both at home and at school.<br />On Monday, May 9, the children took a vocabulary test. This test was about recognizing the pictures when a word was read out loud. The words came from the following modules:<br /><ul><li>School</li><li>Home</li><li>Body</li><li>Nature</li><li>Work and free time</li><li>Jobs</li></ul>Sterling scored 96%<br />Winter scored 96%<br />Ginger scored 94%<br /><br />This is a great result for all the children.<br />In the next course speaking the Dutch language will be emphasized. We will also be raising the tempo.<br />I hope you have been sufficiently informed.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Mrs. de Bruine<br /></blockquote><br /></div><br />Quite a nice compliment and it goes to show that the kids are doing well (and maybe that they need to increase the pace a bit - which the teacher noted will be done)Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-43389141977364231812011-04-24T14:47:00.000-05:002011-04-24T14:48:24.356-05:00Easter UpdateWe moved Jessica's father Max a week or so ago. When I first came to Holland, I saw these trailers on the road and fell in love. Max rented one (which he pulled with his Volvo - a very normal thing around here) and it was cool to finally be able to use one.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--vtArnPJon4/TbRynIx7lhI/AAAAAAAAAyo/Kbc0Gq4WTec/s1600/IMG_0553.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--vtArnPJon4/TbRynIx7lhI/AAAAAAAAAyo/Kbc0Gq4WTec/s400/IMG_0553.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599226253425743378" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K29FpZvRpyY/TbRynHNsVqI/AAAAAAAAAyw/_Nw9tFu7ccE/s1600/IMG_0554.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K29FpZvRpyY/TbRynHNsVqI/AAAAAAAAAyw/_Nw9tFu7ccE/s400/IMG_0554.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599226253005313698" /></a><br /><br />The girls received a package from Grandma with new Easter dresses and swimsuits. Obviously, it was a big hit:<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aWuT3U_ti3U/TbR0BaiaHEI/AAAAAAAAAy4/nJL0Wqc9M0Y/s1600/IMG_0557.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aWuT3U_ti3U/TbR0BaiaHEI/AAAAAAAAAy4/nJL0Wqc9M0Y/s400/IMG_0557.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599227804380699714" /></a>Ginger has also been insisting that she be allowed to sleep in her new swimsuit...<div><br /></div><div>That night, the kids had a church play that they had been practicing for (Note Ginger in her new pink dress)</div><div>Ginger sang in the angels choir:<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgigVjqcxW4/TbR0BXpjD0I/AAAAAAAAAzA/kybodnd442k/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgigVjqcxW4/TbR0BXpjD0I/AAAAAAAAAzA/kybodnd442k/s400/IMG_0561.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599227803605339970" /></a><br />Winter had a speaking role as one of the main angels<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEuHF9cL4c0/TbR0Bj4n2uI/AAAAAAAAAzI/UF_UqHca_0E/s1600/IMG_0565.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEuHF9cL4c0/TbR0Bj4n2uI/AAAAAAAAAzI/UF_UqHca_0E/s400/IMG_0565.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599227806889794274" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eitAwst8XZI/TbR0B-HwEkI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/7fQbe_Y5f50/s1600/IMG_0568.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eitAwst8XZI/TbR0B-HwEkI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/7fQbe_Y5f50/s400/IMG_0568.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599227813932569154" /></a></div><div><br /></div>That night Winter went over to her Aunt Marjolien's house for a sleepover. The next morning the remaining kids wanted to go swimming - I said "sure"...this is the canal that is right outside our front windows - within spitting distance of the house almost. Nice that kids have such low standards huh?<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NFcYp4508r8/TbR1XSDSoaI/AAAAAAAAAzY/2SPwYPDwLFc/s1600/IMG_0574.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NFcYp4508r8/TbR1XSDSoaI/AAAAAAAAAzY/2SPwYPDwLFc/s400/IMG_0574.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599229279571452322" /></a><br />While they were swimming, I pulled the foam roof thing out of the car (the fabric had started falling off it). It was an incredible pain in the rear end. Reattaching the existing plastic fabric turned out to be completely not doable (due to shrinkage) but now that I am looking at this photo, I am wondering if there is some sort of rubberized texture I could just spray onto it as is (without trying to re-fabric-ize it) since the surface is so smooth. Might be something to think about...<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t9dC0tOqZ4A/TbR1xkhTS_I/AAAAAAAAAzg/NWCEYbOlEMw/s1600/IMG_0575.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t9dC0tOqZ4A/TbR1xkhTS_I/AAAAAAAAAzg/NWCEYbOlEMw/s400/IMG_0575.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599229731205762034" /></a>Later we decided to run over to the local windmill in the neighboring town - it is called "<a href="http://www.molendehaas.nl/">the hare</a>." If you use Google Chrome as your webrowser, you will be given the option to translate the page when you get to the website - this might be helpful to you if you care to learn a bit about the history of this particular mill...<div>I thought the pictures of Ginger riding down Benthuizen main street on a Holiday Saturday afternoon with virtually no traffic was fun for several reasons:</div><div><ol><li>No cars/traffic</li><li>Ginger is an awesome bike rider</li><li>Fun views of an "antique" city</li></ol><div>Unfortunately, as we got closer to the mill, the pavestones give way to pavement...</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3FzwwcYs0pw/TbR4bBFYmPI/AAAAAAAAA0o/v2TamWsgXKk/s1600/IMG_0577.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3FzwwcYs0pw/TbR4bBFYmPI/AAAAAAAAA0o/v2TamWsgXKk/s400/IMG_0577.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599232642271189234" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C0QAJvVjT-U/TbR4a7fnGVI/AAAAAAAAA0g/jzhBOvCcIZM/s1600/IMG_0581.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C0QAJvVjT-U/TbR4a7fnGVI/AAAAAAAAA0g/jzhBOvCcIZM/s400/IMG_0581.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599232640770578770" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UULlJv7-NFI/TbR4arutvrI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/gYNp-NoUxSA/s1600/IMG_0582.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UULlJv7-NFI/TbR4arutvrI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/gYNp-NoUxSA/s400/IMG_0582.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599232636538961586" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VRfD49i-zyk/TbR4amKMdVI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/hmpgq0__3EM/s1600/IMG_0583.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VRfD49i-zyk/TbR4amKMdVI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/hmpgq0__3EM/s400/IMG_0583.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599232635043607890" /></a><br />We made it! It was a windy day, so this thing was literally humming along at a very fast pace. The sound was really cool/old school.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VrYARP2dxnk/TbR31e6UcSI/AAAAAAAAA0I/sdrs-lJvVLk/s1600/IMG_0585.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VrYARP2dxnk/TbR31e6UcSI/AAAAAAAAA0I/sdrs-lJvVLk/s400/IMG_0585.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599231997442814242" /></a><br /></div><div>This is the field where the wind is grown - note the shadows of the "sails" of the mill...<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9MGbiqyVHOA/TbR31J_cRpI/AAAAAAAAA0A/mKuw8yDa6Lk/s1600/IMG_0588.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9MGbiqyVHOA/TbR31J_cRpI/AAAAAAAAA0A/mKuw8yDa6Lk/s400/IMG_0588.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599231991827154578" /></a><br />Ginger ascends the "stairs" that are actually more like a ladder up to the top of the mill...they were covered in grain dust :)<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T3gIE_ysO1E/TbR301WcSfI/AAAAAAAAAz4/x409uX6jkdQ/s1600/IMG_0590.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T3gIE_ysO1E/TbR301WcSfI/AAAAAAAAAz4/x409uX6jkdQ/s400/IMG_0590.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599231986286479858" /></a><br />Halfway up we stepped out side. The kids are just a few feet away from certain death from those sails. Like I said, they were REALLY moving fast. Ginger checks behind her to make sure she is safe...<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S-Wp7NCo7nY/TbR30uzIrkI/AAAAAAAAAzw/MGBgniDzKqc/s1600/IMG_0592.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S-Wp7NCo7nY/TbR30uzIrkI/AAAAAAAAAzw/MGBgniDzKqc/s400/IMG_0592.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599231984527781442" /></a>We did eventually make it all the way up to the very top where the big wooden gears are that transfer the horizontal rotation of the sails into the vertical rotation that is used for turning the grinding wheels. I was a bit dissapointed to see that they had the gears disengaged and were just running the mill for show (rather than to actually grind anything). I guess it makes sense though since they just have a small gift shop in the bottom and they probably don't really sell that much milled grain - so it probably isn't necessary to run the mill once a week (like they do). Anyway, it was a bummer to see the gears disengaged, so I didn't take any pictures or anything. In retrospect I wish I had - however, it is close enough I can drop by again anytime.</div><div><br />On the way home from the mill, the kids saw this spot and wanted to go fishing/swimming here - so for the second time in a day....apparently the water is not quite "warm" (judging by the look on Sterling's face)<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tBjpRO9kXcE/TbR30fwIdUI/AAAAAAAAAzo/FqqeSSThPLE/s1600/IMG_0596.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tBjpRO9kXcE/TbR30fwIdUI/AAAAAAAAAzo/FqqeSSThPLE/s400/IMG_0596.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599231980488652098" /></a><br /></div><div>Tomorrow Winter comes home mid-day, Jessica comes home in the evening and then Tuesday, I go back to school (Monday is some sort of national holiday) and Jessica gets to hang with the kids (they have two weeks off from school).</div><div>In the meantime, I need to get all the bike parts and car parts out of the living room so that Jessica doesn't have a heart attack when she arrives...</div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-84875099765042818292011-04-03T17:51:00.003-05:002011-04-03T18:06:21.281-05:00Dutch HingesNot sure why, but sometimes the Dutch like to have their hinges on the wrong side of the door (ie, the hinges to an entry door are mounted on the outside of the house - creating a situation where a thief could simply pop the pin out of the hinge and remove the door to gain entry). So, with elegant ingenuity, the dutch have created a simple mechanism to prevent such thievery:<div>Exhibit A</div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tj82M46958I/TZj9RwEJW0I/AAAAAAAAAw0/ruFs-iX9hys/s1600/IMG_0511.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tj82M46958I/TZj9RwEJW0I/AAAAAAAAAw0/ruFs-iX9hys/s400/IMG_0511.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591497418782366530" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F_YpbZm8J1k/TZj9RsOpmqI/AAAAAAAAAws/F8De3aXT2zo/s1600/IMG_0510.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F_YpbZm8J1k/TZj9RsOpmqI/AAAAAAAAAws/F8De3aXT2zo/s400/IMG_0510.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591497417752681122" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>They've simply installed a pin/socket setup on the inside of the hinges. Now, when you pull the pins, you still can't get into the house. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now here's the part I'm still not sold on...what happens when some prankster pulls the pins and you don't notice? Well, I'm guessing you wake up, open the door to get some fresh air, and are promptly quite surprised to find that the door falls off and smashes your Chihuahua. Not a great way to start the morning. </div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-8444444744642280232011-04-03T17:14:00.003-05:002011-04-03T17:42:48.493-05:00Rottemeren FortSince I had the week off, and since the kids have a 1/2 day each Wednesday, I took them out to build a fort in the forest between here and Rotterdam.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k8ToO8eEZ0E/TZjyQowcNoI/AAAAAAAAAwk/XY-tsysBh9g/s1600/IMG_4315.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k8ToO8eEZ0E/TZjyQowcNoI/AAAAAAAAAwk/XY-tsysBh9g/s400/IMG_4315.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591485305012893314" /></a><div>There were dead branches ALL over the place so it was no problem and with some teamwork, we had this nifty little fort built.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jQOmq1cyHAs/TZjyPcnz5BI/AAAAAAAAAwM/4ZcyCH2z2Kg/s1600/IMG_4318.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jQOmq1cyHAs/TZjyPcnz5BI/AAAAAAAAAwM/4ZcyCH2z2Kg/s400/IMG_4318.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591485284575601682" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LneL47ZUvZU/TZjyP0TLmyI/AAAAAAAAAwU/uQ6fkD1AIFE/s1600/IMG_4317.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LneL47ZUvZU/TZjyP0TLmyI/AAAAAAAAAwU/uQ6fkD1AIFE/s400/IMG_4317.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591485290931526434" /></a>There was some old tarp laying around that we cut a few squares off to get us off the wet ground.<br /><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gwowGDrWBYw/TZjyQb7zvGI/AAAAAAAAAwc/02fgisD4do8/s400/IMG_4316.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591485301570911330" /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LneL47ZUvZU/TZjyP0TLmyI/AAAAAAAAAwU/uQ6fkD1AIFE/s1600/IMG_4317.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div>We built a little tiny comfort fire and had some snacks.</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dezssRoImr4/TZjx9s10z7I/AAAAAAAAAwE/ZS_aj3RXdOE/s1600/IMG_4320.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dezssRoImr4/TZjx9s10z7I/AAAAAAAAAwE/ZS_aj3RXdOE/s400/IMG_4320.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591484979691704242" /></a><div>Not sure what this pose is all about...</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ASbCVDHpRs/TZjx9TIyv1I/AAAAAAAAAv8/cXCvDW8-EfI/s1600/IMG_4322.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ASbCVDHpRs/TZjx9TIyv1I/AAAAAAAAAv8/cXCvDW8-EfI/s400/IMG_4322.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591484972791938898" /></a>Sterling had packed his marbles along, so we set up a circle and the kids had fun playing for the first time.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pHXBhFH-Nl0/TZjx9NPFGXI/AAAAAAAAAv0/cFWFNdf5gto/s1600/IMG_4321.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pHXBhFH-Nl0/TZjx9NPFGXI/AAAAAAAAAv0/cFWFNdf5gto/s400/IMG_4321.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591484971207694706" /></a>This is the lake that is basically the start of the river that Rotterdam was named after. Sterling and Winter were pretty proud of themselves for getting the courage up to cross this gaping chasm of death over a raging whitewater river...<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7U86R3stPEg/TZjx892sAcI/AAAAAAAAAvs/xg4cXAUQg84/s1600/IMG_4327.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7U86R3stPEg/TZjx892sAcI/AAAAAAAAAvs/xg4cXAUQg84/s400/IMG_4327.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591484967078855106" /></a>And of course, when they saw this little dam, they had to show off on it too - this time Ginger got involved.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TZiLY-ivQHA/TZjx8i31ndI/AAAAAAAAAvk/RFbid_6z45o/s1600/IMG_4336.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TZiLY-ivQHA/TZjx8i31ndI/AAAAAAAAAvk/RFbid_6z45o/s400/IMG_4336.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591484959835921874" /></a><br /></div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-1462911996278730652011-02-13T14:21:00.003-06:002011-02-13T14:36:06.061-06:00Dutch SundayThis is the view from the window of the chapel in the church here. Right now church is held in an office building -they say they are going to break ground for a new building right down the street from our house sometime this summer, but I guess construction moves pretty slowly over here (compared to the rate at which they do things in the US). It is a bit distracting when you can watch the ambulances and police go flying past with their lights blaring during a church meeting...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8P_JoEkPL-U/TVg_uGwPwmI/AAAAAAAAAvc/_ZE8BfgTYRc/s1600/IMG_0339.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8P_JoEkPL-U/TVg_uGwPwmI/AAAAAAAAAvc/_ZE8BfgTYRc/s400/IMG_0339.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573274600190493282" /></a><br /><div>And here is how we get around - the red "fietzpad" and Ginger is usually on the back of someone's bike. Today, she really wanted to ride on Winter's bike.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hnKzdb1Fhxg/TVg_tt5lRfI/AAAAAAAAAvU/bwITtOMBfaY/s1600/IMG_0358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hnKzdb1Fhxg/TVg_tt5lRfI/AAAAAAAAAvU/bwITtOMBfaY/s400/IMG_0358.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573274593518765554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0S7zSIy6Dao/TVg_tcOMSpI/AAAAAAAAAvM/mf031HohN5U/s1600/IMG_0356.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0S7zSIy6Dao/TVg_tcOMSpI/AAAAAAAAAvM/mf031HohN5U/s400/IMG_0356.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573274588773370514" /></a><br /></div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-89721329979084219662011-02-12T03:24:00.004-06:002011-02-12T03:32:56.327-06:00New IPhone = Pictures<div style="text-align: left;">A new friend sold me a jailbroken Iphone for 60 Euro (jailbroken means I can just stick a regular prepaid SIM card in it without buying into a contract.) That means I now have a camera!</div><div><br /></div><div>The cool tunnel I ride through every day (and yes, that is me on my uber-cool moped):</div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gzbIVVzJEcs/TVZSrvp8q8I/AAAAAAAAAu8/GVcWo1ifTDY/s400/IMG_0290.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572732500397829058" /></div><div><br /></div><div>The view from my office on our 3rd floor bedroom overlooking a canal and some "park" type area in front of the next row of houses. There is a fietzpad (bike path) in front of the road and there are (on nice days) tons of bikers, walkers and dog walkers going by - quite scenic.</div><br /><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pvjwea9C8lI/TVZSzhh_nKI/AAAAAAAAAvE/c5YGPJTo19c/s400/IMG_0299.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572732634045324450" /><br /><br />One more quick note about that photo from the tunnel - Jessica took it when we were riding back from Rotterdam where we attended a Chinese New Years party thrown by some of my school friends. It was raining, and Jessica rode the whole way home on the cargo rack on the back of the moped....CRAZY. Anyway, it was cool to have some company on the ride, but over 20kM with 2 people on a moped made for 1 was a bit on the long side.Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-54474121624883936712011-01-23T15:03:00.002-06:002011-01-23T15:30:57.174-06:00Back to SchoolIt is something like week three of the MBA program and it actually amazes me what a whirlwind it has been. I've been going to class in the morning on my "bromfietz" (a Tomos brand 50cc moped that is supposed to be governed out at a max speed of 45 kph, but which I have actually had up close to 60 kph) which takes around 35-45 minutes each way. Classes are on what appears to be a random schedule, but there are tons of group projects and other things that cause me to come home late (sometimes really late) at night. I haven't been seeing much of my family lately, but we tell ourselves it is OK since it will only be for one year. Skype is nice since it allows me to at least see the kids a few times during the week before they go to bed.<div>Riding around on a moped in Holland is probably the biggest adventure for me. The first time I tried riding from our house in Zoetermeer to Rotterdam was a major disaster. It was very cold, and the route we had mapped out in Google Maps was not feasible since it covered several roads that were not bromfietz-approved - in other words, I couldn't ride on them. Plus, the roads are horribly marked (in my opinion - coming from TX where every road has a real nice big sign telling you what road it is.) So I was hopelessly lost and it is really a miracle I ever made it to my destination. After an hour and half I finally made it to school, but that night it took as much courage as I could muster to hop back on that horse and head back out into the big city to try to find my way home (which also resulted in an extended ride with severe time wasted in taking wrong turns all over the place.) The good news is that after that first day, I pretty much had my route down and it has been much better since. I feel truly dutch zipping around past cars in traffic jams, onto and off of the designated "fietzpads" (designated bike/bromfietz roads) and cruising around through all the awesome scenery. I think if I had a video camera, I would duct tape it to my helmet and record the whole journey - it is that cool of a ride. I pass swans, ducks, pheasants, rabbits, etc as well as tons of other bikers and motorists, cool houses, interesting businesses, all kinds of canals and lakes, forest, city, etc. It is a really cool ride and it is a nice way to calm the nerves each day since it is about the only time that I am not going 100% on school work.</div><div>Last week I ran out of gas coming home right as I hit the city limits of Zoetermeer. I had no cellphone, no idea where the closest gas station would be (or even if it would be open at that late hour) and worst of all, I had not yet discovered that the gas tank on the bromfietz has a reserve tank that is accessible with the simple flip of a switch (yes, I am ashamed I didn't even think to check for that) so I walked all the way home. By the time I arrived (I think it was around midnight) Jessica had just about worked herself into a frenzy and was starting to hit up all my new schoolmate friends on facebook. </div><div>In general, school has been absolutely fantastic and I am actually being blown away with the quality and applicability of the information. The class is extremely diverse which is also a big help for me as I can certainly use the practice slowing things down and simplifiying. I've already met some great friends from around the world and am still very excited about this whole thing. My big fear is that it will be over too soon (or that I will die from the huge homework load.)</div><div>A brief list of interesting things that have taken place so far:</div><div><ol><li>I am running for the VP, Alumni Relations position in the Student Association. The students are voting and the polls close this week. Keep your fingers crossed. My competitor is a two-person team with a good social network, so I have some stiff competition.</li><li>I have already been rejected from several case competitions that I hastily entered. They were probably right not to select me since the field of the competitions was a much better fit for some of the other students and they had much better preparations, but I figured I would cast in my lot. I'd do it again if I had the chance, but I need to do some serious research if I want to be competitive - the question is when?</li><li>They placed everyone into 5-6 person groups and we have numerous group assignments that we have to complete. It is rapidly becoming apparent that this will be one of the most challenging aspects of the course. It is much easier to write a paper on a subject when you are the only one writing it then it is to try to collaborate as a team and take in the cultural perspectives, opinions, etc. of a diverse team (Croatia, India, China, Indonesia and USA) and to incorporate it all into a single document.</li></ol><div>I'm really looking forward to getting some sort of camera that I can use to document some of the things I see each day. It is tough for me to blog without photos...it's just me...</div></div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-86279577424267166302011-01-02T11:52:00.001-06:002011-01-02T11:55:08.336-06:00The Farmer Goes Dutch<p class="MsoNormal">It is now something like 11:30am local time.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I just woke up and my body has no idea what is going on.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The last 24 hours (or so?) have been a real whirlwind and I really have very little concept of how much time has elapsed since we started out journey to transfer from the enclave of family & friends in Plano, TX to a new group of family (and hopefully soon to be friends too) in Zoetermeer, the Netherlands. We were greeted at the airport by Jessica’s family. Her dad had borrowed a big (by Dutch standards) van which really helped with getting our huge amount of luggage (that’s another story)transported to our new home.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our new home – wow!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What can I say? Jessica and her dad coordinated on getting the rental agreement completed while we were still in TX and then he proceeded to coordinate with the local clan to collect various cast-off bits of furniture and furnishings for it. I figured that we would get here to find flea bitten couches, lumpy mattresses and a TV-table in the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>To the contrary, we walked into a fully furnished, clean and ready to live in apartment furnished with some very nice, gently used furniture.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was literally amazed at the generosity of our friends and family here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">We lugged all the luggage up a couple flights of stairs to dump it in our room for later, crashed for a few hours of sleep and then woke ourselves up to start the new year’s eve festivities. Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What a welcome to Holland! Jessica had always complained about how lame our New Year’s celebrations have been in the past, but I don’t think anything in the US compares to the way they do it over here. When we arrived (something like 10am local time,) there was what sounded like sporadic gunfire all around us. I thought they were shooting ducks or something, but it turns out, the explosions were premature revelers lighting off gigantic firecrackers. That was nothing compared to what was to come. Throughout the night (as we hung out at Jessica’s cousin’s house) the general roar (punctuated by alarmingly potent explosions – apparently illegal bombs from Denmark) grew and grew as the hour approached. At midnight, we toasted to a new year in Holland and to friends then stepped outside to light off a few fireworks and enjoy the spectacle. It was like nothing I had ever seen. All around us, revelers were doing the same, but with significantly larger fireworks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was like being in the center of a hundred fourth of July celebrations. We videotaped the din for probably something like 20 or 30 minutes before my hands were frozen and there was no sign that the fireworks were going to stop. The entire town was literally engulfed with fireworks and we could turn 360 degrees and see them going off in every direction (aside from the ones being set off right next to us that probably were damaging our eardrums.)The walk home was like what I imagine it would be to walk home through a Baghdad firefight and we retired to the sound of fireworks and explosions. By the way, I just have to say something about those Danish fireworks…they had to be HUGE.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There were explosions that I literally felt in my chest (even though they were lit at some distance away and out of my range of vision.) These bombs had to have been somewhat similar to real bombs and make the “pop” of the explosions of the biggest US fireworks seem like a needle drop. In fact, I hear that every year, kids end up getting body parts blown off by these things. Wow. Now that is a celebration - and what a welcome to Holland!</span>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-34362294642699211252010-12-11T22:21:00.002-06:002010-12-11T22:41:51.855-06:00Blogging & a micro-updateI haven't been blogging lately. I guess I have been kinda feeling like blogging is too narcissistic (even though deep down inside, there is also a part of me in there thinking about how much I enjoy reading other people's blogs to see what they are up to.) So anyway, I guess I'll just get over it and do a quick update:<div><ol><li>We move to Holland in a couple weeks to start on my MBA program at the Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University. It is going to be a big change for us (duh) and we are, of course, most concerned with the kids and their transition. I hope we can make it a good experience that they can look back on fondly throughout their lives. For me, I am looking forward to getting back into my studies, but I am nervous about the mathematics portion (a subject in which I am woefully under-trained, and which seems to me to be an impregnable fortress. Just today I was taking some online "review" courses and that almost-forgotten feeling of a tightening chest, frozen-over brain, and desolation of spirit took over once again. I realize it sounds like I am overstating this, but in reality, I find it hard to describe the feelings I get when I am forced to do this math stuff. Anybody ever read JK Rowling's description of a dementor? It is something like that. The good news is that I passed the review course today with an acceptable score, but if there is one thing that frightens me for the upcoming year, it is a return to mathematics.</li><li>I took a motorcycle training course and passed the DMV tests to get my motorcycle endorsement on my license. (Getting the endorsement is literally 10X more expensive in Holland.) We plan to purchase a motorcycle for commuting to school - a 30-40 minute drive?</li><li>This Monday I start what will be my last week of work for Varsity. I've worked for them since February 1, 2002 and while they certainly could have treated me better as an employee, there is going to be a part of me that misses that job (I'm sure that part of me will go away quickly though) </li><li>The kids are growing up fast. At 8, 7 and 5 years old, Winter, Sterling and Ginger have pretty much lost their babiness (Winter and Sterling have actually had pimples already!) and we certainly miss the little ones that they were, but we are enjoying getting to know them as individuals. Winter is a great friend to all and Sterling is always ready to jump in and help out where he can see a need. Ginger is super sweet and loves her toy horses and stuffed animals.</li></ol><div>Since we did so much selling/storing of "stuff" when we moved out of our house, it should be pretty easy to move out here and make the transition to Holland. Jessica (as always) has been working steadily away and making behind-the-scene plans and progress to make things easier when the deadline comes. We still have to sell a few vehicles and my tractor, but we are getting there. Another couple weeks of "holding pattern" and we'll be off.</div></div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-33894648186117015952010-12-05T15:18:00.002-06:002010-12-05T15:19:49.934-06:00Some Artwork from WinterThe Creeping Caterpillar<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TPwB2fvxztI/AAAAAAAAAus/2F9DD95G-Cw/s1600/Winter%2527sCaterpillar_12.1.10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 160px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TPwB2fvxztI/AAAAAAAAAus/2F9DD95G-Cw/s400/Winter%2527sCaterpillar_12.1.10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547310876760067794" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>The Alien<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TPwB2GEvX1I/AAAAAAAAAuk/RVyeTa6diEw/s1600/Winter%2527sAlien_12.1.10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TPwB2GEvX1I/AAAAAAAAAuk/RVyeTa6diEw/s400/Winter%2527sAlien_12.1.10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547310869868666706" /></a><br /></div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-44972819136400542912010-10-04T15:40:00.002-05:002010-10-04T15:52:49.798-05:00....more construction<div>Saturday was very productive. We actually took the kitchen from a major construction area back to where it is actually usable as a kitchen and the living room is cleared of all clutter and is usable as a living room. Nice!</div><div><br /></div>Cabinet doors and drawers back from paint, installed and knobs/handles installed:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKo8ym_TzdI/AAAAAAAAAs4/VR1J9h0mDnE/s1600/Photo_100210_001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKo8ym_TzdI/AAAAAAAAAs4/VR1J9h0mDnE/s400/Photo_100210_001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524294733080546770" /></a>Starting in with the "gold" paint:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKo8yYeww_I/AAAAAAAAAsw/9rokEA4SXgQ/s1600/Photo_100210_002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKo8yYeww_I/AAAAAAAAAsw/9rokEA4SXgQ/s400/Photo_100210_002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524294729185936370" /></a><br /><br />Dad gettin' jiggy with the plumbing on the new kitchen faucet:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKo8sGSflmI/AAAAAAAAAso/wTUhqf1xYs8/s1600/Photo_100210_003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKo8sGSflmI/AAAAAAAAAso/wTUhqf1xYs8/s400/Photo_100210_003.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524294621223425634" /></a><br />Starting to look like the final vision; granite, painted cabinets, gold paint (still needs the tile backsplash started)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKo8sGSflmI/AAAAAAAAAso/wTUhqf1xYs8/s1600/Photo_100210_003.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKo8ryJU3vI/AAAAAAAAAsg/38RV0UmO_Nk/s1600/Photo_100210_004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKo8ryJU3vI/AAAAAAAAAsg/38RV0UmO_Nk/s400/Photo_100210_004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524294615816265458" /></a>New sink is in, new tile backspash started and new faucet installed:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKo8r88INyI/AAAAAAAAAsY/Wcch1a28vvA/s1600/Photo_100210_005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKo8r88INyI/AAAAAAAAAsY/Wcch1a28vvA/s400/Photo_100210_005.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524294618713700130" /></a><br /><div>Mom appears to be somewhat excited to be to the point where she was able to start painting (the ceiling) on Saturday night. Also note that the refrigerator is back where it belongs and that also is something to be very happy about:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKo8rva1NnI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/nXYhfTFopZI/s1600/Photo_100210_006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKo8rva1NnI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/nXYhfTFopZI/s400/Photo_100210_006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524294615084381810" /></a>Skip forward to today and dad is putting all the backsplash tiles in place:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKo8rdOBv1I/AAAAAAAAAsI/umlB8BUGxmU/s1600/Photo_100410_002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKo8rdOBv1I/AAAAAAAAAsI/umlB8BUGxmU/s400/Photo_100410_002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524294610198839122" /></a><br /></div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-46424423967613463502010-09-30T09:42:00.004-05:002010-09-30T09:57:56.562-05:00The ugly stages of constructionThese pictures are from the 27th. I am a few days behind (the granite countertops actually went in yesterday) <div><br /></div><div>Luis surveys the texture that is going onto the wall:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKSjS7a2p_I/AAAAAAAAAr4/XuoO4cmqBww/s1600/Photo_092710_001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKSjS7a2p_I/AAAAAAAAAr4/XuoO4cmqBww/s400/Photo_092710_001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522718588646369266" /></a>Divert your eyes from the disaster in the background and feast your eyes on the new blue.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKSjSsm-keI/AAAAAAAAArw/oaja4llvDNM/s1600/Photo_092710_002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKSjSsm-keI/AAAAAAAAArw/oaja4llvDNM/s400/Photo_092710_002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522718584670687714" /></a>OOps!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKSisvJLPaI/AAAAAAAAAro/LGzNwbUJjbw/s1600/Photo_092710_003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKSisvJLPaI/AAAAAAAAAro/LGzNwbUJjbw/s400/Photo_092710_003.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522717932515966370" /></a>Utter destruction<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKSkqrb691I/AAAAAAAAAsA/CEt66cG-vQ0/s1600/Photo_092710_004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKSkqrb691I/AAAAAAAAAsA/CEt66cG-vQ0/s400/Photo_092710_004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522720096184366930" /></a>Dad's back is obviously feeling much better, but he is still taking it easy<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKSisPDcw-I/AAAAAAAAArY/xXedfLJ1m7g/s1600/Photo_092710_005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKSisPDcw-I/AAAAAAAAArY/xXedfLJ1m7g/s400/Photo_092710_005.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522717923902014434" /></a>The tile removal was so difficult, we just took off the drywall entirely - we're down to the studs<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKSiry2urRI/AAAAAAAAArQ/HioJ9X894H0/s1600/Photo_092710_006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKSiry2urRI/AAAAAAAAArQ/HioJ9X894H0/s400/Photo_092710_006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522717916332469522" /></a>Winter is sawing the drywall flush for the new install - and happy to finally have a job where she can help<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKSirnxEVbI/AAAAAAAAArI/Fau7Som6zMQ/s1600/Photo_092710_007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKSirnxEVbI/AAAAAAAAArI/Fau7Som6zMQ/s400/Photo_092710_007.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522717913355933106" /></a><br /></div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-60807346288493421942010-09-26T21:42:00.006-05:002010-09-26T22:07:48.374-05:00The 'RentsHad a busy Saturday:<div><br /></div><div>Luis and I set up all the cabinet drawers/doors in the basement of mom's office building in a storage unit and got the primer sprayed.<br /><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAE_zsADWI/AAAAAAAAAp4/yb87_RZrHY8/s1600/Photo_092510_001.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAE_zsADWI/AAAAAAAAAp4/yb87_RZrHY8/s400/Photo_092510_001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521418637409258850" /></a><br /><br /><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAFhOES9mI/AAAAAAAAAqA/38CggXveYro/s400/Photo_092510_002.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521419211426166370" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAE_zsADWI/AAAAAAAAAp4/yb87_RZrHY8/s1600/Photo_092510_001.jpg"></a>Back at home, the ladies made a mess of the living room...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAG6nDXytI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/r6fVpYEUyEU/s1600/Photo_092510_004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAG6nDXytI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/r6fVpYEUyEU/s400/Photo_092510_004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521420747141532370" /></a><br /></div><div>...and set up an air curtain around the kitchen to keep the primer fumes out of the house.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAG6cxfLCI/AAAAAAAAAqI/WYL0JUSyORE/s1600/Photo_092510_003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAG6cxfLCI/AAAAAAAAAqI/WYL0JUSyORE/s400/Photo_092510_003.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521420744382164002" /></a><br />When Luis and I finished up with the primer on the doors, we headed back to the house and started spraying the cabinets. (Note the fan system that blows air out of the curtained-off kitchen to create a negative air pressure situation - it worked great and there were NO paint fumes problems in the house....although the neighborhood had a bit of a stink going on)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAHVocfvmI/AAAAAAAAAqY/StA1Qf6HtKw/s1600/Photo_092510_005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAHVocfvmI/AAAAAAAAAqY/StA1Qf6HtKw/s400/Photo_092510_005.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521421211371814498" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAHVka1ipI/AAAAAAAAAqg/npHhrFbSask/s1600/Photo_092510_006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAHVka1ipI/AAAAAAAAAqg/npHhrFbSask/s400/Photo_092510_006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521421210291112594" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAHV_OplPI/AAAAAAAAAqo/IhOUu4duCpA/s1600/Photo_092510_007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAHV_OplPI/AAAAAAAAAqo/IhOUu4duCpA/s400/Photo_092510_007.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521421217487754482" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAHo713AJI/AAAAAAAAAq4/0iJo7B0SFrw/s1600/Photo_092510_009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAHo713AJI/AAAAAAAAAq4/0iJo7B0SFrw/s400/Photo_092510_009.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521421542995984530" /></a>This is the "second" curtain inside the kitchen to keep the blue paint overspray (from the island) from settling on the freshly painted white cabinets. Yeah, things were getting kinda cramped in there. Maybe we should have painted the blue color first and then just covered the island...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAHozJMD5I/AAAAAAAAAqw/zPEbpUWjpQg/s1600/Photo_092510_008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAHozJMD5I/AAAAAAAAAqw/zPEbpUWjpQg/s400/Photo_092510_008.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521421540661137298" /></a>After spraying the house, Luis and I headed back to mom's office building to spray the final coat on the cabinets (the stools and the cabinets for the "island" are getting a steely blue color)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAHpDvk4qI/AAAAAAAAArA/As_HLqu3dfI/s1600/Photo_092510_010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/TKAHpDvk4qI/AAAAAAAAArA/As_HLqu3dfI/s400/Photo_092510_010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521421545117115042" /></a></div></div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-27165937294796278052010-09-13T12:35:00.000-05:002010-09-13T12:36:30.597-05:00My Beans Runneth OverI just sent this email out to the Ashurst family:<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; ">Well, we are scheduled to fly out on December 30th. It will (I'm sure) be major fiasco with a huge load of luggage and three unruly kids. Last time we flew, each seat back had it's own entertainment package with video games, movies, TV shows etc. That was much better than the standard "movie" that they used to show. The kids all sat around and watched whatever they wanted and it really helped to keep them off our backs. I hope this flight will be equally equipped - it is a long ride.<div><br />I asked my wife about the Der/Die situation and she reports that the country is simply referred to in the singular as "Nederland." So, I guess that solves the controversy. They speak "Dutch" and I have already picked up quite a bit of it, but I have a very long way to go yet. We have "Rosetta Stone" and the kids all work on it regularly. I need to get started. The bad news (if you can call it that) is that I will be attending school in English and virtually everyone there speaks English and prefers to simply speak English than to listen to me bumbling with my poor dutch. What that translates to is that I have a hard time finding people to practice on. I'm sure living there will help though and I expect to improve my skills greatly.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll be attending the Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University (to get an MBA degree - sorry Jim - I know you hate all those moron MBAs :) and while we have not yet signed a contract on a place to live, it looks like we'll be living in Zoetermeer. That will put me at about 30 minutes commute on bicycle or 1 hour by public transportation to the school. Zoetermeer is where quite a few of Jessica's family live and it is much more "suburban" than Rotterdam so we think it will be better for the family there.</div><div><br /></div><div>I do not plan to work and I do not have any work lined up. The program I am in is only one year long and due to the short time frame, the curriculum is reported to be extremely rigorous. I don't anticipate having enough time to work at all. Jessica may try to get a job or part time job, but since she is a Dutch citizen, there will be no problem with any paperwork. We'll mostly be living on our savings. Once I graduate, we will be looking for a job wherever that may take us and we may end up staying in Holland; at which point I would have to go through some sort of authorization process. I don't think that it will be too difficult with Jessica being a citizen. On the other hand, if we do want to stay in Holland and work there, I will really need to kick in the afterburners on learning the language because that will (of course) be a crucial skill.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are very sad to be leaving the ranch. It is actually already sold and we have, as of the last couple of weeks, been imposing ourselves on the hospitality of my parents. They don't really have room for 5 more, but they have been extremely generous in letting us stay with them during the transition phase. This week they were visiting my sister in DC so we "paid a bit of rent" by getting them a new Bosch dishwasher and had it installed for when they arrived last night. We're actually hoping to save a little by living here with them and not paying rent, but at the same time, we do realize that we are a major imposition on them.</div><div><br /></div><div>As a part of the moving process, we actually sold the vast majority of our possessions and it was surprisingly liberating. A couple of things that did pull on the heart strings though: I sold my truck, gave away my dog and a huge pile of steel stock from my shop and I sold all my cattle. Those are the things that really hurt (for me anyway.) We will, of course miss our place in the country a lot - we had a lot of good times out there - but we are excited to be moving on to the next step. The show must go on.</div><div><br /></div><div>Honestly, yes, selling the ranch is a bit of a relief as well. There is a lot of work involved in maintaining that place and we didn't really even maintain it all that well. Things have been CRAZY busy over the last couple of months as we have tried to decide what few things to store while we are gone, what will come with us and what to sell. Then, of course, we had to implement those plans. We are just now getting settled down (I sold my truck on Saturday and my utility trailer today.) All that is left is to sell my tractor and one more car and then we should be set for the next few months before the next big transition (to Holland.) </div><div><br /></div><div>I actually just informed my boss that we would be leaving in three months, so keep your fingers crossed that he doesn't get trigger happy and start filling out that pink slip prematurely. It would not be the end of the world, but it certainly would hurt a bit to lose our paycheck for the last few months.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, since I want their money, I'd better get back to work.</div></span></div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-39699324807734222442010-08-31T19:20:00.002-05:002010-08-31T19:26:34.346-05:00BookendsI never thought I would have been able to say this. In fact, if you told me ten years ago (or even just five) that I would be able to say this, I would have said you were crazy. Yet, here I am and forevermore I can claim that I sold my cattle to help fund my education. <div>Speaking of real funding though, our house "closed" today. Supposing we wake up tomorrow with some funds in our bank account (as we expect to do) the chapter of our lives entitled Country Life In Texas will have come to an abrupt ending. We're pleased with the sale and we are pleased with the new direction of our lives. We will, however, (and despite the heat, chiggers and poison ivy) forever have fond memories of this place. It has been great. Great for us, and great for the kids.</div><div><br /></div><div>This new chapter in our lives is called "Terrorizing and otherwise disrupting the peaceful life of my parents in the city." Hopefully they (my parents) can make it through the next few months - it will certainly be a trial for them.</div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-10234932509108339952010-08-25T21:02:00.004-05:002010-08-25T21:19:51.791-05:00El Gato PrietoSummer left suddenly and I did not mourn it today. This morning 10 yards of dirt/sand mix were delivered by a friend of mine to back fill around our foundation (a lender-required repair) and Luis and I spent hour after hour hauling wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of dirt. It was hot and sweaty, but at 80 or 90 degrees, it was so very much more pleasant than the work we were doing out there in the 107 degree heat just a few days earlier.<div><br /><div>The second best part of the day (aside from the cooler weather) was that the guy who sold/delivered the dirt was interested in all our garage sale leftovers so I offered them all to him (along with the trampoline.) In return, he offered to bring over his "gato prieto" for me to use for a few hours. Behold the gato prieto in all its glory!</div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/THXM6T_SY-I/AAAAAAAAApg/XhKoKj5mTl0/s1600/Photo_082510_003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/THXM6T_SY-I/AAAAAAAAApg/XhKoKj5mTl0/s400/Photo_082510_003.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509535021327868898" /></a><br />And...the glory shot!<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/THXM6xENK7I/AAAAAAAAApo/2YfHyEHzSzI/s1600/Photo_082510_002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/THXM6xENK7I/AAAAAAAAApo/2YfHyEHzSzI/s400/Photo_082510_002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509535029133126578" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>So anyway, check one off the bucket list. I have now operated a bobcat (or as Luis calls it, the black cat or the gato prieto.) </div><div><br /></div><div>The bad news is that there is still a yard or two of dirt in the front yard, the bobcat is gone, the job is done, and now I have a problem.</div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-83562271887549498972010-08-24T19:48:00.002-05:002010-08-24T20:06:21.036-05:00Mystery CatA couple of weeks ago upon our return from a trip to San Antonio, we noticed that our black/white cat was missing. It wasn't unexpected since we seem to go through cats fairly regularly around here. What was interesting though was that the disappearance of the cat seemed to coincide with an atrocious smell emanating from the general area of the chicken coop. We searched all around the chicken coop to no avail and I had pretty much decided that whatever was dead and decaying must have been under it.<div>While working out there today to replace some siding on the coop (as required by the bank?) we found the source of the odiferocity (yes, I realize that is not a real word.) But before we go there, let's take a step back.</div><div><br /></div><div>I love Ginger. She is 4 years old now and is a real precious little angel. She loves to go out and play with the animals on the back porch, search around the bushes for eggs, catch crickets, watch spiders, etc. Here's a few of her other endearing traits/habits:</div><div><ul><li>Whenever she is playing around me, she uses her highly sophisticated play voice and calls me "Joe" </li><li>She dances to church music (in church) and pretty much to any other music available</li><li>She loves her "widow wanky" (translation: little blanky) more than life itself. In fact, she often refers to it as an individual (imagine her searching through the house calling out, "where are you widow wanky?) Still though, she loves me so much, she offers, "do you want to smell my widow wanky." (apparently, this is a great honor and privilege)</li><li>She almost always just says, "ouch" and shakes it off - even when she really gets hurt</li><li>She went through a phase where she was always talking about her "vampire eyes" and affirmed to all her ability to use them to see in the dark.</li><li>She used to sit next to me in my office with a "computer" (made from a piece of paper), an old mouse, and an old cellphone to imitate me while I worked - some of the conversations she had on that phone were priceless</li><li>Overall, she is super soft and affectionate (more than any of our other kids have been) yyet she is as tough as a hardened criminal. I think that's a good combination</li></ul><div>So I mentioned how Ginger likes to play with the animals (mostly the cats) on the back porch. I've seen her put them in cages, tie ropes around their necks for leashes, etc. Normally the cats are pretty cool with it and it seems like they enjoy the arrangement. Well, I guess one day (right before we went to San Antonio) she must have tied a rope onto that black/white cat and for some reason, she left it on him. Cause today we found that cat out about 10' away from the chicken coop with the rope caught in the bushes. I guess he probably died of thirst. Poor little kitty. I probably won't ever tell Ginger what she has done.</div></div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-91960662290666765332010-08-23T21:39:00.003-05:002010-08-23T22:30:56.814-05:00FinitoBack when we were certifying as foster parents, our "qualification" paperwork required a lot of responses regarding any "losses" that we may have felt over the years. The concept of a "loss" was new to me at the time and though I feel a bit lame saying it, I really had to stretch to think of any loss that I had experienced in my life that had left sufficient impression to warrant documentation (I guess I am lucky.) In fact, thinking back at what I must have listed, the only item I can actually recall at this particular moment is the passing of two of my grandparents.<div><div><br /></div><div>I feel compelled to return from an inadvertent blog hiatus today to record an old and atrophied, seldom-used and mostly forgotten feeling that has gradually settled on me in the way a silent cloud of ash first dusts, then coats, then covers. It is loss. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>A faithful friend of 3 years is gone. Gone forever I'd guess. Justin, the livestock guard dog and the best dog we've ever had (by a long shot) went today to a new home with some lady who promised him a good home in the country East of Dallas. Now, I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is. At least that is what they say. What do I say? I loved that dog. Today, this ranch/house is no longer our home. That's all I have to say about that.</div><div><br /></div><div>In other news, I have to give props to Jessica. As I walk around this house (which is rapidly becoming more and more empty as each and every day progresses) I realize how much work this woman has been doing. I mean, this move (which was feared by me to be the worst of any move thus far in our short lives) is rapidly becoming a 2-3 hour job. Over the last month or so, she has worked tirelessly to sell/donate/clean/organize/consolidate and pack our things to a uber-condensed version of our former clutter. It really is amazing - this girl is a worker, and I do love her - even more than the dog....like a lot more...it's hard to describe....I am gonna stop now.</div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-60400354632297628202010-06-07T22:38:00.003-05:002010-06-07T22:59:25.024-05:00Ford 601 WorkmasterI sometimes tell folks (with respect to my tractor) that owning this particular old tractor involves an hour or so in the shop spent tinkering with it for every hour spent in the field operating it. In all honesty, I haven't really tracked anything like that, but it sure seems like it - especially these days. As of today, the tractor is in my shop with the following parts laying around in various stages of restoration:<div><ul><li>all sheetmetal (I actually haven't had the sheetmetal on it in a year or so....)</li><li>The head (it's actually at the machine shop being resurfaced)</li><li>Exhaust/intake manifold (that's right - it is a single piece!)</li><li>the gas tank (with the fuel level sender removed for rehab)</li><li>The water pump and fan</li><li>Carburetor</li><li>All the gauges</li><li>A partially fabricated battery hold-down bracket (to replace the existing baling wire solution that came with the tractor when I obtained it)</li></ul><div>I placed an internet order the other day for about $150 in new parts/pieces/gaskets and as soon as that stuff arrives, and as soon as I get the head back from the shop, I'll go about the process of putting it all back together again, crossing my fingers that it works right. The added bonus here is that all of this is taking place in 100+degree weather with a liberal smattering of humidity. Actually, they say we might see mid-90s this weekend, so that is something to look forward to.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, in case you are looking for some additional reading on this tractor project and some insight into how one learns to work on a tractor with no manual and no experience, here are a few links to some threads I have been running on a tractor-enthusiast's forum with various pictures of various aspects of my tractor problems:</div><div> - <a href="http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=132149">Q&A on replacing a head gasket</a></div><div> - <a href="http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=132606">How to troubleshoot gauges</a></div><div><br /></div><div>One thing I have to say about all this - it sure is nice to have a shop to do this in (rather than doing it out in the wind, rain (if it were to rain anyway), dirt and sun. I do thank my lucky stars.</div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-48266190878164017592010-05-18T09:05:00.004-05:002010-05-18T09:17:19.078-05:00Redneck InvestingI was talking to my cousin the other day and bragging to him about how I own part of Tata Motors so I decided to check in on my investments...<div><br /></div><div>...steel yourself against the shock you are bound to experience after witnessing the magnitude of this portfolio!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/S_Kg_X7u1TI/AAAAAAAAApA/USNzKBEVVoM/s1600/Stock.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 176px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/S_Kg_X7u1TI/AAAAAAAAApA/USNzKBEVVoM/s400/Stock.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472613507825325362" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Sorry about the small image - the original is legible, but Blogger seems to have "adjusted" this one for me : (</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Turns out those two shares of Tata have done quite well. Tomorrow marks the period of one year of ownership of the Indian Auto Manufacturer and they've done quite well in that time. Even more impressive, that fraction of a share of Magna has really been a cash cow. If only I would have invested some more in these guys back then. I suspected it was a low-point in the market and my suspicions have been confirmed by a 75% increase in value over a one-year period.<div><br /></div><div>The lowly farmer is now accepting offers to become a wealth manager. Send in your requests (and money) fast - space is going quickly. I charge only 5% per year.</div></div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-81878341723401295772010-05-12T20:51:00.004-05:002010-05-12T21:07:44.627-05:00Texas Blackberries<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/S-tdE8IUyZI/AAAAAAAAAow/3nlbQa6nLbc/s1600/Blackberries.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 360px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F91BESZXa4k/S-tdE8IUyZI/AAAAAAAAAow/3nlbQa6nLbc/s400/Blackberries.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470568511813503378" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">What a surprise! I was out cleaning up the fenceline in the pastures with Ginger and Winter this evening and saw a bit of red down in the grass. At first I thought they were wild raspberries. Then I saw the black ones and the memories came flooding back of picking bucket-full after bucket-full of wild Washington blackberries with the family and eating blackberry jam sandwiches until blackberry was more of a drudgery than a delight (what a shame! And what an ungrateful kid was I to fail to recognize that blessing!)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, this pitiful little bowl was the full extent of the 'ripe' ones that we could find before it got dark (of course we had to eat some straight off the vine too, so there were actually a few more than this.) The good news is that there were quite a few more red ones on the bushes, so we should be able to go back and get some more in a few days. Strange that I have never seen these on our property before...maybe the wet spring weather of the previous few years has affected the growing season?</div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396113711561260284.post-33876809256074662562010-04-27T01:59:00.002-05:002010-04-27T02:05:04.993-05:00Farmer Joe's B-day Recommendation of the DayOK, this is a limited-time offer folks. You have until the end of today only to buy this:<div>For the princely sum of $2.99 you get a </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Calibri, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 10px; "><h3 style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Calibri, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold; text-align: left; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ContentPlaceHolderMainContent_ContentPlaceHolderPrimaryContent_BlogEntryControl_TitleHyperLink" href="http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=12526" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Calibri, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Digital Blue Disney Mix Micro Blue Chrome MP3 Player</a></h3><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">At that price, wouldn't the 8 year old girl in your family have a very merry christmas and a happy birthday? Buy one here today only: www.woot.com</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">One caveat: You must buy your own SD card and load your own MP3 files on it</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">The good news? I can send you free MP3 files of my kids singing original compositions consisting of scriptures sung by kids and relatives and recorded in a completely unprofessional manner - all completely free of charge!</span></div></span><div><br /></div>Farmer Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514822392008437680noreply@blogger.com0