We're Number 1!

  We’re closing out the snowiest February on record in our neighborhood and around the state.

 (Minnesotans are notoriously obsessed with weather records.)

  And the frost-biting cold continued off-and-on during the month 

 (-29 on Feb 9th)

 Lake Superior is 83% iced over.

 No wonder Thrillist awarded us first place in the prestigious “worst winters” competition.

 Besides the horrific weather, Thrillist factored in our disappointing winter warriors: 

“Your sports teams never win championships. All of your good high school hockey players end up starring for NHL teams in other cities. Ice fishing can’t be that cool, really.”

 The recurrent bouts of snow and cold 

 

 make for challenging walks around the block

but the neighbors always come out for a chat.

 “Cold enuff for ya?”

 “Did you order all this snow?"

On Feb 23rd Mojo was scheduled to hop in the Goatmobile for the journey to his new home in Harvard, IL.

(Yup - Mojo is going to be a Harvard man.)

But, of course, yet another storm was predicted with more snow and a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain making travel hazardous.

The route to Harvard goes through the always challenging Twin Cities

and through Osseo, WI, on I-94 – which was the site of a 40-vehicle pileup on Feb 10.

So the trip was postponed until March 2.

Earlier, friends Hilary (Mojo’s biggest fan) and Rumbidzai stopped by to bid the Big Guy farewell.  

Mojo will miss the attention Hilary has paid him over the years.

Less likely to miss Mojo are the MeadowWild girls, who grow tired of being chased around the pen and shoved away from the hay feeders.

Hormones are starting to churn; kidding season is just around the corner.

So what books on parenting are the ladies reading as they incubate precious little baby goats?

For Zippy, due on St.  Patrick’s Day, it’s:

Blintz, due on March 19: 

veteran mom Kuiper, due on March 20:

and finally Bhindi, due on March 25:

We’re hoping for safe, easy deliveries during that very busy week, and lots of unbearable cuteness to report on next month.

Our neighborhood suffered an irreparable loss recently with the death of Tom Bislow, owner of TJ’s Country Store in nearby Mahtowa.  

Tom was the kind, generous, unfailingly cheerful heart of the Mahtowa area.  His cozy store was not just a convenience.  Tom forged a genuine community by sponsoring many events throughout the year

(such as the Mustache and Beard Contest, Wurst Days, Rat Rod Rendezvous, chicken swaps and weekly summer community markets) 

that brought people together for fun and fellowship (and the best wurst). 

TJ’s annual Christkindl Market was a major outlet for Barb’s goats’ milk soaps, caramels and cajeta.

Tom is sadly missed by so many people in our area.

Dustin recently spent an entire day hunkered near the bookshelf built into the office desk (instead of in front of the computer, where he can usually be found when he’s not napping).  We suspected that whatever he was stalking had snuck away when Dustin was snoozing

but then the next morning we found a chewed-off mouse head in the middle of the kitchen floor.

Friend Gretchen suggested that the Catfather may have been sending us a warning.