office update

Last week Warren installed our counter tops in the office.  As soon as that was done, the computer was brought upstairs and hooked up, and I started working on books.  The last week has been spent entering information into the 3 accounts that are due to the accountant soon, and moving into the office.  I've done a lot of filing.  We still need to find chairs, some lighting for under the cabinets and figure out how to organize the closet, but we are getting close to finishing up the room!  Here is what its looking like for now.

the south wall - the wire sticking out is for the heat thermostat.  We're not sure yet what we will do for the heating in the room. The cubby holes are for mail, bills and that type of supplies.

The desk area - we're going to drill some holes into the counter top for computer cords and such, so that will make it much easier to work there.  The cubby holes above the desk are for current work projects.

Looking from the window toward the desk area.

 

Fast FAB

One big part of Life on Fast Road the last few months has been Tony's thriving welding business, Fast FAB.  In October, Tony decided to build a couple of hopper bottoms for grain bins and see if there was enough interest in them to go into production.  He hauled one of them to Glasgow Implement in Glasgow, MT, to display,  put up advertising fliers in a couple of local towns, put an ad in a local paper, and his phone hasn't stopped ringing since.  He now has 2 full time employees helping him build the hoppers.

The hoppers are built upside down, and start out as flat sheets of metal, welded together with a hole in the middle, and a triangle cut out to the edge.  Then its lifted up which forms the cone shape. The cone is then set on a jig that holds the ring that the grain bin is bolted to. 

Cutting the iron for the legs.

The legs and bottom skid go on, then they are flipped right side up.

the flipping process

the next step is to finish welding and painting.

 

a few of the finished product

In case you're wondering, "OK, so what do you do with these things?"  here is a picture of some of our previous hopper bottoms under gain bins.  The hoppers do a couple of things.  They increase the number of bushels stored in each bin, and best of all, they pretty much eliminate the need to get inside the bin to shovel and sweep out the grain by hand!

Cooke City

Warren and four other guys went to Cooke City for a snowmobile trip.  Cooke City is a small town just east of the NE entrance to Yellowstone National Park. It is a small tourist town which started out as a mining town. There are snowmobile trails that lead from town into the mountains. Here are some pictures from our adventure.  (If you click on the pictures you will see the complete picture.)

Chadd & Tony getting ready to hit the trails.

Looking west in Cooke.

Warren looking for some powder.

Made it to the top.

Chadd made it up, but now how do I get back down.

Looking south near Daisy Pass.  Ajay sitting in the foreground waiting to go down and help the others turn Bill around after making it almost up the hill.

Looking back up the same hill from the down below.  Bill, Tony, and Chadd almost to the top but almost doesn't count, Bill.

Bill, Ajay, Tony, and Chadd after a day of riding.

The view we had from the same spot as the previous picture. We saw a rider on the mountain who is the little black dot in the sunlight in the middle of the picture.  We we at least 2 miles away from him.  Pictures don't show how big the area or mountains really are.

Going through the Park we ran into the 5 o'clock rush hour.  There were about 5 buffalo in line with this one. Check the mirror.  I don't know if  we saw more buffalo or tourists stopped along the road looking at them.

On the way home in Livingston.

Chadd and Bill trying to knock each other out with the Wii boxing game.  Ajay waiting to take on the winner?

Giggles & Grins

Today Tony, Amy and Natalie came up to visit. Natalie started to laugh a couple of weeks ago, but so far we hadn't had the joy of hearing her. Today I managed to catch her on camera.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Isn't it great that we have a day to celebrate love?  Whether its friendship or romantic, its good to have time to think about those who are important in our lives.  Friendship is an important aspect of romantic love, and the basis to relationships.  When I think of my favorite Valentines this year, my first thoughts are of Warren and our family.  This week on Facebook it was put out there to post a picture of you and your sweetheart on your profile, and tell how long you had been together.  Warren and I met when I was in high school, he had graduated the spring before. We developed a friendship, and started dating a few months later.  That was back in the dark ages of 1979.  We've been a couple for 30 years, and married for 27.  I can't imagine my life without him.

 

This past June, Craig and Lindsay celebrated their love at their wedding.  My favorite photo from the wedding, and the one that is sitting here next to my computer, is of them walking down the isle, hand in hand, after their ceremony.  You can see their happiness and joy from a mile away!  Happy 1st Valentine's Day as a married couple, Craig & Lindsay!

In July of 2007 Tony & Amy were married and ready to begin Happily Ever After.  It doesn't seem like they can have been married for 2 1/2 years already.  Time has flown by.

The newest love in our lives is the addition to Tony & Amy's family, Natalie.  Here is a picture of their family when she was only a couple weeks old.

 

Ain't Love Grand!

My mom & dad have been on my mind a lot recently.  They are both gone now, but I will always remember how much they loved each other.  They had many hard times in their life, but we always knew they loved each other. 

A few memories of them: 

Dad always gave Mom a kiss before he left for the bus run.

They always went out for supper on their anniversary.  They didn't go on dates very often, but that was a tradition they didn't break.  

A Valentine tradition they looked forward to was the Valentine Banquet at their church each year.  I'm sure it reminded them of their days dating at Grace.  

Dad gave Mom a corsage on Mother's Day that she wore to church, keeping it in the fridge for the week, and she would wear it again the following week.  

Dad's eyes would light up, and he would have a huge grin on his face, as he told stories about their days at Grace (college).  Mom would sit quietly and smile.  Precious memories for them, I'm sure.

Miss you guys!  Thank you for the loving example of marriage and commitment.   Love & hugs.

To all you sweethearts out there, Happy Valentine's Day!  Be sure to tell those you care about that they are special to you. 

12 weeks old

Natalie is 12 weeks old today.  Its hard to believe she is that old already, but on the other hand, we can't imagine our family without her.  Last Friday, Feb. 5, Amy & Natalie came up to visit.  Natalie had been up earlier than usual that morning, so was ready for a nap before long.  They found out early on if they swaddle her tightly, she sleeps really well, even at night.  If she isn't bundled up, she is restless and takes very short naps.

It was great to have them visit for the day.  We love spending time with them.  We are blessed to have them live near enough to watch Natalie grow up.  Here are a few of my favorite pictures of the day.  She loves mobiles, and is just starting to reach for things. 

Amy called last week and said that Natalie had laughed for the first time.  Amy was playing with their dog, Buddy, and Natalie laughed at him.  She did one other time last week while in her swing, watching her fish mobile.  We weren't able to hear her laugh on Friday, but it won't be long.  Here Amy is giving her zerberts on her cheek.  She's not too sure about them yet, but did give us a huge smile.  She is a happy little girl - lots of smiles for everyone.  However, she is also learning to make her wants and needs known.  She is now able to communicate her unhappiness not only when she is tired, hungry, or needs a new diaper, but when she has had enough of being held and wants to lay down to kick and play, or when she is bored with that and ready to cuddle.

I couldn't resist a couple of pictures when she was in her car seat and ready to go home.  She was so cute in her little beanie.

 

 

Cabinets are in!

Monday, Feb. 1, cabinet installation began.  Warren and Stan Lentzner, who built the cabinets, got the upper cabinets on the north and east walls done the first day. 

 

Tuesday they started on the south wall.  The base cabinets are all file drawers except the one on the end, which is for waste baskets.

 

  

Wednesday they built the desk area.  There are two drawer units, one on each end of a U shape.  The rest of the desk area will be open underneath, and we will have a counter top over it.    Here they are building the frame work for the counter.

 

  

the Formica counter top sample.  We ordered it today, and it should be here in about 4 weeks.  

We still have a lot to do, handles to put on the drawers, baseboard, window trim and crown molding.  We still need to paint the closet and room doors. Year end book work time isn't the best time to be doing this, but I'm working on books from time to time in the basement while work is going on upstairs.  It'll get done!