I'll keep posting until someone says "STOP" :)

more recent pictures

Our smiley little girl :)

With Great Uncle Walter - he said to keep the picture so I can tell her all about the "old man in the photo" when she gets older. He told me he doesn't believe he will live to see her 5th birthday.

More of Heidi

Visitors.... Dave is happy to be photographed with our little princess....


Uncle Randy is going to spoil our little girl (fine by her parents and her)....

Randy brought her a coin bank. He is intstructing her on how to hit up all her aunts and uncles for change....
Her Auntie Liz came to visit and was told to bring a pocket of change. She brought a whole jar and we have to empty the coin bank already to make room for the change she is bound to get from others. My nephew Tristan enjoyed putting the money in the bank and hearing the tractor sound. He would say that he can put it in and the "pennies are for Heidi".

Heidi

I'm back to work now, so decided it is time to post some pictures of Heidi being as the computer here is so much faster....

Here's Heidi the day she arrived home.... Her clothes I brought were way too big for her so she is swimming in a 0-3 month outfit!!!

Sleeping is a common theme.

Why is it you can't really hold a sleeping baby without falling asleep?

Daddy takes a turn watching her and both slept peacefully. Heidi would stick her hand out to tickle her father's neck, just to be touching and he didn't even flinch.

They say to do "tummy time" to help with strengthening neck muscles. I don't think this is exactly what they mean :)

Even Dan gets to take a nap

Mauri trying to make Heidi smile...

Yes Dan, she knows how to stick out her tongue now... (OK, not really)

Heidi sends hugs to everyone....

Dan and Mauri were here Monday, spent the day, kids loved them. Emalee woke up Tuesday and said, now lets eat and go to Mauri's, then proceeded to become crestfallen when I said, not yet, in one month. She also accused me of lying, supposedly I told her we were eating breakfast then heading off to Mauri's house. Everyone here is fine.....P.L.

Spent the day at the park for our Sunday school picnic. Was very fun. We take up the whole park, more water flies thru the air than can be feasibly navigated, wetness is a guarantee! Jeff Kako and I will be extending his patio this week, he put new pipe and a spigot in my front yard Saturday. Everybody is fine here, wondering how to fit all our stuff plus the dogs in the truck, always fun bringing them everywhere. NOT!!!!....P.L...

I got into the nursing program starting 8-24-09, this is a full time 4 semester program to become a R.N........

We have three April Birthdays: Drew 4-7, Jenna 4-23 and Emalee 4-25. The kids are waiting for Dan and Maury, although Emalee may be the only one who remembers them, you would think Drew and Caitlyn hang out with them regular the way they claim to know Dan and Maury......P.L.

Visitors

Miss Heidi has had many visitors and been able to meet many people.

Great Aunt TeresaAnd Uncle Dave were two of them.....
She can't wait to meet the rest of you!!!!

Miss Heidi Juliane

Here is a picture of Miss Heidi Juliane. My computer is really slow with dial-up internet. With living in the "sticks" we don't have many other options, so I will post pictures as my patience allows!!!For being such a little girl with tiny little fingers, she sure has her mommy and daddy wrapped firmly around them :)

Going on Vacation!

Hi, just got our tickets to go to Arizona. We are going to see Paul and Kendra and family, and Mauri's Mom and Dad and her Grandma. Will be lots of fun to see everyone. We are leaving April 8, 09. Hows the baby coming along? Can't wait to see the newborn on the farm. I'm talking about Heathers baby. Hope all is well with everyone.
Dan

Going on Vacation!

Baby News

Met with the doctor yesterday. The plan is for me to have the baby weight calculated at an ultrasound on Thursday. Then, either go on my own or be induced next week. My due date is the 15th, but they want baby out at 39 weeks. If I can't get in the schedule, baby will be induced by the 17th at the latest. So, coming up soon!!!

Obituary

SERVICES: Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Faith United Lutheran Church in Iron. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Faith United Lutheran Church with visitation one hour prior to the service. Arrangements are with the Range Funeral Home in Virginia.

Edwin John Takala, 91, farmer, agricultural teacher and humorist, passed away Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009, at his farm home in Iron. Ed was known for his wit, Finnish stamina (sisu) and lasting community contributions. Ed was born on May 13, 1917, to John and Hanna (Hakola) Takala. He attended a two-room school house and in 1934, graduating from Cherry High School. Ed continued his education at the Eveleth Junior College, completing his degree in Agricultural Education from the University of Minnesota in 1938.From 1938-1940 he served as vocational agricultural instructor at the Alango High School. He married Frances Stanich and they had a daughter, Mary. They were later divorced.

Ed served in World War II from 1943-1946 as United States Army Staff Sergeant in the 50th Armored Infantry, 6th Armored Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, Campaign Medal for Rhineland-Central Europe, and the Victory Medal in the European Theatre of Operations.

Upon his return from World War II, Ed resumed teaching as a vocational agricultural instructor in Embarrass from 1946-1970, reviving the Embarrass Community Fair which continues to this day.

Ed married county public health nurse Madeline Niemela in 1950. They raised four children — James, Sally, Matthew and Theodore.While teaching, he operated the home farm, assisting and encouraging his children in 4-H and FFA projects as well as church, sports and school activities.After the Embarrass school consolidated with Babbitt, he advocated for creation of ISD 710 (2142) which preserved the remaining county schools. After Embarrass closed, Ed taught at Cherry High School from 1970-1971, continuing as Veteran’s Agricultural Instructor until 1979, when he retired to his farm.He initiated the St. Louis Valley/Livestock Association and revived Cherry Area Fair adding a Rodeo which ran for over fifteen years.

Ed was active as an FFA adviser and 4-H leader, serving 25 years as the sheep barn superintendent at the St. Louis County Fair.He was a member of Faith United Lutheran Church and served on its council. Ed belonged to a number of organizations and often served as president. Some of these included VFW, Toastmasters International, Knights of Kaleva, Iron Range Historical Society, Iron Senior Citizens, NAFEC, ASC, FHA, and the Cherry Co-op Store. He was a member of the Arrowhead Development Committee and MEA Legislative Council.

Ed enjoyed writing as a hobby and self-published humorous limericks, as well as his autobiography which was also published in Finland. He compiled and edited the Clinton Township Anthology for its centennial celebration. Ed, then 75, also did a tandem sky dive for the event.

Survivors include children and spouses, Mary Nisenbaum of Oakland, Calif., James (Janette) Takala of Iron, Sally Takala (Bruce Boyce) of Waseca, Minn., Matthew (Connie) Takala of Pine City, Minn., Theodore Takala (Teresa Ries) of St. Cloud, Minn.; grandchildren, Samantha (Aaron) Polk II of Las Vegas, Nev., Benjamin and Adam Nisenbaum of Piedmont, Calif., Lindsay (Jake) Grass of Pine City, Minn., John Takala of Iron, Rudy Takala of Pine City, Minn., Bryan and Jay Takala Boyce of Waseca, Minn.; great-grandchildren, Aaron Polk III and Preston Polk; numerous nieces and nephews.

Edwin was preceded in death by his parents; siblings; Sylvia in child hood, Arthur Takala, Signe Peterson, William Takala and Mildred Carlson; wife, Madeline; an infant daughter; and son-in-law, Joel Nisenbaum; nephews, John Takala, Phillip Peterson, Arthur Peterson and Floyd Carlson.

Takala's

Ed Takala died last week.
Funeral is next Monday at 11AM at Faith United. Visitation is Sunday evening.

Life at our place

It has been an interesting past couple of weeks. I've found a new hobby: CRAIGSLIST. No, I'm not even spending money, we are selling things!

I was on there the other day and saw that someone wanted a pygmy billy goat. The great part is I had 2 to sell. He came from south of Hinkley and bought one of them and I convinced him to buy a very pregnant pygmy nanny too. (I wasn't interested in crawling around delivering babies).

Then, I posted our chickens. Shawn was going to take them out back and eliminate them. They had quit earning their keep. If they can't lay enough eggs to pay for their food, we don't want them. He ordered new ones and I posted our older laying hens on Craiglist. Someone came from Mora and bought them.

Another lady had posted that she wanted a baby pygmy, angora, or fainting goat. I had a baby born on 12/27. She was sold yesterday.

Now, I have only 3 pygmys left to sell and am corresponding with people who may be interested. Hopefully they go soon. Then, I will be left with goats that are larger and tend to stay in the fence much better. I will be done with the raising of pygmy goats! Maybe all the lilacs, roses, apple trees, cedar trees, etc. will be able to grow if the goats aren't out eating them!

As I'm selling, Shawn is looking for things to buy. I'm not sure it is supposed to work that way :). He is looking for a boar and we are corresponding with someone and hoping to get one this week. We are keeping 3 of our sows and plan to raise our own little piglets for butchering. It would be so cute to have little piglets.

Shawn continues to not be feeling real well. He got a cold and hasn't been able to kick it very fast. I'm starting to get it, but hoping it doesn't hit me as hard as it has hit him. It made for a less productive week for him. He has a job lined up to be starting next Monday so hoping he is fully recovered by then.

We are down to 5 weeks to the due date. Starting next week, I will be going to Hibbing every week for an ultrasound and fetal monitoring and then doctor's visits once a week. Should be a lot of fun :) The doctor told me to plan on the trips to the hospital taking about one and half hours each week. At least I'll be comfortable with the maternity floor by the time the baby comes and will probably have met all the nurses. She is going to try and get the visits as late in the day as possible so I'm not taking a bunch of vacation time from work.

How are things going for everyone else? What is new?

Welcome up north

Just wanted to invite everyone to come up and visit. Shawn has been busy, busy, busy.

He currently has ham and bacon in buckets in the fridge in the cure and next comes making a smoker and smoking them. We have fresh pork in the freezer :) Today he has been working on making venison hot sticks (more like loaves), summer sausage, and has pepperoni in the fridge for the night to finish up tomorrow.

Come on up and visit :)

It was a little chilly this morning, about 45 degrees. It will warm up to 70ish thu, so we'll survive. You all can keep that extreme cold, it does not do a body good. We have been at the zoo a couple of time this year already, once the tiger was wrestling a barrel. Rumor has it a chimpanzee exhibit and a komodo dragon exhibit are being added this year, that would be cool....P.L.

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy New Year's Eve and all the best in the New Year!

Keep it SAFE!

December on the 'Range

Here's a glimpse of our December: I know I've got to be missing stuff, but here's the fun things :)

My parents made us a wreath. We were joined on Christmas Day by:

My Dad
Laurie and Tristan

My Mom

Shawn was home too :)

Randy came over

and it was fun to see Tristan opening his presents

We have gotten a lot of snow this December. Perfect for snowmobiling (Yes Dan and Mauri, I'm talking to you!)

Our farm animals are making it, but I'm not sure how. Wow has it been cold, then warms up, then cold again. Poor things

Saturday following Christmas, one of my goats gave birth. Yes, they are in the GARAGE!

One of the girls

the lonely boy

the one on the right didn't make it. She was just too little. Shawn tried to make me feel better by saying it's really hard to make triplets survive. She was just too weak and too small when she was born. If this had been any other time, she would have been hauled in the house and I would have been feeding her for months. However, with baby coming, I knew Shawn wasn't going to go for that as an added chore!

Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!

f




Here are a few picks of the Christmas season. Emalee, Jenna and Drew all excited about the tree, Emalee as a little angel at the Sunday school program. Me and Bailey and of course me in the clothes Kendra found for me. P.L.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!! We're staying home for Christmas and the kids are coming over. It's been very cold here and we've had about six inches of snow in the past week. Yuk! Happy New Year to all and Best Wishes for a healthful and prosperous 2009! Dan and Mauri

Went to Ken and Bettys' Friday night for a couples party. Big Forstie party at church on the 23rd, then xmas eve and day somewhere. Lots of parting to get thru. P.L.

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone! Mauri and I went to Mark & Pam's to eat (way to much of course) Jason and Sarah also joined us. Jim and Maggie stopped in for awhile, but went to Maggie's Aunts to eat. It was a great feast of turkey, ham, potatoes, wild rice cassarole, and Mark's delicous homemade bread. Mark also baked extra for Jason and Jim's families to take home. Then most of us took a nap. We'll have leftovers for a week. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and see ya later.
Dan

Deer Hunters: Get up early, eat toast, wander out to the stand, freeze, become very drowsy, hear small noise, instantly alert, slowly look all around, try to see behind you with out turning body, see nothing, become drowsy, repeat, limp home at 9:00 a.m., tell tall tales, repeat in afternoon. Wish we were there...P.L.

Go MCcain

no wonder Im so tired!

Why I Am So Tired

For a couple of years I've been blaming it on iron-poor blood, lack of vitamins, dieting, and a dozen other maladies. Now I found out the real reason. I'm tired because I'm overworked.

The population of this country is 237 million. 104 million are retired. That leaves 133 million to do the work.

There are 85 million in school, which leave 48 million to do the work. Of this, there are 29 million employed by the federal government. This leaves 19 million to do the work.

Four million are in the Armed Forces, which leaves 15 million to do the work. Take from the total the 14,800,000 people who work for State and City Government, and that leaves 200,000 to do the work.

There are 188,000 people in hospitals, so that leaves 12,000 to do the work. Now, there are 11,998 people in prisons. That leaves just two people to do the work.

You and me . . . and you're sitting there reading jokes.

Mel Isaacson died

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at United in Christ Lutheran Church in Eveleth. The Rev. Joel Rova-Hegener will officiate. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Inurnment will be in Eveleth Cemetery. Honorary casketbearers will be Jared and Mason Isaacson. Memorials are preferred to United in Christ Lutheran Church, 201 Station 44 Road, Eveleth MN 55734. Arrangements are entrusted to Cron-Sheehy Funeral Home, Eveleth. To sign the guest book online and to leave a memorial message, go to www.cron-sheehy.com

Melvin Isaacson, 83, of Eveleth, died Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, at the Virginia Regional Medical Center.He was born Jan. 22, 1925, in Eveleth to John and Anna (Backall) Isaacson. Melvin attended Eveleth Schools. He served in the Army during World War II from 1944 to 1946 in Italy with the 85th Infantry Division. After the service he lived in California from 1946 to 1952, working for various contractors in the carpentry trade. Melvin went to work for Eveleth Mines from 1969 until his retirement in 1987. He was a life member of Mesaba Range Post 1172, Veterans of Forerign Wars of Eveleth and a member of United Steelworkers Local 6860, Carpenters Local 606 and United in Christ Lutheran Church, having served on the church council. Melvin volunteered at Camp Chicagami and loved working with the children.

He is survived by his son, Mark (Jamie) Isaacson of Eveleth; grandsons, Jared and Mason Isaacson; stepchildren, Robin (Wayne) Hopke of Hibbing and Terry Schultze of Virginia; brother, John Isaacson of Grass Valley, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Helen Saari and Aileen Ogan; and brother, Arnie Isaacson.

Installed new cooler pads today, perfect weather for that. About 74 degrees right now, but next week it will return to mid 90's. Small hurricane off Baja is sending high winds and cool temps. this way for the week-end. Bailey will start fall session this week-end and hopefully learn some good canine behavior, that is if she can even improve her already stellar performance P.L.

Its that time of year.... INDOOR ACTIVITIES

Saturday was beautiful outside, so got a bunch of chores done: cleaned the chicken coop, ..... All those fun things!

Sunday, was not so pleasant, so dug out my sewing machine and scrap fabric my mom gave me and sewed my baby a blanket. (This child is going to have so many blankets - this is the 3rd one I've sewn)

Shawn says this is too "girly" so have a more masculine one almost done and hope to finish it tonight and will post pictures. It's that time of year to purge the house and complete some projects :)

Admiral Acres

Prior to Shawn and I getting married, I didn't care what animals we had, but insisted on "no pigs". We had them when I was young and I hated them, they smell so awful. Well, just over 6 years later, guess what we have.......

We went to pick up 10 little pig yesterday from a farm in Mahtowa. They have 400 pigs there, UGH, they sure do smell. Shawn helped to load them and his hands stunk so awful he was grateful to wash them with vinegar just to kill the smell.

He eplains to the seller on how I insisted on no pigs when we got married. The guy asks me, "He finally wear you down?". My response: "I had home raised pork and then store bought pork and decided we needed pigs".

I have to admit they are kind of cute. These guys and gals are little, only around 50 pounds so we have a while to go before we will have pork for sale. Shawn is hoping in February. Not sure how much more we should add to this winter, but I can't wait for home raised ham and Shawn likes the bacon.

* January we should have some goats kidding and possibly into February.

* February we butcher pigs

*March I have a baby

*April our cows start calfing.

I need not fear that Shawn will get bored this winter :)

Now, I think we should get a few sows, a boar, and raise some cute little piglets to sell for pork later..... I must be losing my mind :)

Spent the day in Flagstaff. Weather was awesome, kids were good, then spent the evening at Kendras uncles cabin, were several of her brothers and cousins were bowhunting. Emalee likes to wear her curlers to bed and wake up with really pretty curly hair. P.L.

Ranger

Our newest addition: Ranger

Heather and Shawn

Happy Birthday

Paul,
Happy Belated Birthday! Hope it was happy!
Heather and Shawn