Roenblog:

Last week, I went to California for a work trip. I interviewed veterinarians, horse trainers and an accomplished young rider in the San Franciso area. It was really dry and wildfires were burning everywhere. Thank goodness for the Garmin GPS I rented — I would have never found my destinations!

Part of the Bay. I guess I was very near water for most of the trip, but I couldn’t see it most of the time due to the fires.

  A small vineyard near one of my interview locations

 The rider I interviewed

I drove across the San Francisco Bridge!

With our own combine!

My former FFA project is officially out of control. Here are some pictures of spring calving at the Ryan Ranch. More than 20 babies are on the ground, with more on the way.

After receiving 18 inches of snow last Friday, we ventured over to the Lakefront Brewery next to our apartment for our very first Milwaukee Friday night fish fry. Since the roads were still being cleared, we thought it would be slow. We greatly underestimated the draw of beer, fried cod and polka. Here are some pictures from my cell phone, which helps explain the low quality (also the beer contributed).

 We were pummeled with snow this week, receiving about a foot of new snow – with more expected soon. We’re at about 65” of snow received this winter.

We were too smart to go outside and get pictures like this ourselves, but this link will give you an idea of the chaos. 

Making snow angels with our client in the parking lot of my company after a long day of planning meetings and A LOT of snow.

Client and me (in a skirt!)

Dusting off after the angel

Bill and Shirley were hit with a big ice storm, which has knocked out power for the next 5 to 10 days. Generators are our friend. My parents experienced some kind of miraculous hole in the storm with ice surrounding them in all directions, but thankfully missing their particular area. At least Mom got a chance to stay home from school, and Dad’s prepared the Legos for Christmas!

Some pictures of the icy Roenfarm :

Starting December with a trip to Orlando, Fla., I was almost able to avoid the beginning of winter in Milwaukee…almost.

After a grueling trade show that started with a 7:30 a.m. flight Saturday morning, my co-worker Griffin and I headed home yesterday evening with seriously sore feet. While our flight left on time, we didn’t quite make it. Around Joliet, Ill., we were delayed in the air due to a snowstorm in Milwaukee. We circled around until the plane ran out of gas and was diverted to St. Louis. We tried to bail on the whole trip home, but Midwest wouldn’t let us go anywhere (quote from the gate agent: “I’m in charge of this plane!”) We hung out in the terminal until it was supposedly clear to get back on the plane and try again.

The snowstorm started back up — add in a medical emergency at the MKE airport that for some reason delayed the ground crew from working — and we circled around Chicago until finally getting cleared to land in Milwaukee around 2 a.m. As explained by the pilot, our other option would have been to land in Green Bay and get ground transportation back to MKE, approximately a 2+ hour drive in obviously bad weather. We thankfully made it back, somehow remained coherent enough to drive home through uncleared roads, and were back at work this afternoon. Welcome to winter in Wisconsin!

Saturday was a great day for both our former high schools. Chris’ alma mater, Macksville High School, won the 8-Man Division I state football championship. Chris’ cousin, Luke, played a great game, and a good portion of the family turned out to see it. Go mustangs!

My alma mater, South Haven High School, also headed to a state football championship — the 8-Man Division II championship game — but didn’t get to take home the trophy. They are still mighty, mighty cardinals in my book. Both teams played right after each other, so Mom got a press pass and took photos from the sidelines.