Milestones December 11, 2010

Last year on December 11th 2009 I wrote a blog post about Milestones.  The birth of a child, a 90th birthday, and some anniversary milestones that were personal to Far Guy and I.
This year was kinda the same old, same old..the baby would be one, Auntie Esther would be 91. I put a birthday card in the mail to her on Wednesday..

Auntie Esther on her 90th birthday December 10, 2009

While were were gone to Jens we heard the news that Auntie Esther had died.  We were in to visit with her on Tuesday afternoon, she was cheerful and was glad to see us.  She was my oldest blog reader..she told me “They get me up in the wheelchair and I get over there to the computer and read your blog.”  She knew she was dying, she was looking forward to going to heaven to see her Lord and Savior and to see her Jim again…she shared that with us over the past few weeks.  It was her decision not to go back to the hospital anymore and she told us that she was getting very tired.  Thursday morning she died, one day before her 91st birthday.  She will celebrate in Heaven this year.
These are some of the people who were very happy to see her.

(Far Guys Parents on the left and Auntie Esther and Uncle Jim on the right)

I can hear Uncle Jimmy’s big old booming voice saying “What took you so damn long?” :)

At Jens

We are Up North at Jen’s..

The boys… I swear they grew two inches since we seen them last. I don’t think they eat enough to be growing so much..but what do I know about little boys…having only raised girls..boys are sometimes a bit of a mystery to this Grandma. 

Chaucer’s tail, Miney and Jen

In years to come we will laugh at Chaucer’s tail being in this photo. Chaucer is the cat.  Jen had a minor surgery earlier in the day..she is looking great…and will be better than new in a few days.
Jen is all decorated for Christmas!

Outside as well as inside. 

She is much more organized than I am..I did get our Christmas Cards ordered and the stamps purchased and the mailing labels printed and some packages mailed off.  I still have time:)

Ornaments: New In 2009 #2

Okay..I have been properly scolded.  This evening when Jen called she said “Let me speak to my Father..I want to see if HE remembers me?”

It seems that this ornament was from her last year.  She gave me some song and dance about how she picked it out especially for me because she knew I would remember it was from her..because she loves bunnies. ( She is fairly good about making me feel guilty.)   I know she loves bunnies..but it is usually me  buying them for her instead of the other way around.  As soon as this ornament sees the light of day..it is still packed away..I am going to mark it on the bottom.  I took five photos of this ornament last year..so I did know it was special last year…and I really like it!

This one I remember well..I bought it for myself when The World of Christmas went out of business last year. Note the sedate refined colors.

This is the one that Far Guy picked out for himself.  This is a huge heavy ornament… that has to be supported by a branch..note no color was spared in it’s creation.

Our tree downstairs is always the same ..blue lights and as many of our ornaments with memories as possible.   The table for Wood Carving is still up..so the Christmas tree is not up yet..we still have time:)

Wistful Wednesday: Christmas 1963

Sometimes I look back on some of these old photos and I look at my hair and my glasses and shake my head..like this one taken back in 1963. I laughed..so it is okay if you find it amusing too.

I was 12 that year, my other baby brother who was part cowboy was 3, and my baby brother was 9.

Mohair sweaters were all the rage that Christmas, as were those stretch pants..I believe I got these clothes for Christmas that year, along with the snazzy looking boots.

In this photo I see the TV off to the left..Moms plant stand behind me, a very short tree, a Dieffenbachia plant, my Mothers sewing machine, and a rag rug on the floor with a few of my other baby brothers new toys.

The old oak floor looks pretty good,my Mother used to use Johnsons paste wax on it and then it was buffed to make it shine.  The oak floor was under many layers of linoleum when the house was remodeled the first time.  Off to the left you can see a section that looks different..we are actually standing in the old pantry and a section had to be put in the floor where the pantry wall had once been.  I can still remember the wonders that the pantry held..especially freshly baked bread.

It looks like it was frosty outside. This roll of film sat in the camera for four months before it was developed, my baby brothers tenth birthday photos were probably on the same roll of film:)

Ornaments: New In 2009

I have been afflicted..with CRS..that would be Can’t Remember Stuff ( or shit if you prefer.)

I also have  OCCOD..Obsessive Compulsive Christmas Ornament Disorder.
I cannot for the life of me remember who gave me this ornament.  I laid awake half the night trying to go back in the dark recesses of my brain…who was the person?  Maybe it was Far Guy?  Maybe I bought it for myself..
When I get the ornaments out from their boxes perhaps I will find I wrote on the bottom..ya right.  Maybe all of a sudden out of the blue it will come to me.  I love it..I raised bunnies at one time..they are lovely little creatures. They are very prolific and I was fairly good at helping them raise all their young.
I know who gave me this one..it was from the little gal over at Livin’ It Up Country..a snowflake ..a reminder that snowflakes can be beautiful! (She likes snow much more than me.)
This one was from Jo at West Side of Straight..She sews, she quilts so this one is a lovely reminder of all of her talents! I can remember it is from her because she was thoughtful enough to mark it for me!
I have more..but I will share them another day..we still have time before Christmas..and I have hundred of photos of Christmas Ornaments:)

It seems the bunny ornament  mystery is solved..
Mot-her!  Who do you think gave you that ornament? Are you having an Alzheimer moment? Do I need to put you in a home? Who collects bunnies? Who are bunnies important to? When you think of bunnies WHO do you think of? Well, apparently you don't think about me, the person who gave you the ornament! Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Is It Time to Make a List?

Do you make lists?  Do they help keep you organized?  Far Guy started to make a list on Amazon of all the ideas he has for Christmas Gifts for himself.  I am not making one..I will not hand over my list until I have one from each of our children..and time is a wasting. I am not ready to shop yet..but you never can tell when I might go completely nuts and enter a store with a real gift in mind.

Mother Nature has a list..it only has a couple of words on it..snow, cold, wind..repeat till spring.

All day yesterday it snowed..not much,  but the entire day there seemed to be snow in the air.

The snow stick didn’t change much since our last snow fall.

This was the snow stick on Saturday morning..the snow was all sparkly and everything. Even though it snowed  all day yesterday the stick remains the same this morning..it must be the Fluffy Factor Phenomenon..the more snow we get the more it packs down. 

I suppose I could rescue the poor scarecrow.  I did change the flag and brought in the Thanksgiving “stuff” that was on the wreath next to the door.

Decorating for Christmas happens fairly slowly around here…think snails pace or slower.   The girls and their husbands are bringing our Grands here for Christmas.  I am thankful that the grands love coming here..when I was a child we always went to my Grandparents too..however all I really wanted to do was stay at home and have a quiet day.  I asked Far Guy “Are you sure they really want to come here?”  I guess Noah wrote it on the calendar.. “Go to Grandmas” ..end of subject. That means I should decorate sooner or later…then again think of all the help I would have if I waited till Christmas Eve.

I am thinking it might be time to make a list or two or three and get organized around here.  A decorating list..a things to bake list..a menu with a grocery list..and yes a gift shopping list too..but I still have plenty of time:) 

The Music

Christmas Music..I never much cared for it.  The music that begins in the stores to get me in a Christmas shopping mood in October was a miserable failure.  I can sing rock and roll songs in my head to counteract all those here come santy claus songs. To date the number of gifts purchased..one. 

I have only heard one “Christmas Carol” that I really like and that would be Away in a Manger..and it is rarely sung..except in a  Christmas program that includes small children.  It is not exactly high on the play list at wally world or anyplace else where you throw your money away at this time of year. 

I can walk in a winter wonderland all day long, I can feel jack frost nipping at my nose and my toes.  I don’t need to dream of a white Christmas, I am living that nightmare.  I never saw my mommy kissing santa claus, the halls aren't decked here yet even though It’s beginning to look alot like Christmas other places.  There is no pretty paper or ribbons around here and no chestnuts roasting on any kind of fire and I refuse to watch out for runaway sleighs pulled by reindeer.

Some people think that this is the most wonderful time of the year because all they want for Christmas is their two front teeth.  Merry Christmas Texas You All might have been a big hit a long time ago..frankly I have never heard it.  Sadly or maybe not so sadly we no longer have a record player that will play it. 

Far Guys newest Christmas record.

I don’t listen to Christmas music..Far Guy can listen to it if he wants..he has head phones.  If I hear santa baby or holly jolly Christmas one more time, I will just stick my head in a snow bank till December 26 when all the insanity is over. 

Far Guy says his favorite Christmas song is Silent Night..for me all that conjures up is the time on Christmas eve where we were supposed to sing it as it was originally written in German..:)

**Far Guy wants you to know that Silent Night was originally written for guitar music…back in 1818 the Church organ was broken.

Whitetail Winter Wonderland

Yesiree..I am living in a Whitetail Winter Wonderland nightmare. The skies are grey and the *&^% deer are taking over.

Yesterday when we returned home there was a parade of deer in the west driveway. We stopped and watched as one by one they made it across the driveway into the woods..I hope they took their damned deer ticks with them. Number four is hard to see..but take it from me he is there! ** Click to enlarge

How did they know that Chance was in the house while we ran an errand..oh ya..maybe they heard him howling and crying in protest.  It was way too cold to take him along..and sometimes he protests all the while we are gone.  Yes, we do leave him alone occasionally..he doesn’t like being left behind.

Today more of that beautiful white stuff is falling out of the grey sky:)

Carved Santa

Recently we took another carving class, with a very talented instructor by the name of Sheila. 

Far Guy and our daughter Jen collected larger pieces of Cottonwood bark for the class.

I picked a piece that had a real flow that would make a beard. This entire piece is about 14 inches long.

With bark carving you just have go with what the wood tells you.  Using this piece of bark was a risk because of the lack of wood on the right side of this photo. However if I could make it work it was going to be an awesome piece.

One by one the features come out in the face.  His eyes are all squinty because they are easier to carve that way..eyes are difficult.  Did you know that eyes have eye bags..one is carved in the photo above and one is just penciled in.

Now for the beard …

I debated was it done or not?  I decided that eight hours was enough time to carve on this project. Yes, there are imperfections when you carve with bark..but no two pieces are alike either.

  I painted it and then I took Bees wax and slathered it all over with a stiff brush and then I melted the wax with a hair dryer. Then I took another stiff brush and buffed it after it was dry.

 

There he is done!  He still needs a hanger on the back of some sort..I think I will wire him to a wreath that I decorated for Far Guys Mom years ago..he is pretty large..he will take up one whole side of the wreath.  It is a wreath I keep indoors..on the railing upstairs.  I have to take the completed carving  to carving class first and show it off before he finds his final home.

Far Guy carved a Santa also..two of them..both have problems which he will eventually get sorted out..one is in two pieces for the second time around.  Bark Carving is an adventure and a great pastime in the winter:)

Unexpected Gifts

A few days ago I received a packet of old photos from a gal in Fort Myers, Florida.  They are interesting old photos that I have scanned and I will mail back to her shortly.

Included in the package was a unexpected gift. Artvelopes.  She designed them to help keep letter writing alive!  The process to make them includes drawing, copying, glue making, folding, glue application and packaging.  I haven’t  seen anything like them before.

I am a letter writer..imagine that!  I have several friends that have refused to join the computer generation. I should write them more often. I try for one letter a month, but sometimes time just slips by. Sometimes they call and ask “Are you guys OK?”

Can you imagine opening your mailbox and finding an Artvelope inside?  Pam takes decorating envelopes to a whole new level!  She showcases some of her artwork on her blog. Spirituality 101: Introspection and Reflection ..check it out ..tell her Far Side sent ya over.

What was your last unexpected gift?  During the Christmas Season perhaps we get all wrapped up in what we will buy.  The last four unexpected gifts that I received were all homemade or gathered gifts..what were they?  A jar of plum jelly, these Artvelopes, a box of Cyprus knees and a bag of catfish! :)

Wistful Wednesday: Christmas 1984

It is December First today..so let the Christmas activities begin.

This is Christmas 1984 at Far Guys sisters house in Indiana.  Far Guy had hair back then and my hair was really..really long.  The only one missing from this photo is Ronald..he was taking the photo.  From the left, Far Guy, His Dad, me, Jennifer ( age 9), Trica (age12), Bethany( age 3), Jan and a tired looking Mom.  Far Guy and his sister only have girls…the three pictured here.

Oh yes, and that is Baby Snuffer trying to steal some cookies. Baby Snuffer was born when we lived in Florida and flew to Indiana when she was old enough and had all her shots. She must have been about 11 years old in this photo ..and she knew better..but she loved cookies. She also loved to see us, it was like she remembered us and her Mother.  

Christmas in Indiana is way warmer than Christmas in Minnesota. It is possible to have Christmas without snow.  This was at their house in town with the fenced in back yard..a great place for mother and daughter dogs to run around and play!

It was a long drive..it used to take about eighteen hours to get there.  Sometimes the roads would be icy and sometimes snowy, we used to drive straight through..while the girls slept. It was easier that way:)

I finally captured the eagles

Chance and I have been out to check on the dead deer in the field many times. It was fairly simple to do once it snowed..there was no eagle activity. We would drive by slowly..the deer was just a snow covered bump in the field.

Sunday it was really warm, it was about 45 degrees..the snow began to melt and late in the afternoon the eagles returned. The aroma must have been too much for them to resist..either that or the lake is frozen over in their favorite fishing spots.

They seemed content to pose for some photos.  They hopped around a little but didn’t fly away. 

There was a plane buzzing around.

See that speck in the sky?  That is Reino flying around, his wife is part of our carving group.  I asked her if her hubby was out flying around on Sunday afternoon..she said “Oh yes.”   So I will print her a photo..it isn’t often that you get a picture of your husband soaring above some eagles.

Yesterday it was a rainy, icy, snowy mix. This morning it is snowing ..not enough to warrant a snow stick photo..but enough to make the ground all white again..it is 16 degrees F or –9C for my Canadian friends.  Today is the last day of November..other than the arrival of the snow and colder temperatures it was a pretty good month:)

Chance: Sivertson Lake

Far Side wanted to show you a photo of some idiots.

They are North Dakota idiots ( their vehicle had North Dakota License Plates), I ran down the hill and barked at them.  I ran out on the lake just a little..when Far Side shrieked for me to come back..I did.

Far Side wondered if they had spikes in their shirt pockets, just in case they fell through the ice.  Her Uncle Andrew always carried them in his shirt pocket all winter..especially to the fish house.  She would tell him to be careful on the ice..he would pat his pocket and say “I’ve got my spikes.”  If you fall through the ice into the water, you can use the spikes to claw at the surface of the ice until you get a good enough grip on the ice to pull yourself out.

  I sat and watched the fisherman while Far Side took this photo just before sunset.  Nothing exciting happened..they didn’t fall in the lake..but I wasn’t allowed out on the ice to see how thick it was either.  

It was 45 degrees F yesterday, and mostly sunny.  More of the snow shrunk. Far Side said “I could take this kind of weather for the entire winter!  If it stays nice for a few more days all the snow will be gone!” :)

As The Snow Settles

That snow that we got the other day is still here. It was not a bad dream or a figment of my imagination.

And guess what..it was so fluffy and light that it settled. It even snowed a little more..perhaps that was the culprit..it was a heavy snow.

This snow on top of the very thin ice that was on the lakes makes a nearby lake look safe..when it is not. 

The thin ice is just disguised by the snow. We have not had enough below zero ice making weather to make the ice strong enough for people or vehicles yet. Shell Lake yesterday, November 27, 2010.

  I like this lake the best in the spring..Shell Lake in May 2010.

May is still six months away. I guess the snow will be here for awhile.  I would like to hibernate like an old bear..what a great feeling it must be to hunker down for the winter and sleep till spring:)   

Savannah: The Artist in 2006

Savannah our eldest granddaughter is very talented, she can draw just about anything.

In 2006..oh gosh that was four years ago already..

She was awfully cute..pink earrings and all.

She drew a picture using chalks in her art class.  Her teacher was so impressed he entered her piece of art in a contest.  She won!! Her art work was made into a poster.

  I could not fit all of it on my large scanner..but I got the most important part.  Her piece is named “Morning Flight.”

I did take a photo of it a long time ago.  It is still rolled up and in a tube..but it is now signed by the artist.  We need to get it matted and framed and displayed.

She is now a Freshman and she is finally getting to take an art class in High School.  Some of her art ends up on pieces of clothing..T-shirts and old jeans have been remade into walking pieces of art..nothing that I would wear..but she has fun creating and designing.

It seems like only yesterday that I would put her in the high chair and scotch tape a blank piece of paper onto the tray and arm her with fat crayons or magic markers:)

Hydrangeas and me

I love the long days of summer, the evening light is perfect for some great photography.

The perfect Pee Gee Hydrangea blooms that I have waited all summer for are at their best in August. I can stay out till at least 9PM and still have good light for photographs.

Fall enters and the cooler temperatures change everything.

My Hydrangea is still beautiful, I  appreciate the different hue it takes on in its Fall dress.  I can still take photos in the evening..but I am back home by 8PM.

Then it gets colder and darker.

We get some frost..I can still see some beauty in the Hydrangea blooms..a frosty beauty.  Staying out till 7PM is still possible if the sun is shining.

Then it happens Daylight Saving Time drops us into the dark depths of winter..now I must go out in the afternoon to photograph anything..and if it is cloudy by 4PM I am done.

It snows and covers up my blooms. Soon the snow will accumulate and cover the entire plant..it will be just a few twigs sticking in the air.  It will be entrapped  in the deep freeze for months.

As the Hydrangea progresses so does my overall mood.  I get a tad crankier. My good moods are few and far between. I think they are stuck in the snow bank just like the Hydrangea.

Forget winter.. how many days till spring? :) 

Thanksgiving 2010

We are spending a quiet day at home, cooking a turkey and thinking about how we can use all the leftovers..Turkey Hotdish, Turkey and Biscuits and Gravy and Turkey Salad Sandwiches are some of our favorites.  We will make two different kinds of stuffing/dressing..one with sautéed  giblets for Far Guy and one with apples and raisins for me. I like the dark meat, Far Guy likes the white meat.

How many of you remember this Thanksgiving song by Lydia Marie Child?  Far Guy and I tried to sing it the other day, neither of us could remember all the words. We both learned it in grade school. I wonder if the music teachers use this song anymore?  It was written in 1844 as a poem. 

Over the river, and through the wood,

To Grandfather's house we go;

The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh

through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river, and through the wood—

Oh, how the wind does blow!

It stings the toes and bites the nose

As over the ground we go.

Over the river, and through the wood,

To have a first-rate play.

Hear the bells ring, "Ting-a-ling-ding",

Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river, and through the wood

Trot fast, my dapple-gray!

Spring over the ground like a hunting-hound,

For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river, and through the wood—

And straight through the barnyard gate,

We seem to go extremely slow,

It is so hard to wait!

Over the river, and through the wood—

Now Grandmother's cap I spy!

Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!..Lydia Marie Child

It is a balmy –8 F  this morning.  Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Wistful Wednesday : Thankful

When I write Wistful Wednesdays I look back through my many files of old photos until a photo strikes my fancy. A photo that begs to be written about.

  My first thought about this photo was “ Someone quick grab that baby, that old lady is going to drop it.”  My second thought was “Who are these people?” 

To the best of my Aunt Anna’s  recollection these are people from Finland.  It seems my Grandmother sent a box of clothing to Finland after their wars..because the Finnish people had nothing.  The Finns being in such close proximity to the Soviet Union fought them during the Winter War and the Continuation War, they also fought  Germany during the Lapland War.  The Finns survived, but their economy was a mess…some of the Finns lost all of their possessions from being burned out during the wars.

This is a photo that these Finnish people sent back to my Grandparents to thank them for the clothing. This photo was probably taken in the late 1940’s.

So on this eve of Thanksgiving..if you have clothing be thankful.  

You should be thankful for clothing in another way to..IF I were in charge of the TSA you would all be flying NAKED.  That would put an end to all the protests and complaints and mamby pamby whining about full body scans and “pat downs”:) 

The Third Snow

It had to happen, sooner or later we had to get the third snow. This is the one that usually stays for the winter. No happy dances were performed during this event.

Yesterday was miserable, the roads were icy and snow covered.

Far Guy made me a snow stick.  You might see more of this stick over the winter.

We put it out in an area that were we don’t remove snow, we will have to see how it works out.

Chance catching a few flakes.  He likes the snow, it makes him energetic.  We had to go out and play ball again in the dark..in the snow..he is becoming more obnoxious about playing ball in the house with the cold weather.  You have to watch where you walk as you could step on a ball. I will be fine as long as I don’t step on two at one time.

Yup, just about five inches of beautiful sparkling snowflakes have piled up in the last 24 hours.  Today the sun is shining.

You can see my path over to the snow stick.  I am not quite ready for winter to stay…after all it is a whole month yet until the first official day of winter.  I have lived up here in the Northland all my life, except for a few glorious winters that were spent in Colorado and Florida.  In Colorado it snows one day and melts the next and it hardly ever got forty below zero, and well Florida speaks for itself..sunshine and rainbows all year round.

We have more snow and possibly a snowstorm forecast for tomorrow and Thanksgiving.  I doubt that we will travel to where we were invited, way up north about a four hour drive one way when the roads are good. That doesn’t sound like any fun at all..eight hours in the car for a Turkey Dinner..possibly I could warm up some soup or something:)