IT'S FRIDAY AGAIN

Went to a Tom and Jerry party at Skee and Nancy Green's house on Friday afternoon.  Was fun, Jim was up on Red Lake fishing.  We left early Sunday for Mac's and had a very wonderful time.  Alexis, River and Autumn and Skye were all there.  Just hung out for a few days, certainly ate like crazy but had fun trying out some new recipes like the creme brûlée egg bake, potato sausage bake, baked sweet potato with crumble topping,cookies, had a lot of fun with Christmas pretzels, Rolo's, pecans and of course cookies and Special K bars and Laura's favorite Rice Krispies marshmallow red hots Christmas Wreaths.  A mouthful to say the least.  It was fun and a wonder time at Mac's, just to watch Hope and Hudson, River and Autumn.  Went to early church but still had a candlelight service, the music was wonderful and a good sermon.
We went to John and Pam's on Christmas Day and had a very nice time and all 7 Grandchildren were there.  The Wester family is bigger than the Smith family.  Jane makes a wonderful Lasagna and Pam put on a lovely spread.  There I think I got it off highlighter.  A computer wizz I am not.
I have been a hermit since I have been home but I want to go to thr Rapids today and it's snowing.  Going to have to weigh this carefully.  Later.

IT IS FRIDAY AND WHERE DOES THE TIME GO

I did nothing on Thurs.  it was a wonderful day, I didn't leave the house, of course it helped since Jim took the car to Mpls. for his annual bladder cancer check and the pickup has the snow plow on it, I am not driving that monster.  I made spritz cookies but really just laid around and knitted.  I sent off a package of about 6 scarves to my God child Erin Roe in Sauk Rapids just for the fun of it.  I need to get at more fun things to do today.  Maybe some puppy chow for the kids and chek mix for the kids.  So much to do and here I am on the computer.  I was looking up a couple of addresses and found one. 
I sure am behind on Christmas cards.  I will probably get it done but I just don't know when.  Jim left Wed. morning early and came back Thurs. aftn. and he is off again, this time with the fish house to Red Lake.  Meeting John, Rachael and Mikie.  More walleye. 
Well I need to get at it so more later.

TODAY IS WED

Having a hard time remembering when I last posted.  Seems like it has been awhile.  Monday was a busy day, we left about 11 am and it is my fault we left so late, just couldn't seem to get it together so we didn't get to Brainerd until at least 12:20.  We were due there by noon.  We were to have picked up Paul and Loretta but Paul was sick with a bad cold so he had to cancel.  We were invited along with Duane and Teresa to Dennis and Judy Autumn's  for lunch.  Had a lovely time.  Scalloped potatoes and ham and vegetables and dessert of course.  Left by 3pm, we had to stop at Cub on the way home but made it back in time to get ready to go out again, we had a Lion's dinner at The Woodsman, Jim came as a guest.  We had Prime Rib, we could bring wine.  
On Tue. that day seemed as busy, I made a new casserole, won't make it again, it was OK but nothing that stood out.  We had our Hill Toppers Christmas party at church.  White elephant gifts, there were 9 of us there,  9 of us, can you stand it.  Teresa works so hard setting everything up and no one hardly shows.  It was a fun event in spite of the few of us that showed up.  I think we should cancel until summer.  I will have to voice that. 
On Tue eve. I had tickets for The Lowe Family Christmas Spectacular and invited Linda Johnson, she cleans our church and we wanted to do something for her.  She cleans our church as her gift to the church.  That's 52 weeks a year times 4 hours each time at least.  It is one of the best gifts ever because it affects each and every family at Bethany.  We used to all take turns but when she moved back to Remer to be near her folks she took it on.  We went to dinner first at the Sawmill Inn, it really was a fun evening, at least until the drive home.  It started snowing about 30 miles from home quite heavy and it was white knuckle time.  Took my time and we made it home by 11pm just fine.  I love Linda, she is a real jewel.
Wed. dawned and Jim left the house by 7am.  He had to go to Mpls. for his annual check up, it has been at lease 30 years since his bladder cancer.  He is doing well.  He will be back tomorrow.  I know I need to get some things together for our trip down to Mpls. for Christmas but I sure am lazy today.  All I have done all day is eat.

WINTER WONDERLAND

MOMDAY AND I AM THINKING DEEP THOUGHTS

Sometimes I wonder about my heritage.  I know when Grandma Olson came over from Norway they were very poor and like many immigrants looking for a better life.  I don't know how fate steps in to our lives sometimes, how she met Grandpa Olson, I know he was born in the U.S., they married and Mom was born in 1916, Cora the firstborn in 1906, so Inga was 21, probably Married that year when she became pregnant.  Grandpa or R.C. sat down at age 52 with Rheumotid Arthritice, he was a farmer because his Dad died but I guess he always wanted to be a lawyer, this is hearsay according to Mom.  
The reason I mention all this is because I always felt we were poor white trash.  It's a funny term, my Dad died when I was 7 and here Mom was pregnant with number 5.  I simply don't know how she managed for the years when she was married to my Dad.  We lived in a sack behind the body shop in town when he worked there in two rooms.  He was never home and when he was he was out drinking and carrying on with other women, according to Mom.  He worked road construction.  Don't remember him at all.  I look at my siblings, myself, to see how far we have come and have we made our parents proud or have we lived down to them.  I can't be the judge.  
Pretty deep stuff for so early in the morning,  I was reading my daily devotion today and how Christ is our perfect gift.  We sure have moved away of making Christmas so commercial, I am glad of that, so many in need and so many charities that can use our help.
I worked hard all my life and accomplished so much, did well for myself but see my girls struggle, life is so much easier with a partner.  It may just not be meant to be for them at this time.  Timing is èverything, we sold our house in Burnsville at the right time, retired at the right time, my second marriage works so well, he manages our finances, I would make a shambles of it.  We love each other and care so much about so many of the same things.  We are truly blessed and I thank God and that I have God in my life.  Jesus is the reason for the season.

BUSY WEEK

Here it is Fri. Already.  Warming up an egg bake in the oven.  Where does the time go?  I rested Mon. and Tue., just knitted and crocheted, had fun till Tue. night when I had to drink the prep for a colonoscopy on Wed. Got that over with, we went out to one of our favorite breakfast places in Deer River, The Sportsman.  Stuffed hash browns -yummy.  We then stopped by the vet. T drop off a stool sample of Otto's, I feel like he is having issues, it was frozen so they want a new sample, I have a vet. Appt. today at 10:15.
Yesterday was Bethany Crafter's at. Audrey's, so many goodies, and a fun gathering.  In the afternoon Lorretta and I went to the yarn store in Outing.  More fun.
Jerry Birtie showed up by 7 last night, he and Jim got up at 5 this morning to go ice fishing on Upper Red Lake.  You can only fish about 1/3 of that lake because its a reservation.  You always catch walleye there.  He and John and Andrew were there last weekend.
I have a busy day.  Vet. Appt. this morning and Wine Club at Helen's this afternoon at 5pm.
LATER!

IT SNOWED ALL DAY SUNDAY

Well what a day, we had church and then a brunch, reminds me that we are going to have egg bake this morning, leftovers, and then a music concert, it was lovely.  Jim brought Pastor's daughter Rebecka some walleye as a gift.  She sings like an angel.  It was a lovely concert and we were blessed by the music.  
It snowed all day.  I think  Skye, Mac and Alexis got 12-16 inches.  We got 5-6 inches I think, not sure but it sure snowed.  Good for the industry. Not for the lakes.  Too much insulation but with the cold and it says it's 6 below up here this morning the lakes will build ice.  A lot every day.
It took a long time for them to get home.
I get up in the morning and I have so many things too choose from I never know where to start.  Should I knit, crochet, read, write notes or blog.  So many things to choose from.  

SAT AND TRAVELING HOME

Well I got home quite safe and sound on SAT. by 1pm.  Only made a couple of stops, I picked up two  white plain aprons and I will have to get another one, I don't know what I was thinking, next fall Heidi, Mark and will, be doing the "Chile Cook Off"at Boxelder Bug Days in Minneota, I need to come up with aprons for us and why not start with a basic white.  Now what to put on them.  We will be making Norwegian Chicken Chile.  A secret recipe that is highly guarded thought the year.  More aprons, would be fun if Pat and Jim came too.  This will be a big deal for us.  I am open to suggestions for our team, so far it's the "Johnson Team".  Jens Johnson was one of the founders of Minneota and homesteaded in the community early on.
Back to my Sat.  Got some towels to crotchet, having a blast with that and picked up some things for baking.  Some good melting chocolate and candy canes.  Heck when I got home I made 3 separate trips to town for stuff for the 2 egg bakes.  Ask me if I have it together.  I really must be tired that I can't check out the recipe just to see if I have things on hand.
Had a nice dinner, John, Andrew and Jim went up to Red Lake to fish for walleyes, how yummy it will be.
We were supposed to get a huge storm bur all we got so far is less than an inch.
Have to finish off the egg bakes.  Good to be home.
Great to be home.

THAT OLD GANG OF MINE

Where to begin, as I was sitting in the lobby I just knew I had to do something about seeing Sharon, with three of the girls left I knew I wouldn't be missed so I decided to leave by 8:30.  I called Sharon and she was available at 9am.  She was going to a pottery showing over in Woodbury and asked if I wouldn't mind us visiting on the way.  I even found 3 pieces of seconds I really liked.  Was fun, they had cider, cookies and she does some lovely pottery.  I will post it later.
Sharon found out she might be available for a study on her breast cancer, it's new and there are only 61 participants in the US that are participating in this study.  It is offered for second time breast cancer patients.  I think Sharon will do it.  You do a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy so you don't then have to have such a radical reconstruction.  Followed by 3 weeks of radiation twice a day six hours apart for three weeks.  It was so good to see her.  I was with her almost 3 hours.
I had to be at Gwen's by noon and I was there by 11:45.  Se made us lunch, we has a little wine and pizza and. A dip and chips Wendy brought.  Together again, Gwen, Wendy, Sarah and I.  What fun.  Wendy and Sarah are the only ones of us at ChartHouse.  Sharon was there too but in downsizing after I retired, Sharon was let go and so was Gwen.  It was so good to see the girls and we have already put it on our calendar for next year.  It started to snow so by 2:45 I headed for the barn, in other words I needed to get from Farmington to Mounds View before rush hour or instead of one hour by car it would take two.  I got to Skye's by 3:45.  Pour Skye, she only gets what is left of me.  I was so tired, we watched a movie, she ran errands and I went to bed early.  I was exhausted for the 4 lunches and 3 dinners out.  It was a wonderful time.
Recap: Lunch,
TUE: Susi - Ozzie - Tif - Dot; WED: Judy - Barb -Vera;
THURS: Dot -Debbie- Susi     FRI: Gwen -Sarah -Wendy.
Recap: Dinner,
TUE: Melanie; WED:  Lynn -Nancy-Dot; THURS: Dot - Debbie - Susi
I sure was on the go.
Now to home, we got over an inch of snow so there is a blanket of white out there.  I know Jim is going to go ice fishing up to Red Lake with John and Andrew today and I have to get home as soon as I can for the dogs.  We have our. Christmas concert at church with a brunch so I have two egg bakes to make.  And the babies, Makons and Otto, I can't leave them very long.  Nerd to get some soup and more melting chocolate at Colburn's.

Thurs -OFF AGAIN

Well today I had a little extra time and Skye and I made up some cookies.  I had bought some melting chocolate to put inside of round pretzels and we made sugar cookies.
I met Dottie Debbie and Susie at Pei Wei at 1pm.  Lovely lunch and off to check in at The Homewood Suites by Hilton.  For $159 plus tax of course we got a lovely room with 2 queen beds, small living room and kitchen and dinner and breakfast for all four of us.  Now how can you beat that for price.  We also spent at least 3 hours shopping at stores so expensive I would never buy anything.  I don't know, it must be me.  Fun being with the girls.  That's the important part.  We also went to the movie Anna Kerenana - I will have to check the spelling.  It sucked.  What a waste of good actors.  We couldn't believe it.  We got back to our hotel and talked till midnight.  Too fun and I am down in the lobby of the hotel typing away, and what a lovely lobby it is.  Cosy in front of the fire.

Wednesday,what fun again.

Today Skye cut, foiled and toned my hair.  Darling - I look marvelous!  What a beautiful job she does.  

Off to Judy Thompson's house today for lunch.  I am meeting Vera and Barb there. The four of us used to work together at Holiday Foods in Account's Payable for four years.  We did have fun and we have got together for birthdays and Christmases for years now.  The birthdays have gone by the wayside but it was so special to get together for the holidays.  Judy's husband Bill is not doing well.  The Parkinson's is taking it's toll.  It's funny I suppose, we all have or had someone to take care of and maybe that's what it's all about.  Being there for people, the girls liked the bracelets.  I of course do too.  That's what I gave this year, Lorretta's pop-tab bracelet's.  Too fun for me.

I was then off to dinner.  I think Jim is going to be correct, at least a $500 few days.  Tonight I met Lynn and Dot and Nancy for dinner at The Sunshine Factory.  We had such a lovely time.

I hadn't see Lynn for so long.  Got back to Skye's by 7:30.

TUE AND WE ATE OUR WAY TODAY

Met at YUM'S  by Calhoun - met Susie, Dot, Tif and Ozzie at 11am, we had a lovely time and then I killed a few hours at Ridgedale Shopping center with Ozzie, she left about 3:30 and I just walked until I got tired.  Good for me to walk.
Melanie showed up after work, we met by 5pm.  Had a lovely dinner at "The Big Bowl".  Melanie seems to have gotten over her anger at the world.  I hope she can continue to heal.  Life isn't fair and we just need to learn just how precious it is.  Go back to Sky's about 7pm and of course we had a fun evening, we always do.

SUNDAY WAS TOO FUN

Well, where to start.  Went to church, I felt so bad because all I got out of the sermon was the connection he was trying to make about "road construction".  I simply didn't get it but then I can be as dense as a stick.
We had wonderful birthday cake downstairs.  I wanted seconds but didn't.
We had an early lunch and it wasn't until about 2pm Jim asked me what day were our concert tickets for?  Well they were for that night.  We almost forgot to go.  We were so looking forward to it.
A LETTERMEN CHRISTMAS!
They sang a million Christmas songs, they were wonderful, what the did to make "The Twelve Days of  Christmas" so entertaining was just to funny for words.  It was a riot.
They sang a lot of their old standards,  Theme from "A Summer Place", Going Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off of You, Put Your Head On My Shoulder, Smile, Shangri-La, Traces/Memories.  Too name a few.  They have one original member.  Tony Butala.  At 75 he stills sounds pretty darn good and one of the other members Donovan Tea, has been with him since 1984.  He was with a group called "Th Young Americans".  The other member of the troupe was equally wonderful, but hearing Donovan sing "Oh Holy Night" let me tell you, he received a standing ovation for that.  It was wonderful entertainment and sure get you in the Christmas  mood.

SAT. AGAIN - HOW DO THE WEEKENDS ROLL AROUND SO FAST?

I felt so bad today, I just found out from Dot today that here sister Betty died.  She was 86 and had lived a full life but it just makes you feel so bad for her family.  The have 5 daughters.

Yesterday was fun, Sue Selenski picked me up at 7am and we were at the Maplewood Mall by 10 am.  Stopped only once on the way for a McDonald's latte.  We stopped at JoAnn's Fabric first and I picked up 2 yards of muslin for liners for Baked Potato Bags and Dog Beds.  I forgot my coupon and we stood in line at least 10 minutes trying to get the app on Susan's I phone.  Finally got it so I could get a 20% discount.  What a silly waste of time.  Why couldn't they just give me a coupon from a flyer laying around.  KILL ME!
Then off to Coldwater Creek, Talbot's, Christopher Banks and we hit Chico's.  Now do I have a story for you.

" THE BAT STORY"

Susan found the most to die for gorgeous dark blue/teal shade of velvet blazer.  Tank top and scarf to match.  Too lovely.  I found a cute tank top, red, was $69 marked down to $19.99.  My price range, has about 50 little red leather circles sewn on the front.  Perfect for the blazer I was wearing.  Yes yes I will get to the bat.  They had two discount racks one up and one lower.  Susan was finished trying on clothes and came over to the discount rack and found a lovely burnt orange sweater and was caring it over to the cash register to go to the mirror to try on and boom it happened.  Inside the sleeve a brown bat, The little brown myotis, our most common bat species, occurs over most of North America. Together with the Northern myotis and big brown bat, it hibernates in Minnesota caves and mines. In summer, they roost in caves, mines, hollow trees, and buildings. Groups of these bats hang upside-down in caves. The Tri-colored bat is our smallest species, weighing only two-tenths of an ounce. It is found in the same Minnesota caves and mines, though it is uncommon and almost solitary.  The silver-haired bat is a forest dweller that usually lives near water. It feeds among the trees much like the Eastern red bat, though the latter is noted for its unusual feeding habits. Usually a red bat pair will fly the same route, over and over, in search of food. Another woodland species is the hoary bat. It is the largest Minnesota bat, weighing an ounce or more. All three species are solitary, roost in trees, and migrate south for the winter.  I think it was The Hoary Bat.  You wouldn't believe the size of this guy.  He was at least an ounce and brown.  I told the clerk to grab a clear plastic shoe box that was on the shelf and put on top of it and they did but the clerks were panicking.  Susan and I weren't and I don't know why not, it was in the sleeve of the sweater she was going to try on.  I asked them immediately if they offered "bat discounts."  The called someone to come and get the bat,  We continued to shop.  She didn't get the bat discount.  The nerve of those clerks. You wouldn't believe how squashed the clothes were on the discount rack.  He really had to search for that hiding place.

We left Chico's and headed for Albertville Outlet Mall, Stopped at Subway for our lunch, went to Chico's and Christopher Banks.  By then it was 10 to 3 and we were tired, we had called Gerry Gustaphson and went over to Gerry and Herb's place for coffee.  Was so fun to connect with them, they had lived in Remer until his health took them to Albertville to live.  A lovely town home on one level.  Herb is 10 years senior to Gerry.  We headed out at 4:15, they aren't but 5 minutes away from the Mall.  We stopped at the Hallmark store in Elk River and McDonald's in Garrison on the way home for a quick bite.  Got home by 7:45 so we were only gone 13 hours.  Quite a whirlwind trip.  Fun and I would do it again.

Slept like a baby from 9pm to 5 am.  Feel like a million bucks and am working on towels to hook on the stove.  It's Elaine's pattern and cute as can be.



WELCA and eye appt. today

I had a heck of a time finding my Gather magazine so I could do my Bible study for today but found it last night.  11th hour as it were.  I put a topper on the tree yesterday, it is an old one of my Moms.

MONDAY AFTERNOON

I will get the pictures in now and add notes later.  If I can find them in my picture file.