Archive for the ‘Family – All’ Category
January 21, 2007 – Snow At Last
We finally have a blanket of white after a winter of brown. The last week we’ve had two snowfalls. Just enough to warrant trying out the tractor with the blade for clearing snow.
It sure beats shoveling! I’ve still got some learning to do with the equipment, but right now it is a novel activity. This snow was folled by still and warm – not the usual howling wind, so it is once again nice to be outside.
January 20, 2006 – 90th Birthday Bash!
Today we celebrated our 90th birthday! I recently turned 45 and Linda turned 45 a while back, so we added them together, threw in a seven piece live band, cooked a turkey and invited guests to bring a dish to share.
To our surprise, everyone on the guest list was able to come. The band is the Blue Moon Players from Ames, and for you public radio listeners, Curt Snook is playing the fiddle. We won the band at a church auction and they drove out for the gig. Linda and I got to dance the first song at our wedding dance, the Iowa Waltz and a good time was had by all!
January 6, 2007 – Cooking for a Chef
It’s usually nice to bring a potluck item to a dinner, but tonight’s dinner was bit more daunting as one of the invitees spent a gig as Paul Newman’s personal chef. It was a diverse crowd – including folks from Japan and France. What to bring? Linda decided on a winter vegetables – braised cabbage with beet and apple. It was a fun evening.
Martin ended up with the trinket from the traditional Epiphany King Cake (a cake with a small trinket inside, and the person who gets the piece of cake with the trinket has various privileges and obligations.) For his part, Martin donned a home-made paper crown decorated liberally with glitter and got to pick his queen, and in an upset pick, chose Claire over Mom.
He took his responsibility seriously and insisted on wearing the crown to church and a basketball game the next day.
December 29, 2006 – Photo Friday “Best of 2006″
This week’s Photo Friday Contest theme is “Best of 2006.” Here’s a few shots that generated the most comments on the blog this year.
Marty befriends a fledgling just out of the nest by finding and feeding it worms.
A foggy spring morning just before the trellised raspberries begin to leaf out.
A brave young Kindergartener’s first day on the bus.
An egg getting candled to look for cracks.
December 25, 2006 – Kids at Christmas
December 24, 2006 – Christmas Letter Page 4
Today it’s the last page of the Christmas letter.
December 22, 2006 – Post-Solstice
Twenty-two hours after lighting the fire and a day-long drizzle, the solstice fire is not yet totally extinguished!
The biggest logs are still burning – helped by a change in wind direction. This was the warmest Solstice ever, and the first for a long time that didn’t have snow. A few years ago, there was such a snowstorm that I wasn’t even able to drive the car all the way home that evening- had to leave it on the blacktop road as the gravel was impassable.
December 21, 2006 – Winter Solstice
Today is the darkest day of the year – made dark even so much more so by the heavy overcast and fog. From here on until June 22, the day length gets longer. This was the most rewarding Solstice fire ever – mainly due to the fact that it had been raining for two days and the wood was very wet. I acquired a few extra gallons of fuel oil, anticipating the trouble, and even with 5 gallons, it barely started – but once it did, it was a spectacular fire!
We gathered around with candles and were amazed with the height and thousands of sparks flying out of the fire.
The fire was followed with a potluck meal. The house is lit only with white Christmas lights throughout – no regular lighting and it does turn into a rather magical place. We reckon about 75 people showed up, braving the drive in the night-time fog – a little bit fewer than previous years, but still a good turnout.
December 20, 2006 – Lying in Wait
The burn pile awaits.
After an all day rain/drizzle, it’s dripping, soaking, and wet. Tomorrow’s forecast is 100% chance of rain. The fire may not be a go, if not for the soaked pile, for the rain and mud and scores of people tramping to the fire and back into the house.
December 19, 2006 – Christmas Letter Page 3
Today it’s page 3 of the Christmas letter.
December 18, 2006 – Christmas Letter Page 2
Yesterday was page one of the Christmas Letter. Today it’s page 2.
Today, the last of the lambs went into the locker. Now, I have five lambskins salted down in the barn, the first stage of tanning.
December 17, 2006 – Christmas Letter Page 1 of 4
Once again, it’s time for the annual Christmas Letter. I like to take a little different tack than most and try to have some fun. The next few days, I’ll post a page or so.
Without further ado, Page 1 of the Christmas Letter.
December 6, 2006 – Rudolph
Tonight was the elementary school’s Christmas program. It was a milestone of sorts for us. It was the first time in 5 seasons we could sit and watch the program without caring for a baby, entertaining a toddler, or trying to keep a preschooler still for the program as Martin was on stage rather than in our laps or bouncing around between us.
Here he is with some of his classmates after the show!
December 5, 2006 – Winter Through a Child’s Eyes
Every once in a while it’s nice to have a child around to remind me of the important things. We had a very light flurry of snow and Martin was so excited for the snow.
He went outside and even though there wasn’t enough to sled, make snow angels, or make a fort – there was enough to try to catch a flake on his tongue. He had a blast for five minutes, enjoyed what there was and went on with his life.
I’m dreading the sub-zero windchills and lack of real snow and he’s out there laughing and catching snowflakes on his tongue.
