And so the month of July is past. We planned to have a little reception here for Joel and Alayna, but a spider bite spoiled the party. When I talked to Joel a couple days ago he said it has improved a lot. So now we look forward to seeing them in September.

Annie and Len have been busy with wedding plans. They both are looking for jobs in the cities.
We have enjoyed a nice summer. So far there has not been a lot of heat and humidity. I guess I am not really the one to judge cause i work in air conditioning and come home to an air conditioned house.

We have lived here 18 months. Last weekend we made a little trip around the "block" and drove out to the old farm. The thistles in the woods are 8 feet high. The weeds have grown up around the buildings and are taking over the gravel yard. The birch in front of the living room window has the top broken down and has not been pruned and removed. The weeds have grown up around the back door. (i wonder how many snakes are there??) Where Vern had the garden in the front yard had grown up to weeds, been mowed and grown up to weeds again.

The Clematis are blooming and the trumpet vine around the pole by the back door invites the hummingbirds. the hydrangia and the day lilies are blooming too. But nothing says "home" anymore and I was elated to come back to my beautiful house. Maybe we will try to move in some good black earth and plant a few more of our favorites, but I am thankful to be living in Alexandria.

4th of July weekend

Annie came up Tuesday night after she Kris came home from her last class. Friday afternoon Melissa and family and Brian and family came. Kris had brought the CoolDaddy, altho she said she was doing the frying it was the CoolMommy. She deep fried mushrooms, cauliflower, onion rings and shrimp. (well, at least we ate some vegetables!) Len bbq'd some steak and we enjoyed some eatin' we haven't had in years. Maybe a good thing! But it was all delicious!

Brian and Kris took all 5 children in the boat through Lake Victoria, Geneva, Le Homme Dieu, Carlos and Darling over to Arrowwood to watch Star Storm. Annie,Len, Melissa, Daryl went by shuttle. Star Storm is a magnificant fireworks display. But getting home again tries everyones patience. The bugs on the lake are bad and the boat parade to get through under the bridges is LONG. On the other hand if you take the shuttle, the lines of people waiting to get back on the shuttle are horrible, as are the lines of people trying to get their cars out of the huge parking lot. So either way you go, you need to decide you REALLY want to see fireworks.

Saturday Morning Brian and Kris put their boat in Lake Victoria, through Geneva and into Le Homme Dieu. There is a swim beach there with a place to park boats next to it and a nice place to picnic. I think we were there until 5:30. We had an easy supper of Papa Murphy's pizza before going to bed. Everyone was exhausted from sun, water, riding the tube and skiing.
Sunday was another busy day, with everyone getting to their own places, by late night.
And where was my camera through all this?? In a pocket in the truck, so I have nary a picture to show you. Next time I'll wear the camera.

June 2008

The big event in our family in June was Annie and Len's engagement. He surprised her by proposing and giving her a ring on Friday June 13. They had bought the ring together, but he had told her he would give it to her on the 14th. We are very happy for them. Len has been staying here and painting with Vern. Annie has camped at Brian and Kris' for the summer and spent a couple weeks helping Kris with her household of children while Kris took a class at the U. I believe Brian was also taking a class or two at the U at the same time.

Melissa has also been taking classes this summer, on line. She is thankful not to be working and is enjoying time with her family. They have a new addition. He is a cute little puppy. He even stayed overnight here the 4th of July and was a good puppy.

Joel and Alayna have been trying to get settled into married life and their little apartment. But most weekends they have been at convention. Thats a great way to start a marriage!

Happenings

May28,29,30. worked 3 full days after getting home from great MONTANA get-to-gether! However, Wed AM Vern, Len and Annie went to New Ulm to clean out her apartment. They put everything in our utility trailer and went up to Brian and Kris' where Annie unloaded what she needed for the time being. Thursday, they loaded up what Len needed for the time being and moved him up to our place.
Saturday the 31st was one of those days where nothing goes quite as planned, but we did manage to go grocery shopping.
Sunday, June 1 we went to fellowship meeting at Braunds, stayed for a potluck, then went to Alana Quick's graduation party. On the way home we stopped briefly at Melissa and Daryl's.
Monday, work. Annie went back to the cities, Vern and Len painted. Tuesday same. Wednesday, same and Bible Study. Thursday and Friday I worked. It rained so Vern and Len were very restless.
Friday they picked me up at 5 and we went down to Brian and Kris. Saturday they had a birthday celebration planned for Aedan, who turns 10 Aug 7 and Emmett who turns 7 July 19. They each had chosen 3 friends to spend the day with at Valley Fair.
Vern Annie, Len, Amara and I went to a nature park near them for an hour or so, then headed down to Lindsay Hanson's graduation party. On the way home we stopped at AMARA'S favorite place to shop! Better yet, it was a SUPER Target. We made potato salad, cabbage salad and hot dogs on the grill. The rest of the family came home around 8 pretty tired!
Sunday we went to fellowship mtg and Dean and Lois's. Afterwards we were talking in the driveway to Muriel, Lorraine and Becky. Kris was telling them about the Mexican hole-in-the wall restaurant that we had been to and enjoyed. The three ladies left and Kris and I decided we would go again! When we all got there, who should be just getting out of the car but Muriel, Lorraine and Becky. So we all had lunch together. You might have to ask Kris more about it. She and Brian help us order! Its lots of fun, lots of food, good price. I suppose it helps if you know a little Spanish.
We went back to Brian and Kris's. I was tired and sat in the recliner. Next thing I know I hear them discussing batteries. I told them I put new batteries in the keyboard before we went to Montana. Well, that was quite a laugh because they were talking about a new toy that Aedan had received from a friend the day before. Well, at least i didn't fall asleep in Sarah, Wendy and Lyle's Gospel meeting like some very tired children i was sitting with!
We didn't get back to Alex until 10 PM. that is quite late for this ole gramma...
Monday, work, paint, Tuesday work, paint. Wednesday, work, painting sounds a little more iffy...could we possibly need any more rain....
Hey, you out there in Montana..KEEP the snow please!

more of the weekend

On Saturday, the 24th, all except Vern and I went to a cavern somewhere in the mountains. It was a tough hike but I heard it was a fascinating tour.

Vern and I went to Joel and Alayna's apartment to watch them open gifts. They had "leftovers" for lunch and we were there until 3 PM. Since both of them have been living in apartments for some time and have lots of necessities, they got some very special gifts including antique linens and other antique items and lots of the kind of things you wish you had (but at my age in life i might use once a year). However, loving to entertain like they do, they will use it all!

Alayna's cousin had invited all of us to share in a family potluck to be held in her family's back yard, but since it continued to rain she arranged with a local school to have it in the cafeteria. Lots of food (is this Montana style?) and it was very special to get to know some of the new relatives!

Sunday we all went to meeting at Don and Sharon's. That means the 15 of us, Alayna's mom and sister, and Nancy and Will Hardy who planned to do some sightseeing! Dennis Hause was there and lead the meeting.

Brian and Kris and family and Melissa and Daryl and family left in the early afternoon.

The wedding

Joel and Alayna are married and it was beautiful! We set up about 175 chairs and I think they were very few empty! Annie helped Roberta put flowers together..she took the guard leaves from the roses and put them in little baskets for the 8 little girls. Dennis Hause and Don Murray, Joel and Alayna's edler were the first to go in. then Melissa and Daryl, Alayna's sister and husband, then Alayna's other sister and Annie. (Len was waiting for her in the front row!) After that were Nathan and Shannon, Then Joel took Vern and I down the aisle..after that came Aedan and Emmett, each with a pretty light green blankets and unfolded them, sat on the blanket as Wyatt brought up the pillow with Alayna's ring..then he sat by the boys...then came 8 little girls in pink dresses throwing down rose petals.. when they were sitting on their blanket Alayna came down the aisle on her mother's arm. she kissed Alayna before Alayna turned to Joel. Don started the wedding, Sue Gillie prayed, Dennis spoke about the mystery of the man leaving his parents being made one with his wife. and about Proverbs 31 being not just for the women, but also for the men as we are all the bride of Christ..He talked about respecting each other, giving each other space for their relationship with God..Four young people sang the Irish Wedding Song. Then Joel and Alayna exchanged wedding vows and rings and Don pronounced them husband and wife! During the reception line somehow the chairs were all moved around white tablecloth covered tables. Alayna and the meal planned to a tee.. little buns, 3 kinds of cheese, three kinds of meat, mustard and mayo, delicious potato salad, mixed fresh red, orange and yellow peppers, carrots, broccoli, and sliced mushrooms. There was also a huge mixed bowl of fresh pineapple, strawberries, apples, blueberries. and grapes. Their wedding cake was chocolate and white...with ribbons and flowers. they left in a shower of birdseed and bubbles!

The night before the wedding

we had the best rehearsal last night! the barn is logs and rough sawed lumber big cedar posts. It has continued to rain and the rivers are at the highest level in a decade. but in this country rain is a blessing and so it cannot dampen the spirits of the wedding day. Last night we went to
Don and Sharon Murray's after the rehersal. We had a pizza buffet and lots of fun. Kris played keyboard and Aedan, Emmett and Amara sang the beatles song "i wanna hold your hand" then Miranda and Kaylee recited the old girl scout song "the cutest boy i ever saw, was sipping soda from a straw. We had a few other stories and musical pieces, then Don and Sharon played accoridians and sang a June Carter/Johnny Cash song called "cause I love you" you might want to look it up on you tube!this morning some of us need to be at the ranch at 10 for set up etc. wish you were all here!

Three weeks from today we will be arriving in Bozeman for Joel and Alayna's wedding. Yes, we are quite excited. In October 2006 Joel, on a lark, went to MT to work. A few weeks later he told me that, yes, one of the girls they were meeting in Big Sky for supper WAS his girlfriend! For several years we have had the joke that if he was standing next to a tree talking to a girl (??) he would know the name of the tree but not the name of the girl.
But, lo and behold, this girl's name he knew! And he brought her home to meet us all on New Years. Time flies and November 2, i think it was, he asked her to marry him. And now there are only a few days left. There seem to be a lot of things we'd like to share with them about being married. After all, Dad and I have come through 37 years. But it really all boils down to giving 150% of yourself to your spouse by doing everything you can to make their day the best day possible.
Joel and Alayna, we wish you years of the "BEST DAYS POSSIBLE!"

Totally Red

On April 5 Kris brought the children came up. Brian had work at home. She went on up to visit her dad. Melissa and Daryl and the girls came over. We had pizza for supper. That is a favorite with the grandchildren. Then we all got "dressed up" and went to the theater. The play was "Totally Red," the retelling of the story of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. When we walked into the theater lobby, there was the lady I knew was playing the part of Granny. She had a red ink pad and a stamp of a wolf print. We all got wolf prints on our hands. She talked to the children about her part in the play. Later, when Granny is shut in the closet and you cannot see her, they all laughed when she would knock on the door and say "Is anybody out there? I seem to be locked in the closet! Oh! My! Because parts of the play were repeated in different styles they knew what Granny's lines would be when she started knocking on the door. The acting was fantastic. The leads sang, danced, performed ballet, and of course, acted. We had a very enjoyable evening and look forward to next years play.

Bozeman

We just came back from our third trip in one year to Bozeman. One year ago this same weekend we went out for the first time. Joel and Alayna took us to see the sights, checking out antiques and other shops in downtown Bozeman, and out to eat. On our way home we drove into snow. In the middle of North Dakota we decided we'd had enough and spent the night. The next day the closer we got to Alexandria the worse it got.

We went again over Labor Day. This time they tood us to Yellowstone National Park. Joel had told me he'd get me close to a buffalo, but they were too close for my comfort. I think I could have petted one out the window of the truck. We also saw a moose and elk. And of course, all the geysers, bubblers, mud pots and pools. We also toured Virginia City and the Museum in Bozeman.

This time when we went the attraction was a little different. Since Joel and Alayna are getting married May 23, there was a bridal shower for her. The weather was cold and windy and Vern and Joel went sightseeing. We also checked out the place where the wedding will be. And of course, we had to do a little shopping and eating out.

We left in snow. Drove on ice and snow with poor visibility all the way to Billings. After that it was smooth sailing.

It is really beautiful country. Look forward to our trip in May.

THE GEESE ARE HERE! Spring is definitely on the way. Last night as i was waiting for sleep to come I heard them checking out the area lakes looking for an open puddle. This morning I saw a few flying "north".
It must have been Vern that got me into bird watching. He always loved to hear the wrens through the open window in the late spring. And from there we went on to identifying birds and their songs.
I think we had the perfect place for birdwatching on the farm. We never were very happy with the swarms of mosquitoes we had because of living on the edge of the swamp but we did enjoy the birds. I think it was the first year or two we had loons. I had never heard them before and it was amazing the loud, eerily beautiful calls they made. We never saw them in the swamp because of all the vegetation but have seen them on open water since.. they are big birds, maybe 26 inches long with a wing span of 3 feet.
We had Great Blue Herons. Grandpa Anderson saw them in the backwaters of the Mississippi and called them slough pumpers. But we learned the bird that really bears the nickname slough pumper was a American Bittern. The are a small secretive bird of the swamp that does make a sound like that of an old pump. We had egrets and other herons. All kinds of ducks nested in our swamp. Trumpeter swans spent a night or two there on their way north in the spring and south in the fall.
Our farm yard with all the trees and brush was a haven for birds also. We had everything from the tiny hummingbirds to Great Horned Owls and once we even saw an eagle in the trees at the end of the driveway. We always had the bird book and binoculars handy. I wish we would have kept a list, but I am sure we identified over 150 different birds on our farm or the local area. We have a "Birds of Minnesota Field Guide" and we have seen every single bird in the book.
We started feeding the birds quite a few years ago and had many migrating birds stop at our feeder. One winter right before we moved we had a female cardinal for most of the season.
Melissa and Annie are both bird lovers. I think Joel might have even taken a class on birds in college. Brian? well, he knows they have lots of cardinals!
Now that we have moved to Alexandria the only thing we really miss from the farm are the birds. We have a few chickadees, an occasional downy woodpecker, a couple of blue jays and for one whole day had a bright red male cardinal. Oh, yes, and a barred owl.
We have started a few things to improve the habitat and attract the birds but it is a slow process.
However, we still can listen for the geese to herald the spring!

Oh, my children, how time flies. Someone told me that maybe the reason time goes so quickly as we get older is we have so many days that have passed to remember.

There was a terrible bus accident near Cottonwood, MN, this week. Four children were killed when a van driven by what appears to be an illegal alien with a MN ID card with a name apparently not hers driving without a license, going through a stop sign and slamming into the side of the school bus. I well remember our bus accident. I found the scrapbook I have kept all these years. The pages are faded and tattered and I decided time to scan them into the computer. In looking at them again I cannot believe no one was killed. I used to be able to "feel" the bus bump the railing, hang on the edge, then go over the edge. But time has erased that memory. I doubt if I could have told you any of the details after the accident. I think there were some of us that were unconcious for a little while. Can you imagine there was no 911. Someone had to drive to Lewiston to let the school know the bus had gone over the bridge. There were no trained first responders. There were no safe way to get children out of the bus. Someone used a shovel and broke a couple windows out. Children then climbed or were helped out the window. Even some who had serious injuries were just picked up and put in the back of a vehicle. Most of us walked up the hill to Beach's house and waited in turn to use the phone to call our parents. Mom drove over the bridge and when we got in the car she wondered where the bus was. She didn't realize it was at the bottom of the creek. We were not allowed to cross the bridge again and had to go the long way home. Later that evening she took me to Winona where I did have a fractured collar bone. Terry and Tom did not even have broken glasses. We were indeed very lucky.

Vern and Melissa took Mirand and Kaylee to a Kids Ice Fishing Tournament today. They learned how to make a pole, add line, hooks, and bobbers. They learned about safety on the ice then went out on Lake Miltona. They got bait, their holes drilled and hot chocolate. Although they didn't catch anything they had a good time. It got up to 40 deg today

Twice in the last week the forecast has been snow advisory. So the talk gets the forecast distorted and we hear the word blizzard and everyone panics. Both times we have received a skift of snow and a little wind. I want a good snowstorm. Vern remembers a few years before we were married there was so much snow and wind they didn't bother to open the road to the east of our place. Of course, in those days there weren't snow blowers or the wide plows they have nowdays. Our fear at the farm was that the milk truck would not get through and there were several times we had more milk than our tank would hold before the truck came. I remember once in 1976 we were low on feed for the cows. We knew it was going to snow but did not know that it would be a blizzard. I suppose the weather reports were not as detailed as they are now. Vern went to the neighbors to get the rental feed grinder as he was going to grind the next day. But the next day was a howling bizzard and it went on for several days. There was no feed for the cows except whole oats and hay. About 4 days later a neighbor came with a snowblower to make some paths in our yard.
But I remember the good times about snowstorms. Once during winter break Hjordes and the girls were at our place. We had ice that covered the trees, posts and lines. The heavy ice caused a power outage. We had a generator and Vern hooked that up so he could do the chores. It also ran the furnace fan and as a result the house was warm. Anything beyond that had to be scheduled. We used the microwave instead of the oven and were conservative of the hot water. We played games, Scrabble, RummiKub, Racko, Dominoes. We put together puzzles. We ate supper with candle light. All the while we were having fun, Vern had chores to do in the cold. The tractor that ran the generator had to be filled with fuel and since the pump on the barrell ran by electricity that all had too be put into a fuel can by gravity then poured into the tractor. It was not fun for him.
Now, let it snow. If I have to work, I walk out to my heated garage, get in the warm truck, Vern drives me to work (four wheel drive if there are any slippery or drifted spots) and drops me off 20 feet from the door. He picks me up and we drive back into the heated garage. Oh, am I ever spoiled! We can sit in our lovely living room and watch the snow come down covering all the world, including our deck and railing in lovely white clean snow. Let it snow!

Well, for one thing, hopefully, someone can tell me how to get my pictures to go along with my posts!

Do you remember this? If you do, you aren't Shannon, Annie or Cheri. The year? well...hmm, must have been 1982. We were at Tom and Jan's for Thanksgiving. Vern brought boxes of pictures upstairs today and piled them on the folding table that he brought in from the garage. Brian and Kris are coming this weekend and hopefully...well, I'll tell you more next week.

I took today off. I decided I'd have a tea party for Mom. I invited some of the friends around that she remembers the most. We drank 2 pots of coffee and some tea and ate biscuits and strawberry jam and some other goodies they brought. I thought maybe we'd play a game of Scrabble or work on putting together a puzzle, but everyone just enjoyed sitting around talking so thats what we did. Of course, we all say, "this is so nice we should do this more often."
We got into a discussion of dinner/supper and laughed about how all our children think the evening meal is dinner, but we know better. We know that its breakfast, lunch, dinner, lunch and SUPPER..and if you have company over in the evening then you have lunch again. That was in the days when everyone lived on the farm.

Tuesday Jan 29

Vern ran a taxi service today. First he took me to work. Bless his heart! It was 14 below with a 45 mile an hour wind. Melissa came to our place and asked him to drop her off at school since she does not have a permit for the parking lot and it was just too cold to walk. He picked her up later and dropped her off at her workplace. At one, he picked me up and brought me home for lunch. Had a sandwich with Mom. She with a little help from Vern (she hasn't run a mixer in years) had made a batch of ginger cookies. So we baked a pan and when Vern took me back to work i had warm cookies to bring for a treat. There are 8 of us that work quite closely at the front desk area and they asked how long my mom is staying. They want her to bake cookies often! So, Vern dropped me off at work, picked up Melissa, brought her back here, she took her vehicle back to school for an evening class. Vern picked me up at 5. What a great guy! Now if we had been living on the farm it would have been a whole different story.
Mom kept busy today making the cookies, doing dishes, visiting with Roy and Mike (they stopped for a couple hours) helping with supper and washing dishes. Then she and I had a scrabble game! When we got done she had a "U" left. I took one point off her score and added one to mine and we TIED at 246.

I admire other people's blogs and everyone says "you should start a blog". So here goes! Yesterday afternoon we went to Roy and Mike's Gospel Meeting (GM). Melissa and Daryl and the girls came home with us and Vernon and Gwen and Mom (or Gramma, or GG) depending on who you are, came. Mom is going to spend a week or so here. We had ham and scallopped potatoes for supper. On a whim, I made lime jello with pineapple and cottage cheese. I put in some ice cubes to get it to set, put it in the fridge and forgot it. So thats what we had for dessert.

This morning Daryl left early. Melissa left for school. The rest of us eventually got around to having breakfast. Then Vernon and I made a batch of lefse. Miranda ate 3 pieces and Kaylee had 4. The rest of us had our share too and there isn't much left.

Now we have had lunch. Vernon and Gwen are leaving soon. Gwen showed me how to get started...so here we go!