First Annual "White Paper Recycling Retreat" (DT, RM, BP, LB)

We had a beautiful day for golfing during a week of heavy rains and strong winds.

We couldn't have asked for a nicer day!Check out my videos on the YouTube link below
The young protege
( click on any picture to enlarge)


I'm told that chicks dig him...


a little lumberjacking was required to play the ball...





strategizing...







great breeze and view from the highlands
check out the putter being used on the tee box...??

Mom Moves to Minnetonka

Donna and Craig drove Mom from Peoria after the Peoria relatives got her all packed up. They arrived safe and sound in Minnesota on Saturday and we quickly got the truck unloaded, the dishes put away, bed made and our feet up for a break. Donna and Craig are spending the night in the available suite at the complex and Connie, Doug and Molly have prepared dinner for the first night. Lots more to do in the apartment but everything went great and Mom and kitties have a comfy bed to spend the first night together getting settled.

First break in Mom's new aparment
Dr. John carries lots of heavy boxes!!
Connie in control in the kitchen...don't mess with the cook!
Lots of heavy boxes...
Aunt Donna struggling with another heavy box

Molly at Grandma's door

Poor Sammy....what trama
Grandma unveils her new picture.
Everything is in - now we have to find room for everything.
The sisters find a moment to put their feet up.
Molly takes a ride on the elevator.

Lily - before/after

Old, dusty table...

An old, dusty table that was in our house when we were little, now looking

for a new home at the Dawnbreakers Kiwanis garage sale.

A little staging and maybe someone will want this in their home.
A couple of old Kiwanians find the table makes a great footstool.

Carpet Out - new discovery, hardwood floors!

Fort Wayne, IN (tourist destination?)

Easter in Illinois 2007

Feb 07 snow storm

Thought I would share some pictures from the day.

Classes were cancelled at Augsburg so I was blessed with

an unplanned Sunday! "I watched 'Gone with the Wind'

which was on TV commercial free.

Lily loves the snow - so we were out in it a few times. Each
time she comes in she has to have a bath to get the snow out
of her long hair. That got old quick.

Christmas in Red Wing

Stacy Jo sits in front of her new name plate for her new desk
and office position at Midwest. (a gift from her Uncle Jay). She is also working on an
impossibly difficult puzzle. It was put away after everyone left.
(Click on any picture to enlarge)

Christmas began for me during ‘A Christmas Carol’ at the Guthrie on Saturday, December 23. The new Guthrie has great seats and view of the Mississippi. During this mild winter, and having just returned from balmy Florida, it took Dickens haunting ghosts of Christmas to draw me into the spirit of the holiday.

Lisa, Greg, Eli and Jacob arrived after a long (16 hour) car trip from Bozeman on Dec 23 to celebrate our first ‘Red Wing’ Christmas. Stacy moved in for the 4 day holiday and John, Jill and Jean arrived on the 24th. For the next 48 hours we watched movies, played games, took walks, went caroling in my neighborhood, ate, drank, laughed, played with Lily and simply hung out enjoying each others company.

Our Christmas feast began at 6pm Christmas Eve with a poem, an organic turkey and gluten-free bread, in addition to the staples of mashed potatoes, green beans and warm rolls. During dinner we practiced singing The Chipmunk Christmas Song…

Christmas, Christmas time is near,

Time for toys and time for cheer,

We've been good, but we can't last

Hurry Christmas, hurry fast,

Want a plane that loops the loop,

Me, I want a hula hoop,

We can hardly stand the wait,

Please Christmas, don't be late.

We had to get the lyrics just right so that we could serenade my neighbor ‘YoBaby’ who put luminary Christmas lights all up and down my sidewalk. After dinner we ran to her house next door, knocked on the door and when she saw us she screamed, ran away and came back with her camera, family members and a tray of cookies. We sang a couple of songs – haunting any Christmas ghosts that might have been lurking around the neighborhood and went back home to settle in for games and pumpkin pie.

Christmas Eve turned to Christmas morning without having gone to bed. (I did capture some of our evening in pictures - see other posts). We weren’t waiting for Santa Clause in this house so sleeping in Christmas morning was part of the plan.

We spent Christmas day watching movies, eating and taking naps. Two of our Christmas movies were ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ and ‘Finding Nemo’ both fun family movies. We also managed to watch ‘The Grinch’ and ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ old holiday favorites.

It was a long car trip back to Montana for Lisa and Greg, a flight back to Florida for Jean and a flight back to Michigan for Eli and Jacob on December 26, 2006. All agreed we could have used one more day together to go out, see a movie, and maybe hit the Mall of America. The time went by so fast, but what a wonderful time it was. I’m so happy to have had my family at my new house in Red Wing for Christmas 2006!

Thank you all for coming and Happy New Year!!

Jill and Lily

Cousin Jill and Lily bond on Christmas Eve

Despite all the loud singing in the dining room, Jill and Lily get a little nap in...