Last day of freedom

Today is the day when you ask yourself - "Where did summer go?" The teachers and staff report to work tomorrow. I sure feel that I am not ready for work. I'm ready to visit with co-workers that I haven't seen all summer. We all talked that we should get together for a movie night, but that didn't happen. With Michelle not feeling well for two months I sure didn't get any of my summer projects done. The weather didn't cooperate much either. Maybe this Sunday I will be able to paint the back side of my house. The weatherman said that it should be around 90 this weekend. I have been very thankful that the summer hasn't been to hot, as our air still isn't working as well as it should. Maybe next year I will find a guy to come look at it. We shouldn't have a wedding to pay for next summer.

'til next time! :)

Girl time

Had a lovely day today. Helped Jim clean the post office and then worked at the church til early afternoon.  Met up with a friend that I hadn't seen all summer and enjoyed a coke and nachos at LaPlaya. Can't believe school is starting in less than two weeks. I don't think I am ready to go back - two more months please!

Busy July!

July has been so busy that I haven't had a chance to write a thing.

We spent July 3rd at Denise and Brian's, their neighbors shot off beautiful fireworks on the 3rd. We got up early on the 4th to attend Mandan's Fourth of July Parade. It was wonderful - 2 and a half hours long. Denise and I had a good chuckle  - Cloverdale had a float in the parade we thought won't it be great if they gave out hotdogs instead of candy. Well they sure did - they had a trailer following the float with at least 20 grills on it. What a nice treat - no lunch for us!!

Jim had his midlife crisis on July 4 and bought a 1994 white corvette. On the way home we stopped at Medora to show Kelly the car. While visiting some friends at the pool Jim's fire pager went off - report of a house fire on main street. We got to see what the new car would do - 13 minutes to Beach from Medora.  Sad to report the family lost their home and all belongings. Sad day :(

The evening of the 4th we went to the neighbors place for fireworks and goodies! Ray always puts on a good show, but I think he is trying to take me out! Last year a firework shot my leg this year I took one to my cheek. Man don't know if I will go back next year! Just kidding Ray.

The 19th we went to the Stradinger family reunion in Bismarck. Most of the family were in attendance. This would be Jim's mom's family. Always fun to visit with the aunts and uncles and hear stories of their childhood.

July 24 Jim and I took Michelle and Joey to Dickinson where Michelle had surgery. They took her gall bladder. Poor girl was so sick for 2 months. She lost 24 pounds. Now to get her back onto the road of recovery! She went back a week later for a check up and she gained one pound back!! We haven't had a chance to celebrate her 21st birthday yet - Denise, Brian, and Brody came and spent the night with her on the 25th - her birthday. Denise took Michelle down to the bar so she could say she bought something anyway.

The next weekend took me to my class reunion in Bowman. Hard to believe that I have been out of school for 30 years. Sure had a good time visiting with classmates. Some  hadn't changed much and others I had no clue who they were.

The last weekend of the month took us into the Golden Valley Co. Fair. Kelly entered around 25 things. She did very well on most of them.  I think she only had two entries that didn't get anything. I entered banana bread - which got a blue ribbon. One of these years Kelly and I will come out with grand champion ribbons - I hope.

This is my July in a nutshell.

What a day!

I told Jim I wanted to sleep in today, we have been getting to bed after midnight the last few nights and I could feel it starting to wear me down. Well I didn't sleep in to much, but I did stay in bed until 8. I got up and did some laundry while Jim went and cleaned the post office. I just made myself a cup of coffee managed one sip and the ambulance pager went off. Dang no one responded. So leave my coffee and respond to a train that hit a car.  Got home around 2 o'clock, enjoyed watching some of the Doctors. Decided I better eat - made some pancakes. At 3 o'clock decided a nap would be in order. slept on and off for around an hour. Phone kept ringing and ringing. This evening just getting ready to visit with Brody on the phone and what the heck the pager goes off again for a man buried in a trench with difficulty breathing. I responded to help load and took back up. It would have been a great day to just stay in bed; maybe tomorrow!!

Almost the next generation

On May 1st I attended my last uncle's funeral.  Uncle George was by far my favorite uncle.  I knew him the best of all my mother's siblings, he and his wife lived in North Dakota while they raised their family. They lived in Whapeton and Minot.  Uncle George worked for BNSF just before retirement they transferred him to Minneapolis.  He lived there until Aunt Cese passed away. He and Brian then moved to Breckenridge, MN.  He got to live in his new home for a little over a year before his sudden passing.  One thing about a sudden death is one can be thankful that he didn't have a long period of illness and suffering.  After the funeral my cousins and I had a wonderful visit. While visiting, we realized we are almost the next generation - we have one aunt left. Aunt LaVonne lives in California and of course isn't getting any younger.  The first part of this year she moved from Carson City, NV to California to be closer to her kids.

It's kind of a scary thought that we are almost the oldest ones in the family now. Must be time for a family reunion so our kids learn some of the family history.

                                Cousins Linda, Bruce, and Brian.  Brian always the clown!

Retirement

Sunday I traveled to Bowman to attend church there.  Pastor Strand celebrated his retirement with a wonderful worship service at Bowman Lutheran Church followed by a reception. 
Pastor Strand moved to Bowman in 1977, if I figured it right I should have been in his first confirmation class. He married Jim and I 26 (almost 27 years ago).  He and his wife have been a wonderful asset to the community of Bowman. The church council presented him with a certificate to go to Medora and golf at Bully Pulpit. He was thrilled!  Then they presented his wife with a certificate to Cedar Canyon Spa in Medora. She was so excited.  They have built a new home just a few blocks away from the church, so they will be staying in the community.  It isn't often that a church keeps their pastor for more than 10 years; I wonder if this is some kind of record 36 years!

Enjoy your retirement Pastor Strand, you will be missed at church for you wonderful sermons and leadership.

Here Comes the Bride!

June 1st brings us to Michelle and Joey's wedding. We worried about the weather all that week from May 27 - May 31. it rained every single day. Some days it would just pour and pour all day long. It wasn't long that our neighbor called and said they had water in their basement. A very fast trip down the stairs found our sump hole filling fast. I woke Jim up and told him we needed to get that pump hooked up and fast! The pump has been running nonstop since we got it running, but no water on the basement floor!

Jim had been sick all that week starting with Sunday, May 26. He called in sick on Monday afternoon, his supervisor told him it wasn't an option. Poor guy couldn't get his blood sugar up over 70 his made it his 10 hour sift, but not without a very upset wife! His supervisor got to deal with me the next day - she knew I was not a happy camper! Thursday night while decorating Jim had a spell where he had no idea where he was. So we spent Friday pushing fluids and lots of sugars into his body. Thank heavens we got him feeling better for Saturday.

Saturday morning rolled around without a cloud in the sky - could not have asked for a more beautiful day! The son-in-laws and I got the rosters and cake to the hall in Sentinel Butte. Michelle's personal attendant finished decorating the church. Seems everyone will just pitch in and lend a hand where needed!  Pictures started at 1 P.M. and so the day was well on it's way. At 5 P.M. we found the church filling fast! Pastor JT did a wonderful service, then off to Sentinel Butte for a wonderful night of food, visiting, and dancing! I'm thankful that as the girls have gotten older they are more and more help. At 1 A.M. they were great help at cleaning up the church!

Now we only have one left to get hitched. Kelly says that is not in her life plan. We will see what happens when she gets to college. There will be a young handsome man that will sweep her off her feet!

 

Some of the lovely pictures from friends and the photographer! What a perfect day!!

First Birthday!

April 26, 2013 we celebrated Brody's first birthday. Denise and Brian had a wonderful birthday party for him. Patty, Brayden, Michelle, Joey, and Kelly were all able to make it from our side of the family. Brian's folks and sister arrived later Saturday evening. Jim, Kelly and I went down to Bismarck on Friday afternoon which was Brody's birthday. So we just had to make sure he had a cupcake on his real birthday! Looked like he was a part of the Blue Man Crew! He loved every bit of it! Brian made sure grandma had clean up duty. I had to change the bath water a couple of times!!

 Why haven't I had this good stuff before?

 Grandma's Blue Boy!

 Brody showing off his John Deere tools from Aunt Michelle and Uncle Joey!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA'S BUDDY!!!

Graduation

Even though I have had a post in ages, this one is a little late also. So I will play catch up a bit.

May 10, 2013 Michelle graduated from Bismarck State College with a business degree. We are so proud of her for working full time and taking full time credits online.  We had a nice little party for her at Denise's house then we went to Texas Road House for supper. What a grand day!

May 26, 2013 we celebrated Kelly's graduation. Rather an emotional in day - wasn't sure how I would feel that morning. I did shed a few tears knowing that it was my baby graduating and she would be moving on this fall. But then a part of me was like OH YEAH!!! So proud of you baby girl for graduating with honors and for being the beautiful lady you have turned into. No more kids in school, no more having to be at any sporting events, concerts, conferences, or any other school activity that I don't want to be at! Now will be a time to relax and enjoy some time to myself.

 

Very busy May with all the graduations! What a great time to celebrate!!!

Honor

 

This past Friday Jim, Kelly, and I traveled to Jamestown, ND to say good bye to Jim's Uncle Roger Smith. When Jim and I got married I was afraid of Uncle Roger, he seemed so stern and sometimes grouchy. After several more meetings you found that was just his personality. He was hard of hearing so I'm sure that is why sometimes he would just sit around by himself. If you sat long enough with Uncle Roger he would start sharing stories of his time of duty, his teaching career, or his garden. I traveled to Jamestown with Jim for a meeting years ago, I went to visit Aunt Betty and Uncle Roger, boy that day he was full of stories and so excited to share items from his garden.  Pastor Block had a wonderful service for Uncle Roger and his daughter, Cindy, did a beautiful urology for her father. We got to visit with many family members we hadn't seen in years at the luncheon at the church. Then it was back to Mandan for the burial. Uncle Roger wished to be buried at North Dakota's Veteran Cemetery. I had never been there for a burial before, what a lovely place. 


                 Rest in peace Uncle Roger

Final Countdown

Thursday, February 21, 2013 marked a major mark in my life - I attended the last parent/teacher conference! Looking back at the life of my daughters in school, it all started in August 1993. Denise started kindergarten! It's been a solid 20 years of parent/teacher conferences, concerts, family reading nights, science fairs, and of course sporting events.
    I was really surprised when  I stopped to think about how long we have had children in the Beach Public School System. Sure didn't seem like 20 years. Time sure has its way of flying by! Now as the countdown has begun to graduation there is under 100 days of school left! Sometime in these 90 days we need to plan visits to colleges, get announcements ordered and mailed out. I don't think there will be much time for just sitting around.

Last Girls BB Game

Yeah! The Buccaneers are now finished with their 2012 regular basketball season. The last game was played by the Lady Buccaneers against Lemmon, South Dakota. The Lady Bucs came into this game without a home loss since 2007! Needless to say all good things must come to an end. They lost by 4 points, but this could also be a good thing as districts will be starting next week at Bowman, ND. A loss always seems to bring the team back a little closer to earth again, as my dad would say. The Lady Bucs finish the season with a record of 12 - 5. They did have a few games where they struggled.

I must say I am happy that the season is over for there are no more concessions to set-up and work at. Friday night was interesting, being a long weekend, a lot of people traveled out of town for appointments and just a break. Then the first evening of the Boys District games had started. This left us with a total of one student that showed up to work. Thank heavens for a daughter that doesn't mind lending a hand and a parent that stopped in to work too. It was a very busy night, as I think the whole town of Lemmon was there. There girls are rated number one in the state of South Dakota.

The boys lost their opening game in districts. Kelly said they kept up until the fourth quarter, then we either feel apart or Bowman woke up. I am hoping to go to their final game on Monday. I have not had an chance to watch them play yet this year. That is the down fall of being junior class advisor you don't get to watch any of the games unless you travel to the away games. The boys are going into a rebuilding year I think I heard they had one win this season.

Super Bowl

Wow - I'm totally exhausted today. Luther League made around 230 subs yesterday. I had ordered 300 buns this year, so needless to say we were looking for freezers to store them in until the Luther League spaghetti supper. The kids did a great job getting them built this year. We did have one mishap that I know of one gentleman bought 2 and only got one.

By the time the game started needless to say I was very sore from starting work on the subs at 7:00 am. We worked until 1 pm at the church.I still have to scrub the kitchen floor at the church, but all adults there decided we were to pooped to continue. Maybe I can get that done today after school. 

What was the best commercial of the game? I think my favorite was the Pizza Hut commercial that ran just before the game started. It was pretty awesome. The game was very good and commercials were better than they have been the last few years. I still miss the Budweiser Frogs.

The last two weeks I have been busy planning and ordering the goods for Luther League to make their annual Super Bowl Subs. It has been a great fundraiser for the church youth for many years. They started this fund raiser way before I got involved with the group.  Last year we made 250 subs. This year I have ordered 300 buns. Now praying the weather straightens out so I can make the 60 mile trip to Dickinson to pick them up.  Oh how I miss the bakery in Beach. 


As the biggest weekend in NFL football approaches, I can't help but think this is very fitting.

An Athlete's Prayer

Author: Sandy Dow Mapula

It was right before the big one and the football player said,
“Excuse me guys for just a sec while I go bow my head.”
And in the quiet of that room
The football player prayed,
“Oh God if nothing hear me now
I know that fate is made.”

“So help us Lord to win this game,
It’s the big one, man, you see,
If we lose this game that’s it for us,
Please do this, Lord, for me.”

And as his body knelt in prayer,
He looked up to the sky,
“And while I’m here, and have some time,
I need to ask you why?”

“They say you never help teams wind,
Just do it once I pray,
We will pay you back in kinder deeds
Or in another way,”

“The reason why I can’t help you win,”
The Lord just then replied,
“Is as you’re asking me to win,
So is the other side.”

“I’m everybody’s father and
I must not take one side,
So games are played all on your own
Or they would all be tied.”

“But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pray,”
He answered him with care,
“You can pray that players don’t get hurt
And that all the calls are fair,”

And while the player heard this voice,
He bowed his head in prayer,
“I pray for fairness,” said the boy
“And for your tender care.”

“You shall be blessed,” the Lord replied,
“Your team and you the same,
And now will you excuse me boy,
I cannot miss this game!

Weather

It's seems forever since I posted. What a roller coaster last couple of weeks. Beautiful weather to rain turning to snow and bitter cold with wind chills of -23. Heading to bed last night the temperature was 7 above. Jim came home at 1am and told me it was then 17 above!  Woke up at 6:30 am to 20 above!! Going to be a great weekend!

Kelly and I will be getting ready for Super Bowl tonight - need to give the house a good going over for a small party. Then Saturday we will head for Dickinson to pick up the sub buns for Luther League's annual Super Bowl Subs.  Kind of nervous about the buns; the gal I usually talk to when I order was on vacation. Really hoping that the other gal understood me! They didn't call - so all is good, right?

Enjoy the weekend everyone.

Thoughts of Meditation

Thought for Meditation

My neighbor may not
seem to me
To be just what he
... ought to be.
But then you know
it might be true
I'd do worse things
than he would do.
The faults in me
might really be
much bigger than
his faults I see,
so really folks it
isn't wise
for me to talk
or criticize.

Heide's Mortuary
Bowman, ND

This was found on the back of a Joseph Loder obituary but I don't know what year.  A friend of mine sent this to me. The Loder name is familar to me, but I have never heard of Heide's Mortuary. Must have been before my time. I only remember two owners Ohm and Krebsbach.

Cold

We have  a long weekend this weekend. The teachers have an inservice on Monday, the para's and other staff get the day off. I have been looking forward to this long weekend. Had perpared my honey due list for me and Jim. Won't you know - I've been fighting a cold and I think I'm about ready to wave that white flag. I slept in yesterday and today hoping that sleep would help. Didn't go to church this morning or to Wibaux's annual meeting. Decided at day of rest is what I needed. But as the afternoon and evening are slipping by my throat is getting scratchy and my nose is starting to run. Time to dig out the night quil and hit the bed. So much for those honey due lists. Hoping I will feel better tomorrow, want to get a good start on the newsletter at church.

blue and white coveralls

Isn't it funny how we remember just certain things that have touched our lives? Most memories filed away are very happy ones - there are sad ones and ones that can make you angry. One of my favorite memories is of a man that I can't even remember his name.  The memory starts with Sunday morning church, after church we would go downtown to Gene's Restaurant for carmel rolls, long john's (maple sticks as some call them), or a full breakfast. Outside the cafe was a wooden bench, always on the bench was an elderly gentleman that wore blue and white coveralls and a red IH farmers cap.  He had snow white hair and talked very slow with an accent possibly Norwegian.  As I would approach the bench he would be flipping a 50 cent piece. He would say "Here little girl, buy some candy." Makes me wonder how much money he gave me over the years. I would eat breakfast and as fast as I could and run to the Bennett Pharmacy (there were two pharmacies in Bowman that would alternate being open on Sundays) - they had a great selection of candy to a little girl!  What a happy memory to have filed away!!

Windy Wednesday

You must really love North Dakota to put up with the daily weather changes. We have had weather below zero to climbing over night to 23 above. This morning we wake up to 36 above with high winds. Guess it beats the snow we had yesterday with the wind. The only thing good I see about the wind this morning is it is warm and it is melting the snow offour deck that faces the north.

Found this last night and thought man Jeff Foxworthy sure nailed our state.

NORTH DAKOTA... through the eyes of Jeff Foxworthy:

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you may live in North Dakota. If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't even work there, you may live in North Dakota. If you've worn shorts and a jacket at the same time, you may live in North Dakota. If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with s...omeone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in North Dakota. If "vacation" means going anywhere south of Minot for the weekend, you may live in North Dakota. If you measure distance in hours, you may live in North Dakota. If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in North Dakota. If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day and back again, you may live in North Dakota. If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you may live in Nort h Dakota. If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both doors unlocked, you may live in North Dakota. If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in North Dakota. If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you may live in North Dakota. If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you may live in North Dakota. If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you may live in North Dakota. If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you may live in North Dakota. If you find 10 degrees "a little chilly", you may live in North Dakota.

Grandma's visit

After spending 2 and a half hours of shoveling yesterday, Kelly and I decided at 2 PM to make a flying trip to Bismarck. Being Jr. class advisory I have to make sure that there are plenty of goodies for the concession stand.  We had a great night in sales at the last home game, and boy are we picked over. So this was the main reason for the trip to restock the candy.

I called Denise from Walmart and informed her we would be stopping out after we figured out what we wanted to eat for supper. A few minutes later she sent me this picture. I do like to think that Brody was standing at the gate wondering how long until Grandma and Auntie Kelly get here, but I do know more than likely he is wondering how to get to the bottom of those stairs.  It is amazing how much he changes just in 6 days. This visit he is crawling much faster and able to go from crawling to a sitting position. He has such a great little laugh when he finds something funny.

Denise and Brian were going to go out for a friends birthday, but decided to stay at home for the evening. They have dish for their TV, their receiver went out. So we all ended up at their neighbors house to watch the Packers/49er's game.   I hope they get their new receiver soon.

It is fun to go for a day, but the next trip has to be sooner leaving time or staying over has to be in the plan. Getting home at 12:20 AM makes for a long sleepy trip home.

Enjoyed my visit with you Brody James!

Awh - Thursday

I'm so ready for this week to be over. It has seemed to go so slow.  It seems most everyone has been so crabby this week. How can we already have cabin fever just a week after returning from a break?

Last night I helped with Luther League, we took the Christmas decorations down at the church and then enjoyed some fellowship time with snacks and root beer floats! The kids are so fun to listen to they have some amazing ideas and just silly stories. They have had a stressful week also, the kids at Beach are taking their semester test this week.

Yesterday I was asked to do something I enjoy - make a wedding cake. But I am afraid I will have to say no. The bride wants it frosted in black - have any of you made black frosting? It takes so much black color and for some reason it just never quite blends in nice. I think I will talk to her and see if she would do a white cake with a black satin ribbon. I think that would be very elegant.

Wishing everyone a great day!

Trip to Bismarck

    Kelly and I took a quick trip to Bismarck yesterday. We went to church at Sentinel Butte and we were on the road by 8:45 am to Bismarck. Made a quick stop at Dickinson to grab a little breakfast at McDonald's. Arrived at Bismarck around 11:00 am mountain time.  We had an enjoyable lunch with Denise, Brian and Brody. The boys took off for shopping at Menard's while we girls took off for David's Bridal.  We got Kelly's dress ordered for Michelle's wedding. The dress Michelle picked is lovely!
      Patty and Denise ordered their dresses on Saturday. Kelly and I were unable to go, as there was a home game on Saturday night. Being Junior class advisor has some disadvantages at times.  But Denise said Brody had a great weekend seeing all of his aunts and grandma over the weekend. 
Brody is starting to remember things which makes life so fun!   
    After our day of shopping we spent about an hour at the Osmond house.  I was sitting on the love seat, Brody crawled over and sat on my foot and looked at me like come on grandma what are you waiting for. The past few times I've seen him I have put him on my leg and played horse with him.  So guess what he was telling me.  Wish everyone could have heard Brody laughing! What a fun time I have being Grandma!!! Love that little guy so much!

Christmas Eve

Sharing some of our Christmas of 2012. Jim, Kelly, Michelle, Joey, and I traveled to Bismarck to spend Christmas Eve with them. The girls and I went to church at Lincoln. The pastor was amazed at the number of people that filled the church. They ran out of bulletins and candles.  It was a beautiful service - had me in tears when he did his sermon about 26 stockings that were hung that won't be filled this year. :( Blessings to those family's.

Going to be a light day here in our house. Getting geared up to watch the NDSU Bison play for the NCAA FCS football champoinship. work concessions at the Girls Basketball game  game this afternoon. So Jim has hooked up our Christmas gift from the kids, a recordable DVD player so I can rush home and watch the Vikings and Green Bay. So no scores please! Lets go Vikings!!!!

Have a great Saturday everyone!

Pondering

      Last night as I was laying in bed, I was wondering what compelled me to want to try this whole blog thing anyway. I knew one reason was I love reading my friends blog everyday. She has interesting stories and often an uplifting message.  But truely deep down inside I feel like Laura Ingalls Wilder! A modern day lady of the prairie wanting to journal her life through not pencil and paper, but computer, keyboard, and the web! Do you suppose someday my thoughts could be published as life in Western North Dakota changes once again?
     Just thinking of how life on the prairie has changed just in my 48 years. Growing up on the farm northwest of Bowman we had small equipment with no cabs to protect from the harsh summer sun. Our air condictioning was the west warm breeze. If I were lucky I would get a lovely red and white umbella propped up to protect me. I was in charge of all summer fallowing, raking of the hay, and evening feeding of the cows, pigs, sheep, buffalo, or whatever animals my dad and brother felt we needed to have at the time! I remember one afternoon of raking hay and coming home to find my dad and brother busy at the welder. Of course I must find out what they are building. It was our first cab they built for the old Case swather, complete with air condictioning. Boy now I was jealous, but dad did not allow me on the swather, much to dangerous for a young lady he would tell me. So I still got the best sun burn in the west! I believe the neighbors were a bit jealous also. Soon one of them had their son over checking out the contraption and trying their best to make one also.
     Now the tractors are huge, complete with GPS that will drive itself. Not much for summer fallow around these parts anymore, most everyone has gone to no-till.

 Similar to our old Case swather, before the cab of course!
 
Just like the old IH tractor I drove to rake hay! Awh the good old days!!

Monday on Thursday!

Christmas break seemed to fly by this year. I must say I could use about another week! We are still working in the kitchen to clean up the mess the fire exgisher made. (Very thankful though that it's just a yellow powder mess to clean up  - it was about time to clean out all the cupboards anyway.)  I keep telling myself that everything will be back to normal someday! But it is time to get back to work at school. I'm sure the kids are ready to get back to their studies too. They will have wonderful stories to tell of what their parents, grandparents, and friends gave them and of course what the jolly old man left in their stockings!
Happy Monday on Thursday everyone!

Being Prepared

Waking up this morning was way different than yesterday. Woke up at 6 AM to help Jim shovel the few business' that he does. They wind had managed to blow a nice drift across our driveway last night. After shoveling for about a half an hour, the wind picked up and there were a few snow flakes in the air. I think everything we shoveled this morning will be needing it again this afternoon.

Of course you would think that living in North Dakota one would be prepared for most everything.  I asked Jim as I was getting dressed what the tempture was, it was 20 above at 6 AM with no wind or snow in the air.  No need for the under armor today I told myself. Now I should not have talked myself out of that so fast. By 7 AM the wind was making my legs ache from it's oh so bitter chill, even though the temp kept right on rising.  Now you think Mother Nature could have held off on othat wind until 9 AM, she could cooperate with me once in awhile! It is now noon and I still have not unthrawed. 

Happy New Year

Happy 2013! Woke up to the most beautiful winter morning, the sun making the snow sparkle like millions of little diamonds sprinkled across the white ground. The air is crisp and clear, with a beautiful aqua blue sky this New Year's Day.

As I look forward to this new year I see Brody turning one, Michelle graduating college, Kelly graduating high school, and Michelle and Joey getting married. Starting to look like a very busy 2013.

If you look close you can see the sparkle! I love winter!! :)

 

Here's wishing everyone a wonderful and prosperous New Year!