It's Been a Good Year

Always ups and downs like everyone but for the most part it has been a good year.  Our family tradition for New Years has been to write and say 3 things about the coming year.  One is a prediction - which could be a world event not about yourself.  One is a wish for the coming year.  And, of course, one is a resolution.  Before we sat at the kitchen table to do this, we would read what was said and written the previous year.  This activity allowed the adults as well as the children to see life in a longer term perspective than next week. 

It's 7:30 pm and Lucyna called to wish us a Happy New Year.  "Are you going to bed in an hour or two?" She laughingly asks me.  I do have my PJs on already.  She knows her parents pretty well. 

Happy New Year!

Scrabble

We received a Scrabble game for Christmas and played after breakfast in our PJs in front of the woodstove.  A good time was had by both even though I didn't win.  The instructions list all these so called "words" that use a q without a u.  Is that American?  Obviously, we are not full-on Scrabble players.  A woman in my walking group can't get anyone to play with her because she has committed one of those scrabble dictionaries to memory.  Our big words of the day:  jonquils, facets, and ox on a triple word score!

The Best Gifts are Not in a Box

Our son Tad called us.  He told us that he proposed to his girlfriend, and she said yes.  We are very excited for both of them.  (They like to geocache so he set up a private one with the proposal inside.)

Christmas Goat

When I look at a Nativity,  I always enjoy seeing what animals are there.  I saw my first goat on December 23 when I went to the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians at Holy Hill north of Milwaukee.  Tad lives near there and I try to visit when I can.  It is a beautiful  place inside and out.  The Nativity in the Chapel had a goat with horns.   A goat always looks threatening to me.  They are ornery and can turn on you at any time.  (Ask a second cousin of mine who got the wind knocked out of him.) The goat was posed laying down with his legs under him so he looked peaceful enough.  All is calm.  All is bright.

Standing in the Store

Well, it has happened.  I knew it would sometime.  I can't make it through a store in town without seeing someone I know so we stand and talk.  And when I go to 2 grocery stores, I am stopping and talking several times.  That small town thing is great.  Since we're retired, we have the time to talk and not hurry off.  Even at the post office - although there is not really a line - it happens.  Or meet someone new.  There were three women in line.  The first one turns to the two of us and asks,  "I have to buy some things for a 6 year old girl from the giving tree at church.  What do you suggest?"  The other woman and I had several ideas so the first woman was all set by the time we left. 

Fun Afternoon

About a dozen women gathered at the community room at church to wrap presents that the members had purchased for local families in need.  It was fun to see so many new pairs of socks, gloves and toys.  All you could hear was the rustling of wrapping paper and the zip of scissors on curling ribbon.  We then put them in large plastic bags by families: Family A through Family N.  I had a real feeling of satisfaction.  Merry Christmas!

Category: Glad this Wasn't Me

Blog followers know of my hiking/snowshoe/kayak group on Tuesdays called the WoWWs (Women of the Woods and Water).    There are other groups like that in the Hayward area.  One of the groups called the No Woes (the name is an omen) went to a local county park last Tuesday.  Three got tired/cold, etc. and went back to the parking lot...or so they thought.  The main part of the group arrived back to the lot about 11:15 as planned.  The 3 were not there so they called 911.  The County Sheriff  and deputies came.  They brought the dogs...and they put a "bear in the air."  This is the Northwoods.  However, they were on one of the most hiked, well-marked trails in the area.  They weren't dropped by helicopter in Denali.  Back to the story...by 1:00 a hiker had found them and drove them to the parking lot.  They were glad to be found but quite embarrassed.  (Perhaps they would have felt better if the 'copter and the dogs had found their lifeless bodies.)

Our group decided to shore up some of our safety rules.  We will not be embarrassed!

Let it Snow!

It is dreary and ugly here.  36 degrees and all is melting.  Motels and restaurants are languishing without clients because there is no snow to ski on or snow mobile on.  This is not good for a snow-driven economy like Sawyer County.  Case and I are walking the snowmobile trails because they are safe to walk now.  November 2010 the priest asked us to pray for snow because it is easier to deer hunt.  (Yes, priests hunt deer in Wisconsin.)  It kept snowing until April so this year he didn't ask us to pray for snow for deer hunting.  The congregation has started to grumble so we prayed for snow last week.  Looks like we are having a dusting tomorrow.  It's a good start. 

The Talking Lake

I was on the porch decorating the tree when I heard a sound like someone trying to lift something heavy.  In fact I thought it was Case carrying something around the side of the house.  Soon he walks on the porch and the sounds continue.  It's not him.  We had been told by locals that the lakes make a groaning sound when it is thawing.  Temperature was up to 39 by mid afternoon so the recently frozen lake was thawing.  Odd, very odd. 

Christmas Tree Without Cussing

Is that possible?  Putting up a real tree without profanity?  "Hold it this way.  #&$*  That way.  &$(@  It's not straight.  #&%  The screws of the stand are rusty.  $#*&  I'm covered with tree sap.$#*%"  Well, it is up and decorated on our porch.  No room in the house for a tree that big.  They always look smaller in the forest than inside, don't they?  This year our tree is compliments of President Obama.  We're suppose to get a $5 permit to go into the Chequamegon National Forest to cut down a Christmas tree.  We didn't.  We have turned into rebels in our retirement.  Soon we'll be buying Harleys. 

The Wreath to End All Wreaths

This afternoon I was at the house of one of my new friends learning to make a wreath.  She had the know-how, experience, and necessary materials.  In less than an hour and a half, I had made the world's most beautiful 14" wreath.  The main secret is to use 4 different kinds of evergreen and a special frame that she buys at a wreath outlet store.  (Yea, we have those around here.) I am home admiring it and making a few notes to help me remember for next year.  All is well in the Northwoods.