Christmas has come and gone and now there is only 2 days left of the year. As we sort through the wonderful presents and reflect on the wonderful year, I am already starting to think of my projects for next year. One of them is organizing our house. I'm going to start from the top and work my way down, room by room until there is a bit more order to the chaos.

Also new in 2009 is a different posting place. I started this blog 9 months ago, with the goal of recording memories with photos. Although I didn't get 365 photos, I did capture quite a bit. I am switching over to a new blog, with a new purpose soon...stay tuned.

SNOW!! We got 7" on Saturday...blizzard like all day, so we hunkered down and took a snow day, but I had to get out and play. So I took my cross country skis and skied around the neighborhood! Perfect timing - people were lazy and not shoveling, so the sidewalks were still covered, and now it feels like 35 degrees below zero, so I'm definitely not going ski anywhere. Come to think of it, skiing to work would be great, because I would generate more warmth getting there and my nose wouldn't freeze at the bus stop. I'll let you know if that happens. I may need some more home made hot cocoa. mmmm.

I've got about half the presents wrapped...and now I really miss our Christmas tree. I need some lights to cozy up to on this cold night. Maybe I'll work on stringing up something this weekend. You can never be too late with Christmas cheer...but for now, I'll just admire the lights in our neighborhood.

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Two Turtle Doves. I just read on Wikipedia today that the 12 days of Christmas actually occur AFTER the 25th, so my plan is a bit flawed, but I'm going to keep with the spirit. These are my Christmas doves, perched in their home on the "mantel". Red and gold - my favorite holiday colors.

On the first day of Christmas...
I guess this is our tree this year - I like it because its a very mod tree and it kind of looks like I'm combining Christmas with Hanukkah...so we're just staying hooray for all modern day wintery celebrations. Right now, I'm watching the snow fall behind the twinkle lights. Its covering up the melted, frozen mess left behind from yesterday's high and today's plunging temps. Our nephew was out in the South Dakota Blizzard today...I hope it finally got white and stays that way until we get there!

too cold to take pictures.

Wow - these multi-picture posts are just becoming standard. I wish I had more time to ponder the pictures, but I guess its just another group of favorite things. While snow is one of my favorites, driving in it on a lonely road - not so much.

I love Christmas trees and all of our old ornaments (my mom has them cataloged, so if one goes missing or when we used to fight over who's were who's, we know).

LOVE Grand Marais sunsets.

My parent's dog Teeka is definately one of my favorite things (pets).

And finally, walking in the snow home from work is a favorite thing!

Buttons. Another of my favorite things.

My favorite things. I'm going to do a few posts under the heading of my favorite things.

While there are a lot of things on these shelves, the actual case is one of my favorite things. It was a goodwill find for $25 dollars during a time when that was a lot of money. It was covered in dark, slick varnish and had nasty paneling on the back. So I sent it home in a van to my parents house and refinished it over the summer I was living there. I stripped and sanded and stained it ORANGE. Then I restained for a custom blend. (I liked it so much - I tried to repeat the same "custom" job on our coffee table...) Then I put a new back on it, stained the same. I love the shape - its so 1940's with a curved front. Its been a bookshelf, an nightstand, and now is a buffet for the dining room.

Its a really BIG round-up of overdue posts today, due to the following activities that I was doing instead of blogging. Turkey, potatoes, stuffing, wine...food coma....a bit of shopping (nothing traditional - fabric and furniture, no crowds), and the holidazzle parade, riding the bus with the family and standing outside the ice bar. Pretty much sums up the holiday portion of the weekend.

The rest of the weekend I decorated for Christmas (no tree this year - I just can't handle the needles, but plenty of cheer around the house). I also started some projects that are Christmas presents, so no posts yet...

Did you see the planets next to the moon yesterday eve? I made this wall hanging to display holiday cards on.But most of my time in the last few days has been sucked into my newest read. Eat, Pray, Love - great book. You should read it. I always get caught up in books. I pretty much stop doing anything else - sleeping, washing dishes...I have heard "Ree, put the book down and come to dinner" and have contemplated walking down the street with a book. REALLY GOOD BOOK.So, that's pretty much my weekend. How was yours?

Important questions to ask before hosting Thanksgiving....
1. do I have enough clean dishes? (and can I do this right, so I don't have to wash dishes 5 times BEFORE dinner)

2. Do I remember where I put the gravy boat?
3. What else do I need from the grocery store?
4. Will everything fit? (Notice the empty roaster and crock-pot for planning purposes

6. Do we have enough beer?

This list is a lot like Baloski's Christmas list. If you've never read the book, I highly recommend it.

Ok - I haven't posted all week, so here are some updates:


Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas on those city sidewalks. Lights and snowflakes are ready for the holiday shoppers - will they be disappointed?


Yesterday I woke up again to snow and this time it stuck all day! This is the only time I went outside all day until night...yah - I know I'm lazy. Notice the footprints halfway up the steps. That's what happens when your house looks just like the next.

Finally, I did a bit of holiday decorating myself. Not quite ready for the lights and glitter (ok, I'm always ready for glitter), but a little bit of nature to greet the friends and family coming over this week. Get ready - adventures in Turkey cooking coming up!

Finishing projects - this is a denim quilt that has been sitting in my closet waiting for a backing. So this weekend I pulled out some cozy flannel that my mom-in-law gave me and put the thing together. Great heavy snazzy blanket for the chill that has blown in.

Chocolate chip cookie dough...is there anything better?

11.15.08

This show was fantastic! Scenes, Songs, DRESSES!!! I loved Elphelba's black dress and the monkies and pretty much everything about the show. Now I have the sound track playing continuously on my I-Pod and I would go back again and again. I found the below pictures, just to get a glimpse at those sets and costumes again.

The citizen's costumes were pretty great too!

I love snow so much - I'm posting twice today! And introducing you to my newest blog. My aunt started a place for her, her sister (my mom) and two nieces to share our collective interests. We like crafts, snow, gardens, sewing...its a fun place to go! www.sewsewwhat.blogspot.com

Today for Veteran's Day, my post is dedicated to my favorite Veteran, my DAD. I think the one thing I have learned the most from him growing up was to try the best I could at everything I did. Every ski race, he was there. The years I fell 11 times and ejected out of both my skis every single run, he was there. Usually there was a discussion about how I did - he likes to coach. But eventually, he would finish with just one last piece of advice: "Well Ree, as long as you tried your best." Thanks Dad.

Mirror image. I don't know if its because the molecules are slowing down in the river or because everything north is starting to freeze, but this is the calmest I have ever seen the Mississippi. It is getting chilly - I think I may need to break out the long underwear soon.

The kiddos were in town to visit this weekend! I feel like our niece and nephew grow so much between visits. Short trip this time, but still good to see you!

11.08.08

Fun times with co-workers at Boss's party. Hiku, high-fives, hippsters.

Its hard to see, but this tree has bright red berries on it. For the third time this year. I'm not sure, but it seems a bit wrong to put the trees through a fake-out like this. Are they supposed to bear fruit tri-anually?

The leaves are gone and the sky is darkened on my way home, so why is it 70 degrees out. I feel a change though - just about 1/2 hour ago the wind shifted and it got chilly...hope it will stay that way. I keep wearing scarves even though they are unnecessary. Lots of activity lately - meetings, gatherings, parties every night...just another sign of the season.

Notice that I have a stripe on my photo? My camera is breaking, but I'm getting a new one tomorrow! Thanks for finding a good one Brandon!

I have no photo tonight. I don't need one. I will always remember this night as a day in history. I know that sounds trite and sort of mainstream, but it is true. I have voted in 6 major elections (president, governor, senator) since turning 18. I've picked the loser every single time. Until now. And I am actually proud of the fact that I was able to pick the loser 6 times, proud of the fact that I care and I vote. (I should have known I was getting into a strange world when Jesse won the first election). I have no photo, because there is no way to describe in a picture what just happened. Congratulations USA - we have a new president!

Our costumes...Brandon was our friend Tom, dressed as a bunny and I was a tooth fairy.

Halloween costume preview! I found these shoes at Target today for $10!! They are the perfect completion to my costume...stay tuned for the rest!

My husband is off riding a tractor (combine?) right now, harvesting corn on his family's farm. The tractor doesn't look like this one, and they don't have that barn anymore, but he still loves to be there. So I say - go drive the big fancy machines, work hard with your dad, and I'll see you when you get home - farmer.

I got a flue shot today. It took me a while to get this picture of my arm myself. The husband is off farming this week, so I couldn't ask for help getting the photo, so its a bit blurry and a bit off- but I have a band-aid on. I don't want to get sick. Also today was the first craft club meeting! I decided to get a bunch of girlfriends together and show-off any crafts we've been working on, drink some wine and maybe work on a project (or maybe just catch up with old friends and make new ones). Tonight we did some silhouette cut-outs - spooky for halloween!! Speaking of which - its only 4 days away...is your costume ready?


One more thing for the day - mom - get well soon! I'm writing this on both blogs so you see it twice!

Today is the most exciting day of the year. SNOW! No - it doesn't look like this outside my window, but its coming! Soon the ground will be white and the trees will sag with snow. Its going to be a good one - I can feel it.

Short Hair!!!

Different walk around this city today - new route, means new sites. I'm always amazed at the discoveries you make everyday, even when you think you know a place. I have driven by this old depot many times. First, when I was a freshman in college, a passenger in my friend from highschool's car. We were totally lost. It wasn't until years later that I realized exactly where we were at the time. Life sometimes has to be figure out where you were, instead of a where you are. Lost in the moment and clear the next day. Realizing years later that you've been on this road before and this time understand whats around the corner. There. Some philosophy for a Thursday night.

One other thought for this day: This is the last night my hair will look like this:

Fall means...scarves, plaid, NEW BOOTS, cute jackets, sweaters...

Ah. The neighborhood grocery store - where would we be without you. Making breakfast and need some eggs? Grab tortillas for the crock-pot enchiladas waiting at home on your way home from work? Only a few blocks on foot and there you have them. We lived in this neighborhood once before and then another in between, and neither place had a neighborhood grocery store. It is much better to have one, so you don't have to truck to the main grocery store on a day to day basis (for those forgetfuls like me). There is also something to be said about the neighborhood liquor store, but that's another post.