Snowy Christmas

This Christmas has been very snowy!! We have had about 12-14" of snow, freezing rain, and ice, in various combinations throughout the past several days. It has caused a lot of disruption to Christmas traditions, all across the Midwest. Travel plans were foiled. Some people were "snowed out", while others were "snowed in." We chose to venture out sparingly and mainly stayed close to home. Our Christmas celebrations were altered, but not hindered.


First we got 6-8", on December 23, most of it overnight. The small photos were taken with my mobile phone.

Then another 3-4" or so on Christmas Eve Day. And more overnight on Christmas Eve.
I love showing the patio furniture (which we did not get covered up this year before the snows came) -- because then you can see how much snow there is.

It has been beautiful but also a bit exasperating. We were not able to have our usual family Christmas Eve dinner celebration due to poor weather. We are having it on Sunday the 27th. Just safer and saner for all. It felt different not to be gathered together Christmas Eve in the evening, eating and laughing and enjoying each other as we do every year. But we made the best of it.

The 2009 Christmas Blizzard certainly was eventful!!

Annual Lefse Making

Well! Seems it has been a while since I have posted!

Here is truly a highlight of every year. Our annual lefse making, on Christmas Eve morning. We had had 6-8" of snow, so we had to be flexible. My sis-in-law could not come, neither could daughter A. This year, a friend of mine joined us; this was her first time making lefse.

Grandpa was beaming and basically supervising. My job was mixing the batter--quite the messy job (basically you take mashed potatoes and add flour until it is still somewhat sticky). Then you roll out the batter as thin as possible and cook on the extremely hot griddle.




It was very enjoyable, as always. After we were done, we taste-tested the lefse. It is best spread with butter and brown sugar, and rolled up. (Some like it with white sugar). It was excellent!!

Sarah made one shaped like a heart! Pretty soon my friend, B., was looking like a pro on the griddle.


This is one special activity that we share together every holiday season. Even though we could not all be together in the usual way, we made the best of it, and we made memories in a new way. Great time!!

Deep Breath

OK-I am taking a deep breath, and just embedding this video. This is me playing Schumann's Traumerei.

New Piece

I have a new piano piece, Schumann's Traumerei. It is quite beautiful, played very subtly. Here is the interpretation by my favorite classical pianist, Vladmir Horowitz.

I tend to get the melody stuck in my head when I practice it, which is altogether not a bad thing.

Occasions II

This wasn't a super family-oriented occasion, but it was definitely one that called for photos. Many, many photos. And beauty -- lots of beautification activities.

Yes, the Homecoming dance activities for A., who is a high school junior. I keep saying this, but I am continually amazed at how much beauty effort is put into the event, when all the girls are already pretty darn gorgeous.

But regardless, off she went, from one appointment to the next. Nails, hair, makeup. Oh, and the boutineer! Can't forget that!! Group photos were at 5:15pm. By then I was exhausted. And the event hadn't even started yet! (but of course it is not about me, anyway)

The photos were at one of the boy's homes. Super G and I went. It was hilarious, because the girls, when they saw her, said "C'mon G.! Come get in the photo!!" Must have made her feel about 10 feet tall.

All in all, a fantastic day-great weather, happy group of teenagers, parents just enjoying the experience. There was a parent get-together that occurred during the time of the dance, which sounded like a great way to relax and connect with parents. However, we had a dinner conflict that night (a Masonic charity dinner-which is why I am a bit dressed up here).

Another high school event!! Nice!

Occasions I

We had a couple big family events over the past week or so. Here is the first one.

S. Confirmation-
Along with 150+ 9th graders, S. was confirmed in the Lutheran Church. This was a fun and meaningful event. Nice church service, beautiful music, family gathered, celebration. We were so grateful to have family and friends gather for her day. T's aunt & uncle from Michigan, my dad and brother, Tom's mom, sister and her husband. And some close family friends.

Sarah made her chocolate torte for everyone, which I really thought was special and showed her generous spirit. Oh my goodness, it was so delightfully rich!

Congratulations to her on deciding to affirm her baptism and for becoming a full-fledged member of our church.

New Beginnings

Life is full of cycles. Fall brings an end to warm weather (at least here in MN), and of course school begins once more. New and old, new and old. Same schools, new classes, new locker, mostly new teachers, old friends and new.

I was again allowed to capture the morning kick-off in pics. Such natural joy and freshness in the faces of my 3 daughters!! It lifts my spirit.