TELL ME

EVERYTHING YOU DID TO BRING IN THE NEW YEAR!

My Deeta

is the first born grandchild in our family. Mom and Pennie brought her for show and tell when I was in 2nd grade. I was so proud to be and AUNT in second grade at the ripe ol' age of 8! So, anyway, Lynette Lynne Olson grew up, joined the military, and is now happily married to Doug with 2 beautiful girls- Mariah and Katy...(yes, I'm also a GREAT AUNT. ) Here are their beautiful pictures. I look at them and just about cry. Love you guys! Have a wonderful New Year!

Our new addition....

well, TT went and hid, she is still (after 6 hours) hiding on the shelf in the downstairs bathroom. George is sitting on his "bush" frantically watching everything Gus Bob is doing. Gus is just begging George to play, but George hasn't quite decided yet. Here are some pics of him and Scott and Scott's family...
for more pics of Gus Bob, press HERE.

I'll post some other Christmas stuff and family stuff later. I'm just REALLY REALLY REALLY glad to be home. Ever rode a long distance bus before? HOLY SMOKES!

I'm at momma's house

and having a wonderful visit! Last night we had Christmas/birthday dinner...yum yum...tyvm Pennie and for such a good dinner the lovely gifts...(I won't tell about upside down pumpkin pie, )...today will be full of visits. I played Christmas music on the piano and will play some of "my" classics today. We watched a little PBS about dolphins. When mom gets up, we can read the paper together...eat a little raisin toast, drink a little coffee...The coolest thing of all is that Scott decided to take Gus...(thank you so much for bringing him to Scott's life, Pennie) and now he (Scott) feels like skipping! The year is ending just fine...

We are

heading out for a week or so. Going to see his and my family. Merry Christmas everyone. Have a peaceful holiday season with your family.

-e

Out

for Christmas break! WOOHOO!

Happy Birthday, Husband!

It's the best cake I could ever make for you! heehee

I know, you'd rather have your mother's crust cookie things that she makes, and I would too! They are yummy yummy! You do have your special tastes. That's why you got me, right? lol I hope you have a wonderful day on the 20th, your 45th birthday. I'll either make spaghetti or order in pepperoni pizza for ya, k? You can unwrap presents and we can go to the little kids' xmas concert with Ed and Cathy and Chi and Michelle and Terry and me. Love ya, dear.

Wife.

'Tis the Day!

When I was a single mom, going to college with my 3 little ones, money was tight and times were pretty dang hard. School was always rather difficult, but once concerts and finals were over for that semester, the season was so much more enjoyable. I'd always manage to get gifts for the kids, and sometimes they for me, but usually my birthday was for not. However, I'm such a kid. I've always insisted on having some sort of celebration on my birthday. So, without second thought, I quickly adapted to a different scenario and figured the best birthday present I could ever have was to let the kids open their presents on my birthday. And we all enjoyed the season a little early. When the kids were 5,2,2 etc., there was rarely a physical gift, but the hugs and the homemade cards from Ed and the fun we had was the best. Well, those times have come and gone. Christmas has settled back to December 25th and my birthday is sometimes celebrated with my kids on December 18th, sometimes just Scott and I. However, this year was a bit different. Since Scott and I will be leaving town for Christmas, everyone has hectic schedules, we decided to have Christmas after my birthday TONIGHT! TT was a little grouchy about it.
But then again....when isn't she?
We didn't get many pictures taken because we were all too busy opening up presents. Of course, we don't have a tree because the cats destroy it, so, this is our Christmas tree. (a little bigger than the last pic)
What a nice evening and a WONDERFUL birthday...
ohh, and I called my sissy VEL to open one of her Christmas presents...it's what topped off my evening.
Thanks for all the kind words...and blessings!

Speaking of Carols....

you will want to click HERE....

TOMORROW IS MY BIRTHDAY!

Your Turn!

The coolest thing about these are not always what someone else put, but the thoughts it invokes in answering these for yourself...

STOLEN FROM PETE!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
LOVE EGG NOG!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
YES!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or clear?
COLORED, AND THIS YEAR WE LOVE THE NEW LED LIGHTS. THEY DON'T GET HOT. THEY DON'T TAKE MUCH ELECTRICITY, THEY ARE LOVELY!

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
HUSBAND HATES MISTLETOE, CLAIMS IT IS FUNGUS THAT GROWS ON VARIOUS PLANTS/TREES...
NO FUNGUS AMONG US.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
AT SCHOOL, THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, HOME? UMMM, THE LIGHTS WENT UP OUTSIDE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I PULLED OUT THE SNOWMAN THIS MORNING, THAT'S IT THUS FAR.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding desserts)?
HAM AND SCALLOPED POTATOES OR THE NIGHT BEFORE...MY GREEN CHILI!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
PENNIE PUTTING ALL THE WRAPPING PAPER IN THE FIRE PLACE AND FLAMES SHOOTING UP ON THE OUTSIDE, UP ON THE MANTLE!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
SISTER RUBYE WITH THE MOUDY KIDS...AND THE EASTER BUNNY, TOOTH FAIRY....I THINK I WAS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GRADE.
9. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve?
ALWAYS DID GROWING UP. STILL DO SOME .....DEPENDS ON WHOSE HOUSE WE ARE HAVING IT AT!
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
IT USED TO BE LIGHTS, DECORATIONS, THEN ROPE. NOW WE DON'T. THE CATS HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE TREE, SO I JUST DO OURS AT SCHOOL FOR THE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM AND KEEP IT IN MY CLASSROOM.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
WILL ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS LOVE IT.

12. Can you ice skate?
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH................................
BACKWARDS 3 DIFFERENT WAYS, PARTNERS, SPINS, CAMEL, I LOVED IT SO MUCH GROWING UP, EVERY WINTER ON OUR POND OR BY THE COURTHOUSE....THEY'D HAVE THE DRAWINGS EVERY SATURDAY...IT WAS SOMETHING WINTERY THAT I LOVED....THEN WE MOVED TO HULETT.....
13. Do you remember your favorite gift as a kid?
I LOVED MY HAIR BOPPERS. OF COURSE, CHRISSY...

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
MAKING FAMILY THE PRIORITY, PUTTING ALL DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND JUST ENJOYING AND LOVING EACH OTHER!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
MY CHERRY CHEESECAKE....

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
WRAPPING PRESENTS....

17. What tops your tree?
A BURGANDY VELVET BOW

18. Which do you prefer---giving or receiving?
GIVING--SINGING CHRISTMAS CAROLS TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE ASSISTED LIVING AND NURSING HOME. THAT IS THE WARMEST MY HEARTS GETS. I HOPE WHEN I AM THERE, SOMEONE WILL COME AND PLAY AND SING MUSIC TO ME.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
THE FIRST NOEL

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
YUM, AND NOT THE OTHER FLAVORED ONES, JUST THE TRADITIONALLY FLAVORED MINT ONES.

21. Stockings?
ALWAYS, MOSTLY FULL OF CANDY.

22. Do you like sledding?
"YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE MOOSE TO QUIT FEEDING BEFORE YOU CAN GO OUT AND SLED"....THEN IT WAS DOWN THE SLOPE AT THE IRRIGATION DITCH, USUALLY IN DEEP SNOW, ON A METAL RUNNER SLED...GET SNOW DOWN OUR BOOTS, FEET WOULD FREEZE, ON OUR WRISTS....COME HOME TO MOM'S HOMEMADE BREAD AND HOMEMADE HOT CHOCOLATE. IT DOENS'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THAT. SLEDDING OR THE MEMORIES SURROUNDING IT? YES.
23. Farthest you've traveled for Christmas day?
PINEDALE TO STORY. SEEMED LIKE FOREVER, PROBABLY WASN'T ON THAT SAME DAY, THO.
24. Do you leave out cookies or carrots for when Santa comes?
COOKIES.

25. What gets you into the holiday spirit?
I HAVE A TENDENCY TO WANT TO SKIP THANKSGIVING....SO ONCE HALLOWEEN IS HERE...TIME TO JINGLEBELL ROCK!
26. Does your wrapping colour coordinate?
SEEMS TO, ALTHOUGH I DON'T REALLY INTEND IT TO...JUST TAKES ON ITS OWN THEME EACH YEAR...

27. Favourite gift you've ever given?
SEE #18
28. Most fun holiday memory?
EACH CHILDHOOD CHRISTMAS IS. I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR.

29. Do you wrap your own gifts?
OF COURSE.
30. Most missed memory from childhood?
DAD INSISTING THAT WE OPEN OUR PRESENTS ON CHRISTMAS EVE WITH EACH YEAR THE TIME GETTING EARLIER AND EARLIER IN THE DAY.

I guess he is checking

it twice to see who's naughty or nice...
because here is the tree.......

Why you wear your seatbelts...

A few days ago, Ed and Cathy were driving over the Homestake Mine Pass. I'm not sure what happened, but here is the wall they hit:
And here is what their car looks like after they hit. They are still a bit sore, but relatively unhurt. WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS!

Bruce Baby....

You knelt on the carpet, crimson and stained
Light trickled over your black dress like rain
Your lips were hot and my shocked heart screamed
And I can't scrape my eyes free of this dream

We each occupy the same space/time
Matter, antimatter, tangled like vines
And the awful tolling, and the cold rain outside
And I cannot scrape this dream off my eyes

And the embers of Eden burn
You can even see it from space
And the great and winding wall between us
Seem to copy the lines of your face

Holiday Winter Concert!

As the holiday season approaches, so do all the wonderful musical events. Our 5-12 concert was last night. And although I haven't seen the dvd or heard the recording, it felt good. Here are some glimpses:

SOUND CHECK:
(thanks Paul for always running sound for me!)
JUNIOR HIGH CHOIR:
Small numbers, but big voices.
Sometimes I talked...
Sometimes I played.
HS CHOIR:
They like to have fun...and first time in 14 years I've let my choir just "dress-up" and not wear robes!
And they rocked around the christmas tree!
Then we all sang "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" in universial hand sign.
Next up, Dan auctioned off five gingerbread houses:
Over $500 was raised last night for our local food bank. One was bought for $125 then donated right back and the next person paid over $150 for it. How cool is that? So, while this was going on, I was in the band room getting all the kids ready for the next part of the concert...

5th Grade Band:

Its a nice size band, all but 2 5th graders are in band...


They were so cute and they did sooo well for their very first concert!
Next the 6th grade...all but one are in band.
I was very pleased with the JH band. There tone and feel for the music is just amazing.

We ended with the HS band. They did a very good job as well.

I wished I give to you what this blog cannot...the music and the spirit of this concert. There were so many people and the compliments and hugs and the loves were great. There is so much support in our little community, so much spirit and musical talent in our kids. Thanks, everyone, for all your hard work!

Tonighti

is my big Winter Concert. Performances are as follows:

Jh Choir
HS Choir
intermission where the gingerbread houses will be auctioned off

5th grade band
6th grade band
7-8 grade band
HS band

then i'm going to relax!

'Tis the Season to

sing Christmas carols in the balcony above the Christmas Stroll!

Try THIS for fun:

THIS

I miss my friend.

Heavy northern autumn sky
Mist-hung forest -- Dark spruce, bright maple --
And the great lake rolling forever to the narrow gray beach

I look west along the red road of the frail sun
Where it hovers between shelf of cloud and spiky trees,
Receding shore;

The world is full of seasons; of anguish, of laughter
And it comes to mind to write you this:

Nothing is sure
Nothing is pure
And no matter who we think we are
Everyone gets his chance to be nothing

Love's supposed to heal, but it breaks my heart to feel
The pain in your voice --
But you know, it's all going somewhere
And I would crush my heart and throw it in the street
If I could pay for your choice

Isn't that what friends are for?
Isn't that what friends are for?

We're the insect life of paradise:
Crawl across leaf or among towering blades of grass
Glimpse only sometimes the amazing breadth of heaven

You're as loved as you were
Before the strangeness swept through
Our bodies, our houses, our streets --
When we could speak without codes
And light swirled around like
Wind-blown petals,
Our feet

I've been scraping little shavings off my ration of light
And I've formed it into a ball, and each time I pack a bit more onto it
I make a bowl of my hands and I scoop it from its secret cache
Under a loose board in the floor
And I blow across it and I send it to you
Against those moments when
The darkness blows under your door

Isn't that what friends are for?
Isn't that what friends are for?
Isn't that what friends are for?

---

Known comments by Bruce Cockburn about this song, by date:

24 August 1999 - "The 'you' in that song is my friend Jonatha Brooke who's formally of a group called The Story... Jonatha and I had been going through similar things at a distance from each other (a couple years ago now), sort of upheavals in our respective lives and comparing notes over the phone for a while and we finally actually got a chance, after many months [to meet]. One of the wierd things about being a touring musician is that you make friends with other people who do what you do but you only see them, you know, when you sort of flash past each other waving on the bus, or you know, at the occasional festival once in a while you get lucky enough that you actually end up in the same place at the same time with time to spend. Eventually you know, this happened, with me and Jonatha. While I was waiting for her to show up at the designated rendezvous point, I ended up writing that song based on our phone conversations and a few other bits and pieces from my notebook." - from an interview/live performance with Laura Ellen, "Live in the Sty" programme, KPIG radio station, Freedom, California, 24 August 1999. Anonymous submission.

Today

was a very difficult day. We went and saw Teyla. We laughed with her, we cried. We left. We're still healing.

Preparations:

Here's my lazy day off thus far:

• write out christmas cards to all the fam and fam friends
• wrap jeff, araka and teyla's presents and teyla's birthday presents for her party tomorrow!
• vacuum living room and dust
• scrub kitchen
• clean out under the kitchen sink
• cut up the pineapple and put in sink

I just haven't gotten dressed yet...

Through Scott's Eyes...

Jack Frost came to visit.

We went for a drive

after Thanksgiving Dinner. Some slept, some didn't.
Any way, we drove and drove and just wanted to see some wildlife. There wasn't much snow, hardly any traffic and about 3 pickups carrying Christmas Trees. We went all the way to Ten Sleep. The pass was 9666FT elevation. On the way back, we saw these creatures...



I just love them. So many memories of them growing up...a cow and calf moose. Doesn't get much better than that!

Thanksgiving Traditions and then some...

We arrived at mom and Pennie's house shortly before 11am on Thanksgiving Day. Pennie had already prepared much of the meal, so I quickly got to work!

The first thing I needed to do was to get some snacks on the table and the TRADITIONAL jellyroll that I used to make all the time. However, it has been a LONG time since I baked anything, much less a jellyroll! Nonetheless, mom special ordered one. This one is filled with huckleberry preserves. Doesn't my momma look beautiful in her green suit? She sure enjoyed the meat slices, miniature wheat bread loaves, veggies and dip!

And don't forget the TRADITIONAL yummy old lady heads!

The next TRADITIONAL task at hand was to get the dang wassail going! (medieval drink of the english, made with pineapple/apple/orange juice with cloves and cinnamon. I added the cranberries and orange slices because it's so appealing to the eyes and pallet!)
...and the coolest thing of all is that it was made in our oval roaster...we've had it since I can remember.

Usually, I play the piano while everyone else does all the work, but this year, I got to do the cooking too. So, the MUSICAL TRADITION continued as Chi played some blues on his guitar. Chi has been Ed's friend and roomate since he came here from Japan 2 1/2 years ago. This is probably the last time we get to see him as he is moving back in December. Hopefully he will be up to see us. If not, goodbye dear friend.
Another TRADITION included dressing up and/or patiently waiting for dinner to get done!

The time finally arrived and Megs started trimming the turkey. While she did that, I got together the rest of our yummies. Here are the fixings. We enjoyed the TRADITIONAL dishes. I carefully placed them on the 2 hot plates we've had and used ever since I can remember...the cool blue round rock thingy and the wire fish thingy. lol
Strange how the simplest things can jar so many forgotten memories, isn't it?
So here is the hot stuff (excluding the stuffing and the sweetpotatoes). Megs is still trimming, trimming, trimming.

And the cold stuff...
and the eaters...
while I dished up...
Yummy food, wonderful visits and a full belly made this TRADITIONAL Thanksgiving dinner a great time. One of the best I've had in a while. Love you who was with is and miss and love you family who was not.

Next on the agenda...CHRISTMAS SHOPPING! WOOHOO!