Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

December 18, 2009

Posts between now and a couple of days after Christmas might be kind of slim.  Ham balls for Christmas dinner are cooking right now, and tomorrow I’ll be making a run to Rolfe to have some gift baskets made up at Busy B’s.  (The jams there are the draw for me.) While I’m in Rolfe, I  might be approving proofs of an additional watercolor. Within the next month, I’ll unveil the image of another of Mother’s watercolors that will be available.

Before Christmas I plan to post Nancy Martin’s (of Rolfe) Gumdrop Muffin recipe.  Before we left Rolfe 24 years ago, Nancy shared the recipe with me. My daughters have looked forward to the muffins every holiday season since.

“See” you in two or three days,

Louise

Cranberry Cotoneasters and Peace on Earth

December 16, 2009

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In front of our home. 4:04 PM, Sunday, December 13, 2009. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Years ago, Bill planted Cranberry Cotoneaster shrubs in front of our home. They died about three years ago, most likely due to some sort of disease. We liked the characteristics of those shrubs so much that two summers ago we took a chance by planting Cranberry Cotoneaster shrubs again. (Click here for the pronunciation of “Cotoneaster.”)

I’m such an amateur with my camera.  However, I’ve at least been going two steps forward for every step back in my photography learning curve. I had fun Sunday and Monday messing around with different ISO and exposure settings.  Yes, I want a great product (great photos), but for these photos of the lights melting the snow around them, the process of being outside in the elements was my…um…focus.

11:46 PM, Sunday, December 13, 2009. (Click photo to enlarge.)

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11:54 PM, Sunday, December 13, 2009. Standing outside, facing the front of our house (facing north). (Click photo to enlarge.)

I was by myself when I took the midnight photos.  The air was crisp and, except for the crunch of snow under my boots and the sound of the shutter, there was no noise. As our military serves our country to defend our freedoms, I’m thankful for these Sunday night peaceful moments.

9:06 AM, Monday, December 14, 2009. From inside our home, facing south looking out over the Cranberry Cotoneaster shrubs.

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Marilyn Rickard, the Nativity, and our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

December 12, 2009

(Click here to go to this blog’s home page. This is a meandering post. Let’s just say it’s the nostalgia talking.)

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Tree decorating from a 3-year-old's perspective. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Last week Katie, Joe, Abby and Jackson (daughter, son-in-law, daughter and 3 1/2-year-old grandson) came out to help decorate Bill’s and my Christmas tree. This entailed lasagna for supper, a new Christmas CD, egg nog (after the lasagna settled), Christmas tree decorating and…family.

Switching gears…When I was little, Marilyn Rickard of Rolfe was my Sunday School teacher. I remember being disappointed when I learned the following year that I was going to have a different teacher. Wasn’t Marilyn going to be my teacher forever?

My creche ornament from Marilyn Rickard. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Marilyn’s personality had the perfect mix of smiling and caring and of being fun and gentle. I was fond of her as I am of the plastic creche ornament that she gave to me in the late ’50s or early ’60s.

Last week I ran across a creche ornament that reminded me of the creche Marilyn had given me.  It didn’t look all that great, but represented the true meaning of Christmas.  I purchased it and gave it to Jackson hoping that when he’s my age he has a fondness for his creche, just as I have a fondness for mine from Marilyn Rickard.

Our Charlie Brown tree. (Click photo to enlarge the "designer" ornament arrangement!)

Of course, the true meaning of Christmas revolves around the serious miracle of Jesus’ birth. But, after decorating the tree, we (except for Jackson) unsuccessfully tried to contain our laughter when we realized that most of the ornaments were hung at about…hmmm…a 28″ height. Jackson especially liked one small low-on-the-left-side-of-the-tree section where you can see (if you click on the photo to enlarge it) that his little hands clumped several ornaments. Our Charlie Brown tree.

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Hay You!

November 22, 2009

Hay bales along Highway 196 south of Sac City, Iowa. (Click photo to enlarge. Twice to enlarge even more.)

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S’more from West Lake Okoboji

September 7, 2009
IMG_3734 s'mores 1200

(Click to enlarge photo and "be there.")

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From Trevi Fountain to The Celebration Barn

July 18, 2009

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Two years ago on May 28, 2007, Bill’s and my now son-in-law, Joe Moon, asked our daughter, Katie, if she would marry him.  A week prior, Joe asked Bill and me for our permission to ask Katie to be his bride.  Because we (and Katie) enjoy and appreciate Joe so much, we were elated to be asked.  Also, because we then knew Joe planned to ask Katie the following week, we had much anticipation (but not as much as Joe!). more…

A Visitor

July 17, 2009

I haven't posted for a couple of days, and have quite a bit going on the next few days.  So, I thought I'd show you this little tree frog friend that was on our window yesterday.

I haven't posted for a couple of days, and have quite a bit going on the next couple of days. So, I thought I'd show you this little tree frog visitor that was on our window yesterday. I'll have a new post up on Saturday. (Click once, and even twice, to enlarge.)

A Good Reminder

July 7, 2009

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Having been gone over the weekend, and celebrating Katie’s (our younger daughter) birthday today, I don’t have a new post ready for today except… more…