Ciao, 2014

New Year's Eve is very therapeutic for me. It teaches me to reflect on the past year in the "big picture" mode, not zooming in on the daily stresses and challenges that can feed our negativity.

I look overall and I see a great year. Did not lose any loved ones. We're relatively healthy. We're employed. We have wonderful friends. And, this year, we even extended our family!

It was fitting that we received a holiday package from Germany today. What a great reminder on a new blessing in our lives. Lukas sent us homemade treats (I think he calls most cookies "biscuits"), very good chocolate and some special ornaments.

There's a tradition with the pickle ornament in front. The German custom is that the pickle is hidden in the Christmas tree and the first person to find it gets to open their presents first. I have seen pickle ornaments before and never understood them. Now, I get it. Another new tradition to add to our holidays.

And did you look closely? My sweet boy remembers my love for ice cream! I just wanted to cry. That's so special to have this bond. I'll be jealous when Carter gets to go stay with him next summer and Jim and I won't! Some day...

While Lukas was already ringing in 2015, we had a fun evening with friends tonight.

Started off with dinner at Ebbe's Lake Aire Supper Club with our friends Mike and Christine – and a host of others. Had a very delicious seafood Alfredo dish. Even got some grasshopper pie to go. No room left in my tummy for it. But tomorrow there will be!

After dinner we headed to a gathering of some of our Assumption friends. This was less than a mile from home so we could have headed out anytime if we got tired. But lo and behold, we made it until midnight! So we're so young, ha. I texted Carter at midnight to make sure he wasn't kissing anyone at the gathering he was at. He insists that he was NOT!

Got home just before 2 a.m. and me thinks we will sleep in tomorrow / today. Now we'll get in bed and say our prayers, thankful for another good year and the great people in it! That includes YOU.

Happy New Year!

6 Geese A Laying ... Around

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: 

6 geese a-laying...

Here I thought tradition meant 6 geese laying eggs and being productive. On the contrary, these geese are laying around. I don't have to tell you a took a cue from them and ended my own productive streak.

Wait, can it be a streak after only one day??

Anyway, I took a hiatus from the decluttering / organizing business only because I had actual work to do. Yes, I'm technically on vacation but a few things had to be done. Then there was that list of other non-work "work" projects that needed to be wrapped up by year's end.

So I ended up sitting on the computer 'til almost noon. Productive but not anything anyone else in the house could see. I got on the treadmill for an hour after that, watching Season 2 of Orange is the New Black. Yup, I renewed my Netflix this morning for that free trial month anyway. At least I can catch up on OITNB and maybe we'll keep it after that. (Hubby is watching Wolf of Wall Street right now on it. I gave up after 90 minutes. Still can't get the storyline or care. But he's enjoying it.)

I made some chocolate cookie type treats and banana bread this evening, too. Nothing compares to Jim's accomplishment of the day, though.

When he went to give blood this morning, he got a t-shirt acknowledging his 7th gallon! Wow. So proud of him! I admire his ability to do that. I have tried numerous times and can't do it without fainting, even if they set me up with ice and have me reclined and all that. Just can't do. So glad he can and does and that he makes a difference.

Now I would earn a 7-gallon t-shirt in the ice cream or coffee club, but that's not helping anyone else.

It does keep me going, though, which is more than my geese can say today!

Ring a-Ding-Ding

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: 

5 golden rings!

I realized today my "rings" are actually the circles I am running in as I try to accomplish those New Year's resolutions I made last year ... and again at Lent... and probably reiterated on my birthday.  Ha.

No, I am not suddenly eating right or exercising (too much eggnog and Hallmark around for that). But I do recall a few pledges to declutter and / organize things.

So today I relegated myself to the kitchen. No baking Christmas cookies this time. Just me and my well-intentioned ambition. Ha. I now have a full box of items to donate to charity tomorrow and a bag full of garbage, including expired food and some dish cloths and towels that exceeded their life expectancy long ago.

Then there's those items I am not sure what to do with – like those cute little Vikings baby bibs tucked in the back of the drawer with the potholders. Precious, messy memories!

Tonight I am rewarding myself with a Christmas movie. (Shocker.) I am down to only 3 in the DVR queue. So I need to space these out and during the rest of my vacation. I'll make myself a deal that I have to accomplish something in the day first.

Unless my 6 geese a-laying tomorrow lay a golden egg and I can hire someone to do it for me...

In the meantime, I may have to pick up a few more gigs as that very retired Vikings cheerleader. Here's the photo I promised, courtesy of my sister RoAnn:

I know. Don't quit my day job.

Happy Skol-idays

Heading to Minnesota on game day was as exciting as, well, heading to Minnesota on game day. Only this was no ordinary game day.

Sure, it involved Vikings and other Scandinavian lore, but there was not a football or helmet in sight. There was one cheerleader, but I'll get to that later.

Today was the Hedberg family Christmas celebration, this year hosted by my brother Ron and his son David and daughter-in-law Sara. They rented a cute little conference center at the Spring Lake Reserve, just south of St. Paul near Rosemount. The Vikings were playing at home up the road, so  to speak, but only half of us cared. Apparently I will need to just be IN Minnesota on Sundays next season so they win more games!

Today we had an interesting smorgasbord of Swedish- and Norwegian-inspired dishes. There was pickled herring, linden berry jelly on rye crackers and a variety of sardines. Trust me, even something Cajun spicy flavored could not entice this wimpy Scandi-hoovian to eat fish with heads. No matter how little. For the main course, I did try some Swedish (potato) sausage, some potato dumpling thing and, of course, Swedish meatballs. My dishes weren't quite as original.  I made Viking Purple Grape Salad and Ole's Eggnog Gingerbread Dessert. That went well with Lefse and Krumkaka!

After lunch, we had our traditional Christmas program, which brought singing, laughing, crying and an entertaining game of Holiday Family Feud. For the Austin clan part, we had to go with three of us since the big boys didn't arrive until later. I was a retired (for many decades) Vikings cheerleader and Jim and Carter were backup dancers while I sang "O, Lutefisk," that old Norske favorite to the tune of "O, Christmas Tree." (I hope someone took a picture for me!)

After the quality program, there were presents exchanged and games played – including several rounds of Bunco. Good times.

Since many have to work tomorrow, we wrapped up the party by 8 p.m. We decided to head all the way back to Rapids (3+ hours) instead of getting a hotel since we're all awake AND we can sleep in tomorrow.

Granted, it's very late, but I will share a few quick photos...

My creative niece team of Caryn and Michelle made Mom (Grandma) a special snow globe with an old family photo inside. Cool idea!

Speaking of cool... Snuggling with my eldest awesome niece Caryn! (She still wouldn't give me her cool hat, though!)

All I want for Christmas is to be as tall as my twin. And in this case, it was accomplished by standing on the fireplace hearth. Works for me!

My favorite gifts every day of the year... My great guys! Love them! They – and my entire family – make my season bright!

Merry Christmas or, as the Norse Force says: God Jul!

Top Secret Santa

Can't tell you much about today since most of it involved preparations for tomorrow's Hedberg family Christmas.

I was up and baking by 8:30 and sat down very little for the next 9 hours. Made something for the lunch, something for dessert and something interesting for the "girls."

That pretty much took me to supper and cooking a turkey breast, later served with mashed potatoes and gravy with dinner rolls. I know. This domestic kick has got to stop!

Sat down in front of the computer to do a quick graphic design thing and it dawned on me that I have not come up with a part / song / poem / skit / presentation / game / something for the annual family Christmas Program tomorrow! Often times I do think of something on the way to the celebration, but the drive is only 3 hours not 4 so I better not press my luck.

So I'm blogging now  – telling you basically NOTHING about my day – so I can log off and turn my thinking cap on.

And since hubby just returned from town with a "this is your last chance to get an eggnog shake" from Culver's for me... I am now inspired! M-m-m... yes!

Lordy, Lordy...

One day after Christmas in Wisconsin and look who's 40! Mother Nature!

Just typical of the Midwest's atypical weather. We are shoveling in late October and November and ready to get Mr. Deck Chair out of hibernation in December!

OK, I went one too far on that. I did manage to go for a walk/run with minimal layers. Not shorts. Certainly don't need to shave my legs when tomorrow is going to be cold and snowy already.

I know other areas in Wisconsin and Minnesota had their white Christmas. Ours will come late and hopefully not create any hazardous road conditions beyond Saturday. On Sunday, we travel to Minnesota for my family's Christmas. It will be far from 40 degrees, but for now (knock on deck wood), it looks like no precipitation.

In prep for the gathering, I went grocery shopping today for a few things I am making for the potluck. And since I was in Wal-Mart, took advantage of a few "day after Christmas" sales. Just some things for the party. Oh, and a little Reese's peanut butter cup "tree" for me.

Spent my evening wrapping Bunco gifts and watching a Christmas movie. Hubby relaxed in front of a different TV. And Carter is working.

Are we still in the Christmas spirit? Here's a hint. Jim just said: "I wonder if there is anybody else in this town who has 3 eggnog containers in their fridge. I bet you there's grocery stores that don't even have that right now."

OK, OK, I better go have a swig.

Taking my cue from Hawaii, where it's always this "tropical": Mele Kalikimaka to me!

Merry Memories

Merry Christmas!

When my oldest sister started posting nostalgic (that means I'm OLD) Christmas photos, I was immediately drawn back to childhood memories. And grateful to be making new ones with my own family.

Above, clockwise, it's me on the red stool, then RoAnn, Romey, Dad, Ron, Rachel, Renell, Raylene and Mom. My sister Rayna (the budding photographer) took the picture. Somehow all 8 of us fit around the table – with its lovely vinyl/plastic table cloth – and there was enough food for one and all!

Today, I barely made enough for the 5 of us! Well, I tried a new sausage-egg bake recipe. It turned out so good that maybe a 9x13 pan isn't big enough. (Again, I am obligated to document all domestic moments in the kitchen.) It was easy and tasty and something I will make again with some variation. And I had plenty of time to prepare it.

Jim went to 10:30 a.m. church and the boys got up after 11. So it really was closer to lunch than brunch. Then we opened presents and dug into our stockings.

Clay wanted money towards a PS4. I am still figuring out Nintendo 64 so I am a bit behind on the video game systems. But he was happy, so that's what counts.

Apparently Carter blew out his speakers in his car doors so Santa brought him new ones. Installation NOT included. We'll make a gearhead out of him yet. He also got some clothes and ... some clothes.

Dad and Casey are wondering whose gift will keep them warmer this winter – Jim's Carhartt bibs or Casey's plush robe? I will be happy to test-drive the robe, but not the bibs, since those must be accompanied by shoveling or snowblowing.

The shortest elf in the house got a gift certificate to pick out some new running shoes. That will be awesome – especially when I am fueled by eggnog and cookies. I'll be so fast ... until that sugar crash!

This afternoon, while the men were entertained by a John Wayne marathon on TV, I did actually get out for a little exercise. I had to. The temps were in the mild 30s and the sun shone on the Son's birthday! Hurray!

I even saw my shadow. That means 6 more weeks of Christmas! Fa-la-la-la...