Saying Goodbye to 2013

I usually like to take time to reflect on the previous year in my last blog before taking the calendar off the wall. But I didn't spend much time on that.

I didn't need to.

Other than the sickness and eventual death of my father, it actually was a wonderful year. It went way too fast, but it was good.

Our health was good and I shed a little extra poundage. We both remained employed (and Carter, too). Hubby embarked on a new career venture that is proving quite positive, while I am expanding some "work" on my creative side. Teen boy is doing well in school and his extra curriculars.

I had some memorable times with old friends and met many new -- through a rewarding mission trip and involvement in some civic and church activities.

It was so much better than the multitude of challenges I had in 2012 that I can't believe I ever doubted God was going to bless me again. And again.

I don't know what 2014 holds in store, but if spending the last afternoon and evening of 2013 having a great time with friends I hold dear is any sign, I think I'm going to like it!

(I even stayed up until midnight in our time zone AND the next. That's gotta be a good sign!)

I hope you, too, found many 2013 blessings to count. May you have many more in 2014.

Happy New Year!

Black Monday

Black Monday: The first Monday after regular season football when the undesirable coaches get the boot. (Today that included the Vikings coach!)

Black Monday: Also that first Monday after Christmas when you realize you still have 15 un-watched Christmas movies DVR'd and only 3 days of vacation left!

Judging by our high temperature of zero today -- yes, you read that right -- it would have been the perfect day to knock off at least 4 of those movies. But so far, I've only watched one.

Our plan today was to have a tasty Butter Braid for breakfast. But the house was so cold overnight that the dough didn't even rise! So now we'll have that tomorrow instead. My other plan was to meet someone in Point to drop off some items I'm selling. That fell through when the customer's vehicle didn't start.

Since I'd already asked Carter go there with me, we stuck to that part of the plan. And went as far as Plover anyway. Stopped at Best Buy so he could buy a CD, then I got some photo organizer boxes at Staples, then Carter got a haircut at Sports Clips. First time there. Quite the wait since it was "lunch hour" for most people, but they did a fine job filling in while his regular "hair artist" here in town is on vacation.

After that, we popped into Starbucks next door and walked out with two hot holiday lattes for just under 10 bucks. Ouch. No wonder I only go there once in a blue moon. Or longer.

I let Carter drive home so he could get some Freeway experience. He did just fine. Got home and played some cards, then made some treats for New Year's Eve and finally filed some photos in those new organizers.

Then and only then did I finally sit down to watch one of my Hallmark movies. It was good (of course) and I may even sneak in one more this evening since I can sleep in tomorrow. I am getting pretty good at that.

I will have to improve my movie-watching skills, though. I need to up my daily average if I am going to see them all before they are automatically erased for something new.

Which I'm sure would never be as emotionally entertaining, would it?

Really Chillin' Out

You know you're in Wisconsin when yesterday was practically shorts weather and right now, a nice minus 4-- feeling like 21 below zero.

In other words, I stayed put today.

The cold weather was part of the reason. The cold I am experiencing is another. I feel like I am in one of those commercials where the poor cold sufferer is being chased by a big, ugly mucous monster! Yuck. I am better than when I awoke -- thanks to Sudafed, Emergen-C, hot tea and whatever else I thought to take today. I am hoping it all drains away (like magic in the commercials) so I can sleep well tonight.

Buried deep under the warm covers and laying on the very warm mattress pad. No need to chill out 24/7.

I did chill out / relax today. Did a little housework and some treat-making, but then watched some football, trying to catch highlights of the Vikings game since they were not airing it here.

And the won! Their last game ever at the Metrodome. Glad they went out on a high note.

I have a lot of memories from the Dome, starting with a lot of Twins games in the '80s -- especially on weekends they played at home while I was a camp counselor at Luther Point. We made a lot of trips down to catch a game and wave hello to Kirby Puckett. Fun times. ... And ending with games there throughout Carter's childhood.

Despite this season, I have enjoyed quite a few Vikings games there, too, with friends, hubby and the boys. You can call us wimps for watching football "indoors," but when it's minus 4 degrees (with -21 windchill), I kind of am!

And I am not ashamed. SKOL!

Indian Summer or Something

Well that Indian Summer we never got this fall finally arrived today -- a few months late. That's what it felt like anyway!

When it's 42 degrees, no one around here needs a jacket outside. Just a sweatshirt will do. AND we didn't even have to turn the heat up from the overnight setting.

That's Wisconsin tough.

It was sunny all day so I thought it was a perfect day to clean out a closet. Now, follow me. It does make sense. I just prefer projects like that with lots of natural light in a room. It motivates me. Otherwise, it's dark and depressing and I would rather sit on the couch and watch a movie.

I think I still would have preferred that, but I stuck to my goal.

Since moving my Scrap Cave into Carter's old room, I hadn't completely emptied his closet. The whole top shelf was filled with a mix of bedding and old Halloween costumes and sports gear and clothes he's outgrown. A lot was stacked up there.

I felt like I was re-living his childhood through the pillow cases alone... Sesame Street to Dinosaurs to Power Rangers! Awww. Where did that little boy of mine go?

I did manage to get a healthy pile together to go to Goodwill and set the rest aside to sell.  I felt good about that. Since Jim was up in Point watching a basketball game with a buddy, I had Carter drive me around town for practice. First dropping off the cardboard (lots of Christmas boxes) at the recycling center, then a small load at Goodwill, then a brief trip to ShopKo to get him a 2014 wall calendar, then a stop for late lunch/early supper at Polito's Pizza.

One must be rewarded for one's hard work, right?

After practicing some "Y turns" on the way home, we got home as the sun was starting to set. Yup that process still starts around 4 p.m. despite Indian Summer. So I took a quick walk just to enjoy the nice temperatures before it got dark. Glad I took those pretty pictures yesterday as the snow had melted off or fallen off all those branches today!

Tonight it's a relaxing night at home. While Carter was watching a movie downstairs, I watched another Christmas movie (I actually did cry at the end of this one) and then Jim and I played cards (3 to 13). I only mention that since I beat him. By one point. But a win is a win.

I suppose I better log off the computer and give him a chance to redeem himself. It may seem spring-y out today but we have a long winter (a.k.a. Card Season) ahead and I need more practice!

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland

The temps got into the high 20s/low 30s today. In Wisconsin, that means it's "warm" out!

So I got off my lazy backside and actually took a walk today. I took my phone with me to play Christmas music and make it a "photo walk" if I could capture a few images of winter. I will admit, it IS pretty when I don't have drive in it!

Here are a few of the images. I might have to do this again with my "good camera," but these give you a general idea of our central Wisconsin winter wonderland, where I heard we have gotten snow every day of December and up to 20 inches total already.

The old barn around the bend. I think it is held up mainly by all the hay bales inside. It always seems like I could knock it right over with a simple push of one finger. Sure has character, though!

I think this birdhouse could use a roof rake! We actually bought one today and Carter assembled it, then helped Dad rake the snow off our roof and blow snow (again).

Beautiful Blue Jay Drive! Our home sits up ahead, around the curve and on the right. This looks pretty but I can tell you that with the tall trees and the shadows, this little section of the road will be snow- and ice-covered and slippery until spring.

All the snow is piling high and weighing heavily on the pine branches.

Today, with some wind and warmer temps, I saw quite of bit of it letting loose!

Got home in time to see Carter playing fetch with the next-door-neighbor's dog Murphy. Murphy would actually run out and fetch the snowball but had quite the challenge carrying it back. It was so cute!

You can see why Mr. Adorable is the most popular guy in the neighborhood. And he doesn't even know how to operate a snowblower!

Royal Pride for every season. I'll be curious to see if we get so much snow this winter that this sign gets covered. I hope not. Or if it does come, it's only on days I don't HAVE to drive to the office. Wishful thinking.

I did venture out today. Had to go to Wal-Mart for a few quick groceries. Later, we took Carter to a friend's and we went out to eat at The Ridges -- where we could check his work schedule for January. Good excuse!

Jim's parents stopped this evening to look at our tree and dismal decorations. I really didn't go all out this year in the house (or outside), but it still feels like Christmas.

And, as long as I have recorded movies yet to view, it still will be!

Long Winter's Nap

I love mornings when I wake up, realize I am not due back at the office for a WEEK, roll over and go back to sleep!

I can't even brag about staying in bed past 8 when Carter slept in until noon today. And I don't think he would have gotten up then if I hadn't nudged him -- which I had been doing on the hour since 10 a.m. I just didn't want his sleep schedule off kilter when he goes back to school.

I guess we both have a week to screw it up -- and enjoy it!

Maybe we could learn from Sylvester...

She loves Christmas. All gift boxes become new places to nap -- with or without her blankie. She's so cute when she hides from the camera (like Carter does)! She's probably sick of having so many people in the house by now. Between Christmas Eve and Day and now today with Carter having a friend over, she just finds a soft place to hide... and nap.

Hubby escaped awhile to have lunch with some of the guys. I squeezed in a Hallmark movie while he was gone. I think I still have about 10 or so DVR'd that I will have to get to in the next week.

Now Jim has the upstairs TV and Carter and his buddy have the basement. I should probably go for a walk or something before I put on the Festive Five pounds this vacation.

Or I could just find a soft place to hide... and take a long winter's nap!

Hmmm... What would Sylvester do?

Merry Christmas!

You know the kids are getting old when you are up first and have to lure them out of bed with the smell of breakfast!

Hubby actually got up and went to 8 o'clock church and was home before the boys got up. I made breakfast and then it was time for presents. All the boys mostly pick out what they want so they're aren't a lot of surprises.

Clay was still home at his mother's today, but Casey stayed overnight and got the items he picked out a month ago. Carter got his smartphone early and got these headphones he wanted, plus a few actual surprises. Nothing major. Santa brought me a nice Minnesota Twins golfing shirt! And he brought Jim a nice Celtics windbreaker plus an autographed copy "to Jim" of Fran Tarkenton's book.

We must have all been good this year!

After presents, it was snow removal time. Can you believe after snow the last 3 days we got another 3-5 inches overnight? Wow those people wishing for a white Christmas must have been very, very, very, very, very good this year.

I don't like them.

While the guys handled the snow, I handled my camera and discovered that the jolly ol' fat man in red is actually a cardinal. Very nice!

After snow removal, the four of us went to the new movie Grudge Match (starring Robert DeNiro and Sly Stallone). Enjoyed it very much. It actually had some good story lines so wasn't all comedy like the previews showed. We liked it. Came home after that and our schedule was open. Managed to squeeze in two Christmas movies and lose at two games of cards.

It has been a very nice holiday season all around. Feeling lots of love from family and friends -- as it should be.

Hope you were able to find a love-filled way to celebrate Jesus' birthday today, too!

Merry Christmas!