Snow finally gone

It took a while. The snow kept coming back. Again and again. But at least there was no flooding. Laurie turned 13 and had a fun party at the roller rink.

Good year for it

This winter, I've been glad for two things especially. One, that Art had the backyard trees pruned back. We've had several wind storms and had the old, danging branches and leaning trunks been there, the garage may have been damaged, and we might have gone without power on cold days.

So, every time the wind blows, I'm glad for that decision.

Also, I'm glad we now have a snow blower. The last several years, we've had very little snow, but this year. Wow! Best year ever to have a snow blower. And here is Art. learning how to use it.

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Michael's coming home

We'll see just how changed Michael is after his first few months of college when he comes home Saturday. He has been getting ready for Truman State's Madrigal Ball which looks like a cross between Christmas and a Gilbert and Sullivan production.

No RJ this year. He's staying in Virginia, observing Thanksgiving with Robert and family. But at least we'll have him home at Christmas. Robert and Beth plan to be in California for Christmas this year.

We're not sure about Becky and Ben because they may be moving to Colorado. If they are still in Pierre, we hope they and little Tony will join us for Christmas festivities.

It's always great to have family in town and we look forward to having Miranda, Vern, Kenneth and April here for Thanksgiving, along with Chuck and Ann from Faribault.

I'm learning to love winter. Even though it isn't really winter yet. In South Dakota, winter is everything that happens after the first half of October -- until May.

1940's Revival Hymns

Chuck Godwin of Maestro Piano Studios in Faribault, MN, and Michael Marmorstein play WWII era revival hymns at Faith United Methodist Church.









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Fun with cousins

Robert and Beth are here visiting for a few weeks this summer, and the kids are having a was crazy and fun when Ben and Becky came out bringing Tony! We had 5 of the 6 kids here (missing only RJ) and all 6 grand kids. The cousins had a great time playing with each other. Grandma and Grandpa are having fun, too.

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Health mysteries

Art has had pain in his legs. It started in one leg and then slowly crept into the other. I knew it was serious when he made a doctor's appointment. He avoids doctor's offices and toughs things out most of the time.

They did an EKG, took x-rays and scheduled blood tests and an appointment with a muscular-skeletal (?) specialist. Maybe it's a spine thing, or maybe it's peripheral artery disease (my conclusion). They've told him his blood pressure is too high and we are getting on a heart-healthy diet and an exercise regimen around here.

Today, I cleaned the fridge and tried to fill it with heart-healthy food. Tomorrow the cupboards. Laurie is unhappy because I told her I wasn't buying ice cream for a while. I'll just have to take her to Twist Cone every so often.

Doctor's office just called to say Art's x-rays and EKG came out clear.

Anyone with decent heart-healthy recipes without weird food items? Recipes that don't make food that tastes like garbage? Could sure use some good ideas for decent tasting items that don't call for weird ingredients.

Short winter, mellow winter

Again, the clogged highways, the pile-ups and harsh weather circles around Aberdeen. To the north, a semi carrying cattle rolled over, and Facebook comments talked about milkshakes. To the south, schools closed early. Thick snow. Here. The rain is barely to the freezing point and melts on contact with the road.

What is it about Aberdeen lately that causes storms to part, go around us and leave us alone?

Today, it is wet, cool, windy, drippy. The new fireplace has been on much of the day, and Laurie has missed two days of school because of a stomach bug, so she has been hanging out by the fire or in bed and it is very quiet.

Michael was named a National Merit Scholar, provoking more interest from colleges, and a few decent scholarship offers. He's also been busy with jazz band, show band, pep band, Contest, and a bunch of other stuff. So busy that he was not able to audition for a couple of music scholarships.

Miranda keeps finding old family news in her genealogical searching and posting her finds on Facebook. Becky is moving to Pierre where she will need to be on bed rest the next few months to keep from going into active labor.

RJ has been on choir tour in the southeast U.S., and was in Atlanta the last I heard. He and Angelica seem to be happy with each other.

Mike leaves for Vermillion tomorrow for a show choir competition. He's on keyboards. He's also been composing many songs in what little spare time he has. One song he used the sound of a coffee maker trickling coffee for a jungle sound.

Miranda and Vern returned safely from a trip to the Twin Cities. They brought me back some coffee!

Change of Seasons

We've had a long fall this year. Sometimes, fall seems to last about three weeks, but this year it's been a long, warm, dry, delightful season.
Mike is in the middle of applying to colleges, churning out essays for each one. He used to agonize over these, but the more he writes them, the easier it becomes.
We went to Vermillion a couple of weeks ago when he competed in the MNTA (Music National Teachers Association?) competition. Two were competing: Mike and a homeschooled, blond bombshell wearing a sleeveless, black, full-length evening gown. Her mother homeschools her and happens to be a renowned piano teacher near Sioux Falls. Anyway, Mike is an alternate and does not move on to the next level, playing mid-January in Boulder, Colo., thank goodness.
Laurie just passed a math test that allows her to compete in Math Counts. Her first contest is this week. She is also singing for the city Living Christmas Tree. Mike is playing trumpet for it.
This weekend, Mike also volunteered for the Tour of Homes, a charity event. Mostly, he stood guard and kept people out of unauthorized areas of a home of the rich and famous.
Before that, I was involved in our church rummage and bake sale, which was a lot of work and a lot of fun. I love the ladies at the church. Good hearts, every one of them.
Art is faculty senate president this year and keeps things running smoothly at Northern, the best he can.
RJ seems to be adjusting to college life, though he's had some challenging classes this semester. He also went out on his first date to the Mock Convention Gala, a fancy ball kind of thing. The girl's name is Angelica. Isn't that beautiful?
Robert and Beth are expecting another little Marmorstein in February, and Becky and Ben expect a little one in June. Blessings everywhere!
We bought a "new" car, with 112,000 miles on it. We like our Venture, so we got another one. They only made these until 2005, and this is a 2004. So far, we love it. Now Mike will drive our old one instead of the merry Oldsmobile which has a cracked windshield and bad wipers.

Kenneth's birthday and Robert's visit

We had a great time with Robert, Beth and the kids while they were here the last several weeks. Lots of pinochle and Art took the kids to the pool a  lot. While they were here, Kenneth celebrated his birthday. He's now 5:

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