Back in NV again!

I've been back for two days and went out for my morning walk today.  It's amazing what can happen in a month - all the leaves are gold or brown or on the ground; the rabbit brush is in full fluff; and I finally need shoes with toes.  Last week, I was in below zero temps; yesterday my carmometer said 65 - my multi-state life is always an adventure!

I spent almost a week in the Twin Cities and took a quick trip to Wilton to see Doug's sibs. It was nice to visit with Donna, Donn, Angie, and Brandon and especially nice to have someone to watch CBS Sunday Morning with for a change! When I got back to St. Paul,  Sarah & I took Heath to see the holiday display at Dayton's (NKA Macy's) 8th Floor and he was mesmerized by all the things there were to see.  How is this for the classic Christmas wonderment in a child's face?  On Monday, we had a three-generation old-fashioned Whitney cookie-baking marathon at my sister Judy's house complete with flour-dusted, frosting coated kids (Lexi, Heath, Jayden & several others). And of course the Whitney girls & their kids outdid themselves by making some of the best looking frosted sugar cookies ever!  On Tuesday, I got together with my long-time MN friends for a traditional holiday dinner at Ann's this year.  This fine bunch of women (Ann, Dar, Karen, Ellie, Anna and Anne) has been in my life for 15-40 years!

While I was gone, the new vanity tops were installed in my bathrooms and they look great!  Thanks to Pete, the Nomad Carpenter, the fixtures are all working again.  I'm waiting to have him remodel the shower in the master bath till after the house is re-plumbed as part of a class action settlement because of defective plumbing fittings - hopefully he can do it when he comes back next spring.  He also managed to get rid of some of the equipment in the garage so now I don't have to walk sideways between my car & the truck!

I got out the Christmas decorations last night and only have a few gifts left to buy so I should be able to manage getting it all done.  I also have to finish grading the memos my students turned in at the end of the semester and those of you who know me know that means I will need "prizes."  Going out to get the shopping done is always a good prize - don't you think? 

As I finish this update, I am listening to Christmas music and looking at my decorated home in the desert. I hope you are in a similarly pleasant place but wherever you are, I send my warmest wishes.

I'm still where I am, and so is my eagle friend

It's been mostly quiet and shades of black & white here at The Point since after Thanksgiving.  The lake is finally completely frozen but I'm not sure how deep the ice is - maybe I'll test it tomorrow.

The days go surprisingly fast, even though I don't have lots to do.  Dar & I went to visit Karen & Ellie last Tuesday and Nancy Miller came the same day.  We all stayed the night to enjoy the company, food and hot tub and a fun time was had by all.  Their space and its site on the lake is beautiful and peaceful so it's easy to enjoy spending time there. 

The night before we left, Dar took this great shot of the lake at sunset and you can see there was lots of open water around the point and on the south side of the lake.  Although it was only in the teens all week, there was a southerly wind so that part of the lake was slow to freeze.  When Pete, Tracy & the kids arrived on Friday, that side was still not iced over but after a very chilly night and a high of 7 degrees on Saturday, it finally succumbed. 

We had some sunshine on Saturday so Bella & I went out for a walk on the lake and in the woods while Pete & Tracy went to town and Stephen & Alexandra watched movies.  We saw tracks on the ice and concluded it must have been a fox and racoon, after we researched mammal tracks in our various identification books.  When we came back, we played games - most of which Bella won.  She also made a big tower with Dominoes - maybe she'll become an architect!

This morning Pete helped me get the golf cart ready for winter.  Now they have gone home too so it's back to me and the birds and squirrels. I finally got started on grading papers this afternoon and only went outside on a break. I am slowly getting all the chairs put in covered spaces for the winter.  As I walked to the Clubhouse, I heard the resident eagle calling - I know he is watching to make sure I get everything done right!  He seems to be flying with the youngster he was coaching this summer.  They are easy to spot against the sky and they remind me I am not alone and never will be in this place. 

Thankful to be where we were - again!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving week-end and the debate goes on about when this tradition began - was it 1986 or 1989? We will have to do historical research to find out and because my photo albums from that period are still in NV, it may be weeks before we know.

However longstanding it is, our tradition of gathering here at the lake makes folks want to get here sooner and sooner. I was fortunate enough to arrive Sunday, in plenty of time to get the cabins and Clubhouse warmed up and ready by the time of the next arrivals. Ann and Roberto came up Tuesday night at the urging of the two newest members of our Thanksgiving cult - John Dobbins (Ann's nephew) and his son, Andrew. I had chili and cornbread waiting for them and after dinner we introduced John and Andrew to Farkel. They picked it up quickly and got better throughout the week-end. That evening, Ann announced (and reminded us many times throughout the week-end) that this was the last Thanksgiving she will be teaching so next year she, too, can make it a week-long event.

On Wednesday, Ann and I went to pick up Anne Dunn, a regular attendee who lives about an hour from the lake. By the time we returned, Dar, Karen Schultz (from WA), Karen and Ellie were here. That evening, we ended up having a wild game dinner - venison and grouse that we found in the freezer from Doug's last hunting seasons, squash, and wild rice pilaf. Damon, Sarah and Heath arrived near the end of dinner so by Wednesday evening most of the gang was here.

On Thursday, Heath settled in at the cabin and the rest of us prepared the feast. Heath was busy exploring all the things he was too little to notice this summer. Now that he can get around on his own and get into things, it was like a whole new world for him.

We had ovens and stovetops at both cabins busy most of the day; Ann and Roberto inaugurated the new electric roaster for cooking the turkey, which freed up lots of oven space. And Damon and Sarah stepped up to take over some of Doug's contributions to the feast - Damon grilled the back-up turkey on our Weber and Sarah worked with me on the pies (sweet potato, mixed berry, apple and pecan). We tested out a several new recipes - Fiery Sweet Potatoes and a couple of pie recipes; all were well-received and got the nod for permanent places on the menu. By dinner time, we had a marvelous spread ready for consumption and consume we did!

We had dinner at about 4:30 and passed cameras around the tables so we would have proof that we all enjoyed Thanksgiving 2009. The plan wasn't perfect because for some reason, Dar didn't show up in any of the photos - but we got a good one of her later.

We had to take a break before we could have pies. Some folks walked, some watched a movie and played games before and while we ate the pies.

Besides the great food and good company, we all witnessed a monumental event - Heath taking his first solo steps from the kitchen to the living room. He has been doing laps and circuits for a couple of months but has been reticent to "let go" entirely. On Thanksgiving, there was no mistaking the fact that several times he was motoring around totally on his own, which got him a round of applause and cheering each time. By 9 p.m. there was much yawning (except for Heath) and we all trekked off to our various sleeping spots.

Friday was a relaxing day. Ellie showed the slide show of her trip to China and Tibet. John, Andrew and Damon did some target shooting; others walked, shared photos, or played games. Late in the afternoon, we went into Walker for the Festival of Lights parade and Heath had his first look at holiday lights galore and a small town MN parade complete with Santa & Mrs. Claus. Heath was a hit with all the people tossing candy and he "oooo"ed almost continuously. We all came home with cold noses and rosy cheeks and by then Dar's daughter Anne and her fiance Jim were here and we were all ready for our left-over pie

Saturday was a lazy day - we took walks, played more games, read, and shared more photos. We grilled a pork roast and had more good food. We had saved the gourmet cupcakes John brought for dessert that night because it was Sarah's birthday. They were delicious and Sarah enjoyed celebrating her birthday for the second time at the lake. So did Heath-

Folks had to leave as various times on Sunday - everyone but Dar and I were gone by late afternoon. And I can say with confidence that we are all thankful we were here to share this holiday with good friends and family and I am betting that we will all be back for as many more years of the tradition as we can be!