Just Another Day

I haven’t been taking enough pictures lately. I really prefer to blog when I have pictures to go with the post, but – oh well!

Winter arrived just over a week ago. It’s funny how we started the week with temps in the 60’s and by last weekend there were frosty flakes falling from the sky. I’m usually a little bit cranky about winter, and I’m really trying to look for things I appreciate about it. I realize that at least half of my life is going to be spent in the cold – I might as well learn to enjoy it. On that note, today I hauled some firewood. I really love our wood stove; I even kind of like hauling wood.

In other happenings… Lo, Ape, and I headed to Duluth after I finished work on Friday. We decided we just needed a night away, and it was great fun. I can’t remember the last time just the 3 of us headed out together. We shopped and shopped, ate a tasty dinner, and laughed so hard there were tears. It was nice.

Yesterday I came home to a warm house, the “weekend chores” done, and time for a sauna. Today has been a pretty lazy day. I did a little baking, a little shoveling, and now a little Elf watching. Not a bad Sunday.

It snowed this morning. Snow makes me kind of cranky. For the most part I think I pulled out of it – though at lunch when my friend asked if I was going for a walk (like I normally do), I think I pretty much just grunted, “I hate snow” at her. How did I ever survive Alaskan winters? My students, on the other hand, love snow. The first snow is like Christmas – almost like they’d never seen the white flakes in all the years they’ve lived in Minnesota!

Anyway, I thought I’d throw a quick post out into blog world. It’s going to be random.

First off, I really can’t get enough of these two monkeys. They just make me laugh.

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I appreciate that I get to work with first grade readers. They open my eyes and keep me excited about teaching.

Any afternoon that I get to stop by and hang out with my sisters is a good afternoon.

Tonight I made myself a pitcher of blue Kool-Aid complete with Splenda. I can’t help but wonder how bad this is for my insides!

And just one more reason I love my husband. He put on my “witch wig” from the Halloween costume I’ll wear tomorrow AND let me take a picture of it for my blog.  I’m kinda thinking he should grow his hair out and go for an 80s rock band look!

I do hope that all is well, and that this transition from fall to winter goes smoothly for all.

We took a very quick trip down to the cities to meet up with the Stepecs. Our first stop was the Como Zoo for a picnic and a walk around to check out all of the animals. It was downright hot out – the perfect afternoon for an outing with good friends!

We followed the zoo with a little “regrouping”  time back at the hotel, then we ladies left the guys and headed out for a bit of shopping. We all met up again for dinner at a nearby restaraunt and a chance to watch the Twins lose (again). It wasn’t long before it was time for bed, a fast night’s sleep, a little continental breakfast, and a drive back North.

These little get togethers always go so quickly, so now we look forward to the next.

We have been blessed with absolutely amazing weather. On Friday the thermometer in town read 84º! As we settled in for the evening, and Bill got to work on his master’s classwork, I decided the perfect end to the day would be to spend the night under the stars. So we did…

It was awfully comfortable with the air mattress, a feather bed, and a couple of down comforters. The only real interruption to sleep was a few leaves falling on us from the trees above.

What a simple, fun adventure.

Yesterday was cold and rainy, and when I awoke this morning it was still dark and dreary. I wouldn’t have guessed that it would turn into one of the most gorgeous days we’ve had this fall.

After working around the house a bit, Bill and I decided it was time to get out into the sunshine. We headed out on the pontoon for a leisurely ride up to Black Bay. The fall colors appear to be at their peak. Absolutely magnificent.

I stopped over to see these cuties this morning. They were having a little dance party with Grandma Toots.

And being silly.

And just plain adorable.

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of meeting my dear friend, Alison, for lunch. We hadn’t visited since my last day at Forestview.  Alison and I hit it off from day one when we both worked on team 6D. Somewhere along the way we decided that we must have been sisters in another life. 🙂 It was absolutely wonderful to sit down for a couple of hours and catch up on our jobs, families (she’s an appropriately proud grandma!), and just EVERYTHING. It was perfect.

After lunch I headed over to the Svirs. Talk about lives changing – Axton is talking up a storm, and baby Beckett is hardly a baby! I got to hear about some of Axton’s favorite subjects (mainly the trailer that can be hooked up behind any number of vehicles 🙂 ), and Amanda, Mike, and I caught up on all the rest. The time went by too quickly, as it seems to do when you’re having fun.

Finally it was time to meet up with Sara and her mom. Sara had just accepted a teaching job back at Forestview, so we needed to celebrate! Of course when we get together it’s non-stop gabbing, so I felt a little bad for her mom. I always love our time together, though. We’re never short on laughter. Unfortunatly, I was running out of time, so after dinner I had to hit the road for the 3 1/2 hour drive home. And somehow I forgot to grab a picture of those lovely ladies. (Hmm… Sara, this could be a reason for you to FINALLY update your blog!)

I haven’t been very successfull at any sort of gardening in the past. That didn’t stop me from trying again this year. I leave the serious growing to my dad – his garden is always full of tomatoes, peas, and “magic beans” that climb up to the sky! Me? I usually try my hand at a few flowers in front of the house.

I’d pretty much given up on this year’s attempt after the germination time on the package came and went and there wasn’t a sprout to be found in my little flower garden. But then it happened – little green leaves started coming up in every spot I’d planted a bulb! It seemed as though that would be all the excitement I’d get from the plants this summer. Our neighborhood deer trampled through and feasted on a lot of the flower bed, so I decided that would be it.

But then it happened – this morning when I walked outside, there it was! This stem of  beautiful blossoms had appeared as if overnight. Unfortunately, little Bambi had trampled it down already, so it was lying on the ground partially severed from it’s roots – but that just means I’ll get to enjoy it inside the house for a while.

I chose to plant gladiolas this year because I remember my grandma planting them once when I was young, and I thought they were the most beautiful flower I’d ever seen. I love that the first (and possibly only!) blossom was bright red – – for a little splash of color in my livingroom.

It’s harder to get a shot of the babies that’s not blury these days. They are ALWAYS on the move! Lucky for me I’ve had  time alone with each of the babies these last few days. They are getting so big, constantly learning new things, and making me laugh more and more lately.

I love these little darlings.

Amy’s dad found this treasure at “Shopper’s City”, and I was quick to jump at the chance to make it mine. In a matter of minutes I’m able to whip up a rather tasty batch of mini doughnuts. Fun stuff!