Grandma Swanson

My dear Grandma Swanson passed away a week ago.  Stubborn, particular, frugal, concerned about what the world thought of her and her family, but she was also a great cook and there are many happy memories that she was a part of creating.  I am sad she is gone but that is a part of the circle of life and she did very well in hers and I think she was pleased with how her life turned out in the end.  With her passing it sort of feelings like that part of my life at Caribou Lake is now really gone.  They haven't had that house for 20 years but while she was still alive it was like I could go back there.  So of the many memories:
The smell of the boathouse and the apartment on top.  The sun shining in there to wake you up with the waves lapping against it.
Swimming in the lake and the rocky bottom and stepping on the rusty wheels to get back on the dock.  Catching sunfish off the end of the dock with the veggies left over from dinner. 
Grandpa making popcorn in the basement of the house
Watching Lawrence Welk, Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy in the living room with blue carpet.  The array of African Violets blocking the windows, Grandma and Grandpa falling asleep in their chairs with the clock that was constantly chiming.
Stubbing my pinky toe on the humidifier and breaking the nail in half (so much blood)
Sneaking candy from the 3 tier candy dish from the very blue kitchen.
Eating breakfast out of plastic bowls and glasses but Grandma would have lunches and dinners with the fine china, which I was always a kid there so I was at the kids table.
So many memories,  such good times even though she never let me win at a board game.  And you always figured the cousin was her favorite because that was all she talked about(only to find out she was doing the same thing to the cousin that figured we were the favorites).  It was who she was.  It was her character, take it or leave it, learn from it.  Love her

Everything worked out well in that I had spent a couple of weeks going to Duluth weekly, Karli came with me once and my aunt decided to come up for the last appointment for my Grandma so we got to spend some good time with her before she wasn't responding anymore.  On the last visit when we knew she was leaving us I stayed with my Auntie Doris and both of my children called me that night to see how I was doing.  I loved that.  I did raise compassionate kids!  Really I just loved my kids even more if that was possible, their compassion and attitude going to the funeral and what that is all about they were amazing. 

Sparks are flying

Kaj was working on grinding rebar into a bladed weapon this weekend.  He did a really good job getting it all ground down and he didn't burn down the shop so that is another plus!

He is 11!

I was going to get a group photo of Kaj's Birthday sleepover but I didn't get a chance.  The boys started out with a football game in the morning and then we took them all home.  It was a cold, cloudy day but they were outside most of the day.  BBQ for lunch, Sven's for dinner, pumpkin pie for dessert and then pancakes, bacon and breakfast sandwiches for breakfast.  The boys were so polite and wonderful to have around.  Cade, Noah, Hunter and Jake were the visitors.  I gave them a ride on the side by side and we ran into a down tree on the path.  Seeing as how they are the football team and told them to get out and move it.  Which they did!  Can not say enough good things about these boys.  Brandi and Sophie helped out with the cooking and entertaining at times.  Very much appreciated!  I love my family.

6th Grade

Kaj had his first day of 6th grade.  I dropped him off at 7:45.  He said he needs to go earlier tomorrow because he is not organized.  School starts at 8:15 I believe.  In high school they have A days and B days with longer class periods each day.  So today was schedule A.  He started with band which he said was good.  Then gym, the gym teacher just resigned 2 weeks ago and they don't have a new teacher yet and the sub didn't seem to know what to do so they played soccer.  Then he had advisory which is like homeroom or study hall.  He said today they just congregated.  Then lunch which has the regular hot lunch but a lot of ala cart items which might make me broke if we don't come to an agreement.  Then he had art and math.  Art was good he liked that they got to move around and didn't have to just sit in one spot like elementary.  Math was really fun.  He said the teacher wrote a question on the board "What is math"  Kaj said "The structure of the world"!  Seriously where does he come up with this stuff.  Then he had football practice for the first time.  He really liked it "Nothing like getting trucked on the first day of practice"  Which apparently means getting pushed over.  He made a comment to Skinner that high school is really chaotic or frantic.  There are a lot of people around and he was like a minute late for each class.  All in all I would say that it all went very well and he will go back tomorrow.

way back

 I don't remember why I was running around with my hair in braids with a cloths hanger holding them up but I do remember doing it.

 That life jacket I was wearing looks pretty new there.  I remember those were so much more comfortable then the style Karli is wearing.  Good to see Mom there too.

 Must be Christmas maybe or some holiday at Grandma and Grandpa Swanson's house.

Who might these lovely ladies be!

State Fair 2018

Grandpa took Kaj to the great Minnesota get together!  They saw horses (some were taller than Grandpa even with his hand straight up in the air), old tractors, new big trucks, a cattle show, sheep....

They stayed with Doris in Duluth the night before and left at 3:30 or 4 in the morning.  Kaj said he wanted to stay up all night because he wanted to wake up Grandpa in the morning but he didn't make it.  On their way there they ate breakfast at Starbucks and still were stuck in traffic for an hour to park before even getting to the fair.  Everyone had a great time and they stayed at Dan Olsen and Nancy Baker's house.  Kaj deemed Dan a pretty cool dude and enjoyed that visit as well.  Then back home Saturday with a stop at Tettegouche for a hike (a quick poop in the woods) and then ran out of gas just coming up the hill into town.  A quick rescue by Mom and they were home!

 

 

 

 

Best Job

Not sure if I answered this question yet.  Best job ever?
I would have to say of all my jobs logging as a skidder operator was the best job ever.  I believe it fulfilled the hunter gather basic need.  My boss was hilarious and it was unlike anything that I have ever done.  It was a confidence booster for sure to have learned how to drive equipment, learned a bit about equipment, be totally out of my comfort zone and just surrender to the fact that I knew nothing and there is no way for someone to give you an instruction sheet to follow.  You just have to do it and learn.  I quit once and my boss Kent was like lets just give it a little bit more time.  He admitted to having asked me to do the job in a more advance area (a thinning vs a clear cut) and he would figure out something a bit easier.  Well it was a little easier but I also got a bit better.  It was great but it didn't pay the bills.  My biceps got to be bigger than my Dad's with all the chainsawing that I did too.  Thinking of logging still brings a smile to my face and puts a spring in my step.

All the babies

So again it was a busy weekend.  This last weekend was Fisherman's picnic which can be a lot of visiting and hoopla.  We mostly stayed home but the hoopla came to us which is fine too.  I don't remember Friday night but Saturday was gray and no one was very motivated which proved beneficial as I babysat until 3 in the morning for a girl that Karli works with.  I have babysat for Cora before and I had the neighbor girl come over so she could get some practice with babysitting.  So Julia came over again and Russell came to play with Kaj.  After a diaper going on backwards and Cora peeing through just about all her clothes, playing in the blanket fort and flirting with the boys Cora was way over stimulated and Julia was pooped but trying to hang in there until Cora got picked up.  At 11 I told Julia I could bring her home but she said no she would wait.  I asked a few more times.  Finally at 1 after she had been passed out for an hour I brought her and Russell home.  Then Cora got picked up at 2 something and I talked to Karli until 3. 

Then Sunday we had the bank float in the Fisherman's Picnic Parade.  So had to be at the Bank at 11:30 to put that together.  Did the parade, took apart the float and went home to take a nap before Shane and his girlfriend Jaclyn came over for dinner.  They showed up but also Jodi (Shane's sister and Skinner's step daughter from his first marriage) and her 2 kids showed up.  They were there for hours and hours but Skinner was very happy to have all his kids together and catch up on what they have going on.  Shane is around for a couple more days and Kaj is over the moon.  Kaj wants to play pool against Shane and this morning they are out to breakfast.  Brandi and Jaclyn are there too!  It is going to be another week of late nights and lots of company.  Which is good because we haven't seen Shane in quite a few years.

Another first

Well I didn't realize until I was driving away that this is the first time that I have dropped off Kaj with strangers for a week.  It made me tear up a bit I have to say.  But I hope that he will have a great time at Camp Vermillion.  He seemed fine with it.  Not overly excited but comfortable with the situation.  He can be emailed and they post pictures during the week.  Crazy to think when my parents dropped me off you didn't get to see any pictures until after you sent the film in to be developed weeks later.  I can't wait to hear the stories!  He was already playing Frisbee by the time I left.

Bum around town

Today is the first day that I am letting Kaj bum around town on his own.  He has spent that last 12 hours planning what he was going to do...fudge from Gunflint Merchantile? Donuts at the donut shop? Lunch at DQ? Find a birthday present for Sissy?  Go visit Sissy at work?  Whatever he does I am here at the bank a nervous wreck.  Having kids is not for the faint of heart.  Here is hoping that it all goes well.

Training

Kaj is out training this morning for the Tofte Trek with Grandpa.  Brandi is out training with Rebecca.  Pretty rough views for them to look at!  July 4th will be Kaj's first race.  He will be walking and Brandi will be running her 4th or 5th race!

Start of Summer

Well Kaj got a week off to relax.  Then it was Vacation Bible School which he really enjoyed this year.  Finally.  And next year he will get to be a helper which he has been asking for the last 3 years if he was a helper yet.  They did service projects so that seemed to do good things for him.  Now he is at Camp Vermillion for a couple of days with Grandpa building a pizza oven.

Brandi just started her new job at the Grand Marais Campground.  She is an office clerk.  Certainly not her dream job but she needs money so hopefully she will like it enough.  It will be good skills for her to learn, pushes her comfort zone a bit and makes her some money.  It will all be whatever she makes it.  If she wants to be miserable for 2 months that is her deal.  I will have to post how the summer turned out for her at the end.

The word is their brother Shane will be coming up Fisherman's Picnic weekend.  We haven't seen him in a few years so that will be good.  He is now working at a brewery in Texas learning how to be a brew master.

Another first!

Kaj camped out in the yard all by himself.  Grandpa said he had to if he wanted to take the tent with on their next camping trip.

Updates

Kaj has finished 5th Grade.  They had a band concert and graduation ceremony.  It was pretty cute.  It will be interesting to see how next year goes.

Brandi is a couple of days away from finishing 11th grade and becoming a Senior.  She will be taking all her classes at LSC her Senior Year.  Great to get some of those college classes done and get them for free.  I brought home a sample of her welding and a end table she made in shop class and Skinner became a puddle of pride.  That's right he is a crier.

Storyworth questions:

What foods don't you like-Currently I don't like Fish(seafood), anything too spicey, raw onions....I feel like there is more but I do the grocery shopping so I don't get things I don't like.

Best advice you would give for raising children-It is all about survival for you.  You do what you need to do to survive it.  Be honest, follow through and give lots of love.

What was your Mom like growing up-I have to say I lucked out in the Mom department growing up.  I would say she was firm, encouraging, always there.  She would spend hours sitting on the dock while Karli and I swam in the lake.  I can think of twice when she lost her cool.  Once I was learning to steer the canoe and she quit paddling until I could make it go in a straight line.  The other was I was playing oblivious to the fact that she had been cleaning the whole house and she lost it about "all the shit laying everywhere"  That was the only time I heard her swear.  Otherwise she was supportive and helped us to learn to balance time with family and friends.  Volunteering was important, church was important, music, her kids, her family, getting out in the woods.  She was a very talented cook and crafter and knitter, seamstress, cross stitcher....She really was amazing.

What are your favorite songs-for me music tends to coincide with a time period.  Kind of like the hit song of the time.

The china beach soundtrack
George Winston Winter-reminds me of Mom
Paul Simon Graceland album
Tracy Chapmen
Michael W. Smith-friends
Rhoda Anderson-yodeling with my grandma
I was there to hear your borning cry-always makes me cry
Amazing Grace-especially a jazzy style
Swing Lo-
Livin Lavida Loca-Ricky Martin
Steve Miller Band-They sang every song that I didn't know who had sung it until I saw them in concert
...

Growth

So Kaj has probably grown a bit taller.  He is working hard at catching Brandi in height but that isn't want we are talking about here.  We are talking peach fuzz in the armpits!  And in other places as well.  He is becoming a man!  Slow but sure but maybe too fast!

Reminiscing

Skinner and I were reminiscing last night about what was going on this time last year.  So about this time he left or was getting ready to leave for his tour of the John Deere factory.  He had a great time and it was good for him to get off the farm.  I do remember that.  He says that I started to take down some sheetrock at this point but I think I was still packing up the upstairs to get us moved into the livingroom so we could start tearing apart the upstairs.  We really should have written this all down as we were doing it or hired someone to document it for us because we were too busy doing to actually write things down.  Anyway we sit a year later with kids rooms done and the downstairs bathroom done(minus trim of course).  Kitchen done and I finally got to start moving in some kitchen stuff over this last weekend which was great to have mixing bowls again and a wider array of kitchen tools.  The ceiling for the great room is sitting in the entryway but 3 of the 4 walls in the great room area are done and painted.  Lights are hung and we have great lighting for the most part.  And it is warm.  So all in all no matter where we were last year at this time we have come a looooooonnnnnng ways!

Fun pictures

Kaj is now into styling his hair.  Or at least thinking about it.

If I could

So the famous person post that I don't really have any famous people to speak of was lacking.  I did think about who I would like to meet.  Ali Wentworth and George Stephanapolis I would love to hang out with sometime.  I don't know why buy I want to get to know them.

Other questions:
Morning Person or Night Owl
I guess I can do either but I can't do both.  Meaning if I have a night job that is what I do and visa versa.  Karli used to be horrendous to wake up in the morning but she has gotten a lot better.  It all changed when she was a teenager and I went to coffee shop without her and she was wondering why and said when I wake you up you kick and hit me so unless you stop that I am not waking you up to take you anywhere. 

Favorite toy growing up:
There are too many to say.  The handmade cabbage patch doll that my mom made would be one.  An old blue shower curtain that had crushed satin and smooth satin strips.  That was many different things and the texture was amazing.  Karli had more specific toys that she always had to have.  I remember a husky was one and Barbies were the other.

Has my relationship change with my sister:
That is a tough one.  We used to fight all the time and then Mom died and that all changed.  I was the mother hen until Karli told me to quit that.  I think she was in Senior High or College at the time and so I try to just be a sister that is there if she needs something.  But since Mom died we have always been close.  Even when she has completely lost her mind!

sports teams

When I was growing up I fell into the usual MN Vikings football, Cook County Vikings football and basketball.  However the one that is still with me today is the Duke Basketball team.  When I was in Jr. High my best friend Alina was way into Duke.  I don't know why or how but we started following them and I was introduced to March Madness.  One year we went to the practice of the Duke team that had made it to the Final 4.  I still get super excited for March Madness and following Duke.  The coach is awesome.  I can't even being to spell is name unfortunately, you would think after following him for more than 25 years that I would know.  I like how he coached basketball but also life to/with his players.

Jobs

Worked on the house this weekend after visiting Great Grandma with Karli.  Went to see her and wish her a Happy 92nd Birthday.  She is one strong lady.  She doesn't even look weak or frail.  But it is harder to walk and she loses strength quickly which is why after a few days in bed with a cold she is in rehab to see if they can get her walking again. 

The house-the downstairs bathroom is almost done!  Kaj and Tyler painted it this weekend, Rob is putting in the vanity as we speak and Skinner put in the lite mirror this weekend.  All that is left is the trim and a door.

I worked on sanding the entry way and living room wall and now those are ready for primer and paint.  Kaj worked on vacuuming up after me!

Recently the storyworth questions I can remember have to do with jobs and I saw one about a bike.

My first bike was a pink (schwin?) with a banana seat.  This was of course after the tricycle that was used as a wagon, bike, scooter, car whatever the imagination dreamed up.  I loved my pink bike then I had to learn to ride it.  I remember the old trick of the parents holding on then letting go but unfortunately I didn't know much about braking so I had head into the woods and ditch.  Definitely tears there.  Then we did the whole go to the school parking lot which left a good skid mark on my leg as well.  I did learn to ride thank goodness.

Jobs
Started out babysitting.  My mom said I could only charge 25 to 50 cents an hour.  That was low for that time.  I think I got a dollar or two an hour.

At 13 I started cleaning cabins at Gunflint Pines in the summer
At 14-Went to Alaska to teach Vacation Bible School for a couple of weeks with my friends Jesyka and Alina.  I always helped with VBS in GM as much as I could.  In later high school I also taught Sunday School
At 16 I started working in town in the summer.  The first job in town was at Beth's Fudge and Gifts and I also worked at the GM playhouse doing back stage stuff, stage managing, set building, selling tickets
17-Went to the Angry Trout and worked as a waitress for quite a few summers then also did cooking and dishwashing
Also in college at Gustavus my work study job was seamstress in the theatre department
21-I think I was a guide at Wilderness Canoe Base
Then in Duluth I worked at Sven and Oles Express and the Great Harvest Bread Company
22-Live in Nanny and had a small daycare
22-23-I went to Australia as a youth director missionary for a year
23-Came home to work as the Youth and Family director at church
24-worked at Lutsen Resort as a receptionist/front desk person
25-worked for Kent Anderson as a Skidder Operator, best job ever! Unfornately no money
25-Went to work for realty company as a receptionist.  All the agents left the company and started their own company called Gunflint Realty.  I went with them got my license, also was hired to be a salesman for a well drilling company(didn't really do anything with that) and I think there was something else I was because they wrote an article about me in the local paper as Jill of all Trades because I had 4 jobs.
28-I went to work at Grand Marais State Bank and I am still here.  I started as the receptionist then moved to loan processing and am now currently a loan officer/Security Officer/HR and I back up for the tellers.

I think that is all the jobs but maybe Dad remembers other jobs.  There is also volunteering with I included some of above but there are lots of other smaller volunteering that I have done.

The neighborhood I grew up in

I grew up at 31 Old Ski Hill Road and at Wilderness Canoe Base.  The Ski Hill Road house was close to town on a quiet road with 8 houses on it.  Already there are quite a few more houses.  There was the mean dog next door Brusier.  On the otherside there were a few different people that lived in that house over the years.  I can't say I really clicked with anyone there.  Next to that at the bottom of the road were the Pratts.  Mike was older than me by about 10 years but he was soooo cool.  Never wearing a winter jacket at the bus stop and only wearing tennis shoes.  Going the other way there were Burnett's w/Bruiser, Schwabs(moved away), Gallea's (our families were very good friends), Susanna and her parents then Bockoviches.

Dr. Gallea, wife Cindy, boys Jimmy and Brian were good friends with my parents and us kids played a lot together because our Mom's did WIC together and in general connected with each other.  Gallea's took up dogsledding so that was fun.  They moved away when I was just heading into Junior High I believe.

Wilderness was a whole other world that I will have to figure out how to organize my thoughts on growing up there and describing that neighborhood.  For starters though the name of our house was Ledge and I loved that house.

Storyworth

Auntie Doris, Auntie Bette, Auntie Karen and Grandpa Jim (Rebecca too but I haven't seen any stories from her yet) are doing Storyworth.  Storyworth sends them questions each week that they answer.  Some were interested in my responses and I thought here would be as good a place as any to answer those.

First car-My first car was a Volkswagon Jetta for $50 because it had a cracked head.  It worked fine you just needed to keep an eye on the oil.  I loved that car.  I bought it from Gina Todd and pretty much paid for it from all the change I collected off the floor of the car.  It had a moon roof and it own version of automatic seatbelts that connect to the door.

Famous people that  I have meet or people that really impacted my life-There are a lot.  I grew up at a camp so I got to meet a variety of people and some I can distinctly remember life lessons they taught me.
Linda Thoresen-How to cut with a sharp knife
Loise Feske-How to say hello before asking "What did you bring me"
A guy from one of the mens fishing retreats who taught me that it isn't nice to rub it in when you win a carribage game.  You can make the other person feel bad.
Les Miller-How not to swing and ax
Solveig, Kirsten and Yvonne-sex and drugs I will leave it at that
Kirsten and Toby-How two people can be in love but be ok with not being together
Matt Schmidt-Icky guys, not icky just players
Brian Weaver, Daryl Dugard, Brian Wright-Not a specific lesson but they were around a lot
Lowell-Some people just can't catch a break
Lynn Swanson-Living your faith unashamed
Debbie-I think that was here name.  She was in charge of the crafts for the first may retreat every year and they would always make little things for people that really seemed to brighten their days.
Tammy Gravining-Girls really can do anything
Sparky, Steph & Church, Jeanne Herr, Carl Feske, Pam Feske, Kristen Sebensfelt(Nelson?), that skinny white guy and black girl(Tracy?)(don't make fun of big boobs), Darin Blank, Jeff Packer, David Roon, Jed Miller, Zack Miller, Daniel Drews, Booker, Pen Lee, Jim Cherry, Les Fairbanks, Natalie Shaw, Sandy lived in snowshoe, Cindy the nurse, Cefelu, Rebecca and a million others that I can't remember right now.

Of course my Mom and Dad taught me a lot and I am most like them.  But I think all the other people caught me at that right moment I was willing to listen and reinforced what the parents said or people were willing to talk to me about those things that my parents didn't want to talk to me about or I didn't want to talk to them about!

Historian

Kaj came in the other night and he said that he is going to have to be the one to remember all the stuff about the house and Dad's trip to Montana to work.  So glad he is taking it upon himself to want to remember all the history of the family.

He also was finally trained to wire outlets so then I had him train me.  We wired his room and my room lickadee split.  To train me he had me watch him and he described the whole thing.  Then he said the next one you are doing by yourself big girl...So I went and did the next one myself and I had all the wires in and he had to come over to inspect me.  He took one look and told me I failed.  What! He said your ground is all the way over here.  I said I know it is because you have the screw driver and I couldn't screw it in yet. - Well you could have gone and gotten another one- I know but you were almost done so I was just waiting....that went on for awhile.  He is definitely at the age where he is copying his father as much as he possibly can. 

Wolf Ridge

Kaj finally got to take his 5th grade trip to Wolf Ridge.  It was as awesome as he was dreaming it would be for the past 3 years.  He did the ropes course with flying colors.  He didn't like the tight rope part but the rest was awesome.  The fish study he saw one white sucker and another little fish I don't remember but neither one of them went for the hook.  The winter survival the got their fire started and made hot cocoa and in the mean time discovered that they could make hot cocoa snow cones.  In bird study he had a chickadee land on him like three times.  Once it tried to take a piece of his hair(that will happen when you have good on your head!).  He got the top bunk, served the granola and cereal for KP duty and got to see an owl that they have there.  All in all a great time. 

A couple of weeks ago Brandi,  Kaj Nate (Brandi's boyfriend) and their hot tubbing friends went to Plant3 in Duluth.  It is a trampoline park.  What a wonderful time they had and a great memory.  Brandi and Kaj are so lucky to have each other and their connection is amazing.  Auntie Bette wants to go next time!

Waking up mad

Kaj got up this morning and came out to the living room and he was very mad.  He says "Mom I am so mad.  The pre schoolers get to go outside like 5 times a day and we only get to go out once.  And if they are out there when we go out there then we can't play tag."  That is a very big problem apparently he was going to go "get in a fight" with the principle and I suggested maybe a discussion or let him know your concerns, but Kaj said no you need to be firm.  I thought I was being but perhaps Kaj was wanting more to tell him how it was going to be rather than let me present my thoughts.  I doubt he talked to the principle but he likes to think that he would. 

Trombone is going good.  We have only forgotten it once so doing pretty good there.

Brandi isn't sure what she wants to do after school.  It will be interesting to see what direction she does go.

When I was in 5th Grade

When I was in 5th Grade I was 5'8".  So far Kaj is at 4'9".  My teacher read us the Chronicles of Narnia everyday.  Mr. A was his name and he had a great booming voice.  For once I had finally gotten the cool teacher!  And there were 2 5th grade classes of about 24 each.

Kaj seems to still like his teacher.  He had him for summer school as well as 5th grade.  Mr. Lundorf plays guitar and sings and the Kaj loves it.  He thinks he is the greatest singer.  Kaj does not like all the idiots who keep talking and not paying attention in class.  There are 29 kids in one classroom and of that 20 are boys and 9 are girls. yeesh that is a lot of boys

I am terrible.

I know I am terrible at posting regularly.  I swear I will try harder.  Kaj is starting band this year.  He has chosen the trombone.  I ordered one and hope it will be here either today or early next week.  It will be interesting to see what he ends up doing.  Meaning will he stick with it.  He has been super helpful with the animals at night doing chores with Daddy which I just love to see. 

On the low note Teddy our dear sweet donkey passed away on New Years Eve.  I don't know if there were other defects than the thyroid that we didn't know about or if it was too cold for too long or what happened.  He never showed signs of being cold but he certainly wasn't happy about it.  Not sure but I am really glad that we did have him.  He was wonderful.

House progress I got the bathroom floor upstairs tiled and it looks pretty good if I do say so myself.  Skinner got more of the electrical done and helped me cut tile in between cutting wood and watering cows.  The cows drink a ton of water when it is cold out.  So thankful for the warm house when it has been -20 for so long.  Skinner is pretty thankful too.  Instead of having to load the boiler every 4 hours he is still just loading it twice a day.  That should drop the 30 cords of wood per winter down a bit! 

Christmas was fast but good.  Opened presents at our house Saturday night.  Down to Duluth quick for Christmas with the family.  Played dice game at Doris', ate and left to go get shopping done before the stores closed and then back home.  Santa then on Monday.  Monday afternoon take a nap.

Karli got moved into her place and she seems pretty happy down there.  Stove and fridge are hooked up.  And she has a bunch of stuff moved in.  Come to think of it I haven't seen it in awhile so I should go check her out.  I have no windows in the house that I can look and see what she is doing.  I can't even see her car to see if she is there.  For a cabin being out the open it sure has a ton of privacy.