Rain, Rain, GO AWAY!

This past summer Roger and I had this great vegetable garden and I vowed I would do my part by keeping out the weeds. I even planted a few vegetables behind the house in my flower bed.
What we weren't counting on was a drought. Lots of rain in the spring, and no rain in the summer. the only day it rained this summer was the day Greta, Heidi and I had a rummage sale in Baraboo. And then it poured, and pretty much ruined what could have been a great sale.
So, fast forward to October. We've had several frosts so the gardens are done. Vegetables have been harvested, and all we need is to get out and cut back our plants, cut down and cover the roses, roto till the garden and sit back and enjoy the winter months. But hold on a minute...it's raining. Not just yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that, but most every day for weeks, it seems. And so, our gardens sit waiting away for the gardeners (that would be us) to trim them back and get them ready for the months ahead.
What's the forecast for the upcoming week? More rain.

Well, since we can't work outside, and since the house has been renewed and revamped, the only thing left to do is shop. And so, let the Christmas shopping begin!!!! I began in earnest on Saturday, and plan to continue to hit all the malls inspite of the inclement weather. Rain will not put a damper on my holiday shopping, no siree! This week Mayfair, next week Bayshore, and from there, who knows? Perhaps Chicago or even Baraboo. Rain if you will, but for me and my shopping, we will be undaunted and we will prevail!!!!

Life is Good

What a week! Helped Roger make sauerkraut one day, found out my grandson was admitted to the hospital with complications from swine flu (asthma), spent the weekend at Greta's, drove up to Door County to check out the pretty leaves, discovered that our favorite store moved from Fish Creek (where we were), and had just a wonderful time at the Chocolate Chicken in Fish Creek. By the way, don't ever go there unless you want rude people to wait on you, as well as almost no selection of candies from which to choose. Roger was up at the cabin getting ready for deer hunting, so Greta was nice enough to let me stay with them.

Roger and I arrived back home at about the same time Sunday afternoon. From then on until today (Wednesday), it was run, run, run for or from one thing to the next. Today I finally picked out curtains and matching bedspread for the room in which I have my computer. Very stylish, if I do say so myself. Chrissy, do the curtains remind you of anything? I have loved them ever since Greta helped Chrissy pick them out for Chrissy's living room!!!!

The rest of this week should be wonderful...grass is cut, house is cleaned, meetings are over, and my computer room looks great. Life is good!!

Family x 5

What a week! Off to Baraboo Saturday for Lara's baptism and birthday parties for Lara, Jason and Max. Poor Lara...high fever and so lethargic, but she was determined to be baptized, and so she was. It was great...one of the nicest baptisms I've been to. Lara played a duet on her violin with someone from church (Reva), while Greta accompanied them on the piano. Lots of tears were shed as it was so well done and so moving! And, the whole family was there, including Eric's parents.

After a reception at the church the party moved to the Justus house. Presents, pass the parcel, food, more food, wonderful food, and many pounds later, we all had a really nice time. Roger and I left in a hurry Sunday morning after Heidi announced that now Jason was sick. Swine flu here we come! So, Roger and I were out the door running...never stopping until we arrived at Chrissy and Jeff's home 3 hours later in Rochester, MN. Whew! That was a workout.

It was a whirlwind tour of Rochester, walking around Silver Lake, checking out Jeff's lab at the Mayo clinic (and seeing him in his white lab coat...that was really neat), touring the underground system of corridors and passageways connecting Mayo to the rest of the world, browsing several stores in this subway system, eating Gelato and getting hooked on it, going to a very nice mall with Chrissy, wolfing down a great dinner at the Olive Garden, and breathing just fine despite the presence of Willy the entire time. What a great couple of days, and even though the weather was snowy (in October!) and cold, our spirits were up and we enjoyed ourselves completely. Chrissy is a great cook, homemaker, hostess, as well as artist...we checked out a gallery in Rochester and her work is far better. I know I may be a bit biased, but Roger isn't and he agrees with me. So there.

We arrived home Wednesday afternoon tired, but very grateful for amazing children and their families, as well as for all their many talents and abilities. You guys are great and we're crazy for each one of you!

Time for a change

The house is newly painted, new carpet graces our home, the furniture is back in place and Roger and I are about to enjoy some hard earned freedom!!! There's golf, some day trips, a visit to Baraboo and Rochester, reading, scrapbooking...the list goes on and on and does not include anything remotely connected to decorating or home improvements! What a relief! Did I mention golf? Because that's where Roger hopes to spend a lot of his time, seeing as how he's had so little chance this past month, months, summer. Whatever! It's all a blur, but it's done and we're both ready for a change.

A Banner Day

It's true. This is a banner day. I am a blogger! I have absolutely no idea what I'll be doing with this, but it is fun and seems like something I might really enjoy.

Chrissy was the first to test her cyber prowess with her clever little blog. She then set Heidi up who ran with it and demonstrated her skill for writing.. Chrissy and Heidi then forged a team effort to get Greta started, and although she's got 2 children who never sleep, she was able to post some pretty fun and witty stuff too. So, with 3 writers in the family, how can I resist?

Let the blogging begin!!