4-3-2-2014 The count down to a new year

Here is South Bend it is a balmy 37 as we await the morning sun to dim the Christmas tree lights.  The forecast says that will be the high for the day with snow coming in this PM.  Perhaps it means that Terry and I will head south again a couple of hours sooner than planned.  Around noon was the departure time but I think we will move that up some.  Driving on hwy 31 south we should have good weather and then as we near the IN border there may be rain.  We had perfect weather driving up so it sounds like the trip back may be some what different.  We are thinking we will drive about 300 miles or so today, maybe 600 on Monday and then the last 400 on Tuesday.  A long drive for a short time but worth it for sure.
The time with John/Mary and family and Aaron/Amy and family has been too short.  We missed Cynthia/Mike and family and Travis being here.  On Friday we went ice skating and with the temps in the high 30s it was again perfect.  Yesterday we spent some time in the South Bend Museum looking at Ansel Adam's pictures.  We received a book of his pictures so it was special to see them in real!  From there we went to the Salvation Army indoor rec center where the kids had a ball.  We ended the day with a great meal at the Oaken Barrel where the kids devoured 4 plates of onion rings in record time to start with!  Well the adults had a few too. 
I need to get my video camera out this morning as Ruby does a great acting out of the ABCs.  The video camera has been in hiding for a long time but have used it some this weekend.
Well, Henry, John and Audrey are up so it is time to sign off.

December 27--5 days until 2014!!!!!

We are waking up at the Hampton Inn in Seymour IN.  Google shows that we are 205 miles from South Bend.  Plan to be on the road by 9 or so and get to John and Marys by early PM.  We have had perfect traveling weather so far.  Yesterday we stopped and took in Mammoth Cave NP which was fun.  Had a tour of a cave.  It is the longest cave in the world, 400 miles and counting. 
This is the first trip we have taken without our camper since we got it.  I am finally finding out what mileage we get with and without the camper.  We have had perfect driving conditions and the trip meter shows 27+ mpg.  Yesterday we filled in gas for 2.98.9 and I had to think that times have changed a lot as today that is very cheap gas!  It does make a difference in the pocket when gas is hovering around $3. as opposed to being around  $3.75 or so. 
We had a nice Christmas at Terry's daughter and are looking forward to a fun time with John/Mary and Aaron/Amy families.  Wish we could all be together but maybe another year.
This is the first time in a hotel for a long time and I had forgotten about the hot breakfast.  Well actually it was hot but not "hot"!  I guess I will vote for the camper special which is usually FP with toast.  I did get a FP coffee cup for Christmas and can hardly wait to use it.  Terry surprised me with an inflatable kayak for two.  I am really excited to use it when we return to FL.
I need to get another cup of coffee from the lobby as this hotel coffee does not do the trick like my FP. Earlier I was in the lobby and it looks like this part of the country is blessed with the best weather and I do hope it stays this way until we head back on Sunday.
I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and that the new year is special.

Happy birthday Benedict on December 24th!

One of my all time favorite pictures of any of the grand children.  Benedict just looks like the perfect grandson!  Full of mischief, happy and actually here he looks like he did something funny, as least to him!! 
Two years ago Terry and I flew back to the cities to spend Christmas but mostly to be sure we could see our new grandson.  We had to wait several days after we arrived but he finally came, just in time to celebrate the birth of our Savior.  Happy birthday Benedict and may you always be fun of life, full of joy and full of our Savior's peace and spirit.
We love you.
I am posting this a bit early as we will leave early tomorrow to spend Christmas with daughter Kim and family and then son John and his family and son Aaron and family.  We are expecting to have a grand time.

It's a dog day!



I think this is Grandma Lee's Whitey, the dog, not the one with the cap on!




This is our Bennie, the one with the corn cob in his mouth!

In going through some pictures I came across these.  They reminded me of our Frisky, our Lemond and Wallace.  On our farm Bennie met an untimely death--will not go into that.  Grandma named her dog Whitey because if anyone ever wanted to steal him they would never guess his name!!  By the looks of the second picture it seems my shoes and pants may have come from the welfare box that Aunt Ragna would send from CA.  the mittens, well I hated them because Dad never wore mittens and why should I.  AND they look like they could have been intended for Joan or Helen with that design on.  AND it must have been really cold cause I have my ears covered which was unusual.

Come Lord, Come

We are getter nearer to the birth of our Savior and it is exciting.  We have our manger scene up and with the sunset we put the lamp on so that we can see it each time we walk past the den.  The goodies for the holidays are almost finished.  Terry made a batch of her peanut butter fudge a while I made a batch of Grandpa Saunder's fudge.  Of course every time I make fudge I think of that exciting 2006 October when I made 22 batches for Cynthia and Mike's wedding.  Also I can still see Grandpa Saunders slicing and dicing all the ingredents as he painstakingly made his fudge during the holidays.  It was a big deal and always a lot of fun.  Monday we made holiday cookies and yesterday we made sugar cookies with the tiny sprinkles to decorate them.  That was my idea but oh my gosh---in the end my cookies looked like, well I guess I would say a man made them and Terry's looked like a professional had made them.  About all I can say is I gave it the old college try and in the end the grandkids will like the cookies.  I would take a big bet when the cookies are eaten--Terry's will go first!!
I continue to get out on the tennis court for about 20 minutes most mornings.  It is peaceful, it is quiet and I just hit the ball over the net (most of the time).  I did play with a guy Monday who, I know this is hard to believe, is not at the level I am so it was good as I could practice my back hand and serves without having the competitive juices kick in.  Friday there will be a foursome and that will be fun while Saturday I will play Tim who is at least a level above me.  I have yet to win against him but we always have a great time.  That will be the last of the tennis for this year as we will leave for PeachTree City early Monday AM.  If anyone thinks of us in your prayers we could use some the 26-31.  I hope and pray that we have good travel during those days.  My driving skills in snow and ice may have disappeared!
It is almost scary to think that we are 14 days away from 2014.  Terry and I have no certain plans for the coming year but will have to start thinking about that soon.  I know there is a LONG list of wood projects that could and should be done and I do want to finish all of them.
Last, a Christmas story from the past.  I think I was about 8-10 or so this Christmas.  Dad had gone to South Dakota for some health issues and he cam back a short time before Christmas.  He brought these reflectors for the christmas tree lights.  Mom was so so excited.  We unscrewed all the bulbs and then put the relectors on and Mom thought the tree was so beautiful.  I THINK that was the way the story went.  Perhaps siblings remember it differently but of course my memory is perfect so if they think it was different of course I am right!!!!!!!!!!!!    That actually does not sound like a very exciting story but I remember Mom was so happy.  Now, as I reflect back on our growing up, many of my memories are of when Mom was happy.  I think that is because in her life she was so giving and had so little.  Because of that when she did get any tiny thing she was so thankful.
Actually I have a whole cup of FP left but the "spellcheck" is not working so I will take the last cup of coffee to see if I can detect any error!

Food for Thought



I do not remember Helen and I being builders!




bib overalls, barefeet, not in your life!!




A moment in the past, now three more are here!

 It is one of those mornings!!  My thoughts for today are what?-who?-where? and more.  I look at self and see pictures and then recall memories of growing up on the farm.  Far from culture, far from city, far from a lot of people--who was I then?  College, studies, motorcycle, then marriage--who was I then?  My professional life, my family life for many years,who was I then?  Now married again, retired-who am I now?  With all those questions comes another one--Am I an adopter of my surroundings or am I who I always was, just dealing with where I am now?  Perhaps this does not make sense to others but for me it is real.  As I get ready to walk the distance to the tennis courts this morning to hit a few balls in the peacefulness of the morning I think about my interests today, my activities today and what they were in the past.  I think about my family and who they are today and say oh yes, life goes on and it changes all the time.   
I guess all I can say is what I have said in the past, "The only certain thing is what is today will not be tomorrow;" 

Another Day

A couple of pictures not related to today.  The sunset is from the front door of Terry's sister Jenn's condo in Titusville FL.  The spider spun this web in a preserve near Titusville.  As we drove through Bill stopped the car and I used my 300m lens. 
Advent marches on this year.  We put our Christmas scene up a few days ago.  No tree here as we will be gone the 23-31.  I thought we were finished with presents etc but actually sent out 4 yesterday.  They are the only ones we needed to send this year.  I few days ago I decided I wanted to send some things that I had thought about for some time so we wrapped things up (yes we did wrap) yesterday and got them to the post office.  Even got a compliment from the post man on the great job of wrapping!
I had one of my most fun tennis matches yesterday.  It makes so much difference who one plays with.  Several days ago I played doubles and one of the guys was just way way too serious.  He actually is good to play with as he is at least a level above me but come on, you got to have some fun too in joking and laughing.  I find that it is great to compliment your opponent for a good shot and in the same vein get upset with self for a bad shot---but only for a second and then move one!  Also enjoyed a half hour lesson which pointed out some (well actually many) things I need to work on.  I do not have any grand intentions of being a good player but I do want to play at a level that I can have fun with most of the men here.  Now I will admit that many of the guys who play are 70+ or 80+ but hey, it is all on a level court regardless of age.  I mean I am no spring chicken either.
It is still dark out but as soon as it gets light I intend to jump on the bike and return 2 books to the library.  It is about a 4 mile ride one way, not long but enough to start to get the legs in some sort of shape.  I might even splurge on myself and stop at "the second cup" for some great coffee.  It might just be almost as good as my FP!
That does remind me, my FP for the day is gone.

Happy 44th Birthday John

There is the whole gang, the FIVE reasons John is such a great guy, the FIVE reasons he will have a wonderful birthday and the FIVE reasons he needs to keep on his best 24/7!!
John, Terry and I wish you the best birthday ever and may this be the year some of your long held dreams come true!

Welcome December 2013

Just a note today.  Some things that have happened in the last week or so:

• I had a tennis lesson and I THINK it will help
• We had to get a new printer and it is amazing what one can get for the dollar compared to 25 years ago
• We are about ready with our Christmas letter but the program is crashing--help
• Still we are enjoying left overs from Thursday
• Florida continues to be sunny and nice
• we have not had enough walks on the beach
• Christmas wreaths are up on the garage

Have a great Advent Season