visit to Wis.

We had a week-end visit in Beaver Dam and had fun seeing not only Mary and Phil and Carmen, but Kirstin, Damian, Emma and Tanner as well. Drove through some rain for a short whi;e on the trip down but in general the weather was great. Their gardens are ahead of ours by at least two or three weeks so that was fun to see too. We had a delicious dinner at a fun restaurant one night and great meals at their house as well. The kids have grown a lot since last fall and we look forward to seeing them as well as Josh's and Judah's families later this summer.
We had an evening visit with Anna and her friend Joe on the way down and tht was a treat as well. We are tired after the trip but it was well worth it.

June

It is a bit more like summer though not very warm, but 60's in the daytime. Had an interesting evening. Our retiring minister has written poetry over the years and tonight he did an evening of reading along with some favorite hymns of his sung by a choir member and played by a flutist and some sung by us all. A lot of people came and it was really delightful. He has real talent and this is a part of he life that has not been widely known or shared.
Wag and I have both been having some medical and physical therapy projects but all seems to be going well. Wag is getting a month's worth of sessions with a therapist which is helping his back that has bothered him a bit more of late. I am just doing the exercises prescribed by my last sessions with a therapist and it has been helping me move better. A recent semi-annual physical I had showed everything going well especially for someone my age. Wag is working with some help to get his gardens going. Cheers to all.

spring!

I have neglected this site since the kids got me on facebook. Sorry about that. I hope some of you are still checking on us. We have,of course, been complaining as our weather just couldn't seem to become consistantly spring like and trees were still bare and lawns not green In the last week things have really changed. We had a much needed rain and the grass turned green seemingly over night and now the little sprigs on the tree branches have become leaves and the lake is reflecting the blue sky and green trees. Just as we love it.
We have been out and about at our usual activities. Wag has had a kid helping him some and the gardens got the straw raked off and some things planted. We both had routine semi-annual check-ups with our doctors and got sort of the usual "You seem to be doing pretty well considering your age". Wag's back has been bothering him and he is trying a couple of new treatments for that. My legs still don't want to work very hard or long but I am trying to do more prescribed exercise which does seem to help. We hope to take a trip to see the Wisconsin family in the next couple of weeks and we are looking forward to seeing them and also the west coast grandsons and families during the summer. Keep in touch and I will try to do better at keeping this up to date

Easter

We had a great Easter service and I got to direct the big finale which was the Handel Halleluljah Chorus. I love doing it and we really need Linda singing with the sopranos. Our minister announced that I was going to be directing that and commented on the remarkable fact that this church has had two directors in over 40 years. I did it for 21 starting in 1966 and now Linda is at 22. It is special for me for another reason because Linda was a little girl in a children's choir I directed in the Rochester Methodist church in the 1950's. I was so glad that she moved here just at the right time to take over my beloved choir.
We are finally getting some warmer weather and it feels as if spring is really coming.

still winter

I had hoped that by now I could send you pictures of green grass and leaf buds on the trees but we still have about 6 or 8 inches of snow on the ground and those big piles along the edge of the roadways that represent the plowing of several recent storms. It has turned to rain and is warmer in southern Mn but we are still waiting for temps to rise above the 30's. Bummer. At least we are having some sunny days now and we hope that will begin to melt the white stuff. It is beautiful but by April we are sick of it!
We have both made progress with our eye treatments and Wag got new glasses yesterday and mine should be ready the first of the week. We are looking forward to Palm Sunday and Easter which always include special services and choir music that is really a delight. Happy Easter to all! Love from the snowy north

endless winter

We just can't seem to get done with winter cold this year. We had a stormy, snowy day Monday afternoon and yesterday and today the sun has come out but it is still windy and our high will be 2 above. Hard to believe that spring supposed;y arrives in 11 days. We hope! We have kept warm and been able to go to church, a Bemidji Symphony concert, doctor appts.etc. but we are not driving at night and trying to be smart about going only when it makes sense. It is supposed to warm up by the week-end. Of course, northern MN idea of warming up is getting into the 30's. We have had a lot of sunny days and the sun on the snow is beautiful to look at from inside. I had a picture I wanted to add to this but it doesn't want to work so I will save that for another time. I hope you are well and warm wherever you are.

Birds love us

There is a large batch of our friends both people and birds who are glad we stayed here this winter