December Dawdlings, January Sailing

(12/31/2011)  It's official.  My grandbabies own the world's ugliest sock monkeys --

 I can say that since I made both of them!  Fortunately, the kids are cute enough to overcome them.

     More than a month has flown by and again I find myself playing catch up with news from Potatoland.  As pictured above, I finally achieved one goal of completing a sock monkey for Mae . . . Miles' was finished before he was even born!

     December passed fairly quietly in some respects -- winter is finally arriving at our house today; it's snowing as I record these thoughts.  We've experienced unseasonably warm temps around here and received good precipitation. . . but in the form of rain.  The ski hill behind our house announced in today's Idaho State Journal that all runs are finally open.  In 2010, we paid to have our driveway plowed six times in December; in 2011 nada.  I must be getting older as other than concerns for the local reservoirs and the aquifer, I really didn't miss winter so far.

     We did have some bonus grandbabies time December 17-22 when they stayed with us 24/7.  They were great, but we also were reminded why young people have kids!!  They camped with us while Meg and Josh spent several days in Tennessee.  We don't know the final outcome of their trip yet . . . details here are not important. . . but both kids have been recruited by another firm.  Yes, you read it correctly.  They have been offered positions just east of Knoxville, TN.  We've known about this development since November 29, when it was announced to not only Glenn and me, but to Josh's parents as well during their fall visit.

     An offer such as this is unheard of in our field of education, but we're taking it all in stride so far.  Lots of pros and cons for the Jurgens' to consider . . . I've grown accustomed to seeing mountains out my windows.  The question is, this time next year, will they be the same ones?

     Christmas Eve and Day we spent with the Jurgens at their home.  Meghan prepared a lovely crown roast with all the trimmings for Christmas eve dinner.  Christmas Day I took down two fritattas for brunch and Italian sub sandwiches for late afternoon.  The day was consumed with opening gifts and watching the wee ones with their new toys.
     Glenn and I no longer exchange gifts. . . but I did give him one surprise, however.  While he was in MI hunting, son-in-law Josh assisted me in building and installing shelves in our garage.  We also hung racks on one wall.  After three years of seeing our garden implements stuck in a plastic garbage can, I took the bull by the horns.  When Glenn returned home, he found all of our sporting goods, lawn and garden equipment and more organized in boxes or plastic storage containers, neatly labeled and shelved.  The rakes, hoes, shovels, mops and brooms now hang neatly along one wall, as well as our ladders!  He was surprised (and grateful).
     As for me, I bought my own gift . . . a Canon T2i Rebel camera bundled with three more lenses, two additional batteries, chargers, a tripod, camera case, filters . . .the works!  I'm really enjoying getting back into photography.  Now, I'm just trying to figure out how to find a good home for my trusty old Canon AE-1!

(12/25/2011)  Just as he did for Miles three years ago, Glenn feeds Mae her first-ever Christmas lunch!

     We reciprocated the Jurgens' hospitality on New Years Eve . . . the four of them ventured up the hill for libations, dinner (build our own pizza) and family time to welcome in 2012.  In fact, they all spent the night. . . and we enjoyed their company on the first day of the New Year, as well as sharing breakfast and my homemade egg nog with them!

     Now, the new year has rolled in, winter is piling in and we are settling in . . . a few good books, a line up of favorite television shows keep us happy indoors.  Outdoors, we've had some successful ice fishing trips already, and one very memorable one (see photo below).

(01/13/2012)  During an afternoon ice fishing trip to Chesterfield Reservoir, I tangentially created a memory for Glenn.  My fishing hole is shown above -- notice, no fishing pole in sight.  I'd just stood up to stretch my legs and was literally no more than four feet from this spot. . . when something took my bait, jig, line and pole!  I dove, slipped and grabbed -- even plunged my gloved hand into the water -- but it was all gone.  I just wish I could've seen what took it!

  I've started a new semester of seminars through the Continuing Ed. Dept. at Idaho State University.  Today, friend Dixie and I attended an interesting talk about the history, culture, festivals and crafts of the Shoshone Bannock Native Americans.  Most interesting is that it was presented by Randy'L Teton, the woman who modelled for the Sacajawea gold dollar coin.

    Writing about the recent holidays, January is slipping through my gloved fingers, much like my fishing pole did.  We will soon round the corner into February and what it will bring . . . and where life will take us. . . what next adventure may we encounter?