North Shore In Winter

Spent a nice week on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Did some projects around the log home - got the stereo system working with the assistance of Andy. Hiked to the Palisade Valley and did a short stretch of the Superior Hiking Trail. Hazel had a great time - as did Andy, Marilyn and Nelson. Visited with our North Shore neighbors the Miller's and Pribyl's and traveled to Silver Creek Cliff for New Year's Eve with goo friends Gary and Judy Nelson.

Day After Christmas

We collected our thoughts and stayed snowbound in River Falls on Saturday, December 26th. Andy and Nelson went to the Wellness Center for for some exercise and we also called Bayard and wished him and Carol a very Merry Christmas.

Andy headed into the Twin Cities to visit with old high school swimming friends. Marilyn and I watched a movie and packed for our trip to the North Shore.

By the way, Andy has just been informed that he has been hired by the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA where he will participate in teaching marine science related classes with K-12 and college students. Congratulations Andy! We are already planning our first whale watching trip!

Niece and Nephew Kids on Christmas Day

We had a wonderful Christmas Day at the Hokenson family home in Brooklyn Center. In addition to Nelson, Marilyn and Andy, we were joined by Ray and Barb Hokenson (our hosts), Marilyn's sister Carolyn (her Jim was busy plowing folks out); Marilyn's sister Karen, her husband Steve and their two children William and Mathew; Carolyn's son Josh his two children Tyler and McKenzie; and Angie and her two children Hannah and Bryce. Tyler, Mackenzie and Hannah and Bryce are pictured here. Ray and Barb have some very cute great grand-kids. We all had a very wonderful Christmas celebration.

Christmas Day Snow

We awoke to find about a foot of nice snow on Christmas Eve and another couple of inches on Christmas day.

Andy, home for two weeks from his new home in Newport Beach, CA, attacked the snow with our new (first ever in our adult lives) snow blower.

Marilyn used the old technology - the trusty shovel.

Christmas Eve in River Falls

Christmas Eve found us relaxing after Andy and Nelson trekked to the western suburbs of the Twin Cities to complete the sale of Andy's beautiful 2006 Saturn Vue. Andy's new California lifestyle will work without wheels for a while - as he is finding mass transit and his bicycle to be a reasonable way to get around - for now. The three of us and Hazel gathered around the living room and then dining room table for a nice dinner - featuring rib roast, oven-roasted vegetables and sauteed spinach & mushrooms.

Nelson fumbled around as he learned how to take a time-delayed picture of the family (see video featuring adult learning).




Andy prepared a wonderful baked apple dessert which you see pictured below.

Christmas Eve Eve at the Boxcar

Nelson, Marilyn and Andy traveled through a blazing blizzard from River Falls to Prescott, WI to visit with Carol and Will Baudler and their family. We gathered at the BoxCar Bar and Restaraunt - a great little venue in downtown Prescott - to hear Communist Daughter perform. Jonathan Blaseg (red plaid shirt - of I'm A Lumberjack fame...), a friend of Rachel Baudler's, is in the band and we all enjoyed hearing them play - even though only 2 out of 5 members were able to brave the storm and make it to the BoxCar. A great time was had by all as we shared stories fromthe past year.