A Christmas tree skirt

Sometimes, friendship can not be explained in words written to page...
It was a busy Saturday afternoon in which I needed to go to Gibbon to get some organic cow meat that we had ordered...
Jeff and I leave Arlington, loaded down with my latest project.  I just needed to stop by her house, just to see what she would think, and to get the final okay that what I was about to do would work.
I have no time schedule, it seems so odd...
we pick up the meat and load it in to the trunk.
Stop at Dairy Queen and get Jeff some fries.
We take a left out of Winthrop on to 15 and then a right in to Lafyette.
I have this excitement building inside me as we drive and I think about the skirt.
When I arrive she shows me some things she has purchased and we talk about boots and boot jewelry.
I talk to her about the top she has on and how much I love it, wishing she would always be able to shop for me too.  I give her back her newsprint jacket that she thinks Duey wishes I would just keep forever - she puts it on and looks as pretty as a picture, I warn her of some of the things people will say when she wears it...
Now, we take out the project and I talk to her about it.  I tell her what I am thinking about for the words of the skit, I tell her how I would like these two vintage Christmas tree skirts to become a costume for the skit.
Not only does she listen to my idea, but, now she has me put the skirt on and gets out the pins and the scissors.
We will need to make a fast trip to NewUlm as we need one more skirt or something for the top the costume.  We head to the MRCI thrift and as we are getting ready to leave...
there it is!!
One more perfect little vintage felt tree skirt!
We head back home and finish the pinning...
and I think to myself how blessed I am to have someone who will help me here on earth to figure out how to put my visions into reality!
Thank you my friend!

Arli-Dazzle 2013

Plans have been being made for months and months...
The Arli-Dazzle took place on December 7th, 2013.
Last year it was so beautiful and everyone had so much fun that this year we decided to make sure everyone was invited and the gathering spot would be here at the house.
Finally it is here, the temperatures...
unlike last years 50 degrees at 6:00...
are dangerously cold, the temperature on the bank clock shows 10 below zero, without the wind factored in! 

(I had been to "Two Old Goats" - the best "junk" sale in all the land.
I found this precious vintage sled with a red sleigh made on it.  I got some lights and a matching Christmas blanket and had it all ready for us to pull our little Cassie Grace up to the parade. )

I get a txt from Lacey on Friday night "we may just come anyway, will drive slow, need to do laundry".
"YAY"
I thought it was just to dangerous and didn't want any of the kids to think they had to come, but, was quite happy that Nola Jean's daddy was able to drive a long and the roads were a little better on Saturday.
So, we fix up the vintage sleigh, bundle up our Nola Jean, and away her and daddy, momma and papa go up to Main Street.
The rest of us stay here where it is warm and just dream of all that is going on up there...
dream of little girls bundled up in layers and layers,
reaching down as the floats throw out candy...
storing the bags, and goods under her blanket in the handy little sleigh.  When her little cheeks turn bright red (the only skin that was exposed) - they decide to walk back home...
although reluctant to leave the rest of the floats coming down the road...
she hops in her sleigh
and daddy pulls her home!

Geliena, Ill (story 2)

A little ice cream shop where we got our free popcorn

Here we are in Geliena, ILL.  The first night we just drove around a bit and then headed to our motel after stopping at Subway and picking up a little Miller 65.
The motel is perfect and in the perfect location - it really couldn't have gone any better than it did!
All is well, I am with my friends and enjoying life, leaving work and responsibilities behind.
I am tired, Carol not far behind...
Ringo heads to the bathroom and makes her self a perfect little cove under the sink with her sleeping bag and cripto's!  She is used to getting up and down during the night and watching TV and proves to be more comfortable behind closed doors.  After waking up and getting herself a cup of coffee she falls asleep with the coffee in hand...
we won't talk about what happens when you do that in a small cove in a motel room!
We all get up on Saturday morning and head to uptown ...
I love it here...
it is a beautiful place to

Geliena, ILL (story one)

On Thursday November 7th we load up in Robins truck and head to Carol's house.  There is an excitement in me that can not be contained. I would imagine it to be close to how Curt feels when he leaves for Nimrod for deer hunting week-end.
We arrive at the Hacker farm and are on our way about 9:00 am.
We have taken these little fall get a ways sense our 50th birthday - this the first one that Robin has gotten to go on.
Our first stop is in NewUlm (we haven't gotten to far yet...)
Walgreens for reading glasses - then the book store for my book "The Power of a Praying Grandparent".
On we go down the road - heading through Mankato, on to Wells and then to 35W.  It is a perfect day for a drive, which is good as it is a long one.
Our other trips were to Winona, RedWing, and Buffalo, this trip is a 5 hour journey - with Carol behind the wheel the whole way.

Here is proof of her wonderful driving and her heroic parking skills -
she did it!
Parallel parked, on the streets of Geliena, with room to spare!

The Northern Lights

She lines her medications up in a row, I'de say there is at least 12.
They help her to live  life.
As she stands next to me in the drive way her voice raises with excitement...
"look, oh look up there, it is the Northern Lights! I haven't seen them in years and years, I never thought I would see the Northern Lights here!"
I know in my mind, that is not shrouded with the affects of medications...
((these are not the Norther Lights, it is the moon shining through the clouds that are filling the night sky))
Before I say anything I look up to the sky again...
Maybe they are the Norther Lights?
Who am I to decide that they aren't?
Does it really matter the term I use to describe what has brought her such joy?
Together we stand
and  look up in awe at the beauty of the Norther Lights as they light up the sky.

Chicken feet ll

While I was gone on my November Hiatus...
I noticed that gramma forgot to cut the toenails off the chicken feet...
and I heard that Lindsey took a bite -
Oh the fun they had with this chicken on a Sunday afternoon in Foley.

A November day in Foley

Conner D, Jordyn Noel, Cassie Grace, November 2013, Foley

Our oldest and our youngest 2013, Foley

While the guys went deer hunting to Nimrod (pictures to come). Lacey, Nola and Gramma D went to Foley for the night.  Lindsey and Cassie met them also.
My momma
My three girls
Their five kids
and a whole lot of love!