Leap Year

An extra day in our year.

Happy Birthday to Uncle Nelson who is having his 18th birthday today.

I was determined to write a blog post at least once each month. How fortunate there is an extra day in February this year (since I procrastinated.)

The pictures were taken in LaCrosse last May when Ellis and I were there for an appointment. These are two favorite places we've found to eat when we are in LaCrosse. 

Today I went with Krysta to Owatonna. I held Gracia while Krysta walked with the twins into the building where they were visiting their bio Grandpa and Grandma.

Then we drove across the street where Gracia was getting her 2 month immunizations. I opted to stay out in the van and caught a short nap in the sunshine. 

It looks like I was taking a break from writing - and I was - at least for this blog. We are celebrating 50 years at our church this spring. I've been writing some short articles for a book we're putting together for that occasion. 

I looked back in my blog and found two blog posts that I could revamp and use. One about singing in local nursing homes (or care centers as they are called today) and the other about street work in Chicago. 

We have secret sister/prayer partners at church. This is a custom we've kept for close to forty years. That was fun to remember and write about. 

Two more little essays are waiting for me to finish. Christmas caroling and the annual bike ride our school goes on each spring. 

Maybe I should call it :

Highlights and Horrors of Bike Day

Near Lanseboro Timber Rattlesnakes have been found sunning themselves on the trail.

Fortunately I have never encountered them.

One cold day we huddled in a shelter out of the wind when a snow shower blew in. We weren't really dressed for snow if I remember correctly. 

The good things about the day far outweigh the snakes and snow.

Bird songs, flowers, sunshine, fishing at the pond in Lanesboro, my Dad with his antique bike joining the children on their bikes, little bikers peddling furiously and running out of steam before they get to the picnic lunch at the end of the trail ... older youth watching out for the little ones and helping them when they were too exhausted to go on.

Lois and Miss Freda started a good thing when they took the school children to Pine Island all those years ago and set out on the Douglas State Trail.

Here we are the first weekend in February 

Remember the little boys in overalls saying,

"You been farmin' long?"

This picture seems like they might be saying, 

"You been cookin' long?"