winter wonderland

"What's the first thing you think of when you go through a tunnel?"

My sister, Trenda, asked me this as we traveled on the PA turnpike that last week of December. 

I thought for a little bit and then said, "Princess Diana."  (The bigger answer is her accident and death)

Trenda said, "Only a sister would get that answer right."

I tried the same question on Ellis as we traveled north on Hwy 61 with Lake Superior visible out the passenger side window. We went through several short tunnels. He was stumped and couldn't think of the right answer. When I told him - Princess Diana - he asked, "Was that accident in a tunnel? I didn't remember that."

Why would we travel to the north shore in March where the temperature next morning was -5?

Naniboujou Lodge near Grand Marais MN

My sister, Ladina, discovered this lovely place a few years ago when she and John were on a ride on Hwy 61. She happened to glance back and saw a large building through the trees. They turned around and went back and had a meal there. 

They have weekends open in the winter (February and part of March)  then open again in the summer. 

John and Ladina and Ellis and I braved the cold and snow and went North for a get-a-away in March.

photo credits of the lake: Ladina Martin

view from our room

We explored the town of Grand Marais and also took a site seeing drive on the Gunflint trail looking for moose. These cute moose painted on a tray were the only moose we saw.

We were on a search for books and baskets. 

Sisters

In the room next to the grand dining room there were tables and couches and conversation nooks where we played games, read books and caught up on life.

One of the other guests asked Ladina and me if we are twins. We are 14 months apart in age. Mom has been known to say she felt like she was raising twins when we were little.

If you want to go north in the winter this is a great place to go. Now, of course, we want to go to the north shore in the summer and find some Lake Superior agates and wade in the water.

Late

Jumping into the middle of a scene in Corrie ten Boom's childhood... 

Betsie was helping Nollie and Corrie get ready for school. They arrived at the breakfast table - late. 

Betsie pointed to the Frisian clock on the stairwall, and with a finger on her lips silently opened the dining room door. It was 8:12: breakfast had already begun. 

"Two minutes late!" cried Willem triumphantly. 

 "The Waller children were never late," said Tante Bep. 

 

"But they're here! said Father. "And the room is brighter!" 

- end of quote from The Hiding Place Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill 

When someone is late for church or some other event this is what I imagine God, our Heavenly Father, says. 

"They're here! And the room is brighter!" 

This is what I say, quietly to myself, when someone is late. 

I am grateful for grace and mercy extended to me when I am late. 

I may never know what complications came up that cause a late arrival. 

Is it any of my business? Probably not. 

Best wishes for a peaceful Sunday morning getting ready for praise and worship to the King of Kings!

Sunset

 Crossing the Ohio River on a ferry    

   between Kentucky and Illinois 

                January 22, 2022

Crossing from Galveston Texas to the main land on a ferry.   March 2021

It's gotten to be a tradition - ride on a ferry every winter. 

            And more pictures of Jasper!

P.S. Dea's adopted classroom

photo credits Deanne Harshbarger 

I didn't ask permission so I didn't post a picture of the adorable students sitting in those desks.

Here's a project I've been working on this month. 

Therapy ... designing a blanket, sewing it together, remembering days gone before.

Now, I  really do have to run.

cheese ball and crackers

December is the month for snacks. Cheese ball and crackers are at the top of the list. I don't remember where Mom got the recipe in the first place. I think it called for Velveeta cheese, cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, thinly sliced deli meat chopped very fine ...

Our recipe has progressed to sharp cheddar cheese, grated. Any assortment of favorite grated cheeses, with whipped cream cheese mixed in. Add a cup of sour cream to make it easier to stir. Sprinkle in a pkg. of ranch dip, a little garlic powder, oregano, basil, some Lawry's seasoning salt, finely chopped onion if your family tolerates onion. Mix, spread on crackers, eat, smile. Watch your family gather around ... 

I made a batch yesterday afternoon while we played a game. Our supper was barbecued pork, cheese ball and crackers, sliced cheeses and summer sausage, lime flavored finger jello, apple pie and ice cream. 

Auntie Trenda joined us to meet Jasper. He has many great aunts to become acquainted with. 

Today Trenda and I are heading to PA, munching on snacks as we drive across Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. We watched the sun rise in a beautiful sky. Drove in some fog, now it is cloudy with patches of blue sky peeking through. 

Many years ago my family lived in Indiana in the summer then traveled to Rosedale, Ohio so Dad could go to Bible School. I'm thinking of four small girls and Dad and Mom in our car. I can imagine we had snacks to eat and dolls to entertain us. 

Of course, this was in the days before car seats and seat belts were the law. I don't suppose our baby sister wore disposable diapers. Were disposable wipes even invented yet? 

Today, we saw a most disturbing sight. A van was parked on the edge of the road and a  urinal was being emptied into the grass in the median. We are traveling on toll roads. I guess the bath rooms are few and far between. 

We couldn't ask for nicer weather. The temp is in the 40s, no snow, rain or ice in sight.

Here is Jasper's Great Grandma, Marmee, and three Great Aunties - Trenda, Maria and Ladina

Christmas 2021

Merry Christmas 

Photo credits: Deanne, Krysta and Zoey

One month

notes from Jasper:   

My Grandma reads a bunch of blogs. She often gets a letter from a little girl (written by the girl's mother) so now Grandma (or Marmee) is thinking of writing a blog post as though I (Jasper) am writing it. Is she being a copy cat do you think? 

Let me tell you about my first month. First off, I was born in Lacrosse WI even though Daddy, Mama and I live in MN. Something similar happened to my Grandma. She was born in Fort Wayne IN, but she grew up in MN. She says she is a MN girl even though she has lived in many different states. 

Oh, that reminds me. I hear my mom and Auntie Dea and Grandma talking all the time about what I am going to call Grandma. Auntie Liz even read a long list of names that takes the place of Grandma-like Nana, Mimi, Marmee and lots more. one day Auntie Dea was holding me and asking me, "What do you want to call Grandma? How about Memaw?" You'd like that wouldn't you?" Just as Grandma and I started to look interested Mom said, "That reminds me too much of HEEHAW!" She said Heehaw so loudly and everyone started laughing hysterically. I threw my arms up in the air and acted so startled that they laughed all the more. 

It was forever decided that I won't call Grandma Memaw, mostly because it reminded Grandma of being nicknamed Donkey when she was younger. Cause you see, if you say her name too fast, Dawn Kaye, it can sound a little bit like Donkey. So I think I'll call Great Grandma "Grandma". I'll call Grandpa "Papa" and Grandma "Marmee" 

We had a family reunion already so all my uncles and aunts could meet me. It wasn't in our cosy house. Instead we packed our bags and went to the Bible School. It was sort of cosy because we spent a lot of time sitting in a room with lots of couches and comfy chairs and a fireplace. Don't tell anyone but it wasn't a real fireplace. The whole family played a game called Scattergories. It must be a fun game because they laughed a lot. 

My mom said she thought I could tell we weren't in our small cosy house because I acted differently. Wouldn't go to sleep as easily and little things like that. My dad took me for a walk down a long hall and when we came back I was more wide awake than ever. My eyes were wide open and my back was stiff, not cuddly like usual. Mom said something about being stubborn like the Harshbargers. I wasn't crying loudly, just looking all around so I think that was being curious - not stubborn. 

Here are some places I've been in the last month. Church, clinic, Tea Party, Bible Study, Great Grandma's house, Bible School, Vivian's house, Chris and Dawn's house...on Christmas Day we are going to see the Nolt family. There we'll see Daudy and Mommy and lots of uncles and aunties and even some cousins! Caleb, Gerald and Tristan. All boys so far since my big sister, Pearl India, is in heaven. 

Papa and Marmee come to my house very often. I have lots of visitors coming to my house with gifts for me and food for Dad and Mom. Soon I am going to meet cousin Joanna. Earlier this week Auntie Dea's friend, Essy, came with her mom, Christina. It started snowing Tuesday morning when we were all sitting around eating brunch. Before you could say Jack Frost Essy and Christina started off for home. It was snowing where they live and they wanted to avoid bad roads. 

Well, I'm going to stop for now. Maybe Auntie Dea will help Marmee put some pictures on this blog. I'm growing and growing.