good day sunshine! Wrapping up January 2023

 

just. so. cold.

 

Very cold walk to and from school today. My artistic assistant Jackie made snowflakes with the kids today. 

coffee with Katie & cozy fire

 

Nice coffee and Target date with Katie and then some lesson planning and half marathon training planning today! April 30, 2023 EC here I come! 

a beautiful & brisk winter's day

 

Thoroughly enjoying a winters day. Cleaning, hiking & basking in front of a cozy wood fire. 

We dined on Panera chicken sandwiches Thai Chicken soup and French bread. Our school had a fundraiser so off we went to support. 

I’m planning on going to A Man Named Otto with my friend Michelle tonight. Looking forward to spending time at the theater 

love hat day!

 

Today was hat day at school and it was so fun! Went to Knowles Center with Osten this evening because I missed out on my weekly Petra walk. 

happy 28th Kyle & Adam!

Two of my top 50 people were born 28 years ago today. 

Adam and Kyle Jr. 

From a web source:

About January 26, 1995

Day of the Week: Thursday
How Long Ago? 28 years
Leap Year: No 

Holidays: Australia Day (Australia), Republic Day (India)

Generation: Millennial
Chinese Zodiac: Dog 
Star Sign: Aquarius

what a delightful writer

 

Today one of our 2nd graders wrote a wonderful response to a math question. I just love it so much🥰

one week

A sweet little Blomgren baby is enjoying her entrance into the world. So eager to meet you lovely one. 

side by side

 

A dear friend of mine and her family are going to Scotland for winter quarter. Photo one is at the airport at MSP. Photo two is on way to their accommodation. They look like they may need some rest. 

swim meet Sunday

I was privileged to spend many hours in the RFHS pool deck timing eager swimmers. One swimmer in particular was my favorite to time. Katie had a great day swimming 4 events.

tricky basketball tournament and Anders & Brad home from the cabin

Today Osten had a basketball tournament and they lost all three games. It was a hard day for him, but he’s doing better now. 

Brad and Anders returned from the great white north. They had a great adventure. 

And Katie is celebrating her birthday with friends…

pleasant surprise

I’m not joking…I wrote the letter from former cabin owner Dorothy last night and received a letter TODAY! 

I’ll have dinner and then open. How exciting! 

Dinner is complete, we received a photo of Dorothy and son Karl, a nice letter and a bill of sale for the canoe. 

1-16-23 

Greetings from Nebraska! 

I want to get the canoe paper back to you, as soon as possible. I've been gathering some pictures to send you, but not yet ready.

What a beautiful family you are! Before Karl died, he told me that he hoped that a family with children would buy the cabin, and enjoy it as much as we did. I think that fate stepped in and granted his wish. 

It's early to be thinking of swimming, but yes, we are all good swimmers. I must warn you not to stand still, next to the dock, as there are leeches in there, that love the areas between the toes! I've pulled many a leech from our dogs' feet. Then, put them on the dock, sprinkle with salt on them, and dispatch them. We swam in our socks. 

Another thing to do with swimming is: standing on the dock, facing the lake, about 20-30 feet to the right, and about that far out, there is a warm spring that is so nice to find. I'd use a boat cushion to hang onto, and just float around in it. 

You didn't say whether it was Dan Sr. or son Dan that you met. I haven't heard from either of them in a long time. Also, I hope you meet Dr. John Ipsen and wife, Kris Wagerson, from cabin 6. I don't have a current address from any of them. 

We may have snow this week. We are still in a drought here, so any moisture will be welcome. 

Thanks for the nice letter & picture. Stay healthy and safe. 

Sincerely, Dorothy

I also got word from Brad that they are heading back a day early. They are going to spend the night at Bud and Bettys and will help them move tomorrow. Move from their place to Brent’s while the damage from the kitchen fire is repaired. 

Here are some photos he sent…

cabin treasure and 6th snow day...

When we bought the cabin on Snowbank Lake, we knew it was special, and it became even more special. While Brad, Anders and Nate Weaver-Olson are up exploring the cabin this week, I am posting a very special letter the 93 year old former owner wrote to us during December. Her script is absolutely flawless and the stories are heartwarming. I have written back to her but I hope we can correspond via mail more often. 

Dear Karen and Bradley, 

I am Dorothy Baumgarten, Eric's mother. I have been meaning to write to you since you bought our cabin on Snowbank Lake. We are all hoping you enjoy it as much as we have. 

I keep thinking of things to tell you, then I think "will they be bored" by hearing them. One thing you may want to know is that we didn't nail the riser to the bottom step to the attic, so it comes out, and you can hide a few things (radio, wallet, etc.) when you don't want to take them when you aren't in the cabin. Another place is the bottom right hand drawer in the kitchen, a nice space when you pull the drawer all the way out. 

We never had a bear try to break in. We were very careful to put garbage into a plastic sack inside the closed can, inside the closet. 

When we first went up to Ely, there was a Greyhound bus station on Sheridan, that had a restaurant inside. I used to go into Ely, once a week, to do laundry. With six of us, there was a lot of laundry to do. I would treat myself to a piece of pie or cake. (Since I was born and raised in Houston, Texas, I never heard of blueberries). Well, the blueberry piece there was wonderful. Thus the recipe. I mentioned it to the Burlinski’s  (who owned Snowbank Lodge,) and they shared it with me. I've tried with the big, fat, tasteless ones from the store and it doesn't compare to the wild. 

Another thing I thought of is the bird-feeder pole you probably found to the left of the desk. There is a hangar, in the front closet, with streamers on it, that we put out when we were expecting guests. There are two bolts on the S side of the dock, that the pole fits into. It made it easy for people to find our dock. 

My husband taught organic chemistry at the University of Nebraska for many years, so we were able to spend 2-3 months up there. The experiences there, were really good for our kids. When Karl, our oldest son passed away, last December, I knew that it was time to give it up. I'm 93, and when my husband passed away in 2006, Karl and I spent a couple of months there. I apologize for not having keys to anything. When Karl was in the Air Force, he learned locksmithing, and always carried his tools, so he could open locks without keys. We found a box of about 40 keys, but not what they belonged to. When sons, Eric & Kurt and I were up there in July Eric tried the keys in every padlock and they didn't fit. Karl was a geologist, and did his master's thesis on the pluton in Snowbank. 

I've rambled on long enough--I hope that you have met some of the neighbors by now. If you think of anything else, my address is: 3325 Hillside Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68506, phone number 402-489-6441. Sorry I don't use a computer or cell phone. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  

Sincerely, 

Dorothy 

This was written on one double sided paper...I don't think I would ever be able to get that much information in such a small space. 

Later, we received a lovely Christmas card and the registration information for the Kevlar canoe left in the kitchen area. Her sons had worked a paper route in Nebraska to purchase the canoe back in the 1960s.

Blueberry Pie Recipe

Easy Crust

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 t. sugar

1 t. salt

1/2 c. oil

2 T. cold milk

Sift dry ingredients into pie pan. Combine oil and milk in measuring cup. Whitp with fork and pour at once over flour mi. Mix with fork until flour is completely dampened. Press evenly and firmly with fingers to the bottom of the pan, then press the dough up sides and partly cover the rim. Fill as desired and bake in a hot (350) oven until filling is done. For baked shell--prick crust all over and bake in a hot oven (425) for 12-15 minutes. Cool and fill as desired (use the baked shell for blueberry pie)

Berry Pie

 

1 baked 9" pie shell -- 1 quart berries (wild blueberries best!)

Bring to boil - 2 C. berries -1 C. water -3/4-1 C. sugar with blueberries, 3/4 enough)

Add 1T. butter (red coloring for strawberries or raspberries

Mix 4T. cornstarch and 1/4 C. water-add to berry mix-Cook until thick and clear, then add 1/3 C. lemon juice Sice remaining berries (2 C.) or more into the pie shell and cover with boiled filling. Refrigerate. Serve with whipped topping. 

she is 17!

So many wonderful things have happened as a result of her appearance into our family! Kathryn Grace wanted 17 hugs from her beloved little brother and he’s paying up!

We had chicken, risotto and broccoli for dinner and then she went to swim practice. Osten and I went to the UWRF men’s  basketball game where we saw Ehrick Holland’s son Marshall play. Now it’s time for bed!