Happy 2020

My new cell phone arrived, the sun is shining, Happy Day! 

Ending the old year on a good note seems like good karma. 

Happy New Year from Up North! 

Off the Grid

My cellphone starting acting weird the night before my birthday.

By Friday morning, it was rebooting itself about every 10 minutes.

I took a trip to Eau Claire the afternoon of my birthday to go to the Verizon store.

It was an efficient visit and I left knowing a replacement phone would be shipped to me.

Since it was the weekend and an ice storm, I knew the phone would not arrive until Monday.

But, it was no big deal, I was still able to read my text messages and use the phone a little.

However, that did not last.

By Saturday morning, the phone was dead.

So, I spent Saturday off the grid.  It was nice.  I watched 3 movies back to back to back.  There had been an overnight ice storm and it wasn't safe to even step outside. My driveway was coated with ice, it looked like a hockey rink, right after the Zamboni does its work.

I enjoyed watching The Big Sick, The Peanut Butter Falcon and Brittany Runs a Marathon.  

All were very enjoyable.

By Sunday morning, the temperature had risen, it was raining and the ice was gone.  

Crazy weather for December in Wisconsin.

Today, much to my delight, my amaryllis popped open.  It is truly beautiful and joyful.

So, here we go, ending the year and starting a new one.

All in all, I'd say the old year was not too bad, 

but I wouldn't mind a little less trouble with the house plumbing in the new year.

Birthday Gratitude

I have no idea where to start to say ❤️Thank You❤️ for all the good wishes for my birthday.  I'm still looking through all the posts I missed while I was off the grid today.

W O W. I have a pretty stunning array of pals! 

It's fun to share birthdays with great niece Milena, Emily Rockhold, Heather Algya, and others. And not forgotten, gone so long now, Mavis Petersen, was my birthday mate, and I always remember that was a deal when I was young.

Also on this date in history, the opening of Radio City Movie Hall in 1932, 20 years before my arrival.  This is the ONLY thing I have in common with The Rockettes. 😉

Having Facebook to host a birthday bash sure is a lot easier than those parties when we were kids with Pin the Tail, Cotton Ball Drop, and other games not to mention getting a bunch of little kids to and from the party in the winter.  And no house to clean before or after. (But I wouldn't trade away those memories.) 

Thank you all so very much for thinking of me, I know you have many other things pulling at your time, like the returns line at Target, or watching Die Hard / The Devil Loves Prada for the nth time. 😁

Happy New Year!  🎉 Happy new decade.

Go Packers! Go Badgers! 

And please register to vote. ✔️

Peace ✌️

Wanda

Merry Christmas Eve

I had a very nice Christmas Eve.

After a very foggy afternoon drive to Luck, I better understand why Santa needed Rudolph.

By design, I arrived a little early at the West Denmark Lutheran Church.  I know that the pianist plays Christmas music for about 30 minutes before the service, so after greeting a few friends, I found a seat near the piano and settled in for an enjoyable listen.

 I could see she was using a Jim Brickman book of Christmas music, he's a favorite of mine.

This is the church, although not the building, that I grew up in.

All Christmas Eves were spent with this congregation.

The balsam fir is what I always thought a Christmas Tree should be, and here, decorated with danish heart baskets and white lights, simple and perfect.

After church I headed to Kyle's to join the rest of the family for dinner and celebration.

We were lucky enough to be on Santa's route.

Ivan telling Santa he wants an RC Car.

Jens telling Santa what he wanted.

Jude didn't spend long on Santa's lap

 I encouraged the older kids to do a photo with Santa, 

but a better idea was for all the kids to get in on a Santa pic.

Milena, Megan, Elliana, Jack
Owen, Gage, Gussie, Santa, Jude, Ivan
Anders, Emily, Stella, Jens, Ruby

 Just as I was leaving, Noah arrived, he got busy spending some play time with Jude.

It was a fun evening with good food, good friends and lots of family.

Life is Good.

An Ode to 2019

A long winter’s nap started the year

As we had snow and cold even though it felt like Spring should be near.

The temperatures dove below zero for a quite spell

            And several inches of snow covered the ground quite well.

Out my front window 12/14/2019

My bird-feeders are busy and constantly needing a fill,

It’s worth the trouble, seeing a Cardinal, it is definitely a thrill.

The feeding goes on year round, and a heated bird bath is very worthwhile,

Doves sitting in a circle like friends at a hot tub makes me smile.

Another constant in my life are the two cats who live here,

Barley and Hops are good company, when they don’t disappear.

The cats love the fireplace

Several months of the year are filled with sports,

Girls and boys, youth and high school, on several game courts.

Watching the games through the camera lens,

Posting photos on Facebook to share with family & friends.   

Our Luck high school boys came close to a trip to state to play hoops, losing is so sad,

But later in the year they would capture the 8-Person Football Championship trophy, then we got glad.

Quilt camp twice a year is a trip I look forward to, planning lots of construction,

Sewing, dawn to the wee hours, is so much fun and I’m always pleased with my weekend production.

Moon Flower / Datura

My yard continues to be a fun summertime project with always something that needs to be done,

New-to-me, Moon Flower, they started blooming from a gifted seed, and my heart was won.

Adding new perennials, Peony, Hosta, Iris, Lily and more

My yard is maturing into a garden of flowers, fun to explore.

Wisconsin Point Light House

Lake Superior pulls at me to visit, a couple of trips I did take,

Laila visited this Fall and the sisters got a good viewing of the big Lake.

***

I’m grateful to have a comfortable life here in Wisconsin, with only minor health concerns and a family that is not only very fun to hang out with but that keeps me busy & always includes me.

For the blow by blow of my year, you can visit https://lifeinricelakewi.blogspot.com/ or I’m on Facebook as myself and @wjophotography is my Facebook sports photography page.

I am thankful for the old year and looking forward to the new decade. 

Happy Holidays & a Peaceful New Year is my wish for you.