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As one reflects back on events of the past year, one would think that could be source material for the annual Christmas letter.  In fact, I have difficulty imagining another source.  This past year, as with several others of recent vintage, started in winter, moved on to spring, then summer, then autumn, then winter, again.  And yes, despite the continuing onslaught of global climate change (remember . . . it’s science) we will continue to receive snowfalls for the foreseeable future.

[And here’s “Mr. Science” now, applying the scientific method to the holes in napkin rings. How did they get there?  For what purpose?  Were any animals harmed in the production of such rings?  Was TPP responsible for their foreign production?  Will science and facts eventually prevail?  The inquiry continues . . . ]

The year in review . . . 

January

Despite daily exhortations from Princess, Viking, Holland America, U of M and IU alumni associations, and Sven and Ole’s trolling motor expeditions on the Long Prairie River, we did not travel this month.

[First, just a quick look back at Christmas last.]

[As usual, we begin each year with the Super’s birthday!]

[I hosted “Shun Li and the Poet,” the community education foreign movie at Grand Arbor. While asking the assembled masses to participate thusly, I did mention they would become international superstars via blog.]

[The Super made her acting debut as a juror in the Lakes Area Radio Theatre’s “Trial.”]

[After Christmas, Grandson Tom went back to Purdue where he graduated in spring.  It was a monetary relief to one and all.]

[This is what 31 degrees below zero windchill looks like.  Yeah, it’s really ugly.]

February

[William Kent Krueger came to town.  Cork Corcoran did not come with him.]

[The rest of the month was pretty much sports, including the national champion Gopher women’s hockey team.]

March

[Yup, it was National Pi Day!]

[Full moon over an ice-free Lake Darling.  March 24, the earliest ice out in anyone’s memory?]

April

[In April, we finally succumbed to the encomiums of Viking River Cruises (OK, you actually have to succumb about a year in advance) for a 3-week adventure from April 18 to May 7 along the Danube, Main, and Rhine Rivers from Budapest to Amsterdam with stops in between.  I was originally going to regale you with a shot from each city, but sanity prevailed.  Here are a few.]

[Budapest, above and below.]

[Europe is all about outdoor coffees . . . or other beverages.]

May

[River cruise continued . . . why not, it was so much fun!]

[Parting company with John and Helen in Amsterdam . . . ]

[Two days later, waving good-bye to Pam and Tom and the continent.]

[Just home from Europe, it was time to hit the road again for “The Boy” was graduating from college!]

[Tom and Celia are now happily ensconced, and employed, in Westminster, Colorado.]

[With the proud grandparents.]

[As long as we were in the neighborhood, we paid a visit to Ruthie’s big sister, Rita, in Nashville . . . Indiana, that is.]

[I conquered Nashville’s infamous Salt Creek Trail with a song in my heart and breakfast on my lips!]

[Back home once and for all, it was time to go topless!]

June

[Fathers’ Day produced a bit of a mini ’65 class reunion.]

[The Boys of ’65, looking ever so dapper . . . and old.]

[Our close personal friend and prodigious writer, Jess Lourey, gave a “Rewrite Your Life” TedX presentation.  It can be found on YouTube.]

[Our close personal friend and sister-in-law, Karen Obert, went to Cuba.  While there she decided to have an appendicitis attack if only to prove that country does indeed have good medical service.  Her mother, Pauline, next to her, reportedly survived the trip unscathed.]

[The 14th/15th anniversary for even more close personal friends!  Their first date was exactly one year before the “official” one.]

July

[Happy 4th . . . ]

[And just like the days in D.C., we celebrate with a Capital Fourth.]

[Our close personal friend, star of Footloose, and member in good standing with the high school carolers, Josie Nelson had her own show on Prairie Public Television.]

[Yup, pretty much a perfect summer.]

August

[Our annual visit to Camp Brosius in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.]

[Back home, Big Ole’s total makeover was finished.]

[Then the Gross family from D.C. environs came to pay us a visit in Alex – a little pontoon ride around Lake Carlos and outdoor dining at Bug-A-Boo Bay.]

[It was a class reunion luncheon, and . . . ]

[No, I didn’t.]

[Well, Danny is a Vikings fan.]

September

[It was somebody’s “major” birthday?]

[So here’s what “he” did . . . ]

[Twins game . . . ]

[Rooftop dining at Union Restaurant . . . ]

[Then a Lynx game.  In keeping with tradition, the Twins lost, the Lynx won.]

[Grape Stomp, and concurrent activities at Carlos State Park.]

[The aforementioned Ms. Nelson.]

[“Author, Author” – With The Biddies fine dining at the St. Paul Hotel before going to see Carl Hiaasen at the Fitzgerald Theatre . . . ]

[And then the next day with two of our favorite Minnesota authors, Jess Lourey and William Kent Krueger (behind the book shelf), at Cherry Street Books.]

[The Biddies returned to Camp Brosius for fall clean up, once again leaving me to fend for myself.]

October

[Bradley and I and our respective chins were the only representatives from the Class of ’65 at the homecoming parade.]

[On October 10, Grandson Tom and Celia reunited at his new place of residence and employment in Colorado.  He subsequently discovered his headphones will not have to be surgically removed.]

[Our fall colors, from the privacy of our own home!]

[“Teen Idol – The Bobby Vee Story” at the History Theatre in St. Paul.]

[But first, fine dining with Ken and Jeanne at the St. Paul Hotel, now our regular dining venue in the state’s capital city.]

November

[Annual Turkey Day at Basketball Dan’s, with a stop at Prospect Park for a panoramic view of downtown Minneapolis on a beautiful day.]

[A date that will live in infamy . . . ]

[As so indicated!]

[One of the few bright spots during the entire process was our new close personal friend, Cydnee Sanders, a Pan American Games gold medal winning baseball player for Team USA and our congressional district organizer.]

[Gretch and Mohamed on election day, Uncle Mo’s first ever presidential vote.]

[The Super and Anthony Miltich with their now well-practiced routine for Piano Man’s ” . . . and put bread in my jar” at the winery.]

[On November 17, Jami and Lucky left us to move to their new permanent home – The Harn.]

[We joined them for Thanksgiving, staying at the Mississippi Headwaters Hostel in Itasca State Park, about 9 miles south of The Harn.  The Super enjoyed the fireplace at the hostel.]

[Leaving for The Harn the next morning.]

[The Harn, surrounded by 20 acres of woods.]

[Thanksgiving at the hostel, with one other couple staying there who just happened to be from . . . Alex!]

December

[Many, many years ago, sister Gretch matriculated to the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design in Washington, D.C. Now in blissful retirement, she is resuming her art desires with classes at the National Portrait Gallery. This is her latest, a seasonal effort.]

[Winter Wonderland]

[Uncle Mo updated his FB profile photo to wish everybody a Merry Christmas!]

[And another seasonal effort by Gretch.]

[Finally, a little holiday toast to one and all!]

A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.  ~  Garrison Keillor

Up Next:  Just a reminder of why: https://alexandriacardinals.wordpress.com/about/

Over just a consecutive three day period . . . 

[Photo from Explore Alexandria.]

December 1

[What our venture to the Douglas County Historical Society annual bake sale wrought. (Of course minus two of the krumkake we already snarfed down!)]

December 2

[Photo from Echo Press.]

[A Christmas classic must see. The AAAA outdoes itself in costuming, set design, and . . . special effects (wow).]

 

December 3

[The Central Lakes Concert Association performance at the AAHS PAC.  I don’t remember what my expectations were . . . but they were exceeded.  A very entertaining show.]

December 4

[They just keep getting better! And when they began with “Mars, The Bringer if War,” it raised the hair on the back of your neck. Conductor Brad said you need 4 horns to perform this piece; the CLSO had 6 on this night.]

After I die, I shall return to earth as a gatekeeper of a bordello and I won’t let any of you enter.  ~ Arturo Toscanini to the NBC Orchestra

Up Next:  Good stuff, hoping hockey, unless another snowstorm.

WINGS UP!!

December 1

And from swans to Cardinals . . .

The game . . .

[Buoyed by the success of the fall-featured football team, our winter teams take to the courts and ice rinks full of optimism and energy.  We began the home season with the Cardinal girls roundballers hosting the Rocori Spartans.  Always looking to the future we try to check in with the JV team.  Here junior guard Taylor Partington (5) and sophomore Matie Wirtjes (21) played a little catch out front while sophomore center Emily Jones (45) kept a close eye on the free throw line.]

[Junior forward Emily Aker  (31) joined the fray on the far side.]

[It’s a fumble!!  The JV, ala the varsity, seeks to create havoc with its defense.  Here freshman Ella Grove (51) and junior Francesca Palmer (43) buzz the Spartans.]

[That action completed, sprint to the other end!]

[Junior Flora Kvale (11) hounded the Rocori dribbler.  I know when I’m hounded, I tend to dribble.]

[Flora kept pace as the ball moved into our back court.]

[Ms. Grove stepped to the line.  Based on observations of first impression, she’s going to be a player.]

[And here she attempted a drive into the middle.]

[While the varsity took to the court for warm-ups . . . ]

[I reeled in the final scoreboard for the JV game.  Well done, ladies!]

[The varsity has high expectations.  Many seniors back from teams that just barely lost the section final the last two years.  We are preseason No. 2 in the state Class AAA rankings.]

[It’s a good thing everybody warms-up . . . because everybody plays!  Substitutions are made on the fly, like a hockey game!  😉  ]

[OK, everybody line up!]

[And introducing senior Emma Ziegler (1) . . . ]

[And senior Kendall Kohler (3) . . . ]

[And senior Macy Hatlestad (11) . . . ]

[And junior Emma Schmidt (25) . . . ]

[And senior Kayla Feldhake (43).]

[And Kayla gets the tap.]

[Schmidty demonstrated proper block out procedures on a shooter.]

[Pardon me.  Is this not the tango class?]

[Guess not, huh?]

[Kayla takes center stage.]

[Kendall and Schmidty press the inbounds.]

[Kendall was “3”-on-“3” with the Spartan point guard all night.]

[Ziegy head manned as sophomore McKenzie Duwenhoegger (35) hustled up court.]

[I told friend Brad Macy’s first free was off by a tad – it rattled the rim a couple times before it dropped.  The second one was pure swish.]

[Senior Kelby Olson-Rodel (13) joined Kendall in the full court press.]

[And again – it’s no fun trying to bring the ball up court against them.]

[Macy joined the swarm!]

[Then Ziegy and Emma – we have so many player athletic enough to play this defense.]

[And ole automatic back at the line again.  She did miss one in this game – an audible gasp arose from the crowd?]

[Kayla up top with junior Courtney Gould (31).]

[Yes, Kendall has launched 3’s from there.]

[Well hellooooooooo, Macy!!]

[Senior Kiyana Miller (21) had a strong game.  When she’s on the floor with Kelby, they’re the “Whippets,” and with Kendall added they’re, “The Special K’s.”]

[The ref directing the background choreography?]

[Kelby at the line.]

[They closed the gap a bit at the half – I believe we led 32 – 4 at one time.]

[With the guards doing the brunt of the scoring in the first, it appeared the idea in the 2nd half was to get the ball inside to Kayla.  For the sake of balance, Kayla can, and should be, a double digit scorer.]

[The paired guards, in their 4th and last year together.]

[Well, I’m thinking a Blizzard after the game, with those crunchy colored candy things in it.]

[I got it!]

[At 5’11,” Schmidty is a tough defender at the top of the D.]

[Macy and Schmidty move in for a double.]

[Where’d it go?]

[Everybody played, all 16 – the starters did not see the floor for most of the 2nd half.]

[Senior Kara Thomson (23) may be our best pure shooter.]

[And Kiyana finishing up.]

[It really wasn’t that close.  I told Brad at the half (we had 44) we wouldn’t hit 70 – you call off the dogs and everybody gets playing time.  Good start to the year – and girls hockey, and boys basketball and hockey, have been exceeding expectations so far!]

Any time Detroit scores more than 100 points and holds the other team below 100 points, they almost always win.  ~ Doug Collins

Up Next:  Some more stuff.

A real turkey!

November 23

[The Super would like to wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving from the Itasca State Park hostel!]

November 24

[Now that Jami is a full-time resident of Clearwater County, we decided to join her there for her first Thanksgiving at the Harn.  The Super and I stayed at the Mississippi Headwaters hostel in Itasca State Park, about 9 miles south of the Harn.  This shot from the lobby out at our car, which was packed like Jami’s truck the week before!]

[The Super immediately located in the fireplace room.]

[A wall hanging that has hostel written all over it!]

[Our private room, though it could sleep five, with our own bathroom and shower across the hall.]

[The all-guest kitchen – it’s a BYOF (the ‘f’ is for food).]

[And please wash your dishes!]

[After settling in, it was time for a visit to the Harn.]

[This is right across the street from the hostel – convenient access to the lake.]

[Driving out of the park – love it in winter!]

[Lafayette, we are here!  Jami shows off the 32′ x 9′ addition to the Harn for the cisterns.  All water use here will be captured off the roof.]

[The road in . . . ]

[And the tall evergreens that were felled during the big storm on Jami’s first night alone at the Harn.]

[“The Harn!”]

[They’ve been doing a lot of work getting the garage/storage area in shape.]

[The washer and dryer will eventually go in the house; the freezer will stay out here.]

[And this is stuff!]

[If the Super had one of these . . . ]

[She would volunteer to plow everyone’s driveway on the block – at no charge!]

[Lucky is acclimating to his new house.  I’m sure he misses waking “grandma” at 4:30 am for his feeding.]

[The rocket stove, i.e., the wood burning furnace that heats the whole place.]

[If you guessed the kitchen, you win a cookie.]

[And there’s my mom’s old hutch that was given to her by her mother as a wedding present – so it’s about as old as I am.  (Grandma waited about 5 years to see if the marriage between someone from north Minneapolis and the other from south Minneapolis was going to work!)]

[I believe will be the library/crafting area.]

[The bedroom – you can tell because that’s where the bed is.]

[Jami was planning on de-boxing and shelving all their books upon our departure.]

[The rocket stove is the centerpiece of the living room.]

[There’s the old front doors to our house.  Recycling is good!]

[The recently added closet.]

[The cistern room from the inside – must be heavily insulated because you don’t want your water source to freeze.]

[The rocket stove still needs much more “cob,” the mud insulation that will extend all the way to turn.  In total Danny thinks they will have 3,000 pounds of cob covering, which will make it a lot more efficient and will provide couch type seating.]

[Looking out from their porch to the surrounding woods.]

[The mail box was being installed as we drove up. It is now officially “The Harn.”]

[There are some marvelous vistas on County Road 2 between the Harn and Itasca.]

[Back in the park, the Mississippi River.]

[And Danny and Jami arrive at the hostel for Thanksgiving dinner.]

[And so it was Thanksgiving at Itasca State Park.  And believe it or don’t (if you’re a science denier), there was one other couple at the hostel who were from . . . yup, Alex!  We did not know each other but had mutual friends. Go figure?]

[Where they come to communicate with the world.]

[Smile, Connie and Fred!]

[With all the fixin’s!]

[And Jami made an Elvis Pie!]

November 25

[Hiking Itasca, to the headwaters and then Schoolcraft Trail. This is the first time I can recall being here with snow. So much nicer hiking without having to deal with heat, humidity, bugs, and crowds. We pretty much had the park to ourselves.]

[Hi!  Here I am!]

[Of course, it’s pretty hard to call it the “mighty” Mississippi at this point.  Maybe the “ambling” Mississippi?]

[This trail wasn’t that easy to find – you had to go down it to a turn before you could see this sign.]

[And now the wonders of nature’s artistry.]

[A pretty big tree that looked like it had fallen not that long ago.]

[I think the Super got her first cell phone signal somewhere along here.  Go figure?]

[And the river with the lake in the background.]

[Hmm, haven’t seen that photo yet?]

[Lest you forgot, only one in 10 Minnesota Thanksgivings are “white.” I think Paul Douglas said that. So, this year was special – even more so with the return of the Minnesota polar bear, as noted by my track sighting while trail walking.]

[Red pine . . . ‘cuz it’s red!]

[And the entire red pine.]

[And we’ve happened upon Lake Itasca.]

[I thought it a cool tree.]

[Are we lost?  We’d been on the trail for about 40 minutes.]

[And now back at the headwaters.]

[And the boat landing.]

[Five more steps to a full gainer with one and a half twists?]

[Views up and down the lake.]

November 26

[Driving up to the Harn to say good-bye to Jami and Lucky.  We had never taken this side road 3-mile drive to La Salle Recreation Area before, so why not?]

[There’s the lake.]

[After a totally gray week, the sun attempted a reappearance late in the morning.]

November 27

[Back home, an assortment of George Carlin’s perfect murder weapons hanging outside our bathroom window. The two on the far right are at least 6 feet long. Jousting, anyone? With the wind now blowing the hoarfrost off the trees and roof, it sounded like we were having a hail storm!]

[With a nice hoarfrost.  Then 10 days after the big snow, it was mostly all gone after an all night and morning heavy rain.]

The Pilgrims had amazing foresight to invent Thanksgiving and football on the same day.
~  Greg Tamblyn

Up Next:  Something for the public good.