Vacation Day

Nancy's skiing!

Nancy's down!

Nancy's up!

I'm okay!

Took my skiis out for about 45 minutes today. I had fun and practiced back and forth on the east/west street at the end of our alley.

I fell three times. Once, I wallowed around for about 5 minutes, trying to get up. Laughing out loud at myself, I couldn't get my feet under me and I couldn't unlatch a ski to kick it off. I was like a turtle on its back -- or better yet, like a hog on ice! I was up to the street end of the alley and I was afraid someone would call the police to come help me. It was not a pretty sight! Couldn't have been.




But I did have fun and I'll probably try it again tomorrow!

Frosty Christmas Eve

This is what it looked like about 11:00 pm last evening. Himself and I had played cards at the Freys and had a good time. This is the view out of my frosty side window on the way home.

The Small Frey were restless; excited about Santa. They were finally getting wound down about the time we went to leave.

Christmas Eve day had brought rain, then freezing rain but finally it got cold enough to snow.

And it snowed and it snowed and it snowed! Have not had the official word and the wind drifted the snow but we must have had 7 or 8" anyway. Himself cleared the driveway of great drifts. I shoveled out the front sidewalk and steps and then I pushed little paths here and there out and away from the backdoor. The drifts are 2 or 3 feet some places so I took the path of least resistance. That white stuff is heavy!

I am so thankful that our Christmas wasn't scheduled for this weekend. I would have been a nervous wreck while the families were driving or trying to drive or deciding whether or not to drive! Hopefully Sunday will be good and New Year's weekend too!

Christmas Day goes to the birds!

Santa's birds, finally, get some rest in these photos. Christmas was a long time coming and these birds have been really busy watching small children for "naughty and nice". I imagine now, all the birds will be vacationing until after New Years. And speaking of New Years, Happy New Year! one and all.

Could have been

It has rained half the day and all evening. We have even had thunder and lightening. We had a foot of snow on the ground from 8 or 9 days ago and this rain will take that down quick.

Now. Now, we are expecting more precipitation for the next two days. Maybe freezing rain tomorrow. Maybe snow on Christmas Day.

But if we would have gotten all this rain today, in frozen form, we would have had another backyard like the photo!

Photo dated February 2009.

Kraut Strudel, Cabbage Burgers (Bierocks)

Runzas!

Runzas. Kraut Strudel. Cabbage burgers. Bierocks. They are all, one and the same sandwich!

In talking (Yahoo chatting) with my Twin Lake friend, Vi, the subject of our runzas came up. After I described a Runza, Vi said her other friend made them and called them "Kraut Burroughs" or something like that. So, of course, I couldn't just let it lie and went to Google to track it down.

Shortly after Himself and I were married and living in a foreign land (Sioux City, Iowa), our local newspaper put out a yearly recipe book and the recipes were all submitted by the readers of the Sioux City Journal. Whether Himself had heard of the Runza or I just thought it sounded good, I don't remember but I tried the Runza recipe and we both liked it. We liked it so much that every year since, I have made at least one batch. For 38 or 39 years, I have been making Runzas.

When our children were still home, I'd make Runzas 2 or 3 times a years. The recipe makes a big batch and Runzas freeze well and as the bread dough and the Runza mixture never came out even, we would usually end up with some cinnamon rolls too. When I made Runzas, it was always a Win/Win situation!

Here's the crazy part. Until this day, tonight, I have never seen a Runza -- not even a picture! So when I went to the internet tonight and found a photo, I was pleased (and amazed) that the featured Runza/cabbage burger/bierock looked so very similiar to what I make!

Now, really, isn't that crazy? Or probably just plain dumb luck!

It's beginning to smell a lot

like Christmas!

I love baking!

I can't bake anymore though because Himself and I cannot eat a batch of rolls or a whole cake. Okay, we CAN eat all that but we shouldn't.

I'm thinking I could be the homemade bread baker in the Smokey Joe & Jo's Barbeque & Pasta Roadhouse. Now, if I could just find that place . . .

Celebrating Kristy's Birthday

Happy Birthday, Kristy! we are taking advantage of the opportunity and eating out to celebrate your birthday! Cheers!

PS: Wish you were here!

Can anyone guess where "here" is? Johanna and Erica, you can't play! You either, Audri!

Where are we four going to celebrate Kristy's birthday? First one to guess gets a pan of Nana's Christmas cinnamon rolls!

902 N Spruce

This is Great Gramma Sychra's house. She lived here 30 some years. Some of those years were with her husband, Joe George Sychra. A lot of those years were alone tho, as a widow. Her house is being changed, remodeled and modernized. I think Great Gramma is around, supervising. What's your thoughts?

PS: you kids, wipe your feet!!!!

Bella Boo

Our poor Bella. She's had ear infections and just plain fluid in the ears and more ear infections and hives. Her's a poor little thing and her Nana feels bad for her. Bella, your Nana would come help you if she could! You get to feeling better!

What a sweetie pie!

(Nana feels bad for Mama and Daddy too and sleep deprivation! I remember that. Well. Very Well.)

A What Knot Shelf

Gramps made this What Knot Shelf. He spent a few years crafting wooden items to sell at craft shows. He and Granny were living on a "fixed" income (monthly Social Security payments) and although still frugal and thrifty, Gramps and Granny had some good certificates of deposits in the bank but if they wanted some extra spending money, Gramps tried to increase the income rather than speed up the out go.

This pretty little shelf was made for a craft show and didn't sell. People at craft shows were reluctant to spend good money on quality items -- they would rather spend fewer bucks on inferior, imported items.

So Himself and I bought a few things from Gramps. Gramps would always argue and try not to take our money but Himself would not hear of it. So Gramps, in the face of a firm German/bohunk stance, would take the check and even cash it! And that was only right and proper and I am proud that we paid my Dad for these things.

This little shelf when I dust it or it catches my eye, makes me love it more every year. It has good classic "what knot" lines and I love the clear glass figurines that were my Grannies, on the high, half shelves. I love the blues in the different shapes of the cups handles . . . and the faded, muted roses in the cup, at right. It is all music to my eyes.

But, okay, okay. I should maybe get rid of the Bittersweet branches and the buckeye. I should maybe ditch the nature things -- and really, maybe I should dust it just a bit more often!

Christmas Secrets

What do you think Erica is telling Santa? I think she is too bashful to sit on his lap!

Christmas at Shagbark 1983

These were the good ol' days. Little children, excited about Christmas and going to Granny and Gramps'. I wonder if this was the snowy Christmas that we went in the ditch? Johanna wasn't very old and it scared her. "I want Granny!" she cried. "I want Granny!"

Guess she didn't feel like her Mama and Daddy were protecting her very well, sliding into the ditch!

I don't know if I've had writer's block or what but hopefully after Christmas I will get back on here and post photos at least, if I can't write.

Movie Review

The Duchess

"The Duchess is feisty, cool and scandalous." according to the DVD promo. I hadn't watched a movie for quite a few months. Johanna recommended this one, and loaned it to me, even, so how could I not?

I did enj0y this movie . . . from beginning interest to smugness to tears and the whole gamut again. I had not heard of Keira Knightley nor Ralph Fiennes before but will know their names next time I see their movie advertised. A very good couple of hours.

PS: this is how far behind I am . . . didn't know that Keira was nominated best actress for Pride and Prejudice, 2005. Ralph Fiennes, nominated Best Supporting Actor for Schindler's List, 1993. I hadn't a clue . . . Get with it Nana!

Girlies

These little girlies are busy making cards for someone. Can't tell! You'll have to guess.