Letter from home - December 28, 2014

 

Dear ones: Hope you all had a blessed, loving, joyful Christmas! I did, I did!. Thank you all, for everything! I love my gifts, enjoyed all your food and drink and am grateful that you all like to ‘come home’. Dana, I forgot to thank you for the poinsettia. It is a bright spot in my dining room and will be there to help guide me to Spring.

We had a skiff of snow Christmas eve day. Only a skiff. But when we got up Christmas morning, it looked like a White Christmas for a bit. We are thankful that the roads were clear so that travelers could get to where they were going. Traci and Craig, we were go glad that you had clear sailing to Wisconsin and back. Also, thank goodness for the price of gas. It is $1.99 in Creston yesterday. F I N A L L Y! I think we must have been the last community in Iowa to dip below $2.00. I filled up when it was still $2.04 but I had 30 cents/gal savings with my Hy-Vee card. I usually don’t think to use the card so I was so pleasantly surprised when I looked at the receipt.

I’m calling this photo “Controlled Chaos”. Even ‘tho it wasn’t. Controlled, I mean. lol

Somebody in that picture is a blur; she’s moving too fast.  I have to admit, I lost control this year. Instead of opening presents one at a time, it spiraled out of control. Okay, Lee. I think you set the tone! No, I’m just teasing you. You will know the rules next year. Plus, we had a little time constraint this year so I wasn't so rigid in my thinking. Next year, it will be back to the ‘one at a time’ gift opening procedure. 

 

From all accounts, Santa and the reindeer got around and found all the little ones. Did anyone get any nanny cam video of Santa or catch a bit of beard in the fire place trap?  My dad always threatened to trap Santa Claus in the fire place which worried the small children and made big kids laugh. 

I have heard that there are still a few of our family under the weather. Hope you feel better soon!

 

 

 

These girls were up to something! but I never learned what.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Christmas Day, Johanna and Lee brought over a pot of chili. We enjoyed that (way good!) while I pushed leftovers at them -- crab dip, pie and whipped cream and all manner of sweets.  Then Audri was off to her dad's for the weekend.   

Saturday, Dana came over and he and dad pulled out the termite-ridden door header and 2X4s in the east dining room wall -- old insulation and termite debris. Then Dana put in a new header and studs. They dry walled and taped up the seams. Now all we need is a little mud and a new paint job and we will be good as new. Erica, Maddie and Morghan came by. I had thawed turkey stock for Christmas Day and as I hadn't needed it for lunch, I knew I had to cook it today.  It all worked out as I was able to feed The Freys turkey and noodles and use up the thawed turkey stock.

Looking better!

 

Sunday, we didn't do a thing and didn't see a person.  I crocheted just a bit, walked to Hy-Vee and back for a few groceries and I watched three hours of a series on the Queen of England.  I first remember Queen Elizabeth and her children when I was a small child.  My Mama always told me I was born on Princess Anne's birthday. 

 

Here's my Princess Grace. 

Someone tell me, is this little girl drinking wine?

 

 

This will be the last letter from 2014. 

 

Happy New Year to all!  Here's to Health and Prosperity in 2015!

 

                                                       Love, Ma

Letter from home, December 7, 2014

Dear ones: The Austin Family Dinner is behind us. We survived another Austin get-together. I got home about 5 pm Saturday. Sunday afternoon your dad and I met ’The Sibs’ at the Windrow. They all had eaten lunch but we got there in time for me to join them for coffee. Afterwards, we all moved the party to the Y where we watched the creston area theatre , the “Regifter”. It was just pretty hilarious and I had worked with one of the actors at Heat Tech. Aunt Mary worked with him too and she said “Bill isn’t really acting. That’s how he is.” which was ‘cheap’. haha

With the ‘party’ done and over, now we ‘girls’ will look forward to seeing the Nutcracker Suite next Sunday, December 15. At Hoyt Sherman. Did you all know Hoyt Sherman Place is haunted? Supposedly. And the house is historic. We should go back someday to tour the original house.


“Hoyt Sherman Place, built in 1877 for Hoyt Sherman who served as a Major in the civil war and started Equitable Insurance of Iowa. The house stood empty after his death until 1907 when members of The Des Moines Women's Club began using it as their clubhouse. The Women's Club added a gallery to display their art collection and thus Hoyt Sherman Place became the first public art museum in the City of Des Moines. The Des Moines Women's Club, always active in the community, invited many guest speakers to Hoyt Sherman Place to entertain and educate. Speakers included: Amelia Earhart, Helen Keller and Grant Wood. Eventually they needed more room for their speakers and activities, and the 1400 seat theater was completed in 1923.”

　

I worked today in the school kitchen, 6:30 - 2 pm. I will work again to tomorrow ‘same time; same place. I am going to decline Wednesday and Thursday but have agreed to work Friday.

And here are some photos from the Austin reunion: 

                                                                                    Until next week,  Love, Mama

Letter from home, November 30, 2014

Dear ones: 

Boy!  Gee whiz!  It seems like forever since I wrote a letter – and it has been! Today, I have made up my mind that I will write a weekly letter again. I will find the discipline to write a letter. I will ‘gether done!’ And I will put the weekly letter here, in Nana's view.  By writing a letter, I will accomplish three things. I will ( 1) get in the habit again of writing and ( 2) I will be updating my blog at the same time and (3) I will be journalizing.


Crazy beloved Kids!

Erica and Dana hosted Thanksgiving again, this year. We all pitched in and cooked a feast, didn't we?  The only thing I think we didn’t serve was dad’s green onions and radishes – and he didn’t even miss them. Today, three days later, Lanny and I just finished off the mashed potatoes, gravy and dressing leftovers. I am still eating on the sweet potatoes. I am upset – I just remembered that I had a hold of a bowl of cranberry relish at Erica’s and I didn’t get it home with me!  Who ended up with the cranberry salad? 

We sure appreciate that Erica and Dana’s will have us at Thanksgiving as you have more opportunity for the children to entertain themselves. There are the electronics of course but the 4-wheeler too. The children will remember the Thanksgiving they pulled each other in the snow, behind the 4-wheeler.  Also, it is nice as Chad's mom and Dana's folks are there too. 

I could not/did not get a good picture of the 4-wheeler pulling small children
 behind and dumping them off into the snow.  It looked like fun!

 

This past Friday, I got up my nerve and rode to Des Moines with Kristy and Erica. No, No.  It wasn't Kristy or Erica or their driving -- it was the dreaded Black Friday!

It had been many a year since I ventured out on Black Friday. We didn’t leave town until 7 am so it wasn’t like we were going in the middle of the night or early morning hours but I still had visions of long lines and aggressive crowds. We were pleasantly surprised at our first stop, Homemakers. It was an ordinary “Saturday” there.  No madness, no crowds and no long lines. The crazies, the die-hard Black Friday shoppers had gone Thursday night! And except for Kohl’s, we found that to be the case at the other stores too. Shopping Friday was busy but not frantic. Kohl’s on the other hand had a long, long line and that line wasn’t moving. I was going to pick up a couple of things at Kohls but with a spontaneous, unanimous vote, we ditched the shopping cart and left the store. I still feel a little guilty about not putting the items back on the shelves and putting the cart away but just once in my life, guess I won’t go to hell. Haha

Johanna had to work : ( so wasn't able to go with us.

Kristy and Erica found some bargains; I got my Christmas Shopping started!  A good day!



Craig and Traci were in Wisconsin.  Bet you had a good time! and evidently you had good weather and roads, the whole way. 

Lanny got lucky and got to go to the Iowa / Nebraska football game.  Thanks, Dana.  I think Lanny enjoyed the game, Kinnick Stadium, et al.  He would have liked it better if Nebraska was the loser . . . but there's always next year. 

Saturday, Dana, Jack and Clayton came by with a big hydraulic wood splitter. Dad and I had acquired some big logs that we had not been able to split with Lanny’s little log splitter. This big bruiser handled all they asked of it and could have done more. Jack and Clayton handled most of the wood stacking so you would have thought I would have been snapping some photos. I didn’t get a one.

Last week, Lee brought us a load of wood and he and Lanny split up some of the bigger pieces with Lanny’s small splitter. I got the wood stacking duty and I still had time to get some photos so guess Saturday I just ‘laid down on the job’.

Team Work

Calendar: Dec 6, Austin christmas, 12 noon but open earlier.
                            Bring a gift if you want in on the gift exchange. 
                 Dec 14, Sunday. Nutcracker Suite at Hoyt Sherman. Starts at 1 pm.
                 Dec 18, Thursday. Kristy’s birthday
                 Dec 24, Wednesday. Christmas at the Hof’s. come anytime.
                               We’ll serve supper.  We’ll have chili and sloppy joes or
                                something like that.  Maybe Tacos.  veggies and fruit. 

So far this year, I have made eight afghans, working on the nineth.  I have another six or seven to make in 2015 and I also want to crochet some ear warmers, a baby bonnet or two and some bitty baby booties : ) 

Saturday was a great day!  Fine, fair weather.  Lanny thought it was time I had a lesson in putting up Christmas Decorations.  He taught me everything but how to set the timers!  That will wait for another year!

This is 1 reindeer and 2 Christmas trees. 

 

 . . .  Love, until next week, Ma

 

Holiday Food

To say we had food this Christmas season is an understatement. 

 

 

 

There was Cookie Day.

 

I think the production line cranked out about 300

 beautiful, frosted, creative sugar cookies. 

 

Maddie got up early and baked all morning. 

Then she got serious.  

She started to frost and decorate. 

 

These cookies are too pretty to eat!

 

 Morghan joined us and helped for awhile : )

She's happier than this pic shows -- Nana didn't get a good photo.

 

 Maddie and Hannah persevered. 

 

 

They worked right through the Sugar Cookies

and moved into the Gingerbread House phase. 

 

From Gingerbread, they moved to silly!

Let's just say they got a little hyper . . . okay, we'll call it creative! 

 

Sitting around our house, or for dessert after Christmas dinner or even just wrapped up and sent home --  we had Banana Cream pie, Chocolate Pie with home-made whipped cream, Dad's Kringle, the old chocolate chip banana/maraschino cherry bread and don't forget the cinnamon and caramel rolls.

 

We haven't even mentioned Christmas Dinner.

 

Ham, potatoes and gravy.

Kristy's 7-layer salad.

Erica's corn/mac bake. 

Deviled eggs, dinner rolls, relish and meat and cheese trays. 

 

 

 

I heard Audri go back for seconds and all she wanted was Aunt Erica's corn.

 

 

I don't know how much these boys really ate but they did sit up to the dining room table for a bit.  I saw Jack going back for some ham.  I'm pretty sure they had a little chocolate along the line.  And a coke.  Or two. 

 

 

On Saturday we had Runza day.

 

We browned ground beef and onions and grated cabbage.

We made lovely bread dough and wrapped it all

 up together into what we call Runzas. 

 

I know Morghan Grace and her Mama and

Aunt Kristy and Aunt Johanna like Runzas. 

I don't know if the rest of the grandchildren do

but Nana and PaPa do! 

 

And I enjoyed Runza Day. 

I'm writing it on the calendar for next year!

 

boys

oh wait. 

I love Little Boys . . .

 

Newborn baby boys. 

 

Crying or Not. 

 

I love little boys

 

Bashful with Granny

or 'boy sterous' with Dad

 



 little boys at the beach

 

little boys at the cabin. 

 little boys in the air

 



 

and in disguise. 

 

I do. 

All true. 

 

Oh me.  Oh my. 

How can I choose?

 

 

 

Girlies

I love little girls.  Ever since I was a set of "three little girls" with a sister a year older and a sister 2 years younger and a similiar set of "three big girls". 

 

I love little girls.  Ever since I had two little girls of my own in 15 months and a 3rd little girl a few years later.  

 

I love little girls.  Ever since I was blessed with my first granddaughter 14 years ago and more blessed with each addition! 

 

I do, I love little girls. 

Tradition

I'm hoping we've started a new Tradition -- the monthly Family Dinner.  For years we were strung out from Kansas City to Des Moines to Urbana, Illinois and didn't have regular Family Dinners.  (Aunt Alice and Uncle Gary cooked Sunday dinner EVERY WEEK for years and years and years.  I bet now that Alice is so glad they did.)  And Aunt Alice is still cooking Sunday dinner and Rob and April's attend each week. 

So, last November we were all together for Thanksgiving and  December 23, we all gathered around for Christmas.  Good times!

January 20th, we got together for an untraditional meal of Runzas and Turkey and Noodles (cleaning out the freezer, we were) and sang Happy Birthday to Litle Hannah. 

February 16, Austin Reunion for a Fiesta Reunion.  We should get together again to celebrate Morghan, Cason and Craig's birthdays.  Perhaps Sunday?

March 31 -- oops deviated already.  Instead of the the 3rd or 4th Sunday, we will have Easter Dinner, mid-day on March 31.  This follows Erica's 40th birthday party the night before.   Come or crawl in as you can. 

Family

Love this picture of Antonia Marie Novy Sychra taken with her chickens.

We had been meaning to go and visit for . . . oh, 10 or 12 years anyway.  Today, we finally climbed in the car and went and visited Himself's cousin Kathy and her husband, Joe Clinton.  These are good folks.  Himself and Kathy are posessed of family genes that never change -- they are recognized by people that haven't seen them in 40 years.

Himself's mother and Kathy's father, Harold Sychra were brother and sister.  What great hospitality and shared interests we enjoyed today.  We sat and talked across family photographs and scrapbooks (trading items and gifting others; looking and remembering) and then these hospitable cousins took us on an old houses tour. 

Joe and Antonia Sychra's 50th wedding anniversary

with their grandsons and only granddaughter, Kathy.

That bitty guy front and left,  is Kent Jay Hofmeister. 

The Sychra women had style and fashion sense. 

LaRene Lucille Sychra Hofmeister.

Kathy and Joe own 1000 acres of Cass County farm land.  (well, they own 960 . . . and I said Joe, how can you not go out and buy 40 more? and he agreed.)  They own 4 houses or five.  They live in a big "4 square" house where they raised their 6 children (and lost Jennifer, their oldest daughter to cancer), they own Joe's grandfather's "4 square" house that daughter Joni and SIL live in, they own "Billie's" house just south of their own that their daughter Ann lives in on the weekends with her 3 children . . .  and, oh yes, at least one more that son Mark and wife Missie live in.  It is small and Mark and Missie are moving soon to a 1970s home they bought. 

But for me, this lover of old houses and oak furniture and salvage, I had a hey day! 

These two cousins were born in the same year and graduated in 1965.

 Kathy and Lanny, are still recognized by school mates 50 years after their graduation! 

Photo taken September 2011.