The Crow's Nest - December 27, 2016
Christmas is over, but I am hoping the spirit of the holiday season will remain with everyone through the coming months. Christmas in North Dakota was, let’s say, a bit challenging this year. A holiday storm hit with a vengeance
on Christmas Day. Travel plans for family was altered in our home as they probably were for many others. In this part of the state we had only snow, but farther south it started with rain and then froze. Travel conditions were awful---and they still are in many areas. For a time, the whole state seemed to shut down as no travel was advised on any road throughout the state. I understand that even after I-94 opened it was like a skating rink.
We got about 12 – 14 inches of snow in our area so snow plows were out in full force yesterday. There are huge piles all over town. I know “the Hall’s” tractor and bobcat were going all day long. Fred, Jackson, Taylor and TJ spend many hours clearing snow during the winter. Mike Berg was busy on Arnold’s bobcat also clearing sidewalks and driveways. A huge thank you to those that make sure we have safe road conditions in town. Sometimes we just take all their long hours of work for granted. We have already experienced lots of winter and it is only 6 days into the season! The latter part of the week of November 13th we experienced bitterly cold temperatures with wind chill factors at minus 50 degrees. It was miserable.
What a fun, fun time Chuck and I had (along with some other 8,000 people) in New York City for the hockey game between UND and Boston College held in Madison Square Garden. We were there along with daughter Kris and her husband Jason. We also celebrated Kris’ 50th birthday there. I didn’t know I had a child that old! Anyway, we really moved, averaging about 25,000 steps each day. We visited many of the highlights of the city. I was so impressed with the memorial and amphitheater that was on “Ground Zero”. The last time I was in New York that area was only a hole in the ground. What a beautiful tribute to all those who lost their lives that terrible day and to all those people who were there with lifesaving abilities. It was fun listening to local shopkeepers, ushers, etc. wondering where all these people in green were from. The 2 questions I most frequently heard was, “where did these people come from and how did they get here”? (Wagon Train?!)
We held our annual Community Christmas Party the middle of December. It was a fun time for everyone even though the very cold weather did keep some people from venturing out. Santa was there to listen to all the lists of toys the kids wanted. There also was an abundance of Christmas goodies for everyone to munch on. It was a good evening.
We have a permanent new resident in our home named “Alexa”. She is so full of knowledge. We can ask her anything and she has an answer for us. She also will play any music I request. All I say is, Alexa, please play Blue Christmas or some other song and she accommodates. Alexa is good company. She was a Christmas gift from our kids.
This is a request from my daughter Kris who is head of corporate relations for the Norsk Hostfest held in Minot.
RECIPES WANTED: Do you have a great Scandinavian recipe? Maybe one handed down from your great, great grandmother? Norsk Hostfest is looking for your recipes to include in its 40th Anniversary Cookbook. To submit your recipe (and photo of the dish if available), please email to leannmellum@hostfest.com or mail to Lea Ann Mellum, PO Box 1347, Minot, ND 58702. For more information go to www.hostfest.com/cookbook Thanks for your recipes! They are looking for Danish, Icelandic, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish or any other Scandinavian type.
It just doesn’t seem right for me not to include another one of my dumb antics – the worst part, they are never planned!
It wasn’t even 9 am the other morning when I knew my day was going all wrong. I had gotten up early to be at school by 5:30 am to exercise. After getting up to school I realized I had my pants on backwards. This was a problem as trying to get your phone, Kleenex, iPod or anything in or out of your pockets when they are towards your backside is not easy. It was just as hard to think about changing them around as I have enough trouble bending my knees, etc. Putting them on one time a day is hard enough to accomplish. I am thoroughly convinced I am the only person in the world that goes through life creating the dumbest problems. And with that, have a wonderful New Year, a great day and we’ll talk later.
