Christmas day we drove to Minneapolis and took a long walk around the snow covered lake.

Todd, his mom and dad, Misty, Mort, & Flynn. We encountered a lot of slush and the pups were sufficiently wet but had a grand time anyway.

Misty made herself compfy on Jessica's lap while Josie hammed it up for the camera. Thanks Matt & Jess for a fabulous Christmas meal and place to bunk.

Happy Birthday Jen!

Best sis ever ~ love ya'!

Merry Christmas! Love you all!

Birthday Celebration

Todd's parents visited us in Eau Claire the past couple days and we really enjoyed their stay. Dad's birthday was Dec. 17th so we went out for a belated celebration at Manny's.

We got a pitcher of margarita - it was yummy! It was happy hour so half price - even better!

Holiday Spirit

The holiday spirit is alive and well in Eau Claire - that's one of the many things I love about this town; people are very generous and kind. This year, I'm helped to organize a gift giving program for children of non-traditional students at the university. We had many willing and enthusiastic gift givers who had fun shopping.

After matching the gift requests with gift givers, shopping commenced, then we sorted the gifts, and now distributing them to the families. The library is allowing us to use one of their work areas to do this. It's a lot of fun and warms your heart on these cold Wisconsin days.

Digging Out

Winter wonderland.................

It's cold, even with my wool coat on - do I go any further?

The weight of the snow made the lower pine branches touch the ground.

Thank goodness we have the BEST neighbors in the world. They let us use their snow thrower. Todd did their driveway in about 40 minutes, ours took double that.

Is Misty spoiled? Of course. Since Todd had the snow thrower, he made cleared a path for Misty to go potty. What service!

Weather in the World

While we're under a blizzard warning, Hawaii is having some wave action. Would love to be home to see the power of mother nature but wouldn't want to fight the traffic to see it. Waves were supposed to reach 30 - 50 feet; can you even imagine that?

Scary stuff! Doesn't this make you wonder about all the sea critters.............are they getting pounded or have they sought safe refuge?

picture credit: DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
A big shout out to Wisconsin's Governor Doyle! He made a smart move closing state offices and UW system campuses. It's silly to be out on the road in these conditions - he probably saved a few lives. Enjoy the free snow day!

Six - fourteen - fifty

What do those numbers have in common?

It's the latest weather forecast - winter storm warning:
6 - 14 inches of the white stuff
up to 50 mph winds
overnight temps below zero...........
Get the shovels ready!

Restful Holiday

Thanksgiving holiday is also when we celebrate our anniversary - 2009 makes 7 years. We headed to northern Minnesota and rented a studio at Bluefin Bay. We love this place; it's along the north shore of lake superior. This is the sunrise we'd be greeted by.

Todd enjoying his coffee and Misty looking out at the lake.

We took a couple of long hikes in the forest. Here we are at one of the falls. The hikes were great - fresh air, exercise, saw a couple of grouse, and Misty loved chasing the squirrels.

The rest of the time we lounged in front the fireplace, when Misty and her racoon weren't hogging the space.

A Ton of Food

I made a ton of food.......or so I thought. Two times the corn bread recipe, 50+ mozzarella sticks, 3 lbs of pasta salad, 5 lbs of garlic mased potato, 40 pieces of fried chicken, 3 loaves of banana bread.

Enough for 14 hungry college students, just enough. The good news is we didn't have a ton of left overs, a bit of mashed potato and a few pieces of fried chicken, and banana bread.

Who were these hungry fiends? Todd's class. And the chef? Well, let's just say she spent 3 evenings cooking, though truth be told, the fried chicken was purchased (thank goodness).

Very Special Treat

Todd was at school and the Geography club was holding a fundraiser by selling food.

He stopped by and got this "pastie" for Misty.

Why didn't he eat it? Well.....it's special. Misty has been going after squirrels ever since we got her. She's managed to get a couple, she just goes for the kill then relishes in her accomplishment. She finally got to eat one! Yup, that's right, you read it hear first boys and girls, this pastie was made from squirrel meat. Needless to say....."Misty, it's all your's!"

Raking Season

We've had a couple of cold snaps, a lot of rain and some wind. What does this all add up to? It means pine needles and leaves are all over...........LOTS of them. Hence, raking season. We had 40 bags! Two of our kind neighbors let us put 10 bags in each of their driveways - that saved us a $40 charge - the garbage haulers take 10 bags free and charge $2 for each bag over that.

Misty enjoyed her time outside..........she was supervising and I'm happy the supervisor didn't run away..............she likes to chase down "furry burritos" in the neigborhood. She's just being vigilant in case there are terrorist squirrels and rabbits lurking.

Happy Halloween

A post from Misty.................here I am in all my cuteness; ready for the trick or treaters. I like to bark when I hear the door bell - need to protect the house and my humans.

Don't look at me like that; I'm a "dog squirrel." Haven't you ever seen one before? Geez, quit staring like that.

Help...........I can't see.

Now I'm hungry. Happy halloween everyone!

Busy Life?

Sorry for the lack of posts. Being gone a week put me behind at work and it took two more weeks to actually catch-up...........sort of. Days are going by quick because this is what my weekdays are like:
8 a.m. - noon, student appointments each half hour.
noon - 12:15 inhale lunch
12:15 - 1:00 answer e-mails
1:00 - 4:00 student appointments (still two per hour)
4:00 - 4:30 prepare for the next day and answer e-mails


This has been going on since Oct. 19th and won't abate until Thanksgiving; this is the only way I can fit my 250 advisees in.

Life is busy but good; thankful I have a job, thankful I love my job, thankful for good health insurance coverage. Lookin' forward to Thanksgiving.

Malasadas

I was recently home to visit my grams; while there cousin Todd came over for a visit; I picked up a half dozen, Leonard's malasadas to munch on. YUM! Miles - doesn't it look delicious?

26.2

Marathon weekend - Todd participated in the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon this past Sunday, here he is getting ready, 6:45 a.m.


Mile 11.5, go Todd, go!


Here he is at about 14.5 miles, still lookin' good.

Todd's mom waiting to cheer him on at mile 23.

Here he is, still smilin'. At mile 23 there was a small hill and by this time, some people looked like they were going to collapse and many were walking.

At the finish, the capitol in St. Paul, with his medal! WOW!

When it rains.............

When there's enough moisture, you get mushrooms. This one was quite large and pretty; except for the bits of pine needls on it.

The side view is even better. I knew it wouldn't last long; in a few days, it got knocked over - I'm pretty sure it was Misty.

Fall Fun

The fun continued on Saturday - a beautiful fall day. We started out early and biked around a huge neighborhood garage sale adjacent to the university, then to breakfast at Grand Ave. Cafe (the best bread pudding), and the final stop was at the farmer's market. Here's Jodi enjoyin' the sun.

We were also enjoying the bluegrass music by a local band. By the time we biked home, it felt like we had put in a full day. But the weather was good so I decided to get my rear in gear and proceeded to spend 3+ hours mowing the lawn and other miscellaneous yard work. I didn't have to worry about the calories from the bread pudding - I think I worked them off.

B-day Fun Part II

After the great dinner, we headed over to Misty's day care. The Humane Association was having a fundraiser; there were some adorable animals up for adoption.

In addition to dogs, there were cats and rabbits too - all needing a good home.

I decided to do my part and bid on some of the silent auction items. I figure it was my duty to get the bids higher. I was the highest bid on a few items - here's what I came home with.

Of course Misty knew it as soon as she saw it, the pink pig was all hers. It "oinks" and she figured it out right away; it's her new, favorite.


While she enjoyed the new toy, I enjoyed my tiramisu cup cake. It was so rich I only ate a quarter of it.

B-Day Fun

A Korean restuarant opened in Eau Claire - I'm SO HAPPY! I've gone there a few times already and I usually order kal bi. Todd usually order's one of the two Japanese items on the menu, chicken katsu. He doesn't eat his serving of rice, so I do - 'cause they give too little.


We also love the assortment of pickled veggies. I got to eat Korean food twice this week; Todd took me once, then I went again with my friend, Jodi, on my b-day. She had never been there so we had to go.

Carmel Apple

My first carmel apple - yeah!


A very nice and thoughtful student, Susie, bought it for me. Thanks Susie!


Doesn't it look yummy?


Somebody else thought so too; here she is hoping I drop it.


I tried to take a bit, but couldn't.


So, I cut it and have been enjoying a lil' bit each day. It was a tart apple - perfect to balance all that sugar.