Three Weeks of Company

It has been a very busy three weeks. Brian arrived to visit and do some Makeover Workshops with his cosmetic line, Workshop Cosmetics. He did two workshops in Roseau, one at From Head to Toe and at Sublime. Then the second week he presented classes at cosmetology school in Bemidji, two in Minneapolis and one in Fargo. It was wonderful to have him and hard to see him leave.

James and Ashley finally received Lances passport. they flew from Taiwan to Hong Kong then on to LA last Friday. After some maneuvering they were able to catch flights from LA to Chicago and from there to Fargo.
 I am looking forward to visiting our children and grandchildren after I retire.

Little Lance is a delight. It is so surprising to see his fair skin and blue eyes. Ashley said he was the only baby in the nursery with blue eyes and fair skin among all the Taiwanese babies.Must be something in the genes. The first night he slept with me so they could sleep through the night undisturbed, although they both woke up at 5:30 am when he woke up.

Lance will be blessed at Church on Sunday. I am so pleased to see we have that opportunity. We have not been there when any of Michelle's children were blessed.

When they get up to feed him in the morning, I also get up.

Grandma and Lance playing at 7:30 this morning.

Lance and I.

Lance started cooing recently so here he is talking to me!

This is the week that Michelle sends in several of her credential papers for her student teaching. She said it has been a very challenging month and she had to tell the music students she teaches that she was going to take the month off. She said it was so nice to be able to focus on the classes.

She is student teaching 5-6 beginning band and advance band. She has found this to be very enjoyable with much challenges with the beginning students. It has been a learning situation, to say the least.

One Woman 2012

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all you who are Irish and all those who take that claim today!

Here we are thirteen days after the 2012 One Woman event, one would think things would slow down for a while after we do something like that, but no, it doesn't. But the focus for today's blog will be on those special women in Roseau County who give so much to improve their communities and help others.
The twelve women, from all walks of life, included a store owner, teachers, a county fair treasurer, and a county fair office secretary. This years recipients are Eva Gregerson-Badger, Veronica Novacek-Barto, Sylvia Lisell-Falun, Dianne Churchill-Greenbush, Rose Strandlund-Jadis, Esther Sandstrom-Malung, Elvera Kvarnlov-Moranville, Irene Olson-Roseau, Jeanette Erickson-Ross, Sylvia Kukowski-Skagen, Addie Streiff-Unorganized, and Sunny Wilmer-Warroad. It has been so enjoyable to see the things these women do for their communities. Sometimes it has been utterly amazing! We talk about super moms, these are definitely some super women!

Roseau County Commissioner Glenda Phillipe cut the ribbon. We joking visited about how when I was doing a program in Warroad one noon, we had decided to have lunch together and I forgot. She jokingly accused me of "standing her up!" She is a jewel and we are very fortunate to have such a dedicated individual as a county commissioner.
Here are some of the photos of the day.

Over 160 family members and friends attended the exhibit
 ribbon cutting and program for the 2012 One Women event.

Dawn Johnson and Linda Vatnsdal were the coordinators
and program organizers.

Lloyd and Sunny Wilmer, Warroad 2012 One Woman; 

Carole Wilson, program coordinator
is pinning on her name tag.

Elvera Kvarnlov-Moranville is looking
at the 2012 One Woman exhibits.

Jeanette Erickson, Ross 2012 One Woman and her family

Charleen Haugen and Sunny Wilmer

Board members, Lola Grafstrom, Helen Wagner, Harriet Heinen with Harriet's granddaughter, Olivia

                         

City of  Roseau One Woman, Irene Olson, husband Joel, and daughter Nancy Anacabe.

Jeanette Erickson, daughter Carmen P. and great-grandson.

Rose Strandlund, Jadis Township 2012 One Woman and daughter Debra.

Beverly Torkelson, her mother, Eva Gregeson - City of Badger 2012 One Woman and daughter Jan Wollin

.

Marie Kompelien, Museum Research Center Specialist

ReNae Lisell Vagle in front of her mother's  and aunt Esther's exhibit.
Esther's husband Roger is standing with ReNae.

Sylvia Kukowski, Skage Township One Woman, is so deserving. Her husband died when their children were young and she raised them herself. Milked cows and did so much hard work.

 Sylvia's family gave some wonderful compliments to their
mother; so great stories too!

 Several musical selections were performed by the Guttorumson's.

A Month of Happenings

Have I really been so busy that I haven't accounted for one of the most important events in our lives, the birth of our grandson Lance? Lance was born on January 31 after a very demanding labor by our daughter-in-law Ashley. The doctor finally made the decision to take the baby by a C-section birth. Both did fine, as well as daddy, after the birth. They have a policy in Taiwan that if a family can afford to the mother and baby stay in the hospital for a month, Yesterday, Taiwan Sunday, they went home.

James was in Taiwan for about three weeks before he had to return to Hong Kong and then he had surgery and is on medial leave for a month. I am hoping they are able to get all of the paper work for the baby and Ashley's visa to Hong Kong completed quickly so they can be a full time family soon.

Our grandson, Bryce was here for a couple of days. He arrived on my birthday, which was good timing. He had spent the last four years in the Coast Guard and decided not to reenlist and is planning on going on to school now. He reminds me so much of our sons except he is a little quieter. His mother is going to be very happy to see him. He has lots of catching up to do.

Took Friday last week and spent the day cleaning and cooking. I did make some delicious blueberry muffins from the Great American Favorite Brand Name Cookbook. I love this cookbook, it is a combination of all the best recipes from just about every food brand. I don't always use the brand that is recommended, but often do. Thought I would share this recipe.

Blueberry Muffins
bake 400 degrees for about 15 to 25 minutes, depending on size of pan

2 cups flour, 4 tablespoons sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix together in a bowl and make a hole in the center.
Slowly melt 1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
In a 2 cup measuring cup, measure 3/4 cup milk, add 1 egg and beat together, add melted butter and pour into the hole of dry ingredients. Mix until moist.
Fold in either 3/4 cup blueberries or cranberries that have been tossed with 2 tablespoons sugar and 1/2 cup of chopped nuts.
Measure evenly into the muffin tin size of your choice and bake as necessary until golden brown on edges. Serve with butter and raspberry jam!

Baby Boy Haugen is right around the corner

James has been so fortunate. He flew to Taiwan to be with Ashley when the baby is born on January 18. He will be there until January 13. We are in the count down stages and are hoping she goes a little early, she is due the first part of February. I know how notorious first babies are about arriving late, but I delivered right on my due date so am hoping she does the same.  He was due to fly to Rome one more time this month but his supervisor gave him time off. It looks like Cathay Pacific Airlines knows how to treat their employees.

Next week is going to be very busy with four Brown Bag lunch programs each week across Roseau County. The programs will be Roots Music films that last an hour each time and cover the cover the development of American roots music including songs from the time of immigration such as spirituals, gospel, blues and jazz and country. We put the information on our website about each week's film.I have had the chance to see two of them and thoroughly enjoyed the story and music.
 Have to do so much traveling does put me under a little stress. I want to complete my final report on a grant we received last summer from the NW MN Arts Council from the the Arts and Culture Heritage fund for doing music programs. That was a tremendous success with three wonderful programs.
Winter has not been a challenge so far. On Tuesday, January 17th, I opened the back door to the museum to start my car  to find out it was -20 F. Brrr! The next morning we had our coldest day of the winter at -27 F on the farm. I did not go to work! The next day was another cold day and I went in to work late. I told our staff that if we had a storm or it was really cold this winter, I would be working at home!
Time to get ready for church. 

Saying good bye to a great exhibit

Today was the last day to see the Smithsonian New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music exhibit at the museum. We decided to serve cookies, apple cider and coffee and had a steady stream all day until around 5:30. I feel nostalgic about seeing this exhibit leave knowing it is the last Smithsonian that I will have been in charge of getting for the historical society. It was one that I had wanted us to have when I first heard about it four years ago. Music haunts each of our days. It is the thing that takes to and from work on our radio, it is what we often listen to when we can't sleep at night, it hails the opening of the Christmas season and rings in the New Year. It accompanies when we are at work, in the plant, on the tractor, or in the truck like I was when I worked for USX at Mintac.

One of the things that never fails to impress me is how many types of music have developed in the United States. Country, Rock & Roll, Blues and Jazz, Gospel, and freedom songs by such people as Peter, Paul and Mary and Bob Dylan. Many of these songs became a part of my life when they were developed and therefore are a part of who I am.
I thought it would be enjoyable to share some of the high spots of the programs and exhibit.

More later!

It is time to say good bye to this wonderful exhibit and thank the many people who helped us with the wonderful programs that made the exhibit such a bell ringer for the historical society. Our visitor count for the month of December has out done any count I can remember -1,832 visitors and over 300 more who attended our Christmas Harmonies program at the Roseau Community School Theatre.

Lots going on!

Started baking . . . again, this time it is the right Christmas cookies. Last night I baked two batches to cookies, pecan sandies and Cinnamon balls. I have butter and cream cheese in a bowl just waiting for it to soften a bit so I can mix up a double batch of Teatime Tassies. Michelle and I were talking about cookie baking for Christmas and she said her favorite was the Pecan Tassies. I guess I would have to agree. So far I have 4 dozen of our favorite cookies done and when the tassies are done it will probably somewhere over 6. That is plenty! Oh, but then I remember, we had a cookie exchange at church about two weeks ago and those are in a tin freezing.

Last week, we had a RCHS board meeting. I always try to have a special Christmas luncheon/dinner, we meet at 5:30. I usually serve a meat and cheese tray, crackers and some of the board members bring cookies or some sort of Christmas bread.Irene Olson makes the best Christmas bread I have ever tastes and it is so pretty. This year, we added a veggie tray. We always order enough so that the staff can enjoy it also. Our staff is very dedicated and does such a great job, I really appreciate all they do to make my life at work easier.

Yesterday, several friends and acquaintances were invited to an annual Christmas lunch at a special friend's home. Linda is a wonderful host; gracious woman and wonderful cook. It is always great fun to visit with friends and enjoy the food she serves. Thanks Linda for a delightful afternoon and Merry Christmas!