A Little Excursion...

Locals will know that Red Wing isn't exactly a Twin Cities suburb, and for Jeff & I it's about an hour drive (or so) from home.  Red Wing was our destination yesterday, Jeff had gotten wind of a particularly good Brass Band concert & was itching to go… and I needed the distraction… so in the late afternoon we headed down to Red Wing, wandered the shops, had a nice meal, and enjoyed a wonderful concert!!

Inside the Sheldon Theater in Red Wing Minnesota.

Nice details are all through this small but very nice theater.

The Sheldon Theater Brass Band - they were a very good brass band & gave an excellent Christmas Concert!

Jeff & I enjoyed our time in Red Wing so much that we decided that if we need a place to go for a weekend getaway this is a good candidate - but we'll wait until a time of year that has leaves on the trees rather than snow on the ground… that will make it more comfortable for wandering around outside - it was downright cold yesterday!

Giving Thanks!

I have much to Thank God for… even though the last few days that's been with a heavy heart (more on that later)….

We had a lovely Thanksgiving here in Minnesota, here's the pictures to prove it!!

This was the day before Thanksgiving… Peter was still hanging around causing trouble...

Still the day before - my home-made Pumpkin Pie, fresh out of the oven… I love it when they come out of the oven, they're always so "poofy"...

Setting out my favorite Thanksgiving table decoration...

Yep, that's Peter showing up just in time for Thanksgiving dinner...

The family hanging out...

…and goofing around…  Callie

Kim & Ben

Aunt Carol & Uncle Chuck

Uncle Bob

Ben

Callie

Kim, Whitney, Dylan, Brian

Tim, Marta, Jeff

Dylan & Ben

Day after Thanksgiving - we've got Snow!!  Even that doesn't deter Peter from pigging out on pumpkin… kinda looks like he's blowing in his paws to keep them warm, in reality he's eating some pumpkin & squash seeds I added to his pumpkin bowl.

Jan & David - the Lovebirds snugging on the couch
 at Mom's last Christmas. I love this picture of them!!

My holiday this year was saddened by the loss of my brother David's wife Jan who passed away in her sleep on Wednesday, it was very unexpected.  Below are some of my thoughts that I'd placed on Facebook - and felt those who follow this blog rather than Facebook might want to see.  My brother lives in California, I live in Minnesota, the distance makes this hard - I'm planning on heading out soon.

I was glad for my Son & Daughter-in-Law, as well as some of Jeff's family, and for the distractions & joys that celebrating Thanksgiving allowed.

I hope all had a Thanksgiving that was full of family, joy, and gratitude to God for His many blessings!!

Copied from my Facebook posts:

Wednesday:

To my praying friends, please pray for my family as we lost my dear Sister-in-law Jan this morning. Please pray for my brother David, his kids Amber & Mike, and the rest of the family as we work through the pain that comes with a sudden unexpected loss.

Thursday, Thanksgiving Day:

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 

1 Thes 4:13-14

...we're missing you Jan, I look forward to being with you again in eternity…

Thursday, Thanksgiving Day:

Today I am Thankful for Family!! Near or Far, walking the Earth or in Eternity, they remain close to my heart.

All month, as I've been doing a month of Thanksgivings, I had been planning on this specific day to give thanks for Family. Little did I know how poignant this would be with my brother David's wife passing away unexpectedly yesterday... but God knew! Jan is celebrating the Ultimate Thanksgiving in the arms of her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Friday:

Today I'm Thankful for Technology & how it helps us connect with people who are near to our hearts, even if they are geographically far. I think of my friends Phyllis & Rich, whose daughter just left for a 2.5 year missionary post in Africa as a doctor - how Skype helps them see & speak to her face-to-face from the other side of the planet. I think of my own family this week, as Phones & Faceboo

k were the means to contacting my brother & locating my Mom during a family emergency.

But much, much more than that… I'm thankful that because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ I will someday be reunited with my sweet sister-in-law Jan in eternity. Jan walks streets of gold with her Savior, I'm jealous & I miss her!! I thank God I had the privilege to have her as part of my family!!

Guess who's coming to Dinner?

It's Tom!!  He's back, complete with his fun & funky toe-socks…

Yep, he's back in town just in time for the Holiday…

May you be Thankful the Love and Blessings of God...

Happy Thanksgiving!!

The continuing saga of Peter...

If you don't know who Peter is you didn't read my previous post… but that's ok… Peter is a local boy, he likes his pumpkin… so "Peter" is actually a nickname I gave, and it applies to whoever is filling the role at that time… still confused?… perhaps a few pictures will help :)

When we last left Peter he was caught orange-handed with his face firmly planted… and as befits one who sustains himself by stealing the food off another's table the picture is not particularly flattering (actually its fuzzy)…

Yep, that's Peter… better known in these parts as Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater….

First he stole the treasure inside, now he's attacking Jack's flesh… what's a pumpkin to do?

Peter is back attacking Jack again, just look at those beady eyes!!

Poor Jack… obviously injured and now enduring an especially cold morning...

Uh-Oh!  Jack's stem is coming off, will the torment never end!!

But wait!!  Who is this?!?  It seems that one of the local authorities, Hawkeye, has caught wind of Peter's criminal behavior & has come to investigate!

He surveys the situation...

Examines the evidence...

Him: "Yes Ma'am, it appears you have a Pumpkin Eater here on the premises."
Me: "Duh!"… as if I didn't already know that… lot of help this guy was...

Yes, that's right, the authorities are never around when the crime is happening… sigh...

Jack continues to be decimated, Peter continues his criminal activity, and Hawkeye is nowhere to be seen…

Will Jack survive?

Will Peter get caught orange-handed?

Will Hawkeye ever catch this Pumpkin Eater?

Tune in next time….

But seriously…  The squirrels in the area have been eating up everything in sight.  We've been quite amused by their activity at the pumpkin, and have even been adding more pumpkin & squash seeds into the cavity to keep them interested (and away from the bird food)…  The hawk in the tree was in the front yard (pumpkin is in the back) and let me get very close - too bad I was in a mad dash to a medical appointment and only got a chance to catch a couple quick pictures with my iPhone.

Being entertained by the furry residents...

We are overrun with Squirrels this year, perhaps caused by the drought, and they're getting into everything!!

We'd noticed obvious gnaw marks on my hubby's warty-pumpkin that we'd placed on the porch for our trick-or-treaters… so after the big night we cut a hole in it to expose the seeds and left it for the furry vermin to enjoy - and of course we placed it where it would entertain us & the cat… we've not been disappointed!

For your perusal & enjoyment:

Nibbling on a seed...

This gives new meaning to "digging right in" :)

Love the acrobatics!

Showing off his beautiful healthy coat….

Is the coast clear?

He's been so busy eating he hasn't wiped the pumpkin off his face...

Will he or won't he go in???

A little tentative at first...

All In!!

All that caution paid off!!  Seed!!

This one's eyeing the flesh of the pumpkin...

Whoops!  Fuzzy picture, but as you can see they like the pumpkin flesh as well!!  I decided this guy's name should be Peter (as in Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater).

That's All!!