Friday, December 29, 2023

Week Three in South Dakota

 The month (and year) is coming to an end. Here are the photos to wrap up week 3 of our time in South Dakota.

geocaching on Tuesday


to earn the Virtual Souvenir 


bowling, a tradition with our family Christmas gathering on Dec. 22nd


opening presents


Miss W's pizza blanket


a game of Garbage after dinner and presents on the 22nd


a drive through Falls Park on the 23rd


to view the lights








many people were out looking at the lights 


adult hot chocolate with stocking marshmallows
after the drive

while waiting for our flight at the airport


this family arrived from somewhere wearing their
Christmas PJs

4 kiddos, and even mom & dad were decked out in 
the Mickey Mouse PJs
(Grandma was not!)

arriving in AZ on December 24th












Saturday, December 23, 2023

Merry Christmas

 2023 Christmas card. If you did not make the mailing list (I have cut back) here is what you missed. No traditional letter this year, either; keeping it short and sweet!






2023 in a nutshell: Cruise through the Panama Canal in February with a stop in Colombia SA. Cruise to Alaska in May for Kari's 50th birthday. Summer spent around Sioux Falls. Autumn spent watching grand kids in sports. Willa 8th grade. Marek 6th grade. Bucket list trip to Iceland in October. Wintering in AZ.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Monday, December 18, 2023

Week Two in South Dakota

Week two wasn’t quite as busy as week one. Looking back though, it was full of grandkid activities.

Last Sunday morning we finished working on the Christmas goodies project. These were the Oreo truffles, dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with chocolate cookie crumbs.


M chose to double dip the pretzels we did on Saturday because we had extra white coating.


The two of them worked well coating/dipping the candy cane cookie truffles in peppermint coating and then adding some peppermint crushed candy sprinkles..


Miss W went to church musical practice so M chose peanut blossom cookies for a project. He did most of the measuring and mixing, all the rolling and sugar dipping and finally added the chocolate kisses.

I think the three of us made six different treats to share last weekend.


On Monday I met with my Watertown book club women to discuss A Memory of Violets. It was so good to see them in person and catch up on our lives since October AND to discuss the book.


6th grade chorus concert on Tuesday evening


Followed by 7th and 8th grade chorus


Dining table center piece on new placemats from
a neighborhood Christmas gathering on Tuesday afternoon


Lunch with friends on Wednesday.


I got the gifts wrapped before the weekend
Only one gift bag! I used the gift tags I made last month in AZ!


and got the nativity scene in place

We attended a geocaching event Saturday afternoon and on Saturday night Hubby and I attended a Christmas Party at the Arrowhead Country Club, enjoying good food and excellent conversations.


M playing Deck the Hall as his prelude piece


Miss W playing The First Noel

Eighteen students played a Christmas musical piece (piano & violin) as prelude music to the church Christmas Musical on Sunday afternoon.





As an 8th grader this is the last year Miss W can participate in the church Christmas musical.


Our last week in South Dakota will be our family Christmas later in the week and some geocaching in the early part of the week. The good weather continues!















Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Week One in South Dakota

 Hubby and I flew home for most of the month of December. We wanted to see the grandkids in their school programs, have Christmas with family, and if the weather cooperated, travel to see friends and family.

Saturday sunrise in AZ over the Superstition Mountains


Monday morning frosty trees
No SNOW!


Tuesday morning the perennial flower bed
We have been notified the city will be maintaining the wash behind our triplex. This is my perennial flower bed...on the city's right-of-way, which I knew when I created the flower bed. The neighbor graciously removed the planter/bird feeder hook and my decorative wheel before we arrived. But after a discussion with some men who were simply delivering a message and not the guys making a decision, 


Hubby and I removed the rocks that I have collected from our various adventures while geocaching or traveling. In that mix are the two rocks I brought back from a 2000 trip to Italy and Greece! There is also a brick from the school where Hubby taught and was principal. We also removed all the landscaping blocks I had placed three years ago. I dug out 2 plants as I was told Tuesday morning our area would be plowed and planted with grass. It wasn't. So maybe I'll be able to keep my flower bed????


M's Band Program Tuesday evening


the 6th grade band


he's a percussionist


Miss W is a flutist


she noticed I was taking photos, which she really appreciated
she is an 8th grader!


Hubby insisted on lighted yard decor


my hardly ever used ice skates on the sled we used a lot
on the farm sledding on the pasture hills


our house for Christmas - Tuesday and Wednesday's project


front door decor


Thursday and Friday we traveled to see my 94 year old mother


The grands came over for the weekend. Saturday's project was decorating the Christmas tree and making Christmas goodies. All the decorations have been collected on our travels or given to us by students in our working years.


Icy Point AK 2023


Mount Rushmore SD 


Rothenburg Germany 2017


Hawaii 2022


Iceland 2023


my kitchen helpers mixing cookie truffles


dipping pretzels


making white chocolate & peppermint pretzel bites


sunset in the neighborhood and the end of week 1