Happy 2009!

Happy New Year!!
It's time to say good-bye to 2008. There were some sad times and some tears but there were many wonderful times in the past year. I treasure the love and the experiences shared with family and friends.
I will miss my Uncle Lloyd and hold on to great memories of time shared with him and my entire family. My kids are well and I am very proud of them and how they are living their lives. I feel blessed to share life with Dale and enjoy exploring so many new things and places together.
I look forward to starting a new decade of life and learning more about myself, others and the world around me in the coming year. Life is good and I am grateful.
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy"
Philippians 1:3-4

Empty Stockings

The stockings are empty. The gifts are opened. The cookies are gone and the wrapping is in the trash. Every one has returned home. Christmas 2008 is over. It was a wonderful holiday filled with love and joy. I was so blessed to be able to spend time with so many loved ones. I think I saw every relative except the ones in Nebraska. That's a good reason to get to Lincoln this spring. This week has been a great celebration. I think I may leave the stockings, nutcrackers and Christmas tree up for a few more days, just to bask in the glow of the holiday.

Family Christmas

I got to celebrate Christmas with my kids this weekend. We have always gotten together when we can find a night that works for all of us. It's usually "around" Christmas, but not on the actual day. Whatever the date, we wake up and it's OUR Christmas Morning. We do stockings, gifts, breakfast and just hang out among the boxes, ribbons and wrapping paper.

Jay, Travis and Ashley posed for me; all wearing new shirts they got for Christmas. How fun is that? We had chili the night before then played dominoes with Dale and his son, Eric. It was a good time to just be together and enjoy the holiday. Now everyone has left to go home and the house has a very odd quiet. It happens every time!

Iowa Energy Basketball

Jay's here!!

Jay drove down this morning and we spent the entire day just hanging out. We laid around at my house most of the day which was very relaxing. Dale came over and took us out for dinner before we headed to Wells Fargo Arena for a basketball game. Jay would have preferred hockey, but the hockey teams were not in town for Christmas. This was a first for me, a sporting event on Christmas, but it was good. I love tradition but am open to change too. I have had many opportunities to learn that lesson!
It was a great game...won by the Energy in the final minutes. Next time Jay comes maybe we can get to a hockey game. That would be lots of fun too! So fun to hang out with Jay today!!

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Day! Merry Christmas to all.

The fun and family continue for me. Jay arrived today so that we have an extra day to hang out before Ashley and Travis arrive tomorrow. We have two more days of Christmas here. I just love having my kids at home!!

I wish you all a beautiful Christmas. May the true spirit and love of the season be alive for you.

Christmas Eve

I am very blessed to have loving cousins, aunts and uncles who value family and time together. We gather every year on the Fourth of July with the entire family. On Christmas Eve some of the family members gather as well. Many years I was unable to attend this gathering when I worked at the church or had other obligations. Not everybody can make it but those that do enjoy lots of food, photographs and conversation. Yes, we pose for lots of pictures. This is me with my sweet Uncle Fred. Aunt Snooks and Aunt Carol are my wonderful gorgeous aunts who are in the top photo. They are also amazing cooks who have taught the younger generations very well. I woke up still full on Christmas morning!! It was wonderful to be able to spend a couple of hours with them, cousins and second cousins. Now I look forward to seeing all again on the Fourth of July!

Merry Christmas, Wreghitts!

December 23, Every Single Year!

Dan and Jill are the first to be grandparents. Izzie is adorable and the first of the next generation!

In my family of origin December 23 means Family Christmas! It's a true holiday tradition. Since my siblings and I were very young, the family celebration has been on December 23. We traveled to relatives on the 24th and 25th. When we all got married, we continued the tradition to avoid schedule conflicts with in-laws and other families. Now that our children are getting married we still gather on December 23 each year.

I do not have a photo of everyone, but all made it this year, except Gary who was at work in Nebraska. I seem to spend less time behind the camera than I did in the past. It is fun to just enjoy the moments and I sometimes forget to grab the camera!

We play a gift exchange with a $5 limit on each gift. It's a challenge to find the best gifts and to steal them from each other before the timer buzzes.

This gathering is a highlight for many of us. It's constant, talking, eating, laughing even some complaining and it's FUN! Merry Christmas, Nonnweilers!

Family Nativity

When I was a young mother, my mom offered to buy me a nativity for a Christmas gift. I looked around and decided that this was my choice because it seemed unbreakable, but yet did not look too plastic. I wanted my children to be able to play with the figures. I hoped that they would use the nativity in a way that would bring the Christmas story alive for them. They did play with it and we added some animals, musicians, shepherds and wise men over the years. Often baby Jesus was found in the arms of Mary (as shown) rather than in the manger. The baby Jesus would often be missing, hidden some special place till Christmas. The nativity did become an important tradition in our family, both of my kids enjoying and appreciating it while voicing the desire to have that someday. So years ago I started buying a piece each year for each child. The first year Jay and Ashley got the baby Jesus. The next year I gave them Mary followed by Joseph the following year. Because they were always the same and in the same size box, Jay would look at Ashley's then not bother to unwrap his. Ashley has her nativity set up in her home this year. Jay's is still in one of those big boxes in my garage, some of the figures still gift wrapped. He doesn't have room in his apartment, but he knows where to find it when he is ready.

Nutcrackers at Christmas

Nutcrackers have become one of my favorite things! In 1987 I took Jay and Ashley to see the Nutcracker Ballet in Ames on the Iowa State Campus. Ashley was enchanted by the production and the nutcracker. (Jay was fairly bored until I pointed out that if he turned around he could watch the lighting guys with all their equipment.) So that year when Ashley was just three and a half, I purchased her first nutcracker at Younkers for $7. As I learned more about nutcrackers and the German versions, I purchased more for her over the years. She didn't get a nutcracker every year but she did get many! About ten years ago I realized that someday when she left home she may want to take her nutcrackers with her. I couldn't imagine decorating for Christmas without these noble wooden soldiers and kings to stand guard on the mantle, so I kept the white and blue king for myself. Ashley contributed the two on the right to my collection during her college years. Travis gave me the red trumpeter when they were dating. Last year Dale gave me the brown horseman on the left to join the others. So when Ashley and Travis got married last year I was able to delivered her collection to their home and still have my own nutcracker display at Christmas!

More Snow Coming

More snow is coming tonight! We already had three inches of snow this week and we are predicted to get more next week. Snow is in the forecast for December 23 which may not mean much to most but if you are a Nonnweiler, that means Christmas!! We have celebrated on the 23rd for close to fifty years. I hope the roads are good. This photo was taken in February 2007, but it has been so cold and snowy in the last couple of weeks that it is feeling like February already.

Weekend with Ashley

What a wonderful weekend with Ashley! It was fifty degrees when she arrived and below zero when she left. I guess that's December. We hung out together, relaxed, slept very well and caught up on life as we prepared for Christmas. I just love it when the kids come to visit. It just feels so homey to share home with family! We spent most of the time at home but did go out each day.

We went to the fabric store and started a Christmas project. The fabric you see in this photo should be two quilted tree skirts by this time next year. We are trying to be realistic about our expectations. Neither of us is very crafty but we will have fun with this and create some memories too. My current tree skirt was hand made with a good friend about twenty five years ago. It may be time for a new one!

We did some Christmas shopping together. It was nice to help each other with ideas and choices. I got lots of wrapping done in the evening while we watched a movie at home.

Dale took us out to a movie on Sunday, Four Christmases. It was cute and a nice break from all the kitchen work. The windchill was so awful when we left the theater that it took our breath away. It was good to get home and hit the kitchen again and turn on the oven.

We made sausage won ton stars, freezing most of them and eating a few for lunch. We made chocolate mint cookies and enjoyed the melting swirls of the mints on top. We made caramel corn to send home for Travis since he missed out on all the fun. We did have fun and made good progress on our Christmas preparations.

Christmas Season

There are so many things to enjoy this season. The sights and sounds of December are so tied to Christmas. I have enjoyed the snow, but I am also enjoying the fact that it is all melting today. I enjoy the Christmas lights too. This is one of my favorite views. I took this photo two years ago. It's Valley Junction in West Des Moines, just two miles down the street from me. Ashley is coming this weekend and we will enjoy some Christmas preparations. We might bake, we might shop and we might make a new tree skirt. We will most definitely relax, enjoy each other, talk, eat and laugh. I am looking forward to her visit during this Christmas season! In less than two weeks we will have celebrated Christmas with the "boys" too. It's all good.

Fruit Instead of Cookies

I am trying to do better, staying away from the cookies and shopping in the produce department more often! Between the broken arm and poison ivy, I have felt pretty cruddy for the last couple of months. One of the best ways for me to make some changes to feel better is to eat healthier (and exercise, but let's not get carried away yet.) My arm is healing very well, just some discomfort from the sprain in my wrist, the break is much better. I am finally off the drugs for my many ailments associated with the break and the ivy. All this makes me anxious to feel better.
Did you know that fresh home baked cookies are delivered to my work place daily? That's a huge temptation for me, but I have stayed away from them for a couple of weeks. I prefer a fist full of cookies but am working at embracing the beauty of the produce aisle. I want to feel good and age well....staying active and feeling healthy. The fruit is pretty, isn't it?

Brrrr. . .

It's cold and windy today! The temperatures are expected to drop all day long. I guess this can be expected, but I still plan to have a good weekend.
Dale and I went to the Drake men's basketball game last night and it was a great game. The winning bucket just seconds before the buzzer saved us from overtime! I think we will go to a movie later today.
I am very content to spend my Saturday morning snuggled in by the glow of my Christmas Tree lights. It took me a full week to decorate the tree. I assembled it on Sunday, added the lights on Tuesday then started the ornaments on Wednesday and just finished today, Saturday! Every single ornament I have is on this tree. Its packed! Hopefully Jay, Ashley and Travis will be willing to take a few home with them at Christmas. Maybe it's my age, maybe it's having a smaller home, but I find that I want and need less "stuff."

It Feels Like Winter

Sunday morning we woke up to snow. It was gorgeous. Knowing that it was predicted to melt, I really did enjoy it.

I photographed these same berries during the first week of October and posted the image on this blog. They looked lots different then. I do love the change of seasons in Iowa. It's just that I think winter might be a bit too long.

Tomorrow is expected to bring another inch or two of snow. Although we did have lots of melting today, the ground is still covered. Since tomorrow's accumulation will add to the Sunday snow, I guess it really does feel like winter. Fortunately I found my boots. Not cute boots. Not boots with heels. Real boots...Iowa boots. I will need them!

Happy Birthday, Dan!

It's my big brother's birthday today. The photo is from last year when we celebrated his 50th. It was the best party, a camouflage party! His wife and kids planned the surprise party in their garage. All the guests were dressed in camouflage clothing, including his sisters! That's all four siblings in the photo. There was an ice storm that day but Dale and I braved the roads and drove to Mason City. I just could not miss this party. It's not that rare to have Dan's garage filled with people wearing camo because he loves to hunt and fish, but it is unusual for some of us! I purchased my shirt so that it was the right size to pass on to my son. He will wear it when he goes hunting but I will not need that shirt again! It was a fun party and it's a great memory for me. Happy birthday, Danny!

Waterloo Thanksgiving

Ashley and Travis hosted a family Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday. It was a wonderful holiday. Jay, Dale and I arrived on Friday so that we could enjoy more time together and I could cook with Ashley. I loved cooking a Thanksgiving dinner with Ashley for the first time. It may be the last. She was quite grossed out by the raw turkey, especially when I pulled the neck from the cavity. Dale was a big help in the kitchen with cooking and photography. We cooked, ate, laughed, played and enjoyed each other. Travis got out the guitar hero and the boys had a good time with. We all had fun with Mowgli. I absolutely loved it when my kids were little, but having adult children is also wonderful!

Thanksgiving in Mason City

My sister, Sandi and her husband Dale hosted Thanksgiving on Thursday. Cindy and her entire family were there also. It was a great day to travel so it was easy to make the two hour drive up in the morning and back home in the late afternoon. We had a good time together; eating, talking, laughing, making Christmas cookies and watching football. Yes, we made cut out sugar cookies right after we cleaned up the Thanksgiving dinner mess. Sugar cookies have become a tradition with the girls for lots of holidays. It was nice to get to see nieces and nephews that I get to see so seldom. I am again reminder that "the kids" are no longer children!

Grateful Heart

Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday of mine. I love the family, food and the meaning. I am grateful for so many things. The people in my life are at the top of that list today. I am thrilled to be celebrating the holiday with both of my sisters. This weekend will also bring another big Thanksgiving celebration with my kids. I will miss my brother and his family. My tradition for many years was to spend Thanksgiving morning cooking with my brother while the rest of the family relaxed or slept in. Now that our kids are no longer kids and I moved to Des Moines, the tradition has changed.

I thank God for each of you, my friends and family. I am grateful to have been blessed with so many wonderful people in my life. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Time to visit Mowgli

I am so excited!! We are going to visit Ashley and Travis for Thanksgiving. Jay is coming too so we will have a family holiday and a family first! Ashley and Travis are hosting the big Thanksgiving feast!
These photos are from our last visit when we did a photo shoot. Ashley had worked on the ideas and set up. I shot with her camera and Dale shot with his. These images are from Dale's camera. Aren't they a cute family? Mowgli is a great puppy and I am looking forward to seeing him too!

Drake Men's Basketball

Sunday afternoon Dale and I headed over to the Knapp Center for a basketball game. This is our third season following the team but our first game this year. We enjoy so many Drake activities but I especially love to watch basketball. Last year the Drake men's basketball team were true champions. They won lots of games and titles while having an amazingly high GPA. I was consistently impressed with their sportsmanship and personalities. Some of them graduated but others have returned this year to play with some great new recruits. It was a very good game today. Drake won. Since last year was so successful, the games are often televised. Although I will watch them on TV, I much prefer to put on my Drake sweatshirt, drive over to the Drake campus and cheer as I watch the games. It's funny, but I actually do feel like I get to know the team and the players. My first season it was so fun to watch Dr. Tom Davis coach. The next year was amazing with his son Keno Davis as head coach. There is a new coach again this year so that will add more excitement too.

November Snow

We had several hours of a beautiful snowfall this afternoon. It's so pretty in November. It's new and exciting. I took a very short walk to find a few good shots. The flakes were so big and wet. I guess the first snows will always remind me of a childlike excitement. I felt it when I sat at my desk at McKinley Elementary in Mason City just waiting for 3:15 so we could run out into the snow. I also felt it when my kids were little and we would rush out to see if there would be enough to build a snowman or a snow baby if there was not enough for a full sized creation. I still have the box of hats, mittens and scarves for building snow people.

This cardinal and his mate were flying around in the bush that was heavy with snow. I had to zoom in to get close enough so the photo is not as clear. That's the trade off with my little point and shoot digital camera. He was beautiful to watch so I thought it was worth including him on my blog.

Bargain Gasoline

Who would have thought that we would ever get excited about gas prices and consider $1.72 a bargain? I can still remember when the gas pumps did not have enough digits to read more than $.99 a gallon. I guess that was a very long time ago. This spring we saw gas for $4 a gallon. Today we are paying less than half that price. We are fortunate in this part of the country and especially lucky here in Des Moines. As much as I travel around the state, it seems that Des Moines has the best gas prices. We have seen a constant decline over the last couple of months with the exception of a brief increase about two weeks ago. We are back to prices being lowered a couple of times a week. With all the issues in our economy, it is very nice to feel like something is a bargain. At the gas pumps I am often pleasantly surprised at the total price. That's a wonderful improvement over the shock that I felt when it would cost more than $50 to fill my little Honda.

Occupational Therapy

Sixteen days after breaking my arm, I had my last occupational therapy appointment today. I think I graduated, but the doctor will decide that when I see her next week. I had six appointments with instructions to do my exercises six times each day. I did work hard, but I doubt that I got in six full sessions on more than one or two days. I have a pulley hanging from my door as you see in the photo. I also have standing, sitting and laying down exercises. We have been working on mobility and flexibility of my wrist, elbow and shoulder. I have come a long way in two weeks. I have great range of motion now, but it does hurt when I turn my wrist a bit too much. There is a constant ache which is worse at the end of the day. I still use a heat pack which really helps with the soreness from the major bruising. I have never seen that deep shade of purple on my body, but it is fading. No, I did not take a photo of the bruising. It was too gross, even for me! All in all I am thrilled at my healing and so grateful that my body has cooperated with the mending process and occupational therapy. But. . . everything seems to take much more work now with one weak limb. Getting dressed in the morning is exhausting. I find myself impatient until I remember it has been just sixteen days!

Why Not Vegetables?

Gorgeous vegetables, aren't they? The colors are bright and intense. They are crispy, fresh and healthy. But I would rather have a brownie. I would prefer fudge. I would choose a Dove chocolate. Why did I not get healthy taste buds? Why have I not been able to establish long term healthy cravings for gorgeous colorful vegetables? The reds, greens, yellows and oranges are beautiful. But I must prefer brown. Brown is the color of dirt, dog poop on my shoes, mud and sewage. It's also the color of brownies, fudge and chocolate! I know my body and health should be yelling for these gorgeous vegetables but more often I hear my taste buds screaming for the fatty sugars of chocolate. I am not ready to give up my sweet cravings but I am thinking about it. I like vegetables but they are not my preference. Today at work a grateful family member brought the staff an amazing homemade fudge with walnuts and dried cranberries. I had a piece or three. I don't think I had a vegetable today. Tomorrow is a new day!

Early Sunrise

The time changed this week. The sun rises earlier but I do not. I wake up earlier than I should but I love my sheets and I love my bed so I linger, pray and allow myself to go back to sleep and enjoy the luxury of a slower morning. I have not set my alarm clock all week, but no doubt my body will adjust and I will start sleeping later and needing my alarm clock again. This photo is about two years old. It's a sunrise over Blue Heron Lake at Raccoon River Park near my home. I guess I must have had more energy then. I have not been tempted to crawl out of my sheets to photograph the sunrise recently. I could blame my broken arm, the discomfort and the need to work on my occupational therapy exercises but that would be an excuse. I actually printed a copy of this photo and put it in my bedroom. Now I can see a sunrise every morning and still stay in my cozy comfy bed just a little bit longer! I guess I am not much of an early morning person even after the time change.

Duck Boot

This boot has been in the family for years. It was a birthday gift to Ashley from a good friend. She also had a very cute yellow rain coat to match. She wore the boots as she joyfully stomped through puddles of rain water or muddy fields near our home in Mason City. Several years after she had grown too big for the boots, I found plastic glasses just the right size to fit into the boots. I filled them with soil and planted flowers each spring. I learned to fill the foot of the boots with rocks so they were not top heavy. One year when a boot blew off the deck in the wind, I decided to wait till the next day to retrieve the boot. Sadly it was gone, must have been taken by a neighborhood dog. Now there is just one duck boot, but each year I replace the soil and plant something to decorate my deck or patio. The boot makes me smile and remember the joy of a little blonde Ashley stomping through fresh rain water on Field Road.

Closet Cleanout

I admit it, I am a yo-yo when it comes to weight. The last couple of years I have been on the climb up. When I lost sixty pounds, I cleaned out my closet as advised and got rid of the clothes that were too big. When I started gaining the weight back, I wore snug clothes, then I gained more and bought new clothes. The new summer clothes got shoved in with the smaller clothes. Then I bought new fall clothes and added to the closet. I finally moved some tight clothes to the guest room closet as I became more sure that they would not fit again in the near future. Last week I finally admitted that the smaller clothes were just taking up space with very little hope for use in this season. I got a box out of the extra storage garage and labeled it "too tight." No reason to sugar coat this. These clothes are just too tight for my body. I pulled blouses, jeans, jackets and pants off the hangers and filled the box. I did get some exercise hauling the heavy box to the garage, not my "car garage" but the extra one that's filled with Christmas decorations, He-Man, beanie babies, china and all the other things that do not fit into my two bedroom home. I hope to pull that box out when the clothes fit again, but the truth is that many of them are probably more likely to head to the local Goodwill either because they are too worn or won't fit again before they look very outdated. One more box added to my overflow and one more defeat in the war against extra weight. I never thought I would be a yo-yo, but its my reality. Now I need to find the route back down, again!! The good news is that I have more room in my closet and more empty hangers now.

Celebrating Kelly!

Today I got to celebrate the 50th birthday of my dear friend, Kelly Jo! I celebrate our friendship too. Kelly and I have been friends since junior high. Our friendship has been a blessing to me and I was thrilled to be invited to her party today. It was wonderful to see her sons, grandsons, husband, sisters and many family members. Thirty-eight years ago we enjoyed rollerskating, boys and the jukebox in her basement. Over the decades we have shared life as we experienced marriage, motherhood, divorce and grown emotionally and spiritually as we gained the wisdom of women who learn as we age. We have discussed life and shared joy and tears. We agree that this is a wonderful age! Happy birthday, Kelly Jo. I thank God for our friendship!

Happy Halloween!

No trick or treaters and no candy for me this year. I do have wonderful Halloween memories of ghost costumes and a tearful kitty-cat who didn't get the whiskers quite right. I remember witches with green make up streaked from the rain and many years of bum costumes and black capes. I hope your Halloween was good with just the right amount of candy! Dale and I carved these pumpkins earlier this week, before my fall and broken bone. I have enjoyed the smiling glow. My pumpkin is on the left, same every year, triangle eyes and nose with a big smile. The only variable is the number of teeth. You could call it tradition or lack of creativity on my part!

one handed blogging

Ouch! I broke my arm. Technically I have a radial head fracture which means that the break is right below my elbow. I got to see the x-ray but I already knew that this was a very foreign sensation (nice word for pain.) Dang, it hurt! I was walking across the parking lot and tripped on an uneven spot in the cement. I guess that this is why mom said that I should "pick up my feet."

There are many reasons to be grateful.
1. It's my left arm!
2. It happened at work so I had great nurses immediately available.
3. This break does not require a cast.
4. It's my left arm!!!

I have been to two doctors in the last 24 hours. One was occupational medicine required by workman's comp. They agree on the diagnosis and treatment. Although I cannot use my left arm, my pain is well controlled. If I had to break a bone, I suppose this was a good break. I do feel so fortunate that it was not worse. I guess I need to be more careful (at my age.)

Go Drake Bulldogs!

I have grown to be a fan of the Drake Bulldogs especially Spike, the mascot. In the three years since I moved to Des Moines I have enjoyed the offerings of Drake University. I have not taken a single class there. I took my classes at Wartburg College, UNI and NIACC. It took me twenty-eight years to finish my bachelors degree, so I have not been in a big hurry to do any post-grad classes. The offerings that I enjoy are not so educational. Basketball and football are my favorites. The photo above was taken on Saturday with Spike at the football game. Dale and I have gone to lots of men's and women's basketball games over the last couple of seasons and enjoy both. We have also attended the "most beautiful bulldog contest" each spring as well as several theater productions that are very well done by the students. The campus is beautiful and has been a great place for photography also. I appreciate being so close to a great university and respect the education they offer. It's also fun to enjoy the sports and theater as a fan and spectator.

Two Game Saturday

It was a gorgeous day for football on Saturday. Dale and I had planned to go to the Drake game. We go to most of the Drake home games. Early in the week Dale's friend, Greg offered us an invitation to go with him to the Iowa State game on Saturday night. He had a couple of tickets to share. We enjoy going to Jack Trice Stadium in Ames and the forecast was good, so we said, "Yes."

I have never been to two football games in one day, but I felt up to the challenge. It is a very different atmosphere at each stadium. Drake stadium is more intimate and quiet. There are fewer spectators and plenty of room to move around. Dale and I often move from one area to another to get a different photo angle or get more comfortable depending on the sun and wind. Drake won their game on Saturday and it was a good game.

I went to my first ISU football game in 2002 when Ashley was a freshman and I traveled to the Iowa State campus to visit her for parent weekend. I enjoyed the atmosphere and energy. The stadium is often packed. The fans are vocal and sometimes very loud. The marching band does a great job and add greatly to the atmosphere throughout the entire game, not just half time.

I try to go to a football game at Jack Trice Stadium each year and Greg's invitation was a perfect opportunity. The game started out great but in the end ISU struggled and lost the game. We were surrounded by very vocal fans who had lots to say about the coaching and the plays. I learned some very interesting phrases but most should not be repeated. They were passionate about their football. The people watching was excellent.

Dale and I survived our football Saturday and had a great time. We wore our Drake Blue for the first game then added a layer for the ISU game wearing the appropriate colors and logo. The evening did cool off but not as cold as the forecast predicted. We were comfortable. Well, we were not cold. I do admit to a case of "bleacher butt" that was cured by the walk back to the car. It was a great October day.