casseroles & bean soup.

We did get together at Diane's house on Jan.26.When we were there we talked about hot dishes. Diane said they called them casseroles--here in Mn casserole is the dish the hot dish goes in.I told them about Minnesotas hot dish law & then I told them that the U.S.Senate had a law that bean soup would be on the menu every day in the Senate dining room & this was a Senator from Minn. that got that passed. The Senator was Knute Nelson & this was at the turn of the century.He had gone to the dining room & they did not have bean soup on the menu So he went back to Senate where it was made a Rule that bean soup be on the menu every day. It is not a law but a Senate rule & apparently tradition has taken over as bean soup is still served every day!!Minnesotans get passionate about their food!!Although no one has gotten lutefisk as a rule or law --YET!!
Pat & Pudge left for Florida yesterday-Good timing as it was 14 below here this morning. I am staying in the house!! I made some Spanish rice for lunch today--I haven't had that for a long time.
Tomorrow someone from Life Alert is coming to set it up for me.I hope I never have to use it --but it is a safeguard. You have to pick 2 or 3 people to be first responders so I put down Pudge & Pat & Denny Lindroth & my neighbor Barb Parent. They have to have a key or access to one. I will know more after tomorrow.
Heidi that was to bad about the cabin having bats. I am not afraid of them --just the rabies they carry so I do not like to get to close to them either.
Yesterday I downloaded the pictures from my camera to the computer--I felt so smart that I was able to do that-but I did have good directions.I wish I could send pictures but my computer is too slow but I enjoy everyone elses pix.

Minnesota Winter!!

Oh Yes !we have winter in Minn. this past few days! 14 below in AM ! I have'nt stuck my nose out the door for two days except to grab the paper. Tues. Mary Beth & I went to casino (on a bus tour)It wasn't as cold then --I did well as I came home $70 richer. That does not happen very often--usually not at all!! I have gotten some information about Life Alert & I will probably get it. It costs 37.50 a month& they install a speaker phone & check once a mon to see if it is working properly. You can get either a bracelet or a necklace to wear all the time.I like the necklace.Iasked the Dr. about it & he gave me info -Also said it was a good idea for someone living alone. Pat thought it was a good idea too.
This coming weekend Pat & I are going to Liz Reeds wedding in St. Cloud This is my great niece. Then on Sun we are going to Dianes house to get together with Linda,Donna, Janet & I think Jerry.
The wedding is on Sat at 4 pm . we are staying overnight in a motel & will go right to Dianes house on Sun.
I had some turkey noodle soup for lunch & it was just great for a cold day. Stay warm everybody!!

none

I guess I should blog more often as I forgot how to get in but after a few tries I finally made it!! It was really great to see Heidi,Chad Janet, Donna & my family during the holidays. I still do not have my decorations put away-they are downstairs waiting to be sorted & put away. I have a pinched nerve in my lower back & it affects my rt leg so I have been going to chiropractor & putting ice on it when I sit. It is getting a lot better but not fast enough for me!!
Tues Mary Beth & I are going to the casino in Hinckley-we haven't been to a casino for ages-I think the last time was on our cruise in Oct.
I enjoy reading the blogs & reading Rachel's fromGermany --They sure have had a lot of moves in their life already. And I love all the pix that everyone sends. Aren't computers just amazing?!

General news

I thought I had posted another blog on Thurs. but Donna told me this that there was no new one--so I checked & it was in draft--I could not figure out how to get it posted then so here is a new one -Hopefully I will do this right!I wrote that we had a wonderful Thanksgiving & that I was getting tired of leftovers.I made a really good turkey soup & that is the end!! I have made a couple of batches of scones this past week to use up the heavy whipping cream that we did not use. Pat gave me some dried cranberries that I put in one batch with some orange zest- they were really good .I have frozen most of them.
Barb Hulback came yesterday to sell her craft stuff at a sale at St. Andrews church. She was there yesterday from 4pm to 8pm & today from 8:30 am to 1pm. She made a little over $100 yesterday & she isn't back yet today.I guess she will be staying here again tonight because of the snow coming down heavy fo the past couple of hours. She lives by Menomonie Wisc--about 1& 1/2 hour drive. She has 2 daughters that live here in Willernie but neither one has extra room so she sleeps here. She makes the BEST fudge so I got the ingedients & she made a batch for me last night.I intend to give it for Chistmas presents--after I give it a taste test!!
Pudge brought over the golf cart & it is now in the garage for the winter. He also checked the snowblowers which is a good thing with the snow falling today.
HAPPY WINTER!!

bad, bad Liz!

Yeah I'm bad for not writing in this blog for so long!!I enjoy reading other peoples blogs but I get lazy & do not write in mine. I love the ones with pix & wish I could do that but My computer is too slow. Last week we went to Donna's --Jerry, Janet, Peder, Sarah & darling Aurelia were there--so guess who got all the attention even tho we were celebrating Jerry,s, Peders & Sarah's birthdays!!
Last night Pat & I went to Bloomington to a church where they have a Christmas tea.The ladies of the church have a table with 8 people --They use their own dishes & decorate the tables--We get a chance to walk around before they serve so we can see all the different tables & how they are decorated--Our table was decorated with purple & gold. We had the same hostess as last year-Donna knows her & that is how we get tickets. Her husband is our waiter. Donna will probably send some pix-Right Donna? They served mixed fruit,mixed greens salad, quiche & dessert & of course tea.
Thanksgiving at my house-almost everyone willbe here.Bobby is working so she will not be here-She works security at the airport & works every holiday--Kim is cooking for Bob's daughter & 2 grandsons. so they will not be here either. There still will be 15 people counting the kids.
Peder said they enjoy my blogs that i write about old times- I will do some more of that in the future(when I can remember some stuff!!) that will give me something to write about.
Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

swimsuit!

I forgot yesterday to tell you that I made use of my swimsuit!! I went to the hot tub almost every day & it was great!!There were lots ofheavey weights on the shipso I fit right in! Lots of people with walkers & a couple of motorized chairs & wheelchairs. one guy had a broken leg & he was in a wheelchair. Not to many young people on this cruise & only a few very young children.
Wed. Mary Beth went with me to St. Peter For our old friends get together. I have been friends with Eleanor for 70 yrs & Maxine for66 yrs. We have changed a lot in those years!!! We have been getting together once a year now for 20 yrs.

Panama Canal cruise

It was a great cruise! And the Canal was very interesting to go thru the locks-Our ship had about two feet from the wall of the lock-no chance of error! There are small locomotives on both sides of the lock which have cables to the ship & keep it steady. We were at sea for two days after leaving Fort Lauderdale. I went to beauty shop on ship & had my hair cut & set.The cost wasn't to bad-$52- but a lot more than I pay here as I get sr. discount-$15- I went to the library & took some books to our cabin but did not read much. Our cabin was at the opposite end of the ship from the dining room & buffet - which was probably a good thing as we had to walk a lot!!The food was fantastic! One night I had prime rib-next lamb-then lobster &shrimp-chicken kiev & the desserts were to die for. The buffet was great also-we usually had lunch at the buffet & everyday at 3;30 there was a Tea which we went to a couple of times.Our dinner was at 8pm. We had a real nice group at our table.One couple was from Las Vegas-one from Florida & one from Wales.The lady from Wales had her birthday so her husband treated all of us to champagne!
Our first stop was at Aruba-a small island off the coast of Columbia.We did some shopping there but it was so hot & humid that I could hardly wait to get back to the ship.Then we went to Cartagena-also in Columbia &it was hot there too so I did not get off the ship.Then to the Canal where we went thru the locks to Gatun Lake. Mary Beth got off the ship & took a tour thru rain forest & got back on the ship at Cristobal. I wanted to go thru the locks again so I did not take the tour + the heat was too much for me.At Cristobal the tempature was 87* & the humidity was 97* !!! then on to Limon,Costa Rica where we took a tour of country side & banana plantation. That was great. We were at sea the next day till we came to Ocha Rios Jamaica where we took a tour on a glass bottom boat--I have never paid so much to be uncomfortable in my life!!The boat was small & the benches we had to sit on were only about 14inches high so my knees were practically hitting my chin & you had to lean forward to see thru the glass AND the glass was leaking!! The crew kept mopping up the water with a sponge!! AND the biggest fish we saw was about 6 inches long & not even colorful.I've seen better minnows in a minnow bucket!Boy was I glad to get off that boat ! Good thing it was only an hour & that was to long.
After Jamaica we were at sea heading for Florida --we were north of Cuba when a passenger spotted 3 people in the water- Our ship turned around & sent out two rescue boats & thy searched for three hrs. but did not find anyone.I saw the small raft on the water but it was falling apart & pieces were floating all around .The Coast Guard was notified & we went on our way . We went to a stage show almost every night-1 night we went to a movie-also went to the casino but had no luck at all.Mary Beth did OK-She came out ahead $40 . I was really tired when we got home Sun. eve, I went to bed at 7;30pm & did not get up until 7am. But it was all worth it & I am looking forward to next cruise to Alaska!