Christmas Get-away

This year we spent Christmas without other family members. Since it was just the three of us, Steve and I decided that it might be fun to take off on an adventure. The day after Christmas we packed the car, arranged for a student to watch Sadie, and headed off to Jellystone Park in Warrens, WI.

This is one of Katie's favorite vacation spots; she loves to swim, loves the water slides, loves floating on the "Lazy river", and of course Steve and I enjoy the hot tubs. This year, Katie decided she felt safe trying the huge water slides all by herself - that is she would go down alone, provided I went down first to make sure she would not drown when she came out of the slide into the huge pool. She did well. These little baby steps toward independence are so important!

She and Steve had a great time playing water volleyball and basketball. She really loves hanging out with dad, or "Father" as she has begun to call him. I love the fact that we spent three days creating fond memories which Katie will look back upon and treasure. Isn't that what Christmas is all about?

Preparing for St. Nick

I have never seen Katie so excited about Santa's arrival. Of course now that she is reading and writing, she prepared for the holiday by reading every book about Christmas that she could get her hands on, and also by writing in her journal about all the items she hoped to receive. Here is a copy of one of her "letters to Mr. C."

My favorite item - my own cell phone that real. Speaking only as her mother, I have a very difficult time believing that a first grader needs a cell phone. I can only imagine the conversations; many would begin with "knock, knock..." and would also include the singing of songs from High School Musical or Hannah Montana (as if I'm paying for that Cellular One phone bill!). Thankfully, Santa agreed with me and didn't bring her one.

.

Speaking of songs, the most requested Christmas songs in the Allard household changed this year as well. This year's favorites: "The 12 days of Christmas" (Katie choreographed dance moves to this one), "The Chipmunks Christmas Song" (I will be singing "I still want a hula-hoop" for weeks to come), and "Grandma got run over by a Reindeer" (Sorry Mimi and Beni). Needless to say, we have had our share of holiday laughs this year.

Katie was indeed very good this year and Santa did bring her most oft requested item:

She is already learning the chords to a Dan Zanes song - we are expecting big things from this little songbird!

The ghost of Christmas past

I know it has been awhile since I last posted, my apologies if you have been checking the blog and finding silence. Our computer bit the dust, and then both Steve and I have been overwhelmed with grading and wrapping up the semester (yadda yadda, blah, blah, blah). It is always at this time of year when I would kill for a 9 - 5 job!

Now that grades are in (as of noon yesterday), I am beginning to get into the Christmas spirit. I found this gem in my photo album and thought my sibs would enjoy it. Just look at those bright smiling faces. Look at how much Mary Kate (bottom left) looks like her daughter Emma. Merry Christmas folks.

Winona from the Bluffs

These photos were taken from the top of the bluffs which run alongside our town. I tried to shoot some sort of panarama so those of you who have not been to visit us yet can get some sense of the town.

Winona has many nicknames, one is the "Island City" and from this vantage point you can see why. Technically, the lakes which are on the south side of the city (bottom of the photos), used to be part of the Mississippi River. The city closed off the channel and created two lovely lakes which residents walk, jog, and cycle around.

As I took these photos, the weather was breezy but warm. Who would know that the temps would soon drop and we would have tons of snow dumped upon us.

Pauline S. Nute: 1929 - 2007

My heart goes out to my dear friend Brenda, who lost her mother to cancer on Tuesday morning. Brenda's mom, Pauli Nute, was a very special woman. Bren and I have been friends since fifth grade, which means that in many ways Pauli was like a second mom to me. I have so many great memories of times spent at the Nute's and most of them include Paulie. She was such a gracious host. As a painfully shy young girl, I always felt at home in the Nute's house. Mostly because Paulie and Don always went out of their way to make their guests feel comfortable.

If idle hands truly are the "devil's playground", then Paulie is already in heaven. She was always busy doing something, whether it be cooking (her Chicken and Dumplings could rival any chef's), crochet (I still cherish the afgan she made Katie), or beautiful needle work.

.

Christmas at the Nute home was an amazing affair. The house was always decorated to the nines and looked like something out of a magazine. Everybody came to the Nute's open house. As a kid, I could not get over how many people could fit in the house at a Nute holiday gathering. It was a home teeming with merriment. I remember the first year I attended, I was shocked when Paulie and Don gathered everyone around the fireplace and presented us all with gifts. It was obvious that Pauli took great pleasure in the holiday giving of gifts. I was most surprised when she even presented a gift to me, a fifth-grade friend of their daughter's. Indeed, Paulie was a gracious host.

.

One of my fondest memories is traveling in February of 1993, with Brenda, to visit her folks in Barefoot Bay, FL. I had a wonderfully relaxing visit with Don and Pauli. If memory serves, Brenda even bravely rescued a pelican from a certain, painful death. She must have gotten a good portion of her generous heart through her mom's well-set example.

.

Rest in Paulie; you are loved.

John Thomas McDermott 4/9/34 - 11/1/99

Today marks the eight year anniversary of the passing of my dad. It is hard to believe that so much time has passed; it seems like he just left us. I’d like to think that I learned a great deal from this man. Much of who I am today is due to his influence. I know that I am still learning from him.

When in difficult situations, I often find myself asking “what would Dad have done?” Often I get a sense of clarity and the answer is there. I’d like to think he is still teaching me how to live well and be a better person.

Occasionally I will see a flicker in my daughter’s eyes and an expression on her face and recognize it as “pure Dad”. What a gift to have those momentary “visitations”!

Dad taught me:

• Life is too short not to laugh at your own mistakes.
• Any job worth doing, is worth doing well.
• Never quit a job, no matter how terrible it is, until you've found another one.
• Be careful with your money - but treat yourself when you can.
• Everybody deserves to be treated with respect - especially those who don't seem to deserve it.
• Dancing to your favorite songs is one of life's great joys.
• Dancing is best when it is silly.
• Silly dancing is even better when you get others to join in.
• Learning and using people's names when you address them is one of the most important aspects of communication.
• Red Sox rule, Yankees drool.
• Family time is very important.

I miss you, Dad.

***
The Trees

The trees are coming into leaf
Like something almost being said;
The recent buds relax and spread,
Their greenness is a kind of grief.

Is it that they are born again
And we grow old? No, they die too,
Their yearly trick of looking new
Is written down in rings of grain.

Yet still the unresting castles thresh
In fullgrown thickness every May.
Last year is dead, they seem to say,
Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.

~Phillip Larkin

Happy Halloween

Katie and I spent Halloween with our friends Lydia and Gussie, and their parents Kyle and Julie. After some intense silliness, some wonderful homemade pizza (thanks Julie), the girls donned their costumes and went out trick or treating.

Katie and Lydia are patiently waiting for the rest of us.
What a motley crew!
Love the teeth! Can I be your patient?

Frosty-Foggy Morning II

Katie and I stopped to feed the ducks off the fishing bridge this morning and were greeted by the most beautiful frosty and foggy landscape.

Frosty view of the lakeside pagoda with fog drifting off the bluffs

Make Way for Ducklings!..... Mr. & Mrs. Mallard are off to find a safe place to nest with Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Oack, Pack, and Quack.

Foggy Morning On Lake Winona

After dropping Katie off at School this morning, I had to stop to snap a few pictures. The fog coming off the lake was simply surreal and beautiful. Enjoy~
West Lake looking South toward the bluffs. You can just see the heron flying in the right hand side of the photo.

The view to the East.

This one is like something out of a fairy tale. Gee, maybe if I cross that bridge, I will not have to go the land of 100 ungraded persuasive essays!

Apple Picking

We had a beautiful weekend and took Katie across the river to an apple orchard in Trempealeau, Wisconsin.
We just missed peak foliage time - it was peak last week (and rained the whole time) - but thankfully there was still some color in the trees. I always get homesick for New England in the Fall; no place beats the colors of a New England autumn.

The orchard was lovely and as we took our apples to the register to pay, I saw a sign indicating that they accept cash or checks only, no credit cards. As I had only my check card with me, I told Katie that we were going to have to put our apples back. The owner overheard me and asked if I had forgotten my check book. When I indicated that I had, he told me that he would ring my purchase up and give me a receipt. I could then mail him a check when I got home.

Wow! I'm pretty sure that would never happen in New England!

Katie loved the tractor, and wants one for our back yard.

Here's to the Boys ~ 2007 American League Penant Champs!

Coco Crisp is my hero after last night's final inning. I may even buy chocolate rice crispy bars for my students tomorrow!

God we love them when they do it right - and even when they don't - Now we just gotta nail those Rockies, and claim the Series!

Dorf, party of three...

While tucking Katie in last night, she asked me what a "dorf" was.

"A dwarf" I replied is "a little person - like the seven little guys that Snow White cleaned up after."

"Not a DWARF," said Katie, "a DORF"

To which I replied, as any good mother would, "well I have no idea what a DORF is, why do you ask?"

Katie then proceeded to tell me that Jamie (one of her best friends) started out the day AS her friend, then was NOT her friend, then WAS her friend again.

Apparently, when she was NOT her friend, she called Katie a "dorf".

It seems as though the two normally good friends had a disagreement over whether or not Katie's playing with a third girl diminished the strength of their friendship. I asked what would happen if the three played together (knowing full well that three first grade girls playing together could collapse the space-time continuum, and send civilization as we know it plummeting toward the Apocalypse).

Katie must have known it too. She replied: "I don't think that would work."

The mom in me knows that we are going to have to explore this further; something tells me this WILL come up again. Any advice or suggestions on how my daughter can play with each friend AND avoid "dorfdom" would be appreciated.

The Mighty Mississippi

I begin and end each work day with a 30 minute drive long the Mississippi River. Often, it is the best part of my day, I have the rare occasion to gear up for my day or to wind down at its end. It is quite easy to see how the "Big Muddy" has become the stuff of legend and lore. In some places the river seems like a simple channel of water, then I will become surprised when I drive a stretch of the road that is elevated and I can see just how vast the river is. Those channels only appear small due to the number of islands and sandbars on the river. I can understand why Mark Twain put 'Ol Jim and Huck out on the river. Even though they didn't "travel" on this section of the river, I can picture them setting up camp on any number of these sandbars.

I am often amazed by serenity of the river; my favorite time is when the temperature of the air drops below that of the water, and the river gets a misty fog on the surface. There is something so mysterious and peaceful about the look of it.

We still have steam-driven paddlewheel boats that cruise up and down the river, shuttling locals and tourists along the water. Its a slow moving boatride - not for those who prefer power boats or jet skis; rather, for those who want to take in the surrounding landscape, sight a heron or bald eagle, or simply slow down and breathe.

Perhaps you will come visit us and take a ride along the waters?

Happy Birthday Uncle Chris

Today is the birthday of my brother, and Katie's fabulous Uncle, Chris (what a handsome guy!). We don't get to see him much because he lives so far from us but we cherish the time we do have with him.

We hope your day is wonderful Chris! We will lift a Guinness in your honor.

Ice Time

Katie began playing hockey this week. We have a fanatastic "learn to skate" program in town and everything is free for the first year (gear, equipment, etc...). Katie tried the figure skating and the hockey "open skate" and decided to go out for hockey.

Today was her second day on the ice. She started out pretty slowly, sort of shuffling like Tim Conway when he does his "old man" character. Of course, practice make perfect. It didn't take long before she was moving quicker and with more confidence.

Of course it is always easier to do something new when you meet a new friend!
Here she is getting right up after falling. By the end of the hour, when she fell she was up in a split second!

I am so proud of her, Katie showed persistance and tenacity on the ice. Many kids would have given up after falling constantly, but Katie stuck with it. She says: "skating is great, awesome, cool, and fun." I think her smile says it all.

Katie Allard - First Grade VIP

Katie was VIP of her first grade class last week. Basically her teacher gives every child an opportunity to share with the class. The child decorates a poster, and brings in different items each day to share with their classmates. The VIP also gets to be the classroom helper and pass out papers to all the children, tell her/his classmates when to line up to go to the lunchroom/gym/ library/recess etc...

We never had VIPs when I was a kid. Basically at my school, the nuns picked their favorite students to pass out the papers and start the recess line - or in my case, to lead the class in the national anthem every morning - and then get teased mercilessly on the playground. Thanks a lot, Sister Mary Harrington! I think that being VIP was a lot of fun for Katie. On the day when she was to bring in her favorite toy, she brought her baseball glove and ball to school. Katie has an excellent throwing arm and enjoyed demonstrating that for the other kids.

She brought in a jar of 103 tootsie rolls on "Estimation Jar" day. The kids were supposed to estimate how many tootsie rolls she brought; Katie chose 103 becuase she thouhgt that some kids would guess 100 right off the bat! After school, Katie whispered to me that she told her best friend Brittin how many were in the jar so that Brittin could win the prize. Every girl learns early that nothing comes between her and her best friend!

On Friday, I was asked to read a book of Katie's choosing to the class. She chose a copy of Paul O. Zelinski's "Rumplestiltskin", which her Uncle Shawn had sent her. When I asked her why she wanted me to read that particular book, she replied "Because it has a smart queen, and the girls will like that; and it has adventure, and the boys will like that; but mostly because it has a happy ending, and I like that." Yes Katie, I like that too!

You will get a kick out of the part of her poster that addresses her future dreams:Yup, I do believe that you will grow taller, Katie! I just love the way you interpret questions, kiddo!

Move over Norm Abrams - Check out This Old House

Many of you have been asking me to send photos of our bedroom remodel; I thought it might be easier for those of you with older model computers if I posted them here rather sent them via email.

Steve and I began this project two summers ago, when he replaced the windows in our bedroom. Unfortunately, as often tends to happen with parents and home owners, other things in the house took precedence and we lived with beautiful windows outside, but unfinished trim inside. As you can see from this picture, the old sheetrock had been hung and taped by a novice - something that truly annoyed my handy husband.

One of the factors in the delay was that we knew that the project was going to be huge; horsehair plaster needed to be ripped out (several layers as it turned out) not to mention the fact that the lathing strips must have been installed in the late 1800's. As an aside -I've decided that ripping this stuff out is most certainly the seventh circle of Hell. I don't ever intend to do this again!

After ripping this stuff out (almost a four day project), I installed the insulation and then Steve hung the wall board. I then announced that for my birthday, I wanted Steve to hire someone to finish the sheetrock and taping for us. He did - what a great husband.

The carpet badly needed upgrading - After all the carpet in the room had to be AT LEAST 40 years old. Once we ripped it out, we discovered several different layers of floor underneath. Surprise!

Yikes - check out this lovely linoleum. Hard to imagine that this was once in style, huh?

The fellow Steve hired, hung the sheet rock and began the process of taping and mudding the walls. Then he disappeared on us. The strange thing is that he left all his tools here!

I was afraid he may have been in the hospital or something, but Steve says that he was either on a bender or in jail. He says that sheet rock and taping guys are "the drummers of the construction world" (translation - they are total party-animals and trouble makers when off the job site. Think Keith Moon or Tommy Lee trashing their hotel rooms and you get the picture). Luckily, we found a great handyman to finish the job for us. In fact, we were so impressed with his skills and his work ethic that we've hired him for a few more jobs. Check out these shots of what he did with the walls and ceiling:

I wanted the room to be a warm, soothing and relaxing color - we agreed on brown, but spent a good deal of time debating on the shade. I wanted a darker tone than Steve. Eventually we met in the middle (as most good married partners do) and settled on what I think looks like a shade of coffee ice cream.
After taking a day or so to level the floor (after all, this house is nearly 150 years old), we had new carpet installed. Steve says that carpet will have a greater impact on resale value than hardwood floors will - especially when you consider the fact that we would have had to do major work to level the base floor in order to install hardwood.

Rather than take the time to make new curtains, I simply bought some marroon panels. Then the new furniture arrived! After 2 weeks, we we no longer had to sleep on the pull out sofa. I am finishing up the new quilt, it will be a scrappy patchwork of maroons, tans, and greens. For now, we will keep this "summer quilt" on the bed. I will post new photos once the quilt is done.