PIGGY'S NIGHT!

The cousins are going out to eat at Piggy's tonight.  That's a pretty fancy place for a table full of Norwegians but we'll try to behave.

This day might be bigger than Christmas! Happy Siblings Day.

GRANDMA SOLBERG

MOTHER DIED 23 YEARS AGO TODAY.

FAMILY HISTORY

Grandpa Solberg died on January 29, 1956.

REMEMBERING

Had she lived, Mother would have been 97 today.

HOPING YOU HAVE MANY MORE!

Image by FlamingText.com

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS IS HISTORY

Thanks to Rita and Roger it was another Christmas to remember.  We had a great time and everyone was so well behaved it was hard to believe they were Norwegians.  Both Trig and Ann called from different parts of the country.  Trig and Tula are out west skiing and Anne and Morgan were enjoying the 80 degrees weather in Florida.

To me, the highlight of the day was Roger hanging his balls from the ceiling.

THE FAMILY AND CHRISTMAS PAST

Donnie sent several family pictures of past holidays.  I'll be adding them, on the blog, during the week ahead.

This one of Grandma Solberg is a classic.

THE GOOD NEWS WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR

Paul wrote:
"It is with great pleasure I announce that, after one year in Afghanistan, Friend is back on American Soil."

AUNT WILDA CALLED THIS AFTERNOON

It was so good to hear from her.  Unfortunately, SHE HAD A BAD FALL about a week ago but the good news is that there were no broken bones.  It did, however swell up and turned black and blue so she's not getting around very good these days.

There's a lady that comes in to help her out and she's, of course, going to Bob and Lynne's for Christmas so she'll be well taken care of.  She'll stay through the New Year.

We talked a good 20 minutes but I got to thinking after I hung up.  If we had cut out all the talk about our aches and pains, the visit wouldn't have lasted 2 minutes.

I used to think old people were funny.  Now that I'm one of them, I don't see anything funny about it at all.

I LOVE THIS STORY FROM BERT

"My friend Kath and I are up at Rita and Rogers babysitting the dogs and the house.  Had a funny experience today. I came into the dinning room to find underwear, eaten to shreds, under the table.   The dogs had gotten into Kath's dirty clothes and had some fun!!!

They are being really good.  Eating well, sleeping with me, staying in the yard and of course eating underwear!!!   Rita and Roger come home tomorrow so hopefully no more lost clothes!!"

I INVITED THESE FOLKS TO COME TO THE RANCH FOR CHRISTMAS

I'm wondering.  Should I tell Rita to set two more places at the table or should I just keep it to myself and let it be my little holiday surprise?

I THOUGHT OF MOTHER WHEN I SAW THIS RECIPE

She used to make the best BBQ chicken wings.  Here is a recipe for HONEY LIME CHICKEN WINGS
that sure looks good.

National Day of Listening is sponsored by National Public Radio.

It's a day to call attention to the "Story Core" project on NPR.  To learn more, CLICK HERE.

FAMILY HISTORY

GRANDPA SOLBERG WAS BORN ON NOVEMBER 12, 1879.

I WAS JUST WONDERING

I'm wondering if the pheasant hunting, gambling, good time part of the family won any money yesterday?  It was a little chilly in Winner this morning.  Down around 30.  But, with sunny skies and a high of 50 it should be perfect, today, for bagging more birds or sitting in front of the slots.

I CHECKED IN WITH ROGER PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.

He was busy getting everything ready to hit the road, heading west, around 7 in the morning.  He said Carl would be taking his lap-top so he'll keep us informed on their adventures.

I REMEMBER THAT PLATE!

I didn't know Donnie had it.

I woke up last night remembering the Terpstra heirloom I have--a hand-painted wooden plate commemorating the Owner-Myrtle wedding, 1907 (see photo).  I doubt the thing was made in 1907--probably an anniversary gift from their 40th, in 1947--that may be why I have it, my birth year...I don't recall how it came to us.

WASN'T GRANDPA FROM THE LILLEHAMMER AREA?

Here's a neat video from Lillehammer.

The Lillehammer region

Lillehammer hosted The Olympic Winter Games in 1994, and is known for old farms, a modern town centre and surrounding alpine skiing resorts.
The Lillehammer region

Source: Visit Norway