It's been a long time . . .

I last posted after we arrived back in Wisconsin last May! Now it's December and we're back in Texas for the winter! Where did the months go? Chuck and I both drove airport shuttle this summer for Chippewa Valley Airport Service - as I always say, "it's my fun, summer, part-time job." Chuck did a few projects for friends, family, & some of his old customers. We enjoyed a visit from brother Jon - he and Chuck got in a little fishing, played in the dirt down at our land by Neillsville, and made our annual cheese run. We enjoyed a visit Up North to see friends George & Georgia while their daughter Brenda and her twin were visiting from California. It's always fun to see how the kids have grown over the past year. We made a second brief trip up there to take in a concert by our favorite Native American band, Brule.

We also attended a concert of the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra with guest artist Geoff Keezer (jazz piano). Geoff's proud father is my cousin (Ron and Mary Keezer) and we always try to catch his concert when he's in the area. Just learned that his latest album has been nominated for a Grammy. Wow, I know (and am related to) a Grammy nominee!! We also made a trip to the Minnesota State Fair and had the opportunity to see and hear the daughter of another cousin - Allison Hall (daughter of Tom and Sue Hall) is a founding member of and plays trumpet with the "Copper Street Brass Quintet." They were one of the featured groups on the stage at the Minnesota Public Radio building - promoting their new demo album. So many talented young people for relatives!!

My annual trip with friends Loris and Georgia took us to Chicago where we took in a taping of the Oprah Show (Loris won the lottery!), enjoyed the first half of the Broadway play "Jersey Boys," survived a bomb scare which emptied the theatre and our hotel (both in the same building!), enjoyed an architectural history boat trip on the Chicago River, visited the Shedd Aquarium and the Field (natural history) Museum. The bomb scare moved us to the Chicago Hilton for the rest of our stay including the first night in a two-bedroom, FOUR-bath suite on the 22nd floor overlooking Lake Michigan!! Sweet Home Chicago!

We finally got our butts in gear and got moving on our forty acres near Neilsville. We got our driveway put in (all 1200 feet of it . . . NO, it's not blacktop!), got electricity run back to our building site, and got a garage/pole building built. Decided to bite the bullet and just do it! The building center in Neillsville has our plans and will turn them into blueprints and we will get a bid from the builder who did the garage. If all goes well, it's full steam ahead next spring. Our house in EC will go on the market as soon as we get home from Texas. Exciting, but a little scary. Mostly exciting!

Now we're back at Woody Acres in Fulton TX. Cribbage, bridge, Texas Hold'em, bingo, needlework, fishing for Chuck (when it quits raining!), wine parties, etc. It's a tough life, but someone has to do it. Plans include a trip to San Antonio to enjoy the Christmas lights on the Riverwalk with friends Becky and Roger. Merry Christmas to all our friends and families.