Anne makes good at Big Island period re-enactment "Rendez Vous"

Here she is, all cheerful and smiley, at the Big Island Rendez-Vous near Albert Lea this weekend. She gave me a free entry ticket, and I went to see how she spends her free time. She and Jerry are big into this period re-enactment stuff, and you can read more about the Big Island Rendez-Vous here.

This is your cousin.	This is your cousin on--um--uh-- chocolate.

Anyway, different tour groups come to this big "vous" every year to learn about how people lived a couple hundred years ago. This year Anne was in charge of teaching various groups, mostly troups of boy scouts, how to set up a tipi. Anne owns her own canvas tipi, and frequently uses it whenever she goes camping, or to one of these re-enactment rendez-vous.

Here are some pictures of Anne teaching some boy scouts how to set this thing up:



Did you know you were related to such an interesting person? I bet those boys went home saying to each other, "Man, that Annie lady was cool!"

Lincoln garden

One summer vacation memory I have is of visiting Grandma and Grandpa in Lincoln, Nebraska -- and Grandma's back yard garden. I think it was her mother's garden as well.

Walking through the very tall plants was like walking in a jungle. While I was loitering in the garden, Grandma was picking stuff off the plants for a meal.

She offered me a pea pod fresh off a plant. Immediately I thought, "I hate peas," and, "Doesn't this have to be cooked before it's safe to eat?"

I hesitated.

But I was reassured that it wouldn't kill me. And to show me it was okay, Grandma snapped open a pod and ate the peas. Because of the snapping sound, opening the pea pod seemed like fun no matter what the peas inside might taste like. So I opened my own pod. It snapped! Neat!

Now I was obligated to at least try a pea. I reluctantly ate one pea.

It was sweet and good. I ate the rest -- and started picking some pods myself. I snapped those open and ate those peas, too.

I learned that I didn't hate peas after all. At least, not peas eaten right in the garden.

Thanks, Grandma!

24-Hour Comic

Letting you know that I'll be cartooning this weekend. With a group of cartoonists who will be drawing 24 pages apiece between 9:30 a.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Yeah, it's kind-of a daredevil thing to do. I did this last year and survived!

Thursday, April 28 update: I finished my comic on Sunday! And I'm still tired. The done comic is now posted on the Internet.

My turn!

Oh, this is going to be such fun. I hope EVERYONE will soon be sharing information about what is going on. I am now a new resident at Madonna Towers here in Rochester. My E mail address is the same and so is my phone number.

Now I have been here since March 3rd and Carley and I are feeling more at home each day. We had a little dinner party with Wilsons and Steinlichts with the good dishes and everything - so, I think I can now host just about whatever I want.

Yesterday, Rochester had more snow than has ever been recorded for this date. I ended up in a snow bank with my car but some good samaritans dug me out and cheerfully sent me on my way. Home REALLY felt good.

Happy Spring to you all. Please blog soon. Love Martha

News from Mass Willies'.

Here's to Blogging! With a gratuitous Xmas PJ Family Photo (w/ Kristen's famous and prevalent hats).

News Briefs:

Mike is getting married to Kristen Randel in Phildelphia area, October 22nd 2005.

Bryan has taken several batteries of tests to qualify for US Navy positions; he did very well.

Wendy continues to work hard as Director o f Nurse Case Managers and Social Workers, at Fallon Clinic.

Paul is changed jobs once more to Sonus Networks, Software Test and Automation.

Between jobs Paul recently tripped to Minnesota, sited at several relative locations, including Ellie's bid for State basketball championship, another game that featured Grace at point guard (a couple really promising players there), assisting Aunt Martha with her move to the cottage, at Zumbro, etc.

Then Paul and Wendy tripped to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon for a short visit. The biggest light show and greatest density of entertainment we have ever experienced. And the Grand Canyon, the most uniquely spectacular scenery we've ever seen -- landscapes from another planet.

Roseville Raiders got game!

We got to watch Ellie's team win a very exciting basketball game last weekend. These girls are great competetors who understand team work. And boy do they play smart. In one spectacular play, Ellie stole the ball, turned on her heal and ran down the entire court for a perfect lay-up shot. Boy could you hear us grown-ups roar from the sidelines! This picture, however, is the only moment Ellie was standing relatively still, so that I could actually snap a picture! In all the other photos she was a blur!

Ukranian Easter Egg marked with Grandpa's design

Last Friday night a friend of mine taught me how to make Ukranian easter eggs. Here is my first attempt. It took more than three hours--but what an interesting process. I think I may be hooked on a new hobby!

Do you recognize the design of the green line? Grandpa Sorensen taught me how to make that little doodle when I was 12, and I still remember how to do it. Did anyone of you ever learn this doodle, too? Do you remember if he ever said where he learned it from?

Anne and Erik caught in mid-giggle

In Martha's new cottage at Madonna Towers. This photo was taken just after we finished getting Mom all moved into her new place. Marty and Erik came up from Illinois, Anne came over from New Ulm, Steve and Paul and I dropped down from the Twin Cities. Paul was visiting Minnesota for a few days while he has a break between jobs. (He starts a brand new venture next week. We hope to hear more about that, Paul!) Mom has found herself in a lovely little cottage. It's neat and convenient and cozy. Just right! Go visit her and see it!

Grandma Sorensen's cooking

The thing I remember about Grandma Sorensen's cooking is the smell of garlic and onions frying in bacon fat. I didn't actually pay much attention to it when I was living in Rochester. After moving to Minneapolis and having to cook on my own -- I am an unenthusiastic cook at best -- I discovered a spaghetti sauce recipe that started with onions and garlic fried in olive oil. And the aroma instantly took me to Grandma's kitchen. And I think of Grandma's kitchen every time I smell garlic and onions frying.

Spiffy!

Thanks, David, for designing the masthead for our blog!

Cheetah

Well, I bought a car last weekend. The 16-year-old Oldsmobile I was driving finally developed a serious enough engine problem that I decided I had sunk my last dime into it. So I traded it in (Ha--they gave me $100 for it) and bought a 2001 Ford Focus ZTS. I'm pretty happy with it, although I'm not so happy about having a car payment again. Well, the payments will last 5 years, and hopefully this car will last me 10. Knock on wood! It's got good zip, so I named it Cheetah!

An online family reunion

Our extended family is spread all across the country--and the world. We cousins hardly get to see each other anymore. I often find myself wondering how you are, and what you're up to. And I find myself relying on our dear matriarchs, Greta, Ruth and Martha, to keep me up to date. But we can do more. Technology is a wonderful thing. Let's use this easy tool to keep in touch. Join the team blog! E-mail me if you have any questions: katesterner at gmail dot com. (Of course, you could always ask Greta, Ruth or Martha how to reach me...)