I moved to Northern Minnesota from North Dakota.

I do realize that this blog is about life in the North woods.  But this happened when I was a resident of ND and it is a must see.

Hubbard Mothers Christmas Party

My homemakers group combine our Christmas Party with our dinner for the shut-ins.  We are having turkey, potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, vegetable salad and pie.  I  made the pies.  Half of us bring cookies and half bring candy and we make plates for everyone to take home from the party.  We sing carols.  The last thing we do is exchange gifts with our secret pal.  It was a really fun party.  It was  an old fashioned Christmas. 

Close encounter of the best kind

Thursday I was at Luekens eating lunch with my high school classmates.  It was one of the men's birthday.  So we all chip in to buy cupcakes.  Well we bought 24 minis and did not eat all of them.  While we talked and laughed a group of special needs students came in from a school in the area to do a life skills outing.  I know the classroom teacher.  I asked him if the kids could have a cupcake for their dessert.  Sure he answered, but I had to offer the cupcake myself.  So I did.  Some are not audiable.  Others could talk a minimal amount.  The one that stands out in my mind was a minimal audiable girl.  I asked her if she wanted a cupcake and she nodded yes.  When she did not thank me the instructor signed to her to thank me.  She shook her head no.  He signed again, she shook her head no.  Then with great difficulty she said Hap  py    brth da to me.  I thanked her and moved on.  But I guess that was the most she has said in a long time.  What an experience.  I get goose bumps thinking about it.

Eclipse of the Moon

Total eclipse






I was complaining to myself that I had to go to Bemidji today to get a package that the mailman tried to deliver on Friday.  But I would not have seen this beautiful sight if I didn't get moving Saturday morning. The lunar eclipse is when the earth is directly between the sun and the moon. We have to wait another three years for the next total eclipse of the moon.

Tubs of Love

My church and other churches in the area participate in the Tubs of Love Program.  We get lists of needy people and what ages the children are.  Some come with  suggestions on the list.  We then go shopping for them.  They have to be back at the church by December 17th so they can be distributed to the families.
Ours has toys for the 3 boys, a large fry pan (their suggestion) and cleaning supplies (again their  suggestion).

Oil change

Recently I was looking for a place to change my oil in Bemidji.   I had my nephew who is 9 with me. The garage that I was at will remain nameless.  I went in asked for an appointment for my car to get an oil change.  After looking at his book he said he had an opening at 1:00 the next day.  I told him that was good.  He then asked what kind of car I had.  I told him a Toyota Prius.  He started yelling at me.  IS THAT A HYBRED?  Yes I said.  He yelled at me I WOULDN'T HAVE ONE OF THOSE CARS IN MY SHOP.  THEY'RE DANGEROUS.  I said what???? He said   THOSE BATTERIES THEY HAD HIGH VOLTAGE.  THEY'RE DANGEROUS.  I said cancel my appointment and as I walked out I said if you are in my batteries which are under the back seat and trunk you have missed the oil change by a long way.  When we got outside my nephew said "Aunt Judy, I don't think that guy has a mother."  I asked him why he would say that.  He said "That guy was mean to you.  If he had had a mother he wouldn't have treated you like that."  Out of the mouth of babes.

Running the Gauntlet

Between my driveway and the Stone Lake Road I call the gauntlet.  Every time I go to Bemidji I have to drive that mile and a half stretch.  It is loaded with deer.  I always breathe easier when I get through it.  But in the winter it has an added problem.  Trees edge each side of the road and the ice is on the road from December to spring thaw doesn't ever melt.  The sun does not shine on that stretch of road. You have to drive slowly, but then the idiots that think they have a need for speed try to pass.  I had one spin out just as the accelerated to pass.   Oh yes, I forgot the steep hill right on the edge of the road that goes down to a lake.  Now you add that up deer, ice, cliff and crazy drivers and you have my gauntlet. It is my nemesis.