Janet and Henry

Well, Santa did stop at our humble abode. My annual disappointment: he didn't leave me Darlene Love's singing voice. I have been asking for it for years and won't stop in the near future, but otherwise it was a very Merry Christmas.

My too-good-to-be-true husband showered me with the best of the best. One box was found on the dining room table on the afternoon of the 23rd, and the other nine stacked like shingle bundles on his side of the closet. I am glad he accidentally left one box out for an early discovery. A ten place setting of Fiesta ware, color: RED. We can use them Christmas Eve, how grand.



Now this wasn't a grab something quick event. I had been trying to make a Fiesta color selection for more than a few years and on the 23rd decided to drop the big hint. Color, what else, RED.





What in the world was I waiting for? So Ron, armed with the big hint and a fifteen percent off coupon, marched into Herbergers.

A ten place setting involves a little more than a big shopping bag. Each place setting has its own fairly good sized box (bigger than a shoe box) and he threw in some accessories: cake pan, salt and pepper shaker, cream and sugar bowl, and an oval bowl, (remember: too-good-to-be...). I was traipsing around the mall, swooping in on other purchases, I wasn't available to help with the haul. Besides, I didn't even know if my hint took. But just in case, I plied him the with the coupon; $121.00 savings - my mother would be so proud of him!

Now this Fiesta story has a wee mystery of its own. Christmas Eve afternoon I was taking each place setting out of the box and piling them up, as well as rearranging the cupboards to house my new prize(s). Too many auction sales, mom's, grandma's and Aunt Vi's dinnerware and glassware has made for overcrowding. And now there were even more to fill the cupboards.

Back to the unsolvable puzzle. I get to the third box and I open it and find this note.



And wrapped up on the side of the box is another set of salt and pepper shakers. I still don't know what to make of it. A wedding present it seemed, returned? Never delivered? Did poor Janet and Henry receive some acknowledgement?

So what do I do with it? I feel guilty putting somebody's gift in my cupboard.
Should I go to the store and ask if there is any hope of tracing the gift?

Well, I will have to think about it. But I was so ever curious as I opened the remaining seven boxes. But Janet and Henry didn't come through. Just like Santa and that chantuesey voice of Darlene Love.

Addendum: My ever so keen eye spotted Aqua Fiesta ware in "A Christmas Story", while Ralphie was dreaming of the Red Ryder (shoot your eye out) BB Gun.

Happy Holidays!!

After a long hiatus of writing I thought I would jump back in during the Christmas season. And besides, I was going a bit batty trying to put together a photo insert for cards. Now each Christmas card has the blog address and the recipient can read a recapitulation of the Espeseth - Davis family. You know the kind: everybody is rich, happy, straight A students, with excessive cuteness everywhere. Ya well, you're on the wrong blog.

I do have to say Ron and I are both enjoying retirement; what's not to like??? We have done some traveling but with two kids still at home it isn't easy. We have our little interests that keep us from too much horizontal couch time. I do some writing and lots of reading, as well as dabble in the stock market, which is a huge time hog - looking for the potential "screamers." Ron helps out at the Dakota Territory Air Museum and puttering around the house. We played lots of golf this summer. He still has the plane. We flew to Rapid City and Detroit Lakes this summer with yours truly as the ever irritating copilot.

Our blended family is big, and we scored one more in 2010. Carter Allen Espeseth was born to Erik and Nicki and brother Collin on March 1. They are living on the farm where Erik grew up. Erik is a locomotive engineer, and they raise cattle. Collin started kindergarten in September.



Nicole and Robert moved to Magnolia from Lynnwood in the Seattle area. Robert works for F5 Networks (nice stock!)and the move decreased his commute by about 55 minutes giving him more time with Lainey (3 3/4) and Beau who's almost 2. They are remodeling their new house so Nic is juggling lots of projects including a "move out for four months" while the renovation takes place. Grandpa, Lacy and I were there for a week in July while Robert was in Singapore.



Tad and Missy have maintained status quo, no earthshaking news. Tad is starting his 21st year at Lowe's Garden. The summer months keep him way too busy. Missy is at Trinity in Radiology Technology. They are going on another cruise in February, to celebrate their second wedding anniversary. I can only hope the cruise lines will have cycled out of their bad luck.

Deanna and her big dog KC are in a new place in the Everett area. She is working for a Seattle grocery chain. Her travel time to Nic's is still long but she manages to see Lainey and Beau on a regular basis. She is their favorite awesome Aunt Nan. We're hoping a North Dakota trip is penciled in for 2011. She hasn't been here since '07.

Bill is a driller for Nabors Drilling. His rig is located near Stanley giving him an hour commute. North Dakota is wild with exploration and drilling making us a very rich state. Bill has a week on/week off schedule so in the off week he is on Daddy duty with Mercedes, who will be 2 on April 1. At present he is dealing on buying his first house in Minot.



In May Karlie graduated from high school. She is still living at home and working in Minot. School is on the horizon but she wants some settling time and is undecided as to what she wants to go into.



Carsten is a senior at Velva High School. He works at the John Deere implement dealership after school and is thinking about the John Deere program at Wahpeton. It is hard to believe he is 18.




Lacy is a seventh grader. She keeps busy with Facebook, texting and oh ya, school. Being thirteen is not easy sledding these days and it looks really hard from this old gal's vantage point. I thought it was tough forty some years ago, now it qualifies as harrowing. NO thanks, I'd rather be old!



Winter has come hard to the plains. We have snow about every 72 hours, or so it seems. Mercedes has been with Grandma and Grandpa for three days. Going outside is a treat, all bundled up like a tic. She fell over like the little kid in "A Christmas Story" and couldn't get up. Dumping her face in the snow, trying to eat the whiteness proved to be chilling. So many trials and tribulations for my precious family, I hope in 2011 cold white snow is their only hurdle.



Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay;
Close by me forever and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care;
and fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.



Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
Mary Liz and Ron