Before I Sleep...

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know,
His house is in the village though.
He will not see me stopping here,
To watch his woods fill up with snow.


My little horse must think it queer,
To stop without a farmhouse near,
Between the woods and frozen lake,
The darkest evening of the year.


He gives his harness bells a shake,
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep,
Of easy wind and downy flake.


The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.


Robert Frost wrote this poem in 1922 after struggling all night with another work. This gentle poem symbolizes for me a Christmas ideal and then along comes Christmas reality. I love the season, it is my very favorite. So as I recite this poem, I remember how wonderful this time of year is and I do need to stop along way.

Tech Christmas

This is a techie Christmas from the Davis'. I sent out Christmas cards this year with the blog address imprinted on the inside page. Now that you have arrived here at this site you are wondering, so what...

Let's back up a bit. My step-daughter Nicole started me on the blog road. She has a great site with our granddaughter Lainey as the featured item. Soon I had to try my hand at blogging. There was no stopping me.

There are zillions of blogs out there in cyberspace so I don't claim to have hit on the uniqueness of it, but I sure like how it keeps us updated in this busy world. I have the ones I look at daily in my favorites and if they are not updated I've only lost a few seconds of time, but when the blogs are splashing something new, I am delighted. Every now and then I will offer a comment which, after you have a google account, it is pretty simple.

If this is your first visit to a blog I hope you like the concept. It is an outlet for all of us frustrated and eager communicator/writers. My late Dad would be so eager to get on this fasting moving ship. He loved computers and each and every new thing that came along he had to be a part of. I think of him so often while I'm blogging.

A few little directional tips if you're a new blog visitor. When you get to the end of the page - which is way on down the line - and still are interested, it will say "older posts" and is underlined. You can click on that and it will take you back to more, and more, and more!! Now back to the opening page, I have some favorite sites listed on the right. Click on them to sail further out into the blogashpere. If you see a little TV set looking thing, similar to the YouTube look, click on the arrow and you will be able to view us in YouTube style. My old friend Susan gave me a flip video to take my blogging, as she stated, to "another level." We should all have a Susan in our lives. I love and appreciate all of her!!

How great it would be to add some new blogs to my list, from friends who are already blogging or those wanting to start. Give me a day or two to update this, I try to put something new on every few days, but it can be trying at times. So check back later and if you have questions and don't want to do the google thing, our email address is: rlmldavis@msn.com.

Have a wonderful Christmas. Love Mary Liz and Ron

All I Want For Christmas...

Ahh, that would be a shoulder. Yesterday Ron went under the knife: partial acromionectomy and rotator cuff repair. It went well. He will come home today. Nurse Ratched will be waiting.

Top Ten

Top Ten Reasons I haven't started shopping:

10. I live in North Dakota, all rivers and lakes are frozen so therefore my ship can't come in, and probably won't until spring, if ever!

9. Their lists keep changing.

8. I can't seem to finish decorating the house.

7. What with the economy the way it is, I am waiting for more slashing of prices. Next to nothing would be nice.

6. Naptime.

5. Everybody keeps asking, "What's for supper."

4. I can only find one glove.

3. Laundry.

2. I love to see the horrified look on the faces of those people who have been done since Memorial Day when I blurt out, "I haven't started."

And the number one reason I haven't started shopping...

Tom and Jerry's!

The End of an Era

On Monday night I said farewell to the last of the Elementary Christmas programs. Lacy and her friend Shaylyn (BFF - Best Friends Forever for all the uninformed) are seen sashaying out of the gymnasium after the the Velva Elementary Program. Not much of a big deal you say... Well, I have been a mom in attendance for thirty years - say it with me, "30 years." Next year she will be in the 6th grade band and chorus, they perform at the High School Program.

Tad's first Christmas program was in 1978. He was ORKNO, some Star Warsy creature in the Christmas play, a big role for a first grader. By the way, 1978 was the first go round of Star Wars.

So as I said before, an end of an era.

On Wednesday I will go to Collin's Sunday School program and start the beginning of the Grandma programs. We may have our first hitch - Collin announced, at the ripe old age of 4, he didn't want to be in the Christmas program anymore. Hmmmm.

It's Begining to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Downstairs TV Room - naked tree.



Would someone please get the cat out of the tree!



Complete!



Living Room - naked tree.



Ta Dah!

Thanksgiving

Turkey Day has come and gone. We had a busy week with Nicole, Robert and Lainey here from Sunday until Friday morning. They arrived on Amtrack from Seattle. Lainey wouldn't sleep, and at 20 months, one can only imagine what a "train wreck" that was. Her first night at Grandma and Grandpa's didn't go well either. By Tuesday she had it figured out and decided she would stay and sleep. They did have to move to the basement TV room to stretch out. Lainey also liked the fish that reside in the TV room, or at least the drone of the tank filter for a soothing slumber.



We were there in August (remember the unfinished trip details??). Lainey is now saying words, and repeats very well. But her most stellar accomplishment is the ability to climb. Oh, can she climb!! She also does dishes.



We didn't do anything exciting since we are not really exciting people. Played cards, and the new Davis family game is Mexican Poker. Grandma has it mastered. The Margaritas helped. High rollers we are, you betcha - cheerios for poker chips!



We went out for pizza one night at Sammy's, the most favorite pizza place in Minot, according to a recent poll. I have lived here for almost 35 years and this is the second time I have eaten there. It was good. Carsten opted to go out with his friends.




Ron, Robert and Nicole did some aviating while I was at work.




The cat thought Lainey was one cool kid and stayed close by.






Waiting for her bath to finish he hopped up in the cupboard for a little relaxing wait.



Buddy survived the commotion well. He spent his time on the prowl for a comfy spot to lie down on.



No comment just a nice photo of Nicole and her Dad.



We had the feast on Thanksgiving Day. Turkey with all the trimmings. All the Espeseth boys and Nicki and Missy were on hand.



Nicole, Erik's wife



Billy and Erik



Tad and Collin. Missy refused to have her picture taken.



Carsten

We also tried to get some pictures with the two grand kids. Circus city.





Deanna and Loren were to have made the trip as well but changed their plans. We missed them and can only hope they will come soon.

Friday morning it was back on the train for the Reid's. Lainey is already warming up for some climbing adventures.



As my mother used to say, "the house is so quiet now." Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

Winter Has Come to the Dakotas

Ready for the next one.

Old Halloween Costume

What's up with the dress?? You would think with a bevvy of support staff nearby someone would have stepped up to the plate and said, "Alright Missy, just where do think you're going in that getup?"

And that is Michele I am writing about, the daughter seems to have it together.

Carsten is Confirmed

Yesterday was another milestone in the life of Carsten. Maybe to him it wasn't as awesome as a driver's license or finishing another grade, but in the overall it is pretty important. Confirming your faith - more of the ground work put down, that as a parent, you hope they rely on and remember not only when they sail rough waters but also when they beam inside from a job well done - knowing they couldn't have done it alone!

The confirmands sang a song oft heard at Oak Valley, "Sanctuary.". One of Carsten's best buddies, Collin Kittelson, is on the clavinova. Such God given talent he has. I wanted to share it on the flip video

So as twelve more young adults marched farther into their own world of faith. I pray they never lose it but more importantly - always use it. God bless you Carsten.
Love, MOM

Ella Bella

In early July our cat, Katman (last name: Du) failed to return to the nest, as he had so faithfully done after every outdoor excursion. We don't exactly know of his fate but think he tangled with a raccoon. We have had plenty in the "forest" behind the house.

Katman should have been named dogman, as he thought he was one. Or at least a litterboxless cat. In his ten years he never once did the indoor thing,that I can remember. He did start out as a farm cat and came to town with us in the summer of '99. I don't think I started a litter box then either. He would sit at the patio doors and wait, or come and get someone to let him out all with a plaintive meow. He also had a MO of waking me about 5:30 am, in which I would mechanically trot out to the dining room, open the door, and then crawl back into bed.

I miss the old black Katman.

I don't even have a good picture of him on this computer. I would have to jump through a few hoops to get one on here, so I will opt out.

Well around here we don't let catless gaps go for long. Lacy saw to that, yesiree! We acquired a replacement about the second day of school, on a long walk home. But not too far to carry a kitten with her.

Ella the cat arrives.

Now given my rule of one dog and one cat, I didn't have much ground to stake as my own,what with Katman AWOL. Over the years Lace has made many attempts to increase the feline population. One family even sent a litter box, with extra kitty litter and the kitty. Hard and fast I stood: one dog, one cat. So it was time to give in because after all we only had one dog and no cat.

It has been fun, even though I never really was a cat person. It is like having a toddler in the house. Every thing is of intense curiosity. She misses nothing and follows everything. Poor Buddy he takes it all in stride.

So far she is getting the drift of life around here. Cats are really routine like in nature and she is no exception. She too will come in at about 6:00 am give or take a few minutes and let it be known it is time for coffee and the newspaper. She sleeps on the back of the big armchair, where I sit while watching the news and reading the paper. It is the routine you know! She is learning to do the outdoors in short spurts. I don't know if I could handle a "roadkill" or "sailcat" event. So she comes out with us while were doing yard stuff and hops about looking for a bug. She has a wicked hunt to kill position. May be a good mouser someday.

Ella the cat stays.

Well now we have a dilemma, as Ella seems now to be more of a boy. That's okay as a neuter is cheaper than spay. But what about the name?? So we have been testing new monikers. I invariably call her/him kitty baby so it doesn't really matter too much as far as I am concerned. But maybe the best name is right under our nose and we didn't even realize it.

One vote for Ella Fella!

Another Trip to Fargo

Thursday, Friday and Saturday were spent in Fargo doing another three days of sorting, packing and throwing. Tom came from Chicago and it was work work work! Although he did take some furrowed brow time on his laptop to follow the stock market and its horrendous tumble. Friday afternoon he said, "this is unbelievable" - way too many times!! He is a heavy hitter in the market so it was rather a passive comment for someone who took a bashing.

It is a guess of about two more trips and we should have this house deal done. It only took a year. But let's not forget it took fifty-one years to rack up the booty. This trip was momentous in that it was the moving of Barbie and Ken.

I was given my first Barbie in 1961 when mom made a trip to the Mayo Clinic for her back. I requested a Revlon doll, as that what was what the girl across the street had. I was disappointed only for a short time.



Before the dust settled I had a Barbie, Ken, Allen, Midge, a Barbie with wigs, Skipper and her pal, I think, Tracy. (Susan: correct me if I am wrong!) And of course, the Barbie Dream House, Fashion Studio, and Skipper School. It should be noted yours truly had probably the only Tupperware container for some of the gobs a paraphernalia. Check out the photo Judy, you will be happy to know it is still in use.

I have laid the law down: these creatures of my past will not be used for today's toys. I took good care of them and nary a one was given a haircut. Lacy has around twenty-five Barbies, Bratz, and Brittney Spears dolls and just about everyone has some hideous chop job. I have tried to preserve some for her days of old but it has been hard to do. She did get to look at the dolls and all their clothes. She thought there were some pretty strange clothes "back in the olden days." Just wait Lace, your kids will howl over those goofy Bratz with no feet!

More Big News

Robert, Nicole and Lainey have big news. On Thursday they flew to Spokane to participate in the sonogram of the next Reid baby. A young lady named Jennifer is making it possible for the Reid's to expand their dreams of a bigger family and nurture an infant into adulthood. What a lucky fellow he is!

Grandma and Grandpa Davis are delighted to have another grandchild. This little boy is be named Beaux Davis Reid. And what would this news be without a sort of Kodak moment?



This is side view with legs out on each side. Equipment visible. Back in the olden day of the first ultrasounds - they all looked alike. I think the OB docs had a master that we all got. The first time I had sonogram was with Billy, 27 years ago.

My Little Bill

Twenty-seven years ago today, the 26th, my little Bill was born. At 9# 6oz. he wasn't really little, but he sure was special. Today he is all big, works for Nabors Oil Drilling and soon will have his own little treasure. He and his girlfriend, Dani, will become parents in early May. They may already be well aware their lives will never be the same. Grandma and Grandpa Davis wish them love and joy as they travel down this unique and special road.

Birthdays

September 19th was a double birthday. Carsten turned 16, Collin turned 4. Carsten didn't want any fanfare, so he went to the Velva/Harvey football game. The Aggies tromped on the Harvey Hornets, 20-7.

Collin had his birthday on the 20th at the International Inn. Two special fellows in my world.


Collin Lee at 4


Carsten at 16

Sunday Mornings

To get up and have the house, a.k.a. my world, to myself is a treat I strive for continuously and succeed at seldom. On Sunday morning a good cup of fresh coffee, the newspaper, and solitude - that is my church.

When eight o'clock rolls around I turn on the set, or switch from CNN, to CBS Sunday Morning. This is one of the best little shows on TV nowadays. None of the 45 second interview or findings stuff they flash at us during the week. Nice in depth stuff.

They do have short commentaries that are rather light and cute. Today was a snippet about everlasting TV tunes. Are there any now?? No, but back in the good old days we had:

Brady Bunch
Beverly Hillbillies
Green Acres
Addams Family
Gilligan's Island
Hey, Hey, We're the Monkeys
Jefferson's
All in the Family (I do a fair Edith)
Mary Tyler Moore
Andy of Mayberry (you must know how to whistle)

While we're on subject of TV, how exciting was the fall lineup of coming show in the new season? Back when we had three channels - CBS,NBC and ABC, it was such a decision as to what to watch. As my dementia blossoms I wonder how long it will be before I forget:

Saturday night was Lawrence Welk (I was most interested in what the Lennon Sisters were wearing)
Sunday - Lassie, Real McCoys, Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color and Bonanza.
Tuesday - Red Skelton
Wednesday Beverly Hillbillies
Thursday - Hazel

Evidently Mondays and Fridays were not too memorable. Or possibly on Mondays I needed to rest after that big Sunday line up.

Don't Give Up on Me!

Ten Reasons why I am not blogging.

1. Trip to Fargo to work on the house.

2. Hutch came and needed to put good china and dishes away.

3. Canning Tomatoes

4. Freezing Corn

5. Making Apple Juice

6. Printing the trip pictures (300).

7. Painting Lacy new/old bedroom set.

8. Making Beet Pickles

9. New Kitten - Lacy's New Kitten, excuse me!

10. Sheer laziness when not having a breakdown.

A Little Bit of Entertainment

It was soon time for a snack of sorts. We bought strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and smoked salmon that melted in your mouth like butter. We ate with our fingers and savored every bite and moment. The peripheral entertainment was, as they say, priceless.




The uniqueness of people amazes me. I wanted to know their stories. Are they where they want to be? Who have they left behind? Does someone ache or worry for them? Will they go back? Is there a place to go back to?