We drove over to Kessler's Tree Farm for a Christmas tree today. Unbelievably warm weather, so it didn't quite seem like "Christmas weather." More importantly, it's not suitable for hunting deer. Today was opening day for rifle season, so the orange could be seen throughout the surrounding woods. Dan was lamenting the fact that there was no snow and that the deer would not be about, but I saw a dozen on my jog up the road and about nine on the way back down. Who knows?!? What would you do to cool the meat down with temps in the 50's?
Tomorrow we hope to get some lights & ornaments on the tree. Our deck has some lovely clear lights decorating the railing. I love cheery lights! The more the merrier!

Thanksgiving 2006. We had such a nice, quiet day at home -- just the seven of us. Wednesday I spent a good portion of the day in the kitchen making jello, cranberry bread, pies, sweet potatoe souffle, etc. It would make the next day more restful! Wednesday night we attended the Thanksgiving Service at church where we looked at Deut. 8. This passage was in my Beth Moore study. It would come up again during the 30-hr Famine. Was the Lord trying to tell me something or what?!?
The girls played with their American Girl dolls. The boys played nicely as well. I was able to get some photos in an album before 11:00. Then we started to work on mashed potatoes, fresh bread, setting the table and baking all of the side dishes. The turkey was smelling GOOD! We ate about 1pm. Later that day we enjoyed a game of dominoes. Briella was excited to make her own train and she ended up winning the game! Daddy followed with a close second and Jared came in third.
Although we desparately missed being with family, it was restful and relaxing to have a quiet day at home.

Biography Dress-up Night was Monday, November 13, 2006.


Here we have Johnny Appleseed, whose favorite book was the Bible and favorite place was being alone in the woods; Marie Curie, the scientist who invented radium and the first woman to win the Nobel prize;
Johnny's big sister Elizabeth Chapman who took care of him when their mother died while the two youngsters waited for their father to return from the Revolutionary War in NY; and Willa Cather the author who spent her formative years in Red Cloud, Nebraska.

Briella's cast is removed! Nov. 10, 2006:

The latest in fun at the Rose house : "Rock-n-Roll in my car jammies!"

Haven't had much time for keeping you posted. Here's a quick photo from a family camping trip with several friends from Iowa.