Uncategorized

Jay took this picture today of the view out the window of a plumbing appointment. It’s the Mississippi River near Hennepin and 3rd Ave. So. Spectacular.  love, Val

 It’s been a great week.     Monday we had a babysitting day, lots of cousins here.  I snapped a picture at lunch, but that was it. Those kids played and played, the whole day.  There were games with the stuffed animals, imaginary play, plot lines I couldn’t really follow. Later in the afternoon I

It was an unexpected afternoon together in the car, me, you, and your mom. But it was great.  Your mom is wonderful, and you are easy company, true.  And here we are later, at the end of the day, wishing you happy birthday. Joe? Thanks for coming to this family and being ours. It’s been

 The sky is so blue today, and air is so fresh and bright. The hydrangeas have turned this color:  Bart is back, lighting up the place during the early dark. Hey, October? Lookin’ good. love, Val

Okay, so there are problems in this old house. Serious problems.  One little disruption in the paint was the only clue to the moisture destruction, and WHY? I called a carpenter we know, someone we’ve known over twenty years and asked him to come by and LOOK AT THIS. What is happening to our HOUSE?

We walked out of Target this morning, a different Target we don’t usually go to, and this was the view out the front door. It was done raining, but everything was hazy and misty and lovely. love, Val

 I start a new job next month. The call came yesterday late in the morning and the whole rest of the day was lost to just sheer GLEE.  Jay and Dan are moving Kirsten to Florida, so they weren’t here, but a bunch of the others bought chow mein and came for supper to celebrate.

 So tonight, a guy asked me if I’m married. Yes, I am. How long? Thirty-six years. He was aghast or appalled. I couldn’t tell which. Anyway, tonight there’s an old album piled on the desk.  And these pictures were in it. John, Dan, Heidi.  1984.  And this, one, some hot summer birthday party at the

 It was a lovely weekend at the lake:  Here you’re working in the kitchen with the dogs all staring you down:  And here’s the weird thing about you and me– How many people are currently raising children at the same time their mother in law is? Not very darn many. Being a grandparent in this

love, Val