Merry Christmas 2011
December 2011
As I write this I realize that I'm starting early this year. It's Christmas Day! Some years we didn't begin writing until after New Year's Day. Just have patience with us; we will write every year, continuing to strive to be the last Christmas letter you receive during (or shortly after) the Holiday Season!
All is quiet and well here. Susan and I, Max and Carlotta, and Delight and Lady are all healthy and happy. A little slower and older than last year, but no complaints! Susan and I are still gainfully employed. In fact, Susan spent most of the summer and fall working 50 hour weeks, just the time of the year when she has outdoor activities that she enjoys. She balances priorities better than I do. After last year's success with bicycling, Susan bought a new bike this spring (a hybrid) with the intention of putting on even more miles. Unfortunately, her work schedule held her back, but she still found time for about 500 miles. Our local village is has been putting in bike trails as they do road work. And a new pedestrian bridge (three blocks from home) over the highway will be ready this spring, which offers even more opportunity for new places to go.
The garden was fun again this year; zucchini, yellow and spaghetti squash, kale, leaf lettuce, and tomatoes. At the garden center, the tag said eggplant, but the plant yielded many small (size of a child's fist) striped squash that looked like minature pumpkins, but that never ripened. We'll try again next year! Susan made pickles this year, starting with Carol Reitz's father's recipe; three or four batches later she experimenting with her own ideas including pickling zucchini when she ran out of cucumbers. They're so good, I'm even enjoying them!
We even had company this summer. Dick and Patty Rasmus made us a stop on their tour of MLB parks, in between Minneapolis and Chicago on their trip home from California.. Thanks Dick and Patty! Our door is always open; you're all welcome.
One of Susan's passions is still knitting. She enjoyed three weekend retreats (spring, summer, and fall) where it's nonstop knitting with no interruptions. She takes two machines with her, a standard and a bulky; so from whatever direction her muse calls, she's ready. We decided in January to take pictures of every thing she knits during the year. Oh well, good intentions take practice to implement. We'll try again this year.
The spring here was very windy, lot of damage and downed trees, including a tornado in Merril (30 miles north of here). We had no damage; but the maple in our side yard was severely cracked, so we had it taken down with the one in the front yard at the same time. Both of these trees were too close to the house to take a chance. And it gave us a reason to do some landscaping, upgrading the flower bed in the front to make room for hostas.
For our anniversary this fall, I finally took Susan on a cruise. Something we talked about for a while. It was a Wisconsin River cruise up in Rhinelander. 4-5 miles up the river and back again. Even though it was a misty rain that day, Susan and I stayed on the outdoor upper deck, almost the full trip. Fall colors, birds, wildlife; an enjoyable outing.
God’s blessings to you for the coming year.
Susan and Paul Stomieroski
6310 Setter Road
Weston, WI 54476
(715) 355-7769
Susan@Stomieroski.com
Paul@Stomieroski.com
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