New Years Blessings to our Family and Friends

Image courtesy of Vintage Holiday Crafts

Best wishes for a New Year of

Happiness, Health, and Prosperity.

We celebrated with seafood.

Our supermarket was holding their Seafood Roadshow

for the holiday. The store was crazy busy.

I got the last parking spot and the second to the last cart!

Hubby and I toasted in the

New Year with a little bubbly.

Lizzie looked on with envy.

I brought out this box of fun.

It doesn’t take much to entertain these empty nesters.

We even stayed up past midnight!

I hope you all had a great evening

with someone you love!

Happy New Year

Take care,

~Natalie

2017 Comes to an End ~Reviewing the Year's Highlights ~Month by Month

As 2017 comes to a close, it is time to reflect on the events of the year.

I have chosen a couple of photos from each month to share.

January 2017

Hubby and I saw the New Year in at home...

Lobster Tails, Hasselback Potatoes, and Salad.

Teaching Family and Consumer Science at CHS

consumed most of my time and energy.

February 2017

We took advantage of sales to replace the appliances in our kitchen.

We renewed our friendship with this special couple

at the SD Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Wine and Cheese Tasting Event.

March 2017

My daily routine included an early alarm,

a quick stop at the supermarket for lab supplies,

and setting up at school before the students arrive.

We adopted Jasmine, a senior cat that had been looking

for her forever home for three years.

April 2017

Hubby's band, Precious Cargo, was inducted into the

South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Their band opened the concert...

and received a standing ovation!

Meanwhile, at home,

Jasmine and Lucy were getting to know each other.

May 2017

We broke ground on the garage additon project.

We celebrated my retirement after 38 years of teaching.

June 2017

More celebrating with our friends, Alan and Kari,

when their daughter, Ashley and Logan were married.

And celebrating again, two weeks later, when Bob and Paula's

daughter, Megan and Dylan were married.

 July 2017

Our daughters and husbands came home to visit family.

We spent time in Minneapolis and celebrated Jake's birthday

on the Fourth of July at a Twins game.

We all traveled home to spend a few days 

with family and hometown friends here.

 August 2017

This package came in our mail to announce

our first grandchild, due in March.

Hubby and I traveled to Colorado for his work conference

and to enjoy a little vacation time.

September 2017

We were able to secure tickets to watch the NDSU Bison play

 at all but one of their home games.

The mancave was finished and we were able to enjoy tailgating 

and watching our favorite baseball and football teams here.

 October 2017

We stayed busy with our creations for Winterfest.

And we appreciated the cooler temperatures

and colors of Autumn.

November 2017

This year, another successful Winterfest.

I enjoyed a fabulous trip to Boston to visit Emily & Jake.

December 2017

We all love the warm glow of Christmas lights.

We spent our holidays with hubby's mom and sister.

We enjoy the time we spend with family

and our friends.

We are Blessed.

Take care,

~Natalie

Out with the Old, In with the New ~Here's How We Celebrated the Holiday

This is not the first time that we stayed in 

to celebrate New Years Eve.

Our newest holiday tradition is to treat ourselves to lobster.

Hubby has perfected his process...

he pours a half a bottle of a stout beer 

in with the water in the bottom of our steamer.

The Lobster Tails are delicious.

I prepared the Hasselback Potatoes and a salad.

We did, however, celebrate with friends the evening before.

I thought you might enjoy seeing some of their lovely Christmas decorations.

This handmade wreath was created by our hostess.

What a great way to use those wine bottle corks 

that you all have been saving!

And then on their tree, Wendy has a 

delightful collection of birds.

This one is so much fun!

We enjoyed great conversation...

good pizza from Roma Ristorante Italiano.

and a little glass of bubbly to end the evening.

Whether you were out and about,

or relaxing at home,

I hope you had a great start to 

2017

Take care,

~Natalie

New Years Greetings to all our Family and Friends

Vintage Holiday Crafts

Best wishes for a Happy New Year

filled with Happiness, Health, and Prosperity.

Take care,

~Natalie

A New Year's Blessing to all Family and Friends

courtesy of vintage holiday crafts

May you always have 

enough happiness 

to keep you sweet;

enough trials 

to keep you strong;

enough success 

to keep you eager;

enough faith 

to give you courage;

enough determination 

to make each day a good day.

~Chinese Blessing


Take care,
~Natalie