This is my second year in Minnesota and this household is as busy as ever.

We had the Jewell farm house listed to sell this year, but haven’t sold it.

Don and Joan have made several trips to Iowa to bring back furnishings in the van or by U-Haul. Donny also brought back a loaded U-Haul. Max and Sandy were here for Max’s birthday in March. We were all at the Nelson’s for Easter.

Donny and Emily were divorced in May and have equal custody of Ethan. Donny has two young men living with him. Emily has moved in with a girl friend.

Don’s parents, Jim and Dorothy Berry of Des Moines were here in September and we were Sunday luncheon guests of Donny and Ethan.

We were at Max’s townhouse on Forest lake for a barbeque dinner on Labor Day and the 4th of July. We enjoyed a pontoon ride around the lake. Max’s thrill for the year was taking a ride in a B-52 bomber.

The Nelson’s entertained for Ethan’s fifth birthday and we were all invited.

Joan still plays with bands, sings with groups, scrapbooks and has a web design business. Don worked at Linders Nursery this summer, then a fire engine building company in Osceola, Wisconsin, and then a computer store in Forest Lake. He’s back in retirement for the holiday season! If the stock market improves, he’ll probably stay retired.

Max has his shop at Hugo and Sandy is still nursing at Birchwood Health Care Center in Forest Lake.

My sister, Marjorie, and friend, Deloris Carlson, spent the November 22nd weekend with us. On Friday night we watched tapes on the VCR that Joan had copied from our old small movie reels. On Saturday and Sunday nights we watched "Anna and the King" and "Fifth Element" in Don’s theater room. Max, Sandy and Donny were also dinner guests on Sunday evening.

I had a very efficient lady from Stanhope who kept the house in excellent condition this summer. She also helped Joan pack things. I’m very grateful for Jim and Pat Juon for taking care of the mowing and general farm upkeep.

Cable was installed this month so I have many programs available here in Minnesota. Sandy keeps me in good library books and I do scrapbooking. I’m now writing a story of my life growing up in Lytton, Iowa. What a contrast to present day living!

Florence Hendrickson