Ryan and Emily Flunker came up and gave us an excuse to be tourists in our own beautiful state.  Maybe you can come too?  We love company.

Update #1:  Jess and I spent the month of March in Guam, where it was 88 and sunny every day. It was a business trip for Jesse, and not only did I get to go along, his company hired and paid me to help with the work. We certainly did plenty of work (cleaning and inspecting aircraft fuel pipelines on military bases) but there was also time for snorkeling and tanning at the beach. It was heavenly-- even though we've gotten a few feet of snow since we've been home.

Update #2:  The snow is gone.  I'm am eager to plant my first vegetable garden, but around here we wait until Memorial Day to safely put in the plants.

Update #3: My mom's cancer is back. It was caught early so the doctors are confident that they will be able to get the cancer's growth under control.  However, she started chemo last week, which is no fun.  I am hoping to get down to visit her, so if there's anyone else who wants a visit while I'm "Outside" let me know.

Christmas was a real break... we headed out to Jesse's family cabin. It's up north about 8 hours and off the road a few miles by snowmachine. It was -20, but we bundled up. We relaxed. Cut down a few trees for the woodstove. Used the outhouse. Heated snow for wash water. Did the dishes. That pretty much fills the day. We read and talked and stayed up late and finally woke up at 11, just in time to get in on a few hours of daylight before it started to get dark at 3:30. Makes you want to cozy up to the woodstove with a book, which is what I did. And it was lovely.