Hold Me Closer Tiny Snowman

I'm double posting here. I put up these photos of Miss Kitty this morning and thought I might share them on The Andersonian too. Part of my reasoning is in Patrick's and my perpetual efforts to make really bad plays on words, the above title came up, which made me think of Buzz and his affection for Elton John. As a teenager I remember hearing him talk about his favorite Elton John songs and of course I was duly impressed.

Anyway, that's a long preamble to the following:


In Miss Kitty's rotating list of happiness, snowmen currently hold first place. Curiously timed as the weather is heating up, she talks about snowmen, snowmen bubbles (when two or more bubbles are stuck together) and this morning she excitedly displayed her very own snowman.


He was hand picked from the 10'x12' patch of pea gravel by the kitchen porch.


As you can see, she is smitten.


This is snowman #1. After a meaningful ten minute relationship she lost him. A series of snowmen suitors quickly followed. Fortunately we have a lot of pea gravel.

Oh and speaking in my own defense as a mother, I'm a big fan of grubby children (and you can see Thomas and Katherine are textbook examples) I like to think dirt is a sign of fun.

PS

In case you haven't guessed I really had trouble last night. I could post the picture and then not write. We are having picture perfect weather. Warm during the day, cool at night. Yesterday Dennis and I drove out to Lake Pond Orielle; had dinner at a restaurant with outdoor dining.

Today we are ordaining and installing our new pastor. These candidates are getting younger and younger. Dennis cousin, Don Bundy, is coming next weekend. We need to get the motor home cleaned as that's where we put them. The company that is.

I vote for the same angel food cake with that delicious frosting and Marciano cherries.

Have a good one. Must get ready for church.

Joan

Candle Holders cont.

This is the picture of the candle holders

Candle Holders

As I was cleaning the other day I came across the candle holders from Mom and Dads placel. I turned them over and suprise: they are Red Wing.

Life Beyond the Flood

Flood life continues but we took a break this week-end. It has been a long week of trying to get organized, helping businesses and people who don't know what to do next and standing amazed at the devastation left by all of that water. Mark spent a day last week helping one of their admin assistants who is single, without insurance (she is in the 500 year flood plain) and who's house had water to the ceiling of the first level. Everything was covered in muck, mold on the walls and what they tried to carry out rotted and fell apart. He said it was the most disgusting thing he has ever done. I've spent my week with the Governor's office getting special declarations for our large industry to get back on line (you want your General Mills and Quaker cereal don't you?) and securing three of our large industry planes to go to DC this week with an ask list.

But back to the reason of the post, we slipped away this week-end to Des Moines for Josh's team to play in the USSSA State Baseball Tournament. There are over 150 teams that start in this league at the beginning of the year. A dozen qualify for state and this picture shows what 3rd place in the state after 6 hard fought games in 2 days will bring for you. Josh is the tall one in the middle back. Tomorrow is back to reality but this week-end we ate concessionstand food, swam in a hotel pool and tried to remember what summer can be. Oh yeah, and shopped....but Mark hasn't seen all of that yet.

Great posts everyone, keep them coming.

Sara

P.S. The hot fudge sauce is awesome!

Hot fudge recipe

Hi Gang....I had a panic attack when shopping.....
The recipe I submitted for the hot fudge sauce looks like 15 1/3 oz can of condensed milk....it should read
1 - 5 1/3 oz can of condensed milk.....
Going to walk on the treadmill...I think I put on pounds just writing the recipe!!

Later.....Jan the third.....

Grandma Esther's Hot Chocolate Sauce

Hot Fudge Sauce
1 oz unsweetened chocolate....cut into small pieces
1 cup sugar
1 5 1/3 oz condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/8 salt
3 tbsp butter
Melt chocolate in double boiler. Gradually add sugar then milk, alternating until used.
It is important to start with the sugar then milk, otherwise it will sugar. Remove from heat, add vanilla, salt and butter. Serve warm on ice cream, Will serve 6-8
If I have extra time I make it in the double boiler....
Also....it is not a thick sauce...but REALLY good....
It is a favorite of Sara and Josh..as it is one of the treats we have at the lake.
Auntie Jan the Third....

P.S. Has anyone talked to Clare Vande Velde and wondering if she would like to be on the blog! Would be fun to hear about her life, kids, grandkids etc....
Talk to everyone in space...bye

Did someone say Chocolate Sauce?

I don't believe I have Grandma Esther's Chocolate Sauce recipe. While I'm sure Mom has it stashed away in her files, Auntie Jan if you have it handy could you publish it? Only if it's not too much trouble!

Chocolate covered raisins

Mr One year older Tad....
No wonder you are my god child.....the only chocolate I really like besides Grandma Esther's homemade chocolate sauce is chocolate covered raisins.....
Where is everyone or are you still thinking of your favorite cake.....
Come on Andersons.......
Jan the third daughter

Birthday Thanks

Maybe some of my elders can back me up on this. But the older I get, the more I realize that the best thing about birthdays is just being remembered. We all have a basic need for recognition and to know that we have a place in someone else's heart. So birthdays are an ideal occasion to feed that need. I was graciously fed yesterday. And I thank you for your birthday wishes and memories of infant trauma that I've long since blocked out through rigorous therapy and a chronic avoidance of shopping malls. Cake? Chocolate with butter cream frosting and a scoop of homemade ice cream. But really . . . just give me chocolate covered raisins and I'll love you forever. Thanks again 'Fam'. Good to celebrate, even in blogville.

Happy Birthday Tad

Sending Birthday wishes also Tad......I remember the time Al and I were taking care of you....for whatever reason....and we gave you your first Dairy Queen ice cream cone....
After I had children I realized you were way toooooo young to lick an ice cream cone, even if someone held the cone....but hey, what did I know about little little kids.....
Let's just say....you ended up wearing more of the ice cream...then eating it.
Are you having a big celebration for your birthday and what is your favorite birthday cake? That might be a question that everyone on the blog could answer...
Lets hear it....whats the favoite birthday cake?

Mine/Jan The angel food cake made in a tube pan and that special frosting Mom made and than decorated the cake with Marchanio (spelling) cheeries and walnuts....my mouth is watering for it.
Al: Chocolate cake and chocolate frosting....

Happy Birthday Tad!

Hey Tad! Happy Birthday!

My Mom was telling me about when you were born. She said Aunt Fern sent a stack of adorable outfits and you patently submitted to modeling every single one (like you had a choice right?). My Mom figures that's why you have such an economy of words...you learned at an early age that resistance is futile!

I hope your day is awesome and filled with huge bowls of ice cream!

much love,
your west coast fan club

IDAHO

Thanks for the pictures Angie. I can't belive the kids have grown so much since Dec. Bob, nice looking car. I've always wanted a vw convertable. Enjoy
Also thanks for the update Sara. We have been thinking of you and your family; and thankful to hear you are ok. The devistation must be undescrible. Heard from your relatives (Jack and Deni) and they and their families are ok. They have friends they are helping remove the sludge.
It was so nice to see Lisa, Andy and Cooper were able to visit Jayne and family. It is so nice to see family staying connected.
I check everyday the Andersonian and Jaynes blog. I feel connected with my family. Thanks again Tad.
After a looong winter and spring we are experiencing beautiful Idaho summer weather. Dennis wants to go walley fishing. Friends left last week to go fishing and they haven't returned; so the fish must be bitting. There isn't any phone or any other means of communication from where they are fishing and since we haven't heard of any accidents in that area we are assuming they are catching fish.
Keep in touch, Joan

Love the pictures

Cute pictures Angie......we were able to attend Isabelle's dance recital on our way home from AZ......fun to watch and the kids are sooo excited.
Did Bob get a new VW?
Auntie Jan...the third

Happy Summer!

The kids are very excited for summer break. I took this picture on the last day of school and it is probably one of the few times I didn't have to make a request for smiles. The kids quickly dumped the school year 8:00 bedtime for a later bedtime. We've dusted off the bikes and pulled out tennis rackets for lessons. Now we just need some really hot weather so we can hit the lake/pool/sprinkler.

Last weekend, Sam finished off her third year of dance with a recital. Bob and Rose came to the cities and suffered through 3 hours of dancing to see our shining star on stage. They even brought up their new bug convertible which nicely matched Sam's costume. What is with Anderson's and VW's?

Flood

Some of you have emailed about the massive flooding in Cedar Rapids. I thought I would do a post with an update. I won't share pictures as they are plentiful on www.kcrg.com and www.gazetteonline.com.

We live in Marion, a north suburb of Cedar Rapids. We have not had flooding at our house except for some flash flooding from a creek across the street. We also still have power and cable which is amazing. The big problem is water. They say there is a day and a half left for Cedar Rapids if it isn't conserved. Marion has its own system and is pumping to CR to help with the demand. This could last weeks. We are a very smelly town full of people in tshirts, women in poneytails and lots of baseball hats....men and women.

I work at the point you saw a number of news broadcasts in downtown Cedar Rapids. The water was within 50 feet of our building but we are on a slight hill and that saved us. We, as the Chamber of Commerce, have a huge job ahead. This morning we took business owners with a National Guard escort through the skywalks to businesses located on the 2nd floor or above on the skywalk. This covers over 10 blocks. Once we had them in their building they had 20 minutes to gather essentials to continue business and get out. We turned away over 900 people because the fire department found a gas leak and after clearing it took over from our staff and the Guard to finish the escorts. I am now home, riding out yet another thunderstorm and getting ready to head to our neighbor's 40th birthday party. Port o pottys and all.

It'll be at least 10 days before the water is back below flood stage, downtown is a disaster, we saw it from the skywalks with broken windows on storefronts and water rushing in to everything from the businesses to the main library to the historic theater where Isabelle had her dance recital last month. We are preparing to go to Washington to ask for the money to rebuild. Our two senators are in key positions (one to appropriate the money and one to approve) and the budget director for the White House is also from here and he was here Friday for the FEMA tour. Probably more than any of you care to know but the pictures you see on the news can't capture what this has done to a community of 175,000 people.

Thank you everyone. Been a heck of a year in Iowa! Sara

Anniversary

Thanks for the good wishes. I worked and Dennis went to Portland. Jonathan, Andy and I went out and had pizza. We are having the living area painted so we took down pictures, curtains etc.
Summer has not arrived in the Northwest. Yesterday we had snow in the mountains. Everything is growing and green; but it is cold and rainy (some snow).
Got to go the painter is here.

Big News in Idaho

!

47 years

happy anniversary joan & dennis!

Sounds like a trip to the Coeur d'Alene is in order!


judy-janna-jayne
&
your kinfolk

Hutch All Star - Anderson

Back from Iran

Patrick with the Ayatollah Ansari in Esfahan, where they talked theology and the relationship between faith and state.

Patrick returned a week ago from his ten days in Iran. He had an amazing time. He took over 500 pictures so there is quite a lot of information to process. Much of it he'll use in his classes and in updating his textbook this summer. He tells me he looks forward to returning some day as a family. He said the people were the kindest and most hospitable he's ever met in his travels.

Sorry no recent photos of the kids. We've had unseasonably gloomy spring weather and it's not been good for taking pictures. I mean, it's June and the heat is coming on in the morning. We look forward to drying out soon.

Cheers to all!
love jayne

Thanks Tad

Thanks Tad for the information about the Hardwick's Veteran's Memorial plus the pictures that you posted of the Hardware store, Mom, Dad, Orrin and Wes and Orrin.
It was very moving....
Auntie Jan
P.S. I didn't know you were told about the dog in the basement?