Leftover magic

These two to three inch disks, made from fabric and cord leftover from projects,

really tempt your creativity. Sam and Giddy had a great time decorating them, making them into ornaments or brooches. There's a lucky teacher out there or aunty who will be the recipient of these treasures. Sam opted for the "skull" and, with the hot glue gun, attached pearls and crystals. Two even looks like a lollypop.

My favorite holiday cookie recipe -Starlight Mint Surprises

My mom still makes these for Christmas. She says it is getting harder,however, to find the mint/chocolate wafers that the recipe calls for. Got any ideas where to find them? Starlight Mint Surprise

Sift together 3 cups of four, 1 tsp. soda, 1/2 tsp. salt. In a separate bowl, cream together 1 cup of butter (could use 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup shortening or margarine. Add 1 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar and blend together. Then blend in 2 eggs; 2 Tbls. water and 1 tsp. vanilla. Add this to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Chill the dough. After chilled, take about one tablespoon of dough, and encase a chocolate mint wafer inside the dough. Form into a ball and place on a greased sheet. Press a walnut half into the top of the ball. Bake at 375 degrees for about 10-12 minutes. Recipe makes about 4 1/2 dozen.

Schutz Family Reunion July 21-23, 2011

Derrick reunion 2010 - Deeryard Lake

Goodbye 2009- Hello 2010

I guess if there’s anything new this year in our lives it’s this: 2009 has been not a body-building year for us, but rather a body re-building year … physically and emotionally.
Each morning, Chan doesn’t exactly bound out of bed at 4:30 a.m., but he’s no slacker either. He’s at the Burnsville YMCA when the doors open at 5 a.m. In fact, if he forgets his I.D., they just smile and let him in. Yes, his 5 a.m. exercise routine has earned him the title of “A YMCA Regular.” Me, on the other hand, I just roll over and am happy that I have one more hour to lie in bed.
Chan ‘s heart bypass surgery last year was a real wake-up call for him, and his self-discipline and commitment to change is showing in his body and his smile.
My pivotal moment came in the summer when my leg just gave out on me. Yup. Just standing there and all of a sudden the pain just stopped me cold. No clear diagnosis other than overactive nerves. Maybe it’s polymyalgia, fibromyalgia, or as I call it “oldalgia.” Anyway, this and a wrestling match with the monster depression pushed me to deal with my “stinkin’ thinkin’.” Gosh, putting the pieces together again is darn near a full-time job!
And speaking of a job! How grateful I am that we have meaningful work. My prayer is that 2010 brings jobs and stability back to so many families.
Chan still has the store (not at the Mall of America) and is moving into other ventures (shhhhhh. I don’t think he’s quite ready to talk about it).
Me? Well I’m still at the House of Representatives and am now in the sixth year of teaching a community journalism class at the U of M. I am still very passionate about journalism, and love keeping the connection. My job forces me to keep up with technology, and you can follow the House on Twitter; follow my blog http://brovaldsims.blogspot.com/ or friend me through Facebook.
Yes, we took some trips this year. Probably the most memorable for me was our road trip to Calumet in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in search of my grandfather’s roots as a copper miner. A local historian showed us an 1894 directory with the address of my great great-grandfather’s house in nearby Lake Lillian. That was really interesting.
We also had a great visit with friends in Montreal, and took a spectacular side trip to Quebec City.
Our collective kids and grandkids (four for Lee Ann and five for Chan) are all doing well. This fall, Chan went to India with two of his grandchildren along with two of his children and their partners. What a wonderful experience; especially for the little ones and their grandpa.
The very best to you in the New Year, and please stay in touch.

Holiday Elves 2009

Harper, Stella, Charlie and Everette
Merry Christmas
Just got this photo of my wonderful grandkids!

Cookies help me find Christmas

A little considered fallout of divorce is "Who Gets Christmas?"
Christmas had always been mine before the big "D." From Snow Villages, homemade cookies and candies, homemade presents, and most importantly ... FAMILY. It was my time to devote energies to those that I love. I really wanted to create a magical time filled with memories.
After divorce ... "So, this is Christmas!"
I still wanted my kids (even though grown) to continue to experience the traditions they grew up with, and I knew that lay in Montevideo with their dad, not with me in the cities.
To complicate tradition woes: My sister had always had Thanksgiving, an event we really looked forward to annually. This year, the tradition went with them to their new winter home in South Carolina. Now, I felt a sense of obligation to bring my side of the family together, especially for her two daughters who would be experiencing their first Thanksgiving away from their parents.
After 12 years of my struggle to find a new holiday tradition that could include a blended and extended family, it came this year in the form of COOKIES!
Our first cookie bake, decorate and take event was a successful blend of frosting, candy do-dads, and our families,. (The homemade pizza's weren't too bad either.)
This, I hope, becomes a tradition that grows each year.
The hit of the day was Molly's replication of Grandma Winslow's sugar cookie!
What fun.