Happy Thanksgiving to all
Illustration by Kimberly Johnson (and then Flat Stanley stepped in...)

Updates -

UPDATE -- Happy Thanksgiving
by Diana Martin
Brook Park, MN

Are you ready for the snow? I've had rain mixed with snow all night, but nothing sticking, yet ... but guess that will change during the day, from what I hear on the news.

I hope everyone will have a wonderful Thanksgiving, enjoying family and great food. I think of all the newlyweds this year, that will be starting new traditions, and making happy memories for years to come. Bless them all!

Happy Thanksgiving to all...

Love, Diana


UPDATE -- Real Estate News


Guessing Game: Whose Home Is This?
By Weston Johnson & Lori Chap
Maple Grove, MN

If you guessed Donald Anderson, you'd be wrong. If you guessed Lori Chap, you'd be close! But the correct answer would be Weston Johnson. That's right, I am the new owner of 7600 Berkshire Way in Maple Grove. How did this come about, you ask? Well it's a long story, but as far as I know The Bulletin doesn't impose any limits on words or column inches, so here goes:

This past summer, Lori and her friend Shawn Ostendorf began discussing the idea of purchasing lakefront property somewhere up north to give them a fun place to fish, swim, entertain and enjoy their summer weekends. In order to make that possible, Lori decided she would sell her house. This was convenient for me because I had been thinking about buying a house anyway. We settled on a price and agreed that I would buy the house when Lori and Shawn found a property, which could be in a month or not for several months.

After reading countless real estate listings and visiting a few different lake lots and cabins, they finally found a great lot on Lobster Lake, near the Garfield exit off I-94 (which is about three miles from Alexandria and 20 miles from Ashby). I will let Lori provide the details when she gets a chance to write -- I'm sure she knows a lot more about it than I do!

Lori and Shawn put a bid on the lot, and after some minor haggling, agreed on a purchase price for the property. Now Lori was officially ready to sell the house, and the sale had to move quickly so we could close on our deal before Lori and Shawn closed on theirs. I had already begun the loan pre-approval process, and was quickly becoming educated about previously foreign concepts like mortgage interest rates, PMI, escrow accounts and all of the other fun things that come with buying a home.

With help from a good mortgage agent who Lori had recommended, the process went pretty smoothly. I was able to close on my purchase on October 31, at which time I became the official owner of the home. Lori and Shawn closed on their property purchase on November 14, bringing the three-month process to an end.

To make a long story short, Lori and I are still living in the same house, but now I'm the owner. Lori plans to stay here and rent from me until she and Shawn tie the knot, whenever that may be. (No pressure or anything, Shawn!) So, I bought a house and didn't even have to move. Lori sold a house and didn't have to move, either. I always pictured that when I closed on my first house, the former owner would hand me the house key and that would make the deal official. But I already had a key and Lori still needs hers -- so much for that plan!


UPDATE -- Indermarks
by Kristi Indermark
Portage, WI

We have been so busy. We are getting ready for the winter here. We mowed our lawn for the last time this year. It is supposed to snow today or tomorrow. Jim and I are very excited for our first snow in a long time! (We have been in Florida for about the last 10 years)

The day care is keeping me very busy. The kids are so much fun. They come up with some of the funniest things.

Jordan and Tyler are doing great. We had our Christmas pictures taken last weekend and Tyler's 6 month pictures. The kids did great. I didn't even have to use my backup bribe of M&M's for Jordan.

Jim got a new job and is working at a GM dealership here in town. It is about three miles from our house. He is still working at Sears on the weekends until January 1st, to keep our health insurance.

We are keeping busy traveling in our spare time. We are going to a Bon Jovi concert on Wednesday, then for the weekend we are heading over to Milwaukee to visit some of our friends. Then the following weekend is Thanksgiving and my dad and Grandma are coming to visit. (George Larson and his mom, Gen Hemmesch.) Then the following weekend my mom and sister are coming up from Florida to visit for the weekend. (Shari Schweiger and Kelly Seaman.)

Jim, Kristi, Jordan and Tyler Indermark


Tyler, left; Jordan, right.


UPDATE -- Thanksgiving plans
by Kathleen Dake Stahlecker
Gatesville, TX

You asked about Thanksgiving plans; I guess those of us that will be around for Thanksgiving will gather at Mom's. Tricia's are suppose to go to Red River, New Mexico, for the weekend, so it will probably be just us, Stan's and Mom.

I am not sure if my girls will be there and Stan does not know about his, either. So, it may be a quiet one.

Earl usually fixes the turkey, and Janice does the dressing and then we fill in around it. Earl loves to fry the turkey, so that has become his thing. Mom is getting where it is hard on her to try to fix the meal, so we pretty much use her house and the rest of us do most of the cooking. She still does some pies, etc. I would love to have it at my house, but I really do not have a very big kitchen or living area.

We usually all gather at Stan's for Christmas. We wish we were closer to Carol's so we could get with them more often on these special holidays. They are somewhat closer to us now at Sidney than they were in Idaho, but it is still quite a ways just for three or four days.

I think I mentioned here while back that Angela and Adriana had started a candle company the first of September. They are really doing well with it. They are now doing candle shows, etc. You might pass along their web site (www.countrycabincandleco.com); it has their e-mail. It is a really cute site. Angela did a good job with it. It took off with a BANG, really faster than they thought it would. If you like candles they have some YUMMY ones! They have gone into other areas, but they started off with candles in canning jars that had a country flare. Adriana is still nursing two days a week, and the candle business is keeping Angela busy as she stays home with her three boys.

I better run. I have some preparation for school tomorrow and I have to go to a dermatologist tomorrow first thing to have tested/taken off a Basal Skin Cancer on my nose. I got burned too many times in the San Luis Valley on the ranch and now I am paying the price. Too bad that one does not listen when they are younger like they do when they are older and wiser!



Scott & Angela Roberson, left; Trenton, Trevor, and Tracer, right.

UPDATE -- Introducing the Scott Roberson Family
by Angela (Stahlecker) Roberson
Hico, TX

I would love to receive The Bulletin. (And, I solemnly promise to make written contributions.) I have read a few of the letters that Mom has received, and I know she loves getting them, so it will be exciting to keep up with everyone. I will try to send some of my poems in the near future. In the meantime, here's an update on my little family:

Scott and I currently live just out of Hico, Texas, on 2.5 acres. Hico (pronounced High-Koe) is the town where Billy the Kid supposedly showed back up years after he was killed, and claimed that he had faked his death. So, there is some mystery and intrigue surrounding our little town.

We have three sons, Tracer (7), Trevor (4), and Trenton (2). We are also expecting Number 4 in July of 2006. Scott jokes that we're growing a baseball team ... I say that after this one, we're done!

In keeping with the tradition of my parents, we have a ZOO at our house -- 3 dogs, 2 cats, 4 goats, 1 bird, 1 turtle, 2 fish, and one very furry Chinchilla.

We love living in the country, and really enjoy the place that we just bought in March of this year. Scott is a Sales Rep. for a company in Stephenville, Texas, so he travels a lot. I quit teaching science to stay at home with the boys.

Adriana (my sister) and I are only 45 minutes apart so we get together a lot to hang out and work on candles. Also, we went to most of Aaron's football games this year, which was a lot of fun. All in all, we stay really busy, but who doesn't these days? There is never a quiet moment in our house with the three boys, but we wouldn't have it any other way.


The Matriarch Speaks W
by Dorothy (Dake) Anderson
Alexandria, MN

Who Is This?

Let's Play a Guessing Game: Whenever it is handy to do so we will run a picture of someone of the subscribers or staff members of our e-magazine. Tell us who you think it is -- we will let you know who was the first to guess it right -- and the correct guess -- in the following week's Bulletin.
 
(Send us some to run; we will line them up in our staging area to take their turn.)


The Bees' Knees!
How many can you identify?

Answers to last week's mystery pictures (click here to review them):

We find none other but the Bill and Amy Dake family on the far right picture. All are looking so sharp and that is a great picture to have among your photos.

Mavis Anderson Morgan
Hope, ND


I was thrilled to see the picture in the GUESS again. LeRoy, Blanche, Gert, Bill, Amy, Dorothy, and I never got to know that end one -- must be a brother.

The big, tough looking fellow with the gigantic fish is beyond me, too.

OHHHH NOOO, I was so sure I recognized two on the GUESS picture last week, but I couldn't be further off. Looks like it was Frans's family.

Betty Droel
MoundsView, MN


Thought I'd send my guess, as I do know all of them this time. First picture is Caity Chap, Shawn Ostendorf, Lori Chap and top of Jayce's head. Sorry, couldn't identify the fish, though. :-) The picture on the right includes the Dake family: LeRoy, Grandpa Bill Dake, Grandma Amy Dake, Bill, Blanche, Gert and Dorothy.

Donna Johnson
Ashby, MN

Photo Editor's Note: I teased Donna about not being able to identify Jayce's first fish and she replied:

"Well, I checked with Jayce and he said the fish's name was 'Flipper' ... hmmmmmm ..."


The "guess who" pictures are always fun. I am sure I should know who the fisherman is in photo #1, but unfortunately I don't. Photo #2 is a true treasure. That is the family of Bill and Amy Dake. In the back: LeRoy, Bill, Amy, Billy; in the front: Blanche, Gert, Dorothy.

To Whoever sent that to The Bulletin, thanks for sharing with us. I am going to see if Ernie can download a copy for our picture stash.

Another good picture is of my little ham, Ethan! What a kid!

We are so glad you got your coffee Dorothy! :) Another great newsletter!

Carolyn Miller Dake
Duluth, GA

Photo Editor's Note: If you want to print that picture for your photo stash, you might want to get via e-mail a copy of the original scan from Dorothy. (I have it, too.) The reason is that The Bulletin is optimized for screen viewing and that means it is NOT optimized for printing. When I downsize and compress a photo for The Bulletin, a lot of information is discarded ... and your printer would make good use of that information.


I know the good-looking one holding Jayce's "big" fish … that's my boyfriend Shawn! :-)

The other photo is of my Grandma Dorothy and her family! Grandma, how old were you in that picture? Just curious.

Lori Chap
Maple Grove, MN

Editor's Note: To answer your question I am six years older than my sister Gert ... and she looks about 7 or 8, so I suppose I was 13 or 14. And I do not know how that picture got circulated, because, between Billie and I, we did our best to suppress it! -- Grandma Dake Anderson


I believe the picture on the right is Great Grandma Amy Dake and her husband William, and their kids -- Leroy, Dorothy, Blanche, Gert, and my Grandpa Dake (otherwise known to others as Billie or Bill, I think). I never knew my Grandpa Dake (Bill) ... but, I always thought he looked so handsome in pictures!

Angela Stahlecker Roberson
Hico, TX


The mystery picture this time has to be my beloved Dake family! Jim and I had a long discussion as to the date of the picture. I said it was about 1940 and could have been 1939. How far wrong am I?

Don't know the fisherman but looks like it was real fun for everyone!

Tom Miller
Madera, CA

I do not know the exact date but would think 1940 would probably be right. --The Editor


LTD Storybrooke


Photo © Larry T. Dake
Slumber party with new friends, on way to ranch job.

Moving
by Larry Dake

Having had our "big" moving sale before we left Minnesota, and having spent very little on stuff since we came to Oregon, and the best stuff having sold shortly after our moving sale opened that morning, what was left by early afternoon was "really junky stuff!"

We'd taken our antique shoeshine chair to an antique shop in Clatskanie and sold it to the proprietor for eighty-five dollars. It was not essential equipment, and we needed the money.

Most of the things we would take with us were hidden away in the bedroom, or packed away in boxes. The tiny red house was in a state of disarray -- looking more like a shack than a home.

Several of our church acquaintances, well heeled young housewives from the city, had heard about our moving sale, and being recreational garage sale types, had driven out into the country on this afternoon. They were unable to hide their shock and dismay. Pale faced, they each bought some small and worthless item and hurried back to the city.

We felt sorry for them, and a little cheap; they'd driven all the way out to our place, only to take home a couple pieces of trash. But, we couldn't help but get some chuckles out of their expressions.

The sale went well. We sold our recently acquired, eggshell colored, economy sedan. (It was totally out of sync with the 14 miles of rugged road that would be our new driveway.) The buyers put money down on the car and said they would return with a check, and pick up it up in a few days.

"Billy-Boy," our Old English Sheep Dog, also sold on sale day. He was too unruly to chance taking to a new job on a sheep ranch. So I put a hand-painted sign out by the road, along with the moving sale sign: "Pup For Sale." He sold to a nice family for a hundred dollars. We visited him at his new home before we left, and he was happy with two boys to play with and a farm to run on.

After selling the car, we bought an older Ford pickup, with crew cab and utility flatbed. It wasn't four-wheel drive, but it was heavy duty and had a "posi-trac" rear-end. It would work well for our 14 mile long driveway.

As moving day approached, we were mostly packed up and we were ready for our departure. All that was left to do was to put in the last of our housekeeping necessities, tarp everything down, and sweep out the house.

The people that had put the money down on the car called and said they'd changed their minds. They didn't want the car.

We couldn't take it to the ranch, as it would soon be rattled to pieces; and there would be little chance of selling it out there in "four-wheel-drive" country. We'd spent nearly all of our money to buy the pickup. So on the eve of our planned departure, we were out of cash, basically stranded, in our nearly empty house.

I made a "For Sale" sign and parked the car out by the highway. Several hours later, a man who appeared to be from the Middle East knocked on our door. He said his name was Jesus. He wanted to buy the car. He pulled out his billfold and counted crisp one hundred dollar bills into Sherry's hand. He didn't even ask to test drive it first.

The following day we swept out the house and stuck the broom under the ropes on the back of the trailer. Finally, we were all buckled in and rolling down the highway. We were flush with cash and no doubt had smiles on our faces. It was Thanksgiving Day, 1987.

One mile into our journey, the pickup hiccupped a couple times, and died. The gas gauge didn't work, but we were sure we'd put in enough gas to make it back to town. Further inspection revealed that the gas tank had a leak. We were out of gas!

I stuck out my thumb and hitched a ride to town to get a can of gas; we were soon on our way again.

Recently we'd met Rex and Donna at a gospel meeting. We learned they home-schooled their kids. We were also home-schooling Sarah.

Rex and Donna had invited us for Thanksgiving Day supper and to spend the night. Home-schooling was not very well accepted at the time, so we all had a lot to talk about. We took the high bridge over the Columbia River and looked them up where they lived, on the Washington side. The kids had a slumber party on the living room floor that night. They made lasting friends. Sherry and I slept in a giant waterbed.

I'd set the parking brake when I parked in their driveway that night. When we left in the morning, we weren't far down the freeway when one of the wheels got hot and started smoking. The parking brake hadn't released. I pulled onto the shoulder of the road and ended up removing the wheel to pound on the brake to get it to release.

When we approached the mountain pass near Mount Hood, the radiator boiled over. I swung into the parking lot at the Timberline Lodge, a ski resort, where we stretched our legs while the engine cooled. I filled the radiator with melted snow water and we headed down the other side of the mountains. The climate changed from cool-and-wet to warm-and-dry.

We made it down the mountain in good form, to Madras, and then south to Bend, where we caught Highway 20 heading southeast toward Burns. In the midday heat the four-speed shifter got so hot I couldn't touch it anymore. The continuous grind across the desert was causing the transmission to over-heat.

When Sherry's folks were out to see us, Sherry's Dad had given me a sample tube of BG™ Extreme Pressure Concentrate -- a cure-all oil additive he sells. I crawled under the truck and pulled the plug on the side of the scorching transmission. I squirted in the oil additive. It was supposed to be a great friction reducer, and that proved to be true! The transmission ran cool for the remainder of the trip.

I eased the truck and trailer up the 14-mile driveway to our new home. The driveway, actually a county road, was a boulder strewn track across the rolling hills of the desert. Halfway up the drive we had a flat tire on the trailer. I changed the tire, and soon we arrived at our new home.

With some trepidation, I called the main ranch, on the two-way radio in the house, to check for final instructions before we moved in. We'd been expecting to move into the smaller of two mobile homes. The manager said they had decided we should take the larger one instead -- their son would not be living there as had been planned.

Then he called for Martinez to pick up Refugio and to go help us carry in our things. The larger trailer was a much nicer trailer than the one we had expected to live in. In a short time the two Mexicans arrived in a pickup truck. They were quiet and courteous. Within an hour they had everything carried in. Then they were gone -- and the silence of the desert enveloped us.

As the sun was setting, I heard the awful screaming of a woman. I rushed down the driveway in her direction. When I arrived in the field below the house, I found only some strange looking grey bulls with big humps on their backs. We would come to enjoy hearing them bellow in the quiet evenings, a reminder that we were not alone in the desert.


Photo © Larry T. Dake
Our load parked in front of our new house on the ranch.


Monkey Drill
By Beaver

One day, about the fourth or fifth week of basic training, Sgt. McGowan told us we were about the best marching flight he ever had in basic training. He thought we could combat boredom and have some fun by learning a few new drills. He told us "monkey drill" was forbidden in basic training, but we would try a little anyway.

We learned to do "to the right, march" -- where the flight went from marching ahead in four columns to turning crosswise on the go and marching four deep and about twenty wide. We learned the same thing to the left, and then learned "to the rear, march" -- which amounted to an about face on the go. We tried "to the rear, march, by columns," which involved reversing by columns, so we were stretched out about a block long in staggered formation, and when reversed by columns again, we fell back into the same formation, going in the original direction.

All these maneuvers were difficult and we hadn't really mastered them when trouble happened over a most simple little maneuver. Sgt. McGowan showed us how to do a parade halt. When the flight was halted, we stopped at attention (arms at sides, feet together) as usual. For the parade halt, at the next count of cadence, we simultaneously went from attention to parade rest (hands clasped behind back, feet shoulder-width apart) without a command being given. It looked impressive, and was it was fun to do something nobody else was doing. Sgt. McGowan told us to do a parade halt every time we were halted.

After a couple of days, when the parade halt had become pretty routine, Sgt. McGowan took a day off, and our head training instructor took over. Sgt. Richards was a tough, bowlegged old bird about five feet tall with a deep, raspy voice, a leathery face, and a little potbelly. Everything went fine until he marched us to the chow hall for breakfast and halted us out front. We did our now routine parade halt, and Sgt. Richards exploded! When he calmed down enough so that we could understand a few words of his ranting, it became clear that he absolutely hated monkey drill.

He ran over to another training instructor as he arrived with his flight and hollered, "You know what this bunch of stupid apes did to me this morning? They come flopping along up to the chow hall and I give them 'flight halt' and what do you suppose they do? Watch this!"

He ran up the street and came marching back, toes pointed outward, arms swinging wildly, head bobbing up and down, wearing a vacant expression on his leathery face. He halted at attention, then went to parade rest, feet spread wide apart, potbelly pushed out, eyes bulging, and a stupid grin on his face that said, "Look what I can do!"

Before that flight was done laughing, he ran over to greet the next flight with the same performance. If he hadn't run out of wind, he would probably have kept on all day. We were mighty glad to slink into the chow hall for breakfast when he finally let us fall out of formation.

The next morning, a chastened Sgt. McGowan told us that Sgt. Richards was still on the warpath, and there would be no more monkey drill for us.


Travelogue t


Kristin, left; Lori, right at Oprah's studio doors.

Kristin and Lori go to the Oprah show!
by Lori Chap
Maple Grove, MN

I will forewarn all readers that the following account will no doubt make you either laugh or roll your eyes, as my friend and I were no doubt a little giddy (aka geeky) regarding our experience.

Click here for the story and more photos.



Flat Stanley Visits Alaska
By Stanley Lambchop
www.flatstanley.thebulletin.ws

Animals Everywhere!

Nick hoped I would bring back photos of Alaska's famous wild animals, so I asked Miss Kitty where to find them and how I could get my picture taken with them. She had lots of ideas about where to find them -- especially those in captivity. She showed me where to look up information about them. And then we boarded a train on the Alaska Railroad to see the animals in Denali National Park.


Observations
By Don Anderson
Alexandria, MN

Dad's Bobsled

In the last issue of The Bulletin, I submitted my letter regarding our great winters over the years.

I think a favorite toy I had as a youth should be mentioned.

Our father, as a young man, built a miniature bobsled -- now, for you young folks, a bobsled was two pairs of runners pulled in tandem, with a platform on it.

I believe I'm remembering correctly that Dad said he built it in about 1918. I remember, as a young boy, it hanging in the garage in Dwight, in bad condition. Later Dad rebuilt it and gave it new life once again.

With this sled I used to haul corncobs from the sheller at the Dwight elevator to different homes for heating their homes. I made a makeshift box to haul all I could pull through the deep snow.

Then, if I wanted to have some fun, I'd remove the box and go to the riverbank and slide. It accommodated three riders. It was known as the fastest and best in Dwight. Every kid that grew up in Dwight back in the late '30s will remember the "bobsled."

Also, I recall hitching rides behind horse drawn sleds as they prepared to drive to their respective farm homes. We would ride out as far as we wanted and drop the rope and walk back to town to "hitch" another ride. (We had to walk back.)

We would sit and wait by Hamerlik's Store for a driver to come out to go home. I remember as many as five sleds hooked on. The farmers seemed to enjoy to have us hitched and would get a bang if one overturned.

Later on, it was brother Dwight's sled. I think he could tell a story about it, too. His five children I am sure have had fun with it. Another generation coming up will no doubt have their turn.

Upon retirement, it hangs in the machine shed on Dwight's farm and is placed on the wall in a neat fashion to display it. I am sure he will give anybody interested a rundown on its history.

Now the event of snowmobiles have taken the place of snow fun. But I am sure most of folks of my age will fondly remember "Donnie's sled," as it was referred to as back then.

No kid today would lug it up the slopes; they prefer a gas powered "sled." Certainly, times have changed in snow fun.


Celebrations & Observances
From the Files of
5
Hetty Hooper

This Week's Special Days
November 24---Thanksgiving

This Week's Birthdays:
November 21---Alex Jo Marie Sigman (1 year)
November 21---Amy Elaine Printz (1 year)
November 26---DeLoris Anderson
Happy Birthday!

This Week's Anniversaries
November 26---Ben and Heather Henderson (1 year)
Congratulations!

More November Birthdays:
'
November 2---Gert Dake Pettit
November 2---Brianna Susan Lehtola (4 years)

November 7---Steven Anderson
November 7---Thomas Roland Mellon
November 7---Sandra Kay Miller Smith
November 10---Argyle Anderson
November 11---Allison Aydelotte (8 years)
November 12---Patty Anderson Henderson
November 14---Marian Miller
November 17---Zachary Myron
November 17---Mark Andrew Johnson
November 19---Tyler Swenson

November 30---Aaron Stahlecker

More November Anniversaries
Z
November 16---Argyle and Kathlyn Johnson Anderson (42 years)
November 29---Kurtis and Jeni Larson (1 year)

November Special Days
November 11---Veterans' Day
November 24---Thanksgiving

Miss Hetty's Mailbox:

Miss Hetty,

Thank you Miss Hetty, and all the rest of you, for your birthday wishes. It seems as if I'm the only one who was unaware that I had a big birthday weekend planned! I have to say it was one of my best so far!!

The kids and their dad all conspired to surprise me and that they did. I had no clue that their "we have plans for the weekend" really meant they were all planning to show up and spend the weekend with us!

On my birthday they cooked a wonderful homemade chili with all the fixings, bread sticks, fresh veggies with dip and the best Chocolate Mocha Cake I've tasted in a long time.

Today (Sunday), after meeting, Curt took us all to a brunch at Maynard's ... a restaurant overlooking Lake Minnetonka, so we had a wonderful weekend together.

Thanks again for the wishes, cards and phone calls!

Patty (Anderson) Henderson
Minnetrista, MN


The Hendersons: back L-R: Ben, Dan & Curt; front: Heather, Gina, Patty & Rachel.


Thank you Miss Hetty and Staff for the birthday and anniversary cards. We really enjoyed them, and we really enjoy each and every Bulletin. Every Saturday there is your wonderful present in our e-mail, and it makes our lives so much richer. Thank you.

Argyle and Kathlyn Anderson
Anchorage, AK


Happy First Birthday to Carrie Horne!


Illustration © Virginia McCorkell; photo by Jennie Horne
It's my party ... and I'll cry if I want to...

This little party girl is Carrie, daughter of photographer Jennie Horne.  It seems as though Carrie didn't like it that Mom set the Big Birthday Cake in front of her for pictures and then replaced it with such a little cake!


Miss Hetty Says


Beoples cartoon © Virginia McCorkell
The Bulletin subscriber list keeps on growing...

The Editor counted the names on her e-mail subscriber lists and discovered that she now e-mails each issue to 100 different addresses. Many of those copies are shared with other readers. And all 179 Bulletins published so far may also be read in The Bulletin archives, which are searchable. If you're curious about which Bulletin is being read in the cartoon, click it to find out. (It's # 122.)

Keep Us Posted!

Please drop Miss Hetty a line and tell us who, and what, we've missed. And how about a report (photos welcome) of YOUR special celebration?

'Many Thankse
Everyone!

Miss Hetty


+ LETTERS TO THE EDITORS?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click here to review last week's Bulletin

Just finished an enjoyable time reading my latest Bulletin issue. Loved it, as usual.

Thanks for sharing the pictures and telling us the details on the hurricane, Steve. Certainly did enough damage to create some extra work and hassle. Righto, though, could have been worse :-)

I got a big chuckle out of the "what big eyes" picture ... He certainly does look as though he's saying that! Levi is a little cutie-pie.

I think maybe Sophia was needing some aspirin for that tummy ache, from eating the baseball. Whatever her intent, it worked. I'm glad it wasn't me having to clean up the vehicle, though.

Great Foto-funnies!

Request for Steve: Would you please write about the hay rides we had at your place? And, seems we had some Hallowe'en parties together, too. If you'd share your take on any of that, I'd love it ... makes my poor memory bring forth things that I can't retrieve on my own. And any other memories that you or Carol have, I love reading them. (Or anybody with a better memory than me -- which is about everybody!)

Donna Anderson Johnson
Ashby, MN


Last week's Bulletin ... looked great. The first thing that comes to mind is Kimberly's FotoFunny. Look out, Doug, she is going to give you a run for your money!

Many other noteworthy items as well...

Ginny McCorkell
Blaine, MN


Thanks seems very inadequate for the privilege of getting to share all the contents of The Bulletin! But I must respond and tell you how much it means to us.

I really enjoy what others share! Betty Droel always has something nice to say about the different ones!

I also like to see letters from other members of the Miller Family ... Carolyn Dake wouldn't know just how far behind I can get ... and glad she will share news from that corner.

Glad for the pictures of Dr. Tom Miller and his Lab. We had a black Lab for 17 years and know what a great companion they can become ... But, eating aspirin and a baseball is just too much!

Nice to see the pictures of LeRoy and Vonnie, too ... and glad they seem to be doing better, health-wise.

The pictures of Steve and Marion's house and yard should be enough for the Adjuster! That is BAD ... But, glad no lives lost or injuries...

Tom & Lou Miller
Madera, CA


Ha! Beat the deadline for once! Keep up the good work ... Did you know that even when I'm busy I usually sneak in the house at noon on Saturday to read The Bulletin?

Beaver Johnson
Ashby, MN

Beaver, that was nice of you to share with us ... I think lots of people are "hooked" on the information we publish in it! (And that includes many things that Beaver Johnson has contributed.) Thanks! --The Editors


We are enjoying each and every issue of The Bulletin since we subscribed! On Saturday afternoon it is a treat to sit down and read it from top to bottom, and it's nice to get "acquainted" with family that we've never met, too! I wanted to send a comment in regards to Carol's contribution last week -- I've always felt I couldn't have hand picked better in-laws if I had taken applications -- my twin sister and I both feel very lucky to be part of the Printz's!

Melody Printz
Edgemont, SD


Last Week's Bulletin Review JKL
by Betty Droel
MoundsView, MN

I don't know if I should write this now or wait until I read The Bulletin over a few times, but right now I am motivated to tell you what a great Bulletin this was again. The breakfast dishes are waiting, but Roy is finishing up the morning paper, so he has a cup yet. My excuse for postponing that dishes job so I can slip into this den to the computer, and send you a radiant reply to all your dedication once again.

I think of those three girls on the front picture in just one year from now -- they are at the very sweet, cute stage where being "fairies" is fun, and you have to enjoy that precious little while of their childhood before they exchange their costumes for customs.

I remember Tom and Deb Miller's Shanna. She used to come to Dr. Tom's office with him when I was working for him. Such a cute little girl, tussling with her impish brother, Benny. Before long, they weren't coming anymore, but calling that Shanna was doing this or Benny was doing that, and would Dad take care of the situation? Not too long after that, we didn't see either one, and when I did see Shanna again she was a stunning, pretty lady that was graduating. I have totally lost track of her now, though. I see by The Bulletin that she had gotten two bucks in deer hunting. Very versatile little lady, I'd say.


Shanna & Deb Miller

Those hurricane pictures are tragic. One of the "prices" to pay for the luxury of living in Florida, but I'd say it was pretty costly. It could have been worse -- yes, it certainly could have, and thankful it wasn't.

I saw Ginny and Larry last night. She looks so innocent, but brewing there in her quiet expression is likely another creation to send to The Bulletin with her latest pictures. I hope she does something with a turkey in a couple weeks other than cooking it.

Tom is going to really love the Sophia story. Thanks for making it so outstanding.

We can always count on Donna Mae for a story when she has those children to write about. Always something funny and worth sharing happening with that many.

Larry, -- your picture was better than absolutely nothing from you, but hope by next week we find out how much good fortune really awaited you on that ranch.

Flat Stanley must be getting pretty chilled about now from Texas up there in Alaska. Wonder what he thought of the fantastic scenery and wildlife, as well as Miss Kitty?

That was really a cute picture of the telescope ...

Don -- you are more than welcome to come and remove your beloved snowdrifts, off our back steps and driveway all too soon. That's when your townhouse is great. BUT, we love our home, and have a neighbor that voluntarily has come to clear our driveway with his snowblower that he rides. So, we do fine.

I see the Foto-funnies are by Kimberly today. I had to laugh at that one ... like Roy with his head in his lawn tractor, probably changing oil or polishing up the motor. He keeps it just like new, and we hope yesterday was the last time to use it until spring.

Oh -- I see Roy is ready to read The Bulletin now, so I had better give it up to him. Thanks again, you editors, for this special Saturday morning adventure. You did it AGAIN.

Betty


CHUCKLES



Click here to find out Who's Who in The Bulletin 1

Click here to find out Who's Where in The Bulletin l

To search a name in Who's Who or Who's Where: click on the link to open the page, then use CONTROL F on a PC or COMMAND F on a Mac. To search for a second occurrence of the name, use CONTROL G on a PC or COMMAND G on a Mac. (This works on ANY web page with text, unless the text is converted to an image. Chances are, it works in your e-mail, too.) HINT: Search by first name only, as most entries list the family name once but do not repeat the last name for each family member. In Who's Where you can search on state or city names, too.

Click here for past editions in the searchable web archive

Home About Archive Recipes Stories Galleries Who's Who Where



Quotation for the day: Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way. --Booker T. Washington

EDITOR'S POLICY: If you wish to subscribe to The Bulletin, simply send me a statement of that fact. If you wish to keep receiving it I hope you will contribute to one of the columns that are running in this family epistle (at least occasionally!). My e-mail address is dma49261@juno.com


This Bulletin is copyright Dorothy M. Anderson; the contents are also copyrighted by the authors and photographers and used with their permission, and the contents are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the explicit consent of the creators.