Where does one begin with an update about us? In the last two weeks our family has moved out of our "town" house, moved into our "country" house (although still living out of boxes), had the stomach flu and started workshops for school, plus I've been treating a blood clot behind my knee, and all while being almost eight months pregnant!

OK ... the move. With help from family and friends, we finished packing on August 11th (while Jonathan was sick with what we thought was sinus drainage). That night, Jonathan was awake until 2 a.m. with what we now knew was stomach flu. Bright and early four hours later, we were up getting ready for family and friends to help move our belongings to our new country residence. Everything went well and by 11:30 we had six pickup and trailer units filled (Uff-dah! Too much stuff!)

Upon arriving at the new residence, we helped Dad and Mom move the last of their stuff out of the house and into the attached garage for storage until they can move into their new house. Then we hastily unloaded the piano as it was starting to rain. (This is the same piano that Grandpa Harry and Grandma Cleo had on this same farmsite about 70 years ago!)

We got everything unloaded or under tarps before going to dinner at our favorite restaurant, Pizza Ranch. Boy, did that taste good!

Back on the ranch, we soon had everything else stacked in the house and hauled two loads of "big" furniture to Dad and Mom's new house. Then we went back to our "old" house for one more small load. By 7:30 p.m. we were ready for supper and that is when Jazmine got the stomach flu -- just as we walked in the door at Fryn' Pan! So, we decided we weren't so hungry after all and went home. Later that night, Nathan and I both got the flu! What a first night in the new house! ("Where's the Pepto?" ... "In a box!")

The next day the adults were dragging far behind the now well children. Jonathan, especially, had fun going through the boxes. Jazmine did her best to be a little mother, but he didn't listen very well!

On Monday evening, I noticed soreness behind my knee but didn't think a lot of it. By Tuesday evening, it was warm, swollen, and red. On Wednesday morning, Nathan took me to the doctor and then the hospital for an ultrasound. A blood clot was found in a superficial vein behind the knee. No deep vein clots, so supposedly not serious ... just painful! Now, 10 days later, I'm able to walk on it 80% normally but bending over is still a problem. This is the biggest I've ever been, but this should be temporary as baby #3 (another boy) is due to be born via C-section on October 2nd.

Amidst all of this, Nathan has been working his regular 48 hours per week, besides picking up more than his fair share around the house and with the kids. It has been a very busy couple of weeks ... and school starts Monday!

That's all that has been happening here!

Nathan, Brenda, Jazmine, and Jonathan Hill

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I know it's been a long time since I've written, but it seemed like we were busy with uneventful things! This summer we've both been busy working like normal. I took a couple mini vacations with Jason while he was doing inspections.

The latest was a trip to Marshfield, Wisconsin. Last week, he was in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for a class all week so I decided I'd like to add a few more states to my "been to" list and went from Wednesday until Friday.

I took a road trip by myself on Thursday while Jason was in class. I drove from Oak Ridge to Pigeon Forge (Dollywood country), through Gatlinburg into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I ended up in North Carolina since at the top of the mountains is the Appalachian Trail and also the state line.

I drove through Cherokee, North Carolina, and back around to Knoxville, Tennesee. Looked at World's Fair Park and University of Tennessee and then drove back to Oak Ridge.

Friday, we went to the Museum of Energy. The history of Oak Ridge is very interesting since it started out as "The Secret City."

Last Saturday when I got done with work, we went to Jason's parents' place. It'd been since the beginning of May that we'd been there so I guess we were quite busy. Mostly, I don't have any weekends free. I work every Saturday and three of the four Sundays each month in the summer, as the other doctor that is usually rotating the Sundays is out sailing every weekend. I can't wait for October! The picture of us is taken at the American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin.

Guess this is all from this end!

The Bulletin is Four Years Old!

For 1/2 the guess, it's Foy and Gert. I'd guess the little girl would be one of Larry and Sherry's girls?

Donna Johnson
Ashby, MN

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The little girl might be Sarah Dake. Not sure. The couple is Gert and Foy Blackstone. Good picture!

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

Carolyn Miller Dake
Duluth, GA

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Photo illustration © Virginia McCorkell
A trip to Caribou will make your heart ZING!


Photo illustration © Virginia McCorkell
Girl Talk!

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Travelogue t

Photo © Mitzi Swenson
Lunch at Citadel Pass: Kjirsten, Tyler & Aunika Swenson

Queen Charlotte Islands Adventure
by Mitzi and Kjirsten Swenson
Dickinson, ND & Houston, TX
Part 1 of 3

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o In Service To Our Nation j
Gert Dake Pettit is compiling information on family members and friends of the Dake family who served in the armed forces during and after World War II.

Photos © Melanie Lehtola
Minnesota's Adjutant General, Larry Shellito, presents Second Lieutenant Beau Birkholz with his Certificate of Graduation from Officer Candidate School, left; Travis Quick and Stephanie (Beau's girlfriend) pin Beau's Lieutenant bars on his uniform in the Governor's office in the state capitol, right.

2LT. Beau Birkholz
by Melanie Lehtola
Howard Lake, MN

Second Lieutenant Beau Birkholz's commissioning ceremony was held on the lawn of the Minnesota State Capitol on Sunday, August 27th. Only 17 soldiers, of the approx 50 soldiers who began Officer Candidate School with Beau, made it to graduation. The Regimental motto for the Officer Candidate School is, animus valet, which is Latin for "Courage Prevails." An appropriate motto for these fine young men and women soldiers, now officers, of the Minnesota Army National Guard.

It was a beautiful day for an outside graduation, though it was a touch on the warm side. Beau had the support of family and friends as he accepted his commission. In attendance were his dad, Brad Birkholz; his mom, Melanie Lehtola; Grandma Gert Dake Pettit; Grandma Phyllis Birkholz; Aunt Ardis Quick; cousin Jason Quick; cousin Travis Quick; Beau's girlfriend, Stephanie; Stephanie's mom and dad; his long-time childhood friend Jeremiah and his college buddy Chris.

Beau selected his cousin Travis and girlfriend Stephanie for the honor of pinning on his Lieutenant bars, in the Governor's office in the State Capitol building.

Beau has selected Military Intelligence as his MOS. He begins his 18-week training at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, sometime in October. His "homebase" is in Stillwater, Minnesota.

Photos © Melanie Lehtola
2LT. Beau Birkholz and his dad, Brad Birkholz

Roy and I shopped for a comfortable chair my Mother could enjoy in her last days. We settled on this one that she could get out of easily. Now that she is gone, we found a place in our home for this sentimental chair. If it could only talk.

So, this is where I sit to read. I just left this chair to come to the computer to send you my LTTE for Bulletin #218 after reading it from "lid to lid" with great interest.

But I wanted to send Miss Hetty this picture just in case she's interested in such.

On one table, I have a poem book that Lorraine Tabor just surprised me with. It is a looseleaf she assembled with poems she has gathered for years. It is very precious to me, seeing it came from her in her nearly helpless state (due to the effects of her polio the same time Dorothy had hers, in their youth, and her advancing cancer condition). I love having this right by my hand to pick up and read a poem when the need strikes me. Her sister, IdaMae, has written some, and am sure Lorraine did, too.

The other table has my Bible, the phone, the clock, and one of the plants from the arrangement The Bulletin editors sent when Mother died. The other three plants of that are in pots here and there in the living room. A constant reminder of the thoughts of our Bulletin family.

This is where I sit to read The Bulletin in leisure, comfort and quiet.

Well, this is too much space for one person to take up in The Bulletin, so will just say it is wonderful chatting with you about what's in my heart.

Betty Droel
MoundsView, MN

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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.