UPDATE -- Rylie writes a letter
by Rylie Johnson
Moorhead, MN

Great Grandma Dorothy,

Mom's working today, so I'm in charge of keeping Daddy and Brooklynn busy. We spent some of the morning wrapping presents. Brooklynn's a VERY helpful present wrapper. Daddy cuts and wraps while I get tape ready for Daddy. Brooklynn tests the wrap job, to make sure there aren't any loose ends. As we wrapped my cousin Vincent's present, I told Daddy we should tease Vincent and tell him that we got him a necklace and earrings. Daddy laughed and thought that was a good idea. Then I told him we'd tell my other cousin, Hannah, that we got her some socks.

Wrapping presents got boring, so I figured it was time for Daddy to get out and shovel. Daddy took FOREVER to find all our snowpants, jackets, boots, hats, and mittens. I got to wear my new "Hello Kitty" mittens!

Brooklynn was a total maniac, and spent most of the time trying to walk out into the street. I spent my time trudging through the too deep snow, getting my feet stuck all the time. Daddy was babbling something about his 15 minute shoveling project taking over 45 minutes! Oh well, I had a good time, and Daddy got a little needed exercise and fresh air.

I love you!
Rylie

Rylie & Brooklynn Johnson, left; Brook & Rylie in snow, right;

My Dear Sweet Rylie,

I must say you are one busy girl... I would think Daddy must need a nap after Mama gets home from work! I do hope you and sister Brook have a lovely Christmas.

I love the pictures you sent me and those blue satin pants look so cozy... I have a nightgown that is nice blue and shiny and I LOOVVVVE it ... because it is so smooth!

Thanks for writing to me!

I love you, too!
Great Grandma Dorothy

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

Photo © Jerrianne Lowther
Apple & orange slices flank a birdseed-studded peanut butter bagel.

A Fancy Feast For The Birds
by Jerrianne Lowther
Anchorage, AK

I hadn't planned to decorate a holiday tree ... but then my friend Kate (the "flower lady" who started the gardening project in our neighborhood park and the Pioneer Avenue median strip) stopped by and presented me with two gifts. "This one is for your refrigerator," she said, handing me an open gift bag with jars of homemade raspberry and rhubarb jam, "and this one is for the birds."

In a gaily wrapped box with birds on the lid, I found sliced bagels, spread with peanut butter with birdseed pressed into it, and yarn loops through the holes in the bagels to hang them on the tree. Slices of oranges and apples and chains of Froot Loops tied with ribbons nestled there, too.

Kate's gifts look pretty, hanging in the spruce and birch trees in my yard, close to the windows where Miss Kitty and I enjoy watching chickadees and redpolls, juncos and nuthatches, and other little songbirds. Birds are Miss Kitty's favorite creatures and she's thrilled. We woke up from the longest night of the year to find a flock of chickadees fluttering about, trying to figure out how to get the birdseed on the bagels. We saw magpies, too. Miss Kitty can't take her eyes off them!

An Anchorage Daily News column from Haines, Alaska, I think you might like:

http://www.adn.com/life/story/7306100p-7217821c.html

The author, Heather Lende, is one of my favorite Alaska writers. Last spring, this bicycle riding mother of five was accidentally run over by a truck that shattered her pelvis and we almost lost her ... but she is back on her feet, walking, hiking and coaching a high school cross country running team ... and her writing is stronger than ever. If you'd like to read more about Heather Lende, click here:

http://www.heatherlende.com/

In my pantry I noticed some ingredients, bought on a whim with no plan in mind, "just to try," and said, "Hmmm..." This is what I came up with. --Jerrianne

Triple Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Pie
Serves 6 to 8
1- 8-inch prepared chocolate cookie crumb crust
2-2/3 cups whole, 2% or non-fat milk, divided
1 small pkg. Jell-O cook & serve chocolate fudge pudding, made with 2 cups milk
1 pkg. Nestle's European Style Mousse mix, Chocolate Raspberry Truffle flavor,
whipped with the remaining 2/3 cup milk
Whipped cream or other prepared whipped topping, for garnish
A few fresh red raspberries (optional), would be a nice addition.

Cook the pudding according to package directions and pour into the crust. Cover the pie while it's cooling, so a skin won't form on the pudding. When the pudding is cool, prepare the mousse by whipping the mix with the remaining milk and pile it on top of the cooled pudding. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour (longer is better). Garnish with whipped topping and fresh raspberries (optional).

I used 1% milk for the pudding and non-fat milk for the mousse and it still tasted rich and creamy. It's very fast and very forgiving -- you can make it with whatever kind of milk is on hand -- and you could use other flavors of pudding and mousse mix, substitute a graham cracker crust, etc.

Click here to review last week's Bulletin

Thanks so much for another great Bulletin. It is so much fun to read everyone's input. When we have a picture with the story it really is wonderful.

Mavis Anderson Morgan
Hope, ND

Mom and Dad (Tom and Mavis Anderson Morgan) got to their winter home in Estero, Florida, this afternoon. Dahlquists helped them unpack the van and invited them over for supper. It was 65 degrees. Marlee and Troy and family will fly to Orlando tomorrow and drive to Mom and Dad's tomorrow evening.

Merna Hellevang
Fargo, ND

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone at The Bulletin for all your hard work. I always look forward to reading the articles and seeing photos of everyone. I've gotten to know your family even better than I did before. What a wonderful bunch of people!

You have so many talented writers in your group. Larry's stories are always wonderful, and I look forward to the stories from Beaver, Doug and Brianna, Ginny, Elaine, and all the others who keep us up-to-date on their lives, loves and travels. Flat Stanley, the world traveler, has taught me much, as well.

Thank you to everyone for keeping me well entertained!

Donna Richards
Eden Prairie, MN

I don't know if you know that Donna sends me your newsletter. I sure enjoy it. You guys do a great job and I think it's good for the family to keep up communications. I know it's a lot of hard work, but that you are "paid" in your heart because you know you are doing something wonderful for the family. I love to see pictures and read stuff about Donna, her family, and others I know. Thanks a lot for doing it. I do enjoy it.

Love and God bless you!

Cookie (Diane) Zierman
Brainerd, MN

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.