Christine (cont'd)

I think yesterday was the first day we did not go anyway - didn't get in the car, didn't go for a hike, didn't go out to eat, didn't do "nothing" - except to visit with family.  We spent the entire day at Ken and Melanie's talking and just having family time with people as they drifted in and out.  It was one of those picture-perfect days in North Dakota, sunshine, slight breeze, and temperature in the 80's.  The Chamber of Commerce couldn't have provided a better day.  Even the mosquitoes cooperated by staying out of the way - at least until late evening!  Conner cooked lunch - chicken breasts and sausage made from elk that he and Ken got in Colorado last year, with wild rice.

In a way, dinner was kind of a repeat of the previous evening with all the family present.  Continued celebrating Reilee's twenty-first birthday and Melinda's XXXX birthday.  They were almost born on the same day, would have been a great mother/daughter story!  Speaking of birthdays, this was the first opportunity for us to get all three people together who were born on April 30th.  You may recognize the one in the middle.  On her right is Christopher Friesen (Melissa's son) and in her arms is Asher Friesen (Blake's son) - the latest addition to our family.  I think it's the first time I have ever heard Vi say - "Take a picture of me" (with the baby)!!!! 

 

Dinner was a fantastic array of foods, highlighted (at least for me) by the shoopnoodles and walleye fillets.  That's not the correct way to spell shoopnoodles, but phonetically it's close.  It's a flour and water mix fried in a pan.  The really fun part was watching several generations standing at the stove making the dish.  The walleyes were caught by Carley earlier in the week - see previous entry about the North Dakota Fish and Game Commission hot on her trail for exceeding her limit!  We destroyed all the evidence.  The meal was delicious and everyone had a great time.  All contributed something, even if it was only in helping with the serving and cleaning-up.  We won't even talk about the desserts - hardly a calorie in the bunch!  The chocolate zucchini cake sounds like an odd mixture, but it was delicious.

 

Again, lots of conversation and recounting of family stories - actually, the stories started early in the day and continued until bedtime.    It wasn't just a rehash of old stories, but a remembering of good times and not only those who were present, but all of the family - past and present.  Now with Asher and younger generation in school and some about to graduate, it's also about the future. Really a great day and evening.

 

Today is running errands day - need to get the Red Baron serviced for the trip home tomorrow and pick up some items in Fargo.  Vi will probably stay out at the Ken and Melanie's while I venture into the thriving metropolis.  It's amazing to us how Fargo has grown over the years, no longer a sleepy little community, it's a thriving center of business, industry and retail.  Being at the intersection of I-29 and I-94 doesn't hurt either.