One More Holiday, and We Can Relax

Wednesday, December 30, 2009. I see in the paper that we got an estimated 15 to 18 inches, Thursday through Saturday. That seems about right. My household's gotten the driveway and sidewalks cleared - several times - and now my son's working at excavating my oldest daughter's car.

Ads saying "no payments until 2010!" and Christmas decorations on discount signal the end of 2009. Sauk Centre's about the same now, as it was a year ago. Except for stuff that changed.

For example, Coborn's Pharmacy has a drive-through now.


It'll be interesting to see how this works: Coborn's Pharmacy drive thru. January 10, 2009.

Ace Hardware's storefront got finished early this year.


Let there be no mistake: Ace Hardware is open! February 18, 2009.

Spring came, along with a bit more water than the streams and storm drains could handle.


Not every small town has street fountains. Or wants them. This pair was gone the next day. March 16, 2009.

Part of the Conservation Park was underwater. Good for the ducks, I suppose.


It's actually rather restful down there, with the sound of rushing of water in the air. Bitterly cold, that day, though. Felt that way to me, anyway. March 25, 2009.

Main Street Press, downtown, is now Main Street Printing. They've gone by that name before, I heard. It's the same outfit, same people: just slight name change.


Rather classy sign, I think. April 6. 2009.

The County Road 186 bridge over I94 looked like it was unraveling, but it's been rewoven. Or repaved, or something.


Most of the bridge deck's off Sauk Centre's County Road 186 overpass. That wad of steel bars puts me in mind of a bird's nest. A really big bird. May 19. 2009.

AmericInn, by the Interstate: I really ought to stop by there and get a closer look at their addition.


AmericInn, Sauk Centre: Looks like they're adding maybe two dozen rooms. June 11, 2009.

The Sinclair Lewis Days Parade, alpaca and all, didn't go by my house again. The Chamber of Commerce Sinclair Lewis Days page has 2010's events listed already.


Someone called this fellow a llama. I'm pretty sure it's an alpaca, though. Also quite tired after walking the entire parade route. July 18, 2009.

Next stop, the Stearns County Fair.


A colorful affair: Ferris wheel and tractors at the Stearns County Fairgrounds. July 28, 2009.


There's a reason why that skunk looks odd. It's two skunks. August 1, 2009.

Our Lady of the Angels church has a Marian garden now.


The Marian Garden by Our Lady of the Angels church: statues, a bench or two, flowers and plantings. I'll want to spend a little time there. September 6, 2009.

Flooding in the spring, drought in late summer. Too bad we can't average out the water.


From the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, U.S. Drought Monitor
The way it was, Almost a week ago September 8, 2009.


From the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, U.S. Drought Monitor.
The way it was, almost three weeks back. August 25, 2009.

The Marian garden at Our Lady of the Angels has been used for at least one wedding now. Which isn't when I took this photo.


The Marian Garden by Our Lady of the Angels church. October 25, 2009.

Getting back to "now," that foot-and-a-half of snow gave us a sort of picture-postcard 'white Christmas. And nearly buried some of the yard displays.


There really is a manger scene under the star. And snow. December 30, 2009.

In a way, it'll be good to have a vacation from the Halloween-Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Years holiday marathon. That's hardly a new thought.

"If all the year were playing holidays, To sport would be as tedious as to work." (William Shakesepeare, "King Henry IV Part I", Act 1 scene 2, from The Quotations Page)

The Day After Christmas

Sunday, December 27, 2009. This afternoon I saw it: blue sky. It's been a long, long time since we saw that here.

Christmas is over: sort of. Some folks, this family included, keep rolling through Epiphany (January 3, this time around). But the crazy-making cultural business that Yogi Yorgesson immortalized in "I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas" is over, except for trading in presents that are either the wrong size, or something like a stuffed lizard with a clock in its belly. Next stop on the holiday parade is New Year's Eve.


Christmas Eve in Our Lady of the Angels church. December 24, 2009.

My family has a tradition of me taking at least some of the kids on a drive after Mass on Christmas Eve, officially to take a look at the Christmas lights. They're getting a bit old for that sort of thing - but it's still fun: for me, anyway. My oldest daughter went along for the ride this year: and I got some photos.


Each year, those lights on the front walk look like runway markers for Santa to me. December 24,
2009.


This is one of my favorite displays: particularly those bluish-white silhouettes. December 24, 2009.


There's something to be said for lighting up the night, too. December 24, 2009.


Cool. December 24, 2009.

A household on the near north side has, most years, had a very exuberant display. They seem to have the philosophy that, if one glow-in the dark snowman is good, a crowd is better. With cartoon characters, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and a Christmas choir to keep them company. I like it.


If they tell you, "you can't miss it" - believe them. December 24, 2009.


Same house, another side. They've even decorated a sort of patio in their back yard: If you know what to look for, you can make out the stairs at the photo's far right. December 24, 2009.

I'm not going to try figuring out who's prepared the most elaborate household display in town. There are a few 'top performers.'


Santa in an airplane, Santa in a racer, inflatable merry-go-round: and that's just for starters. Wow. December 24, 2009.

Civic decorations on Main Street and Sinclair Lewis Avenue, downtown, are a bit more low-key, but they're nice too. The new 'old-fashioned' street lights have strings of lights spiraling up them.


Main Street ("The Original") in Sauk Centre. December 24, 2009.


This year, the snow globe had a cap of snow. December 24, 2009.

Christmas lights and holiday decorations are fine - and the Christmas weekend storm gave the town a sort of 'picture postcard' look. But eventually someone's got to shovel out the cars and clear the sidewalks. And streets.


Christmas Eve. Think this is impressive? Check out the next photo. December 24, 2009.


That was a lovely scene, and I'm told that chickadees found shelter under this car. But it's going to be a job, shoveling it out. December 25, 2009.


Good job! Then more snow fell. December 25, 2009.


Lovely: as long as I can stay inside. December 25, 2009.

I took that last photo just a few inches from my webcam. It's not on quite 24/7: I have it offline most evenings for a few hours after sunset, for example. But, barring technical glitches, it's usually there, giving a view of south Ash and 9th.

That bit of self-promotion done, here's something really interesting: The choir director at Our Lady of the Angels had her first baby, a boy, right around Christmas.


Driveway in an alley getting blown clear. December 27, 2009.

The rest of the family's come home from Soo Bahk Do class, so it's time for me to wrap this up.

Monday's coming, and no winter weather advisories. That's fine by me. And, as usual after the sort of weather we've had, the forecasts say it'll be a bit colder: Eight below (Fahrenheit) Monday night: which isn't all that cold, by my standards.

The Day After Christmas

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. December 23, 2009.

"I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"? No need to dream about it: we've got what looks like the better part of a foot of new snow since mid-week. I'll be back tomorrow night, with the regular update and more photos: but thought I'd share these pictures, first.


Some folks out walking on Christmas Eve. December 24, 2009.


You think that's a covering of snow? You should see it today. December 24, 2009.


Our Lady of the Angels church, before Mass on Christmas Eve. December 24, 2009.


This is why I didn't grill burgers today. And probably won't tomorrow. December 26, 2009.

Happy Lille Julaften

Wednesday, December 23, 2009. For me, this is Lille Julaften, or Little Christmas Eve, when the final touches were put on the Christmas tree. I'm half Norwegian, and it took a little getting used to, having Christmas decorations up so early. I like the way we do things now, too: so I've got good memories, and a good present.


This was around 3:00 this afternoon: and dark enough for headlights. December 23, 2009.

There's a winter storm coming: It's in southern Minnesota as I write this. Happily, there wouldn't be any school for the rest of the week, anyway. I posted a map of the area under weather watches, and some comments, on the Sauk Centre Journal Blog: a sort of companion to the S. C. Journal. I plan to have streaming video from my webcam, showing the corner of south Ash and 9th, through the storm. Apart from the occasional interruption for maintenance.


It's sure going to be quiet just after 3:00, for the next week. December 23, 2009.

Okay: I've plugged some of my other efforts, now back to Sauk Centre and the holiday season.


Merry Christmas, everybody, from my house to yours. December 23, 2009.

Or, for for this household and much of Sauk Centre, Christmas season. I see that I have a few hours left before Christmas Eve - and good grief! I've still got stuff to wrap!

Winter Storm: It Isn't Snowing Now

From my webcam's blog: "Winter Storm Coming: Christmas, 2009, With Map"
Small Town America: Minnesota (December 23, 2009) (webcam streaming video on the blog page):

The forecasts are changing a bit, but the gist is still the same: quite a lot of snow and a fair amount of wind is coming, starting sometime tonight or early tomorrow morning.

I'm sincerely glad I don't have to travel.

I took a look at national weather: and this is not a small storm. And, I'm glad to live in central Minnesota. Central and Southern Illinois are in for flooding, it seems.

U.S. Severe Weather Map

(from Wunderground.com, used w/o permission)
Image from 2:10 p.m. Central (December 23, 2009)

Looks like we may have two to five more inches on the ground by tomorrow morning.

Or, not. Minnesota weather isn't particularly monotonous or predictable.

Christmas Blizzard/Winter Storm Coming

There's a winter storm - a bit one - brewing. People in the Rockies are probably experiencing it now. Looks like we'll be seeing the storm here in central Minnesota Thursday morning.

The bottom line, from the National Weather Service, for our area, anyway, is 'if you don't need to travel, don't; if you think you need to travel, think again.'

No kidding. Storms like this are potentially lethal. I won't soon forget the time a father and daughter thought they'd drive on the road running across the south side of Fargo's airport. I saw the meat wagon go out for their bodies, when that storm had passed.

Not to be an alarmist: but these warnings are issued for a reason.

A couple of headlines, and a map:

"Another historic blizzard...along with ice !!"
The Weather Channel (December 22, 2009)


(From The Weather Channel, used w/o permission)
The map dates from late Wednesday evening, December 21, 2009.

"Winter Storm Warning"
Wunderground.com (December 22, 2009)

"Statement as of 8:16 PM CST on December 22, 2009

"... Winter Storm Warning remains in effect from 6 am Thursday to 6 am CST Saturday...

"A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect from 6 am Thursday to 6 am CST Saturday.

"* Timing... several periods of snow are expected from early Thursday morning through Friday night.

"* Accumulations... significant amounts of snow will occur with periods of heavy snow possible as the storm intensifies Thursday and Friday. Near blizzard conditions can be
expected... particularly late Thursday through Friday. Total snowfall accumulations will likely exceed a foot in many areas... with a few totals in excess of 20 inches possible...."

There's more, mostly about what to expect when there's snow on the ground, more in the air, and the wind's between 20 and 30 miles an hour.

That Wunderground.com quote apparently uses data from the NOAA-NWS-ALERTS- system. Specifically, the one issued 20:16 CST on 12-22-2009, by by NWS Minneapolis (Southern Minnesota).

That National Weather Service warning reads:

"...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN STARTING WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

".A SIGNIFICANT STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE UPPER MIDWEST STARTING AS EARLY AS WEDNESDAY NIGHT...AND LASTING INTO SATURDAY. DUE TO THE STRENGTH OF THIS SYSTEM AND THE PROLONGED PERIOD FOR WHICH THE SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED...THERE WILL BE MAJOR IMPACTS FOR TRAVELERS...ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY. ALTHOUGH THERE REMAINS SOME MINOR TIMING ISSUES AND THE EXACT STORM TRACK IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR...THE LARGE NATURE OF THIS SYSTEM AND ITS EXPECTED HIGH ENERGY AND MOISTURE CONTENT...WILL LEAD TO A BROAD AREA OF HEAVY SNOW...WITH SOME SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST. THIS STORM SYSTEM IS SO COMPLEX THAT WILL BE SEVERAL BOUTS OF PRECIPITATION WITH THIS EVENT. THE FIRST IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND SPREAD NORTHWARD ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST. THIS WAVE HAS ABUNDANT WARM
AIR ASSOCIATED WITH IT...SO THERE MAY BE A MIXTURE OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN AS FAR NORTH SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND PARTS OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THE NEXT WAVE IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE AREA THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING WITH WIND SPEEDS INCREASING FROM THE NORTH. THE LAST WAVE WILL LIKELY BE THE WRAP AROUND MOISTURE WHICH WILL OCCUR FRIDAY AFTERNOON AS THE STORM SYSTEM BEGINS TO DEPART THE REGION. THE PRECISE TIMING OF EACH WAVE OF SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION IS STILL UNCERTAIN....AND LIGHTER PRECIPITATION WILL LIKELY OCCUR DURING ANY LULLS. AS THE STORM SYSTEM APPROACHES...SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL BE FURTHER REFINED...BUT TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS WILL LIKELY EXCEED A FOOT OVER PARTS MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN...WITH AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF 20 INCHES POSSIBLE. GIVEN THE TIMING OF THIS SYSTEM...HOLIDAY ROAD AND AIR TRAVEL WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED.

"...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM THURSDAY TO 6 AM CST SATURDAY...

"A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM THURSDAY TO 6 AM CST SATURDAY.

"* TIMING...SEVERAL PERIODS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED FROM EARLY THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT.

"* ACCUMULATIONS...SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW WILL OCCUR WITH PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLE AS THE STORM INTENSIFIES THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED...PARTICULARLY LATE THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS WILL LIKELY EXCEED A FOOT IN MANY AREAS...WITH A FEW TOTALS IN EXCESS OF 20 INCHES POSSIBLE.

"* SURFACE VISIBILITY WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED AS WINDS INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH FROM THE EAST ON WEDNESDAY...BECOMING MORE NORTHEAST...THEN NORTH ON FRIDAY.

"Instructions: A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
Target Area:
"Douglas
"Todd
"Morrison
"Mille Lacs
"Kanabec
"Stevens
"Pope
"Stearns
"Benton
"Sherburne
"Isanti
"Chisago
"Lac Qui Parle
"Swift
"Chippewa
"Kandiyohi
"Meeker
"Wright
"Hennepin
"Anoka
"Ramsey
"Washington
"Yellow Medicine
"Renville
"McLeod
"Sibley
"Carver
"Scott
"Dakota
"Redwood
"Brown
"Nicollet
"Le Sueur
"Rice
"Goodhue
"Watonwan
"Blue Earth
"Waseca
"Steele
"Martin
"Faribault
"Freeborn"
NOAA / NWS

Snowmobiles, Advent, and Tweeties

Sunday, December 20, 2009. We've had enough snow to make it look like winter, but not enough to be problem.


Snowmobile tracks on Sauk Lake: Don't know how thick the ice is, but it's held up so far. December 17, 2009.

I swung around one of my favorite Christmas displays this week. There's a household that seems to go with the 'you can't have too many glowing figures by your house' philosophy.


"North Pole" sign, candy cane, Santa and Mrs. Claus, elves - or maybe gnomes - lots of snowmen, Tweeties, Pooh, a Christmas choir, and more around the corner. December 17, 2009.

The place is - memorable - at night:


Hark the Herald Tweeties Sing?! Christmas, 2005

Our Lady of Angles church has a more traditional display outside.


Last night's snow: natural flocking for the wreaths. December 20, 2009.

Another candle lit on the Advent wreath. And, I see that Christmas is here on Friday.


No, his hand is not over the candle. December 20, 2009.

This family's gotten most of the major get-togethering done already. #1 daughter is here for the break-without-a-name, and isn't going anywhere soon - except maybe a quick trip back to Alexandria, to pick up her laptop.

The rest of this family went down to the metro yesterday, for the extended-family get-together. I had to miss it, for roughly the same reason I didn't grill burgers this weekend. Well, as we say here in Minnesota, "it could be worse."

Odds are pretty good that, if you're not traveling yourself, your house is crammed with kinfolk or will be soon. If around my age or older, you may remember the days before Yogi Yorgesson's "I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas" was banned on the radio. I trust your family isn't as nuts as Yogi's.

Mid-Week, Mid-Month, One Week to Little Christmas Eve

Wednesday, December 16, 2009. Nothing quite says "it's Christmas!" like a snowboarding polar bear and blue poinsettias.


No question about it: It's Christmas. December 14, 2009.

Seriously? I like the Christmas displays in stores, this time of year. There won't be eruptions of color like this until closer to St. Valentine's Day: and that tends to be mostly red, white and pink.

We've had maybe an inch or two of snow: enough to cover the ground, but apparently not quite sufficient for snowmobilers. At least, I haven't noticed anyone out yet.


Serene. December 14, 2009.

I was at the Post Office Monday: a busier-than-normal place this time of year.


Reflections in the Post Office. There's a play on words there, but I can't figure out what it is. Maybe you'll come up with one. December 14, 2009.


Lots of people walk through the Post Office. That fan's surprisingly effective at keeping the floor dry. December 14, 2009.

Another week, and we'll be coming up on Christmas Eve. I thought I was done with all the Christmas shopping, when one of the kids came to me, asking for some gift-giving assistance. I can't write any more about it, since these things are supposed to be secret.


There's something to be said about simple swags of greenery and red bows. December 8, 2009.

Wherever you are, whatever friends or family you're near - or not - I wish you well this holiday season. Good grief, I'm getting sentimental. See you again, Sunday night.