Epiphany Sunday

Sunday, December 27, 2015. Epiphany Sunday. I took a few more photos. There's a larger version of that first one in one of my blog posts: "Jesus, the Magi, and Me," (A Catholic Citizen in America)


Our Lady of Angels church, Saturday afternoon. (January 2, 2016)


Work on St. Paul's addition/annex continues. (January 2, 2016)


Snow, lots of it, on the WalMart parking lot. (January 2, 2016)


Icicles: sparkly! (January 2, 2016)

There's no question about it. Winter is here. I plan to be back next week, probably with equally-obvious observations.

Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 27, 2015. Merry Christmas!


Christmas morning at Our Lady of Angels. (December 25, 2015)


Neighbors: the view from our front porch. (December 26, 2015)

That's all I've got for this week. I hope you had, and are having, a good holiday season.

Snow and a White Christmas

Sunday, December 20, 2015. We got snow on Wednesday: the perfect-for-snowballs-and-snowmen variety.


The view through my webcam, Wednesday afternoon. (December 16, 2015)


Freshly-fallen snow in the back yard. (December 16, 2015)


Snow on the branches. (December 16, 2015)

It's not quite as picturesque now: quite a bit of the snow has fallen from branches. But we'll almost certainly have a white Christmas.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like - Easter?!

Sunday, December 13, 2015. It's beginning to look a lot like: Easter, actually. The week's rain melted our snow, and it's been unusually warm: nothing record-breaking, but above freezing on occasion.


St. Paul's addition is taking shape. (December 9, 2015)


Christmas yard display in the neighborhood. (December 9, 2015)

We may get more snow Wednesday: or not. Either way, Christmas is about two weeks away.

More Snow, and Holiday Humor

Sunday, November 29, 2015. It's the first Sunday of Advent, and I haven't taken any pictures this week. I did, however, to a holiday-themed picture for Apathetic Lemming of the North, one of my blogs.



The first winter storm of the season should be here Monday and Tuesday. Mywebcam will give you a look at Sauk Centre, near the corner of Ash and South 9th: assuming there aren't technical issues, of course.

The three Catholic parishes around here, St. Alexius, Our Lady of the Angels, and St. Paul's, did something new this year: 'stewardship fliers' for each household, letting us check off or fill in what we could do for the parish and community.

More than 20% of the households in each parish turned in fliers: more than 32% in St. Alexius. That's a remarkably good response, I think.

Neighbors east and northwest of us had their Christmas yard displays out, and lit, by the end of this weekend. Those will look nice, with the coming snowfall.

First Snow and Radar Speed Sign

Sunday, November 22, 2015. Thanksgiving nearly snuck up on me again this year. It's coming next week. Some folks have their Christmas yard decorations out already: including our neighbors across the corner, northwest of us.

I didn't get a photo of their display, yet, but did catch results of the season's first snowfall. The image is what my webcam showed at 10:40 a.m. last Thursday.


A week before Thanksgiving: our first snow. (October 19, 2015)


A radar speed sign on South Ash Street. (November 22, 2015)

I went out this afternoon to get a photo of the first radar speed sign I've seen here on Ash Street.

It faced southbound traffic, I'm not sure exactly why it's there: apart from the obvious reminder of the speed limit, and what I see as a convenient opportunity to check my speedometer. It's spot-on accurate, by the way.

Christmas 2014

Sunday, December 28, 2014. It warmed up a bit, so Christmas came with some grass visible: again.


Christmas Eve at Our Lady of Angels. They hadn't turned the tree lights on at this point. December 24, 2014.


Still Christmas Eve. As usual at this point in the Christmas season, the wise men haven't quite arrived. They're on the floor, to the left of the poinsettias. December 24, 2014.


Okay: Now the tree's lit. December 24, 2014.


Christmas lights. December 28, 2014.

That's it for this week. I'll be back with more, or less, next Sunday.

Sunshine, Frost, Snow: Christmas is Coming

Sunday, December 21, 2014. I'll say this for the climate here. It's not boring.


Wednesday afternoon: beautifully clear blue sky, sunlight on snow by the Coborn's parking lot. December 17, 2014.


Thursday afternoon: overcast, fog, hoarfrost decorating trees — and cars. Frosted branches in the trees were lovely, frosted roads: now so much. December 18, 2014.

We're into the fourth week of advent, and there's snow forecast for tomorrow and Tuesday. I'm pretty sure we'll have a "white Christmas."

A Little Rain, a Little Sleet, a Little Snow: Christmas is Coming

Sunday, December 7, 2014. There's a winter weather advisory out until midnight: a little freezing rain, a little sleet, a little snow. I'm sincerely glad I could stay inside for most of the day.

Holiday decorations are up on Main and Sinclair Lewis Avenue, near downtown. December 3, 2014.

The family has Christmas decorations up in the living room, Sauk Centre's garlands are in place over parts of Main and Sinclair Lewis Avenue: and I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep. See you next week.

Advent, 2014, Starts

Sunday, November 30, 2014. I see there's a Wind Chill Advisory for this area. I'm not surprised. A brisk northwest wind this morning let me know that winter is here as I went to church. It's more of the same tomorrow, only cooler.

Advent started today, some folks have Thanksgiving and Christmas yard decorations out, and the Knights of Columbus Nativity set gets lit up in a few days.

No photos this week. I've been been dealing with a 'nothing serious' bug: not enough to be worrisome, but quite sufficient to keep me inside except when really necessary. Next week should be better. That's the plan, anyway.

Feeling Better — not Good, but Better

Sunday, November 9, 2014. I've still got "nothing serious." My immune system finally kicked in Thursday: fever, chills, the works. That's good news, since now maybe I'll be done with the bug: whatever it is.

I've heard that something like this has been going around town. I like to feel like part of the community - but could have done without this. Oh, well: as my Norwegian forebears might have said, "it could be worse;" and, now that I think about it, has been worse.

One of the advantages to logging the six-decades-plus that I have, is the opportunity to develop perspective. Enough of the philosophizing.

Thanksgiving is coming up, And - more importantly for me - Advent and Christmas. I'm looking forward to seeing more holiday decorations, when I get out and about again.

Fifth Day of Christmas, and Crisp Weather

Sunday, December 29, 2013. Depending on how you see it, Christmas has come and gone: or we're at the fifth day of Christmas.

We had a white Christmas this year: complete with a little fresh snow. Weather announcements flip-flopped between calling today's weather winter weather and a blizzard, with a winter weather advisory from 6:00 p.m. Saturday to 6:00 p.m. today. This morning all that was left of that advisory was a weather statement about wind chill.

As someone said on my way to church this morning, it's been a crisp day. It's about -18° Fahrenheit at 9:00 this evening.


Christmas Eve at Our Lady of Angels. December 24, 2013.


Christmas lights. That snowman on the roof is new this year. December 27, 2013.


If my eyes were sensitive as a cat's and I could still see colors, back yards in my neighborhood would probably look like this. December 27, 2013.


This is pretty close to what I could actually see. December 27, 2013.

Finally, merry Christmas, and happy new year.

Related post:

• "Winter Storm and a Webcam in Central Minnesota"
  (December 28, 2013)

Picture-Postcard Weather for Christmas: Maybe

Sunday, December 22, 2013. If I was committed to buying a Christmas present for someone at the Rosedale shopping center in the Metro, I'd be crazy. I'd also have only two days left, since they're closed Christmas Day, Wednesday - and shut the doors at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, Christmas Eve.

As it is, my family has our Christmas shopping done: including me, oddly enough. True to form, I haven't gotten my wife's present wrapped yet: and that's another topic.

I haven't been around town much since last week, but did get some photos. We're having a white Christmas this year: picturesque, but a bit on the chilly side.


Picture-postcard weather for the Christmas season, seen through my webcam. Snow kept getting 'refreshed' with new snowfall or frost. December 17, 2013.


Frost on the trees, Saturday morning. December 21, 2013.


Not much wind, so we still had a 'fairyland' at noon. December 21, 2013.

On the other hand, we have a warm spell that melts all the snow: unlikely, but this is Minnesota.

Christmas Lights, Mostly

Sunday, December 15, 2013. This was one of those weeks when I got very little done: and took all week doing it. The "very little" didn't include any new photos, so here's a 'Christmas lights' selection from previous years:


Christmas is coming: one of Sauk Centre's more thoroughly-decorated yards. November 25, 2012.


Santa, maybe taking off - or landing - with a jet pack? Hats off to the folks who put that up, for a different angle on Christmas lights. December 7, 2011.


Downtown Sauk Centre: lighted garlands over the street, and Main Street Theatre's signs. December 7, 2011.

We've still got a very white cover of snow. It's nice to look at, but the below-average cold that came with it isn't universally popular.


Monday noon, and Christmas-card weather. December 9, 2011.

That's all I've got for now, see you next week.

Ice on the Trees, Christmas is Coming

Sunday, December 8, 2013. The sounds of someone's snow blower are filtering in as I write this. That's a guess, actually. It's dark out, and I'm not going out to see where the sound comes from.

It's fairly warm this evening: about four degrees above zero, Fahrenheit. There's also no wind to speak of. There's a wind chill advisory from three tomorrow morning until noon, probably because the wind will be picking up.


Friday was clear, cold, and featured iced trees. December 6, 2013.

I took that photo through a window screen. It was a good angle to catch sunlight in the ice: and I wasn't thrilled with the notion of going outside just then.


My kids set up the Christmas tree this week. December 8, 2013.

Christmas is bearing down on us, around the corner, and less than three weeks away. I still have some holiday preparations to make, but plan to relax as much as possible.

Advent, Day One

Sunday, December 1, 2013. It's the first Sunday in Advent. More folks have their Christmas decorations out, and there hasn't been a serious snowfall yet.


This will look more 'Christmassy' when there's snow on the ground. November 28, 2013.


TFirst Sunday in Advent, at Our Lady of the Angels church. December 1, 2013.

On a more personal note, I'm successfully dealing with an antibiotic-resistant infection, and my son had to have his appendix removed yesterday.

I'm hoping for a comparatively uneventful December.

Snow, Seasons, and a Sunset

Sunday, November 24, 2013. We're almost halfway through the Halloween-Thanksgiving-Christmas triathlon of holidays. We've had the usual Minnesota weather: warm, cold, clear, overcast, and a little snow. The snow didn't last, but it probably won't be the last of the season. It wasn't the first, either, come to think of it.


It was starting to look like winter on Thursday. November 21, 2013.


These folks started putting out Christmas decorations early. November 21, 2013.


Saturday was a cold day, with bright blue sky. November 23, 2013.


Neighbors putting up Christmas lights. November 23, 2013.


Sunset. November 24, 2013.

That's all I've got this week. See you next Sunday.

Blue Skies, Fog, Wind, and Christmas Decorations

Sunday, November 17, 2013. "Thor, the Dark World," is playing at Main Street Theatre downtown, along with several other movies. #1 daughter and I went to the matinee this afternoon: and enjoyed ourselves enormously.

It's been a foggy few days here, and a windy Sunday. That's quite a contrast to how the week started, but I'm not complaining: at all. Folks Illinois and Indiana are cleaning up after tornadoes: and some didn't survive.

On a happier note, I took some photos of this week's pleasant weather.
Sauk Lake Park's gazebo. November 13, 2013.


Birds on Sauk Lake, Wednesday afternoon. November 13, 2013.


Same birds, a closer look. November 13, 2013.

The service I use to get my webcam and the Internet on speaking terms has been telling me that either the the Internet connection or my computer is slow. I've checked, and it's not my computer. The household's connection is a bit below-par now and then: mostly, apparently, after rain: or mist; or really heavy fog.

I tried reducing the video's quality, which kept 'we've got trouble' messages from coming quite as often: but also resulted in a view like this:


My webcam's view out the north window. November 11, 2013.

The picture's not bad, but it's not good either. the sky outside never has that pattern of little squares you see. So I put 'quality' settings back to something that looks presentable. Most of the time.

I'll be back next week, with something else. One of our neighbors has most of their Christmas display out, so I won't be lacking things to show. Now, if the sun will come out for a few minutes when I have a camera handy - - -

Influenza: It's Nothing to Sneeze At

Sunday, January 6, 2013. Epiphany. I spent quite a bit of the weekend being with family, and wasn't feeling as chipper as I like during the week. Still, as we say here in Minnesota, 'it could be worse.' For many folks it's a great deal worse.

This winter's flu encouraged the nursing home to not allow visitors. That's been going no for weeks now. Happily, we've got telephones: so it's possible to 'visit' without actually visiting.

I heard on the radio that a hospital somewhere in Minnesota had a 'no visitors' policy now, again because of the flu. They were probably talking about the Sleepy Eye Medical Center: or some other place.

I found quite a bit of news about the flu outbreak, including these items:

"Flu death toll rises to 4 in Minnesota"
AP, via KEYC-TV, Mankato (January 6, 2012)

"State health officials say the number of flu-related deaths in Minnesota has risen to four...."

---

"Flu Season Hitting Hard"
Molly Miles, KEYC-TV (Updagted January 6, 2012)

"There's more evidence today of how dangerous the flu can be. The state's latest flu-related death, a 17-year-old boy who died in a St. Paul Hospital....

"So how do you avoid it? [Dr. Chris] Callahan, says for starters, get a flu shot, even if you don't think you are very susceptible....

"...After that, use fervor to avoid the fever.

"Callahan says, 'Wash your hands, good personal hygiene will go a long way in decreasing the transmission from people to people.'

"And if you aren't feeling well, stay home...."

---

"Sleepy Eye Medical Center Restricting Visitors for Flu Concerns"
Dan Ruiter, KEYC-TV ()

"The Sleepy Eye Medical Center has taken the rare step of restricting visitors because of the flu outbreak. That's according to the Sleepy Eye Medical Center CEO Kevin Sellheim.

"Sellheim told News 12 that the measure implemented this week is similar to what the Medical Center did back in 2009 during the H1N1 outbreak. That means until further notice, only immediate family is allowed to visit patients in the hospital...."

---

For more 'official' information about this year's flu:

• "Weekly Influenza & Respiratory Activity: Statistics"
  Minnesota Department of Health
• "2012-2013 Influenza Season Week 52 ending December 29, 2012"
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Apart from that, there's a nice white blanket of snow. Skies are bright blue, except when they're not, and another year has gone by without the Christmas tree in Our Lady of the Angels church falling over. (December 25, 2005)

Looking Forward to New Year's Eve

Sunday, December 30, 2012. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I'm debating whether or not to follow my usual habit, staying up to watch the festivities in New York City's Times Square. I don't think I've got the flu, but I've also felt better than this.

This winter's flu seems to be quite popular: it's been held over for another week here in Sauk Centre. I think they'd have closed the schools, if we hadn't been on Christmas-New Year's break.

Aside from that, there's a beautiful snow cover outside and clear skies. At least there were. Right now, about 7:30 p.m., all I see outside is a lot of dark.

Here in central Minnesota, we've had bright clear days, a winter storm, and just about everything in between. For Minnesota, that's about par for the course.


Christmas Eve in Our Lady of the Angels church. December 24, 2012.

I didn't get out much this week, but expect that next week will be different. Now that's a very safe prediction.