Ellen & John Mast

It's been a quiet year at 205 First St., our home out in Prairie du Sac. With 110 inches of snow this past winter, we kept busy just blowin' snow and stayin' warm. John became all too familiar with a new winter pastime – raking snow off the roof – to prevent ice damns. We'd been hopin' and wishin' for a good ole fashioned winter, and we sure got one! It was beautiful!

Early in March we spent a week in Ft. Myers, FL with dear friends Carole and Larry – a welcome reprieve from winter. John returned to Florida the third week of March for “Boys Will Be Boys” golfing get-away in Destin.

In May, Gramma Dickey came for a visit. For the second year in a row we put her to work digging stones out of the yard and helping us plant new landscaping. She accompanied us to Minneapolis for Zaidee's graduation from William Mitchell. It was such a wonderful weekend. (Oh yeah, Dickey washed Ben and Zaidee's windows while we were there!)

The last weekend of July, John and I made our annual escape to the “North Woods” of Wisconsin. We played golf, biked, canoed the Wisconsin river, shopped, and just hung-out together for four beautiful days. There truly is nothing that compares to “Up North” and we look forward to this get-away every year.

In August Grace and Nico cam and stayed with us for several days. We spent one grand day at Wisconsin Dells – horseback riding, playing miniature golf, riding the world famous Wisconsin Ducks, and just hanging out. The especially enjoyed our visit to the Three Bears Resort in Warrens, WI on our way back to Minneapolis. Grace and Nico loved the indoor water-park and were swimming under water like two little fish by the time we left.

As Christmas approaches, I'm spending some time in Marietta with Gramma Dickey. This is the second year in a row I've been able to make this holiday visit and it's a very special time for “Dickey” and me and a tradition we look forward to continuing.

May God bless us all this Christmas time and through the 2009 New Year.

Peace and love

-Ellen & John

Grandpa John in, "The Cheesehead Night before Christmas" :