In Defense of Christmas Letters

So here it is time once again for that serious annual writing project as assigned to me by the English teacher –Mrs. T.  I know the rules; try not to be too wordy (clearly a tendency among us history teachers), get the facts right but don’t brag too much, and so on and so forth.  Well cutting to the chase I haven’t had a fresh idea what to write in the annual Christmas letter in years.  They are definitely easy to satirize but my duty being what it is I won’t go down that road.

Therefore I’m going with the thought that they are a wonderful tradition and if the grinches out there don't like them..... get a life.   Hereby I present the annual Troutbirder family Christmas letter (with a few minor adjustments according to FEDERAL PRIVACY REGULATIONS).

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

The Troutbirders send season’s greetings to family, friends, neighbors and fellow bloggers. 2012 has been another good year.  Barb remains cancer free and Rays heart ablation appears to have been a great success. We took some fun camping and vacation trips; pets Baron and Simba kept us well occupied.  Ray did a lot of hiking, biking, fishing and reading so he would have pictures and stories to put on his blogs.   Barb was active in Red Hats, Kiwanis, bridge, book club, church and worked for Christmas in Fillmore County, and also cooperated with Toys For Tots.  The last two items have kept her very busy,  all in the interest of providing Christmas toys for children who would otherwise  be without.

The news from Arizona is that both our son and daughter in law are working full time for a suburban Phoenix school district. She serves as a  school psychologist and he is teaching high school biology and chemistry. Our grandchildren also are working in the same school as students who happen to love reading and are doing very well. The newest is in kindergarden where his adjustment to life in America is an ongoing process.
Remembering Ted and all those who have passed on, Deanne and our friends and family here and far away, good health, good cheer and Merry Christmas.

Barb and Ray

Moose On The Loose

Hello, Boss

I can't come to work today.   A moose was born on my front lawn and the  Mama won't let us out the front door!  We’ll not exactly but the baby moose was born on a residential yard in Anchorage Alaska.  The homeowner did provide mom and babe some water and per the advice of the Alaskan DNR waited patiently till the moose family moved on two days later….

The above story is true as verified by Snopes.  Urban legends had the story in Michigan and several other states….:)

 

Dreaming of a White Christmas

We haven't had a lot of snow in recent years over the holiday season. Actually I've been dreaming of a white Christmas lately. Looking out the bedroom window this morning ..... Good Grief!

Time for Team Troutbirder to begin massive clearing operations!

Smalltown Parades

As a followup on the previous post of parades in "smalltown" America here are the Troutbirders three grandchildren in smalltown Arizonas holiday season parade...

Well, maybe not so "smalltown" judging by the size of the crowd....:)

Smalltown America

We were on our way to see the annual fall congregation of waterfowl along the mighty Mississippi. The view I had in mind required us to pass through a sleepy rivertown in northeastern Iowa.  You know the kind that has only one stop sign in the whole town. It was the afternoon of Halloween. Can you tell as we waited to cross "Main Street?"