Dear Shirley,
Little puffs of exhaust can be seen trailing cars as they go down the streets now, and the skies are leaden. November usually is gray and dismal, in a way. But it also is very cozy when you get inside a warm house. There's nothing like coming into the kitchen and smelling a pork roast in the oven on a November day. The hunters love this time of year, and they are out all over the state.
People keep looking up to the sky and anticipating the first snowfall. It makes me think of Henny Penny and Foxy Loxy and the story about the sky falling.
You may not remember this, Shirley, but in November in the Dakotas, you have to hunt for the scarves and gloves you used last year. Or figure out a way to get new ones. You have to put your flip-flops away. Dot.com the dachshund has reached the point where she would rather come into the warm kitchen than sit out under the big elm tree. And she is learning that you do not unload on the kitchen floor, even if it is cold outside.
Some restaurants around here are serving lutefisk and lefse this season to please the people of Norwegian extraction. They have an affinity for that lye-soaked fish and the freckled, thin potato pancakes they make on a round lefse grill. Of course, they eat the lutefisk with drawn butter and potatoes.
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Yep, we are moving into the season. It all begins next week with Thanksgiving, and by then, we should have our first snow. The weather forecasts point that way.
People from service clubs and others have been down in Lincoln Drive Park setting up the Winter Wonderland. Lynne Roche and her co-workers at the Grand Forks Park District have about 40 Christmas trees decorated to create a glittery sight in the Lincoln Park Clubhouse that you reach from Belmont Road. This year, there are some new trees -- one done in lime green, another sky blue and a couple are black. The place is aglow with twinkling lights.
Lynne said it is peaceful and serene over there now. Between now and Christmas, many groups will hold parties there and children will visit. December is pretty full already. People make reservations by calling the Park District at (701) 746-2750 or Lynne Roche at (701) 740-7435. She said the room is open every day with coffee and cookies available. Visitors are asked to make a monetary donation or bring canned food items for charity.
In December, Santa will be there with his sleigh a couple of weekends.
Something happens to people like you, Shirley, when you move away from the northern plains. I think you shudder at the thought of snow and ice when you no longer are used to it. Well, we have this transitional time when we shudder at the thought of snow and ice. Those of us who can make plans for a winter get-away. But for the most part, we just get used to it. It isn't too bad.
One thing I like is the way the snow covers everything and all yards are equal in the dead of winter. You don't have to worry about keeping up with your neighbors.
This time of year, I love the Thanksgiving display in front of the Sandy and Doug Norby's house way down south on Belmont Road. There you see a big turkey and a sign that says, "Eat Chicken."
Love from your sister, Marilyn, looking for a wild turkey on the west bank of the cold Red River still flowing north.
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P.S.: Watching Sioux basketball has been the name of the game for me this week. The Sioux women lost a close one to New Mexico State, then roared back Monday to trounce the University of Vermont. They are playing Colorado State here Sunday afternoon. The men hoopsters got creamed Tuesday at the University of Wisconsin, but they will be back in action Friday evening in The Betty. They will be playing Sacramento State here. The playing field will be a little more level.
Last year, coach Gene Roebuck was so short of players I thought he would put me in a game. This year, he has so many players running in and out that it makes your head swim to try to remember their names. There's no problem recognizing the two seniors, Corey Lof and Mallory Youngblut. I wouldn't want to get in Youngblut's way. And I could never run as fast or as gracefully as Lof. Oh, well.
Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or (701) 772-1055.
