2009
Copyright © James W. Blilie, 2010: All rights reserved
Phyllis and Jim's family photos - Main Page
Phyllis and Jim's family photos 2009
We had another busy year; but not quite as project-laden as last year. We did no major projects in White Salmon except for some plumbing (new faucet in the kitchen, thanks Ben!). In Shoreview, Phyllis and Joe worked very hard to tear out all our front landscaping and replace it with a lovely perennial garden. We are looking forward to its full glory next spring and summer. Although Jim swore off plumbing last year, he had to re-plumb the outfall from our sump pump. Our 20+ year-old stove finally gave up the ghost and we got a nice new one. (We've been replacing every mechanical device in the house over the last three years.)
We finally got a (used, 1920s, cheap) dining table and chairs for White Salmon along with a nice new arm chair. (We'll be visiting our local antique store every year now.) Last summer, we were lucky to be able to bring both of our mothers (Grandma Kay and Grandma Harriet) with us on our White Salmon vacation. We were exceptionally lucky with the weather: Having perfect sunny but cool weather in White Salmon (no >90°F days in June and July!) and missing some 90+ humid weather in the Twin Cities.
Jim and Phyllis had their first weekend on their own since Jamie was born! They went to the north shore and stayed just outside Grand Marais in a B&B and, in spite of cold, wet, blustery weather, they had a great time. They found a very good restaurant in GM (The Crooked Spoon, highly recommended) and ate there each night. Jim and Phyllis also started a new "tradition" of popping out most Friday evenings when Joe is home (and can stay with Jamie) for a few drinks and food. They are beginning to feel like adults again … It was a big year for the boys.
Jamie started kindergarten in September at Turtle Lake. Joe started his senior year at Mounds View High School, became an adult (18 in August), got his driver's license, registered to vote and got his passport (we are going to France in June 2010!) Jamie turned 5 in March. He got a new bike and has found that he loves to shoot baskets and play catch with a football. Jamie lost four front teeth and wants the two new upper ones for Christmas. Jamie took two sessions of swimming lessons and enjoyed a lot of biking on his afterburner (third wheel bike) pulled behind Mom or Dad. We biked almost every day this summer and found a nice 10-mile loop by our house. Jamie and Phyllis found a monarch caterpillar, raised it to an adult, and released it. Jamie particularly enjoyed Como Town and the butterfly exhibit at Como Park and Underwater Adventure at the MOA. He also discovered a new favorite food there: pot stickers. Jamie is enjoying kindergarten very much and also his before and after school Y-Care.
We got Joe's senior portrait this fall and he got his first jacket and tie for the occasion. He's really grown up now. Joe succeeded in passing his road test and got his driving license, after much practice for parallel and perpendicular parking. Since Joe turned 18 in August, we were able to finally apply for his passport, which in turn allows us to travel with him to France this coming summer. Everyone is looking forward to this big trip. Joe also discovered a new favorite Asian food: Phô, the Vietnamese noodle soup. Joe and Don continue to see each other regularly although Don is now attending a college in Minneapolis. Another highlight for Joe this year was attending a wonderful concert by the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus with Jim and Phyllis (Don had a schedule conflict.) We strongly recommend the TCGMC to you. It was one of the best concerts we've attended. (http://www.tcgmc.org/)
There were some big changes this year for Jim's parents. His Mom had a full-knee replacement on her left knee (to match the hip) and at that time, Jim's Dad went into temporary memory care. After returning home, Jim's Mom realized that it was time for his Dad to be in Memory Care permanently. This was a difficult but important and necessary transition. Jim's Mom also had a mastectomy in the fall (it was a "simple" mastectomy and she is clear now.) Jim's Dad turned 86 this fall and his Mom turned 74. Jim's cousin Martin Kelly took a sabbatical to Norway last summer and this occasioned a long-overdue, welcome and active email conversation between Jim and Martin. Phyllis continues to enjoy teaching first graders at EXPO Elementary in St. Paul. She has one of her best classes ever this and a very good student teacher (Katie Semlak from University of Minnesota Duluth), which have made this year pleasant for her. Phyllis is now taking her piano lessons from the same studio where Jim takes his lessons and they get to ride to lessons together every other week. In September we celebrated Phyllis's 50th birthday with a big party at our home. It was great fun for her.
Jim continues to enjoy his engineering position at Boston Scientific. It's the best job he's ever had (and the shortest commute.) Jim still enjoys making and playing guitars. Since re-starting lessons about a year ago, his playing (and practicing!) are better and more consistent. He started out flat-picking electric guitar, one he built himself from a kit (http://www.barbarossa-guitars.com/Les Paul Kit.htm); but he soon switched back to his first interest: steel string acoustic, mostly working on fingerstyle blues.
Jim's big project this year was (and is) using a photo scanner to digitize all his old "analog" slides, negatives, and prints, along with a wonderful trove of old family photos from the Blilie, Gundersen, Ventress, Norwood, Pleshek, and Kuester families. The results of these efforts can be viewed online (http://www.berettaconsulting.com/barbarossa/index.htm). Thanks to Kevin for providing the server space for Jim's new photo website! Jim invites you to check this site regularly as new things will be added all the time. Our family photos from "the 2000s" are still at his old site (http://www.barbarossa-guitars.com/house/house index.htm). Some time in 2010, these family photos will be moved to the new website. This project was driven by a new scanner Jim got for his birthday (Epson V500) and a new photo printer that does lab-quality photo prints (Canon Pixma PRO9000MkII). He is about 3000 or 4000 scans into this now!
Phyllis and Jim's family photos - Main Page
Phyllis and Jim's family photos 2009
Last updated: 13-Jan-2010