Half of our family made it to the farm for our early Christmas gathering this year.   Inger, Annika and Bobby quarantined for two weeks in Hamel, MN, while Roberta and I were in isolation on the farm.  Since Todd was still teaching at SDSU, he couldn't be assured of his negativity.    Mitzi was still teaching biology in North Dakota.  And Kirby was trying to avoid Covid in Fargo.   So, we got in some long range visiting with Todd and made use of ZOOM a couple of times and had to have that suffice for this year.

And, it ain't over!   There are, at this point, over 330,000 deaths from Covid in the USA.  And since people refuse to stay at home, the experts predict that conditions will get much worse before it gets better.  Millions traveled for Thanksgiving, and a spike in cases appeared a week and a half later.   Millions more ventured forth for Christmas and the spike will come in the first week of January.

But, two vaccines have been approved (and a million people already vaccinated), with a third due before January 1.  If  they  can be administrated in due time there is hope on the horizon.

Meanwhile, we had a great Christmas Party, no one got sick, and Inger, Annika, and Bobby made it back to Hamel.

OOF DA!

Roberta turned 80 this past month.  She reluctantly posed for this photo at our bonfire showing the sparkly tiara and the "80 and FABULOUS" sash.

Bobby, Inger, Annika, Roberta       and Phil to the right.

Todd, Mitzi, and Kjerstine below.

Todd, maintaining his social distance, and the rest of us exhibit our 80s glasses and party hats.

NICK'S HAMBURGERS!  Not being able to eat in at Nicks, we took our burger cache to Pioneer Park in Brookings.  Yummy!

Todd sent out a call for some assistance to erect a snow fence one morning.  Bobby and I responded and it's obvious we beat the snow!

We have had a couple of the Snoopy Band members for a few years and enjoy playing them often (too often some say)!   This year we decided to make a Genus:poa rendition of carols to add to the excitement.  Please play the video above.

Captain Bobby Isbell and the St. Olaf Baseball Team are hoping their 2021 season will get to be played.  He brought me one of their new workout sweatshirts.  Go Oles!

And this home made beauty went to Inger.   So, why isn't Inger on the picture?

WELCOME

Amazon, Target, eBay, and others, helped supply us while we wanted to avoid shopping outlets.

Thank you 2020!  But we sure hope 2021 gets us some Covid relief.

Bobby joined a few college friends on a hiking trip to Colorado after our Christmas party.  He said it was "wonderful!"

Annika is all cuddled up in a new hat and scarf set that Roberta knit  for her Christmas present.  Roberta vowed to make all the gifts she gave this year.  I think she succeeded.

OUR FIRST PANDEMIC CHRISTMAS

Bobby and I chopped up some firewood to use for our bonfire. And then I showed him how to "dress" an axe.

Bobby got up close and personal with Joe Biden when Joe was in Iowa campaigning.  I transferred the photo of them to a black t-shirt to add to Bobby's political collection.