Congratulations, Belinda!

Belinda won a drawing at Thorne Crest this week, $10 that can be spent at The Bistro, the snack bar open to residents and staff. It will be nice to have that treat to spend!

A walk to worship

A wonderful setting for worship

Beautiful music

 

Fellowship in the old chapel

Charles made the short walk (about 1 1/2 blocks) to Grace Lutheran Church this morning for worship. Thorne Crest has a relationship with this church, the pastor celebrates a Lutheran-style communion each month in our chapel.

A fun morning!

Charles made a quick visit to the Albert Lea Toy Show & Mid-winter Flea Market this afternoon. Lots of fun stuff, some items that were more suited for yard sales, and a fun energy from vendors and shoppers alike.

A morning treat in Albert Lea

Didn't make it in time for the amazing cinnamom rolls (they only make a dozen or so a day of the huge treats - good thing someone brought some to work yesterday), but what we did have was yummy! B&B Cafe' is open 6am - 1030am and does a brisk business!

Getting to know our neighbors

We joined with other new residents of Albert Lea at the Green Mill restaurant for an event sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. It was nice to be out with other ew residents and other community members as we get to know our new home town.

Our regular place

We have a regular place on Monday evenings, Pizza Ranch, which offers a nice pizza buffet! It's nice to have some place that is relaxing and a treat on the wallet!

A pleasant Sunday morning

Beautiful windows

A warm place to worship

Outdoor labyrinth

Two trucks and fish houses on Fountain Lake

We were able to worship together this morning at Christ Episcopal Church in Albert Lea. It was a small gathering, but a warm fellowship made the morning a pleasant one.

Catching up!

Our friend from our time in Nebraska, Judy Clark (who now lives in nearby Blue Earth) came by for a visit today. We hadn't met up with her since she and her husband, Leon, came to visit us in Bouler in 2019. 

In addition to catching up on the intervening years, Judy made Charles' day with an assortment of buttons!

Let's celebrate!

This is National Activity Professionals Week and today, the staff celebrated with a pizza party! Shown here are Marilyn, Mel, and Belinda, (Emily & Clara not pictured).

Celebrating a Thorne Crest achievement

In today's Albert Lea Tribune

Charles was featured today in the local paper, The Albert Lea Tribune. Read the story at this link.

1977 to today

We discovered a $25 savings bond in our records last weekend. The bond was given to Charles for his high school graduation (in 1977) by his sister, Sandy.

The Treasury Department website shows that the bond cost $18.75 and had collected $120.65 in interest. The value today is $139.40!

It's cold!

We are experiencing another blast of polar air this weekend with highs in the lows well below zero and highs in the low single digits (high of -2F on Monday)!

Here is an offering of the "Minnesota Doxology."

Another Sunday, another church

Charles ventured out on a bitterly cold morning to attend worship at First Presbyterian Church. It was nice to be in such a warm, inviting place with people to match.

First painting of 2025

The basic colors

Laying out a grid

Primary colors plus black & white

First painting of 2025

Vårförnimmelser (The Coming of Spring)

20x20, acrylic on canvas

Charles' first effort in his basement studio was completed this frigid winter morning. He is hoping that this will prime the pump for a creative 2025.

A warm place to park

We got a treat this morning, notice that a space in the Thorne Crest indoor parking garage had come available. And so, with yet another polar express coming this weekend, Charles' red truck is safely tucked into #15!

It's Rubber Duck Day!

On this day in 1973, was the first time Ernie sang the Rubber Duck song on Sesame Street.

It's here!

Charles was very happy to see his copy of the new Book of Discipline in the mailbox today! This covers the delayed 2020 UMC General Conference which was held last May in Charlotte, North Carolina.

A delightful Saturday in Albert Lea

Old school

The story of Albert Lea

What's in your iPhone

The winery in winter

So many choices

We had a delightful, lazy Saturday morning at home and decided after lunch to venture out and see a bit of our new home town.

First up was the History Center of Freeborn County which is offering free admission during January, courtesy of a local business. In addition to exhibits on Marion Ross (of Happy Days fame) and rock star Eddie Cochran, there was a lot of interesting things to see about area historic businesses, wartime experiences, and much more.

Afterwards, we drove out to see the Three Oak Winery (sponsore of the museum in January). We sampled some delightful offerings and left with two of the winery's offerings.

A frosty start to the weekend

Ice fishing tent (Mayo Clinic Hospital 
in the background)

Albert Lea skyline on a January afternoon

Two fishermen walking out on the lake

Two of the many tents on the lake

Reading dragon in front of the ibrary

Charles has Fridays off and tries to get the necessary household errands done with the free time available to him. Today included a visit to the local VA Clinic, the Albert Lea Library (to get his card), the local newspaper office, and a couple other stops.

A treat while at the library was seeing people out on Fountain Lake, ice fishing! Not one to join in the fun, it was still nice to see this iconic activity from the comfort of his truck!

Epiphany Sunday!

Charles changed his schedule so that he can attend worship Sunday mornings. Today, with Belinda at work, Charles went to one of the many Lutheran churches in the area, Salem Lutheran Church here in Albert Lea. It was nice to be in worship on Epiphany Sunday!
 

As seen today in Albert Lea

Next to Fountain Lake

"Denmark our heritage - America our home"

Fountain Lake Mermaid

While Charles was out running errands this morning, he took a few minutes and braved the frigid weather to check out New Denmark Park, located along a portion of Fountain Lake in Albert Lea.

A new state!

Our new look

Reminders of some of the stops on our journey

We're now officially residents of Minnesota, as we secured our vehicle plates today. Our truck and car will sport the Common Loon design shown above.

Happy New Year

We began the new year by working at Thorne Crest today. The pace was much slower than what we've seen typically across the street.