Staunton's First Snow

We had flurries a few weeks back, but today it snowed off and on all day. I awakened this morning to the above view, taken from my kitchen window.
I then ran outside...and snapped the photo (above).
The view at about 12:15 p.m., as I left for my run. There was about two inches in places on some sidewalks, and in those spots it was a bit slippery -- enough so that I often ran on the street instead of the sidewalk. Constitution Drive through Gypsy Hill was mostly wet, not slippery. And it wasn't cold obviously, as the snow didn't really stick...the prediction for today was 35 degrees, and I'd guess that's about what it was.

Making the punch...

Annie making punch ... bet you didn't know making punch was so much fun, huh? (No, gang, this was in a church where alcohol is banned...this was a "dry" affair and humor flowed without the help or need of alcohol.)

Youngest Attendee

One-and-a-half week old Bethany Dunbar, here with Grampa Dean, was the youngest to attend Dad's party. Since as far as I know, she slept through the entire event, and given her age, I reckon she won't remember this piece of celebrity status.
Bethany's mom Marchelle is the dark haired one in the back holding Stevenie, her oldest daughter. Marchelle is Dean's youngest daughter and her sister, Aunt Terri Lynn, is holding Bethany's next oldest sister Melanie. And, in the pink is Shannon, the youngest of Dean's daughters. Uncle Dean is my mom's brother; he pastors a church in southern Iowa.

So now you know the youngest attendee and some of her family members. But who was the oldest? I don't really know...I sure couldn't ask the ages of those present now could I? Especially not the older women like Phyllis whose husband is now in a nursing home following a stroke, MaryEllen and her husband Ted, or many of Dad's other friends.

Paul

While Annie (the editor of a magazine) was carefully taking poised photos of every piece of each party and event she could catch at Dad's party, Alan Paul took great delight in sneaking in and grabbing the unexpected. He, for example, grabbed a shot of Patty running to get into the family photo after programming and setting up the photo using my camera's timer mode (she made him promise to keep that one NONpublic). I did grab this one though of him sneaking in for this candid shot.

Mc Humor....

This photo needs little explanation. Anth (2d from left) obviously has applied a bit of his mischeviousness on niece Ashley (Annie's daughter) and Per has no problem encouraging (or even coaxing such shenanigans). Aunt Pattie, however, seems to side with Ash...(who, incidentally, enjoys the attention.!). Anth and Per, who live just a few blocks apart, are more like twins than their two-year age difference reveals. And wives Patty and Kerry aren't always sure about their shenanigans.

Pre-Celebration Run

Before Dad's party, Per (above) and I did a calming run along his favorite running route -- which leads out to some quiet country roads. His wife Patty had planned to do so, but a running injury sidelined her from the grand delight of running on that wet-cold (30 degree) Iowa, day. And I'll get a 'scutchin' (that's Iowan for a scolding or reprimand) for that statement from Anth, who says I don't give Iowa a fair shake in my descriptions of that state.
At about 15 minutes we did a U-turn, and headed back to his truck.
"What do you think? How far?"
"About 3.1 miles," I answered. "That's about what I usually run in that time frame...a bit faster on a race, but..." (I had lung pain and had to take a couple short walk breaks).
"Hey, Per...do we have time? we could drive it and see..."
"I don't know...sometimes it's really disappointing..."
"And sometimes it's a pleasant surprise..."
So we retraced the run...Friday was pleasant surprise. 3.7 miles in 33 minutes! Patty, at home on the injury-protecting treadmill, did almost as well. Actually better if you add in the determination factor.

Look, Ma ... No Hands

Anth, behind the steering wheel, picked me up from the airport and drove his wife and me to Dad's party. Notice his hands are NOT on the steering wheel! He often steers with his knees and lets the automatic speed control handle the speed.