Just a Friday Frag or Two

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I'm joining up today with Mrs. 4444 and all the other Friday Fragment-ers. Why not gather your wits, come up with a few bits, make a post, and join us!

To learn how, follow the link at the end of this post.

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For those of you who are not regulars here, last weekend Fisherhubby and I went to Hayward, Wisconsin to take in the finish line of America's largest cross country ski race - the Birkebeiner.

The Birkie, as it is affectionately known, began in 1973 with fewer than 50 skiers. This year there were 9,200 entrants in the Saturday race alone.

Meet Nickie.

She is holding the trophy she won in 1974, the second year of the Birkie. Here's her story:

Not feeling quite up to the full 52 kilometer race, (that's about 34 MILES, folks) Nickie decided to enter the half Birkie - - - called the Kortelopet.

As she was getting ready to begin the race, her 6th grade daughter rushed up to her and said, "Mom! Tony Wise says you're going to win a trophy 'cause you're the ONLY ONE entered in your class!"

Nickie scoffed. "I'm not going to take a trophy if I'm the ONLY entrant, where's the honor in that if I have no competition?"

Well - - - when Nickie got about halfway into her race (7 miles or so) she was so overcome with exhaustion she didn't see how she could keep pushing one ski in front of the other. She continued doggedly on.

At that point she said to herself, "if I can just finish this race I'll take ANY TROPHY they want to give me!!!"

And she did.

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These are my two great nieces that live in Sitka, Alaska.

When Sister Pam sent me this photo (they are her granddaughters) she gave it the title "Little Miss Helter Skelter and Little Miss Prim and Proper Ride Again."

It's 'cause these two particular apples have landed directly BENEATH the old proverbial tree.

I can't find it - - - but there is a photo of Sister Pam and myself when we were about 2 and 3 in which ONE of us is a mess - - - scarf twisted, socks down at her ankles in bunches, shoes scuffed, and slacks so sideways I'm not at all sure how her legs are fitting in there - - - and the OTHER one looks like she just stepped out of a clothing catalog.

I'll let you guess WHICH was Helter Skelter and WHICH was Prim and Proper.

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Daughter Korie and her hubby, Chris, took care of our three grans last weekend so their parents could attend a marriage retreat.

Here are the "kids" doing bead crafts (at least that's what it looks like to me - - - I wasn't there.)

The big kid is S-I-L Chris. He's the best, isn't he?

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Just so you know, this is NOT a blizzard.

According to Wikipedia:

A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds. By definition, the difference between blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have sustained winds or frequent gusts that are greater than or equal to 56 km/h (35 mph) with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 meters or ¼ mile or less and must last for a prolonged period of time — typically three hours or more.

Of course, the TV weathermen make ANY significant, or even insignificant, snowfall SOUND like a blizzard.

This gets Fisherhubby "going." He'll look out and say something like: "This is the WORST powdering we've EVER had!!!"

Well, THIS winter has not even been winter. But yesterday we did get this pretty snowfall - - - and I was THANKFUL even if it WASN'T a blizzard!

Come to think of it - - - in all my years growing up here on the "frozen tundra" I don't think I've EVER seen an actual blizzard. Heavy snow? - yes. Short moments of white outs? - yes. MINUS 52 degrees? - yes. Blizzard? - NO.

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Head on over to Mrs. 4444's place
And check out all the other Friday Fragments.

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