Two great days off

Your scrapblog editor likes her job, but likes her days off much, much more. Here's how I spent my "weekend" (Tuesday and Wednesday) this week: After a feisty little thunderstorm, the evening skies over Lake Pepin grew mild, so Uncle Joe got his boat out and kindly took me out fishing. We caught a few saugers, gawked at a bald eagle that swooped low over the boat and admired the lake in the evening light.

The "First Creek" delta as seen from the boat.

The mild evening sky.

Earlier in the day, we fished for bluegills at the Lake City marina. I pulled in this lunker.

Uncle Joe always makes the hard work of fish-cleaning look easy.

On Wednesday evening, back in the Twin Cities, it was time for dinner with my old Duluth friends, Laurie Hertzel and Kristi Fuller, at Caffe Biaggio in St. Paul. An excellent evening that capped off a perfect "weekend."

A major May for Marty

Cousin Marty Broberg, he of wrestling and rugby fame, looks good as a gentleman, too. Here he is with prom date Sammi. Marty, 18, will graduate from Hopkins High School this month. Congrats, Marty!

Congrats to Zack on his college graduation!

Congratulations to cousin Zachary Miller, 22, son of Chris and Mary, nephew of the scrapblog editor, on his graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie. Zack, who has a keen mind and a bottomless good heart, graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. Jobs are scarce these days, but we don't doubt that he'll find one before too long. Some family photos from his graduation this past Saturday: Zachary William Miller, 22. Wouldn't Bill and Alverna have been proud of their handsome grandson? Zack and his siblings: Moriah, 18; Hannah, 16; Elizabeth, 6, and Avamarie, 2. With his siblings and parents, Mary and Chris. Elizabeth sure looks up to her big brother! With sister Moriah, 18. Moriah just finished her freshman year at Minnesota State University-Mankato. Zack with his proud parents, Mary and Chris. With sister Hannah, 16. With little sis Avamarie, 2. Oh, that zany Elizabeth! We don't doubt that someday she, too, will wear the graduation cap. Zachary and Elizabeth. Zack was the one who first charmed Elizabeth into becoming a Miller. Elizabeth communed with dandelions during the graduation photo shoot. It's good for us adults, so intent on eradicating the dandelion from our yards, to remember how much kids love the fragrant little weed. Izzbee snoozled in the car after a long day of graduation festivities.

Good grief, Charlie Brown! A Mother's Day moment

Your scrapblog editor, the Strib's weekend editor, had to work Mother's Day, but enjoyed a nice visit with son Noah, 20, and his girlfriend, Jamie. Jamie took this shot of us posed with Charlie Brown in front of the Strib building.

A new address for cousin Sarah

Cousin Sarah Broberg, who has kept us all hopping for decades (as in this classic "Akaba!" photo from the 1960s), is slowing down a little, having a few health problems that are sadly common for people in their 40s with Down syndrome, including possible symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Recently, brothers Sam and Dan saw Sarah moved into a new group home in Richfield that can provide more intensive care better suited to her current needs. Sarah's new address: Sarah Broberg 6241 Thomas Ave. Richfield, Minn. 55413 612-861-7335

A tableful of cousins and elders

Your scrapblog editor was delighted to have learned via top-secret sources about a gala impromptu lunch of cousins and elders Wednesday at the Chickadee in Lake City, Minn., a glamorous event she enthusiastically crashed. It's rare to find that many relatives together in the same place, so your scrapblog editor whipped her camera out of her oversized pink purse faster than you can say "Sprick-o-rama." A couple of snaphots: Awaiting their delicious entrees were Uncle C.J. "John" Kirkwood, Kate Sprick Kirkwood, Harry Greason, E.W. "Joe" Sprick, Mavis LaMont Sprick, Florence Sprick Bye and Patty-Lou Pepin. Everyone was fairly well-behaved.

Florence Sprick Bye, Patty-Lou Pepin, Christine Pepin, C.J. "John" Kirkwood and Kate Sprick Kirkwood shared the latest family news. Much of it was about esteemed elder Aunt Anna Sprick Smith, whose memory is failing but whose good heart remains intact in the nearby Lake City Nursing Home. P.S. Almost everyone ordered a menu item called "The Old-Fashioned." Figgers, eh?

A cousin who can fly

Here's a YouTube link to a delightful little film clip of cousin Moriah Miller's flight at a recent Mankato State University track meet (the photographer she hugs at the end is Mary, her mom).