From: Barack Obama. Re: Our Aunt Anna.

Look what came in Elmer and Mavis' mail yesterday -- a certificate from a certain Barack Obama regarding our dear late Aunt Anna Sprick Smith's World War II WAVE service. Very cool!

Mom (Alverna Sprick Miller), the Army wife, and her sister Anna Sprick Smith, the Navy veteran, during a family Christmas gathering in 1968. Dad (William Alton Miller) was in Vietnam at the time. Military roots run deep in our family, as the cousins know.

Snowmiller

Quite the nose on this snowman festooned by Avamarie Miller, age 4. We like it!

Avamarie learns to skate

Look who's learning to ice-skate! Avamarie got some instruction from big sis Elizabeth Miller this past weekend on Centerville Lake, near their home:

 

 

 

We still have Paris

Still remembering our November trip to France fondly; it's a great place to go during a February reverie! Here are two more photos from that trip that our Paris friend Chris Welsch, a talented photographer, sent us recently.

Noah, friend Silke (Chris' wife) and I in Leonardo da Vinci's garden in Amboise, France.

Noah was contemplative and happy in Da Vinci's garden.

The Old Frontenac place: Feb. 4, 2013

Drove down to Old Frontenac on this cold, snowy, sunny day to walk through the dream house site with an electrician and decide where outlets and lights should go. It was fun to watch the noble construction guys work, and to see the house coming together.

Also, though I didn't take photos of this part, dear friend Karen Swanson and I drove up to the park, then took a walk through Oldtown, talking of her beautiful mother, Ruth, who died of cancer Sunday night at her Lake City home with Karen holding her hand. Karen's and my mom were teachers together at Lincoln High School in Lake City for years, and I will always remember her fondly.

A couple of deer came out to gaze at us in the park, which we had to ourselves; we gazed back at them. Glad there is finally a little more snow fallen for them to take refuge in from the wind and harsh cold.

Today's photos from the dream-home construction site (which, by the way, is peppered with deer tracks):

Look at that awesome screen-porch-to-be! On my days off this coming summer, I'll be sitting out there with my feet up, sipping a cold beverage and watching birds by day and the stars by night. Sure, you can all come visit! (Maybe not all at once, though!)

The view from inside the porch-to-be. Looking southwest, across Wakondiota Field.

Looking northwest out of the great room, toward the porch and Frontenac State Park. No arched ceilings for me -- I like a regular ceiling, feel like it's more cozy.

My bedroom-to-be will have two windows. Today they both looked out on a lovely, radiant, snowy scene. I do love winter, especially in Old Frontenac.