Family Mellmann

Montana has been quite gracious to us as we weather our first winter in our new home.  But if you like cold and snow (and a fully stocked pantry and freezer) then what some might see as graciousness actually feels more like disappointment. We have had very little snow this year and the temperatures have been quite mild.   Although we have had some crazy strong winds (highest reports were gusts of 70-80 miles per hour), winter has been MIA (missing in action) this year. On the bright side, when I picked Joerg up from the Bozeman airport, we stopped in Livingston for lunch which was served in the open air; both garage doors were wide open and we enjoyed our sandwiches (almost) outdoors.    

Okay, everyone sing with me now... Ohhhhhhhhhh-klahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain. And the wavin' wheat can sure smell sweet When the wind comes right behind the rain.  Well, we don't have rain and the "wheat" is actually just prairie grass but we sure did have wind. Winter is a particularly windy time here in central Montana.  If you don't tie it down or strap it to something, it is likely to blow away.  "It" being anything lighter than an automobile.  In December, the wind was so strong that it took out a very tall, very thick tree in front of the county courthouse.  On more than one occasion we had to claim our patio furniture from the fence line by the neighbor or some other area of our property.  We finally figured out how to stack the outdoor furniture in such a way that it won't blow off the patio anymore. Anyway, it was quite a dust-up yesterday so I thought I would try to get a little video.  I had my eyes closed (to...

Another reason for our Christmas in Arizona road trip was to deliver some things to Patrick that he wanted from our house (things we don't need anymore).  Our kitchen table was one of those things.  This table was purchased in the early 1990s to go in a small house where I would do a lot of entertaining.  It was perfect; it would shrink down to a small table for two but could expand (three leaves) to seat 6-8 people.  This is exactly the kind of table that Patrick needs over these next years as he lives in apartments and may be called upon to move more than once.  At the same time, we were ready for a larger table (and more comfortable chairs) to fit in our new dining space.   Farewell to the old table. And our first dinner on the new table. By now we are pretty much moved into the house, unpacked, organized, and even a bit decorated.  But there are still projects to be done.  Jörg installed floating shelves in our three "niche" spaces; one by the...

Christmas 2025 saw the Mellmann family back together as a foursome but in Arizona.  Since this may be Patrick's last Christmas in Arizona (he pans to relocate to Chicago in the spring) we thought it would be a good time to visit, especially since Jörg and Katherine have never been there.  We decided to make it a road trip and we celebrated a couple days early since Patrick would be flying on the holiday. Patrick's "front door". He took us to his favorite sushi restaurant. And we enjoyed a relaxed time chatting in his apartment. Patrick wanted to do all the things that were traditions during his growing up: Ausstecherle/plaetzen (Christmas cookies), a family picture in front of the tree, red bow ties, singing, and fondue. One evening, we went out for dinner at a Korean barbecue.  While we waited for our table, we sat outside (yes, in short sleeved shirts...one of the wonders of living in Arizona in December). Korean barbecue. When Katherine needed a little social break...

Now that we are getting settled and things are starting to calm down, we are starting to take in some of the local culture. In November, we went to a Jeff Dunham show in Billings at the stadium, and on Friday we went to the Columbus Christmas Parade. The theme was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Some people understood the assignment and got really creative.  It was a well-attended event with tons of kids and families and many many "floats".  We even got to see lighted up horses!   On Saturday morning after breakfast (at our favorite breakfast spot), I went to the Absarokee Christmas Market. I found some fun things made by local "makers" and won a couple of prizes.  Just before I left, the live entertainment started, so I had to stick around. 

Twice each week, Katherine and I get together for a lunch date, to run errands or go to appointments (haircut tomorrow), and just "check-in".  Our last lunch date was at Rib & Chop in Livingston where she got her "usual" (salmon).  We really enjoy these get togethers.

When we started imagining what this house would look and what features it would have, we wanted to have a fireplace in the living room with a mantle and stone, something with visual "heft" to anchor the space.  We did it.  And now I get to decorate that fireplace for Christmas.  We really enjoy spending the evening by the fire reading or YouTubing or...whatever.  It's a cozy spot to knit the night away. :)  

I will start this post with a view of our sunrise.  Sometimes the sun just pops right out and lights up the sky and sometimes it announces its arrival with a colorful horizon.  With the sun coming up, it's time to work on the project room.  At the end of the garage, we added a "bonus room" which serve as an exercise space on one end and a crafting/sewing space on the other.  I built shelves and a work desk this week and unpacked all my knitting, sewing and embroidery, and general craft supplies.  Everything fits nicely into boxes with lids which tuck neatly into these white shelves.  Jörg came out and anchored the shelves to the walls to make them more stable...in case I should overload them or something.  Meeeee?  Put too much stuff on the shelves?  Not possible.  Then again... The exercise end of the room still has boxes in it.  These are boxes for the office which we have not yet built out.  Once we do, the items in these bo...