Jim Klopfenstein's passing

I'm not sure if you've caught word of this... but Jeremy noticed Jim Klopfenstein's obituary in the Peoria Journal Star and called my attention to it. Here is the link: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pjstar/obituary.aspx?n=james-klopfenstein&pid=173303870&fhid=17649

First Federated Church in Peoria, where a funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014, with the Rev. Dr. Forrest Krummel Jr. officiating. Visitations will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, and from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, both at Ludwig Mortuary in Morton. Burial will be in Hirstein Cemetery in Morton

My dad and I attended the Klopfenstein reunion at Jerry Klopfenstein's house in Morton over the summer, and Jim was there for a while. He called me over at one point, asked who I was, and asked me to pass word to Gloria that he said hello. I don't believe I had an opportunity to pass that along to her yet...

Happy Thanksgiving from the Wetzels

It has been a long time since I posted, but since I popped in to ask for some K expertise on the cookie recipe yesterday, I thought I would spend a little more time today and tell you about our Thanksgiving.

Here is the island in our kitchen with all the food, ready for plates to be filled. I made turkey, mom's dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, Aunt Catherine's Orange Jello Salad, rolls, pumpkin pie and apple pie (also from the K Cookbook).

As it turns out, I did not make grandma's cookies since I coudld not find Cream of Tartar in the local Winn Dixie, where I spent 2 hours with Nathan on Wednesday, buying all the ingredients for our Thanksgiving meal. I will look for it at at Publix this weekend, and try to make the cookies soon!

Here are Kelsie and Nathan watching Harry Potter in the "game room" later in the day.

We had a wonderful day. I enjoyed cooking all the food, we watched the Bears game, I walked 2 miles, we napped, and we Skyped the rest of the family at Jason & Janice's house. We miss them, but are excited they are all coming for Christmas.

Unfortunately, Jerry and I didn't make it in any pics from today. Here's a recent one of us at Nathan's school, the day he won the Soaring Eagle award.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Christmas Dinner at Perry's

We are planning to host the annual Klopfenstein family Christmas dinner in our home on Saturday, December 20th at 12:00 noon.  The offspring of Elmer and Anna are invited.  Please RSVP.  Also please let your families know.

Lovingly, Perry and Carol

A Plan Came Together....

It's always gratifying when a long-range plan or goal comes to fruition.  C, K, and Crystal were able to visit the Palm Springs, California area in early November with Crystal joining us for the first of 2 weeks before returning to Illinois to her nursing job.  We have now been there 3 times in the past 5 years and, in some ways, enjoy it even more than Florida.  The weather is warm with low humidity and nothing but sun and blue skies!  The locals ignore the weather forecasts because it's nearly always "low eighties & sun". 

We especially enjoyed visiting Joshua Tree National Park, driving one day through the beautiful mountains to church, and also visiting a large true Oasis.  I also climbed a local mountain.  We'd recommend Palm Springs for any adventurous family of K's who are looking for a quiet and relaxing travel plan.  And, it is gorgeous looking in every direction, with the desert taking on a beauty all of it's own.

 Joshua Tree Nat'l Park -- the largest of all US parks, it has millions of rare Joshua Trees (Biblical) and rock formations like you've absolutely never seen before.  Many campers & rock climbers converge here as the huge round boulders form every conceivable shape and image.   The park is over 50 miles wide and long and it takes a full day to drive through it.  No, that is not me climbing that large rock.

 

 Photo taken at the summit of a local mountain with Palm Springs in the background.  A fun hike!

 

Here's a true oasis in the desert with gigantic palm trees a few thousand years old.  The large brown rocky "ridge" in the background is the famous San Andreas Fault which will likely be the site of California's next big earthquake.  Experts say "it is 10 months pregnant" and could happen at any time!

There's mountains no matter where you look as Palm Springs lies in a desert valley no longer inhabited by movie stars like in the 1960's -- they've all moved on to Vail, Aspen, or Las Vegas.

 Despite being in the desert, Palm Springs city is green and lush with huge natural underground aquifers of clean water which keep the grass green, the abundant beautiful flowers in constant bloom, and the sprinklers going on the "over 100 golf courses". 

 

Leaves!

I spent a few hours today raking our many leaves.  When I finally had it done and had a huge pile in the alley---I called Charity to bring the children to enjoy playing in them before I burned them.  Pictured are Ellie, Anderson, and Carter.
----Carol

Regarding a comment...

Per Cleve's comment:

Catherine goes steady during the school year, but during the summer.....

 

Now, who is this admirer with Mom in the boat?

I think this is just a cute picture, regardless of the people involved.

A Couple of Pics

 Who knows who this friend of Dad's is? Dad looks like John Travolta in this picture!

This picture is so damaged, but it's pretty special. Jay looks like the Bruce I remember, and Lynn looks like Mark at that age, don't you think?

 And this one! Who is getting a scolding here? and why, I wonder?

 

Hope these brightened your day!



 

 

 

A Different Graduation

Thursday evening Lynn and I attended an unusual, but gratifying graduation exercise.   Nikki had completed a year program to get out of a drug addiction that had left her in a deplorable condition.   She chose to enter the Haven of Rest program in which she was immersed in Bible study as well as studies in finances, family living and more.   While Nikki was the only graduate, six others were promoted to the next phase in a three phase program.   To see the progress some of the girls make is indeed heartwarming.   The enemy doesn't give up easily and some of the girls drop out of the program.   But what rejoicing by those who have learned the joy of living a Christian life.