I wore this outfit just for you....

hi mom,
i had adam take this picture of me before we ate dinner on thanksgiving- not because i thought you would be impressed with my culinary skills or plate presentation, but because i thought you would be happy to know that on occasion, i do get out of my yoga pants and put on a little lipstick. you will recognize the outfit as the one you gave me for christmas last year, and you will be happy to know that i was WAY over-dressed at every house we stopped at on turkey day. kiss.

Daughter Number Three Is Scapegoat

If anyone is unfamiliar with our family's pressure to make the perfect pie I am here to tell you this is a very "real" occurance. Recently I believe I was the victim of being the scapegaot for a pumkin pie gone very BAD. The entire top of the pie was charred and in an attempt to vindicate myself I quickly scraped the black top off and even found a taker to try the pie. The taker also known as Roger or to some as Rog was not available for comment.

UPDATE:You Make North Dakota Glamorous

Just to set the record straight regarding the comment about "not a drop of water in sight", in fact there was water, and entire trough full of water for the horses. We were at Steve and Brenda's farm in Linton. And furthermore someone had to be prepared to go in and save those horses you know I was a lifegaurd for many summers at Lake Shamineau!

Dear Mom

today is sunday and i always feel like being in nature on sundays. it's peaceful and majestic in these mountains where i live, and i guess it makes me feel closer to God. i went for a hike this morning and saw bluebirds and eagles, and deer...and practiced some yoga on a rock along the way. i hope we can take a walk up here next time you visit.
removed from the sounds of man and machine, my ear tunes in to the subtle vibrations of wind and carries my love to you.

You Make North Dakota Glamorous

I love you in this picture,  it's soooo seventies.  (And how did you get a stomach like that after 3 kids anyway?)  I believe I have always sort of channeled this version of you ...tan, slim, stylish in your big sunglasses, drinking a cocktail in broad daylight, nonchalant in that, "what is that camera doing here?" sort-of-way.

And another thing, where in the hell were we?  In a field?  On a farm?  There you are in a total Bo Derek get-up, and not a drop of water in sight.  Not a beach, not a lake, not a pool.  And yet....you still manage to look as glamorous as any movie star.  You're my hero.

Chili

Hi Mom,
I made chili for dinner tonight, and as an homage to you, I put the tomatoes in whole, which I hated when I was a kid. They always seemed kind of gross to me when their skin falls off and you can see the veins of the tomato, all exposed and simmering in the soup, like some sort of exotic sea animal. I remember leaving them swimming in the bottom of the bowl whenever you made your famous chili, and seeing you scoop them up behind us. There must have been a reason- perhaps you knew that tomatoes actually have more vitamin C than oranges and you celebrated their wholeness, their juiciness, their sweetly acidic quality. Whatever the reason, I put whole tomatoes in my chili tonight and it's delicious! Thanks Mom. I love you.

TEAM MARILEE BLOWS ALL OTHER TEAMS OUT OF THE WATER IN BI-REGIONAL ALS WALK!

Team Marilee made its first showing at the Minnesota ALS walk in Minneapolis this past September and was followed by the Colorado ALS walk in Denver in early October. Headed up by eldest daughter, Megan in MN, and youngest daugher Leah in CO, the team named for its honoree, raised an impressive total of $13,600 for the ALS Foundations of MN and CO. Approximately 50 walkers joined the team, including Marilee's children, granddaughter, neices, and grandnephews, brothers and sisters, many friends and even her 94 year old mother, Mildred! Not enough can be said about the outpouring of love and support from people rallying for our mother's cause. Friends, relatives, intimates and strangers donated their time, money and prayers to make this day truly special. Mom was dressed fashionably, (as usual), in a red feather boa and oversized Prada sunglasses. She was easily the most stylish walker, and one of the fastest! The excitement of a walk with nearly 2000 other people around Minneapolis's Lake Harriet was only superceded by a an amazing party to commemorate the event, given in true Marilee Flare, hosted by Megan and Dayna. Thank you everyone who made this such a memorable day!