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The first pic is what SW Michigan looks like this AM.... today is our 3rd day of snow and more snow. The second pic is church today. Rather than venturing out we attended couch potato "Fireside Non Community Church".... our pastor preached from his office.... reminds me of our COVID days of lock down!

HOPE YOUR ALL SAFE AND WELL... all those is snowy regions like us.... and for those in sunny warm climates.... ENVIOUS !!!!

01/14/24 03:57 PM

#10790

Believe it or not there can beauty in bitter cold weather but you have to look for it. Before I was forced into the deep freeze to rescue my runaway tiki bar this morning I took these pictures of the frost buildup on a storm door next to the kitchen. Thought they might give you a different perspective on effects of the harsh sub-zero temperatures. Enjoy and stay warm.

Jim - Glad to see you escaped that bear relatively unscathed. Nice snow pic. Have you made a snowman yet or are you so old you have outgrown doing that? (He asks with a sheepish grin) BTW - Your pics needed a little help getting upright - all better now.

01/14/24 04:43 PM

#10791

Marvin, Mother Nature or Jack Frost did a very good job on your window. Beautiful.

I'm so glad you were able to secure the Tiki bar when it went for a ride by itself.

My church was open this morning and I was supposed to be a greeter, but the gal that leads us sent me an email and told me not to force myself into going. The other greeter had to be there because she is an Elder for communion. And there weren't many at church. I had the mindset to go, but when she gave me the out, I stayed home and watched online. Our new Minister, who just came December 1st, is from California. I hope he doesn't run back to California. He has spent some time in Indiana, so he knew what he might be in for.

Jim, we haven't had as much snow as was in our forecast. But it was -14 with a wind chill of -38. And I dont think it got above 0 all day. They are calling for the cold until Wednesday, when it will be in the 20s.

For Christmas, I use paper plates that have a Christmas design, but the fine China on your Christmas tables, Sue and Jim, are beautiful. For Christmas, we just have finger foods; sandwiches, chips and dip and cheeseball and crackers, etc. For Thanksgiving, we have a big dinner, but I use paper plates with a Thanksgiving desgin for that, also.

My Son and some of his kids spent time in Gatlinburg, TN, a couple of weeks ago. There was a bear at the motel where they stayed. It wasn't really interested in them, it just rummaged thru things, looking for food. But they were pretty close to it.

Stay safe and warm, everybody.

01/15/24 09:27 AM

#10792

Linda Bristow (Elias)

After reading the chilling info on Bloomington, and seeing frost on windows...........I am reporting that we were actually at 29 degrees one morning this last week. I went to work though.

Last Monday, I stepped on a pebble in the parking lot at work, my ankle flipped over, and broke my left foot. I'm in a walking boot and everything is fine. It is dark, when I go to work, and I couldn't see the pebble.

The sun, however, comes out like a champ, daily. I love when it starts to rise, for the day, and just barely peeks over the mountain.

In Illinois WEATHER, my favorite is the rain/sleet that covers the leafless trees. When the sun comes up, it shows the golden light of the world reflecting on all of the trees. How beautiful it looks. But, how dangerous it is for roads!

Happy MLK day to you all!

Linda

01/15/24 11:29 AM

#10793

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Brrrrrr....COLD !!! I looked on the weather app and said B'ton at -3 and we in SW Mich at 10.... Both TOOOO Cold. In past 4 days we have had about 12-15 inches of snow. And of all times for the lever to propel the snow blower forward "snapped" so now only goes by manually pushing it.... DREAM ON.... this weak hearted old guy certainly can't push the monster! Fortunately a grandson came an did it (works out at the gym a lot) I guess this is nothing to complain about since up to a few days ago we had only a few traces of snow all winter. Of course.... praying it doesnt continue!

Everyone in different parts of the country would be nice to see pictures of what you see out of your windows! Back to our covid days of picture sharing!

STAY WARM and HEALTHY !!!

01/15/24 12:21 PM

#10794

Wendy Stephens (Cullen)

we have had below feeezing temperatures here but no snow. The rhododendrons curl up their leaves when it gets below about 28.

Marv, that tiki bar situation is quite something. I would love to see it when I am there for the Reunion this summer. Any chance?

Sure would like to know what Ron Bess thinks about the current college football scene. The transfer portal NIL, etc.

Keep warm, everyone!

01/15/24 02:07 PM

#10795

Linda, sorry to hear about your foot. Aren't those boots fun? Haha

I couldn't wear mine. Maybe that's why it hasn't healed! You take care of yourself.

love you

Suzi

01/15/24 06:56 PM

#10796

A very good chance Wendy!

01/18/24 01:43 PM

#10797

This was taken by me in 2021 with my camera. It is from my back door and is my back yard. I only use my cell phone for emergencies so no new pictures, this year. Although, this is very pretty, I have no desire to repeat this. I had many broken limbs from a tree.

This was posted on Facebook by someone. It says Funk's Grove, 2023. So probably last month. I thought many of you who don't live in Illinois anymore would enjoy this picture and remember Funk's Grove as being a really neat place to ride through.

01/18/24 01:52 PM

#10798

This is from April 2020. As you can see, I had already gotten my artificial plant out for Spring. I'm hoping, since we are getting snow so early this year, we will be done with the snow, way before April, this year.

Anybody have more winter pictures that are more up to date than mine?

01/18/24 02:20 PM

#10799

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Sandy:

Thank you so much!

Love ya, Linda

01/18/24 05:31 PM

#10800

We're having a heat wave!!! It's up to 19 degrees today! If you look back a few days at the pic I posted of deep snow on my deck .... it's 6 inches more by today ! Yuck !!!

01/20/24 07:22 AM

#10801

01/20/24 10:18 PM

#10802

Love it Sandy !!! All favorites.... almost made me want to go to the piano or organ and play them.... but that would mean getting up out of my comfy recliner and sit on a hard bench with no back to it..... I'll save that for another time !!!

01/21/24 05:53 PM

#10803

David Long

Hi all and Happy New Year!

I Shared a link to video on YouTube that I originally posted for Terry Maxwell several years ago. There are several clips of Max and his dad. Mel suggested that our classmates might enjoy a look back to '62, '63, and '64. My dad took all of the home movies and several years ago, Dorothy rescued the 8mm (yes, actual film) movies and had them digitized. If you watch the YouTube movie, please keep in mind that these were shot by my dad so the subject matter is pretty limited. https://youtu.be/jPsuWmyHsHA?feature=shared

01/21/24 08:40 PM

#10804

Very clever match up of roles and hymns Sandy.

I had a similar experience as Jim with a bear this afternoon. Unlike Jim I did not cower. I gave that bear a lesson he'll not soon forget!!!

01/21/24 09:45 PM

#10805

MARV .... Go back and look at the pic of the bear I encountered. He was much more threatening than yours. Your bear looks like a whimp in comparison ! BUT I do admire your braveness !

MEL ..... In the past two weeks I have gone through all the posts on the forum beginning with the first one on 9/29/09 through today .... an inspiring reminder of the great members of Raiders 64 and the many new friends I believe I've made since posting on the site. In review of many pictures, I noticed an older one of yours showing the antique architectural arch and pillars in your condo. In the older picture your walls were a Kelly Green and the arch was painted white. In a later one the arch is natural wood finish (much more beautifu in my opinion). You must have done a lot of work to strip all that paint. Wondering did you find that from a demolition of property and install it in a wall dividing one of your bedrooms to open the room up to your living area ? Love how you brought the old world into a modern building !

BOTH THEOBALD's have a real creative talent and are amazing with the artistic and building projects.

We have now had a couple days with no additional snow and a heat wave in the low 20's. Maybe sring is around the corner !

01/21/24 11:39 PM

#10806

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Jim, thank you for your kind and thoughtful words about me and Marv. We are fortunate to have had great mentors, in addition to which we have always been competitive. There has never been a time when we didn't strive to push ourselves to find solutions to the things we faced. It is with humility that I watched Dave Long's films posted earlier today. In some odd way, we as a class have collectively always viewed our potential as a way of making a difference in the world. From Chuck Jenkins, Bob Singletary, Ron Bess, Holly Rust, Cathy Quiett, Wendy Stephens, Ken McBeth, Vicki Keller, Terry Maxwell and so many others, I have always looked at my BHS classmates as inspirational. Our teachers were phenomenal, and if we learned anything from them, it was that we could become whatever we dreamed. I remember spending time with you, Bill Rusk, Paul Hansen, Jim Altemus and Ed Stanfield, never knowing what we would mean to each other in the years after graduation. Yet, after all these years, here we are. We have lost some of them, but they are still within us. It fills me with happiness to know you have gone back to see what this website has done to keep us all in-touch.

How observant of you to notice the changes in the arch in my condo. For reasons too complicated to explain here, let me say that I built it using found materials. From the beginning, it was my intent to faux finish the columns to look like stone, but it took a few years before finally doing it.

All the best to you and the Class of '64. You mean the world to me.

01/22/24 09:53 AM

#10807

David Brock

Sandy-- A couple of additions you may want to consider for your Hymn List

Accountants-- Count your Blessings

Optometrist Turn your eyes toward Jesus

Carpentr/ Builder The Wise man built his house on the rock

As for a sense of humor Tennis God had Joseph to serve in Pharoh's court

God was also a baseball fan In the beginning (big inning) He created the heaven and the earth

01/22/24 11:12 AM

#10808

David ... Good additions ...and did you know that Paul was a baker ? He went to Phillipi .... "fill a pie"

01/22/24 04:40 PM

#10809

Very good additions to the hymn list, guys. They gave me some chuckles.

01/24/24 12:40 PM

#10810

Sandy ..... nice seeing you "Today"

Another addition to the Hymns .....

PILOTS HYMN ........... I'll Fly Away

HUNTERS HYMN ........ AS The DEER panteth for the water

01/25/24 11:13 AM

#10811

Marv .... I'm beginning to research a rout with back roads to safely make it to the reunion ... will you please check and see it B'ton CC has a hitching post to tie Raider to? Thanks

01/28/24 12:25 AM

#10812

Jim - While I am sure BCC would have accomodations for hitching your horse, as a backup plan, I would be happy to put my trailer hitch on the back of my van for you to tie up to. Hopefully I will leave the reunion after you in case I forget the horse is attached when I leave. How fast can he trot?

While in the Houston area visiting my cousin yesterday and Judy was visiting her daughter, I met Mary Giermann and her son's family for dinner near Texas City. Her grandson (8) and granddaughter (5) made Valentine Day cards for me. We had a very nice visit for a few hours. A photo was taken on her phone. I will post it later if a copy finds its way to me.

Hope you are all enjoying your trek through winter.

01/28/24 10:57 AM

#10813