Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night nor the painter stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds

The common area face-lift and refurnishing is underway!!

Field trip to the Recycler

Member M.E. traded steel, brass, wire (mostly Christmas tree lights), and aluminum for just short of $100, destined for the Activity Committee's fund.

Have you been throwing away money?

r r R

Friday's Lunch and Learn featured a recycling discussion led by resident M.E.

We are doing well - but, as usual, we could always do better.

Pitch in!

Transients

A flock of these (or some close relative) were at the co-op yesterday. Can Spring be far behind?

Cedar Waxwing

Presented without comment

Keeping Warm

Dakota County Star Quilters are presenting a show in South St. Paul at the Dakota Country Historical Society Museum that you don’t want to miss.  The show is running from February 6-March 1, 2013 - TIME IS RUNNING OUT.  The suggested donation is $3.

There are over 50 amazing quilts of all sizes and patterns - some old, some new - and all wonderful.  There is a raffle - first prize is free machine quilting for one of your quilts.  There is also a silent auction with some wonderful hangings being auctioned.

Hours:

Wed,Fri  9 AM-5 PM

Thurs   9 AM-8PM

Sat   10 AM-3PM

130 Third Avenue North   South St Paul, MN  (across the street from South St. Paul City Hall)

651-552-7548

www.dakotahistory.org

www.dakotacountystarquilters.org

Cloud 9

Frosty

Not just a pretty face...

Working together

Short videos on youTube are one way we have to help prospective members find us.

Here's one:

All together now

The Wellness Room is stocked with a good sampling of exercise implements known to health clubs and present/former enthusiasts.   And enthusiasts we have; residents pop in and out to use various machines–with TV for company, if wanted.

Above, a group moves through its twice-weekly, seated aerobics session, led by a TV instructor who seems never to get tired.  

Seated aerobics, you say?  What good can come from that? 

Plenty!  From the top of the neck down to the toes, every non-weight-bearing system is urged along–eventually driven along so that a genuine workout is realized.  (And, if some residents take part in only certain segments, that’s OK, too.)

From the neck up, it’s therapeutic as well:  sharing with neighbors a healthy time, with friendly commentary thrown in.

Winter sleep

It’s winter 

and the co-op’s garden has closed down under a cover of snow.  

Some

 of the 24 plots sleep knowing that their purpose next spring is assured.

They

 already embrace the roots of roses, raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb.  

Others

are bare and expectant: 

will they host tomato plants, peppers, lettuce, something exotic?

Eight feet square,

Will they have veggies and flowers?   

All 

relax to know that there is water inside the garden,

the vinylled steel fence protects their produce from critters.

The plots

sense it is prideful to flaunt their space

to the gardeners who select them.

Yet spring comes

and the plots call out in soil-speak,

"Choose me, choose me."

The plots

feel special to have partners in the miracle of garden growth.

Meanwhile, they rest.

Group work

To commit or not to commit; that is the question.  Happily, at our cooperative, the answer is positive, which results in . . . COMMITTEES.

With a foundation of basic housing legislation, internal by-laws, and managerial and maintenance staff,  what makes our home thrive are the many residents who regularly gather to share and put into action ideas to benefit the whole: Resident Board, Building, Marketing, Decorating, Security, Activity, Communications, Finance, and various ad-hoc groups see to maintaining a safe, affordable, comfortable, attractive, and sociable community.

This allows us to be individuals with our own space and way of spending time while relying on a cohesive system of governance and association with neighbors.

We’re lucky.  It works!

Winter scene

I just thought you might like to see the view from the 3rd floor, or as I call it: my piece of heaven. Stay warm, and stop to enjoy the frozen beauty. Liz

Elves pay a visit

 

[click to view larger slideshow]

Vote like you mean it!

Get yourself one of these!

Augustana Lutheran, the polling place for RealifeWSP, is right at the bottom of our west side path.

Speaking of our grandkids, here is some relevant Dr. Seuss:

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go....
Oh, the Places You'll Go

Step with care and great tact
And remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
Oh, the Places You'll Go

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better. It's not.
The Lorax

Where's the leaf?

Members MF and SF returned from the LAKE to find the view from their balcony had been 'improved'. They report: "we can see the street much better with all that habitat gone."

The squirrels agree.