someone sent this pic labeled "zion canes"...Alan Davidson, Betty Jackola & Jean Pelli

Starting the line to eat our Thanksgiving dinner at Margie & Brian Helminen's

Loren & Andrea Haverinen at Thanksgiving dinner

Liza Helminen

Heidi & Dan Helminen and daughter Cassie

Darlene Helminen (Margie & Bri's) holding Daryl Haverinen from Menahga, here for Xsgiving dinner (Andrea & Loren's)

Nina Torola (Wally's) holding Annette Harmala (Melanie & Norman's)

New addition to Trudy & Roger Haataja family...baptized in church

Roger & Trudy Haataja family at Leroy's baptism recently

Rosemary Torola getting ready for the big hunt in youth season

with big sister Marisa

Rosemary's button buck...she gets bragging rights for her house, cuz she got the only buck in their household!

We all talked to evelyn helminen on skype...she is in armenia in the peace corps. We showed her the table all set, carving the turkey. it was midnight there, so she is wrapped up in a blanket. snow on the ground, she said...and of course armenia doesn't have a reason to celebrate thanksgiving

Turkey Day at Margie & Brian Helminen's 2011

Margie getting dinner ready. lots of stuff to eat per usual, we all brought dishes and pies, too.

Brian carving the bird

Brenda & Davin had to leave, so got their very own snapshot

The outside crew after eating our turkey dinner. they are all cousins from two families...brenda & davin's and margie & brian's

The inside crew, helminen turkey day

Williston, North Dakota coffee clatch at applebee's

Ed Johnson (downstate), Anderson (Dennis & Loanne's), Wesa, (Pete's), Wally Torola, Craig Koski (Russ's) Daavettila (John's) & Keith Pietila (Ruth's)

11 yr. old Warren Torola got this buck right out of his back yard! (Carl's son)

Johanna Tolkkinen got this buck in Traprock Valley...so did her brotheers gavin and saul

SEND ME SOME PICS. OF THANKSGIVING TIME

and more deer ones

This biggie was shot by Jim Hendrickson of Menahga, MN. (betsy's uncle)

9 pointer, rack 21.5 wide, 198 lbs.

Aaron Larson shows off his 10 point buck to his kids, Logan & Jenny

He shot it first day of bow season

Margie's orchids a few months ago

Clyde put out a pumpkin birdfeeder, and look what happened...

notice the head in one end, tail out of the other!

Kristen Tervo, Lana Hyrkas, Janine Kiilunen

My cousin, Mary Lou, and husband Al Pesola, Al is looking good after heart bypass surgery

Two fine executives, Kurt Anderson and Jaako Helppi

How's this for humble Bumbletown? (Clyde Randell)

Paul & Peter Torola (Dave's) and Paul's buck

12 gauge, doubleOO buck (whatever that means)

First deer for Paul!

I AM WAITING FOR SOME DEER HUNTING PICS!!! SEND 'EM!

3 elder birthdays to remember,( requests to list these)

Bill Kero will turn 90 on Nov. 28, his party is listed above. His address is 55795 Pepin Rd., Laurium, MI, 49913

Irene Somero turned 90 on Nov. 8...it's not too late to send her a card. Address is 723 Seventh st., Laurium, MI 49913

Ethel Harmala will turn 80 on Nov. 26. Her address is 6440 Springflower Dr., New Port Richey, Florida, 34653

Pic sent to me recently of a mine tour in virginia, mn.

From Left, the Seiter's, Frantti's, Finland minister, (Koivukangas???) Dorothy & Emil Johnson & kids, Aggie Johnson, and Johnson's boys. don't know who the boy in the yellow shirt is.

Recent wedding pic sent to me...Celia Sturos & Dan Raisanen, daughter of Pete Sturos's of Farmington area, and Heidi & Keith Raisanen of Cokato. Celia is wearing her grandma Maria Sturos's wedding dress, of 54 years ago. It's awesomingly beautiful!

Twins, Lucy & Allie, born recently, daughters of Kari & Gordon Bekkala of Cokato, MN

22 little artists painted a watercolor picture with me at Busy Bees this week

RETIREMENT PARTY FOR CAROL ESKOLA MON., NOV. 7, 2011

Carol and one of her presents! Had a fun time, ate, sang, (also sang an 8 verse song about Carol and her retirement, tune of "my Bonny lies over the ocean", concocted by Ellen.

Also ladies were given an "old lady" test, to see if they remembered stuff like blackjack gum, rollerskate keys, glass milk bottles, candy cigarettes, etc. Most of us did remember them, but Carla B. is only 40, so had only 7 yes, while the rest of us had about 25....shows how really old some of us are.

A great evening, and Carol enjoyed the party with so many friends!

notice the ballons on the tree...inside was a retirement wish from all of us...so she had to pop and read them! Great fun!

Missing from pics is Julie Kangas and Ellen, Lana, Judy Nordstrom, Holly Eskola, Janet Larson, Kathy Johnson

Julie and Judy Roepke were the party planners and did a good job!

Annual "Roiko weekend"...a family fun time!

Recent wedding pic sent; Leanne (Niska) and Brent Luoma

in virginia, mn

One more pic. from Alaska trip...at the airport, I was late getting my shoes back on cuz I always get "wanded".

Brian Helminen with a big snapping turtle this past summer

Tina (Hyrkas)Zegel, Me, Christi (Hyrkas) Warner at Randy & Janina's wedding in Aug.

Sandy & Joe Koivisto