Bulow Family

2023 Christmas Letter

The year of 2023 is coming to a close. I have been trapped here for almost 3 years now… who am I? I am Biscuit, the most gorgeous parakeet in the world. I spend 50% of my time looking at myself in my mirror.

But you may ask where I am trapped? Well, for nearly 3 years I have been living with a strange type of wingless, two-legged creature, also known as a human. They are a strange creature and I can’t wait to tell you about my past year with them…

DECEMBER – I shall start in the dead of winter from last year. 

There was some excitement. I could sense it. The oldest child and her husband, Truston, had something that made everyone excited. I started chirping, asking what was happening, but nobody answered me! I was confused, so I went to sleep instead.

The next day or so, they left me for an entire week! I watched the blizzard outside, checked Tweeter, and saw a post from one of my friends, Chipper, of my humans down in Iowa. Why were they so far away?

Several days later, I saw Tweety’s post. She was enjoying her vacation in Minnesota next to a camp called SBL (Story Book Lodge). I zoomed in the background and saw…my humans?! How did they get to Minnesota? I texted Tweety, asking her to monitor them and tell me what they were doing.  

The next day, she texted and said that Caleb, the old one, was preaching there. Not only that, but he was making podcasts with some of his young friends as well! 

Now if I had Spotify, the rip-off version of Chirpify, I would listen to After Thoughts with Martin, the podcast, but I don’t have it and they didn’t post on Chirpify. 

JANUARY – The next time I looked at the calendar, it was already January! Riana and her little sister Danielle left for the train station. From posts on Tweeter, I found out that they were in Montana chasing cows. Then, the day they got back, Titus left! Apparently he had gone to Storybook again – this time with his grandpa to help build a Lodge. 

Finally, when he came home, the family was together for a week. But then Lish and Riana left the house with packed bags for somewhere. Imagine my shock when I saw Rooster’s post from Hawaii and there they were…on a beach! 

9 days later, they were home and January was gone. 

The humans left me again, this time for a short weekend. I heard rumors that they were in Fargo doing some preachifying and visiting friends.

Finally, the chicks moved out to the barn! I was about to take a long-awaited, peaceful snooze when I was startled by quite the discordant sound. Titus appeared to be experimenting with bellows. When was I ever going to get my beauty sleep? 

Thank goodness for Tweeter to keep track of everyone. Riana seemed to be spending quite a bit of time teaching piano in Kenmare and hanging out with Larissa and Truston afterwards.

MARCH – Danielle and her mom left the home for a week. This time, they went to Kansas and somehow found their way to Arkansas. From what I could tell they were spending quality time with their relatives.

When they finally returned, Lish stayed only a few days before leaving for a “Weekend to Remember” with Caleb in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While they enjoyed their weekend, the kids enjoyed their freedom at home. I was scared.

APRIL -In April, all of the humans left for a weekend in northern Minnesota; happy Haacking or something. It’s so hard to keep track of where they go!

Several weeks later when I was on Tweeter, Swallow shared a morbid post of Riana butchering her noisy roosters. I was shocked. I didn’t think they would eat me, but‌ to be safe I went on a diet. 

Luckily, they never butchered me, but life was not without its tragedies. Denali, the beloved dog of these humans, went missing. The heartbreak was short lived. Within a week Titus had bought a new puppy, named Dakota, and Danielle had bought a horse, dubbed Bud. The lack of sleep was wearing on me. I turned my mirror around. 

MAY – Larissa finished her Accounting Technology Degree and Mrs. Goose posted some lovely pictures of my humans family party at Oak Park. 

Riana started working at the greenhouse in the hopes of learning how to keep plants alive. 

Danielle collected old pallets and constructed a round pen for her horse, with her grandpa’s help. Poor Bud was forced into daily labor.

JUNE – There was a baby shower?! For who? When? That’s when I realized the significance of the excitement in December. Larissa and Truston were having a baby!

So much was happening! Danielle and Titus had 4-H Achievement days; but Danielle was absent, having chosen to be at SBL teen camp instead – with Ethan also attending and Caleb counseling.

While they were gone Titus, man of the house, mowed the lawn with the new zero-turn lawnmower and Riana traveled to the mountains of Montana.

Finally everyone came home. But they didn’t stay. Sparrow raised the alarm that Bud had jumped the fence. Lucky for him he was found the next day before Danielle had time to replace him like like they had done with Denali. Whom was apparently living with the people who had found Bud. Titus was happy with his new puppy and they decided to leave Denali with her new owners. Whew. I got no sleep. 

JULY – It was so busy! Much quality time was had with friends and family. On the July 4th weekend the Tengesdal Family Reunion occurred and the Osbornes, relatives on Lish’s side, traveled up from Iowa. After staying for several days the Osbornes and some of my humans traveled down to Medora to camp. Only my humans came back. After several days Lish, Danielle, and Titus packed their bags once again for Storybook. Riana packed her car and traveled to meet her Aunt Bethany in South Dakota.

Everyone arrived home just in time for the State Fair. Titus was awarded Grand Champion on his whole wheat bread – grown, harvested, threshed, cleaned, ground, and baked all by himself. 

When the State Fair was over, Caleb, Lish, and the girls left for Wisconsin Bunkhouse girls’ camp, while Titus went to his friends’ house for the week. 

The house wasn’t quiet.  Ethan built a custom desk for his bedroom. No beauty sleep.

AUGUST – News of the birth of Acacia Lynn Nelson traveled quickly. One of the first to meet her was Great Grandma Joy who came to assist with the birth and recovery. I briefly saw my humans when they stopped by the house on their way from Wisconsin to Kenmare to see Acacia.

Ethan bought a black Dodge Charger as a winter project and Riana made batches and batches of homemade goods for the local farmer’s market.

Danielle left the family to go to the Richardson’s to have some quality horse time. When she got back she began redesigning her room. 

SEPTEMBER – Danielle and her mom left again, this time with some of Danielle’s friends. I found later on Tweeter that they had once again gone to SBL. Lish appeared to be wearing a chef’s hat while Danielle and her friends were wreaking havoc as campers. 

Titus went to fill his doe tag before going to the Norsk Hostfest to play with the Accordion Club. At some point the bellows had morphed into an accordion and I had to admit that the terrible noise was now a beautiful melody with which I loved to harmonize! 

A few birds who sneaked in to the Hostfest posted about the Accordion Club on Tweeter and there was little Titus surrounded by accordions and white haired adults. Rumors were that there was an 80 year gap between him and the oldest player.

OCTOBER – The next event was the anniversary trip of Caleb and Lish. First they went to Miles City, Montana, and then to Medora for hiking. After their amazing time, they came home, re-packed and left again. This time with the kids. I checked Tweeter constantly till I saw where they were. Can you guess? Yep! Back at SBL! This time for the family fall retreat. It was only the weekend, thankfully. 

Once they returned, Riana resumed giving piano lessons in Kenmare as an excuse to go see Acacia. Meanwhile, Lish helped her friends organize their barn, garage, and bunkhouse! Once that project was over, she had brilliant idea of digitizing the entire SBL cookbook and gained access to all their delicious recipes.

Ethan decided it was time to trade his coolest car (in my opinion), a purple Mustang, for a blue Chevy Silverado truck. 

NOVEMBER – Lish filled her first deer tag on her first night hunting. It was impressive! Danielle shot her deer right through the heart! Caleb promised her that he would European mount it. They quickly processed the deer, packed their bags, and left.

I checked Tweeter the next day and found they were in Wisconsin Dells celebrating Thanksgiving with Lish’s siblings and parents. 

The day after they returned home, Danielle obtained a small card granting her the freedom to pack her bags and leave. She promptly drove away the next day to surprise her friends at their home. Then drove to Velva and became a barista before the week was over. I think she was having a bit too much fun with her license. 

DECEMBER –  The last month of 2023. Lish, Danielle, and Titus visited some friends for several days and came back with stacks and stacks of beautiful cookies. Caleb indulged in some cookies.  Lish indulged in some new appliances. 

Soon they will leave me, once again, to spend Christmas with Caleb’s siblings and parents. Then right after that, they will leave for winter retreat at SBL. 

At this point I could sleep through a hurricane. When they’re gone I am going to get some much needed beauty sleep.

Merry Christmas from me (Biscuit) and the Bulow’s!