Eagan Rotarian series #13

Kim Becker has worked as a Wealth Advisor for the Wells Fargo Private Bank since 2001. She develops goals-based plans for individuals with a net worth north of $5 million. She and her husband are both attorneys and live with their three children. Kim transferred from the St. Paul Rotary club to our Eagan Rotary club.

Their 12 year old son plays hockey; she's a bank professional by day and a "Hockey Mom" by night. She posed on the ice rink at the Eagan Civic Center with her son's jersey and gear.

Eagan sled team

Lots of snow fell during the Christmas holiday! Here are my sledding champions: Flicka, Dicka & Ricka. Have you sledded down a snow-hill lately?

Olympic sledding uniforms "sponsored" by the Hannah Andersson store.

Celebrating the New Year

Three couples came for dinner on Saturday night. I set the table with Anne's Grandma Addy's dishes, Anne's Great Aunt Eva's silverware and linen napkins folded "Bishop's hat" style.

Our menu included:

Pre-dinner wine: Chateau Sainte Michelle, Chardonny 2008 - Columbia Valley with assorted crackers; herbed Brie, Jarlsberg & Colby cheeses

New Year's toast: Linie Aquavit from Norway

Salad course: Pear, pomegranate & mixed greens with Blueberry/pomegranate dressing 'a l'Allison

Dinner wine: Columbia Crest - Grand Estates, Merlot 2006 - Columbia Valley

Entree: Minnesota pork chops filled with herb seasoned stuffing, marshmallowed sweet potatoes, feta & almond asparagus, lingonberries with assorted breads.

Dessert: Chocolate turtle cake or Rhubarb raspberry pie with coffee

Alvin & the Chipmunks

Our family went to the Regal 16 Cinema down Cliff Road to see the new movie, "Alvin & the Chipmunks." Two adult and three children tickets cost $36! Sticker shock for me; I guess I don't get out enough?! But our daughters really laughed and enjoyed the film.

Click here to see a prior posting about the Regal 16 movie screen theater.

New Year's treat

Our friend Doug came over on New Year's morning for strong coffee and Swedish Kringler which I baked after my morning blogging time. Here's the recipe if you'd like to try to bake it:

Mix 1 cup flour and 1/2 cup butter until crumbly. Add 1 Tablespoon water and mix/gather together.

Form two long strips about 3 inches wide on a cookie sheet.

Heat 1 cup water and 1/2 cup butter in saucepan just barely to boiling. As you take it from the heat, add flour all at once and stir until a smooth ball.

Stir in one egg at a time, (3 eggs total) beating by hand after each addition.

Add 1 teaspoon almond extract for flavoring.

Spread on the two pastry strips and bake in pre-heated oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes.

Frost with sugar icing flavored with almond extract.

Sprinkle almond slivers on top.

Serve with coffee and enjoy!

Time CHANGES

City Daily Photo's January theme day is "Changes." If it's 1 o'clock in the afternoon in Eagan, Minnesota, USA (Central Standard time), what time is it where you are with the time CHANGE?! What are you doing right now?

Clocks: 1:00 Rotary clock - Decorah, Iowa; 2:00 Eagan Rotary band shell; 3:00 Swatch watch wall clock - Eagan; 4:00 Grandfather clock - Stevens Point, Wisconsin; 5:00 Eagan Transit (bus) station; 6:00 Leif's old wristwatch; 7:00 Antique "kitchen clock" - Eagan; 8:00 "Out of business" bank - Eagan; 9:00 Leif's microwave - Eagan; 10:00 Lee retirement clock - Decorah; 11:00 Kuckoo clock - Stevens Point; 12:00 Viking bank - Decorah.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants around the globe

Our year in photos

As 2009 came to an end, I looked back through some photos to share some happy Hagen family memories! I hope you enjoy my collage!

Happy New Year - 2010!

Here's wishing you and yours great health and happiness!

All lit up!

The couple living in this house just north of Eagan along Cedar Avenue has a famous tree. Why? Because everyone saw it during the holiday season on their commute home from work or on the way to the Mall of America or en route to Minneapolis! They told me that it's lit up with 41,300 lights on 150 strings of lights!

Unemployed until ...

I spotted these Shamrock snow plows on a cold evening all lined up, quiet and unemployed. But since then we have had snow blizzards so they aren't without work anymore!

Eagan Rotarian series #12

Steve Conlin, fellow Eaganite and Eagan Rotarian, just sold this house at 4817 Shevlin Court. This house with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, dining room, living room, family room and kitchen was built in 1985. Steve listed it for $198,500. An experienced and friendly realtor for Edina Realty, Steve works with almost any price range!

If you're looking to buy or sell a house, call Steve at 651-686-2033.

www.Steve-Conlin.com

It looked a lot like Christmas...

We enjoyed getting into the Christmas mood at the "Hagen Financial Network" office. The wooden Christmas ornaments on the Norfolk Pine tree were handmade in my dad's workshop and the wreath on the door was purchased at Bachman's Floral.

www.HagenFN.com

HFN & HFA

My 9 minute younger twin brother Luther, his blond wife Libby, his smiley office assistant Beth and my foxy assistant Allison (in white) and I met next door at Doolittles Restaurant for lunch on Tuesday. My company is called "Hagen Financial Network" and his company is called "Hagen Financial Advantage." Is that kinda confusing?

Christmas Eve worship

The sanctuary was decorated with poinsettias for Chrismas Eve worship. Every Sunday in Advent, the visual arts committee added more decorations until Christmas Eve! Look back at the second sunday in Advent to compare, click here. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church members & visitors had 4 Christmas Eve services from which to choose.

Photo by: Dr. Jim Johnson

Merry Christmas from the Hagens

My wife, our daughters and I would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas! I give thanks for my family, friends and new CDP blogger friends! Thanks for your support and interest in following my Eagan daily photo blog this year!

Photo by: Michael Proebstle at www.LegacyCreativeImages.com

Our Christmas tree

We cut a fresh Balsam Christmas tree out in Stillwater right after Thanksgiving. Our Christmas tree stands in our family room with a collection of ornaments: Orrfors, Bing & Grondahl, pewter, glass fish from Hawaii, made in school kid ornaments, and many other varieties. An angel glows at the top! The presents get set out just before Christmas otherwise our curious young daughters ...

Snowblowers for sale

Giovanni on the left and the other two Home Depot guys helped me decide between several different snowblowers. My broken snowblower is standing abandoned in our garage. The $499 price tag surprised me but I did buy one! I'm ready for the huge blizzard predicted for later this week!

Clearing the way

While I was clearing the way for sidewalk strollers with my shovel, the Eagan city snowplow drove past to clear the way for local traffic. I think chances are good for a "White Christmas" in Eagan this year!

Fourth Sunday in Advent

Trinity Lone Oak Lutheran Church looked beautiful decorated for Christmas. Pastor Jim Kroonblawd showed me the children's program "Glory to God" artistic decoration hanging on the school gymnasium wall before bringing me up to see the sanctuary. Their church will soon celebrate its 130th anniversary!

Click this link to see an earlier posting of this church's exterior.

Biscotti & cookies

These Christmas cookies and biscotti sure were tempting during last Sunday morning's shopping mission. I should have bought a couple to enjoy with a cup of coffee at the Caribou Coffee stand within Byerly's grocery store!

Jingle jingle

These twin sisters, "Em" & "Mar," were the belly dancing entertainment at the Northern Dakota County Chamber of Commerce holiday lunch at Ansari's. The lunch started at 11:30; they didn't dance until 12:51 and I had a 1:00 pm appointment! I was so disappointed to only see them dance for 3 minutes! Double darn! Click here to see a previous bellydancer at Ansarri's!

www.ansarisgrill.com