Good bye 2011

Tonight we are spending with John,Mary and family alone with Travis as the last hours of 2011 tick away.  This year has brought many many happenings and changes. 
We have had a wonderful time this Christmas.  John/Mary and family have been here this week and will be leaving tomorrow morning.  Terry and I will be heading back to Naples in the afternoon. 
2012 will be here in a short time and it will be fun to see what it brings.
We wish a happy new year to all.

Tomorrow

As I welcome December 23 I realize that tomorrow we celebrate the birth of Jesus, our savior, our King, our protector, our friend, our Lord and many more to us.  When I think of Christmas I think of family, of friends and of the blessings I have and for sure have done nothing to deserve.  Here is the entire Lee clan last July and we await Cynthia/Mike's new little one SOON. 
Terry and I are excited to see family, to spend time together, to play with those precious grand children and to spend our first Christmas together.  It is hard to believe that we have already spent almost 3 days and only have 10 more here.  Yesterday we were able to get some decorations up, all the presents wrapped and one big shopping trip done.  Today some more food shopping and then tomorrow food, family and the birth of our Lord. 
We wish all a very Merry Christmas.

Fly the friendly skies

OK I admit this is not the plane we will fly but we are flying tomorrow.  This happens to be a plane that flew past as we were on a cruise around the Apostle Islands last fall.  Tomorrow is the real deal.  We fly non-stop from Fort Myers (RSW) to Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) and arrive about 2:00 or so.  I know I got that lingo down for airports.  There will be one bag checked with stocking stuffers for the grand kids and one of the carry-ons will be loaded with oranges from our tree.  Not bringing much clothes as what is good for here would not work well in St. Paul in December.  I do know that weather in St. Paul has been mild and the entire fall and early winter has been a blessing.  BUT for the sake of Henry, Liam and Leo I am sorry as I know they wanted to make a mega fort in the front yard with Uncle Travis.  It looks like the ingredients for any kind of fort are not there.  Maybe by next week but not very likely.
Yesterday fit the cap I saw perfectly.  On the cap I saw "another day in paradise".  Well there was little wind, sunny skies and temps in the low 70's.  After church Terry and I enjoyed some sun, a 15 mile bike ride and then a short short bike ride to Walgreen's to use coupons for some more stocking stuffers.
This morning the temp reads 59 and I think that is one of the first if not the first 50's reading this fall.
No baby yet.  Over the weekend we talked to Mike and to Cynthia and no pink or blue has arrived and as of yesterday afternoon Cynthia said maybe it will come late.  Well my prediction is December 23rd or maybe the 24th but not late.  I know it would be nice for Mike if that baby would come early this week as he wants and I am sure needs and deserves some time off  work.  Wow between he and John L they put in enough time to the education of our youth for at least 4 educators.
Today it will be order the house a bit (that is my part as Terry is pretty much always in an order mode), pick oranges, pack, check in to our flight on the computer and make a list and check it at least twice to make sure we have what we need and want.
I know I know for some of you who read this you are saying is he not finished with that french press so that he can stop writing and YES the cup is dry and the mind is empty.

A treasure------------No luck

Terry and I took the boat shuttle Tuesday and walked on the beach for an hour.  As always I had my eye out for a shark tooth but again no luck.  I keep thinking next time but....
We received a Christmas card from one of my few remaining cousins on the Sampson (my mother) side.  It is a treasure for sure.  She hand wrote on both sides of two pages 5 X 7.  Ruth Gregerson is now 92 and lives in Visalia CA.  For some reason I always thought she was so nice even though we seldom saw her and her family.  I think her husband Lester was a OTR truck driver but I am not sure of that.  Joan, Dave or Helen may know for sure.  Anyway I am pretty sure she is the daughter of Uncle Ansel who was mother's oldest brother. I am guessing that Ansel was almost 20 years older than mom as the family was large. Ruth (mom's neice) was the flower girl in mom and dad's wedding.  Some of the things she said:

• "My aunt Ruby"
• "Your mom was my idol in so many ways-Also teacher or mentor! An example---I learned to shine the chrome on the kitchen cook stove until it was mirror perfect--that may sound trivial but it's one of the happy memories I have staying with Grdpa and Gma while Ruby was still at home! --a really pleasant one is after the noon meal Gma always settled in her rocker by the north window to read her Norwegian paper while I sat opposite her struggling with learning to embroider---the county road passed by on this north side we we could keep track of neighbors activities too!!!!"
• "I've begun to limit my driving so have taken Amtrak several times" (she is 92)
• Perhaps my favorite (I had sent Ruth a letter and a picture of Terry and I after she had sent a note to me) "--am looking forward to meeting Terry too-What a lovely lady she is!!"

I am not sure how old grandma Sampson was when she died but I know it was before I was born.  Of course I will always remember grandpa Sampson with the chew of tobacco which he would offer to us kids.
Enough but it was fun to received the letter and hear about her family and about my mom.  I always thought my mom was a wonderful person and did really good things with her life given what she had but sadly I am not sure mom felt that way about herself. 
It is interesting that I would enjoy the letter so much and really would like to see Ruth again.  I have always been BAD at visiting relatives or contacting friends.  I always felt my siblings were so good at that and for some reason I was not but I am now giving it a better try with some success.
Enough for now as the coffee cup is almost empty.

Another first a step away

Here is the sun rise in late May on the North Shore.  It was a day of wind, of warmth and fun.  Later that day Terry and I drove to Ely as she had never been there.  When one stays on the north shore and the wind makes the waves wash against the shore the sound is almost like an a symphony.
The "first" yesterday has nothing to do with the picture.  Last night Terry suggested we walk over to the community pool and swim.  I like to swim for a bit of exercise but we had never gone over in the dark.  Actually the sign says it is open from dawn to dusk but I am sure anytime is fine.  As I swam it was almost like a bit of heaven.  There were lights under the water in the pool, over head the sky was full of stars and around the pool is lined with palm trees.  Terry sat on one of the lounge chairs as I swam and each time I would come to the end of the pool the light would reflect on her.  I suppose I was in the water for 20 minutes or so but it was a memory to last forever. 
I actually worked a bit yesterday. 

• I was able to program the garage opener to the car. (I know that is not really work)
• I cleaned the back rain gutter as over the weekend we had rain and much of it ran off the roof into the pool area and not out the gutter.
• I blew the leaves off the driveway which is easier than shoveling snow off a driveway!
• Than I actually worked a bit as I reordered the garage and cleaned it up.  It actually was enjoyable to walk through it to wheel out the garbage this morning.

And of course I realize that what I did yesterday would not really qualify as  real work in the world of many people but for me at this time I will label it as such and take a bit of pride in doing it.
Terry and I also rode bike about 15 miles so that was fun.
We are still waiting for a call about that baby as we thought it (have to call the baby it because we do not know if it is a boy or girl)  maybe would come over the weekend.  Really it is due the same day as baby Jesus but Faustina and Jude arrived before the due date so we are waiting.
Once again my french press is gone and I am out of words.  I do not know how much I would or could write if I had a larger french press!

Another first and a fun day

Here is one of the sunsets in Cozumel over Thanksgiving.  They were beautiful.
A really fun fun day.  Our next door neighbors, John and Diane, play croquet.  They invited us to play with them at their club near our home.  We played six wicket and golf croquet.  Both were fun but the six wicket was full of strategy, kind of like a chess game.  For beginners Terry and I did OK.  After ward we enjoyed a delicious brunch with them which was great.
This afternoon we went to the movie, "Midnight in Paris".  It kind of followed a book we read about Hemmingways first marriage so that was fun. 
It was exciting to do something different today and fun to spend a day with Terry relaxing and enjoying the FL weather although it rained twice this afternoon.  This coming week it is supposed to be low 80's and sunny so we hope to get in a couple of walks on the beach. 
We are looking forward to spending time with family in a short time and for sure see if that new grandchild will be a boy or girl.  I think Faustina is correct and it will be a girl. 
Enough for tonight.

Happy Birthday John

HAPPY 42ND BIRTHDAY JOHN.  FORTY TWO YEARS HAS BROUGHT MUCH CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE.  IT'S LOOKING GOOD TO US.  MANY MANY HAPPY DAYS AHEAD.
ONE THING--IT SEEMS THAT AGE HAS NOT DIMMED THAT RED HAIR.
Love, Dad and Terry

The last of scuba diving

Here are some more pictures of the scuba diving adventure.  The one thing that was wrong is I did not have enough weights on and I tended to float UP.  In the picture the dive master is helping to pull me down.  He would instruct me or help me from time to time but I did not realize until we surfaced that he was always close to me.  He tended to stay behind so I did not see him.  Anyway it was a wonderful experience and one to remember.
Terry is off to the tennis courts this morning so I am being kind of lazy for a time.  When she returns, tennis times are 90 minutes, we need to get serious about a water leak behind the fridge.  It looks like it means pulling out the fridge and investigating what is happening as there is some leakage on the kitchen floor.  I am hoping it is not too complicated.
Terry and I had a good conversation last night about the heart.  At one time I felt it may get TOO much but I think in the end it was OK.  The conversation was about one's heart and comments a person can make that makes it look like you can gage someone else's heart.  I have been thinking alot about that lately as over the last almost 3 years now there have been many many many situations in my life and in our family where it would be so easy to act or make a comment out of thinking one knows what is in someone else's heart.  I have come to think in a different way over the last years.  At one time shortly after Gail died I said to someone that it has to be way more difficult to lose a spouse than a child.  Now I know that there can be no way to say that about others but rather it ALL depends on the relationship and the person involved.  Of course I can not detail my thought process here nor can I really explain but in the end here I know now that it is very difficult to know and understand our own heart and for sure we can not know another heart. I remember years ago I thought I was close to a person, I felt I knew him and understood him and then one day I received a letter in the mail that blew me away.  One never knows I guess.
I am thinking of my age this week too.  In two days my oldest son John turns 42.  I tend to think of him as a son, a friend and a wonderful family guy but still I also tend to think of him as a young young man.  Of course in terms of age he is young yet but really with family, work and so many other things he is way beyond what I often have in my head.  As I reflect back on the last 42 years I am so proud of so many things he has done and who he is.  At times like this I tend to think of all the kids, who they are now, who they were when they were so young, what they do (if course I understand they do much I don't know!) how they live their lives and I marvel at how different they are coming from the same culture and parents.  God certainly is creative in how he does things and what he does.
Well, the french press is almost history this morning and the fridge is patiently waiting for some care so will get prepared to work but first will take the short walk to the tennis courts to say hi to Terry's tennis friends and walk home with her.  One of her friends is dealing with financial difficulties from the internet.  She and her husband have seen several thousand dollars disappear from accounts and are working hard to recover and get a handle on the computer fraud.  I hope she has good news today. 
Two weeks from today we take to the skies again and will land in St. Paul early afternoon.  SNOW!!!!

Home in Naples again

Here is some of the wilflife I saw while scuba diving in Cozume.  Very interesting, very exciting and very fun.  Not much more tonight.  Terry and I arrived home about 4:30, went out for a quick bite to eat with friends and are now in for the night and ready to sleep in our own bed for the first time in two weeks. 
I will blog more in the days ahead and share our fun time in Mexico.  While gone we did not have very good access to computers so now at home it will be fun to share again.  I have no idea what kind of fish these are but very colorful.

We are famous

Terry and I arrived in Atlanta Monday evening with two of the Archbold children, Tory and Josh.  Zach had flown back Sunday so that he would not miss school and Sam remained in Cozumel with the flu.  Daughter Kim and husband Dave will return tomorrow after enjoying some time recovering from their successful Ironman race.  If anyone does not know what an ironman is they swim 2.4 miles, get out of the water and onto their bikes for a 112 mile ride and then finish with a 26.2 mile run!!!!  Dave finished in just under 14 hours and Kim in just over that.  They were in the water at 7:00 AM and crossed the finish line around 9:00 PM.  Oh my I can not imagine what toll it takes on the body.  As we watched during the day it took me back to the days of bike races.  It is interesting how each activity such as biking or ironman or many other events take on their own flavor, their own culture etc.  Anyway the race was Sunday and we flew back on Monday.  Will be here in Atlanta until Saturday and then fly back to Naples. 
We are looking at a different Christmas this year.  We will fly to St. Paul December 20th and back to Naples January 1st so I doubt there will be any Christmas decorating, no tree up and maybe the Christmas spirit will be there but the trimming will not.  We are excited to have Cynthia and Mike's baby arrive and that will be the highlight of the month. 
In January I have plans to build a seating area in the kitchen in Naples.  I have the wood already but will not start it until after Christmas.  It should be fun but challenging too as my woodworking tools are in St. Paul.  I am looking at it as a fun time of doing woodworking without all the tools I would like to use.  I will have to find ways to get things done differently and it should be a good challenge.
I will load pictures onto our computer when we return to Naples so will post some then.  For pictures the highlight was the scuba dive as the fish and underwater colors were wonderful.  I do not know if I will scuba dive again.  It was fun but I always have liked to be "not confined" and it seems strange to be free in a huge ocean but confined to a mask and breathing tube one can feel enclosed and ???   Anyway if I do it again or not is to be seen but it was fun and I have to say that it feels good to have done it and been successful. 
Oh yes----Terry and I are famous.  Every where we went people wanted to take our picture.  At the resort one night they took our picture, at the dolphin place they took our picture, scuba diving they took our picture and the list goes one.  Well I guess it is not really true we are famous of coures they just wanted money!!  For the dolphin place there were 7 of us so they would give us a GREAT deal on the pictures for $279:( :(   Well it took us a nanosecond to so no to them but interesting just the same.
I think Terry and I will do a little shopping today as Terry knows her way around Atlanta a bit because Kim and family have lived here for 14 years and she has spent much time caring for the kids as mom and dad have enjoyed vacations etc.  We will not see them at Christmas time so would like to take care of Chistmas items and leave them here.  Christmas gifts will not be a big thing this year but will do some small gifts.
One bit of wisdom---Kim and Dave have a golden retriever and golden lab that have the run of the house so if you ever are in this kind of situation be sure and wear light colored clothes:)
Enough for now and will not blog until we are back in Naples and have pictures to share.

43 minutes!!!!!!

After a 45 minute tutoral in the pool we waded into the gulf and were under water for 43 minutes  When we started I thought I may not want to but 43 minutes later, hundreds of colorful fish, wonderful underwater things and 2400 pounds of air I surfaced to the satisfaction of being a new scuba diver.  The only bad things is snorkeling will not be accepted in the future as what one sees at 20 feet down far out shines floating on the surface.
We are in day 3 of our trip, one day traveling to Atlanta, one day traveling to Cozumel and one day in cozumel.  I have never experienced an "all inclusive" kind of things.  It boggles my mind that all the games, all the food, all the drinks and everything is in the price of the room.  I think we will take a half day tomorrow and swim with the dolphins--that should be fun. 
The weather is nice (85?) and the sun has been out all the time.  As Dave, Terry's son in law, remarked the vacation would be perfect if he did not have to do that darn ironman race on Sunday.  Of course for Terry and I we can just have fun, relax, eat and soak up the warm temps and sun.
Enough for now.  I am thinking of A/A leaving for MN tomorrow and for sure everyone will enjoy a delicious meal on Thursday--happy Thanksgiving.

Getting ready

The new picture is of John/Mary/Henry/Liam and Audrey.  I will change out pictures of the kids as the weeks go by.
Here is my sister Joan and husband Ron.  You see Ron talking and explaining as he gave Joan a beautiful diamond ring for the occasion.  At our Lee Family Reunion last July they celebrated their 50th.  Brother Dave and Marlys have 4 years to go.  Of us 6 kids they most likely will be the only 50s unless Helen and Mike live to be into their 90's and Terry and I live to be 114!!!!!!! 
Terry and I had a great time yesterday.  I played tennis at 7:30 in the 74 temps with very humid conditions.  My glasses kept fogging up because of the humidity.  I have been playing with a friend from Hudson WI who has come to love tennis this fall.  He has improved so much in the last 2 weeks it is fun to see.  We spent some time together Wednesday too.  I think the last time I smoked a cigar was perhaps a year and a half ago.  Well we met at the Tikki bar at the club and had a beer and a cigar.  I think it will be at least another year and half before I have another one!!  Anyway it was kind of a fun time.  I can not remember ever doing that kind of thing.  Even when I was teaching I would not stop at Plums on Friday for a beer with the rest of the staff.  I always was in a hurry to get home and to this day I would rather be home than sitting someplace visiting and having a beer.  I remember when I was 22 and got a job at Lake Ready Mix in Devils Lake for the summer.  I started on a Monday and on Friday the guys just assumed I would stop at the local tavern with them before going home.  I asked why?? and they said they did it each week.  Well I did stop and I just could not believe guys did that every week.  I remember I was the first to leave and they made fun of me for leaving so soon.  Saturday morning (we worked half days on Saturday) half of them did not show up for work because they had too much fun Friday.  That had a lasting impression on me as I just could not believe that guys did that kind of thing.  I know, it took me a while to really get to know the real world.
Back to yesterday.  Terry and I have tickets for a series of 6 book reviews and the first was yesterday.  It was something I had never experienced and it was fun.  Dr.Elaine Newton, who has a most impressive resume, talked for 90 minutes about the book, the author etc.  A different but really fun time.  My thoughts drifted at one time during the talk to the contrast of the day with a day maybe 54 years ago.  Back then I was in the middle of the Dakota prairie running around most of the time with no shoes, no shirt and using the lake for a bath tub and the wonderful three holer for other needs--today here I am sitting with khaki shorts, a knit shirt, slip on shoes and listening to a world famous professor explain how this book reflexes our culture of the day.  One person, two different worlds and they merge over the span of most of a life time--interesting.
In the afternoon we drove to an outlet mall to get a few things for the trip.  We spent most of the afternoon walking and watching people purchase things they most likely don't really need but they do because they can!  We did get a few things and for sure we NEEDED everything we purchased!!
I think we will spend much of today and tomorrow deciding, packing and just getting things ready for being gone for 2 weeks.  I am excited to experience Cancun and Cozumel as so many people I know have spent time there and I have never been there.  I remember how much fun was had in Hawaii snorkeling so hope we can do some of that.  I got myself a new hat and Travis send the sunglasses we forgot so I should be set. It is hard to believe that we will be gone for 2 weeks and when we return it will be December 3rd.
Ed Schwab called yesterday to make sure we knew about Anne Pinc's death.  I tried to explain how nice the weather is down here but he kind of cut me off--not really but I do hear it is getting chilly in MN.  I know that I always figured that anything in the garage that I did not want to freeze needed to be in the house by Thanksgiving.
We talked to Grandma Saunders last night.  We shared with her that we just ate the last of the tomatoes from the plants she gave Terry last spring.  I shared with her that we are now eating oranges from our tree just like she and grandpa had oranges from their tree in CA.  Of course grandma knows that CA oranges are the best and we know FL oranges are the best--kind of funny I would say.
Once again the french press is near the bottom of the cup and God is waking up the world with a bright sun which says time to get tome things done.

Put your left hip in

Here is Uncle Travis and Faustina on her birthday last May.  Tomorrow Travis will be that number 3 + 37.  He was born in Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake ND at about 6 AM.  As I was thinking about that day my first thought was wow Travis will be 40 and then I thought wait a minute when he was born I was 24.  That was a long time ago and oh my gosh how much has transpired in the last 40 years.  Life certainly has a way of zooming ahead and with it God's hand is in so so many changes in families, in individuals and maybe as much as anything inside of a person. 
I have been thinking much about the inner person lately.  Mainly thinking about myself and how I perceive myself, how others may see me and then who or what is the real me.  I have thought about how one gets married and works so hard at melding two into one, then when that marriage is ended how a person tries to be that one again.  Now for me I have entered into another marriage and am trying to be that one again but wait things are different now.  There actually is two different people trying to become a new "one" and how may that play out and what may that appear to be to other people.  An example would be the fact that I am not deer hunting this weekend.  I have hunted in the past and I have had such a great time with or without a deer.  Well here I am going on bike rides, swimming, playing tennis and enjoying temperatures in the 80's.  Have I changed, is there a new me, is it just a time in my life, does the new "one" that I am trying to become make it impossible to hunt deer, have I grown old and lazy.  WOW I have found that these questions are good ones to ponder.  I have also come to realize that a person really does not change their inner self at my age.  I struggle each day to become a better person, to become a better friend, to become a better husband, to become a better dad, to become a better grandpa but the core, the inner self is the same as when I was little.  One example is a book I am reading for a series of book forums Terry and I will take in.  The book is not a bad book but the content is, well I will not mention the book here because, more on the raw side than any book I have read.  I find myself really not liking the kind of content is often has.  It may be a very well thought of book in literacy circles but for me I say it is not my kind.  Why, I know it is my growing up.  For the most part it goes back to the ideas and the morals my mom impressed to me.  Now I want to say that much of what my mom believed was a bit on the edge because she had such a narrow life but for sure the morals and the beliefs she gave me have stayed with me and for that I am very very thankful. 
I want to say that with Travis' birthday tomorrow I have been thinking about him a lot.  Of course he has pretty much been on his own since he left for college and for sure I have no idea of many of the things he has done or things he has been part of but to me he is such a good person and I am so proud to say he is my son.  I have come to know that it is not possible to know the "inner person" of someone (perhaps not even self) else but I believe that Travis has an inner person that comes only from God.
I have begun to keep track of things that tell me what are signs that I am maturing!!!  Here are the ones I have come up with so far:

• When you go shopping at the mall you make sure you park so you can enter through the door closest to the restrooms.
• Each day you eagerly flip through the mail to see if your medicare card came.
• One of the first things you do in the morning is go to your phone or your calendar to see if today is the day you have that weekly meeting.
• When the paper comes you scan the headlines and then search for the obits.
• When you get a new phone you ask your kids or your grand kids to show you how to use it.
• When you walk on the beach on a hot sunny day you roll up the sleeves of your T shirt but leave the shirt on.
• You make reservations at the restaurant based on the menu for early bird specials.
• You  decide to forgo Christmas presents and give money instead because it is too hard to keep up with what grand kids want these days.
• You and your wife can sit at home and enjoy each other without saying a word.
• When it is easier to read the news in the paper the next day than stay up through the 10 o'clock news.
• When a walk to the corner store becomes a joy ride.
• When you sit on the front steps hoping someone will come by to talk to you.
• You decide to drive 5 more miles to the other gas station because you are sure you can save a penny a gallon.
• The freeways now seem to you like you would have imagined the autobahn(sp?) in Germany.
• When you get a coupon in an e-mail for "buy one get one free" and you print out half a dozen.

Now I have not experienced many of these but I think they may come with age!!
I will end today by saying that I am very thankful for my life today.  There have been many detours in my life over the last 8 years.  For sure there have been many happy times and many difficult times too.  Today, 11-13-2012 I am happy and thankful for my life and for what God has allowed me to enjoy at this time.  Is it totally full--no.  There are things I desire, things I miss, things I wish I could change but life is good.  Terry is such a wonderful person, I am perhaps healthier than I have been for a long time (my BP at the store this past week was 127/79 and my weight has stayed down a bit :):) and I am able to enjoy things I have never done in the past.     My life has gone in directions and ways I never imagined but it is good, it is exciting and I am so thankful.  Over the last two weeks in Naples the tennis, the bike rides, the walks and much more have been soothing, restful and wonderful.
 Thank you Lord.

A detour but a good one

Terry and I walked down to the dock yesterday at 9:25 excited to spend the next hour walking the beach.  As we arrived there was NOBODY there.  We finally realized that this early in the fall the shuttle does not run on Monday and Tuesday.  Well we needed to punt so we went home, put on biking clothes and biked to clam pass park which is on the beach.  I had not been there so it was a fun place to see.  From the parking lot it is a quarter mile to the beach and the bridge is entirely through a water way.  We took a ride there (they give people rides in large golf type of carts as many people bring their chairs, coolers and things) but  on the way back to the bikes we walked.  While there we had a light lunch as they have drinks and eats to buy.  By the time we arrived home it was 1:30 and we realized we had not planned to bike that far (18 miles).  I realize that is not too far but our ventures on the bikes lately have been few and far between so these old legs felt a bit tired. 
I have tennis this morning at 7:30 andTerry will play at 10:30,  My play has been limited the last few days and my legs actually feel like they are alive again.    I am hoping to get a call from the lumber place so I can go get my lumber that they are cutting for me.  Perhaps there will be time to stop at Costco on the way back.  Actually I am not that into Costco as it seems to be a place where you are encouraged to buy things you do not really need.  That goes for food as well as material things.  Well if you buy material things you don't need you can easily get rid of them but that food stuff, it tends to stay with you even when you want to get rid of it!!!!
No I think I am going to get my tennis shorts on and walk over to the courts.  I have played with this same guy three times now and he has been the first one there so I will try to be there first today.  Terry has a thing she wears on her wrist that helps her arm from getting sore.  I will try it today to see if  it makes a difference.   My elbow is a bit sore but I am kind of sure it is from all the work I am doing :)

Progress

Here is the gas pump that was on our farm.  Many many memories of it.  When mom would put a white towel on the south barn door I would be home shortly and stop the Ford tractor by the pump.  I would then see how close I could come to pumping the right amount of gas into the glass cylinder as I put gas in.  After I filled with gas I would hurry into the house where mom would have lunch ready.  You can also see the area beyond the pump which for some reason dad never did anything with.  I would lose my golf balls in the weeds but never worry because when I lost the last one I would roll a barrel over the weeds and presto each bump would turn up a ball!!  I am thinking the gas barrel is still underground even though the pump is not there any more and the entire area is now farm land.  I wonder if that affects the environment????
Progress is related to the seating area I will make in the kitchen.  I have decided that a table saw is just not in the cards for Naples.  I just do not need to duplicate my wood shop.  Because of space and also cost so I need to find ways to do things with less tools.  To start with I ordered lumber yesterday and am having it cut and planed to 1/2" for the facing of the plywood.  I will be able to cut the angles etc with a compound mitre saw that I do need to buy.  We will see how things turn out and it should be a challenge but fun too.
Terry and I are planning to take the boat shuttle to the beach this morning.  We have not gone there since we came down so it should be fun.  We will get off the shuttle, walk for 30 minutes along the beach, turn around and walk back in time to get the shuttle back.  As we walk I look down hoping to see a shark tooth but have not found one yet.  People find them but I have had no luck. 
The weather may be perfect this next week.  I saw this morning the temps for the coming week are 82,82, 83, 77, 81,82 and 82.  It almost sounds boring but really it is not.
I got in 90 minutes of tennis yesterday at 7:30 with a friend who is from Hudson WI and then in the afternoon Terry and I played for about an hour or more.  Also was able to get on the bike after tennis and rode to meet Terry as she finished a meeting.  When we got home I saw that the bag under the bike seat was open and the contents were gone.  Not too important but I do keep a $20 bill in there for emergency.  Back on the trail again and about a mile down the path there it was on the path--wow.  I also lost a wrench but told Terry I was not going to ride farther to look for that as she had a conference call at 10:30.  As we arrived home there the wrench was in the driveway!!  Lucky day I guess.
Terry finished the book that we are going to go to a lecture on so I started it yesterday.  It is good to get into reading a bit more as I have not done much for some time. 
No it is off to the beach soon so will go.

The weekend is here

As I walked out to get the paper this morning I thought of our September camp fires and felt it would be nice to have one in the driveway this morning!!  The temp is 59 which I believe is chill for here.
I survived my fourth straight day of tennis yesterday morning even if it was shorten by Terry's, my opponent, tweak of his hamstring so we quit before the 90 minutes. I could not move very well for the first couple of points as my body seemed to resist activity but after warming up I was able to get into it.  We always play doubles but yesterday was singles and it was kind of fun to rev up those old competitive juices to a level they have not been for a long time.  I have claimed for some time now that most of the "I want to win" is out of me and I get the most fun just playing for the fun of it.  I really do think that is true but yesterday the engine got going a bit and that was exciting.  I did win 5-3 and for sure that makes it more fun.
Yesterday I moved the kitchen table and chairs and taped the outline of a kitchen seating area on the floor.  I was able to find a place that has cabinet grade plywood for a decent price and they are more than happy to make some cuts for me.  There is just not a lot of wood stores in the area.  I do not think there is any store close to a Woodcraft or Rockler.  Anyway I plan to get the wood Monday and then I will have to decide what saw to purchase.  A difficult decision as I could use 2 or more but that would be crazy to have 2 here so I just have to decide what will serve me best.
I am not sure what Terry and I will do today.  However it should be a glorious weekend as we do get an extra hour of sleep tonight!!  This evening we will make like a paper route drive and pick up 3 other couples.  There is a restaurant gala thing in down town Naples so we will go to that.  It should be fun but am not sure of getting 8 adults in our van.  We do have 8 seat belts but at least 2 of the guys are well just let me say there is a lot of guy there so seating may be a challenge. 
Last night we watched "Lean on me" on TV.  I really do not think I have seen the movie before but have heard of it.  It stars Morgan Freeman who I really like and it is based on a true store of a high school in Philadelphia that is run down and he brings it back to life.  I am not much for sitting and watching but I sat through the whole thing. 
I decided to forgo my morning french press coffee this morning as Terry is still sleeping and the coffee grinder might wake her.  We have several packets of Viva, an instant Starbucks coffee, which is light years better than my mother's instant Folgers which always had foam on the top!!!  So go for it Carmen--another cup of Viva coming up.

Arrive-sit-take pictures-toast-leave

This time of the season in Naples is not the busy season as that comes after the holidays but still the numbers of people who come to see God's artistry at sunset are many.  This sunset, Tuesday, was not the greatest color show but still beautiful.
The new picture is the license on our car.  We have not been able to ride much lately but still the plates goes well with the car and is neat.
I have now played tennis twice and my calf is fine so far.  The rest of my body is not so great as two days of tennis after not playing for six months tells me the old body is not what it used to be but of course I could look in the mirror for that too!!  Terry and I had fun on the court yesterday as we played doubles with a couple.  We won and that is always a bit more fun too.  The play is doubles all the time so maybe 10% is "I would like to win" 40% is "this exercise is good" , 40% is "social" and the last 10% I can not decide.  Anyway we have another tennis time today at 10:30 and I will see how my body moves for the third straight day.  Terry is also playing with girl friends Friday.
We do not go out to eat much but both felt like it yesterday.  There is a place here that has lobster specials ($10.95) on Wednesday.  We arrived at about 6:00 and there was a 45 minute wait.  Thirty minutes later as we sat outside they came and wiped out the special---out of lobster!!  Well we turned in our beeper and drove a short ways to a place called steamers.  Wonderful seafood sandwich and chowder.   Actually I did not miss the lobster at all.  
The weather here has turned nice this week.  Most of the week it is supposed to be about 80 with full sun.  With time and good weather I am beginning to get into the "relax" mode and that is good.  We are signed up for a series of book reviews and I finished one of the books.  It is "The tigers wife" and very different and fun to read. 
We need to do some serious shopping today as the next door neighbors are coming over for dinner tonight.  I am thinking I may ask him (John) if he needs help in taking off the hurricane shutter of his house.  John had a hip replaced this summer and I am not sure if he can get up on the ladder.  They are from Ontario and spend the winter here.
Once again that French press coffee is at the bottom of my cup so time to get on with life today.

Happy birthday CYNTHIA

Thirty-one years ago Gail and I pulled into the parking lot to go to a People of Praise Saturday teaching.  As I stopped the car Gail said you had better keep going to the hospital.  We hit a red light near the hospital, her water broke, we pulled into the emergency entrance and I went to park the car.  I just barely got into the hospital in time to see Cynthia arrive.  I kind of wanted the name Heidi but Gail had worked with a little Cynthia Held at the School for the Deaf in Devils Lake and came to love her.  So the name Cynthia was it.  As one can see now, 31 years later, she is the model of a wife, a mother, a homemaker and much more( actually more to come in December).  Faustina wants to do everything her mother does, Jude wants to make his mommy laugh all the time and I know that Mike is proud to say he is her husband.  So happy birthday Cynthia and may this day of the year be the best day of the year for you and may God's blessings and peace be in your life forever.
Terry and I are going to play tennis for the first time this morning.  I have not played since I pulled a muscle (see I still have some) in my right calf last March.  I will warm it up and stretch before we start and we will see how it works.  Terry has played for several years now and is good, I played only a little last spring and if you were to see me play there just may be a bit of grin on your face as this 64 year old guy tries to start a new activity.  BUT it was fun and I am looking forward to playing this morning.
I was so excited before we left as I signed up for Medicare--I know I do not look old enough for it but :)))  I was happy that I could go into St Paul Schools and get all the paper work completed.  I was able to retire when I did because after working for St. Paul Schools for 30 years they will pay part of my health insurance forever.  So starting January 1 Medicare will kick in (hope it does not kick me in the leg) and my current health plan (Health Partners) will be the supplemental part.  Now lets hope I do not need to use it very much.
One last thing.  Twenty years ago I woke up at 3:30 and 5 hours later had delivered 200+ papers in twenty some inches of snow.  Most of the carriers that morning did not deliver but of course my motto was the paper most be delivered even if I have to be crazy to do it.
Time to look at the paper, finish that delicious french press coffee and then get ready for tennis.

Look what 20 years has done!!!!

As I sit here writing tonight it is 20 years to the minute that Aaron's SPA soccer team took to the field at the dome and came away with the state championship in boys soccer.  As we left the dome that night snow was falling and by morning we had something like 20+ inches.  We had more the next day or so and it never left until spring.  I know that many if not most of us remember the Halloween storm of 91.  I know that winter of 91/92 was the most difficult and longest of our 28 winters of paper route.  Wow how time flies and my or my how seasons are different.  I guess the terrible snow storm in the east is not the first this early in the year.
One interesting example of capitalism.  We licensed our car in FL so we do not need a plate in front.  There was a bracket there so I took it off and now there are 2 small holes in the bumper.  I thought I should go to Honda and get black plugs for the holes with the hope that they have ones to match the paint.  I found out that Honda does not make them for the 2012 or the 2011 but they had ones for the 2010 and they should be the same I was told.  However they would be a dull black and would not match the paint.  Well black is black I thought so may as well get them.  Now keep in mind that these plugs are plastic and smaller than a thumb tack.  I was told that he would reduce the cost so 2 of them would only be $9!!!!!!!!!   I thought for about a nanosecond and said I think I can go to a hardware store and get something for about 25 cents each.
Terry and I got on our bikes for a short 7 1/2 mile ride today.  Terry's neck just does not do well on bike rides so have done very very little of that and to prove it all both of us has to do is step on a scale.  We biked to the grocery store to get a couple of items.  We wanted to go on a ride Sunday but I needed to pump the tires and I forgot to bring a pump along.  We have a tiny one we can carry on rides but I could not figure out how to work it.  Terry suggest I go on line and see if there was something and sure enough it shows that the 2 inside parts need to be one direction for one type of valve and turned around for the smaller one.  I turned it around and there she blows, air into the tires.  I could kick myself for not putting a pump in.  We have 2 very nice ones in St Paul and I refuse to buy one here.  We will have to bring one back on the plane after Christmas.
We went to the library this afternoon and checked out 2 books that we will be going to lectures on later so now it is book reading time.  It will be fun.
Enough, congratulations Aaron on winning the state championship 20 years ago and I remember you played such an important part in the entire soccer season--way to go.  I should not sign off without saying that John and Travis also were on championship teams and I still tell people that the region BB championship game that Cynthia played in for Trinity was maybe the most exciting HS game of any kind I watched.  Cynthia made 2 critical baskets down the stretch and Trinity won by 2.  THE GOOD OLD DAYS!

oranges and tomatoes

The tomatoes are from our garden in St. Paul.  Before we left Terry picked a lot of green ones and presto they are red and delicious now.   The oranges are not yet ripe but the tree is right out our door and we will have home grown oranges soon.  I think it will be oranges for breakfast and BLT for lunch or dinner.  Sounds good to me.
We do not have a rain gauge but it rained a lot last night.  A guess would be well over an inch.  Today was mostly dry but from time to time a sprinkle or so and the humidy was high. 
Today was kind of a slow work day.  Some things were gotten done in and outside. 
Enough

Not yet

Here is a gulf coast sunset that I have found so peaceful and beautiful.  A small glitch yesterday makes it more difficult or should I say costly to see one at this time.  Explain--If you are a resident of Collier County you get a free park sticker for your car.  If not you pay $8 to park ( all day or 10 min it is the same).  We went to the license place yesterday and then we would go to the county to get our free sticker for the new car.  Well the paper work, which should have been here, is still in Bemidji!!  I know that in the long scheme of life it is not important but in the short view it was and is frustrating. 
We then went to Comcast to get boxes for the TV's.  I dropped Terry off so she could get a number and when I came into the office they were serving #34 and she had #55 in hand.  An hour later we left.
For people who are interested in weather the temp at 8:00 this morning is 75 and yesterday it reached 85 by mid afternoon. 
Our orange tree is full of oranges that are still green.  The lemon and lime trees need to be trimmed but they have some fruit on them. 
I think today will still be full of getting some details taken care of and getting settled into being in Naples.  As we insured the car here yesterday I was reminded that FL insurance is a lot more than MN!! 
No the coffee cup is near empty so will sign off and refuel for a second time.

Not Naples

No it is not our Naples home--of course it is the farm house I grew up in.  Don't really know why I posted it tonight as I am about 2000+ miles away from it but maybe just because it is so so so different from my life today as well as the lives of Joan, Dave and Helen.  Just one more physical piece of evidence that life changes greatly with time.
Terry and I arrived in Naples about 2:30 this afternoon. After 2 nights in Comfort Inns, a night in a Holiday Inn express, 2 nights in Hampton Inns, a night with sister Helen and a night with friends Shirley and Jerry and 2500+ miles of driving.  We made several stops today and have several things to get done tomorrow.  We found the house just as we left it so that was good. 
I think it is going to be early to bed tonight and try to get a early fresh start on life again tomorrow.  We are so thankful for a safe trip and look forward to the weeks ahead.

Closer

Here is Wallace, our dog, shortly after his last hair cut.  I should have taken that goofy scarf off of him but did not.
We spent Sunday with Terry's son, Brian and his daughter Stephanie.  Some of the afternoon was in the hotel room with Brian working on our computer.  It is much better now.  He can talk in terms that leave me dizzy after about 5 minutes. We did drive around Houston a bit and I agree with Brian 100%, Houston is not a place you go to enjoy a vacation.
We were on the road out of Houston at 5:40 this morning and even at that early hour the traffic was kind of crazy.  Eleven hours later and 625 miles later we checked into a Comfort Inn in DeFuniak Springs FL.    After check in we found a Wal Mart and ate "in" tonight.  Tomorrow it will be 325 miles to "The Villages" in central FL to stay with friends and then Wednesday we should arrive home in Naples maybe early to mid afternoon.  Tomorrow and Wednesday will be kind of short days compared to today and that will be good.  This will be the last night in a hotel and that is really GOOD.
Not much else to report.  The car is doing very well and it certainly is a joy to drive.  Much room, OK mileage and the two things I have come to really like is the navigation and the blind spot lights.  A person can always get along with what one has but those two things are so so nice. 
It will be fun to spend the night with Jerry and Shirley tomorrow and even more fun to motor to 732 Wiggins Bay Dr Wednesday.
If there happens to be anyone reading this who has been chilly the temp here today was 75 and sunny!!

Left behind

Here is a picture of what we have left behind for the time.  This picture was taken looking over the Mississippi near home in St.Paul.  As I write we are in Houston where the car showed us the temp was 90 this afternoon.  We arrived at son Brian's home about 1:30.  We had lunch at a Mexican place and then checked in at the Hampton Inn.  After a couple of hours with Terry's son Brian and granddaughter Stephanie we brought them back home and are now in for the night.  Tomorrow it will be maybe some sight seeing and then good-bye for a while.  Monday AM we plan to be on the road by 5:30 AM and arrive some place 600+ miles later.  That will be our longest day of driving but we want to arrive in central FL by mid afternoon of Tuesday where we will visit friends there.  THEN it is home to Naples on Wednesday. 
Enought for tonight.  We have eaten too much today but I may just HAVE to finish Helen's potato salad that she sent with us.  There is ALWAYS room for that.

On the road

We got off about 10:00 AM Wednesday.  With bikes on the back of the new Odyssey we rolled onto I35 and headed south.  About 5:30 we parked at a Comfort Inn south of Kansas City knowing that the next day would only be 200 miles or less into Holiday Island AR where sister Helen and Mike call home.  True to our expectations on Thursday we arrived about 1:00.  The last 40 miles of that trip is the most up and down and around road one could ever travel.  We had a great time with Helen/Mike.  The visit/conversation even topped Helen's dinner of potato salad, ham and beans with pineapple pie for dessert.  Like I would say, "living the dream".   We hit the road again this morning about 10:00 and are now at a Holiday Inn Express in Marshall TX.  It looks like a 200+ trip into Houston tomorrow to visit Terry's son Brian.  We will spend Saturday evening and all day Sunday with Brian and then head out on I10 east towards FL.  There will be one more night with friends in central FL before Naples. 
At this point we know of  a couple of things we forgot but we can live without them. 
We got kind of rattled today as we came across an accident that must have happened within minutes of our arrival.  There was a woman still in her car covered with blood--not a pretty sight.
We are enjoying the Odyssey.  Among the "nice" things are a cool box under the dash which blows air from the AC into it to keep things cool.  Another thing I have already gotten in the habit of using a lot is blind side lights on each side of the car.  When a car is in your blind spot the light comes on, very very nice.
We traveled about 125 miles today on a two lane highway.  I had forgotten how to drive when cars back up and of course the mode is hurry and pass when you can so that you can follow behind the next car!!!  Finally it turned into a four lane and things were better. 
I am not sure how well we will do in the next few days as those meals Helen served us were the best.  How can one be happy eating in a restaurant after that kind of treatment. 
It is time to put the feet up, turn the TV on and relax after such a HARD day--and if you believe that I have some ............................ for your to buy.
On to Houston Saturday.

No picture just a few words

Terry and I arrived in Harrisonville MO about 5:30 PM.  We now have 187 miles to Helens and potato salad tomorrow noon.  It was an uneventful trip but fun in the new car.  Terry was very tired as she woke up with a headache so she rested in the second seat for some time and then learned how to put a DVD in the TV so she watched an entire movie as we drove.  She finished in time to help direct us around Kansas City and then we practiced talking into the navigation system to find a hotel.  Fun? perhaps but we have a LONG way to go if we are to make that system worth the many $$ it cost!!!
We did get on the road by 10:24 this morning which was very good.  Not sure what all we forgot but two things I know for sure, sunglasses and a bike pump.  Can live without the glasses but no pump--not good.
No, enough as we are settled into a Comfort Inn for the night and are looking forward to those hot waffles and sausage/biscuits in the morning!  Not sure if they serve those delicious eggs made from dry chickens but will find out in about 11 hours or so.  Well not sure a person should make light of a free breakfast or should I say a breakfast that is included in the price of the room.

On the road

As I got out of bed and looked at the temp (39) I thought this may be a good picture to look at today.  It was our camp site in Washburn WI near Bayfield around the Apostle Islands.  The day was warm and sunny.  The camp site was grassy and large and it certainly was camping at its best. 
Today is a different scene.  Cloudy, 39 and there certainly is a chill in the air.  Suitcases and boxes are piled by the door waiting to be loaded into the van and then it is hit the road--I35 much of the way.  Now the good side is I have been promised potato salad by sister Helen in Holiday Island AR and Terry and I might be able to get up early enough tomorrow so that we can enjoy it for lunch.  Our goal is Kansas city area by dark which will mean that we would have only 200 miles or so to Helen on Thursday.  We found out last night that Terry's son, Brian, will not be able to fly up for his grandmother's funeral so we will spend the weekend with him in Houston.  
I THINK we are ready.  The mail no longer comes, the paper is stopped as of today, the garbage is empty with a clean bag in the container, we have someone to shovel the snow when it comes and we have enough space for things as we came home with a new vehicle Monday.  It is a Honda Odyssey but I am not sure it will get us to FL.  I am afraid it may just be an expensive toy and really does not go any place.  The sales man said with the navigation system you can use 100+ voice commands!  How cool is that and for information out there I never use the word "cool".  We are bring our lunch but if we do get hungry we just talk into this mic and say where we want to eat and the screen comes up with the nearest place with that name.  I love maps but this may trump the many maps in the car.  Now if one of us gets tired of riding shot gun we can just get into the back seat and put a dvd in.  I wondered why they did not allow the movie to come up on the navigation screen and then it dawned on me that it may not be too safe to drive and watch a movie but then would it be worse than driving and texting?  Well I do not do that either I guess.  In fact I do not have texting on my phone so if someone sends me one I get charged!
Anyway it is about time to close the computer, get some pants on and hustle things out to the car.  We will be staying in hotels some of the time so will get the computer out and blog along the way.  I do have one regret about this going to warm places.  No Stormy Kromer hat and no Mukluks as I decided it may look a bit nerdy if I wore either of them playing tennis.
One last thing.  I sent packages Tuesday to Glorine, John M, Joan and Dave.  I am excited for them to get them as the very special item should warm their hearts and bring memories of the past.  They may even get so emotional a tear could dribble down their cheek and onto the table.  Well I may be a bit over the edge but I do hope when they get them they are put to good use.  :) :)  I had so much fun preparing them for an early Christmas gift for each sibling.  I already received my first Christmas gift, a CD of Dave playing his horn and it is great.

10,9,8,------

The count down to leaving.
The title has nothing to do with the picture!  The picture is of the lake shore on Lake Tewaukon which is a half mile from where I grew up.  Terry and I visited it last May as we made our trip up to SD, ND to Fargo for my aunt's funeral, to the Binde Farm, to Grandma Saunders and home again.  Perhaps Lake Tewaukon had as much to to with my growing up as any non-person thing.  It was there that I would bike up to take a bath after being in the field all day, it was there that brother Ronald would put in his boat and we would water ski (I should say brother in law John also did that), it was there that I learned to swim on my own, it was there that I would trek up to the high lake shore-make a little corral with tiny rocks and then throw the red and white bobber out to watch the perch pull it down.  When that happened I would reel them in and gently place them in my "live well" of tiny rocks.  Before I would go home I would open the gate by taking a rock away and watch them swim away.  I would then gather my pole and worms, jump on my bike and ride the half mile home without touching the handle bars and as I leaned towards the house and coasted up to the front door I would usually think how life might be if I lived in town or some other place.  I don't remember thinking I was deprived or anything but yet I know the solitude was not always appreciated. To me the lake was a source of life, a source of independence, a source of fun, a source of adventure and much more.  Today it looks lonely like it is wanting someone to come be on its shores again.  Most of the lake now is a refuge for wildlife and I am not sure how much "people activity" happens.  I could also share much about the water adventures but will not today.  I would say that the navy blue swim suit with the white strip around the legs--well I thought I looked pretty good in it!!!:)(:   We will not go into the adolescence of the whole time.
I have come to a stop on the window work.  These last few days have been a time in my life where I have felt worn down, kind of empty and without detail it has given me the desire to be lost for a while.  Terry and I plan to head south mid week and that will be good.  I am not ready from the point of preparing the house but my emotional state is so so ready.  Warmer weather, distance from Niles ave and a time away from projects looks to inviting right now.  Well the project thing will continue to some point as I have a couple of things I want to make in FL but they are not urgent, they are not fixing but rather more building and it should be fun.
Terry and I have spent some time in the last couple of days trying to decide what or how we should do things in terms of "we" now.  What I am used to or what she is used to needs in some way to meld into what "we" are used to and that discussion will continue for some time I am sure.  It is fun at times, exciting at times and sometimes it is kind of scary but of course it is all in the course of life which has a way of moving-changing and not stopping for anything or anyone.
I am going to try to get a little bit more done on the windows today and then wrap up that work for this fall.  I would say that I will leave with the work on the interior of the 14 windows half done.  Is that OK, well it has to be but it leaves me with a sense of failure to some degree.
Our weather has changed a bit and we are now in reality, temps in the mid 50's which is probably normal for the last half of October.  The last many days has been so nice this cooler weather seems a bit cruel but of course it is MN and that is what we live for, right?
Enough

Look a busy!!!

I post this peaceful sunset picture because it is such a contrast from this week.  Well in one way it is the same because the fall weather here has been so so so perfect.  Sunny, mid to upper 70's and not too windy and this is the first full week of October.  The picture is a contrast from the activity this week.  Terry has spent much time sorting and filing papers while I work on the interior of the new windows.  There are 14 windows and of course that means 28 sashes.  For each window there are 4 things that I need to do: repair and chalk, prime and paint twice.  For each sash there are 4 things to do: take off excess glue and tape, prime and paint twice.  If my math is correct that means about 168 different stages to go through.  I am finished with day 2 and 46 have been finished.  I am not sure that means DONE by Saturday night but will give it a try.  I think they will look very nice when they are finished and I know the exterior looks nice now so when all is finished it should be a happy day. 
So this week is look a busy and enjoy the wonderful October weather.

Ready Set Go

The window--the inside painting starts today.  The outside is clad so no paint there.
Jude is using his arms and great feet work to practice his soccer skills and Faustina is ready for that great under push which is the best.
It was a busy weekend and good weekend.

• God is very busy brushing and stroking new, beautiful and bright colors on the trees in a new way each day.  It is a blessing and a delight to drive around to view his handy work.
• Terry and I visited a "showcase remodeled home" twice.  A young couple bought their grandparents 1940s rambler and had the entire house redone.  It turned out wonderful, in fact so nice we visited it on Saturday and again on Sunday.
• We had Carol/Ed and Susan/Jerry over for dinner.  Terry fixed this fantastic Greek dinner which was a BIG hit.  The evening was fun and like I always say the food was delicious but the company was even better.
• We gave thanks for the produce in our garden.  Terry spent time picking things and then on Friday we sat down to garden beans, garden cucumbers, garden tomatoes, garden swiss chard and then complimented it with venison from Mark Saunders.  Terry does not like deer meat but she really liked this and could hardly believe it. 
• Travis came over on Friday and that is always fun.
• Terry's poison ivy is now under control which is good.  I have a touch of it but can easily live with it and it soon will be gone.
• Yesterday was kind of filled with church and community meeting.  Jim R led the music and I always enjoy that.  There are others who do a great job I know but it is always special when Jim leads.  We prayed for Diane O who has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.  My heart melts for those who are dealing with cancer.  Lord please heal her.
• Terry and I now have less then three weeks before we head to Houston and then Naples.  With that in mind we are trying to not buy food but eat what we have, I have started a list of little things to do and really some of them are kind of big.  I have never gotten the house ready to winter by itself so this is new.  I talked to Travis about snow removal but really has he lives a ways away it will be better if I hire someone to shovel.  Who??  I am not sure but need to take care of that.
• I did a first I think.  When we went to my cousin's funeral I picked up memorial cards for my siblings.  What is a first is I wrote a short letter and actually mailed them the next day.  I hope Joan, Dave and Helen are in good health as when they get it the surprise will be GREAT.  I really didn't know if they would like the card but for me to get some communication done so quickly is unheard of.  I say that not to brag but to admit how pathetic I can be at times. 
• The weather forecast for the week is glorious.  In the paper this morning I read sunny, mid 70s and work all week.  Well of course I did a double take and when I read it again the word "work" did not appear but too late--it was etched in my mind.

I am now on my last cup of french press coffee so that means time to hid the ground running.

One for September tenting

These pictures are from around Cornucopia WI.  There are sea caves alone the shore that you can walk to and look down or if you want to explore you can kayak to them and go in them.  Terry and I walked the 1.8 mile hike through the woods to the place where you look down about 100 feet.  Really you can not see much of them from up that high but it was a nice walk and fun watching the many kayaks down below. 
The camping picture is in the tenting area of the camp site.  It was difficult making a decision where to pitch the tent but I think we found the perfect spot!  Actually by the time dark descended there were 2 more tents in the site.
Yesterday was interesting, sad, informative and more.  In the morning Terry had a Dr. appt for her poison ivy.  She received some meds and that should take care of things in a few days we hope.  From there we drove to Cottage Grove to take in the memorial service for a first cousin whom I knew but had not spent any time with.  Richard Sampson was 82 and in fairly good physical health but suffered from dementia the last few years.  He was one of three brothers.  His brother Dean is the only living one and we had a nice time talking to him and his wife Dee.  Their parents Arnold and Molly farmed near Veblen SD which was about 10 miles or so from our farm in ND.  Dean remembered one time he spent a week with us but it was probably when I was 3 or 4.  He said he and Ronald had to pull a lot of weeds in the trees!  Those must have been slow growing trees as I remember too well pulling weeds in those long long rows of trees.  But the jest of the day was as we talked I wished we had more contact with him and his brothers over the years.  Now this is quite a big deal for me as I am kind of not too good at those contacts and social things but yesterday was fun and maybe in my "golden" years I have changed.  We exchanged cell phone numbers so maybe can keep in touch a bit.  They are in the process of selling their 20 acres near Brookings SD where they board horses.  They plan to move to Sioux Falls.  Dean said at the age of 74 there are more important things in life than money.  Their brother Donald died at the age of 52 many years ago and Dean said that was really hard for him.  As we arrived for the service we spent some time looking at pictures and of course those pictures of people that age are so fun to look at.  Most of them have people in service clothes, guys with guns, gals posing for pictures in those dresses of the 40's and 50's and yes there actually was a picture of an out house.  But you could guess it was only a 2 hole not a 3 hole like the one I grew up in. (not really in but with)  AS I look at that I did not grow up with it either as I grew up and it got old but did not grow up.
When I got up this morning I noticed September 30th.  I can not believe this month is history.  Wallace told me it is almost October too as after he ate he barked once.  That always means let me in I am cold, don't you know this fall weather is chilly??
I was able to get a few more window hooks off of the outside of the house.  The old windows had 2 metal hooks above each window so the storms and screens could be hooked on.  With 14 windows replaced that meant 28 hooks to take off, fill the holds, sand smooth, prime and paint.  The new windows look so nice and with the hooks gone and the paint on they even look nicer.  I have 4 left to do and then another job done.  Chalk one off my "honey do list" but the last time I looked Terry adds things faster than I can chalk them off.  Really I am so happy that I can work on the list as there may come a time that I am not able or do not have the interest.  Thank you Lord for energy and interest.
Speaking of energy and interest maybe I need to get my body in gear this morning.