From inventory to storage shed

For many years I have wanted a storage shed for the lawn and garden machines and tools.  I wanted to make one (never got done), I wanted to make a shed/playhouse for the grandchildren (never got done) so the above pictures are important to me.  It is done.  It started with inventory, then to tilling the ground, then to the base, then to the shed itself.  As I write this morning the wheel borrow, the snow blower, the lawn spreader, the edger, the tiller (purchased in 1971--not sure it deserves a nice home at its age but maybe it views the shed as an assisted being place) and the lawn mower quietly and snugly rest in their own home.  Out of the garage, where cars are supposed to rest, out of the MN elements and back of the garage where bunnies tend to romp and play.  For sure in the lives of normal people a plastic shed from Costco would be just a mundane thing to behold but for me it is progress, orderliness and another thing finished which is good.  No more looking for that special hoe (it will be in the little add-on that you can not see), no more tripping over the gas can to get to the mower bag, no more searching for the bucket which holds the hand digger and no more climbing up the ladder to get the spreader out of the attic.  As I explain the situation it almost sounds boring :) :).
We still have not had any lookers or takers on the convertible so the mode is wait wait wait.  I am temped to take the hard top off and drive around Highland everyday with a "for sale" sign on the rolled up back window.  However with my luck I may have some elderly lady stop and think I am for sale to come and do house repairs!!!  Now with the shed we would even have a place to store the top!
Today is the last day of Memorial Weekend 2011.  For Terry and I it has been an OK weekend.  The work on the shed went into the weekend, went to church yesterday and did a small shopping trip on the way home, did some yard work like getting the garden in, went to the Farmer's Market to get some peppers and veggies and then lastly we spent some time in the sandpaper ministery that married couples go through from time to time.  Each time it happens the love is more and the relationship is smoother but of course we all know that using sandpaper is no fun. But then is not life that is full and rewarding also a work in progress??
Travis will come over early afternoon today and we will have his pasta salad, potato salad and grilled baby back ribs.  I have never done ribs on the grill so will see how it goes.  Oh my I hope they do not turn out like one of the first times I used my Father's Day grill many many years ago to grill chicken.  I think Travis may still, from time to time, bring up the "rubber" topic just for fun of course.
The weather this weekend has been kind of cool, kind of nice, kind of overcast and OK.  It is 8:15 AM as I write and it looks like the sun is not up yet as it is cloudy and kind of dark.  There has been much terrible weather around but it has all missed us, thank you Lord.
When you are in your prayer mode (maybe that is 24/7!) you could pray for Jeanette Krause.  Hospice said January 2 that a guess would be she would live 2-7 days.  She is still with us but now the miracle seems to be near an end.  We still pray for healing but reality seems to be that she is near, very near to meeting her Lord.  Pray for a healing still and also pray for her husband John and their family.  They have 5 married girls and many grandchildren.  Lord you are so close and so good yet your will and your ways are such a mystery to us.  We continue to pray for a healing for Jeanette and we ask you to change your mind but if not we ask that Jeanette will experience your glory when her time with us is ended.
No I should go out back one more time to see if I can see any bunny rabbits.  I would like to be able to relocate them but that is difficult.

Up North

It is about 6:00 AM on Thursday and in a few hours we will be headed back to home, projects, Memorial Weekend and it looks like more rain.  It has been a fun time up north.  The pictures show our shore fire, the sunrise this morning, our first ever "bike built for two" ride and in the one picture you can see beyond me there are two boats.  One a large barge kind of ship and the other a small personal fishing boat.
Yesterday we drove to Ely.  The road there is full of curves and the trees are almost in the road.  We did not buy anything but walked to several stores and had a good time.  The weekly goodies for the South Bend kids and Madison kids were mailed from there so they will be stamped ELY.  The postoffice is a walk into old times with old wooden counters etc. 
We stopped in Two Harbors on the way back and picked up some snacks and that was our dinner last night.  The night before we ate at the Grill here at Larsmont.  When we checked in they gave us a $25 food discount and a $10 wine discount so the bill was actually OK but wow the food was so good.  I had walleye and it may have been the best I have ever eaten.  For lunch in Ely we ate at the cafe the kids usually eat at when they go.  Brittons or some name like that.  All I know is they did not take credit cards and the bill came on one of those slips of paper you see used in Veblen SD and other small places!
Yesterday the lake was calm but today it is again big white caps and the sound is wonderful.  I could not believe how it can change so quickly.
No it is time to eat, drink and start to enjoy the day before Terry's birthday!!!

A day of rest

Here is Faustina at her birthday party doing her dance moves as she is with Travis with the 3 balloon Travis gave her.  We wanted her to hug Uncle Travis but all she would do is her dance move!!
Terry and I arrived at Larsmont yesterday afternoon.  It is a nice place to stay.  Some of you have been to Blue Fin Bay and this is kind of like that.  We enjoyed a lunch with some friends in Duluth on our drive up.
We plan to drive to Ely today which is about 90 miles north.  Terry has never been there so it will be fun. 
The weather is COOL here.  Last night as we stood around the outside fire and enjoyed treats the temp was 40 with a cool wind.  Someone jokingly said summmer here is the 2 weeks the ice is off the lakes. Wow
We plan to drive  home tomorrow (we want to avoid the Memorial Day traffic)  and resume some of the house things.  We purchased a storage shed and hope to get that up this weekend.  We did go out and get wood for the floor on Monday so the first step is to level the ground, construct the base and then start the shed.  It will be nice to get the garden tools and all of the lawn stuff in that which will greatly help the front of our garage.
No, time for a second cup of french press coffee.

A week of events ends with a "I can't believe that"

Oh my but the week has been a busy one.  Glorious weather, house things done, a first camp event which I was not involved in, a birthday for Faustina and then a "I can't believe this!" situation.
Where to start??
Aaron came in on Thursday evening, stayed the night and then we all went over to Cynthia's for brunch on Faustina's birthday.  The brunch was fun, the food that Cynthia made was delicious as always and it sure was fun to have Aaron part of it.

The weather has been wonderful.  Rain for the trees and grass, sunshine for the flowers and actual warm temps for our people!  The grass is growing so 2 mowings per week are needed but it is fun.

The annual Servant Camp fund raiser was held.  After doing maybe 50 of them I went, donated, ate and left.  I hope it was a success.  I gave camp people the plaque that Terry and I made for the "Gail Lee" award that will be given annually.  We were pleased with the way it turned out and I think it is fitting for Gail.  The walnut wood I got from Jim Ingram's tree is wonderful wood.

After the dinner Terry and I drove to see Jerry Wind who has been in the hospital and now rehab for several weeks since he was broadsided while riding his cycle.  In his right leg and pelvic bone he had a total of 9 breaks so he is now recovering and it will take a long time.

The downer of the day was not enough to spoil the day but never the less kind of a shock and a huge disappointment.  Terry and I sat down at a table with our tacos this afternoon.  Sitting at the table were 2 couples who I knew very well and one couple has served at camp and I know very very well.  The couple I know very very well gave me the cold shoulder and actually would not talk to me.  What the heck!!  Now, 4 hours after the fact I can kind of put it aside and forget it but I admit it spoiled my taco dinner.  Lord I pray that people who have such judgements or attitudes please bless them and be with them in a special way.

On Tuesday Terry and I are headed up to the North Shore in MN for a couple of days.  Terry will have a birthday this coming Friday so it is time to have some relaxing time and fun.  The work can wait for a couple of days.

We have had no takers in the convertible yet but hope there will be a sale soon.  Four cars is too many.

Travis is coming over tomorrow for lunch so we are looking forward to that.  I am hoping and expecting that to be the start of a great week.

OOPS!

Here is the south side of Woodlake one room school that I attended for grades 1-3.  The water pump was a great source of fun as well as the "drink of the day"  A far cry from a stop at Caribou or Starbucks today!  There is a broken window so I am guessing that it will not take a long time for the elements of the ND weather to enter and ruin what is left.  One could talk about the out houses, the government lunch program, the Christmas programs that were no different than our church ones, the long recesses and the walks to school most days.  Yep, 8 grades and 12 students enjoyed their last year of school there in 1956.  I could say it seems like yesterday but that  would not be true.  It does seem like a LONG time ago.
I mentioned Saturday that the taco meal was yesterday but I was wrong.  It is next Sunday.  So no tacos yesterday but now I have a whole week to think about them coming up.
Oh my yesterday was wonderful.  The temp was about 60 or so and the sun was shining all day.  It seemed like a day made for fun, relaxing and just spending outside.  Of course after last week which was mostly damp, windy and cool it seemed even more wonderful.
Success!!!  My lawn mower has not worked as well as I wanted it to for the last 3 years.  It did the job but really I am used to a mower starting, running well and sounding like a real machine.  Mine--for some time would start, run as if it did not want to and sound like a it had the flu or something.  After talking to a friend who suggested I put something in the gas and try that I now have a mower that works like new--well almost.  After several treatments in the gas and a new blade it actually made me feel like a farmer again with that sound that is music to one's ears and the grass actually looks like it was cut and not chopped with a dull knife!  Success is always nice to experience.
I have several projects I would like to complete this week.  None of them will give me the satisfaction that the electric work gave me but then none of them will cost that much either!!  So here goes, less rest, less recreation, more work and more accomplished.  Sounds like a winner to me.

Power Up

Here we are almost through half of  May.  The time has flown by with each day seeming to go faster than the one before.  Terry and I have now been back in MN for almost 3 weeks and it seems like it has been maybe 3 days or so.
The "power up" relates to the electricity in the house.  For many many years I have intended and wanted to redo it.  When we moved into our house it had 60 amp service and the box in the basement was old fuses and really I know a fire hazard.  Finally we decided we had to bit the bullet, pony up the money and get it done.  So--many $$ later we have a new box, new wires and a new comfort in knowing that it is now much safer.  An added bonus is that now we have the ability to use our jet stream tub which required something more than an old fuse!! 
We received our comfirmation in the mail yesterday about our small room we will be renting in the Black Hills for the Lee Family Reunion in July.  Of course I am somewhat late with my end of the work but really I think baby sister Helen and Joan (now the oldest in the family!!) understand and will not put much pressure on me.  Well I may not be right on that account.  I intend to get an e-mail out this weekend to people.  It should be fun and I hope many people come to it.
Terry and I had thought about going to the St. Paul Farmer's Market this morning and we may still do that but really 44 degrees!  I think that may have been the coldest this winter in Naples.
This coming week brings Faustina's birthday on Friday.  Then a week later, May 27 Terry turns a year older so I think I have some planning to do. 
We are excited as Aaron will come into town next Thursday night and stay with us on his way to a college outing with his friends.  I think they will play golf in St. Peter MN. 
Tomorrow we will take in the annual fund raiser for Servant Camp.  It will be the first one I am not involved in and I think we may have had them for about 25+ years.  At one time we had 3 in one year but for the last several years it has been a taco dinner.  It will be strange but nice to go, put a donation in the bucket and enjoy tacos!  I hope they have great weather as it is always nice if people can be outside. 
No, time to get going here on a Saturday.

Down Memory Lane

Terry and I spent last Thursday and Friday in North Dakota attending my Aunt Alta's funeral in Fargo ND, visiting family Terry had never met and visiting sites and places of my childhood.  Alta was my last living aunt so now that generation comes to a close and we move on with my generation-wow.
Aunt Alta was 95, almost 96, and had 44 great grandchildren!  wow  She and Uncle Halvor were always fun to spend time with and it was fun seeing cousins and family I had not seen in many many years.
Pictured is Wood lake School.  I attended school there for grades 1,2 and 3.  There were 12 students in the 8 grades my last year.  I am not sure it was a great start to my education but I know there were many fun times there.
Among the memories I shared with Terry:

• we walked the 1 1/2 miles to school most of the time
• I actually had a classmate
• we had hot lunches with government commodities
• we would try to extend our noon and recess times always
• I think I was not very serious about school in those days
• the outside water pump and play things were great

Among the other memories were:

• Lake Tewakenon which served as my water sking place, bathtub, swim place and fishing place
• where our farm was but of course now it is just farm land, no buildings left now
• where I built my 3 hole golf course and my putting serface in the ditch near the mailbox 90 yards from the house.  It was there that Arnie Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player would dual it out most Sunday afternoons and you could guess Arnie would win.  When I ended up with too many slices in the tall grass to the south I just rolled a 55 gallon barrel over the grass and each time I hit a bump I would pick up a ball--the mind comes up with all sorts of ways to survive and have fun when one is alone on the praire land on a hot summer day!
• Bergen Cementery where my brother, mother and dad are buried.  The church is gone--the place we went to church (only every other Sunday :), the place I gave my life to the Lord by giving a speech on the power of prayer when I was 16, the basement is gone where us guys would try to get away with at least 2 or 3 pieces of cake after Luther League, the place where I could pester my mother into letting me put sugar lump after sugar lump into her coffee--um so good and sweet!
• my parents last home in Veblen SD
• we had a bite to eat at the Farmer's Cafe in Clare City-the fries were enough for a meal.  The lady who served us actually bought my parents washer and dryer at the auction and she said the washer is still working and I think that was 16 years ago
• We also had some coffee time with brother Dave/Marlys and brother John/Judi
• Grandma Saunders treated us to a enjoyable lunch where she lives
• we enjoyed a nice visit with Gail's sister Deb/Dale on their farm
• got to see the Saunders farm and all the nice touches Gail's brother Mark/Mary have made to the house and yard

Oh my the list is long and we did more too!!  All happened in about 36 hours but it was fun. 
Now we are back in St. Paul and looking at yard work, house work and a list (actually the list is not written yet) that is perhaps as long as my arm.  As Terry planted some plants in the yard yesterday I took a couple of hours to clean up to some degree my wood shop so now I can get to work in that. 
As I write this morning the thunder is boooming, the lighting is flashing and we have already gotten .8 " of rain.  I am sure the trees will show their wonderful color in a hurry when the sun appears again.
I think I need to get some food and then see what work can be done today.  It would be perfect to lay around, read a book and dream of day past but perhaps another time and another place.

A first

Here is Faustina, my first grandchild to do a dance recital!  She will be 3 in 2+ weeks and for that age she did very well.   Last Sunday Terry and I attended the recitial which was so so cute.  Afterward Grandpa Gary, his wife Jeanne, Cynthia/Mike and family, Terry and I, Lizzia and some friends of Mike/Cynthia's went out for dinner.  It was a wonderful afternoon and of course Faustina was the hit of the show.  Before the recitial we were able to take in 45 minutes of the community meeting which was fun.  Faustina and another little girl did cause a bit of a delay as just as their dance was to go on they had to have a bathroom break!!!
We had a beautiful day today (after waking up to temp of 27) and much yard work was done.  There is much much more to do but we did get almost half the yard raked, many bags of leaves ready to go to the compost tomorrow, some things were dropped off at Goodwill, I stopped at Wells Fargo Bank as I needed some things done, went to Lowe's for some yard things and then finished up the day by cleaning up the front of the garage.  It was good to get some things done as the yard looked like a mess.
We are going to Fargo for my aunt's funeral on Friday.  Alta Lee, 95, was my last living aunt.  I think we will be gone only one night as we want to be back Saturday night for a dinner.  I rremember wanting to go to Uncle Halvor and Aunt Alta's for the day.  For some reason they always seemed to have fun things happening.  Actually I guess when one is growing up it is always fun to go to someone else's house.
Enough for now.