Onward towards the west

At painted canyon



These prairie dogs are all over the place




This mule deer stopped to pose




Not buffalo in camp but on the road




Brother Dave with the guitar he made, beautiful




camping in Itasca State Park in MN




coyote looking for a dumb prairie dog!!

 I am sitting at a picnic table in Spearfish SD.  My fingers are a bit stiff as it is very nice but still at 55 sitting at the computer for some time they don't work as well as they should. 
We are having a wonderful time so far.  We have spent time with several family members, some that we have not seen for many years.  Camped in Teddy R State Park for two nights and had a grand time.  Stopped at Terry's grandparents ranch in SD and Terry was able to go into the house that she remembers so well.  Her cousin, who now has the ranch, drove us around and that was so fun.  We stopped in Buffalo SD at the grave site of her grandma and grandpa and sister. 
We are now headed towards Devils Tower, Yellowstone NP and Grand Teton NP tomorrow.  We will end up with sister Joan and Ron on Tuesday. 
I almost can not say we are camping.  We had cable TV last night as we fell asleep.  I will have a piece of toast (from the toaster) this morning, I am sitting at the computer now and all we have to do before we leave is close the doors of the camper and head out. 
The scene here is beautiful.  The sun is peeking through the yellow leaves of fall which makes things look like a picture book.
It is very very dry every where we drive.  Terry's cousin said the last rain on the ranch was half an inch July 5.
No, time to say good bye.  My FP coffee is almost gone but more than that it cools down too too fast in the chilly morning air. 

Day 4

We are now into day 4 of our trip
Day 1, Monday we traveled to Bemdiji and then stayed in Itasca State Park.  The colors were so beautiful. 
Day 2 we traveled to Fargo and then on to stay the night with Mark and Mary Saunders. 
Day 3 we drove to Jamestown ND and spent the day with Dave and Marlys.
It is now Day 4, 7:00 AM and we plan to head to Bismark and then on to Teddy Roosevelt National Park to stay for one or two nights.  It has been a fun time so far. 
We had a great visit with Terry's mom, enjoyed a nice lunch with Grandma Saunders, had a great conversation with Mark and Mary as we devoured a delicious steak dinner, then spent the day with Dave and Marlys talking, laughing and again eating too much of a great steak dinner. 
Travel has been safe and fun, the fall colors in MN were super and the weather is perfect.
One interesting thing--as I was standing in Mark/Mary's house looking out towards the west yesterday morning a hawk hit the french door and fell to the deck.  The dog and cat were there in an instant and for the next hour or so it was a stand off of noses claws and mouths.  Finally the dog won and it appeared the hawk was near it's end as we drove off.  I called it the fight for survival on the Dakota prairie! 
In Cayuga we took the grand tour of the 18 residents there.  Took pictures of Grandma Lee's old stone house, the house Gail grew up in, saw where Larry Fangsrud had lived, took a picture of the monument at Grandpa Saunder's grave and had a conversation with Butch, the self proclaimed Cayuga historian who had some of his facts wrong!!  He said he owns the only store in Cayuga and opens it daily at 5:00 PM Monday through Friday and then all day on Saturday.  He said nobody gets thirsty before 5:00 PM in that town!!!
Terry is doing fairly well but the problem has been everyone is feeding us too well and it is easy to eat too much.  For me I had better go on a diet sooner rather than later.
Last night we looked up the address of a classmate in HS who lives near Dave's place.  Richard and his wife have this huge house that they have restored.  It has beautiful beautiful wood all over on the first floor.  I walked up to the front door, knocked on the door of someone I had not seen since May of 1965 and then for the next 45 minutes or so we had a fun conversation and toured their house which was just so so fun to see.  Terry claims Richard had a crush on her in HS but not so sure of that :) :)  Terry worked at the Dairy Queen in Forman and I suspect Richard wanted free ice cream.  Well of course I am just joking as I do know that most of the boys had a crush on Terry but then what is a young man to do when you have a crush on this beautiful young lady but her dad is the superintendent????   Well I can tell you that you don't do much!  We also drove around Forman and took a picture of the house Terry lived in during the 6 years she was there.  Today it is vacant.
Enough for now.  I am sitting in a nice warm living room in Jamestown as I type but I may not enter a journal for some time as for the next several nights we will be camping again and it is a bit cool.  Cold fingers at the picnic table probably will not get much done.  Not sure what the temp is this morning but for the last several mornings it has been freezing or colder.
As for my French Press, not today but I am sure I will get an espresso when Marlys gets in the kitchen and that may be just as good if not better.

Count Down

The count down has begun.  We will be leaving St. Paul in about 36 hours.  In that time cars have to be taken care of, things have to be packed, last minute details have to be taken care of  and of course the list is long,long and longer!! 
Spent the day getting some things done so all is not lost but of course to take all things into consideration for a 6/7 month time away--well it is a task for sure.  Am I complaining, no but facts are facts.  Tomorrow which is a day of rest, will not really be that for sure.  Monday, bright and early, well maybe not too early, we will pull out of Niles Ave and head north, west, west, south, west, south, south, east east, east, east, south,south and then Naples.  IF all goes well 5500 miles from now and 30 days from now we will drive through the gates of Tarpon Cove, take a left turn and cruse into the drive way at 732 Wiggins Bay Dr.  We hope to find all is well there.  Then for the next several months we will make sure the chains on the bikes are greased, make sure the tennis courts are well used, take into consideration the library hours, try to make sure the beach shuttle is well used and maybe, maybe try to get some writing in and do you think I could learn to play the guitar?  I have thought of that for years and years and maybe, just maybe that could happen.  We hope and dream that new experiences, new places and new friends are in the future.  We have talked about taking in a mission trip which both of us have never done and would like to do.  Lord guide us in the right direction. 
We actually got a small package off to John/Mary today and plan to deliver the same small package to Cynthia/Mike tomorrow.  I did some small woodworking projects this summer and would like to get them to the kids soon. 
We are leaving many projects undone at Niles Ave but then some were done and we hope there is time in the future to do more.  At this time we plan to do more "play" in Naples and more work in St. Paul.  Will that happen??  Not sure but we will see. 
Enough for now.  No FP as it is 9:14 PM and FP is not the order of the day in PM!!! 

Stolen!! Given!! Better than Medicare!!



Nona Hengen is Mary's aunt (her dad's sister.




The picture hangs above the fireplace and is a perfect fit.

 Happy birthday Terry :( :( I mean 4 months ago.  Stolen, well not really but Mary's aunt gave them one of her paintings when they visited in the summer of 2011.  When Terry saw it she wanted to steal it.  Well Mary gave us permission to get a copy.  Given, well the walnut frame is from a walnut tree that Jim I gave me in 2008.  I finally made something with some of the wood.  Better than Medicare, well probably not but Terry said it was the best birthday present ever so I guess I can say that!!  The birthday came in May, the picture came in July and the frame was finished yesterday.  I have to say that the frame and picture seem to fit perfectly and the whole deal seems to be a glove fit in the living room.  I probably should not show the frame so close up as I have never made a large frame like that ever and family knows that Aaron is the family frame guy but comparisons aside the finished product is one that I gladly put my name on.
It was nice to lay in bed a while this morning.  I have caught up with my meet and greet times with friends by having breakfast 6 of the last 9 mornings.  Well yesterday I was with Travis so I must say friends and family.  I was able to highlight several items on our "to do" list before we head out Monday.  We called a high school friend who now lives in New Mexico.  We plan to stop and see her on our trip.  She promised hash browns and elk for breakfast, I think it was breakfast, so now we have syrup to look forward to, hash browns and elk and that reminds me I MUST call sister Joan because if I promise to call often (not so in the past) she may make potato salad :) :).  Sister Helen made it for us last year and I actually wanted to stay an extra day but decided instead to have the last of it for breakfast before we left.  Well really am not sure that happened but it sounds good.
The french press is extra good today and this time of the year as it makes the 40s and 50s temps more pleasant.  And as I type that it is surely time to hit the steps for downstairs for that least little drop and then give a glance at that "to do" list that is still showing many things to do.

I think fall is here

Here I sit in the sun room at 6:00 AM.  FP on my left, mouse in my right hand, window open with a 50 degree breeze gently blowing across the room.  In the darkness of this morning I know fall has come.  Maybe a bit early but it is here.  Yes, the temp should get up to 80 on Sunday but then next week we are looking at one day with a high of 60 and one night with a low of 40!!!!  The tomatoes are mostly picked, the carrots will come out of the ground next week, the brown grass may need one more mowing but then maybe not and a sure sign of autum is many many many squirrels every where with nuts in their mouth. 
I have not been good at getting together with guys this summer so am now in the catch up mode.  I enjoyed breakfast with John K Wednesday, will meet Ernie R this morning, will see Larry B tomorrow morning and eat and greet with Don F Tuesday.  Then--we think most of next week will be geared towards getting ready for our camping trip as we head south (maybe) the last Monday or Tuesday this month. 
I have thought of deer hunting this fall but to come back for it---not sure that is necessary.  Also have not talked to Terry about it nor have I talked to Dale B.  He did say my stand is still up but then he may already have it rented out for big bucks!!!  That is dollars, not deer as they don't usually use deer stands!!!!:)  Come to think of it why do they call them deer stands when people use them.  Maybe they should be called people stands used for deer hunting. 
I have been working on some small wood projects the last few days.  I finished three of them and currently have 2 of them in the house.  One will go to brother Dave as I feel I have to bring some kind of exchange for the choke cherry syrup I will get when we visit.  Now this humble wood project does not come close to being on a par with choke cherry anything but then he put no conditions on his promise to give me some syrup so it is a good will jesture on my part!  Sometimes I sit and think what if he and Marlys can not contain themselves and when we arrive in Jamestown the syrup is all gone.  Oh my gosh, I think if that were to happen I would refuse to show them our camper and Terry and I would just say "hi" and "bye" and travel west. I don't mean to down play our wanting to see them--but--the syrup is a must.
As I sit here I think of deer hunting because when I glance outside slowly all of the surrounding homes, trees and other things come to life with the coming of a new day.  Sitting in a people stand, I mean deer stand, that is so spectacalur to see.  It would be fun to know how many deer have walked in sight and then disappeared as I sit and gaze at the morning light!!
As I sign off here is hoping that everyone's stocks, everyone's retirement funds and everyone's grain went up up up yesterday, I know I earned enough yesterday to buy Terry one of her favorite chocolate bars!
Oh yes, more FP coming up as I go downstairs.
As I pressed spell check it is not working today so who cares, perfection is not my goal.

9/11

I do remember where I was that day.  I was in the middle of a social studies class teaching my 7/8 graders about the Civil War.  An announcement went over the PA system something to the effect that the U.S. had been attacked by terrorists.  We were instructed to keep on our normal schedule and we would be undated.  I had a deaf co-worker in the room with me and as I interpreted to her I told her I was going to turn on the TV.  We viewed the second plane as it hit the World Trade Center.  Our entire day was spent watching and as different deaf kids came and went again I tried my best to interpret what was on TV.  I remember saying to my co-worker that the U.S. would never be the same.
I am sitting in the sun room again this morning with a cool breeze coming in.  It is supposed to hit 92 today and then be much much cooler for the rest of the week.  I have a little schedule going on this week.  Each morning I will take the cover off the camper and work for a bit on shining the exterior which is all aluminum.  Not my favorite job but I think it needs to be done.  A little water, a dab of Bon---- (name?) and a lot of elbow action!!!   After a time when my elbow is tired and I am frustrated I will put the cover back on and head to the wood shop where I am in the middle of making some items.  At 11:30 we will head south a bit to have lunch with some friends of Terry's.  Then on the way home will stop to say happy birthday to Katie. 
Yesterday Terry's recovery was at a crawl!  We did, for the first time in weeks, get on the bikes and go for a short (4.2 miles) slow ride.  I got brave and let Terry lead so she could go as slow or fast as she wanted.  I say brave because sometimes she tries to do too much.  Anyway it was a day of stomach cramps which seems kind of strange to us but it is what it is.  At times like yesterday I question going on a camping trip as we head south.
I spent about 2 hours yesterday cleaning and picking up in the shop.  I swear that someone comes in at night and messes with things!!  With my fancy shop vac I have to get down on the knees to get the floor clean.  Is there not a better way?  Well maybe a new vac would help but that is not going to happen. 
Enough for now.  I do need a refill on the FP as I am sure there is one cup left.  Then with an upside down smile I will head out to work on the camper.

Why? Why?? Why???

I woke up yesterday about 5:00 AM.  I rounded up all my biking things and then sat down with a cup of coffee to wait for Travis to arrive.  We had scheduled a bike ride as part of the Saint Paul Bike Classic.  I had heard it was a fun day, a good cause and I knew that yesterday the weather was supposed to be perfect. 
Well Travis came, we biked over to St. Thomas, picked up our things and off we went on our ride along with perhaps 5000-7000 others.  I am thinking to myself that it will be a walk in the park as I know that Travis has not ridden for a long time.  Well I have ridden very little this summer but what the heck I have lost weight over the last few years and I will be good to go!!!!   Well that is kind of true BUT I must not have factored in that I am 65, Travis is 40 and in high school Travis was one of the best junior cyclist in Minnesota and in college he and John raced.  I had my Bentley bike (the one Aaron built for me) and Travis had my red bike which is nice but certainly not in the same class as Bentley.  Well I had a great time but I did huff and puff towards St. Thomas as we finished the 30 miles.  I would say I had to pedal FAST to keep pace with Travis the first 15 miles as he seemed to cruise along about 17-20 MPH with little trouble.  The last 15 miles the pace may have been more like 14-16 which is more the speed for my body.  If I had not had the fast bike this slow body would have collapsed in a heap far from the finish!!  Anyway it was a very fun morning.  Next year I am sure the ride will be on our schedule again.
Terry continues her healing ways.  Perhaps not as fast we we would like but yet still there are more forward steps than netural or backwards so each day the curve is up a bit.  We still are putting our plans for the fall on a (hold) until we see how she does in the weeks ahead.  We had a great time going to Madison Thursday and coming back on Friday but the long ride in the car were not the best.  By the way we were able to stay with Aaron/Amy one night and see their new house.  I would say it is PERFECT for them.  I think it was built in the early 50's.  They will have to accumulate more things as they have shelves, cupboards and closets every where you look.  Nice.  A great sun room on the south, nice oak floors and a great yard.  The decore is dated but nice so they can change at their own pace if they wish but they can also enjoy living without doing anything.  Aaron already has the garage walls torn out as he will have more electricity added and new walls put up for his wood shop.  I think they have a wonderful home and in this day the way their home sold and the way they found this home certainly is a special blessing.  I so wish I could have captured Ruby as she stood in the doorway of her new room and waited for grandma Terry to come see it!!  Those grandkids, from Ben to Henry and all in between are so cute.
Weather, 83 today, 93 tomorrow and 70 on Wednesday.   Wow I may be able to take out the AC units on Wednesday for good.  As I sit in the sun room this morning with the window open it is cool.
No I need to trek downstairs for that last cup of FP before I take the cover off the camper to do some work.

The BIG birthday

Not much news but want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to sister Joan, the oldest in our family!!!!!!   From Geneseo, to Fargo to Salt Lake City UT she has made a most favorable impression where ever she has lived.  Is she beautiful--was homecoming queen in her senior year of high school, is she a hard worker--Osco drug would say yes, Fargo American Legion would say yes, the Fargo Forum would say yes and I am sure many many other places she has worked would say the same.  She and husband Ron have been married 50+ years, she has two great sons, two sets of twin grandchildren+ and before the year is out will be great grandma to quadruplets!!  I dare say nobody in the family can beat that or even come close!!  Happy birthday Joan and thanks for being such a great sister.  There is one thing I will hold against her for ever.  Growing up on the farm Joan, Dave and I often did the dishes.  Joan was the boss so she always had to wash.  Dave and I hated to wipe dishes but Joan would say she would give secret points for different dishes wiped.  She never told us before hand what dishes counted what points but in the end it usually was a tie---a fix for sure Joan.
Hope Ron makes this the best birthday ever.