A great way to see the country and the state

A few of the signs from state and national parks in this last year.  The Rainy Lake visitor center is for MN one and only national park.  Minnesota has 72 state parks and in the last two years we have visited or stayed in 65 of them.  It is a great way to see the state from east to west and north to south.
As I sit writing this morning the 220v heater is going in the garage.  I am sure the electric meter is humming as it circles the meter that determines what we owe Xcel!  I noticed the temp was 42 in the garage this morning so thought it would be nice to get it UP to 50 as least.  The indoor/outdoor reads 63 in house and 34 outside. 
Time is getting short as we wind down October and head towards November in a fast trot it seems.  We are thinking Travis will be here alone to tend the house in about two weeks.  My blood is thin I fear and I was wondering this morning how I will survive the November mornings 16 feet high in Dale's field in two weeks.  I can remember deer hunting when it was snowing and very cold and then also when it was in the 50's so we will see what happens in a couple of weeks.
We had an interesting experience last week.  Friday evening Terry turned up the furnace a bit to take the chill off and it would not start up.  I have lived here for 36 years and I have never had the furnace break down and I have not had to put a dime into repair.  It is an old boiler type with gravity feed and a thermostat that operates from a thero-coupler (I fear I have my words wrong).  I do know that if we lose electric power our furnace would work. Any way I tried several things and nothing worked.  We do have a service contract which we pay for each month so here I am calling them at 8:30 Friday night hoping they will answer and maybe get here sometime on Saturday.  Well I called at 8:30, they were here a little after 9:00 and we had heat by 9:30.  I have never had service like that with ANYTHING.  I guess I will not second guess myself each time I get the notice that our service contract has been paid.
I checked the garage and the temp is up to 47 and I am guessing that only took half of my monthly retirement check!
I stopped to get some oxygenated gas at Gellers across the river Saturday.  Dave, the son of our first superviser on the paper route, was there and he said Craig, his Dad was sitting in the back.  Craig was the person who came to our house to ask why we had complained about our paper delivery and he talked us into taking the paper route.  Ten thousand plus days later we quit the route!!!!  Anyway Craig asked about the boys and we talked for about 10 minutes.  It was fun to see him again.  He retired in 1991, sounds like a long time ago but then it also sounds like a long time when I say I retired 6+ years ago.
We had a fun visit from Mark and Mary Saunders yesterday.  The last time they were able to stop and visit was in October of 2009.  We enjoyed about 2 hours of their time before they had to head home.  They have exciting times ahead with new grand babies coming, a whole family vacation in Hawaii and there must be more too.  They do take great family vacations.  A daughter and her husband are planning to sell their cars, put things in storage and in January start a year long travel--sounds like fun.
I have finished several Christmas presents, I am more than half finished with a table to match our bed but I do have several things left so...............
I just poured the last half cup of FP, put in about a tablespoon of whipping cream so I am "good to go" in the garage for a while.

Our headboard--a long awaited piece of furniture



from rough maple John gave me





and rough walnut Jim I gave me in the form of a log

 


to nice planed boards




to legs laminated together



to the end--a walnut/maple/paduak headboard

 The final piece of furniture is not what I had hoped for and certainly not what Terry had been promised but it was the best I could do given what I had to work with.  The legs are laminated 3/4" maple and walnut and the cross boards are hard maple and walnut divided by pieces of paduak which I had to purchase.  No copper but maybe another time.  I do think it goes in our bedroom but in the end when a project does not turn out to be what one had planned there is an element of disappointment.
The temps this morning were hilarious, the indoor/outdoor reading on the kitchen table was 26 and 62.  Guess which was in and which was out!  I went out to the wood shop and the temp in there is 36, yiks.  As I looked out towards the garage the roof over the car is total white with frost and the roof over the wood shop is kind of white.  I guess a ceiling does make a difference.  This is really the first frost we have had so I am guessing more leaves will start to fall quickly.
Yesterday I was able to spend most of my time in the wood shop. Much progress was made on some things and the three storms for the kitchen were painted and then put up.  This morning the windows in the kitchen are clear instead of being frosty--nice.
Wow, this FP this morning seems extra good, maybe it tastes better when the temp is below freezing.
Enough for now.

Happy seventh anniversary Cynthia and Mike



I know--a picture from several years ago




Cynthia and her eldest daughter Faustina

Mike, I am sorry but I don't have a good current picture of you and Cynthia.  What the heck you look as good today as you did in 2007 anyway!
As usual I am a day late.  Cynthia and Mike were married 7 years ago yesterday.  It was a grand day with hundreds of family and friends gathering to share in the joy of the day.  Now, they have a new house, a great daughter Faustina, a handsome son Jude, a cute mischievous looking son Ben and a wonderful baby Agatha.  We are far from the teaching days at Trinity or the volunteering days in Seattle or the soccer days of Gustavus or the study times and sport times in high school and the fun times at Highland Catholic.  I promise to not mention the morning experiences of grade school or the times Cynthia's brothers threatened to do extreme measures when they were baby sitting.  Of course I do not have knowledge of Mike's growing up but I am sure the list could go on about him too!!
The temp is down to 34 this morning and the paper says tomorrow will bring temps down to 26.  In that vein this old house is begging for the 8 storm windows I am trying to rehab to hurry and get on.  I really do want to prime and paint them but--I am not sure it is in the cards for this fall.  I tend to get chilly when I work in the garage and Terry suggested I set up our 10 by 10 camping canopy so the heat stays near but that would mean dust and dirt on it so--I will see.  During times like this week I wish for a ceiling to be in the shop but in the end I really like the openess of no ceiling.  Again I am so thankful for the encouragement Terry gave in getting the shop in order.  It is so so much fun to work out there.  At times I think back to about 1984 or so when I decided to kind of close up shop, except for repairs, until John, Travis, Aaron and Cynthia grew  up and out of school.  The shop then, with it's imaginary "closed" sign and the shop today are more different than night and day.
I talked to Dale yesterday and he has seen few deer but a lot of tracks and signs.  What the heck does he expect me to shot at tracks and signs!  He did say the guy who used the stand last year kind of rehabed the sides so I do not need to do that.  I guess that is the reason he is charging me big bucks to lease my own stand on his farm---of course that is not true.
No, I have poured the last of the FP and that means two things.  I am done writing and I need to get some warm clothes on and brave the garage for a time.
Travis and I carried the headboard for the bed upstairs yesterday and it is in place.  I don't know about it.  There is no copper which is a downer and it is tall.  I will post a picture in a day or so but it is not the kind of finished product that I would advertise to the world.  I do like the contrasting colors of walnut, maple and paduak but with that said I am not happy with it given all the time and work I put into it.  I would like to say I will make a different one but in all honesty there are so so so many things I want to do so we will see.  I currently have 8 items lined up in the garage that need sanding, finishing etc.  AND they are sitting near the storms that are begging to be done and near them are some other items that are in process and WELL you get the picture. 

A failed experiment

Yesterday was a downer.  I had planned for several weeks for the copper clad dividing strips between the walnut and maple boards of the headboard for the bed.  I even sent our first order of copper back as we did not like the patina that we had ordered.  After a couple of hours yesterday morning it became clear that the copper idea would not work.  I do not know if I ordered it too thin or if the idea was just bad from the beginning but in any case I had to go to plan B. That plan became more wood in the form of paduak wood.  Yesterday I made 3 new dividers out of paduak and glued the seven boards together.  This morning I put the legs on the boards so it will be ready to bring into the house this afternoon.  I will need to put the danish oil on the paduak in the coming days but the headboard should be on the bed by Tuesday or so.  We will see what it looks like then.
We are looking at cool temps for the next several days.  This morning it was 39 at 5:00 AM and then went down to 38 by 6.  I think the high yesterday was 53 and for the next several days the highs should be in the upper 40s.  Not really that bad for mid October but then just a few days ago we were basking in the 70s so the big change makes it look chilly for sure.
I really needed to get the headboard glued so I can get it in the house and turn off that electrical heater.  I get dizzy when I see the meter going around when it is on!
It is hard to believe that we only have this weekend and next weekend before November rolls around.  Time goes by so fast.
I need to check the headboard again to see if it really is square--not a pretty sight if it is crooked but I have high hopes.
Enough for this morning.

Thirty years is a long time--45 years is longer

1983 Honda Goldwing 1100



Fall colors




Sunrise in St. Paul

Last July Terry's brother Cab gave his 30 year old Honda to me.  It had not been started in 6 years so we found a guy to rehab it and it came home yesterday.  What am I going to do with a 1100, 450 pound cycle?  I am not sure.  I last rode a cycle in 1968 and that was my Harley 250 Sprint!  A bit of a difference I would say.  I would humbly say I am a novice rider at best even though my only mode of travel for two years was my cycle--THAT WAS 45 YEARS AGO.  Even though the cycle is 30 years old it has only 13000+ miles on it.  It even has electric start and turn signals--not the one arm signals I used with my Sprint :). 
I woke up to rain this morning with temps in the low 40s.  I turned the heater on in the wood shop as I intend to wipe down and buff the boards for the bed headboard later this morning.  I am excited to see what the boards look like after three coats of Danish Oil and buffing. 
We have had so many squirrels in our yard that the lawn is beginning to look like a mine field. I decided  something had to be done so I started a relocation program and in the last 3 days have relocated 6 of those little monsters.  Someone told me that the squirrels can come back to the same location but I am sure these will not. 
Terry is excited today.  We will pick up her niece at the U of MN this afternoon and take her out to dinner.  Sarah is interviewing for her residences in medicine.  It will be fun to spend some time with her.  I think we may pick her up and take her to the airport tomorrow as well.
I have not called Dale B about deer on his farm but I need to do that soon.  I am hoping he has a nice big buck feeding off his salt block right under the tree stand north of the farm buildings.  He promised me he would put the salt block and oats out weekly but you know these farmers they are so busy maybe he has not had the time!!!
I made the FP pot only 2/3 full this morning as I am meeting John K for breakfast at 7:00 and want to save some coffee room at that time.  SO the pot is empty and I am finished.

Happy Birthday Audrey--a day late



That is one delicious jawbreaker




My hair is flying because I can not sit still!




Well, I can sit still for pictures




A tree house to aspire to!!!!!!!

Not unusual for Grandpa, a day late.  Audrey turned 5 yesterday, happy birthday Audrey.
The grandchildren are growing too fast.  I talked to Leo yesterday and he proudly told me that he lost his first tooth.  I asked him if his Dad pulled it with the ignition pliers like Dad used to do with us and I guess it just fell out at school.  How undramatic is that???  Anyway the tooth fairy left a dollar under his pillow so that was good.
The tree house--it was built a few years ago by Terry's sister and her husband.  I probably should not have posted it as now Mike, Aaron or John may want to out do it.  I am sure there have been many fun times in it. 
I will put the last coat of danish oil on the bed frame today and then buff it tomorrow.  The copper strips should come by Wednesday and then it should be put together by the end of the week.  I think it is looking pretty good but we will see when it is put together.  My fear is that with the size of the piece it may end up glued all crooked and then our bed will be lopsided!!
Also started to rehab the four storm windows for the kitchen.  They are in BIG time need of some TLC.  I am so so thankful for the inserts we put in on 14 of the windows two years ago.  No more climbing up the ladder to the second floor with a heavy storm in tow, then some how postioning it so that it would hang on the house correctly!  Of course another good thing is they can all be washed from the inside and there is no glazing to crack, peel and fall out.  It would have been nice to have done the kitchen windows too but it was not possible. 
Ouch, tomorrow the second half property taxes have to be mailed.  St. Paul taxes are very high I think.  Since we purchased the house the taxes have increased by five times.
My FP is down to the grim on the bottom of the cup so-----

Another perfect fall day



an amish school bus of the past




Amish children have no homework which these kids would NOT like!!!

A short note before I find myself in the wood shop.  I am sitting by the computer looking out the front window and the sun is starting to shine on the tree in front which makes it look golden--nice picture for the middle of October.
My project is going well in the garage and I am doing it without buying ANY more wood.  I had priced the walnut and maple and am so so so thankful that I had enough on the wood rack. 
Terry is doing well, I guess I should say as well as one could expect.  She is sore and walks carefully but each day it is a bit better.  I actually think I have done a good job of trying to keep her from doing too much.  Well if one wants the truth she would be good on her own to monitor activity but some how I feel like I should take some credit!
No my FP coffee is about gone and what is left is not very hot so it is to the microwave and then out to the shop.

Really--this is camping!!

A short one today.  I would say maybe every third night when we camp we have electric power so it is easy to make my FP coffee!
Terry had a difficult day yesterday but today it is starting out much better so here we go, on the fast track to recovery.
Temp is 40 this morning with most of the windows telling me it is fall.  It will be out to the wood shop soon to get working on some projects.  Time is going away fast!

ALL TEN, HERE THEY ARE!!!



Elspeth-2 months




Agatha-4 months




Ben--1 year and 9 months




Ruby--3 years and 8 months




Jude-4 years and 1 month




Audrey--5 years this month




Faustina--5 years and 4 months




Leo--6 years and 5 months




Liam--8 years and 5 months




Henry--10 years and 1 month

 That is it--but can not get much better than that!
Terry arrived home from the hospital today and is doing well.  We expect her recovery to be speedy.  We are so thankful.
Fall is here with cool temps and rainy weather.  The leaves are falling quickly but not as much as SD!!

Last big trip of the year

We arrived home (St. Paul) yesterday after a fun and relaxing trip.  We were on the road for 13 days, drove 3200+ miles, visited 19 more state parks, visited family and friends and took in a wedding.
One day we drove into Canada and then out again 500 miles later.  On that day we arrived in Grand Portage MN late in the day with the intent to take the ferry out to Isle Royal National Park the next day.  When we talked to the camp host he informed us that during this time of year the ferry would be going out again in 6 days!  We had no idea that it went once a week and not only that but even during the 6 weeks of summer that it goes daily you MUST make a reservation.  So much for one more national park.  With that we directed our attention to state parks.  There are 72 in MN and last year we visited 41.  So for the last few days of our trip we visited friends north of Duluth, visited Terry's mother and visited 19 parks.  We will visit one just outside of the cities this week when we have an appt and then will have 7 left.  I think they will wait until 2014.
After we arrived home yesterday the time was spent unpacking, washing the camper and car and visiting a bit with Travis.  He is working really hard and has lost a amazing amount of weight.  He is looking so so good. 
It is GOOD to be home.  In the last 60 days we have traveled 13,500 miles and slept in the camper 50 nights.  As I walked out to the camper this morning to get the toaster the chill in the air kind of said, "Time to take care of the camper and let travel rest for a time."  Our next venture will be to drive to Naples which will be in mid November.  We need to take care of some health issues, not serious ones, so that is the reason for the mid November departure.
It was so much fun to see Elspeth Zoe for the first time.  She certainly is a cutie!  Here she is at nearly 2 months.  

I have not talked to John as most of the time on our trip we did not have internet or phone but it should be noted that his school, Trinity at Greenlawn in South Bend, recently received the "BLUE RIBBON AWARD" .  Trinity at Greenlawn was awarded this honor for the fourth time and became only the 8th school in the nation to receive it four times.  No school has received it five times.  John will travel to Washington D C in November to receive the award.  Well that is if our nation is not totally shut down by then!!
We saw some beautiful fall colors on our trip.  When a person travels they realize that everyone should plant maple trees just for the fall colors. 
One of the most interesting state parks is Sudan in central northern MN that is an old underground mine.  If anyone travels there be sure to take the $12 tour.  A person travels about a half mile underground and then rides a tiny train through the tunnels.  To learn a bit of how the  miners worked is just amazing.  They made good money but it would not have been for me.  A cubic foot of the iron weighed 300 pounds.  The miners worked very hard and if their candle went out, in the early days, there was total darkness, I mean you could not see your hand an inch in front of your face. 
No, my FP is about gone and it is time to start the day.