Family picnic

Agatha was her usual funny self

Grizzly Adams was there

Jude starts 1st grade this week

Aaron and Amy were in town this past weekend so we ended the weekend with a picnic.  It was a fun time and perfect weather.  It looks like school gets into high gear this week for many of the kids.
Here is how sports have changed.  A story in the paper was about a couple from Eau Claire, WI.  They had season tickets for the Vikings last year but they said the prices in the new stadium are too high ($1818-$3826 for 8 games!) So they purchased a season pass to the tailgate area for $650.  They will come to each home game, set up their food and BIG TV and that is their game day!!!  Times change I guess, for the better?
We have a meeting in downtown Minneapolis this morning.  Don't ever remember having a meeting in the downtown before.  We may take the light rail.  Downtown anyplace is not my cup of tea.  Well I guess downtown Cayuga is not so bad!
I can not believe that mid week we transition into September.  There are way too many pieces of the bath left for that to happen.
As I sit here, I look out over the front yard. With the care that has taken place and all the rain it actually looks fairly nice.  Usually as the hot dry days of August arrive the yard is not so green.
When I was sitting in the basement going through wood magazines last night I thought about THINGS.  I looked back on writing my book and the reason for writing.  Then I thought about what has transpired since it was published.  What was intended and what has happened is two VERY different things.  I wrote it for the grand kids and of course several of them are too small to read but I have not heard a word about the book from them.  I suspect that MAY come sometime later, maybe.  What I have heard are comments from many friends and family who read it and enjoyed it so much.  That has been fun.
I was looking at some old pictures last night and I think I may post some of them in the days ahead.  Some I had forgotten and I suspect some have been posted but what the heck, if it was over a year ago I probably do not remember.
I brought FP to the picnic yesterday and drink what was left this morning.  I then brewed some new so there is still plenty left but my thoughts are gone.

A lot of trust

state fair booth

Nice new car!

Well, that is not really our new car!  It was at the state fair.
The fair booth of wooden toys was great.  We purchased two items that cost $62.  He did not take credit cards and we did not have enough cash.  He gave us his card and asked that we mail him a check!!!  He is from NC!  I guess Terry looked trustworthy.
We arrived at a park and ride station for the fair this morning at 7:35.  The first bus was supposed to leave at 8:00.  We were almost the last to get on and had to stand.  By the time the bus left there were several people waiting for the next bus.  When we arrived back at our car there were about 3 bus loads waiting to board.
The fair was fun and the weather was great.  Sunny and low 70's, ideal for fair walking.  It was the first time we had visited the fair in a few years as we were either gone or someone was not doing well.
We put the bathroom on hold for a day.  Tomorrow it is mud again!
It is 8:30 PM so no FP.

Progress

So the walls are not finished BUT the window trim is on and of course the work is one step at a time.  Today there will be work on the ceiling and walls and perhaps some work in the shop on new storm windows for the west.  Also some work on the window redo for the bath area.
Yesterday was a weather day to remember.  One could say it was perfect for the concept of "Minnesota nice".
Henry turned into a teenager yesterday and that concluded our August birthdays of Aaron, Jude and Henry.  Five more to go for the year.
I set up my e-mail yesterday for my fall tennis team.  I have 8 players and could use 2 more.  With the early starting date of October 24th I may be hard pressed to have 6 guys there.
The last of the FP just reached its destination!  DONE

Happy Birthday Henry, a TEENAGER!!!

Happy 13th Henry.  What a great guy you are.  Soccer, piano, iron works, studies and more.  You are a man of many talents and we can hardly wait to see the great things you will do!  We love you.  Have a great day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUDE

Happy birthday Jude.  Seven, wow you are getting kind of old! I am sure your Mom has told you that you are the last of the grandchildren that Grandma Gail welcomed into the world.  You are a great guy.  Good to your siblings and a great student in school.  We hope you have a great day and we hope to see you for a bit later today.
Love, Grandpa Lee and Terry

I did not have to argue!

Cousin Annette's home canned peaches, um

Here it is, a beautiful jar of peaches.  I did not have to argue with Dave to see who would go down into the cellar where lizards liked to hang out.  It was kind of dark down there and there always was the chance that Mom would fine out what we were doing.  Of course years later we realized that she knew all along what her two youngest boys were up to.  Taking the front jar and then carefully moving the next one into its place did not fool Mom.  No, these peaches came from cousin Annette Malheim Kisser, who along with cousin Lenay and hubby Harlis we had lunch with yesterday.  Annette lives in the Twin Cities and Lenay and Harlis are living in Mesa AZ.  It was a great time of conversation and recalling family history.  The most important point I learned was that there is a history of angels in the family, that explains why I am such a nice guy!!!  Really it was just a trip back in our lives which I enjoyed.  I may not spell some of these correctly but we talked about Bennie, Evelyn, Sig, Virginia, Anfin, Henry, Carl, Viola, Grandma, Grandpa, Ronald, Janet, Robert, Marvin, Etta, Joyce, Gayle, Helen, Joan, Dave, Orville, Don and the list is never ending.  As we all know WAY back then, (50's) there was the little bike, kick the can, ante-i-over and more as we played under the yard light while adults looked at pictures, played cards and made conversation punctuated by much laughter. Of course there was talk of tragedy too with Robert's death, Ronald's death, Janet's death, Halvor's death, the burning of the farm and more.  Some of those things did not take place in the 50's for sure.  To sum it up, it was a fun time.  The last time I had seen Lenay and Annette was when Annette put together a reunion at Silver Lake near Rutland ND.  That was in 1992 so everyone had changed, for the better of course!
The beat goes on with the bathroom.  Progress but a bit slow.  We have figured out the mirror and now we need to purchase a vanity light as Terry wants it to be in the mirror high up.  We spent some time with a guy in Hudson WI Friday and he had the perfect things, Terry was so happy!
Today we will drive to Life Time Fitness in Eden Prairie where our tennis pro from Naples is in a tournament.  It will be fun to see him.
We continue to pray for friends Ben, Terry, Connie and Diane who are dealing with serious health issues.  Each day as we pray it reminds me to enjoy the day to the fullest.
I just took a sip of FP and saw the bottom of the cup, time to sign off.

Happy birthday Aaron

Aaron is sitting in Dad's lap as everyone views the bison at Sully's Hill near Devils Lake ND.
Have a great day Aaron, 43 is a good year!  Love, Dad and Terry

A trip down memory lane

Terry and I drove out to Servant Camp yesterday.  It was great to see Faustina, Liam and Henry.  Camp is busting at the seams as several People of Praise now send campers here.
A funny thing, it has not changed very much since I was so involved.  The kids still seem to be having great fun, the dinning room is still noisy, in a good way, and MANY of the people still serve God in the ways they were doing years back.  It was great to see so many people I had not seen for a long time.  I welcomed many hugs from people I knew and even many from kids I did not recognize!  It was a good time and actually confirmed that when I stepped back some years ago the time was right.
Now on the somewhat down side, no I need not go there---it was a good evening.
Terry and I will travel to Hudson WI today to do some shopping for the bath.  We may even have lunch there and call the day a work/date time!
John stopped over to help me hoist the 5/8" drywall to the tub/shower ceiling.  I need to do some trimming but it is up.  Terry and I hoisted it up last night but my measuring and cutting was less than perfect so down it came again yesterday.
Enough, John helped me drink the FP so I am out.

Wet

I emptied the rain gauge this morning which had 2 1/2 inches of rain!  We needed the rain but not sure how much soaked into the ground.  I am thinking of Servant Camp and what they have to deal with this morning.  Rain in the tents is not the best!
My morning routine is odd today.  No FP yet and nothing to eat as John is coming over and we will go out for breakfast.  He has been in town for work as Henry and Liam are at camp.
The bathroom---it is slowly getting to look like something more than a total mess.  Electric is in, the sub floor is in, the wood flooring is purchased and more is done.  The finishing work, well that will take a long time.  We are still waiting to make a decision on the tile in the tub area.
Sister Helen celebrated her birthday a few days ago.  She has made a change in her life which makes me so proud of her.  Now me, I try to make changes but more often than not I fail.
John will be here soon and maybe I do need some FP before we arrive at the restaurant where the coffee may be Folgers or some other non quality drink!

A perfect day

The weather could not be better.  Sunny, a slight breeze and temp of about 80.  It is great. 
We received 1.1 inch of rain yesterday so the lawn and garden were so so thankful.  The lawn needs help but it is so nice for this time of the year and considering what it has been in the past. 
Terry and I will watch the opening of the games tonight after we watch channel 2 Almanac.
The bath is coming oh so slowly but it is coming.  We picked up the wood flooring yesterday, some walls are up, some window trim is getting done, some wall repair is done and the list goes on and on and on.  I would not complain but it was a thought!
John, Liam and Henry will arrive in the Twin cities Sunday as Liam and Henry will take in Servant Camp and John will do a Trinity thing.  We probably will not see the boys but will see John Wednesday or Thursday.  I THINK we are on top of our game so birthday presents for Henry and Audrey will be sent home with them.  I try to get those kids to not get older but they do not pay attention to Grandpa!
The Lyme thing, not sure where it is.  I do get tired but not sure if it is Lyme, heat, old age or laziness!
I will take the high road and say it is Lyme!
Enough for now.  I would like to say some things about Servant Camp coming up but some things are best not said.  I will say that God is great and he will be so present next week.  To late in the day for FP.

A new month

We enter a new month and it seems that summer is going fast.  Not the temps, as we are supposed to have a very warm week.  For 30+ years today would be a very BUSY time as I would be preparing for Servant Camp.  That is now in the past and camp is in good hands which means many young people will have a special encounter with Jesus soon.  Thank you Lord.
This is a busy birthday month.  First comes Aaron who will be 43 on the 12th, Jude will be 7 on the 18th and Henry will be 13 on the 21st.
I have a week, I think, to get several things done in the bathroom as our help will not be here.  I also have to get that darn pickup fixed and home but not sure when or how I should do that.  I picked up 4 sheets of drywall Saturday and they just fit in the car but it was a pain.  The pickup would have made it so easy.  We are also waiting for a bid on the tile work and I am almost afraid of what we will get.  The guy we talked to is very good and I would like him to do the work but his quality work comes with a steep price I think!  We will see.  I am hoping to get the bid later this week.  You may see tears on my blog along about Thursday.  If there is a report of a bank robbery it may be me.  I will not reveal what kind of mask I will wear.  Wait, this is 2016 and there is a chance someone will read this and call the police so let it be known my comments are 100% a joke!  REALLY, it is a joke.  Today I will start with working on a couple of new storm windows.  The storms on the piano windows in the den will not hold paint any longer so it is time for new ones.  I also plan to get the ceiling in the new toilet area and some more drywall up.  I am hoping my energy holds up all day.  Oh, the lawn needs to be mowed too.  And I should set up the scanner so Terry can start to scan 1000's of pictures.
I do not have any more to say but there is still an almost full cup of FP so I feel obligated to write and write.
I am trying my hardest to keep my end of a neat house.  Poor Terry works at picking up, putting things in order and more and then I leave an area and there is a misplaced paper or cup or whatever.  I will do better this week.
Oh, I also need to cut down on my food intake.  Some where I never learned that when one is full you should stop eating even if the food still tastes very good.  I just took a big gulp of FP and the cup is only half empty.
My wood shop is a mess.  There must be at least 20 different pipes and boards that are scheduled for the dump but the workers had no room in their pick up when they left on Thursday so all of the items are on the garage floor.  One of the guys knocked a glass bottle on the floor as he was putting things down.  He picked up part of the bottle but there is glass scattered on the floor.  He said nothing.  I was not happy.  Another gulp and the coffee is almost gone. 
I just looked at the weather for the week.  88 today, then 86, 90, 86, 82, 81 and then 79.  I can live with that.
There it is, no more FP in the cup and no more words on the screen.  August, here I come!!!!!!!