More rain

Day 14, "Every picture has a story"

I did not know the people who lived here but in the fall of 1978 I had a 9th grade home room at Highland Park and one of the boys' grandparents lived here.  One of the boys missed a couple of days so when he returned I asked him why he had been absent.  He said that he and a friend were at his grandparents place over the weekend.  His grandpa loaded shells and he and his friend got into some of grandpa's things.  Some how they managed to ignite some gun powder and they blew a hole in the roof of the attic!  He did not say what grandpa thought!!!

When I emptied the rain gauge last night it showed 1.1" so we are good to go for a while in terms of rain.  A tennis team guy came over yesterday and we had lunch.  Caught up on some of the news about friends from FL.  I did manage to get the lawn mowed yesterday as it kind of dried up in the afternoon.  

I was surprised as I sold one of the used toilets that I had posted.  Sixty $ is sixty $ and it was nice to get another thing out of the garage.  

I will not be on my blog for a few days but will most likely get back to it on Sunday.  

A rainy day

Day 13, "Every picture has a story"

This house was owned by a good friend and also one of the boys' teacher at SPA.  We did work for Marie.  We mowed her lawn, tilled her garden. often put in her window AC units and a host of other things.  She was going out of town one time and asked if the boys could stay at her place and take care of things.  She told them to help themselves to any food in the freezer.  NOT a good idea!!!  I think she was surprised to find most of her food gone when she returned. What the heck, they were growing boys and the invitation was there!  If she would have asked I could have shared that when the boys were in HS they did not eat but rather grazed pretty much all the time.  A pound of broccoli or a pound of corn or a loaf of bread (I could go on and on here) or ANYTHING that was within reach was pretty much fair game for them.  After Marie moved to a new home in Eagan she came to ask if some youth, who were going to do her yard, could use my edger for her lawn.  I had to say no as the edger was on its last leg and the cover of the blade had come off.  Too dangerous for anyone to use except me of course.
I looked at the rain gauge this morning and it told me we got just over an inch of rain last night.  At one point the thunder was so loud it woke me up and I was sure lighting had struck in the front yard.  The rain will be good for the garden and lawn at least for the next few days as I will not be able to water it so once again, God is good.
It is hair cut day, PT day and a tennis friend is coming over as I need his advice.  We will talk advice and then have brats and potato salad for a simple lunch.
Oh my I am struggling with those darn ceiling fans.  The new electricity and the old often conflict so what is a person to do.  I know, I could get a person in who knows how to do it but the $$ oh the $$.  My thought is it may be cheaper to pay someone than to connect things up and ruin the new fan.  We will see.

Here is what we look like at the beginning of week 4

No it is on with the day as the FP is all gone.

The last Monday of June is upon us.

Day 12, "Every picture has a story"

This home was owned by some friends for several years and then it was sold.  At one point I did some painting for them.  The guy who owns it now taught the boys at Highland Catholic.  One very snowy stormy day we were trying to get newspapers out and the going was very difficult.  As we came to this house Ken came out and offered to help us delivery some papers.  This was a snow day for a teacher and also EARLY in the morning, maybe 6 or so.  I mean we are friends but not close.  AND out of the blue he asked if he could help.  We gave him about 20 papers and a list.  I am thinking that from my estimate of 2,059,150 papers that we delivered I need to subtract 20!!!  It is a time that sticks in my mind because it was unusual and such an act of kindness when nothing was expected or deserved.
Travis and I went out for breakfast yesterday which I always enjoy.  He is quite the guy.  Yesterday one of his questions while he was talking with Terry and I was if a child is raised by 2 women what do they do on Father's Day as the child had to have a father?  The same would be true for a child raised by two men and the question of Mother's Day would come up.
I have been a dud in terms of these fans as there may be an issue of support in the ceiling and also the new modern electric fans may not be so easy to connect to a 112 year old system!
I had a "surprise" and and shot in the arm this weekend.  John asked about my chain saw.  I used it to cut down several trees but it has sat unused for at least 10 years.  John said if it worked he would buy it.  Well I put fresh 1/50 gas-oil in it and with about the 6th pull it roared to life. I was kind of surprised but then not really.  Regardless it was a fun experience and now John can take it and use it.  I think he will pick it up mid July.  I had told him he could take it but IF he could not get it started just to get rid of it.  Well I think it was in the $400-$500 range when I bought it.  Why did I buy it? Well it was a matter of hiring someone to cut down several trees, rent a saw for I do not know how much or buy the saw and do it myself.  Well my MOA is usually to buy something rather than pay 80% of the cost to rent.  Why not?  It will be nice to get it out of our storage shed.

Day 11, "Every picture has a story"

This space has history!  Shortly after we moved to St. Paul this became a sandbox that provided many hours of fun for the kids.  After that it became a garden for several years.  After that I put in cement blocks and we wheeled our camper there for it's summer home.  Now it is back as a garden again.  The middle plant is a cherry tomato plant and it has several little tomatoes on it already.  I forgot, over the last couple of years it became the resident of our recycle and garbage bin.  I would say it certainly has been a multiple service area!
I will not get in many miles on the bike this week as we will be out of town Wednesday-Saturday but I did get in 9+ miles this morning.  It was a perfect morning for a ride.
I still am in somewhat of a daze from Friday but I am slowly climbing out of the fog!  I think I need to spend  the next couple of days getting ready for our short trip and then be ready to hit the work a week from Monday.  Last Friday threw the summer into a tailspin and put much up in the air but that is all part of life, right???
As I look at my calendar I see where June is almost history but I have NO idea where it went.  Also tomorrow, June 25th, marks 83 years since Mom and Dad got married.  We are also looking at Mary/John Lee's 16th anniversary on Thursday and Dave turns 74 on Friday.
I am still waiting for word from Cynthia and Mike.  #7 should arrive very soon and then we will know who rules the grandchildren, girls or boys.  I forgot, even if they have a boy which will make the #s G6, B7 maybe we will still have to give the edge to the girls!!!
I have a confession to make.  I have three boys and six grandsons and none have Carmen or James in their name.  Not sure if that says anything but at times I think about it.  I think I am a "background" guy and perhaps that is the way it should be with me.  I do remember when Cynthia was born there was much discussion about the name.  We finally decided on Cynthia as Gail had worked with a little deaf girl with that name and had loved her so much but I had the say with the middle name, it had to be the same as Gail's.
Not much else to say today.  I feel like I have been like a car stuck in the snow spinning wheels and getting nowhere.  This too should change soon.
I drank most of my FP before my ride and am just now finishing the last drop. On to the rest of the day.

June is near history

Day 10 "Every picture has a story"

Highland Senior High put in tennis courts several years ago and used much green space that the junior high had used for years.  Pictured is where I had many many soccer practices after school.  I coached both boys and girls at different times.  I could tell many stories of what happened during those practices.  One year I had these 2 brothers on the team.  They were NOT good players but nice kids and they worked hard.  Did they improve?  VERY little.  But what was unusual about them is their names which were Joe1 and Joe2.  It was even stranger when the next fall I was going over the names of kids in my sign language class and there was a Joe3.  On the practice field I just went by 1 or 2!

If anybody reads this blog I have a question for you.  Have you ever felt like you were on a beginning softball team and the protocol was SLOW pitch.  You got up to bat and wow a ball came in so fast you could not even see it, just hear it!!!  Well that happened to me yesterday, not in softball but in life.  It may take me all day to get out of my daze.

I thought I would do something different this morning so I took my tennis bag and went to the courts near home at about 6 AM.  Just to practice my serve a bit:

• The first ball I tossed I missed!
• The second ball I tossed went into the wrong court.  
• The third bounced, not in the serve area, and disappeared through a crack in the gate.  
• After I chased it down I served the other way and guess what, the ball went through another gate and across the road.  
• After a short while a lady with a dog came into the park and the dog was upset because it could not get a ball through the fence so I hit one to him!
• I took the last 2 balls and drove home!

I am going to open up my guitar this morning and I suppose something strange will happen then too. 

No my FP is gone and I have not had breakfast so will close.  But still in a daze. 

Curb Clutter Cleaned!!!

I was surprised and happy as our FREE things all left for greener pastures yesterday AM.  As Terry and I were eating a bit of breakfast the 3 drawer file left, don't know to whom.  Then about 3 hours later some contractors working next door took the 2 boxes of stereo etc.  The guy even took the dirty recycle bag that the boxes were sitting on!
Yesterday was NOT as productive as I wanted or needed but some things got done.  The big thing was the bed got taken apart and out of the house.  My goodness as I took it apart I thought "the way I built this thing it could have been a bed for an elephant!  3/4" oak plywood, cedar lined huge drawers and about a million screws.  I am thinking about having a garage sale just to sell the used screws!!!  I wonder how those screws in my pelvic bone that were used to attach my hamstring compare to the bed screws???  And as before, no jokes about loose screws are allowed in my story.

Day 9 "Every picture has a story"

This house was owned by a family that had grocery stores in the Twin Cities.  Some time before I got a contract to paint the exterior the couple who lived here sold their share of the business for 25M. I painted the exterior and it was a big job.  The second floor extension on the right was not there at the time as there was just a deck out from the second floor master bedroom.  There was a railing around it and the top 2X4 was broken.  The guy asked me if I could include fixing it in my paint bid.  I said yes so I included an extra $100 dollars in the bid.  They hired me BUT required me to provide proof of insurance before I started.  That was the one and only time I had to do that.  In the middle of the job the guy said his wife, without telling him, had hired the repair done so he wanted me to subtract $300 from my bid!!!   I said no but would subtract the $100.  He looked at me as if I were cheating him.  The discouraging part of the job was towards the end the lady took some time to show me the back yard and all her flowers.  She said they had the flowers done each year and told me how much it cost.  It was as much as I was charging them for the paint job!!!  My thought was "maybe I under charged them for my work!"  I took away from the job a new understanding of how people make money and how they take advantage of others who make money.  Now I KNOW I under charged them for my work, big time,  but the railing deck and the flowers they had done were way way over charged by the workers.  I could not believe it.  As I ride bike past there now I see where a young couple live there now and it is VERY evident that they do their own flowers etc!!!

Terry has a session today geared towards trying to figure out why she is having vertigo.  It is very difficult for her to do some things as she gets dizzy, light headed or things spin when she moves certain ways.  I am hopeful today can bring some answers.  

There is more to do upstairs in clearing out 6 areas for the floor work.  There are 2 kind of big things that need to be gotten out and the rest of the things are books etc which are easy to take care of.  

No I need to get some things done.  Not sure about my bike ride as I wanted to have breakfast with Travis but I think our communication got mixed up.  FP you gave me the right kick this morning.  A kick right out of this chair into the world of projects.

Day 8 "Every picture has a story"

The cover of the memory book--cracked after 42 years

One of many pages.  I had not remembered how nice they were to me.

Day 8 "Every picture (here 2) has a story"

In the spring of 1976 I was offered my "perfect" job.  Mr. Hayek offered me the position of "Director of Education" at the North Dakota School for the Deaf.  I would be able to make decisions, I would be able to make what I thought were needed changes, (one change was I needed an extra classroom as we were busting at the seams with students.  I knew I needed the science teacher, Mr. W to give up his classroom and teach everything in his lab.  The problem was he was deaf and had been at the school for 30+ years.  In other words he was the old guard and old school.  I knew if I told him he had to give up his room it would cause friction  with many deaf older teachers.  My plan was to sit down with him and ask him for suggestions as to our room usage.  Presto, he came up with the idea of him giving up his classroom!!!) I would earn a larger salary which would allow my family to move to a place outside of town where maybe we could have some chickens and a horse.  The summer of 76 I completed my MS degree at UND in Grand Forks with a major in learning disabilities and a minor in administration.  In one of my admin classes we had a test and in handing back the test the professor said all of the scores were bunched together and then there was one above the rest.  He said he felt that person would make a great administrator.  It was mine.  I started the 1976/77 school year on a high of energy and work hours!

Then something happened.  It seemed that God starting pulling on Gail's heart and maybe there was a tiny tug on mine.  Our kids were getting school age and we were not happy with the friends they had and just the town in general.  We should have known if you live in a town where the high school nickname is "Devils Lake Satins" as a conservative Christian you may not be too content.   The kind of short story is God worked in many many ways and after the start of the 77/78 school year I turned in my resignation and in October we moved to St. Paul.  Now one has to think it is a good move when you go from DEVILS LAKE to ST PAUL!!!  I probably could write a book on all that went on and how things happened but will just say it was certainly the right thing to do.  The cover and the page are from the book that was given to me during a going away party.  I am guessing I may not have read it for 40+ years and I am not certain I ever read the whole book.  I will repair the front and back cover and then take some times down the road to read each page.  I was privileged to work with many very nice people.  I often had thoughts during the first few years after we moved.  The superintendent, Mr. Hayek, had cancer and died maybe 3 or 4 years later.  When I left we had 130 students and that slowly changed as major ND cities started their own deaf programs which meant fewer and fewer students went to the state school.  Today it is virtually a ghost school like so many ghost towns in ND.  Terry and I visited a couple of years ago and they had a dozen+ students with many of the buildings empty or occupied by other programs.  The wood shop that I loved is now used by the maintenance people.  For a long time now the long distance students fly or are driven home every weekend which is cheaper than having them stay at the school. 

As I read some of the pages in the book I was shocked and moved by many of the kind words.  Perhaps I am ready to relive some of the way way past and enjoy some of the people who were in my life then.

Yesterday was a lost day.  I just did not feel well most of the day and actually was in bed most of the PM.  I NEED to get things done so disappointing it was but today is a new day so maybe I can make up some ground.  I did try to start on the installation of one of the fans.  First the old fan had to come down with its 5 crystal globes. As I started to loosen them I thought wow they are an accident waiting to happen as one had fallen last year.  As I loosened the second small globe the large middle one went crashing to the floor with glass in a hundred directions.  Even though we cleaned it up and vacuumed things I still don't know if I can go barefoot in the living room.  I did get in a 5+ mile bike ride which was good. Also got some things out on the curb but I see everything is still there this morning.  Maybe free stuff that is OLD is not a desired thing now days!  

No it is down with the FP for now and up on the bike saddle for a ride.  On my way home I will stop at the grocery store for a couple of items.

The end of a great few days of perfect rain.

Some progress (week 3 start) in the garden and with the rain and now sunshine looking for big time growth

Wow we received another super rain yesterday with a perfect .85" soaking into the garden and lawn.  Need to do some week kill this morning in the lawn as for some reason the weeks thrive with rain and sun!
After yesterday I am wondering about our decision to get the upstairs floors done!  Well not really but getting EVERYTHING out of 4 rooms plus a closet is one thing and then finding a place to put things and still live in the house is another thing.  When it is done the floors will be great but doing doing is getting a little old and a little tired if I must say.  Oh and then to think that is only the first of several projects this summer--👷me perhaps!!!
Much to do this morning.  Weed kill, junk goes into the pickup, things go out onto the curb (👎with Craig's list as 90% are scammers), books get put into little libraries around the neighborhood, wood project to work on and that is just a start to the list!
Terry and I decided that the fan in the living room needs to be replaced as one of the glass bulb hoods broke and some of the metal is twisted.  So we thought it is time to also put a fan in the other end of the room where there is a light fixture now.  I went to Menards and brought home a fan to see if Terry liked it.  I put the fan and receipt back into the trunk of the car.  That was a few days ago.  Yesterday we stopped at Menards and picked up two matching fans, or so I thought.  I told the check out guy they were the same and as I said that I thought I wonder if people try to cheat by saying that but really the bottom item is different and more expensive.  We got home and I brought them into the house only to have Terry note, "They are different!"  Back to Menard's to return the one from days ago and to get the right one from yesterday.  I got into the store and NO receipt.  We got that straighten out and I went up the stairs to get the right fan.  As I got back to the car with the right fan the clerk came running out and said he had not given me credit for the week old fan so into the store again to do that.  As I arrived back to the car and opened the door the receipt feel onto the ground.  So in the end we have 2 fans, the same, but it took hours and trips to accomplish it!!! Oh, now I need to install them BUT no fear as my installation on the toilet was perfect so I expect the fan installation to be the same.  I will turn off the power first of course.
No there is much to do and I really NEED to get on the bike as well.
First day 7, "Every picture has a story".

It is time for this platform bed to go.  I made it many years ago.  It has 4 large cedar lined drawers but it is just to big for the room I think.  The story is we put a sleep number mattress on it.  I THINK I. must have done something wrong as about a week later I woke and I was sleeping on wood as ALL the air had leaked out.  AND oh the sharp corners have caused blood on more than one occasion.  I did dull them a bit but it still was a danger for all.  I really should have put some kind of bumper material on them, kind of like they put on the corners of a boxing ring, NO!!!

Day 6 "Every picture has a story"

Our garden spot

Joe's home where I would sit and visit with a small obligatory glass of awful wine!

After moving to St. Paul in October of 1977 we decided to get to know our neighborhood.  With 3 little kids in tow, Frisky our dog and a homemade banana bread in hand we made our first stop, Joe.  Joe was a retired (and tired) St. Paul teacher who lived with his sister.  Of course we HAD to come in, dog and all.He was so thankful for the visit and during the visit he pointed out a large space to the east of his house which was just a dirt lot.  He said he used to have a large garden but was not up to it any more.  Joe ended up liking us but loving Frisky.  As we left we had a new friend and a LARGE garden space that Joe was excited to let us use.  For the next several years we tilled, planted, weeded and harvested a garden that was a lot larger than the one we had left in Devils Lake.  If I would venture over there by myself I HAD to come in and share with Joe a glass of warm awful wine!  Of course there were always stories of St. Paul schools.  More than once I drove Joe to an end of the year party for active and retired teachers.  It was always held at the officers club near the airport but of course as progress goes the club is now closed.  Joe was a avid 2-way radio guy.  As his health declined and he needed to stop some of his activity he sold his radio tower.  As he stood in his living room and watched the tower come down he suffered a heart attack.  He survived but had to move in with his daughter in central MN and did not live long.  The top picture is our garden spot!!!  I also ended up painting much of the interior of his house before he sold it.  He wanted the kitchen white as it was an old looking medium gray.  As I begin the work it soon became evident that the kitchen was actually white but was gray gray from two adults who smoked kind of none stop!  Elbow grease and TSP came into play before the paint job.  If you counted the hours I spent working I am sure I did not get minimum wage but I did not mind doing it for Joe.
God took on the watering duty again this morning.  I think we received about a quarter inch of rain so  again no work for me.  BUT I am not sure about that bike ride as I did not get one in yesterday with the rain being here until about noon or later.
I have put several things on Craig's list but I may be done with that and restort to the "free on the curb" thing.  I am a bit tired of the scamming notes on Craig's.  The story goes something like this: "Hello my name is Joe.  I saw your bike for sale and want to buy it.  I am currently out of town but want to give you $25 to hold it until I return and I want to pay the full price.  Please let me know how I can do that."  Of course they want you to give them access to deposit money in the bank and then they can take as much as they want.  AND for sure they will NEVER come back to town because they may live in Timbuktu!  I did sell the AC but not sure the sale was worth the many scams I have gotten.
Terry has her second PT session today.  I am hoping it helps but I do think she is getting better each day.  Yesterday both of us spent time, she more than I, going through MUCH.  Boxes and boxes of stuff that is usually not important.  Of course there are things to keep but really more than 50% is bye bye.  I think tomorrow I will take a pickup run to the junk.  I already have the crib in.  It is about 50 years old and today they say those old cribs are dangerous so I dare not sell it to anyone.
No here it is a tad past seven and I am about finished with the FP as well as breakfast so time to get some things done.

Day 5 "Every picture has a story"

This is the house that was owned by some friends who have since moved to a condo.  These people had boys about the same age as two of my boys.  One son played soccer at Cretin and as St. Paul Academy was at the height of their soccer rein Cretin was never able to beat SPA and actually never able to score against them in 4 years.  In one conversation during a game his dad said it was almost worth the effort to come to the game just to watch Travis warm up.  He said he is like a machine, right foot, left foot etc. and of course as the sweeper he ruled the defensive area in front of the goal.  Anyway Bernie, the dad, said they felt it was time to move when the New York Times informed them they were stopping their paper because they stopped and started it so often as they traveled!
I have windows open this morning as there is a delightful breeze coming from the NW.  It is indeed welcome as yesterday the weather was OK but the temp was bordering on the VERY high, maybe low to mid 90s.  Again I so enjoyed opening the windows.  What the heck, how can opening windows be a high for the day.  Well I guess I am not 25 anymore!
I have a wood project going in the garage and I want to get the lawn mowed if it drys today.  I think we may get more rain this PM.
I had a nice Father's Day.  I heard from Aaron, Cynthia and John and Travis spent much of the afternoon here.   Can't get any better than hearing from the kids and having a cool restful day in the house.  Well I did get in a bike ride in late morning.
I started the week with a 7.4 mile ride but not sure if I can get one in today.  I do not venture out on the bike if the roads are wet.  I guess when one is aware of the numbers it is fine to be careful.

I got my new rain gauge in the mail Saturday and got it up that afternoon.  Sure enough it did the job last night as it showed .75" of rain.  That makes 1.85" of rain in the last 3 days.  Good for the lawn, good for the garden and nice for cooler temps.  Perhaps it can be part of "Every picture has a story" in the future.
No it is time to close, get the work clothes on and open the shop.  BUT not before the last few sips of my FP.

Day 4 "Every picture has a story"

Back in the 80s there was a little white house on this lot.  In it lived this OLD lady who I think was very poor.  In her kitchen was one light bulb hanging from a wire in the ceiling.  The boys mowed her lawn.  She would always pay in cash and was always thankful for the work they did!  Then one spring the house was empty.  About a year later the roof came off the house and slowly oh so slowly the house was taken apart and the junk hauled away and the work was mostly done by hand by 2 guys.  I remember them taking the basement walls apart one stone by one stone and hauling things away in 5 gallon buckets.  After some time big equipment came in and up came this house.   I guess in our day and age they call it progress!!!
The start of another week in June. Not sure where the time goes but it goes all too quickly.  I got into biking a bit last week by doing a total of 38 miles.  I know that is not a lot but for me with this leg and work to be done around here it was an OK start.  I started the week, today, with a 7+ mile ride so maybe I can up the mileage a bit.
We enjoyed a visit from Terry's daughter Kim this morning as she spent the weekend in MN.  Travis is coming over to spend some time this afternoon.  Gone are the days of Father's Day when the entire family gathered and we ventured out for a picnic with homemade food.  I am not saying I want (what the heck it is not possible) to go back to those days but just saying time changes lives!  I will enjoy Travis today and know that John, Aaron and Mike are having great days with their families.
After Travis is here I may venture out into the wood shop for some project that I am working on.  On a day when as a father pretty much all of my kids are long gone out of the house I need to enjoy the smell of freshly cut wood and the sight of different kinds of wood being blended into some useful piece of furniture.
As one can guess I enjoyed my FP many hours ago and being Sunday I did indulge in a tiny helping of Baileys as well!!!  As for Father's Day, I will enjoy my time with Travis a and also with my lovely wife Terry who is so good to me.

Day 3 "Every picture has a story

Sorry about Grandpa's look, no work shoes and a messed up shirt--almost like an old man!

Yes, every picture has a story.  Grandpa hated bib overalls but yet I had to wear them when I was young.  The picture of me in the shop cutting a piece of wood with my bib overalls on is on one note pad I have.  I used that note pad to send a note to Jude and he fell in love with bib overalls.  We gave him a pair for his birthday last August.  As you can see on the knees, he wears them a lot!
God took away my AM bike ride but I have no complaints.  He is watering the garden with a perfect rain so I guess I can live with the trade off. I am thinking we will not get a lot of rain, just enough to make the streets too wet for a ride and just enough to water the garden for a day.  It was delightful this AM to walk around the house and easily open most of the windows to let the aroma of rain float in and the cool air come as well.  The forecast shows it to get to 93 today so will enjoy the current temp of 75 and allow the AC to rest this morning.
We expected Terry's son Brian to come for a visit yesterday but his plans were changed so we did not see him.  Not sure if we will see him this weekend as he will return to Iowa Sunday.
I enjoyed a breakfast with Travis yesterday at a restaurant named Agra Culture where Terry and I had lunch a few days ago.  An interesting experience as it specializes in healthy food with much of the menu gluten free and veggie kind of things.
Oh my, as I sit here there is a heavenly breeze blowing through the north window.  Thank you Lord.
I guess it is out to a bit of heaven this morning, my wood shop.  I finished breakfast, no ride, no need to water the garden and of course one can not work in the yard as it is wet so wood---here I come after I finish my FP.

Day 2 "Every picture has a story"

Mom made this seat saver for her niece Ruth.  Ruth was in Mom and Dad's wedding as the flower girl.  Ruth loved this and used it all the time her daughter said.  Ruth, in her late 90s now, moved to a home so she had to leave most things behind.  Her daughter, Erleen (spell?) sent it to me.  I am so happy to have it.
The expression "living the dream" has been used for a lot of things like "using the out house" or "camping in the woods" but I may have coined a new use for the expression.  I felt I was "living the dream" this morning as I enjoyed my FP, a fresh brat and homemade potato salad for breakfast.  It was so good I ate too much but will ride some of it off in a bit.  I know there will be people who say WHO in the world would eat that for BREAKFAST?  Well the world is full of people who do as others do and go around like little plastic sticks of people.  I meet them all the time on my ride.  You know a plastic person if you meet them on a ride or walk and they have this neural look on their face and they do not look up to see you.  I suspect they are the same ones who eat the same old same old for breakfast.  SO my advice is to live a little and be unnormal once in awhile.  Actually the "unnormal" part may run in the family a bit but I would NEVER say who!!!  For me that is not difficult at all but if you do that you need to be aware of what kind of people are attracted to you!!!

I had success with my Craig's list work.  A guy came by to purchase the portable AC unit yesterday.  ANYTHING I can move out of the house is a bonus.  AND to get paid for it is over the top!  Now if I could move the vanity and the toilets that would be frosting on the cake.  Sorry about  frosting/toilet in the same sentence.  Also it would be so so nice to move Terry's bike.  That would reduce our bike count down to 5 and perhaps it should go lower.
I almost kind of started on one of the major projects yesterday but did not.  Maybe today.   I did mow the lawn yesterday but raised the blade one notch before I mowed.  I think it is the correct height now.  It is good to have it a bit long in the summer and then lower it just before the last cutting in the fall.

Terry and I went out for lunch the other day to a place called Agra Culture.  A unique cafe that serves healthy and GOOD food.  It was a busy place. I had a curry egg sandwich.  I am told curry is good for you body and I need something good after I overate this morning!
No it is time to sip the last of my FP. get the garbage out to the curb and go for a short ride.  It is different taking the garbage out to the curb rather than walking it out to the barrel and setting it on fire.  Do we remember the "good old days?"

Day 1 of "every picture has a story"

The house on the right is owned by a family who had boys the same age as John and Travis.  The dad worked but had a paper route as well.  He died in his 50s of cancer.  The mother, Marge, still lives in the house.  One of their sons wanted to live close so they petitioned the city to build and use the same driveway.  On the second round the petition was approved.  I see Brian, who has the house, occasionally in the Highland area as he might stop at Starbucks for a coffee in the morning.

Company

We had a fun time with friends Connie and Darrel yesterday.  I think they may be the most fun loving couple we know.  Darrel, at the age of 76, was encouraged (told) by their 2 sons that IF he wanted to continue to ride Dad had to get a 3 wheeler.  He found this HD cycle that was a year old and had 800 miles on it.  Darrel has an issue with his eyes so not sure how long he can ride but they do now and seem to have a lot lot of fun.  We had a super lunch as Terry made popovers, angel food cake with fruit on and potato salad and I pitched in with slow grilled baby back ribs.  MAYBE we ate too much but what the heck, who cares?
Most of yesterday was spent getting ready for company, having company and cleaning up after company so NO work but I did get in a 7 1/2 mile ride.  At the end I made a decision to go up to St. Kates which has a steep hill just to give my leg some work.
I almost forgot but Terry did have a PT session late afternoon so we did accomplish something.
No big plans for the day.  Maybe I should start on those major summer projects, maybe not today!!!
I think the lawn actually should be mowed and I think I need to put the mower up one notch.  I always lower it for the last cutting of the fall and I did not raise it again this spring.
I have given in to the "NUMBERS" when I ride bike.  I like to coast to a stop and swing my leg over the bike as I get off.  NOW I have decided it is best to stop, lean the bike to the side and then swing my leg over.  I will not say why but one could guess!  I do need to pump the tires a bit before I get on this morning.  Bentley has performed flawlessly so far in fact IF I kept track of how often I pedal and how often I just coast it may be 50/50.  I know, not good for the exercise that I need but it sure is fun.
Time to get out of the leisure wear, into some clothes and get going for the day after the FP is finished!

Headed towards Father's Day/mid June already

Here we are headed towards the mid point of June and I am not sure I have accomplished enough at this point.  There are about a thousand things that need to be done and THREE HUGE projects that absolutely have to be done this summer and here I am riding. bike, cleaning up the wood shop, gardening and a bunch of other things that need doing but they are not major.
I just got in from my morning bike ride.  I did a little more at 6.8 miles but the speed was about like a snail!  Regardless it was pleasant.
It looks like it could rain later today and was concerned about that before I got on the bike but the forecast (always correct!) showed maybe rain this PM.
I should be upset with Aaron, who built my Bentley bike, because it is so easy to ride and I am not sure I get enough exercise.  Oh, I guess I could go farther👌.  I could feel my left hamstring and it told me it is doing fine BUT it is not up to 100%.  Maybe by the end of the summer.  I could start on a major project upstairs and then going up and down many times a day maybe would be better than a bike ride.  I do have a serious question about biking.  WHY, when you are biking is one always going against the wind no matter what direction you are biking???  I will have to research that.  There was a wind this morning but no matter which way I turned I was biking against it.
I did get in a tiny bit of work this morning before my bike ride. I got 4 of the first floor windows washed.  It is so easy to unlatch them, pull them forward and then clean.  I would say it I cleaned one window in 5 minutes it would have taken at least 20/25 minutes with the old old ones.  Nice.
I put some things on Craig's list yesterday and already got some responses, ALL SCAMS!!!  Will see if I get any real response today.  I do not like to give away good things but then I do NOT need some of the things taking up space in the garage.  Terry has a very nice bike that we would like to sell and for sure will not give that away.  The other things, if I do not get any responses this week I may put them on the "free" list on Craig's.
At this point on a Monday morning at 8:50 I think I need to get to work and forget how delicious that FP was an hour ago.

Another nice day in St. Paul

I did not get out on my bike ride yesterday on Bentley but I did this morning.  I upped the mileage a bit to 5.4 miles.  Still NOT much but some and it was fun.  I would say that St. Paul must have the worlds worst sidewalks.  I did not count but I am guessing that every block averages 3-5 serious bumps and then most have been filled in with asphalt.  It does not make for a very smooth ride for sure.
I do not have to water the garden today as we received a very nice 1/4" of rain yesterday.  Things have come up but the plants have not taken off yet.
I am kind of getting the itch to get into the wood shop.  I know, there are MANY projects that need and have to be done BUT.....
It is kind of goofy but Terry and I already had a conversation about our travel back to FL.  What route to take and who to visit.  I should say shortly after we arrive in FL we will have the same conversation about returning to MN.  Perhaps we need to go to counseling to learn to live in the moment!
We drove Terry's car yesterday and there was a moment where the dash lights went dim.  Oh my I still have these moments when a car makes a funny noise or there is a strange thing that happens.  I get all upset and nervous.  I know it comes from growing up with a car that pretty much did not fail but that was always in my mind.  What the heck, in high school I had to be super careful where I parked the car as I had this fear that it would not start.  I admit it only happened once on a dark country road and I had to walk to the farm to ask for a pull.  I will not say any more than that!!!
This coming week, on Tuesday, friends of Terry's from the past will come over for lunch.  It is always fun to get together with Darrel and Connie.  They are quite the adventurous couple as they have gone to Yellowstone Park on a cycle etc.  Also at least one camping trip to Alaska.
Terry's son Brian, will come up for a visit Friday.  He is coming for a family thing.  He was going to bring Tammy's 2 grandchildren but that fell through so he will be alone as his wife has to work.
I had a nice conversation with a guy down the street this morning.  He commented on my nice bike as he and his wife have a tandem and have ridden the Ragbrai in Iowa where you start in the west by dipping your bike tire in the Missouri River and end by dipping your tire in the Mississippi River.  Towns along the way plan in advance to feed and put up the riders.  It would be fun to do some time.
As I sit and look out the window I reflect on our neighborhood.  Way way back in 1977 it was mostly elderly people but not all.  Today houses sell fast, one does not really know some of the people and it just is so so different.  I would NOT say it is better today.  Just this spring 4 house sold on our two block street.  I went into the grocery store about a mile away and I would say it is kind of an upscale store.  Last Friday there was a policeman working the store, what the heck!
No I have half a cup of FP left and I will enjoy that as I read the FREE paper that was delivered this morning.  I am looking forward to this week.  It is fun to be on the right side of the grass and live life!

Settling in a bit

Life has started to become a bit normal here in St. Paul.
I made a trip to the compost yesterday, stopped to drop off some clothes and then made a purchase at Menard's.  In the afternoon I mowed the lawn and then got SOME order in my wood shop.  By mid afternoon I was done for the day.  That is "done" in terms of energy, not work! 
This morning I will put some spot weed killer down and get some more order in the shop.  Of course each day there is watering the garden etc.  Now that we have plants on the east side of the driveway I am at a loss as to where to put the recycle and garbage bins.  Big problem, right???
Oh I should say I have been able to get some bike rides in on Bentley, my super fine bike.  It is so so much fun to ride but I have yet to get in anything close to a serious ride.  With my out of shape body I would say a "serious" ride would be maybe 10-13 miles and yesterday I put on 4.5 miles.  Maybe in another week or so.  I need more exercise, less weight and more time.  Not sure that makes any sense but that is it.
As I rode a bit yesterday I took note of the fact that yesterday was the last day of school in St. Paul.  That makes it official, I have been retired, I did not say tired, 11 years.  I am now at the point of really not missing any part of teaching.  There was a time where I really missed the kids but that is in the past.  This coming August will be the 8th Servant Camp since I headed it.  That seems almost impossible but it is true.  The last 2 summers we have visited it for a short while and it has not changed much, still God centered and a great place for young people to meet Jesus.
Terry and I will watch the Belmont race today to see if Justify and finish in front to claim the triple crown. This 1 1/2 mile race is often the down fall of the triple crown.
No it is outside to get some things done and while I do that I will continue to savor the last few drops of my FP.

I am proud of myself!!!

Here is the deal.  Our downstairs toilet was running a tiny bit of water into the bowl 24/7.  I tried to fix it but with no luck.  So we figure it was time for a new one.  Terry wanted a 2 piece rather than the one piece we had.  I went to Home Depot yesterday and found the perfect one and actually it was almost the perfect price.  Features that it had to have were a 16" seat height.  Go figure, as I shrink in size I need a taller toilet!  It had to have a slow self closing cover.  It had to have 1.28 gal flush or less.  I found one that had all these features and it was also the right color.  Way to go Carmen.
So here is what I did:

• purchased it and brought it home
• took it out of the box and CAREFULLY made sure everything was there and in good shape
• Then I took the old one apart, unhooked the water AFTER I put something down to catch the drip
• I carried each piece out and put them in the garage.  The toilet itself was heavy.  I was wishing I had Henry or Liam or Leo or Faustina or Audrey or Ruby or Jude or Ben to help me.  I can't go as low as Elspeth or Agatha or Veronica or Leo A.  BUT I admit my strength is winning so maybe, just maybe the youngest could have helped me.  Of course Terry offered but I did not want her to risk any more injury.
• Once everything was out I cleaned up the opening of the toilet in the floor.  
• THEN I READ THE DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY AND MADE SURE I UNDERSTOOD THEM.  I EVEN ASKED TERRY TO READ ONE PART TO BE SURE I UNDERSTOOD IT.  IT STATED TO NOT PUT ANY COMPOUND ON THE CONNECTION TO THE WATER.  NEVER HEARD OF THAT BUT THEY SAID IF A PERSON DID THAT IT WOULD VOID THE WARRANTY.
• When I was finished with the reading I took every part inside and part by part put the toilet in place.  I then held my breath as I turned the water on and NOT a drip to be seen and the bowl filled perfectly.  

That is my story.  I did as a person should and it worked out to perfection.  I should add that in owning a house for 48 years I have NEVER had a plumbing job go without some water spilled or leaked someplace.  So now I am convinced that at the age of 71 I maybe should go into the plumbing business!!!

Travis went to Prior Lake with us yesterday to drive the pickup home and from there Terry had an appointment.  The traffic, of course, was awful and we chose to take highway 13 and it was no problem.  That made TWO great decisions in the same day.  Not sure if I am going to put the pickup up for sale this summer.  I toyed with the idea last summer but did not pull the trigger.  I did put about $1300 into it so maybe I should use it to get my $$ out of it.  I do like to have it and use it for runs to the lumber yard etc. but really is it good for a vehicle to be driven maybe 300 miles over 5 months and then sit for 7 months?  I am guessing it is not. 

I found out Monday that I am sweet!  I called to start our garbage service.  St. Paul is starting a city wide program this fall and so a person will not be able to pick their own service.  I asked the lady, who answered the phone if their company would be serving our address and she said that has not been decided but she thought not.  I then asked if she would let me know where they would be serving and I would move there.  She said, "You are so sweet".  Of course I agreed 100%😜

No my FP is finished and I need to get outside to water the garden.  

Day 6

Dave in music appreciation class in 1962, I think he REALLY appreciated it!!!

Day 6 back in MN is in the books.  There was some progress made yesterday but perhaps only a drop in a BIG bucket.  I got the battery in Terry's car and got it out of the garage.  It seems that it weathered the winter well.
I then was able to figure out the pressure washer that we purchased at the Aldi store.  The book, yes I did read the book, stated that to use the cleaner you needed to GENTLY pull the tip of the wand out about 1/4 inch.  Well I tried with all my might and it did not seem to move.  After calling their 800 number and having the guy say I could send in the receipt to get a new wand I again tried to pull it out with a not so gentle pull and presto it came out.  I then was able to wash the front of the garage as there is much dirt and mildew on the wood.  The front of the garage now looks like a new paint job WITH some spots that need to be touched up, ugh.  I think I will have to do the garage and some of the house in day by day steps as it is not the easiest nor funnest job in the world.
I am finding that my body is SLOWLY adjusting to doing some work as each day I can move a bit better and with less pain.  When I say pain I am not referring to my hamstring but rather just over all soreness as this body says "I am not used to moving and actually working some".
On Tuesday I had a breakfast with Jerry and then in the evening a community meeting.  Yesterday I had breakfast with Travis and a meeting in the evening.  Today only a trip late afternoon.  Travis is coming over about 3:00 and going with Terry and me to get the pickup.  It has been enjoying the indoors all winter.  After the pickup is gotten with Travis driving it home I will go with Terry for her doctors apt.  After that we will stop at Costco as the car tires need to be topped off with air.  I think that is the end of going for a while.  No that is not true.  I called Cynthia yesterday as I had started over there to see them but she was not home so I will try again today.
I did not get a chance to put a "welcome to June 2018" as we were just arriving in St. Paul and then things were not set up so here it is from the calendar that I made and sent to my siblings.

WELCOME TO JUNE OF 2018

What the heck here I have 3 pictures of Dave on my blog as that is Dave on the bike too, you would think he is important to me well for sure he is.  I like the picture of Bennie and me, I think I could get on his back and ride a short ways.  I may be looking down at his paws and thinking, "what big paws you have!" Poor Bennie, he got into some bad bad habits so Dad took him hunting one day.  Dad came back with some birds but we never saw Bennie again!!!  Solving problems back then, in the 50s, was so much simpler than in today's world.
My  thought of the day, as I sip the last of my dark dreamy FP.  At least hourly, as I try to get some work done, I have to tell myself I am blessed to be ABLE to work!!!

Does not look like much but I was exhausted!!!

Yesterday was our first real day of "trying to work" and my body told me so at the end of the day which incidental ended a bit too early!  By mid afternoon I was DONE.  Well I have to say I think I did fairly well.  I turned over the soil in 2 spots for the garden, emptied the two planters on the deck and put new soil in them, mowed the lawn, Terry and I did get the garden planted and there were  some other things that were done as well.   BUT my poor poor old body!  As I looked back at the last 5 months and realized that VERY little activity other than using the walker, the cane etc. I guess I should have known what would happen when I actually tried to do a bit of work.  I have NO complaints as it is good to get out and do some physical things.
I need to get air into the bike tires and see if I can get in a ride.  I am excited to get on Bentley (my fancy bike here) and get in a ride.  My bike is Bentley because it is the same color as a Bentley car we saw in Naples and it is fancy like the car.  But to make things clear it did not cost $300,000 as the car does!!!  Anyway it is a joy to ride and I want to get on it perhaps today.
I will not write a list but the work schedule today is again long and it will remain that way for the summer I am afraid.  As I sit at the computer, which is in the den, I am surrounded by briefcases, boxes and more.
I almost forgot to mention that we bought a power washer as the house and garage are in need of a cleaning.  I just hope it does not take the paint off!
We did not plant a whole lot in the garden.  It seems that when one gets things in so late much of the food it ready when we are about to leave for Naples.  We did plant Swiss chard and Kohlrabi in addition to the plants which are tomatos, cucumbers and zucchini.  Also Terry wanted dill so we put that in a separate place.
Enough for today.  I need to pour my FP into my favorite camping cup and enjoy.

Maybe I made a mistake with my PT

Mom's handwriting in a recipe book that Helen has!

What can I do?  I tried several things but each time this recipe came up it was the wrong way.  Anyway it is Mom's handwriting in the back of the book.  I would say it is pretty neat.
We have now been in St. Paul almost 3 days and my body feels more sore than any of my PT sessions.  Maybe I just should have skipped PT and come to St. Paul for a while.  As I look at the stairs there are 16 steps to get upstairs and 13 to get into the basement.  Can that be the reason my body feels like it has gone through a wringer if you know what that is!
We have been able to get some things done but MORE is to be done.  Need to get the garden in today as we have seeds and plants so only need to turn the soil and we are good to go.  We bought a power washer as the garage and house are so dirty.  I am hoping the paint does not come off!!!
I am not sure where I got the idea that Cynthia was due in early June but as I found out she is due late June or early July.  We need a June baby as we have none.
That is all for today.  I need to down the last of my FP and then maybe get some air in those bike tires and go for a short ride.

This is crazy

This is crazy.  We arrived home to St. Paul Friday at noon and now my legs are very sore from going up and down the stairs.  I realize I was healing for a long time since my surgery in January but REALLY how can one be so out of shape?  Of course it will pass but it certainly took me by surprise.
We are having a very cool morning.  As I write it is 57 and most of the day will be in the 60s.  Maybe it will reach 70 by late afternoon.  A big difference from Naples!
Terry and I were able to get some things done yesterday but as I look around the den I see there is much to do to settle in for the summer.  AND I see that the work is still in front of me: weeds in the beds, garden unplanted, new kitchen windows unpainted etc. etc. etc.!!!  I did kind of go through my upstairs closet and culled out some clothes that I have not worn for years.  I think that is a start but then I say maybe I am just avoiding the real work.  Would I do that???
We had a nice rain yesterday.  The lawn looks nice.  Travis put down crab grass killer this spring and now I need to put monthly feed down to try and keep it nice.  At one time it was more than a disaster but now it could compete with any in the neighborhood but then I would say the houses around us would not make the "great lawn" post for sure.  To be sure I am NOT trying to have the best lawn I just would like it to be green with grass and not weedy or bare!
I am enjoying my FP in my camp cup that Terry purchased for me years ago.  Time for a bit of breakfast.

Home at last

Yes that is IF you park your car yourself at the Grand Ole Opry Hotel in Nashville and that is a daily rate!!!
I thought about the 20 minutes free but then would not know what to do!

We arrived at 2094 Niles yesterday just before noon.  That was after 2151 miles with stops in PeachTree City Ga for a HS graduation, a night at the Grand Ole Opry Hotel in Nashville, a night in Memphis TN with a visit to Graceland, two nights with sister Helen in Holiday Island AK and a night in Grimes IA to visit Terry's son and wife.  We got the car unpacked and that was about it for yesterday.
We have a LONG list of things to do today and will try to get some finished.  The highlight for me was coming home to new windows in the kitchen.  NO storms or screens just open them up to let the cool night breeze in.  The inside needs to be painted and that will get done soon but for the first time in 40 springs there are NO storms to take off and screens to put on.
There has been rain so the lawn looks great as Travis mowed it just before we got home.  Of course the flower beds need a lot of work as does the garden as that should have been planted already but maybe today if rain holds off. 
Enough for now as breakfast and FP is calling.