Another cooker

Day 25, "Every picture has a story"

A great gopher and blackbird rifle!

Brother Ronald, Red to some, gave me this 22 rifle when I was 10 or so.  It had been a target rifle so Ronald had cut the barrel shorter to reduce the weight and then modified the stock so it fit a 10 year old.  It was my very first firearm and I still have it.  In $$ it probably is so so but in value it is way way up there!  Ronald and brother-in-law John made my world worth living as I grew up on the farm.    I was shy, bashful, a stutterer and I know that the farm was pretty much my world.  They were my heroes, my mentors and the world revolved around them.  I thought they could do anything.  They both were smart, kind, funny,  outdoors men and I think I would have done anything they asked me to do.  To this day I think often of water skiing, hunting pheasants, shooting gophers and the list goes on.  It did not make any difference what was happening at home as when they arrived home to visit the world was great.  I remember visiting them in Kulm during Christmas vacation.  We went to the school and Ronald allowed me to shot buckets in the gym.  He talked about teaching and how he did things.  He shared how he taught and I wondered how any person could talk for 50 minutes in the classroom.  I later found out it was not all that difficult.  As a sophomore in college John allowed me to use his car as my mode of transportation was a bike at the time!  Good memories attached to this picture.

We are in for a hot humid day today.  I turned the air on at 5:30 as I came downstairs and the temp was already 80.  Yesterday was the same and as I went in/out, in/out, in/out cutting and putting up baseboard I felt like it was going from a sauna to a sauna.  I was trying to get trim up in the area upstairs that we are doing so the guy helping me could do his work again today.  I did not finish but he does not come until about 11:30 so there is still hope.  If a person has ever tried to make perfect fits in a room that is 110 years old you can imagine what I was up against.  

On my bike ride today I stopped at Starbucks to get an Americano drink and the paper.  I sat outside and read the sports as I drink my coffee.  Here is what I learned:

• Many many people order their drink from home, pay for it on their phone and then simply stop and pick it up.  As I stood in line waiting for my drink several times I thought that is mine!  Only to have a person walk in the door, grab it and walk out!  
• A lot of people stop and pay $4-$7 for a drink and bite to eat rather than fry an egg or have a piece of toast at home.
• The millennial generation likes their coffee and eats.  They also usually come in different sizes than older people!!!  I saw a couple of women who looked fitter and stronger than I think I was 50 years ago.  Oh one also got into a sporty Porsche and drove away.  A bit different than my mode of transportation ever!
• There are several people in the Highland Area that ALWAYS are around in the morning.  As I ride I see the same old, same old people and they are always spending $$ and sitting around talking about important things I am sure.  
• I had to wonder about one guy who stopped, went into the store and came out with only an expensive bottle of WATER.  I thought he must have a water problem at home.  
• Early morning people come in all sorts of clothing and all sorts of sizes.  I need not say more.
• Several times someone came out with a sweet roll and I am sure they eat way too many of them.  I should not talk of course.
• Some people come to the store with their dog and others with their kids.  Seldom with both!
• Some people celebrate hot Minnesota summer weather by wearing clothes that are COOL!  I wondered if they look in the mirror before they leave home!
• There were more observations for sure.

I may get out of watering the garden as the weather shows 50-60% chance of rain from late afternoon to mid evening.  Of course rain water is always better than tap water, right?

My eyes say it is time to work as my FP is almost gone.  My mind tells me there is a lot of work to do.  My body is telling me I may have over done things yesterday....Not sure that is true or if it is just attempting to make excuses!!!  Onward towards mid July.