August, we will miss you

Day 75, Every picture has a story"

One of the wild flowers from the seeds that we planted.  What kind?  I do not know.  Terry and I went to Gerten's in early June.  Actually it all started years ago when Terry got a painting that Mary Lee's aunt had done.  In it were cosmos that Terry really liked.  From that the idea of flowers in our yard came.  We did plant cosmos by our garage and they have had many flowers but the wild ones we planted in front of the house did not appear to do much if anything.  Well as Terry was weeding yesterday there it was, this beautiful yellow flower.  I think there are some more as well and will try to find them this morning.  There was a time when there were many flowers in the front but they do not get much sun light so often do not do that well.

Here is a picture of me in my daily work!  I am trying to juggle:

• ordering my wood shop
• upgrading the lawn
• clearing out junk
• putting in new stairs
• painting
• getting floors redone
• strengthening my hamstring
• making things in my wood shop
• etc.
• etc.

So there are times that a ball, I mean a thing, gets dropped.  Sometimes I pick it up and sometimes it just is left there!

I had an interesting event yesterday.  I had started painting the living room walls.  I had to wear shoes as I was on the ladder most of the time.  After about 45 minutes of work I needed something in the garage so I climbed down from the ladder and started past the fireplace towards the back door.  The next thing I knew I was face first on the floor landing on my left shoulder.  The first thing I thought of was it sure was nice that I did not have the paint can in my hand!  The second thing was my left shoulder felt like someone had hit it with a hammer.  END of painting for the day but with Terry putting ice on it every 45 minutes it feels kind of fine today.  I know there is nothing broken but is it sore?  Oh yes!!!  I thought back about John M.  I think he said he was doing something like vacuuming when he tripped and hurt his shoulder.  

It is hard to believe that tomorrow we welcome September.  It seems like August just started.  A month from now, October 1st, we will climb in the van and head to Florida where I will occupy my time with biking, tennis, writing and more.  House projects, not so much there BUT Terry did find out that the roof is now being done but there is a problem with getting the tiles so not sure what that means.  There is also a difference in the contractor price and the insurance price!  Surprise, I think not.

No my FP is pretty much gone and I am going to try to get some work done before Travis calls for our breakfast outing this morning.   One week from today we are on our way to Jamestown for sibling stories, fun and food.

Oh my 55, dew on the grass, where did the summer go?

Day 74, "Every picture has a story"

From Cayuga, to Briton, to Forman, to Cayuga and now to St. Paul.  The story of the 3/4" maple boards goes on AND my hands are sore today!  On the back of some of the boards is stamped Cayuga so I assume there was a lumber yard or something in Cayuga a long time ago.  The first "home" of the maple was in Briton SD as they were used to build a bowling alley.  After that closed Mark S. dismantled it and built a racket ball court in Forman with the boards.  Eventually that ran its course and Mark took it apart and stored the boards on the farm.  This summer Terry and I drove up to Cayuga and brought a lot of the boards here to St. Paul.  Mark had taken nails out of some of the boards but most still had many nails in.  You can not pull them through the wood as the head is too large so they need to be cut on the back and then ground down to below the surface of the wood.  I NEED to take care of that as the boards have to be stacked along the wall so that the car can be put in the garage.  I spent about an hour yesterday doing that and I have maybe an hour or so left.  THEN it is stack the barn wood also.  What am I going to do with the wood?  Any ideas!!!  I will find a great way to use it but for now it just needs to be stored.  

Wow, a busy day yesterday.  The china cabinet and the buffet were totally emptied with all the dishes being put in the basement.  Travis came over in the afternoon and we moved the two pieces of furniture into the den along with the dining room table and chairs.  I was concerned about moving the china cabinet as it is solid oak, large and heavy but no problem as we put towels under the four corners and slide it with no problem.  A BIG job that needed to be done before we paint.  I did get some repair done on the walls but have a bit left.  I am pleased and surprised that the repair is so minor.  The room was painted in 2002 and I would have thought 16 years with 100+ year old plaster would have more cracks but really not many.  The only thing in the living room now are the TV and the couches.  We will move them to the middle of the room when we paint and then next Thursday, before we leave for Jamestown on Friday we will move those out as well.  It would be so so nice if Pete could work the floors into his schedule when we are gone but as of now he will be able to come over on the 10th, the day after we get back.  Anyway, yesterday was not a wasted day with naps etc. but rather a productive day which was nice.  

As I walked out to get the paper this morning I noticed that the lawn is fairly nice.  It is interesting as one waters the dry grass it just kind of stays brown but does not get any worse or better.  Then a gentle small rain comes along and presto, it is all green again.  I guess God's water has better proprieties than the chlorine filled city water.  

Terry is doing so well after her root canal on Tuesday.  Little or no pain but she is still kind of in shock with a pulled tooth, an implant coming and then the root canal AND all without any warning of pain.  I guess one could say "bad" that all the work has to be done but "good" that it did not come into being because of pain.  She certainly has been a trooper with everything.  If it were me I would have HAD to engage in some kind of "pity party" for sure.  I actually had to laugh as Terry posted some things on Facebook and MAYBE was needing some sympathy BUT instead a couple of people wrote back and listed in so many words their troubles and kind of said be happy!  Of course we know many people who suffer greatly so when I or Terry or others have health problems there is always someone who is in more pain or worse off.

As I was getting ready to go to mens' group last night I stepped into the dining room, out of habit, to get my wallet out of the buffet.  NO buffet as we had moved it to the den.  I then walked into the den and the buffet had NO drawers.  I then went to the basement and the drawers were UNDER the drawer from the china cabinet.  Finally I found it.  I guess the next few days or couple of weeks will be interesting for sure.  

No, there needs to be some things done before I meet a friend for breakfast at 9:00 this morning.  No breakfast at home today BUT there was FP and that helps get me going.  Some how it seems to soothe the morning aches and pains that us young people have!

Day 73, "Every picture has a story"

From a full tread, to about a third tread to one that fit into the very top of the stairs.  One can ask why is this the subject of my picture stories today?  Well on the bottom 11 1/2" tread I made the wrong cut and it cost me a week delay and $70+ so this top tread was VERY important.  It needed to be only about 4 1/2' deep and 38 3/4(-)" wide.  It needed to be notched on the back to a depth of 5/16" as that was what met the wood on the second floor and it needed to fit under the door trim.  The notch in it was necessary because there was a nail under the floor trim that was not possible to get out.  Now I talk about all that and I am guessing a REAL wood worker would have breezed through the challenge with no problems BUT I am who I am.  What did I do?  Well I took one of the old treads that was marked for "throw away" and made a template out of it.  When I got it to a good fit I then copied it onto the new tread.  Maybe I should mount the template with an explainion as to the importance of it!!!  Anyway the new one went in like a charm and now I only have to wait for that 11 1/2" one to come in and I am guessing it will be here Friday.  

We had a wonderful rain yesterday.  It only rained about .2" but it came so slowly that ALL soaked into the lawn.  No watering yesterday or today.  

If I were a Manuel transmission car I would say that I was stuck in 1st gear yesterday.  Maybe even worse than that as I took a nap.  Anyway I did get one very important question in my mind answered. The pictures tell the story.

The question that has been in my mind for some time is what is the best buy?  The XL eggs for $1.89 or the jumbo for $1.99.  By the way they both went up $.10 last week.  Well I just had to buy a cartoon of both and find out.  AND the answer is the jumbo eggs.   The jumbo cost 6.51 cents an oz and the XL cost 6.75 an oz.  So I encourage all to go out and buy the jumbo eggs if you want to save money except if you at not a big egg eater then buy the XL or maybe even the L or M or S.  I really do not know!  As I think about it I now have a question that I will not bother to get an answer to.  The jumbo eggs have more shell so maybe the yoke and white of the egg is not the best buy!  Actually I guess I really do not care at this point, I will just go with BUY jumbo eggs.

We now have the task of clearing out most things from the living room/dining room so it can be painted.  That needs to be done before the floors are redone towards the end of next week.  What the heck, this house will look so good soon I may never want to move to an assisted living place.  If I want to be honest I HOPE that never happens.  I hope I can go the way of Mom who feel asleep in her favorite chair after breakfast and then went to live with the Lord.  I would take a slightly shorter life to avoid any kind of OLD people living situation.  BUT on second thought I need not worry about all that until I get old.  Did I really say that?

No there is work to be done, FP to finish and I think Travis is coming over after his work to help with some moving of furniture.  The FP with heavy cream today was heavenly.

Another day, another Dr. appt and more work to be done!

Day 72, "Every picture has a story"

First day of school in 1976--Aaron was too young to go to school

First day of school in 2018
Ben, Agatha, Jude and Faustina in the back

 The first thing  a person notices in these picture is EVERYBODY has a big smile.  That what the first day of school does to children.  One can only hope that smile stays the entire year and on the last day it is still on everyone's face!  John and Travis went to St. Joseph's Elementary in Devils Lake.  The Adkins go to St. Agnes in St. Paul.  John came home on one of the first days of school and asked his mom why she wore pants because his young teacher, who was pretty, always wore a dress!  I think that Agatha is the happiest of the Adkins.  One thing is for sure, mom and dad do not have to worry about dresses that are too short!!!  During John's first year of school our neighbors said they enjoyed drinking coffee in the morning and seeing this clump of red hair race down the alley.  John would ride the little red bike to school.  Oh my how times have changed but I guess 43 years can bring change, right?  As I think back I had 59 first days of school with elementary, high school, college, grad school and then teaching and I promise that I was NOT smiling ALL the time.  The student I was I think I was ALWAYS smiling the last day for sure!

Yes there was a bit of progress on the stairway yesterday.  Terry did a terrific job of filling the nail holes in the clear maple treads while I made a template for that interesting top tread which is 38 3/4(-) in length and 4 1/2" in depth with the back 2 13/16 only 5/16" thick while the rest, of course, is 1".  The template slid in under the door trim with ease and it looks good.  Now to cut the REAL deal with the same demenions and I will be good to go with my new battery finish nailer I need only to put glue down and pull, pull, pull and pull and it will be a done deal.  Now if that bottom tread comes soon the steps will be in!!!  I have not chalked along the edges so that is a BIG deal to come as chalking skills are still a work in progress.

I talked to Pete, the floor guy yesterday.  He most likely will come on Monday, September 10th to do the front entry, back entry and living room/dining room floors.  That means we need to empty the room of couches, china cabinets, tables etc.  It all needs to be put in the den as we do NOT want to carry any furniture downstairs.  That will be a BIG job in itself.  BUT before that the livingroom/dining room needs to be painted.  I can hardly wait for the days ahead!

Terry has some dental work to be done today so we will leave the house about 7:30.  We will take the pickup as I have about 50/60 old boards to get rid of at Twin City Refuse.  I hate to throw wood but I just can not keep ALL of the old old stuff.  Much of it has nails in and I just do not have any use for it or any place to store it either.  I probably should have a rule that anytime a board comes in another has to go but really that will never happen.  

Storms were supposed to come in yesterday but all we got was a spit of rain.  Probably not enough to even wet the sidewalk totally.  That means I need to water before we leave today.  The new grass and the cucumbers and tomatoes need water.  Joan and Helen, the task masters of the family, would like Terry and I to bring some cucumbers and tomatoes for the salad on our sibling weekend.  If worst comes to worst we can always stop at Costco BUT home grown is better for sure.

It is time to put the last of the FP down and then water a bit before we leave in less than an hour.

Day 71, "Every picture has a story"

In the summer of 2011 Terry and I went tent camping for 2 weeks.  We had perfect weather and had a great time.  Some place in WI Terry found this cup for me.  It is my "go to cup" every morning for my beloved FP.  I often can tell how much more I can blog by the amount of FP in my cup.  If it is down to the top of the evergreen or to the top of the tent or to the little flower or whatever!!!  The cup is kind of sad as it does NOT travel to FL with us.  I have another special cup for the FP there.  As I blog now the FP is down to the ears of the deer BUT I have more in the pot so there is writing coming up!

I think my work today is mostly going to be filling nail holes in the risers and treads.  I should have known this but I did not and that is if you are working with unfinished wood you can fill hole with wood filler but if your board is finished you use wood putty.  One would think that was common knowledge for a so so wood worker but then I usually learn late in life.  Anyway I have natural wood putty for the maple treads and white for the risers as they are painted.  Of course there will also be cleaning or ordering that is just around the corner, that is if I chose to go around the corner.  

Make L. delivered some wood yesterday.  His dad had a sale and Mark bid on some wood for me.  What can I say, I need wood!!!  For $80. one could not go wrong as I am guessing in a wood store it would have been $350 or more.  NOW I have to find a place, a way to store it so we can get a car in the garage before we go.  Barn wood, bowling alley wood and MN harvested wood where am I to store thee?

Two week from today Terry and I will be home again after the sibling get together.  I am looking forward to it but still sad that Glorine can not make it.  I am going to have to dig deep into the brain over the next 10 or so days to think of those HAPPY memories to share.  Maybe at the beginning of the weekend we will have to make a rule that all stories have to be nice and happy.  Not sure those darn sisters of mine will go along with that as they are kind of wild but fun!!!  Of course I will have to make sure my camera has a full battery charge.  In my world today I use my phone camera most of the time BUT really the Canon takes a better picture than the phone.  For some reason I can not picture Dad using a phone for a camera!

The FP is down to the tiny flower so it is time to hit the bike trail.

Rain, maybe!

Day 70, Every picture has a story"

It was John Paul James Adkins' day.  John Paul was baptized yesterday at St. Agnes Church and then people went over to Cynthia/Mike's for lunch.  I have seen him a few times but never with this smile on.  He is such a good guy that he mostly eats and sleeps.  Here he certainly looks like a happy christian!  

It seems like the days fly by and each day is kind of like same old, same old.  A little work, an early morning, a bike ride most of the time and then the day seems to slip away into evening where Terry and I tend to relax and then I go to bed early.  Well going to bed early is fine except that usually means waking up too early.  I have yet to stop the cycle of early to bed ((9:00) and early to rise (5:00).  I would like to see 10:00 and 6:00 BUT.

I have this mind set that I want to clear up odds and ends around here but every corner I walk around there seems to be more odds than ends!!!  I think I will forget about what needs/should be done and just sit back and remember for a short while:

• I remember when Sundays meant hitting 3 golf balls 100's of times towards the mailbox that was near my sand putting surface.  Of course it always involved rolling the barrel over the tall grass to retrieve the balls that I sliced.  I don't think I ever figured out how NOT to slice the ball.
• I remember getting on my Harley Sprint and driving all Sunday into the hills, to many of the lakes and arriving home at dusk or later.
• I remember going to Bergen church on Sunday and sitting with Chuckie J. where the highlight was if I could randomly open the song book to the page better than him!
• I remember going to the lake on Sunday and skiing behind John's boat.  
• I remember walking through Bert's pasture with my fishing gear and then sliding down the embankment to my favorite fishing spot on Sunday.
• I remember lamenting the fact that Dad seemed to NEED a nap on Sunday afternoon instead of hitting fly balls to me.
• I remember getting in the car and traveling to Glenwood MN to spend the day with Mom's side of the family.  It was counting horses on the way there and then spending some time with Uncles and Aunts during the day.  
• I remember Sundays were a day when many people would be at Lake Tewaukon and I would hope there was someone there I knew
• I remember Sundays were often a day we would drive in Uncle Obert's pasture or Bert's pasture with our 22's pointed out the window.  Shut the car off, whistle and then bang, a dead gopher!

I am not one to wish my life were back there but it is fun to sit and remember especially when the memories are good.

Enough for this morning.  My FP is gone and I am out and about.

No can use that one

Day 69, "Every picture has a story"

This picture could almost elicit a book!  In the spring of 1972 I received a grant to go to a 6 weeks workshop with college credit at the University of Nebraska.  I jumped at it.  Grandpa Saunders let us use the pickup with a camper on it for the time.  At the last minute we decided to throw in the tent just in case and as it turned out we slept in the tent ALL the time.  We headed west on our journey as sister Helen was stationed at the Air Force Academy near Denver.  As we headed out John was excited as we had told him we would see the mountains.  Near Briton SD we drove past a high pile of gravel near the road and John shouted out, "mountain"!  We stopped and visited Helen and then headed to Lincoln NB for the 6 weeks.  We had already decided that we would NOT stay in the dorm but rather would camp for the time.  We found a campsite just outside of Lincoln and settled in for the 6 weeks.  It was not too long into the workshop that many of the people were saying we were smart to NOT stay in the dorm.  Anyway we camped for the time, Gail took the kids to swimming lessons, we had company over for dinner over the fire and as you can see made do when it was bath time.  We only had to make one trip to the ER as one morning we woke up and John was sleeping in a pool of water in the tent.  On our way home we stopped in Iowa to visit Allen Saunders and then also stopped to visit Larry Fangsrud.  In all we camped for 2 months and to this day I would call it an adventure!!!  To make things more interesting we rented our house out to a person we never met but it ended up being fine.  Don't really know what we were thinking.

My title today reflects my day yesterday.  I drove to Maplewood to pick up my 11 1/2" bottom tread and the guy said I want to show you first.  I looked at it and said it is fine as I wanted in the worst way to get that darn thing in when I got home.  Well as I had second thoughts I turned the tread over to make sure the side that goes up was fine and as I examined it decided it was NOT OK.  As the first step you see when you come into the house it needs to be very nice and on a scale of 1-10 I would say the tread was a 6.  So I brought it back into the shop and they will order a new one.  I think it will come in a week, ugh!

Terry had the first of several dental appt yesterday and she came through it with flying colors but of course those things are never fun.  

After we arrived home from her appt I did several things BUT did not get anything done on the house.  Another day closer to closing up Niles ave for the summer and another day with no work done.  Could be a broken record but I think not.

I need to get on the bike for a short ride but will sip the last of the FP first.

Here we are on the LAST Saturday of September.

Day 68, "Every picture has a story"

The year was 1990 and it was time for a new roof on the garage.  As I look at this picture I think we should have painted before the roof went on but maybe that is another story.  The truck came to deliver the shingles and the driver was amazed at the garage.  He said he had never seen a garage that was built in the shape of an L.  I told him the story of Tom Ruth who wanted to go straight back but the neighbor was unwilling to cut down a tree that would present problems in the future so Tom just built around the corner!  Anyway the boys were around to help and we finished in a couple of days, I think.  But John and Travis had a bike race that weekend and they found out in short order that their legs were shot.  Standing on the roof with their feet at an angle to their legs as they stood on the slope of the roof did their legs in.  At this time the roof really needs to be replaced but have not gotten around to doing it.  No leaks but I think it may be close!!!  John is probably on the phone as he always thought I took too long to make decisions when one had to be made.  At one point he said the next project he would be in charge!!!  Now the garage has a paint job that is only a few years old and the attic door on the left has been covered over and I get up there on the inside.  Also there are now green painted storms on the windows to match the house.  Like I often say, "The only certain thing in life is change".

I did NOT accomplish much yesterday.  A nap, what the heck is that.  AND a long one at that.  I did get tread #4 in and today the bottom tread should arrive and I am hoping I can pick it up.  I started to measure the very top board and then decided it was better to take a nap!  Not sure when I will get at that #16, top tread as there are several things going on today.  I will say that with the walls and ceiling painted and the woodwork also the stairway is looking UP.  I could also say I am looking up at the stairway I guess.

Terry had a dental appt yesterday and as she was finishing up she found out that there was an opening for me right away so I got my teeth cleaned and now will not have to go in next week.  Terry has an appt this morning to get some advice about a tooth.  She has some work in the future.  

I woke up to a gentle rain this morning.  Not much but maybe more is on the way.  I am writing as I wait for Travis to show up for our Friday breakfast.  I am hoping we do NOT get as much food this morning.  

Terry and I will not be going to the MN state fair this year.  Terry's feet are not at a place where she can walk for a long period of time so the fair is out.  I guess I do NOT need the food anyway but going there one day is always fun.  I missed the fair most of the time in my working days.  The boys often had a Labor Day soccer tournament which Gail and I often worked at and then I was in school workshops the week of the fair.  

I am finished with my FP and for some reason it was not top notch this morning.  Maybe I needed some Baileys, but that is for Sundays only.  On to the days work and first in order is making a couple of cards.

Day 67, "Every picture has a story"

This picture is actually a picture of me this summer.  Well I have to admit that I do not look as good as the tree that is bearing so much fruit but Terry noticed this tree a few days ago and could not believe how many apples it has for such a small tree and to see how loaded down it is was amazing.  Well as I stopped my bike to take a closer look at it I could see myself in it totally.  The circle, well that is me the day I make the wrong cut on the only 11 1/2" board!  I also made a cut too wide on another board that same day.  Boy was I like that apple in the circle.  AND that apple is has hard to see as I was difficult to be around for a time!  I was about as DOWN as one can get!  Well the triangle is another story in itself.  Kind of in the middle and that has been me most days.  As time flies by this summer I feel kind of crowded but in the middle.  Things like wood projects, getting a board fixed on the deck, getting weeds out of the lawn, getting trim around the fireplace, getting exercise each day for that hamstring and the list could go on.  Those things make me the middle group of apples.  Not too down, not too up but in the middle and moving forward.  Well the square of course is the mountain top experiences!!!  Having the upstairs walls repaired and painted, getting the treads on WITH my new 15 GA finish nailer which is battery powered and more. Those are at the TOP.  So there is my picture of the day.  It is of me during the summer of 2018!!!  Down, middle and up and without question way too loaded down BUT there are NO complaints as I know many people who would love to be active.

Yesterday was a day of progress.  There are now only 3 treads left to install.  The bottom one that will arrive tomorrow, the fourth one which requires a special cut which is a cut that I made too wide a few days ago and then the very top, #16.  #16 is only about 4-6" long and also needs to be cut down on the under side of the back a couple of inches.  Hard to explain but it will challenge the skills of this guy.  Terry finished another grocery bag of papers yesterday.  It is hard to believe how much ink she received while serving in the senate.  She is finished with 3 and only 1 to go. She is also in the middle of her third batch of pickles.  

Today Terry has a 2 hour appt at the dentist so I will find something to do during that time.  I don't think I will come home as that would mean drop her off, drive 20 minutes home, get about any hour of work done and then drive the 20 minutes back to pick her up. I do need to go to Home Depot for a couple of things and as a handy-man, kind of, I could spent a lot of time there but then of course I may purchase something I do not need!

Our sibling get-together is coming up soon.  I guess Glorine will not be able to come and that is so disappointing.  Maybe another time.  I know it will be a fun time because as all of us get older the stories get better and better.  Funny how stories of yesterday can be more fun than when they happened!!!  AND there will be potato salad which always makes for a fun time, really!

Once again I woke up way too early but then this FP makes it worthwhile.  Maybe, just maybe if I decided to stop drinking FP I would sleep longer because when I wake up at 4 and think of my FP I just can not go back to sleep.  On second thought that is out of the question to not have the FP java in the morning.  

On to another day in the summer of 2018.

Back to the 50's???

Day 66, "Every picture has a story"

This picture is a long story that I will kind of make short.  Peaches and cream was the on the menu for breakfast this morning.  It certainly brought back memories of the past, the 50s and 60s.  Now there are some differences of course.  

50s peaches were purchased in wooden crates and this peach came solo 

50s peaches came wrapped in this fine soft pink tissue paper that was a big hit in the 3-holer and this peach came home in a plastic bag with a twist tie on it

50s peaches were cuddled in cream that was straight from the cow and this peach was swimming in heavy cream that came out of a pint cardboard container with a twist off top

50s peaches may have come home in the cab of the Ford truck after a day of harvesting and this peach came home in a Honda van after a day of working on new stairs

50s peaches probably were expecting to be put in hot water, peeled and then canned to be enjoyed on a cold winter ND night after a game of table tennis.  These peaches expect to stay in a decorative bowl on the kitchen table until their fate of a hungry body.

Aside from the differences the taste was about the same, yummy but of course the memories were the best!!!

Yesterday was a day of surprises and some work accomplished.  Terry had a dental appt and expected a routine cleaning only.  She was surprised to find out that our one year, two cleaning program still had one cleaning left so no bill BUT those darn x-rays showed that there needs to be some work so it will be at least two more appt and of course our cleaning plan will not cover the needed work.  I supposed we should be glad that the x-rays showed us work needed to be done before things got to the point where she had pain.  It will cost $$ but we will not have to go to the bank!

The work, well there was progress.  Terry went through another grocery bag of papers that she kept from her MN senate days.  I think it is fun for her to look, clip and remember those days.  Not sure how she will organize and keep those clippings but they are fun to read and remember.  As of my work yesterday it was 4 steps forward and NONE back so there WAS progress.  At this rate I may be finished before Christmas---no really I may have all the steps in by the end of the week.  After that it will be covering nail holes, putting trim on etc which will take time but to get the temporary steps off and the new ones in will be huge.  I am expecting what Travis would call a miracle as he said that is what it would be if the steps do not make MUCH noise as you walk up!  Over the last couple of weeks or so it has been an adventure to go up stairs as one was never sure if the next board may come lose or crash.  Well it actually has not been that bad BUT new sturdy treads will be welcome.

I had an interesting e-mail this morning.  We have had Direct-TV for a long time and of course the bill keeps going up and up and up.  It was also a hassle to stop, start, stop etc.  So finally, after having several conversations about somethings I was able to disconnect and END it.  Of course I got an e-mail 2 days ago offering $200 to reconnect and this morning I received another e-mail offering $300 to reconnect!   I did not take them up on the offer BUT interesting none the less.  We now have a little back sheet of paper, an antenna, that gets us local channels and about 30 others.  The one I like is on light TV (not sure if the LIGHT means light of mine or light of content)  as they have a nightly show we call "the horsey show" but the name is Heartland.  It seems to satisfy my long desire to have a horse.  I know, pathetic but true!!!

As I opened the front door this morning and walked into a slight northernly breeze to pick up the paper there was a strong suggestion that fall may be nearing as the temp read 54 on my phone.  That is right, no need for a window thermometer when you have a handy dandy smart phone!  We will enjoy a couple of days in the 70s before the weekend arrives when we should hit state fair temps of high 80s or low 90s.  Maybe memories of the MN state fair are coming!

Enough for now.  I am going to finish my breakfast of eggs, potatoes and sausage and then put a jacket on for a short bike ride.  The hamstring, it is getting better weekly I think.  The FP, there is still some left as the top of the coffee is only down to the bunny ears on the back of the cup.

Happy birthday Henry

Henry turns 15 today.  We hope you have a special day Henry and may this coming year be one of successes, challenges and new experiences.  This is a bowl Henry turned on their new lathe.  He and Liam are doing some work on it.  Henry is a freshman at Trinity and he follows in his dad's footsteps as he earned a spot on the varsity soccer team and I should add he is about as tall as dad.  He is quite the accomplished young man and has the looks to go with his talents.  South Bend people watch out as he will have his driving permit soon. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HENRY

Three for the price of one

Day 65, "Every picture (3) has a story"

Well the story is THIS and it is not a pleasant one for sure: One step forward and TWO steps backward!  I could add MUCH to this story but will try to keep it short and clean.  I started the steps yesterday with high hopes and ended the day with an "oh no", a sad face and somethings I will not write.  I put the first tread in place and made the measurement that needed to be done.  I walked out to the shop and made the cut.  I came in only to realize that I had made the opposite cut that needed to be done.  Tread ruined for sure and the first tread is the ONLY one with a 11 1/2" depth.  So I needed to order a new tread to the tune of $72.  After I got that kind of out of my system I dove into my work again.  With glue and new 15 GA nail gun I put the second and third tread on with no problem, so I thought.  As I stood sizing up the work for tread #3 of the day I looked and then looked again.  Some how I had managed to put the 11 1/2" tread that I had cut wrong on the second step AND it was so easy.  After consulting with my right hand worker, Terry, it was clear that a 11 1/2" tread on the second step was NOT the right thing to do so off it came.  At that point it was decided to call it a day and hope that the next day would bring better results.  Not sure I am over yet the pain to the ego and pocket book!

So today is a new day and I look forward to getting some more treads on.  If I continue on the path of yesterday it may be next June but no I will not allow that to happen.

We received a nice quarter inch of rain yesterday and it started just as I was about to get on my bike so no ride but I will take the rain any day.  Not sure about a ride today as Terry as an appt at 10 and I would like to get some work done before I go with her.

We received our new garbage container that is part of the new city garbage plan.  We now, as of October 1st, have no choice in our garbage carrier and also our new company allows you to stop service for only 6 months of the year.  That means if we are gone for 7 months we pay for a month we are not here.  AND they say this is progress!!!

Not much more to day this morning.  I am now debating about a short bike ride or getting into the work of the day.  Let me think.  I am 71, retired so I should be able to enjoy life a tiny bit.  I guess I will get into the work!

We are now into the last full week of August!!!

Day 64, "Every picture has a story"

This picture was taken at a rest stop in South Dakota.  As I pulled up to it I made sure the front of our car was about even with the front of their RV.  As one can see our car & camper is about the length of their RV.  I walked around the RV and there were 9 slide outs on the darn thing.  The ONLY slide outs we have are Terry and I sliding out of the camper!!!  I then said I bet I have more change in my pocket than that guy as he spent so much $$ on his outfit but then as he walked by I heard NOTHING and I assume his pockets were stuffed with bills instead of pennies and nickels!  I think the only way I could win against this guy is to challenge him to who has the lowest gas bill when you fill!  Given the fact his camper is bigger and more expensive and maybe more enjoyable to ride in I will take Terrys and mine anytime.  Well to be honest I have no choice as I am guessing his cost 30Xs ours.  Maybe I should try to buy 29 more of ours and give them to homeless people???

I spent much of yesterday staring at those darn first 4 steps going up stairs.  I am guessing the decision as to how to do those is the biggest decision I have had to make since I was a junior in HS and had to decide, in a split second, if I wanted to just tackle the quarterback or land on top of him like they have outlawed doing in the NFL this season.  I THINK I have a plan but now to implement it is another thing.  By the way I always chose to be nice as I landed on the quarterback.

Cool weather is supposed to be here for a few days.  It is currently 72 but is supposed to only go up to 75 today.  I even have the thought of maybe a light jacket for my bike ride.  After 12+ miles yesterday I may cut back today and even stop for an Americano on my way home.  It looks like a decent chance of rain later today so need to get on that bike soon.  Oh my the grass is beginning to look like the prairie of western ND in the fall.  Kind of reminds me of deer hunting but the only creatures around here are mice, raccoons, squirrels and chipmunks.  Oh and for sure as people walk past I see many little dog like animals and occasional a real dog.

I continue to see many plastic people as I ride.  But there is a difference in the plastic people of today and perhaps 10 years ago.  Ten years ago they simply stared straight ahead or at the ground but in today's world they usually are staring at a phone.  I guess I should not talk as yesterday, as I was riding but staring at some people, I suddenly heard this loud voice say, "bike approaching".  Yikes as I made sure I did not go over the center line and crash and burn so to speak.

I surely enjoy these cool mornings as I can open the windows with ease.  I admit some days I even open them when it is warm just because it is so much fun to open windows that are nice, painted and work so well.  Now some day I need to get busy and tilt them so they can be washed from the inside.

Terry has the drying machine on as she is drying some tomatoes.  Those darn things just decide to come in pretty much all at once.  The cucumbers too, they grow too fast and too many!

My FP is almost down to the top of the evergreen tree on my cup so time to sip the last and get on the bike.

Day 63, "Every picture has a story"

My story today is not actually about this cat even tho I think this cat deserves a story.  As I rode my bike today this cat was having a great time watching people as they pass by.  I am guessing the owner asked the cat to watch the house.  My story is about the cats we had on the farm.  We had MANY cats.  They were big, little, friendly, not so friendly and then there were the feral cats that came around to actually eat the babies we had.  My most fun time with cats, (I really am a dog guy) were the babies and then the cats at milking time.   I also was very good to the cats as I always would take the blackbirds that I shot with my 22 and bring them to the the cats so they could eat!  Anyway this "watch cat" reminded me of the farm cats.

I had a good time bringing Jude's birthday present to him yesterday.  Those Adkins kids are funny.  Veronica had to show off her sporty sunglasses.  Agatha had to compare her blue eyes to mind and she claimed she won BUT I think I won!  Jude had to try on his new Carhart pants, belt and shirt.  Before I left he had a hammer in the pants and he said he wants to be a carpenter when he grows up!!!  That is a bit different from the "Pope" dream some time ago.  AND Leo had big smiles for Grandpa.

We have only 13 days of August left and then we are into September.  The lawn is starting to look a little dry dry and the trees are showing a tiny bit of fall.  

We watched our pro tennis player Phil play in the championship match yesterday.  It was not his day as he and his partner were out played and over matched in a loss.  I think they would have won against their opponent 3 out of 5 times but yesterday, NO.  We will see him and his pro wife Myke in about 7 weeks.  

I have begun rebuilding the stairs and all I have to say is it will be a work in progress for some time.  I will post a picture when they are finished but that may be some time!!!

It is Sunday PM so my FP is a non issue.  I did get on my bike this morning and managed to get in 12+ miles.  I found a bike path that led into Fort Snelling State Park and I did not know it was there.  Kind of fun.  I rode it about 8:30 and met several young women running.  I thought I am not sure it is a good idea for young women to be running alone on a stretch of bike path that is fairly secluded.  

No, it is Sunday PM so I am about finished.

Every little bit helps

Day 62, "Every picture has a story"

Travis and I went out for breakfast yesterday.  Larry B had told me that this cafe, The Coffee Cup, served HUGE portions of food.  As Travis and I walked into the restaurant Travis asked, "Do you think Larry was embellishing?"  I replied, "We will see!"  We both ordered the everything omelet.  In a very short time our food came and I could not stop looking and talking while Travis could not stop laughing.  I ate about half of mine and the portion that I brought home weighed in at 1 pound and 7 oz.  That means my meal was about 3 pounds!!!  I have no idea how they can make money and WHY they serve so so so much food.  The food was good and it was a fun time.  Travis remarked that The Coffee Cup may be his "go to" place from now on.  As for me if I want to lose some more weight so it may be the "stay away from" place for me.

Every little bit helps and yesterday I did some touch up painting on the walls and ceiling and then I hung the hand rail.  I was surprised but I am so used to using the rail that going up and down without is was uncomfortable.  Terry also wanted it back up.  So the maple railing is in and the next step is putting in the steps!!!  I may not get at it today but then maybe a start.  Jude's birthday present needs to be delivered this morning and then at 11:30 our tennis pro and his playing partner play for the championship which we will go and watch.  They had a difficult match yesterday which went into a third set.  Phil and Tom broke their opponents serve in the first game and that was the difference in a 6-4 win.  It was a fun match to watch.

I figured out how to keep my patches of new grass from being dug up at night.  I cut some rabbit fencing and put it over the top.  Presto, yesterday there were NO diggings so I hope that keeps up.  

I have most of my FP left but I am out of words for this morning so will sign off and heat up that left over breakfast that weighs on my mind and perhaps on my waist line too!!!

HAPPY 9TH BIRTHDAY JUDE

Happy birthday Jude.  I can not believe you are getting so old!  Those Carhart pants, belt and shirt look awesome Jude.  Have a great birthday.  Love Grandpa and Terry

Day 61, "Every picture has a story"

Well this picture has a VERY interesting history and story.  I became Director of Education in the summer of 1976.  That meant that I was responsible for the girl and boys dorm staff as well as the educational part of the school.  One of my jobs was to put out schedules for the men and women who were dorm parents.  The #1 thing for them was they wanted and had the right to work 40 hours a week.  A typical work day Monday-Friday was with the kids from 6:30 -8:15 when they went to school.  Then they were on duty from 11:45-1:00 which was when the kids were off for lunch.  Then they were again on duty from 3:30-10:00 at night.  Of course on Saturday and Sunday they were with the kids ALL day.  Then if we had a holiday and the kids went home the dorm parents were still entitled to work a 40 hour week.  One can see that a work schedule was complicated at best.  I also was responsible for the night watch people who came in at 10 or so and walked the entire campus at night.  They had to make rounds and check in at certain spots to show proof that they were NOT sleeping.  And of course there was the medical staff as well!  They also had the right to work 40 hours a week even during times when the students were not on campus.  During the summer of 1976 I spent much of my time making schedules for ALL the dorm people, the nurses and the night watch people.  In all for the 52 weeks of the year there were 27 different schedules!!!  As I think back I do not know how some of those people lived with such a schedule.  IF I remember correctly everyone, for the most part, ended up being happy or OK with the schedules.  As I sit here writing I think I may have put way too many hours into my job and that explains somethings but I will not get into that.

I finished painting the walls of the entry and stairway yesterday with the exception of some touchup this morning.  THEN the stairs begin and that story may be long!  

Terry and I did drive to Eden Prairie yesterday to watch our pro, Phil, play in the tournament.  He and his partner won and the play was very very good.  Tennis is an interesting sport.  Phil and his partner were leading the first set 5-2 when we arrived (Twin City traffic!) but ended up losing 6-8 in a set tie breaker.  Then they dominated the next two sets 6-1 and 6-0.  Go figure.  

I will have breakfast with Travis today but do not know the time.  He was not sure if he was going to work or not.  He will text me when he is ready to come over this morning.

The FP, which was extra good, this morning is finished.

Yesterday, NO work but today YES

Day 61, "Every picture has a story"

Chet was the janitor at the school for the deaf.  He came to work in 1969 after he had a heart attack on his farm.  He was a super person.  Here he is showing John his biggest turnip from his prize garden.  Chet let me borrow his pickup so I could get a load of manure for our garden.  He also let me use his garden tiller before I bought my own.  He was a true example of "you can take the man off the farm but you can't take the farm out of a man."  The funnest story was one of the first days he was on the job.  He would come in to my room during recess to vacuum as the kids would be playing outside.  One day Diana, who had many physical challenges, took her plastic ears off as they tended to slip down when she was playing.  Chet came into my room with his vacuum and as his eyes focused on Diana's desk and then her two ears he turned white and I thought he may have a second heart attack in my room.  After a second I explained and we had a good laugh.  Chet was one of those people whom you were glad you knew because he was just a good guy.

No work yesterday.  Terry and I left about 9:45 as our club tennis pro is in town for a tournament.  He played singles and doubles.  It seems they always start late so by the time his singles match started it was not 10:30 but about 11:30.  He lost in a set tie breaker and was NOT a happy guy!!!  He and his partner were seeded #1 in doubles and they won that match handily.  By the time we arrived home in traffic it was too late to paint.  Phil plays again today at 1:30 so it is off to Eden Prairie again but there will be time to get the painting done before we leave.  After that it is TIME to start on those risers and treads.  It will be a challenge but I actually think it should be fun.

I have a patch of lawn that is about 4X4 that I seeded and there is a darn cat or other animal that is using it for an out house during the night.  I have to figure out how to stop that.  Pretty hard for seeds to germinate and grow if they are being dug up every night.

That is all for today.  I need to water the garden and then get going on those stairway walls.  

The cut in on the walls is done, walls to be done today!

Day 60, "Every picture has a story"

Here is what went on the bottom of our first tread on our new stairs.  I have, for several years, been putting a quarter on my wood projects.  As I have said in the past, my work will never be worthless!  Last winter Terry gave me a gift of a branding iron.  Now this is on the back of the tread so "made by" is not really true as the treads were ordered BUT I will install them so maybe it is OK.  I had to go to the bank to get the 2018 quarters.  The first bank did not have a roll of 2018 but I then went to Wings and they had 1.  I am now wondering when someone will find this quarter.  Maybe never as the stairs may outlast the house and then things will end up in a heap of dust.  Hope that does not happen but am sure it will not take place in my lifetime.  It is kind of cool that the 2018 quarter is of Voyageur National Park in MN. The ONLY national park in MN.  

Yesterday was a day of up and down and drops of sweat on each of the temporary treads but the cutting in on the walls got done.  I plan to paint the walls after my bike ride and then will be ready to begin the process of putting in new treads and risers.  IF I can start them tomorrow my hope is they can be installed in total by the end of the week.  THEN paper comes off our floors upstairs and finishing touches can be put on touch up.  I would like to put in outlets in the north and west bedroom BUT.  I do have a live feed into the attic but to bring it down to the rooms may be a stretch even for this professional electrical!!!  It is OK to embellish on my blog I think.

I went to the community meeting last night.  It was all about Servant Camp 2018.  God always shows up in grand fashion there and so so many thought flooded my mind as I sat back and took in the sharing and the memories.  The one thought that stood out for me was things have changes so much and for the better.  I can remember the times when I almost had to beg for 15 minutes of time for camp sharing and now an entire meeting.  Of course that is the way it should be but for sure the memories of the past are seared into my mind.

I received a call from Mary S. yesterday and it sounds like Grandma Saunders is not doing well.  Al and Deb B think that the end of life is getting near for her.  Of course for many it will be a sad day when Grandma passes but really it is what she has desired for some time now so please God take her in your timing and give her peace.  

Enough for now as I am going to get in a early bike ride and then finish my FP when I return.

Short but not so sweet!

Day 59, "Every picture has a story"

In case anyone does not know what that is, it is a valve stem from a tire.  It happens to be the stem from the right front tire of Terry's car.  As I arrived home from my bike ride yesterday I saw that the tire was flat.  When I looked at it I could not see any reason it was flat except there was NO valve stem on the wheel.  One can see that it was clipped off with some kind of wrench as the metal is a bit flat.  In almost 41 years of living here it is the first time that I know of where we have had a car vandalize.  Would some kids have come by and done that?  It is hard to believe a neighbor would have done that but whatever the question most likely will never be answered.   It took me about an hour to get the tire off as the wrench with the car is not the greatest.  Finally after putting a socket wrench on it and a pipe for leverage I finally got the final 3 nuts off.  I took the tire to a local tire store and they put a new valve stem on and did not charge!  I asked the guy if he had children and he said he had 3.  I insisted he take a $5 tip and maybe treat his kids at the Dairy Queen.  As I was leaving I thought I do not know what you can buy for 3 kids with $5 but then maybe he could kick in a buck or two!

Yesterday was a day of sweat and work.  Yes, I certainly make it sound like a big day, right?  I watered the garden, went on a bike ride, went to the compose and screened about a bushel of dirt and then spread it on a place where there was a huge tree and tree and the soil tends to sink.  I did get the ceilings in the front entry, the back entry and the stairway painted.  I am hoping to get the walls painted today but not sure as I have a breakfast gathering, a trip to the bank and Terry needs to go to the sewing store.  I need to go to the bank as everything I make in my wood shop I put a quarter of the year embedded in the project.  I have no 2018 quarters.  The reason for that is I then know my wood is NEVER worth nothing!!!

I said short and sweet so time for FP and a bike ride before my 7:30 breakfast.

Day 58, "Every picture(2) has a story"

The first picture is of the Mississippi River.  Sometimes on my morning rides I ride across the Ford bridge and that is the picture I got a couple days ago.  It certainly gives one a hint of peace of mind and a small idea of how nature can be so soothing.  The second picture is at the east end of an alley that I chose to ride just to give the left hammy some work.  It is hard to tell BUT the alley is a steady incline from the west to the east.  At the end my hammy said it had enough for the day so I pretty much rode on level ground the rest of the morning.  I often find that riding the alleys is a great way to see how people live and where their priorities are.  I am sure that some people put more time and money into their garages than into their houses.  Interesting for sure.

Speaking of rides I do need to get on the bike and go for a kind of short ride today.  I want/need/must get the ceilings of the entry way and stairway painted today and with the temp this morning at 71 already and by mid day in the low 90s I need to work early rather than late.  Our window AC unit can kind of keep things at bay for a day but on hot days it will not cool things down much.  It would be great to get one of those units that are set up outside and then the indoor unit is mounted kind of up high on the inside wall.  I checked into the price and decided it is low on the priority list!!!

No the breakfast is finished (dishes can wait until I return), my FP is almost finished and it is on to the ride.  Not a 10 mile ride like yesterday but maybe a 3 or 4 mile ride around the Highland area.

The second Sunday of August and time flies

Day 57, "Every picture has a story"

It was April 15, Thursday in the spring of 1976.  I was looking forward to a 4 day vacation from school.  I had just talked to Mr. Hayek, the superintendent at the school and he had offered me the position of Director of Education as of June 1st.  I had MUCH on my mind but the upcoming Easter holiday and 4 days from school were welcome thoughts.  THEN the weather came in.  The kids were to go home on Thursday but a storm came in and some parents could not make it to Devils Lake.  Kevin, from west of Bismarck, was one of those kids.  Mr. Hayek assured me that Kevin's parents would be in town by Friday afternoon so I offered to have him stay with us over night.  Well Kevin's parents NEVER came to get him and never contacted the school so he was our guest for the next four days.  Maybe that tells a bit about Kevin's home life.  Also, come to think of it, Mr. Hayek never did say thanks.  Anyway we made the best of it but Kevin was like glue to the boys and with his earring aids often squealing and his nose running all the time it made for an interesting four days.  Needless to say my four days of bliss were not quite that.  

Some progress was made yesterday.  Terry finished her second batch of pickles and also got 2 coats of clear finish on the stair rail.  I make a couple of runs to Menard's and got the second coat of paint on the stair skirt as well as the woodwork in the front entry painted.  Tomorrow it will be the ceiling and the walls going upstairs.  

I did not mention that I had my annual blood work done Wednesday.  Things are so fast now and I received an e-mail Thursday afternoon from my doctor.  She said all my tests came back with flying colors and I should keep up the good work.  As I looked at the results I took note that my cholesterol was at 194, a level I had not been at for many many years.  My goal has been to be below 200 but it was at around 210-220 most of the time.  I give credit to the Whole30 that I kind of have been on.  Actually I think the big thing is I have pretty much avoided cheese and bread.  I could really live by eating those daily but I know it is not a good thing.  It would be nice if I could keep those numbers down for the next year and then get off of one of my meds.  I currently am on BP and cholesterol meds but to get off one or both!!!  I think if I could get my weight down another 15 pounds and then keep away from certain foods I may get away with NO meds.  I know, that is a TALL order but it is something to shoot for.  What is life about if it is not about trying to meet a goal or improve things in your life.  

The temp is supposed to hit 91 today and 94 tomorrow before it goes down to the low to mid 80s.  Maybe some much needed rain will come in Tuesday or Wednesday.

I think it is time to get air in the tires that are a bit low and go for a ride before the air gets sticky and hot.  My FP is gone so not much reason to sit here and tap the keys anymore.

Well Aaron does not look 45 there, oh he is almost 5

Happy 45th birthday Aaron.  Hope you have a great day and keep being the super husband, father and worker that you are.  Love, Dad and Terry

Day 56, "Every picture has a story"

Game on in the kitchen!  Note the orange indoor/outdoor carpeting that was on the kitchen floor when we bought the house in 1977.  The rest of the house had the same carpet but it was green!  The kids played a lot of games and most of the time they wanted to be around Mom or Dad.  This picture brings me back to my youth on the farm as we put puzzles together, played table tennis (on the round table), played monopoly, played the card game Touring, made things with tinker toys or the erector set and then put corn kernels on pictures Mom would draw on the slate blackboard on a rainy day.  If it was nice outside Dave and I may make some wooden guns and play cowboy and Indian.  

We are in the middle of a very warm and dry spell.  Not super warm but temps in the upper 80s to low 90s.  Maybe some relief by Tuesday.  Our window AC unit helps but does not cool things all that much when warm nights turn into hot days so we are using and enjoying our new ceiling fans.

Some painting got done yesterday and Terry got the coat of sealer on the maple hand rail.  That darn thing, 14 feet long, is a bit cumbersome to handle in the house.  It is on saw horses upstairs for now.  I went to the paint store and got another gallon of oil enamel paint for the woodwork.  That darn paint is so so expensive.  As I walked into the store I said I had just stopped at the bank for a loan so I could pay for it.  I have an account there and get about a 2% discount, huge!  Anyway as the guy came with the bill he said he picked a can that had a tiny dent in it so he gave me a 10% discount.  I asked him if the kick hurt his toe!  Enough savings for a Starbucks Americano for sure!  I needed a gallon as I am currently painting some woodwork in the front entry and then I have the living room to do and the 4 windows in the kitchen.  As I think about and list the projects that have/need to get done I asked myself am I normal?  I looked in the mirror and it seems like I am like any other guy so I think the answer is yes.  I do get it-----for sure this house is not normal.  For myself I am sure every male in America has a morning FP, an afternoon craft drink and then a couple of ice water drinks before bed, right?  Oh and then too a snack of version when it is available!  

I am going to challenge myself this morning on my bike.  I purchased a watermelon yesterday and it is NOT eatable so will take it back this morning on my bike.  I will see if I can balance on my bike while carrying a large watermelon with my left hand on the handlebars.  I THINK I can to it.  If I fail I may end up turning left with the melon as I try to head to the right.  As long as I don't fall and scratch the bike I will be fine and of course I need to get to the store.

Enough for this morning as I will down the last of the FP and get on the bike with that melon.