The day has arrived!!!

Today is the day.  Twice a year we plan, pack and practice putting things in the car as we prepare to head either north or south.  So our 3P day is today and we head south.  With stops in Madison, Indiana Dunes National Park, South Bend, PeachTree City and Milledgeville before we arrive in Naples in about a week.  Clothes are on hangers and suitcases, papers are in boxes, the camping cooler is plugged in, the tennis racquets are in the bag and I think putting them in the car may be a challenge as there will be Terry's bike as well.  BUT we will make it work

We have had an unusual number of people wish us a safe trip which makes us wonder!  Our prayer any time we get in the car for a trip is this:

Lord we ask that you protect us from accident, illness and injury.  Keep us safe as we travel, visit and journey from one place to another.  

Today we say this prayer with even more conviction that Lord, you are in charge and we ask for your protection.

OH, I do intend to get one last short ride in on Bentley.  With a temp of 47 I think I will need a jacket but I HAVE to do it.  Bentley stays in MN and I have a different bike in Naples.  Of course it pales compared to Bentley but then any bike would!

I am leaving behind many projects unfinished.  I can feel like I failed this summer or I can celebrate what was done and promise to do better next summer.  I will take the high road "for sure".  Really there was much accomplished and among them were:

• the biggest was the sale of Terry's home
• Terry was able to get her tooth implant and it is perfect
• railings were put on the deck
• we took in our 3 national parks over the ocean as we spent 2 weeks visiting Hawaii
• we took in Deb's farm auction
• we were able to visit the Marlys/Dave in Jamestown and then stop for a time in Forman for a gathering of the Malhiem clan
• I took a trip to ND to get more weathered wood
• much work was done on the lawn.
• the post was put in at the bottom of the stairs but one little thing was not finished😟
• the threshold to our bedroom was made but is not fastened in yet
• many things were cleared out of the house
• we had a spectacular garden
• Terry got many tomatoes frozen
• we were able to have lunch with friends several times
• I did get on my bike 5-6 times a week
• THERE IS MORE TOO BUT THAT IS ENOUGH!
• As I read that list we did NOT just sit around and eat bon bons BUT I should have done more

I do not take the computer out on the road so my next blog will be sometime the first week of October.  I think Travis is moving into the house today or tomorrow.  It is nice to have someone here when we are gone.  

So it is time to sign off for a few days and get on Bentley even if it is still is not too light.  I had my FP today and it will get me to Madison for sure!

ONE

We will be in the car tomorrow on our way to Madison, South Bend, PeachTree City GA and then on to Naples where we will land maybe October 4th or 5th.  At that time Terry will begin to get in her walks and bike rides and I will attempt to get my tennis legs ready for the October 23rd opening of league play.  The tennis is serious but the fall is kind of like spring training for the winter season.  ALL is in fun but "for sure" it is always more fun to win!

The outdoor things are almost rapped up.  I mowed the lawn for the last time yesterday.  I am so so happy with the way it looks.  Travis will probably mow it a few times and then put winter fertilizer on before the snow comes.  I intend to do some work next spring to get the dead grass out and make it even nicer.  The other day I was wondering WHY I want the lawn to look nice.  I came to the conclusion that on the farm the lawn was kind of an after thought.  So now I can make up for it, maybe!

This week has been BIG.  Wednesday Terry got her implant tooth in and it is prefect.  It is hard to believe that things like that come at such a cost but the end result is wonderful and no more appliance thing in her mouth.  BUT the biggest thing happened yesterday.  We sat in the community center of the Mdewakanton Sioux Indian Tribe yesterday and Terry signed papers to sell her property to the tribe.  It has been 8+ years in the making but yesterday it came to an end and for that we are so thankful.  The place she called home for many many years is now not part of her life and she is good with that.  After the signing of all the papers Terry treated the 2 Realtors to an early lunch which was nice.  It seems that much of our summer has been taken up with the sale.  In terms of thinking, driving over there or some meetings so it is very good to have it in the past.

The title "ONE" means today is packing day as we hit the road tomorrow.  It will be visiting for the next several days and then we will be in Naples for several months.  In the last few years we have gone to Naples thinking that we may be going to Hawaii over Christmas but we took care of that this summer so NO plans for travel at this point.  I think our Florida time will be spent biking, reading, playing tennis, walking and enjoying.  Sounds like a winner to me.

I had my last summer breakfast this morning.  Larry and I met at Hy-Vee which has a great little cafe attached to the grocery store.  Bob and Pat were having breakfast at the same time.   As I left the cafe an hour and a half later I thought this is interesting.  Bob and Pat have moved from their homes they had when they were in the middle of busy family times.  Larry has moved into a different place.  A friend Bill has moved out of his family home of many many years.  Oh my, I must be keeping in touch with guys of a vintage age!!!  Am I next?  Well at this time NO but I think the time is coming down the road.

No here it is almost 10:00 AM and I have yet to accomplish anything today so it is time to sign off and get in gear to pack.  NO FP this morning as I over slept a bit for my breakfast meeting and I almost OD on coffee at the cafe.  BUT maybe I need some FP to install that "get up and go" thing.  I have to think about that.

Count down to 2----count down to 3!

Not a great picture but I am guessing it was taken around 1910 +/-.  My house was built in 1906 and I have pictures of a sidewalk from the front door out to the street.  But here NO sidewalk and trees all over so I am guessing it was an early early picture.  

The count down is on for Terry and I as well as the Twins!  The Twins magic number is 2 and I am sure they have a boat load of bubbly stuff waiting in the locker.  The magic number for Terry and I is 3, then it is off to Madison, South Bend, PeachTree City GA and then on to Naples.  As we assemble items in the den that go it looks like we will have a FULL car.  Terry has not ridden a bike for some time but her bike goes and we will be on the bike paths this winter.  In addition to that there are MANY boxes to go and the guitar Dave made for me.  Maybe we need a larger vehicle!  I am sure I will be able to pack all in the car.

We do have kind of a busy 3 days before we leave on Saturday.  I will be out with Travis for breakfast today and with Larry B on Friday.  Terry has an appt today and then 2 BIG appt tomorrow.  I think packing the car will take place on Friday PM.  I also want to mow the lawn one more time, maybe put down a winter fertilizer and then take the battery out of Terry's car that is in the garage.

I am leaving too many projects undone here in St. Paul.  The only thing I can say is "You had better work harder next summer Carmen!"  Really there are a couple of things that look to be done this summer and they are HUGE so all is not lost.

I put some more things out on the curb yesterday.  Several items went so that is good.  It looks like I will leave the pickup outside in the driveway this winter.  I do not like to do that but it will be fine.  

Terry and I took her grandson Thomas and his mother Mary out to eat yesterday and guess what?  We did not get a picture.  We do not see Thomas all that much and he has coal black hair that is long and VERY curly.  He is a couple months older than Henry but with a June 7th birthday he is a junior and Henry is a sophomore with a late August birthday.  We went out to Mary's favorite place "Mediterranean Cruise Cafe" which is in line with Mary's heritage.

I sit at the den window when I am at the computer.  Oh my those elementary school kids in the neighborhood are walking to school in the dark dark!  Today the sun came up at 7:01 and I saw kids walking shortly after 6:30.  

Enough for today as I need to get dressed and Travis will show up soon.  I did have my FP so now the big decision, do I need/want coffee at breakfast?

Last Sunday in MN for a while

The season is changing!  Each morning there is a new blanket of yellow leaves on the front yard.  Many trees are giving way to bare branches.  Garden plots have pretty much given of themselves to the point of bare soil now.  Summer is not giving up as the temp on Tuesday is supposed to be 80 but really most of the up coming days show temps in the 60s  or low 70s.  With all the rain we have had experts are saying the fall will have tremendous color so we will see.  Now, really most of the trees are still fairly green.  

Oh my I did a job yesterday that was no fun but I the feel the results were OK.  For some reason the house paint has had a weakness for mold the last few years.  Of course it looks awful and I am sure it is not good for the paint.  So yesterday I got the power washer up and running after trying to figure out how it works.  That tells you how often I use it, right.  After figuring out that in order to get the liquid mold remover to work I had to pull (hard) on the tip to pull it out about 1/4 inch I pretty much washed the north, east and south side of the house.  It did not come out prefect but it will do for now and "for sure" it looks much much better.  I have to make a note next early summer to power wash it again and it will then be ready for a paint job I am afraid!  It was last painted in the summer/fall of 2008.

After power washing the siding of course I then had to wash the windows as well as they were all spotted.  I was so so thankful for the pull out windows the are in the house now.  Just pull up, pull out and wash the outside.  As I watched a hired man climb a ladder next door yesterday to wash the windows I gave thanks for mine.

Enough for this Sunday morning.  I complimented my FP this morning with an Americano drink at the coffee shop.  I now have 62 stars!!!

Memories are forever, THINGS come and go!

The Lime bike got a new home yesterday.  I purchased it for Gail in 2009 when she could not ride a regular bike as cancer sapped her strength.  The Lime bike is a 3 speed automatic shift.  It was ridden maybe a couple of time by Gail and that was it.  I have ridden it a few times and Terry rode it once but it just is not your typical bike so it sat and sat and sat.  I offered it to the kids but no takers.  I offered it for sale but no takers.  However today a guy came by and was looking at it for his 83 year old father.  There is no hand gear shifting and it is a step through.  Trek made the bike for one year and I am guessing it was not a good seller.  Aaron purchased it for me at a discount and I THINK he got it for $350 or so.  I advertised it for $100, the guy offered me $60 and we settled on $70.  I am not a good negotiator so maybe he won!).  As Terry experienced last year when she sold a road bike the bike goes to a new home and the memories stay on.  Terry and I are now down to only 5 bikes.  We are taking her road bike to Naples this fall and I have a bike there.  We are hoping to do some riding together.  I really think the Lime bike is a good bike but what good is ANY bike if it sits in the garage or basement without any rider?

I did something this morning that I NEVER do.  There is a gal in the coffee shop, Shelly.  I told her about my book and she said she would like to buy one.  I brought it in today and in the bargain I got a free cup of coffee!  There were a couple of older guys (one younger than I) sitting drinking coffee.  I actually sat down with them and chatted for about 15 minutes!  I have never done that before.  I then got on Bentley and rode home.

I am now on my way to run an errand and then maybe try to get some work done.

We received a gentle light rain of .15" early morning which once again will help my grass seed grow.  Terry and I went out on the front lawn yesterday and it appears that some of the seed is growing so I have high hopes that next spring it will enhance the lawn.  I continue to be amazed at how green the lawns are and here we are on the down side of September.

No, time to close and do that errand before most folks wake up and get busy on Saturday.

I will have one last cup of FP heated up when I return.

Last of the 80s we think

the front of the house MANY MANY years ago

It was September 21, 1956.  We had been going to school in Cayuga for about 3 weeks now.  It was so different than Wood Lake School.  I missed the mile and a half walk, especially in the afternoon.  No longer could I throw stones at fence posts or see how far I could kick a stone in front of me on the gravel road.  Instead it was be sure you are out by the mailbox by 7:05 as the big yellow bus would be coming from the north after picking up Ricky.  It was then an hour and a half ride before we got to Cayuga.  I did make some new friends and one was on the bus, Tom.  The bus ride was not all that bad as cousins Linda and Gayle were on the bus too.  I was still in shock about my classmates.  There were several boys and most of them did not seem to engage in school to any degree.  Well actually there were two.  Larry and Arthur seemed to be nice and kind of smart too.  BUT some of the guys just seemed to be taking up space.  As I sat up in bed I recalled how the first couple of days of school the teacher had us do sheets with 100 addition or subtraction facts on it.  I finished and most of the kids were still only half or less finished.  Well I thought I guess the 100s of times I did those in Wood Lake School helped!  I still wished we were going to Wood Lake School.  My room in Cayuga was down in the basement so as one looked out the windows you looked at ground level.  It also was across the hall from the lunch room.  Most of the time I would rather have had Mom's homemade lunch then the hot lunch we had there.  If they had hamburgers, that was OK!
Today started out like a fun time.  Dad headed to Geneseo before Dave and I got out of bed and I could hear raindrops on the unfinished roof of the house.  I wondered if we would have enough rain for me to play in the mud draining the water from the garden spot to the grassy area south of the driveway.  If I could do that I knew it would be a fun day.  NO outdoor work today.  Dad had left some orders about feeding the calves and making sure they had water.  After a breakfast of pancakes and chokecherry syrup Dave and I headed out to the barn.  After feeding the calves we decided to play tag on the beams above the calf pens.  We had done that many times and it always was fun.  After about 20 minutes Dave said he was IT and we would play one more game.  As I tried to evade him I jumped across one beam to another over the second calf pen but my foot slipped on the beam that was smooth and down I went head first into the pen.  That was one time I was glad our pens were NOT cleaned as the soft manure cushioned my fall BUT still I landed head first and as I lie there I could hardly breathe.  Dave helped me up and I staggered into the house to be tended to by nurse Mom.  That was it for me for the day.  As I lay there with a headache and sore neck I thought what a wasted rainy day this is!

Terry and I pretty much cleaned up the garden yesterday.  We have several containers of tomatoes that will go to Naples and ripen on the way down.  There were a couple of peppers also.  I still have some work to do but not much.  I will take the vines to the compose today.

I did get my bike ride in this morning.  My FP is finished and I THINK I had better get some work done, really!

Ten days and counting!

When we are in St. Paul I enjoy going to men's group each week.  The group is part of People of Praise and it is used to bond friendships, share God in our life and support each other in our walk of living for Jesus and sharing Jesus with others.  Last night was the last regular men's group I will be at before we head back to Naples.  We gathered at the oldest saloon in St. Paul which is NOT a saloon anymore.  It has weathered pine floors from the 1850s and so much more old material in the building which is so interesting.  It was a fun evening.

We got a lot done yesterday but really did not get anything done.  How about that for a statement!  Terry's son Brian had things at the Prior Lake property which he wanted so we took them to our place.  Our car was full, our pick up was full and some things were in the house.  Brian and Tammy drove up from Iowa yesterday and we were able to get everything in his pick up by filling the extended cab and putting the tail gate down.  SO all is out of our car, pickup and house.  That was a good thing.

Today we are in the third of four days in the 80s and then we are looking at 70s and 60s until we leave.  We did fine without AC Monday and yesterday as we had company both days.  We still have AC in our bedroom window and that may stay there until the day before we leave.

I want to get a package mailed today and some work done on projects around the house today.  Now that we are finished with company and STUFF is out of the house and vehicles I feel we can start to put things in order to put in the car for our trip south.  IF I do not start a week in advance and each day put somethings in place I rush at the end and forget somethings.  That is NOT to say my method is fool proof but it works fairly well.

This sounds like "old people talk" and maybe it is but as I look at the summer, which is about gone, I could say not much was done.  BUT really IF we can head south saying some projects were done, Terry's tooth implant is in and Terry's property is sold, that will be huge and I certainly can wait until another summer for projects.

FP is gone and Bentley is waiting for the trails.

A late summer heat wave

My house a LONG time ago.  This was taken from the SW corner of the lot.  There is an attic window now but none then.  There are 2 piano windows now but nothing then.  The back door is in a different place too.  It looks like Tom Ruth's parents had a large garden!  Of course the biggest difference is there is no dormer in this picture.  I do not know when the dormer was added.

We had a fun time with Connie and Darrel yesterday.  They go way back with Terry.  There are always jokes and laughter (even if the jokes are not funny!) when we get together.  Terry has a 10:00 appt today but that should be the last appt until Thursday next week.

Tammy and Brian are coming up tomorrow to get STUFF.  The pick up and the car are currently full with some things in the house as well.  I would say that come Thursday it probably will be finishing up some projects and start the process of packing for Naples.

We are in the second day of 4 in which we are looking at 80s. By Saturday it should be 70s and then 60s on Sunday.  I took the living room AC unit out of the window and it looks like I was a bit premature!  We will do fine and I have NO intention of putting it back in for 3 days.

I do need to start thinking about stopping the paper, stopping the garbage, putting the internet on hold and then Terry usually forwards the mail.  There is no hurry but leaving those things until the last minute usually is not a good idea.

My FP was delicious this morning and my words are over so will sign off.

We start the last half of September 2019

A couple days ago I decided to put in a new oven light as the bulb was burned out.  The bulb is covered with a small glass cover that screws on and off.  I quickly unscrewed the glass cover and realized the bulb is recessed into the top of the oven.  I could get my hands on the bulb but when I unscrewed it the bulb broke and this stayed in the socket.  Well the long story gets longer.  I had to get my head in the oven to see what was up there.  Oh, I did unplug it first!  Then the door had to come off and how did that work.  There is nothing better than U Tube to get the answer.  It showed how to do it.  So there I was with my head and back lying on the oven element looking into a dark hole!  AFTER about 15 minutes I was able to loosen it and then slowly, oh so slowly turn it to get it out AND I did not even cut my fingers!  It was then only a matter of a couple minutes to screw the new bulb in, put the cover on, reattach the oven door and things were good to go!

We are expecting Connie and Darrel over for lunch today.  I think Terry has the same menu planned as last Monday when Norma and Wayne came over.  I think it is homemade tomatoes soup made with garden tomatoes, tenderloin with a salad and of course a baguette has to accompany the steak.  Maybe a cucumber thing too so it will be kind of a garden to table meal.  I think, for my part, I need to go to Lunds this morning for a few items.  I will get my Bentley ride in doing it as there are not many items.  

I stopped at the coffee shop yesterday and added to my 50 stars there.  Now I have 53!  I did not want to use my free $5 as it is too much fun knowing I have something free coming!  WHAT IS LIFE ABOUT IF YOU CAN'T LOOK FORWARD TO SOMETHING?  I will leave the $5 there until next spring and I can think about it all winter.  Then on my first Bentley ride when we come back I will get a FREE drink and enjoy.

I can not believe how nice the lawn looks.  Just had to say that.

I do not know what causes this but once in a while I will wake up with a sour taste in my mouth that is awful.  Last night, at around midnight, I woke up with a mouth of yellow bile stuff that was AWFUL!  It took me about 30 minutes to kind of get the taste out of my mouth and then go back to sleep.  That had NOT happened in a long time.

Enough for now as Bentley is waiting, the FP is almost history and I need to get some things done.

Oh so close to the 40s as a temp of 50 shows on my phone!

How about that!  Grandson Jude may follow in Grandpa's footsteps!  I asked Cynthia if they play tackle at Jude's age (10) and she said she thinks they have a bar on their back which you need to grab to tackle.  Anyway I think Jude will be a good player

The printed word shows all and today marks 10 years since Gail died.  It seems like yesterday but yet it seems like a LONG time ago.  So much has happened in life since September 14, 2009.  Six new grand children have graced the Lee clan and there is a seventh on the way.  Cynthia/Mike have moved to a new house and Mary/John have moved to a new city.  Amy/Aaron remain in the same city but are in a new home for them.  Travis is out of his condo and has a new job since 2009.  For me Terry has come into my life and we have done so so much to 2094 Niles Ave.  We all know that life goes on in good times as well as difficult times and God desires us to follow him and live in the moment.

This morning is the first in a while where I can see blue sky and there is no trace of rain on the back deck.  Perhaps we will dry out today and stay that way for a few days.  I think I need to mow the lawn when it gets dry.

That darn fridge is acting up again and this time I wrote down the err code. 1F. Maybe that will help the repair man figure out what is wrong!  I went on line last night and was able to set up an appt TODAY.  It is for some time between 8:00 AM-4:00 PM so I need to stay close to my phone.  I have this account that sends me a monthly bill and then certain things are covered for repair.  Sometimes I am not sure it is worth it BUT when a person is able to get them to come out so quickly maybe it is worth it.  Last year the furnace would not go on and they came in a couple of hours.  That was nice.

Terry and I made a couple more trips yesterday.  One related to her dental implant and one more, and I would say last, to her property in Prior Lake.  The count down is now 12 days and counting.  AND it may be that same count for her implant.  Soon it will be no more flipper to take in and out of her mouth.  We are so thankful to our dental office for making it happen before we leave for Naples.

I THINK I need not run/drive any place today so maybe, just maybe, I can get some work done as there is plenty to do before we leave.  The house is almost like those horses on the show we watch often.  Wanting attention, wanting a goodie etc😀.  Then there is the yard that also begs for time spent in fertilizing, weed killing etc.  Anyway I have 14 days to get some things done but also during that time there is packing to do!

Time to get on Bentley as the sun is now up and it is a good time for a short ride.  My FP is about gone.

and the monsoon continue into today!

It is almost that time of year.  When the air is crisp, the corn turns yellow and then the corn crib is filled with cobs.  After the corn is picked Dad will let the cows out into the corn field to salvage the cobs that are on the ground.  A wonderful time of year on the farm.  As I look at this picture I am not so sure about my clothes.  It may be the best Mom could do but really that hat is crazy and the shoes, they look like I could be the third generation to wear them!  I know, many kids in the world have NO shoes so I had many blessings.  At least it was not cold enough to have Mom force me to put the ear laps down!  Actually it certainly looks like I am having fun.  I am trying to figure out where this picture was taken.  I think it is in the front yard with the background looking north towards Berts. 

Oh my the rains continue to come.  Yesterday we received 1.3".  I looked at the rain gauge this morning at 6 and we had .3" over night and it has been raining since so I am thinking the lawns and trees are getting a good soaking leading up to winter.  I know, it is only September 12th but the weather says winter is not that far away.  We should hit 80s early week but then it is down to the 60s again by next Saturday. 

I say this again, kind of a busy day for a retired guy!  Terry has a dental appt at 10 and while she is at that I need to run an errand.  I THINK I have an appt for a car aliment this afternoon but I have to check to make sure.  

As I look out the window and see the water running down the street I THINK a bike ride is NOT in order this morning.  In the distance I hear thunder and I can see lightening so I think clear skies are a long way off!

I will sign off for now and finish my FP.

More rain and more rain-great for the lawn!

The width you see is the width of the store!

fourteen stools is what they have!

half the omelet came home

Travis and I had a fun breakfast this morning.  Al's cafe in Dinky Town (University of Minnesota Campus) is a Twin City Icon for sure.  They have a counter with 14 stools and it runs the length of the cafe.  I asked the lady working and she said they often have long waiting lines, especially on weekends.  They are open for breakfast and lunch with closing time 1:00 PM.  The front of the store where I am standing tells you how wide it is!  The food was good--the coffee not so great but it was a fun time as neither Travis or I had ever been there.  They open at 6:00 AM and we arrived about 6:30 which was great.  There were two stools open and the parking meters start at 8:00 so no parking $$.  I asked the guy serving and he said about 60% of the guests are U of M students.  As I observed while eating I am guessing they have many regulars daily.  Toast came with the omelet but everything else was al a carte.  Not sure I got that word correct but everything was order item by item!

Oh my I made a trip to Twin City Refuse this morning with a pickup load of STUFF.  Everything that went out had been in the attic of the garage or in the basement for many years residing there with no call for usage!  As I threw each item out on the pile of junk many brought back memories of LONG AGO.  Some good and some not so good.  I am thinking there is another load in the attic and then the garage would be pretty clean.  I do not think I will get to that this fall but one load out was sure nice.  Makes me think I should keep the pick up for a while.  I will share just one of the many items.  There was a shawl that I had purchased for Gail from the Indian store south of Devils Lake.  It was dirty and had holes in it so of course no good.  It brought back the time that Grandma and Grandpa Saunders came to visit and we drove out to the store!  Grandma bought the very same shawl for herself!  Gail never could figure that one out!  Enough of this junk!

I emptied the rain gauge this morning and the thunder and lightening storm dropped an inch of rain over night.  Now, 4 hours later we have a nice steady rain again.  Over seeded lawn, GROW!

I am making a trip to Prior Lake today to load some of Brian's (Terry's son) things into the pickup and he will pick them up next Wednesday.  There is a king size mattress and I am not sure how we will fit that into the pickup.  I think there is some furniture also.  

Travis and I left for breakfast around 6 this morning and I did not have time to make my FP so I just may do that now and enjoy it for a time.  Enough writing for this morning.

The rain continues

The first day of school is no longer relevant in this family but "for sure" it was for 25+ years with kids and 38 years with my teaching.  This was the first day of school in 1977.  I posted this on Facebook yesterday and may have posted it incorrectly.  Here John was starting second grade and Travis kindergarten.  It turned out to be a short time at St. Joseph Elementary in Devils Lake as we moved in October of that year.  I would say Mom and Dad went all out with that fancy lunch pail and nice school bag!

One could not have script the over seeding of the lawn any better than it has been.  I mowed and got the seed down on Friday evening and we have had cool temps and moisture every day since.  I am expecting the lawn to look perfect next spring.  Well not really but I do think the over seeding will make it look much nicer.  With these weather conditions much of the seed HAS to germinate.

We had a nice time with Norma and Wayne yesterday as they came over about noon and stayed until close to 3.  Norma was Terry's legislative assistant for some of the time she served in the Minnesota Senate.  They are such a nice couple and I would say great people.  Wayne surprised me with some venison sausage.   I was surprised because he did not get a deer last fall but he said his son did and gave him some sausage.  So nice of him to share.  I had a bite last night and it is VERY good.  I hope that Terry and I, at their age, can be as active as they are.  

A couple of things today.  Terry has a short dental appt this after noon, I have a breakfast at 7:00 with Larry and I THINK a solar guy is coming over at 10:00.  I say "think" because there has been more than one slip up with this company so we will see.  The guy showed up yesterday when we had company and I had told the contact person so will we will see what happens today.

I am forgoing my FP early today as I will have coffee at breakfast but I may need some when I get home to jump start the work day!  Enough for now.

What a surprise!

That trap is almost too small for that critter!

I have traps set in the back yard so IF I capture a squirrel I relocate them BUT this morning there was NOT a squirrel but a raccoon in the trap.  It had moved the trap about a foot in trying to escape but to no avail.  I think there are raccoons that live under the shed in the back.  This was a very mature adult so it will be good to relocate it.  An interesting start to kind of a busy week.  

In the professional world a busy week would include maybe some games, parent conferences, school meetings, lessons to prepare etc BUT in retirement a busy week looks like this:

• a noon lunch with Norma and Wayne today
• I have a breakfast meeting at 7:00 on Tuesday
• Terry has a 1:00 dental appt on Tuesday
• Wednesday morning breakfast with Travis
• I have an aliment appt for the car on Wednesday 
• Also on Wednesday there is a men's night 
• Thursday Terry has a 10:00 AM appt regarding her tooth implant(may have to stop at the bank first!)
• Friday the 13th is FREE
• Saturday there is a community wide celebration

So there it is, a busy schedule for a retired school teacher!  

We had perfect weather for my lawn seeding.  We had cloudy skies and about 0.2" of rain.  That will help get those seeds into the ground.  We are supposed to get rain today as well.  By the time Tuesday comes around I may not have to water too much.  I was happy to get those seeds down Saturday just before dark.

We had a cloudy cool day with a high of 61 yesterday.  I turn on the furnace in the morning for Terry just for about 35 minutes and then it is good for the day.  Cool also today but then up to 79/80 on Tuesday but then in the 70s and a 60 until September 15th.  I took the window AC out of the guest room yesterday as well as the AC out of the living room.  The bedroom AC will come out about mid week I think!  Getting ready for late fall and winter I would say.

I watched most of the Viking game yesterday.  I watch very little NFL as most Sundays we do not get the Vikings in Naples unless they are on national TV.  That may be the only game I watch this year.  They looked good with a 28-12 win and the 12 points came in the last few minutes of the game.  

As I look at the 10 day forecast for St. Paul I see where summer really does not want to leave.  We have a 79 in store for tomorrow and then mostly 70s and a 60+ BUT then next Monday and Tuesday it looks like 80/79 again!  Well next Tuesday October will be pretty much half gone so I am guessing 80 on that day would be above normal.

No I hear Terry stirring up stairs as she has some things she wants to get done before Norma and Wayne come so I need to get to work too.  Actually I may get on Bentley as we need milk for homemade tomato soup and a baguette to go with the meal and I can get those things on my bike.  Carmen, take the last few sips of FP (Kona) and then steer Bentley towards the grocery store.

53, the coolest temp in some time but better than Jamestown ND at 48!

A work in progress.  That is half of the front lawn.  I moved the mower blade down 2 stops and then did a fall seeding.  I figured I could not go wrong with a $20 bag of seed when sodding came in anywhere from $1700-$6100!  We are having cool temps and we did get 0.1" of rain last night so that is good.  We are supposed to get more rain this afternoon and tomorrow and that is what the new seed needs.  Next spring we will see what we have.  One can see that there is a smattering of leaves down and they will continue that way for a while.  I was wondering yesterday why I so enjoy trying to take good care of the lawn and I guess it is just a challenge and also it is nice to have the yard look well kept.  

Yesterday Terry and I drove to the house she still owns but looks to close with the sale in 3 weeks.  She lived there for 30+ years and did so so much in keeping it up.  It is on a 15+ acre plot with a pond and many trees so the work to keep things looking nice was a lot.  Over the last several years, when Terry had not been there, the grounds and house have deteriorated some.  I thought it may be a tearful good-bye but that was not the case.  September 26th looms as the big day.

I think I may need a warm jacket on Bentley this morning.  I will try to get on the bike no later than 7:30.

I left THINGS on the curb until yesterday afternoon as it looked like rain.  I would say 60-70% of the TREASURES found a new home.  I was sitting here at the computer yesterday morning and a truck pulling a wagon of brush stopped.  Three men got out and made off with maybe 10 items!  Some of the things left will go to the refuse.  There is more to come "for sure"!

It is October of 1965.  I am 6 weeks into college.  Marlys and Dave got married last month and now have a place in Fargo.  Janet is living in south Fargo as John is waiting to be deployed to Viet Nam.  Joan and Ron live in south Fargo so I have a lot of family to visit BUT no transportation!  I look in the ads of the Fargo Forum and there in the very first "bike" ad is something that looks great.  I am living away from home for the first time and I miss the "little bike and big bike".  The bike is listed for sale a short distance from Reed Hall where Larry F and I are living.  I walk over and look at it.  They figure they need $15.  I take a ride and it is actually a better bike than on the farm.  I offer them $10 and they take it.  I am excited!  Now I can bike to Daves, Joans and Janets anytime I want.  I may even be able to avoid studying by going on visits!  The bike proves to be great transportation for me all year long.  In December, when the snow comes, I just let some air out so the tires gripe better and I am good to go wherever I want.  I end up retiring it when I purchase my Harley Sprint 250 in April but from October-April it is a grand form of travel for me.  I even survived a head on crash with a car!  They offered to pay for a new wheel.
The life of a farm boy living in the city for the first time and going to school provides many memorable times.  It also means that all the food one wants is there for the taking and by December I am 15 pounds over weight.  By May I am back to normal.

No, time to close, get those warm clothes on and go for a ride.  I can't stop in at the coffee shop that gives stars because I now have 50 stars and I need to rejoyous for a while before I use my $5 credit!!!

I am sipping the last of my FP which is Kona today.  I will savor it ALL day.

Today, the first Saturday of the month--I was wrong yesterday!

I am going on a ride early today.  I need to get those last 4 stars so I can have a free cup of coffee.  Let me see, a star for every $ spent that means $50 for a free cup of coffee-I guess that is not such a good deal BUT it is fun!

Oh my goodness.  It looks like fallish kind of temps in the 60s today, Sunday and Monday and then 84 on Tuesday but by Friday down to 63 again.  This is Minnesota, right?

Not much to say today except I am going to work today.  Actually Terry and I did work yesterday.  We took MANY items to the curb from the attic in the garage.  What does not go by Monday morning will be put in the back of the pick up and to the refuse it goes.  I do want to give everyone a chance at those treasures!!!  I took things down yesterday and Terry carried them to the curb.  Perhaps more today!

As I read the sports today I was reminded of a treasure I purchased around 1957 or so.  I would often listen to the St. Louis Cardinals on the radio.  They advertised cardinal pen and pencil set in the shape of bats!  How could a young kid resist that?  I sent in my money and sure enough I received them in the mail in a couple of weeks.

I think mine were burned in the farm fire but they were just like this!  I remember looking at them and using them some almost everyday as they were so special!

No, it is near 7:00 and the coffee shop opens at 7:00.  I need to get there before the crowd arrives.  I already finished my FP so I am good to get on Bentley and go.

6th, first Friday in September!

I think I am allowed to reminisce on weekends and here we are at Friday, the end of the first week of school this year for many.  Those thoughts bring me back to the many school teams I coached during my 38 years in education.  The list goes something like this:

• assist football coach at the School for the Deaf in Devils Lake
• 7/8 grade basketball coach at the School for the Deaf in Devils Lake
• baseball coach at Highland Junior
• boys soccer coach at Highland Junior
• girls soccer coach at Highland Junior
• boys soccer coach at Highland Catholic 
• girls soccer coach at Highland Catholic
• girls soccer coach at Trinity

Perhaps the most hectic time was when I coached soccer at Highland Junior and soccer at Trinity both in the fall of the same year.  That was a bit crazy.  Hands down the most athletic youth I ever coached was Drexel Lawson at the School for the Deaf.  I coached him as a 7th and 8th grade basketball player BUT his sport was track.  While a senior he won the state track championship for the school by winning the 100, 200, 400 and the long jump!  I have never seen a track athlete do what he did.  In the 200 and 400 he would come around the last bend and be about even but then he put it into overdrive and would pull away with ease.  

I need to over seed part of the front yard lawn today.  I think I will cut it low and then spread seed as it is supposed to rain Sunday and Monday.  The second bid I received for re sodding part of the front lawn was $6100+.  Don't think I need nor want to go there.  For that money I could catch a first class flight to Hawaii, stop at Costco and buy 164 pounds of Kona coffee and fly home and the money would have been better spent!!!  Of course I will do neither!

Cool weather stays with us.  Seventy-five today but then 6 of the next 9 days we will have highs in the 60s.  In Naples that is often the low in January!

With 4 pounds of Kona coffee burning a hole in the basement shelf I HAD to open one and grind a pound.  Oh my to put fresh ground Kona in the stainless steel FP pot and wait for 10 minutes is almost heaven!  I would say coffee for this morning and no need for food!

I thought we would in for a great fix BUT!

Our fridge has been acting up the last few days/weeks.  I was ready to put it on the Injured Reserve list BUT we did have a better option.  Not sure if this is a good deal but we pay a monthly fee to insure things like the stove, fridge, washer, dryer etc.  So I called Center Point to have them come out and look at no cost. I made the appt on line on Friday.  They said they would be out Wednesday,
Yesterday,  Tuesday they confirmed they would arrive between 10:00-2:00.  We got a phone call about 1:50 saying they had an emergency and would be out before 9:00 PM!!!  Nice way to ruin an entire day!  I went to Men's Group at 7:30 and Terry said she would call if/when they came.  About 8:20 I got a text saying they were on their way.  Finally at 8:55 the tech knocked on the front door.  They said by 9:00, right!  As he walked into the kitchen he said, "I know what the problem is". I thought and I haven't even explained.  He then pointed to the letter on the door: LG!!!  He said if LG and Samsung did not exist his work would be cut in half!  He was here about half an hour and MAYBE things are fixed.  There were 2 items that had slipped out of the freezer and were behind the pull out.  We think that may have caused things to not shut entirely and also caused other problems.  It seems kind of crazy because IF the fridge were a football player there would have been a leg injury, an arm injury and maybe a head injury too!!!  But we will see.  I had taken the ice maker out as it had started to melt.  This morning there is good ice.  It does not sound bad and all seems A-OK.  Time will tell.  Anyway it was a day when not much, if anything got done but IF the fridge is good to go now maybe it was not all bad,

Have to take the car in tomorrow.  The tech at Costco said there is cupping on both rear wheels.  It may be shocks or suspension.  I am wondering if towing the camper 50,000 miles caused that.  We will see tomorrow and then we may see $$ too.

We are having trouble getting our departure date set.  Maybe we can finalize it today.  Talking about finalizing things the Realtor is setting up a closing date on Terry's property so that looks very good to be finished with it by the end of September.  The building inspection is scheduled for today.

I may sit by the computer all day and look out the window.  I look out at the front yard and oh my it is so so so different than just 2 or 3 years ago.  I have said in the past it is FAR from a manicured lawn but it does look pretty nice.  I would say 10 years ago 50% of the front lawn was only 50% grass and the rest was dirt spots.  The GOOD 50% was VERY weedy but today after years of spot killing weeds and monthly fertilizer it looks pretty good.

I have to stop and comment.  Two young girls just walked by on their way to the bus stop.  I promise you they are going to public school.  The older one, maybe junior high, is showing about 3 inches of her middle between blouse and short shorts and her shorts do NOT cover her butt cheeks.  It is hard for me to believe they allow that kind of dress in any school.  I am not being sexist when I say the boys will notice.

No I have not been on Bentley in a couple of days so will do that now.  I need a few more stars at the coffee shop to get my free cup of Java.  Yes, I did have my FP but a little more is always good and "for sure" it is only for the stars one gets!

It was a year of disappointments, a year of learning, a year of decisions "for sure"!

I started my senior year of high school with football practice in mid August with high hopes.  The football team had won the conference the fall of 1963 and we had several players back who I felt could make the season a success.  Being the captain I felt I had a lot of responsibility BUT there were signs that things may not pan out so great.  Mr. Hanson, the coach in the past, moved on and we had a new coach, Mr. Murray.  He was a new PE teacher and as the season wore on I came to believe he knew as much about football as I did about dance!!!  John Carlen, one of our best athletes and our quarterback, broke his arm early on and was out for the season.  Dan J, a big lineman got hurt and with all those things the season went south in a hurry.  We did have HUGE George H who needed to weigh himself on the grain elevator scale but it turned out that it was all he could do to get himself from the huddle to the line of scrimmage!  Football season was a disaster and I took it as part of it was my fault.  Then there was basketball.  Going into the last couple games of the season we were 11-8 but our schedule was difficult.  We played teams from Fargo Shanley, Wahpeton, Lisbon and others that were actually Class A and much larger.  We still more than held our own and in the conference were 9-1.  Big Dan got hurt and we went into the district tournament with hopes but with concerns.  We ended up losing our first game by 2 but taking 5th and a trophy!  Such was our sports for the year.  I did join track but Dad did not want me to stay after school so I trained by myself during a free period.  Track was ok but no state appearances in that.  Such was my senior year of sports.  I could go into my social life but will not go there today!  It was in sports that I begin to realize that often the good things in life are in the journey and not always in the end result.  I loved football more than school, more than basketball and pretty much more than anything.  With the season as a disaster I had to hang onto tiny things with the team and on the field in order to have any fun during the season.  Not sure I did a very good job but there was some success.

I find myself now at times thinking back to those days and realizing that they were really very good and a lot of fun.  I try not to think about the way some things went because of my weaknesses or shortcomings.  I find that IF I do that the good of the past fails to come through.  Another thing that I have come to believe from the past is one makes their own breaks.  If one fails it is because of personal reasons and not because of other factors.  If one is successful the same is true.  Now granted there are often outside forces that influence life BUT in the end one has to own up to who you are and why you are that way. The old saying of if life serves you lemons make lemonade is true in my book. I have a saying of my own.  If life throws you a curve ball straighten it out with a good swing!

THIS STORY IS A GOOD WAY TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

So many things happen the first day of school.  September 5th, 2006 and it is the FIRST day of school.  Actually it is the first day of my last year of teaching.  AND the first day tells a lot to me.  The teacher whom I share a room with had sent an e-mail in early August to say she was having a get together with the incoming 7th graders at her house in August.  I sent her a reply and said that was a great idea and I would be there.  I said I could NOT come the week of the 14th as I would be at a Christian camp the entire week.  To NO surprise she had the gathering that week!  So went the year, like that!  The students wander into the room on Tuesday and of course gravitate towards her and talk about the party they had.  I sit at my desk and wonder if this is going to be an interesting year.  IT WAS!  Enough of the first day of my last year!!!

We had thunder bumpers and lighting BIG TIME last night.  I checked the rain gauge this morning and it showed .55" of rain.  Oh my our rainy summer goes on and on.  I just saw my first school bus go past, the school year is happening.  Of course the rain means the garden will continue to grow things we probably do not know what to do with.  It looks like a table out front with free veggies is soon in order.

I am going to start this morning to my count down to Naples.  Not that I can hardly wait but rather to make sure I get some thing done and I must start to get this body (less 10 pounds would be good-15 would be great and 20 would be a mountain top experience ) into some kind of tennis shape.  Of course one never gets in tennis shape until you get on the court but it helps if you do not have to move extra weight around all the time!

So it is finish the FP and get to doing some things.

A grand weather day for Labor Day 2019 AND a sibling birthday at that!

Joan has a birthday today.  I need not say how old she is but she is older than Dave, Helen and I!  I will take a short time to say that my siblings are special and in MANY ways.  It would not be fair for me to single out any one or any trait but "for sure" Joan, Dave and Helen are all special in many ways.  Among the things that they have done or are doing are being:

• a great professional
• a super mom
• being a great dad
• exceeding the standards for being a wife and husband
• caring for children, grand children and great grand children
• showing others how to be a special friend 
• having so so many skills in life 
• showing and expressing love to all
• AND the list could go on
• I should add that ALL are great at having fun!

A happy birthday to sister Joan and of course to Helen and Dave as well as their birthdays were in August and June--I know I am late with them!

Being Labor Day my thoughts go back to the many many years (38) I sat at home on this day thinking about tomorrow, the first day of students.  Some of the most memorable ones are:

• Perhaps the most vivid is the Labor Day of 1969.  I was getting ready for my very first class which was a 4th grade at the School for the Deaf in Devils Lake.  I did not know if Superintendent Hayek wanted to test me early or if he had something against me because he had given me a class, of mostly boys, who had almost driven the teacher the year before crazy.  After I had experienced being chased with a compass, dealt with going to the bathroom on the floor, dealing with our plants in the window that were destroyed and on and on I knew what the deal was.  He did not like Me!!!  That is not true but it certainly was a year to remember for many reasons.
• The next most vivid year was 37 years later, my last year of teaching.  I knew it would be my last year and again it turned out to be memorable in many ways.
• Perhaps I can fit in another first day which was not the day after Labor Day.  It was Monday, October 3 of 1977.  We were moving to St. Paul and I had come down 2 weeks early to start teaching.  I walked into my room at Ramsey Junior High not knowing a thing about what had happened the first 4 weeks of school.  I did not know the schedule, the kids, the textbooks I was supposed to use, fellow teachers or anything.  If one has every heard of "going in cold' or baptism under fire" that was me.  It was a FIRST day that lingers in the mind forever.
• I could go on and on but I will say the first day was usually one of anticipation, hope and plans.  It seems I always had a sense of excitement as it usually was new students, often a new room and on and on.  I should mention the first day of school in 1999.  At the last minute they put me in a room that had been used as a storage room the year before.  I guess they felt the deaf kids were not that important.  I walked into a room with no desks, only tables and some chairs.  Along the wall were stacked boxes high to the ceiling and on and on.  NOT a good start to say the least.

So I sit here this morning thinking about the past, deciding about today and wondering about the future.  Here I am twelve years removed from "the first day" thing.  It is a good thing but then I wonder if it is so good to be 72!  Well I can think of MANY other things that could be worse!  Of course I am thankful for being alive and have a wonderful life.

I just poured the last of the FP so it may be time to move on for the day.

Thirty days has September and here it is for 2019

What is the connection and why are they important to me?

There is NO way anybody knows the answers so will give them today.  The top picture is the bar in Geneseo which was there when I was living at home at well.  Back then Roman owned it and I THINK he did an OK business.  There were bullhead fish fries on Fridays during the summer, dances on Saturday night and of course liquor for all!  The reason I post it is Roman would give Dad his haircuts.  I have NO idea how or where that started as I am positive he was not a barber but that was Dad's "go to place" for his hair.  Maybe Dad found out Roman gave haircuts one of the times Eleanor asked Dad to drive to Geneseo to get Bert out of the bar that he had been in for days!  The bottom picture is the corner of Hwy 11 and Geneseo mainstream!  Fritz, the mailman, had a gas station and convenience store on that corner.  You could stop there in the early 60s and perhaps get gas for $0.30 a gallon and then pick up a handful of liquorice sticks shaped like a pipe and be on your way.  Of course Fritz's favorite delivery to our place would be in the spring when he would drive into our yard with a box of 100 chicks!  It would not be unusual, if we met him at the mailbox, to get a candy bar from him!  As one can see time changes things "for sure".

When I finish blogging I am going to get on Bentley for a short ride.  I am sure my back is good enough for that.  I have not been on the bike since the back went bad.  

We are in for another perfect weather day.  High in the upper 70s with no rain.  I am guessing the state fair is going to be a popular place in its last full day.

Enough for this morning for now.  Maybe something later, not sure.  The FP is only half finished.