Returning Troops

With the Dems taking control of both houses we should start to see lots of this kind of pictures of returning troops from Iraq. My guess is that anytime after the 20th of January this will be a very common picture in the news. But what kind of pictures are you going to see coming out of Iraq? Will there be celebrations there as well?

Happy Days are here again!

Just what is your fair share? The more you make the more they take. Will us guys in the lower bracket see our taxes go up or down under thes new politacal leadership both on a local and national level? I know I enjoyed my taxes going down...remember the checks you got for surpluses in Minnesota? Did you send yours back to the treasurer?

Gas Prices and The Republicans

I hear a lot of people suggesting the Republicans had something to do with the falling price of fuel prior to the election. Now that the dems are clearly in charge, gas should start dropping fairly quickly. Many people said it was to keep the Republicans in power...We'll it did not work so lets just keep track of this trend. My guess is that the gas should be on a downward spiral starting about the 20th of January 2007. We'll see!

Reflecting...Remembering...Reflecting

I woke up this morning knowing that "today is the day," for a couple of things...voting & turning older. I share my b-day occasionally with our patriotic duty & right. For a couple of months now, I have been reminded of this day through emails, posters &, of course, the media. Won't it be nice to have November 7th behind us?

I have spent some time just reflecting...remembering...& reflecting again. I know that we hear people say, "where did the time go?" & I have been asking myself this question over the last half of this year.

The second half of my life is so different than the first half, not better, nor worse, only different. There are a couple of differences that I thought I'd share with all of you...& I am curious, does anyone else notice these differences?

The first difference has to do with the amount of people that are going through our doors on a daily & weekly basis. I used to think the door would fall off of its hinges due to overuse. The difference now has to do with the nest being empty...& when the nest was full, there were always kids, activity and noise around. Not bad, just different.

Another difference has to do with family get togethers and holidays...and getting our family to come together peacefully can be stressful. I heard something today that made sense to me...all families feel stress when everyone is together & there probably isn't a family alive that isn't dysfunctional to some degree. What does that mean? Does it mean that we are "normal" after all?? That is an interesting thought to me. Not different, not bad.

Reflecting, remembering...all the fun times that we had together...and hoping in the future there will be more times to reflect and remember. I guess that is what birthdays are for...to reflect & remember. Another difference, all good!

"Get out and Vote...what don't part don't you understand?"

Two down-One to go!

With Sadam sentenced to die by hanging-that's two down and one to go...what about Kim? and Iran? and Saudi? There must be more...Darfor...

Lounge About and Beer

The time is flying by...I was looking through emails and noticed that we had an email from Carol. Lounge About already? Well, we are going to go and I hope that everone can go as well. Lots more fun when lots of people go!
Anyway I was wondering if you beer makers would want to start planning to make camp beer. I know these days I like to have the dark, rich beers but in the summer time lighter beer is easier to enjoy on a hot day.
Here is what I propose. Each of us make a beer of choice for camping to share (about a 12 pk). Then I would also like to get together some evening and make a brew with Scott, Pete and Matt and myself after work some time and make a camping brew. I know scott would love to do a brew with us. (we could even make some spent grain bread) Maybe that could be a light brew... fruity...hmmm...so many choices. I just had a apricot wheat beer that was wonderfull.
Maybe part of the lounge about we could brew a batch as well...I already bring the kettle and cooker...
Any takers?

Bird Feeder??? I don't see no birds!

Grandma Emma

Well, I think most of you had met my Great-Grandma Emma at least once. I just thought I'd pass on the news that she passed away last night. She had a massive stroke the end of last month and has been in the hospital and nursing home since that time. I guess last night she decided it was her time to go be with my Great-Grandpa again. She was 96 and she lived a very good life and I feel honored that I was able to spend so much of my life with her. Prayers would be greatly appreciated!

Nancy and I decided to get our cat Boo at climbing tree. We shopped on the internet...Prices started about $99 and up, so we decided to make our own. Cost was about $25 and about 3 hours of cutting and trimming. Cat tree anyone?

Tulips

We are going be planting our Tulips today. Last year we had about 100 planted around our yard and garden. Each year they are supose to grow more bulbs and get better beds and more spring flowers. I just I can't wait till spring!

Apples!

The girls and I went to the apple orchard last Sunday with the girls' Brownie Troop. Man, do we have apples. This is going to be a photo post, so apologies to anybody on dialup. Here's Morgan, a happy apple harvester:


Emma didn't want to pose, she was on a mission. She ended up collecting nearly twice as many apples as Morgan. Here's Emma's back on her way to find more:



Here's the entire troop (plus one Brownie's brother), on a break from picking apples:


We had an absolutely gorgeous day for it. I thought that this picture with the Honey Golds on the ground turned out especially well:


After we had way more apples than we really need, the girls all played on the hay pile:


And then they went through the shrub maze.

The girls all agreed that the maze will be harder once the shrubs are taller.

Then we finished up the afternoon with a hayride:


We had a great time. But we're a little appled out. We've had an apple crumble, an apple crisp, and just plain apples. I've given some away to friends. And we may make the rest into applesauce and freeze it, just out of sheer self defense.

Flag of Our Fathers

Dale & I just returned from seeing this movie...In our opinion it gets four stars!

After watching this movie, I feel even more honored to be a daughter of a WWII veteran. I know that Dad wasn't in Iwo Jima, but I still was moved with the notion that my life could've never existed, if Dad had been injured or died while serving in WWII.

I was also touched when I heard (again) that this generation of men went to war, saw & did what they had to, came home, got married, & raised a family...& not only lived a "normal" lives, but raised a decent generation of kids. Wow...that really is big!

If you have a notion, see the movie...you won't be disappointed. And, don't forget your kleenex.

First Snow

I woke up to a suprize this morning in Bemidji, The first snow that may stick??? Its a nice bit of snow, perfect for a hunter tracking in the woods. It sure is prrtty out there, with pine trees white and a starlit morning!

Our Newest Dream

Nancy and I think a hot tub would be a great addition to our back yard (out the kitchen door) and I was wondering if anyone has much experience/feedback about hot tubs. It could be our 30th Anniversary Present (Dec 16, 1976)to each other!

"Dog Movie Star"

"Nevis collie chosen for 'Lassie' movie remake" reads the the secondary headline.

The Pioneer (Bemidji's own daily newspaper) reads:

It's a secret that was bound to come out, at least in northern Minnesota. A local collie named Mason is starring in the new movie, "Lassie."

Producers for the movie flew to Nevis to view Mason and he was chosen immediately because they were looking for a dog with four white socks, a nice blaze on his face, a white tip on his tail and a full white collar ruff. Mason was flown to LA for three months of training, and then went on to four months of filming in Ireland. He appears in about 85% of the film, with a second dog, Dakota, doing the stunts.

Mason has now returned to his former status of being a farm dog, but with a frequent flier miles!

Lucky Mason...I wonder if he knows that he is a movie star?? I wonder what Morgan & Emma think about that??

Leaves Leaves Everywhere

Tis the season...not for shoveling inches of snow, but mulching feet of leaves. This move has been a "little" wake up for the actual time and energy it takes to care for a large, beautiful yard. We went from a single tree, to a yard full of maintence. We are enjoying it (as is Kane) but can't seem to keep up~~

Beer Delivery Systems and the Enjoyment of Homebrew

I copied this from a Web site about home brewing.

If you have been to Leener's you have seen the large variety of drinking glasses designed for beer. First impressions might be that every brewery is trying to look different and all the fancy shapes and sizes are nothing more than marketing. While marketing and presentation is a factor, it is not the reason for so many drinking vessel choices. To understand the beer glass we must understand glass and its influence on beer.
Drinking beer requires the delivery of beer to the mouth. Who would think that something so simple would need to be engineered, that’s right engineered! God gave us cups, cupped hands that is, and they work fine for gulps of water. But their not very practical for beer. Hollowed out gourds work a little better but they are not durable. Clay pots hold up better but if you have ever had three or four clay pots of beer you know that all that lifting can wear you down. To avoid such unpleasant exercise during an activity who’s purpose was not to exercise, the ancient Egypt’s designed a beer delivery system which allowed multiple individuals to suck beer directly from the fermenter. An invention that later became the hookah and thus the phrase ‘sucking down a few beers?'. May be.
The stone jug eventually gave way to the wooden bowl. Light and durable but requiring two hands. At this point in history beer drinking became a ceremonial function as well as a good time. The need to use two hands to drink left the drinker defenseless in a time when life was cheap. With both hands full and all vision obstructed by the bowl, the offering of drinking to someone health was actual a show of trust. Ceremony and protocol lead to embellishment. The wooden bowl became as important as the drink itself. The rim of this bowl was inlaid with gold and the vessel was called a mazer. For the connivance of the drinker the mazer was fitted with two handles at opposite sides of the bowl. This was great for protocol but the problem of two fisted drinking while trying to enjoy a roasted boar and watch your back, all at the same time remained. A stem and foot were added and mazer began to look like a chalice. Witness the birth of stemware?
At this point it must be noted that this is not a world history of the invention of drink ware. Different cultures certainly developed different solutions to this common need of delivering beer to the mouth. I tend to get lost in history and lore. Home brew will do that to you. Lets get back to the glass.
Until the Industrial Revolution, when the mass production of glass came about, beer was served in clay, wood or metal vessels and it was a good thing. Beer was not an attractive beverage and the vessels concealed the hazy, murky liquid within. Then came glass. The advent of glass put the beer on display. Suddenly the beer drinker was forced to look at what was being consumed and it wasn’t pretty. The brewing industry was about to change.
All beer is brewed by the consumer. If the consumer likes it there will be more. If not, there will be less. Brewer’s had to respond to the demands of drinkers with cleaner, brighter beer. This resulted in new technology such as secondary fermentation, laagering, cold conditioning, filtration and improved mashing methods. It is obvious that the brewers did their part and a lot more. Glass is a flexible medium for the artist. Any shape, any size, any design. Beer is a flexible medium for the brewer. Aroma, flavor, texture, alcohol, body. Why not match the design of the glass to the character of the beer. Why not let the glass punctuate the brew, accent the colors, highlight the high points and accommodate the flaws.




There are two reasons to drink beer and neither of them is drunkenness. The first is because you like it. The second is the sensations it gives you during the drinking. Think of the beer glass as a turbo charger on these sensations. Technically the beer glass is far more than a delivery system to the mouth. The sensations and enjoyment of beer are far more complex than the tongue and taste alone. They start with the eyes. The glass made appearance important and brewers made appearance impressive. Taste starts with smell. The nose prepares the taste buds.
Overtime, the matching of beer styles and drinking glass has been refined. Refined to the extent of being nationalistic and even trademarked. The word Pilsner automatically recalls the image of tall slender glasses designed to demonstrate the beers carbonation with rising bubbles and concentrate the delicate aroma of Nobel hops without overpowering the malty sweetness of a refreshing beer.
Belgium has been called the Disneyland of Beer and the Abbey Ale brewers accent that image by drinking from bowls, giant snifters and large chalices. The brewer monks who live on beer alone during fasting don't want to miss a thing. Their glassware is designed to put your whole face in the beer. Belgian Ales are actually felt with the eyes, nose and mouth.
Glassware is not without controversy. In England the traditional dimpled mug with handle is now near its end. Pub owners concerned more about space than beer, are using the mixer or top hat instead. This glass is the one used in most American brewpubs too. With it's wide mouth, slanted sides and narrow foot the mixer does offer the drinker access to the hop and ale yeast characteristics made famous by English Ales. But then their purpose is storage. When stacked upside down and right side up next to each other they take up little space compared with the dimpled mug but the mug is still better for enjoying English ales.

Poor Kirby-Poor Nancy and Gary

Kirby is a dog that loves to run and chase in the woods. Last night, he came home after being gone for almost two hours smelling pretty skunky. Needless to say, he is tied outside and I have to go to town to get "the remedy". He will be getting a bath in the following:
1-Quart Hyrogen Peroxide
1/4 Cup baking soda
1 TSP Dish Soap
Wish me luck!

This is where I have been this week! My back and butt is sore!

Back in the Brewing Biz

I haven't brewed since we moved from our old place in St Paul to our new place in Eagan. All the brewing supplies got put in a dedicated brewing supply room (more like a root cellar) and there they've sat since, nearly two and a half years. But over Memorial Day weekend I harvested some fresh hops from the plant I have at my in-laws and that put the brewing bug back. So this weekend, we're brewing!

I got the makings for an Extra Pale Ale tonight at Northern Brewer. The recipe is:
1 lb Dingemans Caramel Pils grain
6 lbs Gold Malt Syrup
1 oz Chinook hops
1 oz Cascade hops

My plan is that I'm going to try dry hopping with the fresh hops. So after adding the Chinook hops at the beginning of the boil and the Cascade at the end, I'll move the wort to the primary fermenter. Then, when it's time to move to the secondary I'm going to add some of the hop flowers to the fermenter. It shouldn't make the beer any more bitter, but it should make it an extremely hoppy variety. Should be interesting!

Clarence and Verna

Clarence was one on the first guys we met after moving to Turtle River. He was a jack of all trades but made his living as a plumber and we were constantly in need of one. Clarence was the same age as Dad(Bryce) and he would work circles around most guys in the trades. When he was 72, he built his own house. Not "had it built" but he built it. I helped roof a big steel pole barn after he finished his house. The last full year he worked he plumbed 12 NEW homes and would open/close about 40 lake cabins for people plus run plumbing service calls. He worked up to couple of months before his death earlier this this year. Clarence loved his family very much and took care of Verna as long as he could. He had saved a bit of money for his old age and ended up using most of it for Verna's care. People told him he should put Verna in a nursing home, because she was in a wheel chair and it was difficult for him to take care of her. He would not have it. He privately paid for people to come into the home round the clock to help take care of Verna.
One of their favorite things to do was sit around the kitchen table and enjoy splitting a couple of beers and talking about the day. One day he invited me to join him and I did but I brought a home brew. Verna loved it and so I stopped by from time to time to enjoy a home brew and visit with them. She said it was just like her dad made.
I was called on Sunday about Verna's death (she ws 85) and was asked to help at the funeral, carrying the coffin from the church. This was a sad day for me.

CD Mix up

The pictures of the 60th that I sent out got a bit mixed up. Did everyone (except Bonnie) get two different CDs and are the different? Let me know and I can send you the correct one you may be missing.

Nice View

This is what you see when you are eating supper at Nick's and Scott's house! We had a great time and I just wanted to share these photos!

The Fair

Just to wrap up this year's State Fair, the good folks at Belly du Jour have a nearly six minute video homage to the variety of food on a stick available at the Minnesota State Fair. The boy at the end's comment about his deep fried candy bar is your reward for watching the whole thing.

The United Way

We had our "United Way" company auction today. Our company goes out and collects donations then auctions the items off.
Nancy and I donated 4-six packs of home made beer (some is not even cooked yet) and three bottles of Chianti. They auctioned them all off for a grand total of $137.00! Isn't America great!

Ain't it the truth!

Fall Gardens

This picture is NOT MY GARDEN but ours does look a bit like this. The flowers are still blooming and we have not been touched by frost. But you can see the life draining slowly out of the irises and petunias.The veggies are mostly done and the grass is not growing nearly as much.The trimming and mowing has slowed.
We are going to Duluth this weekend to see Nick and Scott (and their new home) and we hope to go up the north shore and see a few colors.

Wedding Pictures

Nathan sent me the link to look at wedding pictures. If anyone would like to see the pictures that the photographer took, leave me your email address and I'll forward the email on to you.
Anna

Beer, Beer, Beer....Wine

Nancy and I have made a couple more batches of homemade beer. The first one is a Strawberry Red Ale. We will bottle that on Sunday. The next one is a Winter Ale. It called for a Whole Pound of bakers chocolate. Lots of spices and it really should be great by Thanksgiving. The next one we'll brew tomorrow is an Octoberfest brew. We will get that one going a bit quicker the the month of October.
We also made 6 gallons of Chianti wine...so far so good. This was Hannibal Lechner's favorite with...you know ...us.

Yellowstone

We uploaded the pics from our recent trip to Yellowstone Nat'l Park. If anyone wants to take a gander, add a comment with your email address and I'll send you an invitation.

The trip was really nice.

Matt

More from Paul Bunyan Amusement Park

I remember going to the amusement park one year with Pete. I was young enough where I've forgotten the details, so Pete will have to correct it if I've messed it up.

Pete and I were at the amusement park by ourselves. We were trying to win goldfish at one of the booths and, as luck would have it, we won one (or two). When we were done at the amusement park, we had been told to give Grandma Saunders a call to come pick us up, but for some reason we couldn't get a hold of her from the payphone. I remember us walking home from the park along Birchmont Dr. with our plastic bag of newly won goldfish in hand. I believe we ended up naming them Jaws I and Jaws II. This began a trend, and over the next few years Jaws III through VII came along. We were very creative with the names, don't you think?

Interesting Reading

The Good Wife’s Guide

As Appeared in Housekeepig Monthly
May 13, 1955

A good wife:

Has dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.
Is prepared. Take 15 minutes to rest so you’ll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.
Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.
Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc., and then run a dustcloth over the tables.
Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give him a lift, too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.
Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children’s hands and faces (if they are small) comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing their part. Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.
Be happy to see him.
Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first – remember, his topics of information are more important than yours.
Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.
Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.
Don’t greet him with complaints and problems.
Don’t complain if he’s late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor as compared to what he might have gone through that day.
Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.
Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.
Don’t ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.
A good wife always knows her place.

Deep in the Heart (disease) of Texas

I went to the fair this year and ate more than my fair share of deep fried junk. To be precise:
deep fried pickles
pronto pup
deep fried cheese curds
Sweet Martha's Cookies
tater tot hotdish on a stick
other stuff I can't (or don't want to) remember

But the Texas State Fair may have gone and outdone the Minnesota State Fair. How can tater tot hotdish on a stick be topped, you ask? Three words: Deep Fried Coke.

I'll let that roll around your brain a bit.

OK, here's what it is:

Abel Gonzales Junior's Fried Coke includes Coca-Cola flavored batter that is deep fried and with Coke fountain syrup drizzled on it.

That's topped with whipped cream, cinnamon sugar and a cherry.

Link for sharing with your friends

Friday Nights

Paul Bunyan Amusement Park & Friday Nights

I remember Dale & I taking our kids to the waterfront on Friday nights because it was not only a fun night for the kids, but the price was right. We bought 10 tickets for $1 & the kids got to ride for about an hour or more. Then the price went up...10 tickets for $1.50! I thought it was cheap when our kids were young. I think we celebrated Alicia & Katie's birthday one year at the Park...we rented a video camera & captured it on tape.

But, another wonderful thing happened on those Friday nights. While the kids were riding, the parents were visiting with each other, so an enjoyable night was had by all.

I loved the ferris wheel, too, because of the view. I also remember when we ate "Herb's Popcorn," and watched the Bemidji Belle dock.

And, this is going way back, but I also remember when they had the "bunyan bikes" & people pedaled around on the lake.

Another era put to rest...a bittersweet time for our community.

The Sun Sets on Paul Bunyan Amusement Park

For those who have not heard....The small lakeside amusement park located next to the statues of Paul and Babe near downtown Bemidji will close permanently after this summer season...the family that owns it are calling it quits.
My favorite ride was the Tilt-a-whirl and the Ferris Wheel. They have had lots rides and made lots of memories for me and many others. Please share you memories of this great little park! It's last day was Labor Day 2006. Soon they will be auctioning all the rides except the train. They plan to keep the train, miniature golf and concessions.

Some things I'm not going to do on Labor Day

Here are a few things I am NOT going to do today.

• Work in the yard
• Work in the garden
• Work Cleaning (anything)
• Building a fence/painting a fence
• Worry about what I should be doing (today is Monday, a workday)

What I think I will do is:

• Spend the day with Nancy
• Have a great cup of Good Coffee
• BBQ
• Drink (see Carols Margirita Recipe)
• Bottle my new beer (is that work or is that my hobby)
• Relax outside
• Talk with the twin girls next door
• Have a Campfire (great moon tonight)
• Relax

10 things to do before Labor Day

Here is a short list of things we all should do before Labor Day!

1. Hit the Beach
2. Go to the Fair
3. Have a picnic in a park
4. Take a summer drive in the country
5. Stop and smell the flowers
6. Shop at the Farmers Market
7. Go Camping
8. Wet a fishing line
9. Play ball with a kid outside
10. Relax

Carols Margirita Recipe

Subject: Margarita recipe

2 parts Cuervo Gold tequila
1 part Triple Sec
1 part Rose's lime juice
3 parts fresh lime juice
1 part sugar

Throw in blender with ice and pour into salt-rimmed glasses.


Carol's notes:

- Rose's lime juice is NOT regular lime juice--it comes in a bottle
- I've used bottled lime juice instead of fresh and it's ok

If you use 1/4 cup as 1 part, you'll get 2 generous drinks.

E-mail from Mike Lamon

Gary,
Hey, sorry I havn't been able to get back to you yet. It's nice to know that you guys are thinking about us back home. You may be interested to know that my squad leader was in the Gulf War with first AD. His name is SSG Chilson, probably didn't know him, but ya never know.

We don't really work with the Iraqi's too much over here. I've worked with some of the locals that come into base to work, some of them are ok, but more than half of them would steal your clothes if you weren't wearing them. I just got done with a month of patrolling. We had a pretty large area to patrol, we had to clear around 5 different routes, and partol 5 different towns. Patrolling in July and August was no fun at all, the temperature was around 140 every day, and we'd be out any where from 6-14 hours at a time. Normally it fell towards the latter though. Obviously the roads are dangerous, they don't always seem like it though. The first 2 weeks were completly quiet, then the last two were pretty eventful. In a three day period, we got blown up, found a huge IED making cache and then found a live IED (roadside bomb) So some parts were good and some really bad. We were lucky that the truck that got hit, nobody got seriously injured. Only one of the guys had to go to the hospital in Germany. He just got back tonight and he said he had a blast, minus the whole getting blown up part. I never thought I'd say that my whole squad has CIB's and 1/4 of it has purple hearts. Weird. But now we're working nights at the ECP which is almost like a vacation compared to patrols. So we have 5 weeks left of that, then we patrol again for a month. But somewhere on that next patrol set I get to come home for leave!!
Well I should get going, I don't think I have a public site that I put stuff on. I have a few pics on myspace, but I mostly use facebook.
I'll talk to you all later,
Mike

Ainsworth Lays off 110

The Bemidji Ainsworth plant (formally Potlatch) closed one of the two production lines at the plant and layed off 110 people. These were high paying jobs for Bemidji. My neighbor Joel (the fish fry guy) was allowed to keep his job. Think about the impact that 110 good paying jobs in a small community like Bemidji.

Back to School...again

Well...it's back to school for my last year of college. Kind of scary, yet exciting. I didn't realize how close the wedding was until I was asked so many times at Nathan's wedding. May is going to be here before I know it. Here's my contact information til next May when it will change once again, but hopefully for more than a year.
1901 26th Ave NW #23
Rochester, MN 55901
Cell: 715-897-1546
Email: amlamon9869@winona.edu or wsunanners@hotmail.com

If anyone is in the Rochester area, let me know, it'd be great to have lunch or even see some family!

Coffee Quotes

Just received my new Midwest Living Magazine & read the following quotes:

"Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death and as sweet as love."
-Turkish Proverb

"The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering influence
of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce."
-Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Behind every successful woman (or man) is a substantial amount of coffee."
-Stephanie Piro

And, this is one of the more popular ones we've probably all heard:

"Chocolate, men, coffee...some things are better rich."
-Author Unknown

Enjoy your coffee!!

New Experiences

Yesterday I talked to Aaron & said, "Hmmm, looks like there is a hurricane headed your way.
He said, "Oh, no, it is headed up the coast, not into the bay area."
I said, "Okay." But in my heart (& head), I knew or felt differently.

Well, this morning around 10 he called again.
"Is Dad there?"
'Yes." And, I hand the phone to Dale.
He asked Dale if we have been watching the weather channel...& Dale tells him that he has been tracking it on Intellicast.

The "It" I am referring to is Hurricane Ernesto, as Aaron moved to Ft. Myers, Florida in mid July.

He's excited. We're not.

Everyone seems to be wondering why Muslim terrorists are so quick to commit suicide. Let's see now. . . . No Christmas, No television, No Lakes, No sports. No tailgate parties, No Wal-Mart,K Marts or Targets, No Home Depot or Menards, No pork BBQ, No hot dogs, No burgers, No chocolate chip cookies, No lobster, No shellfish, or even frozen fish sticks, No lutefisk, No lefse, No Beer
Rags for clothes and towels for hats,
Constant wailing from the guy next-door because he's sick and there are no doctors.
Constant wailing from the guy in the tower.
More than one wife.
You can't shave.
Your wives can't shave.
You can't shower to wash off the smell of donkey cooked over burning camel dung.
The women have to wear baggy dresses and veils at all times.
Your bride is picked by someone else.
She smells just like your donkey.
But your donkey has a better disposition.
Then they tell you that when you die it all gets better!
I mean, really, is there a mystery here?
Now I understand.

"I'm only going to show you once"

Wedding photos

How's that for a happy looking couple?



And we were lucky enough to see the newest addition to the family, Jordan.



The patriarch.



Emma dancing with Nate during the dollar dance.

Is anyone there?

Its 4:35 am. I have been awake for a whole hour. My head is full of upcoming activities and events...I cannot sleep because the clowns will eat me!

Wedding Pictures

Did anyone get any pics they can share?

Congrats Nate and Katie

We got back from Nate and Katie's wedding this afternoon. I'm very glad we went. It was a nice weekend and a chance to say hello to many folks we hadn't seen recently. I got to catch up with Laura, who I missed at the 60th (she was pretty much walking out as we were walking in) and hold her new baby Jordan. Jordan was several weeks premature and weighed exactly the same as Morgan did when she was born, 5 pounds 14 ounces. He is doing very well and sleeps a lot. Or at least he did when I saw him!

Nate and Katie had a very nice ceremony and then a very fun reception at the Holiday Inn in Stevens Point, WI. They have a college and a brewery there which makes me wonder why I decided to go to school in Moorhead. But anyway. Nancy and I both remarked that Nate was possibly the most relaxed groom we had ever seen. He looked completely at ease and very happy to be there and to be getting married. Didn't get to see much of Katie since the bride seems to be the most popular person in the room (who knew?) but she seemed like a very nice person. Welcome to the family, Katie!

Emma and Morgan had quite a lot of fun at the reception and danced themselves into exhaustion. Morgan pooped out first and Nancy took her up to the room. Emma was determined to stay awake until she caught the bouquet. She made it to the bouquet toss but predictably lost out to the taller, more determined to get married girls. She was quite disappointed but it was all right by me, as I'm not ready to have her get married just yet. After the bouquet Emma and I went up to bed too. We were too tired to even have a piece of the pizza that the bride and groom had thoughtfully arranged to be delivered.

This morning the girls and I swam in the hotel waterpark until the last possible minute and then rushed upstairs to change and shower before the maids kicked us out. We headed west out of Stevens Point and had a leisurely trip home. We stopped at the geographic marker in Rietbrock, one of the Four Corners of the World according to the Wausau Daily Herald. It's claim to fame is that the spot is exactly halfway between the north pole and the equator. It's also one quarter of the way around the earth from Greenwich, England. Totally worth the 4 mile detour from Highway 29. We also stopped near Abbyland and bought fresh beef sticks and cheese curds (it's Wisconsin!). Nancy had never eaten a cheese curd that hadn't been deep fried. She couldn't get past the fact that they squeak when you eat them (just like mice) and didn't care for the experience. Emma won't eat cheese, so Morgan and I have half a bag of cheese curds to finish up this week.

My Pictures from Sweden and Greece

Last Friday I got back from a trip to Sweden and Greece. It was a great time-- amazing food, weather, and people. I have just begun posting some picutes to my Flickr account but thought it would be interesting for you all to take a look at them. Lots more to come too. Enjoy!

Wedding Thought of the Day

"Aisle alter hymm"

New Quote

"Have you ever noticed? Anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac."
George Carlin

Here are a few pictures from the 1st Annual Dragon Boat festival in Bemidji! A good time was had by all. The decision to have them next year was made today...Next year Aug 3-4...Mark your calendar. Maybe we should get a family team together...for nrxt year. Any takers???

March of the Dragonboats

Gary sent me this video of the dragonboats and asked me to put it on the blog. He's got a story to go with it, so stay tuned!

Dragon Boat Festival

I came back to Bemidji yesterday and the lakefront was buzzing with activity. It reminded me of the 4th of July at the lakefront. As it turns out that Bemidji is having a Dragn Boat Festival. The festival seeks coorperate sponsership and raises money for charities and has lots of fun doing it. I thought this was some strange thing Bemidji dreamed up untill I did a Google search and saw these events have been going on for a long time and all over the world. Below is a article about Dragon Boat Festivals.
One of today’s most colorful and widespread festivals was born of legend more than 2,000 years ago. The Dragon Boat Festival originated in China but now is celebrated in such disparate places as: Bergen, Norway; Prague, Czech Republic; Berlin, Germany; Rome, Italy; Auckland, New Zealand; Melbourne, Australia; and Johannesburg, South Africa.
Festival elements vary from place to place and might include entertainment, a marketplace, specialty food vendors, art exhibitions and demonstrations, and even a parade. But the highlight is always the Dragon Boat Race.
Heavenly Dragon
Dragon Boat Racing began along the life sustaining rivers in the valleys of southern China as a fertility rite, performed to ensure plentiful crops. Races, intended to simulate dragon battles, were staged to awaken the hibernating Heavenly Dragon and to encourage the rains needed for prosperity.
The boats were long canoes decorated to resemble dragons, with open mouthed heads projecting from their bows and scaly tails on their sterns. Each could hold a team of 20 or more rowers plus a drummer, a hand clapper and as many as four singers. Smaller boats carrying food and wine for the competitors might accompany them.
For many centuries, Dragon Boat Races were violent naval battles. Crews of competing boats would throw stones and strike at one another with sticks, while people on the riverbanks cheered their favorite teams and pelted opposing boats with rocks or other objects. And, perhaps a throwback to the ancient human sacrifices to the Heavenly Dragon, it was believed to be unlucky if there wasn’t at least one drowning.

Team Spirit
The special canoes used in Dragon Boat Races apparently have changed little over the centuries. They still are designed to resemble dragons, with ornately carved and brightly colored heads and tails. Before a boat enters competition, a priest must perform a ritual known as “awakening the dragon” by painting its eyes.
Dragon boats generally measure about 40 feet in length. Their crews usually include 20 paddlers, sitting two abreast, with a steersman at the back and a drummer, who sets the rhythm for the paddlers, and a flag catcher at the front. Any number of boats may compete in a race, with the winner being the first team to grab a flag at the end of the course.
After a race, the water is considered “blessed,” and in some places, people traditionally dip their hands or even swim in the “dragon boat water” in the belief that it will bring them health for the rest of the year.
Modern races in many countries focus less on myths and legends and more on what is referred to as the “spirit of the dragon,” the experience of working as a team to reach a common goal. Serious dragon boaters train throughout the year and sometimes travel around the world to compete in more than one annual race.

The Grilling Bible

Nancy bought this great new cookbook called The Grilling Bible. As Carol says you need to use your cookbooks early so you know you get a couple of great recipes from the book to help cost justify you purchase.
We knew Lois was spending a bit of time alone while Dale was traveling, and we thought it would be nice to have her come to dinner. As it turned out Alicia and Kane were in town and they were invited as well. Nancy and I had loads of fun, visiting with everyone and playing with Kane. It seems that when kids are around, everything is so much livelier.
Anyway, we used three recipes from the new book...Lemon Herbed Ice Tea, Tequila Lime Shrimp and for desert a Grilled Banana Split. I have to say they we all very good especially the desert. Basically, you slice a banana lenthwise, keeping the peel on the banna. Brush the cut side with melted butter, grill for two minutes, flat side down, the flip over and grill for two more minutes. Remove from grill and remove grilled banana from peel, place on a desert plate, add a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream, drizzle a mixture of herseys chocolate syrup and orange flavored liquor (we used Triple Sec) then topped it off with a few sliced almonds...Very good!
Oh I forgot to mention that about an hour before we ate I went out to our little garden and picked a few green, yellow and purlple magic beans and we had them next to a bed of pasta with some home grown pesto tossed in.
The cookbook was a validated and I would like to recommend it to all you back yard chefs.
We had a great time and I know we'd like do it again some time!

Minnesota State Fair

Meet Corn Dog Amelie! Straight of the Minnesota State Fair's website. (is this a corn dog or a pronto pup?)
Nancy and I are thinking about going for a weekend but were not sure yet. Nancy has not been there and I have only been there once. As I remember, most food was on a stick...(see attached pic).
What was your favorite food on a stick?
Can you do the fair in a day or do you need more time?
Any input would be help us make our decision.

Thought for this week...maybe a new regular

"Life isn't getting any easier. And you're not getting any younger. If you don't seize the opportunity, you will look back a year from now with even more regrets than you already have, and think 'I could have, should have, would have . . .' "

Beltrami County Fair

I forgot my camera so I googled Beltrami Fair and got these results.
Note the lady on the left is carrying a Chicken and oh, by the way this is a water color by Jane Freeman.
Nancy and I went to the fair and had a good time...Looking at pigs and goats, rabbits and chickens, horses and cows. We did eat a bit of fair food. We hope to go to the state fair this year...Something on a stick is calling...Where's the tums?

60th Pictures-Thank you Scott Lunt

Scott did a great job in taking tons of pictures. He has copied these pictures to Disc. If anyone would like copies of these disc, let me know and I'll copy them and drop them in the mail. There were over 300 pictures taken...Also, if you took pictures and want to share them let me know also.

Blog Problems (Mike in Iraq)

Matt and Randee...You guys are having a hard time posting to MIKE IN IRAQ blog...Here is what you need to do...Go to the DashBoard and there you will see which blogs you are associated with...Select MIKE IN IRAQ and treat it just like the family blog..Pete...Any other suggestions?

NOTE TO THE REST OF YOU...If I have not asked you to join and you want to help support Mike Lamon, serving us in Iraq...just let me know and I'll send you and invite.

Mike-in-Iraq

Mike-in-Iraq

Hope everything's well on the other side of the world, Mike. We're keeping you in our thoughts here in Minnesota. It makes me think of my days in the Army. I feel lucky I never had to serve overseas in hostile conditions. Be careful, stand proud, and remember everyone who's behind you here at home.

Matt Saunders