Belly deep in peas

Heard on the news yesterday that the Minnesota Deer hunt will be very limited.  IT WAS A HARD WINTER.  Give me a break.  This is the first year I have seen two sets of twin fawns in our area.  Every night we see deer. 

Belly deep in the neighbors pea field.

She can graze and walk along skimming the peas.

Even when Chance barked and I hollered “Get out of the peas”  She stood her ground…she was bound and determined to get a belly full.

Smart aleck deer anyway.

Seems like we have enough deer in this area.  Yet the idiots powers that be at the Minnesota DNR are limiting the antlerless (doe or fawn) permits in much of the State and in 95% of Minnesota only one deer can be harvested per hunter.  So that means more deer ticks which means more Lyme's and anaplasmosis which brings people into the clinic and hospitals, more road kills which is good news for the Bald Eagles and the auto body shop repair people.

I saw a bumper sticker today it said “Hunt with your kids so you don’t have to hunt for them”  It made sense to me.

Ten Years Later

I took a photo in 2004.

Adam was fixated with the bar on the Ferris Wheel seat, Noah was pouting about something.  It might have been the skeeters…or he might have been hungry….possibly he wanted computer time and his Mom said “No we are outside not inside!”

Look at how little they are!  Adam used to love to push Grandpa’s truck(Appliance Mover) all over the yard.  We used to tease him that he was going to work for UPS when he grew up. We used to have a little car that Noah could drive around in the yard…and now he has his drivers permit.

Ten years later in 2014.

Adam, Jen and Noah

Never too old for kisses from your Mom.

 

Wistful Wednesday: Roots Part Three

I asked my Father the other day if he had been to Annandale to see the church that his Grandfather built.  He has not been there.
I have not been there.  This photo is from Verniel.  I have it on my list of things to do this summer….along with many other things to do.
Here is Isak and Margaretta’s story. 
For a quick recap they both came from Finland and settled in French Lake Minnesota. According to my Dad Isak got Typhoid Fever and stayed with Margaretta’s family while he was sick and recuperating.  He then helped build the church with John Leinonen  and a man named Rontti.

In this sketch of the original site there is a cemetery.

I think that cemetery is where Briita Liisa ( My Great Great Grandmother is buried) so that is also on my list…I think it is called the Leinonen Cemetery.   Once churches are moved to different locations…old cemeteries are hard to find…but I have directions!  Briita Liisa’s third husband Johan is buried elsewhere …not sure why? He died in 1917…I suppose lots of things can change in sixteen years.
Briita Liisa is shown as Liisa Leinonen at the French Lake Cemetery. Born April 20 1838 and died July 9, 1901.  Her headstone is written in Finn.

The Boys

The grand boys and their parents were here for a visit.   The boys always make me smile…and since they are growing and continually hungry I got hugs for bowls of popcorn.

Adam is especially hungry…after popcorn and ice cream and chips I suggested an apple!  He said “Great idea Grandma.”  That was shortly after supper.  He is growing right out of his shoes…literally out of his shoes…with toes making an appearance…he is going shoe shopping this week.

I am certain that I would not want his parents grocery bills especially since they have a very open door policy and many teenage boys come and go all day long. 

Noah went to woodcarving with us.  He did great!  I think he may have found a new hobby!  He gave up his time out on the lake to go with us. 

The Grand boys

Mr. Hungry…and yes it says “How to pick up chicks” on his shirt.  He went out on the lake with his parents and I heard he ate everything in sight.  It takes lots of calories to grow big and tall.

Up Nort’

Saw this sign at the fair last week.  Seems fitting as we are headed for a heat wave and searching for ways to cool off. Yesterdays high was 87 F ( 30 C eh!) with as much humidity…it is the humidity that makes it feel so very warm.

In a few months we will be back to freezing our butts off instead of sweating to death whilst swatting skeeters and deer flies.