Seen on the trail

 We went for a trail ride...

I found an apple tree...might be a crabapple...we will watch how the apples develop.  I was looking for a different apple tree that we picked crabapples from years ago. 

The Trillium was in full bloom along the trails.

Then it rained and it was a hard rain.  We got 1/2 inch in the early morning on Monday then in the afternoon tornado and wind warnings and another 2 inches of rain...that will drown some skeeters and hatch some more.  My other baby brother and she who sees robins first came by for a visit during the storm.  The wind was't too bad...no bending over of trees just some swirling this way and that.  

Far Side

Memorial Day 2022

 We made it to a few cemeteries to put out some flowers. 

My Paternal Grandmother is a Gold Star Mother, the flag and the red white and blue flowers are hers.  Her son Arthur died May 20 1944 during the Invasion of Italy...that would have been 78 years ago.  

Far Side

Trillium

 The Trillium is in bloom.  Just one bloom. 

It is a beauty! 

Here is it's spot along the edge of the woods with the Daylilies. Years ago there were two plants...not sure who ate the other one.  HA!

Far Guy and I had a quiet Saturday.  We visited with one of my cousins in the morning and then in the afternoon Far Guy took me out for lupper....enjoyed on an open air patio.  

 It was quite warm here yesterday 76 F  or 24 C eh!   The Piss Popples sometimes known as Aspen are puking out their annual fuzz....the air is filled with it...just like snow. 

The skeeters are HUGE!  I have not seen them so big or in such great numbers this time of year.  Some one once said the State Bird of Minnesota should be a mosquito.

Far Side

Evening Observations

 A piece of land West of us was always in Soil Bank or some government program that paid a dividend if you didn't grow crops.  Part of the land was in Oak Trees...we hear the huge saw going all day long.  The well for the irrigator has been dug so what ever is grown there will be irrigated.   Progress...or not...

Part of this piece of property was possibly Native Prairie as nothing was grown on it as far back as I can remember.

This week two coyotes were on our road...they killed the neighbors newborn calves. (They reported it to the Department of Natural Resources who came out to investigate, they decided it was not wolves it was just coyotes so there was nothing they could/would do.) 

One night when we drove by we saw two foxes...more than likely chased out of the oak forest.

This old farm implement was sitting in the middle of the field one day no doubt hidden in the oaks for many years.  Now it sits at the edge of the property.   Looks like some kind of seeder to me. Maybe one of my readers knows for sure. 

Far Side

Mystery solved thanks to Aurora and Brad the machinery is a corn binder!

I also heard from Harvey a old North Dakota neighbor.

The photo that you posted on your blog today appears to be a corn 
binder. It has been a long time since I have seen one, but the twin box 
at the rear and the gathering chains are the best clue.

Have a great day

Harvey

Double Flowering Plum

 Everything is just a little late blooming this year. 

The Double Flowering Plum is finally blooming. 

Last year these blooms appeared May 15...so everything is about ten days behind last year.   It gets no plums...just blooms. 

Oh well at least there are pretty blooms to enjoy as the rest of the world is filled with hate and discontent.

Far Side

5

 Hey Mikey is five years old today.  That sure happened fast! 

He had a pool party last weekend in the Cities and will most likely have cake again in Michigan.

We don't get to see him often.  I sent a birthday card and hope it arrives in time...nice to get mail when you are 5 years old. 

Happy Birthday Dude! 

Far Side

B

 We have new blooms.  Pin Cherries are in full bloom. 

Fun to watch the blooms in the woods. 

Baby...My baby brother and his bride welcomed their 11th Grandchild.  Bjorn is here safe and sound, he lives in New Jersey and his Grandma is there to snuggle him...he weighed 10 pounds and 2 ounces...uffda!   We may get to meet him in person in August...that is their usual time to visit!   Bjorn joins his two sisters and two brothers at home. 

Far Side

What's new?

 We had a busy day; Andy, Jen, Noah and Sadie came to visit.  They helped move a few things from my parents home to their apartment...Mom has about one more load and the house will be cleared out.   Many hands make short work of a project. 

Sadie ran around in our yard curious about all the smells new to her.   She didn't like the bear doorstop in the bathroom...she came over to Noah and barked...a very scary bear...Chance didn't like it either but he got used to it. 

Far Guy and I had a nap got up and cooked some bacon and eggs for supper and then went for a Ranger Blue trail ride. 

I can report that the skeeters are out...horrid little buggers. 

The Large Flowered Bellwort is in bloom, it is a native to Minnesota plant.

The Ferns have begun to unfurl.

We saw a pair of Swans on Elbow Lake and several pair of Swans on Guyles Lake.  Saw a Porkypine sauntering across the road.   And a few deer...

This deer was trimming brush.

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23

 Our oldest Grandson is 23, his birthday was yesterday.

One day last winter, he came over and asked his Mom to shave his head...so she ran the hair clippers over his head and then I shaved  his head. 

I warned him that his head was going to be cold! 

He let his hair grow back little by little.   He said he enjoyed being free of hair care for a time. 

Happy Birthday Noah! 

I should have written about his birthday yesterday but it snuck up on me much like his zooming from birth to 23. 

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Yellow

 Yellow is one of my favorite "outside" colors.  I especially like yellow flowers.  The dandys are in full bloom in town but not in our yard ...yet...the bees need the food as not much else is in bloom. 

I have allergy itchy eyes....gunky eyes...eye boogers...you get the picture.

Chilly day  44 F or 7 C eh!  Almost Winter like...but in the Winter we would call 44 balmy.

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They came and ate

 The Orioles were very hungry when they first arrived, One pound of grape jelly and an orange a day were consumed. 

Grape Jelly is hard to find, luckily I got the last two bottles in one store and my Mom had a bottle she found in her cupboard.   Saturday  we had just a couple of Orioles feeding....the others have moved on North....or maybe they fled South...as it has turned a tad chilly...we could freeze the next few nights. 

A Scarlet Tananger!  Too bright to miss in the woods. 

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Another Mystery

 My Maternal Grandmother had an interesting piece of jewelry.  I recall when it was purchased for her.  I found it among some old jewelry that my Mom put up for sale.   I took it out and said "I remember this"  Mom said  "Well so do I.  I think I will keep it for a little while longer"  So I pinned it to her shirt. 

There are 18 stones...she had 12 children...it is a bit of a mystery.  My Uncle and Aunt that were born last are November babies...topaz...so there should be two amber colored stones side by side....so it is still  a mystery...I do recall how thrilled my grandmother was to receive this gift....perhaps that is enough.

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The girls

 Sounds like the girls are having fun in Jamaica.  They have a Villa with a housekeeper, cook and gardener and two watch dogs.  

They are right on the water and have a private pool.  They say it is very warm there and humid. Jen gave me a facetime tour of the Villa and gardens.

They each picked a daily activity.  Jen picked seeing a waterfall and a blue hole, Maddie a spa day with a massage and pedicure, Savannah a Bob Marley tour and Paige horseback riding.

Paiges horse is making a face.  This photo appeared on facebook so I stole it from Maddie. 

I am still busy helping my parents.  Yesterday I took the day off to catch up on a few things.  Far Guy came in the house and thought he was in the wrong house because my desk was cleared off. 

Far Side

Wistful Wednesday: Unknown photo

 Mom and I found a photo...a very old Cabinet Card from the 1890's.   I know it is from the 90's because the edges of the card are scalloped. 

Someone was Confirmed....the book and the candle are clues.    If you think the head is too big for the body...you would be thinking the same thing as me.  It is an early photo shop attempt...the photographer probably took another photo of this person sitting down...and swapped heads.  ( Sounds barbaric...but if the person closed their eyes ...he could either fix them or do his version of photoshop)

Most young people got confirmed about age 14 or so... 

There are a few relatives in contention...My Great Grandmother Hattie  was born in 1878 In Palmer Germany.  She came to the United States in 1884 when she was 6 years old.  She would have been 14 in 1892. 

My Great Grandmother Amanda was born in 1876...she would have been 14 in 1890.

I am not sure which one it is.   It was found with the Amanda side of the family photos.  Is that a clue?  Might be...might not be.  

Another case of an unmarked photo.   I scanned it and gave it back to my Mother.

Far Side

1946 and 1968 Funeral Costs

 While helping my Mother go through "stuff" we have run onto some interesting bits of information. 

Funeral Costs for my Grandfather's parents. 

The 1946 bill for funeral services for My Great Grandfather Christian Drewes total $364.50

The 1968 bill for my Great Grandmother Hatwig (Hattie)  total was $787.00

My thoughts were :  Great Grandpa got flowers , Great Grandma got a vault and underwear ...must have been some fancy underwear too for $3.   The sexton of the cemetery also got a dollar. 

Interesting the things that were kept.  Great Grandpa did not have a funeral book...just a bill. 

My Mother asked "What do we do with the funeral books? Throw them out? "  So I brought three of them home with me...my Great Grandmothers, my Maternal  Grandfathers and my Maternal Grandmothers.  I will have a look through them and pass them down to my baby brother.  My Grandmothers funeral book needs to be updated...so I shall do that. 

I was hoping to find a proper obituary for my Great Grandparents.  I found a newspaper death notice for my Great Grandmother. 

Far Side

Spring Bloomers

 Spring is here ...finally. 

The Marsh Marigolds/Cowslips are finally blooming.  They bloom for a long time! 

We went for a trail ride...saw some Spring Ephemerals...plants that bloom briefly sometimes only a day. 

Round Lobed Hepatica or Anemone americana it can be any color from Violet to Pink to White.  The hairy stalk and six petals help to identify it right now as the leaves are still hidden in the leaf litter. 

Pretty little flowers to begin Spring here in Minnesota!  

We enjoyed our trail ride and had lunch of crackers and cheese out on the trail.

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Adventure girls

 Not exactly sure when this photo was taken, most likely in the year 2000.  Savannah would have been four and Maddie two years old...Paige was too little to be walking around! 

I took this photo on Friday. 

Savannah, Maddie and Jen.  They were meeting Paige in the cities...where they all got on a plane and have since arrived safely at their destination!   Hope the girls don't Jamaica their Aunt crazy. 

Far Side

Nails and Tilly

 Two of our grands stopped by yesterday. 

Savannah...wins for longest nails.

Maddie ...wins for most practical nails.

They always make us laugh. 

 They had a time in their Grandpas car (Tilly) figuring out how to put it in gear (Push Button Drive).

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Birds of Color

 Two Indigo Buntings! 

I noticed a pair of Robins, a male and a female...he was standing watch whilst she bathed so hard that water flew out of the bird bath, she then flew off and he took his turn....IF she took over a watch for him she did it from a tree and not next to the bird bath.

In the evening the Orioles visited the feeder that has oranges and grape jelly. 

There were about five Orioles fighting for spots....all males ...no females so these must be the scouts. 

It was chilly outside and we have thunderstorm warnings, wind warnings, hail warnings and tornado warnings.    South of us it is warm and North of us is the cooler air.

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Mostly Brown

 The grass is greening up nicely but the woods are mostly brown.

Shell River is up a tad, I suppose the suckers are running....that was practically a Holiday in years past. 

A Indigo Bunting visited yesterday, some times they stick around most of the Summer hanging out at the edge of the woods.   We have a Blue Jay that irritates a Robin every morning....not sure if they are fighting for food, space or territory.   I put out the Humming Bird Feeder and low and behold a hummer visited! We also have a male Bluebird.  

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Golden Sunset

 We had a very golden sunset.  

We went for a ride after supper but headed home before sunset.  So I took this photo in the yard. 

We both have busy days, I am still helping my parents sort through "stuff"  and Far Guy is busy with his old car Tilly and some yard work.  He has also been the cook.   I am tired when I get home.

Gas made a big jump yesterday it is now $4.19 a gallon. 

Far Side

Early Spring

 We are in early Spring here in Minnesota.   I heard some places had hail that made the ground white.  It thundered when it rained yesterday morning. 

The Cowslips are up but there are no blooms. 

We went for a ride to see what was new in the neighborhood, there is still some snow in the ditches in places.   The clouds were putting on quite a show and the wind was blowing. 

The farmers have been in the fields since last Friday.   A field South of us got its Turkey manure...uffda...that smell really travels.

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Goodbye June!

 The rain during the night took care of June.  I was beginning to think she would never melt!

Since no one guessed the correct date I will send something to the two people that were the closest.  That is Rita and bookworm (Alana).  bookworm I will need your address please send it to captainconnie2001atyahoodotcom  Rita I have your address!   Not sure what I am sending you yet but it will be something handmade. 

We had a quiet Mother's Day with phone calls from my daughters.   Far Guy took me out for lupper...that is lunch and supper all rolled into one.  We went to a well known Mexican place and I had my first margarita for the summer.  It was a good day... I got to catch up on laundry and some paperwork that I let slide last week and I had a nap after the margarita.  My desk is almost cleared off.

Far Side

Happy Mother's Day!

 I hope all the Mothers out there have a wonderful Mother's Day! 

No these flowers are not blooming yet...perhaps in about three weeks.  Nothing is in bloom yet.

Far Side

Marbles

 Haven't lost my marbles yet. 

It has been a busy week helping my parents go through "stuff" ... they gave me some marbles. 

The afternoons have been sunny and warm, June the snowbank is melting.

We will have a winner soon. 

Far Side

Savannah: Graduation

Our eldest Granddaughter Savannah graduates today with a BA in Business Management.  She said "It only took me six years!"   She plans to concentrate on her Lash Extension business for a while and save up some money before going back to school. 

We met up with her yesterday for a photo shoot and some lunch. 

Savannah smiles! 

 

 

I said "Vannah you should throw your hat in the air!"   She said "okay we could give it a try!" 

Ready set...

Hats off!! 

Congratulations Savannah!  We are very proud of you! 

Far Side

Spring Like Days

 Busy days and nice to be outside. 

My spinner survived the winter and birds are at the bird bath bathing! 

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Robin Red Breast

 We had a Robin in our yard  May 3.  Yeah us...Spring must be here...finally.

I keep track every year and record the day I can finally take a photo o a Robin. 

We are not feeding birds because of the Avian Flu.  Hope we can start feeding soon as the birds that fly North are really hungry when they get here throughout the month of May. 

Far Side

First Robins In Our Yard:

April 19 2008, April 11 2009, April 5 2010, April 4 2011, March 23 2012, April 27 2013, April 9 2014,  April 24  2015, April 21 2016, April 5 2017, April 29 2018,
some time in late May 2019, March 31 2020, April 5, 2021 and now May 3 2022.