The old guy is getting older

It is someone’s birthday..born on a cold snowy February day..he just missed  being a valentine’s baby.

He is a special guy.  His friends must think so too.

A few weeks ago I was sworn to secrecy.  The birthday package arrived and was opened.

Some days “she” is at the Coca-Cola Diner.

Some days “she” is at the Drive –In Theater.

One day I was upstairs just looking around the train set..and turned some of the cars around that were facing backwards..Far Guy noticed right away that something was amuck.  Station Wagons always face backwards at the Drive-In movie theater..at least that is the rule we follow upstairs.

I think Floyd and Frank have outdone themselves in the gift giving department.  They must have many good memories of that old 1959 Desoto Explorer Station Wagon.  Just so you know there were only 704 of them made.  If you got to ride in one..or drive one you were pretty lucky.

This car was full of rice the day we got married.  I think we vacuumed up rice for two years.  She was Willow Green.  She had push button drive and a roof rack.  She could hold nine passengers comfortably.  She had one seat that faced the rear.  She had a 1948 Desoto hood ornament courtesy of Far Guys Dad..we still have that hood ornament upstairs.

I was with the day that the cop said she was doing 92 mph..we were talking and not paying much attention to the speed limit..the Judge took one look at the car and said “Do you suppose it was doing 70?” 

I was there the day she needed a new transmission and it took a whole months paycheck to get her fixed.

I was there the day her oil light went on..and Far Guy was so bugged..I fixed it for him.  I wadded up a piece of my bubble gum and covered up the light so he wouldn’t feel so bad.

I don’t remember the day she was sold..but I am sure Far Guy remembers it well.

Lots of good memories are tied to that car.

The die cast model is a wonderful gift and addition to the train layout upstairs!  Far Guy has good friends! 

Happy Birthday Far Guy:)

Chance : Snow banks and a heart

Hiya!  It’s me Chance.  My turn..my turn..finally!

It snowed and we have some huge snow banks..I have to climb them so Far Side can get some pictures.

Far Side said I was a turd..but some stray bit of sunlight momentarily blinded me.

THEN she wanted me higher up on the snow bank.

There was a branch up there ready to poke my eye out.

So I chewed it off.

How is this?  Whatdayamean my eyes are closed..I can see out of little tiny slits.

This is not the first time I posed on this snow bank.  Tuesday she needed pictures of my heart side. Didyaknow I have a heart side?

I have a big, big heart can you see it right there on my shoulder?  Happy Valentines Day! :)

Wistful Wednesday : Young Enduring Love

My paternal Great Grandmother (Kaisa) was born in  Muhos, Finland in 1867.  Six years earlier in 1861 my Great Grandfather (August) was born in Ylivieska Finland.  The towns are ninety miles apart.  So it is doubtful that they knew each other in Finland.

August was an only child..although his father had been married twice before to women that already had children.   August came to America in 1877.

Kaisa may have had brothers and sisters..her family history needs some close inspection.   Her parents left her in Finland while they went to America. She was working as a maid and her parents left her two cows to pay for her passage to America.  She was 16 years old.  She apparently sold the cows and came to America in 1883.  Sometime later her parents would return to Finland..but I don’t know why or when.

In August of 1883 two months after getting off the ship Kaisa married August in Michigan..she was 17 and he was 24.  Young love?  He was a miner working in the Copper Mines and a logger.

They had 12 children and adopted a grandchild after their daughter died.

Most of their children were born near Dover Creek Michigan.  In 1903 Mike died  of a burst appendix at the age of 19, in the same year Annie would die of pneumonia after having the mumps at the age of 18..leaving behind a daughter born in 1903 whom my Great Grandparents would raise as their own child. My Grandmother Hilda would become the oldest by default after her older brother and sister died.  In 1906 a baby would die. 

August and Kaisa unknown year..possibly 1920

In 1906 August and Kaisa would move to Becker County Minnesota. Land was the lure.  Farming must be easier than mining.  They would leave my Grandmother behind, she was 17 and had a very good job working as a housekeeper in a fancy house where the lady of the house would inspect the maids work with a white glove.  My Grandmother had a few suitors in Michigan..she loved Michigan and would return there to visit many times throughout her life.

Hilda in 1906, she was 17 years old and lived in Michigan.

In January of 1910 my Grandmother (Hilda) would come to Minnesota she was 21 years old.  She followed her family here, perhaps she missed her family.  Perhaps she got a letter from her Mother asking her to come..who knows?

My Great Grandparents  would suffer more grief.  Olga would die from meningitis the next year (1911). Olga was 13 years old. Two months after Olga’s death baby William was born and died the same day.

In 1918 their son Oscar would die of influenza during WWI.

In 1919 their remaining children would be Hilda (my grandmother), Andrew, Elina, Katie, Pearl ( adopted granddaughter), Mayme and Emil.  My Great Grandparents would live to bury half of their children.  Everyone in the family would treat Aunt Pearl like a real Aunt instead of the grandchild that she was.

Some of my thoughts:  Who would leave a 16 year old behind in Finland to come to America by herself?  Two Months..they knew each other two months or less and they were married..but the marriage lasted 58 years until August’s death in 1941.  Perhaps they grew to love each other after the sparks of young love wore off?  It must have been devastating for my Great Grandparents to endure the deaths of so many of their children.

Family History seems to make me ask more questions..I wonder if the answers are out there someplace.  Should I just be happy with the information I have or are these just pieces of the puzzle?:)

Snow and More Snow

We spent most of yesterday morning moving snow.  So Chance could potty..and so we could get the vehicles out if need be and to feed the hoards of birds that were waiting in the trees.

I am not much of a machinery person, but managed to spell Far Guy with the snow blower.  I handed him my shovel and said “Here lean on this for awhile.”  Good thing he is a great mechanic..as we sheared off a shear pin.  Luckily he had several replacements.

The snow stick is still out there..I think it is measuring about 20 inches of snow for a total..since I would have to wade out there..I am not sure.

Perhaps I will shovel my way there tomorrow or the next day.  Yes, we will have a snow stick contest  again..I am working on a couple of cute bark carvings..more details will be forthcoming. 

This storm brought in 14 1/2 inches of snow. The most snow we have had in one dump for quite a while.

Far Guy and Chance ventured to the mail box..Far Guy had to roll over the top of a four foot high snow bank to get to the road..and then there was no mail..

They took my old camera with them.  Chance is wondering if they shouldn’t turn around.  Blazing a trail was not easy:)

Enough

Enough already.  I feel like there is a cloud over my head. 

We are still enduring the TV saga or lack thereof..the snowstorm/blizzard has postponed the appointment until Wednesday.

Fridays mail was a real treat.  Why doesn’t anyone do their job?  Why must I call them on the freaking phone and point out their obvious errors.  Yes, both calls ended up with positive outcomes..but  I should not have had to waste my time in the first place.  One was a 200 dollar error and the other a 7 dollar error..I can’t even look at it that I saved 207 dollars..because it was an error that should never have happened.

My best advice to you dear readers is to keep all your insurance slips and double check them against your clinic bills…just don’t blindly pay the bill.  In fact I will go one step further and say go through all your bills with a fine tooth comb..looking at all the charges..and for you really elderly don’t pay something because it looks like a bill.   Magazine Companies will do that..it looks like a bill and unless you keep track of what magazines you get and when you paid for them..you could just extend your subscription to some distant time in the future when you might just be dead.

I got a reminder in the mail that I could save oodles if I renew my subscription now..when I checked it is good through August of 2014.  Buggers..they should really pay me anyway what with all the advertising there is in magazines nowadays.  I suggested to one company that they just put all the ads in one section of their magazine so it was easier for me to rip them out.

It is snowing here and has been since sometime Saturday evening.  The cloud cover is so heavy it looks like it is dark in the daytime.

Chance is less than thrilled about snow that he has to drag his belly through.

He collects little round balls of snow on his belly and the snow packs in between the pads of his feet. 

We are staying at home for the duration of this snowstorm that they named Orko.  Far Guy says it is possibly the most snow that we have ever had here. Last night my other baby brother stopped by and he reported 13 to 15 inches of the white stuff..and it was still snowing.

I like the moisture that the snow will bring come spring..but do we have to get it all at once?  Couldn’t it be spread out over a week or two:)

The Tall One

Some people were whispering loudly..”Who is that tall one?”  Someone answered “That is Noah.”

He is a head or two taller than most of his teammates.  He is six something..I say something because he is always growing.  His Mother is continually buying him new pants…I think she breathes a sigh of relief when it is summer and he wears shorts.

We won’t even talk about shoes.

He likes basketball.   I think with his reach ..perhaps boxing would be a good sport for him also.

He plays a position called a post.  I know nothing of basketball..except I thought there were Guards and a Center..now there is a post??  They must have changed the names of the player positions in the past forty years.

I’ll say one thing for Basketball..it is much warmer than Hockey.

He did get a shot at the basket.

His team won their game!  He was tired after the game…and ate a really good supper..I heard he is eating two meals in the evening..supper 1 and supper 2.

It was fun to watch him play basketball.  Basketball season is almost over.  I am glad that the weather finally cooperated so we could travel to see a game:)

Covered Bridges

Last fall when we went to Indiana. One of the things I wanted to photograph besides Tobacco Barns was a covered bridge.

On our way home.  We stopped at a rest stop in Illinois where they had tourist info.  The lady pointed us in the right direction but said we would have to walk across because no vehicles were allowed.

We found it in a park. 

 

It was called The Lake of The Woods Covered Bridge.  We have a Lake of the Woods here in Minnesota you know..but no covered bridges as far as I know.

 

Far Guy and Chance stretched their legs.

Just incase you wanted to see the light at the end of the bridge!

The lady at the tourist center was mistaken..cars could drive through from both directions.so we did.

I will have to re-visit my photography bucket list someday soon.  I know I still want to photograph a baby buffalo and lightening…and  Northern Lights if I am really lucky:)

Super Disgusted

I am super disgusted with our satellite TV provider.  After several emails back and forth..they are immovable on the charge for the service call.  I keep telling them that I am not  happy customer..they do not care.  At first they were going to credit me $1.20  plus .08 cents tax for the six days we won’t have TV. I explained simple math to them.. and now I will get a credit of 17.00 and some tax.  They are idiots.

They have no oars for their boats, they have no sandwiches for their picnics..they are morons.  I am through emailing them.  I pointed out that they should all take classes in customer service…right after I pointed out their arithmetic errors.

If we could get UND Hockey games with any other  satellite provider we would switch services.  BUT we both kinda enjoy Hockey on Friday and Saturday nights in the winter, and hockey is only on the Fox Sports Northwest channel only with their service.

So we are stuck..if we want to watch UND Hockey.

I have lots of old VCR tapes and DVD’s… me and The Bee Gees One Night Only Concert finished up the huge mailing for the museum..it is ready to go.  It is one of our major fundraisers over the winter.  I will be glad to drop it off at the post office this morning..and I will breathe a sigh of relief.   I tried a little Willie Nelson Live with Bob Dylan..uffda..those boys need tuners.

I might go to wally world and rummage through the sale pile of DVDs in order to keep my sanity.  I did find out that my copy of Fried Green Tomatoes is bad so I will have to search for a replacement DVD.  That is one of my favorite movies..Towanda!!

I suppose I could start a Red Green Show Marathon..he would put me in a pretty good mood before too long.

I don’t like movies with violence or ones that scare me so bad I have nightmares.  I  have a collection of Lassie Movies..they are my favorites although they make me cry.  I didn’t cry during Love Story ( I think I was the only person in the theater that didn’t cry..I must be weird.) Lassie.. well that is another story…bring out the hankies! 

Chance and I sat outside in the sunshine for a long time today..we shoveled snow and watched  birds.

This little White Breasted Nuthatch male reminded me of my Aunt Marie, she called them Assups..because their bottoms are always up:)

Losing my mind among other things

The last few days I have been working in the bedroom, cleaning out drawers and closets..recycling..if I have not worn it in a year..I might not need it.  If it has holes or stains it belongs in the garbage..if some socks are itchy and uncomfortable on your feet..splurge..buy new ones..or dig to the bottom of the drawer where you find some very fuzzy comfortable ones that you have not seen in a year or so. ( Jackpot!!)

Along the way..I found a stash of books..imagine that!  And two Christmas gifts that I did not give to the people they were bought for.. one is unmistakably my youngest daughters tiny gift and the other is a autographed book I purchased for my father.  I am not saving them until next year..they are on my desk and will be delivered.  “Stuff” hardly ever goes missing from my desk.

Far Guy lost his yahoo homepage on Google Chrome, it was an easy fix.   He also has that darn old Firefox..and he wants Yahoo News there ..Firefox and I have never gotten along.  It took some fancy doings but I finally got it all straightened out.  Somehow he picked a new search engine with a funny name..delta..and he was fit to be tied.  He doesn’t do change well.   delta is a browser-redirecting virus.  It was an add on I think..anyway it is gone..sayonara...hasta la vista baby. 

I fought for two hours on the phone with Direct TV..we are losing our satellite signal in the living room..the bedroom TV signal is just fine.  The TV gets funny pixels and makes a chirping noise.    After two hours  of resetting and rebooting they have decided we need a 50 $ service call..I told them they were nuts that it is their equipment..we settled on a 25 $ service call on MONDAY..with a credit from service lost from now until then.  BUT I am looking at changing providers..we have that fiber optic cable nearby now.  We have had Direct TV for about 13 years now…and this is the first time we have had a problem with their service.   For the amount they charge us every month ..I think I deserve some fricking service.  The chirping noise will eventually drive you a little mad..and you will have to drag out some old VCR tapes that have six hours of movies taped on them.  I will most likely email their customer service department and complain.  Not that it will do any good…but I will feel better after I bitch at them awhile.

I had my teeth cleaned..good thing I didn’t lose anything there.  That ultrasonic blaster can be awfully painful sometimes..especially on my bottom teeth. 

The ditches are full of snow now..we will finally have some moisture come spring when it melts.  We still have a ways to go till spring..in three months spring should be here..not that I am counting or anything:)

Wistful Wednesday: Soldiers

Soldiers..we had a few in my fathers family over the years.
My Paternal Grandparents had twelve sons, five who would serve in the Armed Forces.
My Grandmother must have been beside herself.. the worst news came in 1944  May 20 my Uncle Arthur died and was buried in Italy.  He was killed during the invasion of Italy. He was in the Army 1943 to 1944.

Arthur born in 1920 and died in 1944.

Twenty four years old..seems like so young to die.

My Uncle Hugo served most of his time in Sicily during WW2 where he was wounded.  His left heel was shot off and he had numerous shrapnel wounds in his back near his spine. He was in the Army from 1942 to 1944. Some of that shrapnel remained embedded near his spine until his death in 1987.

My Dad was in Korea when I was born. He was in the Army from 1950 to 1952. Dad was wounded when a round hit his helmet..he didn’t want anyone back home to worry so he never put in for a Purple Heart..but we have photos of his bandaged head.

My Uncles Arnold and Andrew served almost at the same time.  Arnold was in the Navy from 1952 to 1956 mostly in Cuba, and Andrew was in the Army from 1953 to 1955 mostly in Hawaii.
This photo was taken when Arnold and Andrew came home for their Mother’s funeral in June of 1953.  She died of a massive heart attack.
I often wonder..Arnold enlisted in the Navy so that perhaps Andrew would be passed over for the draft. Andrew was a sickly child and teenager..frail..and his Mother worried about him.  ( I think that he was also one of her favorites.)  She died shortly after he was drafted, coincidence..maybe..maybe not.

Anyway..this is the photo I wanted to share today.  My Uncle Andrew on the left with one of his buddies.  Look how close to the White House they are…I bet they strolled through the grounds and probably went inside too.  President Eisenhower would have been in office then..a Military man.  The entire inside of the White House went through a renovation during the Truman years 1945 to 1953.

I can date this photo from 1953 to 1955 because of my Uncles time in service.

We should remember our soldiers not only on Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day.. but other days as well.
Lately the subject of women in the battlefields is being debated.  I say ask the women if they want to go to the front lines..if they want to go then let them..I am sick and tired of a bunch of men telling women what they can and cannot do:)

Update: There is some discussion,  is this the White House or not..I have searched for photos of buildings with columns in between the windows to no avail..if it is not the White House what building is it? 

Dreary Days

The days are dreary but warmer than last week.

Pine Lake

I had the meeting with the mucky mucks.   It went well, I learned quite a bit.  I now have more of a plan than I had before about goals for the museum..what is possible and what might be attainable IF I can get ALL the Board members to work together as a well oiled team.

I am not so certain I am the right person to take this ball and run with it.. I think I will catch the ball ..and hobble along until I am tired and then look for a replacement.  I am not sure that I want to be at the museum long enough to see a ten year plan through to completion.  I have family things to do..things that take longer than a three or even four day weekend.  I have a wildflower book to write..I have family histories to do…I have places to explore and  photos to take.  The museum will be there when I am dead and gone..I can retire this year..I will be old enough. Will I?  Probably not..

There is much to think about on these grey dreary days. I am working on one of the museums biggest fundraisers right now..perhaps when I get that off in the mail I will feel better. Maybe.  I know a little sunshine would sure help:)

Whitetails and trails

We went for a drive on Sunday afternoon through the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge.

Fisherman made a trail to put up their fish houses way out on Tamarac Lake. I think there were five house..waaaay out there.

Snowmobiles and ATV’s are not allowed on the refuge. Inside the refuge snowmobiles and vehicles are not permitted on the lake ice.  All fish houses must be removed at the end of the day.  I am sure these fellows pulled out a sled loaded with their portable fish houses..they made a wonky looking trail.

Near the refuge headquarters we saw some deer.  Chance was patient..

 

If you have ever wondered why they are called whitetails..this is why.

This one was eating on that Balsam Tree and took off just as I snapped the photo.

This is what one of the roads looks like. We didn’t meet any cars on our drive through the refuge..several people passed us..we only drove about 25 mph..typical Sunday drivers. 

It was nice to get out of the house..the weather was above zero..it looks like our weather will warm up this week.  Good thing too as I have several appointments this week..meeting with some mucky mucks and the Dental Hygienist:)

Chance the scout

Chance where have you been?  Were you out for a walk all by yourself?

“Nope I am the scout!  I am on duty.”

What are you scouting ?  Turkeys or squirrels?

“I am the advance scout for Far Guy, he is carrying the US Mail.”

“I am ready at the drop of a dog bone to protect all the mail and the males safe passage.”

You are a good scout Chance.

“I know.  Neither the snow, rain, wind or freezing temperatures or even Sundays stop me from taking my walk to the mail box.” :)