Sunday, March 18, 2018

St Urho’s Day Parade 2018

It was a great day for a parade!  The grasshoppers were escorted out of town in style!

Parade 1

parade 2

Parade 3

Parade 4

Sweet smiles!

Parade 5

Royalty

Royalty

St Urho one

St Urho

another st urho

Another St Urho

Grasshoppers leaving town

Some grasshoppers were on pitchforks and others were drug out of town followed by dogs.

Beautiful lady

Beautiful smile

dogs

Flag bearers

Flag bearers

the king

Instead of the normal horses and wagon, the King was riding in a pick up truck…I hollered “Where are the horses?”  They shouted back the horses were getting too old.

Katie maybe

I think perhaps I know these kids!

It was a fun  parade, Chance was a good boy and quietly growled at all the dogs…with one sharp bark for the last dog in the parade.  The parade lasted all of ten minutes mostly because the Police Officer was driving her vehicle really slow. 

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

Reading

I have been plunged back in time by 55 years.

My baby brother thought I might need some reading material.  So he ordered a box of books to be delivered to me.  I should read them first and then take them over to his almost completed lake home so someday his Grandchildren can read the books he read as a child. 

I was not aware that BOTH of my brothers read my books…

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Mine were purchased at the old Woolworth Store in Detroit Lakes Minnesota.  Back then the books were less than a dollar (97 or 98 cents plus tax??).   The art work on the originals was slightly different also…the were called Cello Editions.  I can recall standing in front of the display of books and looking at all the covers…wondering which book I should buy next…decisions…decisions.

I finished the first book…I can see why the series first captured my attention…there is some kind of calamity or adventure in every chapter…it is a page turner…and leaves you hanging at the end of the book so that you will buy the next book in the series.

The original author (Julie Campbell Tatham)  of this series wrote just the first six books and after that many different ghost writers took over for the publishing company and wrote under the pseudonym Kathryn Kenny …it seems they found that young readers were buying their books and they wanted to continue after the original author stopped writing.

So now I am exploring books from my youth.

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Friday, March 16, 2018

Happy St. Urho’s Day

We got the flag up!

We are ready to celebrate!  Chance and I may have danced around the flag if we didn’t have such huge snowbanks!

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The big parade will commence tomorrow…it is okay to share the day with that lesser known St. Patrick.  I am certain that many Minnesota towns and cities will be wearing the purple and the green in honor of St. Urho…who chased those pesky grasshoppers out of Finland and saved the grapes!  I will be taking lots of photos of the parade! We are expecting sunshine and  40F ABOVE zero ( 4C eh!)…practically sunbathing weather.

St. Urho’s Day Poem

Ooksie kooksie kollme vee
Santia Urho is the boy for me
He chase out the hopper as big as pirds
Never before have I heard those words
He really told those bugs of green
Bravest Finn I ever seen
Some celebrate for St. Pat and his snake
But that Urho boy got what it takes
He got tall and strong on feelia sour
And ate Kalla Mojakkaa every hour
Thats why that guy dould chase those beetles
That crew as thick as jack pine needles
So let’s give a cheer
in our very best way
On the sixteenth of March
St. Urho’s Day!

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Thursday, March 15, 2018

Chance: A Walk

Hiya!  It is me Chance the most handsome Border Collie in all of Minnesota.

chance walking

Tuesday morning

The mail goes everyday.  They told me it is not there on Sunday but a little creative whinning and a bark here or there convinces them that a walk to the mailbox is well worth it EVERY day of the week.  We walk way beyond the mail box now. (They are making progress!)

Most of the time Far Side goes along. Far Guy and I are allowed to go by ourselves…but mostly she goes along to supervise.  She has Yak Tracks now…courtesy of her baby brother who wants to keep her butt off the ice and out of the snowbanks.

yak tracks

She makes funny tracks now.

Chance walking beyond the mail box

Wednesday morning over on the snowmobile trail.  The snow is getting a crust on it so I can walk where ever I want.

Most of the time I wear my red harness,  but I have been known to run up the stairs without it on.  I do not come downstairs without it on and someone guiding me down the stairs…again…I whine if I want to come down when they leave me on the landing all alone and lonely.

The warm weather has brought the skunks out and Far Side is certain that they can walk on top of the snow too…so she is extra careful at night…she goes out first and barks to scare everything away before I am allowed outside.  She doesn’t care if that is weird.

I am feeling pretty good for an old guy and as long as I am not allowed to scarf up bird seed outside or anything but “Far Side approved” food I don’t vomit or have diarrhea.  Yeah me! I suppose I could fill you in on my anal fistula/tumor too…but maybe that is TMI.  Leave it to be said that Far Side keeps my nether regions impeccabbly clean. She must love me alot!

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Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Wistful Wednesday: Midway Memories

Last summer my baby brothers best friend stopped by.  It was good to see him!  At one point he worked for Far Guy’s parents.  I asked him if he had any old photos that he could share with us.  A few weeks later I got them by email.

This was 1973 or 1974.  In 1973 we were stationed in Florida so Far Guys parents had to hire some help.

Marvin and Niles 1973 -74

Far Guy’s Dad ( Marvin) and Niles

Evelyn 1973 or 1974

Far Guy’s Mom (Evelyn)

Marvin 1974

Marvin

We were thrilled to see these old photos of the family business.  If you want to read more about our Midway Memories Here is a link to the first story in the series.

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Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Sheeps

Sheeps always make me smile.

favorite things

Some of my favorite things that make me smile sit on the shelf above my computer.

A Equinox Farm Calendar showed up in the mail, many thanks to Sara for all the smiles…her sheeps are special!

I think I live vicariously through Sara and her photographs.  A long time ago raising sheep and goats was a possibility for me…we tried to buy my Grandparents Farm (my uncle wouldn’t sell it)  and then we put an offer on a farm near the ND and MN border along the Red River…it was in the flood plain and had a few other problems so we did not purchase it.  Eventually I took one of those fancy smancy tests that tell you what profession you are best suited for…Police Officer…Child Care…Horticulture. Sheep/Goat farmer was not on that list.  I figured at 45 I was too old to be a Cop and I just wanted to be a Grandmother not take care of kids everyday…so I chose Horticulture. Funny how things work out.

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Monday, March 12, 2018

Painted Rocks and a book

We got special mail last week.

Rock painting

I have been to this place on Lake Superior…it makes me want to go back when it warms up a bit!  I love the idea of painting on rocks.

I found a good place to display it.

Border collie and stone

It fit perfectly leaning against the Border Collie that sits on the dining room window sill.

Train book

Far Guy got a book all about trains.

What fun to get stuff in the mail.  Thank you Larry!  It is wonderful to have such talented generous blog friends!

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Sunday, March 11, 2018

Crafts

I did not go to the winter craft retreat for the weekend but I did go over and visit a little and to work on a project yesterday.  Far Guy was watching High School Hockey on TV and Chance kept him company while I was gone.

While I was there Jen gave a demonstration on Alcohol Inks.  Very interesting and beautiful designs can be made.

The ink is put on special paper called Yupo.

alcohol ink

Jen put drops of paint on the special paper and then a bit of alcohol and then gently blew on the paper.

completed paper

It is messy…and the designs can change as they dry. Jen put plastic down on the table before she began.  Jen will use the paper in her card making.

Jen had a special die that I used for my project… May Baskets.  The baskets are all cut out and I will put them together in the next few weeks… I like playing with paper. These are small baskets…they will hold some jelly beans or maybe some gum.  The girls suggested that they would hold cash quite nicely.

May baskets

It was a relaxing couple of hours. It is fun to see what everyone was working on.  There were scrapbookers and card makers…and Jamie was doing business book work. Sometimes there are gals that sew…and some that work on electronic scrapbooking. There are no restrictions you can bring what ever craft/busy work you want to work on for the weekend.  I will go again in the Fall and work on Christmas Cards.

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Saturday, March 10, 2018

Flat Bread

I cooked, Far Guy played sous chef.  Two crock pots of chili almost disapeared.  My brothers and their brides and my parents came for supper.  Mom made Apricot Crisp and Cherry Crisp.

Flatbread

I had my doubts about the flat bread, cause my yeast is a little old and I forgot exactly how many cups of flour I had used…must of been okay as the bread was delicious.

The recipe for the flat bread came from my niece Megan.  The original recipe is larger and makes six loaves…three loaves is plenty for us.

Flat Bread

3 cups milk

1 package rapid rise yeast activated in 1/4 cup warm water

6 cups flour (sometimes I use half white flour and half wheat flour)

3 Tablespoons sugar

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

4 Tablespoons melted shortening or olive oil

1. Warm the milk, the old recipe says scald the milk. (If the milk is straight from the cow you might have to do that) I just warm it a little in a pan on the stove.

2. I put the 1/4 cup of hot water in my mixing bowl and then add a package of yeast.  If you don’t have packets use 2 1/4 teaspoons of other yeast. ( I buy yeast in a brown jar and keep it in the fridge.) I gently stir the yeast a bit to dissolve the yeast and make bubbles.

3. Add warm milk and olive oil.

4. Add sugar, salt and flour.

5. Knead for five minutes with a mixer with a dough hook or by yourself…hard work.

6. Divide dough into thirds.  Put a bit of olive oil on a couple of cookie sheets. I form the ovals in my hands or on a bread board, flipping the dough back and forth.  Flatten dough onto the cookie sheet and prick with a fork.  Cover with a towel in a warm place to rise.

7. Bake at 325 degrees until golden brown (about 25 minutes), when it comes out of the oven put some butter on the top.

Enjoy!

I love the smell of bread baking.  Far Guy must too when he got up from his nap he said “Are we having fresh bread with peanut butter for lunch?”  Hint Hint!

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Friday, March 9, 2018

Frosting

We had a frosty morning. 

Far Guy said “When snow falls we say it is snowing, when frost falls out of the trees we should say it is frosting.”

Frost March 8

The blue sky was a beautiful background for the frost.   We had frosting for awhile as the frost fell out of the trees.  It was a chilly morning yesterday –4 F or –20 C eh! Perhaps that was the last of the below zero mornings for the winter…one can hope. 

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Thursday, March 8, 2018

Walkway

What a difference a day or two makes and some sunshine.

March 5 walkway

March 5th after Winter Storm Quinn

March 6 walkway

March 6.  Great minds think alike.  We got out the monster of a snowblower.  It is self propel and a bugger to steer, but it does have R and that gets me out of some situations!   We got a pathway made for the walk, and another for Chance and one to the bird feeders oh yes and the sauna.  I shoveled some.  Shoveling was hard work because the snow was so heavy.

walk March 7

March 7. We have a clear walkway again.  I can wear my crocs with socks to walk the dog.  I hope we have a few days with no new snow.

We stay busy…doing what I am not sure.  Laundry and a bit of cleaning.  One night She who sees Robins first (My sister in law who lives next door) made her famous Pizza that Far Guy really enjoys…it has lots of stuff on it (peppers,olives etc…) she also makes a plain pepperoni for me.  It was good to get out of the house.  Last night we had a surprise visitor…our youngest daughter Jen stopped for a visit….came to check up on the aging!  Chance loves her and was thrilled with her visit…we were too!

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Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Wistful Wednesday : Snow

We have quite a snowbank.  Snowbank= The pile you create by clearing snow from your yard.  We have a number of them.  We had a snowdrift in front of the door that almost blocked our exit. Luckily Far Guy could push the door open enough to get outside to get a shovel.
snow banks 2018 March 6
We should name them…this one would be June.
In March of 2006 we had a similar snowbank.
March 2006
Paige, Maddie and Savannah with Chance.
Brings to mind another snow photo.
Grandkids in snow Dec 2009
Adam, Maddie with Chance, Noah with Miss Miney and Paige in 2009. They were all so little then…and now they are all grown up.
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Tuesday, March 6, 2018

March Snowstorm

We had a dilly of a snowstorm.  It began with rain then it turned to sleet and then snow.  The sleet made music on the windows.

We had 10 inches of snow at the snowstick before the storm, now we have 19 inches at the snowstick.  This was such a heavy snow I am sure it sunk sank decreased in measurement some…I will guess we had 12+ inches of snow.

Chance March 5 Snowstorm

Here Chance is walking in a tire track on the way to the mail box. (She who sees Robins first  went to work, or my other baby brother went out.)  Our drive way had no tire track and it was hard walking…just lifting our boots that high was an effort. We made a path and the return trip was easier.  The old Border Collie kept laying down to clean off the pads of his feet.

House in Snowstorm March 5

Toward evening my other baby brother and nephew came to plow us out.

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19 inches at the snow stick

The shoveling began and will continue.  We are supposed to get more snow through Tuesday.  If one had energy after shoveling this would be snowball fight snow or maybe even a snowman.

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Monday, March 5, 2018

Sunday afternoon

Sunday afternoon we played cards with the neighbors. We have not had company in a long time.  It was good to see them.

We played the card game Golf and waited for it to start raining…but the rain held off until evening.  I heard on facebook that thunder and lightening may be headed this way. Poor Chance will have to hide.

We are in a Winter Storm Warning until Tuesday morning.  We are supposed to get rain, ice and snow.  Hope it is not too much ice.

There were 10 inches of snow at the snowstick just before dark last night.

March 4 2018

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Sunday, March 4, 2018

The game

Jen and Andy and the boys gave Far Guy Hockey Tickets “on the glass” for Christmas.  For those of you that don’t know… “on the glass” is in the first row. Jen and her Dad had a blast! ( Both really enjoy Hockey) North Dakota vs St Cloud

jen and Gene

Far Guy took a selfie

Weeks ago Far Guy was certain he would not be able to go.  We all encouraged him that he would be strong enough to go…and he was.

We drove up North on Friday afternoon. After supper of loaded baked potatoes and salad Andy dropped them off at the arena so they wouldn’t have to walk very far.

I kept Adam company…he had all four of his wisdom teeth extracted on Friday morning.  He was doing quite well, not much pain so we watched a bunch of Forged in Fire episodes. Chance enjoyed seeing Miney and Little Elvis…but he growled at poor old kitty Chaucer.   We drove back home after the game..it was late…the last 50 miles we didn’t meet another car on the road.

Game day Jen and Gene

Before the game photo.  Oh yes North Dakota ( now the Fighting Hawks used to be the Sioux and for Sioux Fans Sioux Forever!) lost in overtime 4-3.

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Saturday, March 3, 2018

Red Headed Woodpecker

For some reason we don’t see the Red Headed Woodpecker…who remembers Woody the Woodpecker he had a red head too?

We have Pileated Woodpeckers, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers and assorted Sapsuckers and the beautiful Common Flicker.

We are in the breeding range of the Red Headed Woodpecker but not the wintering over area.

Anyways…my Dad made me one for Christmas.  He was busy in his garage/shop…cutting sanding and painting.

Gift from my Dad

Far Guy put it up on one of the poles of the wood/tractor shed this week.  As you can see we still have plenty of snow.

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Friday, March 2, 2018

Winter flags

One day I went outside and my Valentine’s Day Flag was gone.  We looked around…the wind had been blowing.  It is red for Gosh Sakes and should stick out like a sore thumb.  We may find it when the snow melts.

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Then I wondered was it really the wind…or some deer that wanted a flag snack.  I saw no hoof prints.   The sign you see on the door says “Please don’t wear perfume or aftershave in my home as they make it difficult for me to breathe.”  Mostly it is a sign that people ignore…

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I decided to put the wolf flag up for awhile.

We went out for lunch yesterday!  Our first time out for lunch in about two months, it was good to get out.  It was 38F or 3C eh!  Chance enjoyed the outing too…but no french fries for him…he staged a little protest at suppertime…when his french fries were missing and replaced with rice…a little pumpkin persuaded him to finish his meal…silly dog that has humans wrapped around his paws.

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