Fall Projects

Working on some Fall Projects, we touched up the stain on our log posts out front.  I cleaned up the sauna and washed the rugs.   Straightening up in the garage...that is a big job!    Mulching leaves...4 1/2  out of about 10 mulchings are done.   Not all the leaves are out of the trees.   Far Guy accuses me of sitting on the lawn mower waiting for a few leaves to fall.  ( Far Guy has a list...I do not...I have just been doing projects that I feel like doing!)

We have some of the Asian Beetles...the stinky little things bite and it hurts.  With the warm weather there are some itty bitty bugs that bite...some kind of gnat.   Our temperatures vary from a low of 45F (7 C) in the morning to a high of 78 F  (26 C) that is unseasonably warm for October in Minnesota. 

We have the Christmas Ornament count up to 100 ready to paint...Far Guy wants to carve a few more. 

We go for some kind of ride with Ranger Blue everyday. 

Far Side

How do you like them apples?

 We have a small Apple Orchard about 20 miles from us.  They are only open on weekends. 

The apple of the weekend was Honeycrisp

We bought some and they are crisp and wonderful...just picked off the tree flavor. 

They have some things for kids to do and tables and chairs sitting near the orchard.   They were a friendly bunch.   The farm originally belong to their grandfather and now two grandsons (brothers) own it. 

It was a nice drive over and back...a good Sunday drive. 

When the huge grocery store does not have apples...a small business does!

Far Side

Trails

 We live in an area where there are many backwoods trails to ride.  

We were gone about three hours yesterday riding up North of us. 

It was a pretty afternoon. 

My other baby brother, she who sees robins first, Far Guy, my baby brother and his bride. 

We got back home just after sunset.   

Far Side

Ranger Blue

 Finally...we ordered a Polaris Ranger UTV (Utility Task Vehicle) March 19.  It was supposed to be here May 15, then June 1, then July 28 - August 10, then August 28 - Sept 10, then Sept 17...it finally arrived at the dealer October 1st. I called my baby brother who has a trailer and we went to get it.  

FINALLY  Ranger Blue has arrived!

We ordered it because we figured it would be real fun to have for the Summer...now Fall but at least we got it before Winter!  Both of my brothers have Rangers they were generous with theirs over the summer so we got to go for a few rides always saying "When we get ours we can explore that trail! "

Many people call them an ATV ( All Terrain Vehicle) or a side by side.   Ours has Air Conditioning and Heat, it is fully enclosed so it won't be horribly dusty for Far Guy.   It has a center display that shows all the trails in the area on a map so we might not get lost.   It has seat belts, mirrors and blinkers so we can drive it on all trails, Township Roads or County Roads.  We can cross State Highways to get to trails or other roads. 

It is a fun ride! 

Two does in the woods and a buck out front.

It should be a great adventure!  

Far Side

October

 The Rail Road Bridge across Fish Hook River is gone. 

Yesterday after picking up groceries I had a few minutes so I went over to what is now known as Red Bridge Park.

You can see the yellow floats out there where the bridge used to be...and the guy in the boat was doing something...sounded like he was sucking up stuff.  The bridge had not been used as a Rail Road bridge for years...they said it was "unsafe"  and had to come down...it was a great place to take photos.  Progress...not so much.

Grocery Adventures yielded a bag of rotten oranges, no apples and no wild rice...good thing I have a bunch of cooked rice in the freezer.  I called and complained about the oranges...they gave me a refund.  No apples...who woulda thunk it? 

Leaf Mulching Day 2 1/2  was a success...about 20 percent of the leaves have fallen in our yard.  My mower is working great and may actually make it through the Fall mulching...knock on wood.  I can use my brothers mower if mine fails...because I am sure the wait to get a new mower is mighty long...maybe years...a goat would be faster.

 No rain yet but they say it is coming.   Good thing too as after supper I went out to water the tomato plants and pick our daily couple of tomatoes and I smelled smoke...smoke had filled the yard....I went to investigate...just a stupid a$$ lake person that had raked his leaves into a pile on his driveway and lit them on fire.  I drove by slow and gave him the evil eye...turned around again and gave him more of the evil eye...I was tempted to stop and ask him if he had a permit to burn and a real brain but I kept driving toward home.  The woods are still DRY and a fire waiting to happen...I would bet he had no water hose nearby either. Dumb A$$.

Goodbye September hello October.  Yes I might be a tad cranky. 

Far Side

Pontoon Ride

 My baby brother and his wife invited us for a pontoon ride.  Neighbors Jo and Steve came too.  It was a warm afternoon...a really nice end of September day...high was 84 F or 29 C eh!

Not yet peak but it may rain the next few days and who knows what will be left after that.

A juvenile Loon that has not left yet. 

Baxter...getting his nose in the breeze to get all the lake news. 

I had a very busy day.  I did some house cleaning, laundry and some lawn mowing/ leaf mulching.  

Far Guy did some woodcarving. 

Far Side

More color

 The leaves are changing fast! 

We went for a ride after supper. 

We had a busy day...usual stuff and our Christmas Ornament count is up to 90 ready to paint...yeah us.   I ordered what I need to finish off the Christmas Cards....just something a little extra. 

I started crocheting on the newest blanket.    I mulched leaves in the yard day one of ten is complete...it was nice and dry and the wind was supposed to come up...so I figured the wind would help push the leaves into the woods...not so much. 

Far Guy is about the same...no better but no worse. 

Far Side

Color

 We still have some flowers in the yard....and leaves. 

The trees on the driveway are changing colors.

A few more yellow tomatoes were ready to pick.   They sure are good...we shall miss them when we get a frost. 

I auditioned  some of the yarn skeins upstairs for my newest Crochet Along Project....nothing is written in stone when it come to yarn colors.  Changes will be made. 

Far Guy is still not well.  I have given him my opinion...just worth 2 cents or less. 

Far Side

Home

 I arrived home Sunday afternoon.  I unpacked my numerous bags of "stuff" and began laundry.  I finished (well almost finished) 131 Christmas cards.  Jen and I decided the cards need a little something more....so one of these days I will tackle that..after all I have time.   I also had a bit of time to crochet. 

The new CAL (Crochet Along) started the morning I left for retreat...my yarn is all spread out on a bed upstairs...I just need a vision...color choices must be made....and a start should be attempted.   

Far Guy did just fine...the house was spotless when I returned.  I had a nap.  It is good to be home.  Far Guy has a sore throat...so I will keep a close eye on him.  Most likely it is Fall allergies but you never know. 

It was a good retreat...some of Jen's friends are so special...I always look forward to seeing them.

Far Side

Cards

 I have one hundred Christmas cards done.  I am tired of coloring,  I will be very glad to finish the last thirty cards before I leave here.  Far Guy is doing just fine without me. Andy was here and made supper again on the grill he cooked bacon wrapped chicken breasts and made homemade French fries. Yummy.

Far Side

Just another day at retreat

 I am still working on Christmas cards…I am making progress.  Slow but sure.  

I have been to the same place for retreat eleven years. I have known most of the gals for a long time, they are mostly Teachers and Social workers or retired.  I am the oldest one here.  There is a huge room filled with six foot long tables so everyone has their own space. Off of the huge space are a kitchen, dining area, three bathrooms, a TV room, a dressing room and a number of bedrooms with twin beds. Once we get here we don’t have to leave unless we want too.  The grounds are lovely.  Most of the time the property is used as a wedding venue.

My baby brothers wife is here also, she is working on a cross stitch baby bib.

Long time friend Sarah is working on Christmas cards also…she will be done before me!

Son in law Andy cooked for us …pulled pork tacos, chips, salsa, margaritas and Mexican Mud Balls for dessert …fantastic food.  Andy went to visit Far Guy and stay the night…he will be back to cook Saturday night. 

Far Side

At retreat

 I had a busy day yesterday, grocery pickup and finished packing up.  I did the final sanding on six more ornaments before I left, the total is seventy six ready to paint someday.  Then I left and drove almost an hour to the retreat. The leaves are turning fast so we are almost peak fall color. There are eight of us here so far.  Nothing major is happening on my table yet.  However some gals are working hard.

All are having fun…lots of giggling.

Note that they all have phones. 

Far Side

Fall Activities

 I am getting ready for retreat.   I packed most of what I will need.  For days I had stuff laying all over.  I plan to work on the Christmas Cards and one of my Mosaic Crochet Projects....the one that has 20 squares and I have 13 done working on number 14.   I have not been to retreat for two years.

Yesterday I mowed the grass...with the rain we had it is actively growing again.   I mowed it pretty short with hopes that the leaves will sail across the lawn and go into the woods!

Very soon it will be leaf mulching time... I usually can get it done on 10 nice days before it snows.

Far Guy worked on woodcarving the Christmas Ornaments.  I have 70 ready to paint someday when things slow down. 

Far Side

Shell River at the Dead Beaver Area

Fall

 Fall as in the first day of Fall and a fall-en barn. 

Somewhere in my photo archives I have a photo of this barn when it was not a pile of boards.  Maybe someday I will hunt for it.  

We had a good first day of almost Fall, I worked on odds and ends all day...laundry, organizing yarn after a huge box arrived,  organizing some craft supplies to take to the craft retreat...Far Guy worked on woodcarvings and we went to the Transfer Station (garbage) together.  Saw three deer going and the same three when we came back...and they are not real afraid of us...either they were real hungry or used to us. 

No hard frosts here yet....but it was chilly yesterday morning.  45 F or 7 C eh!

Happiest of Birthdays to my friend Cathie who lives in Texas! 

Far Side 

So Many Birthday Wishes!

 Thank you for all the wonderful birthday comments.  I had people singing to me all day long...beginning with my husband when I was barely awake, then my baby brother and his bride, Far Guys Sister and then Jen...along with a few emails too.  

We began celebrating the night before my birthday as my other baby brother and she who sees robins first baked rhubarb cake!   Then on my birthday we took DQ blizzards to share with my parents.  My Dad has memory problems...I asked him "How old am I Dad? " He said "34"...I said I will take that.  Then he was quiet and you could tell he was thinking real hard...and he finally got a big grin on his face and said "You are really old!" He remembered that he was in Korea when I was born.  

We drove around a bit before stopping for a proper late lunch or lupper.   When we got home my baby brother and his bride came in singing!  ( Baxter was not singing,  he was looking for treats!)  Later in the evening I had calls from Miss Paige, Jen, Andy and Adam. 

Cards from family and friends.  Thank you all! 

Far Side

Just another birthday

 Yes, I am older.  My brothers keep reminding me that I am aging.  Since I am the oldest...I shall always be older than them!

Photo taken last August.

Far Guy asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday...I requested a trip by Dairy Queen and a photo adventure in the country looking for old barns or flowers. 

Far Side

A Beautiful Day

 Yesterday we had lunch at Jen's favorite place...my second Margarita this year!  The food was awesome as usual...we sat out on the patio...where we could see Baxter in the car.   

It was a beautiful Minnesota day...a bit breezy but we spent most of the day outside.  Jen said she was having a good birthday! 

I worked on quality control of the Christmas Ornaments...I have 50 ready to paint. 

 Baxter was good company for me after Jen and Andy left and Far Guy went in for a nap.   Baxter went home in the late afternoon...I think he was sad to leave as he flushed out a rabbit in the wildgardens.  

I am working on getting my craft projects all set to go for a craft retreat soon.  Far Guy encouraged me to go....so I am! 

I probably won't take this project...I put it out of reach...as Baxter thinks balls of yarn are lots of fun! This has been my in the car project and my late night TV watching project. 

Far Side

Backwards Birthdays

 Our youngest daughter Jen is celebrating backwards birthdays.  I believe she says she is 34 this year...she began going backwards at 40. 

This was her birthday in 1993.   She was 18 that year.  No one ever wants to go backwards when they are 18!  Photo taken at the  house at the Resort on Straight Lake.

She was 18 her whole Senior year...September birthday...

Usually on her birthday...I would cook a favorite meal and invite her Grandparents over for supper and cake.   Sometimes she would ask one friend to come over.  Then on the weekend after a birthday she would have some kind of party with lots of kids invited.... Happy Joes...and all girl sleepover...a party in the yard playing games....   something to make her feel special!

Happy Birthday Jen...she will visit us sometime today.  Hope you feel special spending your birthday with your elderly parents!  

Love you!

Mom

Gathering and a Studebaker

 Gathering supplies that I need for the Christmas cards...the hunt is now complete.  

Grocery pickup was not without drama...the phone at the grocery store was busy for 40 minutes...so I had to go inside to the service desk and request that my order be delivered to the car.   Far Guy had to wait outside the clinic for a bit...he said he was content to people watch while waiting.  We got everything on our list.   I have been gathering some extra things that we use  all the time.  Soaps, lotions, paper products, craft supplies, yarn...you get the idea.

I have a number of photos of old cars...after all I have lots of time during car shows...and once in a while I actually learn something new.  

1956 Studebaker Power Hawk.  Owned by a long time friend of Far Guy...the fellow is 88 years old. 

It has curb feelers! 

What you don't know about curb feelers?   See that wire/spring that is sticking out...it makes a noise if you get too close to the curb and saves you from scraping your white wall tires or your fancy hubcaps.

Far Side

Some Progress

 Since we stayed home yesterday I made some progress on several projects that I was behind with.  Some mowing...and my lawn mower had to be repaired three times by Far Guy.  Hopefully it is all fixed now...some safety wire may hold my mulching chute shut....when companies change a part for mulching the change is not always a good one.  

I cleaned up a mess by one of the trees (long grass and leaves)...I have wagon wheels that lean there and a whole bunch of solar lights...some working and some not so much.   There was an ant hill in part of that area....only a few ants...not a swarm.   So I sprayed for ants.  Only three Solar Lights were working. 

I am working on the Christmas Card...plain old white watercolor paper works...but using a golden shade of watercolor as a wash...makes it all better.   It is project.  I make about 130 cards....so I work on it a long time. 

I ordered yarn for a new project...another crochet along... even though I am not done with two previous crochet along projects.  I figure I can rotate through them all winter.    I should make a list but that would be scary.   One project just needs a border.  Oh well.

Far Side