Winter wood

Mama C, helped load and unload a couple cord of wood we got from a neighbor -- Ellie and Kade helped unload also.

Happy Veteran's Day

"a veteran is someone who at one point in their life made a check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including their life."

God's Chisel

The "REAL" Threat !

Forget about man-made Global Warming.
Missile Defense
33 Minutes This is the REAL Threat to life as we know it!

Path to Socialism

Milton Friedman on Why Government Spending Fails

Moving IN moving Out

Well, the focus has changed from getting the old house ready to sell to getting the new house ready to move in.

The pet smells in the new house were worse than we remembered, so we tore the carpeting out of all three bedrooms. Now we are also repainting them before we move in. The Rec room floor needed to be sealed to cover the pet smells in the tile that bleach and cleaning solutions didn't remove. Zinsser BIN works great for this, but is it potent. All of this has totally derailed work on the old place.

"Socialism's Last Stand"

"If you like poverty, inefficiency, and bureaucratic controls over the economy, and therefore control over your choices, the "climate change" movement is ideal."

It's Not Just That Global Warming Is Fake. What Matters Is Why This Fakery Is Being Promoted.

Video: Why Global Warming Policies Are More Dangerous Than Global Warming Itself

Video: Why Global Warming Policies Are More Dangerous Than Global Warming Itself

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A lot of work and saving pays off BIG.

My wife and I have spent most summer weekends for the past 6 years looking for a house and property in the country that we both loved. This is it! We close the deal on July 23rd and take possession August 2nd.

I'm looking forward to mowing 3 or so of the 10 acres on or about 08/03/09, and Mama C. is... well, I'll talk about that another time. Check Other Photos for additional pictures.

There's an attitude for all seasons

My wife and I are reaching for a a long held dream, even though we're both in the Autumn of our years.

Some might say, "you really should be thinking Winter"; our attitudes, however, tell us it's still Autumn.

We're in the market for a house in the country (with acreage) to make our home -- most likely our last, in this life. The search and the weighing of some seemingly imponderable considerations have brought me closer to my Higher Power (which I call God) and other metaphysical thoughts.

This being one of them:

nodding reflections

rippled on the pond of time --

eternal glimmer

U.S. Debt going viral!

Get a great MP3 download from Amazon

Thank You Joe Cook!

Lake Superior Ice

Here's a current picture of the ice conditions on Lake Superior, Duluth, MN. This is a shot looking south from Brighton Beach -- on the north side of Duluth. Park Point, on the horizon, is about 5.5 miles away. Our Inland Sea did not ice up much this year in spite of the numerous -15 to -20 degree nights. We'll see what spring and summer bring, but so far this reminds me of the winters we had when we first moved to Duluth in 1971.

February on the north shore of Gitchi Gummi.

 

And all but Grandpa F. were there!

Dædo and Mama C., Grandma, the bride and groom (Mr & Mrs Steve Homick), brother Paul and his family, and the 3 sisters ,(Tanya, Tracy, Ginny) and their families -- the clan now numbers 24!

Grandpa F. is in a nursing home and couldn't make it to the wedding.

The last of five marries! Congrats Steph & Steve!

Bearhead Lake State Park

Davy and Mrs. Crockett begin a 3 day trip to Bearhead Lake State Park, Ely, MN.

Base Camp, Bearhead Lake, North Bay, Ely, MN

According to the compass and this map our base camp is bearing 260�.

First day has been a long one -- Chili Dogs are just what the Dr. Dædo ordered. 

Frying Bacon after night in the low 30s

Remote campsite, East Bay.

View from the remote campsite looking west.

Up early the last day hoping for a Moose sighting.

Looks like Mama C has been using Tide on Dædo's shirt!

Christmas Eve 2005

"Twas the night before Christmas..."

...Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

Life on the edge of the present - not as scary as it seems.

Sometimes a view from above is what we need to move forward in spite of doubts and fears.

"God, Grant me the Serenity to Accept the Things I Cannot Change, Courage to Change the Things I Can, and the Wisdom to Know the Difference."

High above Lake Superior on Palisade Head - part of Tettegouche State Park - 60 miles north of Duluth, MN.

Afternoon getaway

Jay Cooke State Park - east entrance at Thomson Dam.

St Louis River below the swinging bridge - Jay Cooke State Park, Carlton, MN.

"Trailblazers: this park is a must! Park trails link up to the Willard Munger State Trail at the north edge of the park; perfect for backpackers, bikers (both mountain and tour), hikers, horseback riders, and skiers. Check out the wildflowers in the spring, and the vivid colors in the fall. Walk on the swinging suspension bridge high above the raging St. Louis River. Visit the historic cemetery and the gorge at Thomson Dam."

Mama C at Overlook On St. Louis River

This didn't work out the way I thought is would. Anyway, we spent the afternoon at Jay Cooke State Park. Recent rains had the river running pretty good. The display at the Ranger Station says 24 Million gallons of water flow by daily.

Dædo at Oldenburg Point River Overlook

Relaxing 220 steps below the overlook. We didn't have a tripod for the camera, and it was really hard to find a level spot to set it up. But then the "real" challenge began. How to trip the shutter delay and get to the spot next to Mama C in less than 10 seconds -- without breaking any bones.

Oldenburg Point Picnic Area

Up from St Paul to clean a SHT Campsite

Daughter Tracy, husband Derek, their daughters Autumn (foreground) and Maiya in chestpack, dogs Meap & Kera. - Superior Hiking Trail campsite maintainers.

"The Superior Hiking Trail is a 205-mile long distance footpath that follows the rocky ridgeline above Lake Superior in northeastern Minnesota. It begins just north of Two Harbors, MN, and ends just before the Canadian border. The trail has 30 trailheads and 81 backcountry campsites making it ideal for both day hikes and backpacking. There are no fees, reservations or permits required to hike or backpack on the trail. Click on the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information about camping." http://www.shta.org/

Fall Clean-up of Crow Valley Campsite  

Perennials make gardening easy.

Joe Pye Weed, Black-eyed Susans, and Sedum did great this year. The Monarch butterflies like them too.

The Bee Balm was great earlier but a 2 month drought allowed the powdery mildew to get hold and they never recovered.

Sphinx moth stopped with digital camera shot

These look pretty prehistoric stopped by the digital flash but resemble humming birds in flight. Both are daily visitors to our deck.

What happened to summer?

I recently received an email from someone who had seen my Blog. They were wondering why I quit Blogging. I'm doing some reflecting about that issue.

This has been the summer that wasn't for some reason - nothing earthshaking - just a bunch of small issues.

I did manage to get the garden in this year, but the canoe never got wet, and Mama C and I have done no overnight camping. We managed to fit in some hikes.

Anyway, while I ponder (the summer that never was) I thought I would post a picture, or two, of a humming bird that visited our petunias last night.