Archive for July, 2005

July 31, 2005 – Strange Days

Today was a strange day. We had a small chance of rain, it started about 6:30 am and I ran out to get the laundry. At about 10:00 I checked the radar and there was only a narrow band. By one the narrow band was still there and the last drops fell ...Read more.

July 30, 2005 – More Corn

I have not yet mentioned Emma’s return home. She was very homesick (you may have seen some recent comments from her at late hours of the night communicating with us when she was a way and sleepless at night). She is home for a couple of days before going to 4-H camp.
Yesterday, we ...Read more.

July 29, 2005 – Only in Iowa?

This week, I’ve been fighting the internet service. It’s been slower than dialup, fails to load web pages, refuses to send attachments in e-mail, or upload photos. I updated my spyware, anti-virus, and did a full system scan all to no avail. Called my internet provider to see if they were having ...Read more.

July 28, 2005 – Best of Rochester

Sister Julie was named the “Best Radio Personality” according to the citizen vote. She was excited and honored after 20 years on the air in Rochester and Des Moines. She’s a funny and direct personality with a compassionate twist.

July 27, 2005 – Cart-o-Veggies

Today was root crop day at High Hopes. We dug all the potatoes, and the remaining onions and garlic. Just as importantly, pulled all the weeds and planted buckwheat where everything was pulled. The weather is still pleasant and it was a good day to work.

We moved the turkeys out of the ...Read more.

July 26, 2005 – Eggs

The weather finally turned. We got a little more than 2 inches of rain (yeah! no watering all the new trees for another week!) and the weather cooled. One of the daily chores is collecting eggs. Here’s Claire with the daily haul.

July 25, 2005 – Garlic Bread!

Today was the last hot day for a while – so it was a good day for a dentist visit and to clean the house to get ready for an appraisal for a refinance. It’s nice to have a clean house. In the evening we cut some of the black-bearded wheat we planted ...Read more.

July 24, 2005 – Back at the Ranch

Today, we find out what the place looks like after 10 days away. It looked like nobody had lived here for a while, pretty shaggy looking. I guess the upside is that it shows us how much we actually do while it seems nothing is getting done. Other than that, it was ...Read more.

July 23, 2005 – Last Day at the Cabin

Saturday marks the last day at the cabin.

Here, the kids concentrate on a game of bocce ball.

The girls pose with their “search and rescue” shirts and sweaters to commemorate Emma’s return to civilization!

Finally, the last picture of the crew before the 520 mile trip home.

July 22, 2005 – Solitude (well, almost)

Although the time at the cabin is filled with activity – there are a few moments of solitude. Just past sunset, I dragged Claire off for a walk. Her reluctance soon waned as we walked down a trail and took a turn off through the brush. We encountered an animal trail and ended up in ...Read more.

July 21, 2005 – Lake Superior/Emma Search & Rescue

We started the day off with a lunch on the shore of Lake Superior. Of, course, swimming was part of the deal.

The water’s a bit colder, but still fun to wait for the waves.
After lunch we hiked the 1.5 mile path up the Baptism River to the High Falls, the highest waterfalls in Minnesota.

Dad and ...Read more.

July 20, 2005 – Splash

Swimming in the lake is a daily occurrence. One day, I went out in the canoe to take pictures of the girls jumping off the dock. Think they are having fun?

July 19, 2005 – Blueberries

It is a good year for blueberries in the northwoods. Always the foragers, we brought our canning kettle and canning jars and canned and froze blueberries (can’t get the farmers out of us, I guess). Grandma Jo even made a fresh blueberry cobbler.

The berries were particularly luscious this year. We went out a couple of ...Read more.

July 18, 2005 – Fish

Fishing is another fun part of the trip. This year Martin, set up with a bobber and worm, caught his first fish, from hooking to reeling in, from the dock.

Just watch, I can do this.

Wow – I did it myself!

The big fish of the week award goes to Claire for reeling in this northern pike. ...Read more.