A Day With The Posse

This past Saturday we tagged along with the LeSeuer County Sheriff's Posse for their annual Trail Ride. Nope, we did not ride horses nor did we ride in one of the wagons... Mike helped on the beer wagon (beer was available at all 5 stops along the way) and I assisted in the preparation of hot dogs (only available at 2 of the stops) and then I took pictures. This event is the fund raiser for the Posse and throughout the year they do some great activities that benefit the community - Take A Kid Fishing is one activity they sponsor. Anyway, it was a beautiful day and we both enjoyed ourselves. Here is a sampling of the day.

One of the Posse Riders takes a break and enjoys a hot dog. There were almost a dozen wagons filled with families enjoying the day.

This weary rider decided a beer was needed.

Lonny (in the long pants) and his buddy in the "knickers" enjoyed the comradery the day provided.

Farmers and landowners allow the group to pass through some of the most beautiful countryside in LeSeuer County.

And backroads led to some of the stops.

Animals and riders enjoyed the breaks.

Around 4pm, the riders took on the last field and it made for some great pictures.

And I will leave you with words of wisdom from one of my favorite ladies of all time, Katherine Hepburn. "If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased."

A Weekend To Celebrate

Sorry this took me so long to publish... I spent one day sobering up from Sunday's celebration (I still say I had a bug) and another with poor reception due to one more overcast day in Minnesota, and then I was just plain lazy one night, and then I had problems loading pictures and finally drove into Cleveland looking for better reception and still couldn't get a good signal so I called Verizon and ...(think of those dots as unladylike language). Anyway, this is the best I can do right now cuz I am running out of battery power.

On Saturday, we celebrated Mac's graduation. Since I have already done all kinds of bragging about him, I won't do any more of that. Instead I will show you a couple of pictures of our South Dakota family. This is Mike with the youngest great grandchild, Lyric. And I actually got a picture of the whole family; not easy with a one and four year old. We are so proud of these parents and the changes they have been able to make in their lives! What a beautiful family!
Sunday was a milestone birthday for Mike and we decided it would be a good day to invite old and new friends (and family, too) and celebrate. An unheard of thing happened... I took less than 20 pictures all day long - too busy having fun. But here is a sampling of the day.

Before people arrived, Mike relaxed, and even wondered aloud, "What if nobody shows up?"

while I got ready to park cars.

10 bottles of wine were chilling and 6 cases of beer were on ice. Let the fun begin!

It didn't take long. Even though Mike had requested no cards and gifts - a few people couldn't resist. Of course, Mike had to model. I am sure that the boob earmuffs will be just as useful as the "oldtimer" fishing pole ...

As I looked around the group of people that gathered that day, I was reminded of an old Seinfeld episode where George was talking about different groups of friends meeting and said "worlds collide, it is not good when two worlds collide." We had many different "worlds" join us on Sunday, and it seemed to work just fine... I didn't see or hear any signs of a collision.

There were people from Nicollet that Mike has known for a long long time and nephews and nieces and sons and a daughter-in-law.

And there were friends we have only known a short time enjoying the day with people Mike has known for over 40 years.

There were friends from racing days and from work days and great friends from "nowadays".
And there was an opportunity for two sets of friends to renew acquaintance with each other.

Thanks to everyone who attended; sorry I didn't get more pictures. Please know that you are important to us!

The only downside to the day was that Bob was not feeling up to joining us outside. Several people stopped over at the house to say hi and he told us later that it sounded like a great party.

Take A Kid Fishing 2010

This past Saturday was the fifth year that Bob and Corky have hosted "Take A Kid Fishing". For several days last week, members of the Sheriff's Posse, Corky, Mike and others cleaned and mowed and just plain worked hard (under Bob's direction) to get ready. On Saturday morning, there were over 60 kids who gathered at the lake to participate in a very fun fishing adventure.

It takes a lot of volunteers to make an event like this work. Curt brings his grill from next door to fry up the hamburgers and hot dogs.

The ladies bring food and run the registration of kids and boat operators.

Gander Mountain gives the Sheriff's Posse a good deal on life jackets, rods and reels, and tackle.

Les brings the rookies from the Minnesota Vikings to make the day extra special. They were a little late this year, but adults and kids were eager to see them when they arrived. Each of the volunteer pontoon drivers took at least four kids and a Viking out on German or Jefferson Lake for three hours.

Most of the children caught at least one fish.

And when all the fish were brought in, there were posse members there to clean every one.

After all the Vikings, volunteers, posse, and kids had lunch,

it was time for the Vikes to sign footballs. Each child received a football and a Viking Pennant.

And then, it was time for the kids to head home and the adults to do a little cleanup. The rain that came around lunch time didn't dampen any spirits; there were a lot of smiles on faces of all ages.

Congratulations Mac!

Friday night we attended the high school graduation of our youngest grandchild. The weather was beautiful and we couldn't have been more proud as Mac was one of three students to speak at the commencement ceremony.

As he spoke about "The Past", he used humor and spoke with honesty about his school years,

and he delivered his speech with "Mac" spirit. He spoke about the importance of his parents in his life and they listened with pride.

His diploma was received and handshakes were shared.
After all 130 + members of the class had received their diplomas, it was time for pictures with Grandpa,

his mom and dad,

and his Grandma Lois.

It was a beautiful night! And from the program we learned something, so I will pass it on to you.

The Legend of the Cap and Gown

Long ago, in ancient Greece, when formal education was for the very rich or the very determined, a wise old teacher was approached by a group of aristocrats. "Our sons have completed their studies and it is time for them to return to their homes and live in the style befitting their station. On the morrow, we will hold a great banquet in their honor and expect them to be dressed in their finest garments." The old man smilingly answered. "They will be there," and he added, "appropriately dressed."

The following day, the banquet hall was filled with royalty and nobility dressed in dazzling jewels and costly finery. Then came the great moment when the students entered with their beloved teacher. A cry arose from the crowd, for here were their young men dressed, not in the tunics of the noble, but in simple robes, each carrying a mortar board - the mark of a common workman.

"Let me explain," spoke the teacher as he raised his hands for silence.

"Your sons are dressed in the clothing of the mason, for their destiny is to build. Some will build cities, some will build lives - perhaps one of them may even build an empire. But all will be builders on the solid foundation of knowledge."

And thus, over the years, the cap and gown have become a traditional part of the graduation, symbolizing the fact that our young men and women are builders -- of their own future and the future of the world.

If Mac is typical of the Graduating Class of 2010, our world will be in good hands!

Our First Few Days In Minnesota

We have been on a roller coaster for the past few days!

* We arrived to the news that our good friend, Bob, had lung cancer

and it really did not sound good.

* We cried and then decided to throw a party to celebrate friendship!

*Kaci and Amariah stopped out to see us, as did Janet and Terry.

How can you not get excited when this face greets you...

At least she told us in advance "I'm Crabby!"

* Yesterday afternoon, Bob was taken to the emergency room with major swelling in his arm and then had an ambulance ride to Rochester.

* There is a robin's nest right by our motor home.

* Mom's neighbor called this morning to tell me that mom had been taken by ambulance to the hospital in Faribault. Later today, she rested comfortably with a badly skinned hand, a goose egg on the head, and a broken nose - the black eyes are a nice touch ... Her attitude is good and she will be going home tomorrow.

Tonight, Corky and Bob came home from Rochester with good news!

Bob has nothing in his head or below his belt...

(no cancer anyway)

SO, his lung cancer is completely treatable!

It won't be easy, but his doctor is positive.

We cried, with relief this time.

WOW, I hope life evens out, I can't take this pace all summer long!

South Dakota (Subtitle: "This is the First Time I Have Ever Caught My Limit of Walleyes!")

Thanks to Mike's son, Terry, the boat was delivered to Pierre, South Dakota and was ready and waiting when we arrived. After getting settled into the city campground in Fort Pierre ($10 a night for water and electric), we hit the water to do a little pre-fishing before Bonnie and Barry arrived.

That first day, Mike got a couple and I got skunked. Sad thing was, I was really trying, I hadn't even brought a book along. When we got back to the campground, all sites were filled with old clunkers... seems there is a local group of "30 somethings" who do this every year to save sites for the holiday weekend. When B and B arrived the next day, they had to camp at the City of Pierre Campground across the river.

When they got settled in, Barry bought his 3-day license and caught a couple of "keepers" the first day out. The second day, the wind blew the boys off the river with nothing in the livewell. It was on the third day that history was made; it was the first time ever that Barry caught his limit of walleyes.

After instruction from Masterchef Mike, he even fried up his catch... with some help from Miss Bonnie.
And then it was time to say goodbye to B and B. Traveling with them during the spring was fun, a little wet and a little cold, some amazing scenery, some good laughs and good food, to say nothing about the wine... Thanks for the memories!

And it ended with a good fishing trip - good because we enjoyed ourselves (boy is that Bonnie a competitive indoor shuffle board player) ... and ate fish!

Now, on to summer in Minnesota.