"There Is Always Something Going On"

A good friend recently made that comment when we were trying to find a date on which to get together.  And you know, it is true.  When I look back at the last couple of weeks, there has indeed always been something going on... not that I am complaining!

On Sunday a group of us volunteered to work a shift at the Minnesota Air show in Mankato.  For each person that volunteered, our church got $15, and we each received free admission, T-shirts, and $8 in food coupons... not a bad deal really.  We were the lucky ones... we got to work together in one of the Blue Angels Souvenir Stands. 

Those that worked on Saturday worked in ice cream booths and their jobs were much harder - ours was fun.  Although, I have to tell you that my feet were killing me at the end of 6 hours - I am just not used to tennis shoes.  Anyway, we got to see the show and,of course, my camera was always handy. 

For your viewing pleasure...

I think this is the plane Mike said he flew in up to Iceland.

How can you not love Otto the Helicopter... especially when it is playing with a YoYo...

The pilot of this plane was a Captain and female; she really knew how to keep the interest of the crowd with a patriotic stunt show.

I loved this guys maneuvers.  My only disappointment was that the wind was blowing too hard for the wing walkers - that would have been cool.

And, of course, The Blue Angels.

During the morning, a couple of the pilots wandered by the stand - Sandra and Corky were quick to have their picture taken.  I am surprised the girls kept their hands to themselves...

Overall, it was an enjoyable way to spend a day.

Three days of our time went into this "little" project.  Somewhere along the line, I got the hair brained idea that it would be nice to have a patio by our summer home.  And so, the materials were bought and Bob's trailer was borrowed to haul them (do you know that a 16 inch square paver weighs 42 pounds - we needed 108 for our little project), forms were put in place (not an easy task with unlevel ground) and ...

everything was checked and rechecked by Bob and Mike

before we ended up with this beautiful new patio.  I absolutely love it!  Those of you that have ever laid these massive bricks know that I have left out many details...  After we finished this little home improvement project, Mike and I agreed that all the work of home ownership (and all the little projects that go with it) was not something we want anytime soon. 

We spent a couple of very fun days with out good friends, Bonnie and Barry.  They are camped at Mystic Lake for about 6 weeks and came down for a day of fishing and to enjoy one of the Thursday Gatherings with us.  While Mike and Barry sought fish on a windy and cold day, Bonnie and I went to St. Peter in search of information about her great grandmother; genealogy can be like a big puzzle sometimes.  After our stop at the court house and history center, we headed for the cheese shop in LeSueur.  Brian works at the factory and had told us about the wonderful sandwiches; he was right.

Lael and Doug were kind enough to open their doors to our friends.  They hosted a gathering after Lutheran Hour and the next morning, Lael served up a feast of baked french toast and an egg bake that was scrumptious.  The weather cooperated and we enjoyed our morning meal on the deck of their lake home.

(I'm a sucker for herons, especially when there are reflections...)

Some of my time has been spent in the company of an eclectic mix of women, sharing stories and sampling good food.  A later post will "spill the beans" about what we are doing... for now just know that we are enjoying each other's company for several hours every couple of weeks.  This gathering was at Sharon's lake house.  (A group of us also met out there on Memorial Weekend to talk about Cherry Creek Days - that's another story...)

The view from the window...

and the moon shining across lake Francis as I drove home.

One day we were up in The Cities for a doctor's appointment and on the way home, I finally got the picture of the old "Sugardale" barn that I have been wanting to capture for several years.  This is a real piece of history along Interstate 35.

Just this past Monday, Carl came up to go fishing with Mike.  Carl is a friend from Mason City who used to camp at The Lone Pine when Mike owned it.  Bonnie passed about a couple of years ago; she was a special person and Carl definitely misses her.  BUT, he is almost 90 and still full of life and isn't about to let anything stop him from living.  He drove up from Mason City in the morning and was on our doorstep at 6 am - at 8 pm we finally quit talking and he headed for home.  This "always honest" man told us that he had a lady friend "who is only 74" and he also told us about the guidelines he put down for their relationship, "I'm not staying at your house, You're not staying at my house and there will be no 'I Do's'  " 

Although the fishing was spotty (they did get enough for a couple of meals for Carl), the day was truly enjoyable for Mike.  (I took a couple of pictures but somehow deleted them later without saving - of course, it is the important ones I loose). 

Today (and for the last couple of days) the motorhome has been sitting in the parking lot of ABC bus in Faribault.  We need some parts that had to be ordered and we had some hail damage needing an estimate (and maybe repair).  Since sitting in a parking lot is not our idea of a way to spend a day, we headed to Austin to see Rich and Anita and the crew one day and yesterday, we spent in Mankato doing some shopping and checking in on Kaci (surgery for kidney stones). 

Sandwich in a pontoon ride with the Dunns, a few hours of conversation with Pastor Shelly, a permanent for Jan,  a breakfast with Adrienne and Rich, and the ordinary stuff of life like laundry and you get the idea that there really is always something going on.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.