As Time Goes By...

I know that the news media thinks the important story of the day is the anniversary of Michael Jackson's passing, but I like to think they forgot to cover the more important anniversary.  More years than I like to think, we were married in Mason City, Iowa, on a sweltering June afternoon on this day.  The years have been more kind to M than me, but I am thankful we are both blessed by good health, and many good friends and family.

Speaking of friends, this group has been together (except one couple who came four years later) since we moved to Grand Forks fresh from seminary in 1972.  They were all young marrieds in their twenties without children when we arrived and now grandchildren and our ailments are the topic of our conversation.  This night brought us together for the celebration of another retirement from 40 years in the work force.  All but two are retired and they seem to be "hold outs" wanting to keep our country from collapsing by their leaving the work force.  Great friends and many great memories.  Thanks, Mel, for the photos, but next time wear your shoes.

Rainy Lake time

Time at the lake has been wet.  We are lucky to get two sunny days together and even then, one of them will be windy.  Fortunately, we have escaped storms but not many pictures have been taken.

I often am amazed at how quiet the north woods can be.  I always thought the forests would be full of noises and birds singing.  Not so.  So, when I find one singer, I take his picture even if he is hardly unusual.  We have heard that all three pairs of nesting loons on Eagle Lake have left their nests because of a certain fly that irritates them so drastically that they desert their eggs.  So no baby loons on the lake.  With my knee acting up, I would not have been able to peddle the kayak anyway.  Such is the unpredictability of nature.

Itasca State Park has Yellow Lady Slippers in bloom but the state flower of Minnesota, the Pink Lady Slipper, still has to bloom.

Speaking of state flowers; here is the Minnesota State Bird.  With all the rain we have had (over 13 inches) in the last two weeks, they are numerous and hungry.  I found a zapper that looks like a tennis racket which when activated makes them "pop" for joy.  So fun.  Doesn't decrease their numbers much but so satisfying.

The natural mosquito predator, the Dragon Fly, hatches after the mosquitoes, and by the hundreds above our head, can keep the biters under control.

With the rain comes clouds and these beauties passed quickly by in brief respite from the rain.  We have jokingly said that summer doesn't arrive till the fourth of July.  Not far off.

Neighborhood residents

So how far north are we?  Well, we are about ten miles south of Itasca State Park,  Minnesota's premiere State Park.  We frequent the park, Douglas Lodge, and the hiking trails.  Right now the mosquitoes are terrible so our visits are have been limited.  We have seen at the information center in the park that black bears live in the park, but we have never seen one.  Several years ago a mother bear and three cubs crossed the road on the north edge of the park in front of my car.  Recently a friend from the lake was entering the park and saw this sight.  With a camera phone his wife got this snapshot.  Just a reminder that it is we who are visitors in their home.

Apple blossoms and an Oak Leaf

Our apple tree is going nuts this Spring.  If all the blossoms get pollinated we will have more apples than we will need for sure.

Spring's glory doesn't last long and soon the blossoms are gone.

Not only apple blossoms were on our mind recently; so were Oak Leaves.  Our son-in-law received his silver Oak Leaf on a windy hill overlooking the Pacific at Camp Smith, Oahu, Hawaii.

The Oak Leaf had to be attached to the shoulders and the cap.

We so would have liked to have been there, but this hug comes from us and congratulations to the whole family for the sacrifices they make in his AF career.