Too Fast

Yep, it's hard to believe!  What we have been looking forward to since March has come and gone.  These two rascals are homeward bound and we miss them already.

 We envy families who have their Grand kids nearby.  Each time we see them they have grown a lot from the last time.  Skyping just doesn't compare to a personal visit.

We did many things together like sitting in the palm of Paul Bunyan's hand.  Last time E was terrified of him, but not this time.

We did walking and "excovering" of new places like the Japanese Garden in GF.

Climbing trees was something both of them enjoyed.  M also liked to break off branches from trees which Papa didn't quite find as much fun.

There was no shortage of jabbering from them as their imaginations were very active from super heroes, to stories only they could understand.  We had fun starting a story and then stopping at some critical point and pointing to them to fill in the next detail.

It is good to see that the old standard playground equipment still resonates with the new generation.  Nothing like a dizzying ride on a merry-go-round.

Here is an unusual shot of M actually going down the slide rather than walking up it.

Such expressions!

I have given up trying to get a good picture of both at the same time.  You can see why.

Tutu has them hooked on the IPAD but mother keeps a close eye on the time.  They figured out that if they did two half times, instead of just the one full time, they got to play Angry Birds or whatever twice in a day. 

It was fun having them here for CM's birthday even though Rob missed it (again).  We are already trying to scheme when we can see them AGAIN!

Papa's "Pretend" Birthday

Since my Grandchildren will be in Hawaii when I reach my 70th, they decided to celebrate a "Pretend" birthday for Papa.  The excitement was building as we prepared to head to Itasca State Park and the Douglas Lodge for brunch.

The highlight of the day was the boat ride on Lake Itasca to travel to the headwaters of the Mississippi River.  Since Papa was the official photographer, the birthday boy didn't get in the pictures, but he was there.

As we were waiting to go on to the boat, we ran into a Mack and Ellie look-a-like.  These two looked just like our Grandchildren, but they stood still for a picture, and they were even affectionate toward each other, so I knew they couldn't be my grandchildren.

I had to get several pictures because I wanted to share the special moment of seeing a rare expression of sibling affection.  That made the "pretend" birthday that much more special.

Then we boarded and waited patiently for a bus of other passengers to arrive so we could leave.

We had seats on the top deck right at the front.  This is the first time Papa and Tutu took this two hour ride on beautiful Lake Itasca.  Quite a treat.

We saw the state bird which we were told didn't produce young again this year.  There is much speculation as to why, but one theory is that they abandoned their nests because black flies have been so bad.  They attack the Loons on the head and near the eyes in search of a blood meal.  We also learned that the Loons have "ticks."  Ticks are nothing new in the woods of Minnesota, but I had never heard of them on Loons.  The narrator on the boat ride was quite insistent that it was true and  even told us the name of the tick... "Lunatics."  I know, I know!

After an hour ride which was so chilly that it chased the Hawaiians downstairs where they had windows to keep out the breeze, we approached the headwaters.  Perhaps you can see the color in the background... that is the crowd that gathers this time of year to see where the Mississippi starts its long journey to the Gulf of Mexico.

We have never seen the headwaters from the lake before.

If you have ever been here you recognize the marker placed in 1932 on the hundredth anniversary of the discovery of the headwaters by a man named Henry Schoolcraft.

On the way back we passed by the only island on the lake which we told the kids was named "Bad Kids Island," because that is where kids who were bad on the boat ride were left.  It was surprising how good both of them were... tee, hee.  It's real name is Schoolcraft Island.

We had a beautiful day for a wonderful "Pretend Birthday."

We even saw the National Bird as well as the State Bird.

How special to spend Papa's Pretend birthday with my two favorite little people!  Thanks for making the birthday so special!

Testing the new pool

Our campground put in a new fiber glass pool this Spring.  More shallow than the old one, it seems suitable for the youngsters.  Granddaughter was not so sure at first.

Both kids wanted to practice what they had learned in their Hawaii swimming lessons.

Still not relaxed, this girl reminds me of how I feel in a pool.  "Where's the bottom?"

Even though they were swimming, there is always enough time for chatter.

The instructor was good at getting them into the review of what they had learned and Ellie Belle seemed to relax.

We all got a kick out of her when she slipped off the edge unintentionally and went under getting her face wet.  Her comment: "Now I'm having fun!"

Everyone survived and even the instructor had a smile.

Fourth of July Salute

In a tribute to our nation's two hundred 38th birthday, our local Eagle Lake Bald Eagle stopped by for a salute on his favorite perch.

Though he doesn't look too excited about it, I appreciated his visit and thought that he looked especially patriotic, though a bit ruffled.

Maybe the scowl is because the Eagle isn't pleased with what he sees happening in our great land these days.  That does make one scowl for sure.

Fun is where you capture it

In an never ending attempt to keep these two occupied, I have found that one has to be creative.

Fortunately, a little red squirrel helped make things interesting.  These rascals, the squirrels I mean, are a nuisance in my back yard.  They get into the bird feeder, under the deck, and generally make a lot of noise chasing off other larger cousins.  For some time now, I have live trapped them and taken them several miles over the Red River bridge into Minnesota.  If they want to come back they either have to swim, or dodge the traffic over the bridge on the way back here.  Son-in-law thinks there is only one squirrel who keeps coming back to our house... sort of like the fruit cake joke.

After some discussion, the verdict was issued by the wildlife inspectors: little Red Squirrel did not measure up.  So we packed the whole family and went across the river and released him.  One more resident for Minnesota.

I made this picture extra large to show the different reactions.  Rob released the squirrel and looks like he is poised to make a quick evasive move.  But look at Mack and Ellie.  They both look like they are headed in the other direction in case the squirrel decides to come back toward them, while Tutu and Mother look on.  Such are the exciting adventures along the Red River of the North in the summer of 2014.  Who says that you have to pay to have a good time?

Tree Trimming Time

We have been trying to get a tree trimmer at our house since last fall.  Finally, on a rainy, windy day the third tree man who said he was coming showed up with a crew of 4.  I took out one Canada Red Cherry (planted 32 years ago), two batches of overgrown lilacs, trimmed the Amur Maple, and two Ash trees growing into the neighbor's yards.

Why didn't I do it myself?  I didn't have a $700 Stihl Pole saw, nor did I want to climb up into the tree and trim from the top.  There is a man in this tree below as well as a trimmer down below.

Nor do I have the strength to hoist that beast up so high.

My brother, Lou, always said it was good that the original settlers of our country didn't have chain saws or there wouldn't be a tree left standing in America by now.

It didn't take them long to bring down this Cherry which is a variety that is eventually killed slowly by a fungus that develops on the branches and gets into the main stems.  Our local Arborist suggested we take it down.

This stump is way too big for my hand saw!

And they hauled the branches all away.  Notice the trees across the road leaning in the wind.  Quite a day to be climbing in trees for sure.

Lilacs had outgrown their beauty and sent suckers up all of the time... so bye, bye.

This guy worked steady carrying branches from the back yard to the truck in the front.

If you still have doubts about my doing this myself, look at the size of the trunk.

And from the street they cherry picked a big branch off the Ash tree which had grown into my neighbor's Birch.

So glad to have this done.  We will live with it awhile as it is, transplant some shaded perennials that are now in the sun, and plant another tree or two, but not ones we will see in 32 years.