Some Birthdays End in Zero

Birthdays come and go but the ones that end in zero seem to be most troublesome.  I had one on the 25th.

To celebrate, M bought us tickets to the Twins game in Minneapolis.  It was our first trip to the relatively new outdoor Target Field.  We had been to the Metro Dome several times.

One last minute surprise was that Den and Karen who moved from GF in 1996 were in town and decided to join us since Den has a birthday soon too.  M was able to go to the ticket sales and find tickets across the aisle from ours.  Some of you may wonder why I don't take more pictures of people.  Need I say more?  (The lady on the far left I found in an Asian rice paddy and invited her along).

Target Field is indeed a beautiful place to play baseball.  The All Star Game was played here in July.  Playing baseball is one thing, watching it is another.  The big selling point for a new ball park was that baseball would once again be played out of doors, unlike the covered Metro Dome. 

Perhaps you can see this perspective was different from the earlier pictures.  That is because while M bought some rather pricey tickets behind third base, the sun is so strong on that side of the field for the whole game that to sit 4-5 hours in it is to invite major skin cancer.  With temperatures pushing 90 degrees, we traded them for some upper level, first baseline seats where we had blessed shade.  Give me the covered Metro Dome any time.  (A word to the wise: buy tickets on the first base line a little ways up from the field if you want shade.  Otherwise expect to fry).

Oh yes, the game.  Well, the Twins fell behind the Detroit Tigers by four runs.  But the Twins mounted a comeback and loaded the bases with the crowd favorite, Joe Mauer, at the plate with a chance to tie it up with one swing of his mighty bat.

Swing batter, batter... strike one.

Come on Joe, you can do it... strike two.

It only takes one Joe, strike three, you're out.  Mighty Casey had struck out!

Ever wondered if the balls that hit players really hurt?  They walk to first base like they had just been stung by a mosquito.  Well, look at Torii Hunter, an old Twins player and crowd favorite.  What do you think?  Did the ball in his ribs hurt?

The skies started to get dark and the radar on the phone said "leave."  Since the Twins were trailing 13-4 and being afraid that a rain shower would have only delayed the inevitable, we left with the majority of other fans.  The rain started before we got to our hotel.  But thanks M for making my birthday fun and special.

Turning the big 7-0 with a knee that is giving me pain, reminds me of a good verse to claim.  "They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."  Sounds good to me!

Lazy, Hazy Days at the Lake

To say that the last few weeks at the lake have been beautiful is an understatement.  Finally we have summer weather and temps in the 70's-80's during the day.

I am not sure what causes it, but the weeds on the lake have had exceptional growth this year.

Since I last blogged, the super moon made its last appearance till next year.

We took some friends to see the Headwaters of the Mississippi, even though they have a lake place only ten miles away.

His bird spotting prowess leaves a little to be desired.  He saw this "orange long-necked crane" hiding in the trees right near the Headwaters.

Eleven days of the past weeks I have spent alone while M went back to help with the Grand kids on the airplane.  She stayed a few extra days and took in a couple of hurricanes for adventure.  Meanwhile, I sat gazing into the sky wondering what was going on with the rest of the family in Hawaii.

One advantage of being alone... I could nap whenever I felt like it.

But a week ago she came home and no longer do I have to scrounge up what to eat.  She is back preparing the meals we enjoy.

So the lazy, hazy, days of summer continue on Eagle Lake.  This guy has his stringer full... looks like mostly Northern Pike to me.  Hope he likes bones.

And once again I have returned to being the King of my Domain.

Finally - Song bird picture

I wrote earlier about one song bird in the campground that seems to sing incessently, unlike other birds who sing only in mating season.  This bird was singing before there were leaves on the trees this Spring, and still this week.  I stumbled on its identity through an email I sent to our local birder club.  She suggested that it might be the "Red Eyed Vireo" which I had never heard of before.  I have tried off and on for years to get a picture of this bird but to no avail... until this week.  Right outside our place in an oak tree she/he was singing up a storm.  With patience I got two pictures, neither great, but enough to positively identify the singer.  This picture gives a hint of the red eye.  No big deal to most of you but a sense of solving a mystery to me.  The link below shows two things: the song of the singer (at times reminds me of a Robin's song) and the difficulty in getting a picture as the bird seems to be in constant motion.  So happy to have her song in our campground.

This picture positively shows the red eye.  If you want to hear the song check this UTube link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejiYuKO0iUQ