Summer green

Early morning fog and a fresh mown lawn make the house look kind of nice.

Butchart Gardens

Some beautiful ladies looking for a place to enjoy their coffee.
We often come to Butchart Gardens when we visit John and Heidi.

This time it was the height of summer blossoming, especially the rose garden.
It is amazing how this family has shared this beautiful place with the world. Click on the title to see more.

RETIRED

Pre-wedding sitting around and waiting

Here is Dan either reading or sleeping in the chair.
Paul in his usual position at the computer.
Just about everyone sitting and waiting to get ready for the big event.

Visiting the land barons

Getting the fire ready for an outdoor meal of beans and hot dogs with Kurt, Lois Ann, and Dean.
I don't recall if these were flowers or some kind of crop.
This is only a small part of all the land they have.

RED WINGS WIN

Congratulations!!! I've been following these guys all year and for many years. They play a puck control game which is exciting to watch. At times it looks like keep away when it works well. They usually have the puck about 2/3's of the time and usually have many more shots on goal. This year the top 2 teams met in the finals for a fantastic series.

Bo and Cathy part 2

There was a fiddle around so we played some tunes.
Cathy's mom is 97 and is very sharp. She was a librarian for 10+ years and everyone asks her about what happened over the years in this part of Minnesota.
Bo and Cathy
Bo has been retired for 3 years. Now Lois Ann has higher expectations for me when retirement starts in August.

Bo and Cathy

This house used to belong to Cathy's mom. Bo and Cathy added on to it and it is huge and has an old fashioned feeling.
I had not seen Bo for about 10 years. He is trying to make the photo interesting. We went to the same church as kids and were friends in school and afterwards but managed to miss seeing each other on my trips to Minnesota.
This part of the original house is made with 2x8's laid flat on top of each other like logs. Wow!!! They don't use that much wood today.
Figures made with popsicle sticks. Buy his book to see them up close. (coming soon?)
Here is Bo in his art and music room.

Fizz

Fizzbie up in his art room.
He is a house builder and has a great home in peaceful Cambridge.

Downtown St. Paul

Gwendolyn and Reannin are sitting in a real stage coach. Normally there would be 3 on each side facing each other with 3 more on a bench in the middle. Nine more would tie themselves on the top of the stagecoach. The first class person would sit next to the driver.

Here is part of the Midwest Minnesota Mountain range.

The girls are saying hi to a little boy.
Jean and Ralph have an unlucky TV because the Red Wings lost to Pittsburgh in OT - it could have been one of the greatest games and it actually was.
No post for Tuesday because i was mourning, it was raining during the day, and we went to a mall, and in the evening i golfed which was fun, but no photos.

Grandpa and Grandma Carlson

Walking beside Lake Harriet.
The Blues Brothers were playing at the bandshell!!!

Here is a good looking family photo.

I predict Ryan and Jenna will be the next to get married, I bet August 15th.

Visiting Greg

Some Stynsberg girls.
Lois Ann would never let me put this much hot sauce on my meal.
Eating!!!
Look at this great sunset. We tried to watch a Red Wings NHL playoff game and the first period was a 45 minute weather warning with a weatherman who was a nonstop talker. Greg's TV was lucky and the wings eventually won 2-1.

Ultimate Tournament

See the frisbee in midair! That is good timing with a digital.
The traditional handshake was borrowed from hockey. Unlike hockey there is no fighting. I think that is because there are no referees, also read rules 9 and 10.
They finished 8th out of 30 or 40 teams. I think i know the guy with red hair. If you click on the title you can read about ultimate frisbee on wickpedia.

hiking trail

Flashback

Here are a few old photos of CBS, Holly, Lois and me; along with an up to date photo taken a week ago with the same folks, same place, 29 years later.