My New Toy

This thing can do everything, the possibilities are endless. Not only does it thread your needle for you but it runs with a push of the button! Who knew that sewing was so easy and quiet.

And my first project.My friend Jan saw something like this at a flea market that we went to and thought that I too could make one. Well here it is my very own creation. It is a checkbook clutch. Jan's checkbook is a side bound rather than a top bound and this is made to fit her side bound.

Fun fun fun.....did I mention that it embroiders as well?

The harvest continues...at least until it freezes up here which may not be too far away the way it is going. Anyway, cabbage, beans, beets, cukes and cauliflower. I cannot believe how good homegrown cauliflower is.

Grandma and Julia

The two of us had fun while mommy and daddy were away. This little lady does not slow down....only to snuggle up on Grandma's lap once and a while. I don't remember Lenny being that active but I am sure that he was. Kelly says, "And she isn't even walking yet!"
Julia is almost always happy with a huge smile on her face and is, these days, constantly 'talking'. She mimics not only what you say but your actions. Oh Grandma does have to watch her P's and Q's!
Here she is on her scooter. She doesn't quite get how to make herself move but loves to be pushed on it.
Nothing slows her down, she cruises-around-through, over everything.
Her new favorite thing to do....get in Mom's curtains
And play peek-a-boo
She loves books. We went to Barnes and Nobles and she fell in love with the store just looking at all of the books on the shelves.
The couch is a raceway for her. Up and down she crawls as fast as she can move.
Because she is so active Len and Kel have a child gate wrapped around their living room. Thank goodness it is sturdy as she loves to pull herself up on it to look what is on the other side.
Here she is tilting her head waiting for me to tilt mine in response. Needless to say I did.
The two days went way too fast and I already miss my baby girl. Soon however she will meet her cousin Abigail as they are coming home in a few weeks. It will be fun to get pictures of the kids together.

Geo Caching

It's a bug slapping good time Mikey says! It is actually a 'sport' where you look up caches in your area, or any area, on the computer. You then put the coordinates into a handheld GPS, drive to the spot and look for the cache (prize). Once you have found the cache you sign the book and take a 'prize'. Once you take a trinket you have to replace it with another. It is fun but not so much in northern MN in the heat and mosquito infested woods!

My Honda is not made for 'off roading' but off road we did...well on very minimum maintenance roads anyway. At one point we had to turn around as we ran into a dead end.

Do I look a bit crabby bout my Honda going through this abuse? At first glance we all thought that this could be a picture of my mom! although she never looked quite that crabby.The two guys way ahead thinking they were going to get to the cache first
David checking his coordinates
And there it is, the cache. It was fun and interesting. Something we may try while we are on the road this winter.
We finally were able to get our driveway blacktopped. The crew came while David and I were gone one day and Mikey and Jan supervised. It certainly saves on sand and gravel in the house

And it looks quite nice up against my gardenAND it shows the bear tracks clearly as well! Yup he walked right up to our bedroom window, tootled down the driveway behind Mikey and Jan's motorhome and then down the bottom of the driveway. He didn't bother any of the berries...what oh what is he doing here?My print compared to hisSpeaking of my garden it is getting nice and colorful

The hollyhocks look good in all of their splendorAnd the menopausal maiden is surrounded by fragranceMikey and Jan have been vacationing in northern MN for years. They introduced us to the Minnesoda (note how it is spelled) Ice Cream Fountain. It is in Park Rapids, not far from us, and according to Jan is known world wide. Hummm, how did David and I miss this one?You just belly up to the bar to order your ice cream and then enjoy. It's a good thing that David and I don't make Park Rapids our regular shopping town. Ice cream is a bit of an addiction for us!
And a day on the lake. No fish in the boat but lots of wildlife to be seen.
Eagles, there were lots of eagles on this lake. Caught this one taking off
And soaring into the cloudsThis is the first young eagle I have ever taken a photo of, first one that I have really seen in a tree I guess. Eagles do not get their white heads and tails until they are about eight years old.

Ducks napping on the logs

The loons were just as abundant as the eagle were. Most allowed us to get quite close. This adult loon (momma or poppa we couldn't tell) was attempting to steer us away from her young one
When flapping her wings didn't get the response that she wanted she let out the well known loon call...very loudly I might add
And became content once her young one was next to her.
Deer, yup there are always deer. A mother and her young one.
And then there were walks with the dogs. The Soo Line Trail provides many flower photo ops
It is much to early for fall in my opinion but leaves are already turning
The deep red is pretty against the green. But it is just too early!
Yesterday I came down south for my regular oncologist appointment. Another clean bill of health, so good in fact that he does not want me driving down this winter to see him. he figures that the likely hood that I would get into a slick winter road accident is much higher than my cancer returning. Makes good sense I say. So my next appointment will be in six months as opposed to the regular four.
I am spending the weekend with Julia as Len and Kel are at another softball tournament. I couldn't talk them into staying over night this time however. Pictures of the grand baby next time I am sure.

The Campground Is Open

Our friends Mikey and Jan arrived Sunday to spend oh about three weeks with us. We have been busy and it's been a blast.
Their 'home' looks quite nice in it's spot.

Our baby deer have been out and are getting close to the house. Mikey and Jan didn't get to see them...they come out at 7am and our guests are still snuggled in bed.
This little one is right outside our living room window
And outback at the hummingbird feeder.We found a place to pick raspberries and currants. A fun day and oh so yummy. Who likes raspberry jam?
David says he was working hard picking and his good friend Mikey was sampling.
Jan was after the currantsWe decided to use the let over berry washing water to dye a towel. It doesn't take much to amuse some of us.Jan and I took a long walk with the dogs through Longville's Butterfly Garden and School of Forestry. This is an area that is kept up by Longville's school kids and is much more than one expects when you start out. The first 'stop' is a small butterfly garden with great flowers and only one butterfly.Well we found only one anyway I am sure there were more. It was quite pretty and very interested in whatever Jan had on her skin.This tee pee gave Jan an idea. We need to put a small tee pee in one of my gardens for vines to grow up. Mary, what do you think about a tee pee in the garden behind the living room. I have morning glories planted back there, lots of them, and they could vine up the tee pee.
Past the butterfly garden is a long 'bog walk' that winds you through well I guess a bog. My non nimble footed friend Jan (remember her, she's the one that tripped over her own feet breaking her elbow) made me nervous walking on this because it was not the most even of walks however she promised me she would not trip...and she didn't.
Tack and Peeko so wanted to jump in here but it was about two feet down and there was no way I could have gotten Tack out. She so wanted to go in.We found a safer spot for her to get a swim in. This is along the bog walk. They have many of these along the way and we were sure that they were dug in but somebody or another.Jan spied this daddy long legs and I snapped himWe also found this flower. It looks a bit like a Jack In The Pulpit but is in an unlikely spot for one. Anyone have an idea?What will the rest of the week bring?