The Great Minnesota Get Together

Mighty Piano Tuner Guy

Jeff's piano tuning business is building steam and he decided it was time to post it on his vehicle. The signs are magnetic so they can easily be moved from one vehicle to another, although they don't fit on the bike.


When the winds are calm the hot air balloons will make their way through the valley. This week three of them came down the river valley and made their way up the south hill of Stillwater just about hitting the tree tops in our neighborhood.

First the whooshing sound from the flame that heats the air; and then the bright colored fabric peeking through the trees...

it's pretty cool to see and hear.

This was the first time I have been to a State Fair, and I am glad we went. Due to the rainy morning I had Friday off and Jeff finished his work day early too. So we hopped on the bike and went to the prime parking spot for half the price of car parking.

We went up in the space needle thing and we could see an amazing distance through St. Paul and the true size and spectacle of the "Great Minnesota Get together" was in full sight. Wow.
There's no way that one is going to see everything there in one day! The different people are fascinating and there are so many things to take in.

I ate way too much bad food on a stick. Guess my gut isn't used to eating that much greasy food in such a short spans of time. And a fair amount of ice cream type treats to add to the heavy and full feeling. I had a happy stomach ache by the time we left.

We did the same things we did at the county fair, but in a much more grand scale.

I watched the horse something judging inside the arena, [the horse I picked didn't win].

Outside the arena there were English high stepping horses. There were a lot of different types of horses.

This was the cleanest cow I have ever seen in my life! I wanted to pet the fuzzy looking thing with the neatly groomed tail. It did still smell like a barn, but a clean one.

And the First Place Scarecrow is.......

Guess this speaks for it's self.

There were some children walking around with soap bubble guns that were so cool. I asked the Dad where he found it and he pointed me in the right direction. It's for Ridley.....Yea.... that's right, yea, Ridley.

Jeff asked me what my favorite part of the Fair was; and I think it was the whole experience. The food on a stick, the very clean livestock, the smells and sounds and the people were fun to see and watch until there got to be too many of them, and then it was the ride home.

I think I'm good now for a few years, but I could and would going again.

We have been making up for the lack of rain from the months of May through July by turning into the monsoon season. There hasn't been very many 'hot' days this summer. The gardens aren't as lush, but it is so much easier to work in the cooler conditions. However I only worked two days this past week. Fortunately we are pretty well caught up with our clients gardens.
The rain has made a big difference in the garden. It looks so much greener. If the temperatures would brake 75 I think we would see some fresh late summer growth around the garden. The hard rain pummeled the day lilies and Siberian iris so I cut back them back to look neater, hopefully some new leaves will fill in where the outer ones had to be removed.

Char came to Minn. this weekend to attend her friends bridal shower; and we got to spend some time with her too. I know it's only been three weeks since I have seen her, but it still felt like a special visit knowing that she is now living 300 miles away. Maybe because I felt a little more reassured that we will see each other on a somewhat regular basis. It will be rare that we will have all of our children in the same place at the same time. (This must be how Mom feels. ) Vickie and Ridley came out to Stillwater and joined us for lunch. So it was quite a treat to have both our girls here and Ridley too. And by the way, that isn't Ridley's Coke.

We went to Shoreview MN to look at a town house that Vickie and Josh will hopefully be moving into in the not too distant future. Very nice neighborhood with a pool at the park about 2 blocks away. Seemed quiet when we were there. The place is in very good condition with the exception of the half dead Sea Green Juniper in the front of the house. Going to have to fix that.

Jeff and I went for a motorcycle ride to Rice Lake Wisconsin to have Eggs Benedict at Perkins and then the scenic route home. No, it's not that they have better Eggs Benedict than anywhere else on earth, that is the first place Jeff and I met and that's what we had. Pretty sappy ha? We traveled about 215 miles total; and my butt is sore even with the breaks every 50 miles or so.
We saw some sky divers in Baldwin WI. Just don't understand why would someone jump out of a perfectly good Plane?

It was a great day for a ride.

Happy Days

Besides taking adorable pictures of Ridley with my camera and uber lens, I take photos of the gardens I work in or visit. I have managed to pull off a couple nice pictures by throwing in the 'Dumb Luck Card'.

Carol and Joyce Ramminger Sept. 1955

This week there are two birthdays, both of my big sisters; Happy Birthday girls. Hope that you are doing something fun to celebrate.

Jeff and I are celebrating our third anniversary too. We aren't doing anything too exciting. We are going to check out an Italian restaurant on Friday that I have been interested in eating at for some time. There probably isn't much that is Weight Watcher friendly, but it's a special occasion.

Diane and Jeff Cutler with the Justice of the Peace

Beer Brats and Burgers

It's been a while since I have really had the time to write. And now I have to think about what has been going on the past few weeks.

Bob Cutler and his Great grandson, Ridley Holland

Earlier this month we had Brother Bill over to celebrate his birthday. Bob also joined us with Vickie and Ridley. It was a bit on the cool side for the first of August so we spent most of the time inside. Jeff found a barbecue recipe in a magazine and it was pretty good.

Robin arrived for a visit on Thursday the 6th and will be heading out this evening to return to Bethesda later this afternoon. He and Jeff took a bicycle repair/maintenance class that was held on two Sundays. I have gotten the impression from both father and son that the class is informative and fun. They also had the opportunity to go on a couple challenging bike rides together. Robin is in a little better shape than Jeff, but he hung in there and did his best to keep up. Of course Jeff had the floating on a cloud thing on his side. Jeff beams when he spends time with the kids.

I wonder if that a bit how Doris feels with Char as a roomy for the month? I know I am drained of energy after one day of trying to keep up with her. Doesn't sound like Char is having too much trouble finding things to keep her busy above and beyond the new job. I believe she will be moving into her own place in September. Then it will be a matter of getting her things to Sheboygan Wis. The place she found will allow her two large dogs, and the two birds. There may even be room to store her motorcycle.


Couple cute pet pictures.

And 'Mr. Trouble is my middle name', Willie. He has been returned to us by two different neighbors after he nosed his way out the door. There must be a vacuum or some sort of strange phenomenon that acquires at times that hinders the latch from catching and he seems to take advantage of the situation. On all occasions there seems to be no problem retrieving him. One more thing Willie can add to his list of mischief tasks. We have found that after four years of hanging out with Goldie he has also learned that if he "sits pretty" a treat will follow

During Robins visit we had some pictures taken at a photo studio in Stillwater to have group shots of the Cutlers of Stillwater. Only Char was missing this time. Later that evening we had

family and some friends over for burgers and brats. It was a good night with Beer Brats and Burgers.

Gretchen Cutler and Diane, good food

Bob Cutler and Jeff

Jeff showing off Lola the cat to Heidi Holland