July 25

I started this last weekend but I have been so busy that I haven't had time to finish and the week is over. So please note that this is last weeks entry. Sorry about the old news thing, I'll try to be better.

July 25
It was a quiet week, I actually had two great rain days. We are still low on the rain scale, the lakes and ponds are low and in some cases dried up. In spite of the lack of reliable, and low rain fall amounts the lawns are still being watered. I am guilty too, I try to keep the garden some what watered; I just don't want it to blow away.


Vickie and Ridley came by to hang out. We went out for lunch and stopped are a gently loved baby store where we picked up a circus sit and play. He bounces and the seat spins to allow him to reach different toys attached to the top. He really enjoys it. By the way; the two upper front teeth are in now so he doesn't look like a vampire any longer.


We went to Boutwells Landing to visit with Great Grandpa Bob.

The adventure of the weekend was a trip with several other motorcycle riders to the Devils Punch Bowl. The weather was perfect for the 140 some mile ride. It was a cool little spot to get off the bikes and stretch our legs as we hiked down to view the rock formations and see how the water seeps out of the rock and drips to the water pool below.

It was another great weekend.

Time Flies

Last Sunday Jeff and I went to the Dome to see the Twins play the White Sox's. We were guest of Yamaha, the dealer Jeff bought his motorcycle from. Before the game several Yamaha owners rode around the field. Jeff has a Honda, so that wasn't what the promoters were looking for. The Twins won by a landslide and the over priced food and beer added to the wonderful afternoon. This is the last year the Twins will be playing in the Metro Dome, I think that is sort of sad, I enjoyed the climate controlled environment, but I must be one of the few. Guess if I want to watch a sporting event in the dome after this fall I will have to go to a Vikings game. I don't care too much to watch the game on TV, but it's more fun when you are in the stands.



This weekend is the Honda VTX rally in La Crosse Wisconsin so guess where Jeff went? That really wasn't a question. I wasn't able to take time off right now and from the way the weather looks, I am glad I didn't go. Wet and chilly, and a sore butt, not my idea of a really great time. I have to stick to shorter rides. But I know that he is having a good time. So there you have it.

And speaking of 'good time', on Tuesday July 14th Jeff and I went to Cirque du soler in St. Paul. It was a wonderful show. I didn't really know what to expect, but I was over whelmed. A couple times I found myself covering my eyes because I didn't want to see the guy fall to his death, but he didn't. Acrobats and gymnast with tight rope and juggling. It was amazing. The following is a video of the most incredible show of super human flexibility, dexterity and strength. In the video there are three woman, but we saw only two of them at this show, this blew me away. It was very close to this routine, just one less twisted body on the night we went to the show. Wow!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt1Tta90tug

photo taken by Vickie July 11

Ridley is getting some new teeth on his upper jaw; see the little fangs. It seems like his eye teeth are coming in first so he looks like a baby vampire. Ridley is 8 months now and keeps getting to be more of an individual and more mobile every day. Vickie and Josh are on the search for a house to call their own to raise the little man. We're keeping our fingers crossed that they find the perfect place sooner rather than later.

Photo by Vickie July 11

Robin will be home for a visit in a few short weeks. Jeff is taller than usual when he talks about it. We are hoping to have a family Bar BQ. This will give the family a chance to get together during the crazy, busy summer and spend some time catching up on each others lives. We shall serve the traditional summer feast of burgers and brats. Johnsonville Beer Brats are Jeff's new favorite. I'll keep you posted on the arrangements so if you happen to be in the neighborhood...

And the biggest of Congratulations to Charlene in the new job as of August 3. Char is going to be the new branch manager of Cedar Grove Wisconsin Wells Fargo. Cedar Grove is a small town about 18 miles south of Sheboygan. It seems so ironic that she would be moving to the area were I grew up and my family still resides. I do admit that I am going to miss having her closer, but this is far better than Alaska. I am so proud of her and all of her accomplishments and how she has handled herself. I am relieve to know that she is going to have the support of family to help back her up when she needs it. I am as excited as she is about her opportunity to getting in touch with her maternal roots and family. I am also happy that my closest family members are going to also have the opportunity to know Char better. It's a great place for her to start a fresh new beginning.

Duluth Visit and the 4th of July

On Tuesday I stepped in a hole in someones lawn and twisted my ankle; I then had an even longer Holiday weekend. Besides missing a couple days of work I did slow down my weekend activity level, but it didn't stop me. On Friday Jeff and I went to Duluth to spend the day relaxing with each other and taking in the sites. There is a rose garden at a park on the lake shore, you may notice that I have a light jacket on. It was quite pretty although the peonies were blooming more than the roses. The lilacs were just going out of flower. It's about two weeks behind our gardens. The roses look so healthy, not a spot on any of the leaves, perfect. The buds will all open in a week or so and it is going to be very pretty.

It is a very pretty park even with out the full course of roses. We were very fortunate to see the Tall Ship setting sail in the harbor. Jack had told us about it being in town when we stopped at their condo to say hi when we arrived in town. It's hard to tell how large it is in the picture, but we are guesstimating that it's about 100 feet long.

photo by JW Cutler

dac
There are several interesting structures in the park including a gazebo where a couple was having their wedding pictures taken.

photo by JW Cutler

Ever since I saw the great pictures that Jeff got of the race cars at Road America, I have really been antsy about getting a telephoto lens for my camera. And now the pictures of the sail ship that was actually quite a distance off shore, now I was really feeling bugged. We had a little time before meeting with my friend Stephanie and her husband Jim for dinner, so we stopped at Best Buy. There was a nice lens in the display case that lost the box and was the last of it's kind in the store so they had a very attractive price on it. It was meant to be. I will need to practice on this new aspect as well as just the basic camera. I do really enjoy the camera and feel that I am making some progress with the settings.

On Saturday we were home body's. Bill brought Dad/Bob over to join us in the back yard for dinner and just to enjoy the beautiful day. The weather has been quite friendly on the south hill, even when there were rain showers right out side of town.

Bob Cutler

Josh Holland and Turtle

Josh and Vickie stopped with Ridley after spending the early part of the day with the Holland family in Wisconsin. Josh rescued a turtle from the busy road and relocated at a off the road pond on the way back to St Paul. After a great dinner prepared by Jeff on our new charcoal grill, we kicked back and enjoyed a quiet evening until it was time for the fireworks.

Ridley and Vickie Holland

This is Jeff's last summer on the Stillwater Fire Dept. so we went to the fire hall to sit with a few of the other firemen and families. There weren't as many there as in other years. The holiday falling on a Saturday probably had something to do with it. But the show was very good. They set them off over the river from the Wisconsin side.

Photo from Google

Sunday Jeff went for a motorcycle ride with several other guys to Hayward. That's a great ride and would be an interesting destination, but I am still having some issues with the seat for that amount of time and distance. It's a great day for it. I actually had a very quiet and enjoyable day at home.

Back to the real world in the morning. Have a good week everyone.

AML