Road trip

Sosie's in town, so it wouldn't be right to not take some kind of road trip somewhere. A Sunday drive to Stillwater should be just the ticket. They may not have the world's largest ball of twine, but there's still plenty to recommend it.

The Ultimate Home Shopping network

Mom awoke to a selection of seven tops and five coordinated bottoms Sosie had pulled off the racks at the nearby Kohl's. . . who just happened to be having a sale. Mom will make her picks and Sosie will return the rejects.. for someone else's mother to wear.

Now get up and start your shopping, Mom!
We'll standby for a modeling of her final choices.

Red Rover, Red Rover, send Jennifer over. . .

At Macy's with Mom
Picking a Birthday present

Jennifer celebrated her 42nd yesterday with a dramatic change and a party in her work-in-progress Dundas home, attended by friends and family. (Some family left long before friends did.)
Jennifer's new look (and her wanderlust ways) inspired thoughts about a favorite game we played in our grade school play yard.
Did you ever play it? Did you know that Rover is the Norwegian word for robber or raider and that some say the child's game was inspired by the Viking practice of pillaging the English coast. Hence, children would dare the opposite team to come and raid their lines, by breaking through their joined hands.
Red Rover, Red Rover, send Jennifer over. If Jennifer could break through the opposing line, she was entitled to take a captive back to her side. If she failed, she, herself, became a "prisoner."

Dinner and conversation

Sosie enjoyed dinner at Virg's; his family gathered in Eden Prairie for an evening of food and fun. Sosie was amused when she asked Lacey what her mother had told her about her Aunt Sosie. The response? "She's perky."
Her nephew Alex reports just a few credits remain before he completes his present course of study. Aaron and Amber recently returned from a leisurely Caribbean cruise for a hectic time at the auto body shop and the beauty shop. . . due to a damaging hail storm and back to school activity.

Mini-reunion at the Sofitel

Mostly Class of 1966

Brothers and Sisters

Ten Alexandria Jefferson High classmates gathered for an air-conditioned lunch at the Sofitel in Bloomington today. Mostly it was the gang from Sosie's class, but Greg Johnson, Stan's classmate, attended as well. He's Cathy Ricardo's brother... Cathy's been staying with us.
We all enjoyed remembering the old times of our youth, and comparing notes with all the recent or soon-to-be retired boomers.

Stan's spicy chicken mango
salad with peanuts

Condolences to Bill Shearer

Our brother-in-law Bill Shearer lost his Aunt Marilyn last night to heart complications.
Bill will fly from San Francisco to Marysville, Ohio, today to handle arrangements. Aunt Marilyn had a lifetime career as a journalist for the Holmes County Hub in the Amish country in Ohio, and retired to the historic Shearer family home in Marysville.
She was 84. Our thoughts are with Bill, son Zachary, (the last of the Shearer line) and Solveig --- who is presently staying with us, as we reminisce about Aunt Marilyn, an interesting and accomplished woman.
Below is the family home in Marysville, which was built by the Shearers in 1895, and has never been sold. We'll post Aunt Marilyn's obituary when it becomes available.

Joe and Mina's famous "Salmon to Share" event

Grillmeister Greg with Fish Finders, Joe and Mina
Meanwhile on the porch, host Tom watches John pull on a beer.

Abbey Point food lovers gathered tonight to feast on Joe and Mina's fourth annual Lake Michigan salmon catch.

Deb and Paula gnosh in hostess Sandy's kitchen.

This year's hosts were Tom and Sandy Story. Their gracious hospitality set the stage for an evening of fun and feasting featuring four varieties of salmon finishes, offered by volunteer cooks slaving diligently on a heated tarmac over hot grills, just to please the palates of their discerning neighbors.
These combined labors produced an enjoyable evening for a grateful community, and earned plaudits and commendations in a stand up toast offered by Head Fisherman Mina Daly, the one Joe claims to have boated the Big One.
(A poster proving Mina's prowess was displayed prominently in the foyer.)
The generous salmon platters were accompanied by a plethora of appetizers, side salads, (a caesar,  a ramen, a wild rice and a broccoli), cheesey potatoes, and of course, desserts. -- key lime pie, chocolate loaf cake, and carmel tres leches.
It was agreed by acclamation that this annual event should continue indefinitely. Happily, Joe and Mina appear willing.

Table One
Wes, Shirley, Duane, Jane, Lisa, Carla

Three pairs of pedicures, please

We picked up Sosie at the airport last night, this afternoon she picked up her high school chum at the airport in her rental car. We're going for the Tuesday T-bones at Little Six tonight, but first things first: the ladies sat for a round of pedicures at Nails Lovely. Kathleen chose crackle silver, Cathy's are Black Gold and Sosie's are Fiat Orange, to match her rental, of course. Stan will be escorting three pairs of beautiful feet tonight.

Tuesday is a work day

It may be blazing 90s in the sun, but work goes on in the back yard, with the bees swarming over the Russian sage today. We won't have relief for a while, but we're okay.