Watercolor

 Goodbye March. You were nothing special this year. As usual.

Last chance?

 

Sensing the passing of winter today, a shaggy dog got the most out of the shrinking snowdrifts, stopping at each to wallow, to the delight of her owners. Hoping for 60 degrees tomorrow.

We think this will be a very special spring, we will put so much behind us. So many new beginnings. Bring it on!

Welcome to Wendy's!

 

Flashing that smile that won her over as an infant, our grandchild finishes another order at the Wendy's  drive up that employs her twice a week. She manages an A average in her studies and is delighted to have the extra money. Still 15, going on 21. Growing up so fast! Driver training in May!

Her pants are wet, but she always had a smile when the afternoon nap was over.

Happy 85th Harold!

 

The entire population of tiny Keene, North Dakota, and the surrounding area, turned out to honor Harold Rolfsrud for his 85th birthday Saturday — in the largest venue available, the Keene Dome. Well, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but the family patriarch is a popular figure in the area, and many life-long friends and others came to extend their best wishes, as well as did his extensive extended family, one from as far away as Alabama. 

We add our congratulations to this dear man, proud to claim him as a first cousin. His actual birthday is today.

(photo at right) Dixie from the Keene Cafe added a banana cream pie, a favorite.

An old friend passes into the sunset

It’s been standing here since we moved in last summer. Grounded in 65 yards of concrete and busy assembling a parking garage, it was a durable picture of slow steady progress. We wondered what it would be like to run, perched high above the project, precisely coordinating supplies to the trusting groups of workers below.

Does the operator take a break? Does he get lonely? Does the wind scare him? ..... We also wondered just how you would take down such an immense crane. 

Today we found out: You just get a bigger crane.

A real-life high wire act played out this afternoon, as three men methodically disassembled the structure and the taller crane lowered it, piece by piece, ready to move on to the next job. A sure sign of Spring? We’ll take it. 

Yes, we’ll miss that big old crane on the horizon. But then, we’ll always have the sunset, keeping time in the autumn of our lives. Standby for more photos.

At Last. . .

 

What we set out to do 10 months ago, finally got done today. We came home with a new left hip, and reports are that it’s all good. It’s everything I can do to keep K from over-testing another piece of shiny hardware.

Many of you recall that on May 1, 2021, we were preparing K for hip surgery and rolling up the rugs in preparation for her walker paraphernalia. She tripped on a rolled up rug, and we were soon in the Trauma One center at North Memorial with a broken neck. Two surgeries, three weeks, and one neck brace later, we were home in time to finish our planned move to our present location.

By fall, our surgeon pronounced her good to go for any kind of surgery she wanted. But when we applied, in December, a disappointed orthopod said all electric surgeries had been canceled. Waconia hospital needed the beds and staff for serious Covid patients. We were grateful to not be in their number and waited patiently for the Covid patients to clear out.

They did.

Surgery went like clockwork, looked like they had a dozen to do that day alone. Remarkable staff, remarkable surgeon but most remarkable: the hospital food. As long-term veterans of hospital cuisine elsewhere, we have a certain standing in this area and are happy to award five stars to the Waconia hospital kitchen staff.

Home again, the food marks will plummet as Stan puts on his apron and opens the refrigerator. However, frequent take-outs are promised and no one has to miss a meal.

Come and see us soon. K is housebound and Covid is subsiding. She can use your company.

Meanwhile, somewhere southwest of San Diego. . .

 

Longtime newspaper employee, Hai Dang, just caught these Vermillion Rockfish in the waters off Mexico. "Two hooks, two fish" he notes. We'd love to join him in the warmth of Hotel California, but we have bigger fish to fry here in Minnesota. We're set up for hip surgery on February 24.

 

Sunset at 4:45 PM, Central Standard Time