So much for Sosie's parting gift. . .

Here's a question not worth asking someone who owns a dog:

Virg writes:
"Hey, did I forget my lefse on your couch?"

Fair Warning!

Don't forget your seatbelt!

On The Road Again. . . 

After six weeks of waiting for her new right knee to strengthen, Katie took the wheel for the first time today, stomping on the brakes and hitting the accelerator like Jeff Gordon.
A joyful ride down Marystown Road proved the right knee was working just fine.
Step by step, we're getting this project done. Tuesday the Doc said Katie didn't have to wear those dang support stockings ever again, but she'd have to pump on the Schwinn Airdyne twice a day. Advil is now okay. Today Mark the driver came and hauled out the clot buster, the ice machine and the continuous passive motion machine. Good riddance.
There's still a long ways to go, but the milestones are clicking by this week and we wanted you to know we're very happy about that.

Our nephew is Coach of the Year, AGAIN!

Coach of the Year? Kaia thinks he's
The Father of the Year. Again.

Our nephew Ford, a high school math teacher at our new Shakopee Senior High School, is also the head coach of the boys varsity tennis team. He was just named Coach of the Year by his peers for Section 2AA Boys Tennis for the second consecutive year. His assistant, Kevin, was named Assistant Coach of the Year. Shakopee just finished a winning season and his boys won many awards. It's nice to see Ford being recognized for his hard work and dedication. We're very proud, and so is his wife, Jenn. She writes:

Of course, if you are a player, parent of a player, tennis fan, or lucky wife and daughter, you already knew that he is an amazing coach and role model for his players.  His team had a great season this year, finishing with a 14-9 record, 2nd in the Missota Conference and secured the 3rd Seed in the Section Tournament.  This is one of the strongest and youngest teams he's coached and they are only getting better under his direction.  It is no surprise that other coaches in his section recognized his hard work and dedication and voted for him.  

Ford puts a lot of heart, energy, passion and time into coaching his team and truly enjoys working with the boys.  He's coached since he was a teenager, but he still gets nervous before the start of each season and hates to say goodbye to the boys at the tennis banquet at the end of the season.  He stays long after awards are handed out to talk with graduating seniors, returning players, and young ones aspiring to be part of the team one day.  I always enjoy attending the banquet because the families really are wonderful and they always seek me out to express their happiness that Ford is their boy's coach because the life lessons he teaches them are so much  more important than the tennis (although that's important too).  

I can't think of anyone who deserves this award more than Ford.  Congratulations!  We are so very proud of you!!! 

Road Trip!

We're heading to West Des Moines Saturday to see our relatives, watch Senior Golfers and cheer young baseball players. It's an overnight, our first big outing since Katie had her knee replaced. Our hosts will be our niece and nephew, Dave and Amy, who live on the Glen Oaks Golf Course where the Principal Golf Tournament will be held this weekend. We're excited.
We'll take six hours to do this four hour drive. Lots of stopping and loosening the knee. We probably won't stop at the Spam Museum or the Clear Lake Ballroom though.
(Birdie will stay at home. . . with her Aunt Laurie)

Our team -- that's great nephew Hunter (The Heater) in the upper
right hand corner. We'll see him pitch Saturday night.)

Norwegian tortillas

Sosie wheeled out of Shakopee a few minutes ago with little brother Virg at the controls, heading for MSP in the big Buick, but not before leaving behind parting gifts from famous Jacobs Lefse in Osakis. Call 'em Norwegian tortillas if you like, every culture has some kind of bland flat fried bread. How do you take your lefse? With sugar? Butter? Peanut Butter? Lingonberries? Rolled or flat? Washed down with buttermilk or akavit?

Splash! Summer's here!

Check out Kaia's blog at right

Much better, thank you; and long-term memory A-OK

Hey Laurie, do you recognize the treats on Mom's plate?
(We scored the goodies at Laurie and Brenda's Master's grad party
in Prior Lake yesterday and Sosie drove them to Alex this morning.)

Sosie had an easy drive from Shakopee to Mom's place early this Memorial Day morning. Her Iphone report came with the above photo.
She writes:
"Here she is! It was an easy, pleasant drive this morning. No traffic, construction, rain storms, or blinding sun. Perfect!"

Sosie and Mom were watching TV this morning (the bowling alley was closed) and Mom picked up on the news story about the dramatic fire at the Walker United Methodist Church by Powderhorn Park in South Minneapolis. Flames were visible from Dan's rooftop party room on Lake Street.

Mom's Grandma
Mary Lincoln Brown.
(Yes, she was named after the
president's wife.)

Anyway, when the 92-year-old saw the fire story on TV in Alexandria she says to Sosie:  "My grandma went to that church."

"Mary Lincoln Brown?"
"Yes. She went to that church for about eight years before she died."
Great Great Grandma Brown died in 1950 at the age of 88. (She is buried in Lakewood Cemetery in south Minneapolis. For more detail about her life, type Mary Lincoln into the search box on this blog, above.)

Mom is staying temporarily at the Bethany Home in Alexandria, recuperating from a fall she took in front of her room at Edgewood Vista, across town.
So far, no therapy is scheduled today and Mom is much better rested, Sosie reports. 

When Sosie remarked on how good she looked, Mom said she should, she hasn't done anything but rest "for days."
KSTP reports on the fire that injured five firefighters:
When firefighters arrived at the scene there was smoke smoldering in the attic. Officials believe it had been smoldering for some time before the alarm went off.
Close to 40 firefighters battled the three-alarm fire. Fire officials say the five firefighters were injured during a flashover, or burst of flames. When that happened, they say crews retreated.

Yesterday fire destroyed this church where Stan's

Great Grandma worshipped in the 40s.

The church, which was built in 1909, suffered severe damage. It has been a historic part of the Powderhorn neighborhood for more than 100 years.
There was a lot of lightning in the area at the time of the fire, but the cause has not been determined.
The building was demolished Monday morning after the fire. However, the congregation is still planning to have a community picnic Monday evening on the corner of 31st Street and 16th Avenue.

Unfortunately, Mom isn't ready to go anywhere yet in this
yellow car, but she can pretend.

Our Flags

Father and Son, James A. and Leonard O. Neilson

Barberry Doll

She put the last annual into the last pot, transplanted some perennials, and now she's tackled the beautiful barberry bush with the nasty nettles that punish casual pruners. She's digging in like a pink-gloved badger, snapping twigs, pulling out the dead sticks, giving the tired bush new life.

It's Sunday afternoon, Kathleen's taking a snooze after another strenuous knee workout, so Sosie is being super useful getting us caught up on our gardening.

Early in the evening we'll wash up and head to Laurie and Brenda's party in Prior Lake, marking their Master's degrees from biz school.

Two-thirds majority

The four youngest Rolfsrud children wished Kathleen a belated happy birthday tonight. The honoree cut a lemon mousse cake, confected by the Edelweiss bakers of Prior Lake and accompanied by vanilla ice cream orbs rolled in hand-scraped lemon zest. Wrapped Godiva chocolate favors completed the festive ensemble. And we even used the good silverware.

The table is set

In anticipation of the social event of the year, Sosie pulled out all the stops and set this splendid table, breathlessly anticipating the Rolfsrud gentry's arrival at half past six o'clock. In a salute to the male side, the ample floral arrangement, culled from the rainy pond sidehill this afternoon, has been dubbed "The Rose Bowl." We hope they like it. We're sure they'll be on time.
For her part, Sosie took a big sigh of relief and gave herself a Fonsie four thumbs up. (Those are her garden gloves, drying out after a morning spent on her knees in the beds.)

The Social Register

Long ago, Ingeborg Wessel carried this Viennese Augarten Wien vintage design porcelain tea service from her home in Hannover, Germany, to present as a parting gift to her American hosts. The entire 24-piece service has been brought out today and carefully prepared for early evening birthday cake and tea, to fete the Rolfsrud gentry and their good wives. Sosie will pour.

Her heart's desire . . .

We're sorry, Famous Dave's; sorry Market Barbeque, but your ribs just don't stand up to Tony Roma's!
Kathleen's addicted to his ribs, so it's not her birthday without a rack of Original Baby Backs in Carolina Honey sauce. This year we ordered take out -- we're a bit exhausted by all the knee workouts -- and when Stan showed up at the Mall of America to pick them up, a disappointed Scott the Bartender wanted to know where Katie was.
There's only one Tony Roma's left in the Twin Cities. When it's gone, we'll have to move.

Our correspondent in Mom's adjustable bed. . .

We received a cheery note this morning from Stan's sister Sosie, who is in Alexandria looking after mother. Mom has been moved temporarily to the Bethany Home where she is receiving therapy for a recent fall. So Sosie is staying in Mom's place (and in her fancy adjustable bed)  at Edgewood, across town. Apparently she got a good night of sleep, because she mailed this Iphone self-portrait to us as she got up this morning.
She writes:
Good Morning!
Here I am, not quite bright-eyed, having a cup of Keurig before I pop in the little yellow car for cross-town adventures. Happy Birthday, Kathleen!
Sosie
PS Please apply Mom's mug philosophy, "Live one day at a time and make it a masterpiece." I did. I cranked up the bed and my knees are in my face. Masterpiece of an exercise routine!

Happy Birthday, Kathleen

It's raining hard on Kathleen's birthday today. It's the first time she can remember not having sunshine on her big day.
There have been better birthdays, to be sure. When the day's highlight is painful therapy in Chaska, followed by more exercise at home, it's easy to remember that there have been happier times. We're sure those days will come back sometime soon, and in the meantime we're grateful for all the good wishes and support.
We're forecasting sunny days.

Mom's 92 today!

Mom took a tumble the other day but she's on the mend, so she'll no doubt appreciate some extra cheer today on her 92nd. Sosie loaded up balloons, flowers and cake and is on her way to Alexandria to do the honors. We'll let you know how Mom is feeling as soon as we get Sosie's report.

Hair cut and a license

Katie, about to get a haircut from Jessica.

United Flight 622 -- Here comes Sosie!

Big day today for Katie: After knee therapy this morning in Chaska, she passed her driver license exam and had an ID photo taken at the Scott County Courthouse, then reported to Cost Cutters for a quick clip by her favorite cutter, Jessica, in Savage. Now on to  Bloomington IKEA for lunch and some shopping, before picking up Sosie at MSP at 2 p.m.
Phew. All on a new knee.
We're getting there!

Last lilacs

For some reason, our lilacs didn't show much this spring.

These are Joe and Mina's. We enjoy them for free.

O liquid and free and tender! 
O wild and loose to my soul--O wondrous singer! 
You only I hear--yet the star holds me, (but will soon depart,) 
Yet the lilac with mastering odor holds me. 

Walt Whitman - When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d

Later on, that same afternoon . . .

". . . now, just take yer french dog and git offa my land."

Thank you, Joe!

A pair of peonies picked by Joe Daly brightened our kitchen countertop today.

Oh yes, American fries from yesterday's boiled red potatoes. . . . with lots of Vidalia onions, fried in olive oil... mmmm.

Twins are ahead by two runs at the moment, two on, one out.  

Live is very good.

Home again, gone again

Sosie and Bill is LA this winter.

Sosie and Bill have returned and are safely home in Sunol, California. They went, among other places, to Alexandria, Egypt. Sosie is heading this way on Tuesday where she will visit, among other places, Alexandria, Minnesota.
We anticipate her arrival at 2 p.m., at which time we expect that the news blackout on the Mideast mission will be lifted.

Syttende Mai

Our head Norwegian hoisted the colors into a snappy breeze this morning to honor Norway's Constitution Day. That's him speeding away in his pickup, he's much too quick for the neighborhood photographer.
Norwegian Constitution Day is the National Day of Norway and is an official national holiday observed on May 17 each year. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to simply as syttende mai (meaning May Seventeenth), Nasjonaldagen (The National Day) or Grunnlovsdagen (The Constitution Day), although the latter is less frequent.

(Source: Wikipedia, of course, not Bud Osmundson, who is an authority on other matters.)

Congratulations. . . we think

Scandinavians aren't given to bragging much, so it's good when someone can do it for them. We're sure this isn't news to the Norwegians out at the Rolfsrud Ranch, but in case you missed it. . .

Oh, what a tangled web. . .

Eventually we got our new rope fence properly installed today, but first it took some intense detangling by the grounds crew.

They persevered, and won the day.

The rope, intended to divide golfers from residents, was delivered to the work site in a neat factory spool, but somehow, it got a little mixed up before it could be threaded through the fence posts.

We've all been there.

Where's Rosemary?

What started out as one little chive bunch, just enough to make sprinkles for scrambled eggs and toast, has taken over the little herb garden.

Oh well, they're better than thistles and they do have a nice onionish fragrance.

Happy Birthday to our nephew Tony

Somewhere in Yuma, Arizona, today there's a birthday boy providing security to the citizens of this southwest border town. Happy Birthday to our nephew, Sheriff's Deputy Tony Brewer. He's pictured here outside a jury room with his late grandmother Florence, Kathleen's mom.

He's older. . .

Joey and Emily were born one week apart in 2006. Mother's Day activities drew them both to Abbey Point today for another meet up. Joey has lost two baby teeth already, Emily has lost one. . . but she has a wiggler in the front. They've seen each other occasionally over the years, as Joey Nelson is our neighbor Tom and Sandy's grandson; Emily is our granddaughter, of course.

Happy Mother's Day, Kathleen!

Happy Mother's Day

Beverly Rolfsrud with her family, circa 1956. She's going to be 92 in a week. Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

The Masters

Our family friends, Laurie Hartmann and Brenda Hartmann, received their Masters of Arts Degrees in Human Resource Management from Concordia University in St. Paul, on a perfect afternoon today. It's been a long journey, but the sisters did it together. Following several years of hard work, waking up at 3 a.m. to write papers, lots of night classes (both have full-time jobs) and a study trip to Beijing and Shanghai, it's definitely time to grasp the sheepskin and celebrate. Congratulations to this incredible pair. Their late parents, Lawrence and Harriet Hartmann of Prior Lake, would have been very proud, as are we!

The Best Fishing Right Here!

Today's fishing opener harkens back to the days when resorts were essentially Mom and Pop operations. "Modern Cabins" meant indoor plumbing, a rare feature. We found this photo from one of Dad's scrapbooks, from the 1950s, probably taken near Deerwood, Minnesota, based on the mileage information on the sign.  (135 miles to St. Paul, etc.) Don't know the names of these two resort operators, but they were family friends. Mom? The sign promises that "The Best Fishing Is Right Here."
Youngsters please note: Nesbitt's was the brand of an orange-flavored soda pop.

Introducing "Kamada Fuji"

Just in time for Mother's Day, here's the first public appearance of "Kamada Fuji," an original peony creation grafted and named by our "son" Hai Dang in his Prior Lake backyard nursery. This unique first-ever blossom, a single 8-inch wide lavender beauty, has a sweet fragrance. Congratulations, Hai! Kamada's "grandparents" couldn't be prouder!

Three Hundred Sixty Degrees

Big milestone in exercise therapy yesterday!
Kathleen rotated the stationary bike pedals in a complete circle for the first time in three weeks of work, creating huge stretch on the muscles and ligaments controlling her new right knee joint. A big cheer went up, then it was back to work:
". .  pull, two, three, four, five, push, two, three, four, five". . . etc. etc.

First clematis

We can't remember ever seeing clematis before May 9 in Shakopee. Heck, you're not even supposed to plant the annuals until mid-May. But with this upside-down spring we've enjoyed, we've come to expect the unusual. Across the way, today Farmer Bud is sticking some peonies into the soggy ground.
We've had just about all the rain we'll need for a while, things should be bustin' out all over now. Next door, Sandy just returned from Vegas and there is a super-sized bag of potting soil ready to go on her car trunk lid. Plenty of serious business ahead.

(Photos by Stan Rolfsrud. Correct spelling of clematis by Katie.)

Me too. Nearby, the weigela are giving it an early go.

Gone fishing in Oregon

Dan Martin, who used to run the Danny Martin School of Charm at the WatersEdge Golf Course in Shakopee, moved to Oregon a year ago, but he just went fishing for the first time on the famous Rogue River there.
Judging by the red meat in these photos he sent us, they caught some Pacific or coho salmon. But it could be a steelhead trout, don't know, because Dan didn't provide any details other than to say everything is going great in his new state. Details, Dan, details. They sure are pretty fish though.