Lorlee starts her retirement project early

Our family friend, Lorlee Bartos, has introduced an interesting blog. Lorlee grew up with us in rural Alexandria, MN. Go have a look at her unusual project. It is called "Dear Annie... "

Lorlee explains:

My great Aunt Annie Bartos lived with her twin Uncle Wencil until his death at 83 and then lived by herself until she died at 90 in 1983. She was a collector. One walked between boxes in her house. Among this treasure is a collection of about 700 postcards from about 1910 to 1924. It is my goal to share them with her descendants and with the world.

Click on: http://anniebartos.blogspot.com/

From time to time the author of this site is accused of hyperbole, playing loose with the facts, prevarication, exaggeration, giving out too much information and lying. Sometimes it is best to just let the pictures do the writing, avoid the controversy and let others determine their own facts. This might be one of those times.

This just in on Ford and Jenn!

Just when we were discussing the appropriateness of using the term "knocked up," on the internet, these pictures appeared on the brand new Ford and Jenn blog, easing all our fears of being over-the-top on this topic. Apparently true joy has no such bounds. Details on this blessed event are now available 24/7 at http://www.fordandjenn.blogspot.com/.

We're so happy.

Yippee! Ford and Jenn are PeeGEE!

There's a bun in the oven over at the Ford and Jenn Rolfsruds. A baby is expected in January. Ultrasound evidence yesterday. Excitement all day today!
This would be the first grandchild for Steve and Nancy Rolfsrud. Congratulations, Ford and Jen.
We will post the ultrasound pixs when Stan's email machine starts working again.
(Photos: Ford and Jen shared a laugh at Uncle Stan and Aunt Kathleen's with Missy Blethen and Emily last Christmas.)

Grandma and Grandpa's responsiblity

Tractor envy gripped the Rolfsrud boys when they saw Ty Rolfsrud, 13, fifth generation Rolfsrud farmer, driving the John Deere of their dreams.

Envy came during this week's Golf Oil Tour, when the three sons of Beverly and Erling Rolfsrud putted golf balls into 54 North Dakota cups, then inspected the raw beginnings of a 55th hole to be drilled on their immigrant grandparents' homestead.

Grandmother and Grandfather Nils and Rebecca Rolfsrud were required to annually turn the soil on their desolate western North Dakota claim, or forfeit the land to the government. Their struggle has ended, but five generations later, Rolfsruds still work that same soil. This week the original homestead dirt was scuffed by 13-year-old Ty Rolfsrud, running a mammoth tractor that would dwarf the model driven by Erling and Beverly's boys when they tilled that soil 35 years ago as summer hired hands at the Rolfsrud farm. And, of course, the behemoth would have satisfied Grandma and Grandpa's original annual commitment in just a matter of minutes.

Video is 1 minute and 30 seconds.

Guided tour

We're home again.

Somehow, without benefit of paper maps or coaching from wives, the three Golf Oil Tour participants successfully navigated 1000 miles of rugged western terrain and arrived home safely last night, right on schedule, exactly 55 holes later. Failing memories were assisted by the gentle but firm female voice of Mrs. Garmin, Virg's trusty navigation device mounted on the dashboard, above. Biggest obstacles proved to be bugs on the windshield, ably dispatched here by the tour squeegee man.

We found Mother to be in great spirits with good energy and outlook, and enjoyed our luncheon with her in the private dining room Saturday, sharing the excitement of coming events.

Tall ships coming to Linda and Ron's lake

Linda and Ron will have a ringside seat if they want it for the tall ships visit to the Duluth harbor in a couple of weeks. Usually the Letneses travel to Europe to do their sight-seeing, but this time they can stay put to see an international treat.
The ships come Aug. 1 - 3, just days before Sosie Shearer arrives from California for her week-long sojourn.
Despite soaring gas prices, tourists will flock up I-35 to see and tour the ships during their three day layover in the storied harbor. Hotels and motels are already sold out. It is part of Minnesota's low-key 150th anniversary celebration.
The Pride of Baltimore II, from its namesake city, and the U.S. Brig. Niagara of Erie, Pa., will stop in Duluth on their 10-city tour of the Great Lakes. These two War of 1812-style reconstructions will be joined by other maritime visitors for a three-day festival of music, entertainment and food with a focus on the maritime history of Duluth and the Great Lakes.
The third ship is the Schooner Madeline, a reconstruction of a Great Lakes vessel that sailed the upper Great Lakes 150 years ago.
The Pride of Baltimore II, with its working cannons, was commissioned in 1988. It succeeded the original Pride of Baltimore, which sank in a white squall off Puerto Rico in 1986, taking her captain and three crew members down with her.
The Niagara was also built in 1988. It has propulsion engines and modern navigation equipment, but without modern amenities. During the summer, Niagara is sailed by a crew of 16 professionals, supplemented by 20 trainees willing to live out of a duffel bag.
The ships will be in the Duluth Harbor Aug. 1-3. Public tours are scheduled. Visit http://www.decc.org/ or call 1-218-727-4344 for details.

St. Paul Katie hoses So. Mpls. gang

Big winner in the Saturday night poker blow-out at Kristi and Shel Anderson's last night was St. Paul Katie. Deceptive, consistent play yielded good results and this morning Suburban Stan, who stayed behind to clean the garage and research an art deco design for its wall, will enjoy breakfast at Stonebrooke, courtesy of the six players who donated $100 to Katie's winnings.

Katie took particular joy in besting Da Professor's trey trips bid with her three lucky 7s.

Severe thunderstom hits Shakopee area

Heavy rains, damaging winds and hail swept through Shakopee at 1 p.m. today. The Rolfsruds are fine. Trees are down and water is standing about, but we're sure it wasn't catastrophic enough to cause the cancellation of Men's League this afternoon. Life goes on.
Conditions leading up to the event were most ominous. Stan needs no weather channel. He reads the natural signs: the sky turned a sickly green and Kathleen, always in tune to this kind of thing, carried her new purse on her shoulder as she scurried about closing the windows.