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.