A Grand Evening in Florida!

Kim writes tonight from poolside at Virg's place in Ft. Meyers:

A beautiful evening on the lanai with my guy. If only I knew how to write a haiku, I would send it to you. Cheers! 

A Grand Day

Sunny skies and 66 degrees brought Stan's pal Bob over to the house for a cold one to celebrate an unusual March day. The golf course will open tomorrow, its earliest opening ever in the history of the world, according to the boss. The warm weather will last at least a week, it is said. Bob, who raises fish and maintains a summer pond, told Stan there is no chance any of Stan's goldfish will survive in his pond. We shall see.
Stan emailed his golf partner to see about a game tomorrow. Got this response:

I'm in India - will visit the Taj Mahal today.  Talk to you when I get back.
Greg

Early T time

Oblivious to posters warning interlopers away, this foursome strolled casually down the cart path to the 17th tee this morning.
The snow is fast clearing the area, we look forward to a brief warming spell. . . then the annual State Tournament blizzard, of course.
The wild turkey hunt opens in April. We doubt our foursome is in much danger. . . if it just remembers to stick to its territory in the adjacent game preserve.

Eight goats munching in an Argan tree

We don't know how old these goats are, but they are up in an Argan tree. Oils pounded from its nuts defy age.
Sosie bought several bottles.

Stan's sister Sosie and her husband Bill are in Morocco. Today she sent a picture of some goats up in a tree and an explanation of the Argan nut, something we've somehow never heard of. Here's her note from Africa:

"Our first close look at an Argan tree came with goats. Goats love argan leaves and nuts, which are the basis for the age-defying argan oil. This is an 'only in Morocco' product and a women's co-op is the current award-winning best producer. The nut is small and women pound the outer shell to release the kernel and then squeeze out the oil. We bought bottles of the stuff, all the better for maintaining the youth and vigor of friends and loved ones."

Just how cold is it at the well head?

It was 4 below zero and steam was rising from the exposed warm earth this morning as workers dug up the pipe leading into the Community Well on Fairhaven Drive. The plan is to have it opened and repaired by 4 p.m. today. Residents are being asked to use water on an emergency basis, giving rise to discussions about just what constitutes an emergency. Do you flush? Did you pre-fill the tub? Are you showering together?
There's a reserve tank of pressurized water at the well-head for neighbors to share, managers say, and when that's been used up, that's it.
A workman was bent over the hole around noon today when the driver cruised by, getting a photo of the worker's backside and making the driver wonder on the origin of the age-old expression, "Colder than a well-digger's arse."

Numbers reduced, winter warriors gather nonetheless

Joe, Mina, Mary, John, Katie, Stan

Tommy the Head Bartender took this photo tonight of a brave band of winter warriors who celebrated another evening in Shakopee's winter wonderland at the monthly Abbey Point dinner and conference. The six neighbors present discussed the neighbors who weren't present  . . . mostly they're in Florida, a couple in Arizona. The Gerkens brought a report from Florida where they had been February guests of some of the Abbey Point snowbirds. It was an upbeat fireside evening with temperatures outside going below zero. Although they all have them, aches and pains were not featured on the evening's agenda. Community well water quality was, with Joe Daly volunteering to guarantee the neighborhood's safety by drinking the first glass after current repairs are completed. Mr. Gerken suggests others hold off at least a half hour to see if Mr. Daly starts flopping around.

Tragedy recalls dangers of lake ice

A friend just notified Stan of a tragedy that occurred last night on the lake where Stan grew up near Alexandria. The news story (below) brought back memories of a boyhood experience on the same lake that could have ended similarly.

Stan was about eight years old at the time and out playing with siblings on the frozen lake not too far from their home. Despite warnings from an older sister, curiosity caused him to step on the thin skin that had formed over a recently abandoned ice fishing hole. The rectangular hole was wide enough to easily accommodate dark house spear fishing, so when the ice gave way under the youngster's weight, down he went, plunging into the icy water. Fortunately, his elbows caught on the edge of the hole and his sister quickly put out a hand and helped him scramble out. He dashed a half mile home in frozen clothes. A frozen zipper required his mother to pull his jacket over his head to get it off. His mother was always pretty relaxed about her kids roaming about. Not so much that day.

Our thoughts are with the Alexandria family and their tragic loss.

By Al Edenloff 
EchoPress
Today at 11:56 a.m.

One of the people rescued after falling through the ice of Lake Andrew last night has died, according to family members.

In a statement issued this morning, the family said that James Minnerath, 50, of Alexandria passed away.

Minnerath's 2-year-old grandson, Hayden Minnerath, who was with him at the time of the accident, is receiving care at Children's Hospital and Clinics in the Twin Cities and is listed in critical condition, according to the family. "Our family would like to thank the community for its thoughts and well wishes, and request privacy at this difficult time," the family said in the statement. At about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday night, a resident on the lake, Brad Brejcha, called 911 to report that Minnerath and his grandson had been traveling in a utility task vehicle (UTV) on the lake, located southwest of Alexandria, and were overdue.

Brejcha had went out to look for them and located a large hole in the ice and said that it appeared the UTV had broken through.

The dive team was activated and arrived on scene with Douglas County patrol units.

Dive team members located the two victims submerged in the water and brought them to shore.

The victims were taken by ambulance to the Douglas County Hospital. Hayden was airlifted to Children's Hospital and James was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale.

Responding units included the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, the dive team and North Ambulance.

This morning, dive team members and the Bosek Underwater Recovery Services pulled the UTV out of the water.

No, Dear.

Kathleen saw three deer crossing the meadow and ran to get the camera and fired off a few shots. Here's the best one. If you can't see the deer, don't feel bad. Stan can't see them either. But they were there, honest they were, says Kathleen.

Look Ma! No Misses!

Certified gun safety courses endeavor to teach responsible and safe handling of deadly weapons. They are also a prerequisite for receiving a conceal and carry permit from the county sheriff.

RangeMaster Pete
It was cold out there.

Two recent graduates of a day-long training course in Jordan appeared on our doorstep yesterday with dramatic evidence that they had just completed their study: two posters riddled with gunshots.
This was the first we'd heard of any of this, so needless to say, we were stunned as our daughter and her friend, big grins on their faces, rolled out their posters for our inspection. Based on a quick reading of the results, it appears they're both one-day wonders, both had fired compact patterns into the paper targets. No strays.
They hoped the experience would demystify some of the aspects of gun ownership and use, allowing them to gain a greater understanding of this complex and sometimes emotional topic. We hope so too.
It also qualifies them to apply to their sheriff for a permit to pack heat.
Oh boy.