Sisters

Sisters Kathleen and Mary Lou on Grand Avenue in St. Paul.

New dishwasher

Awaiting its turn.

Andrew installed our new dishwasher tonight, using finesse, skill and determination.  Virtually no cussing. The old dishwasher served for l7 years and it's time. The new one will even match the fridge. Novel idea.

She's 80!

The French Meadow party room was the perfect venue for a pleasant gathering of family and friends.
There was cake for everyone. And a full breakfast.

The sun added a special glow to the celebrant as our
daughter; Jennifer; and grandson, Maxwell, chatted.
Other extended family members enjoyed the breakfast buffet.

Kathleen's big sister Mary Lou is in town this weekend to celebrate her 80th birthday. She got started yesterday at the French Meadow cafe in Minneapolis with a gathering of 30 family and friends hosted by her daughter and son, Heidi and Tony. Festivities continue today with a trip to Madeline Island. The events bring together people from both sides of her family, including ours, with a full contingent represented. The venue was perfect, special doors on the room let the sun shine in as the weather was just right for the occasion. Many more, Mary Lou!

Group hug. From left Kathleen, Heidi, Jennifer, Mary Lou, Tony

Reloading

The first batch of strawberry/rhubarb jam proved so popular, it's time for Round Two, an unprecedented production record. Here Marcy helps her Mom choose eight bunches of rhubarb at the weekly Farmers' Market on Nicollet.

Still Waters

 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside still waters. Psalm 23:2

A two fer?

The card said "Happy Birthday and (added later with a grin)Happy Father's Day.

A wire crossed somewhere in my beautiful daughter’s head this week, and she greeted me today with a heartfelt “Happy Birthday, Stan!” And then she handed me a bag with a cornucopia of gifts marking the special day. We were enjoying breakfast at the Blackbird Cafe on Nicollet when I opened her personalized card that began sweetly “On your 70th Birthday, did you think you would still be hitting the gym?” The thing is, it’s not my birthday until July. We had a big laugh over it, (no turning 50 or dumb blond jokes, please) then finished up a very nice Father’s Day morning. And guess what? In a few weeks we can do it all over again. (We wondered if I should give the card back so she can use it again.) Happy Fathers Day/Birthday to all my friends!

Fast and furious -- first time

Here's the latest from California, where Hai continues his ocean fishing off San Diego. He writes:
Bluefin tuna are among the most elusive fish in the Ocean. They can sprint up to 50 mph and weigh in at half a ton. Many people have been drawn out to sea in the hopes of hooking one.

I met couple guys on the boat. They have been out fishing in this water 4 times this month and have not hooked one yet.
 Well, I hooked one today on my first Bluefin trip. We were 60 nautical miles off shore. While it is not a giant, this 50 pound beast put me to work for 45 mins. Bluefin tuna are warm blooded so they can keep their core temperature above the surrounding temperature. This enables them to maintain a high metabolic rate for predation and speed.
They are expensive in Japan because of their high fat content flesh. Bluefin tuna belly is delicious. Japanese sushi masters would love to have their knife on this fish.

Sugar and flour cakes?

Just what you want to come home to, after a nice dinner out. Birdie got into the pantry, pillaged through some miscellaneous before settling on an old recipe whose main ingredients are flour and sugar. The evidence was strewn all over the living room. . . and on her lower lip, to which she seemed totally oblivious . We cleaned the mess then did some shaming. What else can you do? It was our fault for leaving the door open.

Here comes Trouble

Forty feet from the edge of the pond, Trouble, the snapping turtle, meticulously deposited her annual supply of eggs in the lawn this morning, covered them up, then headed back home. Her route took her to a four-foot drop on the waterfall, she looked over, then gamely plunged over the edge, emerging none the worse for wear; a tired mother whose day is done.
Now the debate begins. Do we really need more snappers? Should we dig up the eggs or just leave Nature alone?