alexandriacardinals

*  Or How ‘Bout a Pontoon Ride Through a Space-Time Vortex?

‘Twas the last day of spring, June 20, 2015.  Six brave souls ventured out onto the biggest lake on the chain, Carlos, for a late evening (3-hour?) tour.  The sky was ominous from the beginning . . .

We left the “garage” and boated to the north end of the lake to smell the camp fires.  Carlos State Park appeared to be SRO with regard to campers.  On the way back home, we were treated to a lovely rendition of heat lightning from somewhere over . . .  Lowry (?), and a crescent moon forming a perfect triangle with Venus and Jupiter.  Just a spectacular evening in Vacationland USA!  (Thanks again to our hosts!)

Well, since we seem to have extra space, our first boat ride on our lake, beautiful Lake Darling, in over a year on June 9th . . .

The Super’s gardens are coming into full bloom and the trees we planted nearly 14 years ago are started to provide total privacy from the road . . .

Friday night coming home from a Bug-A-Boo performance by Professor Miltich, the sky was ominous leading to overnight thunderstorms (almost 2 inches of hard rain) that rendered the Super’s peonies downcast . . .

Marriage is an alliance entered into by a man who can’t sleep with the window shut, and a woman who can’t sleep with the window open.  ~  George Bernard Shaw

Up next:  Whatever happens next?  BTW, this is the 700th blog posting, yet another milestone!  🙂

[Friday at the winery.  The quintessential perfect Minnesota day – temperature in the mid-70’s, not a cloud in the sky.  The new wine making building, last week just a frame, has its “skin” on now.  Erik, minus the other three Salty Dogs, was performing, getting the place warmed up for the whole group on Saturday.  Erik promised the same weather, but . . . ]

[It was a gray, windy day, as Tom performed one of his signature ballads.  We were hoping for a pretty day so I could get some group photos for their promotions, CD, and album covers (well, they hope).  My qualifications in that regard is I know how to aim a camera and hit the shutter release button.]

[He’s not known as the ‘Boy Tenor’ for nothing!]

[Oh, and Annie, Greg, and Erik were there as well for artistic completion, as you will note from the three videos, included at no extra charge . . . ]

[This was Greg’s first appearance with his ‘summer face,’ allegedly so he would no longer scare his infant daughter.]

Women aren’t embarrassed when they buy men’s pajamas, but a man buying a nightgown acts as though he were dealing with a dope peddler.  ~  Jimmy Cannon

Up next:  Whatever?

My heart be still, we actually had great weather on a Sunday afternoon . . .

[Harper’s Chord was coming to town, thus expecting an overflow crowd at the winery!  But for the first 45 minutes, the four of us usual regulars were treated to a private show!  We thinks the 1:00 start fooled everyone – usually showtime begins at 2:00.]

[The last time they were in town, Micah, the bass player, had been added for the first time. This time they along brought a drummer – Pat, high school class of ’65 (though at St. Cloud Cathedral).]

Amy:

[Paul and Jill, doing what Paul and Jill do.]

Why Don’t We Pack Up the Van and Run Away for Awhile:

[Roger and Micah, doing what Roger and Micah do.]

[They’re baaaackkk.]

[This was going to be the next CD cover photo . . . well, maybe by her.  😉  ]

[Ending on the downbeat . . . ]

Travelin’ Soldier:

[Dave was recognized for his 70th b’day, so he and Alice went out and cut the asphalt.]

The Super did her job as well . . .

[Showing the group’s Medicare Fan Club (with two notable exceptions) was there in force, many of us sticking around for the entire 4-hour performance before heading home to bed!  But as Alice and Dave proved, we still have spunk!]

Natural Bridge:

[This is their signature song with which they usually end their performances . . . ]

[This is their last scheduled performance in Alex this year . . . so please write your congressman and senator!]

Before we go . . .

Thought some of you may enjoy our Bethany Hasz winning the state 1,600 (she won the 3,200 as well).  She and sister Megan usually finish 1 – 2 in these meets, but unfortunately Megan had to miss this year because of injury.  She should be healthy for cross-country in the fall:

A beautiful woman who gives pleasure to men serves only to frighten the fish when she jumps in the water.  ~  Kwang Tse

Up next:  Afraid to look at the calendar.

. . . with music chasers!

[The Supervisor strides purposefully to the Community Education classroom on Saturday morning . . . ]

[Son-in-law Danny Gaither provided the instruction . . . ]

[Any yard will do for gathering the fuel . . . ]

[Where we were . . . ]

[Careful with those tin snips or you’ll lose a finger! . . . ]

[An attempted overhead view –  the whole idea is to create airflow in your stove . . . ]

[OK, let’s start that fuel burning . . .  ]

[Of course it was a very windy day (when isn’t it?), so a young lady was being taught how to fly a kite by her dad.  But she kept being distracted by those rocket stove people . . .  ]

[Do the marshmallows go on the pointy end? . . . ]

[It’s weenie time . . .  ]

[Pretty handy dandy little outdoor stoves!]

And now, the video:

[And here’s a rocket stove on a somewhat larger scale . . . Danny building one in their place up north two years ago where it will used as the furnace!  🙂  ]

In other news . . .

[Shirley turned 18 on June 1st . . . ]

[In other other news, I supervised the Super and other supervisees in Friday’s exterior project from my usual perch on high. The inherent dangers of such activities came into play later when I had to rush the Super to the clinic to have a mosquito extracted from her inner ear through several wishy-washies. She survived but is now on antibiotics. Just another example of why I only venture to the outdoors in winter, when it’s much safer! Here we were adding more rock to the driveway with neighbor Arnie with his Bobcat, Danny with the rake, and the Super supervising from ground level. The “incident” happened later when she was mowing.  ]

[In other other other news, a certain fun couple celebrated their 17th at SAWA Friday night to the dulcet tones of Dan Mahar’s “What A Wonderful World.”]

And since someone was so kind as to FB post my video from 2013:

[After class on Saturday, it was off to the winery.  They’re constructing a new facility for wine production, thus being able to expand the existing tasting/music room to accommodate 100 people at tables . . . ]

[But we were there for another afternoon with the now retired Professor Miltilch . . . ]

[I think his fan support would largely be considered annoying, but he graciously puts up with us.  These Final Four photos are courtesy of the Supervisor.  We did not expect to be outside – the forecast was daunting and of course the wind was howling, but we made it through the afternoon.  Through a tornado watch last night, we did pick up an inch of rain.]

Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman, but an advanced old woman is uncontrollable by any earthly force.  ~  Dorothy Sayers

Up next:  Harper’s Chord?