Week in Review: September 24 through September 29

This week was highlighted by enjoying the magnificent Northern Minnesota weather and fall color, interspersed with doing our normal stuff.

MacKenzie didn't have school on Monday, so she and I spent the day together. We made 2 batches of cookies, read, and enjoyed just being together. She and Dick played catch and batted a few balls around, too.

Tuesday Dick and I picked up our two new chairs and ottomans. Of course, some assembly was required, but we did overcome and got them together with no hiccups. They are SO comfortable! and, they fit the RV so much better than the others (which we were able to sell quickly on Craigslist).

The cool (cold!) weather at night--low to mid-30s--precipitated the fall colors reaching their peak in the Northland this week. Everywhere you turn there are more colors, more beauty; but I hope you get the idea. During the day the temps will reach the mid-70s, with a touch of briskness. All but the last photo were taken during a walk that Dick and I took around town this week.

 

Outside my mom's home. The birches and oaks are still green.

(Saw this in the Duluth News Tribune this morning, and had to share.) Trees near the peak of fall color cover the hills around Oberg Lake near Tofte (on the North Shore of Lake Superior) on Thursday. (Andrew Krueger / akrueger@duluthnews.com)

As you know, when you move your home base to a new area, one needs to find a new hairdresser and a new doctor. Therefore, we needed to transition our healthcare to a local provider. We've both had our physicals and, thankfully, have come out on top. This week Dick had his final follow-up on Wednesday with his new doctors and they are pleased with his health. Appears he'll be around for a long time! Oh, and I've become Dick's new hairdresser; and no, he has not become mine...ha! (I do have one locally that I see when the need arises.)  That evening, my brother Rich, wife Karen, and MacKenzie came for dinner: Popover Chicken. YUM! (Oh, but the way, that recipe is in "The Blessed Bistro" cookbook!)

Friday, Dick worked with my brother Rich installing ceiling insulation on one of the homes Rich is repairing. This past summer a tree fell through the roof during a wild wind storm.

Today (Saturday) Dick, my brother Ron, and I attended a concealed weapons class, which allows us to, yup, carry a concealed weapon. After a lecture, testing and a hands-on, we were awarded a certificate allowing to do just that...carry. Cool, huh! I could really get into this shooting thing. (Haven't done any shooting since I was in elementary school and my dad took us to the town dump in Grand Marais to shoot cans and...other stuff.)

Also today, MacKenzie played her first of two soccer games in the "final four" of her division playoffs. Unfortunately, her team lost in double overtime and a kick-off. The second game is tomorrow afternoon. This time we'll be there to cheer her team on.

We hope to be on the road within 10 days at the outside. There are few things we need to make sure happen for my mom before we leave. More on that next week.

As I close this week's review, I wanted to share this with you. I've been reading a small devotional book entitled "Jesus Calling," by Sarah Young. These daily words help to remind me that my time spent with God is not to be a monologue, where I just spew out my wants and desires, problems and cares, but rather a dialogue, where I also wait quietly and patiently for Him to speak to me. In Thursday's devotional, which is inspired by her daily walk with the Lord, she writes, "...Go gently through this day, leaning on Me (God), and enjoying My presence. Thank Me for your neediness, which is building trust-bonds between us..." What a neat thing to know (and remember!), that we don't have to face our days alone, but can lean on God to lift us up!

Hope this finds you all well. More next week! We miss you.
Love and hugs,
Gail and RJ (Dick)

Week in Review: September 16 through September 22

This week was filled with lunches and soccer -- oh, and cold weather!

Before I forget, these are the flowers I received from Dick for my birthday: over 200 lilies in a variety of colors, from white to deep burgundy. They've gradually been opening, and now on day 9 they're fully open and beautiful!

Sunday and Monday were quiet, spent at home, getting caught up on normal household stuff.  Not too much going on, but Minnesota was beginning to share its Fall colors. Cold nights (in the 30s) and warmish days (in the 60s and 70s) make the colors pop.

Dick and I decided to trade out the 2 lounge chairs in the 5th wheel, for 2 more comfortable and stylish models. So, Tuesday we did a bit of shopping and found 2 taupe faux leather recliners with ottomans on a 50% sale. They are sooooo comfortable--could hardly get Dick out of the floor model! They'll arrive on Tuesday the 25th. If I can't find Dick in Mom's house, I'll know where to look!

Tuesday we also attended yet another of MacKenzie's soccer games. They won (of course) and this weekend began the playoffs. Here's a photo of MacKenzie and her dad (my brother, Rich) taken after one of the games. Rich is also one of the coaches of her team.

Thursday was the day we were all looking forward to: a luncheon with family members from my mom's side of the family, at Red Lobster in Duluth. They try to get together at various times throughout the year, to celebrate birthdays. Lucky me, this time it was for me, and for my aunt Fern, Mom's youngest sister, who is turning 80 this year. This, too, marked the first time my uncle David has been able to make it since his stroke in March. Thankfully, he's making steady progress, and was able to come up for the luncheon, from Minneapolis. He's shown here with his son Geno (my cousin), and Geno's son Caleb (who's attending University of Wisconsin-Superior and able to make it). There were 26 of us, so Red Lobster is always happy to see our family walk through its doors! Among those in attendance were all my mom's living siblings (3 brothers and 3 sisters--FYI, Mom's the oldest at 91, and Wally is the youngest at 74), 6 cousins, 1 second cousin, 1 third cousin, several spouses, my brother Rich, my mom, Dick...and me. We spent 2 hours laughing, talking, eating, and sharing. What a wonderful time! As we were leaving, numerous diners commented on what a wonderful family we are, and how they wished they belonged! (Of course, the waitstaff sang Happy Birthday to Fern and me...groan...)

 



Friday we were fortunate to have lunch with our new-found friends Bea and Mike, whom we got to know in Grand Portage. They had extended their stay in Grand Portage for an additional 2 weeks, and are heading south to Missouri this weekend. Was so good to see them again, and we hope to see one another next year in Grand Portage--unless they decide to head to New England or Alaska!

Saturday was the first day of the playoffs for MacKenzie's soccer team. In windy and chilly 45 degree weather they won 4:0. Good thing we had our snuggies with us: gloves, heavy sox, boots, hats, ear muffs and winter jackets. Brrrr.. Sunday is their 2nd game of this playoff series. Will cover the results of that game next week.

Saturday night the temps plummeted to 26 degrees. We are SO ready for warm weather an sunshine! More on that next week!

Hope this finds you all well. We send you love and blessings as you face this new week.
God is good!

Gail and RJ (Dick)

Week in Review: September 9 through September 15

This week has been a bit more jam-packed.

Sunday was a day of church, followed by a beef pot roast dinner. Rich and family joined us once again. The afternoon was spent playing UNO Attack! -- what a crazy game!

Monday was a normal day filled with stuff to do around the house--and trailer.

Then came Tuesday. Mom and I went to lunch with several "mature" ladies from her church, to the Hong Kong Buffet. Two hours were spent getting caught up on their lives and sharing. Was good to get Mom out of the house for a while, and I know she enjoyed it. They reminisced on how good her baked goods were, and how they always asked what she brought when it came to pot-lucks. A large shipment of yarn arrived for me, so now I can begin my list of gifts.

Wednesday, Dick and I took a road trip (400+ miles) to Greenfield, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, where we picked up our motorcycle. I posted a photo last week, but it was good to see it in person. It'll be perfect for getting around and exploring near our RV sites. We loaded it into the back of the "black beast" dually, and headed for Elkhorn, Wisconsin, where we spent the night with my niece Jessie, her husband Andy, and 3-week old baby Jack. Oh, and their two dogs, Deklan and Mookie, a couple of French Brittany Spaniels. (What a pair!) Was so good to see them again, and meet the new member of the family.

Jess, Andy (yup, he's a cop!), and Jack

 

Thursday morning we headed back to Cloquet, to be back in time for MacKenzie's soccer game in Duluth at 5:00. (Their team tied 1:1.)

Friday was a day spent in the kitchen: chocolate chip cookies and canning 12 pints of homemade salsa! YUM! I'm happy to share both recipes, if you're interested!

Today, Saturday the 15th, dawned beautifully albeit a bit cool. Woke to 47 degrees, but sunny. By 11 a.m. the temps had reached the low 60s and by noon the mid-70s. Slight breeze. Gorgeous. The leaves have just started to turn...a perfect fall day for Gail's ** birthday.  (Dick interjecting here...) HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAIL! Gail's strange husband picked up the cake - marble with half chocolate and half butter-creme frosting YUMMY! Later today we are having a family pizza party to celebrate.

This morning we went to the annual "Mutt Stutt", a fund raiser to benefit the local Friends of Animals shelter (managed by my sis-in-law Karen). Lots of dogs of all sizes and breeds. Many were up for adoption by the shelter. MacKenzie and her dog Dolce won first prize for the "look alike" contest. Notice the glasses on Dolce...:)

That's it for this week. Stay tuned for more exciting news from Northern Minnesota!
Love and Blessings to you all.
RJ and Gail

Week in Review: September 1 through September 8

We're in Cloquet, Minnesota at my mom's until the end of the month. We are enjoying the time with her in her home, but we sure miss living in our 5th wheel!

The week has been rather uneventful, but there are few items of interest--at least we think so. I was able to spend time with my 11 year-old niece, MacKenzie, before she started school on Wednesday. She's in 6th grade so she's attending middle school for the first time. Fun times!

Wednesday we took our Sundance trailer to "Tom the Welder" to add a hitch to the back. We plan to add a rack for a small motorcycle and a rack for 2 bicycles, because we plan to do some exploring in the areas we'll be visiting and decided it's a bit difficult to do in a big black dually truck! We bought a 2006 Susuki GZ250 motorcycle, that we'll be picking up next week (it's in Milwaukee, WI, so road trip!).



Our bicycles arrived on Friday, so Dick is busy putting them together. (Guess I'll need to do some shopping so my togs match my bike! Ha!)

Thursday we spent some time in a local church parking lot, practicing backing up the trailer. It's easy to go forward and turn corners, but backing up is a TOTALLY different can of worms. At Mom's we did get it backed up next to the driveway (Gail directed, Dick backed it up). The front automatic jack extender quit working when we were in Grand Portage, so we have had to maneuver them manually. When we were leveling the trailer, we hyper-extended the front jacks and a piece broke off so Dick has been busy figuring how to deal with that issue. Until it's repaired, we're staying put...:(...since we are unable to raise the jacks. Appears we'll need a new switch and a replacement part for the broken one.  It should be an easy fix once the parts are either repaired or new ones are received. Guess it's a pretty common dilemma, but one we didn't need...

MacKenzie came after school on Friday and stayed for lasagna. After reviewing her math homework we watched 4+ hours of Princess Diaries and Princess Diaries 2. (Even Dick watched them!)

Saturday brought cold temperatures (44 when we got up) and rain. Some sun sightings, but mostly overcast and rain. My brother Rich, sister-in-law Karen, and niece MacKenzie came for French toast and sausage, bringing Daisy, one of their 4 dogs, to visit.

Daisy is a 4 year old Shar Pei, adopted from the local animal shelter where Karen works. Their other dogs are Denim, a 5 year old shepherd; Emma, a 4 year old Ori Pei (Shar Pei Pug mix); and Dolce, an 8 month old Chihuahua (also from the shelter). Spent time playing Golf, a very easy and fun card game. Of course, MacKenzie won. It's stuffed crust pizza with the family tonight. YUM!

That's about it for this week. Stay tuned for more excitement!

Love and blessings,

RJ (Dick) and Gail