News ? ? ?

News ? ? not alot here .. just enjoying a beautiful MN summer. The weather has been glorious.. cool.."" 70's maybe low 80's during the day low 50's at night /early AM "" not the norm but oh how glorious so much better than the humidity in Texas and also Virginia when I lived in those states.

I am a new Great Aunt my sister Debbie youngest son Stephen and girlfriend had a baby boy JONAS I love that name ..don`t hear it used that often my nephew Gary Stephen's older brother posted the info and Pic on face book ... I do love face book it keeps you up on whats going on where otherwise you may not know..

I don't remember if I blogged about my Table a friend here gave a Table to me .it is a antique (around a 100 years old ... Pete said.... and he knows his antiques ) I refinished it.. my first piece and I do have to say I did a good job of which others have commented on also.I really enjoyed am looking forward to doing more in the future.

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Sunmmer Birhtday and Friends

This has been a wonderful Summer here in MN . The weather had been so...good,not to hot and very few humid days..and glorious cool nights..Oh how I love MN ..I know that there is still Summer left...but yet again it is half over.

Pete and I have taken some day trips on the weekends we went to a Art gallery in Grand Rapids MN to a Photo exhibit and it was fantastic ,of course I love Photography over Paintings any day all though I do like Pottery and various other forms of art well it's not that I don' t like Paintings I do there are some spectacular pieces but I just prefer Photo's and Black and Whites over Colors for Black and Whites the
interpretation is left up to the viewer and ones imagination.
I am getting a camera and hope that I can capture some unique Photos.. my niece by marriage Angela is a very talented Photographer and I hope she may consider doing some free lance and consider going into it in a professional direction when her and my nephew Gary's children grow up..but for now Conor and Addison are her main subjects and good ones they are for they are beautiful children ( I know I'm partial )but the pictures of them are truly pieces of art .. as Gary says He thinks Angela was a re noun photographer in a past life all I'm saying is that a talent like hers shouldn't be ignored or wasted in all truth it is not for she is preserving wonderful pictures of her family.

Well I turned 52 on the 6Th of July I always wondered if I would come to a point in my life that I would say like others have said that they weren't counting them anymore after this year I don't think I will come to that point nor do I want to..
Why..well I have lost three friends in the last year...so I will gladly celebrate every Birthday as well as everyday blessed to be alive and to be thankful for that and the friends I have been blessed with to embrace Life and all that goes with it be it good or bad because the only other alternative to life is ..yes you got it....

The only other thing I can say is . Live ..Laugh ..and Love share it... it makes you feel good as well as those around

Love to All
Darlene

I Have Returned

I'm sorry I have been slack in in keeping up on blogging. Pete and I have taken a couple of trips close ,, one to Duluth, Mn to see his Aunt Mary where I also met two of his cousins ..Kitty and Gretchen we had a wonderful time went to church with his Aunt Mary and then to lunch with she and his cousins and then to a antique store one that Pete likes to go to when in Duluth . It was a very nice day in spite of the rain and cold.. The weather has really been cold here it feels more like Autumn than Spring however we are to get temps in the 80's come the first of next week.
This past weekend June 5Th through the 7Th we went to Calumet Michigan to Pete's sister Jane's. Calumet isn`t classified as a city but rather a village .. yes that is right a village.I truly love it there..it has a peaceful aura about it a sleepy little town.. It is what some people may refer to as charming ..It is somewhat like stepping back in time. I took a walk down main street It has wonderful art gallery's galore there are so many area artist .. I guess one could call it is a artist haven and also they have some really neat shops and bookstores..I enjoy it so much every time I go there. I had the best time there this past weekend , while there Pete Jane and I went down to lake Superior built a fire and had a pasty which is a ethnic food here it's sorta like a calsone but far from being Italian. Peter's mother loved Pasty's and also the water so this is a tribute he and Jane have quite a bit when he visits Calumet..and in his thinking there is always a good reason for having a pastey. I have visited quite a few places since I have been here but being there by a fire on the lake was so spectacular and I can honestly say that it was the best time since I moved here. I guess one could say that if doen't take much to make this old girl happy..

It's out to dinner tomorrow night to some friends on the lake Peter helped them with a estate sale and he and two other guys were invited to dinner.I'm really looking forward to it and getting to know this couple more.

I'll close for now I'm starting to nod here at the computer . I will try to not be so long before I blog again.

Emily ETC...

Emily (my Calico Cat ) is doing better I feel ..she is acting more herself.I had called a couple of vets to check on cost and the lowest is approx.. $125 to $185 to do a initial exam.. I`m just going to keep a eye on her and play it by ear..

The Memorial day weekend is here.. there is going to be a Grand-Opening of the Depot Museum Park// Heritage Society the two have merged .. at the Depot museum here...there will be a Band from the Twin Cities State Fair Donuts it seems People drool when they hear those three words State fair Donuts....I will try some to see what all the hype is... and drool... .they will have clowns and face painting for the children cotton candy for children young and old...and the Girl Scouts will be selling hot-dogs and soda...the dedication of the park will be at noon on this Saturday all in all I feel that it will be a good day.. I hope the weather is good at the present they are calling for a nice day,

The weather here today was beautiful took a walk to town the pollen was thick Spring fluffy snow is what I call it.

I think I will take another walk after finishing this and embrace the nice weather Spring... it flees so fast and the winters are long I love both of them and enjoy what the two have to offer ...

well off for my walk...

Lazy

I haven`t blogged lately for no other reason than just plain laziness and not much to blog about.. I have joined Facebook and Myspace have been researching (looking for family and friends that I have lost contact with ) it is great to find these people... seems no one writes letters or even calls much.., it is so very easy to lose contact.This may not sound right but if you know me.. I think you can follow what I`m saying ..it becomes so easy to forget those that we have forgot to remember.

The thing. I love most about these two sites is seeing Pictures of those I love... My nephew Gary and his wife Angela are always posting pictures of my great- nephew Connor and My great-niece Addison... they are so precious and I cherish seeing these pictures more than I can express. I just joined Myspace and they have I guess you would call it a video..with music that accompanies it I watch it and watch it then watch it some more and every time I do it tugs at my heart and brings tears to my eyes.. Angela is a exceptional photographer of which I would hope she would pursue as a side career.. a talent such as hers should not be wasted which in reality it is not being wasted for she is preserving pictures of her precious family..maybe when the children have grown she will pursue being a freelance photographer as Gary said she was probably such in a past life.....My friend Connie ( Hi Connie ).. her daughter Shannon also post pictures of her daughter Rylee Connie`s grand-daughter they also are so special.. to see these babies grow befor the are grown when you aren`t close enough to see them personally helps you be connected at the different stages of their lives and doing so you see them grow via on-line...

My calico cat Emily hasn`t been acting herself ...of which has me concerned I`ve called her Vet (Debbie MacKay) which is a home vet... doing just that coming to your home and she is a fantastic vet .. and sooooo.............much more reasonable than taking ones pet to a vet in a office. Dr. Hanson a wonderful vet has a office right next to where I live but before ones pet`s paw crosses the threshold of the door at the office you`ve already spent $80.and that is totally beyond my means... I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers for Emily she is family to me which I know all of you that have pets can identify with.
I will blog again soon... well... will try not to be so long between blogs

Keep On Blogging

I haven`t blogged for a couple of days ...not alot going on . I`ve been catching up on some reading..and taking alot of walks the weather has been beautiful..there is a peaceful...aura to MN one truly has to live here or spend there summers partially on the lakes in MN to understand or identify with what I`m saying...maybe it`s because I live in a small town but I`v traveled over other parts of MN and no matter where the peaceful calling of nature calls you in one way or another..when I came to MN in 2006 and was getting ready to fly back to Va before moving here, I spoke to a couple of airline workers and relayed how friendly and warm the people are here and they told me that is what is called Mn nice..well it is true a laid back back don`t hurry enjoy life type of outlook which should be the way it should be no matter where one comes from.. I`ve lived in in 5 different states and it is not the norm for most places..

I went to the tanning booth today the first time I..have ever used one .. I want to just get a base tan wheter I continue it after that will just have to see.

I need to go and do my exercise glider I usually try to do it at least 45 min every day it is so easy to let one day go by then another and befor you know it's standing there screaming please don`t use me as a place to hang clothes.....I would store up against the wall befor I`d hang clothes on it...nope couldn`t handle that..

Will try to keep up on my blogging...I guess for me it is like the exercise... just do it.
well I blogged... so glider here I come.

Fitness

Well like it is said .."I`m not getting any younger kid" I heard it somewhere... may be ? ? ? it was my conscious,..I walked to the Hallett Community Fitness Center today...about a 2 mile walk one way...I decided to join when one gets to be my age..then it is time .. let me put that a different way.when I became my age and took into account . my health and things that I could do to help it . I knew I needed to decide to commit to doing my part in keeping myself fit.

The fee isn't. bad.will do some work there if I need to assistance with the cost which will help as it is said where there is a will there is a way. I also got a bike from the police auction last year so have taken to riding it,, has been years since I`ve rode a bike.. was a little concerning to me at first but am getting into the swing of it a gain only one thing the seat on it is torture ....will get a more comfortable seat for I don't want that.to deter me from using it..I will give progress notes I will probably be sore in places that I didn't know existed..I`ve been exercising on a glider and have had many tell me that I look as though I've lost weight ..Nope no weight just inches but I hope that Gym will help me sheds some pounds I know inches are good though for they to are the fruit of our labors.
I have to admit this old girl is falling to sleep at the keyboard so need to heed the call and go to bed,





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Canoe Trip

Today was a day of rest ( and boy did I need it)...yesterday Pete and I went on a canoe trip on the Pine River.I have.. canoed a bit since I have been here in MN ..but nothing compares to the canoe trip yesterday. The trip was a 15 mile 7hour trip...the time went by quickly ..I thought.. it didn`t feel like 7 hours until the last half hour and.by then both Pete and I were happy to hear traffic and see the pick up point.. The day was glourious beautiful mostly sunny but even when the sun went behind the clouds the beauty of the billowy clouds that Mn has like no other gave a warm hug from nature every time you looked at them.

The trip was wonderful I saw about 4 eagle .,pretty close not like when you see them sitting in a tree by the river scouting for their next meal but closest I`ve seen them thus far..

Pete and I stopped and had lunch on shore but little did we know that we were sharing it with others or that 'the'.. others.. were sharing us.. with each other ! ....hang in there you will understand what mean when I tell you who our guest.we had sat in a bed of "tic`s"well I sat and Pete took a short power nap would of been a heck of alot shorter..had he realised who`s home we had invaded lucky enough we both only had a couple on us which is remarkable considering.

Pete had me in the stern of the canoe for a little while.. glad it was a short lesson but will get more I'm sure.. he said what seems confusing will evetually become second nature. I'm looking forward to more canoe trips He is talking about getting a group trip together which sound like fun. we will just have to look our lunch spot a littlr over a litlle

Wide Awake

I`m wide awake and here it is 1:15 AM.I just finished watching some Tv.. my neighbor taped last nights Grey`s Anatomy.and the Private Practice two of my favorite shows, they both were good but the finale on the Private Practice was a nail biting close your eyes jump out of your seat sort of finale.. one I`m sure I will be thinking about until the new season starts back in Sept and oh that seems so far away..when you have to wait to see what`s going to happen
Well my friend Pete,.. that I said was going back to VA well I`m sad to say he won`t be able to , his truck broke down won`t start at all.and so that puts a damper on his plans .. he was so looking forward to the trip,seeing his son Morgan friends and family and taking care of some business..but as he said and I to believe things happen for a reason.
Pete and I are talking about canoeing the Pine River on Saturday .could be said to be a sexy river the way that God has cut it out and the beauty in which flows each river has a flavor of its own I`m sure those that canoe will understand this analogy or comparison. He said there are alot if eagles on the Pine and I so want to see one up close and personal.MN has alot of eagles but I have yet to see one.I hope I get that chance this time.
Kaye Gillman came in to town and I went with her to run some errands , We went to Pete`s afterwards and I grilled some chicken or attempted to . I could not understand why it was taking so long to cook. Kaye was so gracious but I knew she was hungry and had to get home. Pete went to check things and he was out of propane so dinner was completed on the stove..all worked out, the dinner was good and we all had a relaxing good time , really need to try to get some sleep (it`s 2:00 AM) . will check . some e-mails and then get some Zzzz`s or a least hope to. I feel like two of the Seven Dwarfs Sleepy... for I`m so tired and Dopey because that's how I get when I can`t sleep well sometimes I`m dopey with sleep but can use it as a excuse this time .

Learning The Ropes

Today is a attempt at my second blog entry, I`m still learning the ropes. a great friend sent me the correct.way to to let others read my blog,..so after I share this info I hope I will receive some comments..good ones I hope ! !
The special; someone in my life Pete is making a trip back to Virgina leaving Saturday the 2Nd of May, this Saturday... I was going to go but after changing my mind a dozen times (who me )... changing my mind ? ? ? those who know me know that I change my mind as often as I do my furniture believe me that's alot..I have things to keep me busy here I am getting involved in the Cuyuna Historical Society will be making calls and the such.. "the Phone " is right up my alley. .Pete is the President
of the group.. all the members are really great people . hard committed workers in their.their work of preserving the History of this area. I `m happy that I can be useful in this way.

Pete is going to be gone a week to . I would of loved to go but lodging was to be a problem..He and his son Morgan have River property ..on the Cacapon River and will be getting it ready to sell the purpose of the trip to VA. . ..Cacapon means Healing Waters I don`n know about that.. but Beautiful Waters they are.. my first time in a canoe was on the Cacapon River a experience had.wonderful time ( canoeing on the river has a flavor all it`s own).... even when the canoe capsized and we got a compete dunking Pete, said I was a real trooper. I got back in the canoe soaked to the bone and continued like nothing happened.there was not anthing that could be done about it.. so why make a fuss.
Pete and Morgan will be camping up at the River most of the time he is in Va...getting the property ready for sale.. there is alot for them to do a more than a weeks worth of work but . but they will do what they can before retuning to their jobs. I will miss him but there is alot to do here ...the week go by quickly..and my new found pass time blogging will help too Ha ha
Well until the next Post take care and God Bless
Darlene

First time Blogger

Well here I go ..this is new to me.. so please if I bore you SORRY....I`ve had a great day and now am sitting here blogging as I sit my the window and enjoying the cool Spring Mn breeze coming through .I feel there is not a season that isn`t wonderful in Mn but most of all beautiful..I know all don`t agree for the cold is hard for some to tolerate and Oh does it get cold..call me crazy but winter in Mn is my favorite time of year. I feel Spring is next in line for the lakes thaw and the beloved Loon returns.. children's voices of laughter and such fill the street.. people out walking their dogs that have been house bound all winter,on my walk the other day there were five people that I saw walking their dogs and some had two .. well the dogs were walking their masters for they were so happy to be out and about...The sunsets any time of year here are beautiful.. but in the Spring and Fall they have a certain crisp beauty to them. I love to go down to the lake at night and build a fire in the full moon.. for as the moon shines upon the lake it makes a walkway across the water I love, love, love, that sight.I then love Fall third the cool evenings return..and then the artistry of god`s paint brush upon the leaves reflecting on the leaves is one beautiful sight to see. I also love Spring and Fall for it is great canoe time and then you see the Blue Heron beavers etc taking their respective places on the lakes.. now Summer is another story not ...my favorite..here..they have mosquito`s as big as hummingbirds and the darn things come in flocks not one by one the whole darn clan descends upon you....I know they have mosquito repellent but you need to soak your self in a vat before going out at night..maybe not that bad but Summer is not my favorite time of year in MN .. There is another experience that as a rookie to Mn my friend Pete told me I would enjoy and that is a Mn thunderstorm and boy is he right...the whole darn sky lights up and I mean the whole sky or so it seems. the sky will light up(all of it )and then thunder that sounds like the clashing of cymbals . then there is a echo of the rumbling thunder as it fades away and then the a moment of silence and then music starts again. you know i never thought of it but it would fit perfectly with Phantom of the Opera... Mn fish opener will be here soon the lakes will welcome all (everybody is in a good mood) people are putting their boats pontoons canoes in the water and yes jet ski`s too the smiles speak volumes...well I guess you can tell I Love Mn , why shouldn`t. I it`s HOME.