Sometimes a person just has to get away

We live in what is considered by many a great space of 10 acres. We have great views away from our living room. We enjoy a sense of solitude. And, as I have stated in previous posts, the wildlife is abundant.

There are times, however, when a person just has to get back to her/his roots. We took advantage of the predicted mild weather to head FURTHER north to be close to where we both lived at one time in our lives. We found our way to McDougal Lake Camping area. It is located on Hwy 1 between Ely and Silver Bay. There are 21 sites. And if a person times it right a good site or two can be found.

We got what we think is the best site of all of them. While Joyce is a great parking helper, a few of the other campers helped in getting the camper into the space that was available. This campground has been around since 1967.All the gentlemen who helped and have been going there for the last 20 years had not witnessed anyone successfully placing a trailer of our size in that spot. Challenge accepted, was my way of thinking.

 It took about 30 minutes, but in the end, Joyce and I were rewarded with a great space to enjoy the time we were there.

We have camped in the BWCA, in the Montana mountains in the back of our Dodge Caravan, in state campgrounds using larger tents, but with our camper in this area is where we like to return. We both agree we are not going back to tent camping. Our bodies have “evolved” past those stages in our lives. A soft bed, a heater and adequate night lighting works better for us now.

I still can make a one-match fire. I still make a great bacon, egg and fried potato breakfast on an open fire. Actually, I can make just about anything on an open fire. It is a great way to pass the time in the “wilderness.”

We took our kayaks along and had a couple of opportunities to explore the lake. We took advantage of the hiking trail to get some exercise as well.

I took Joyce to visit the place where our then family of four lived for a summer when my dad was first starting to work at the Isabella Job Corps Camp. When I entered the Knotted Pine, it was like being transported back in time. The bar area has not changed in 46 years.

  

Oh, and by the way, we had timed our trip to this area to witness the changing of Mother Nature’s colors. She was dressed beautifully.

Did we have fun? Yep. Will we go again? Yep. It just seems like the thing to do this time of the year because sometimes a person just has to get away.

It's like buying a saddle, then gettting the horse…..

It is an old saying, but for Joyce it rings true about me more often than she cares to remember. The other day I went to an auction. It was a live auction. People actually had to stand next to each other and declare their bids. This is unlike being online and circling like a vulture until the last moment to bid.

I had noticed a batch of bricks off to the side of everything else. They were samples of a larger lot that were stored a little way away from the auction site. The way I looked at it, 400 bricks did not seem like an unmanageable amount to haul away.  We had been talking about making the fire ring area nicer anyway.

When it came time to bid on the bricks nobody wanted them but me. I must say, I did get a good deal, $ .015 per brick. Yep, 400 bricks for a total of $6.00. That was the good news. So, the fire ring area will be upgraded.

The “saddle” came next. I was feeling a little full of myself for getting such a good deal. So I bid on the next lot of bricks as well. I won. I bid on the 3^rd lot of bricks, but someone in the crowd did not like the idea of me getting two good deals in a row. I was outbid on that lot. I bid on the 4^th lot of bricks and won. I was the only bidder on 3 of the 4 lots of bricks. It did not sink in until I looked at my “prizes’ what I had gotten myself into at the time. Reality took the luster off my bidding prowess. What, exactly, does one do with 2500 bricks (saddle)?

I could have been the smart pig and built a house to keep away the hungry wolf. But that would need a permit of some sort. I had plenty of time to think as I loaded and unloaded and stacked my bounty. I must say it did help me keep me on track to lose my 5 pounds for the month. It occurred to me on the fourth trip back to the loading site that the area next to the shed could use a nice brick pad on which the camper could sit.

So here I am digging and hauling and laying brick.

and digging and hauling and laying brick.

 I figure it should take 5 or ? days to “get ‘er done.”

Skol, Vikings, let’s score……..

Well, here it is, time for the first game of the NFL season. Thanks to an opportunity offered to us by my niece, Brandi, we were able to be a part of the opening day crowd at Mall of America Field (Humphrey Metrodome).

There was certainly plenty of entertainment to keep us occupied. We arrived early enough to see the pre game warm-up. As it turned out, the Walsh warm-ups were critical to the outcome of the game.

Up close and personal is how I would describe the seats we had. Everything from television personalities, to former Viking “royalty”, to costumed entertainment was on display.

The introduction of the team was quite dramatic. The Viking ship arrived (so to speak) and the plundering marauders (mascots, cheerleaders and players) stormed the field.

The big question for the Vikings faithful was if Adrian Peterson, AP, was going to be allowed to play. That was answered as the last of the starting offense was introduced. As it turned out, he played a big role in the victory. We have a pretty young team this year and we are hoping for the best. One game does not a season make…….. or does it. Stay tuned.

When life gives one lemons, make lemonade…….

When friends give you apples, make……….. empanadas of course.

Our good friend, Don, was kind enough to gather a couple of buckets of deliciously tart apples. I have been peeling and boiling and peeling and boiling.

It occurred to me that I should come up with some sort of plan of what I am going to do with this bounty. Pies are in the offing. I plan to make some version of an apple bread. Of course there will be some apple pancakes. I had recently read an article on how to make beef and potato empanadas. Those of you who know me realize that just because something is labeled for one purpose does not necessarily mean I will use it as it is intended.

I decided I could reimagine the empanada insides. So, a little bit of flour, a couple of eggs, some vinegar, salt, sugar, cinnamon, water and, oh yeah, a few apples and voila, apple empanadas.

Now, I just have to make up an apple cake recipe.

It isn’t just the serenity…

30+ years ago when we decided to invest in some land in the Randall area. We thought it would just be a camping getaway. At first that is exactly what it was. Since it was (is) only 45 minutes from St.Cloud, we could go up for a day or we could stay a weekend. It was pretty convenient.

Jump ahead 20 years and it was time to think about retirement and where we planned to spend our time not working. An opportunity in Randall surfaced and we (me mostly) seriously considered “The Land” a viable possibility.

Jump ahead another 6 years and the decision was made. Our adventure into retirement has been pretty well documented here on the blog. “The Land” turned into “Peaceful Pines.”  Each time we leave, we want to be back and every time we return we can feel a sense of relaxation wash over us.

Randall rush hour

The small town environment brought Joyce back to her roots. 

It brought Gary to an environment to explore a gazillion creative possibilities (lefse, anyone?) AND he gets to drive a tractor. 

But there is more. Our small town has revealed its character in a manner that neither Joyce nor I could have imagined.

Randall has become a small town that is dedicated to the memory of the people who serve and who have served our nation. It has a wonderful respect for the sacrifices of the women and men who keep our nation safe and free.

Take, for example, the wall of honor on the local VFW, a place where one can come to see whom, in the area, has served. The McDonalds (Thomas McDonald lineage) who have served are here.

   When I look at it, I feel a great sense of pride.

It is a stone and mortar tribute to our patriotic family and the patriotic spirit of our community and our  country.

Did you hear that?

The voice in my head that kept saying, “Go ahead, Gary, I dare you.”  I usually stay away from an “I dare you” voice. But, I fell for it. I took the dare.

After all, what could be so difficult in making REAL lefse? Isn’t it just potatoes and flour? No, my friend, there is, as it turns out, a bit more involved in making REAL lefse. I found out, in my research that there is the “correct” way, the "correct" equipment and a passel of "correct" recipes to follow.

Needless to say, as a beginner, my equipment, recipe and technique will improve over time, but for now, I’d say I accomplished what I set out to do.

So the system you see here was set up to be the least messy since I didn’t know what the heck I was getting myself into. 

 I made a rollout system where I covered my pizza stone with a kitchen towel, then put the pizza stone on a lazy susan. That way I could just rotate the lazy susan a couple of degrees before I took the next stroke with the rolling pin. I did cover the cloth with flour so I never had to flip the dough over during the rolling phase.

I used our pancake griddle on 375 (400 cooked too quickly). That way I could have one finishing, one starting and one being prepared.

I used a “paint stick” flipper that I made earlier in the day. It worked really well. Just a flick of the wrist and it was off the towel and onto the griddle.

The recipe was for 36 of the lefse sheets. I started at the beginning of the MinnesotaTwins game and finished by the end of the 4^th inning (about an hour and a half).

Of course it all had to be taste tested. They tasted like any other lefse I have bought as a specialty item, so I guess I’ll consider doing it again. In my humble opinion, it was not too difficult. I guess taking the dare from the little voice in my head turned out okay…..this time.

Stop me if you have heard this one before……….

One day two ducks, two gophers and a Tennessee Volunteer walk into a bar.
The bartender says, “ What’ll you have?”

They all reply, “ We’ll have one Schnoor family reunion, please.”

“And, we’ll have an all class reunion on the side.”

The last few days have been quite a whirlwind of travel for the Schnoor “kids.” Ralph and Viola drove up to Ely, Minnesota from Knoxville, Tennessee and arrived Thursday the 21^st of June. Dale and Judy, who drove from Eugene, Oregon arrived the same night. Meanwhile, Al and Chris flew in from Eugene to the MSP airport where Joyce and Gary were there to greet them. After a quick stop at the IKEA store by the Mall of America, there was a short stay over in Randall. Meanwhile, Marg and Herbie were making their way to Bill and Ginny Davidson’s in Babbitt, Minnesota for the weekend.

By Friday, everyone except Marg and Herbie were checked in at the Super 8 in Ely and Friday night everyone finally found each other in Babbitt. There was a check-in at the high school for the "class" reunion. There were a lot of, “Do you know who I am?” Questions echoing down the hallways. And, the predictable uncomfortable pauses followed. It was amusing to see so many people of “senior age” have blank expressions for a while and then to watch the dawn of recognition when they found that the person standing next to them used to be a great friend.

It is surprising what can be packed into a 4-day get together including;

parades, 
















lunches ,

birthday celebrations 

and ,oh yes, there was shopping done as well, mostly for shoes and a pair of boots it turns out.


I believe a good time was had by all. I am sure Bob and Tracy were nodding approval from above as they watched the spirit of  renewed family relationships strengthen.