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.