The smell of greasepaint, the lights, the lines, oh, the lines....

I saw an article in the Morrison County Recorder that mentioned there was going to be auditions for a play in Staples. The play looked like it would be funny. And after doing a bit of research on the Internet, I told Joyce I might go to the auditions if it fit our schedule.

 I suppose those of you who don't really know me all that well might need to be caught up on why I am even bringing this subject up in the first place. I was bitten by the acting bug when I was in the 7th grade (1962). For those of you who are not math majors that would have 51 years ago. "You Can't Take it With You" was the name of the play. I remember my parts as though they were yesterday. In truth there were only two times I was seen by the audience. Okay, the complete truth is that I was never ACTUALLY physically on stage. But the show would not have been able to start without me. I'll bet you never thought a curtain puller could wield so much power. But, in reality the curtain puller sets the mood for the entire play.

Ah, but I digress. I have always found reading for an audition fun. Fun in the sense that I can spend twenty or so minutes reading out loud in a character that I make up on the spot then go away with no obligations. Talk about free interactive entertainment. It is kind of like Karaoke without the music. This one seemed like it would be a hoot to be in. So, when I got offered a part, I said sure. Practices were low key and well managed.

Costuming was pretty straight forward. Being an old guy and being cast as an old guy has its costume advantages. I just go to the closet and pick out an old guy suit.



 All in all it was good fun. I was the guy on trial who had to convince a jury selected from the audience that I was innocent. I was able to do that three out of three performances. Although, in the last performance I was found guilty due to the director's license. The person who was really guilty had her kids in the audience and he did not want them to feel bad. Those meddling kids!

A little getaway

Joyce asked me on the way home if it was going to be difficult to return. I told her it wasn't going to be this time. We had a great time visiting our friends in Texas . Denny and Linda are great hosts and great people.

Before we left they had called and asked if we wanted to go to a high school musical again like we had the last time we were there. Of course we said yes. The school that puts on this show does a fantastic job. I say, without hesitation, it surpasses any school production I have ever witnessed here in Minnesota. And I have witnessed quite a few over the years.

Of course the ROPA was on our want to do list. I should say, it was on MY want to do list. I love climbing, yes I said climbing, up on that pile of clothes and hunting for that one treasured piece that makes it all worth while. That is one of the reasons I wanted to drive this time. Bringing back $10 worth of ROPA stuff takes up quite a bit of space.

I like to geocache, but Denny LOVES to geocache. We had the opportunity to to go out a few times. I am always amazed at how good he is at finding the hidden treasures. I consider him an übergeek of geocaching. Of the thousands of caches in Texas, there are not many that he hasn't found.

At South Padre Island, I was able to get my "ocean" fix. I always feel a wonderful sense of calm when I am near a large expanse of "warm water." The Gulf of Mexico was in all its glory. A fresh breeze, rolling waves, the sounds of birds, sunshine and warmth all made for a great escape from frozen Minnesota.

At the Texas Trails RV Resort, where we stayed, we had the opportunity to volunteer in the kitchen. I always like this part as well. I get to meet a lot of people from around the country. And, since I love to cook, it was a very good morning.

So, no, I did not mind returning to Minnesota, where, by the way, it was -20 degrees the morning after we got back. I know that since we took the trip rather late in the winter, it will be warming soon. And, now that we are "Retired," a trip to MY paradise will be a more regular occurrence. We don't have to rush to get there. And, we don't have to rush to return.

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.