Early Start

This morning got off to an earlier start than we expected.  We have been waiting all summer to get this project done but due to a few obstacles; e.g., bids too high, contractors thinking the job is too small so aren't interested, and contractor no-show, we finally found someone.

The project is just replacing some edging around some of our trees and septic system.  Probably doesn't sound like much, but more than we could handle.

 

Patrick is talking to the owner and discovered they were almost done.  We have no idea when they arrived but it had to be very early because it was before 8:00 when we first saw them.

 

Train Ride

I have wanted to go on a train ride for some time and finally made it yesterday.  There is a train in Duluth, MN that does short rides daily.  We were there yesterday and did the ride.  It was interesting and gave me some experience  to have in thinking about taking a long train ride.  The following pictures are of trains in the museum at the depot and while we were on the ride.

This is Pat sitting on an old steam engine.

This is me standing next to another steam engine.

This is one big snow plow.

This is an old Pontiac that was made to run on the rails.  

Another snow removal device.  How is that for a rotary snow plow.

This is the engine that pulled our train for the ride.

This is an ore ship that was out in lake Superior.  The haze was very thick out over the lake.

Lift bridge and beach along the lake.  Those two little things in the lower left of the picture were Kayaks.

This is an old ore ship that is docked for tours.

That was the tour.  It was a good day.

Patrick

Rainbow

We had a short thunderstorm here tonight but it wasn't too bad - only pea-sized hail.  The sun came out and this appeared.  Too bad it was raining; otherwise, I would have tried to get the whole thing.  There's a double ring on this shot.

Murphy's Law

We have a little (and it is little) Farmer's Market in town every Wednesday afternoon.  Last week, I was hungry for sweet corn so thought I'd check it out to see if I had any luck finding some.  Patrick asked me to get a couple slicing cucumbers if they had any.  They did have the cucumbers and home grown tomatoes but no sweet corn.  There's another vegetable stand in town that did have my sweet corn so the trip wasn't a total bust for corn.

After we ate, Patrick checked out his cucumber plant that he's experimenting with - planting cucumbers in a flower pot.  This is what he found.

Maybe we should start checking the "garden" before heading to the Farmer's Market.  He did plant a regular garden too but so far nothing showing except vines and blossoms.  Can't say he isn't trying.

 

A New Duck In Town

We have a new duck that has joined all the Mallards that feed at our corn box.  We saw him/her for the first time today.  The first picture below I took of him/her in the back yard with some of the Mallards.  The next two pictures Pat took of him/her up by the corn box.  Nice close up of him/her.  Pat says he/she apparently can't fly.  When the other ducks take off and fly to the river, he/she just waddles down there.  Guess he/she won't be going south this winter.  Hope you enjoy the pictures.  We get a lot of enjoyment watching the ducks.

Patrick

Fine Dining

Patrick enjoys experimenting with new recipes he finds on the Internet.  He found a special baked potato that he wanted to try along with a "crispy" chicken recipe.

The baked potatoes were very good - cheesy/garlic baked.  No calories here!

The chicken was definitely crispy and very good.

Best of all is that I didn't have to cook tonight.  Can't beat that perk. 

P.S.

I have to add some comments on these two recipes.  Both require a lot of  work to prepare and it didn't really make them any better.  They were both edible, but not something that I will do again and nothing to "write home about".

Patrick

Tulips

Last fall I planted several Tulip bulbs.  This spring they came up and turned out very nice.  We have had several bouquets in the last couple weeks.  The pictures below are of the final bouquet.  I think they are the prettiest of the bunch and I say that even though some of the previous ones were RED.  Enjoy!

Patrick

Crazy Bird

As stated in a previous blog, we have been trying to attract Orioles to our feeders and hope they stick around.  Well, part of our wishes have been met.  We weren't quite expecting this type of Oriole though.

It would start on the wrong feeder;

Then, fly into the window and settle on the ledge where it would sit and peck on the glass and sing.  It flew into 3 separate windows around the kitchen and would repeat the pecking and singing.

 

After doing this for about 5 minutes each, it would head to the Cedar tree to rest and then start over again.

 

This started mid-morning today and has gone on all day.  This bird will sleep good tonight.  The Hummingbirds were not very happy to get chased off their feeder either.  I think this Oriole has "issues".

Boys and Their Toys

Last fall Patrick found a wagon that he didn't think he could live without.  He said he needed something for hauling his tools for gardening, etc.  Yesterday, it brought the canopy for the pontoon down to the river.  Today, it hauled tools.  This project was done behind this fence; now, he's checking out his tulip plants.

 

 

As you can see, he's a happy camper.  It might not be a little red wagon, but it says Northern Tool on the back so that must be the adult version.

Finally Spring

We think - and hope - Spring has finally arrived here. Yesterday, Patrick hung the feeders for the Orioles and Hummingbirds.  He didn't get them up any too soon as this morning the hungry birds appeared.

 

We have been trying for 3 years to attract the Orioles without any success.  When these showed up this morning, we thought maybe this will be the year and they're not just passing through.

This guy walked all the way around this feeder trying to figure out why his beak didn't fit in the holes.  He was on the Hummingbird feeder.

The Gold Finches are slowly starting to appear; however, they've forgotten what their feeders look like.  We have 3 finch feeders with their food (Nyjer) in them but they seem to be enjoying sunflower seeds today.

And, last but not least, this is our real sign that warmer weather is not far away.  We brought the pontoon home today.