It happened at the Sanford Center

I have been down for months do to a MAJOR surgery. I finally was able to put a new post up at my webpage for my hometown This is my town: Bemidji
Come see. Here is a preview:

Dancing in the Rain!

Photograph by Jon Heller

Trying to wake the dead!

(if you notice this was in a cemetary)

My super secret project revealed

Your Mom’s Tattoo Atelier
Downtown Bemidji
February 2009

I walked into Mike’s business, a cold call. I had nothing but an idea. I nervously explained how I wanted to collect the stories of people who live in Bemidji; people who loved living here. Because, everyone has a story, I want to know what they are- don’t you?

Mike listened, smiled, and agreed. He agreed to the project. I had no site, I didn’t even have my camera with me. Just off the street. I came into his shoppe and was made right at home. A man gifted in his work using few words, rather speaking through his inks. An artist.

You have a story, everyone walking the streets of Bemidji has a story, so does he.

What is it?

Join me as we find out.

A hometown boy who left, only to return to the very town that had once stifled him. Leaving showed Mike who he was. Returning allowed him to become that person. This is the story of Michael Wiltse:

I am originally from Bemidji, MN. I was born in the mid-seventies and grew up in the downtown region of Bemidji. As a child I never really liked Bemidji that much, I suppose it was because of youth dreams of other places.

To read more and to see Mike's slide show of pictures please go to my new website:

This is my town: Bemidji

This is my super secret project I have been hinting at for a month and a half now. I "officially" launched the site last night. Special thanks to Julie Michelle for the inspiration from her site - I live here: SF. I also need to give Mike at WildernessVoice a shout out for helping me navigate WordPress and Godaddy. It is good to have super heros.

Please read, and enjoy. Jules

We drive on lakes and stare down holes

We have two seasons in Minnesota: Winter and almost Winter.

We start looking for snow in October and are surprised if we don't have any by Halloween. We receive the majority of our snow fall in March and do not expect to see the ground again until the end of March or the first weeks of April. Winter rules our lives in the great state of Minnesota, especially when you live as far North as we do.

Because of this we as Minnesotans have come up with many many ways to entertain ourselves during this long, grey, cold season.

• Ice Skate
• Cross Country Skiing
• Snow Sledding
• Snowmobiling
• Winter Camping
• Skijoring
• Dog Sledding
• Down hill skiing (literally hills, no mountains here)
• Enjoy Winter Festivals

and Ice Fishing.
We are after all the land of 10,000+ lakes, all of which freeze over, and most of which have fish in them.

As soon as the ice is thick enough hearty Minnesotans can be spotted out on the lakes fishing, snowmobiling, skiing, and here in town using it as a extra parking lot for the college (not kidding).

There are portable fishhouses and permanent ones. We have had both. We now have a very nice permanent house (that has been quite mobile this year).

Per more then one request here are some pictures of our experience as ice fishermen:
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Here you see Dearest pulling the house out on to Lake Plantagenet.


He used the 4 Wheeler since he wasn't 100% certain of the ice conditions on this lake and he had to go quite a way across the lake. Notice the "road" that had already been created from the traffic.

Once the house is set up the wheels come off and the house sets on the ice. Snow is "banked" around the outside of the house to serve as insulation which helps keep the holes from freezing solid again after they have been drilled. It also helps keep the house warm once you have the stove going. Yes, odd, snow keeping something warm.

Holes are drilled in the ice. We finally have a gas powered auger. (vs. a hand crank one)

The ice is then cleaned out of the holes. As you fish you have to continue to clean the holes because the water starts to freeze which closes the hole. (this hole was outside the house for a "tip up")

For the holes inside the house, the best way to do this is mark the ice where the holes are going to be, move the house, drill the holes and put the house back. If you choose to drill inside the house you are left with the ice shavings and water to deal with in the house.

Here is what the hole looks like from inside the house.
Then........... you bait the hooks with minnows - drop the line about a foot off from the bottom of the lake, and wait.......... staring down the hole and watching the bobber. Similar to watching a bobber from a boat. But, you are staring down a hole. Dearest has our lines set up on a Rattle Reel. This allows the fisher-people the luxury of NOT staring down the hole waiting on the bobber. As the fish grabs the hook and takes the line, the line unwinds from the reel, the reel makes a click click click sound as this happens. This noise alerts you to the fact that you have a fish.
Games can be played, snacks eaten, and playing outside on the lake in the snow keeps the kids busy too.

The wood stove keeps the house warm. It is quite small but packs quite the punch. In fact the last time I was in the house it was 80+ degrees F in there. (It was -17F outside).

You can see here the contrast of heat from inside to out by the fog/steam created when the door opens .

Here is a shot of the inside of the fishhouse. This is the nicest house we have had. Hubby spent a Fall building it himself from the aluminum frame up. (notice on the walls, the black rattle reels, on the right and left back sides of the house)
This house has 7 fishing holes and a spear hole as well.
(Spearing is something for another post, another time. It is another way to fish in the winter)

Hopefully fish are caught, pictures are taken, stories are made...and if we are lucky there is enough for a meal.

Walleye and perch were our take on this trip.

They were delicious.

Excuses, excuses

Update: As you can see I did get the header done. Changed font colors for Fall too. (plus hey, I finally gave myself some "elbow room" around here) Enjoy the changes. Hopefully you will feel more like hanging out and putting your feet up on the coffee table (go ahead, it's ok)

Original Post:

I am working on a new "Fall Seasonal" Header for my lovely Just Jules blog (Let's all just pretend we think this blog is lovely)

It is taking me a bit more time then I was planning.

Excuses-
(I will keep this short)

#1- I got sick. Full out, lay me down, dead to the world sick. The flu- NO, not the swine flu - just the flu. Aches, chills, fever, sweats, headache, sore throat, kill me now misery - the flu.

#2- Hubby was goofing around working on the computer for most of the afternoon and evening.

#3 - It started pouring rain when I drug my not fully recovered self out to snap some pics for said header. (what I won't do for you people!)

#4 - I suck! Time we just admitted it. I suck and let you all down. Sorry, unfollow now. I will close my eyes. It is fine.

To try to kiss butt make up for this injustice I did post a few of the pics I took (in the rain, while sick, just because I care that much.)

That is it.
The End.
No more excuses.

I will be working on this project today (Monday).
Look for it soon or more excuses to follow.

How To Time: Raspberry Jam

Some of the raspberries are ripening! I am so excited. The best thing to do with raspberries (in my never to be humble opinion) is to make freezer jam to enjoy on the cold winter mornings on hot toast.

Freezer jam is easy and takes under
1/2 hour if you know what you are doing.
See instructions below:

flowers in pic from here

Prep Time:

30 min

Total Time:

24 hr 30 min

Makes:

About 5 (1-cup) containers or 80 servings, ...

What You Need

2 cups prepared fruit (buy about 2 pt. fully ripe red raspberries)

4 cups sugar, measured into separate bowl

1 pouch CERTO Fruit Pectin

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Make It

RINSE clean plastic containers and lids with boiling water. Dry thoroughly.

CRUSH raspberries thoroughly, one layer at a time. (Press half of pulp through a sieve to remove some of the seeds, if desired.) Measure exactly 2 cups prepared fruit into large bowl. Stir in sugar. Let stand 10 min., stirring occasionally.

MIX pectin and lemon juice. Add to raspberry mixture; stir 3 min. or until sugar is dissolved and no longer grainy. (A few sugar crystals may remain.)

FILL all containers immediately to within 1/2 inch of tops. Wipe off top edges of containers; immediately cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours. Jam is now ready to use. Store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks or freeze extra containers up to 1 year. Thaw in refrigerator before using.

While I am working on this quick project I have left the sprouts out in the garden to pull weeds - oh the weeds are plentiful as the complaints (about weeding).

I'm Draggin' Today!

I'm tired today.
Because yesterday I took part in the Dragon Boat Festival.
Dearest and I were recruited by my friend
to be on the team she was on
The Rotary Club "Rowtarians"

After securing child care and getting a few practices under our belt we were ready.
Our first race we came in strong. We finished first and felt great.
We did so well that we won our division.

The second race we were just off.
Not in cinche.
New people were in the boat and the seating may have been off.
Whatever it was - the few seconds we slowed down threw us out of the top standings.
We were one place away from having to race again in the "silver" division for second place.
(they have an odd system- I don't feel like explaining, and you probably don't feel like reading)

But, it was fun and I felt a part of our town and community for the day. I took some pics - using Dearest's cheap work camera (in case my bag got stolen I wasn't going to risk losing the "big" camera- there is even a pic of me and Dearest at the end)

Enjoy:
The boats were ready.

The crowds were gathering

(side note: notice the long sleeves, sweatshirts, and coats... I am not kidding you folks when I tell you our weather has been awful, unbearable really. The high for the week is 72 and that is on Friday! For those of you suffering from 100+ degrees that would kill for this type of weather - consider that we only have a few months to soak up the suns rays - we need all the Vitamin D we can get.)

Racers Readied

Then we raced

Finally,
we watched the scores
(that is dearest - say hi)

In the end we won the "civic cup"
& We scored in the top tier over-all.

But, most importantly -
I had a LOT of fun!
Out of the house all day with Dearest
On a team with my best friend and her husband
Relaxed, because I knew the kids were having a blast
with one of the best babysitters put on the face of the Earth.

No stress and no worries

Except to
ROW ROW ROW ROW ROW ROW ROW ROW ROW

HARDER HARDER HARDER HARDER HARDER

DIG DEEPER

FASTER

COME ON!!!!!!!

ROW ROW ROW ROW ROW ROW ROW ROW ROW

For 2 minutes and a few seconds.
(Of which a good minute of I thought I might throw up I was working so hard!)

Even the Mighty Start Small

To figure out what is going on here, you need to go here.

Because I am not here today I am here.

The Fourth in Picture Review

I survived the Fourth of July weekend. It was four days of family fun. Scuba diving (hubby), fishing, swimming, fireworks, parade, and carnival in that order. Swimming with the fishes -( in a good way)

Civil Engineering for beginners

I thought I would show you our smallest catch.

Fourth of July is a time to remember.

Bouncing out some extra energy
at the carnival

Waiting for the fireworks on the lake.
The boats start moving into position.

Also - notice my picture proof of progress below.

Sunshine Saturday Morn' - picture collages

wild flowering tree, the garden needs a weedin', raspberries starting to grow, dandelions clocking out

Hammocks come out of storage, garden shed awaits,
wood ready for bon fires, swings awaiting passengers

pretty purple petunia, monkey with me, to light your way,
purple columbine to remember the time in CO

collages made at picnic.com

After the Rain

Pics taken after our
first thunderstorm

They are Back

The beautiful birds of summer are backAnd some of the early flowers are blooming despite the lack of warmth

I know I said I wouldn't bore you with with post after post
about this.....
and I won't

But, today, you can find me under the feeder-
Keep watching in the sidebar for updated pics
"At the feeder and In my bed"

So it goes when you're workin for a livin

This is the view I see every day now. I can not show you him returning because by the time he returns it is long after dark. It is Spring which means installation time for docks and boat lifts. Opening fishing is this weekend - people are antsy.
They forget the ice has only been off the lake for a couple of weeks. Our business name is Boon-Docks. That is where we live and Docks is what we do.

Unfortunately it is nowhere near as sunny and warm as it was in this picture from last summer.

So, strap on your waders, grab extra clothes because you will get wet and cold. Bring a lunch and several snacks, towels, your socket wrench, and for the morning a stocking hat (it's cold dang it!) It is dock season.

On The Way To The Farm

Every Saturday I make a journey out to Solway, MN (about 25 minutes one way) to a farm where I get milk directly from the cows.
This allows me to by-pass all the processing and additives the government requires.

Join me on my Saturday trip to "the farm"

Arriving I feel soft eyes looking at me - it is the cows, always curious

I turn to the back of the van to grab my cooler when a wet nose meets me
This boy was enjoying the warmth of the sun in the door of the cow barn.
Not much of a guard dog

We walk past the barn door on the way into the milk room.
We have drawn notice.

My littlest is helping me this morning.
His job is to get the jugs out.
He then helps put the lids on.

The "bulk tank"
This is where the milk goes after the cows are milked.
It is cooled to below 40 degrees and held for the milk truck
to come and pick it up to take to the creamery.

Fun milk site for kids

This is where we get our milk. Unprocessed - pure-healthy

Our jugs are filled for the week - 4.5 gallons.

Enjoying the fruits of his labor
Milk doesn't get much fresher than this!

This gal wishes us good by. We give her a little nuzzle as we go.
(cow noses are wet)

With warmer temps in the air it made for a lovely
Saturday morning trip.

As we leave the dairy I always slow to look at the barns down the road.
This is one of my favorites.
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Thanks for joining me.
If you are worried about our health, or are intrigued by the idea here is a site with wonderful info. Please choose your farm wisely. We chose a farm that processes on site and supplies milk to the local grocery stores. (Hence the long drive) For example: The farm will not allow anyone to take milk until it has been properly cooled.
Other sites
here
here
here