By the way, owning a boat is not inexpensive, but how can you not own a boat when you live on water? We chose a pontoon for it's heterogenous uses. It holds about eleven people, so it's good for just a slow ride down river or to visit three or four connected lakes. We can go to dinner or for a Dairy Queen at four or five places. It's great for swimming as you will see later, you can go fishing, have a picnic, pick up a pizza, it's got a big enough motor to pull one of those big tubes, ours we call Bertha, or like we often do...just go out in the middle of the lake and get some sun and be lazy. We bring along some soft drinks and/or wine and just have a fine time. Yup, it's not cheap but sure is fun. We got a lot of use out of it this year. Love being on the water.
Back to the 4th. Shortly after the Solstice, about 9:30 or so, the sun starts to set. Time to get the crew together and head up river to Lake Bemidji for the fireworks. Daughter Erin Marie dropped over just before we were to go, and Mama Barbara decided to stay back and visit. So a half dozen Houle's, and four Meuers' got on the boat and joined a parade of boats coming from down river to see the fireworks.
Just leaving port. Here we see the Meuers', there's a Houle hiding back there, don't know Houle it is. Also, sigh our puppy Wilson. Sadly he died in August. He wouldn't get in a car, but he loved to go on the boat. Wilson was a Lhasa Apso. Tibeten monks bred them for alert dogs. He would always bark if anyone came in the yard, but once he realized you meant us no harm, he would cease the barking, and then he would start taking care of visitors too. When we had parties, he always had such a big job keeping track of everyone and making sure all were okay. Wilson was a good dog, he took care of everybody. We sure miss him. We sure loved him. It's tough to look at photos of him. Sigh.
The two youngest on the boat. Young Ethan Houle and of course Wilson looking out ahead for us, making sure there's no one lurking around the bridge here.
Some more Houle's. We see them, but Dr. Seuss told me "Horton" heard one. There's Ashley, a pretty good photographer by the way, real good eye for composition, her brothers Ethan and Alexander, and Mother Rachelle.
I just love this picture. It's the entrance to the lake from the river. It reminds me of something, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Any ideas? Anyway, I think I love it.
The Turtle Lake Gang, Lizette Boyer and Gregory Meuers, husband and wife of over a quarter century. Believe it or not, Gregory was not the least bit embarrassed about the way he's dressed. Jeesh, he was hard to look at, thank goodness it was getting dark.
Alexandru, he's been living with us for about three months at this point. Lookin' pretty good. He was willing to go for a ride every time, and one who liked to drive so I could lay back and get some rays.
Papa Derrick Houle and Daddy's girl Ashley Elizabeth. Do you think she really wears a double X? Here they are watching the polychromatic sky on the front deck of the pontoon. They're great together. They took a Father/Daughter dance class at a local studio, and from what I've been told, they tripped the light fantastic. Things we'll never forget, dancing with our daughters, yup that's for sure..."In My Life". Get ready Derrick, relish her. Someday some man will take her away. Sigh.
Rachelle teaches me a new trick. How not to look fat in a photo. Lean forward a bit and put your hand on your chin. It works doesn't it? She's much younger, but she teaches me much.
The Houle Kids. Alexander, Ethan, Ashley, and Elliot. So many vowels...so little consonants, but notice...no "U". What the heck?
As it started getting darker, some Houle's got a little braver and moved closer to visit with the Meuers', now that Gregory's pants weren't so blinding and that big eagle didn't look so scary. Look at all the boats! They were uncountable, but there had to be a hundred from around two or three lakes and stretches of the Mississippi River.
The moon is full, shining on the water. Good company...lots to look at, mellow, warm. Yup, this is the life, in Minnesota's Great North Woods.
Ashley takes a photo. Here I try Rachelle's trick to lean forward to not look fat. Guess I forgot the hand on chin thing. Looks like everyone knows there's a camera exept Alex, he's texting. Surprise, surprise. He couldn't live without it. He'd be easy to sneak up on. You wouldn't even need moccasins.
Oooooo, ahhhhh. Yup, that's the moon in the "works there", not one of those big bang crackers.
Ooooo, ahhhhh, and applause. Now to head back home. A hundred boats can't wait to get back and they are speeding along in the dark, the water is just full of wakes from the boats. What a great day, what a finale. The Fourth of July, my favorite holiday for sure. Summertime. Yeah.
Just leaving port. Here we see the Meuers', there's a Houle hiding back there, don't know Houle it is. Also, sigh our puppy Wilson. Sadly he died in August. He wouldn't get in a car, but he loved to go on the boat. Wilson was a Lhasa Apso. Tibeten monks bred them for alert dogs. He would always bark if anyone came in the yard, but once he realized you meant us no harm, he would cease the barking, and then he would start taking care of visitors too. When we had parties, he always had such a big job keeping track of everyone and making sure all were okay. Wilson was a good dog, he took care of everybody. We sure miss him. We sure loved him. It's tough to look at photos of him. Sigh.
The two youngest on the boat. Young Ethan Houle and of course Wilson looking out ahead for us, making sure there's no one lurking around the bridge here.
Some more Houle's. We see them, but Dr. Seuss told me "Horton" heard one. There's Ashley, a pretty good photographer by the way, real good eye for composition, her brothers Ethan and Alexander, and Mother Rachelle.
I just love this picture. It's the entrance to the lake from the river. It reminds me of something, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Any ideas? Anyway, I think I love it.
The Turtle Lake Gang, Lizette Boyer and Gregory Meuers, husband and wife of over a quarter century. Believe it or not, Gregory was not the least bit embarrassed about the way he's dressed. Jeesh, he was hard to look at, thank goodness it was getting dark.
Alexandru, he's been living with us for about three months at this point. Lookin' pretty good. He was willing to go for a ride every time, and one who liked to drive so I could lay back and get some rays.
Papa Derrick Houle and Daddy's girl Ashley Elizabeth. Do you think she really wears a double X? Here they are watching the polychromatic sky on the front deck of the pontoon. They're great together. They took a Father/Daughter dance class at a local studio, and from what I've been told, they tripped the light fantastic. Things we'll never forget, dancing with our daughters, yup that's for sure..."In My Life". Get ready Derrick, relish her. Someday some man will take her away. Sigh.
Rachelle teaches me a new trick. How not to look fat in a photo. Lean forward a bit and put your hand on your chin. It works doesn't it? She's much younger, but she teaches me much.
The Houle Kids. Alexander, Ethan, Ashley, and Elliot. So many vowels...so little consonants, but notice...no "U". What the heck?
As it started getting darker, some Houle's got a little braver and moved closer to visit with the Meuers', now that Gregory's pants weren't so blinding and that big eagle didn't look so scary. Look at all the boats! They were uncountable, but there had to be a hundred from around two or three lakes and stretches of the Mississippi River.
The moon is full, shining on the water. Good company...lots to look at, mellow, warm. Yup, this is the life, in Minnesota's Great North Woods.
Ashley takes a photo. Here I try Rachelle's trick to lean forward to not look fat. Guess I forgot the hand on chin thing. Looks like everyone knows there's a camera exept Alex, he's texting. Surprise, surprise. He couldn't live without it. He'd be easy to sneak up on. You wouldn't even need moccasins.
Oooooo, ahhhhh. Yup, that's the moon in the "works there", not one of those big bang crackers.
Ooooo, ahhhhh, and applause. Now to head back home. A hundred boats can't wait to get back and they are speeding along in the dark, the water is just full of wakes from the boats. What a great day, what a finale. The Fourth of July, my favorite holiday for sure. Summertime. Yeah.
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3 comments:
Great post! So nice what you said about Derrick & Ashley. Funny about sneaking up on "your" Alex (as opposed to "my" Alex~ just wanted to clarify which Alex). Big sigh seeing Wilson... still very sad. Thanks so much for inviting us!
Couple more comments... what's with the sooo many vowels sooo little consenants? And, you're so concerned with no U. Could you see Ashley as an Ursella? Think about it. Also, yes, the way Gregory is dressed... one word... scary. :o)
Oh yeah, one more comment. Loved the Horton can hear the Houles bit. I used to call Ashley (and still do)... "Little Ashley Lou Who, who was no more than two". Started that when she was two and I just can't stop saying it. LOVE Dr. Seuss.
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