Bye Bye Bear & A Birthday

Brother Bear and wife moved to Bemidji after decades in Alaska. They are retired. They bought a great place on Turtle Lake and have lived here for two years. But my sister-in-law is from the Monterey CA area. They bought some property in Pacific Grove years ago and have been rebuilding/replacing the home they had there.

So now they have two homes, a summer home in northern Minnesota, and a sunny home in California for the winter. It's kind of nice for them, as my brother Kenneth lives in the Monterey area as well, and has been a Californian most of his life. They live about as close to Kenneth as they did with us, about 20 minutes. They've got the place rented here, so I suppose they won't return to northern Minnesota until June.  Sigh, we miss them.

So they finished the house up in early September, and decided to head west early. Here's the last couple days after nearly two years. The next day, the 12th of September, a good friend had a birthday and we celebrated the departure of my brother and our friend's birthday at our place on the river.

The land at Turtle Lake faces west, and is on high ground. This makes for beautiful sunsets. Watching the the sun go down over Turtle Lake was a daily activity for Gregory and Lizette.  Brother John and Cindy came up to visit on the last weekend, on lucky 11 September.

Earth people. Reflective.

Quiet and peaceful.

 Two round faced ruminators.

 And the sun sets on Turtle Lake.

So it's not only a going away party, but a birthday party for the laugher in the photo named Rachelle. We invited a few of our co-friends over as well.  We started out with a September camp fire.

Barbara  makes a cake for birthday girl Rachelle, here she announces to the bemusement of most, that the name of the baked good, is "better than sex" cake.

It's pretty good cake, it's go heath bar chips on top, and caramel running through it, with a bit of whipped cream.

Rachelle conducts the choir while they sing Happy Birthday.

Gregory has a tough time not picking up Madeline...or any babe for that matter.  He's great with kids, while Lizette keeps an eye on.

Rolling Stones on the iPod, and well...I do my Mick Jagger impression. I never could move like him, even when I was in shape. But I can snarl. The kids thought I lost my marbles.

Oh, a storm is threat'ning 
My very life today 
If I don't get some shelter 
Oh yeah, I'm gonna fade away ~Jagger/Richards

Tonya does the cake while Barb does the ice cream. While it's darn good cake, most agreed it wasn't better than sex. Well, think about it. I can't think of anything. Can you?

Don't have a clue what's going on in this photo.

Barbara sees if she can get Madeline to stand up on her legs for a treat. It's part of a ritual women teach girls in case they get married.

A splendid time was guaranteed for all. Clare and Sherry join Rachelle and Lizette.

The band begins at ten to six
When Mr. K. performs his tricks without a sound
And Mr. H. will demonstrate
Ten summersets he'll undertake on solid ground
We've been some days in preparation
A splendid time is guaranteed for all
And tonight Mr. Kite is topping the bill ~Lennon/McCartney

This flower is illegal in Bemidji. Before Gaea, I hadn't noticed that so much about flowers. I like them more now. Stamens, and pistals and pollen, oh my.

Gonna miss that mischievous smile. I always wonder what he's thinking, he can be quit quiet should the mood strike.

Madeline, always seeming to be at the center of attention, gets more pointers from the women.

After Happy Birthday, Barbara and I dance to the going away song for Gregory and Lizette, Happy Trails by Roy and Dale.

Some trails are happy ones, 

Others are blue. 

It's the way you ride the trail that counts, 

Here's a happy one for you. 

Happy trails to you, 

Until we meet again. 

Happy trails to you, 

Keep smilin' until then. 

Who cares about the clouds when we'ere together? 

Just sing a song, and bring the sunny weather. 

Happy trails to you, 

Til we meet again. ~Dale Evans

Takin' a walk on the beach near Monterey, on a winters day.  We all miss you.

All the leaves are brown
And the sky is gray
I've been for a walk
On a winter's day


I'd be safe and warm
If I was in Monterey
California dreamin'
On such a winter's day ~The Mamas and the Papas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhvMOnPvMXw&feature=related

Say Goodbye to the Summer

Summer ended pretty much at the end of August this year, September cooled off, although October was nice. We've had this big tow tube, name of Big Bertha for years but it never saw water. It's kind of hard to handle, big and bulky. But we had a full boat with a few kids, so we decided to bring it along. 

The next day, leaning against the garage it was deflated like my ego upon this discovery. What was the message? Is that all it had? Am I supposed to water ski? Water board? Was the air in it too old? Too hot? Too cold? Should it be stored or should it be sold? That's all you'll be told.

Dustin seems to have too much confidence in his spotter Derrick.

Apparently Tonya expects Maddie to grow quite a bit by the size of that teething ring.

Ashley and Ethan prove the size of Big Bertha

Maya makes a much better spotter than Derrick. She's unsure if she wants to ride in that thing or not.

Benson has a serious word with Gregory and Lizette about what he considers their dangerous habit of sitting outside the fence without a life jacket.

I am the monarch of the sea. The leader of the Queens Nay-vee.

Two with total twenty toes and being to towed toward forward

Blue

Looking back for Benson's approval, apparently, Gregory an Lizette have reached compromise with Benson and have sat behind the gates but without life jackets. Benson's good that way.

Ethan scores, while Ashley dances like an Egyptian.

All the school kids so sick of books 
They like the punk and the metal band 
When the buzzer rings (oh whey oh) 
They're walking like an Egyptian ~The Bangles

Growing up. Isn't Ethan a handsome young man?


Beautiful daughter couldn't make up her mind
Between a doctor and a lawyer man
Her mother told her daughter go out and find yourself
A brown eyed handsome man ~Waylon Jennings

Rachelle, usually wearing her emotions on her sleeve, but having none today displays her displeasure by holding her nose, while Derrick ponders if the gesture warranted or not.

Bucking Big Bertha has tossed Tonya and Ashley like a salad, no doubt because of sassiness.

Mermaids Three.

In the garden of the sea
I see you looking over
With my wistful melody
You leap into the water
It is no breaths sighing
This is the mermaid song
The singing of my sisters
The sea has drown for long ~Sarah Khider

What can I say? This is Madeline, a happy girl.

At midnight on the river
I heard her father call,
But she don't care and I don't care
If we get back at all


'Cause when I'm paddlin' Madeline home ~Harry Woods

Barbara Ann waves her hand, 
so it's a go for her tube in tow
But here's some news
She's wearing shoes
Cause in case she flips and takes a dip
Her bare feet won't be clown fish meat ~Pete LeBeau

Oblivious but to the clear blue sky

Asley gives a hug, while Rachelle is just a little bit smug?

The Turtle Lake Duo, look west toward California and wonder.

Maya asks Tonya, "what do you do if an elephant charges? Pay him anything he wants".

Ethan, wanting to make sure Benson is as comfortable as can be, shades the sun from Benson's eyes.

Bertha scares the heck out of everyone attacking the boat like the shark in Jaws.

Maya scolds Benson for letting some ducks get too close.

Benson, an obedient dog, quickly lets out several barks scattering the ducks.

Maya, obviously pleased with her leadership abilities, acknowledges the applause.

Ethan leads the walk, on a 300 foot dock.

Having enough of the paparazzi in his day job, No, No. No more pictures says Derrick.

Barbara seems to pay no heed to Derrick's paparazzi problems.

Derrick, being from Canada has no problem deftly handling this giant hockey puck.