Back to the Future: A Digression 11/10/09

And For Dinner Tonight... roll out the drum 'ahh sticks...

I know, what is this Lazy Boy doing? Writing about nothing he knows nothing about? Well, I know less than I thought. And that has moved me to digress, leave the past and river and move into the present and the kitchen. Is that back to the future? Took me a long time to understand that phrase. Perhaps back to reality? Now how fun could that be? Not at all I suspect. But friends tell me that I shouldn't take risks. Well, I concur. Risks should be calculated isn't that so? No, no not me. I'm neither shrewd nor foxy. And I'm about to prove I'm about as gray as they come, no color you see. Or should I say I see, eye being color blind? Aye says I. How come it's only men and not women who are color challenged? Women always got a leg up. That hardly seems fair. Well, someone said once, "who said life is fair?" And I say yes, who said that? Got no clue. Perhaps it was "anonymous". He or she gets credited with many of my favorite phrases (and compliments), even gets credit for some things he/she didn't say to begin with, because people are too lazy to search let alone research. Yup, I've heard those kind of quotes even recently. See once in awhile something is just so inspiring I can't get it out of my mind, although it may seem like I'm just out of my mind.

Soo, I am "fortunate" to know a local kook in our community that has a section on food on her blog. Her name is Shell Deerden and I am usually quite inspired by her recipes, but not all ways. I was particularly sparked by a turkey sandwich with apple spears and pretzels she prepared on a lark one day a long time ago. So this one I definitely had to try. Oh my! This was some seriously good turkey. Even the houseguest that happened to join me for supper tonight asked, "what is this chicken??" Silly rabbit, no it's turkey. She couldn't believe the flavor. Neither could we? Oui! All the way home.

Good ol' Marie Callender's turkey pot pies. Hold your horses, please. WhoWhoaWhoa! Just so you three people don't get the impression that I'm a chef-effin dodo, that I've got it all together, that I make well thought out plans, wonderful impressive meals every evening (and why would you?)... so let me introduce to you, the act you've known for all these years... real life.

Again, this post was inspired by this friend who commented, "I wish I had the time and energy to be a kook like you." Hard for her to find time to be a kook, working, volunteering, facilitating groups, dinner with friends, a house full of people, only one computer, and a bath and a half. Oh dear innocent friend, no. Keep in mind, it is Fall, not really summer at all, but a blog fog, not the time for pic-nits, but the season that makes me feel less like cooking. Nearly always distracted and getting lazier. The meals I've been eating do not take long to make. I can usually read only the headlines while waiting for the waiter. I ignore thinking all day and then finally get to visualizing about eating around an hour before supper. It's about not planning ahead and not knowing what you're going to make or having the ingredients on hand, that's all. And if I'm at home and no where near a Country Kitchen or a fast food, well being Fall, it's time to punt and search the freezer.

But, not every day. Not today. It was a Tuesday day in November, it said on my Callender's box. Busy busy busy. Today, I get a little help from my new friend Marie. I'm not even adding a salad or any extra veggies to go with it. Who'll have time for that? It's this and a glass of milk, oh and a surprise you'll have to wait four. If you're still hungry after.... you make something yourself, yes you will I demand. You still have...witch you WILL eat...stale Halloween candy left, right?? Wrong! Boo!
Thought this photo deserved a special effect. After all this isn't Swanson's or Birds Eye pie. Oh my. No. This is Marie Callender's pie. Note the succulent fingered ridges around the edge. Put there by Marie herself, not I, no doubt.
Hot and brown pies. Reminds me of summer, which I will get back to after I rid myself of this diversion. Pretty peacock plates with matching forks. Who could ask for anything more? That was my question too.
No, that is not what it looks like. It's a turkey pot pie out of the cardboard pot, spread around, so it cools off. Counter intuitive, I know.
Add a couple pieces of toast and you've got something to fill you up. Yeah, Barbara was feeling creative and suggested adding toast with butter. Yum, well I jumped right on that one, I'm no fool. Supper with toast and Marie and a glass of doodooshaboo? Well, I think I've spent my time on such things. Maybe I'll do some work for a change and get back to where I once belonged and reflect on my favorite seasoning, summertime when the living was easier. Sigh.

Hazy, Lazy, Crazy Daze of Summer, Aug. 23, 2009

Well, here we are the end of August. Next will be Labor Day. There's a lot of photos here. Had to edit them down from 226 photos, yeah that's right. Never do that with film, but digital...well you can go nuts. I'm kind of shutter bug myself, but Little Ashley Who'll take your camera from you and shoot. She's pretty good. Gets some nice candid shots, has an good and quick eye, and experiments. Speaking of digital, in fact I could just do a photo essay just on feet. Yes, Ashley would not stick to the rules, nope wouldn't toe the line, and took photos of everyone's feet. Now if I was really a heel, I'd have anyone who is reading this try match the feet with the face, but I wouldn't want to nail you with that. Nope, I got a sole after all.Three unfriendly waterfowl, not wanting to have their photo taken at all. Two turned pin tail on us, and one actually left to the right.
Always a picnic. Here brother and wife (mine) pose for a photo with crackers, wine and cheese. No cheesecake, sorry.
We picked up these two hitchhikers Dustin and Daughter, over by Paul and Babe, and just about had a full boat and without playing with a full deck. Only holds 11 legally.
Alaskan's take a dip. Sister-in-law and brother float about or as the Canooks say floot aboot. The water never really warmed up, 'cause the air didn't get warm until August. But hey, summertime is for swimming. Refreshing, invigorating, cold. But these guys are part seal, and they're swimming on porpoise.
Hmm, looks like those waterfowl turned round. Really round (and a bit thickheaded), the fowl on the left. But I promised no cheesecake.
THE BROTHERS. And this is only half of them. The Brother's wives have a kind of "open meeting law". No more than two brothers can be together for more than a few hours. They say it's 'cause it's intolerable with bumping bellies and arguing. We think it's because they're afraid they'll be charmed without a bracelet or a flute. Yup, just too much magic.
THE COUSINS. Andrew and Rachelle. Andrew is quite a bit younger than Rachelle, young enough to be her son. Andrew came from the west, Fergus Falls to go to college in Bemidji, and Rachelle's son went west to Grand Forks for the same purpose. Go figure.

A hippy hippie looks like to me. Peace is the symbol while brother snack on cheese, nephew tries to figure the machinations of a corkscrew, oh my Maya and Mama block out the sun, and sister-in-law hides from the photographer.
What a handsome fellow this Dusty guy. That's one of those Twister games he's drying off with.
Diamond Point from the lake. One of the nicer parks around. A real gem.
One of Ashley's self-portraits that included me. If ya look real close you can see all her friends in her eyes.
Barbara on the front deck.
MATES. Your hosts, Michael and Barbara.
Told ya Ashley had a quick and eagle eye. She caught this bald eagle who had just caught a fish. Both pretty swift if you ask me.
PALS. Rachelle and I.

Maya reflects on the water. Looks like she's meditating too.
NEPHEW. Alex tries to keep the sun out of his eyes. If you told him to try turning his hat around, he'd get upset with you telling him what to do.
MOTHER AND CHILD. No, Tonya doesn't always look that content with Motherhood.
In cold water like this? Yeah, shrinkage.
Can ya guess which one is the Californian?
One of Ashley's, just to give you an idea of that shutterbug, she took three pictures of these complete strangers from various distances.
Two great friends on the left and an interloper...who actually is also on the left.
Barbara shows a trick she learned at the winery, however no one is paying attention-apparently already having seen the trick.
Ashley takes the wheel, while back-seat Barbara points out the buoys marking the river inlet as we head back to the river and home. My guess is Barb doesn't really have to point out the boys to Ashley however, not if she could catch that eagle with fish taloned.

Another Boat Ride, This Time at Frazee. Aug. 22

My wife Barbara is a matchmaker. No, she doesn't manufacture fire sticks, strike that. She is the kind of person who reads people well and fixes them up. Wait, let me try another approach. She's not a psychologist or a handy woman, no, no not at all. Well second thought, actually she is kind of a handy if you know what I mean. Hmmm, let me re-scrabble the tiles here. Words keep getting in my way..and ya know what else? They never blink and hardly ever stop for semaphores and I trip over them ALL-THE-TIME. Words think they can do whatever they want you know. Yes they do. Oh, they say they have rules, but did you ever try reading James Joyce? See? They always have exceptions, and I'm just not so sure I'm an exception-ally. Get back to where I once belonged. Ahem, Barbara sees a single woman and a single man, (I mean unmarried, she sees groups just like everyone) figures they might make a good couple and sets them up on a blind date. I'm just gonna assume here you don't think they're blind, not that there's anything wrong with that.

Any rate, Barb introduced an (at the time) co-worker name of Christine to the former Bemidji City Manager, David. We agreed to join them on their blind date at a restaurant, and as is our fashion, we were ably late. But David and Christine, both strangers, had picked each other out across a crowded room, and somehow they knew, they even knew then, that somewhere they'd see each other again and again. Yup, that was some enchanted evening. They were chatting away like old pals when we arrived. Yadda, yadda, yadda. They got married and have two daughters.

So after a short stay in Colorado Springs, (apparently it was not a Peak experience) David is now the Assistant County Administrator in Anoka County. And they come up to a nice little place on a lake near Frazee, MN a few times each summer. We try to get together for a day each year in some summer month.

They...I don't know who "they" are. But "they" say a picture is worth a thousand words. I'm so grateful for that, and when I heard what "they" said, well I took up photography. Duh. You see I'd like to write a book someday, and being a lazy boy...well c'mon, it just makes sense. Think of the time I'll save and money on an editor.

And so it goes, finally we are here and near a photo below after all these 1/1000th words have been getting in the way of and postponing my pictures. Thank goodness, words eventually run out on me. Well, not really, I have no particular commitment to words, and they are free to do as they please.
Yes, for those of you who read this lazy blog, that's Oh My Maya. See David and Christine have two daughters Sarah and Hannah, and we thought we'd play grandparents for a day, and take Maya along for a visit. Well, Maya not being shy girl never hesitated to come along. So here we have girls on a beach. Doing what you say? Well, duh waiting for a boat ride says I.
I've heard of walking on water, although I've never seen it. But this I saw I was pretty sure, and just to make sure I took a photo. Now a picture is worth at least 569 word here. And I can tell you something else. I've never seen a purple cow, and never hope to see one. But I can tell you anyhow, I'd rather see than be one.
Barbara is a runner, but here she sits. The reason I mention it is that shirt she's wearing said she finished Grandma's half marathon. Sarah still can't believe those folks sitting on the water, and seems to be thinking that they are perhaps showing off.
Yay. I get to not drive the boat. I am still dumbfounded at those folks sitting on the water totally oblivious to Maya and Sarah apparently playing McDonald's.
Proud Papa of two beautiful daughters, David shares the driving with Hannah. It appears to me that neither of them are paying much attention to where they are going. Perhaps that's not important, in fact I'm sure it's not.
Oh my, she's not shy, Maya, takes a seat at the wheel with one of her new friends Christine. Could be a phase, both in a daze, with apparent fixed gaze, Maybe I'm Amazed. Well, not maybe, actually. And quoting a Pauly ditty, makes me re-a-praise a Nat King Cole tune. Ready? Join in!

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

Those days of soda and pretzels and beer

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

You'll wish that summer could always be hereYes, that is a David on a water board, being towed around by wife Christine. After marriage and two children wouldn't ya know. She dumped him and got him all wet. She provided him with a life jacket so she could do it again.
David leaves his own wake. And I can't think of a eulogy. Perhaps James Joyce will help.
The end of another summer day. Good friends, lots to eat, family, love, smiles, dogs, a northern lake, hula hoops. Now who could ask for anything more?

Days can be sunny

With never a sigh,
Don't need what money
Can buy.
Birds in the tree sing
Their dayful of song.
Why shouldn't we sing
Along?
I'm chipper al the day,
Happy with my lot.
How did I get that way?
Look at what I've got.

The Air Warms, But the Water's Cold, Aug. 12, 2009

I'm gonna catch up here pretty soon, we are in mid-August now. We used the boat a lot more once the air warmed up like August is supposed to be, but the water never really warmed up. But that was not going to stop us from swimming, no it wasn't. Although it did keep us to brief swimming, well actually we wore trunks...the men anyway. Very stimulating the water was. Love summer.Gregory looks like the water is cold no? He's joined in the brink by Ashley who was always game for a boat ride and a swim.
Ah, nothing like being on the water and catching some rays. Here's Gregory and Lizette, and out on the front deck is Barbara, Tonya and Dustin dangling their feet in the cool, clear water. Waaater. Okay, who's old enough to remember this tune and who made it famous?

The nights are cool and I'm a fool
Each star's a pool of water
Cool water
But with the dawn I'll wake and yawn
And carry on to water
Water, water, water
So we pulled into a dock and docked. Time for pizza at the Green Mill. Yes, that's why we swam first, so that we could eat after. Might get cramps ya know. Barbie awaits while Tonya runs after the pizza. Well, she was walking, who ever saw a pizza run? Seen a pizza box though.
Waitin' on the waiter for piece a pizza.

Mother and daughter. Such pretty smiles and great teeth. All the better to eat pizza with.

No I would not give you false hope now, on this strange and sunny day, 'cause a Mother and child reunion, is only a motion away.
What is this guy up too anyway? Is he as mischievous as he looks? What secrets does he hold? And why does he wear his glasses like that? And that shirt, are they orchids? Tulips?
Barbara Ann with a personal pan while getting a tan. What's with these two and the right hand on chin bit anyway?
Are they arm wrestling? Looks like the younger is losing, look at that grimace, while the elder takes it all in stride. But perhaps it is only one generation demonstrating the hippy shake to another.

For Goodness sake
I got the Hippy Hippy Shake
Yeah I got the Shake
Ooh, the Hippy Hippy Shake
The Family Prim. My oh Maya butters bread.
Well, that didn't last long, Maya crosses the deck and decides to adopt a more experienced couple.
Sundown on the water.

She's bin lookin' like a queen in a sailor's dream
And she don't always say what she really means
Sometimes I think it's a shame
When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain
Sweet Little Ashley Who'll charm the heck out of you or anyone. She's very talented. An actress, musician, singer, photographer, and all around bright, interesting and pleasant young woman.
Tonya and Dustin. A great couple. Here they have completely forgotten about everyday crap. Can you tell. We belong on the water. Yes we do.
Getting dark and heading for home. Warm summer nights, oh yeah. Rachelle and Barbara smile as Gregory and son Alex prepare to tie up the boat on the hundred yard dock.
A wonderful day on the water, and the water lilies welcome us back. They'll be here tomorrow too. Thank goodness.