Squaw Lake News

I'm Still Alive!!

2011-03-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Hope all of you are in good health and cheer.

I'm in good health but the attitude sucks. I am very sick of winter and gloom and cold and snow and and well you get it.

I've been busy making soap. I have 24 batches done and need to make another 10 and then I will be ready for summer craft shops and sales.

I've also been making scrubbies but my cousins are ordering them faster than I can make them. I will get them done yet. Seems funny to just sit and crochet instead of doing something.

Spring must be getting closer because last week went to Walker and by Federal Dam there were swans in the river. I have also been seeing alot of grouse along the roads so maybe a good grouse season this year depending on how spring goes. The deer are coming out in quite a few places. Too bad I've seen some wolves and a german shepard no body seems to know who it belongs to running around.

Put my bike up for sale but haven't got any bites on it yet. Anyone need a nice Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe 600 just give me a call.

March 17th is Community Supper put on by the St. Catherine and Lutheran Ladies. They will be serving Corned Beef and Cabbage. Starts at 5 Hope to see some of you there.

March 19th is St. Urho's and the parade starts at 5pm sharp. Always a good time.

April 2, is the annual Bullhead Feed. We have more deep fryers this year so should be able to keep the bullheads coming out faster. We will also have some other fish, roast potatoes, baked beans, assorted salads, desserts, coffee and lemonade. Start serving at 4pm goes til 7. Hope to see you there. Adults $8,00, children 5 -12 $4.00 under 5 free. Money to go to the Community Center sponsored by the Squaw Lake Fire Department.

Well, my painter is going to start sometime this week. That will be a nice feeling to get the house fixed up. Painting the kitchen, entry and laundry room for starters then maybe on to some other projects. The kitchen hasn't been painted since Stephanie graduated from high school. So this paint job should last until I'm gone. haha.

It is very slippery out in my yard I took 2 good falls last week. I took off those cleats I usually wear in the winter. Dumb me!! Nothing broke just sore.

Ok I made a new dish last week.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Cooking spray
Meat off a store bought cooked chicken minus 1/2 breast
1 can whole kernal corn drained
4 oz of 1/3-less-fat cream cheese cubed small
1/2 tsp. ground red pepper
1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 cups chopped onion
6 large garlic cloves, minced and divided
1 1/4 cup fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
2/3 cup salsa (your favorite)
2 Tbsp. chopped pickled jalapeno pepper
6 Burrito style tortilla
1 cup shredded fiesta style cheese

I took the bones off the chicken and added water and boiled up to make my chicken broth. Saute onion and garlic in pan til tender. Take out about 3/4 cup of this mixture to cool. Too the rest of the sauted vegetable add the chicken broth, salsa, jalapeno pepper. Simmer until reduced some and let set to cool some.

Meanwhile, cube up chicken, add drained corn, cubed cream cheese, 1/2 cup shredded cheese, red pepper, cumin, taste does it need salt and pepper if not don't add it.

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add tortilla and cook til brown and quite crispy on both sides. Cut into quarters.

Take a 9x13 pan and spray with cooking spray. Put about 1/2 cup of cooked salsa mixture in bottom of pan, arrange 6 quarters of tortilla overlapping to cover up most of the chicken mixture, put 1/2 of chicken mixture on top add another layer of tortilla, rest of chicken mixture, another layer of tortilla's. Pour salsa mixture over tortillas; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese, bake at 424 degrees for 15 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned. 8 servings.

I thought this was much easier to make than regular enchilada's and it cut nice for freezing in those plastic containers. Hope you enjoy it.

Well it is 4pm and sun was suppose to shine sometime today so far no sun. Hopefully this week we will get sun and warm weather.

Have a great week everyone.

Take care,
Julie

2011-02-26T17:29:00.000-08:00

Wow it was cold this morning. Below 25 and colder in some places. Me I don't own a thermometer and then you don't really know how cold it is out.

Decided to take a break and write on this. Have been cleaning and fixing up the house. I am such a pack rat and why I don't know. I started on my bedroom today. Need to get things straightened up as the carpenters are suppose to be here in a couple of weeks to put in the new doors and windows. Hopefully before they get here it will warm up. I would love to see some more 50 above weather.

I will finish the bedroom tomorrow I hope. Have to move some of the furniture around that is the hardest part. Not too much left to clean until I open up the hidey hole in the wall. I have been stuffing stuff in that for 20 or so years and have never completely emptied it so that will be a project. Might find some interesting stuff in there. Or maybe just a bunch of junk I should of threw in the first place.

Got the new bike home now just waiting for some nice weather. Spring can't come to soon to suit me.

Decided as long as it was cold out I took out some chicken and will make chicken and homemade noodle soup tomorrow.

I've really been having troubles figuring out what to cook lately. Nothing seems good to me. I did make ribs and saurkraut last week. Haven't had that for quite a while so that was pretty good.

Hope all of you are having a good winter.

Bullhead feed is going to be on April 2 from 4 to 7 at the Community Center. We have extra cookers this year so hopefully we will get people filled up on fish before they get tired of waiting.
Hope to see you there.

Well nothing else to say.

Take care,
Julie

February 26

2011-02-26T17:27:00.000-08:00

Hump day

2011-02-16T18:05:00.000-08:00

Well today is hump day. Thank goodness means only have 2 more days of bus driving this week and then a long weekend. We get Monday and Tuesday off. Hopefully I will get the shelves finished in my laundry room. It would be great if I got the ceiling light moved to the middle of the room also.

I am going to run to the cities on Saturday and pick up my new motorcycle. I know I can't ride it yet but I can go to the garage and look at it anyway.

The snowmobile trip to Lake Kabetogama was fun. It was one long day on Saturday but it was a nice ride. However, 250 miles in one day is too much for this ole girl. I told Art the next time we go on a trip I am going to pull my snowmobile on a trailer and meet them and then do some riding. I am still tired today.

The weather has been great the last couple of days. The snow is just about off the roof just in time for some more snow on Friday and colder weather. Today was over 50 above. Wish it would keep on.

I didn't get out into the nice weather too much today as I started making soap. I made 6 batches today and have that many ready to make tomorrow. Before you know it Evy will be opening the flea market. I even got part of my soap room cleaned. Hopefully tomorrow when I am done with the soap I can clean the rest of it.

Not much going on around Squaw Lake that I know of. Of course a person would have to go out to find out anything and outside of doing my bus run the last 2 days I haven't been out.

The grouse are starting to come out onto the edge of the roads. I saw 4 today. I saw an eagle today also but haven't seen or heard any geese or swans yet.

I even had lovely skunk smell in my yard last Friday night. The next day I smelled skunk around the corner and on Monday I smelled skunk out more toward the highway. I hope he just kept going so that the dog doesn't get into it. I'm afraid if she gets in to it she will be kicked out to the dog house.

Quite a bit of the snow has disappeared in the yard with this thaw. Not enough but the banks are somewhat lower.

Well I don't have anything else to say tonight. Hope you all have a good week.

Take care,
Julie

2011-01-30T13:42:00.000-08:00

Well, I see again it has been a while since I've been on here. I've been busy with year end reports to state and federal. It really makes me wonder how they manage to do business when their websites are so horrid. I will again just send in the old fashion way after having spent an hour on their site to have every thing print out in some other language. I don't understand when we are American's and speak and write English that they have forms in other languages. Live in America speak and write and understand English. Ok so I will get off my soapbox for a while.

Nothing much going on around here except SNOW, SNOW and more SNOW. I am really thinking it is a four letter word.

I've been busy trying to clean up my house. The carpenters are suppose to start around March 1st with putting in windows, doors, chimney liner and I'm sure they would appreciate getting to the stuff they have to fix. So today I did the entry way closet. I'm sure I did it before Jimmie died but haven't done much to it since then. I took out 2 large garbage bags of winter clothes to take to the thrift store. Threw away another 2 bags of junk, carried stuff to the basement and to the garage and I can finally see the floor. Did a large load of laundry of stuff I wanted to keep. Now I need to go to town and buy some storage bins that will fit on the shelf to organize. Maybe when I need a certain pair of gloves I will be able to find them. haha

I've been trying to think of something good to cook all day and I finally just had a salad. I want something different from the usual I've been cooking but not sure if I want good home cooking, something with an oriental flavor, something Mexican or what. I've been cooking too much at a time so I've had lots of leftovers. Now I don't mind a couple days of leftovers but this going on a week of leftovers is getting old. I just can't seem to make a small kettle of soup. I start out with a small kettle but it always ends up a big kettle.

I went snowmobiling yesterday. It was a lot of fun. Trying to get in shape for the big trip we are going to make in February. We are going to ride up to Lake kabtogma (wish I knew how to spell that one) any way we are going to a resort that is in the Boundry Waters Canoe Area but allows snowmobiles in this area. It should be a fun trip.

I should of read through what I wrote on my last blog and then maybe I would know what I should talk about.

I have to tell you about some kicked up Corn bread I made. I made regular cornbread and then I added an onion finely chopped and about a half cup of diced up jalapeno's to it. It wasn't hot but it really had a nice flavor to it. Made the cornbread a little moister also.

I bought a couple more cookbooks when I was shopping at the thrift stores last week when I was in town. One is on sourdough cookery. I knew you could do alot with sourdough starter but this cookbook really has some great sounding quick breads using the starter. It also has recipes for muffins, cakes, cookies and pizza dough. Even some meals with meat in them. I thought I would mix up the starter and give some of these a try. If any of them turn out I will give you the recipe.

The other cookbooks I bought were Taste of Country. Hopefully I can find something in one of them today to cook. Well the decision was easy. Art showed up with some ground venison thawed out and I made a meatloaf for tomorrow and chili for tonight. So now I will look for something to make for later in the week.

They are talking -25 here tonight suppose to get up around 0 tomorrow and cold through Wednesday. By Friday we are suppose to be in the high 20's. Now if it would only get to 40's so the snow would come off my roof it would be great.

Hope all of you have a great week. Take care.

Julie

2011-01-19T18:26:00.001-08:00

Hi Everyone,

How's your New Year going?

Mine is very busy. Trying to finish up all the reports for the City. Want to get done so can start making soap.

Then I decided to start digging out my house. What a mess. Of course I start here and then go there. I did get the basement straightened up on Sunday. Things just needed to be put away. Looks darn good.

I need to have some of this stuff done by the 1st of March because they are suppose to start putting in my new windows and doors and insulating the attic. I'm also getting a new well and having the flue put in the chimney. So.... have to get a couple of the kids up here to clean out the attic. Oh what a joy that will be. I'm hoping I have enough Christmas stuff left that I can give each one of my grandkids and neices and nephews something of my Christmas collection.

I'm also busy trying to get my scrubbies crocheted. I know if I don't get them done this time of year that they won't get done.

Anyway, I want all this stuff done by the time it gets nice enough to ride motorcycle. I bought a new one I got a 2007 Honda Shadow Aero 750cc. It is pearl white with black saddle bags. Now I am ready to take off on my trip out west this summer.

I am very sick of the snow. It is piling up everywhere. Now tonight is suppose to get down right cold. Have to dress warmer in the morning for on the bus. I broke down with one of the buses tonight so will have to take the other one in the morning. The joys of cold weather. I'm beginning to think I'm getting too old for this. I was really cold tonight when I finally got home. Has taken me all evening to warm up.

It sure seems like this month is flying by. Why did it seem to go so slow when I was a kid and now it just zooms by??

Nothing going on that I know of but then I would have to go out and do something to find out anything that is going on.

Have a great week everyone

Take care,
Julie

2011-01-05T18:09:00.000-08:00

So since it is hump day how is everyone's week going? I was pretty worried when Monday started out so cold and had a few minor problems with the bus but things have gotten better. Been working on end of the year books trying to get everything done and sent in.

Saturday is the sled dog races coming through Squaw Lake. The fire dept will be offering soup and bread and bars etc for lunch. Everyone is welcome to come and have lunch and help this fund raising activity. Lunch will be ready to serve at 11:30am.

Guess I don't have much more to say tonight (I know that seems impossible) so have a great evening everyone.

Take care,
Julie

2011-01-02T18:23:00.000-08:00

Well back to the jobs tomorrow. I didn't get my laundry room done. Will have to work on it this week.

Had a good time snowmobiling with Rochelle and friends. Too bad we got so much snow and didn't get out again.

Spent some time today pulling some snow off the roof. Hopefully the sun will come out and melt the rest so it slides off.

Had a great weekend with the kids. They made some delicious food for New Years eve.

Well did you all make your resolutions? Mine is more exercise.

Snowmobiling is fun but it sure isn't as much fun as being on the motorcycle. Maybe it is all the extra clothes you have to wear or something.

Not much else on my mind tonight. Hope all of you are doing something fun.

Take care,
Julie

2010-12-30T13:28:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

Hope your Christmas was great. Mine was wonderful. We went to the motel like we do on Christmas and got to see 3 of the granddaughters haven't seen for at least 2 years and longer for one of them. Had a great time. We always do the dice game and fight over the presents we want. Lots of fun. It seems like everyone is going to try and stay at the motel next year.

Santa's Mitten Maids went great. Thanks to all who donated. We had 135 children this year.

Came home and started to work on my laundry room/pantry. I had overloaded the shelves and they were looking like they were going to let go so I reinforced each shelf and put on new shelf paper. Rochelle came home with me and has been a great help. I got one side of the room done in 2 days but ran out of steam today so will start the other side tomorrow.

It looks like we've got about 3 inches of snow so far and the wind is out of the northeast so we will probably have lots more. Hopefully the kids won't have a hard time driving up here tonight.

So far no entrants for the Bread & Soup Contest. But we will still have a good variety of soups and breads for the Sled Dog Races on January 8th. We will be ready to serve at 11:30am. We will be serving all day. The awards for some of the races will be a 6pm. We will stop serving about that time.

Have to go play Wii with the granddaughter. Have a good weekend.

Take care,
Julie

2010-12-18T07:22:00.000-08:00

Here it is only a week til Christmas. I hope all of you are getting everything done you wanted done. I have been in a panic thinking I was leaving for the cities on Wednesday and how was I going to get everything done before then. Last night I looked at my school calendar and realized that school isn't out til Wednesday so I won't be leaving for the cities until Thursday. So I have gained an extra day so that will help now things don't look quite so bad.

Well we got the Santa's Mitten Maids presents all wrapped. We ended up with 135 children this year. Thank goodness for all the elves that turned out to help wrap. It sure makes the project alot easier with help. Kathy Peterson is already trying to find out when the stores open on the day after Christmas so she knows what time she has to be in town to do her mega shopping. She is lucky and has elves to help her on that day also. Lots of people seem to think that Kathy and I do the Mitten Maids single handed but we could not accomplish everything that gets done with out all the help we receive. People who knit and crochet hats and mittens, the ones that have a nice basement and allow us to store everything there, to the wrappers and last but not lease are the ones who donate money to make it possible for us to do this project. Without all of you there would be no Mitten Maids. Thank you very much for helping us to do this great project.

I must admit that I haven't done the Wii as faithfully as I should. It will be easier after Christmas then I won't have so much going on.

I'm hoping Rochelle will come up with me after Christmas. I want to clean all the shelves in the laundry room and it would be so much easier if I had a helper. I even tried to bribe her that if she came and helped that I would go snowmobiling in the afternoon with her. Hope it was enough of a bribe.

Well I had better get busy and finish what I have to get done today.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Very Blessed New Year

Take care,
Julie

2010-12-03T19:00:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged. It has been pretty hectic for me trying to get things done for the craft shows. I made two batches of jam this week for the craft sale, one was Rhubarb Strawberry and the other was crabapple butter. Last craft sale is tomorrow in Deer River. Hopefully it will be a good one.

Next on the list is clean up the house enough to walk through and get things ready for Santa's Mitten Maids. The elves have done all the shopping and it is up to me to get all the family names and children ages etc so that we make sure we have presents for every child in the family. We will be wrapping on the 16th instead of the 18th. Once Kathy and I have the toys sorted for each family then we know if we've bought enough batteries and the misc. stuff. We will be providing presents for about 115 children this year. Presents are given out with the Holiday food basket from Second Harvest Food Shelf.

After that is done then I rush around to make sure I've wrapped all the presents I've got hidden here and there. I've cut down on my list alot so really don't have much to do. Then I go to Steph's for Christmas. Hopefully this year it won't snow so the rest of the family can get there.

I bought one of those WII game things with the fitness board. Started doing it tonight and I think it could kill a person. Sometimes would like to tell the little person who is my trainer to stuff it. It is much better than trying to walk on a tread mill. I started out taking it easy so I will want to keep on doing it. I have to get rid of the spare tire around my middle. Shows what happens when people are so good to you and help you with your wood pile.

After the first of the year I need to get started on my soaps. My inventory is quite low and I have 6 new fragrances that I haven't soaped yet. I've also decided that the kitchen needs to be painted. I think the last time it was painted was when Steph graduated from high school. That was sometime in the early 90's, so it definately needs some fresh paint. So that is the plan. I'm hoping by telling all of you that I will actually get off my duff and do it.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Take care,
Julie

2010-11-21T17:58:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

Hope your month has been going good. Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost here. It has been a busy month for me. Deer hunting and cutting up deer. Granddaughter Rochelle got her 3rd deer this year with a different gun. She shot a button buck, she was hoping for something bigger but we like venison and that is what come out. Granddaughter in law Michelle got a nice 6 point buck. We got 6 for 9 hunter so everyone will have some venison. I've also done some craft shows and of course Steph and I did wreaths again this year. In between times I've had some canning to do. Canned some potatoes and then got some carrots given to me so I canned those also. I still want to can some venison. I also made some jerky that is the first time that I have ever done that. It turned out fairly well. Still have some more I want to do but won't get it done until after Thanksgiving.

Well it looks like winter is coming. Ice last Friday, probably the slowest I've driven in years. Was really glad that there was no school just had to go to Squaw Lake to work. Today it was snowing and pretty slippery. I went to Deer River and Grand Rapids today and it was pretty slow going. Got done what I had to do and made it back home safely.

Going to Steph's for Thanksgiving and then when I get home will be a push to get things ready for the last craft sale of the year at the high school in Deer River on Dec. 4th. This is usually a great sale with lots of cool things for those hard to buy for people for Christmas.

On Dec. 18 we will again be wrapping presents for Santa's Mitten Maids and getting everything ready to hand out on the 20th.

Hope all of you are getting everything ready for your Christmas season. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Take care,
Julie

2010-10-31T18:46:00.000-07:00

Another week gone by already. Was an interesting week with all the rain we got. I was surprised on how the deer were moving during the rain. I counted 26 on Tuesday morning on the route. They were everywhere and in groups. Too bad they always think they should cross in front of the bus. Right now I'm driving a flat nose bus so they seem quite up close and personnal. I only saw 2 bucks in the bunch.

I know I was busy all week but not sure what I accomplished. I did can 32 quarts of potatoes. These are so nice for fried potatoes and helps to round out a meal when I have unexpected company I think I should feed.

This week I have to work on the stuff for my craft sale in Blackduck on November 13th at the school. This was a wonderful show last year. Lots of unique gifts for Christmas presents.

Hard to believe there is less than 3 months and Christmas will be here. Wish I knew what to buy for Steph and Randy. They are so hard to buy for. The girls are easy nice green money that is what those teenagers tell me they like. I like it also as there is no work on my part. haha.

I got alot done this weekend. I got all my filing done. I don't know why I just don't do it in the beginning instead of letting it pile up and when the pile crashes down then I decide it is time to file. What a mess. But it is done so I am happy. Just have to copy a few things off the computer and then I can spend a day deleting stuff.

Today I finished the dry wood into the basement, closed up the wood shute for the winter and painted 3 shelves that I use for the craft sales.

Steph and I start our wreaths this weekend. Hopefully things will go well with that. Sometimes it is hard to get everything done with both of us working.

Community supper is November 18th from 5 - 7 and they will be serving wild rice casserole as the main dish. This is a great supper all monies donated go to Fresh Water for Life. The St. Catherine and Centennial Lutheran Ladies do a great job on this.

Thanks to all who came to the Firemen's Dance and donated items for it. It was a great success.

I heard that Joanie LeCuyer put on another great Halloween Party for the area kids. Thanks Joanie for all the work you do on this.

Hope you all have a great week.

Anybody have anything they'd like to put on here just drop me a line at jhemphil@paulbunyan.net .

Take care,
Julie

2010-10-24T17:26:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Hope your weekend went great.

I had the most wonderful time thanks to Steph and her family. For my birthday they took me to two great concerts. The first was Lee Ann Womack, Reba, and George Straight. It was awesome. The next night they took me to Lady Antebellum which was also a fantastic show. She also took me to lunch at Toby Keith's new restaurant in the cities. Great food and a cool looking bar. Would be fun to go there when they had music sometime. Then she was kind enough to drive me home while I crocheted scrubbies. I'm a little behind in them so was able to get quite a few done.

We got home in time last night to get cleaned up and go to the Firemen's Dance. Thanks to all who support our Fire Dept. we appreciate you very much. Almost had fresh venison on the way to the dance. WAYYY to close for comfort. Good thing I wasn't driving my usual speed. Was a fun evening. I can't believe I was up so many late nights. Monday morning will be hard on me to get out of bed and go to work after so much fun.

Needless to say today nothing much was accomplished. Bed early tonight.

So nothing much else to say tonight. Hope you all have a great week.

Take care,
Julie

2010-10-18T20:05:00.001-07:00

This is scary when I went back and read and had found I had repeated myself a couple time. I guess I have that CRS (Can't remember S***) disease. Either that or I'm not doing enough so I'm finding myself repeating.

...is thinking if hot flashes are like a tropical vacation then where the &#@* is the Cabana Boy and Beach???

Have a great week.

2010-10-18T19:46:00.000-07:00

Gee, another week has flown by and I'm not sure what I've done with it.

Steph and I did make a bunch of jelly over the weekend. Mild and Hot Jalapeno jelly and Hot Habanero Jelly. Got the kitchen garage cleaned up after and getting ready to make wreaths in November. Boy is that coming fast. The guys that were up this weekend hung some lights out there for us and put castors on a cabinet. The kitchen out there is really coming together. Love it. Having the stove out of the Squaw Lake School is the greatest thing.

Been doing some cooking. Lots of buttercup squash. It is excellant this year. Of course the argument here is brown sugar on it or not. I am always for the not but I do put it on some of the squash. I guess if I didn't put too much on it would be ok. I just like the baked squash with butter (yes real butter) and salt and pepper.

I did get the rest of my dry wood split but haven't got it in the basement yet. I have it all covered with a tarp. Tomorrow I have to get the water line to the pig pen blew out and take out the air conditioner from the living room window.

Then on Wednesday I am off to Steph's. She is taking me to the Reba, George Straight, Leann Womack concert on Thursday night and Lady Antebellum on Friday night. I am so excited about it. What a great birthday gift. Thanks so much Steph, Randy and family.

SO tomorrow I have to finish up a couple of baskets of soaps and jams and jellies for the silent auction on Saturday night at the Firemen's Dance. So far I know we have a beautiful quilt that was donated from the Centennial Lutheran Ladies, 5 lbs wild rice from Mertes garage, 2 wooden seats that fit in a 5 gallon bucket for ice fishing from the Mini Max Flea Market, A hand carved ornament from Gayle Roush, a muzzle load gun. I'm not sure what else has been collected for this.

Haven't seen much for wild life this week. I'm not sure where the deer and grouse have gone to but I'm sure not seeing any.

Well, I got the results back from the rhumatologist and he says I don't have any arthuritis so I guess we are back to practicing and trying to figure out why all my joints ache so bad.

I hope all of you are enjoying this lovely fall weather we have been having. Even tho I bought a snowmobile I wouldn't mind this lasting for another month or so.

Have a great week will try and let you know next weekend how the concerts were.

Take care,
Julie

2010-10-10T17:52:00.000-07:00

Gee a whole week has went by. Where did it go?? I guess I spent 2 days running to doctors. Sure ruins a nice day when you are stuck in a car. Friday wasn't so bad tho I took Nancy my sister with me and we had a great time even tho I had a doctor's appointment. I have some type of arthuritis they aren't sure what. Have to try some pills for a month and then go back.

Yesterday, I went riding with a friend and we put on about 270 miles. We went from here to Thief River Falls through the Red Lake Rez and came back through Bemidji. It was great weather and alot of fun. Today my joints told me about it.

I was just going to do a few things this morning and then go for a ride. BUT I decided to make a couple batches of cookies and then I had laundry to do. How does one person have 5 loads of laundry in a week. Then I decided to cook and clean house. Well was too tired so didn't go for a ride.

Nothing much else going on around here that I know of. Duck hunting has sucked for most of the guys I've talked to. Was too hot over the weekend so the Grandson didn't want to bow hunt. He went fishing and caught some nice perch.

I hope all of you are enjoying this lovely fall weather. Even tho I just bought a different snowmobile this weather could keep on for another month or so. I always hate that in between fall and winter when we get the yuck. I don't mind snow if it dry but I hate wet sloppy snow.

The only thing I can think of coming up is the Firemen's Dance on October 23 from 8 to midnight with music by Johnny V and The Bzz. Hope to see you there.

Have a good week.
Julie

The brain of the STUPID person has two sides: the LEFT one has no RIGHT and the RIGHT one has nothing LEFT.

2010-10-04T18:42:00.000-07:00

Hi,

It sure turned out to be a lovely day today. What a difference sunshine makes for the attitude. I had a great weekend. Went down to Steph's for Rochelle's volleyball tournament. A great time with the girls.

I was going to go for a bike ride yesterday afternoon but was just too tired to do it. Maybe this weekend.

I've been seeing a few grouse now that the leaves are starting to fall. You sure can tell it is fall with all the bough pickers out and about.

Tomorrow my job is to render lard and make jelly. While the lard is rendering I can be making jelly and cleaning up my mess in the kitchen. So many things to get done and so little time. I have to get ready for a few craft sales and Steph and I still do some wreaths each year.

I see a few deer everyday on the bus route but sure not the number I have seen in years past.

So does anyone remember the old timers saying when the bees nest are high in the trees does that mean alot of snow??? My niece took a picture of a huge bees nest that was probably 20 feet up in the air. It looked really cool with all the colored leaves around it.

I am practicing making good choices and controlling my emotions. It's not easy so don't p*** me off. (My new theme song. haha)

Hope you all have a good week.

Take care,
Julie

2010-09-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

Wow, time flies fast. It seemed like I had just blogged and it has been 8 days.

Went for a nice motorcycle ride with friends last Sunday. We went to Remer then to Longville down County 84 to Pine River. From Pine River we went to Pequot Lakes and then across to Aitken and then back home. 270 miles so that put me over the 5000 mile mark for the summer. The trees were gorgeous along the trip.

Going to the cities this weekend to see my granddaughter Rochelle play in her volleyball tournament. Seems like there are always things to do.

Well, I finally got back to the wood pile today and the first thing I did was yank the pull rope out of the splitter so no work there today.

It was a beautiful day here today. Lots of sunshine what could be better.

Been seeing quite a few deer and a few grouse. Not many ducks or geese. Duck hunting opens this weekend.

Hope all of you are having a great week.

Firemen's dance October 23, 8 to midnight at the Squaw Lake Community Center with Johnny V and the Bzzz playing hope to see you there.

Have a great weekend,
Take care,
Julie

I'm shocked at the miles I've put on my broomstick today!!

2010-09-22T17:20:00.000-07:00

It's been a long week already and it is only Wednesday. I started butchering pigs on Monday. Hopefully by the end of next week all the pigs will be gone.

Been seeing a lot of deer on the bus route. Today I think they were trying to commit suicide, I had 4 of them at different times running in front of the bus. If I hit one there sure wouldn't be too much good meat to salvage.

I worked on the wood pile today. Got another stack put up by the wood shute and covered. Then I started splitting the kindling wood and got one loader bucket of that put in the basement. If it isn't pouring down rain tomorrow I will try and get the second load split and put down there.

I don't know about this weather. It would of been a fantastic day if only the sun would of shined all day. Tomorrow they are predicting heavy rains. I am sick of rain. I guess if it rains too much to work on the wood I can start making jelly. I have a bunch of crab apple juice to make jelly out of.

Went to town yesterday, had to take the bus down for service and do some errands waisted the whole day between bus runs in town.

This month is flying by pretty fast it seems like. Is it just because I am getting older? Or are we just too busy now a days.

Well, not much else to say tonight. I hope the sun is shinning wherever you are tomorrow.

Take care,
Julie

2010-09-19T18:43:00.000-07:00

Hard to belive another weekend gone. They go by so fast. Steph and I were busy this weekend making pickled beets, pickled HOT peppers and some relish. We did 133 pints of pickled beets, 42 pints of pickled HOT peppers, and 22 pints of relish. We need to spend a weekend making jellies and jams. I don't have any pepper jellies left so need to make some of them.

Saw quite a few deer on the bus run last week. One morning I saw 17 with a couple of bucks in there and a few fawns. Mostly does and yearlings. Only 2 grouse for the week and a few geese. The most geese I see are on Arnie Petersen's lawn each day.

Went for a bike ride today did about 50 miles. It was chilly out even tho the sun was shining and I had on my leathers it felt good to come home where I had the wood fire going. Seems early to be burning wood but everytime the gas furnace kicks on the $$ signs run around in my head.

Tomorrow I start butchering the pigs I raise. 6 down tomorrow, 5 on Friday and 2 the next week. Then just clean up the feeders and waterer and this job is over til next year. I really lucked out last week as Steph had seen a couple of pig feeders on an online auction down by them and we got them and Randy brought them up to me on Monday night. We got 2 for less than 1/2 price of a new one and they are in really good shape.

Well another week of work to look forward to. Hopefully in between work I will get some soap made. I also need to make some crab apple jelly or I will have to freeze the juice for another day. Funny how some weeks there doesn't seem to be enough time to get everything done.

Steph got me the greatest birthday present. She is taking me to see Reba, George Straight and Leann Womack and then the next night we got tickets to go see Lady Antebellum. Wahoo what a fun 2 nights that will be. Works out great as it is Fall Holiday so don't even need to get a bus driver.

Well, need to get a couple things done before going to bed so have a great week. I'll try and write some during the week if it doesn't get too hectic.

Take care,
Julie

Just squawking

2010-09-13T17:55:00.000-07:00

Thursday, September 16th is the Community Meal put on by St. Catherine Ladies and Centennial Lutheran Ladies. Serving is 5 to 7 and this time they are serving cheeseburger macaroni. This is a free will donation and all proceeds go to the project Fresh Water for Life. Hope to see you there.

October 23 is the annual Firemen's Dance at the Community Center with music by Johnny V. Hope to see you there. Raffle tickets are on sale now.

I had a great weekend. Went down to Steph's for a surprise bday party for Randy. His birthday isn't until October but as the invitations said "HE HUNTS" so we have to do this early. Came home early on Sunday and went for a bike ride. It was awesome out there. Hope I get some more in this week.

Been seeing a few deer on my bus route. Not many grouse tho. Maybe when the leaves start to fall will see more of them.

Waiting for the maps and info to come from TripleA so I can start planning my bike ride out west next summer.

Wow is it wet in the woods. Tried to go on a 4 wheeler path and water was over the tires. Too scary for me. Might be hard to deer hunt if it doesn't freeze.

Well not much on the little brain tonight. Hope all is well with all of you.

Take care,
Julie

Trying to get back on track

2010-09-10T18:07:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Hope all is well with you since the last time I posted.

Boy have I had fun on my motorcycle. I've put on almost 5000 miles this summer. It was great no matter how p***** I was I could go for a ride and come back relaxed. Hope the snowmobile does the same thing for me this winter.

This dreary weather is already getting me down guess I will have to invest in a sun lamp and see if that helps.

Hard to believe that the first week of bus driving is over.

Been seeing a few deer on my route. Not too many grouse. No ducks and the only geese I see are on Arnie Peterson's lawn. They know they are safe there.

Had company last weekend and the boys split quite a bit of my firewood. Granddaughter Rochelle loves to drive the loader so she with some help put wood in the basement. I stacked with some help and anyway the basement is full. This is really early to have that done. Now all I have to do is hook up the new furnace that was given to me.

It's raining pretty hard out again. The satellite keeps going off and on. I am sick sick of rain.

It was a busy summer or so it seemed. Of course I took two trips so there was about 3 weeks out of the summer. Went to Kansas and visited my nephew. Took my two sisters with me and then we stopped back in Missouri and visited cousins. It was a great trip.

Then I went to Montana with my friend Diane. We trailered our bikes and went riding around Flathead lake and then went to Billings and rode from there to Red Lodge and up the Bear Tooth Pass. That was awesome. We visited with Diane's family in Montana and then Stopped in Bozeman and visited Lynne Hubert and then on to Gillete Wyoming and visited a granddaughter and saw her new house. It was a great time Thanks again Diane.

On August 28th I went with some friends and we did the Veterans On the Lake ride from Deer River to Ely. It was pretty cool in the morning but was great weather in the afternoon. Lots of fun. Much more fun to ride with friends than alone.

I will try and write at least once a week. Hopefully I can keep the depression under control this winter.

Take care,
Julie

March 11,2010

2010-03-11T17:41:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Hope you've all had a good winter. I'm really behind on things.

Perch Jerkers Contest on Saturday, March 13 is CANCELLED. Too much water on ice.

St. Urho's Parade still on at 5pm at The Hill. Come and join the fun.

March 17, is Community supper at the Community Center. This is put on by St. Catherine and Centennial Lutheran Ladies. Free will donation with all proceeds going to Fresh Water for Life. They will be serving Corned Beef and Cabbage. Yum Yum!!

April 10th, Bullhead and Fish Fry at the Community Center. We will be serving Bullheads, Pollack, Potatoes, Assorted Salads, Baked Beans, Bars, Coffee and Lemonade. $8 for adults, 5-12 - $4 and under 5 free. Come and join the fun and visit with people you haven't seen for a year. All proceeds go to the Community Center Fund. Hope to see you there.

Starting to see a few deer on the bus run. They look in really good shape. Just too bad don't see more. Saw 5 today in over a hundred miles of driving.

Roads are getting pretty sloppy. I sweep off the lights everyday and they are still covered in mud. Hope the sun comes out this weekend and dries things up.

I am really hoping for warm weather and to have my road dried up. I bought a motorcycle and I want to practice riding it. Been a long time since I've been on anything like that. Figured I wasn't getting any younger so now was the time and if I decide I don't like it I'll sell it. Must be going into my second childhood or maybe my first.

Well, I will try and do more writing on this. Hope you have a good weekend.

Julie

2010-01-03T10:42:00.000-08:00

Hi,

The holidays are over and now I need to get back to my blogging and get some other work done at home.

Sled Dog Races will be in Squaw Lake on January 9th. The time they will be arriving I still don't know.

However, I do know that there is going to be a soup and bread contest that day at the Community Center. The last I checked we had 5 women signed up but that was the middle of last week so I'm hoping there will be more. There will be 3 judges judging the contest. This is sponsered by the Squaw Lake Fire Dept. Auxiliary. The contest will be judged at 11am. The soups and bread will then be for sale at our concession stand.

Also, that day weather permitting we will have some things for the kids to do both inside and out.

I had a great holiday even with recovering from surgery. Our family gets together at the Holiday Inn in St Cloud on Christmas day. We get to visit and there are lots of things for the kids to do there. It is fun for all ages. With the weather this year it looked a little like it wasn't going to happen. Jamie's ended up in the ditch on the way down and Mandy's family backed out and didn't come. Missy had to work so we had Bradley with us. I've forgotten how much work a 4 year old can be. Thank goodness there were lots there to help with him. All in all it was a good time and I had plenty of time to nap and get rested up.

I have a feeling this week will be a long one for me. Back to work and I'm used to those naps in the afternoon. Also, it is colder than cold again today. I think I'm getting to old for this cold weather. Got one bus started today but couldn't get the other one going. Have help coming later to try and get that one going.

I made a kettle of turkey and homemade noodles today. I put these containers in the freezer with turkey and broth or ham and broth but do I ever mark what is in them? Oh no it is always a surprise when I grab one out. Today I was sure I had ham and when it was thawed it was turkey. Oh well either one makes a nice kettle of soup. It's just that I've had turkey quite a bit in the last couple of weeks.

It seems when it is cold like this all I can think of is soups. Must be a carry over from my childhood when Mom always had a kettle of soup on the back of the wood stove. So when you came in either from playing outside or working you could have a nice hot bowl of soup. Of course there was always homemade bread to go with it as Mom baked at least twice a week. Each nite when dinner was over the leftovers went into the soup pot. So sometimes you got beef or venison in your bowl and other times it was pork or chicken just depending on where you put your soup ladel. We called it Garbage Soup and my younger brother and sister thought that was all we ever ate. I keep telling them Mom had to cook other food or there would of been nothing to go into the soup kettle. I'm sure now a days kids would think you were trying to poison them if you asked them to eat it. I still make a version of it when I clean out the fridge each week only now it might go into a casserole instead.

January 23rd is the bridal shower for Amber Michalek at the Community Center. I've forgotten what the time is but I will find out tomorrow and post it. Amber is marrying Cody Pitzen from Effie.

My puppies are happy to be back home. They have been at Randy's since Thanksgiving and they couldn't behave themselves there so they had to go to the outside kennel. So far since they have been home they are model puppies in behavior.

Here's something somebody sent me today and I thought maybe some of you would enjoy it.

This is a wonderful piece by Michael Gartner, editor of newspapers large and small. In 1997, he won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing. It is well worth reading, and a few good chuckles are guaranteed.

My father never drove a car. Well, that's not quite right. I should say I never saw him drive a car. He quit driving in 1927, when he was 25 years old, and the last car he drove was a 1926 Whippet. "In those days," he told me when he was in his 90s, "to drive a car you had to do things with your hands, and do things with your feet, and look every which way, and I decided you could walk through life and enjoy it or drive through life and miss it." At which point my mother, a sometimes salty Irishwoman, chimed in: "Oh, bull----! she said. "He hit a horse." "Well," my father said, "there was that, too."

So my brother and I grew up in a household without a car. The neighbors all had cars -- the Kollingse's next door had a green 1941 Dodge, the Van Laningham's across the street a gray 1936 Plymouth, the Hopson's two doors down a black 1941 Ford -- but we had none. My father, a newspaperman in Des Moines , would take the streetcar to work and, often as not, walk the 3 miles home. If he took the streetcar home, my mother and brother and I would walk the three blocks to the streetcar stop, meet him and walk home together. My brother, David, was born in 1935, and I was born in 1938, and sometimes, at dinner, we'd ask how come all the neighbors had cars but we had none. "No one in the family drives," my mother would explain, and that was that.

But, sometimes, my father would say, "But as soon as one of you boys turns 16, we'll get one." It was as if he wasn't sure which one of us would turn 16 first.. But, sure enough, my brother turned 16 before I did, so in 1951 my parents bought a used 1950 Chevrolet from a friend who ran the parts department at a Chevy dealership downtown.. It was a four-door, white model, stick shift, fender skirts, loaded with everything, and, since my parents didn't drive, it more or less became my brother's car. Having a car but not being able to drive didn't bother my father, but it didn't make sense to my mother.

So in 1952, when she was 43 years old, she asked a friend to teach her to drive. She learned in a nearby cemetery, the place where I learned to drive the following year and where, a generation later, I took my two sons to practice driving. The cemetery probably was my father's idea. "Who can your mother hurt in the cemetery?" I remember him saying more than once. For the next 45 years or so, until she was 90, my mother was the driver in the family. Neither she nor my father had any sense of direction, but he loaded up on maps -- though they seldom left the city limits -- and appointed himself navigator. It seemed to work.

Still, they both continued to walk a lot. My mother was a devout Catholic, and my father an equally devout agnostic, an arrangement that didn't seem to bother either of them through their 75 years of marriage. (Yes, 75 years, and they were deeply in love the entire time.) He retired when he was 70, and nearly every morning for the next 20 years or so, he would walk with her the mile to St. Augustin's Church. She would walk down and sit in the front pew, and he would wait in the back until he saw which of the parish's two priests was on duty that morning. If it was the pastor, my father then would go out and take a 2-mile walk, meeting my mother at the end of the service and walking her home. If it was the assistant pastor, he'd take just a 1-mile walk and then head back to the church. He called the priests "Father Fast" and "Father Slow."

After he retired, my father almost always accompanied my mother whenever she drove anywhere, even if he had no reason to go along. If she were going to the beauty parlor, he'd sit in the car and read, or go take a stroll or, if it was summer, have her keep the engine running so he could listen to the Cubs game on the radio. In the evening, then, when I'd stop by, he'd explain: "The Cubs lost again. The millionaire on second base made a bad throw to the millionaire on first base, so the multimillionaire on third base scored."

If she were going to the grocery store, he would go along to carry the bags out -- and to make sure she loaded up on ice cream. As I said, he was always the navigator, and once, when he was 95 and she was 88 and still driving, he said to me, "Do you want to know the secret of a long life?" "I guess so," I said, knowing it probably would be something bizarre. "No left turns," he said. "What?" I asked. "No left turns," he repeated. "Several years ago, your mother and I read an article that said most accidents that old people are in happen when they turn left in front of oncoming traffic. As you get older, your eyesight worsens, and you can lose your depth perception, it said. So your mother and I decided never again to make a left turn." "What?" I said again. "No left turns," he said. "Think about it. Three rights are the same as a left, and that's a lot safer.. So we always make three rights." "You're kidding!" I said, and I turned to my mother for support. "No," she said, "your father is right. We make three rights. It works." But then she added: "Except when your father loses count." I was driving at the time, and I almost drove off the road as I started laughing. "Loses count?" I asked. "Yes," my father admitted, "that sometimes happens. But it's not a problem. You just make seven rights, and you're okay again." I couldn't resist. "Do you ever go for 11?" I asked. "No," he said " If we miss it at seven, we just come home and call it a bad day. Besides, nothing in life is so important it can't be put off another day or another week."

My mother was never in an accident, but one evening she handed me her car keys and said she had decided to quit driving. That was in 1999, when she was 90. She lived four more years, until 2003. My father died the next year, at 102. They both died in the bungalow they had moved into in 1937 and bought a few years later for $3,000. (Sixty years later, my brother and I paid $8,000 to have a shower put in the tiny bathroom -- the house had never had one. My father would have died then and there if he knew the shower cost nearly three times what he paid for the house.)

He continued to walk daily -- he had me get him a treadmill when he was 101 because he was afraid he'd fall on the icy sidewalks but wanted to keep exercising -- and he was of sound mind and sound body until the moment he died. One September afternoon in 2004, he and my son went with me when I had to give a talk in a neighboring town, and it was clear to all three of us that he was wearing out, though we had the usual wide-ranging conversation about politics and newspapers and things in the news. A few weeks earlier, he had told my son, "You know, Mike, the first hundred years are a lot easier than the second hundred.." At one point in our drive that Saturday, he said, "You know, I'm probably not going to live much longer." "You're probably right," I said. "Why would you say that?" He countered, somewhat irritated. "Because you're 102 years old," I said.. "Yes," he said, "you're right." He stayed in bed all the next day. That night, I suggested to my son and daughter that we sit up with him through the night. He appreciated it, he said, though at one point, apparently seeing us look gloomy, he said: "I would like to make an announcement. No one in this room is dead yet." An hour or so later, he spoke his last words: "I want you to know," he said, clearly and lucidly, "that I am in no pain. I am very comfortable. And I have had as happy a life as anyone on this earth could ever have." A short time later, he died. I miss him a lot, and I think about him a lot.

I've wondered now and then how it was that my family and I were so lucky that he lived so long. I can't figure out if it was because he walked through life, or because he quit taking left turns."Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the one's who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it & if it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would most likely be worth it."

ENJOY LIFE NOW - IT HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE!

Well, did everyone make their New Year's resolutions?

Mine were to work on my relationships with others. Seems like I'm becoming my Mother more and more even tho I vowed when I was a kid to never be like her. Here I look in the mirror and I see her and sometimes when I'm talking I hear her words coming out of my mouth so I've decided that I need to work on that and become Me again.

Also, I need to exercise more. Now that is a word I truly hate. But I'm not doing much now that it has gotten cold out so I need to start. I was thinking of buying a Wii with the fitness thing but I'm not sure that I would do it anyway and it is alot of money. Anyway I would have to get Rochelle up here to show me how the thing works. She was excited because her parents said she can't have one so if Gram bought it she knows she could use it on the weekends when she is up here.

The last thing I'm going to work on is to be more outgoing. Wow, I saw all those eyebrows raise up. BUT in the last few years I seem to find many excuses for not joining my friends and family in things they are doing and wanting me to join them.

So that's my list. Hopefully I will still be working on it in March.

Have a great week. I will try and get all the times for the stuff that is going on in Squaw Lake.

Take care,
Julie

Squawking

2009-12-19T15:10:00.001-08:00

Hi Everyone,

Well, I've had my surgery and I'm home mending. Monday the staples and hopefully the tubes will come out and then I head to Steph's for Christmas.

I'm not used to this sitting around and not being able to lift over 10 pounds so I'm not getting much done.

I do have, thanks to my sister most of my presents wrapped. I know that job wasn't too heavy but I hate to wrap presents.

Will we have enough snow to have the sled dog races on January 9th? I hope so as we are having a soup and bread baking contest that day. Also, there will be things for the kids to do that day.

This morning I got all my Christmas cards I send out done and in the mail. I try to keep in touch once a year with the Missouri cousins and if someone sends me a card I try and send one back.

It seems wierd not to be driving the bus. I'm awake each morning when the driver comes to get the bus. Then sometimes I fall back asleep. I've been sleeping to much during the day because I don't want to sleep at night.

I haven't been cooking too much since coming home from the hospital. I did make a batch of fantasy fudge for a couple of gifts. Sure is different than when Jimmie was alive. We would make about 5 kinds of fudge, divinity, hard crack candy, nut goodie bars, chocolate covered cherries, peanut brittle and whatever other recipe I wanted to try besides lots of cookies. Now if I make a batch of fudge I'm considering it a great feat.

Guess with sitting at home I don't have much to say. I hope all of you have a Wonderful Christmas, Happy New Year and a year of good health and prosperity.

Take care,
Julie

January 9th - Sled Dog Races

2009-12-04T18:17:00.000-08:00

Hi,

Hope all is well with all of you.

We are getting a little snow each day. Hasn't added up to much yet. I wish we would just get a good snow and then the sun comes out and we can clean up the snow. This way I don't want to shovel so it just builds up on the steps.

January 9th is the Sled dog races that come through Squaw Lake. This year the Squaw Lake Fire Dept Auxiliary is sponsoring a Soup and Bread Cookoff Contest. We are hoping to get a little friendly rivalry going so we have lots of entrants. Posters will be put up around town. Maybe we will get some good friendly compitition going and have lots of fun in the process.

If you're interested in entering you can pick up the entry forms and rules at Country Hair Care.

Finally finished everything that needed to be done for tomorrow's craft show. Got most of it loaded tonite will finish in the morning. Then spend the day in Deer River with my sister Nancy at the show. Afterwards will go and see my brother in law Donald and see how he is doing. I forgot to buy him some fruitcake. Oh well I will look for it another day if I don't get it to him til after Christmas he doesn't care.

Sunday morning have to wrap a few presents and clean up the kitchen. Will be having my sisters and hopefully my brother up for lunch that day. We haven't been all together since Mom's funeral in 05. Sad that we live so close and don't get together once in a while.

Have lots to get done next week before I have my hernia surgery. I'm sure I won't feel like doing too much for a few days after. Then I go to Steph's for Christmas. We all get together on Christmas Day at the Holiday Inn in St. Cloud. More room and something for the kids to do. Works out nice for our family.

Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year if I don't get anything wrote in the meantime.

Take care,
Julie

2009-11-30T18:05:00.000-08:00

WOW!! can't believe it's been almost a month since I wrote on this. Been busy. I should be busy tonight but I've just lost my ambition.

Lots going on with deer hunting and craft shows and making wreaths. Went to Steph's for Thanksgiving weekend.

I know I've been busy but as I sit here and try to think of things to write nothing comes to mind so it must of been useless stuff I was doing.

We didn't do as well with deer hunting as in years past but did better than lots of people. The guys were whining one morning when they were deer hunting and never saw anything and they could hear the duck hunters shooting away on Round Lake. They were wishing that they had went duck hunting.

This morning in the popple river I saw about 10 swans again. Some were mature but there were some still in their grey plumage.

Of course the Monday after deer hunting ended I saw 4 deer hadn't seen any in the last week of deer hunting.

There are still alot of grouse around. I heard that it was a pretty good year for them.

My puppy is growing like a weed. He is really a mellow puppy I hope he stays that way. His mother is very jealous of him so she has tore up her pillow and destroyed all his toys. They are spending a couple of weeks down at Steph's. It seems funny not having them in the house at night.

Hard to believe only 25 days til Christmas. I have a few presents to wrap and a few more to buy.

I hope this finds all of you in good health and spirits.

Take care all,
Julie

November events.

2009-11-08T19:11:00.000-08:00

November 11, St. Catherine Ladies and Centennial Lutheran Ladies will again have the community supper at the community center from 4:30 to 7. They will be featuring wild rice this time. Come and join and visit with your neighbors. All proceeds go to Fresh water for Life.

November 15, Centennial Lutheran Ladies will be having a Chili Feed/breadsticks, crafts, baked goods, white elephants items, fresh wreaths both balsam and princess pine starting a 11am and going til 1pm.

Hope to see you all at these events.

2009-11-08T18:21:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

I hope that everyone is doing ok since the last time I posted.

My sympathy goes to Nancy Shaw and family. I was notified yesterday that EK Shaw had passed away on Friday night. I haven't heard any funeral arrangements but when I do I will let you know. Nancy's address is Nancy Shaw, 6 Larchwood Court, Newton IA 50208.

Tomorrow I go to Park Rapids and have the varicose veins done on my right leg. My left leg is doing so good that I decided to have the other one done.

Deer hunting hasn't been too good at our place. Finally last night they got 3 for 7 hunters. Rochelle (granddaughter) who's 11 got her second deer last night. She was really proud. Randy (son - in-law) and Adam (grandson) each got a doe. Someone called me last week and wondered if I was mad at the son-in-law because I always wrote the son-in-law so from now on he's going by Randy. He's a good son-in-law.

I know I've been really busy but tonight when I'm sitting here trying to write something it's like I haven't done anything.

I did make a new recipe tonight. It was porkchops with apples. It turned out pretty good. I'm not much on mixing fruit with my meat.

Pork Chops with Apples

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 13 min. Serves:4

4 - 1/2" thick bone-in pork chops
Salt
1/4 cup all purpose flour
3 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 large Granny Smith Apples, peeled, cored, and diced
1/2 cup apricot jam
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1. Sprinkle pork chops with salt. Place flour in a shallow bowl and dredge chops on both sides.

2. Warm 2 tablespoons oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chops until browned, 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate and loosely cover with foil to keep warm.

3. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, shallots, and apples to skillet. Cook, stirring, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add jam, vinegar and broth, cook, stirring and scraping up any browned bits on bottom of skillet, until sauce has thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Season sauce with salt and pour over chops and serve.

Ok, so I can't make a recipe just the way it's wrote so here are my changes. I used garlic salt and added a little pepper to the chops. My chops were thicker so they took longer to cook. Then I didn't have any apricot jam so I used plum jelly and I don't have shallots so I used finely diced onion. I used Braeburn apples instead of Granny Smith. It took longer than the 1 or 2 minutes for my sauce to become thick.

All in all I would give it a 7 on a 1 to 10 scale. The chops were really good and moist, it's just that I usually don't eat too much fruit and usually only by itself. It did look nice on the plate. I served them with baked sweet potatoe and brussel sprouts. The only one that complained was me, the others thought they were good.

We started making wreaths this weekend. The orders aren't as large as last year but I'm glad as I've got alot to get done and I have a couple of craft sales coming up. Too bad I have to work because it sure interfers in what I'd like to be doing.

Hard to believe that it is only 47 days til Christmas. I'm going to have hernia surgery on the 10th of December so that will slow me down for a while. Hopefully by the first of the year I will be back to doing everything I want to do.

Hope all is well with all of you.

Julie

Squawk

2009-11-03T19:42:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

I know it's been quite a while. Been busy.

Tonight when I came across the Shogren's Bridge there must of been 40 or more swans in the river. It was a beautiful site. Tomorrow I'm hoping to remember my camera so maybe I can take a picture.

I've been seeing quite a few deer out the last couple of days. Makes a person wonder if there is going to be some bad weather coming in, the forecast is for warm weather for the weekend. I hope that happens.

We will be starting making wreaths this weekend. Getting everything ready for that will be a challange this year since we have moved things all over and not too much stuff has gotten put back since the wedding.

I've almost finished the wood. Tomorrow is the day. I have one more load to split and bring in and stack. Then cover with a tarp and I'm ready with that. A few more hoses to pick up and then also cover the cow waterer which I still haven't got done.

Hope this finds all of you in good health and spirits.

Take care,
Julie

2009-10-25T15:52:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a nice day. I didn't get to spend too much time out in the sunshine but it was sure nice to see the sun anyway. I spent the day at a craft sale at Morse Town Hall. I had a pretty good day even tho the crowd seemed a lot less than last year. But with Saturday being a sunny day and we hadn't seen one for a week no wonder people didn't come out. I'm sure they were home doing the stuff that I had wished I was home doing. Maybe this week I'll get some of it done.

It's a hard time of the year to burn wood in the stove. Either I don't have it going good enough and I'm chilly or I've got it going so good you'd think it was a sauna in here.

If anybody has anything they'd liked announced on here just drop me a line.

Hope everyone has a great week.

Julie

Tuesday Squawk

2009-10-20T17:24:00.000-07:00

Well the game report is better this week. I've seen a nice buck and quite a few does. Not as many deer as I was seeing last year but better than I've seen this year. I saw 9 swans in the river by Vance's bridge on Cty 126. Tonight I talked to Jackie Howard on the river on Cty 145 and she said there were 12 swans there this morning.

I went to Park Rapids today to have some more shots put in my varicose veins on my legs and it was a miserable rainy day to be driving. The rain seemed to be coming down a lot harder down there. Now we were back to the misty stuff tonight up here. I haven't looked out lately so maybe it is raining hard. The left leg is much better but I'm going to have to have the same surgery on the right one. Since I met my deductable I just as well get everything fixed.

I was working on the computer tonight and my internet quit working so I did all the things I know how to do and nothing was working. I noticed that I still had time to call Paul Bunyan Net so I did and the guy checked on a few things and then said I should try a new phone cord as there seemed to be no connection. So I grumbled to myself that it was just working why would I need a new phone cord and I reached down to unhook the phone cord and saw that it was in two pieces. Tippy the new puppy had chewed it in half. New cord and internet works. So I guess I have to watch him a little closer.

I got all my pigs butchered and sent to the locker plant to be cut up. That's always nice to get things like that done in the fall. I still have to pick up hoses and drop cords and get some wood into the garage for wreath making. The list is getting shorter thanks to the help I get around here.

The funeral services for Jerry Funingsland will be Saturday Oct. 24 at 2pm at the Community Center in Squaw Lake. A potluck lunch will follow.

The Squaw Lake Snowmobile Club will meet Saturday at 5p at the community center or as soon as the funeral luncheon is done.

Avenue of Pines Lions Club will be hosting their annual craft show at Morse Town Hall on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 9am to 3pm. They will have about 30 vendors. I will be there with my products and some canned goods.

Does anyone out there have a good recipe for a tame goose? I was given a goose today and I don't really care for them so thought I would try something new. I'm going to cook it and then take it to my brother in law Donald who loves goose. It should be a treat for him.

Hope you all are having a good week. I will try and write more later.

Hugs,
Julie

Centennial Lutheran Ladies Fall Bazaar

2009-10-20T17:20:00.000-07:00

Sunday, November 15th join the Centennial Lutheran Ladies for Chili/Breadsticks. They also will have their baked goods (everyone knows how good they bake), crafts, Christmas Wreaths both balsam and Princess Pine, and white elephant items. If you're in Squaw Lake this is a great place to go for lunch. Hours are 11am to 1pm.

Broccoli Cheese Noodle Soup

2009-10-18T19:19:00.000-07:00

Since it is getting colder out I'm thinking more of comfort foods and soups, stews etc. Here's one of my favorite soups this recipe was given to me by Judy Shears many years ago. It is a family favorite also. One way to get some veggies down a kid.

Broccoli Cheese Noodle Soup

2 tbsp. butter ¾ cup small diced onion
6 cups water 6 chicken bouillon cubes
8 oz. fine egg noodles 1 tsp. salt
1 – 16 to 20 oz bag chopped broccoli 1/8 tsp garlic powder
6 cups whole milk 1 lb Velveeta (cubed)
Pepper to taste

Heat butter in large soup kettle, add onion and sauté 3 minutes, add water and bouillon cubes. Bring to a boil and add noodles and salt. Cook 3 minutes uncovered and stir in broccoli, garlic and milk. Cook until noodles are done. Stir in cheese and pepper until cheese melts.

Sometimes if I have leftover chicken breast I add that to this or I will even grill some chicken breast to add to it.

Hope you enjoy it. Bake a loaf of frozen bread to go with it.

Julie

Sunday squawk

2009-10-18T17:49:00.000-07:00

Well another week has passed. The older I get the faster it seems to go and the less I get done for the day.

I was told today that some of you get up and check this when you have your morning coffee. I hope this finds you in good health.

The son-in-law did a little better this weekend duck hunting. They shot enough to bring a smile to his face anyway. I still think it tastes like fishy liver. Not a good combination in my opinion.

Today was a nice sunny day but I had such a headache and was tired that I didn't get a thing done outside like I should of. Last night was the firemen's dance and even tho I don't drink any alcohol since my stomach bypass I still felt like I had a hangover this morning. It must of been from the late night. We had a good crowd and alot were dancing. The music was good. It was also good and loud. Was a relief to walk into the back of the firehall by the trucks and have the door close and cut the loudness. Guess that shows that I'm getting old. haha.

It was a good fund raiser for the department but it couldn't of happened without all the support we get from our local businesses. Thank you all that read this. It was the support of everyone who came that make it a success also.

We have some nice tshirts, aprons and hats for sale yet so if anyone wants one let me know and I'll get them out to you. The tshirts have the maltese on the front with SLFD and on the back it says, "We protect the public from themselves." They are black. The aprons are green and have the word Sponser at the top with a dalmation in a firemen's hat and SLFD under that. These are very nice aprons. The hats are green and have a buck on the side of the hat. We also have some tshirts from last year which are dk. blue and say "Stay back 200 Feet" on the back.

Prices are Tshirst Small to xlarge for $20
2XL to 4XL for $25

Aprons are $20
Hats are $20

These would make a nice present for anyone.

Game report is pretty slow. There is one grouse on the driveway that I see and sometimes almost hit every day on the bus. However, all these hunters around here have yet to get a shot at it. This is one pretty smart grouse.

The boys were actually putting up a permanent deer stand today. They have only been hunting here for 13 years and have never made a stand that was warm to sit in. Now they actually have one done. Wonder how many years it will take to get another up. Someday I'm going to go sit in it for a while.

It was nice to see Evy Oja and Karin Beiers when they came over today. Karin was checking out what we had done to the farm. I got a big thumbs up. She did tell me however that she has been on Dale to clean up stuff around their place. I'm sure I'm not too high on his list at the moment for doing all this stuff. It is a joy to me to drive up the driveway and see everything looking so good.

We started to clean up the garage kitchen today for winter. We've been carrying things out there all late summer and fall and now we have to start carrying things back. We got all the canned items we've made this fall moved to the basement for safe storage. We have 2 pallets of stuff done. It always gives a nice feeling when you see everything done. I'm already starting a list of things I want to try that are new next year.

We did Pickled Beets, Bread & Butter Pickles, Pickled Crabapples, Crabapple jelly and butter, Regular apple butter, zucchini jam, pear jelly and jam, Mild jalapeno jelly, Hot Jalapeno jelly, Habanero jelly, Red pepper Jelly, Hot Hungarian Jelly, Pepper flake jelly, Carrot Cake jam, Pumpkin Pecan Butter, Carmel Apple Butter, Hot mixed pickles, Carmelized onion jam, High Bush Cranberry jelly, Sweet Relish, HOT HOT Pickled Peppers, Jalapeno Pickled Peppers, Plum jam and jelly, and dilly green beans. So this is the list of what will be in the Mini Max Flea Market next summer.

Well, 8 of the puppies have went to a new homes. I kept one that looked like my old dog Tippy, so we now have another Tippy. I'm not too sure about this puppy droppings however. I can't believe that I'm actually letting them in the house. Hopefully, he will become as good a dog as the old dog was.

I can't believe how much wood I've burnt already. It seems I have to have a fire each morning and night otherwise I'm cold. I did get it a little too hot tonight as both dogs were panting. I'm sure it will be one noisy night when I put the little dog in the kennel for the night. If the old dog starts her pacing at 3 in the morning I will be getting a kennel for her also.

Hope you all have a good week and I will try and write something more often. Take care and hope you're all in good health.

Julie

squawk

2009-10-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

Hope this finds all of you in good health and spirits. I know my spirits have taken a beating looking at this white stuff so early in the fall. I still have lots of projects I want to get done. Hopefully, it will warm up and give us Indian summer after all.

Today I managed to get the frozen water line unthawed and drained and blew out. That is one of my projects I just didn't have time for and finally got to it. Tomorrow when I go to town I need to pick up a few plastic kits and do a few windows that seem to be too cold to suit me. I still have to insulate the cow waterer and split some more wood and fill in the basement where I've already burnt half a rick of wood. It has been nice and warm in here and then the knees don't ache so bad.

I've been busy at home getting ready for some craft sales so I'm not really sure what is going on around town. I put in here anything people let me know about.

Well, I just remembered something I forgot to do so have a good week everyone.

Julie

October 17th doings.

2009-10-06T18:58:00.000-07:00

Is the sun ever going to shine again? It seems like it has been months since I saw it. I know that isn't so but as one gloomy day runs into another it just seems that way.

Well, yesterday I had a procedure done on my varicose veins. They don't feel too bad today but the stuff they have wrapped around my leg until tomorrow is a pain. It is suppose to stay up but of course it slips down and becomes very uncomfortable. I wasn't suppose to unwrap it but I've had to to get the clump out of the back of my knee. Tomorrow I go back and they unwrap the leg and ultrasound to make sure there are no blood clots and then I think they are putting some kind of shots in where I'm beginning to get other varicose veins. I have to have a series of 3 more shots in both my legs. Hopefully this will get rid of the pain. Even with those lovely support hose I've been wearing they have been bothering me.

October 17th, St. Catherine Ladies are having a fund raiser at their church. I think it is their annual Soup and Sandwich Luncheon but I didn't bring home a flyer so I'm not really sure. I do know they have something going on that day. Tomorrow I will check on it and let you know.

Oct. 17th is also the Firemen's Dance, with Union Rebel music, raffles, silent auction, cash bar and lots of fun. Hope to see you at both of these things.

It has seemed weird the last couple of days to hear the bus start and take off down the road and I'm sitting in the hose watching tv.

Today, seemed like the type of day to make a kettle of chili. I was going to have cornbread with it but was out of cornmeal and too lazy to drive to the store and buy some. The chili was good with out the cornbread.

Hope all of you are having a great week.

Julie

Happenings in Squaw Lake

2009-10-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

October 17, Squaw Lake Firemen's Dance with music by Union Rebel. Fun starts at 8 pm and goes to midnight. Cash bar, raffles, silent auctions. Hope to see you there.

I haven't heard of anything else going on for the month of October, when I do I'll put it on.

More squawk

2009-10-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

The Mini Max Flea Market is officially closed for the season even tho Evy will open up for anyone just about anytime. Today is the day that I'm going to go and pick up all our stuff that can't winter over. Steph and I had a good summer there. Hope everyone else did also.

It is a rainy cold miserable day as far as I'm concerned. I hope the duck hunter's are freezing their butts off as long as they like this kind of weather. I haven't seen many ducks around either.

I have a wood fire going. I have a gas furnace set at 58 and it kicked on so I figured I just as well burn some wood and dry out the house.

Here's a recipe for you, this was my Mom's recipe

Banana Bread

2 1/2 cups flour 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas
2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 cup milk
3/4 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoon Vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup sugar
Mix above ingredients together 1/2 cup margerine softened
2 large eggs

350 degree oven and a greased loaf pan. (I actually line my greased loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving some over hang to help lift out when done, and grease the parchment paper, no sticking whatever)

Mix bananas, milk, vanilla to blend. Add margerine and sugar. Beat well. Add eggs one at a time mixing well after each. Beat in the flour mixture. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

When it is weather like this I think of comfort foods. It is really funny the two different kinds of food I cook from winter to summer. Once in a while I might make something like this in the summer or potato salad in the winter but not very often.

Well, I had better get back to work. Take care all.

Julie

2009-10-03T06:28:00.000-07:00

My how a week or so goes by. I think well I'll write tonight when things are done but things haven't been getting done.

The game report is very bad. I'm not sure what has happened to the deer but the most I've seen on a bus run is 6 and in 50 miles each morning and night you'd think I'd see more than that. I've seen a few grouse. Not alot but I've heard reports that the hunters are doing good. So maybe at 55mph isn't the best way to grouse hunt.

My dog had puppies and they are really growing. Last night I started them on blended up puppy chow. It didn't take long after sticking their noses in the food for them to lick the pan clean. I'm really glad they are starting to eat as the poor ole mom is getting pretty thin. She is eating about 9 cups of high performance dog chow a day and she must be passing every bit of it through to the puppies. They are 4 weeks old today so in the next 3 weeks hopefully they all will be gone. I don't know why but I'm thinking of keeping one. I lost my ole dog Tippy a couple of days after the puppies were born. Anyway, one of the puppies has the same marking on his forehead as Tippy had. Now Tippy was a fixed dog so I don't think he fathered that one but the puppy sure does look like him.

Well, I just got company so will write more later.

Julie

First Week Boutique Open Through October 7

2009-10-02T09:57:00.001-07:00

The First Week Boutique consignment shop is open this week from 10:00AM-3:00PM at the Community Center on Hwy 46. The Boutique offers new hand crafted items and gently used clothing. The teens who run the shop say warm jackets and fall formal wear are this month's best buys. They've also expanded their jewelry line with magnetic closing bracelets and necklaces and new offerings in silver from Deirdre and Company.

Stop by and talk to Shelby if you're interested in consigning, or call Eagleview at 659-4254 on Tuesday or Thursday evenings. Proceeds from the shop support the Eagleview Community Technology Center, and robotics programs.

ABE/GED Classes to Start at Eagleview

2009-09-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

The Eagleview Community Foundation will host ABE/GED classes on Monday evenings from 4:00-7:00PM starting October 5th. Instructor Tracy Chase will take walk-ins, or call Eagleview at 218.659.4254 for more info.

Thursday, Sept. 24

2009-09-24T17:42:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone's week has went well. It has been pretty hot outside this week but the evenings cool off nice. During the night I search for the quilt as it gets pretty cool before morning.

I've finally started seeing a few deer and grouse on the bus run. Nothing very spectacular the most was 6 deer one morning when it was very cool and foggy. It has been foggy quite a few mornings lately.

I got a call from Diane Stay telling me about the International Space Station sightings that started Monday September 21 to Tuesday October 6.

Tonight Thursday Sept. 24 the sighting should take place around 8:29pm for about 3 minutes. It will approach from 18 degrees WSW and depart 15 Degrees S.

On Saturday, Sept. 26, the sighting will take place at 7:43pm and last for about 3 minutes, it will approach 22 degrees above SW and depart 10 degrees above SSE.

She got this information off the NASA sight.

Maybe tonight I will remember to walk outside and look.

Saturday, October 17th is the annual Squaw Lake Firemen's Dance. Music is by Union Rebel and will start at 8pm and go to midnight. There will be drawings for the raffle, silent auctions, small raffles, cash bar, t-shirts, caps and aprons for sale. Lots of fun. Hope to see you all there.

If any of you have something to put on the blog be sure and either email or call me. I haven't been out and about much lately so am not really sure what is going on.

Have a safe and fun weekend.

Julie

Community Supper & Centennial Lutheran Ladies Fundraiser

2009-09-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

Hi, hope you had a nice weekend. It was a very productive weekend for us. We did a canning marathon this weekend. We pickled over 200 pounds of beets, we made bread & butter pickles, and plum jam. Also, tomorrow I will make sweet relish and plum jelly.

Wow, wasn't that some hot weather we've had lately? I was wishing all summer that we would have some hot weather and now I wish it wasn't so hot.

September 22 is Community Supper at the Community Center. This is put on by ST. Catherine Ladies and Centennial Lutheran Ladies. Serving starts at 4:30 and goes to 7p. They will be serving Tacos this month. Hope to see you all there.

Finally started seeing a few deer and grouse on the bus run. It's been so hot that the pigs don't even want to eat during the day. They wait until it cools down at night and then I can hear the feeder doors banging away most of the night.

Coming up: November 15, the Centennial Lutheran Ladies are having Chili with breadsticks. They also will be having Baked Goods, Crafts, Wreaths (Princess Pine), White Elephant items, this will start at 11am and go til 1. So mark your calendars.

Sorry everyone I am beat and I'm going to shower and hit the bed. I hope all of you have a great week and I will try and write more later.

Julie

Squawk

2009-09-12T16:47:00.000-07:00

It sure seems strange when the kids don't come up on the weekend. Pretty quiet around here. I cleaned up my summer kitchen today as next weekend Steph is bringing up beets to make pickled beets and I'm not sure what else she is bringing to get done. I was going to take some plum juice out of the freezer and make jelly but I got to lazy. Tomorrow I am going to make zucchini jam and carmelized onion jam.

It sure has been foggy in the mornings of late. Friday morning it was hard driving for a while as the fog was so thick.

I finally saw one deer in the Gratten area on Friday. I saw quite a few grouse on my afternoon bus run on Friday. The critters haven't been very plentiful this year. Maybe when things cool down some they will start showing themselves more.

I cut a couple batches of soap this morning. I need to make more soap but haven't figured out just where I'm going to fit that in right now

One of my pasttimes when I have the time is to look at the recipes in the old cookbooks I have. Tonight I found one that I'm going to have to try again. My mom used to make these when I was a kid. I made them for my kids when they were younger. Great to have on hand. Here's the recipe for:

Sliced Refrigerator Cookies
1 cup. shortening 1 tsp. cinnamon
2/3 cup brown sugar 1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 cup white sugar 3 cups sifted flour
2 eggs, slightly beaten 1 tsp. soda
1/2 to 1 cup chopped nuts 1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine shortening and sugars and cream well. Add beaten eggs and vanilla, blend well. Sift flour, cinnamon, salt and soda into the above mixture. Blend well. Add nuts and work in well. Shape into a roll 2 inch in width. Place in refrigerator overnight. Slice thin. Place on oiled baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.

My m0m would have a batch of these frozen in the freezer and when unexpected company showed up she would take out a roll and in 15 minutes or so she could slice them and then she had fresh baked cookies for the company.

Have a great weekend.

Hope you are in good health and spirits.

Julie

Community Supper

2009-09-10T19:13:00.000-07:00

Isn't it funny how sometimes when you sit down to write something that nothing comes to mind.

I haven't seen a deer up in the Gratten area in 3 days of driving. Not sure if with the hot weather they are back in the woods or if there just aren't as many deer up in that area. I did see one scrawny coyote yesterday in the area but that has been it.

The geese have quit coming into the field also. It is a strange fall. Hopefully we will continue to get some nice weather as I still have quite a bit of things to get done for winter.

Today I heard that the Farmers Almanac is predicting a long cold winter with little snow. That will make it feel even colder. I guess I will have to break down and put up some plastic on some of my older windows in the house.

Just a reminder:

Community Supper, September 22 from 4:30 to 7:00p at the Community Center. Menu is Tacos. Proceeds go to Fresh Water for Life. This is sponsored by St. Catherine Ladies and Centennial Lutheran Ladies. These ladies put on a great meal hope to see you there enjoying the meal and the friendship.

Not too much on my calendar for this month.

Last night the Avenue of Pines Civic Association met and began work on the new brochure booklet for the area. We will be including a larger area in this booklet. So if you know of any businesses in the area from Little Ball Club Lake north to Northome, west to the Itasca County line, and east to Highway 6 please let them know about this new booklet. If they would like information on it they can call Julie at 218-659-4239. There are a lot more people working on this but me but I haven't thought to ask them if they wanted to be a contact person. Our brochure that we put out a year ago has been well received and as we are almost out of them we decided to start working on a bigger book.

Any points of interest in the area that you can think of that should be put into the booklet??

As always when working on a project this size it would be nice to have extra hands to help with it. So if you have the time how about helping out.

Not sure why I'm so tired tonight but it is 9:30 pm and I'm ready to hit the hay.

Hope you are in good health and spirits.

Julie

Meatball recipe

2009-09-08T18:42:00.000-07:00

Wow, that was some storm that just zipped through our area. First good lightning and thunder I've heard all summer. It rained pretty good also.

Not much of a critter report today. One deer which almost got to up close and personnal with the front of the bus, 7 geese flying over, 2 ducks on Dora Lake, a bunch of crows and one herd of cows, nice looking cows and the calves were very good sized, they looked very fat and sassy.

Well, there was some excitement here on Saturday night. My dog Belle was close to having a batch of puppies. We had prepared a nice place in the basement for her with a board surround and carpet. I had taken her down there many times. Anyway, the guys were hunting and as she was close to pupping I had put her in the house. I came in to go to bed and she didn't meet me at the door so I started looking for her. She wasn't in the basement or any of the main rooms so I walk into my bedroom to find that she had pulled the clean clothes out of the clothes basket and made a bed and had 3 puppies. This was at 10 at night. By 4 in the morning she had 10 puppies, 9 which were living. So on Sunday, we took her to the basement and carried the puppies down there and the kids came to check about a half hour later and she had moved all the puppies back up to the bedroom. Sooo I guess until they get their eyes open I have company in the bedroom. I did move up the surround and carpet and put them in there. She wasn't very happy about it and moved a couple puppies out but I've just kept putting her and the puppies back in. As soon as these puppies are weaned it is a trip to the vet for her. No more puppies. I was going to put up a sign that said:

Free Puppies
Mother: Registered Black Lab/ Good Hunter
Father: Tramp/Good for nothing

But my granddaughter was worried about the puppies so she called a friend of her Dad's that wanted one puppy and said she was afraid Gram was going to get rid of the puppies and he told his wife and she sent out emails to all she knew and all of the puppies are spoken for. There is quite a different lot of puppies. Most are little black lab looking puppies but there is one that is all brown, and one that has brown on the belly and back legs, and a brown one with a black stripe down his back and black ears kind of looks camo will blend in good for hunting. One of the black ones sleeps with his tongue out just like the Mom did when she was a pup.

First day of school went good except I have a different bus this year and lots of new buttons etc to figure out what they do. This bus is alot quieter than the last one.

As the weather gets cooler I start to think about cooking comfort foods but I'm busy so sometimes cooking is a pain so here is my recipe for meatballs. Make them up ahead and take out of freezer and use for any recipe that calls for meatballs. Much better than the boughten variety in my opinion.

Make-ahead meatballs

4 eggs
2 cups dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped onion (I use about a cup, but I like onions)
1 Tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder (or to your taste)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 pounds lean ground beef

In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add next five ingredients. Add beef, mix well. Shape into 1 inch balls, makes about 12 dozen. Place meatballs on parchment paper in jelly roll pans. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes or until no longer pink, turning often, drain and cool. Place about 30 meatballs each into freezer containers. Meatballs may be frozen for up to 3 months. Yield: 5 batches (about 30 meatballs to batch). These are good in spaghetti sauce, with gravy over them, in barbecue sauce or however you like meatballs.

Hope you enjoy.

Julie

Community Supper

2009-09-08T18:36:00.000-07:00

September 22, Community Supper sponsored by the St. Catherine and Centennial Lutheran Ladies. This time the ladies are serving up Taco's. Serving will start at 4:30 - 7:00. All proceeds go to Fresh Water For Life.

I think I had put this on before as September 23 but I was told today that it is on the 22nd.

Hope to see you all there.

Civic Association Meeting

2009-09-08T13:54:00.001-07:00

It's time to produce another advertising brochure for the area and the Avenue of Pines Civic Association would like your input, and help. Those great brochures, with area map, that you've seen around town didn't just make themselves you know!

When: Wednesday, Sept. 9, 7:00 PM
Where: Squaw Lake Community Center, Hwy. 46
Who: You
Why: To showcase all our area businesses and expand the brochure into a guide book with some stories about area points of interest.

Crab Apple Butter

2009-09-07T18:28:00.000-07:00

Crab Apple Butter

Place a small glass plate in the freezer.

Pick your ripe crab apples and wash. I then cut the apple off the core and put in a pan. I almost cover the apples with water and bring to a boil and simmer until soft. Then I pour off the juice through a cheesecloth covered colander. I then run the cooked apple through a food mill. When I have all the apples done I measure how many cups of applesauce I have. Then I add the same amount of sugar and cinnamon to taste. I then put it back on the heat and cook until it comes to a boil. Turn down to a simmer and cook til it is becoming thick. Take your frozen plate out of the freezer and add a small amount of the apple butter on it. Move the plate around letting the apple butter run. In about 45 seconds you should see the apple butter becoming hard. If this sets up then the butter is ready to jar. Otherwise cook it some more and test again. When done ladle into clean hot jars and put hot lids and rings on the jars. Process in a boiling water bath 5 minutes for 1/2 pints and 10 minutes for pints. The apple juice you poured off can be made into apple jelly but that's another recipe.

Enjoy!! Really great on homemade bread.

Hope you are all in good health and spirits.

Take care,
Julie

2009-09-07T17:50:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy weekend doing mostly fun things. Friday I spent the day driving around through the forest. I haven't taken the time to do that this year. Put on about 60 miles and hadn't seen one grouse when close to home saw 5. Saw a few ducks on some beaver ponds. Then in the evening took the four wheeler and went for a ride. It was a very relaxing day.

Saturday, the kids were up and had some friends with them and we went 4 wheeling again. The son in law took us to a beaver pond he wanted to check out and while we were there we had a picnic. The friends from the cities enjoyed it very much.

Sunday Steph cooked for all of us. It was a surprise for the people who had never had it before. We made Pig Slop. This is such a fun meal to put on. You cover your table with 3 or 4 layers of white paper. Then you start with a large pot and put in some chicken broth. You then add some cutup chicken breast, kielbasa or smoked sausage to the kettle, add some cut up rhutabaga, potato, carrots, onions and cook some more. At the very end at some 1/2 cobs of corn and finally 5 minutes before it is done add some shrimp to the pot. Just when the food is about done have everyone you've invited over to go to the sink and wash their hands very well. They will think you've lost it. Have them go to the table and stand back. You've drained the liquid off the kettle you have cooked everything in and then you dump the pot of food down the middle of the table. you then go around and offer them butter, ketsup, bq sauce and sour cream. The first thing everyone notices is that there is no silverware or plates on the table. Everyone eats with their fingers. If someone wants something that isn't in front of them who ever is closest to what they want grabs a handful and hands it to them. Steph has done this quite a few times and everyone has loved it except her father in law who I still think he thinks we are the most barbaric people he has ever met. Oh well you can't win them all.

Today they left for home early as school starts tomorrow. So after they left I made apple butter and pickled crab apples. I still have apple jelly to make this week but everything is coming along good as far as the canning is going.

I got the carrot cake jam made last week and it tastes just like carrot cake. However, my jam didn't look like the picture they showed of it. They must of taken the picture of the jam made with out the cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg in the jam because it was a light orange and we all know if you add these to your jams they turn a brown color. Anyway it is great on toast.

We also made pear butter and jelly this weekend. Lots of jams, jelly and butters have been made around here this fall. Pickled beets will be in a couple of weeks.

Well, school starts tomorrow so maybe I can get into the swing of writing a little oftener.

Wednesday

2009-09-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

I think we are getting some summer weather now that it's fall. It was a beautiful day out there today.

The basement is over 1/2 full of wood. That is a good feeling. I need to start splitting some now because I've picked out all the small stuff. Splitting isn't so bad as I've got a wood splitter so it really goes pretty fast.

I made some habanero jelly yesterday. It seems a little hotter than the last batch I made but I didn't have the cream cheese to go with it. That will tone it down some.

I've got some apples cooked up today maybe tomorrow after work I'll get that made into butter. I just love the looks of all the stuff that Steph and I've got canned up so far.

I'm working on some more copies of the cookbook I made the kids and grandkids a couple of years ago. The grandkids have lost theirs in a couple of moves and sometimes who ever they were living with kept their copy when they ceased to live together.

I'm not sure if there is anything new going on around town or not. I haven't been out since I came home from work on Monday. When it is nice weather there are too many things to get done.

Hoping it is nice all weekend. Steph and Randy are having friends up and it always goes better when it is nice and the kids can 4wheel etc than being stuck in the house.

Wishing you all good health and a great weekend.

Recipe for you that I haven't made for a while. This is something I used to make quite often but haven't made in a few years. hope you enjoy.

No Bake Cookies

2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margerine
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cup quick cook oatmeal

Bring first 6 ingredients to a hard rolling boil and boil for a minute. Stir in the peanut butter and stir til dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in oatmeal. Drop by spoonfuls on waxed paper or this may be put into a greased pan and cut into bars.

Have a great weekend
Julie

Monday Squawk

2009-08-31T18:10:00.001-07:00

Hope you all had a nice weekend. The weather was great. A little cold in the mornings but warmed up really nice.

Steph and I spent the weekend canning. She made dilly beans and I made high bush cranberry jelly, then we both worked on some hot vegetable mix which included cauliflower, peppers both sweet and hot,cucumber, onions and carrots. It looks good hope that when we try it in 6 weeks it tastes good also.

Not much happening around as far as I know. Hope this weekend is busy being that it is Labor Day weekend. It has been pretty quiet around.

Glen at Hoot & Holler is having a big weekend with drink specials, prizes and food on Saturday.

On Labor Day Monday will be the rubber ducky race in Squaw Lake.

I'm thinking winter is coming so am working on getting the wood in the basement. The boys worked last weekend and got quite a bit sawed up for me. Hopefully in the next week or so will have the basement full and then a pile outside next to the house covered up.

Tomorrow I am going to make some jam called Carrot Cake Jam. It is a pear jam flavored so that it tastes like carrot cake. I made some Carmel Apple butter earlier this summer and that was really good.

I'm a little worried about our pickled beets this year. It was a funny growing year so they didn't do very well and they have been high priced at the farmers market. Might be a slim year for pickled beets.

Hopefully, we will get Indian Summer this year since we didn't have many days of summer. I wouldn't mind nice weather until the middle of November.

Have any of you read the book Life With Arnie by Kathy Peterson. It is an entertaining book. It is for sale at the Mini Max Flea Market, Max Mini Store, and also First Week Boutique.

Today I had a visit from my old friend Lynne Hubert and girls from Bozeman, Montana. It was really nice to see them again. It is too bad that we all get involved in our lives and sometimes forget to keep in touch with others.

Well, a week from tomorrow and school starts and then I can start giving you a game report. I've seen a few deer around but not too many. Haven't seen many ducks in the ponds but there have been quite a few on Round Lake.

This weekend starts early goose season. Randy is overjoyed by this prospect. He loves to hunt geese and ducks. The geese have been coming into the field pretty regularly so maybe he will be able to get some. I'm going to try and smoke one this year.

I'm looking forward to this weekend. Steph said it is a weekend of fun no working. I'll go along with that but then next week I will have to get back into the swing of things.

The growing season has been so pitiful this year that I had to buy zucchini to make zucchini bread. I remember years ago when you had better lock your car if you didn't want it filled. Anyway I thought I would give you my recipe for zucchini bread.

Zucchini Bread

3 cups flour
1 tsp soda
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 cups sugar
3 cups of grated zucchini ( not peeled)
1/2 cup. chopped nuts
1 cup craisins
1 tsp. salt
3 tsp. cinnamon
3 tsp. vanilla
1 cup oil
3 eggs

Sift together flour, salt, soda, cinnamon and baking powder. Beat eggs. Add sugar, vanilla, and oil, mix well. Stir in grated zucchini, add dry ingredients and blend. Stir in nuts and craisins, Bake in two greased bread pans (9 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches). Bake at 350 degrees for 60 - 70 minutes.

Hope you enjoy this.

Well, that all for now folks. Have a great week in case I get too busy to write.

Julie

Dump cake recipe

2009-08-27T19:39:00.001-07:00

Dump Cake

1 yellow cake mix
1 - 20oz crushed pineapple
1- can cherry pie filling
1 stick butter

Spray a 9x13 cake pan. Dump in pineapple and cherry pie filling mixing together. Sprinkle cake mix over the top. Melt butter and drizzle over top of cake in small streams. Bake in 350 degree oven about 1/2 hour or until it is browned nicely. Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!!

Upcoming Events

2009-08-27T19:23:00.000-07:00

September 2, 10 am. Women of the Woods (WOW) at the Sand Lake Community Center. Learn how to make a cloth covered photo album.

September 7, 5pm - Duck's Unlimited Rubber Ducky Race in Squaw Lake. Tickets on sale now. I've seen them at the Mini Store not sure where else they are for sale.

September 8, 5pm. Evergreen Friendship Club presents the Cowboy Church Group at Sand Lake Community Center. Free will donation. Everyone Welcome.

September 12 - Itasca Habitat for Humanity Chapter Motorcycle Ride. Register at 9:30am at the Restore Center on Highway 169 East across from the Midway Bowling Alley in Grand Rapids. Leave 11 am for 160 mile ride. $30.00per person includes lunch and T-shirt. Drawings for prizes at end of ride. Proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity.

September 14 - WOW going away luncheon at Anabella's Antique Mall and Coffee Shoppe in Bovey. Plan is to eat at noon.

September 19 - Highway 38 Garage Sales and Good from the Woods at Ruttger's Sugar Lake Lodge.

September 28th - 10am - WOW meeting Sand Lake Community Center, Plant Exhange outside and Lefsa making inside.

November 2 - WOW Wreath making with Kim Giehler at her place. Contact Kim at 659-4654 for further info.

November 23, 10am - WOW meeting at Sand Lake Community Center with glass painting by Diane Stay. Bring a wineglass, vase or whatever glass object. For more info contact Diane at 659-2606.

October 17-8pm- Squaw Lake Firemen's Dance, music by Union Rebels (hope I got the name right) Raffles and silent auction items. Hope to see you there.

February 2010, 19,20,21 - WOW Weekend Winter Retreat where year around WOW's will provide lodging for our snowbirds who want to fly up north for a winter experience. Contact Nancy Gwinn at 659-2755 or after August at 217-359-2294.

That's all I've got now.

Hi Again

2009-08-27T18:45:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks,

Sorry the blog has been so quiet. I have seemed to run out of words the last couple of weeks and I haven't heard of much going on around the area. Of course if I left home more than to go to work I might of heard something.

I guess the wedding was the climax and after I seemed to run out of steam. I just couldn't get myself motivated to do much of anything. I hate it when it rains and is gloomy because I fight depression. I probably should just go and get a little white happy pill and take one a day but it goes against my grain that I can't be happy with all the things that are great in my life. So somedays I have these pity parties of one and I don't want to subject anyone to my fits of temper.

Anyway, the last few days have had lots of sunshine in them and I'm doing great. I made soap yesterday for the first time since March. I made 3 big batches and it was wonderful. Then I went out and started putting wood in the basement for winter. Today I worked and tomorrow I will put some more wood in before I go to a meeting and work in the afternoon.

This weekend Steph and I are making jelly, jam and pickled green beans. Last weekend we made Bread & Butter Pickles. It is wonderful working in my new kitchen in the garage. I will try and remember to take some pictures and post here so you can see how nice it is. If I repeat myself I'm sorry but I have that horrible disease of CRS and it seems to be getting worse. The kids just tell me Mom you've already told that one. Anyway, I have the big stove from the Squaw Lake School and a 3 section stainless steel sink, cupboards, a cold bar from subway that we have put a counter top on when we don't need it to keep things cold, a subway oven. We still need a few things like it would be nice to have a kitchen aid mixer out there and we still have to haul a few things out of our houses but hopefully by next year we will have the kitchen stuff out there so we don't have to steal from our houses to do everything we want in the garage kitchen.

The leaves are already starting to turn in places. The geese have started coming back into the field. We have about 50 or so each day. We've seen 2 does one with twins and the other has a single fawn. They still have some spots on them. Otherwise, not to much wildlife around here. Seen a few grouse but not alot of them.

I spent the day on Tuesday at an in-service for bus driving. It was one long day but I got over 2 dozen scrubbies crocheted while sitting there listening. At least this year they had a new movie for training. I've been going to these for over 20 years and have seen the same movie for training most years. Hard to believe that I've been driving bus for 37 years. I'm hauling children of kids I hauled back when I started.

I'll try and write more often but it just depends on if I know anything or not. Some days I'm like Sargent Schultz, "I know nothing".

Hope this finds all of you in good health and spirits.

Take care,
Julie

Some news more squawk

2009-08-20T20:00:00.000-07:00

Wow, the week is almost over and I haven't wrote anything. I haven't done anything this week so I don't have much to talk about.

Sunday, September 13 at 2 pm at the Edge Center for the Arts in Bigfork The Pretenders and Friends will be playing. $5 Tickets will be sold at the door. This is a good time for all.

With this cooler weather I've been thinking about canning and baking. I should be thinking about the wood pile but I've been too lazy to think about that. Everything is so wet right now that I hate to put it in the basement. I will have to run the dehumidifer for that.

There seems to be quite a bit of activity in the woods right now with all the bear baiters. Maybe we will get some nice weather around the 1st. Seems like when it is time to hunt bear that the weather changes.

Ice Cream and Pie Social at Kinghurst Town Hall on Sunday, August 23rd. Proceed go toward a new furnace for the hall.

Anyone have any good recipes to try? I'm always looking for new ones. Last week I made my tater tot casserole. It makes a big bunch so I mix it up and then I put it in little casserole dishes and wrap in foil and freeze. I just take it frozen from the freezer and pop in the oven and in about an hour I have a nice hot meal. Comes in handy when I'm busy.

Tater Tot Casserole

1 pound ground beef
1 onion large or small your choice I use large
1 cup diced celery
2 cans cream of mushroom soup or whatever cream soup you like
salt, pepper, garlic to your taste
1cup or so of frozen mixed vegetables or whatever vegetable you like
sliced American cheese
shredded cheese
tater tots

Brown the ground beef with the celery and onion until beef is done and celery and onion are soft.(If freezing let this mixture cool to room tempature before adding the rest of the ingredients.)
Add your seasonings and soups. Mix in the frozen vegetables. Put this in a bottom of casserole dish that has been sprayed with Pam. Add a layer of slice American Cheese. Arrange tater tots over the top. (If freezing cover with foil and put in freezer). If baking right away put in 350 degree oven and bake until tater tots are brown and crispy just before taking out of oven sprinkle shredded cheese over top of tater tots and bake til cheese is melted. I bake the frozen casseroles in a 350 degree oven also.

As you can see I don't do alot of measuring when I'm cooking. If it looks and tastes good that is all I worry about.

Hope all of you are in good health and great spirits.

Julie

Sunday, Aug. 16

2009-08-16T19:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I sure put in a lazy day today. Took a nap and watched some tv. I don't do that too often.

Boy we really had some rain showers off and on today. Good then I didn't feel I had to go outside and do something.

I watched the musical Mama Mia last night. I don't usually watch too many movies but was glad I saw that one. I want to go see the movie Julie & Julia about Julia Childs think that will be an interesting one.

September 23rd the St. Catherine and Centennial Lutheran Ladies will again put on the Community Supper with proceeds going to Fresh Water For Life. They will be serving Taco's this time. Serving starts at 5 and goes to 7. Hope to see you all there.

Otherwise, haven't heard too much of what is going on. School starts on the 8th.

Today I was looking up some new jam recipes to try. The other day I tried Carmalized Onion Garlic Jam. I had it on a cracker with some roast beef and it was really good so now I'm going to try and make some. I like to try different things.

Hope this finds all of you in good health. If you have anything you'd like put on the blog drop me a line.

Take care,
Julie

squawk

2009-08-15T14:53:00.001-07:00

Thanks to the Centennial Lutheran Church and Kinghurst townhall for the use of their plates. We were able to serve with real plates and silverware. Steph got some linen napkins somewhere so we were set. It made for a nice looking table with the candles and the silverware wrapped in the napkins.

The people who helped us with the serving were outstanding. Thanks seems like such a small word for all the work they did. This couldn't of been pulled off without all the help we received from friends and family.

It was a wonderful time but truthfully I'm glad it's over. I'm exhausted. It was a lot of work to crammed into one summer. Hopefully I can keep up on the buildings so that they don't get so run down.

It was a very fun evening when the dancing started. It was so cute to see all the little kids out there having a great time with their dancing. Everyone seemed to have a great time. I know I didn't go to bed until after 2am. I did however sneek in for a snappy nap around 10pm. Amazing what a 15 minute snooze does for me.

I was dreading the cleanup on Sunday morning but even that went well. We went to the Crow Bar for a breakfast buffet that they put on and when we came home everyone pitched in and alot of stuff was done by 2. Of course there is minor stuff to do yet like bring back to the house everything I took out to the kitchen in the garage. I'm going to have to hit a few yard sales and pick up the stuff that I am taking from my house to it.

The kitchen in the garage turned out beyond my dreams. I still need to get an on demand hot water heater because the one I have is too small to keep up. But with the stove I bought from the Squaw Lake School and the other things I have accumulated it is set up pretty nice. It will be nice to can the beets that we pickle out there this year.

The son-in-law built two screen to fit into the overhead door openings so we can have the doors open but don't get the bugs and flies. We even have a 3 section stainless steel sink out there.

Now it is time to begin thinking about the winter wood pile. I did buy some that was cut and split but I bought alot that is in 100 inch sticks so that will have to be cut up and split and put in a pile. Hopefully, Randy and some of his friends will cut it up for me. Then I can work on the splitting and putting into the basement. It really isn't so bad if I do a little each day, it is when I think I'm Super Woman and over do that I wonder why I burn wood. Steph asked me last year if I thought I saved money by burning wood and the answer is NO but the heat from the wood is so much better than the propane.

Well, it is raining again this afternoon. Was hot here this week in between the rains. I think we might of had a couple days of summer. I suppose with bear season just around the corner it will get hot. Seems like they have a bunch of hot days when the season starts.

I think I am going to do not too much of anything this week coming up and get rested up so that the next week I will feel like working. Hard to believe that in about 3 weeks school starts.

I hope this finds all of you well and you will have a great week. I will try and get back on schedule of writing and letting you know what is going on around Squaw Lake.

Take care,
Julie

Squawk

2009-08-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

Christmas in August is over. We had a good turnout of vendors in crafts, flea market and one in farmers market. The attendance seemed to be down to me but I could be wrong. I had a good day people seem to like my smelly jellies so that made for a good day.

Tomorrow I'm not going to do too much. I am going to be a lazy load that just sits around. It has been a while since I did that.

Now back to the wedding. If I repeat myself I'm sorry but I have a hard time viewing what I have posted and getting back to the draft I'm typing. Hopefully one of these days I will learn this program. Anyway we

Christmas in August

2009-08-11T20:11:00.000-07:00

Christmas in August is growing. We are now up to 12 crafters, 8 flea Market and 1 Farmer's Market. I got a call tonight that there will be fresh sweet corn for sale there this weekend. Hope to see you there.

More wedding squawk

2009-08-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

I thought the tents looked awesome. Steph had white tulle on the outside, red tulle on the inside with a string of Christmas lights in the middle. This was scalloped around the inside of each tent. The same combination was hooked up to the tent poles and flowed down to the corners of the tent. Each tent had a chandelier hanging in it. The tables were covered with white tableclothes then a piece of red organza over that and a runner of black and white paper down the center. On each end of the table was a mirror with votive candles and in the center was a mirror and candlelabra with 2 votive candles. Between the ends of the tables were potted impatients. Each table was set with glass champagne glasses and linen napkins holding the silverware. We had borrowed real plates to finish off with.

Outside down by the Scotch Pines we put white picket fence with and arbor and had plants hanging on the fence. They had set up chairs and had flowers at the ends of each row of chairs.

The only problem I saw is that as usual I didn't get to visit with everyone. I'd see someone and when I was free to go and visit they had already left. So I'm sorry if you were here and I didn't get a chance to talk to you.

My farm looks wonderful with the barn painted and fixed up. The siding on the old garage and the house painted. I find myself standing out in the yard just looking around at all the improvements.

Well it's been another long day. I hope this finds all of you in good health.

Julie

Christmas in August in Squaw Lake

2009-08-10T19:40:00.000-07:00

August 15th in Squaw Lake is going to be a busy day.

Max Mini Store will be having sales starting at 8 am and going to 4pm. They will have sidewalk sales and instore specials.

Centennial Lutheran Ladies will be osting their annual Sandwich and Salad luncheon with Bake Sale and crafts. Everything starts at 11 and goes to 1.

Squaw Lake Community Center will have their annual Christmas In August Craft and Flea Market. This will start at 9am and go to 3pm. We have 10 crafters and displayers. Hope to see you there.

2009-08-10T18:14:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while since I posted. You'll have to forgive me but I was too busy to write. By the time I was done for the day all I wanted to see was the bed.

The week of the 27th of July was a grueling week. I was trying to finish the garage and Mother Nature was working against me. It seemed like it rained every day. I was finally down to painting the floor. Art helped me on the evening of the 27th etch the floor with acid. Then it had to dry so Mary and I started painting on the 28th. We painted 3/4 of the floor. We had too many big things in there to move out so we decided to paint 3/4 of it and then do the rest the next night. We put 1 gallon of paint on the floor and then another and then part of a third. Looked pretty good. The next afternoon I went out there to start moving everything we had on wheel so I could paint the rest and when I looked at the floor it was two different shades of grey. You could see where we stopped with one gallon and started the next. So I took the rest of the paint and mixed it together and repainted the floor so it would be all one color. On day 3 we got the heavy things moved over and painted the rest of the floor. Looked good. On day 4 I went to the garage and looked at the floor. 3/4 of the floor had this nice shine to it because it had been painted twice and the rest looked like the dickens. So repaint that part of the floor. So a two day job took 4 days.

Saturday the 1st, the load of flowers comes up from the cities in an enclosed trailor. Open the door and look in and the platform that was built in there to hold a layer of flowers had collapsed. It made a person sick to their stomach but we started unloading to see how much damage had been done. Someone was really looking out for us because when it collapsed it landed on a big planter and that had held up the platform. A little pruning and the flowers looked great.

So a long weekend of hooking everything up in the garage and installing cabinets, siding the rest of the old garage.

Steph stayed up on Sunday and we started finishing the plans. We ran to town on Monday and bought the last (we hope) of things we needed.

Wednesday the tents were delivered and the decorations were started. I helped some with the decorations on Wednesday but started on the food. The ladies helping me were thoroughly sick of celery and onions by the end of the day.

When we get the pictures back I will try and load some on here so that you can see how the tents were decorated.

The menu for the wedding was Roast Pork, Roast Turkey, Mashed Potatos, Gravy, Corn, Wild rice, Baked Beans, Rotini Italian Salad, Tuna Salad, Oriental Cabbage Salad, Coleslaw, Veggies and dip, fresh fruit, buns, Salsa and chips. I had done some of the prep ahaead on a few things. Thank goodness for friends as they turn out from Wednesday on to help with the preparations.

Well, I'm beat so will write more tomorrow.

Hope you are all in good health.
Julie

2009-07-27T19:26:00.000-07:00

Hope this finds all of you in good health and spirit.

The weekend a lot got accomplished around here. New doors went into the barn and the painting was finished. The garage got siding on it. The ice machine was installed in the garage kitchen and is working good.

Landscaping was done where the wedding will take place. The lists were gone over many times and changed a couple.

This is the last weekend to get things done. Hopefully by Friday the garage floor will be painted and dry. However, with the humidity it might take longer to get it dry to paint. I did put fans out there along with the dehumidifer from my basement. So I'm hoping that will do the trick.

Next week will be a busy week but hopefully we will have a little down time also. I've made my lists, checked them twice made up a calendar with a schedule. This is all for me because I have that Old Timer's Disease "Can't remember S---" I know if I'm responsible for it I had better have it on a list.

I'm wondering how many trips to town next week. Last Saturday between the 7 of us here I think we made 10 trips to the Mini Store. We were starting to wish Rochelle was old enough to drive. She turned 11 today. Hard to believe that time has went that fast.

I've been so busy with wedding preparations that I haven't heard of anything going on around town.

August 15th is Christmas in August at the Community Center, The Lutheran Ladies are having their annual luncheon, bake sale etc the same day. Max Mini Store will be have special sales and of course the Mini Max Flea Market will be open for business. So there will be lots to do and see in Squaw Lake that day.

Will write more when I can.

Julie

2009-07-22T06:25:00.000-07:00

Well, as you can see I haven't been on here much. I took the weekend off and left town and went to a family reunion. Jimmie's sister Audrey and husband celebrated 50 years of being married. It was a wonderful weekend.

Now we are getting down to the crunch. Art has the barn just about done. Adam (grandson) will be up this weekend to put new doors in. Randy (sil) will be here tomorrow with a friend to plumb the garage and finish wiring etc. Steph will be here later tomorrow and will work on the flower beds etc. Also she will be going through the list on decorations and food. It is all coming together and hopefully by the end of this weekend we will be majorily done. It would be nice next weekend if we had just the misc. stuff to figure out and do.

I've been so busy here that I only go uptown usually on Monday morning and Friday morning to work. So, I'm not really sure what is going on.

Tonight the Community meal will be at the Community center from 5 - 7 . They will be serving sloppy joes. This is always a good meal, hope you can come and help support the Free Water for Life that they do this for.

This is the last week for the Showboat performances in Grand Rapids. I've heard this is a great thing to go to. I've never made time in my life to do it.
Mississippi Melodie Showboat comes around the bend of the Mississippi River at 8:30 pm and it is SHOWTIME!!
Thursday July 23 is Family Night - 1/2 price for those that live in Itasca County
Friday July 24
Saturday July 25
Prices: Adults - $10, Seniors - $8, Children $4

A pre show is held 30 to 45 minutes ahead of the show. Handicap parking is available about 50 to 80 feet from the seats. Wear long pants and coat maybe a fleece blanket as the evening are quite cool.

For more info: Diane Stay - 659-2606 (H), or 218-259-0164 (cell) or email: jonalioliuri4@hotmail.com.

Well, it is getting warm enough to go outside and do some work. It is almost 9am time to quit goofing around. Hope all of you are in good health and spirit. Talk to you when I have time.
Julie

Northern Minnesota Artists Wanted

2009-07-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

If you are an artist or artisan within 100 miles of Squaw Lake the managers at First Week Boutique located in the Squaw Lake Community Center want to talk to you! We are looking for people interested in consigning arts and craft work, including but not limited to, bead work, birch bark crafts, photography and paintings, original clothing designs, accessories, and more. We also accept gently used and new clothing.

Some basic need-to-know info:

You keep 80% of the sale price on all handmade products. We do a 50/50 split with the consignor on used clothing with automatic markdowns if items do not sell. Ask about a tax deductible donation of your unwanted items.

We are open the first week every month year around and on some special "high traffic" days like the "Christmas in August" craft fair and St. Urho's Day.

No table fees!

Call the First Week Boutique office at Eagleview for more info or to set up an appointment. 218.659.4254, Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00-8:00 and Fridays 4:00-7:00PM. You can also reach us via e-mail at firstweekboutique@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you,
Shelby, Michael-Anthony and Margaret

Events in July and August

2009-07-14T19:02:00.000-07:00

July 18 the First Week Boutique will be open at the Community Center from 10a to 3p.

July 20, baby shower for Isabelle Adams, daughter of Angela and Chad Adams. Again I forgot to check on the time.

July 22, Community Supper at the Community Center, serving from 5 to 7. This is done by St. Catherine Ladies and Centennial Lutheran Ladies and all proceeds go to Fresh Water for Life. This time they will be serving a Sloppy Joe Supper. They always put on a good meal.

August 8, at Hemphill's is the Michelle Woods/Mertes and Adam Puncochar wedding. If we missed you with an invitation and you'd like to come. Come on and join the fun. They will be getting married at 4pm with dinner and dance following. Just give Julie Hemphill 659-4239 or Mary Mertes 659-4274 a call with how many are coming. We want to have enough food for all but our families don't want us to overcook like we usually do so they have to eat leftovers for weeks. Help them out. Thanks.

August 15, Christmas in August from 9am to 3pm. Squaw Lake Community Center. Crafts, flea market. Snack bar.

August 15, Centennial Lutheran Ladies will have their luncheon to help raise money for fuel for the winter. Usually they have a bake sale and other items for sale as well. I think their luncheon starts at 11am.

I will check on a couple other things that is suppose to be going on that day but haven't got the real scoop yet so will talk about them later.

Labor day is the Rubber Ducky Race sponsored by Ducks Unlimited. Don't forget to buy your duck.

2009-07-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Wow, what a nice rain today. Already the grass is looking better. I hope we get some more tonight so that the grass will look even better and I won't have to water for a few days.

I went to town today to buy grey paint and red paint. Now I didn't think this should be too hard a task. Well, let me tell you I've never seen so many shades of grey and red paint. First of all I wanted to paint my barn red now I'm talking that red color like a crayon or the color barns used to be 30 years ago. Barn paint now comes in brown red color that is call barn red. It is more of a rusty brown red. Not what I wanted. Of course I always wait til the last moment to get stuff so ordering what I wanted was out of the question. I went to L&M, Home Depot, and Menards they all have barn red but it is the brown barn red so I said to heck with it (notice how my language is cleaner on this) and painted the barn white. Well, Art said you need trim paint for the barn and I said what color and everyone said red so I go back to Home Depot today to buy red exterior paint. Now there are pinky red, orangey red, browny red, but no red the color of a red crayon so I ended up with candy apple red. You should be able to see this barn from a long way away! As for grey paint there were at least 10 different shades of grey. This really tells the story of my age when I can remember you had white, black, grey, red, green, blue etc kind of like the primary colors and didn't have to look for hours to get the color you wanted. You could of sent anybody back then to pick up a gallon of paint for you.

Sooo, since it was kind of a gloomy day and all I wanted to do was crawl in bed with a good book I did bookwork instead. I was going to scrub the floor in the garage and get it ready to do something to it. I've looked at epoxy and decided that wouldn't be as durable as I wanted. Also, I think paint would just come off. I've thought about stain because I figured it would soak into the concrete and be there but the lady at Home Depot today said oh no it will peel up sometimes. Now I'm not sure what to do to the floor in the garage. All I can say it will be clean for the party for the wedding but will it have some color other than concrete color who knows. If anyone out there has tried staining their old concrete to make it look better let me know because I am out of ideas for this floor. Or at least ideas I can afford.

Looks like it is going to windy for the next couple of days. More thunderstorms tonight but clearing off tomorrow. By the weekend suppose to be nice. We sure needed this rain, actually hope we get some more before it is over.

Some of you are probably laughing when I say I'm getting old but I remember when County 4 between Max and Squaw lake was gravel. It was great when they tarred it. I learned to ride bike at my Uncle Nat's place. First thing I did was run off the tar and ended up in the ditch. That wasn't so great but once I learned how to ride it was much better than the dirt road I lived on.

Have a great week and I'll try to write again unless I get too busy.

Julie

Squawk

2009-07-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone has had a great week. It was some nice weather over the weekend. A very busy weekend around here. Seemed like everyone had a project and things got done.

The house got painted even the trim work. Then landscape fabric and mulch got put around it. Looks pretty good. All those elves around here this weekend got the job done quickly.

Just a little more painting in the ceiling in the garage and scrub the floor and decide what to do with it and the cabinets can get hung the next time the son in law comes up.

The barn has been primed and one coat of paint put on it.One more to go and then the trim. Tomorrow going to town to buy trim paint for the barn and a few other things.

The old garage has a new face lift with a roll up door and siding. Next time will be finish the siding.

Things are coming together pretty good. It's been alot of work but the end result will make all the effort worthwhile. Tonight my knees are disagreeing with me. To many trips up and down the ladder over the last week. I'd forgotten how bad they used to hurt until today.

Hopefully, we will get some rain tonight. I can't believe it but I've been watering the lawn everyday and it is still crunchy in places. Usually this time of the year I cut it off short and let it turn brown so I don't have to mow. But i would like to have green grass for the wedding so I go and water it each day.

The hay has been cut and baled on the place. I keep looking to see if there is any deer but haven't seen any. Not sure where they all are but there hasn't been many tracks on the road either.

Hope all of you have a great week.

Julie

July happenings

2009-07-08T20:11:00.000-07:00

July 11th - Bridal shower for Michelle Woods-Mertes at the Community Center from 3 to 5p.

July 11th - Retirement party for Wendy Muntean from 1 - 4p, but I don't remember if it is at the Sand Lake Hall or Sand Lake Alliance Church. Will let you know.

July 14th - Max Town Board Meeting at the Max Town Hall at 7p.

July 20 - Baby shower for Angela Adams and baby daughter Isabelle. I've forgotten the time for this also.

July 22 - Community Meal by St. Catherine and Centennial Lutheran Ladies from 5 - 7p. I haven't heard what the menu is yet.

Squawk

2009-07-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

My how time flys when you're having fun.

It has been a busy week since I last posted. Thank goodness for the Firemen's auxilliary who did so much of the preparation for the pig roast. We had a good crowd and had way to much food. It was a beautiful day so I'm sure alot of people had fun outside.

Besides getting ready for the pig roast we've been busy as bees here on the farm trying to get everything ready for the wedding. Steph and Randy are here every weekend working hard to get stuff done and leaving late on Sunday evening. I'm not sure how they manage that trip back to the cities so late after working as hard as they do on the weekend. Art and Mary Mertes have been here everyday helping to get stuff done. My sister Nancy came up Monday and Tuesday and we painted most of the house. Just the high ends of the house didn't get it and Art came over tonite and finished that. The ceiling in the garage has been painted and ready for the boards that will go over the joints of the sheetrock. All of the trim boards have been painted with poly. This weekend should finish the inside of the garage and then it is get the floor cleaned and install the cabinets.

We sure need rain. Walking across part of the lawn today and it was crunchy. I've been watering that part all week and it still is lacking water. Boy it takes a lot of effort to keep plants alive in this weather. Maybe that is why I've had a black thumb I just didn't water enough.

I know working on the ladder isn't good for my knees. They've really felt good since I've lost weight but they have been hurting like the dickens since I've started going up and down the ladder so much.

I hope all of you are enjoying this lovely weather we've been having. I heard we are suppose to get some heavy rains tonight. We need rain but I don't think we need heavy rains.

Wes Nestberg just pulled in with the haying equipment. I suppose that will ensure that we get rain tonight. I watered the plants and lawn, Art painted, Wes wants to mow tomorrow. Maybe I should of left the window down in my car that usually makes it rain.

Take care and I will try to write more often.

Julie

2009-07-02T19:40:00.001-07:00

Hi,

Do any of you close to Squaw Lake have any rhubarb you'd like to part with? My 2 hills aren't producing enough for me this year. Give me a call at 659-4239. Thanks, Julie

Squawk

2009-07-02T18:57:00.000-07:00

Today turned out to be pretty nice. When I first went out at 6 this morning I thought it was kinda cold, but it warmed up nice.

I stopped in at the First Week Boutique today and they were having some nice things for sale. They are still looking for things to consign.

Well, tomorrow the Auxillary for the fire department puts on the big push to get everything ready for the Pig Roast on Saturday. They are a great bunch of ladies willing to work to get stuff done for the fire department.

A big Thank You to the WOW women who stepped forward and made pies to help out for this big fund raiser for the fire department.

We hope to see all of you at this fund raiser. It will be a great meal and you will see people to visit with that you haven't seen for a while. It is suppose to be nice on Saturday so it should be a fun time.

I'm not sure what I've done this week but it doesn't seem like I've accomplished too much. I did manage to dig out my house a little. Housework usually gets left behind here when I'm busy on the other stuff. I figure that dirt will be waiting for me and it usually is. I'm such a pack rat that every available surface is piled with something. Usually another craft project.

Happy Birthday to Isabell Knudson (Kathy Peterson's Mom) who turned 85 today. She is one spry women who loves to play cribbage. I've gotten my butt beaten more than once playing cards with her.

It's a long weekend for some. I hope everyone is traveling safe and waiting until they reach their destination to start the partying.

Evy Oja reported a good weekend last week at the flea market. She said alot of stuff went out the door. Then on Tuesday I saw the vendors bringing more stuff in so there is alot of new things again at the flea market. If you have been there you must take the time to go and see all the stuff crammed under that roof. She should have a good one this weekend where it is a 3 day weekend.

I heard that the volleyball games they have at the Crow Bar on Thursday nights are alot of fun. Both for the players and the crowd.

The lady slippers have been out for a while. County 4 had a nice bunch along it when I was driving that way the other day.

I've seen 2 fawns so far one a nice size one and the other looked like it had just been born.

I haven't seen any bears yet.

It seemed like the lawn slowed down just a little with the cold weather this week. On Tuesday I built a wood fire. When the gas furnace kicked on I figured that I could build a fire. It sure took the dampness out of the house.

Hope you all have a great weekend. I've got people to help and lots of things to get done so I probably won't write until Monday.

Take care,
Julie

"First Week Boutique" Seeks Local Artists

2009-07-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

The "First Week Boutique" is a consignment shop open the first seven days of each month, and during special area events. The shop is run by youth, for youth, and profits will go to support the Eagleview Community Technology Center and other programs at Eagleview- like the Boys and Girls Club.

We are still accepting consignments from area artists and craftspeople. Stop in at the shop in the Squaw Lake Community Center on Highway 46 (2:00-7:00 weekdays, 10:00-3:00 weekends except this Saturday when we'll be open 1:00-7:00 PM for a Grand Opening during the SLFD Pig Roast). You can also contact us at 218.659.5254 or at firstweekboutique@gmail.com

Youth artists and new artists, we're looking for you!

Marg, Michael-Anthony and Shelby

July Calendar (update)

2009-06-29T19:40:00.000-07:00

July 1st - Sales tax increases to 6.875 (not 8.75 as previously published here) .

July 1st through the 7th - First Week Boutique will be open at the Community Center. Grand Opening will be July 4th to coinside with SLFD Pig Roast

July 4th - Squaw Lake Fire Department Pig Roast, serving starts at 4pm and goes to 7pm. Menu is Roast Pork, Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Italian Salad, Oriental Salad, 7 bean Salad, Frogs Eye Salad, Buns, Coffee, Lemonade and assorted Pies for desserts. $10/adult, $5 children 6 - 12 years, under 6 free. Hope to see you there. This is a fund raiser.

July 11, - Bridal Shower for Michelle Woods/Mertes at the Community Center from 3p - 5p. Everyone welcome. Bride is registered at Target and Walmart.

July 13 - Squaw Lake City Council at 7p at Community Center.

July 14, Nurse will be at the Community Center. Toenails clipped by appointment only.

July 14 - Max Town Board meeting at 7p at Max Town hall.

I know there is more but I can't find my calendar tonight so will have to finish this the next time.

Thanks,
Julie

Mutterings

2009-06-29T19:27:00.000-07:00

Frustation is the word I've had since last Wednesday. That is the day that my AVG free virus protection decided to attack my computer. I have been computerless since then. Thought I could hook up my other computer but I don't have an anti virus on that one and couldn't get a free one to download So...... I just waited until I got mine back from the repair shop with the new virus protection installed. I couldn't believe it when they told me that the program I bought could only be used on this computer that it can't be downloaded on my other computer. So I guess if this computer dies you have to buy a new program even if your year isn't up. It is sad how dependent that I am to have a computer.

I'm not sure what all was going on in Squaw Lake this weekend. I do know that the Pow Wow was going on and there seemed to be alot of people around.

Otherwise I was home most of the weekend. Had a great crew here on Saturday and Sunday. The metal is almost done on the inside of the garage and the wiring is almost done in all of the other out buildings. Hopefully, with the new wiring my light bill will go down. I still had the old black wiring put on with the metal staples in some of the out buildings. I hope all of you will start the sunshine dance for next week. I need about 4 days of warm sunny weather so that I can get the house painted.

The grass seed we planted is coming up really nice. The lawn is a nice bright green and had to be mowed once already. I got some more machinery moved just have the old bus to move this weekend and it will look nice over in that area for the wedding.

I've had a long day so will try and write tomorrow night. I hope all of you are in good health and having a great time.

Julie

Squaw Lake Selected to Receive IRRB Business Grant

2009-06-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

The Iron Range Resources Board voted last week to approve an $8,000 grant to the City of Squaw Lake for a revolving loan fund. The fund, matched with $4,000 from the city, will provide $12,000 to be passed through to businesses as loans for building expansion or rehabilitation. The interest rate on the loans cannot exceed 3%. People interested in expanding or rehabbing a building for business use within the city limits of Squaw Lake can contact Toni at 218.659.4271 or at roboticsnorth@yahoo.com for more info.

Ramblings

2009-06-22T20:18:00.000-07:00

I just paid attention tonight to the number of hits to the blog. We've had 2537 hits since the counter was put on the site. The blog was started on February 23rd and the counter was put on a couple of weeks later. So there have been over 600 looking at the blog in a month. Thank you to all of you. This is fun way for me to get the news out to you about what the Fire Department is doing and to gab a little with you when ever I have the time. Why don't you start gabbing back ?It would make it easier to write sometimes.

We are going to have some great pies at the Pig Roast. So far I have commitments on Razzleberry, Sugar free(SF) Cherry, SF Apple and SF Chocolate, Regular Lemon, Pumpkin, Assorted Cheesecakes, Dutch Apple, Cherry Rhubarb, Coconut Creme, Chocolate, Butterscotch. Hopefully, we will get some blueberry. I'm sure some people would even love banana pie but I don't do bananas so that one is out as far as I am concerned.

Well, it is 10:30pm and I need to hit the hay. Have a great week if I don't get back to writing this week. Thanks Diane Stay for the calendar events that I put on tonight.

Julie

Squawk

2009-06-22T19:46:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a list of events for the next 2 months and I'm sure I've missed some or put in the wrong info. I will do corrections as I find out what I've done wrong.

The work is getting done on the farm. Windows were put into the garage. Inside walls were started. Hopefully by the end of next week we will finish all the prep work that needs to be done before the steel is hung. It has been sticker shock for this ole granny. I am still thinking in the 70's when I go to buy some of this stuff. Made for one big depressing day last week when I bought paint, epoxy, wire, boxes, etc etc. BUT when all the work is done it will be great.

Now I need your help. Put in a word to the big man upstairs so I get nice weather for a week so that I can get the house painted. I've got the paint, supplies, and the people who volunteered to help paint now all I need is the nice weather.

Steph planted more flowers this week. So far we've had enough rain that my black thumb isn't showing. She is planning on putting in the soaker hoses next week working around the graduation party for Brittany. Her flower beds look great already.

We are all exhausted by Sunday evening. I can't imagine the 3 1/2 hour drive they have to do after we have worked like we do each weekend. Last night they didn't make it home until 11pm. and they are both up and out the door before 6 in the morning. I didn't have to be to work until 8 and I had a hard time dragging myself out of bed. We just keep telling ourselves that it will look so great that is it worth all this hard work.

I do know that the weekend after Christmas in August that I am doing absolutely nothing. I don't care what anyone wants I'm not doing it. If it takes more energy than sitting in a recliner it won't be done. Sounds like a great plan. Hope I can carry it out.

Boy those mosquitos are hungry little buggers. Thought they were going to carry me off this morning when I went out to check on the pigs. I've never been bothered too much by mosquitos until this year. I don't know what loosing weight has to do with it but they are sure after me this year. Maybe they can get to the blood supply easier as there isn't so much of me to go through.

This morning a little after 4 there was one happy little bird. I don't know what it was but it was the noisiest thing. It just kept singing and singing. If I could of found it it would of been one little dead bird. I love to hear birds just not that early in the morning.

I've seen a few deer on the field but haven't spotted any fawns. Have any of you seen any fawns? The mallards along the road must of hatched out and moved their babies to the lake as I haven't seen any since early last week. Very seldom do I ever see the babies but I usually know when they hatch because the adults are gone.

Randy, Rochelle and Randy's nephew Joe went fishing on Saturday night. Rochelle was the best she caught the most. Only trouble was they never had any they could keep because they were all too big. They said they had fun but I don't think it would be much fun to throw the fish back in. I guess if I ever go fishing I will have to go to a lake that doesn't have a slot. That would just go against me if I had to throw a fish back.

I hope all of you had a great weekend and have started out having a good week. Take care and have fun.

Julie

August Calendar

2009-06-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

August 1 to August 7 - 1st Week Boutique will be open at the Squaw Lake Community Center.

August 1 - Flotilla parade on Sand Lake at 1pm followed by potluck at Sand Lake Community Center at 6pm

August 8 - Michelle Woods/Mertes marriage to Adam Puncochar at Hemphill Farm at 4pm.

August 10, Squaw Lake City Council Meeting at 7pm at Community Center

August 11, Nurse at Community Center for toe nails.

August 15th in Squaw Lake

Christmas in August at Squaw Lake Community Center from 9 to 3pm. Crafts inside, Flea Market and Farmers Market outside. Lunch by SLFD Auxiliary.

Centennial Lutheran Ladies Salad Luncheon at Centennial Lutheran Church at 11am.

Customer Appreciation and Sidewalk Sales at Max Mini Store

Mini Max Flea Market with new items each week. Also, pick up the new book entitled "Life with Arnie" by Kathy Peterson.

Check out the other businesses in Squaw Lake also.

August 29 - Sand Lake Property Owners Association at 4:30 pm. Sorry don't know where this is being held will let you know later.

July Calendar

2009-06-22T19:07:00.000-07:00

July 1 to July 7 - 1st Week Boutique will be open at the Squaw Lake Community Center. I don't know the hours as of yet but call Eagleview Tech Center at 218-659-4254 in the afternoons for information. When I find out the hours I will let you know.

July 4th, Squaw Lake Fire Department Pig Roast from 4pm to 7 pm at the Squaw Lake Community Center. Menu includes Roast Pork,Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Assorted Salads, buns, coffee and lemonade and PIE for dessert. Cost is $10/adult, $5 children 6 to 12, under 6 eat free with paid adult. Come and enjoy the meal and visit with friends and neighbors. The raffle that the fire department has going on will be held at 7 pm that night also.

July 4th, Sand Lake Ice Cream Social at the Sand Lake Town Hall from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Mississippi Showboat in Grand Rapids at 8 pm.
July 9,10,11
July 16,17,18
July 23,24,25

July 13, Women of the Woods at 10am Sand Lake Town Hall.

July 13, Squaw Lake City Council Meeting at 7pm, Community Center

July 14, Nurse comes to Community Center to trim toe nails, Call Deer River Health Care for appointments.

July 14, Evergreen Friendship Club 5 pm, Potluck at the Sand Lake Town Hall

July 14, Max Town Board Meeting at 7 pm at Max Town Hall.

July 21 is Food Pantry day at the Indian Center on County Road 4 from 3 - 5p. Get there early for signing in. This is a commodity Supplement Food Program from Second Harves North Central Food Bank, Grand Rapids, call 218-326-4420 for more information.

July 22, St. Catherine and Centennial Lutheran Ladies join together for the Squaw Lake Community Meal from 5 to 7 pm at the Squaw Lake Community Center. All donations will go to Fresh Water for Life. These ladies put on a great meal for a good cause. Menu: Sloppy Joes, some type of salad and dessert. Come and join the fun.

July 27th, Women of the Woods at 10am at Sand Lake Town Hall.

Thursday Squawk

2009-06-18T06:40:00.000-07:00

Here it is Thursday morning and I'm trying to get myself motivated. Some days are harder than others. It seems when the sun is shining that I'm all for working but when it is cloudy I'm all for sitting on my backside. With this cloudy weather my knees have been aching so this morning I finally had to break down and put on some of the Old People's Cream, you know that stinky stuff that everyone can smell when you walk by. I wish they could make one that works as well but doesn't leave that tell tale odor.

I don't think I mentioned this but Kathy Peterson wrote a book about Arnie. It's called Life with Arnie. These will be on sale at the Max Mini Store and also Mertes Garage & Towing and Country Hair Care. Kathy does an article each time that the MN Trappers puts out their newspaper by this title. I'm not sure if any of the ones in the book are ones she has had in the Trapper newspaper or if these are new ones. I always have fun reading this article.

I don't think there is much going on around Squaw Lake but I haven't been into Squaw Lake since Monday and then I just went to work and back home so I really don't know.

Reminder: Birthday party for Bernice Randa starting a 11am at the Sand Lake Town Hall to celebrate her 90th birthday.

Well, I better do something productive today.

See ya,
Julie

Hi

2009-06-16T05:00:00.001-07:00

Well here it is Tuesday already and I've forgotten to blog again.

I was in the cities last weekend for granddaughter's graduation party and another granddaughter's fast pitch softball game. It was a nice weekend but Gram was tired when she got home on Sunday.

I've been busy out in the yard. Steph planted flowers and I'm trying to keep them alive by watering them. Yeah, I do kind of have a black thumb. BUT these flowers look pretty good. I also made a mud hole for the pigs in the big corral. I hooked up a nozzle on a pole that has a shower setting. The pigs love to walk around under it and dig in the mud. They need a mud hole to keep cool.

I was hoping to start painting on the house today but it looks like rain so will hold off. I hate to paint so don't want to do it and then have to redo in a couple years.

The grass seed we planted is coming up nicely. I'm sure it has to do with all the water that has been pumped on it. It should look really nice by the time of the wedding.

The ticks are still really bad. I pulled out a fence panel yesterday on the edge of the yard and had 4 ticks on me. The mosquito's are very hungry this year also. I was out pretty late last night in the yard and thought they were going to eat me up.

Lots of work to do this weekend when the family comes up. We will be starting the inside of the garage. It is a pole shed so we have to first put in 2x4 walls and then wire and finally put up the steel that I bought. It should make a great summer kitchen when we're done. I have the 10 burner stove from the Squaw Lake School and we bought a 3 tub stainless steel sink for it. I also got a subway oven so we should really be able to cook up a storm in there. I can hardly wait. I love to cook and can stuff for winter so this will be a great area and won't heat up the house.

Hope all of you are enjoying the warm weather. Usually I don't like the heat too much but after this cold spring I am loving it even if I have to come in more often to cool down.

I think that there is a Volley ball League starting at the Crow Bar on Thursday nights. I don't have any info just heard through grapevine so you need to call the Crow Bar to find out the details.

I was looking online the other night for something quick, easy, and cheap to make and I came upon a blog called: www.5dollardinners.com. She has some good ideas and menus and recipes and also links to other blogs on the same thread.

Have a great week.
Julie

Nature's Calling!

2009-06-12T08:57:00.001-07:00

The economic development committee that brought us last year's area advertising brochure has a name, and slogan. The name: Avenue of Pines Civic Association. The slogan: Nature's Calling.

We are joining the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce as an Association to get area events listed on their web site and have our brochures stocked at the Depot Information Center (open 24 hours a day). Businesses that bought ads in last year's brochure are automatically included in the Civic Association and can have their events forwarded for the Chamber of Commerce Calendar by e-mailing avenuepines@gmail.com

New advertisers and members are always welcome. e-mail avenuepines@gmail.com for more about our plans for a new advertising booklet to be published next spring.

Nothing important

2009-06-11T04:36:00.000-07:00

Good morning.

I forgot that I was going to give you this link last night on a white deer herd in Wisconsin. I thought this was pretty cool. Address is: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/fly/generic.html?s=inwi10s22a3q81f
Thanks Connie for sending this to me.

Wish I knew how to put pictures I haven't taken on this so you have to use your imagination on this one.

Think OLD fashioned Wringer Washer.

"Warshing" Clothes Recipe........

Never thought of a "warsher" in this light before..what a blessing!
"Warshing Clothes Recipe" - imagine having a recipe for this!!!
Years ago an Alabama grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe: this is an exact copy as written and found in a old scrapbook - with spelling errors and all,

WARSHING CLOTHES

Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water.

Sort things, make 3 piles

1 pile white,

1 pile colored

1 pile work britches and rags

To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water.

Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil, then rub colored dont boil just wrench and starch.

Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench, and starch.

Hang old rags on fence.

Spread tea towels on grass.

Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water.

Turn tubs upside down.

Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs..Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.

Paste this over your washer and dryer Next time when you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer, and give thanks..First thing each morning you should run and hug your washer and dryer.

For you non-southerners - wrench means rinse:)

AND WE THOUGHT WE HAVE IT ROUGH

Squawking

2009-06-10T20:15:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is the middle of the week and I haven't written much on the blog. When I get busy I forget all about it.

First Week Boutique Consignment Shop will be open for business at the Community Center starting July 1 through July 7. If you would like to know more about this consignment shop call the Eagleview Tech Center in the afternoons at 218-659-4254.

More stuff done in the yard today. Trimmed up the trees that were trying to knock whoever was mowing off the mower. Pulled out some old fence posts and I am now starting to mow the barn yard. I always say the lawn is too big and here I am making it bigger. It is looking nice.

Evy Oja says the Mini Max Flea Market was busy last weekend and more new stuff is coming in for this weekend.

Well, it is almost 10:30 so I need to head to bed. Have a great rest of the week if I don't get time to write.

Julie

June & July Happenings

2009-06-10T20:01:00.000-07:00

June Calendar

Memorial Service for Vienna Wistey Dexter will be Saturday, June 13 at 11am at Centennial Lutheran Church. Lunch will follow the service at the Community Service.

St. Catherine Catholic Church will be having Vacation Bible School June 22 - 25 for ages 4 to 12.

Going away party for Father Steve Daigle on June 28th at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, 6:30pm. Meat will be furnished, bring a dish to share. Everyone welcome.

July Calendar

Squaw Lake Fire Department will have it's annual Pig Roast on July 4th from 4 - 7 pm at the Community Service. Menu includes Roast Pork, Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Coleslaw, assorted salads, buns, coffee, lemonade, and PIE for dessert. Cost is $10/adults, $5/children 6 -12, under 6 eat free. Come and enjoy the meal and visit with people you don't see very often.

July 22nd, 5 - 7pm St. Catherine Ladies and Centennial Lutheran Ladies will be hosting their Community Supper at the Community Center. All donations will go to Fresh Water for Life. These ladies put on a great meal for a good cause. I forgot to ask what they were serving but as soon as I find out I'll let you know. Come out and join the fun.

Sunday Squawking

2009-06-07T17:53:00.000-07:00

The weekend is almost over. Thank goodness. I made a flying trip to the cities on Thursday afternoon and stayed over until Friday. I went to my granddaughter Rochelle's fast pitch softball game. It was a good game. Rochelle pitched every other inning all night. She's only 10 but she is playing on the 12 year old team. It was a good night.

My granddaughter Brittany graduated from high school on Friday night. I was worried that graduation we would be sitting for a long time. With all most 300 for a graduating class we were only there for about an hour and half. They went through the process really fast. So by 10:00pm we were on our way north. We got home about 2 am.

Saturday was another work day here on the farm. We aren't getting enough rain so decided we had to start watering where we want the grass for the wedding. Even with watering it hasn't rained enough to help.

We worked on moving the items out of the brown garage and down to the small garage. I keep trying to throw stuff away but being a farm girl I hate to throw those old bolts, nuts etc away because I might need one some day. Of course on that day I probably won't be able to find them any way. Also, I think that being raised by parents that went through the depression I have picked up on how they used everything. My kids still laugh to this day about my Squaw Lake Tupperware. You know those margerine, sour cream, cottage cheese cartons etc that I use to put stuff in the fridge.

So as we were talking the other night about me having these containers of nuts, bolts, etc Art Mertes was giving me some grief on how I should of thrown this stuff out. Well those words are coming right back at him because tomorrow when I'm cleaning his shop guess what is going to be thrown out. Yup, you got it the numerous cans of misc. nuts, bolts. He said that the hardware store on the corner has everything you need and they are in bins you can actually find the size you need. Well, he doesn't even need to go to the hardware store because he has bins of new stuff in his shop. I have to admit that I didn't throw all these misc. stuff away. I did get rid of a few cans but not all. Maybe the next time we clean the garage. OR maybe I'll leave it for when I die and the kids can say "Why the h.... did Mom keep this stuff."

Saturday night Tom Kallio and Art Mertes brought over the grass rig from the fire department and we set off a brush pile that has been growing for over 8 years. It was quite the blaze for a while. It was still smoldering a little this morning but the last time I looked it was out. It is good to get that done.

Anyway we did get quite a bit of the garage cleaned. In two weeks the son in law is coming up with a trailer and we will move out the cabinets, fridges, etc in the garage and put on the trailer and park in the Quonset until we get the walls, ceiling and floors done. That will take a little while as we are doing some rewiring and then putting flat steel on the walls, painting the ceiling and figuring out what to put on the floors to seal them but so they aren't slippery if you walk in with wet boots. Should make a really nice kitchen/garage when we are done.

I felt kind of sorry for Randy on Saturday morning. I get the mowing done but I don't do the trim work with either the push mower or the weed whip so he did trim work for about 5 hours. Now if it doesn't rain on Monday I am going to roundup around the house and outbuildings so the grass doesn't grow right up to them. Should make for less trim work.

Today, Steph planted hostas and day lillies. I know she had 50 hostas and I'm thinking close to the same of day lillies and then she had some Iris also. The yard should look really nice in a few weeks time. Hopefully, it will rain tomorrow so I don't have to water BUT I did promise to water if it didn't. She really wanted to bring up some annuals and put in but with the frost we've been having she decided against it.

Today when I was out in the yard a humming bird flew by me and all of a sudden it landed on the ground in kind of a heap. I went over and picked it up before the dogs saw it. I held it in the palm of my hand for a little while and then it flew again and only went about 15 feet and down to the ground it went again. So I picked it up again and held it and Rochelle took a couple of pictures of it. After I had held it in my hand for a few minutes it decided to fly again and that time it flew off. I don't know if it was a baby one that had just left the nest or if it was cold but after I held it it seems to fly better.

Gee it feels like I should build a fire tonight. It is chilly in here. I probably will be lazy and just turn on the gas furnace.

I'm beginning to wonder if it will get warm enough to do the painting. I don't want to paint until it stays above 50 at night. I don't know anything about painting but I can't think it would be good to paint and then have it get cold at night before it gets completely hardened. Hopefully by the end of the month we can take on that project. I'm hoping only a couple of days and we will have it painted.

IF we get all the important things on my list done then I would like to try and put rocks around my house. I would like to build up around it with many different size rocks. I've always wanted to do this around the house but Jimmie wanted flower beds. He took care of them so I never said to much but I don't want flower beds I have to take care of.

I hope all of you had a good weekend. It was cool and the wind wanted to blow quite a bit but the kids at Take A Kid Fishing Day had great luck in fishing. Their fish were cleaned and cooked for them. Everyone had a great time.

Jeannie Frey and Nancy Langie got together on a project and made cement markers for all the graves that weren't marked in Rosie Cemetery.

If you have anything you'd like on the blog please let me know.

Have a great week.
Julie

Wednesday News

2009-06-03T05:05:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. It's 7am and I'm just about ready for work but forgot some things when I wrote last night.

I was visiting Arnie and Kathy Peterson on Saturday night and Arnie has about 12+ hummingbird feeders out and I don't know how many humming birds at one time the one feeder has 10 spots to eat from and everyone was filled and there were more birds flying around.

Yesterday, I was out by Steph's house and she has 5 feeders up that's so I don't have to refill during the week. After I forgot to water her plants one year and they died she hasn't trusted me since with watering or feeding the birds. haha I know how to get out of work. Anyway, I saw at least 6 at one time there so there must be an abundance of humming birds around. If you don't have a feeder out you should get one. They are amazing to watch.

Well it was 31 this morning with white frost everywhere. It sure would be nice if it would warm up enough to be able to open a window for sleeping at night. But I hate to have the window open and the electric blanket and the furnace running.

The Canada Geese are coming into the hay field. There is at least 65 of them. They have decided that the lawn is better than the hay field so now every day I have to go out and chase them off the lawn. Of course the dog thinks this is great because if she runs out in the field to chase them she gets in trouble but if I'm out there hollering at them she knows I will let her chase them until she gets out in the field and then she has to come back but she thinks it is fun. So far she doesn't bother them unless I am out there with her. If it wasn't for the fact I don't want her chasing stuff it would be nice if she harassed them enough they moved on to someone else's field. I'm sure the son in law wouldn't agree as he loves to hunt geese and usually the early goose hunt is pretty good here. Can you imagine the mess if I let them come into the yard. Boy wouldn't that be nice for the wedding.

Have a great day.
Julie

Upcoming things for June

2009-06-02T20:33:00.000-07:00

June 6- Memorial service for Jerry Bohlman at Centennial Lutheran Church. Lunch to follow in church basement.

June 13 - Memorial service for Vienna Wistey Dexter at Centennial Lutheran Church at 11am. Lunch to follow at the Community Center.

June 8 - Squaw Lake City Council Meeting at Community Center

June 9 - Nurse will be at the Community Center to trim toe nails etc. Make appointments by calling Deer River Healthcare.

June 10 - Economic Development meeting at the Community Center at 7 pm. Everyone welcome.

A new business is coming to town. It is sponsored by Eagleview Community Foundation. It is called the First Week Boutique and will be a consignment shop. More info to follow when I hear all the details.

Don't forget to visit the Mini Max Flea Market. Evy has lots of new items in there.

I've seen some cute new items at the Max Mini Store. Isn't it great to have such a nice store so close to home.

Not sure what else is going on around the area but if you have something you'd like to have on the blog just drop me a line at jhemphil@paulbunyan.net and I will get it on the blog.

I guess I will have to make a point of going to the businesses in Squaw Lake to see the posters so I can put on what is going on around here as no one seems to let me know. I've been too busy lately to go and read the posters.

Have a great week,
Julie

2009-06-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

Boy how the time flies when you are busy. I didn't realize until tonight that I hadn't wrote anything since last Thursday.

Last day of school was on Friday, not sure if the kids were glad that it was done but I sure was. Now I have a few extra hours a day to try and get stuff done. Today I worked on the office trying to get everything put where it belongs. It looks better tonight but still isn't done the way it should be.

Josh Michalek came in on Friday and did a bunch of yard work for us. He did a fine job. It really looks nice. He used the harley rake and leveled out the yard and added in some black dirt. Randy got busy on Sunday and seeded in grass seed and oats while it was raining. Hopefully it will quit this freezing at night and everything will start growing. Of course the birds think it is a buffet for them.

On Saturday we worked and hauled out a bunch of old machinery and put in a pile where I can't see it and it doesn't bother anything. Maybe one of these years the price of scrap iron will go up and I can get rid of it then. Sunday we were going to start cleaning the other garage but the rain made us think of other indoor projects that needed to be done.

Hard to believe that our granddaughter Britt is graduating from high school on Friday night. That will probably be a long graduation I think there are over 400 in her class. She will start cosmotology school the middle of June.

So the project for this weekend is clean out one garage and organize the stuff in the other. Doesn't this sound like fun. Hopefully I will find alot of things that can be thrown away so there won't be so much stuff to move and organize.

A lot of things have been done on the list but there are alot more things to get done. Hopefully the weather will cooperate on the weekends because I get alot more done with the help on the weekend.

I hope everyone is having a great week.

Julie

Here's a joke for you.

So after landing my new job as a Wal-Mart greeter,
a good find for many retirees,
I lasted less than a day......
About two hours into my first day on the job a very loud,
unattractive, mean-acting woman walked into the store with her two kids,
Yelling obscenities at them all the way through the entrance.
As I had been instructed, I said pleasantly, 'Good morning and
welcome to Wal-Mart.
Nice children you have there. Are they twins?"
The ugly woman stopped yelling long enough to say,
No, they ain't twins. The oldest one's 9, and the other one's 7.
Why the world would you think they're twins? Are you blind, or just
stupid?
So I replied,
'I'm neither blind nor stupid, Ma'am,
I just couldn't believe someone slept with you twice.
Have a good day and thank you for shopping at Wal-Mart.'
My supervisor said I probably wasn't cut out for this line of work.

Have a good weekend

Thursday Squawk

2009-05-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

Today was a nice day except the wind came up pretty strong this afternoon. I mowed lawn today. I hate mowing lawn I know alot of people find enjoyment out of mowing but to me it is a job I'd rather not have to do. Usually I have someone mow for me but he was laid up today and for a few days so I figured instead of letting it get too long so it is hard to mow I'd do it. First I didn't have any gas so ran to the store then I thought to check the oil and needed oil. I finally found a jug with some in so I didn't have to run back to the store. Then my lawn mower had a dead battery so jumped on Randy's and that one has a belt that slips when you get into heavy grass. So I put the charger on my mower and mowed all the thin areas with Randy's and then mine started so that I could mow the rest. I have to admit that the lawn does look nice when it is freshly mowed.

The geese are taking over. When I came home this morning there were around 60 geese eating on the edge of the lawn. Now there is about a 20 acre field out there they could eat on but they love the shorter grass on the lawn. I wouldn't mind them so much but the calling card they leave isn't appreciated. If they keep up I will have to think of some way to discourage them. I have yelled at the dog so much to leave them alone when they are out in the field that when they come up in the yard she still doesn't bother them.

I don't have much for news this week. I've been at home alot working so I haven't been around to see if there is any thing going on.

Another weekend coming up and I have a list going for what I need help with. Sometimes I feel sorry for the son-in-law when he gets his honey do list. Poor guy has two women on him with lists. I have found out since my surgery that I don't have the physical strength I used to so that is why he has to help so much.

I was surprised how it is cooling off again tonight. I hadn't taken a jacket with me when I went to town and when I came home I had to put one on to carry in the stuff from the car.

Tuesday I turned on the water for the pigs and forgot it on so when I came home from work the pump had been running so much it had lost its prime. No problem I've dealt with this before you just take the plug out of the top of the pump fill with water and turn pump back on. Well it has been so long since that had happened that the plug was rusted in. I sprayed it with rust remover and kept trying. Finally had to call Art and get advise on what to do. Just heat it up for a few minutes with a torch he said. No problem I figured I have a small propane torch. So I was trying to heat it up and of course there is a piece of plastic pipe there close by well I thought I was staying far enough away from it but of course I hadn't and I melted a hole in the pipe. Thank goodness for the Max Mini Store. I went up and bought the small piece of pipe and 2 new hose clamps and fixed it. I had gotten the plug out after heating it up so I got the water going again. A person doesn't realize how much water they use until something happens and you don't have any.

Tomorrow is the last day of school. I'm not sure the kids are as happy as I am about it but I'm looking forward to sleeping in to 6am and also not having to stop whatever I am doing in the afternoon to go on the route.

Not sure how much time I will have this weekend to blog but will try sometime during the weekend. I hope each of you have an enjoyable weekend doing what ever you want to do.

Take care,
Hugs,
Julie

Memorial Services for Jerry Bohlman and Vienna Wistey Dexter

2009-05-28T19:08:00.000-07:00

Jerry Bohlman memorial service will be held at the Centennial Lutheran Church on Saturday, June 6th at 11am. Lunch will follow service in basement and internment will be after the lunch.

Vienna Wistey Dexter memorial service will be held at the Centennial Lutheran Church on Saturday June 13th. I'm sorry I don't know the time yet. Lunch will follow the service at the Community Center.

When I find out the time on the Dexter service I will post it.

Monday Squawk

2009-05-25T19:10:00.000-07:00

Hope you all had a great weekend. Mine was busy but went really good.

The grandson came up on Friday and had all the sand put into the garage by the time I got home from the bus run. We rented the packer from Spring Lake Store and had the garage ready for the cement before dark on Friday night. Saturday morning they delivered the cement and the garage floor was in.

So we decided to use the bobcat we had borrowed and clean up where the wood pile had been for 20+ years and then we decided to take out a piece of fence that was there and then clean up some of the machinery and move that. Isn't it a surprise how a project grows when you start something? Anyway we got alot of work done on Saturday. Still have to move a few more pieces of machinery. Need to get that moved before Josh Michalek comes in with the harley rake to get everything leveled up. Boy that should make lawn mowing alot easier if it is level.

Sunday, Stephanie and I went to the cities to my Granddaughter Christina's wedding. We drove down went to the wedding and reception and drove back home. I really should rephrase that Stephanie did the driving. On the way down I crocheted scrubbies and on the way back I slept. Too bad that the nice day of the weekend was the day we were out driving.

Randy and Adam(grandson) built shelves in the garage on Sunday and started organizing the stuff from the brown garage. Still have alot left to do but hopefully this next weekend we will get the brown garage cleaned out so that we can start that big project in there.

As it was cold enough today that I came in and built a wood fire I'm wondering if it will get warm enough to paint and then I realized that it isn't the end of May yet and we usually have frost here until about the 5th of June so I guess I'm just rushing the season. I hate to paint so I want to get started on it so it will be done.

The boys put extra sand around the house today so it is built up again on the foundation. Hopefully this will help next winter in keeping the house a little warmer. Adam also fixed alot of holes in the yard with black dirt. I will put some seed in these spots later in the week. Hopefully the rain will get each area soaked up so the seed will germinate good when I plant it.

So for only two weekends we have accomplished alot towards having stuff done for the wedding. Good thing because I think we only have about 7 more weekends as there are a couple weekends we have to do other stuff besides work on the place. The time is flying by fast.

I have been so busy I'm not sure what has went on around Squaw Lake over the weekend. It seemed like there were alot of cars around the couple of times I was out this weekend so I hope that all the businesses had a good weekend.

Have a good week everyone and if the weather is good get out and enjoy it some way.

Take care,
Hugs,
Julie

Leech Lake Honor Guard Memorial Day Schedule

2009-05-22T05:22:00.000-07:00

The Leech Lake Honor Guard has scheduled their annual observance in honor of all veterans at the cemetery for 3:45 on Saturday-rain or shine.

Just Squawking

2009-05-21T19:37:00.000-07:00

Hope you've had a couple of good days. If it wasn't for the wind it would of been real nice. I worked outside for a while each day but the wind really gets to my ears so had to quit and come inside.

I've been informed it is only 80 days to the wedding. Wow there is alot of stuff to get done before then. This Saturday they are pouring cement in the ole garage. Hope they get it done because then they will build shelves in there on Sunday and we can start cleaning out the other garage. If the boys get the heavy stuff moved I can finish with all the lighter things during the week.

I'm making a flying trip to the cities on Sunday down and back in the same day. My granddaughter Christina is getting married Sunday afternoon in Bloomington. I haven't seen her in a couple of years so it will be nice. Steph is going to go with me . That will make things easier on me.

I was at the flea market today finishing putting things on my table and adding some new stuff on the canned goods table. I made a Carmel Apple Butter, a Pumpkin Pecan Butter, Jalapeno jelly, hot jalapeno jelly, hot habanero jelly. The habanero jelly is good but not so hot you can't stand it but enough of a bite to make it really good. I didn't have alot of time to look around but Evy has it stuffed.

Boy the woodticks are bad this year. I was out behind the barn pulling up some fence posts and picked about a dozen off me. This morning I found another in my hair. I put new flea and tick collars on the dogs and they still have alot of ticks. Thankfully the son in law comes up just about every weekend and picks the ticks. I have trouble taking them off me but I have to have pliers to take them off the dog and that is hard to do when they are so small.

I heard the meatloaf supper was very good last night. I had to make a flying trip to Grand Rapids last night so I missed out.

Lots of work to get done around here this weekend. If any of you out there don't have anything to do come on over and join the fun.

Well, it is almost 10pm and I will turn into something if Idon't get my beauty rest. Hope you all have a great ending to the week.

Take care,
Hugs,
Julie

2009-05-19T18:33:00.000-07:00

When I wrote the last blog it was very early Sunday morning and I had my day pretty well planned out. Why I plan anything is a wonder because something always comes up. I was going to do a couple batches of jalapeno jelly for the flea market but I can not find my book with the canning recipes in it. I told you I'm not good about putting things back well, this is biting me in the butt because I still haven't found it. Steph called me after she got home and gave me the recipe for the jelly so I was able to get it done today.

On Sunday as long as I couldn't make jelly I figured just as well help Randy in the old garage. This is a really old garage with a dirt floor and we want to get it fixed up for storage so we spent the day cleaning. We hauled out about 7 bucket loads of junk to the burn pile. The rest we sorted and stored in the barn to be put back in after the cement is poured. This took the whole day Sunday. Lots of work left on this garage as we will be putting in a new rollup door and vinyl siding on it. It should look really nice when it is all done. It will also be nice in the spring when it is fixed up the water won't be able to run in it. The kids finally left about 5pm to head back to the cities and my butt was dragging. I'm just glad that it wasn't me that had to drive back at that time of the day.

Today I finally got to the jelly making. I made my regular jalapeno recipe which to me isn't very hot. Then I made a couple of batches that turned out kind of medium. I then went to the habanero peppers and made two batches of that. That one is pretty good. I like hot stuff tho. It isn't unbearable but it does leave you with "Oh that has a little bite to it" but you want to have more.

Last night I went for a four wheeler ride with a friend and we got stuck. Good thing one of them has a winch so we were able to get out of the muck. I was surprised just how much water is out in the pasture. Every little dip is filled to the top. I will have to remember to tell the grandkids when they come up where they can and can't ride or we will be digging them out.

Tomorrow, May 20th is Meatloaf Supper at the Community Center. Serving is 5 - 7pm. All proceeds go to Fresh Water for Life. Hope to see you there.

May 28th, Potluck supper 5:30p at Sand Lake Community Center.Come and join the fun.

I need to get the humming bird feeders out. One was buzzing the window where I usually hang them tonight. Last night I saw an oriole also.

Boy the wind just doesn't want to stop does it. I hope everyone that is fishing is having a good time. Randy and his friends were out over the weekend and caught quite a few just wasn't able to keep many because of the slot limit.

Talked to Evy today about the Mini Max Flea Market and she said they had a good weekend. I need to get over there because I know quite a few people have brought in stuff and there might be something I can't live without. Of course with all the stuff in my house I almost have to figure out what I'm getting rid of before buying something new. If you haven't been to the flea market you need to take the time and go see everything she has there.

Evy was reminding me of all the things I haven't brought into the flea market yet this year so maybe tomorrow I can get some of these things marked to take over on Thursday. Gotta keep Evy happy as she does a great job of selling my items there.

Only 7 more days of school left. I am looking forward to that. That will give me a few more hours a day to get stuff done around here. The inside of my house needs some help. When I'm busy outside or crafting I can ignore it but the mess is just getting to deep again. Crafty people should have a special room to do their stuff and not be allowed to drag it out into the rest of the house. The rest of the house would stay alot neater. Well, at least this crafty person shouldn't bring it to the rest of the house as I have piles all over of what I'm working on.

Not sure when I will have time to drop a note again but if you have something you want on the blog just drop a line to my email address: jhemphil@paulbunyan.net and I will take the time to get it on.

Have a great rest of the week and weekend. Take time and have some fun.

Take care,
Hugs,
Julie

Sunday Squawk

2009-05-17T05:19:00.000-07:00

Wow!! wasn't that wind something yesterday. I was outside working in it and it was pushing me around at times. We started the big push to get stuff done for the wedding yesterday. We cleaned up a junk pile that I've wanted out of here for 30 years. My that area looks nice now. Then we finished the wood pile and just about all that is in the basement. I have to stack some to finish putting the rest inside. Now to clean up the wood chips in that area. Good thing I have the loader to use will make life a lot easier.

With this cold weather for those of you that have your humming bird feeders out do you have an electric blanket around them to keep them from freezing?

The Mini Max Flea Market reported a good weekend for the opening weekend. I don't know how Evy does it sitting out there when it is so cold? Hope this weekend is just as good. If you haven't been there she has lots of new stuff.

I just found out yesterday that Noama Campground on Noama Lake is open for business this summer. Last year the Feds had closed it down and said that it wouldn't be reopening but they did reopen it this spring. I hope it gets lots of use as it was a nice campground to go to.

Well the pigs made it through there first night in the outside pen. When I went to check on them yesterday morning they were burrowed in the hay and fast asleep. They must be happy because as soon as they were done eating they went back to their bed to sleep.

Today I think it is some shelves going in the garage and probably a few loads of junk coming out of the garage to the burn pile. It will be nice to have things organized. That should last all of five minutes as I am noted for never putting anything away.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. May this week coming up be great and you do the things you like to do.

Take care,
Hugs,
Julie