WE'RE HOME!!!

Greetings everyone!!  Prayers that all is good with ya'll & staying cool....
We arrived back in NC to cooler temps & a touch of fall showing!!

We had a wonderful visit with Leon & Patsy.  The BBQ was a whole lot
of fun.  The kids all had a blast on the 35' x 18' hi waterslide!  What a
hoot!  Was so warm, even the adults were ready to take a dip, ha ha.

The food was exceptional . . .  4 lamb shanks,  4 huge boston butts &
16 whole chickens,  plus sausages & chicken livers.  Home-made dip
& cooked for hours!   The taste test part was the best!!!   The piece de
resistance was the home-made ice cream!!  Vanilla, peach, pineapple
& banana.  The potluck  extras were like being at a Lutheran gathering!!

We had absolutely no problems with the rig on the whole trip, which
were so thankful for . . Gas prices coming back were the best.  Down
to $1.86 in Tennessee.  Definitely under budget, ha ha.

Since we have been back & unloaded,  have been on the phone & try
ing to straighten out "the mess".  Got a new D/L & bank account set
up.  So many fraud alerts to take care of & pray we can avoid anything
worse.  Warn everyone to have backup copies of all your info!!!

Mike has been busy outside with yard work & you don't want to know
how many loads of laundry I had to clean out the rig.  

Thanks for all the prayers for our safe travel, they really matter!!  Was
so great to see so many of the family and dear friends, and not have to
rush rush.   Saw many great sights up & back, so was a great trip!!!
I only took 5000 pics, approx.  Will get to them when caught up . . .

Love & Blessings!!!      Mike & Dee:)

WHERE TO START????

Greetings everyone!!!   Sure hope ya'll are staying cool, cause we are hot,
hot, hot!!!  

I'm going to start with our day at the St. Louis Arch.  We got tickets for
early in the morn & the ride up was "over the top".  The views were awesome
and we enjoyed the Old Capitol & Cathedral.  Lots of pics & a great time!!

The bad stuff happened while we were up there . . . Someone broke into our
truck & stole my purse & Mike's wallet & his camera case.   I lost my D/L &
all the paraphernalia you accumulate in a purse,  the blessing was we had our
credit cards & cash & cameras on us!!   The police met us & we were told
that they look for out of state tags & they didn't break the lock, so no alarm
went off.   They were pros.    Needless to say, it has been a nightmare trying
to get our insurance cards, soc sec cards, etc squared away.

The other bad news is we have to come home early as I can't open a new
checking account without being at the bank (I had two check blanks in my
wallet).  I'm so thankful that I have a friend at the bank who walked us thru
& got everything froze.   They got $75.00 on a card I had as a back-up!! 

From there we went to Land Between the Lakes & spent a few days just to
relax & de-stress.  Yes,  Dee got a little stressed with no id, nothing!!  Just
feel so naked.  So thankful it wasn't any worse than it was.   We really enjoyed
the area with all the history, dams & beautiful lakes. 

We are now at Leon & Patsy for the BBQ.  What wonderful friends & the
party is Sunday aftn.   We will leave here on Tue morn as we have to be at the
bank on the 9th.   The Nashville part of the trip will wait for another time.
Wishing everyone a great Labor Day.

Love & Blessings!!     Mike & Dee:)

SO DAKOTA TO ST. LOUIS !!

Greetings everyone!!!    How are ya'll?  Everyone doing well?  Love to
hear from you . . .

We had a wonderful visit with Mike's brothers Rick & Dal.  Watertown
is a really nice area.  Had a couple days of really bad wind there,  so glad
we were not on the road!!

From there, we drove down to Sioux Falls, SD to Mike's uncle,  Larry & Janet.
What a fun time!!  They took us to see the Falls Park & what a wonderful area
for the residents to enjoy.  Did not realize Sioux Falls was so large.   Our
campground was really nice and close to Larry's.   Lots of pics on the camera!

We also got to meet for lunch with Mike's family,  Lowell & Twyla
Zaske who are the parents of Suzanne Zaske that we met with in Arizona
last fall.   So good to catch up with all.     Lots of geneology!!

We had a long day on the road from Sioux Falls to east of Kansas City.
Then on to St. Louis, MO.  We are spending a few days here.  Today, we
went to Concordia Seminary to view the Campus.   We are both lifelong
Lutherans, so have always wanted to see the facility.   We had a tour by
Tom & it was so impressive.  Very serene and so much history!  We were
able to see bibles & books from the 1500's that have been in the church.
Needless to say, lots of pics.  

Tomorrow we have tickets for the St. Louis Arch.  I'm looking forward to
going up to the top.  There is construction on the grounds, but will be fun
anyway. . . So far the weather has been good.  Loved the cool, but has
warmed again.   Prayers that weather is holding for ya'll.  No storm for
Florida????   Keep fingers crossed!!!

Love & Blessings,   Mike & Dee:)

MINNESOTA & DAKOTA

Greetings everyone!!!   Prayers that all is well & ya'll are staying cool!!
We going into a cool snap, even into the 40's at nite, yippee!!!

We had a wonderful time on Lake Minnewaska at Glenwood.  Purdie
enjoyed her "sailing".  People can't believe how she will sit &  pose!!
The pontoon ride on the lake was really fun w/ Mike's cousins & I did
not burn as the canopy kept me covered.  Decided that was the life!!!

We moved on to Renville, MN our hometown.  The pic of my home
place is right across the field from Mike's brother's place.  Great place
to set up rig.   Got to see lots of family, and friends came to see us!!
Just so enjoy seeing everyone & catching up!!  Learned how to play
"dirty" buck & had a really fun time.   Only problem is eating too
much.  Will definitely be on a diet when we get back!!!

Are now in Watertown, SD where two of Mike's brothers are.  We
did cookout at the campsite last nite.  We are right on Lake Kampeska
& the sunsets have been awesome.  

Today, while they were working,  we went to the Terry Redlin Art
Center . . . . Now this will truly amaze.  All his original paintings in
one place.  Beautiful grounds & I could take pics!!!  Impressed!!!
Mike & Sue, plus Jacki all have his artwork. 

Monday we head to Sioux Falls for a couple days,  then heading
south.   All is well,  having a good time, weather is holding...

Love & Blessings,    Mike & Dee:) 

MINNESOTA TIME !!!

Greetings everyone!!!    Prayers that all is well with ya'll & staying cool!!!
August in MN can be a hot one, and it is!!  Going back into the 90's today!!
The lakes humidity is fierce!!

Spent a wonderful time in Brainerd with my family.  When showing brother 
Andy pics of Alaska, the tire in the tree was a challenge,  they took us to see
a snowmobile in a tree,  alcohol anyone???   Seeing the devastation from the
storm up here,  so hard to see & hard on economy.

Went to see my Mom before we left & we stopped at Munsinger Gardens in
St Cloud.  My sister & I had a marathon "Click & Clack Club" aftn.  The
gardens riveled the Biltmore & was just fun!!!  Great pics!!!

Spent time with long-time friends, Ron & Marlis Jenson & since we have
moved on to Glenwood, MN we have seen the Heuer's.  He was a deputy
for Mike years ago.  So good to see & visit with everyone.

The deer pic was on the way back to rig from Heuer's (he gave us back road
way to go & saw 6 deer,  corn fed!!   The sunsets have been so pretty too.
The good one off  Lake Minnewaska is on the camera.  Sorry!

Able to visit with Mike's Uncle Roger & wife Frances!   What a treat . . . Do
you think they are related??   Seeing cousins that Mike was close to also...

We head down to hometown of Renville on Mon for couple days, then on to
Mike's brothers in Watertown, SD.  So enjoying seeing everyone,  good
food  & rig doing great!!   Glad the AC was fixed over the winter!!!

Love to hear from everyone,   Blessings,      Mike & Dee:)

FAMILY & FRIENDS !!!

Greetings Everyone!!   The time is just flying here at Brainerd.  Every
day is full!!  We have so enjoyed hearing from everyone too!!

Spending time with my sister,  this is rare that we get to be together...
We always keep Ma Bell in business!!!   Spent a day going down to
see Mom.  She was so good & there were a lot of laughs on what she
remembers & what she doesn't. . .  She had been to Alaska many years
ago to see her sister, so she enjoyed the picture books.   We also spent
a day at Christmas Point (the place to shop in Brainerd) & had a great
dessert lunch!!!

Able to have lunch with brother Lyle lakeside on Gull Lake.  His
storm damage was awful, as well as sister Barb & also brother Andy.
We go to Andy & Deb for lunch tomorrow.  Really enjoy seeing all.
See Lyle's daughters, Kari & Shae too.

Today we had lunch with Judy Loeffler,  our friend from our
Franklin church who summers in MN & winters in NC.  We decided
to post a pic of the 2nd annual summer gathering of Good Shepherd
Church.  Great lunch, then a trip to the 371 Diner for malts,  real real
malts.  Mine was snickers & Judy had s'mores & Mike strawberry!!

I am definitely going to have to diet when we get home,  all the yum
yum foods.  Weather has been good too.  Warm days & cool nights.

Prayers that all are enjoying their summer.   Be safe & keep in touch!!
Blessings,   Mike & Dee:)

NORTH COUNTRY !!!

Greetings everyone!!  Prayers that all is well with everyone!!!  Love hearing
news from all. . . busy summer for everyone!!

I have to send a pic of our blueberry funnel cake sundae.  Needless to say the
festival was really fun.  Such quality venders & food was over the top!!  We
have had some of the best Minnesota eats so far.  Fish fry at Lee's last night
before we left,  crappies,  walleye (the best)  & northern boiled in seven-up!!
If you like lobster, you'd love this.  Dip in melted butter, yum yum!!   Both
nephews have ice fishing campers,  go right on the ice in the camper & open
the hole & you are fishing!!  We're talking good eats!!!   Family fun for all. .

We took Lee with us up to Voyageurs Nat'l Park so the walleye sign was a
fun photo op.  The lakes are so blue & the whole area is Nat'l forest, trees!!!!
Have gotten great photos & family pics.  

On Wed, Mike & I drove up the North Shore of Superior & what a fun time.
Gooseberry falls was the first stop & then Split Rock Lighthouse.   Mike had
never been up here, me only once for my brother's wedding many moons ago.

We drove all the way to the border to see High Falls at the State Park there,
hiking over a mile for that one.  Highest falls in MN.   Really pretty, would
love to see it in winter!!  From there we took in the Devil's Kettle falls.  Now
that is a story!!  Half the falls goes into a hole & they don't know where the
water goes!!! Used dyes, gps pods, and no luck????  We hiked 2 + miles to
see this one.  Was a great hike for me,  shaded, but 200+ steps!!!Spent a night
at Grand Marais right on the shore & was nice, but pricey!!!   So many wayside
stops & so pretty.   Mike really enjoyed searching for agates to tumble.

Purdie has enjoyed all the attention from nephews' girls & was a little leery of
the two german shepherds.  Did really well tho.

We drove to Brainerd today & will spend 12 days here with my family.  They
have decided to leave Mom where she is for now, but my sister & I will go
to see her.  I have two brothers here also, so am looking forward to spending
some time.  Our first married years were here.   Campground is on the lake,
& are in the shade.   It worked out perfect parked at Mike's sister last week.
Fit right in her drive.   From here it will be on to more of Mike's family!!!

Miss everyone & hope to hear from you. . . .  Blessings to all,
Mike & Dee:)