TRIP TO HACKENSACK

This past weekend we took a trip up to Hackensack, Mn. Population 285. 286 including Sharon. The school that she works at is called Deep Portage Learning Center. They needed volunteers to help run their 'Winter Rendezvous.' So we went up to help and also to see Sharon. If you donate money you get to have your name on a brick like this. Paul, maybe you want to donate???

These are all the people that make Deep Portage run like clockwork.

And this is the most important person of all, don't ya think?

And here's the real thing. :)

This is Sharon's view outside of her room.

Looks like Utah -well, kinda.....

This is one of Sharon's beds. Dad didn't fit to well-his feet hung over the end. Mom slept on the other bunk on the other side of the room. Really comfy. 

This is one of the activities we volunteered for. We were out on the 'pond' for about two hours helping kids and adults throw sticks at tin cans. As the story goes, Native American young boys would have to earn their 'bow and arrow' by killing a rabbit with one stick. Thus, the name of the game  was called 'Rabbit Sticks'. Participants had 6 chances to kill the rabbit (tin can) using 18" sticks. If they knocked over the can/rabbit they got 20 points. If they dinged the can or injured the rabbit they only got 10 points. It was really fun and the kids really got into it. Temperature was about 10 degrees and kind of windy.  They had a huge fire on the ice to warm up by but it still got kind of chilly.

After being outside we were ready for lunch! Yum! Homemade chili and homemade cornbread.

 Dad relaxing after lunch.

Check out the video....  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T-Gw09K0CY

While we gone, Chloe kept herself busy. Guess she didn't miss us that much. :(

This is Sharon and her boss, Molly. Molly is really, really nice and anyone would be happy to have her as a boss. Sharon, you are lucky!

This poor deer was looking out the window the whole time while we were at Deep Portage. Wonder what he sees out the window? His other half?

While we were at Deep Portage we saw lots and lots of wildlife like this owl....

 This wolf was really scary looking so we kept our distances and used the zoom on the camera

We were really lucky to find this one (whatever it is). It blended in with the snow so much that we almost missed it.

These ducks really spooked us. They flew up when we were walking in the woods looking for the deer without a head.

After the Rendezvous we got to have turkey dinner. Yum! Potatoes and gravy with home made bread and cream pies for desert. Can't believe Sharon gets to eat all this good food all the time.

After dinner we went to the climbing wall. Molly could belay (hold the rope) for Sharon while she climbed but Sharon couldn't hold the rope for us because there had to be two staff people on hand at all times in case someone falls. So we couldn't try it. Dang! We so wanted to do it after we had just finished the turkey dinner.

Sharon is so good- she can even climb backwards!

Before we headed home we went to church with Sharon in Walker. Then we ate at this cute little restaurant named Jimmy's.

While we were there we took in the sights of Walker. This is one of our favorite summer restaurants. Zona Rosa. Usually we eat on the patio but DARN it's not open.

Ice cream anyone. Carolyn remember this one? It's another one of our favorite summer spots.

Yum!! Look it doesn't even melt.!

After we left Walker, we went back to Hackensack to pick up our car and head home. This is the one and only grocery store in Hackensack and it is closed on Sunday. Wonder what they do on Sundays?

This is what Hanckensackers do on Sundays! This snow sculpture was in the parking lot outside of Marks Market. It's of a penguin (Willy Nilly) ice fishing. Enlarge the photo-it's really cute.

Guess who met us at the door after a long drive home. She was  a pretty lonely kitty.

We had a super fun time. Thanks for hosting us, Sharon. :)

The End of the Paving Story

Week 2 - the patio was done so they started the sidewalk around the garage. Nice huh?

Paul, wide enough for a snow shovel???

Lots of digging! In fact 18" down.

Here comes the rock and the sand. Lots and lots of sand!

 Woah! Look at it take shape. Lots and lots of pavers!

Naughty kitties!!! Are they looking for Ginger? Or are they bunnies? BAD bunnies!

Leave it to Bachman's to have all the cool tools. The guy has a packer that packs down the pavers.

They saved the sidewalk and dressed it up by putting a row of pavers on each side. It really ties them together.

TA DA!! DRIVEWAY DONE :)

With the driveway done, mom decided to get a new pet! She calls it Fish, Dad calls it Kitty. Mom almost has him trained to come to the top of the bowl when she feeds him. Good Fish :)

 

Let the paving begin.........

Here's our new patio/driveway! What do you think?? Guess what it's called? It's called MinRiver. Yeah Minnesota!

The digging begins. There goes Dad's grass! Awwwww! It used to be so nice.....

This is the fabric lining that goes on top of a layer of rock. It was so cold and rainy and windy that the crew had to stop for the day.

Here goes another layer of rock on top of the black fabric.

 The rock, then sand, is getting spread out so it is nice and smooth.

Next comes more sand. Lots and lots of sand! See the design of the patio that they painted. You'll see the shape in the last picture. Just wait :)

See the pattern in the design?? NO you don't because it is RANDOM. Cool huh?

Here's where all that sand was coming from.

And more SAND...... Look at the driveway. No wonder they started in the backyard.

Now half of the patio is done. It's been almost a week's work along with a couple of rain delays. It's a lot of work but BACHMAN'S can do it!!!

Ta Da............

The answer to the question......

We realize we haven't posted for a while. Been busy----so you may want to refer back to our last post to refresh your memory. In the last photo of our last post, Ginger was still looking for a place for her dish, which was the whole reason for this BLOG....where to put Ginger's dish after the remodel was over. We tried it in many places (outside, on the deck, in the porch, in her old spot, in front of the stove and even in the living room) but none of them seemed right. Now at least she can find her dish and she's happy. :)

Remodeling Week #12

Finally the kitchen is done and we've started to move in.

How do you like the new eating space? Nice and bright!!! Dad didn't want to make holes in the brand new walls to hang the pictures, so we use the new 3M Velcro strips. Seems like they work pretty good until they fall down.

The favorite spot has still got to be the porch. Right?

Mom likes the new cooktop. One swish with Windex and a paper towel and TA DA! It's clean! We even like the backsplash more now that we know Brian Miller put it in for us.

How does the glass cupboard look with glasses in it? I tried to get it with the light coming through but it was already getting too dark outside.

Here's the computer center. The cords come through a hole in the counter. The printer is in the cabinet below.

Sure is handy!

These are the pictures above the table. They are X rays of flowers. I'll have to ask someone at Bachman's what kind of flowers they are.  It's been 5 days and they are still up. No nail holes!

Dad says the pictures should be in color. Wonder what kind of flowers these are?

Look at the new pantry. The roll out shelves are great. Look at the organized Tupperware drawer.

Look at this---all mom's baking supplies in one spot!

This is the NEW left handed closet that mom used to hate. The alcohol is still up high out of children's reach. Same spot for the cookbooks.

Look at these new pull out drawers. Notice the new toaster. What do you think of the color?
Thanks to Sharon for all her help in finding new homes for everything. Paul, you should be worried, she's been getting lots of points lately. :)

We obviously have more work to do......like find a spot for Ginger's dish. Ginger has been very patient.    Weekly updates may be few and far between now. There is still a ton to do- clean the laundry room, put up the ceiling in the basement, put Dad's shop back together, and maybe work at getting the car back in the garage. AND,  we still have to have the patio and driveway built. So we aint done yet.