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. :)