Jay Richards

Keeping tradition alive, we took the short trip north for the Fourth of July long weekend to the Garden cottages or "the lake". Basically it was about as good as it gets for a holiday weekend. Non stop action with no trips to the emergency room. The weather was perfect for lake and land activities. It's hard to keep the photo posting limited with so much going on but managed to narrow down to around 20 among 250 taken.
The remaining gang Monday afternoon for the archive photo.

Grilling bobs over the fire Saturday night.


"This is sweet, now we don't have to lift anything and spill" No doubt.

Baseball once again the land activity of choice although Jens does his best soccer drama injury.


Like previous blog entries have to post a pick of the Farmer's daughter fishing lure/spoon to keep the stats running high. Always have to check to see if getting used by Uncle Ryan and Grandpa Rodney and the real reason they do so well catching walleyes.
Another photo to keep the stats running high.
"Jens, I'll give you a quarter if you eat the fish head"


Sunday morning three hours of sugar coated photo taking.
Mary Poppins doing a nice job keeping sun out where needed.


Like I said, to make it through four days with no trips to the ER, all good.
Jake and I went out for a couple rides on the favorite routes nearby. There is a record, bumper hatch of deer flies this year in nw MN and reason to take helmet off for short while and remove the ones camped out sucking blood. The Norris road is always a blast with a rolling climb of 500ft elevation gain over 10 miles than coming back for some high speeds. Monday morning we did step intervals which was a good way to drop some of the deer flies.
I'll admit, I have the lowest iq in the bunch but I was left scratching my head what was proper and not proper when I saw, what I thought was burnable, mixed in with the cans and bottles which shouldn't of been in there?!?


Sunday and Monday the wind was blowing nicely and Uncle Ryan got the hobey cat ready.
Out for a cruise with Uncle TJ.
Growing up we had a small sailboat and it was good fun. Nothing like catching the wind and slicing through the water. We came back in just as the boat parade was getting assembled and the wind was ripping good. Managed to land without taking the below contingent and the neighbors.
Most of the gang dressed up Hawaiian style for the boat parade waving ol glory nicely.
The first time I saw the monkey doll 15-20 years ago, it stranged me out. Getting toooo close to yoda dog. What happens in the red cabin stays in the red cabin?
Endurance.

The request for Church basement dinner for fourth of July meal delivered nicely by Grandma Judy with tater tot hot dish, macroni hot dish and meat and potato hot dish. "Grandma, did you make the tater tots" Coming from the 18 yr old no less. Special rhubarb crunch made which was much appreciated.
Jake's girlfriend Jess was digging the red jello.
The igniters of the evening fireworks not the only ones keeping eye on the coming storm.

"Where are my flip flops?"

Tuesday morning trip home delayed by perfect conditions for skiing and absolutely gorgeous morning on the lake. Everyone in our family went out at least twice including Jonell and I. Still able to get up on one and Jonell out skied us all.



This clip should of been up earlier in the sequence but google having its way. Saturday night Pinehurst resort rocking with "Mahonmen's favorite band, Generic" The clip doesn't do justice but those that were there easily reminded. Ranks up with Ugly Stick that used to rock the corner known as Kirby's in Moorhead. I thought after the second set Grandpa Rodney was getting up to see if they had CD's for sell but he was hightailing for the door. Good times.