July 15, 2013 Back on the boat at Pebble Isle

After being gone for over a month it is good to be back home on the boat.  We spent 2 weeks in Montana and got to see friends and family, went out to our land and got the electric poles back up and our electricity back on.  They are in the process of getting our well back to working order this week.  The well wasn’t as bad off as we thought it was.  We also had a federal guy come out and mark off standing dead trees that need to be cut down.  We filled out all the paper work on that and should have the trees cut sometime this summer.  Other than that, we are still up in the air as to what else to do.  After Montana, we spent another 2 weeks in Wisconsin.  Again, we saw family and friends and had a very good visit in both places.  We also drove down to Red Wing and got together with our good friends Dave and Nancy and Craig and Connie.  It was really good to see them.  We spent the 4th of July at a friends house for a picnic and fireworks.  Other than a few mishaps, all-in-all, it was a very good time. 

CO's comments:  This was a long trip; too far to drive any more.

6-17-2013:  We had lunch with friends I used to work with.  It was good to see everyone.  Later, I went up to the Federal building and got the tour of the new building.  It was one huge block building on the outside but inside it was very nice.

6-18-2013:  We parked our car on Harper Coulee and rode up to our land with the federal guy in charge of tree cutting.  Our road is still too rough with deep ruts so our vehicle can’t make it up to our land.  It is still pretty desolate but I was able to find some grass and this flower.

6-18-2013:  They were replacing our two power poles while we were there.  Now we will have a monthly electric bill again!

6-18-2013:  In the evening we went out to the shooting range with our friends, Ed and Pam.  They were having a friendly competition of sporting clays.  Above is Keith and Ed.

6-21-2013: We left Billings to go over to Bozeman to visit with Keith’s brother Ronn, and his sister Karen.  This is a picture from the highway of the cloud cover over the Crazy Mountain range just east of Livingston, MT.

6-28-2013:  We spent a few days at my sister Susie and brother-in-law Bill’s house.  This is Susie at the Friday night Fish Fry.  They invited some friends over and we all enjoyed delicious walleye. 

 6-28-2013:  The cooks

6-28-2013:  Me helping in the kitchen

6-29-2013:  At the grand kids swim meet; Austin and Sara

7-4-2013:  4th of July picnic at Heidi and Jerry’s house; Grandson Derek, Me, Keith, and Jerry

7-4-2013:  4th of July picnic at Heidi and Jerry’s house

7-4-2013:  Keith and Bobbie at the picnic

 

7-4-2013:  4th of July picnic.  During the fireworks one tipped over sideways and went directly into the group watching.  It hit a car, bounced off and landed on Don’s (our son’s) head.  He quickly pulled it off and threw it on the ground where it continued to ignite.  Don ended up with a small bald spot on his head, a burned hand, and Sara had a small burn on her forehead.  Luckily that is all that happened; it could have been a lot worse.  Everyone is OK now.

7-11-2013:  On the last day of our trip we visited with my sister Sharon, her girls, and her grandson.  Pictured is Sharon, Jeremiah, and Sandy at the park in a paddle boat; it is a lot harder than it looks.  I could feel it in my legs when I got done.