Just Checking In

Regular readers might be wondering where we are.  We have been in the north woods at the family cabin for over 2 weeks now, and there is no internet connection for us here.  We have been going into Duluth at least once per week, but we haven’t taken the time to update this blog until now.  Actually these thoughts are being written on a Sunday night, but might not get posted until mid-week.

We spent our first week here doing “spring (?) cleaning”: cobwebs, raking, and window cleaning.  Our first trip to Duluth involved Bob meeting with the Speech/Language therapists at St Luke’s Hospital.  This was an introductory meeting, but will become weekly to work on some voice issues.  We also had a field trip to Aurora so Paige could pick up some additional round paint brushes (her favorite for detail work).

Memorial Day weekend was spent driving: Friday to Duluth for the evening, Saturday an early start with Paige’s Mom to Grand Forks ND for a family wedding (Eric, the second son of cousin Steve), and Sunday returning to Duluth.  The wedding was a reunion, of sorts, for most of the Benson clan.

Our second week brought us 2 round trips to Duluth, the first for voice work and laundry on Tuesday, and a work project on Wednesday.  After killing Joyce’s front lawn last year (by using the wrong chemicals for weed killing) we re-worked it this year by renting a de-thatching machine, raking out the rough stuff, and spreading 3 yards of new black dirt, grass seed, and straw. 

We were glad to come back and have a non-working couple of days at the end of the month.

 This past weekend was pleasant since we had company: Brett and his 3 girls brought their Black Lab up for a last visit.  Zoe, the Lab, is 13 years old and not doing well anymore.  She spent a lot of time in the water over the years and a little time this weekend too.  We got the dock and the raft out so it almost looks like summer around here.

Looks are deceiving however, since there are frost and freeze warnings out for this area tonight.
We have also started a repair project inside the cabin - adding new studs inside an outside wall.  Here we are stripping the knotty pine tongue and groove paneling off.

Wish us well.