Reino, I'm not quite sure why you were having trouble uploading this..  I will have Frans call you later to walk you through it to see what's going on..
Jenny

A quick trip to the Range after going to Babbitt first.

Time for Heidi to go to get more feed
Checking to see how the turkeys are
doing.  Should we butcher them for Thanksgiving.  I'm really afraid of the big tom.

Picked up 34 # gr. beef and 13 doz eggs for the Manor residents.  Got in on a good
pork roast supper.  Ruth enjoyed the trip but we can't talk her into going with us to AZ
and TX.

A Quick FYI

I had talked to some of you about Ivan and I having an Open House this October to show off our almost finished house.  Well, we decided to put it off until spring.  We were hopeing to have at least the first floor done, but that isn't going to happen before October.  Ivan wasn't expecting to be working 6-7 days a week for the last two months, therefore not getting a lot done on the house.  So we are going to work really hard this winter to finish as much as we can, then we will be sending out an Open House invite in the spring!

~MISSI~

We're here ... we're alive ...

and we're well.

I'll let Jen share her pictures of Alaska ... but I'll bet she doesn't have this one!

Our world is starting to see more of these on the ground ...

while you can still find a few of these as well!

Greetings from Alaska!

the wknd in Alaska part 1

Flew into Anchorage at noon on Thursday. Picked up the rental car and took off for Fiarbanks. Stopped many times on the way to walk around and snap pictures. This is one of many! Amber (Wuollet) Laulainen had told me that the leaves are starting to change and the drive should be gorgeous, and how right she was! Near the road the yellow, gold and orange were bright and the hillsides were bright red. No picture could capture the beauty (at least not with my camera) so often I didn't even try. There were two things that I have wished to see sometime when I venture up there, to see a moose in that state and to see Mt. McKinley. I was able to see both.

While in Fairbanks, I spent a couple nights at the Super 8. One of the employees saw me looking at a map and questioned if I needed help with finding anything. Told him I was simply seeing where I should go first and wondered if he had any ideas. He told me of Chena Hot Springs, though I decided against going there this time, but... among other ideas he told me where to find the pipeline visiting center. I got in the car and started driving. The fog lifted just about a mile away so I could see this vast thing! 

10 minutes from Fairbanks is North Pole, Alaska! While in the gift shop you will be able to visit with Santa and have him send a letter to your loved ones if you wish. His reindeer are near by and are pretty photogenic so spent time snapping pictures of them as well. I went to the Visitor Center there in town and was fortunate that an elderly woman was working who wanted to talk about the town. There were at least a dozen things she recommended I see, if I had time, and was able to see all of it! Wheter you drive down St. Nicholas drive or Mistletoe Lane or eat at Elf's Diner you are surrounded by Christmas all through the year. Wendy's in town, has christmas decorations up at all times!

As I said earlier, I had wanted to see a moose while in Alaska. On the nature trail in North Pole, I was able to see this mamma and her baby.

While on the internet, before going there, I read about this museum. For any of you who find architecture amazing...you would find this place interesting. The design of the outside is amazing, but seeing the layout inside was even more so. Saw some amazing art, learned alot about difficult things in history and watched a show on what makes the northern lights. I spent a couple hours there, but could easily have spent more!

Been a while...

Its been a while since I've posted on here.

I just spent Labor Day weekend in Staples, MN (actually Browerville, 20? miles from Staples)  A motocross track there had a two day race weekend.  The original plan, was for Jade and Cole to go with me, but with the first day of school being Tuesday, Jade, after a lot of torn thinking, decided that she had better stay home to prepare for it.  I ended up going alone.

A track I had never been to (generally it takes me far too log to 'learn' a new track), so I rode as much as possible during the Saturday practice.  Saturday evening, I went to Brainerd and spent the night at Mother and Isa's.  After Isa made me breakfast on Sunday morning, I made my way back to the track for some racing.  Motocross is raced in a two race format...  meaning you race two races, they add up the scores to get the overall score.  Of course I was racing the the senior citiz...  err  I mean the Senior class (only people over 40 qualify to race in it)...  Although I was pretty un-impressed with my riding performance...  it was good enough to get a 1st in each moto, for...  yep, a first overall.

Sunday night, back to Brainerd for the night, had a nice evening chatting with Pauline and her husband, Ruthy, and I don't remember what the other young ladies name was...

Monday morning after another breakfast fit for a king made by Isa, I headed back to the track for the second day of racing.  The second day went better than the first (same finish, 1st place in each race) but my riding was much better (although it was nowhere near where I think it should be).

I had the option to either bring trophies or t-shirts home for winning the races, but I thought that Jade would like to see the trophies.  She put in a lot of hard thinking and considering before deciding that she couldn't go.  So I told her I was bringing a couple of presents home for her.

Photo's of the 'presents' are below (if I can figure out how to post a picture)

Hello again everybody!  My two oldest started school on Monday, so now I have a short break during nap time to check my email and the blog.  Sarah started 4th grade and Molly started 2nd, when I started here Sarah was in preschool and Molly was home with me all day.  I will be five years next week that I have nannied for Sarah and Molly.  They started a new school this year, luckily it is the same one my sister works at, so they get to see her and that made the transition easier for them. 

At the house, things are moving along slowly.  I can't complain much because Ivan has been working 6-7 days a week for at least the last month.  This weekend Ivan actually gets Saturday AND Sunday night off, so he is going to replace the stairs.  Unfortunately that is not something that we planned on doing in the begining, but oh well, the stairs do need to replaced sometime.  The first floor is done except for flooring and trim.  The second floor is a bit more behind.  The study is done (except for the trim and light fixure), and the loft and one of the bedrooms are painted.  We just put the casing and trim on the three windows in the dinning room.  They look really nice! 

Soon we will be getting new appliances in the kitchen, we just have to schedule a delivery date.  We are getting a new fridge, a dishwasher, an over the stove microwave/hood, and a stove.  I can't wait until I can load the dishwasher instead of having to wash everything by hand!

Well, back to work,
~MISSI~

does anyone read this thing anymore???

Happy Anniversary

Time to celebrate another anniversary.  Today it is Frans and Jenny's 10th.  Congratulations and wishing you many more happy years.  We got a card once from
Merry and Dan:  "I do"  "I do".  Aren't you glad you did?  Happpy Anniversary.

Anniversary greetings

Happy Anniversary to Becky and Wayne celebrating 25 years today though they have already celebrated.  Anxious to hear about your trip to Ecuador.

Happy Anniversary to Charles and Machelle also celebrating an anniversary today, their
8th. 

Will mention here that we went to Outlook for Jason Parks - Kendra Ylioja wedding.
What a surprise to be escorted into the 4th row!  I questioned Trent and he said it was
for Minnesotans!!  Jason played his violin as Kendra and her dad came up the aisle -
"Oh Perfect Love".  We stayed overnight at Leah and Jeremy Simonsons.  Gladys R.
stayed at Art & Irenes.  They wondered where we were staying!  Hannah and Diane Barber stayed at Myla Pirness'.  We had a laughing and gabby bunch in the back seat.

Today we canned 13 pints of carrots and have 2 1/2 lbs. of large ones in the frig to throw in with roasts.  Potatoes left to can.

first day of school!

Today was the girls first day of school!!  They were soooo excited to start!!  And I was too, even tho this summer was really fun for us!  I am ready for a routine around here and much quieter days!!
Alanys was way too excited to be nervous....until this morning...then she got a little nervous, but she did great!  We are going to miss her home with us!!   Trina came out of her room in this dress and said "I'm all ready for go to school!"  she has been convinced that she is going too....so we have played along!  She did just fine when we left the girls at school and she came home with us.  We went to the grocery store after the school, and walking into the store she tells me "that was so fun, huh mom, that was so fun going  to school!"  too cute :)

when do the rest of you start?

Brainerd reporting

How many of you remember the yellow flowers growing by Grandma's house?  These
are the ones we brought from there to Brainerd.  There are some also in Grandma's

Memorial Garden.

Even though he doesn't like to eat cukes, peppers, or squash, he likes to grow them.

Have given some peppers to residents here at the Manor.  Gave one squash away also.

Sliced one cucumber the day we served sandwiches to those going on the Breezy Belle.

What am I going to do with tomatoes being produced on eight plants? He doesn't eat them either!

Seniors on an outing

Seniors go on an outing on Pelecan Lake out of Breezy Point. Total of 56 from all around Minnesota including Brainerd, Menahga & Wolf Lake were joined by the Southern group which included Minneapolis, Elk River, Rockford & Cokato.  The boat ride was a 2 hour ride out on the lake.

Some found the wind to be a bit Chilly.  After the boat ride which began at 1:00 and was to last for 2 hours (went little over the 2 hours ) we met in Brainerd for a lunch and fellowship. We were even joined by 3 from Arizona. Much enjoyed by all.

Cancer Walk

Thanks to all who donated towards the Farmington cancer walk.  We raised over $47,000.  Mitchell, Grandma Mitchell and I spent the night from 7 pm on Friday through 7 am on Saturday morning.  Survived a lot of bug bites and a major swollen eye from the bites but it was worth every minute and every bite.  There were over 900 luminary bags with the names of survivors and those that have passed and it was such an emotional event.
Most of you know that I lost my dad to luekemia when I was 16, he was only 36 and even after all these years you can not attend an event like this without getting choked up. 
Again, thank you.  I will be closing out my donations on August 31st and as of Friday night my team was in third place overall for raising funds.  It was a lot of work but how rewarding!  We laughed, we cried, we sang, we sat in silence, we remembered, we prayed, we hugged, we walked, and we walked, and we walked so that others may never know what it is like to lose a loved one to cancer. 
I know you might say that I am a hypocrit because I smoke and I put all of this work in to cancer awareness, maybe it's my trade off.  I wanted to show my kids what it is like to volunteer, what it is like to have a passion for something, what it is to give of your time so that others may benefit and have a better life.  I walked for my dad, for my family, for my neighbors, for my friends and for my kids and yours kids and their kids.
So get ready because you know that I will ask all of you again next year. (smiles)

Farmington JO

Mom's official birthday today

Today is the day that Ma turns 75 and we will help celebrate at coffee after Bible Class.

Canning green beans in Brainerd

Pa said there will be too many beans for an icecream bucket so took the larger blue pail.
Came back with pail full.  We washed the beans, Pa cut off ends and I cut into pieces.
Filled the jars, got 13 pints!  Moved into the church kitchen for canning as can't put
pressure cooker on glass stop stove.  One of the jars didn't seal.  More beans to come.
Then beets, potatoes too.  Tried canning potatoes last year, will do so again this year.
Should have some carrots too!  Lots of tomatoes, just a hint of color so far.  Oh, yes,
peppers are producing.  Have been giving them away.  One long cuke to come in, also
1 squash!  That black dirt that was delivered last fall and the pickup load of manure
certainly improved the production.

LLC Confirmation Exercise at Stony Lake Camp, 8-1-10

All the girls carried long stem red roses.The boys had red rose boutonnieres.

There were  48 students.  Estimate was 500 attending.  We got back to Stony early so
were able to sit 3 rows behind reserved rows in hoping to get better pictures.  I don't
know why when the picture is printed large it elongates the face.

While my heart is in Minnesota this weekend ...

the rest of me is at home. We've been enjoying the company of visitors here this past week. Today started out a bit on the rainy side ... but ended up absolutely beautiful. Couldn't ask for better. We skipped the Arctic Thunder Air Show today and worked around home ... then enjoyed the evening visiting and playing outside.

The Kallinen crew.

Johannes Kontkanen and Brock. Johnannes arrived Wednesday evening via motorcyle from the state of Virginia. He spent several days in Juneau before arriving here. Sold his bike this morning and is heading back to Washington DC to pick up his car on Tuesday evening ... and move to Phoenix. He logged 8,000 miles of road on his bike in July.

Isaac Skoog and Fred. Isaac came last Sunday evening and I don't know what he plans on doing. I thought he came to do some touring with Johannes ... will see what happens!

Fred give Trena lessons in the friendliness of Duke.

Tanner getting into tossing corn bags.

All after a hard day at hard work. Okay. They really didn't just ride around on what I called the "Poor Man's Excavator" today. They really hauled some brush and stumps ... and burned a lot of it. Then they started working on moving stumps with 4-wheelers.

For some reason, though, I don't think it was all work. I was napping (trying to) and woke to what sounded like someone whipping circles in the yard. They were just having a great old time out there!

May as well enjoy your work!

Family Night at Stony, the night before confirmation

Pictures came out in reverse order!  Here Grandma with Anna
The top picture is of a small singing group.  The program was very nice.  One song by
staff, one song by the confo class and I think there are 41 students from 15 congregations and with staff, 17 congregations are represented.  We will go back to
Stony tomorrow morning for the confirmation exercises.

Thursday, we are in Duluth w/ Grangroths on our ride to see the 8 tall ships come into the Duluth harbor

Top one is the Roseway, a Grand Banks Fishing Schooner built 11-24-1925
Bottom one is the Europa which sails the seas of the world including expeditions to Antarctica, Tall Ships' races and long ocean crossings.

They have never been to Esko so returned on the North Cloquet Rd. past my old
elementary school and then into the Himango yard.  Went to the door to say who was
in her yard and was invited in.  The cabinets Bill made are still up, hard wood floor is
visible.  She said she has her sewing machine in same spot Ida had hers.  Walked to
look into the living room and there is still a drape on the door into my old bedroom.  She said they have lived here 20 years.  Ida moved to Superior when 75, so she'd be
95 now, 20 years my senior.

Then past the old church.  Someone had been living there, don't know if they still do but the bldg. is showing neglect.  Then to the Apostolic church to show where we were
married and past the Himango graves.  Through Esko and pointed out the former
Kinnunen lumber.  Stopped to eat in Cromwell, the restaurant owned by my classmate
Carol Trevena's daughter.  We left at 6 a.m., returned at 8 p.m. and have some sunburn.