How Did this Happen??

On Sunday, I was heading home from Pam's.

I had left Lee there so he could catch his

flight back to San Francisco on Monday.

When I got to Buffalo, I decided to put gas on my car.

I felt I had enough to get home, but for some reason,

I just thought, "may as well get gas."

I filled up the tank and went on my way.

Once I had passed St. Cloud I noticed

ominous clouds to the west.

Someplace between Albany & Sauk Centre

the weather turned wicked enough so that I pulled over.

The winds were fierce and the rains were torrential,

to say the least.

Eventually I was able to continue on home with

no further problem.

On Tuesday, I took my car to Fergus,

to go to Wal-Mart.

When I got out of the store,

I opened my trunk to put my groceries in.

As I opened the trunk, the gas cap

slid to the ground.

Now, how did this happen?

I got gas in Buffalo, 160 miles from home!

I suppose I must have neglected to put the

gas cap back on after getting gas.

BUT...

I drove 65-70 miles per hour,

I was in the middle of a major storm,

and the gas cap didn't fall off?

Did the gas cap stay on the hood of the car, wedged on the

luggage rack (on the trunk)?

Doesn't seem possible, but maybe...

OR...

Was somebody tampering with my gas tank at Wal-Mart?

Had someone tried to siphon gas after I got home?

It didn't seem like my gas tank was emptier than

it should have been for the miles traveled.

I  guess this is just one of those weird,

unexplainable things.

But next time, I will double-check

to make sure

I have replaced the gas cap!

On the Drive Home

Today I took Lee down to the cities so he

can fly back to San Francisco tomorrow.

I left for home around 6:30 and was

making good time.

I was somewhere between Avon & Sauk Centre

when things began to change. . .

The sky was ominously dark, and there was lightning,

Then it started to rain. . .

Not just rain, mind you!

It was torrential!

And then the wind started,

Not just wind, mind you,

but strong, strong winds!!

I, along with many, many others pulled over

to the side of the freeway.

The car shook from the wind-

I was wondering if a tornado came if I

would be picked up and dropped somewhere in Kansas.

The rain was so heavy it was impossible to see.

 As I sat there, I thought to myself,

"There is no traffic coming from the other side,"

This concerned me somewhat.

After about 20 minutes, I decided it had

let up a little bit and the sky was

looking a little brighter,

so I started off again.

When I got to Sauk Centre I noticed

several large billboards were blown out.

There were twigs & leaves around

and lots of water!

I called Lee and told him of my "ordeal"

and he told me that there were tornado warnings

for Stearns County,

which is where I was sitting.

But I made it safely and it was a good day

in spite of the weather.

A Few of my Pet Peeves!

Here are a few words/phrases that simply annoy me:

Hot Water Heater

Really?   Why are you heating hot water?

Water Heater is sufficient.

Overhauls

What are you talking about?

Someone overhauling the engine on your car?

If you are referring to something to wear...

Let's say it together:

OVERALLS!

Real-a-tor?

Realtor, please.

Fisical

Every year, at the end of the

FISCAL year,

someone has to pronounce it like

they are having an exam at the doctor's office.

I would like for you to. . . .
I HATE this phrase!
Can't you just say,
"I would like you to. . . ."

What are some of your vocabulary annoyances???

Halldis

A number of years ago, I visited Norway.

Besides seeing all the wonderful, beautiful, sights

of mountains, fjords, & waterfalls,

I met some relatives!

Halldis was my grandmother's niece.

Halldis' mother was grandma's half-sister.

When we got to Norddal by ferry

we disembarked at the foot of Sylte Mountain.

Here was Sylte Kirke (church)

It was here, in the cemetery, that I met Halldis.

When I met her, it was as if I knew her aldready,

even though I couldn't understand a word she said

(I don't speak/understand Norwegian)

She pointed out the graves of some of my ancestors

and we went inside the church.

(Her daughter translated for us.)

In the church was the very font

that my grandma was baptized at.

The altar railing was that same as it was in

1884 when grandma knelt for her confirmation vows.

The pews had rosemaled doors on them;

years ago, family names were printed on them,

designating "their" pew.

When my grandmother was 7, her mother was buried here.

When she was 19, her father was buried next to her.

After our tour of the cemetery and church,

we went on to the Gjerde farm, where my grandma grew up.

Halldis's mother also grew up here.

We enjoyed a huge feast and visited, with the

help of the translators.

Halldis showed me a book that my great uncle,

Rev. Mons Gjerde had written.

She showed me a shoe that was found in the

ruins of the foundation of the house where grandma lived,

with it's little nails visible in the sole.

We exchanged a few details about each other

and before you knew it, it was time to leave.

Halldis cried when we said "good-bye"

It was sad, since I felt like I was leaving someone

I had known for a long time;

I can't explain that.

A year or so later, Halldis visited Minnesota.

My Mom and her sisters had a great time with her,

reminiscing - and they were even speaking Norske!

When they left, Halldis cried.

It was obvious she had a tender heart.

A few years ago, we got word that Halldis died.

I'm so glad I had a chance to meet her...twice!

Here are the Gjerde relatives.

Halldis is at the bottom left.

At the bottom right is Trond.

He was not related, but he is a friend of

my niece & husband, and he was our chauffeur.

My Spring Flowers

Pansies!

 Hollyhocks!

 A close-up of the hollyhocks - I just planted these this year,

and they are different than the usual variety.

 Iris - This purple/white varity was planted by Mom

 Iris

 Coral Bells

 Petunias!

I think the fine details on the flowers is just beautiful!!

A Bit of Nostalgia

Here is one of the photos we found that we thought was really cute.

My mom is at the right.  Photo is probably from about 1916.

H

Today, my sisters and I went through all [well, not all]

of Mom's old photographs.

It took some time to sort through them,

but we probably spent more time looking than sorting.



Some were old with the edges worn.

Some were faded, some were torn.

Some were of people we did not know.

And some that we remembered from long, long ago.

We found uncles and aunts, cousins, and brothers

grandpa & grandma, and great-grandmother.

There were pictures of babies, toddlers & teens,

Pictures of brides and even some queens.

Wedding pictures, baby pictures, they were all there,

Pictures of travels from everywhere.

Reminded how quickly time passes by. . .

Others have aged, but we all said, "not I!"

We divided the pictures for each of us nine,

Others were marked to be copied in time.

The rest of the pictures are really not junk,

So Laurie will put them away in her trunk!

Letters to Grandma & Grandpa

When my kids were little, we lived in Forest Lake.   They were pretty good about writing letters to Grandma & Grandpa, and my mom kept most of them.  They are so much fun to see now.    We moved to Dalton when Amy was in first grade, so she didn't write so many letters!

The first letter shown is from Lee.

"Dear Grandma, How are you? It rained and thundered today. 

I love you.   Lee.

 Here is a letter from Pam, written when she was 8 years old.

It was written to her grandpa Melby for Father's Day.

The second page is pretty cute!

I am guessing the "letter" below was from Amy when she was

abour 4 years old or so.

The picture below was sent by Pam when she was 6. 

 The letter below was a thank-you letter for a birthday gift received in the mail.

The last two are from Lee.