Northern Pine Float

Every year Lino Lakes has a parade and for the past couple years Northern Pine Studios has presented a float. Although Xavier is studying anymore at Northern Pine he was invited to play the banjo on the float. They pretty much stick to Bluegrass so there were banjo, guitar, mandolin and fiddle players.
Our friend Laura joined us for the day. We walked behind the float and passed out candy and brochures about the studio. Although Laura is undergoing kemotherapy she was determined to walk with us this year (last year we were rained out.)

The band is ready to go. Rick Taube (owner of northern Pine) set up a loudspeaker so he could sing as well as project the music out to the crowd.Laura Giefer and Selena. On the 18th (Monday) Selena turns 17 years old!!

Andy Troska, Rick and Xavier are warming up.

Five Dogs in the Kitchen

Tonight our city Ham Lake celebrates the end of the summer with fireworks and a party in the local park. We live only a half mile from said park and can sit outside and watch the fireworks and listen to the music. This evening we decided to stay in and watch the Olympics. For some of you that own dogs you know what I am talking about when I say that fireworks instill terror and drooling in our dogs. Xavier took this photo of me trying to prepare shrimp scampi for supper with a kitchen full of scared dogs. Jota, our Great Dane, poor creature, is terrified of the noise and lights! Apparently he feels much better if he can lean against me or at least touch me. A little rum always helps a little!

And kitty makes nine...

It's been a couple years since we had a healthy, family cat. We've had foster cats but never a cat that decided that we were family. Recently I met "Jack" at a pet adoption day and we hit it off right away. I decided to foster him for awhile to make sure that he would get along with the dogs and (except for Jota, the Dane) they have all done well together. We are still working on convincing Jota that the cat is not a play thing but we are very optimistic that we will be able to work things out between them.

"Jack" has been renamed William or "Billy Bob." He is fearless with the dogs (which is exactly what we needed in a cat) and he is cuddly and affectionate. He is also overweight from sitting in a crate since last November. Unfortunately, this is the fate of many unwanted cats and dogs; they sit in a tiny space waiting for a home. Many times a home never appears and they are euthanized. Not for William.