Don's birthday party

We went to Cub Foods and Fresh Thyme stores today for groceries.  Once again, hardly anyone at Cubs, I fear for this store.  Fresh Thyme had fewer people than usual, they all must be at our new HyVee.  We got groceries for Don's birthday party tonight and fresh fruit and vegetables.

In the evening we had the Peicks and Dennis for dinner to celebrate Don's birthday which is Friday. Most people will be gone on Friday and the whole crew not available for who knows how long with vacations, work trips, kids events, etc.  It was fun having everyone together.

Weather report

I was ready to sleep in this morning when Don woke me up at 7 AM.  We drank our coffee and then went to Sam's Club and Walmart for groceries.  It was already getting hot and humid outside, this is one of those days for which  Minnesota is famous.

Also famous for the storms that can cross the state.  In the early evening there were three tornadoes, none close.  High winds, we got some wind but not dangerously high.  Hail, no hail here.  We did get some much needed rain.  The warning sirens went off but we didn't shelter, it was almost as dark as night outside, turned on lights which blinked a few times but never went out.  So all in all we didn't get much of a storm, thankfully.

That is one shelf cloud!

4 of July******

Independence Day!  We sat around drinking coffee and then decided to tour the nearby campground - we miss the weekend camp-outs.  Some people had already left and many others were getting ready to leave.We would have taken another day so we could have enjoyed the holiday.

On our way to the campground we saw a cornfield right in the middle of Apple Valley.  Brenda and Rebecca said they were going to look for a cornfield today to see it the corn was "knee high by the 4th of July", so I texted her the location.  The corn is about shoulder high!

In the evening we went to the Dennis' house to watch fireworks from their deck.  We could see a couple "home" fireworks, one very good and also could see the Apple Valley fireworks show.

Here are both at once!

Sunday Sunday

We went out for breakfast as usual for a Sunday and then came home and read the Sunday papers as usual.  We are nothing if not predictable.  Daughter Brenda and granddaughter Rebecca came for a visit.

We grilled some very good smoked pork chops and had corn-on-the-cob with cherry pie for dessert.  We also had a salad with tomatoes from our deck plant and some sliced.  Nothing like a vine ripened tomato!

The weather is remarkably nice for the holiday weekend!  The grass is getting dry and could use some rain but OK if it waits until later this week.

The long weekend begins

The first day of the 4th of July, Independence Day weekend.  When I was a kid this time of the year was almost as important to me as Christmas.  In the small town of Belle Fourche, South Dakota it was rodeo time!  I was never a fan of rodeos, didn't like the animals being treated so rough.  I did like everything that came with the rodeo like the parade, fireworks, family reunions, band concerts and mostly the traveling carnival that came to town each July 4th.  I would hear the calyope music of the merry-go-round from our house and would get shaky excited to go for some rides.  It is not so exciting anymore----

We went to our daughter's house this morning to give our son-in-law his birthday gift, a neon sign that reads "Free Beer - Tomorrow"  and has a beer mug with "moving" foam.  Then it was to HyVee grocery store again for what we forgot the other day.  It was really crowded but we got a good parking place and made it through.

We decided to bring in a pizza for dinner.

Tomato!

This morning we went to Panera for an Asiago cheese breakfast sandwich.  They are so good and their "bold" coffee is powerful!  Then we went to Menards Home Store to pick up their "4th of July" specials.  I got things like paper plates and plastic forks and spoons and Don got a red, white and blue rope light to put around the deck.  Then to a gas station for bread, turns out Kwik Trip has good, fresh bread.

Later in the morning I decided, no time like the present  and began to clean the kitchen cupboards.  Didn't get too far as my back started hurting - maybe if I do a couple shelves now and again I will someday get the job done.

Again today, like most days, we sat outside and read.  Sat in the sun for awhile and then moved to the shade.

We went out and got salads to bring home for dinner.

Don picked the first tomato from his deck plant!