@kesslaur24.bsky.social
*Family Motto: "If you're gonna be stupid, ya better be tough." *Parenting philosophy: "Give 'em the roots to try their wings." *Retirement Philosophy: "If I rest, I rust." *Retirement hobbies: Watercolors & Biking.
Staying at my kid’s adorable little home while he & my hub ski. No walls to paint, so I’m actually ‘vacationing’ this trip. Didn’t have the nerve to sketch while breakfasting yesterday, but captured the experience over a cup of joe at a coffee joint this morning. Need to work on my self confidence….
From the River’s Edge: The boys are slowly adapting to the girls’ departure from our home. Who knew we’d all feel bereft for a while, after their 5 year ‘visit’ at our house?
My sis-in-law gave me a huge box of Japanese paints for my retirement pleasure. I really need to use Google Translate to see what colors I have. lol. In the meantime, I’ve started a little winter landscape to try em out….
If we were friends during my 17 yrs on Facebook, you’d know that I’m a huge NE Patriots fan. My local Viking & Packer colleagues were passively aggressive about Sunday’s Super Bowl results. Lolz
2004... outside Knoxville. My son's 5th grade social studies teacher taught him about the "War of Northern Agression". Let's just say, we had a long chat at dinner that evening....
Incredible, moving "MN Anthem" describing Trump's horrendous ICE attack on our neighbors....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uozL...
Stephen Miller demanded a deportation quota ... so anyone who looks "non-white" is fair game.
youtube.com/shorts/Fuluz...
From the River’s Edge: We bought this fixer-upper 8 years ago, and have finally whittled the project list down to some of the aesthetic updates. Today we started replacing the flat, hollow-core doors that we’d painted & changed the hardware on before moving in. One down; Nine to go. Hallelujah!!
ICE OUT!!
Appears he's a MN resident. Gotta wonder if he has family here ... and for how long that will be the case?
This mudroom cabinet housed 2 litter boxes with a curtain hiding them for years. Now that the fur-girls have flown the proverbial coop, I replaced the doors & reclaimed the space for shoe storage. The peel n’ stick wallpaper and carpet remnant just tickle my fancy. Victory is mine.
We offered to cat-sit 2 of these beasts for 18 mos while our sailor deployed in 2021. Jan ‘26 marks their 5th anniversary with us. Today his brother drove them to CO to live with him ’til our sailor receives his separation orders and moves nearby. I’m unexpectedly melancholic about their departure.
Second Annual Christmas Family Craft in the books….
Trump ignored the local political slaying of Melissa Hortman, appropriated Charlie Kirk's murder as a personal DJT attack, and crazily asserted that Rob Reiner's murder was from 'Trump Derangement Syndrome': Just 3 douchebag-ish responses to tragedies we've seen in Herr Trump's narcissistic reign...
Trump ignored the local political slaying of Melissa Hortman, appropriated Charlie Kirk's murder as a personal DJT attack, and crazily asserted that Rob Reiner's murder was from 'Trump Derangement Syndrome': Just 3 douchebag-ish responses to tragedies we've seen in Herr Trump's narcissistic reign...
As a Minnesotan affected by the local politically motivated assassinations in June, I find it abhorrent that Trump's pushing his racist narrative & denigrating the entire MN Somali community -- 95% of whom are US citizens.
In typical fashion, I put off this gift to the point that I need to finish it tomorrow. Unlikely to be ‘acceptable’ and dry in time. Womp, womp.
From the River’s Edge: Day #2 of river bank stabilization. We rented a Dingo to help move the riprap faster. Success! Moved two trucks (20,000 lbs total) of granite in 5-1/2 hrs, compared to yesterday’s 4-1/2 hrs using 2 wheelbarrows.
From the River’s Edge: First of 3 rock deliveries today. Took us 4-1/2 hrs to schlep the 10,000 lbs out back to slow down the erosion. Tomorrow we’re gonna rent a walk-behind front end loader to try and speed up the process (and save our aging backs).
After painting up a storm at my kid’s place, I felt guilty for ignoring my own kitchen project. One coat of ‘Mediterranean’ down… one to go.
Thanks so much. 🙂
Spending our 36th Anniversary helping our kid nest…coz it’s my love language.
Keith said it was 1 of his all-time favorite concerts-- despite Paul's obvious age-related vocal issues. He was a true presence on stage: 2.5 hrs non-stop performance; 5 min break; 25 min encore. Twas a night of singing lyrics embedded in his soul. Avg age was 60, as best we could tell. 😁
Our 2 No Kings signs today (both had diff fronts & backs):
Great day to protest kings and authoritarians in deep red small towns!
We were there and it was great to see. One side of my husband’s sign:
Hubs retired yesterday, after 39 yrs with his company. We celebrated last night with Sir Paul. I love how cellphone flashlights replaced the old Bic lighters when Paul sang Let It Be….
So. Disgusted. By. Current. Events.
Am I the only person who zoomed in to look for a scar on his ear?
Fun! We visited Ireland for my choice of 25th Anniversary trips (Keith's was hiking the Grand Canyon), but we only had time for the southern half of the island. Need to explore Galway & north the next visit. Are you moving on to another country... or heading home?