That morning we were expecting Scott from Instant Rain about 9:00 to hook up our sprinkling system. He had some troubles and didn’t arrive until [...]]]> On May 1st we were invited to join my brother David and his wife Donna at the More Cafe in Milan, Minnesota for Klub. (More about Klub to come)

That morning we were expecting Scott from Instant Rain about 9:00 to hook up our sprinkling system. He had some troubles and didn’t arrive until 11:00.

While we were waiting for Scott, a goose family showed up to visit. It was mom, dad and the 4 children just lazily swimming in Lake Florida on a beautiful day.

Goose Family

Earlier in the morning I had started to make chocolate chip cookies for May Baskets so I took the opportunity to go inside and finish them. Couldn’t keep working on the yard with water spraying everywhere.

At 1:50 we were ready to leave. Took our first May basket over to friends Al & Marie by Eagle Lake and then set off for Big Stone City to Lou’s Greenhouse. We had never been there, but it was only about 35 miles farther than Milan so we took the opportunity to go shop for flowers.

Bob was looking for a special plumbing adapter so we stopped at the hardware store in Kerkhoven to check if they had it. No they didn’t, but they did have a brand new bagger for my Lawn Boy lawnmower in their sale bin. We had just talked about needing a new one that very morning! I am a lucky woman!

We were off again and came across this HUGE building in Murdock that we both agreed would more than cover the resort.

A building to put over the resort

We have a dilemma-permanent or retractable roof? I’m thinking retractable-we don’t have that many rainy days. Alas, just like the legislature, this will never be decided!

In Danvers we came across this really unique church. There weren’t any signs so have no idea who the congregation was. Does anyone know anything about it?

Unique church architecture

Our next stop was Big Stone City, S.D. which is just across the border. We met Lou the owner. He started the greenhouse in the early 1960′s in an old chicken coop. He now has 18 greenhouses. People come from many, many miles to buy from them. It was quite an adventure. Have you been there?

Connie with all of our plants getting ready to check out

Connie, Lou & an employee at the greenhouse

Calling card for Lou's Greenhouse

Our 2 hours were up and it was time to head for Milan. We would have been almost on time, but we were so busy talking we missed the sign for Appleton and went 10 miles out of our way-but we’re not talking about that. No sense in ruining a great day!

Bob & Connie at the More Cafe in Milan, MN

For those of you who don’t know what Klub is, it is a Scandinavian dish of ground up potatoes seasoned with salt. You add enough flour to make it into balls, maybe a small piece of ham in the middle and cook in boiling water. They’re done when they float to the top. Serve with butter. (many think the butter is the most important ingredient) Many people actually prefer them the next day fried in butter. The More Cafe has been featured on Jason Davis’s “On the Road” show. We also met the owner of the town’s grocery store who is originally from Willmar. He told us all about the mural on the store wall and the bell at the end of the street.

Milan has a big celebration coming up on May 19th for their Syttende Mai Celebration. Sounds like fun. Have you been there?

sunset at 8:24

On the way home we were treated to a beautiful sunset-though it was at our back so we had to keep stopping to take the pictures.

It was a great day away from the resort. Can hardly wait to get started planting all of the flowers we bought!

Lake Florida sunset at 8 13

Lake Florida sunset at 8:14

I have been washing some of the sidewalk boards and decks each day in between other projects. When Chris came to help with the beach, we had a small accident and one of the Adirondack swings got broken. It only took 6 [...]]]> We do more around here than take pictures of the sunset.

I have been washing some of the sidewalk boards and decks each day in between other projects. When Chris came to help with the beach, we had a small accident and one of the Adirondack swings got broken. It only took 6 different clamps and straps to hold it while the glue set!

6 kinds of clamps to fix the Adirondack swing

Our cats, Simon & Sasha are always very entertaining. You never know where you will find them. They are fascinated by the water and the fish in the water. Here Simon is just “hang’in out” on the  2 inch round pipe of the boat lift.

Simon "hanging out" on the boat lift

Every year we have trouble finding the anchor for the swim platform so I decided to take a hydro bike out and attach an extra marker to it.

Attaching a marker bottle to the swim platform anchor

I found this rock and thought it looked like South America. Asked our friends on Facebook what it looked like. We got answers like, Greenland, Africa, a giraffe or dog head, cow skull, a bad tooth and “just a plain old rock.” Well, we knew that wasn’t the correct answer because there is no such thing as a plain old rock at Lake Florida. All of the rocks are special because over time they are what have made our beautiful sand. Guess we will have geology lessons this summer!

My Special South America rock

We donated donut certificates to a couple of fundraisers and on the 27th we made good on a couple of them. Tim Block got his to share with some of the shop owners and employees in New London – how nice of him! I had a special donut that day – one with a heart in the middle of it.

A donut with a heart in the middle

Over the years we have had to cut down trees and sometimes they are in a position where you can’t use a stump grinder. A couple of them had finally rotted and we chiseled them out and filled the holes in with black dirt.

Chiseling out a decayed tree stump

Bob and Sasha loading the dirt

There are always spots on the lawn that need to be reseeded.

Preparing the lawn for new seed

Bob has been raking out the beach. Look how much better it is looking!

Bob has raked the beach

Lake Florida sunset at 8:12

Lake Florida sunset at 8:13

Lake Florida sunset at 8:15

Sometimes the sun goes down way too fast!

The Lake Florida sunset on April 25,2012

Lake Florida sunset at 8:12

Lake Florida sunset at 8:13

Lake Florida sunset at 8:15

Sometimes the sun goes down way too fast!

Sunset at 7:49

Something new in the sunset pictures – the hydro bikes came out of storage.

The sunset at 7:59

Lake Florida sunset at 8:02

Lake Florida sunset at 8:08

Sunset at 8:18

The sunset at [...]]]> Just like April 23rd, the sunset on the 24th was spectacular!

Sunset at 7:49

Something new in the sunset pictures – the hydro bikes came out of storage.

The sunset at 7:59

Lake Florida sunset at 8:02

Lake Florida sunset at 8:08

Sunset at 8:18

The sunset at 8:27

The sunset at Lake Florida on the 23rd was like 4 different sunsets in 1 and seemed to go on forever!

Lake Florida sunset at 8:06-zoomed in

Sunset at 8:07

Lake Florida sunset at 8:08

The sunset at 8:12

The sunset at 8:14

Sunset at 8:14-zoomed in

The sunset at 8:28

The sunset at 8:29

The end of the sunset at 8:29

Here is the sunset on April 16th. Lots of clouds and only a sliver of pink and yellow right before the sun disappeared.

Only had 1 picture of the sunset on the 16th & 20th so am combining them in one post.It’s amazing how different sunsets can be!

Here is the sunset on April 16th. Lots of clouds and only a sliver of pink and yellow right before the sun disappeared.

The sunset on April 16 at 8:03

The sunset on April 20th. Got the picture in the nick of time between the clouds.

Sun between the clouds on April 20.

What a beautiful reflection on the lake!

Looking NW at the stormy sky

Looking southwest at 6:27

The view from [...]]]> It’s not always “warm and sunny at Lake Florida.” Every now and then we have a little bad weather. Sunday night was the first storm of the spring. Storms are really very fascinating to watch across the lake.

Looking NW at the stormy sky

Looking southwest at 6:27

The view from our living room window

6:33 - looking north at the black, stormy sky

We were very thankful that the storm looked worse than it was and we didn’t have any damage at the resort. Can hardly wait for the next beautiful sunset!

The beach before Chris came

On Saturday, the 14th of April, Chris from 4 Seasons Lawn & Dock came with a track skid loader and pushed the sand around for us.

Pushing the sand [...]]]> We have been working on moving sand on the beach before the ice went off of Lake Florida.

The beach before Chris came

On Saturday, the 14th of April, Chris from 4 Seasons Lawn & Dock came with a track skid loader and pushed the sand around for us.

Pushing the sand by the dock

Chris & Bob working on the beach

The beach when Chris finished pushing sand

Oh our aching backs are happy! We are so thankful Chris could come and do this. Now we can see “the end” to getting the beach back in shape for summer!