Time Lapses



sipping an Icie to beat the heat

You would think with all this time on my hands I'd be writing faithfully each day....not so. 

It seems the days fill up without my even noticing and before you know it I'm behind on the blog.

Part of this has to do with the heat that is sapping everyone's energy and part of it is the craziness of family activities.



Zeke taking a break from play


On the Fourth we were invited over to the kids house and shared a wonderful afternoon with them playing with the puppy before enjoying barbequed ribs, sweet corn, baked beans, salads and ice cream cake.  

 Later that night we brough the youngest granddaughter home with us to spend the evening and watched Annie on the DVD.

How I missed ever seeing this movie earlier in my life I don't know. I love Carol Burnett and she was awesome in her role as the manager of the orphanage. Then we all went to bed amidst the thunder of fireworks going on in nearby neighborhoods.

After the three of us slept in late in the morning we returned to the house and picked up the older granddaughter and headed out to the Science Museum.  The photos above show air blowing out a tube and making the girls hair fly.  Left Brain declined to try it...didn't want to mess up his hair I guess.  

actual sunken treasure that was recovered

The Pirates exhibit was on display there also. 

This was fun and educational as we learned about the pirates life at sea and what a democratic society they had on board. 

They have the only pirates treasure ever recovered and what a thrill to see the chests of silver coins and cold.  The captain of this vessel wanted to marry his true love but was forbidden by her father as he was penniless.  So he embarked on a life as a pirate to seek his fortune.  Unfortunately the ship was hit by a Nor'easter and sunk before he could return.



Left Brain being kissed by Zeke

On the way home we checked out the Northwest KOA to see if it might be a suitable place for housing us next year.  We thought it would be closer to the kids house and offer more for the girls to do since they have a swimming pool and mini golf, etc. 

But when we compared the cost $600 a month plus electricity to our $430 a month plus electricity we decided to stay where we were. 

It wasn't that much closer mileage wise and our commute has less traffic. 

So we will remain in goatland and enjoy the shade...provided it cools down enough to get outside again.

We picked up Chinese food on the way to drop the girls off and had supper with the family before returning to our little RV we call home.  It was yet another fun filled and busy day.

Today we are looking forward to doing a whole lot of nothing.  I plan to catch up on some laundry that's been piling up again and read my Kindle while it goes through all it's cycles and then maybe we'll make a Wal Mart run for some basic necessities.

I need to rest up for Saturday night when we head to the Hamel Rodeo.

Long Live the Queen of Being Caught Up Again (for a little while)

Playing with the new lens

I'm getting used to the new Tamron 18 - 270 mm lens and loving it.  The hardest part is being able to get outside in this heat to photography anything.

The first thing I did was take a series of photos at each focal length to see who it varied.  Then I attempted to put it into a slideshow.  But I have no idea how to get that to run so I will post them here.

These were all taken hand held from the same location so you can see why I'm enjoying the range of the lens.  I have a feeling this might never leave my camera body!

And as good fortune would have it, I was able to find a buyer for the 70-300 lens.  It's hard, but we're really trying too ascribe to the something in...something out rule in our new life.

Long Live the Queen of the New Lens

Those lazy hazy HOT days of summer

It has been HOT HOT HOT here in northern Minnesota.  So much for being north to evade the heat wave.  We actually stayed inside the RV for two days without venturing out for anything.

Last night there was a fierce thunderstorm and instead of worrying about my safety living in an RV, I just relished cooling down it provided. 

This morning we managed to take a short walk around the campground before it got too bad.  It was cool enough to sit outside for a bit and read, but the temperature was creeping up quickly so we implemented our get away plan.

The plan was to run some errands, go out to eat and then to a movie. However, by the time we finished our meal there was still about 40 minutes to wait until the movie.

So I suggested we just get the groceries and head home so I could start to prepare the marinated salad for the Fourth of July dinner at our daughter's house.  The movies tend to be a diversion for us during this kind of weather just to break up the day and get out for a while.

Left Brain and I used to argue about using the AC in the past and it has led to some humorous moments.  The worst period of time was when I was not only hot from the heat, but suffering through menopause and it's friend, insomnia.

He didn't care to have the AC on because he worked in an office all day and wanted to have the windows open when he got home.  I agree, but there is a limit to what a girl can take.  He can close his eyes and sleep just about anywhere, anytime, a trait we do not share.

I think he got the message when he came into the living room and found me ironing while nude.  I smiled up at him and commented that I had found the perfect way to beat the heat.  He was aghast and worried about the neighbors seeing me since we didn't have any curtains or blinds on those windows.

Then there was the time he woke to find me with my head propped up on one elbow staring at him.  He thought it was charming that I was still so in love with him that I would watch him sleep.  Then I told him I was thinking of ways to bump him off and how I would use the insurance money to crank the AC up to the point we could hang sides of beef in the living room.  He seemed wary of returning to sleep that night....wonder why.

It got where the neighbors knew when he was traveling because you couldn't see through the windows due to the vapor on the windows.  It did make me feel less bad about him being away.

Thankfully by this stage of life he can no longer tolerate the heat either, so when it gets to certain level of heat and humidity he will willingly turn it on.   Hmm. Perhaps we ARE compatible after all.

Let's hope so!  We have now been living in our RV for two months and heading into uncharted territory of the third month.  I sure hope we like it!

Long Live the Sweaty Queen

And they called it puppy love

Zeke is the newest member to the Rossing clan

I am a cat person.  There.  I've declared it.  It is a truth. So why on earth does this little guy have me so under his spell?

There's no reason for it.  He's small and cuddly sure, but he has tiny little piranha like teeth. 

And he keeps licking me with his slobby little pink tongue.

His nails scrape on my skin.  Okay, he's gotten under my skin.

Oh, he has the sweetest puppy breath!  It's a canine form of that new baby smell that we enjoy so much.

Maybe it's those tiny little bright eyes or the black nose in contrast to his soft fur.  Perhaps it's his floppy ears that beg to be stroked over and over again.

I can't help it....I've been smitten with puppy love.

Oh She Devil!  I feel like I'm cheating on her somehow as I indulge in petting and holding this little bundle of fluff.
He has a way of making anyone who comes in contact with him giggle uncontrollably.

He also causes people to want to hold and snuggle with him.


He's a dog of many talents.  He is my grand dog, Zeke. 

His mother was a Golden Retriever rescue dog and he's either a Golden Retriever or he may have some Golden Doodle blood. 

Who cares?  Regardless who his parents may have been, he's a mellow little guy that loves to play.

While we were at Emily's softball game, Kiersten decided to bring him a "stick" to play with.

Apparently she sees him as capable of BIG things.






I think his Dad does also, judging by the size of the dog bed he bought for him. 


But looking at the size of his paws, he may be on the right track.

Well, that's been enough adoration for one day.  I need to go make up with She Devil now.

Long Live the Queen of Puppies

Water lilies

this has a water color filter

Left Brain and I took a walk around the lake today. 

Well, we tried to and almost completed our goal when the road ended.



He was for wading across and with the biting deer flies I didn't really want to backtrack either, but wasn't sure what might be in that water or how deep it was.

this is posterized

I wasn't fearing for my own safety (or his for that matter) but was worried about my camera.

The water lilies are thick in this pond and I find they do well with filters added to the image.  Especially when the shots weren't real great to start with.

my "sand hill crane"

We also saw this "sand hill crane" on our walk.  I pointed it out to Left Brain and he spun around all excited and kept asking "where...where?". 

Then he finally got it.  A crane sitting on a sandy hill.

I just crack myself up doing that.

Mama and her youngsters

Then we spotted this mother goose and her little ones, which aren't so little any more.






But the sun was blazing hot now and it was time to head back to the shade and comfort of the motorhome.

Long Live the Queen of the Camera