South Dakota trip II

On Tuesday after Memorial Day the funeral service was held at the Norwegian Free Lutheran cemetery, located about a mile east of Aronson's farm. The ceremony quite nice, on what may possibly have been the most pleasant day of the whole summer. Quality family, kid, and mutt time followed at the farm. All in all a wonderful way to celebrate the life of Arly's mother, Lois Charmaign Aronson.

Pastor Jim officiated.  He's the best!

Just immediate family and a choir (Hayes and his gang)
attended due to the pandemic.

We camped in Lynn's and Steve's yard,
just a few miles outside of Chamberlain.

Oh ya Van, we just don't get no good scratching like this.

Marla! Let me kiss that little Hilde.

Close time with Evan is the best.

Kara is making a flower wreath.

Who gets it? Marla's not so sure it should stay there.
Maybe she sees a bug?

Ya Ty, when will we see you and Stella again?

I'm more of an outside dog.

Outside, things went crazy and we ran and chased!

I went a bit slower so Bella could stay close.

Oh and Mac came out and ran with us!
We had SO MUCH fun here.

We eventually get hot and take a break.

Levi decided tonight was perfect for a bon fire and s'mores.
Good call!

Now on our way home and in southern MN, we stop for a break.

Arly's camera battery died so we didn't get more photos
until we got back home. Rhubarb, anyone?
Maybe you could stop by to visit me, and
pick some while you're here.

Trip to South Dakota

The service for Arly's mother was the Tuesday after Memorial Day, so on Sunday we loaded the camper and headed west to South Dakota.

Right as we were loading the camper, Daisy came by!

Oh you know we love that when she stops by. We chase!

But that didn't last long and we got on the road.
We took our 1st break at the Ironwood MI visitor center.

Next stop was 1/2 way across Wisconsin on US2.

We've stayed at this NFS campground Wanoka many times.

The gate to block it was newly installed. This forest still
has campgrounds closed, but dispersed camping is OK.
Our forest (the Ottawa) is still closed to all but day-use.

Hours later, we got out for a little romp on the NCT in western MN.

We were here once before. Too buggy to hang around today!

We got too tired and to make it all the way,
so stopped to sleep at Lake Norden SD campground.
(Photos were taken in the morning.)

It kind of smelled fishy here, but we slept well.

Now at Chamberlain at Arly's dad house.
You know we love kids!

And we get to play games with them.

 

Ya Dahlia you can throw that for me and
I'll bring it right back!

Younger mutts stood by to learn from the master.

Dory brought Nadia over to see me. I love toddlers!

Dahlia and Summer pose with us and
can play with us any time.

And little Charmaign, too!
I did fetch lots but I've not been trained at this
and didn't know what to do next.

Dusty grilled up their very own, home grown beef.
All the 2-leggeds said, it was the best steak they'd ever had.
What a gyp - we didn't get any!

Good food, good company....an excellent way to
reminisce about Arly's mom.
Our gathering gave a new meaning to Memorial Day,
for our family.

Arly told me to "go drink" and I went to the hydrant pan.
Ya, this is real farm dog stuff.

At least save us a little bit!

Later, we heard a strange rumbling sound...look who rolled through!

Jamie and Beth plus their mutts were here from
Minneapolis.  When can we see them again?

Some like doing cartwheels. Over and over. And over again!

Ya Summer you can throw that for me.
What's Charmaign doing down there?

Next post is from Tuesday - the funeral and other stuff.

Spring is here!

We are heading to South Dakota to attend a mini memorial service for Arly's mom over the holiday weekend.  Here is her announcement.  We will post a trip report upon our return.

Friday, we could finally celebrate spring/summer on the way
by having supper on the porch.
Bonus - the return of fresh fish, since Peterson's just re-opened.
Oh, and margaritas, of course!

The albino squirrel is out from morning to night.
Strange that we actually have two of these guys around here.

Eatin' is good here, but we've spied him/her
throughout the neighborhood.

Paper girls visit us!

A special no-school, shelter-at-home perk is that the paper girls come to visit us!

Ya, Arly lets us out so we can socialize. Who are you?

Gabi brought her friend to help deliver papers.
You know, we like to visit little girls.

Ya you can rub me. I like that! 
But I am kind of scared of you.

Gromit says, no, you can rub ME.

Gabi is our usual paper girl. Guess I thought I'd take a little taste.

You can come see us every day!