This picture is outside one of the hospitals connected with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
Paul just had one side of his thyroid removed.
It was the size of a cantelope I'm told!

It was benign.

That's not a necklace Paul is wearing... but the tape covering the incision is translucent.
The tape will come off naturally in about a week.

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As I was taking a picture of Paul... a man with his wife noticed and asked if I would like him to take a picture of the two of us? I didn't think it was necessary but as we talked I decided it would be fun.

I nearly asked him if I could trust him with my new camera but decided that was "tacky".
And I was so feeling so relieved and energized that Paul was coming home that I think I would have chased the stranger and tackled him if he tried getting away with my camera!

He probably thought we had come from a long distance like others do.
We don't live too far away but it's our first time at the world renowned Mayo Clinic.

Now Paul just has to recuperate.

Look at the colors!

And you can eat them!

Flowers and elk meat and bread and other home grown products

are available at the Cannon Falls Farmer's Market

every Saturday morning.

Waiting for their produce to cell - rather I mean "sell" -

are these young girls...

it seems by their relaxed positions

(and use of a cell phone)

while they were waiting for customers...

you might be amused to note

that the sign could also include

the girls as being "Home Grown".

"Conversations" are free!

And so is the enjoyment of seeing the beautiful flowers!

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The only drug store in town...

and they've lasted 140 years!

1868-2008

Let's have a party in the parking lot...

with a band...

and games for the kids...

and hot dogs and corn on the cob...

Congratulations to Scofield Drug & Gifts

There's some

Plinkin' an' some Plunkin'

goin' on!

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The little quaint church in the valley
It’s steeple pointing up to the sky
Its doors open wide
Welcoming you inside.
To join in the strummin’
Or the pickin’ or the funnin’.
Whether talented or not
Just share what you have got!
In that little country church -
Give it a try!

The plinkin’ an’ the plunkin’ of Bluegrass music is heard every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. at the Wangen Prairie Lutheran Church on County Road 24, just a couple of miles southwest of Cannon Falls.
Last week about 14 folk from Northfield to Randolph to Wanamingo brought a variety of instruments. It seems most play two or three. And the audience sings along or just sits
back to enjoy it all.

Bluegrass gets its charm in this old fashioned music by letting anyone who wants to take a turn playing or singing and improvising, while others create the backing. Some of the instruments are stringed guitars, banjos, upright bass or harmonicas and tamborines.

On a hot summer night, shoes are optional!

Enthusiasm and having fun is the key to this musical entertainment!

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Olympics 2008

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From a valley in the heartland

of the U.S.A

we greet all at the Olympic Games.

.

And we also remember

those of you

who because of

physicial difficulties

and emotional struggles

go through their own

Olympic Games

every day.

We honor you.

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Small town

- or could be your town -

fun!

It's a beautiful warm summer evening

in Cannon Falls, Minnesota.

Concentration Kid - and those around him!

The police department demonstrated

Grab n' Go Bags

for emergencies.

Hand made rugs...

and wooden toys...

and barn wood art...

music punched out by the band...

And end up the evening with a back massage!

Plus many more crafts and ideas.

Come visit!

Life is not a journey to the grave

with the intention of arriving safely

in a pretty, well preserved body...

but rather to skid in broadside,

thoroughly used up,

worn out and

loudly proclaiming:

Wow! What a ride!"

Attributed to Peter Sage.

What a neat thought.

Since we seem to be living in a culture advocating no wrinkles... no scars... no sweat...

this thought is a relief.

Early one morning many years ago, I was crunched up on a couch in a hospital waiting room doing just that... waiting... to see if my niece and brother-in-law would survive the attack from the intruder who broke into their home the night before.

I was interrupted by the hospital chaplain. He didn't want me sleeping there... I thought I had just closed my eyes but he said: "No, you look old when you're sleeping."

I was confused hearing such a comment at that time and inside my head I said to myself, then every wrinkle is worth it because I'm here to protect my loved ones.

Since a couple other members of our family were resting on the pews in his chapel, he told me to get them out of there because at 6 a.m. people would be coming to his chapel.

I was shocked at his attitude. Couldn't he try to give some comfort?

Later, when our family left, and no people appeared to be coming into his chapel, I left a note saying:

"Now your chapel is as you wanted... empty."