A Visit at the Norgrens

Good food

Madeline entertained us

A walk in the park along the "No Scottish Terriers" Trail

One of the mute swans at the breeding sanctuary. Minnesota is making an effort to restore these impressive birds to their former range.

Yoopers in Minnesooota.

The famous Minnesota Water Spaniel running on water to retrieve a stick. These dogs are very rare because they love water but cannot swim.

Minnesotans after a ten-mile walk in the park.

Tree climbing keeps Minnesotans fit during the off season.

Poster Girls for the new "Minnesota's More Than Just Ten Thousand Lakes - We Got Lotsa Trees Too" Tourism Campaign.

Slaughtering Chickens

It seems a shame to kill such beautiful birds, but you can't eat chicken unless chickens are killed. Our industrial food systems allows us not to think about such thing, but when you raise your own you are confronted with the reality that we eat other living creatures.

David and Jonathan caught the chickens with a fishing net.

The chicken is placed in a killing cone with its head between two nails on the chopping block.

The chickens are dipped in hot water and plucked.

Ready to be bagged and put in the freezer.

It has been an excellent year for apples. All the wild apple trees are loaded. David put the JD to use collecting deer apples.

The Superior Road Rally, formerly known as the Press on Regardless, passed by our house. The leaves are hanging on the trees late this year. Many haven't even turned color yet.

A wall for our new greenhouse. Because the evenings have been cold and dark. I built it in sections in the garage, including the roof.

Three walls up.

Marja's sewing room.

October 10th - First Snow

It began snowing about 9:00, just as we were eating breakfast.

Because the leaves had not yet fallen, the snow was especially beautiful against the fall colors.

Jonathan split and piled the last few remaining blocks of firewood.

These apples get sweeter with a few frosts.

Strong winds and snow continued much of the day and evening. The fire in the parlor stove felt especially cozy when you could hear snow pellets hitting the windows.

Picking Potatoes

I found myself thinking that a plow would make the job easier and more efficient, but the humble shovel gives you time to think about and appreciate what you are doing.

The French have a much better name for potatoes - pomme de terre, apples of the earth.

We harvested the potatoes on a beautiful calm evening, right before a snowstorm.

We harvested two wheelbarrows full. Marja dug these up by herself earlier in the day.