Saturday

Friday evening Shannon and Tricia came over. We decided to have dinner at Third Base in Brooks (excellent ribs). After dinner they presented us with our first baby gifts. Tricia found two journals for Kristie and I to write down our thoughts about the baby before she is born and during her first few months. She also included her first pairs of socks and two bibs. It was wonderful and very thoughtful.

After dinner, we took a little drive south on highway 59. When we reached country road 49, we headed west. This brought us about a half mine south of Dad's farm. Tricia and Shannon had never seen it. So we took a quick drive around the gravel pit.

I was worried that hunters would wipe out the population of geese that Dad has do passionately harbored there for the past decade. I'm sure many have been hunted (especially now that Dad is gone). No respect for the dead, I guess. But you know some hunters (couldn't resist that little dig).

Kristie thinks there is one, who actually used to a good friend of Dad's, who likely hunts there now that Dad is gone. At first, I wouldn't believe it, for the man is quite a nice person. However, I am reminded of a scene a good friend of mine (who happens to be a relative of the man in question) witnessed one day. They were having lunch at the house belonging to the brother of the man in question. There my friend saw the man actually sneak a coupon his brother had received in the mail (it was for a large discount on a new truck) off the counter and into his pocket.

Kristie also reminded me that this very same man once bought his mother a new washing machine and charged her interest while she paid him back for it - despite still living in her house.

A person doing those things would have no problem driving onto our land and slaughtering a few guess.

While there were fewer geese than I had expected, there were quite a few ducks. We even saw a majestic crane walking in the water.

Next, we drove by the cemetery where Mom and Dad are buried.

What an evening.

Then we returned home to find Casey and all of his paintball buddies over. They were preparing for their first paintball tournament of the season (in Bemidji).

Given the snow that is now coming down, I don't envy them. But they're hardcore.

Meanwhile, KoKo has a softball tournament today in Fosston. But given the cold, damp conditions, we decided to stay home.

So much for global warming, right?