Guitars in Texas

This Fourth of July there will be a rally in Texas that's a bit different from the usual holiday rally.

 There will be an open carry guitar rally held as a bit of fun and frolic from folks who remember not to take themselves too seriously. They will be armed with Telecasters, Les Pauls, PRS, but advise against Deans as they could put an eye out with one of those. All instruments are welcome. Even accordions.

So let's have a little fun for the holiday since many will have a three day weekend in which to celebrate our Glorious Revolution against those uppity British lords and ladies. It's amazing we get along so well now, since most of the colonists were British citizens and therefore traitors to the crown. 

In honor of our well regulated militia I give you this gem from Youtube.

Let the good times roll!

Cool cars and guitar(s)

Summer is the season of classic and  custom cars rolling down the highways of the Midwest. The people that build and restore these mechanical beauties are as varied as the cars themselves. The salute to the past, distant and not so distant, is a thing of beauty. Even on a rainy day these automobiles still exude a lot of class, as opposed to a Kardashian who just oozes a lot of something much less classy.

 A lot of these classics and customs are sentimental for lots of reasons. Sometimes it takes us back to memories of when we were kids and life was simpler and we had few responsibilities. Sometimes there is a more poignant memory as seen here.

Of course, where would we be without the requisite fuzzy dice.

So they closed off the main street in our fair city and left plenty of room for everyone, but the rain limited the number of entrants and spectators. They were just getting things started when I took this.

 Rainy day, rain all day
Ain't no use in gettin' uptight
Just let it groove its own way
Let it drain your worries away
Lay back and groove on a rainy day
Lay back and dream on a rainy day.

- Jimi Hendrix

We have had enough rain in Minnesota this month to have our motto changed from "Land of 10,000 Lakes" to the "Land of 20,000 Lakes".  I think that soon it might be called "Land of 10,000 Islands" if it doesn't stop. At the lumber yard I have been asked to get timbers for some ark projects, but when I ask questions about the construction methods and requirements I often get the same response as Bill Cosby did when he asked god about it. "What's a cubit?"
(Previous paragraph is almost true).
Just to show you that it doesn't always rain here is a picture from the city campground a few days ago. You always know people in a small town because we wave at each other a lot. Sometimes we wave when we are not swatting mosquitoes.

We always can count on the local wildlife for entertainment. When the Cooker and I got home from sailing (garage sailing) yesterday we found that the plastic egg we had on the deck was broken into by either a squirrel or chipmunk. I would have loved to see the look on its face when it realized that there was nothing inside of this one.

Meanwhile, back in the garage, I have set up my garage band. I do this because I do not want to disturb the peaceful kingdom that is our house. I only do this in the summer and play mostly acoustic in the winter so as not to offend and ears (fish, frogs, cats, dogs, and even humans). I finally finished up my American Standard partscaster. Now I can sound like Clapton, Hendrix, Gilmour, SRV, et.al. when I am in my own garage world. At least I believe I sound like them. So far no one has coming knocking on the door with a big fat recording contract.

Maybe when I play the Les Paul and sound just like Jimmy Page, Duane Allman, Peter Frampton, Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck, or Neil Young, then they'll come running looking for their next meal ticket. As long as I keep believing that anything is possible I'll wait for the knock on the door. I believe in the Tooth Fairy, too. Here is my little corner of  the garage.

Birds, bacon, and Roseanne

It's been three weeks since our last snowfall. The two weeks following that must have been spring because last week summer started. Everything is green now and most of the snow and ice is gone. It just can't last with temperatures in the 70's. The hummingbirds have returned, still humming the same tunes as they have for eons which reminds me of a Gregorian chant, only higher pitched and with a lot more physical activity. I'm pretty sure they don't hum because they don't know the words, either. We did have another errant visitor, though. We have seen them before, but only once in a while. They are an open country bird and we don't have open country in Superior National Forest. I present the yellow headed blackbird.

Another of our regular visitors is the rose breasted grosbeak. They stay around for the summer and add to the colorful mix.

I can't forget the goldfinches. We never saw these when we lived thirty miles inland from the lake, but they are abundant near the shore.

That was shot in the rain so not as bright as normal.

Speaking of shot, you may remember the 400 pound pink monster that invaded the mares' pasture a few weeks back. The pig formerly know as "Bacon Monster" is no more. With a small informal gathering of men with knives, block and tackle, and one handgun, she met her fate with calm and dignity doing what she did best. Eating. She will now supply several families with high quality, organically raised, free range pork. Reality is harsh, but some things must die so that others will live and knowing exactly where your food comes from is a good thing.

Work has turned from a leisurely paced affair to one of frantic activity. The ground has thawed enough for many of the road weight restrictions to be lifted and the construction season is starting like a racehorse out of the gate. It is an intense season that usually ends in November when the ground starts to freeze again and the weather becomes a major factor in the daily activities.

Here on the farm the grass is greening and the horses are grazing. In that respect it's summertime and the livin' is easy. As the day job lightens up in winter the farm work gets increasingly more difficult. In the summer it is the opposite. So, as Roseanne Roseannadanna (Gilda Radner)  always says, "Well, Jane, it just goes to show you, it's always something. If it's not one thing, it's another." It's been twenty five years since her death and she still makes me giggle.

Visitors and garage sales

A few days ago I was looking out at our bird feeder at our various grosbeaks and sparrows when something I had never seen landed. It was blue. Bluebird? Indigo bunting? I get to see those rarely, but this was different. Stitch got out the nearest bird book and found it right away. It was a blue grosbeak.

Normally they would stay about a thousand miles south of us by St. Louis, but they do nest in South Dakota which is only about half that distance as the grosbeak flies. Like our former beloved wrestling governor, Jesse "The Body" Ventura said when asked if he was worried that Minnesota businesses might move to South Dakota because of lower business taxes, "Nah, 'cause then they'd have to live in South Dakota." He was right, but apparently it's okay for the grosbeaks.

Another sure sign of spring was the opening of our local Garage Sale Season on Saturday. While many of us were observing Syttende Mai (Norwegian Constitution Day) here in the Midwest we were also celebrating the fact that it is now warm enough to venture out to the neighbors in only a couple of layers of protective clothing. Also, as of Saturday, most of the inland lakes were declared ice free so people could go fishing without an ice chisel or auger! I noticed today when I was repairing fences that there is still a bit of snow in the woods, but I digress. Our community garage sale was at our community center in town where anyone could have a table or two and display whatever stuff they had that someone else might want. I suspect that a lot of the same stuff gets passed around every year or two as people decide they really didn't need that thing they picked up for a song at the previous sale. I usually play it pretty conservatively and don't buy much unless I really need it or think I can flip it for a little profit. This year's opening pièce de résistance was a WW2 cold weather flight suit pants in leather and fleece.

The really cool thing is, it fits! I was tempted to show the girls by wearing only these pants, but I am sure the screams would have frightened the neighbors. I could have left the full-length side zippers open for a real show, but then I would have to charge admission. I have since listed these on eBay to try and turn a small profit to "invest" in my partscaster. Since the wife and I split the original price of $20 and after eBay fees I might get lucky enough to buy a few strings for my half of the investment. Don't worry, I won't quit my day job. As Professor Batty mentioned last week, I have GAS. Gear Acquisition  Syndrome. It applies to photography equipment and guitar related things, but I have yet to admit I have a problem. Yes, I know there is a twelve step program to help, but I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM! Okay?   

Finally

As long as we don't slip in to a nuclear winter or have some major planetary volcanic event it looks like spring is finally here! I have been holed-up long enough and needed to get out and seriously try the bionic knee I got last November. And it really works! I went out for a walk and sneeked up on this doe.

Even though I didn't mean her any harm she didn't want to be disturbed while nibbling at the fresh green stubble starting to show itself. Once she realized someone was looking at her she decided to leave. In a hurry.

I guess it's for the best. There were a couple of them in the front yard when I went out this morning to look at the sunrise. They weren't too alarmed, but after a few moments they decided to mosey on. I could take some time and get them to relax around me and maybe hand feed them. Unfortunately, come fall, they would probably walk up to the first hunter they saw and ask for a handout. The results would be fatal and I would feel bad having caused it. On the other hand they are tasty.

Yesterday was the opening of the spring fishing season in Minnesota. Down in central Minnesota, places like Duluth and Grand Rapids, had open water on their lakes just in time. Up here they are still ice covered. Even our upper pond still had ice on it and it usually goes out about a week before the lakes.

Woke up this mornin'
Grabbed myself a cup
Brewed up some coffee
Went outside and looked up

And this is what I saw:

It was just before sunrise and the clouds were rolling in. After I fed the horses and let the chickens out it rained just a little. It cleared off now to mostly blue sky, but there is always something to do around here and it's not always chores or maintenance related. Sometimes I have fun projects. I am putting together a "partscaster" to replace the Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster I sold last year. I still need to raise some more funds for the electronics parts, but here is what I have put together so far.

A 2003 body, a 1993 neck, and various hardware. As soon as people buy some of the stuff I have for sale I should have enough to finish it. Wish me luck!

Da blooz

Woke up this mornin'
Took a look outside
Was that frost I saw?
Thought I'd stay in and hide

The dog is tellin' me
She has to go
We went out the door and found
We'd been dusted with snow!

Got those late springtime blues again, mama 
Nothin' I can do
I'll just dream of summer
And have a beer or two

Of course the other way to start a blues tune is "I've got a woman," but since the Cooker sometimes reads this I'm not going to go there. Mama didn't raise no fool!

This was taken last weekend. The good news is most of the snow in the open areas is gone, but there is still plenty in the woods. Minnesota fishing opener is next weekend and the fear is that most of the lakes in the Arrowhead region (where we live) will still be ice covered. I don't fish much anymore, but in this part of the country it is considered to be one of the higher intellectual pursuits.

Migratory birds are starting to look for nesting material and they find it here on the farm. You might remember the ravens grabbing beaks full of horse hair from Vedas. Now the smaller birds are at it. I think these are cowbirds that don't know the difference between a cow and a horse.

Click on the pic for a better look.

Imminent signs happen every day. Raccoons have been caught at the bird feeder during the dark hours and now the striped rats (chipmunks) have come out of hibernation.

Even the Big Lake has lost its ice in these parts. Down by Duluth, however, it has been piling up and the cargo ships and ore freighters have been going with a coast guard escort in order to make it to the locks at Sault Ste. Marie. Usually they are just referred to as the Soo Locks, but they have been a real bottleneck since the shipping season started this "spring". 

Yesterday I stopped by the harbor on my way to work. Yes, I have to work an occasional Saturday. I missed the more colorful part, but managed to get a few shots of the rainbow (not a snowbow this time) over Grand Marais and its harbor. There is still a chunk of ice in the foreground, but you can see that the rest is actual water! I'll bet the folks in the U.S. southwest would love to see this much fresh water. Their drought is getting pretty severe.

We are well into mud season and soon things will be greening up. At least by next month, anyway. Time to go outside and watch the spring slowly creep in. The sound of rushing water from the snow melt is like music, especially when the birds add their songs. A natural cacophony of orchestral proportions. It even makes this grumpy old fart smile a little.

Hogzilla!

Our horses have a pretty easy and stress free existence. The mares have the largest pasture, but about a quarter mile of it runs along the county road. I have seen all kinds of things go up and down that road from noisy teenage vehicles to Jake-braking trucks, moose, wolves, bears, coyotes, foxes, dogs,  deer, children, etc. The mares have had most of those things in the pasture as well (except for the vehicles) so they are pretty used to most of them. They are desensitized to most everyday sights, sounds, and smells.

When I got home after work on Thursday I was met at the door by the Cooker who said K from across the street called and thought their pig was heading toward our pasture. I said, "Okay," and walked over to the window to see what I could see. Casually coming down one of the hills toward the horse's lean-to was a large 400 pound pink low-to-the-ground pig. So I went back out and headed toward the barn to see if I could help capture this hogzilla. As I rounded the corner by the lean-to I saw the fence wires were broken and the horses tracks leading away from their hangout toward the "old boy" pasture to be near the geldings for some moral support and any comfort food (hay) that may be within their reach. 

I lead the girls into the barn and put them in their stalls while I went to help capture this wily and dangerous killer that had scared the mares half to death. What I found was an easy going, curious creature about the size of a short legged pony. The Cooker was there with a bucket of grain as K came along with a bucket of some more pig food. The ladies coaxed the pig out of the pasture and she (the pig) walked side by side with K down the driveway like they were old friends. K's husband J joined in and the three of them walked back down the county road to their little farm across the street. It was pretty cute the three of them out for a stroll down the road.

J is a big strong guy, about 6'3" and about 265 lbs. ( he helps me when the hay loads come), but if he wants to move hogzilla and she doesn't want to move, she wins. Hogzilla (her real name is Bacon something-or-other) is also somebody's mother. She gave birth at 18 below zero and here is one of her offspring.

I think maybe I should take the mares across the street and let them meet the pigs close up and personal in order to alleviate their fears. The younger mares were the most distressed by this pink interloper so I should probably take them for a visit first. I really have to stretch my imagination to understand the fear caused by the big, pink, horse-eating hogzilla, but I have to take it seriously without laughing out loud. I really want to hear the mares explanation for their reaction.

We just had two more inches of snow this morning, but winter is losing its grip. On the way to work yesterday I stopped to see if there was an water flowing in an erosion problem we call "New Falls". It was dripping, but mostly frozen.

And in a nearby tree was someone taking a break from cleaning up the winter's roadkill.

 Click on the pic and you might see the eagle didn't wipe its beak before leaving the table.