Wedding in the Family

                                               

                                                We once had a niece called Holly
                                              Whose nickname became Holly Dolly
                                              Along came a prince called Andy
                                           Who in marriage asked for her hand-y
                                          And now they find themselves quite jolly

I just felt like trying my hand at a limerick.  Yes, my niece Holly just married Andy, a very kind gentleman from Chisholm, MN who also happens to be a sheriff.  It was a joyous wedding with all Holly's nieces and nephews involved.  Larry Oberg, John's brother is her father and also officiated at the wedding.  Our daughter Cherish and I provided the music for the wedding which was great fun.

Larry and Kathi have four children.  All are now married with Holly being the youngest.  So, Holly's other two sisters and a sister-in-law were bridesmaids along with Joanna who is very close to Holly, her cousin.  It was a very touching ceremony with lots of tears and laughter. 

Andy was welcomed and loved by Larry's whole family the moment they met him and HE was infatuated with Holly the moment he met HER.  Andy spent all his time off over at the Oberg's home in Buyck, MN helping with projects and playing with the other grandchildren.  Everyone was hoping that Holly would fall in love with him and some day marry him.  Well, it finally happened.
When Larry walked her down the aisle to present her to Andy and the question was asked,  "Who gives this woman in marriage to this man?"   the whole family shouted,  "WE ALL DO!!!"

I believe they are well suited for each other and will enjoy a lifetime of happiness together.
John's mother flew home from Texas for the wedding and looked stunning in her blue dress.  She is flanked in the above picture by Joanna and Cherish.

Excitement on the Trail

About a week ago John headed out on his snowmobile to pack a longer trail for Joanna on which to train the dogs.  It was twenty-five miles from camp and way out in the wilderness on some old logging roads.  He gathered together some survival gear and fastened it to the snowmobile, including a chainsaw for downed trees, a pack with extra clothing, gloves, handwarmers, matches, food, etc. snowshoes and an axe. 

He knew if he broke down out there, he was on his own and needed to be able to walk to the nearest road for help or camp out till help came. 

When he finally came back to camp, covered with snow from breaking trail, he told us the exciting details of his trip.  He came to an area where he knew there were some moose hanging out.  Suddenly, he looked about 200 feet ahead on the trail and saw a large Timber wolf.  He was HUGE in John's estimation, looking to be about 120-140 pounds and in good health.  Wanting to move the wolves away from the moose, he kept a steady speed and soon came upon five more wolves.  That was  a bit unnerving, especially since you can't carry a gun with you anywhere unless you are a trapper or a hunter during the appropriate seasons. 

The wolves kept running ahead of him at about 15 -20 miles per hour.  After a short time, one by one they hopped off the trail into the deep snow, except for one which continued on for four more miles. 

It was starting to get dusk when John turned around to head back.  You can imagine what was going through his mind wondering where the wolves were now and if he would again encounter them on his way back.  But instead of wolves he came over a knoll and came upon a huge bull moose and a cow!!
Such magnificent mammals they are especially seeing them up close.  They soon ambled off the trail and he had a clear shot ahead.  I didn't check his pulse when he got home, but I'm sure there was a hefty portion of adrenalin pumping through him with all that excitement.  Too bad he didn't have a camera. 

Voyageur Classic Race 2014

It's that time of year again when Joanna and I hit the dog sled races.  John and Joanna have logged over 700 miles of training the dogs using both four wheelers and sleds in preparation for the races.  When Joanna trains with a sled, sometimes hooking up as many as 18 dogs, John follows closely behind with his Polaris snowmobile in case she has to have help holding the team in the event there are tangles or some other problem to deal with.  She uses her snow hook to connect to his snowmobile for ballast.  And you never know when you might run into a moose or wolves in the woods.  It's comforting for her to know he is there for protection as well.

The Voyageur Classic Race is her first race of the season and one that she has never run before.  It actually is also the closest race, situated in Northome, MN, a mere 6 hours away from us.  It was advertized as being a 70 mile race, but actually ended up being an 83 mile race.

On Saturday morning, the day of the race, all the mushers' vehicles are parked in the order they will start the race.  Joanna is number four and third to leave, since there is no number one musher.  Everyone is bustling around their trucks, making last minute adjustments to equipment, loading their sleds with the mandatory articles, including winter sleeping bag, knife, cable cutters etc. and also dog food that they will be giving the team when they reach the halfway rest spot.  Mentally, Joanna and I are going through a checklist to make sure she has everything she needs for the race.

It's now getting close to race time.  Joanna quickly puts harnesses on all eight dogs and one by one hooks them up to the gangline.  I'm holding the lead dogs to keep them in a straight line and heading the right direction.  The dogs are going beserk, barking like crazy and lunging forward in their places, eager to run down the trail.  In this race they position four wheelers behind each racer and hook a rope to their sled to help hold back the team as they head up to the starting line.  This is so helpful since it is extremely difficult to restrain a fired up team. 

Right when it was our turn to head up to the start, I see Joanna waving to a by stander to come help her hold one of the dogs closest to the sled.  Apparently, the dog was so revved up he broke the line to which his tugline was fastened on the rear of the harness.  She frantically tried to retie a knot and refastened the tugline.  Again it broke and she quickly grabbed another fastener that she keeps in her sled bag for just such a time.  That was not going to break.

As we approached the starting line, I found myself weeping with joy, excitement, pride, fear... it was all so overwhelming with dogs screaming all around us and realizing again what an amazing daughter Joanna is to be able to participate in such an extremely adventurous sport. 

Finally it was her turn to start and we all joined the announcer in the ten second countdown.  Whoosh, away she flew, the dogs finally released to fly down the trail.  That was about 10 am.  Since they didn't allow us handlers to be involved in this race anymore, I had a ten hour wait till she came back over the finish line at 8pm that evening.  I hung out at the high school, which was race headquarters.  I had no idea what was happening or how well she was doing.  I heard the whole story at the finish of the race.

Apparently she quickly passed the first two mushers and was leading the race to the halfway point.  I give the race officials a lot of credit for how well they organized the whole event.  They had a Search and Rescue snowmobile with blue flashing lights leading the way some distance ahead of Joanna to let any snowmobilers riding the trail know that there was a dog sled race in progress and to be careful.  They also had Search and Rescue vehicles at every road crossing to assist the mushers safely across.  It was very comforting to the mushers.

Joanna had a bit of a scare at one point where she had to make a 45 degree left turn, but there was also at the same intersection a road that was a 90 degree left turn.  Her dogs took the 90 degree left turn, which was the wrong one.  It was very difficult for her to stop them because there wasn't enough snow on the road for her brake to help out or to sink her snow hook into.  She was finally able to turn the team around and untangle everyone to get back on the right trail, which cost her some precious time.

The halfway point was a resort where they could use the bathroom and get cold water for the dogs.  Joanna realized on her way there that she had forgotten to bring the dogs' dishes to be able to feed them.  She asked a race official if the resort had a pie tin or something she could use.  He brought her eight paper plates.  Imagine trying to put a dog food/water mix on a paper plate for dogs to eat.  It was spilling all over the place on the unlevel ground.  Then her container with the dog food mixture in it accidentally tipped over and spilled all over the ground.  That was a disappointment.  She did have some frozen snacks with meat that she gave them which helped. One dog even ate part of his paper plate.  He must have been hoping for a second helping.

There was a two hour mandatory rest.  Each team left the starting line in their order, two minutes apart.  So, those who came in first to the checkpoint actually got more than two hours rest.  Frank Holmberg's team had a 40 second lead over Joanna's which put her in second place.  So, Frank headed out first after the rest period and Joanna followed soon behind.  It wasn't long before Joanna caught up to Frank and was able to pass him.  But then she had some problems with her leaders and had to stop to switch some dogs around.  Frank too was having to switch leaders and place booties on a dog with sore feet.  It seems they traded first and second place the whole way.  About one mile before the finish line, Joanna was right behind Frank when they came to a wide spot in the trail called "no man's land".   Joanna's dogs seemed to have a little burst of energy and were able to pass by Frank's team and hold the lead till the finish. 

Meanwhile, the rest of us spectators were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first teams at the finish line, not knowing what was happening on the trail.   It was dark, so we were only able to see the finish line where they had positioned a spotlight.  Soon, we saw two teams heading our way.  I couldn't see who it was till they crossed the finish line and was so surprised to see it was Joanna out in front!!  I think she was equally surprised to have done so well.  The dogs are amazing athletes and seemed to be in good condition despite some sore feet and a sore wrist.  I was so happy for her and the dogs.  What an accomplishment!!!  She couldn't wait to tell her Dad who had so faithfully helped her get the dogs in shape.  We thoroughly enjoyed this race and appreciated the kindness and helpfulness of the race officials and the many volunteers from the community.  It is a huge effort to put on a race.  Hopefully, we can do it again next year.

As you can see in the pictures, her trophy was a cute little water bucket handmade by a gentleman in the community.  This bucket was a replica of the same water buckets he made for the movie Pirates of the Caribbean.  We thought that was quite unique.

Joanna's next race will be the Midnight Run in Marquette, MI on February 15-16.  So, stay tuned....

Fulfillment

While Jonathan was away on business, Reseth decided to pack up their two sons and dog to head north from Omaha, NE, first to her folks place near Two Harbors, MN and then up to our camp the end of November.  Trying to keep up to a two year old and care for a four month old baby was wearing her out and she desperately needed some rest.  We sure enjoy spending time with them and it makes the time go faster for her to be with others while Jonathan is away. 

Joanna and I drove to the Pigeon River border crossing on the North Shore of Lake Superior to pick her up so she wouldn't have to drive those four hours alone on the deserted stretch of Hwy 17 to Ignace.  Our 325 Road had about 8 inches of fresh snow as well making it impossible to drive except in a four wheel drive vehicle.  Our dump/plow truck had been in town waiting to be repaired for over two months and we were getting a bit nervous about the snow conditions, hoping we wouldn't get anymore until we got our plow truck back.

Several days after we brought Reseth and the boys up to see us, we were able to bring the plow truck home, which was a good thing, because we got two feet of fresh snow a day later.  That was close!!

Our days were filled with fun and laughter and lots of activity.  Aaron got some exercise by running laps around the circle of our living room to the office to the kitchen and back to the living room.  He had to have someone run with him, so Joanna and I took turns.  We have a chin up bar as you go down the stairs to the basement that John and Joanna use to do pull ups.  I can't do any, so I just use it to hang and stretch my back.  Aaron saw me walking down the stairs one day and he said, " Grandma, do your hang ups."

Our children wanted us to keep the rocking horse they rode when they were children so their children could some day use it.  Up came "Silver"  from the basement, along with my small trampoline.  That Aaron really is in shape.  He spent a lot of time riding and bouncing.  Aaron got a snowmobile ride with Grandpa and even rode in his plow truck while moving snow around the camp.  He would tell Grandpa when to put the wing down and up.  Then he fell asleep.

Four month old Titus is such a sweet, happy baby.  He is fascinated with his lips and tongue as he is constantly sucking on his lips and rolling his tongue around.  Once while Reseth was holding him, I noticed he started pooching out his lips while looking at the top of one of our dining chairs.  The closer he got to it, the more he pooched his lips.  I captured that on a video and laugh every time I watch it.

Just as Reseth was planning to leave to go back her parent's home, we got another dump of snow and the Two Harbors, MN area got a record 42 inches.  It took them a few days to open up roads, so we were able to keep our chilluns a few days longer.

Dad's 89th Birthday

It's been a little over a year since my mother passed away.  My Dad has had a series of challenging physical problems to deal with during this year, but has recuperated amazingly well from each one.  The last one, open heart surgery to replace a valve and in addition two bypasses, set him back for a few months, but once again he has rebounded and is residing at an assisted living facility near my sister in Franklin, NC.

I flew down to see him for two weeks in October and to be present, along with two sisters and a two brothers, for his 89th birthday.  It was a grand reunion with much of the family present.  The weather was warm and sunny for the most part and we even had a touch football game on Dad's lawn at his Franklin, residence.  Dad sat in a wheelchair on the sidelines enjoying watching his children and grandchildren play a rowdy game ending in a tie.  Dad was one of the first quarterbacks for the FSU Seminole team in Tallahassee, FL.  This was when they first admitted men to the school.  He wasn't able to remain on the team because he was working three jobs to put him and his sister through college.  In high school, he was the quarterback as well and he greatly loves the game.

When we were children, he would come home after work each day as a State Farm Ins. agent to play touch football with all five of his children.  Even neighborhood kids loved to come and play with us.  My sister Nicki and I played on a sorority flag football team at UCF when it first began and was called Florida Technological University.  Our team always won first place with Nicki as the quarterback and me as the running back and end receiver.  Eventually all the other teams formed an all star team to try and beat us, but we still won.  Dad would come out to watch us play which really meant a lot to us.  So, football has been in our blood so to speak.

My youngest sister Wendy, who lives in Franklin, NC with her husband and family, kept us busy with all kinds of fun activities during our time together.  She and I went Zip Lining for the first time ever in the beautiful fall colored mountains.  That was a thrill.

When I was in high school, Dad became part of a small group of men who built the first condominiums on New Smyrna Beach, Florida.  What a wonderful experience that was for our family.  My sister Nicki and I became devoted surfers and entered quite a few contests.  To this day, our whole family loves spending time at the beach from the years we spent there during our childhood days.  We met and became close friends with other high school boys and girls, especially those who enjoyed surfing.  One of those young men, Fred Baker, has become like a brother to us and a son to Mom and Dad.  He is pictured above standing behind me in the picture of Dad and my other two sisters and brother.

Nothing is more important than families spending time together and staying connected in bonds of love.  It provides a network of stability, encouragement and hope for each member.  I feel so blessed to be a part of our extended family.  And it keeps on growing....:)

A Tribute to Bartalomeo D'alimonte

Bartalomeo D'alimonte,  (standing on left in picture just above) who was part of our wonderful Italian group of moose hunters from Southern Ontario, recently passed away.  It was an extremely sad event for the group and totally unexpected.  Bart has come with his friends to hunt in our area for some 12-13 years and they said he always enjoyed his moose vacation getaways.

We told his hunting buddies we'd like to post a tribute to Bart on Our Blog.  Frank Vitale kindly emailed us various pictures of Bart with his friends so that we could share them with you.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as they walk through this difficult time.  He will be greatly missed.

Our 40th Anniversary Getaway

John and I took our first trip away together in over six years on our anniversary September 15th.  Joanna held down the fort along with John's mother who was here visiting.  We've now been married 40 years.  I can hardly believe it.  My heart is full of gratitude for the wonderful man God gave me who has filled my life with adventure beyond my wildest imagination.  I just fasten my seat belt and hang on tight. 

We both love to explore new places, so we decided to simply launch out on a trek following the North Shore of Lake Superior, north of Thunder Bay.  We spent the first night in Thunder Bay after walking along the harbor and eating a delicious meal of beef ribs at the Montana restaurant. 

The next day we headed north, stopping briefly at the Terry Fox Memorial overlooking Lake Superior.  Just a few miles up the road we turned into the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.  Looking at the hills of this park from the side view, it looks a lot like a sleeping giant...thus the name.   It is a beautiful park which is a peninsula that juts out into Lake Superior and reaches 20 miles back toward Thunder Bay.  There are quite a few smaller lakes in the park as well where you can camp, along with miles of hiking and skiing trails.  We drove all the way out to the tip and took a hike ourselves that brought us to a beach on Lake Superior. 

We pressed on to Red Lake, stopping briefly at the harbor to view the red rock cliffs and and islands out front and then on to Nipigon.  We found the nicest motel to spend the night, that had been recently renovated.  It was called the Beaver Motel.  Our spacious room had all new log furniture and a full kitchen.  It was cute and cozy.  For our anniversary dinner, we purchased a frozen Delisioso pizza and some root beer at a small local grocery store.  Believe it or not, that was our favorite meal of the trip.

We had a delightful time hiking along the Nipigon River and driving up to two dams on the way to Nipigon Lake.  Just to see Nipigon Lake, we drove a back road to the south landing.  It is certainly a huge lake.  

Later that afternoon we headed further on down the road to Rossport and then on to Terrace Bay where we spent the night.  Terrace Bay is a neat little community situated on a large beach of Lake Superior.   A natural point of interest in Terrace Bay is the Aguasabon River Gorge and falls.  Both are accessible by trails and are unbelievably gorgeous.  We were also impressed with what is called the Casque Isle trail system which runs from Terrace Bay to Rossport.  Some of it is right along the shores of Lake Superior and some it runs further inland in the woods.  We explored a part of it along the shores and came upon such cute little bays with sandy beaches where you felt like you were the only people in the world.  Stunning.

We decided to head back to Rossport to spend the next couple of nights.  It truly is a unique little spot with the Nichol Island peninsula and a series of large islands right out front.  I would say it was the most picturesque place we stayed.  We heard about a boat tour that was offered and immediately signed up for it.  The guide for the tour used a 24 foot zodiac to motor us around the islands while giving a commentary on the history of the area.  It was very interesting.  It happened to be extremely windy that evening and when we got past the islands and out into the open water of Lake Superior to get a close up view of the Battle Island Lighthouse, the waves had reached a height of eight to ten feet.  Our guide said the zodiac was the best vessel he had used in maneuvering through large waves.
What  thrill it was to sit in the front of the boat and zoom up and down those big waves.  It made me think of my surfing days back in Florida, except the water is a bit more chilly here. 

Our final day we traveled about fifteen minutes up the road to Rainbow Falls Provincial Park. They had built stairs all along the falls and a walkway across them to get a better view.  Such tremendous natural beauty everywhere we went.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the time to just relax and hangout together.  We're both so thankful for the years the Lord has given us and how our love for each other has deepened.   Who knows what we will do for our 45th???