Yep, we did it. We bought a Pontoon Boat. Come on Summer....
Jeff and I have been watching Craig's list and Sean has been looking at dealers for me. Just when I was about to increase the budget and look at newer models I spotted an ad on Craig's list for a 2003 Playbouy Kingfisher. Jeff and I went to look at it last night and the ghost of Marland appeared and suddenly Jeff had brokered a deal for me that was too good to be true. Except it was true. I got the pontoon for a steal. It is 22 feet long and 8 feet wide. It has a 60HP Mercury motor - 4 stroke so it is quiet and easy on gas. It comes with the trailer, it has a bimini top, a live well (for all those fish we will catch), a private potty/changing room, a table, wrap around bench seating with tons of storage underneath and other cool stuff. It holds 10 adults comfortably. It has built in ladders (no swinging under the pontoon like the old days), front and side doors, automatic front anchor. I don't have any good pictures but I'll attach a link to a similar model. It has some wear and tear, but it's in pretty good shape and a good cleaning will make it look good.
I did some research on the brand Playbouy and found out that in 2004 the company changed their name to Tahoe/Avalon because they got a lot of negative feedback because women didn't like the name Playbouy. The guy at the Avalon dealer told me that sales doubled after the name change. It's one of the best built pontoons on the market. That is according to their salesman anyway! The dealer I talked to is in Grand Rapids and they claim to be the largest pontoon dealer in the world.
This link is to a newer model so picture it slightly used with a little more wear. You can scroll through the photos on the link. I think the color is similar.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Aunt Tillie's Salve
Annie's got the recipe for Grandma's caramel corn. I have the recipe for Aunt Tillie's salve. This is a real down home treatment for whatever ails you. From Rynda:
1 pound sheep tallow
1 pound beeswax
1 pound rosin
1-1/4 pound boiled (not raw) linseed oil
2 teaspoons carbolic acid
Melt first four ingredients together but do not let it get too hot. Then add carbolic acid (it will foam up) and mix well. Pour in salve boxes (got some of those around, don't you?) or any other handy container.
I need to verify who Aunt Tillie actually was. I think it was Mathilda Luedtke Bergemann, so an aunt of Grandma Mieska's on her mother's side. The loom that my mother had in the porch in the Northfield house had belonged to Aunt Tillie. It went back to one of her descendents when my folks left Northfield.
1 pound sheep tallow
1 pound beeswax
1 pound rosin
1-1/4 pound boiled (not raw) linseed oil
2 teaspoons carbolic acid
Melt first four ingredients together but do not let it get too hot. Then add carbolic acid (it will foam up) and mix well. Pour in salve boxes (got some of those around, don't you?) or any other handy container.
I need to verify who Aunt Tillie actually was. I think it was Mathilda Luedtke Bergemann, so an aunt of Grandma Mieska's on her mother's side. The loom that my mother had in the porch in the Northfield house had belonged to Aunt Tillie. It went back to one of her descendents when my folks left Northfield.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Mesa Update
Hi from Mesa,
It's been a cool winter but not anymore!! My outside thermometer reads 89 degrees. It's pretty warm but I guess we'd better not complain cause it's what we've been waiting for. I turned on my air conditioner and it didn't start!!
Oh boy! What to do now. I tapped on the control--nothing happened--went outside and stood and looked at the thing--I didn't have a clue what to do!! Walked around outside a little while and wondered what could possibly happen to me next, cause for the last week I had had major plumbing problems.Bathroom sink was slower than SLOW, clapper in the stool broke, then the next day the kitchen sink started leaking. Thank goodness for GOOD friends. Ed came over and fixed the kitchen sink, Ron put a new stopper in the bathroom sink and another Ron fixed the clapper in the stool. As a result, I've made 3 cocoanut cream pies!! Not too bad a trade-off would you say? Well by the time I came in the house after wondering what to do about the air, I realized the motor had started and COOL air was flowing. Guess my luck has changed.
Last Monday, I attended a Fashion show luncheon in the park. Good food and nice fashions. It was sponsored by Fashion Bug. We even have a store like that in Northfield. I never seem to be able to find anything in that store, but the models here had some really neat clothes.
Tuesday was a cocktail party at Dale & Marlene Hannah's. Friday was another party at Ed & Norine Maier's. It's getting toward the end of the season so lots of folks are trying to squeeze in their entertaining. My party is scheduled for March 23. That will be the members of Marland's softball team and spouses. They still include me in their parties and I am very grateful.
Thursday afternoon Fred & Liz Neff from Bemidji stopped by for a couple of hours. We had a great visit even though it was short. They are down here for golfing and visitinig several friends in the area.
Monday, Kitty & Lorn Schneeberger spent a few hours with me. We went out to lunch and then had coffee here cause we weren't done visiting. I always have lots of questions about what is going on in Elbow Lake and they know the answers.
Wednesday was the annual Big Block Party for all the residents. It's held outdoors by the gazebo with live music, dancing and food. HUGE crowd.
I ushered at a concert Thursday night and Saturday was the semi annual yard sale in the park. Norine and I always get up and out early to find all the bargains!! This year--not so much. Oh well, there's always next year.
Church this morning and then I watched the final ball games of the season here in the park this afternoon.
Milt & Gloria Berg (friends from Northfield) are coming for lunch this Wednesday. They only spend the month of March here in the Valley but always find time to come visit me. They also give me a standing invitation to haul a box of things that won't fit in my luggage back to Northfield for me for which I am very grateful. What does one do without friends? I am blessed.
I will be home in 24 days--but who's counting? This may be the last blog for awhile, but who knows--maybe something exciting will happen before that time!! Stay tuned.
Love, LaVerne
It's been a cool winter but not anymore!! My outside thermometer reads 89 degrees. It's pretty warm but I guess we'd better not complain cause it's what we've been waiting for. I turned on my air conditioner and it didn't start!!
Oh boy! What to do now. I tapped on the control--nothing happened--went outside and stood and looked at the thing--I didn't have a clue what to do!! Walked around outside a little while and wondered what could possibly happen to me next, cause for the last week I had had major plumbing problems.Bathroom sink was slower than SLOW, clapper in the stool broke, then the next day the kitchen sink started leaking. Thank goodness for GOOD friends. Ed came over and fixed the kitchen sink, Ron put a new stopper in the bathroom sink and another Ron fixed the clapper in the stool. As a result, I've made 3 cocoanut cream pies!! Not too bad a trade-off would you say? Well by the time I came in the house after wondering what to do about the air, I realized the motor had started and COOL air was flowing. Guess my luck has changed.
Last Monday, I attended a Fashion show luncheon in the park. Good food and nice fashions. It was sponsored by Fashion Bug. We even have a store like that in Northfield. I never seem to be able to find anything in that store, but the models here had some really neat clothes.
Tuesday was a cocktail party at Dale & Marlene Hannah's. Friday was another party at Ed & Norine Maier's. It's getting toward the end of the season so lots of folks are trying to squeeze in their entertaining. My party is scheduled for March 23. That will be the members of Marland's softball team and spouses. They still include me in their parties and I am very grateful.
Thursday afternoon Fred & Liz Neff from Bemidji stopped by for a couple of hours. We had a great visit even though it was short. They are down here for golfing and visitinig several friends in the area.
Monday, Kitty & Lorn Schneeberger spent a few hours with me. We went out to lunch and then had coffee here cause we weren't done visiting. I always have lots of questions about what is going on in Elbow Lake and they know the answers.
Wednesday was the annual Big Block Party for all the residents. It's held outdoors by the gazebo with live music, dancing and food. HUGE crowd.
I ushered at a concert Thursday night and Saturday was the semi annual yard sale in the park. Norine and I always get up and out early to find all the bargains!! This year--not so much. Oh well, there's always next year.
Church this morning and then I watched the final ball games of the season here in the park this afternoon.
Milt & Gloria Berg (friends from Northfield) are coming for lunch this Wednesday. They only spend the month of March here in the Valley but always find time to come visit me. They also give me a standing invitation to haul a box of things that won't fit in my luggage back to Northfield for me for which I am very grateful. What does one do without friends? I am blessed.
I will be home in 24 days--but who's counting? This may be the last blog for awhile, but who knows--maybe something exciting will happen before that time!! Stay tuned.
Love, LaVerne
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Happy Birthday Grandma
We had our yearly lunch to celebrate Grandma Mieska's birthday. She'd be 111 this year. We all had a great time.
Bud, Phyllis, Rynda, Sue, Bonnie, Jay, Annie, Paula.
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