Wayne Nelson 10/23/2026

 Wayne Nelson 10/23/26 1:27a.m. Rest in peace 

My father in law was a kind man of very few words and he never needed many. He showed who he was in how he treated people, with kindness, patience and a quiet steadiness that made you feel at ease around him. He loved his family more then anything. He showed up was always there and listened. Wayne was the happiest at a table with good food and with people he loved around him. Every day, he made time for his birds, filling feeders and watching them come. It was a small, gentle ritual that said a lot about him. 

After his heart attacks last August, we were given one more year with him. We are so thankful for it. 

Wayne leaves behind a family that will miss his quiet presence, steady heart and the way he made us feeel like we were enough just as we are.  We will dearly miss his presence in our lives. You taught us that love doesn't need a lot of words, it was enough in just a kind look. 

Rest easy wayne, we will think of you everytime a bird lands at the feeder and when the table set, and the people you loved are together, we will save you a seat in your memory.

10/23/2026 1:27a.m💔

Hot Pot!!

We had hot pot last night for dinner. Soo much food and plenty of veggies left over. We ate all the beef. Pork was just so so. I think next time we'll pass on that and stick with beef. Loved all the veggies!  

Such a fun meal too. 

Last few days of 90+F in October!

Since it got up to 90 both on Saturday and Sunday, then Monday 80*F, I set up our tent in the back yard for a few more days of sleeping outside. We never turned on the AC, so sleeping outside in the tent seemed like a cooler idea. It was still hot during the night since it only cooled down to the 70's. Last night was the best night for sleep as I woke to 55+F temps, which felt amazing to sleep bundled under 2 sleeping bags and a smaller blanket under for warmth and of course Zoey our dog pressed up against me for added warmth for both of us. She actually wanted to be under some of the covers. Steve gave up half way throught the last night as Zoey choose to lay on his side and take up all the leg room. Of course once he went inside she moved over!  

I'll be putting away the tent today. That was the last night of 2026 sleeping outdoors. I'll wait till spring if we go somewhere in April or have a nice few days to enjoy warmer weather. 

Back yard leaves are falling fast now. It won't be long before the trees are bare. It is pretty but fall and winter are my least favorite times of the year with winter Dead last! 

Thursday Evening out!

We went to the Vikings training area. They always have the trees decorated year round. We usually only go in winter, when its super cold and don't want to be out long to take photos. It was nice to walk the tree lined row and snap some not rushed photos.  

Dinner with friends. Of course I took the photo and forgot to ask the waiter to take a group shot with me included. Oh well, there's me above in my selfie! 

Stillwater. Fall biking

 We biked 20 miles starting in Stillwater. This is the prettiest trail we have ever rode our bikes on. It was a very hot 90 degree day, but being the trail was mostly tree covered and was in between a gully, we had wind and cooler air. A beautiful day to bike! 

Horses along the way, with a seperate trail next to the bike trial for them. 

Celina rented a bike for the day to keep up with us. 

After Stillwater was having their fall festival-Octoberfest, we had a few drinks and shared a very large soft pretzel with cheese and mustard. 

October Weekend.

We went back up to Sauk for the weekend on Saturday. Got our tent up and finished pulling up the dock out of the water just in time before the rain started. 

Sunday Fall camping at Sauk

We hardly are ever there in the fall when the leaves are turning colors. 

It was a bit chilly at night but we had foam down over the air matress and I tried to block the top with more tarps over the screen part on the top. It did fall down but was still around the edges. It was a perfect day on Sunday. We packed up and headed for excelsior around noon to watch the Vikings play at 3 at Back Channel brewery with the kids. 

Saturday while it rained all afternoon we went to Goat Hill Brewery and had pizza, then to a winery on the way back and last to Babbits in Sauk for more wine then to dinner at Birchwood resort. 

A perfect way to spend a rain filled day. 

A day

 Sauk taking the dock out of the water for the season. Or at least trying to. Nothing ever is easy!!

Steve was able to lift all the legs on top of the dock since the last post have wheels. 

Unfortantly we have rocks to go over and the wheels got stuck and wouldn't go up and over. Doing this bent one of the end posts. Not a huge deal. We will just replace that next spring. We do need 2 more sets of wheels for next year and to re-do this beach side to make it easier to get the dock in and out. That will be a spring project. We almost got it completely out of the water but the post bent farther down so we need to go up and cut the pipe and then pull the rest of the way out away from the water. Another weekend day trip to the lake! 

I didn't take a photo, but I planted 4 little pine trees from the state fair up at the front of the lot parallell to the utility phone box road side, so we will eventually have a line of pine trees. I doubt we will ever see them very big, but you never know. Maybe I'll bring up some fertailizer to get them growning next spring. 

2 photos of 2 of the 5 pine trees the neighbor has that died from them having them cut up too high. Wanted to document that they are dead and need to be taken down in case they fall on our side. 

down the property where our trees were cut for a record. We are getting lots of new trees growning and all kinds of weeds. It might be thick next summer with all the growth and light. We will let it all grow back how ever it wants.