Motorcycle

Amanda mentioned that I took a class to get my motorcycle license a few weeks ago, but she didn't mention that I also began the hunt for a bike of my own. That hunt ended on Saturday, and I finally got to bring the prize home today:



It's hard to tell, but that's me in all my gear, preparing to begin my first ride on my new (to me) 2001 Triumph Bonneville. The ride went really well, no troubles at all. It was the most fun I've had on a roadway since … at least my first permit, maybe ever.

If any of you are interested in getting into the hobby, I definitely recommend taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic RiderCourse. It's a fun weekend of learning how to ride.

What's Up North

My latest excitement is I started taking a pottery class yesterday. There is a woman about 2 miles from me who has Dragonfire Ceramics and had a class in community ed. This is something I have wanted to do ever since junior high school when I took a pottery class. This is the first time I have every used a wheel. Very cool.

I will post pics when I get a finished product. I made a mug, lumpy, and a rather nice looking bowl. I have my second class tomorrow, but may pop over today if I can get my work done in a timely fashion. It runs twice a week through some time in August.

Live Stuff

I just accomplished my first download from the camera onto the new computer. The new version of iPhoto has many unfamiliar tricks. It is a little scary as it recognizes, identifies and organizes things all by itself. I found the following on the camera.

This was my orchid on January 22, 2010 just starting to bloom.

By April 15th, it was still adding more  flowers and looked like this.

Here it is on June 10, 2010! It set up a 2nd stalk of blooms but now some of the flowers are starting to fade. This morning I found two blossoms had fallen off. But, on the other hand something blooming for 6 months that smells like grapefruit and vanilla is a good thing. 

I also hung out a shirt to dry on the porch Wednesday, June 9th. It was a really windy day here. Not long after I hung it up I noticed this beautiful dragonfly "hiding" on it. It was large about 4" from wingtip to wingtip and maybe 3" long. Night came and it was still on my shirt. I finally carefully urged it to move onto the back of the love seat. It was gone in the morning.  The photo doesn't do the colors of the dragonfly justice. It was beautiful shades of green and blue.

Oy

We got down and dirty yesterday and started the removal of the old chimney. When we had the new roof put on they took the chimney down to the main floor ceiling. Yesterday we removed 12 blocks and got it down to just below the floor, into the basement. Heavy work, but feels good to get a good start like that. The basement will be tougher, just because we have to haul the blocks up the basement stairs.

We are going to take the space that the chimney took up and make a bigger closet in the bathroom, or two separate closets, which ever is the most efficient to build.

The garden is coming along, we have had lots of rain, now we need the sun for some heat. Everything is up, but the Swiss Chard is taking its own sweet time.

Wrenshall Community rummage sale next Saturday. I only have a week to find more stuff. I told Joe I was going to have folks just come into the basement and pick out what they want to buy. Seems easier than hauling it out. Oh well. I am saling with the neighbor across the road. Always have fun doing so.

Back to work with me. Hope this finds you all well.

Mayflies!

Are you all covered with mayflies? This radar image is pretty crazy! Looks like an invasion, centered just south of La Crosse! http://gizmodo.com/5555462/what-is-this

In other news, it was a crazy, busy week at work. Tomorrow, we are going to a wedding in New Hampshire in the afternoon, then I'm meeting some friends who are in town for a Wellesley reunion for dinner, and Bryan is going to a bachelor party for another friend who's getting married in a few weeks.

I bought a dozen basil plants today, because our seedlings turned into a bunny salad bar. I hope these more robust ones will do better.