Artist in Residence

Minneapolis is Burning

Annie woke up to Minneapolis still burning this morning.

Last night the city burned.

Meanwhile back in Turtleland....

Minutes before Oliver's book club Zoom begins, Mr. Kyle finds the ideal prop. The title of his book is Beetle Boy.

Enjoying the short window of the sweet, sweet Alyssum.

Doins of the Van Loons

Mr. Kyle managed to get Tom's Trailer functioning to fetch a FREE playset to be incorporated into his treehouse construction project. It was complete with 2 swings and a slide.

Into the woods it shall go o' ye tower of fun.

Through the trees with determination and a strong wife.

Just one more push.

Right there! As Grandpa Howes would say, "doins of the Van Loons."

Wake Up a Snake!

Our resident frog hunter found this giant snake under a blueberry bush. My fear is it has added a huge population of offspring snakes.

Mothman discovered this morning by Auntie Annie. Since Malcolm was not available to properly identify, my hunch, per assistance of Google, is a Bombycidae (Silkworm Moth) - Apatelodes torrefacta. 

Turtle Soup anyone? Another step toward living off the land? Betsy, skip Taco Tuesday - Turtle Tuesday! 

Go/No-go.

Next, we waited for the SpaceX launch slated for 3:33PM.  Astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken were on a mission headed to the International Space Station but due to weather, the mission was scrubbed just 17 minutes before liftoff. The last time that astronauts launched from US soil were in 2011. It also would have been the first time ever that a privately developed spacecraft launched humans into the Earth's orbit.

Oliver's Edible Flower Garden

The Griggs Family gifted me with edible flowers for my birthday. Today was the day that Oliver took over and planted the seeds for flowers that yes, we can actually eat! (If we want to.)

Big Bad Wolf

 

Attention Little Red Riding Hood! The wolves are back again 

Impressive Starts

 

Betsy has so many plants started. I am so very impressed at her green thumb.

Holes

Mr. Kyle suggested that we all read the novel Holes for a Sunday night family book club. Katherine and Oliver attempted to fashion their own holes inspired by the book that we read. Fortunately, the holes were not the 5'x5' that were required to be dug daily by the boys at Green Lake.

Sky on Fire

We rushed outside to view the rainbow over the lake. 

Oliver noticed the sky on fire behind us and captured it with his phone. 

Forget the rainbow, behind the Sugar Shack the sky is on fire!

Arctic Annie Does It Again

 

Starts out in Bapa's warm wool robe.

Today's weather. Not so warm but the water was ice a few days ago.

First time in history Artic Annie takes second place as the first person in the lake.

Katherine the mermaid holds the honorary title.

Sitting on the sidelines, Katherine the mermaid holds the honorary title. 

Happy Mother's Day Chari

And, no Annie, not another Sekinns sighting.

My Happy Mothers Day

 

Birch bark hunt and harvest.

Katherine tows the trailer. Skillful eight years old.

Katherine's Katherine.

White Pine Adventure

Setting off on our White Pine Canoe Adventure with our guide Mr. Kyle.

 Phantom Paddler.

First Fishing

 

Sugar Shack Here I Come

Ready or Not Sugar Shack Here I Come.