Category Archives: fun stuff

Truss Patterns

We set the roof trusses on our office expansion project. The roof has a single slope to match the slope on the existing building and the trusses run the full width of the building. I like to see the patterns that trusses create. I always think back to my 10th grade geometry teacher as I [...]

Birdhouse and flowers

Last weekend Ellen and I were at our lake cottage in the Carlton County area of Minnesota. The woodland flowers were out in full bloom. The trillium were spectacular and full. It is a bit early for them to be so full, but I’m guessing the warm spring got them going early. The little blue [...]

NAF and Winter Walk

Yesterday was full of fun events. In the late afternoon I went to the Ole Store as part of my Northfield Area Foundation duties. I have served on the Northfield Area Foundation (NAF) board of governors for about 5 years. This is a great organization that works to raise funds for the foundation.  Then each [...]

Grandchild and Wildlife

This past weekend our 19 month old grand daughter Teagan was with us. We had a wonderful time taking her to the library, the bakery and other fun activities on such a beautiful weekend. Saturday afternoon I was in the backyard with her picking up pine cones. She had a good time doing that and pine cones were [...]

Neuger Communication Open House

Yesterday afternoon Neuger Communications hosted an open house for the community. They gave everyone an opportunity to view the remodeling project we completed for them over the summer. This project was a wonderful adaptive reuse of an existing building in downtown Northfield. The building was originally constructed in 1966 as a bank and served that [...]

Urban Wildlife

Ellen and I live in an area of Northfield that has some fairly dense woods. We have all sorts of wildlife stop by from time to time….raccoons, foxes, deer. Yesterday I was in the backyard when a flock of turkeys came strolling down the hill. There were a few big adult birds and about 5-6 [...]

Defeat of Jesse James Days

Wednesday evening the Defeat of Jesse James Days committee hosted a dinner for firms and individuals that provide financial support to the event. Defeat of Jesse James Days (DJJD) is a huge undertaking in Northfield. Committee members are hard at work all year making plans and preparations for the event. When it actually happens….the weekend [...]

Dedication Ceremony at Laura Baker Services

Yesterday Laura Baker Services held a dedication ceremony on their campus. They officially named and dedicated the 2005 residential cottage we constructed for them….calling it Wright Cottage. They also conducated a ribbon cutting ceremony for Elwell Cottage which we remodeled for them last year. There was a nice group of people in attendance for the ceremony, including a Rice [...]

Chicago Visit

Ellen and I spent a few days in Chicago last week for a spring break vacation. We traveled there and back on the Amtrak train out of Red Wing. The Red Wing train station is a beautiful building and has been cared for over the years. The city was prepared for flooding from the Mississippi [...]

In Town Wildlife

Ellen and I live on the north side of Northfield in an area surrounded by trees. It is a quiet area and as such seems to attract a variety of wildlife. We get the ‘normal’ in town animals such as raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, etc. but also a more ‘exotic’ mix of animals. For the past [...]