family compound here we come!

hello everyone. long time, no write. i am sitting here on a beautiful sunday afternoon, getting packed to come to WI!

great video of the daredevel miss freya and her amazing water tricks!

i finished my senior leader program in may, with 4 days in DC, a very successful small group presentation, a very successful personal presentation, and lots of pictures with our new chief and all the other big whigs. we also got to take pictures at the podium where the secretary of agriculture addresses the press. then i took the train down to newark, and spent the weekend with K and L, M and D. we had a wonderful weekend--a day in manhattan and meeting with mag to see a wonderful dance performance, got to listen to declan play at a very cool restaurant, did the sidewalk sale, and had a great visit.
came home to work back to normal, and looking forward to a quiet august. not to be. july 20 we got a horrendous hail storm, and have been working with the insurance company ever since. they will pay to replace the roof and gutters, replace 8 windows, replace siding on the N and W sides of the house, and all sorts of personal property in the back. they totalled our camper, and there was some damage to the dodge. we have kept the camper, and will sell it on our own. they still sent us a pretty fair check.
after shopping and looking at all of our options, we decided to put a down payment on an outback (keystone) trailer, the smallest one they make. it is very cool. we'll get it in september sometime. it is about 23' long--and the bed rolls out the back wall. lots of storage, and a door iin the front to put your bikes inside the camper. the new lances were great--but way too expensive. so we're going to try a trailer, and see how we like it. david was wanting something bigger--so this should work.
we've finally lined out contractors for all the work--and should get it all done in september or october. the new roof and new windows will be a wonderful thing for this house. we are excited about that.
amongst all that excitement, dick and jane (david's brother) called last week to say that one of the lots that we have been eyeing in akaska SD was for sale. so david went up there this weekend (he rode his BMW--which he was jazzed about) and met with the owner, and did the SD way of buying property. the owner had given one of his friends the first right of refusal. but he bailed. so david just called to say we have bought it! akaska is north of pierre, about 1/2 mile from the missouri R. lake owahee. it is a teeny town, in rolling hills of sunflowers and wheat. the polar opposite of here. about 30 permanent residents, mostly single wide trailers, and a few stick built homes and it swells to hundreds during walleye season and pheasant hunting. a bait shop/restaurant/bar and one other not so good bar, and that is all for commercial activity. mobridge and selby is where you go for groceries and beer. i will be the second democrat in the whole town--which teaches me to bite my tongue and smile at the same time. it is a small city lot--about 60 x 130'--so not big enough for 7 airstreams. but it is getting closer to the ND property! we also know that we could sell it next year and make money--unlike many things these days. so, we bought it, for a very small price, and are excited. it won't be the summer residence, but will be the place to hang for fishing and pheasant hunting. we always stay at dick and janes, cuz we've been going up there about twice a year for 5 or 6 years. it is about the best lot in town--trees, privacy, nothing behind it but 12 acres of undeveloped land and the creek. we'll have to send pictures.....
we think we will leave here thursday after work, and then continue on to WI on friday. but that is subject to change. we'll keep in touch. we are so looking forward to seeing you all.

see you all on sunday the 16th, if not before.

love michele, david link and ruby