Siting of a Black Bear

We were on our way back from a trip to town (to get a new handle for the splitting maul and cuz my husband needed a road trip) when we saw a real live BLACK BEAR in the opposite ditch.  We did a quick stop and backed up and the bear just sat in the sun, nibbling on grass.  It was a pretty big bear...we are guessing 350 + lbs!   We took pictures with an older cell phone and are now trying to figure out how to get those sent and downloaded!  We could tell that one of its front paws was sore when it finally got up and lumbered off after about 10 minutes of letting us watch it.  What an incredible experience to see a bear in the wild!!

Bill was also impressed on Saturday to learn a new way to split wood (from a true Northern MN wood splitter, of course)!  If you just tap the wood with the splitting maul at 4 different locations and give it a split, the wood generally just splits into 4 pieces.  Bill gave it a try as soon as we got home on Saturday and was amazed at how much easier this is than swinging the maul from on high for each split.

Our friend, K, is having surgery on Wednesday and is really struggling as that approaches so she is coming over to have supper (chicken medallions and wild rice...man, I love my husband's cooking!) and hang out with us so that she is not sitting home alone (as her husband, D, is at work).  I pray that we are able to offer some comfort and distraction to her!  Keep her in your prayers, please!