@kesslaur24.bsky.social
*Family Motto: "If you're gonna be stupid, ya better be tough." *Parenting philosophy: "Give 'em the roots to try their wings."
*Retirement Philosophy: "If I rest, I rust."
*Retirement hobbies: Watercolors & Biking.
*Retirement Philosophy: "If I rest, I rust."
*Retirement hobbies: Watercolors & Biking.
From the River’s Edge: We bought this fixer-upper 8 years ago, and have finally whittled the project list down to some of the aesthetic updates. Today we started replacing the flat, hollow-core doors that we’d painted & changed the hardware on before moving in. One down; Nine to go. Hallelujah!!
January 17, 2026 at 9:00 PM
From the River’s Edge: We bought this fixer-upper 8 years ago, and have finally whittled the project list down to some of the aesthetic updates. Today we started replacing the flat, hollow-core doors that we’d painted & changed the hardware on before moving in. One down; Nine to go. Hallelujah!!
This mudroom cabinet housed 2 litter boxes with a curtain hiding them for years. Now that the fur-girls have flown the proverbial coop, I replaced the doors & reclaimed the space for shoe storage. The peel n’ stick wallpaper and carpet remnant just tickle my fancy. Victory is mine.
January 9, 2026 at 3:40 AM
This mudroom cabinet housed 2 litter boxes with a curtain hiding them for years. Now that the fur-girls have flown the proverbial coop, I replaced the doors & reclaimed the space for shoe storage. The peel n’ stick wallpaper and carpet remnant just tickle my fancy. Victory is mine.
We offered to cat-sit 2 of these beasts for 18 mos while our sailor deployed in 2021. Jan ‘26 marks their 5th anniversary with us. Today his brother drove them to CO to live with him ’til our sailor receives his separation orders and moves nearby. I’m unexpectedly melancholic about their departure.
December 31, 2025 at 1:11 AM
We offered to cat-sit 2 of these beasts for 18 mos while our sailor deployed in 2021. Jan ‘26 marks their 5th anniversary with us. Today his brother drove them to CO to live with him ’til our sailor receives his separation orders and moves nearby. I’m unexpectedly melancholic about their departure.
Second Annual Christmas Family Craft in the books….
December 28, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Second Annual Christmas Family Craft in the books….
Trump ignored the local political slaying of Melissa Hortman, appropriated Charlie Kirk's murder as a personal DJT attack, and crazily asserted that Rob Reiner's murder was from 'Trump Derangement Syndrome': Just 3 douchebag-ish responses to tragedies we've seen in Herr Trump's narcissistic reign...
December 16, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Trump ignored the local political slaying of Melissa Hortman, appropriated Charlie Kirk's murder as a personal DJT attack, and crazily asserted that Rob Reiner's murder was from 'Trump Derangement Syndrome': Just 3 douchebag-ish responses to tragedies we've seen in Herr Trump's narcissistic reign...
As a Minnesotan affected by the local politically motivated assassinations in June, I find it abhorrent that Trump's pushing his racist narrative & denigrating the entire MN Somali community -- 95% of whom are US citizens.
December 11, 2025 at 2:33 AM
As a Minnesotan affected by the local politically motivated assassinations in June, I find it abhorrent that Trump's pushing his racist narrative & denigrating the entire MN Somali community -- 95% of whom are US citizens.
In typical fashion, I put off this gift to the point that I need to finish it tomorrow. Unlikely to be ‘acceptable’ and dry in time. Womp, womp.
November 21, 2025 at 11:19 PM
In typical fashion, I put off this gift to the point that I need to finish it tomorrow. Unlikely to be ‘acceptable’ and dry in time. Womp, womp.
From the River’s Edge: Day #2 of river bank stabilization. We rented a Dingo to help move the riprap faster. Success! Moved two trucks (20,000 lbs total) of granite in 5-1/2 hrs, compared to yesterday’s 4-1/2 hrs using 2 wheelbarrows.
November 15, 2025 at 4:12 AM
From the River’s Edge: Day #2 of river bank stabilization. We rented a Dingo to help move the riprap faster. Success! Moved two trucks (20,000 lbs total) of granite in 5-1/2 hrs, compared to yesterday’s 4-1/2 hrs using 2 wheelbarrows.
From the River’s Edge: First of 3 rock deliveries today. Took us 4-1/2 hrs to schlep the 10,000 lbs out back to slow down the erosion. Tomorrow we’re gonna rent a walk-behind front end loader to try and speed up the process (and save our aging backs).
November 14, 2025 at 12:48 AM
From the River’s Edge: First of 3 rock deliveries today. Took us 4-1/2 hrs to schlep the 10,000 lbs out back to slow down the erosion. Tomorrow we’re gonna rent a walk-behind front end loader to try and speed up the process (and save our aging backs).
After painting up a storm at my kid’s place, I felt guilty for ignoring my own kitchen project. One coat of ‘Mediterranean’ down… one to go.
November 12, 2025 at 10:35 PM
After painting up a storm at my kid’s place, I felt guilty for ignoring my own kitchen project. One coat of ‘Mediterranean’ down… one to go.
Spending our 36th Anniversary helping our kid nest…coz it’s my love language.
October 29, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Spending our 36th Anniversary helping our kid nest…coz it’s my love language.
Our 2 No Kings signs today (both had diff fronts & backs):
October 18, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Our 2 No Kings signs today (both had diff fronts & backs):
Great day to protest kings and authoritarians in deep red small towns!
October 18, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Great day to protest kings and authoritarians in deep red small towns!
Hubs retired yesterday, after 39 yrs with his company. We celebrated last night with Sir Paul. I love how cellphone flashlights replaced the old Bic lighters when Paul sang Let It Be….
October 18, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Hubs retired yesterday, after 39 yrs with his company. We celebrated last night with Sir Paul. I love how cellphone flashlights replaced the old Bic lighters when Paul sang Let It Be….
So. Disgusted. By. Current. Events.
October 16, 2025 at 11:28 PM
So. Disgusted. By. Current. Events.
Tried a new art technique today…. and while I don’t like each individual piece, I can envision how I’ll use them in my art journal.
September 27, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Tried a new art technique today…. and while I don’t like each individual piece, I can envision how I’ll use them in my art journal.
Got out with friends to enjoy our first float in a couple of years….
September 14, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Got out with friends to enjoy our first float in a couple of years….
Actually painted a gift in time for the celebration— for once! Lolz
September 11, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Actually painted a gift in time for the celebration— for once! Lolz
It’s been at least 8 years since our last fair visit, but we joined 100,000+ of our closest friends at this year’s MN State Fair to see the Avett Brothers concert. Glad we did… but unless there’s another ‘to die for’ band in the next decade, we’ve no desire to return….
September 2, 2025 at 1:49 AM
It’s been at least 8 years since our last fair visit, but we joined 100,000+ of our closest friends at this year’s MN State Fair to see the Avett Brothers concert. Glad we did… but unless there’s another ‘to die for’ band in the next decade, we’ve no desire to return….
Dad’s visiting for the week, so we took a cool glass suncatcher class this afternoon.
August 24, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Dad’s visiting for the week, so we took a cool glass suncatcher class this afternoon.
Started watercolor classes in Jan '22, in hopes of finding a retirement hobby. Painted the kayaker at the end of that first 8-wk class. Fast forward 3 years to this week, for the same river view (minus a boat). I think I'll keep plugging away at this hobby....
August 22, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Started watercolor classes in Jan '22, in hopes of finding a retirement hobby. Painted the kayaker at the end of that first 8-wk class. Fast forward 3 years to this week, for the same river view (minus a boat). I think I'll keep plugging away at this hobby....
Post-party blackout….
August 19, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Post-party blackout….
Started a watercolor today of the River’s Edge….
August 14, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Started a watercolor today of the River’s Edge….
What the actual *uck?!? My hubs warned me about Hegseth's position at dinner tonight... but WTF???
apnews.com/article/wome...
apnews.com/article/wome...
Hegseth reposts video on social media featuring pastors saying women shouldn't be allowed to vote
The man who oversees the nation’s military has reposted a video on X, formerly Twitter, about a Christian nationalist church that included various pastors saying women should no longer be allowed to v...
apnews.com
August 9, 2025 at 1:13 AM
What the actual *uck?!? My hubs warned me about Hegseth's position at dinner tonight... but WTF???
apnews.com/article/wome...
apnews.com/article/wome...