Storm Watch Postponed - Due to Lack of Interest?

Sunday, February 26, 2012. It's been snowing, although the winter storm watch got postponed. As of this evening, the forecast is for wind and maybe a foot of snow to show up between Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.
Storm Watch Postponed - Due to Lack of Interest?

A smudge on my forehead, marking the start of Lent. February 22, 2012.

I don't have all that much to report this week - aside from some commercial space being available on the west side of Main, downtown. I noticed the sign when my son and I went to an eye clinic this week. Actually, he went: I just tagged along.


That space is still for rent. Or maybe 'again.' If memory serves, that's where Gold 'N More was, until last summer. February 24, 2012.

That's it for now. See you next Sunday!

Unger Furniture's Last Sale; Felling Trailers' New Building; Maybe Snow Tomorrow (and - Rain?!)

Sunday, February 19, 2012. Ash Wednesday is coming this week. I missedthis year's burning of last Easter's palms. My household's set got deposited last night. Here's a photo of last season's burning:


Burning the palm leaves - last year. We had more snow on the ground then. March 6, 2011.

The estate clearance sale is still going on at Unger Furniture, west of the Palmer House. That block is going to look different without the big "UNGER" lettering on that building.


Inheritance taxes make it challenging to pass a family business along to the next generation. Unger Furniture 'estate sale.' February 16, 2012.

On a happier note, around the corner (The Original) Main Street looks about as busy as ever. It's not exactly New York City's Times Square: but we seem to be doing okay.


Main Street, Sauk Centre, on a Thursday afternoon. February 16, 2012.

I'm not sure when this happened: Felling Trailers (www.felling.com) has a new building. This one's by the Interstate on-ramp, eastbound; behind Dan Welle's (www.danwelle.com); and north of Minnesota Sawdust and Shavings Company (they don't seem to have a website). I'm not sure how to reach it: but there's a pretty good view of the building from near Sauk Centre's I-94 Raceway.


Felling Trailers - new(ish) building. February 19, 2012.

The weather forecast says there's more ridiculously warm weather coming: but at least there's a pretty good chance we'll get snow. No, wait: that's snow, then rain in the afternoon. Uff da.

Advertising in School Hallways, Blue Skies, and Valentine's Day on Tuesday

Sunday, February 12, 2012. It felt like April this weekend. The good news is that heating bills shouldn't be too bad for this month. The bad news is that at this rate what snow is left will melt off long before April and May finally make an appearance. I don't like 'open winters.' Happily, I haven't noticed blowing dust.


Sauk Lake public landing in Sauk Centre. We've had some picture-postcard days this week. February 10, 2012.

More good news: these crystal-clear blue skies are nice to look at.

I see in this week's Sauk Centre Herald that the public school may put advertising up in the hallways. ("Hallways as billboards?" Randy Olson (February 8, 2012))

The idea is that private/non-school advertisers would pay to have their advertisements posted, with profits going into the school's general fund. Maybe it's crass commercialism: but it also sounds like a reasonable way to help keep the school running. As for the affect on students?

At the lower elementary grades, it might not be the best idea. For the teen population in the school? I spent my adolescence in the '60s: and my classmates were reasonably media-savvy then. I seriously doubt that grades seven-through-12 in the Sauk Centre Public School are any less able to tell the difference between advertising and school announcements.

It looks like the school board is taking time to collect information and think: which I think is a good thing.

One more thing: Valentine's Day comes on TUESDAY of THIS WEEK?!

Oh, wait: I've already taken care of what I'll give my wife.

Whew!

Next stop on the holiday calendar is Ash Wednesday.

Fog, Frost, and a Factory

Sunday, February 5, 2012. We had frost on the trees Saturday morning. Probably before that, too, what with the fog, but Saturday is when I got some photos.


Frost on evergreens. It's like a fairyland forest is in bloom. February 4, 2012.


A little more than a week, and Valentine's Day is here. February 4, 2012.


Frost crystals: a closer look. February 4, 3012.

I drove to Hillsboro, North Dakota, on Wednesday, coming back the same day. I like driving, usually: but fog was particularly interesting on the return trip. Starting around Fergus Falls, all the way to Sauk Centre, visibility was very far from ideal.

My wife and I, and #3 daughter, spent a little time visiting with #2 daughter and son-in-law: but the trip was mostly 'business.' There were papers to sign.

My son-in-law and daughter started Spiral Light Candle (spirallightcandle.com) about a year ago. They've got a remarkable, new, sort of candle, and folks seem to like it. The candle factory is moving out of their garage, into a building that's going to be the company's factory and offices. While I'm plugging their business, they've got a Spiral Light Candle Corp. Storefront on Amazon.com.


Spiral Light Candle factory: My son-in-law took this picture. December 31, 2011.


Same place, a little over a month later. There's still more to get done. February 2, 2012.

My son-in-law and #2 daughter are doing most of the work, but I've been lending a hand where I can. One thing I'll say: my life hasn't been boring.

Somewhat-related posts in other blogs:

• "Spiral Light Candle Factory Construction: More Photos"
  Starting a Small Business Without Losing My Mind (January 18, 2012)
• "Loan Approved: Next, Spiral Light Candle's New Factory"
  Starting a Small Business Without Losing My Mind (December 20, 2011)
• "Candles: Analysis, News, and Very Odd Questions"
  Starting a Small Business Without Losing My Mind (December 3, 2011)
• "Catholic Marketing Network Trade Show, Labels, and Money"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (August 2, 2011)