tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28893459875968581832024-03-08T09:42:56.457-06:00Sauk Centre Journal BlogShowing the positive side of small town America, at least the part I live in: <br>And the negative, when it happensBrian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.comBlogger488125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-73084598676135799732016-06-05T22:47:00.000-05:002016-06-05T22:47:24.417-05:00A Beautiful Summer Day<b>June 5.</b> A beautiful summer day. I don't have much to say, so here's the view from my webcam:<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20160501-/201606051955-400.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: xx-small;">Sunday afternoon, my corner of Sauk Centre. (June 5, 2016)</span><br />
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I'm still getting over this cold-or-whatever: but I'm getting over it, so I'm a comparatively happy camper.
Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-90842688656765619282016-05-29T23:01:00.000-05:002016-05-29T23:01:34.422-05:00Memorial Day and Corpus Christi<b>Sunday, May 29.</b> Memorial Day weekend: the unofficial first day of summer vacations, and something more serious. I've talked about that before. (This Season: <a href="http://www.brendans-island.com/memday02.htm">Memorial Day</a>)<br />
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The other big deal this weekend, for folks at the two Catholic parishes, is the Corpus Christi procession from Our Lady of the Angels to St. Paul's.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20160501-/CorpusChristiProcession-A-20160529sauk-centre.JPG" height="200" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: xx-small;">Starting out, near Our Lady of the Angels. (May 29, 2016)</span>
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20160501-/CorpusChristiProcession-B-20160529sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: xx-small;">A spot of sunshine on the way. (May 29, 2016)</span><br />
<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20160501-/CorpusChristiProcession-C-20160529sauk-centre.JPG" height="200" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: xx-small;">First stop. (May 29, 2016)</span><br />
<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20160501-/CorpusChristiProcession-D-20160529sauk-centre.JPG" height="200" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: xx-small;">And - arriving at St. Paul's. (May 29, 2016)</span><br />
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That's all I had the energy for this week. The family is (slowly) getting over whatever this bug is, and I'll end on that 'up' note.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-90294846563374704802016-05-22T21:45:00.002-05:002016-05-22T21:45:42.314-05:00More Flowers<b>Sunday, May 22.</b> On the whole, I'd prefer that this 'summer cold' cease and desist. Maybe next week - - -. Meanwhile, the lilacs out front have pretty much peaked.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20160501-/Lilacs-A-20160522-sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Lilacs. (May 22, 2016)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20160501-/Lilacs-B-20160522-sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">And - what else? - more lilacs. (May 22, 2016)</span><br />
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Next week will be different: better, I hope.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-84075534778996684542016-05-15T21:37:00.004-05:002016-05-15T21:37:28.888-05:00Flowers, Mostly<b>Sunday, May 15.</b> The 'summer cold' is still with me, but I took pictures of some lilacs.<br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20160501-/Lilacs-A-20160515-sauk-centre.JPG" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Lilacs. (May 15, 2016)</span><br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20160501-/Lilacs-B-20160515-sauk-centre.JPG" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">More lilacs. (May 15, 2016)</span><br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20160501-/Lilacs-C-20160515-sauk-centre.JPG" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">You guessed it: still more lilacs. (May 15, 2016)</span><br />
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We had a freeze warning: Saturday, I think that was. Aside from that, it's been pleasant enough: except when it wasn't. I am sincerely looking forward to not having this cold.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-21609077104508175272016-05-01T23:06:00.002-05:002016-05-01T23:06:42.106-05:00Colorful — Toadstools?<b>Sunday, May 1.</b> Finally, another entry in the Sauk Centre Journal. The last one, December 27, 2015, ended with "I plan to be back next week.<br />
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"Next week" turned out to to be about four months later. Sorry about that. I've got a few photos to show, besides the two I took this afternoon: but those will wait until later. Next week, I hope: but that's what I said last December. We'll see.<br />
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Bright blue skies, sunshine, and similarly-pleasant conditions got me outside this week: and enjoying the experience.<br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20160501-/SundayWalk20160501-A.JPG" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Colorful: toadstools? This photo doesn't really do them justice. That little yellowish-green thing on the far right one is a cartoonish "worm."(May 1, 2016)</span><br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20160501-/SundayWalk20160501-B.JPG" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Garage sales and yard sales are routine. "Craft sale," not so much. (May 1, 2016)</span><br />
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That's all for today. Next week: I'm hopeful I'll have more.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-81301150729614570512016-01-03T22:18:00.002-06:002016-01-03T22:18:29.443-06:00Epiphany Sunday<b>Sunday, December 27, 2015.</b> Epiphany Sunday. I took a few more photos. There's a larger version of that first one in one of my blog posts: "<a href="http://catholiccitizenamerica.blogspot.com/2016/01/jesus-magi-and-me.html">Jesus, the Magi, and Me</a>," (A Catholic Citizen in America)<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/OurLadyOfAngels20160102sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Our Lady of Angels church, Saturday afternoon. (January 2, 2016)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/StPaulNativity20150102sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Work on St. Paul's addition/annex continues. (January 2, 2016)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/SnowPile20160102sauk-centre.JPG" height="200" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Snow, lots of it, on the WalMart parking lot. (January 2, 2016)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/Icicles20160102sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Icicles: sparkly! (January 2, 2016)</span><br>
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There's no question about it. Winter is here. I plan to be back next week, probably with equally-obvious observations.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-79545812070104362832015-12-27T22:24:00.001-06:002015-12-27T22:25:23.440-06:00Merry Christmas!<b>Sunday, December 27, 2015.</b> Merry Christmas!<br>
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<img src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/ChristmasDawnMass20151225sauk-centre.JPG" border="0" height="300" width="400"><br>
<font size="1" face="Verdana">Christmas morning at Our Lady of Angels. (December 25, 2015)</font><br>
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<img src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/ChristmasLights20151226sauk-centre.JPG" border="0" height="200" width="400"><br>
<font size="1" face="Verdana">Neighbors: the view from our front porch. (December 26, 2015)</font><br>
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That's all I've got for this week. I hope you had, and are having, a good holiday season.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-35941759577900337232015-12-20T22:20:00.003-06:002015-12-20T22:20:31.630-06:00Snow and a White Christmas<b>Sunday, December 20, 2015.</b> We got snow on Wednesday: the perfect-for-snowballs-and-snowmen variety.<br />
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<a href="http://www.brendans-island.com/smalltownamerica/"><img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/201512161549-webcam-400.jpg" height="299" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">The view through my
<a href="http://www.brendans-island.com/smalltownamerica/">webcam</a>, Wednesday afternoon. (December 16, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/20151216SnowBackyardA-sauk-centre.JPG" height="301" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Freshly-fallen snow in the back yard. (December 16, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/20151216SnowBackyardB-sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Snow on the branches. (December 16, 2015)</span><br />
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It's not quite as picturesque now: quite a bit of the snow has fallen from branches. But we'll almost certainly have a white Christmas.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-86369494468379643072015-12-13T21:38:00.003-06:002015-12-13T21:38:56.058-06:00It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like - Easter?!<b>Sunday, December 13, 2015.</b> It's beginning to look a lot like: Easter, actually. The week's rain melted our snow, and it's been unusually warm: nothing record-breaking, but above freezing on occasion.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/20151209StPaulConstruction-sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">St. Paul's addition is taking shape. (December 9, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/20151209HolidayDisplay-sauk-centre.JPG" height="200" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Christmas yard display in the neighborhood. (December 9, 2015)</span><br />
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We may get more snow Wednesday: or not. Either way, Christmas is about two weeks away.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-90409546112303252282015-12-06T20:32:00.001-06:002015-12-06T20:32:33.458-06:00Snow, Fog<b>Sunday, December 6, 2015.</b> We had some clear days this week: but I decided to put off picture-taking until later in the week. That, in retrospect, wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/SnowSpiderWeb20151130sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Snow-covered spider web in the kitchen window. Not the sharpest photo I've ever taken. (November 30, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/SundayMorningFog20151206sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Sunday morning: fog. (December 6, 2015)</span><br />
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We've also had fog now and then, and snow. That, I got photos of. The spider web was a great deal prettier in person. Each snowflake had a bit of the web to itself. I've never seen that happen.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-69567202363129779312015-11-29T21:53:00.007-06:002015-11-29T21:53:58.438-06:00More Snow, and Holiday Humor<b>Sunday, November 29, 2015.</b> It's the first Sunday of Advent, and I haven't taken any pictures this week. I did, however, to a holiday-themed picture for <a href="http://apatheticlemming.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-uncle-crunchy-ploy.html">Apathetic Lemming of the North</a>, one of my blogs.<br />
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<a href="http://apatheticlemming.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-uncle-crunchy-ploy.html"><img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/PleaseStopSaying658-corr-text-400.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
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The first winter storm of the season should be here Monday and Tuesday. My<a href="http://www.brendans-island.com/smalltownamerica/">webcam</a> will give you a look at Sauk Centre, near the corner of Ash and South 9th: assuming there aren't technical issues, of course.<br />
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The three Catholic parishes around here, St. Alexius, Our Lady of the Angels, and St. Paul's, did something new this year: 'stewardship fliers' for each household, letting us check off or fill in what we could do for the parish and community.<br />
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More than 20% of the households in each parish turned in fliers: more than 32% in St. Alexius. That's a remarkably good response, I think.<br />
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Neighbors east and northwest of us had their Christmas yard displays out, and lit, by the end of this weekend. Those will look nice, with the coming snowfall.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-77876787327682601842015-11-22T22:21:00.001-06:002015-11-22T22:21:28.811-06:00First Snow and Radar Speed Sign<b>Sunday, November 22, 2015.</b> Thanksgiving nearly snuck up on me again this year. It's coming next week. Some folks have their Christmas yard decorations out already: including our neighbors across the corner, northwest of us.<br />
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I didn't get a photo of their display, yet, but did catch results of the season's first snowfall. The image is what my <a href="http://www.brendans-island.com/smalltownamerica/">webcam</a> showed at 10:40 a.m. last Thursday.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/20151119-1040-FirstSnow.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">A week before Thanksgiving: our first snow. (October 19, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/RadarSpeedSign20151122sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">A radar speed sign on South Ash Street. (November 22, 2015)</span><br />
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I went out this afternoon to get a photo of the first radar speed sign I've seen here on Ash Street.<br />
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It faced southbound traffic, I'm not sure exactly why it's there: apart from the obvious reminder of the speed limit, and what I see as a convenient opportunity to check my speedometer. It's spot-on accurate, by the way.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-37992358696602033952015-11-15T21:22:00.003-06:002015-11-15T21:22:49.160-06:00Distracted by Paris<b>Sunday, November 15, 2015.</b> Yesterday and today were the good sort of autumn days: clear skies, sunshine, highs around 60. Coming next: about three days in the mid-40s, with rain.<br />
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It could be worse. There was the
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Halloween_blizzard">1991 Halloween blizzard</a>, and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day_Blizzard">Armistice Day Blizzard</a> in 1940. I don't remember that one, but my folks talked about it: and the big one in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schoolhouse_Blizzard">1888</a>. More recently, we've had November winter storms or blizzards in 1975, 1981, and 1988, and the 1991 Halloween blizzard lasted until November 3. (<a href="http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/summaries_and_publications/winter_storms.html">MN
DNR</a>)<br />
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A few days of rain doesn't look so bad now.<br />
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I thought I'd have more to say, and show, but Friday's attacks in Paris distracted me. That was a very sad situation.<br />
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Here in Sauk Centre, though, life goes on. Maybe <i><b>next</b></i> week I'll have my ducks in a row: or at least near each other.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-57231133052496827112015-11-01T20:25:00.003-06:002015-11-01T20:25:14.378-06:00Autumn Colors: Nearly Caught Up<b>Sunday, November 1, 2015.</b> I'm nearly caught up on 'autumn' photos.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/FallColors20151007b-sauk-centre.JPG" height="200" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Near the corner of Ash and South 9th: I like the clouds in this scene. (October 7, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/FallColors20151007c-sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">I got a little closer, getting a better look at this tree. (October 7, 2015)</span><br />
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Halloween's come and gone, we re-set clocks after the seemingly-inevitable 'fall back' part of daylight savings time, and I'm getting used to the sun setting an hour 'earlier' than it did on Saturday.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-17633507836200622882015-10-25T20:25:00.001-05:002015-10-25T20:25:12.686-05:00Still more fall colors<b>Sunday, October 25, 2015.</b> Still catching up. It's still autumn in Minnesota: beautifully clear skies followed by overcast, drizzle, and wind. Not necessarily in that order.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/FallColors20151006a-sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Fall color, just one, red. (October 6, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/FallColors20151006b-sauk-centre.JPG" height="200" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Looking east on South 9th, toward the public school. (October 6, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/FallColors20151007a-sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Still more fall colors. (October 7, 2015)</span><br />
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Halloween's coming this week. I'm looking forward to that.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-61057481363474529302015-10-18T19:51:00.004-05:002015-10-18T19:51:20.653-05:00New Hard Drive, Fall Colors<b>Sunday, October 18, 2015.</b> I'm back, finally. A few weeks ago, my son heard my computer's hard drive clattering, and said that it was about ready to fail. I agreed with him, so he installed a new drive: upgrading to Windows 10 while he was at it.<br />
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The process took a little over a day, after which I started re-installing software, fonts, and all that. I also took a sort of in-house vacation from my usual routines. But now I'm "back," and catching up.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images//journal/20150809-/Construction20150930sauk-centre.JPG" height="200" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Construction at St. Paul's, a few weeks back. (September 30, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images//journal/20150809-/FallColors20150930a-sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Fall colors. (September 30, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images//journal/20150809-/FallColors20150930b-sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">More fall colors. (September 30, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images//journal/20150809-/HalloweenGrocery20150930sauk-centre.JPG" height="200" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Lots of pumpkins outside Coborn's. (September 30, 2015)</span>
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I found what I'm quite certain is the house being driven down Ash Street on September 25. It's now in what had been a vacant lot: the one I showed in the September 20 post.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images//journal/20150809-/HouseMoving20151006sauk-centre.JPG" height="200" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">House movers, at their destination. (October 6, 2015)</span><br />
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I'll try to stay current, and show a few more photos I've taken this month.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-6566194173795835212015-09-27T21:04:00.002-05:002015-09-27T21:04:30.373-05:00Very Slow Moving Vehicle<b>Sunday, September 27, 2015.</b> The 'supermoon eclipse' is happening as I write this. It's overcast, and likely to stay that way, so I won't actually see it. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_2015_lunar_eclipse">Wikipedia</a> has a pretty good page on the eclipse, including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_2015_lunar_eclipse#Background">background</a> on what's happening.<br />
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Other than that, and a photo I caught from my webcam, I don't have much to say this week - - -<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/201509251013BuildingMovers-cpr-400.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Friday morning: a very slow moving vehicle on south Ash, seen through my <a href="http://www.brendans-island.com/smalltownamerica/">webcam</a>. (September 25, 2015)</span><br />
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- - - except that it's starting to feel like autumn, and some trees are changing
color.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-60080184316743678672015-09-20T21:43:00.000-05:002015-09-20T21:43:10.779-05:00End of Summer<b>Sunday, September 20, 2015.</b> - - - Three weeks later, not one: but I'm back with two photos.<br>
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<img src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/StPaulConstruction20150916sauk-centre.jpg" height="200" border="0" width="400"><br>
<font face="Verdana" size="1">Construction at St. Paul's: foundation in place, some work showing above ground. (September 16, 2015)</font><br>
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<img src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/Construction20150916sauk-centre.JPG" height="200" border="0" width="400"><br>
<font face="Verdana" size="1">Another construction site in Sauk Centre's south side. This was a vacant with a children's park 'rider' for many years. (September 16, 2015)</font><br>
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I'd say 'see you next week,' but maybe it'll be 'see you later.' Either way: enjoy the end of summer-like weather while it's here.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-49282647891865741872015-08-30T21:19:00.001-05:002015-08-30T21:19:28.779-05:00School, Labor Day, and a Mural<b>Sunday, August 30, 2015.</b> The school year starts Tuesday, September 1. Then, a few days later: Labor Day weekend; and school starts <i><b>again</b></i> on the 7th.<br />
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I took a closer look at the downtown mural this week: and noticed that the Sauk Centre in the mural has a steam engine at the depot, and a building that's not there any more, across the street. The railway depot building is still around: housing Depot Feeds.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/DowntownMural20150826sauk-centre.JPG" height="200" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Downtown Sauk Centre's mural: complete, apparently. (August 26, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/DowntownMural20150826sauk-centre-detail.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">A closer look at downtown Sauk Centre: as it was. (August 26, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/Garden20150826sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">A well-tended garden on Sauk Centre's south side. (August 26, 2015)</span><br />
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That's it for now. I'll see you next week.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-50657740702324027862015-08-23T22:01:00.001-05:002015-08-30T21:07:38.705-05:00Last Photos from the Stearns County Fair, School Year Coming<b> Sunday, August 23, 2015.</b> The school year will be starting soon. I've seen a few recreational vehicles go by outside, probably being driven home after the summer's: recreating?<br />
<br />
It's been overcast and raining about half the time this week, including Friday and Saturday: when I made an unexpected delivery to North Dakota. I was filling in for my son, who wasn't able to go: and so spent a few hours visiting with the kids and granddaughter up there.<br />
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These are the last photos from the Stearns County Fair.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/StearnsCountyFairG20150801sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">In the 4-H building, mostly photography displays. (August 1, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/StearnsCountyFairH20150801sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">I always stop by the model rocket table, remembering when I made that sort of thing. (August 1, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/StearnsCountyFairI20150801sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Nicely-framed clouds, seen through the 4-H building's west door. (August 1, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/StearnsCountyFairJ20150801sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">And walking back through the midway, on my way home. (August 1, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/BlueSkyAndWind20150823sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">A patch of blue sky, branches being blown about: today felt like autumn. (August 23, 2015)</span><br />
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After spending much of Friday and Saturday either getting as much as what I'd planned to do finished, or driving to and from North Dakota, I'm fresh out of stuff to say. For me, that's an odd sensation.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-3317148013159286062015-08-16T20:20:00.001-05:002015-08-16T20:20:17.208-05:00More Photos From the Fair<b>Sunday, August 16, 2015.</b> Another week has gone by, we've had sunshine and rain, the school year is lurking on the calendar, and I didn't take any photos.<br />
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There are, however, a few from the Stearns County Fair that I haven't shown yet.<br />
<br />
<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/StearnsCountyFairE20150801sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">The two smaller critters are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_tortoise">leopard tortoises</a>. The big fellow, imitating a rock, is an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_spurred_tortoise">African spurred tortoise</a>. (August 1, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/StearnsCountyFairF20150801sauk-centre.jpg" height="150" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Deer are fairly common here in Minnesota. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonian_mara">Patagonian cavys</a>, not so much. (August 1, 2015)</span><br />
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Those pictures were taken in the Conservation Club building. The critters are from the <a href="http://www.hemkerzoo.com/">Hemker Park and Zoo</a>, north of Freeport, about 15 minutes down the road: a family-run outfit that's been around since 1977. I've never been there, but members of my family have: and say it's a nice place.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-42072121423974558402015-08-09T22:37:00.000-05:002015-08-09T22:37:11.769-05:00Pride of Main Street Dairy Closes; Photos from the Parade<b>Sunday, August 9, 2015.</b> Last month I talked about the <a href="http://brendans-island.com/JournalArchive/seasonarchive2015.htm#20150712">Ding Dong Cafe</a>'s owner getting ready to retire. The Ding Dong will, I'm confident, still be around when a new owner's found.<br>
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Pride of Main Street Dairy, not so much. This week's <a href="http://www.saukherald.com/">Sauk Centre Herald</a> top story, after Jeff Otte's deep fried cheese curds and other Stearns County Fair fare, was "Pride of Main Street Dairy closed indefinitely."<br>
<br>
<img src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/PrideOfMainStreetClose-SaukHerald20150806sauk-centre.JPG" height="300" border="0" width="400"><br>
<font face="Verdana" size="1">The headline says it all: "Pride of Main Street Dairy closed...." (August 6, 2015)</font><br>
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Sounds like Lifeway Foods, an Illinois-based company, is moving the production processes Main Street Dairy handled to Wisconsin or Illinois. That's put 11 of the 13 folks who worked at Main Street Dairy: out of work.<br>
<br>
Someone's working in the office, and another doing building maintenance; the
building's up for sale, and the small retail dairy store that was in the building is gone. I remember seeing Pride of Main Street Dairy's skim, 1%, 2%, whole and chocolate milk; and a few ice cream flavors; in Coborn's.<br>
<br>
It was nice having locally-made dairy products, and looking for work is anything but fun: my experience, anyway. But I understand that change happens.<br>
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On a happier note, I don't think I shared these photos from the Sinclair Lewis Day parade, week before last.<br>
<br>
<img src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/SinclairLewisDaysParadeG20150718sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" border="0" width="400"><br>
<font face="Verdana" size="1">Someone noted that kids scooting out to pick up goodies thrown from Sinclair Lewis Days Parade units reminded him of chickens going after corn. (July 18, 2015)</font><br>
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<img src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/SinclairLewisDaysParadeH20150718sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" border="0" width="400"><br>
<font face="Verdana" size="1">Sauk Centre's fire/emergency response department: new equipment - - - (July 18, 2015)</font><br>
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<img src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20150809-/SinclairLewisDaysParadeI0150718sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" border="0" width="400"><br>
<font face="Verdana" size="1">- - - and anything-but-new equipment. (July 18, 2015)</font><br>
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I've probably got photos from the Stearns County Fair, too: but those will wait until next week. Or the week after that, or whenever. That depends partly on whether I get any nifty pictures.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-18029475550306941392015-08-03T14:47:00.001-05:002015-08-03T14:47:10.361-05:00Stearns County Fair: Midway and Beyond<b>Monday, August 3, 2015.</b> Stearns County Fair ended yesterday. I was feeling very relaxed yesterday, which is why Sunday's entry is showing up on Monday. It's a beautiful day, by the way.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20110828-/StearnsCountyFairA20150801sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">The midway: it's noisy, fun, and maybe the most colorful end of the fair. (August 1, 2015)</span>
<br />
<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20110828-/StearnsCountyFairB20150801sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Oddly enough, Stearns County Fair's midway is at the west end of the fairgrounds. (August 1, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20110828-/StearnsCountyFairC20150801sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">I like Saturday afternoon and early evening at the fair. It's when you'll see the most families. (August 1, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20110828-/StearnsCountyFairD20150801sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">The north lane - I don't know if that it's name, or if it has one - where the 'real' fair starts. Vendors and exhibitors are in booths by the lane, and in the buildings. The white roof, at the end of the lane, is one of the livestock buildings. I didn't get that far this year. (August 1, 2015)</span><br />
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There's more, but I'm saving those photos for next week.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-693903175325186152015-07-26T21:05:00.001-05:002015-08-03T14:45:15.145-05:00More Photos from Sinclair Lewis Days Parade, 2015<b>Sunday, July 26, 2015.</b> Stearns County Fair starts next week, and I've still got photos from last week's Sinclair Lewis Days parade to show.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20110828-/SinclairLewisDaysParadeO0150718sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Some folks get quite imaginative: like this furry unit. (July 18, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20110828-/SinclairLewisDaysParadeX0150718sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">A tip of the hat to the <a href="http://rivercityrhythm.org/">River City Rhythm</a>, for a particularly lively performance. They did a very good job. (July 18, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20110828-/SinclairLewisDaysParadeAA0150718sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Here's the head of the parade, coming back past the corner of Ash and South 9th. (July 18, 2015)</span><br />
<br />
<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20110828-/SinclairLewisDaysParadeAF0150718sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">And one of my favorite parts of the parade: the Coborn's grocery cart. Make that grocery carts this year. (July 18, 2015)</span><br />
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Next week, I'll have photos from the Fair. That's the idea, at least.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2889345987596858183.post-42625535311765172582015-07-19T23:39:00.001-05:002015-07-19T23:39:55.032-05:00Mostly the Sinclair Lewis Days Parade<b>Sunday, July 19, 2015.</b> It's been an interesting few weeks for the family. Among other things, my son-in-law and son have been designing and programming an industrial robot for <a href="http://shop.spirallightcandle.com/candles.html">Spiral Light Candle</a>. That brought me and the other Sauk Centre Gills to North Dakota earlier this week. It's not quite 'life in Sauk Centre,' but — I'm a proud in-law/parent.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20110828-/Spiral-Light-b20150713.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://shop.spirallightcandle.com/candles.html">Spiral Light Candle</a> factory, after hours. (July 13, 2015)</span><br />
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Meanwhile, back in Sauk Centre, the downtown mural on Sinclair Lewis Avenue is getting closer to completion.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20110828-/DownTownMuralB20150715sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Work in progress: the mural on Sinclair Lewis Avenue, at the corner of Sinclair and Main. (July 15, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20110828-/RoadWork20150715sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Road work near the Interstate. (July 15, 2015)</span><br />
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It's an old joke. Minnesota's four seasons: fall, winter, spring, and road work. There's something to it.<br />
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Sinclair Lewis Days is over now. The parade route went by our house twice: which took a bit of coordination, letting an outbound unit through the intersection while a returning one waited for its turn. It worked out fine, though.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20110828-/SinclairLewisDaysParadeB20150718sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Sinclair Lewis Days parade begins. (July 18, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20110828-/SinclairLewisDaysParadeG20150718sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Someone observed that the kids running out before another unit came, to pick up candy, reminded him of chickens going after seed. I see his point: and they were having fun. (July 18, 2015)</span><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20110828-/SinclairLewisDaysParadeH20150718sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Sauk Centre fire/emergency department has at least
one new(ish) vehicle - - - (July 18, 2015)</span><br />
<br />
<img border="0" src="http://brendans-island.com/images/journal/20110828-/SinclairLewisDaysParadeI0150718sauk-centre.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">- - - and one that's very vintage. (July 18, 2015)</span><br />
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I've got more photos from the parade: but will spread them out over the next few weeks: along with pictures from the county fair. That's the plan, anyway.Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.com0