School, Labor Day, and a Mural

Sunday, August 30, 2015. The school year starts Tuesday, September 1. Then, a few days later: Labor Day weekend; and school starts again on the 7th.

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.


Downtown Sauk Centre's mural: complete, apparently. (August 26, 2015)


A closer look at downtown Sauk Centre: as it was. (August 26, 2015)


A well-tended garden on Sauk Centre's south side. (August 26, 2015)

That's it for now. I'll see you next week.

Labor Day Weekend, Pea-Size Hail, and Another Internet Outage

Monday, September 1, 2014 Labor Day Weekend. I heard thunder after supper today. Then, right around 6:30, the lights went out. Power was back 15 or 20 minutes later: but this household's Internet connection was out until 8:30 pm.

The hail I saw was pea-sized: not particularly damaging, but enough to make me happy to be inside.

Aside from that, though, it's been a beautiful day.


Yesterday evening's storms were mostly south and east of us, heading for the Metro area. August 31, 2014.


We've been getting the house painted. August 31, 2014.


Clouds this evening, as the storm was moving on. That odd little streak toward the left of the photo is a drop of water coming off the roof. September 1, 201


The hail I saw was pea-sized. September 1, 2014.


After this evening's storm: more of that pea-size hail, a wet driveway, and feet. September 1, 2014.

School starts tomorrow: which is an academic point for someone my age, except as it involves family members.

Labor Day Sunday

Sunday, August 31, 2014. Labor Day Weekend. I'll be back tomorrow evening, for a short post. Today, I'm taking a break.

Labor Day Weekend So Far: Wind, Hail, and a Beautiful Day

Sunday, September 1, 2013. Labor Day Weekend. It's been a beautiful day here: not hot, a welcome change of pace from the rest of the week. We've had a heat advisory and then some storms. Here's part of what I saw on the Wunderground.com weather page for Sauk Centre:


Minnesota counties involved in the heat advisory, Thursday afternoon. August 29, 2013.


Saturday afternoon, storms coming. August 31, 2013.


They were moving fast. August 31, 2013.

The storms had 70 mile an hour winds, and hail. I haven't seen more than a light sprinkling of leaves and twigs on streets and lawns here in town. I hope the much-needed rain didn't come at the expense of crop damage, or worse.

Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end of summer around here. I'm looking forward to a nice, comfortable autumn. What we actually get: we'll see.

Labor Day Weekend, 2012

Sunday, September 2, 2012: Labor Day weekend. It's the last (unofficial) summer weekend. Folks are visiting family, getting in a last weekend at 'the lake,' or - in my case - grilling burgers.

On a not-so-cheerful note, I've heard that a local grocery is having trouble getting some brands of apples: another result of this year's drought. Still, things could be worse. A lot worse.

Sauk Centre's talking traffic signal isn't new, but I hadn't heard it until yesterday. Street work on South 4th is progressing, and Sauk Hop is now Nic's Diner.


Pipes - culverts, I suppose they should be called - at the east end of South 4th. September 1, 2012.


Pieces waiting to be placed: the east end of South 4th, again. September 1, 2012.


An old Volkswagen 'bug,' with personality, on Sinclair Lewis Avenue, downtown. September 1, 2012.


Sinclair Lewis Avenue and Main: and Sauk Centre's talking traffic signal. September 1, 2012.


It told me to wait, and later to get going. September 1, 2012.


That countdown is a nice feature: and encourages promptness in crossing. September 1, 2012.


Nic's Diner: looks a great deal like the Sauk Hop. I'll want to learn more about the place. September 1, 2012.

So far, this Labor Day weekend has looked like a picture postcard: nearly-clear sky, with occasional artistically-placed cirrus clouds.