New Beginnings

The weeks absolutely fly by. I work from Tuesday to Friday. Sometimes the only time to relax is on the weekend, but you never know.

I have a special man in my life. His name is Joe Olson. (Yes, another Joe) Joe is a very good name. I have known Joe for 30 years. You may know him from the Warroad Summer Theatre. He has a house up on Minnesota Hill.

I am just beginning to get to know the "Hill Folk". They are a tight-knit group who live independently, seeking a self-contained lifestyle. And when the need arises, they can depend on each other.

Joe and I will be getting married on September 14th, which is two weeks from now. We have been working on his house, cleaning and updating. We will have two rooms dedicated to music, (which we both love.) I play harmony with my viola, he sings, and plays many different instruments including the guitar. Joe plays bass with a local band from Birchdale, Minn., named Sloughgrass. Soren Olesen (spelled with the extra "e"), who is a "shop and welding" teacher at Roseau High School, leads the band. He is originally from Denmark, and has a wonderful accent to prove it.

A bluegrass band can include an acoustic guitar, an upright bass, and banjo. The fiddle, the mandolin, and the resonator guitar are the other common instruments often used. I love to pack myself along with Joe when they have a "gig", and may even bring a painting to work on. I sit in my red camp chair with a grin on my face as I listen to Judith, Soren's wife, do some very fast fiddling. I absolutely love it.

So this will be our life. We will have two homes. One in the cottage on the hill, and one in the city. I will paint in both places, and work in my garden, I will pet our Kittys and Joe's big Dog named Turk. Turk is a HUGE white Great Pyrenees. There could be a lab in the mix, but i'm not quite sure. All I know is, "a person like me could ride him"!

Joe is a man of integrity, and has a strong faith in Christ. He is also a Patriot. A good "mix" don't you think?

Well, this column is short and sweet, and full of excitement and thankfulness. We have been blessed with the gift of each other. And with each other's family's, love and support.

Stay tuned for upcoming adventures up at Minnesota Hill.

Blessings, Julie