Candidate Forum

The Chamber of Commerce's Candidates Forum at the City Hall in Albert Lea last night was a unique experience for us. Here is the link to the segment of the recording of Charles' exchange with Joey Neely, who is running for the same position, City Council - Ward 4.

It's a blessing!

Today was a big day at the Alkula house: Gracie and her three kittens are safely confined in the three-season room, otherwise known as "the cat room."

We've spent much of the past few weeks, after mistakenly thinking Gracie was on her own, trying to gain the trust of the kittens. Getting them used to a consistent, safe place to eat and rest was a big part of the effort.

Today, Connie, one of our neighbors, noticed all four cats going onto our deck and into the cat room. Connie was able to quietly, and quickly, close the sliding glass door, thus securing the cat family in the house.

The process now will focus on getting the kittens acclimated to human contact (Gracie already is content to be petted though not held). 

It's Clergy Appreciation Day

B&B Cafe 'offered a treat for area clergy this morning, a free breakfast! Charles took advantage of the opportunity and enjoyed a nice meal before going to work.

Three more for the portfolio

Näcken (The Watersprite)
20x20, marble acrylic on canvas

Saarella palaa (Fire on the Island)
30x40, marble acrylic on canvas

Tuuli tuudittele (The Wind Rocks)
30x40, Marble acrylic on canvas

Charles completed three paintings this weekend, two of them for an exhibit in January, and the other for a staff member at Thorne Crest.
 

The Cat Room takes shape

New look in the 3-season room

Gracie stops by to say, "Hi!"

An infrequent visitor ventures into the room

We set up some patio furniture in the 3-season room this week so that we'd have a place to sit or the cats would have a place to rest in between outside exploring.

Autumn in Albert Lea

 It was an unusually warm day in southern Minnesota as autumn continues to offer scenery which is a real treat every day.

The kittens arrive

With the discovery that Gracie had already given birth to a litter, we were hoping to locate them and get them inside. With the work that had been put into gaining Gracie's trust, we are thrilled to see that THREE kittens have joined her for regular rest and food in the 3-season room. The eventual goal is to rehome all four with a humane society before the end of this month.

Gracie settles in

B.K. settles in at New Chances

Gracie finds a toy in the camper

A nap in the kitty stroller

After we sent B.K. (Black Kitty) off to a new life with the friendly folk at New Chances Humane Society in Blue Earth on Wednesday, we lured the other cat that had been coming by (that we're calling Gracie) into the three-season room. It's been three days and she is adapting to a more restrictive indoor environment which we hope will lead to a new life with New Chances along with B.K.

UPDATE: We learned on October 4th that B.K. had been adopted and will be going to his new home on the 10th.

A nice autumnal day

 

After a busy week, we enjoyed a nice day with a drive to Clarks Grove to visit Vintage Grove, a neat store with antiques and some great soup mixes! Belinda's birthday month got underway with a selection of Longaberger Baskets!

After that, we went to visit White Spruce Homestead Farm Stand, purveyor of excellent baked goods and other treats. We met Allison at another venue and were taken with her enthusiasm and talents.

News from the campaign trail

Charles completed a candidate survey on an election-related website and the results have been posted to this link.

A content kitty

With rainy weather having returned to southern Minnesota this weekend, Wesley seems to be determined to savor the benefits of being an indoor cat!

United Women in Faith @ Redwood Falls

Communion is a part of every gathering

Belinda shares about Fresh Expression

Devotions are fun with Belinda!

2027 Officers

We participated in the annual gathering of the United Women in Faith of the Prairie Winds District of the Minnesota Conference today at First UMC in Redwood Falls. Belinda is the Spiritual Growth Coordinator for the District and provided the opening devotions. Together, we presented the program on the Fresh Expressions concept.

An evening at Wedgewood Cove

Ready for action

Good input!

Chatting with potential voters

Angie Hanson & Joe Staloch

Business After Hours is back!

Business After Hours is back! Got to have a campaign table, along with Angie Hanson and Joe Staloch, for attendees to “meet and greet” before and after the “Future of Freeborn” Community Forum.

Once again, Charles asked people to respond to the statement: "I want Albert Lea to..."

+Procure a full-service hospital

+Healthcare & affordable options

+Roller skating

+Affordable housing including Tiny Homes

+Finish the bike trail to Austin

+Growth!

+Kids things

+Bowling

+Affordable housing for single occupants

+Raise private tax base from businesses and get property taxes down

+Young adult transition services

+Provide more crosswalks near schools

+We need a tiny home community with amenities

+Industry appropriate apprenticeships

+Rentals for jet skis, boats, paddle boats

+Lower taxes & more businesses

+Develop freeway corridor

Tractors, horses, and corn, oh my!

43 years and counting

Loving the late summer weather!

Broom making!

Plowing by horse

Getting the next generation into tractors

Charles drove to Kiester, Minnesota (1/2 hour southwest of Albert Lea) this morning to take in the 43rd Annual Farming of Yesteryear event. There was so much to see! Watching ice cream, apple cider, sorghum syrup, and more getting made. Horse-drawn plows working the field and single-row corn harvesting made for interesting viewing. Seeing brooms getting made and a working sawmill creating boards and shingles was fun to see.

Doodle art in Albert Lea

Charles was among the community members who gathered in the alley behind the Albert Lea Art Center this morning to create a "doodle wall." This is part of the process that will eventually become a beautiful mural!

In the news

Charles was interviewed by our local newspaper for an article about the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Charles shared his experiences as a Navy chaplain assigned to the Naval Hospital - Camp Lejeune (NC). Read the article at this link.

More paintings!

Gift to Ryan Kettleson

Gift to Kailee Phillips

Gift to Kailee Phillips

Gift to Linda Hughes-Foyte

Gift to Linda Hughes-Foyte

Charles presented five new paintings to three Thorne Crest staff members this week. Ryan, Kailee, and Linda were pleased with Charles' creations which is always a joy to hear when painting go to their new home.

Daisy Fest!

We had a delightful time today at Central Park in Albert Lea for the seventh annual Daisy Fest (sponsored by Daisy Blue Naturals). Charles had a booth, promoting his candidacy for Albert Lea City Council, getting to know potential voters, and offering "swag."

Charles asked attendees to write down what they wanted to see (or not see) in Albert Lea.

Here are the results to "I want Albert Lea to..."

+Businesses that can afford to stay

+Be happy

+More kid-friendly activities

+Community events

+Animals (pets) need to stay in their own yard

+Home-free healthcare

+More bike paths

+Upgrade parks

+Be kinder to landlords

+More mental health services (2 times)

+No data centers

+Help for the homeless (3 times)

+Be kind

+Bring in more retail businesses

+Get more clothing stores (3 times)

+Be amazing

+Help animals

+Service/companion dogs are treated equally!

+Mountains