The Hibbing Cabin

A great couple days at the cabin, the Hibbing Cabin that is. Round Lake in the Chippewa National Forest. We had a great time paddling, sleeping, eating, mountain biking and sitting around on the deck with a beer! We will be back very very soon!

Tribute to C. Blaine Harstad, my dad

Well tommorow is fathers day, and that is a time to honor fathers. My father died on April 19, 2008 and tommorow, just as any other day, we will miss his shining face. We will miss his openness to the world at large and to all faces in all walks of life, his interests truly in all people and his ability to accept in a non judgemental open fashion. We will miss his modest ways and we will miss his ability to make a fool out of himself. My sister, my mom and I are all at the cabin, flying his flags, mowing his lawns, setting up his water volleyball net and all of the other many toys and basically, just trying to do the man justice!!

One final thing that we will miss is the extremely silly gifts that dad gave every year. For example, just this past Christmas I received these absolutely ridiculous masks from him. Now, what in the world does one do with all of these gag gifts? Well, they have made for great many a laugh at gatherings of friends. Truly, the man was a bit nutty but...this is why we love him. Dad, we love you, we miss you and your traditions will go on...

My dad was truly committed to his heritage. On the back of his gravestone was an entire family tree from Norway and Germany until now. There was even an article in the paper about it! To read, click the link listed below: http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/18154139.html