We had a string of record, or near record setting days at the end of May. Many people thought they were going to melt. That's the thing about living in North Dakota, even the 70's seem to hot to some. That last week in May we had several 90's so pretty much everyone here thought it was to hot.While I am not aware of anyone actually melting here I am aware of many people having heat strokes, in fact a close friend had one last week when I was out of town (she is fine today due to the fast action of bystanders in the immediate area).My Point:If you are moving to North Dakota expect extremes. If you stay for any amount of time you can expect your body to adjust to low temps as the norm. You too will start believing that 75 degrees will make you melt. 06/08/2026

Yesterday my family and I went to our "Once in a great while" movie adventure. The movie was playing at our "Second Run" theater, The Oak Park Movie Theater. I'd like to tell you a wonderful story about this theater but I'll save it for another post.This movie was NOT a second run but a very small production of local interest. That being said, it is getting GREAT reviews nationally.The movie is the story of Medora. The wife of a brilliant French Investor who had a vision to build a town in Western North Dakota for a meat packaging plant. Medora's father was very wealthy and invested in his son in laws ideas. Her husband was of both French and Spanish nobility and also had great political ambitions.Click on the photo for a preview.The movie was filmed in the North Dakota badlands by an l... 05/26/2026

These photographs were taken on Thursday 05/20/2026 just outside my office at 201 Main Street South, Minot ND 58701.The signs of spring.#1) Not only did our downtown goose show up again but this year he has company that is NOT his mate.#2) The little sidewalk gardens have been planted.#3) The trees are in bloom.And, of course as you can see, there are no more snow piles everywhere.I am looking forward to seeing #4, the hanging flower baskets but that may take another week before the City gets them out.  05/22/2026

This cartoon and post were inspired by the following article in the Northern Sentry, Minot Air Force Base newspaper.The Airmen's Attic is available to low ranking Airmen, those on the bottom end of the Air Force pay scale. At this time they are also making essential kitchen tools available for free to the same Airmen.I have to tell you that until I read the article (linked to the photograph above) I had no idea that Airmen had to purchase uniform items. I should have known this being my daughter was in the Airforce for six years. I'm guessing that they only need to purchase if they damage the original uniform they were issued but I need to clarify that. 05/22/2026

I'm printing this to late to participate this year as the auction was April 23rd BUT this years Prairie Warrior Auction raised $135,000. The event had more than 250 live and silent auction items and  table games. Many people also made cash donations. The auction is held to help squadrons at Minot Air Force Base fund events, meals, and other morale-boosting activities.This information and more can be found in the Northern Sentry Newspaper, printed and also on line. 05/16/2026

North Dakota, nearly the entire State, is in a Red Flag Alert.For several days now we have had high winds and very little rain. This makes for a Red Flag Alert. It's not good for Farmers, home owners who care about their lawns, and certainly not good for fire fighters.Personally it effects me in the following ways:1) I love to use my burn pit and that is a big no, no as I'd hate to be the one to burn down our neighborhood.2) I reseeded much of our yard and that grass seed needs moisture... of which there is pretty much none.3) Dirt is in the air, and in the car and home, and in your eye. It's blowing everywhere.People can still use their grills at this time but caution is advised. I can't say that I have any sage advice, just be careful out there. 05/15/2026

The Shrine Circus is/was in town, Minot North Dakota, this week. It comes every year but this year was very unusual. This was the first year that they did not bring any animals, except some performing poodles. This was also the last year that Dizzy the Clown will participate. Dizzy is a local celebrity who is recognize nationally as one of the best clowns in the USA.So no animals? A circus with no animals? How does that work? Well, they still had 3 rings and they had performers. Not the circus performers I remember as a kid, I think this group was pretty much a Vegas show girl exhibition. The kids didn't seem to mind, the Shriner's made sure they had (sold) tons of flashy noisy toys, candy, face painting and such.About those girls. They were entertaining but it just was not a circus to ... 05/10/2026

The Little Blue Elephant used to be a restaurant downtown just a half block from my office. They did a good business here but they purchased a food truck at the urging of several Event Directors and found they made more money on the road and enjoyed it more than a stationery post as well.The owner of The Little Blue Elephant told me that he also liked being his own landlord and being able to take his business South during our harsh winters.While I know my daughter Tina liked eating at The Little Blue Elephant when it was downtown here I must be honest in my reporting... being a man of German decent, I am a meat and potatoes man and I rarely try any ethnic foods, including Thai food. 05/09/2026

While our Spring in Minot has been cool we are seeing green grass, some garden plants re-emerging, and of course dandelions. I think most of the migratory birds have returned, although I have yet to see any hummingbirds.Another sure sign of spring to me is seeing "the boys of summer" return across the street at Corbet Field.Reflecting back to the years that we had guinea pigs I remember how happy they were to graze in the back yard. I was always worry that an owl would spot them and take one or both away. Thank God it never happened. 04/27/2026

Last week a representative from "Visit Minot" came to see Timmothy's Art Gallery and Studio. We had been ignored in the past in the printed guide and again the new Spring magazine. They were so gracious to send a representative over who took a lot of pictures and came up with a page for us in the "on line version". She took pictures I never even would have thought of. Check this out and click on the picture to go to the actual site (it will open in another window so you will NOT lose your place here in the Rain).Please tell me what you think. 04/22/2026

This post is my answer to the April Challenge put forth by Carol Williams and Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400 titled Why Do You Love Where You Live?I hate to say this but I almost feel like holding my nose when I say I "LOVE" living in Minot North Dakota. HOWEVER I love many things about Minot.I am going to point out that I think Minot's political landscape is why I hold my nose BUT it is improving as more fiscally responsible people are being elected to the City Council. Still our current Mayor and a few of his yes men/women have not met a dollar they didn't want to spend. Even worse, the Minot Park District want to spend every dollar they think you may have.Now that I have that out there:#1) I love Minot ND because my family (Carol and Timmothy) live here as well as many, many fr... 04/18/2026

In the case of Timmothy's cartoon Joe missed everything except that one spot. Maybe that spot needed a lot of attention just like this carpet needs a lot of attention.Moving is a daunting task. Often the true scope of cleaning a home is not realized until you prepare your home for sale or even until you move out prior to closing. You have enough on your plate because you are not only moving out but you are often moving into another home at the same time. Adding insult to injury, you may not have had any idea how badly some areas need paint too.In general it has been my experience that most homes need three days to two weeks to make a home "show ready' or even ready for the final walk through before closing.If you don't have three to fourteen days to clean up you may wish to call a clean... 04/15/2026

Community service is a wonderful thing. There are those who love to volunteer for various causes, and there are those who are ordered to provide community service by the order of a judge. ALL forms of volunteerism is appreciated, but those who have volunteered while also serving our country is extra special to me.Yesterday, Sunday April 12th, we enjoyed a pancake breakfast at The Minot Rural Fire Department. Many of those whom were there to service the pancakes were local volunteers.The Minot Air Force Base is huge on promoting volunteerism. I know that base personnel are required to help anyone who is stalled on the side of the road. The biggest and best example I can give you is when a fourth of the homes in Minot were affected by the worst flood in it's history Military volunteers we... 04/13/2026

A warm welcome is a GREAT first impression. Often, when a soldier graduates from Boot Camp they are sent off to a base far from their home and the environment they are used to.We citizens of base communities like to think they will arrive here and be amazed at what a great place we have here and how wonderful we are as the people of their new home. Ha!In reality these 18 to 20 year old children are scared poop-less. "What new hell is this" may be closer to their actual thoughts. "Mommy" !The Minot community is trying to make that initial shock easier for the soldiers arriving to serve at the Minot Air Force Base with a new Military Welcome Center at the Minot Municipal Air Port.It's a small gesture but hopefully it will help the young men and women be a little more at ease with their ne... 04/04/2026

This post is written due to what I consider a personal breach of trust from a service provider. It is NOT directly Real Estate related yet many principals may apply to Real estate professionals. In addition to my personal story I have included responses from Gemini to my questions to it. The subject of my story is personal finance and investing. I was introduced to the stock market at the tender age of 9 years old. I was fascinated by it and started reading both the New York Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange in our daily newspaper (The Fargo Forum). My father had a close friend who worked for Piper, Jaffray, and Hopwood. Dad always made sure his friend had funds available that “Cliff” could use if he knew of a good trade to go for. Cliff made a lot of money for dad and I’m ... 04/02/2026

When the bakery originally opened about 15 years ago they were called The Candy Bouquet. Over the years they evolved into a luncheon and renamed themselves Cookies For You. They are a wonderful place to sit downtown and enjoy coffee, a cookie, or a simple lunch. There is nothing outstanding about their ambience or service so just stop in and focus on having a good cookie. 03/21/2026

  North Dakota's largest instrumentally recorded earthquake occurred on July 8, 1968, with a magnitude of 4.4. The tremor’s epicenter was located near Huff, North Dakota, causing coffee to spill, windows to rattle, and creaking in wood frame houses across central North Dakota. The 1968 quake was located a few miles southwest of Huff, ND, southeast of Bismarck ND.Significance: It is recognized as the only tremor with an instrumentally verified epicenter within the state, according to the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources.Perhaps the most widely felt earthquake in North Dakota was a May 15, 1909 shock that rocked the northern Great Plains at about 9 p.m. That tremor had an epicenter near Avonlea, Saskatchewan, near the Montana-North Dakota-Saskatchewan border. It broke dishes ... 03/19/2026

During the infancy of the internet I tried to trace my genealogy only the get frustrated enough to give up. My father had no clue aside of his mom, dad, brother and most likely his grandparents. Our family reunions consisted of 9 people. Our family and my uncle's wife and child. I was hoping to go back to Adam and Eve. It would also be cool to see if I am in the family of Christ (Yes I know I have been grafted in due to my faith in Christ as my Lord and Savior).I do remember as a child people would stop by my parents' home claiming to be related but my father didn't have a clue as to if they were are not. My dad was always polite and listened but I don't remember a single case where dad said "We just might be related".When I moved to Minot North Dakota there was a promenade Timm family ... 03/14/2026

There are many things I like about winter BUT as it goes on and on, Spring fever sets in. We have had a warm February (for North Dakota) but not so warm that it made me think "Ah, Spring has sprung". I know full well that Spring will not arrive here until late April.This past Thursday, March 5th, we had a beautiful, light snowfall with no wind. Here are a couple of pics I just had to take and share.At the age of 72 I no longer "hope" for an early Spring, it will get here when it get's here and even once it arrives Winter weather will slap it around once or twice. 03/06/2026

Timmothy's cartoon for today's Northern Sentry (the Minot Air Force Base newspaper) highlights an article by Nataly Zarrella.   The pictures above, clockwise, are Natalie at the State Fair, The Lofts photographed with the Northern Lights behind them, and a map of ND with Pembina County in red. The Lofts are located in Walhalla ND which is in the NW corner of the county.The Lofts are open year around and are pet friendly. The cabins offer an elevated view with direct access to the Frost Fire Ski Resort. To read Natalie's article click here. I had not heard of this beautiful getaway until Timmothy's cartoon lead me to the article. I had been to Walhalla in the past but it was long before these beautiful luxury cabins were built. I do remember the beauty of the area and that I was surprise... 02/27/2026