Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Here's looking at you, folks!

Jess and Chris took a liking to local Twin Cities java brewer Dunn Bros. Coffee when they came to visit Poppina and me a couple of weeks back. Indeed, for my d'day the Hoytdulases gifted me with a 1/2 gallon "growler" of Black Infinity cold-press. And is it ever tasty!

When you drink as much of this stuff as some of us do (!), you're entitled to a Dunn Bros. loyalty glass, pictured above. So, here's to you, and have a happy java day.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Uncle Cubby Hunts + Pecks.


Brother Charlie "Cubby" Hoyt celebrates his 60th birthday soon. And as an early b'day gift, he admires this very cool laptop from Compaq that brother Joe Hoyt drove up to Delray Beach from Coral Gables to present to The Cub.

You've come to know Joe well on this blog. And you'll continue to read of his exploits. As Charlie reports on developments in his life, we'll post them as well.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Very Bright College Years!


Our dear buddy Margot Butler snapped this beaut yesterday up in New Haven, CT. The boys and their wives had gathered from all over the world to celebrate the 45th Reunion of the esteemed and distinguished Yale Class of 1965.

In the foto, boys first: Jim Butler (Margot's hubby), John Schenck, Steve "Grumbo Fjellman ,and Earl Potter. The lady on the end is Earl's wife I believe.

I'm sitting this reunion out back in Long Lake. Jason is home with us to visit and I've been called up on jury duty. But I'm tuning up my pipes to sing Bright College Years at our 50th in 2015. More on all that in due time.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Chris Hoyt: Urban Garden Entrepreneur.

Join me in reading this inspiring piece that ran in today's Birmingham, AL news. It's about my brother Chris Hoyt and an urban gardening initiative his company has undertaken.

Dunn Real Estate, a Birmingham developer where Chris is a senior exec, turned unsold property into "an urban construction garden" by planting vegetables and fruit on the property. Hoyt and other Dunn employees have planted apple trees, blueberries, pumpkins, corn and tomatoes at the site. They plan to partner with nonprofit organizations and community food execs like L'Tryce Slade, in the foto with Chris, that are willing to cultivate gardens in return for vegetables and fruit, grown without pesticides and other chemicals.

"By using this unsold land for vegetable production," says Chris, "we'll assist local food shelters in this very difficult recession."

Slade said she hopes the concept of a construction garden on unused property catches on in the Birmingham area. The Dunn project was appealing to her, she said, because her late grandfather, George Washington Slade, once owned land in North Carolina that produced cotton, soybeans and tobacco.


Poppina's Poppin' Pink Poppy.


This, dear readers, is growing in the garden on the west side of the garage. I call it Poppina's Poppin' Pink Poppy. If you were looking over my shoulder just now as I type these words on my iBook, you'd see that I've made it my screensaver. Some kind of Spring we're having in Long Lake!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Piloto on Blue Ridge Parkway


Son-in-law Charlie Wustman is on a Harley Holiday! He sent this snap in by iPhone today, three hundred miles into a dreamy cruise along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Way to go, Piloto. Keep the shiny side up!

Hoyts in England.


Joe and Nancy just got back from two weeks in England. They went to Coventry, where Joe presented a talk on his book, "Afghanistan: Images from an Era of Peace." That adventure included an interview with the BBC!

Then on to the "Home of the World's Biggest Liar Contest," where the intrepid travelers are pictured, above.

And finally a few days in London before heading home to Miami. Jolly Good visit, eh?

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Grandma B joins Pina + Me for Lunch.

We just imagined that Grand-ma B was going to be our guest for lunch at Sunset's in Wayzata.

But when the check came, guess who wasted no time reaching for the tab, looking the server in the eye, and saying: "Miss, I'll take care care of this."

Some lady, this Grandma B. She's Jason's grandmother, and Pina's former mother-in-law, and a remarkable, lovely, nonagenarian pal of mine.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

NAMG ALUMNI COFFEE BREAK.


NAMG ALUMNI COFFEE BREAK.

Allison Tsatsos, ex-promo and events whiz at North American Media Group, joined Jim Jowett, former ad sales whiz at Handy Magazine (published by NAMG) and me for java at Dunn Bros. in Plymouth, MN. We got caught up on personal, family, career and travel news, remembered the good old days with great affection.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Contacting Senator Al.

Al Franken is the "Junior Senator" from Minnesota. Amy Klobuchar is his legislative partner and she, as he, serves us with such distinction, diligence, and devotion in D.C. This evening, with info from the League of Women Voters in hand, we e-mailed both Al and Amy about the DISCLOSE Act.

Isn't it remarkable how easily constituents can connect with their representatives? I'm thinkin' that the senate staffers read our communiques, brief their bosses, and keep tabs on what we back home care most about. Thank you!


Thursday, May 6, 2010

Sunny Winter Day Pick-Up.

Boulder artist James Terman has been at it again. This time it's an oil color one-off pickup truck on a sunny winter day.

James is a prolific artist, as I've reported here before. I'd bet I own the largest private collection of Termans, anywhere. Most are cars, trucks, scooters, and baseball players -- James's favorite subjects.

My home office walls are fairly bursting with his work.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Pierce's Desert Creations.

Spring is bustin' out all over Maricpoa County! As proof, Pierce just sent us this foto of a gorgeous desert cactus flower in soon-to-be-full-bloom.

This flower is as rare as it is stunning. Pina says that Pierce has raised the plant since it was about 6" tall. The cactus pad is an exceptional example of the genus.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Joedy's Afghan Bus Adventure, ca 1972.


The turbaned, rugged Pashtun traveler boarded the bus I was on via a ladder positioned near the rear door. He came to the front where I sat and slammed me with his right hip and knocked me from my seat. I hit the deck, dazed and confused. Paying no respect to his size, I did much the same to the traveler with my left hip! My adversary turned to me and with a creaking guttural sound coming from the depth of his jaw he drew his index finger across his throat and turned to face the road to come.

“What have I done?” I was in fact chilled to the bone with --- fear? Yep. I quickly calculated that this man could – and would – kill me for assaulting his pride, manhood, place in society – I was a skinny hippie kid far from any town, road or source of safe haven. In short, I was toast. I sat my ground, scared, but trying to enjoy the scenery. Time and miles passed. As suddenly as the bus had stopped to welcome this man, aboard, it stopped and this force of nature disembarked, and shuffled off westward into the desert.


Thursday, April 22, 2010

Come See Mike at Plymouth Dunn Bros.

I'm thinking the best coffee in the 'Cities is con-sistently served at Dunn Bros.

Strong brew, great service, fun shop owners who know your name, and a rewards program that pays back with a freebie after $25 spent at any branch store.

Doing the customer-wave today is Mike, one of the star franchisees in the system. I paid a visit to his store in Plymouth, MN today to get an iced skim latte. Come see Mike when you're hankering for some joe. Tell him that Poppy sent you

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

New Long Haul Trucker on its Way..

I'm gonna get me one of these Long Haul Truck-ers.

And I'll try out the drops and bar-end shifters before I decide on the moustache bars.

I demoed one at Tonka Cycle and Ski. Steve opened up the store early for me. I love the way the LHT rides, the feel of the bike, the vibe, the whole deal.

How many product reviews does a guy need to read before he says: "ah, yes, this is the one."