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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services is located at 201 Main Street South, Suite 100, Minot North Dakota. If you can not get to us we will come to you if you are with-in Minot's City Limits ($20.00 travel fee).
Cell: (701) 720-8513
Office: (701) 720-8513
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All About North Dakota Real Estate

By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
One positive thing about North Dakota winters is that it usually ends road construction. It probably doesn't count as a little thing but now that the 2025 road construction season is over I'll call it a little thing. When you live in a climate like ours the street department must get a whole years worth of road repair done in six months. There are usually so many projects going on at once it's hard to find an unaffected route to your destination.This past year we had several large projects on key streets in town. The biggest one made it a challenge to get in and out of Menards. There should be a law against that! They have announced a couple of projects for 2026 and as far as I know only one will inconvenience me personally. My tune may change once I receive the bike I ordered for Chris...
Comments 9
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
They have been predicting this snowfall for 3 days... which is why I figured it would not happen. Chalk one up for the local weather guessers, they got one right. I love the way the falling snowflakes light up with the flash. Here are a few more.It currently is about 27 degrees out so this snow may stay or it may melt away. If it stays it will be compacted by many more snows on top of it and it will sit there on the bottom until April.This is an extra post for me today so if you are looking for Timmothy Timm's comic strip, Titus & Philemon it's coming. I was set back an hour due to the need to shovel at home earlier this morning.
Comments 8
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
Philemon asks some good questions. My answer to him would be because it tastes good. Here is some info on Breadsmith Sourdough Bread available at Sam's Club for $6.79So AI what is the history of Sourdough Bread?Hmm, so this bread is 4,025 years old? I'd think you could chip a tooth on it. 🤪
Comments 5
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
This message is short and NOT sweet.I used this same cartoon just two weeks ago for a message to have your pets "chipped" but today's message is Think Before You Give An Animal As A Gift!NEVER Surprise someone with a pet as a gift!The animal shelter is FULL (in fact overflowing) with such unwanted gifts. You are damning a living being to a horrible existence if the recipient of your "gift" doesn't want that animal, or is even allergic to it.Many shelters KILL the animals stored there if not claimed in a relatively short period of time. The Souris River Animal Shelter in Minot ND is such a shelter. Again, if your gift of a living being is unwanted you have just condemned a being, created by God, to death.Ending on a pleasant thought: If you know someone whats a pet let them pick one out ...
Comments 8
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
I don't care where you live in the United States of America everyone gets cold from time to time. I remember a holiday vacation in Florida one January and the morning temp was around forty... I saw people dressed as we do in North Dakota when it's 30 degrees below zero. I was wearing shorts and tank top. Today, finding appropriate clothing is easy, just do a search for "clothing for sub zero environments" and all kinds of vendors come up to offer you warmth. The screen shot above is from Amazon but if you prefer to shop in person check out Scheels in a mall near you.The proper underwear makes a huge difference in keeping warm in environments where the mercury dips below freezing and even as cold as 30 degrees below zero.Prior to today's clothing technology winter underwear was made of t...
Comments 10
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
A lament of the change of seasons in poetic form.Personally my feelings run pretty close to Titus the guinea pigs lament. We have already had our first snowfall but it came and went and we reverted back to brown and of course bare trees.One thing that first snow showed me was that Timmothy and I deserve a pat on the back for our preparation for the winter months. The two things we missed were we forgot to put a garden hose away and I still had an automotive battery in the garage that needed to come in. If you live down South you may not be aware that a battery that is in storage (as opposed to one in use in a vehicle) will freeze solid. When this happens the case will actually crack and the acid will leak out. A second note about the acid core type of batteries. If set on cement in stor...
Comments 8
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
We have certainly moved into cold season here in Minot ND as we just went through a couple of days with the daily high NOT reaching freezing.Colds may be the cause of the sneezes or it could also be indoor allergens. Either way one should cover their sneezes, which no one does in the little videos above.I'm not qualified to give medical advice but I will tell you that when I think a cold is coming on I double my intake of vitamin C and I also break out the zinc.Also speaking from personal experience it is my observation that genetics play a part in everyday health. While it seems I catch every/any cold that comes around my bride (Carol) has maybe been down with a cold 1 day in the last 28 years.My advice as a non-medical professional is that if you moved here from a warmer climate (ther...
Comments 6
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
Yesterday was the Downtown Halloween Trick or Treat for little children. I saw a costume or two that I wasn't ready for. How about a 3' tall Gene Simmons (life size head of Gene with a extra long tongue hanging down).You can't get much scarier than that.Here is my try. It took me a full 10 minutes to put it together.A cover band that I have exposed you to before, Broken Peach, just released their Halloween song for 2025. It's more fun to watch than to listen to.You may want to turn the sound down or off on this one.  
Comments 7
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
My exaggerated answer to Titus is: "just stand still, everything will fly by you in the frenzy of the other shoppers". 🙄The Ugly Box Store of Minot has never advertised, it doesn't need to, word of mouth keeps this store busier everyday than Target is on Christmas Eve.What is The Uglee Box Store? First let me clarify the picture above only represents about 5% of the stores square footage. What you do see is only a small portion of the bins in the store. Why is it a madhouse (although the picture above is at a relatively calm time. Check out these prices...No matter which day you go it's crazy. I go on Wednesday when everything is a dollar and I go on Friday when all the new stuff gets put out. What can you get for a dollar? This last Wednesday I got a new pair of shoes, a box with four ...
Comments 10
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
I will admit that I get sad thinking about winter being right around the corner BUT once winter is here it really doesn't bother me... until maybe April if it's still hanging on.Winter is a time of solitude. It reminds me of Superman's hideout, it gives you space to think and contemplate.When we want companionship we just open a door and our families are there for us just like Timmothy's cartoon above.I credit the well know friendliness of North Dakota to our long winters. Come Spring we are all joyful to see others out and about. Of course life goes on as usual so we visit at church, at the bar (if you like), and at our occupations if we work outside of our homes. Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter gives us as much family contact as most of us want for a while.All that being said we ar...
Comments 5
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
If it were not for Timmothy's cartoon I would not have known about the change of hands of this business. The original owner/creator of the business has been a strong acquaintance for many years. Our relationship began when Valerie was the manager of a local thrift store.She had a dream of being her own boss and took the big step of leaving a comfortable job to pursue a dream.Val started out by purchasing most of the books in the thrift store and other thrift stores. She had nothing but used books. In time she got hooked up with book distributors and today used books account for 5% or less of her inventory.I can not imagine a better ownership then Valeries. She has been a big promotor of Downtown Minot and the writers in our community. You know one such writer,Timmothy, 6 years ago and t...
Comments 9
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
We didn't have any Super Sized veggies in our garden this year as we picked most anything that appeared to be getting big. There may have been a zucchini or two that got a little out of hand but nothing like Joe's carrot above.The best we did was one nice sized pumpkin. 13" X 35"                   We don't eat pumpkins but we like them as Fall decor or to carve as Halloween decorations.Here, in North Dakota, this is a good time of year to till a spot for a garden to be planted in the Spring. Our growing season is (in general) mid May and it's pretty much over by mid September. This year has been an exception in a positive way.If you wait until next spring you may miss out of a week or two of the growing season. You may have heard of the "Frost" in the ground. This is exemplified by the ...
Comments 11
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
I remember back five decades ago and even further that our High School required Seniors who were enrolled in a science class had to collect leaves (every other year it was insects). Leaves or bugs... I'm glad I did not have a science class my senior year. My brothers and sister all did leaf collections. I found it interesting but again, I'm glad I did not have to participate. I believe my oldest brother did both for extra credit.This time of year I have always enjoyed looking at the foliage in Roosevelt Park. Not this year! Regretfully, due to a flood control project and the simultaneous expansion of The Roosevelt Park Zoo there is NO admittance to the area we love walking and biking through. Thus I will just appreciate my own backyard.The grapevine in our backyard is my favorite.We did...
Comments 7
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
Progress is being made on North Dakota's Military Museum. The site is currently being prepared on the Capitol Grounds in Bismarck ND. The ND State Legislature has approved $39,000,00 in seed money and an additional $78 million will be needed to reach the projected goal to get the museum open in 2027.The men of North Dakota have a rich and diverse military history. It will be nice to honor all those North Dakotans who have served with this new museum.On a personal note I believe that every generation of the Timm family has had at least one member in the military. Most recently, my daughter served in the Air Force for 6 years. My dad served in the Coast Guard during WWII ( a scrawny boy who had to drink several malts to make the weight minimum). A fun note: North Dakota had a Coast Guard ...
Comments 10
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
Music students in the area have the opportunity to attend/participate in a music camp, annually, at the International Peace Gardens. What a beautiful site to study at!The International Peace gardens is located half in North Dakota and half in Canada. The flowerbeds are massive and could keep Roy Kelley and his camera busy for a full summer. The International Peace Garden also has a tribute area to the 911 assault on our nation, complete with some of the girders from the Twin Towers.The International Peace Gardens is a very beautiful place to visit. As far as I know you do NOT need a passport to visit either/both sides of the Gardens.The International Peace Gardens are only 100 miles from Minot ND so stop in and say hi to Timmothy and I.  
Comments 8
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
A challenge has been posted and accepted: ActiveRain Tuesday Zoom Challenge! By Debe Maxwell, CRS In regards to last Tuesdays Zoom call, featuring me 😉, I have to say that I learned as much as anyone on the call thanks to some excellent questions. I also realized I forgot to mention a very important software that is/was very critical to making my past podcasting come across as smooth.That software is made by Leapic and is called Audio Editor 4.0. I originally downloaded it via MajorGeeks.com and at this time I could not find a direct link. You can find it on several "free" software sites, just be careful you don't download any crap with it. Another good "free" program is CapCut. Regretfully I do not remember any tutorials for either of them and just looking at the operating screen is a ...
Comments 19
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
A beautiful apple may cause the same reaction in me as it did to Philemon however I'd probably photograph it first. There certainly is a lot of beauty around us to photograph today with all the Fall colors (but as mentioned in yesterday's post "don't eat the leaves").This short video was shot yesterday in Minot's Scandinavian Heritage Park. It was shot around 6PM and the temp was still around 80 degrees. Soon the water pump will be turned off allowing the pond to be drained and of course the man-made waterfall will stop feeding the little creek that consequently feeds the two ponds in the park.While most of the trees in the park are pines you can still see a few trees changing colors.
Comments 9
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
Fall, eat it up... but not the leaves. Just for the fact that Fall leads to Winter I've always hated Fall. That attitude has been waning over the last few years as my eyes have been focusing more on the beauty of Fall and my appreciation that it is Fall and NOT Winter. This Fall has been exceptional as it's still in the 80's (as of October 2nd). Typically the trees downtown have lost their leaves and the decorative planters have been removed by now but here is a picture I took less than 10 minutes ago. September was the 7th warmest of all time for Minot ND and believe me, I appreciate it. I am still aware that Winter could strike any given hour but until it does I'll seize the day.
Comments 8
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
Just up the block from my home is a beautiful open area that is perfect for kite flying as long as the predominant wind is out of the West (North or South doesn't matter).I wish I would have stopped and visited but my Bride had a mission: get groceries at Walmart.When we first drove by there was only one up in the air at the time. I'd like to know how many ended up flying for this "Kite Fest". I did notice that there were just as many women holding the strings as there were men. This picture also explains why a Easterly wind would be a disaster.Prior to seeing these kites I heard something directly over my head as I stood in my front yard.I usually see the Applebees balloon once or twice a year. It's always a welcome site and someday I'll take a ride in it (I have two friends that cook ...
Comments 10
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
First of all I am keeping my promise to show you more of Citizens Alley. Timmothy and I made a special trip over there and I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of work put into the project. Citizens alley is connected to several businesses and on it's own it has a free movie area, splash pad, food vendors and more.Now on to a new subject. I got woke up last night (aprox 11:30 PM) by a loud crash. A police officer in hot pursuit lost control of his squad car and hit a street signal with unbelievable force. Check out these pictures (I did not see the patrol car.One last topic.Is this art?Corbett Field, a historic baseball park, contracted an artist to "beautify" the 12' fence surrounding the park.Isn't that MINOT made out of giant Popsicle sticks special (like a first grader couldn't ...
Comments 11
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
At this time Citizens Alley is only open to humans and certified service animals (You MUST have a State Certification on you to bring in an animal). Citizens Alley is privately owned yet open to the public. Visit their website for detailed information. The schedule for this weekend is:Citizens Alley is truly an alley. It is an area between two old buildings on Central Avenue, downtown Minot ND. The two buildings were purchased by an architect and although very old they have been reborn into new businesses. It is a very attractive setting yet I found only one good picture on the web. I will try to head over there and take a few shots for you.    
Comments 5
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