Far Side of Fifty

Found: FBC

2012-01-27T06:02:00.000-06:00

I found my FBC. Do you have one?

In the olden days you might have used it. It might have been on your table and never moved off until it had to be washed and refilled.

Give up? Need a different view?

A French Butter Chest dates back to the 18th Century. It was a way to keep your butter from becoming rancid. The inner cup holds 1/4 pound of butter. You put enough water in the larger outer cup so that it is 3/4 full. Invert the butter filled inner cup into the water filled outer cup. The unglazed inner cup will hold the butter in place whilst upside down. You add more water as the butter is used..and change the water weekly. A marvelous way to store butter before refrigeration!

My French Butter Chest was a gift from my Baby brother and his wife a long time ago..they must have been thinking of me and how I like quirky gifts.

I found this in the back of a cupboard yesterday..I can report that all the cupboards have been rooted out and everything inside washed and disinfected. I must wash the exterior of the last bank of cabinets..and then I am done. The end is in sight! :)

Blue Alligators and other stuff

2012-01-26T06:05:00.000-06:00

You know you live in Minnesota when you stop to photograph blue alligators in the winter.

Someone has a sense of humor.

I took these photos yesterday..we still don’t have very much snow by Minnesota standards.

My kitchen cleaning was interrupted yesterday by Dentist appointments. “Look Mom no cavities!!” Far Guy did not fare as well..he needs to have a troublesome tooth pulled. We have a Dentist in a further away town so it takes all afternoon by the time we both get our teeth cleaned and have our checkups. We both like the same hygienist..so we schedule our appointments back to back. Then we go over to the bakery and buy some Finnish Flat Bread and an Apple Fritter to gunk up our oh so clean teeth.

One of our daughters wanted to know what was taking so long in the kitchen? She asked her Father “What is she using a toothbrush?” The answer is yes, sometimes and Q Tips and sometimes a tooth pick. There is nothing being done half a$$ed in that kitchen this winter. Beside that if I am in there half the day..Far Guy cooks..cause he feels guilty.

I scoured the oven racks whilst the oven was cleaning itself..and the fridge got moved out and cleaned. Not much left..one more day maybe two and I might have it complete.

My other projects are coming along as well..entries from Grandmas 1912 diary, entries into the Cousins Cookbook and Photo Cards are being made and Newsletter Articles are being written. One by one things are crossed off my January list:)

Wistful Wednesday: Solitaire

2012-01-25T06:03:00.000-06:00

Far Guy’s Dad played Solitaire all winter long. I often wonder what he would have done with a computer.

He marked the cards..he marked the aces with his thumb nail. He had special marks all over his personal deck of cards. He played Solitaire for hours…and he usually won.

He got his coffee and settled into his chair, he played on one of those fancy tri fold table protectors that graced the dining room table on days when dinner was served in there. The linen tablecloths were never put on the table until the table protectors were in place. They made a excellent temporary tabletop for endless games of Solitaire in the winter.

Here he is in his spot. The lampshade still has the plastic shield. No doubt because he was a Tiparillo/ Pipe Smoker. He didn’t smoke while he was playing cards.

This photo must have been taken right around 1965. It is a Polaroid snapshot. He always wore flannel shirts in the winter, every shirt must have pockets..room for Tiparillos and Pipe Tobacco…and a pen. He was a connoisseur of GOOD pens. Only the finest pen made it’s way into his front pocket. No regular Bic pens for him.

He liked to play cards. We would often play 31 for nickels or Whist. If we played Whist we learned to play opposite couples..because he could remember every card played. If he was partnered with Far Guy’s Mom..she would be visiting away and forget all about the cards..she would miss a play.. he would tell her and she would cry..so I was a much better card partner for him.. because I did not cry easily over cards:)

The Butterflies Are Free!

2012-01-24T06:03:00.000-06:00

I had butterflies until I began to speak..then they flew away one by one.

Unknown Butterfly Summer of 2010

The event where I was the featured speaker went okay. I was greeted warmly by almost everyone I met..I did not know a soul there. I enjoyed their potluck lunch and the pre-speaker music, which was a very talented older lady who played guitar and sang hymns. I am not so sure I like a microphone..it seems so cold..but this group was older than most so I guess it was to help their hearing. Ehh! Why didn’t they just turn up their hearing aids? ( I tried desperately not to envision them all as naked old people with those antique ** ear trumpets held up to their ears.)

Not one of them had a question? Really? Were they shy? Tongue tied? Perhaps I was too long winded, and they just wanted to get it all over with. ( I couldn’t blame them..I wanted it to be over with also.)

Several people approached me before I left to chat and share an old story or two. One person had a complaint about the Museum..I apologized graciously even though the incident happened well before I became the director. I am not going to argue with anyone..least of all cranky old women who feel that someone stomped on their toes. I can try to mend fences gently…I can be patient and understanding some times.

Small towns..full of “he said she said”…I came home and had a two hour nap. I was exhausted.

I am under contract until April 30. My new contract has not been negotiated yet.

The Butterflies are free..larvae is extra:)

Monarch Butterfly Larvae

**Ear trumpets were cone shaped, the small end fit into your ear..the cone was supposed to catch the sound waves and deliver them to your ear. Often times people yelled into the trumpets..

Dish Hoarder

2012-01-23T06:04:00.000-06:00

I admit it..I have a dish problem. I like dishes..I have a hard time resisting them…I think some of them are calling my name at garage sales.

I have a drawer full of old dishes..I got this set for Christmas back in about 1983. Every year they become older..I rarely use them..sometimes the soup bowls if we have lots of people for supper.

This is what the dish drawer looks like normally..the salsa dish was a gift from Riley after we took care of him ( he is a Sheltie that lives on the lake).. I am not sure where the cookie plate came from..most likely Jo..it is a pretty wildlife plate and I use it for cookies. The tin blue creamers can be used as cups for little kids. I am still looking for a cover for the clear butter dish.. and I like my glass measuring cup.

I love all my drawers..nothing better than drawers. They are heavy duty.. Far Guy built all the kitchen drawers and cabinets for me..and I helped.

The flannel valence is up..looks warmer to me.

The dusty dishes are no longer dusty.

Having open shelves in the kitchen is sometimes a pain. I have more sets of dishes there..a tin set, a set of Fiesta, a set of Cobalt Blue Avon dishes most likely collectable too..and a set of Loon dishes Thanks goodness all these sets are just place settings for four!

I took lots of photos in the kitchen, after the drawers were clean I photographed the contents.

I have several more sets ..a set of China for 20..when will I ever have 20 people in for dinner? And many sets of real antique dishes that are packed away in boxes. I am fairly certain I am a dish hoarder..what do you think?

I am still in the kitchen..slaving away..onward and forward to another bank of drawers and cabinets. I am happy to have two thirds of the kitchen completely done. I have eight more days until lollygagging can continue:)

Butterflies

2012-01-22T06:02:00.000-06:00

I am a featured speaker at a number of events over the winter. Some are big events and some are small events. I hope I can inspire some new membership, new donations and new volunteers. I am so not a wonderful public speaker..I don’t enjoy it..I like groups of twenty to thirty people..not hundreds..but I will do what I have to do. I guess it comes with the territory.

I will resurrect the makeup and get all dolled up and dressed all proper before noon and put a smile on my face to have lunch with total strangers..gosh I hope I know someone there..one friendly face can make a difference. After lunch I am suppose to talk for at least 45 minutes..uffda..maybe 20 minutes..and then a question answer session for 25 minutes. I hope no one falls asleep.

I am a little bummed out. My counterpart that worked upstairs for the Art Museum will not be returning. Kelly all dressed up everyday in her high heels with her hair just perfect is going to spend the summer with her family..I don’t blame her..but I will miss her. I am a tad on edge wondering who will take her place.

In the meantime I have to come up with some kind of presentation to give this next week..I suppose I should work on it..so the butterflies don’t get the best of me.

Painted Lady Butterfly on Zinnia Profusion Cherry last Fall.

Just like this butterfly flitted from flower to flower getting the best nectar. I have to touch on all the best parts of the Historical Museum:)

Hopscotch

2012-01-21T06:03:00.000-06:00

I absolutely loved playing hopscotch as a child..all you needed was a stick to draw the hopscotch squares and a rock to use as a marker. I played many a game of hopscotch with Kathy who was a neighbor gal whose Mom used to take care of my baby brother and I while Mom was at work at the Boat Factory.

I suppose it was a girls game, you could play it whilst wearing a dress..as long as you were careful bending over to pick up your rock on the way back.

Times have changed..now we have sidewalk chalk. In town there is hardly any dirt left to scratch around in.

Jo made the squares last summer at the Grand Re -Opening of Main Street. There was some discussion about numbering the squares amongst the older ladies. When I got there I added the numbers..because I have never played hopscotch without the numbers in the squares. Jo said she hadn’t either..and the older ladies didn’t say a word.

I am thinking that I would like to have a permanent hopscotch course on one of the sidewalks that lead up to the Historical Museum. Colorful squares with numbers and perhaps some old timey objects..a top, a doll, a train…you get the idea. Something that would catch a youngsters eye and bring back a memory for the oldsters.

I suppose I have to get permission for the project from the Country Commissioners, then approval from the Historical Society Board, then get a donation for the paint..and then find an artist to paint it. My one little project is no longer an easy one.. In the meantime I have lots of sidewalk chalk that I can use up.

I have lots of little projects swirling around in my head. The ground work is being laid this winter…some will work out and come to fruition and others will die a sloooow death:)

How many degrees below zero?

2012-01-20T06:02:00.000-06:00

How many degrees below zero before something important freezes off? Like your nose, your ears or your butt?

I sleep real well during cold weather..it is the grumpy old bear part of me that wants to hibernate.

Yesterday morning near 4 AM we were –25 degrees F..that would be – 31C. Some people said they had –31F or –35C..but they may be part of the “Well we were way colder than you and proud of it” crowd.

How do I manage..I stay inside! Far Guy and Chance walked to the mail box..Chance lifted up one of his paws a few times..but then pressed on with their mission.

We made sure that the birds were well fed, the Downy Woodpeckers are making short work of the suet ball that we hung in the tree for them.

Downy Woodpecker

I am still holed up in the kitchen..I got some walls washed..some shelves and clutter washed and I changed the valence.. to a flannel one..perhaps it will make the room seem warmer. I am moving at a snails pace..oh well..11 more days till lollygagging resumes:)

Nerve Center

2012-01-19T06:04:00.000-06:00

I have always hated phone books especially after they got rid of the small local area ones and replaced them with huge five inch things that weigh five pounds. I just want a few local numbers. I just call the same people all the time anyway..and no I do not have them programed into the phone. I have them up on the “Nerve Center” ..stuff is stored there until it is thrown away, paid or otherwise dealt with. The only thing that stays is the note card list of phone numbers, cell phone numbers and the list of when the magazine subscriptions were paid for. The sleazy magazine people will try and get you to renew your subscription a year in advance if you let them..I have one that says they have me on automatic renewal..well I said “Listen Buster..I have news for you..I write the checks and you are not getting one with that kind of automatic attitude.”

The Nerve Center was getting too small..actually it has been too small for a long time. Off we went looking for a larger cork board to make my life more organized. Well good luck with that one..I found only a couple of sizes..the one I had and another one that was the size of a billboard. I decide that I could live with the one I had..it might just need new cork. So we bought a package of cork squares.

On the way home as we pulled into the garage I noticed an old bulletin board that I had used for the greenhouse..it might just be the perfect size. It barely fit between the phone and the landing. I could use what cork I had and run to town and get more if I needed it.

I was impatient..it was cold outside..below zero..yuck.

We had to move that clock..one of the hazards of having wood walls is footprints on the walls when you move something..it will fade in time. I glued and double stick taped the new cork tiles in place. I found some scrapbook loony paper to fill in for cork at the bottom. I used lots of push pins to help hold everything in place. Fancy Smancy new wooden ones, and I even found my little bug pushpins from the greenhouse! Ta da..

Use what you have and make it better instead of buying new.

This will work for now..I have visions of a cabinet with two doors with loons on the front..when you open the doors..you are in the nerve center..shh..no one tell Far Guy but I may put it on list for him to build next summer.

I am still working on my list for another 12 days. The cubbies under the step have been completed..and the dining room is all done..except for the glass thingy's on the light fixture..the days are dark and dreary and I don’t want to wash them when they are hot.

Onward and forward into the kitchen..it is way below zero here..very cold. Good time for me to stay holed up in the kitchen:)

Wistful Wednesday: 1950

2012-01-18T06:03:00.000-06:00

This photo was taken in December of 1950.

Uncle Jim or Auntie Esther took this photo, it was taken at their house in Grand Forks North Dakota sometime in December of 1950. Far Guy was not yet a year old and his sister was five.

Far Guy has the old tape on his shoes, the tape made your shoes less slippery on wood floors. He was about 10 months old and most likely had started running.

He was a handful and I know I have told you before that his Mother had a harness that she made him wear when he was outside by himself. She clipped the harness to a rope attached to the clothes line. He would hide in the Lilac bushes to unhook himself, go to the neighbors and play..and then come back and hook himself up again. When his Mother was still alive, she was aghast at the escapades he told her about.

Last week in the grocery store Far Guy saw a little girl that was attached to her mother by one of those leashes that goes from one arm to another. The little girl was not very happy. Her sisters were not leashed. I asked him if he talked to the Mom..he said no..but he would have liked to share with her that he wore a harness for many years.

Far Guys Mom looks tired in this photo..or maybe she had a cold..or maybe she had a drink..whenever she had a drink her nose would turn red.

This is one of the photos that Cousin Bonnie gave us last summer. It was one that we didn’t have. Luckily I knew some of the W’s..who, where, and when. I will have to guess at the why. Most likely they just went to visit for the weekend:)

Adam Smiles

2012-01-17T06:02:00.000-06:00

A long, long time ago getting your photograph taken was serious business. You made an appointment with the photographer and awaited the big day.

The men slicked back their hair and put on their best suit coat, the ladies fixed their hair and always wore their best dress. The photograph would be sent to relatives far away..often so that they could see how well you were doing in America.

In early photography, the exposure time was such that the people had to hold really still. Sometimes the photographer would place a wooden posing stand behind you to help you hold your pose. They never smiled because a smile could not be held for the 30 to 60 seconds that was required for an exposure. They also did not have access to dental care.

Photography years ago was boring, stiff and showed no personality. Having your photo taken was a very serious solemn occasion. After all your parents and possibly even your grandparents would be showing it off to all their friends.

My youngest smiling grandson Adam..these photos remain favorites of mine. Every time I look at them I smile, sometimes I laugh out loud. Adam smiles like no one else.

I took these photographs last fall, when Jen and I went through the photos..she was discouraged..then I began to laugh and so did she. I am so glad I did not delete the real smiley ones:)

Progress

2012-01-16T06:04:00.000-06:00

I made progress on the list. I had what seemed like a mountain of papers that needed to be recycled, shredded or burned. I recycled what I could but there was still half of a mountain. How does so much paper “stuff” pile up anyway? I shred junk mail as soon as it comes into the house..

Far Guy and Chance took over.

The wind was blowing..Chance hates the wind..the trees move and really scary twigs fall to the ground. He led Far Guy to the bedroom three times during the day..finally they had a nap. That must be Chances way of getting Far Guy to rest, either that or Chance wanted to watch TV.

I changed the flags, I have always loved this Cardinal..he makes me smile and is perfect for this time of year.

I got Christmas all put away. Everything fit back into the totes and the trunk.

I kept the red lights up on the grapevine wreath on the other side of the door..Valentines Day is coming up..I took down the Santa and added a Snowman..close enough.

Isn’t it marvelous how making a list will spur a person on! I have now made another list of all the things I need to purchase that will make my life easier and keep me organized.

Next I will be working on making some more cards. I make all my own cards..I have a number of people who get snail mail from me..not everyone is connected..not everyone sees the need for a computer. Some people just enjoy getting a card now and again too! I gave up purchasing cards after my favorite Hallmark store closed. I think my homemade ones are very special.

They and others like them are available at the Etsy shop that I share with Far Guy and our daughter Jen. It is called Far Side’s Attic and Woodshed. We need to get some more woodcarvings listed. It is on my list of things to do:)

January 15 2012

2012-01-15T06:01:00.000-06:00

I bet you have noticed that if I cannot come up with a title that I just use the date. I am so imaginative some days.

It is mid January and we finally got a little snow..not much, but enough to cover up the brown.

We went to town..this is what it looked like traveling behind a snowplow.

We followed him at a distance almost all the way to town. You can see that the snow does not cover the grass in the ditches yet. Even with this new snow of maybe an inch there isn’t enough snow for snowmobiling.

We can usually hear the snowmobiles at night out on the trail that goes by.. but not this year. The lake hasn’t been singing at night either..on real cold nights you can hear the lake moaning and groaning..it is quiet outside at night..only Bailey barking when she hears us open the door to take Chance out.

We had 8 hours and 54 minutes of daylight yesterday. On a day like yesterday when it is dark and dreary all day long..it seems shorter.

I finally made a list. I have been doing lots of “stuff” just not the “stuff” I should be doing. Hence the list. I put it up on the bulletin board..the first thing on the list is to put Christmas completely away..the second thing is to make note of new addresses on the Christmas Cards. I pass that on to Far Guy. I sort out all the Christmas Photos and I gather all the Christmas Letters after I have read them again and staple them all together like one huge book and file it away in a folder marked Christmas letters 2011. Not sure why..perhaps they will be interesting to someone someday… and I still have room for them in one file cabinet. I can hear our daughters say “Why in the world did Mother keep all this stuff?” So perhaps I am keeping the Christmas Letters just to irritate them someday.

I decided the list was necessary..I was having way too much fun lollygagging around doing what ever I felt like since Christmas. So I am going to stick to my list for the rest of January and then take all of February off and lollygag some more:)

One hundred years ago

2012-01-14T06:03:00.000-06:00

1912. Far Guys Grandmother Tracie was 16 1/2 years old. She kept a diary. I am in the process of transcribing the old diary so that it can be shared with relatives. It is the first part of a huge project. I wish I were a speedy typist instead of a slow but sure one.

I have found several things curious..so I had to look them up.

Feb 2: Went to school. Albert’s were here. Anna, Emma, Harry, Jim and I went to Literary up at Star Point and nearly froze coming home. To bed 12 o’clock.

Literary pertains to or of the nature of books and writing.

Grandma always wrote what time she went to bed. She also records the comings and goings of her 12 brothers and sisters. ( the Jim she speaks of became her husband. )

Feb 16: Went to school. Decorated the school house. Floyd and Fred G. came up. Emma, Jim and I went to Lyceum, the boys sang. Harry R. rode home with us. To bed at 1 o’clock. O’yes Fred took Hazel home.

I learned that The American Lyceum movement of the mid-nineteenth to early twentieth century was an early form of adult education. Lectures, dramatic performances, classes and debates were held in countless small towns. They provided a platform for the dissemination of culture and ideas.

Feb 25: Sunday, stayed at home all day. It stormed. I played Flinch in the eve. To bed at 8-30.

Flinch is a card game: Generation upon generation have enjoyed Flinch since it was first introduced in 1905. All you have to do to win is get rid of the 10 cards in your stockpile. You'll do this by playing them in numerical sequence--whenever possible--onto the play piles in the center of the table. Sounds simple, doesn't it' Or is it' ?

It is a wonderful experience to transcribe the monthly writings..sometimes I wish she would write more..the only food she speaks of is Popcorn and Ice Cream..so far anyway. She speaks of getting stuck in snowdrifts with her friends..and of an “old time blizzard” of washing and ironing and sewing a black skirt and sewing rags together for rag rugs, reading, going to school and taking music lessons. So very different from a young lady of the same age today.

Grandma is kneeling in this photo she is second from the left in the light colored dress. Her brother Fred is in this photo too..I think he is on the left. Aunt Emma..I think is the gal with the black beads seated on the right.

It is great background information for me to sift through. With my position at the Museum..the more I know about the past and how life was way back when..the more I will be able to share on museum tours. I am always up for learning and sharing:)

Friday the 13th

2012-01-13T06:02:00.000-06:00

What a week..nothing happened to us…but the world has come tumbling down around some of our friends. Cancer and Deaths seem to be running rampant here in Minnesota at the moment.

The latest was a phone call from my other baby brother. He told Far Guy that his Father in Law died. “She who sees robins first” is now an orphan. She went right from a younger generation to the older generation in one day. I believe her Dad was 96 years old or there about.

My Mom’s roommate from the Nursing Home who was approaching 104 died.. when you get that old most of your friends have passed on.

If you are in “the home” this time of year and get the flu your chances of survival are not real great.

Cancer sucks. A fellow down the lake succumbed to cancer..another fellow was moved into a hospice facility..another is beginning his hospice journey..he said “I will not get any better.” Soon there will be more widows for the “widows club.” I cannot even begin to imagine how helpless the wives must feel when cancer reaches out and grabs their loved ones.

Death and Taxes..that is about the only thing we can count on in this life.

Recently I was visiting with a few of my cousins ( Kathy and Geraldine), Aunt Anna and my Mom. Somehow we got on the subject of Funerals… I said “I am being cremated..because I don’t want anyone standing next to my casket saying..Gosh she looks good..OR my goodness she must have had a real tough time at the end.” My Aunt shared that she had an aversion to worms..at which time I sang “The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out.” We all laughed. I think you can laugh when it is your own death that you are talking about..other peoples deaths must be taken more seriously:)

The pretty picture is Echinacea ‘White Swan’.

Chance: Just Ducky!

2012-01-12T06:08:00.000-06:00

Hello! It is me Chance! The Border Collie you know and love.

Guess what I got for Christmas? I got two things.

Give up? The first thing is a work in progress..it is a bright orange life jacket especially for dogs.

Far Guy puts it on me in the kitchen and then has Far Side holler for me to come. So I do…reluctantly. The first time I had it on..I just laid down and pretended I couldn’t get back up..the darn thing has a handle and wouldn’t ya know it Far Side grabbed the handle and raised me right on up. The life jacket is to keep me from drowning when I go kayaking with Far Guy. It was another one of Far Sides fantabulous ideas.

My other present was a new duck!

I still have my old duck..Far Side says it is pathetic looking without legs.

I like them both..and sometimes I hide them down in the couch so no one else will play with them:)

Wistful Wednesday :1960

2012-01-11T06:04:00.000-06:00

This photo was taken December 26, 1960. The occasion..my other baby brother was two months old.

We were all watching the new TV..it was in the corner! My baby brother was practicing toy gun safety and pointing his gun away from everyone. I was nine, my Mom was 31, my other baby brother Jody was two months old, and my baby brother Carey was six.

The linoleum had been stripped off of the old kitchen floor..solid wood floors were underneath. The kitchen became the living room and a new kitchen was added on. We finally had a real bathroom indoors and a bath tub. That couch was brown and it had gold threads that ran through it.

I loved that pair of pants that my Mom sewed for me..they were patched and high waters ..but I loved them and wore them out. Mom must have made herself a pair too..except hers look like new. I have one of my other baby brothers toys. My baby brother has a pair of those muck-a- lucks on. You know the ones that are like knitted socks but they have a leather sole. They were great slippers to wear in the winter time..except they were usually made from wool..so they would make my hairy legs itch.

This is a photo that I have shown before on Wistful Wednesday.

Still watching the brand new TV set in the corner..it was a pretty big deal to finally have a TV.

My Mom sewed my Dad’s shirt..it was plaid and a couple of shades of Turquoise/Green. I remember because I had a dress out of the same material and my baby brother had a shirt that matched…somewhere I have a color picture:)

Let’s Play Hockey!!

2012-01-10T06:03:00.000-06:00

The grand girls are Hockey players.

First we attended Paige’s game..they won. Paige says that the Justin Bieber sticker on the back of her helmet brings her good luck. As soon as her game was over we headed to another arena. It was a busy weekend in Bemidji.

Maddie is on the left..Hockey photos are always a challenge because of the plexiglass.

Where oh where is Savannah??

She was in the penalty box..later she said “Grandma I didn’t do anything..it must have been someone else and I got blamed.”

Ya sure..she is one aggressive hockey player..she skates her heart out and takes ownership of the puck.

Savannah is on the left. Savannah and Maddie both play on the Junior Varsity team.

Girls Hockey is fun to watch. Watching these girls skate over the past five years has been a blast:)

Guitar Follow–Through

2012-01-09T06:02:00.000-06:00

Ah tweens..their moods are as variable as shifting sands in the desert. Hormones..gone whacky..causing some tweens to sleep and grow taller all at the same time.

Noah takes guitar lessons every week. He practices..he has been getting ready for “ a jam.” I suppose if it were a piano it would be called a recital..but it is a guitar so it is called a jam.

I went up to his room..knocked on the door and he let me in to watch him practice. He confided in me that he was real tired of playing the same piece of music over and over. He got his full set of braces last Thursday. His mouth is sore..he is tired..he had strep throat last week too..I told his Mother that I think he may have mono.

The show must go on.

I hoped he would be number two or three or five..but he ended up being tenth. Way too much time to think.

Noah did great..he played Sweet Child o’ Mine..a piece that I had never heard before…something from the 1980’s. The old guys on stage did a marvelous job accompanying all the students as they played…most of the music was from the 1950’s and 1960’s.

I was very proud of Noah. He followed through..and even smiled a couple of times during his performance.

I was proud also of his parents for not caving in..they were supportive and encouraging and firm.

I could never have done anything like that when I was twelve. I was way too shy. So Rock On Noah! :)

Snowy Gardens

2012-01-08T06:07:00.000-06:00

We have very little snow.

Hardly enough moisture to make the wild gardens look good if and when they grow again next spring.

Perhaps the flowers of June will be only a memory.

Veronica ‘Blue Bouquet’ spreads like a blanket of water through the gardens. The Lupines reseed themselves freely.

June is only five months away…these dreary warm above freezing days it seems like winter is taking it’s sweet time. Snow already..go to 40 below zero for days..get it over with ..we know it is coming..we are not idiots. It snows in Minnesota..and you can freeze your butts off almost every day ALL winter long..just not this year:)

Chance : Out for a Drive

2012-01-07T06:05:00.000-06:00

Hello! It’s me..it is the most handsome blogging Border Collie in all of ~~the world~~ Northern Minnesota.

Far Side and I went for a drive..we saw smoke and a fire in the trees..and about 50 turkeys in a field. The Turkeys were too far away for a photo..but we watched them anyways.

When Far Side drives..I ride shot gun..you know co pilot. That means I am in charge of my own window.

I am a window operator. I can push the button and roll it down..scares the crap out of Far Guy. ( They had an in depth discussion one day..about whether or not I could roll it up so fast that I could catch my head in the window…so it was decided if I hit the window button that the driver would immediately hit the window lock button and save me from squishing my own head.) Someone (might have been Far Side said) “Well he is a Border Collie ..he otta know better.”

Yesterday my window antics just made Far Side laugh..so she was laughing, driving, trying to hit the window lock and taking a photo all at once.

Good thing were were just Sunday driving down a gravel road where there was no traffic. Well except for the blankety blank Fed Ex driver that passed us while we were going up a hill. Far Side got the address he was delivering to and noted the time of day..she said something about reporting his ass…and for goodness sakes what’s the rush you could have gotten us all kilt…dumb ass.

There is nothing better than hanging your head out the window letting your ears flap in the breeze.

We have some snow in the woods..but out on the prairie is is brown. Far Side says this is a section of native grass prairie..that has not been sacrificed to the potato gods…yet.

We had a very nice drive. As soon as we got home it started to snow:)

Cygnets on Fishhook River

2012-01-06T06:05:00.000-06:00

Far Guy and I met the Swan Guy..his name is Pete. We met him at woodcarving..he stopped to visit.

Pete feeds the Swans on Fishhook River. He was friends with The Swan Lady who fed Trumpeter Swans at Monticello Minnesota.

Pete like the Swan Lady feeds the Swans because someone should. He says he can still afford the corn..so he will continue. He said some people give him donations..he feeds them every morning.

He has invited us to watch him at feeding ..and we will go one morning soon with camera in hand!

In the meantime we enjoy the Swans and the Ducks that are gathered at the river. I like to go in the afternoon when the light is right for photographs.

These are the Cygnets.

Cygnets are young swans that were born last spring. This spring they will molt and be snow white like the big guys!

Here is a good photo for you to see the difference in color and size.

Chance enjoys trips down to the river. Far Guy rolls down his window and Chance hangs his head out and watches the swans and the ducks. He is quiet and just watches and never barks. The ducks fly in..quacking and the swans swim silently over..then they start to honk or trumpet..I think the ducks irritate the swans.

I am amazed at how close I can get to them..and equally amazed at how large they are:)

An Old Suit

2012-01-05T06:03:00.000-06:00

I took lots of photos and have many museum stories to share and from time to time I will blog about some of my experiences.

When something comes into the historical museum as a donation, it needs approval to stay. I can approve some things..some things sit around my office until enough board members have been by to vote one way or another. It is a pain in the neck..I have a very small office that I share with the gift shop.

This quilt was donated.

I accepted it right away because we have nothing similar to it. It is made from Men’s Suits. If you look closely you can see suits from church long ago. I knew right away that I had a perfect spot for it.

I filled out the paperwork. All donated items are called accessions..they are assigned a number. The number is marked on the item with a special pen. The people that donate items receive a copy of the paper work and a thank you letter. I photograph everything..the museum has no camera..but I donate mine for the photography work. The accession is then entered into a fancy smancy museum inventory program. Nothing leaves my office until the paperwork has been filled out and a photo has been taken.

The quilt ended up in an antique wheelchair in the Military Room..little boys like to sit in this chair..now it may not be so inviting. There are three chairs that can be used in this room..most times elderly men or women will sit in this room and just relax and look around.

When I have about ten accessions to record I begin the computer work..usually on a day when I know it is going to be quiet..and before our monthly meeting. Accessions are part of what I report about during those meetings.

Many museums have a room where their accessions are stored until they go out for display. Sometimes things need small repairs..a nail in a frame or some supporting documents attached. For me all this happens in my office…sometimes my desk looks like a disaster area.

I was in my office the other day..I dropped off some catalogues and some research files that I had finished with. It was colder in the building than it was outside. My boots were a little snowy..I slid across my office floor..it was like a skating rink. I was real happy to lock up and leave:)

Wistful Wednesday: Early 1900’s

2012-01-04T06:05:00.000-06:00

My Mothers Father ( My Grandfather) Albert had an older brother. His name was Freddie.

Freddie (left) was born in 1901 and Albert (right) in 1903. This photo was most likely taken in 1905 or 1906.

In this photo Freddie was breeched but my Grandfather was not. Breeching is when a boy child got his first pair of pants..or breeches..I say britches. Most boys were breeched around the age of five. Britches had difficult openings (buttons) so a small boy would have to become really good with buttons so he wouldn’t have any potty accidents.

My Grandfather was wearing a skirt. Skirts and dresses were very acceptable “childrens” clothing back then..dresses were not male or female..they were simply children's clothing. Dresses were very practical for children because it was much easier to change their diapers. Clothing closures were either buttons or pins. Brothers and sisters often wore the same dresses as hand me downs. Sometimes boys wore more chunky belts and trims..they often had long locks of hair that were cut when they made the transition from babyhood to boyhood. To make that transition you had to be able to do the buttons in your britches.

Here they are both breeched and wearing knee pants and socks that went up past their knees.

This is the last photo that we have of Freddie. He died September 29, 1911 from Scarlet Fever. My Grandfather either survived the fever or didn’t get it…he became the oldest living child and I am sure he missed his older brother very much.

Freddie Drewes

Born Nov 27, 1901

Died September 29, 1911

“Dearest loved one we have laid thee in the peaceful graves embrace, but thy memory shall be cherished till we see thy heavenly face.”

My Grandfather remained an only child for over a year. In October of 1912 he welcomed his baby brother Walter.

I was curious to find out how many children died of Scarlet Fever. It seems between 7 and 10 percent of all the cases ended in death. Somewhere between 300 and 500 people per 100,000 got it..once you had it you were immune. It was very contagious. It is the same germ family that we are familiar with today as Strep Throat:(

More Good Gift Picker Outers

2012-01-03T06:03:00.000-06:00

It is cold outside and snowy, so I am content to stay indoors and read and putz. I wander around putting away Christmas decorations..read..computer..read again..cook..read some more.. scan old photos..read some more..ahh this is January in Minnesota. I have not seen another soul since last Friday…well other than Far Guy and Chance. I could have stayed in my jammies for the past four days.

I have lots of new material to read. Daughter Trica is also a good picker outer of gifts that I have to read. Books are perfect gifts for me!

Almost as good as taking a class..better if you are a slow learner like me.

Later in the spring I am taking a class by the fellow that wrote this book. Far Guy will cut me out some blanks when the weather warms up. There are patterns for blanks and step by step instructions for whittling these cute little guys!

Far Guy was a great gift picker outer this year! *** I have to beg for his forgiveness. Yesterday..I said he was not a good gift picker outer.. when he was such a good picker outer this year. I am indeed blessed with many great shoppers in my family.

( Waving kisses to Far Guy so he forgives me and goes back to cooking.)

I am not quite sure how or what all this Kindle Fire does yet..but I can read..play Angry Birds and Sudoku and stay entertained for a really long time.

I need to buy a case..it is portable..so I can take it with me where ever I go. I can read it even if the lights go out. I am not real great at their tiny on screen keyboard yet..I seem to have fat fingers. I tried a pencil..it didn’t work. I wish it had come with a manual..there is an online one..I guess I should print it out.

I am cheap so I just downloaded some free books to read.

For now it can just keep on snowing..it is warm inside and I have enough gadgets and books and projects to keep me busy for months:)

Good Gift Picker Outer

2012-01-02T06:03:00.000-06:00

It must be a real pain in the butt to buy perfect gifts for everyone.

I do not say that as the gift giver..but as the gift receiver.

Our daughter Jen must lay awake at night thinking of cool gifts.

For our 42nd Anniversary we got keys..with all the addresses of the places we have lived over the years. Thirteen keys will now adorn our Christmas tree every year.

Every time we play cards we play with two very old decks that the neighbors gave us. They are getting really old..even the automatic card shuffler doesn’t want to shuffle them.

These may be too good to use.

Jen took Chances photo when she dog sat him for us when we went to Canada. “The Fives” photo was taken a year ago, so both are photos by Jen.

Usually I buy myself at least one new ornament for the downstairs tree..I didn’t this year. Jen remembered.

A beautiful Waterford ornament will grace our tree. I wrote her name on the ribbon too..so I will never forget.

One year I forgot momentarily that she had given me a bunny ornament. Luckily I blogged about it and she set me straight.

She is a really good gift picker outer.. and I am positive that she didn’t get that ability from me..come to think of it she didn’t get it from her father either…she must have been gifted with a supreme picker outer ability at birth:)

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T06:04:00.000-06:00

Time to turn over the calendar. Begin again..make new “to do” lists..some of which are repeats from last year. Clean out the cupboards and drawers..organize..those things end up on my list every year. BORING. I had a “to do” list and I was working on it before I was interrupted by Christmas.

I did not make any resolutions this year.

BUT If I were to make some these would be real high on my list:

I should be more patient and kind to stupid irritating people.

I should answer the phone cheerfully as if I really give a crap about the person on the other end of the line. ( My other baby brother says I should practice this one everyday. Sometimes he even calls twice in a row just to check and see how damn cheerful I sound.)

I should be more willing to drop all of my projects and tend to all so called emergencies that wouldn’t be emergencies if some people had their poop in a pile.

I should be calm and understanding when Far Guy forgets his pills all day long and is in terrible pain…ding..ding..ding..if he feels rotten it might be he FORGOT his pills..not one dose..but several.

I should be tolerant of all kinds of different behaviors..like when the checkout lady at the grocery store stops to blow her nose really loudly and her tiny little Kleenex can’t catch it all so she wipes her hands on her pants..I shouldn’t cringe ..next time before choosing a checkout line I am going to observe the checkout gals..if they look like they are getting a cold..I am not going in their line. If someone notices me observing from afar..I will just say “I am looking for the least germy one.”

I should not think badly of people because they bathe in perfume or aftershave instead of water. They have obviously lost their sense of smell, or destroyed it with their spritzes and splashes of toilet water..or perfume de skunk.

I should be cheerful and understanding especially when I have declared a time out on the couch for a whole hour and I am interrupted half a dozen times during that hour. After all talking with me might just be the highlight of a miserable day.

Yesiree..that would be a partial list if I were a resolution making kind of gal.

Happy New Year! :)

Antique Greeting Postcard

2011 In Review

2011-12-31T06:05:00.000-06:00

2008 in in regular type, 2009 in BOLD, 2010 thoughts are in Red and 2011 thoughts are in blue.

The children are all employed, and reasonably healthy. Trica our oldest daughter still struggles with Pancreatitis. Ditto..Trica is still struggling..she might just be a tad more cranky too. She has pancreatitis from a Gall Bladder surgery years ago. Trica is on a temporary medical leave from her job as an RN. She had a very scary episode in October which we now believe was a direct result of a prescribed medication that was taken off of the market in November. She still struggles with Pancreatitis. Everyone still has jobs, Trica is enrolled at UND and in three years she will be a Nurse Practitioner. She still struggles with Pancreatitis.

We still struggle with Doctors and Far Guys Trigeminal Neuralgia. We are comfortable with Dr. P. he seems adequate. There are no miracle cures..Trigeminal Neuralgia is a rare disorder that you must just learn to live with...easy for me to say..Far Guy is the one with continual pain. Dr P. is still taking good care of Far Guy…nothing is new with TN, it is still one of the most painful disorders known to mankind. Dr. P is still taking good care of Far Guy..no great discoveries are forthcoming to fight this rare disorder.

No new Grand-babies..No divorces..a few deaths (two cousins and a very dear friend) This year five friends died.. Rhonda, Jim, Sam, Charles and Pat. Two family members, my Uncle Delbert, and my cousins fiancée. No Grandbabies ( I think the baby years are over). Deaths we had a few..My Aunt Marie and Far Guys Aunt Esther. No new grandbabies and no divorces. Deaths we had a few.. Aunt Violet, friends Ardith and Elsie both from Indiana and friend Tammy succumbed to breast cancer.

No new pets, and no pet deaths. In 2009 Madison got a new kitten that she named Ziggy. Trica found a new home for her Pomeranian Daphne or "Daffy". Daffy now gets to be the Queen of her castle and no longer has to tremble in fear and hide under the couch to escape her terrorist companion Dakota who had a stroke a number of years ago and has an ongoing thyroid problem and is just not right in the head. I miss Daffy..she loved me. When they all lived with us..she was my constant companion. Paige got a kitty that she named Skittles and Savannah got a pitch black kitty that she named Luna. Andy went out and got himself a Sheltie puppy who is named Little Elvis. No new pets and no pet deaths.

Biggest Adjustment..Far Guy's Trigeminal Neuralgia and how it affects our day to day life. Ditto..we must always be flexible.... it just may not be a good day, or a good week. Ditto. Ditto.

Biggest Change..Closing the Greenhouse business, a very wise decision. I miss it, but I am getting over it. Well I am way over this one..this years biggest changes..lifestyle..healthier eating..more exercise. Biggest change this year..being able to see without glasses after my cataract surgery. Biggest change this year was leaving Far Guy and Chance on their own while I went to work at the Museum…they can survive without me!

Biggest Frustration.. Doctors that don't know their butt from a hole in the ground, and the phone ringing. Ditto.. and gaining weight because I quit a nasty habit..that I enjoyed..but now my metabolism is all out of whack. For now and since July I have been an ex-smoker. It ain't easy..it has been one of the hardest things I have ever done in my entire life. I have however curbed the desire to lick every ash tray I see..and those smokers outside freezing their skinny butts off..I envy them..perhaps I will get over that with time..old habits die hard..I began to smoke as a teenager..that was well over forty years ago. My daughter said "Mom we would rather have you alive and healthy looking and a little fat, than dead and skinny." The phone ringing still irritates me..and now that Far Guy has a cell phone sometimes they both ring at the same time. We are still non smokers..fatter ones.. Ditto..Still non smokers..still fat too.

Happiest Moment..a very nostalgic Ferris Wheel Ride last August with Far Guy. Playing a little "kissy face" stopped at the top! I had to think on this for quite some time.. I had many happiest moments this year and if I had to pin it down to just one moment it would be watching Chance and Far Guy on the lake shore of Lake Superior..watching Chance run between us. The happiest moment this year: When our oldest daughter Trica woke up after being unconscious for more than 24 hours..and she knew who we were. The happiest moment this year was finding out that Far Guy made the Emergency Life Flight to Fargo alive and that he had no Heart blockages..he had treatable pericarditis.

It was another year of ups and downs. We are getting older..we are thankful for healthy grandchildren and the companionship of a great dog!

Our “No Snow “ spell ended yesterday with three inches of snow. We are expecting some freezing rain today and then more snow and then it is supposed to get windy. Winter must be here.

If you go out tonight..stay safe and use a designated driver..you will have a happier New Year that way! Us old folks are just staying home:)

Last of the Red Hot Shoppers

2011-12-30T06:03:00.000-06:00

I was so not ready to run out on Monday morning to shop. I waited till Wednesday..then I hit Menards.

You see Menards had a 50 % off sale. I knew I might be able to find what I was seeking there.

My list: Shiny Brites, a tree skirt, gift tags and wrapping paper. The wrapping paper was a bust..I could have purchased Green Hornet or Transformer wrapping paper..there was not a plain piece of paper or one with whimsical little Angels or Birds left to be found.

My perfect Christmas wrapping paper exists only in my mind. It has a white snow bank filled background. Cherub like children are decorating rows of trees with little birds and strings of cranberries and popcorn whilst forest creatures like deer and foxes and bunny rabbits look on. It has all colors on the paper so what ever color bow I grab works perfectly.

I got everything else on my list.

I really needed a tree skirt for the tall tree upstairs..I have a little tree skirt that barely goes around the tree that I purchased at a rummage sale for a quarter..this new one will be perfect.

The Shiny Brites are retro ones by Christopher Radco. I now have two boxes of them. Last year I missed the half price sale at Menards. Two years ago I bought a box..at full price..I couldn’t restrain myself.

This year the retro ornaments are nestled inside these Shiny Brite tissue papers..now how cool is that? Someday..in about 50 years these will be collectable too.

Next we hit the Antique Mall..a quick trip around looking for Vintage Shiny Brites..only one was found for $3.50..I passed. John smiled as I walked up to his booth..he said “here look at these while I run home I have been saving some old photos for you.” I think John had a belated Merry Christmas..he now knows exactly what kind of old photos I will buy. He had saved a whole bunch of old black and white photo Christmas cards…perfect.

Yesterday I was in another antique shop..a new gal was working.. I asked her if she had any old photos..she replied “ Someone must collect them..so we don’t have any.” The shop owner came out and said “Hi ..we have no old photographs..you have bought them all!” I did find four old photos there..sometimes shop keepers have no idea what they have in their shops:)

Four Years

2011-12-29T06:04:00.000-06:00

One day back in 2007 I woke up and said..gosh I think I will write a blog. Perhaps I will voice some of my opinions and tell some stories about how things used to be when I was a little girl. Perhaps “The Five” will find it interesting and amusing someday to learn something about their Grandmother…then again maybe not..you never know.

I had been reading Buffalo Gal’s Blog for a couple of years..she was and is awesome with all of her stories! She and I became fast friends. I value her opinion and her friendship.

Today is post number 1,468. I have not missed many days in four years. Daughter Jen guest blogged one time when I was hospitalized with pneumonia. Chance guest blogs from time to time so I do get a break.

One thing I worry about is repeating myself..have I shown an old photo before on Wistful Wednesday? If I repeat myself I hope my readers will just go with the flow, and chalk it up to getting older. I thought about compiling an index..I decided it would be too much work.

Last summer when I was working at the museum I began to write in my mind and then spit them out into the computer late at night. It seems to have worked. I have discovered my best writing time is when the house is quiet and the phone is not ringing. Blogging is a hobby.. a fun hobby. Most of my blogs are written the night before and published in the early morning.

I also write Forgotten Old Photos. A blog where old photos found in antique shops are sometimes reunited with family. That blog brings me great personal satisfaction. I also get to feed the old photo collection monster that dwells inside me.

Blogging would be a perfect job! This winter I am being paid to continue writing the Hubbard County Historical Museums blog.

My personal photo blog Far Side of Fifty Photos began to suffer last summer..it was hard to keep up..photography is still one of my passions..and Chance is sometimes a willing subject!

How long will I be blogging for..I have no idea..I take it all one day at a time. God willing and the crick don’t rise I will be back tomorrow.

I have “met” some marvelous bloggers over the past four years. Some I have actually met in real life..some are neighbors! I thank each and every one of my readers, especially those who leave comments!

Now for a pretty picture. I once had a blogging friend who said “No post is complete without a pretty picture.” Heaven has been her home for two years now. Yes, even in the blogging world there is death and feelings of great loss when we lose one of our own. I cannot explain it..it just is.

Lupines in the wild gardens..with Veronica ‘Blue Bouquet’ providing the bokeh:)

Wistful Wednesday: Christmas 1959

2011-12-28T06:05:00.000-06:00

This is a Christmas photo that my Mom took in 1959.

We are on the front porch of the farm house..I am not sure why the tree was out there all covered in tinsel and all. Perhaps this was the winter that some construction was going on inside the house and the tree was better off in the porch. In early 1960 we got an indoor bathroom and a real tub. That would have been a good enough Christmas present! No more cold freeze your butt off outhouse seat. No more sharing of the bath water in a galvanized wash tub.

I guess I must have gotten a life size doll so I could practice being a good babysitter or something. I have no recollection of playing with that doll very much..it had eyes that closed when you laid it down.

That is my baby brother Carey in the photo..with one of those snazzy shirts that my Mom used to sew for him. I think that one was flannel and it had horses on it..gosh I loved horses..he didn’t care very much for them..yet he got the horse curtains and the horse shirts..and look at that.. he didn’t even tuck in his shirt or pose for the camera:)

Gifts for Teens and Tweens

2011-12-27T06:03:00.000-06:00

I do not begin to understand all the IPod..Xbox..DS3D..Justin Bieber world that surrounds “The Five.”

Shopping for appropriate Christmas Gifts was a challenge. I am out of “the loop.”

Some packages were wrapped in Justin Bieber paper..with admonishments to unwrap carefully. There was Justin Bieber Perfume ( yuk), blankets, posters and t shirts. I hope someone responsible is taking care of the JB Fortune. I don’t see the attraction..even after watching the movie..then again I have never swooned or screamed after any singer in my lifetime. I did feel a bit like screaming one time at one of The Unbelievable Uglies dances back in 1968 but only because one of Far Guys former girlfriends was there.

I was totally in the dark about the one piece animal cap/scarf/mittens that the girls absolutely loved.

Miss Paige’s was supposed to be a Husky.

Maddie’s was supposed to be a wolf. I really couldn’t tell much difference..the wolf may have been a little darker than the Husky.

This was a gift that I won in a giveaway just before Christmas. It was a perfect gift for Maddie..and she loved it! Thanks to Susan at City Gal Moves To Oz Land and to Michelle at Rockin Heart Jewelry. Maddie loves all things horses or hockey.

Maddie is our UND Fighting Sioux gal..she got a jacket, t-shirt, pants and a necklace. She is not as wild and crazy about JB as her sisters. ( Perhaps someday she will be on the Women’s Hockey Team.)

Now a compound bow..that is a wonderful Christmas gift! One that needed no explanation..I knew what it was and how it is used.

Noah was very excited…he will need some place to practice. I think I will shop for a bow..I have always wanted one..we can put a practice shooting lane someplace here in the woods. It will be a good activity to share with both of the boys. Of course the girls could give it a try too:)

December 26, 2011

2011-12-26T06:05:00.000-06:00

The day after..and I am tired.

Christmas Eve after church we ~~sat~~ napped through the Justin Bieber movie Never say Never..whilst the girls swooned and sang along with all the songs.

The boys and their parents spent most of Christmas Eve Day up North with Andy’s parents. They arrived late at night and they sacked out in the Living Room.

It was all a success..we ate and we did dishes..we ate again.

Here are the five on Christmas Morning. These kids must all be growing..they can pack away the food!

I had just told them “If you kids don’t smile..we are never going to open any packages.”

The girls danced. They all played with their new toys. Cameras and IPods and Nintendo DS3’s and a compound bow.

Laughter and giggling commenced for most of the day..we played Pass The Pig..a simple game like dice except you use pigs.

My Mom and Dad ventured out and had dinner with us..and Mom made it down and up the stairs safely.

Sometime during the day..I was at my computer..Adam came by and said “Grandma could I please use your computer?” I said “Of Course.” He said “Oh yeah Merry Christmas Grandma.” I used to think he might be a UPS delivery guy when he grew up because he liked to push the truck (cart) around in the yard..now I am not so sure..he sure knows how to schmooze his Grandma:)

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T06:02:00.000-06:00

Away in a Manger

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down His sweet head

The stars in the sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there

Author Unknown

Merry Christmas Eve!

2011-12-24T06:03:00.000-06:00

The stockings are hung by the fireplace, the house has been decorated and every last ornament has found a place on a tree. The house has been cleaned and almost all dusted. No one should be able to write “Dust me” on anything.

My oldest ornament ..a pink and blue fish that used to be part of a twelve piece set that was usually given to Newlyweds..each ornament had a special meaning. The fish symbolized Christ’s Blessings. If I keep looking someday I may find a whole box of these ornaments at a shop or at a sale.

The packages are wrapped and piled upstairs. Yesterday one of my old timers moments caused me to search high and low for a gift that I bought last summer. Now I remember why I don’t shop ahead of time. I cannot remember where I put the gifts. After searching every inch of the house for THREE HOURS looking in every drawer and cabinet at least twice..mumbling to myself..you really need to put clean out drawers on the “to do” list… I found it. It was a miracle. I was ready to write a note that said “When I find your gift I will bring it over.” I can just hear a certain someone laughing about that.

The Pumpkin Bread was baked and loaves were delivered. A new recipe was tried for Flat bread. I conquered it!! ( Thank goodness for cousins that can bake and share their recipes!! Thanks Geraldine! ) The Beans were Baked..and frozen.. also another recipe from Geraldine! The kitchen smells wonderful as I write this..Far Guy made his Caramel Rolls..it wouldn’t be Christmas morning without them.

Today I will make Flat Bread again..Cornbread Muffins and an Italian Sausage Cheesy Dip and an Apple Crisp.

I have a few recipes for the grand girls to try..we are having snack food on Christmas Eve after Church..Crescent rolls, some with little sausages and some with pepperoni and mozzarella cheese sticks…with some marvelous dip.. oh and Herring.. a Christmas Eve staple at our house.

We got a little snow..about an inch..just enough to make it look a little like Christmas.

Merry Christmas Eve everyone! :)

The Shiny Brite Ladies

2011-12-23T06:05:00.000-06:00

The Shiny Brite tree is all decorated. I lost count..I will estimate that there are about 300 Shiny Brites.

This year Lillian joins Jo, Rae and Grace. They are all Shiny Brite ladies whose ornaments adorn my big tree upstairs.

The purple ones belonged to neighbor lady Grandma Grace and then she sold them at a garage sale. Lucky for me..they are the ornaments that began the Shiny Brite Addiction a long time ago.

This is one of the indents that Rae at The Old Weather Vane gifted to me several years ago.

Jo who lives just down the road from me..gave me these last year.

This year my best friend Susan was clearing out some of her Mothers belongings..Lillian liked Shiny Brites too and after her death Susan gave me a box.

This is the first year they have been on my tree.

So these are for you Lillian. When I look at them I will remember your smile and your laugh..they are a perfect addition to my tree.

I think it looks just wonderful! All the Shiny Brites that I have been collecting over the past 25 years finally have a proper home:)

Chance: A Shiny Brite Secret and a Sty

2011-12-22T06:04:00.000-06:00

Hey! It’s me..the blogging Border Collie.

I have been just miserable..I have a sore eye. Someone thinks I may have whopped myself in the eye running through the brush after a squirrel. I was blinking my eye as fast as I could..it was all yucky too..and I was squinting. Far Side found some old doggie ophthalmic ointment from the last time I scratched my cornea. She said “Chance you are a repeat offender.”

Tuesday morning I went to the Vet..I know the routine. They always want to know how much I weigh so I just walk to the scale and hop on and sit down.. Hmmm.. 62 pounds. Then they want me on the table..Okay I can cooperate.. I put my front feet on the exam table..Far Guy decided to help hoist me up. They put gunk in my eye..I look to the left and then to the right. Far Side is behind the Doc..looking..she can’t see a scratch or anything..finally they decide I have a sty which looks like a tiny little pimple on my lower eyelid. My eyes.. both of them.. got all rinsed out..it felt yucky ..but I sat like a good boy. The Vet gave me a treat..I refused it..no way was I taking that treat after an eye wash.

We got a new tube of ointment and my eye is much better..I get a treat every time they put the ointment in my eye. I will be good as new in a couple of days.

I went to see Far Side’s Mom yesterday..she is back at home and recovering nicely from her bad fall. She has a new ramp at her house and a walker and a wheelchair. I am not a bit afraid of any of those things because when I was a pup I went to the Nursing Home to visit just about every day.

Now ..do you wanna see the Shiny Brite Secret?

Shiny Brites are the Christmas ornaments that Far Side collects. They are on the huge tree upstairs. I ~~watched~~ supervised the decorating..now are you ready for the secret??

There are no lights on that tree only Shiny Brites picking up what light they can. Far Side thinks it is quite magical..she is easily impressed:)

Wistful Wednesday: Christmas 1955

2011-12-21T06:00:00.000-06:00

This photo was amongst the photos that Cousin Bonnie gave to Far Guy. I have seen it before.

All of these sister in laws are gone.. Cancer..Alzheimer's..and old age claimed them all.

Married to brothers..together for Christmas at the farm.

Far Guys Mom Evelyn is on the left, it would have been her 97th birthday yesterday. In this photo she was 41 and the oldest. She wasn’t a very social person, everything was prim and proper..nothing was ever done on the spur of the moment.

Auntie Esther is next, she died last December. She always called Far Guy and I “you kids.” She was spontaneous..and during the summer at the lake she would almost always be found in her swimsuit. She enjoyed the outdoors and embraced every activity from hunting to snowmobiling to fishing and of course golfing.

Jean..I won’t call her Aunt Jean..she was divorced from her husband a few years after this photo was taken. Far Guy said she was beautiful and had a mind of her own. I never met her, she died of cancer.

Aunt Beryl, I have known her ever since I can remember. She had an infectious laugh. My Mother was one of her best friends. I remember when her new house was built and the white crushed velvet furniture appeared in her living room..I wondered if anyone ever dared to sit on it…us kids always went to the basement! She had Alzheimer's a number of years..she was gone..but her body wasn’t done living yet..Alzheimer's is a terrible affliction.

I wonder sometimes how these women all got along. I am certain there were some under currents..perhaps even some teeth gnashing. They must have all gotten along for the sake of their husbands. I think it would have been interesting to have been a mouse in the corner sometimes:)

42 Years

2011-12-20T06:03:00.000-06:00

“It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.”

Ah young love sometimes works out to be old comfortable love.

Communication is the cornerstone of a good relationship. Despite my husbands uncanny ability to know my many moods..he cannot read my mind. He is not Superman. We are much better communicators than we were 42 years ago. I try to use words like I instead of You.. “I feel tired.” versus “You should know I feel tired.” “ I am confused.. what can I help you do?” versus “You obviously are trying to do something that just won’t work.”

Old love and communication: The kind where you can finish each others sentences, the kind where you know when the other is thinking the exact same thing you are..you catch each others eye and smile..and later you compare notes and laugh. The kind where just holding hands is an expression of support encouragement and undying love. The kind that asks “What is on your agenda today and how can I help you?”

Annoyances: Oh there are many.. Today I will share a few things that irritate him..as I see it:

When I chew bubble gum and blow bubbles and pop them…although really good bubble gum is hard to find nowadays.

When I chew gum noisily with my mouth open..the snapping of gum nearly drives him nuts.

He hates my sleepwalking and talking and screaming. I cannot blame him..I don’t like it much either.

He dislikes sand on the floor..occasionally I will come in the house and grab something without taking off my shoes. For shame..for shame.

He gets grumpy when I shave my legs in the tub and forget to rinse it out.

It annoys him if I am right and he is wrong..sometimes the discussion can go on for days.

Sometimes I have time management problems..He likes to be on time..AIS ( That is A** in Seat) times are discussed and agreed upon, so no one is waiting..although sometimes I get to the car before he does..just to make a point..and then I announce the time especially if he is a minute or two late..yup it is all about communication.

So yes..we like to annoy each other sometimes:)

Where is the snow?

2011-12-19T06:07:00.000-06:00

It is unusual for our area of Minnesota to have a brown Christmas. We got a bit of snow the other day..and then it was warm yesterday ( almost 40 degrees F) and much of the snow melted. We seem to be in a dry weather pattern..or maybe global warming has finally come to Minnesota.

Last year at this time we had seven inches of snow on the ground..how do I know this?? ..because of the old snow stick photos. Oh well in one snowy day we can be all caught up with last year.

Chance and I played ball and horsed around with the camera before it got dark at 4:30PM. Two more days and we will start to gain a minute a day…whoopee!

I have quite a collection of flags and this is the Christmas goose flag that took up residence outside the front door. He looks like a grumpy old goose..perhaps that big cheerful bow is choking him:)

Santa Lives In Oregon

2011-12-18T06:03:00.000-06:00

“The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing other's loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas.”

I knew the gifts were coming, my baby brother told me that they would be arriving sometime before Christmas or shortly thereafter.

When he was visiting here last week, he saw a need. As soon as he got back home he put in the order.

The packages were delivered yesterday by Fed Ex..Chance got a treat.

I called my baby brother and asked him when he wanted them delivered. He said “Anytime you have time to set them up.”

Far Guy and I took off for the Nursing Home so that the ladies would be able to play with their new gifts right after supper.

He sent beautiful new HP laptops to Mom and to Aunt Lila.

Aunt Lila is sharp as a tack, she has rheumatoid arthritis. She is a computer whiz..the wireless mouse worked perfectly for her when placed on a phone book in her lap. One of her favorite games is Bookworm..so we loaded that software on both computers. They were busy playing Bookworm and Solitaire and smiling.

No one at the Nursing Home knew what the wireless security key was..so they cannot get on the Internet yet..maybe tomorrow.

So just in case you were wondering..Santa lives in Oregon and my brother knows him personally:)

December 17, 2011

2011-12-17T06:04:00.000-06:00

It is slow going, but the gifts that have been purchased have been wrapped. We are still waiting for two more deliveries.

I am working on the Shiny Brite Tree upstairs..it is a good thing we are not expecting overnight company.

The beds are full of ornaments and ornament boxes.

The old loveseat is full of ornaments.

I am not sure why I have been keeping this old loveseat..we had a couch that matched..but Chance wore that one out. Small grandchildren used to be able to sleep on it..now they are all too tall to sleep on it comfortably. It is too good to throw out.

The tree coffin is empty. It is awaiting empty boxes and containers.

I have marked all the boxes and plastic containers with post it notes so I know what goes where when I pack them all back up again in about ten days.

The top of the tree gets decorated first then I take it off the stand and hold it and Far Guy puts the rest of the tree together and we both hoist it upwards..it worked last year..I think Far Guy stood on a chair. See that boom box..it is loaded with Bee Gees and Beach Boys and Rock n Roll Oldies..great tree trimmin’ music:)

From My Desk

2011-12-16T06:01:00.000-06:00

This is the view from my desk at home. I have been seeing a lot of the Christmas tree lately. The woodcarving/laptop table has been moved to make room for the Christmas tree.

Far Guy was not feeling up to writing the Christmas letter..he is obviously not feeling up to par when he has lost his sense of humor. The medication he takes for the pericarditis has his stomach in an uproar…but his hips don’t hurt…which he thinks is a wonderful side effect. He can run faster.

I wrote the Christmas Letter..if you read my blog..then you have some idea what I said in the letter. It is boring old news with a Merry Christmas attached. However many of the people we send Christmas Letters to do not have computers so they will think the letter is a big deal. Anyways it went through re writes..and spell check..I wrote a few personal notes..not as many as I usually do..then it was stuffed into envelopes and was mailed today. After purchasing 120 stamps..I may rethink Christmas Letters and or Cards next year. ( Do I say that every year?)

Far Guy had to totally redo the Christmas mailing labels. His old address list did not convert to a readable program on his new computer. It needed some updates anyway…several people have died, some have moved and a few were married. We worked on that list together.

I made a couple of “special” Christmas cards for Far Guy to mail to his train friends. I mailed off some more packages of ornaments.

I am running the first drafts of some fund raising letters for the Historical Museum. I call them “ding” letters…they cannot be long and boring..they cannot be sappy and sweet..they should be just sad enough for you to write a check but not so sad that you will have to stop and sob uncontrollably. I am writing to several different organizations and will have Jen ( the English professor) proof them for me before I bring them to the Board for final approval. Final approval happens the first week in January. I hate doing things at the last minute…except shopping..shopping always happens at the last minute around here.

I have almost finalized the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Menus..I still need a couple of recipes..Geraldine’s Flatbread, Jens Cornbread and the Homemade Mac and Cheese that Adam likes. Andy’s Smoked Ribs, Geraldine’s Baked Beans and our frozen corn off the cob will round out the Christmas Day menu. Oh and Pumpkin Bread..the grand's favorite.

Tomorrow I am running away from my desk..and running upstairs to wrap packages and possibly getting the Shiny Brite Tree up God willing and the crick don’t rise:)

Mom is able to get out of her wheelchair by herself and walk a few steps with the walker. She can dress herself including her socks and shoes..so she is almost ready to go home..perhaps the first part of next week. Her pain is less and she can sleep three hours at a time.

Ornaments from Years Past

2011-12-15T06:06:00.000-06:00

We began making ornaments for family members back in 1990. Our first ornament was a small wooden Loon. In 1991 I painted a Santa or a Mrs. Claus or an elf, in 1992 they were pairs of wooden mittens. Some day I should photograph these old ornaments on one of our daughters trees..the first three years I did not keep one for us.

Here are the rest of the ornaments through the years. Note there is no ornament for 1998. It was a lousy seashell that year..our shell is still out in my garage in a box full of seashells. I heard they were a tad smelly even though we soaked them in bleach..and the sand was an added bonus! I was not going to do ornaments that year because we were in Florida for the winter..and at the last minute I caved.

1993 a wooden toy soldier.

1994 a shot gun shell santa.

1995 a big red sleigh bell.

1996 a wooden birdhouse.

1997 a wood turned snowman.

1999 clothespin angels.

2000 santa face on a bent spoon.

2001 a black walnut tree with buttons.

2002 a black walnut gingerbread boy with buttons.

2003 a decoupage photo..everyone was different.

2004 a wooden flag.

2005 a little light bulb santa.

2006 a hand carved candy cane.

2007 a beaded angel.

2008 a snowflake design burned into a piece of basswood.

2009 a loon wood burned and painted.

2010 a cottonwood bark hand carved church.

2011 a basswood spool with a hand carved santa face.

It has been an adventure. The idea behind this little gift is so that when someone gets married and leaves home..they will have a box of their very own ornaments to take along for their own tree. I make them for our brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and friends…and a few special dogs and some cats too.

Now for the Spool Santa give away. Big drumroll. The winners are..

Blog reader Phyllis is the winner locally..I know where she works and I will drop off the ornament there! Changes in the Wind please contact me with your snail mail address. Congratulations to the winners..I wish I would have had time to carve more:)

Wistful Wednesday: Christmas1965

2011-12-14T06:07:00.000-06:00

My baby brother and I reminisced about a trip a long time ago. We drove with our parents and our other baby brother to California in 1965. We left from Minnesota and drove what seemed like forever before stopping all night in Provo Utah. Apparently my parents took turns sleeping and driving. I remember being discouraged at not being able to stop at The Great Salt Lake. I was very impressed with the mountains in Provo. We either ate or hid all the fruit we had in the car at the California Border. We didn’t stop at many restaurants..we ate sandwiches and fruit along the way.

We went to see my Dads sister..my Aunt Anna and Uncle Stanley and cousins Clark and Leann for Christmas.

My Mom took this photo. It is marked Disney Land 1965.

My other baby brother Jody, My Dad, Me, My Aunt Anna hugging my baby brother Carey and Cousin Clark in front.

We went to Church at Midnight on Christmas Eve, after a supper of Pork Roast, Potatoes and Gravy and Lutefisk at Uncle Stanley’s parents. I can still smell the Lutefisk cooking. Uffda. Lutefisk is the Norwegians idea of a delicacy..it is dried cod that is soaked in lye and then cooked.

As for the trip to Disneyland..I enjoyed the Jungle Cruise and the Haunted House the best! The weather in California was wonderful.

My Dad shared that one time during this trip my baby brother and I were fighting in the backseat. He stopped the car and made us get out and drove away. Of course he didn’t drive far..and when we got back in the car we were well behaved:)

Bubble Lights

2011-12-13T06:07:00.000-06:00

We got the downstairs tree up. This year it will have one stringer of Bubble Lights for the entire season. Last year we put them on the tree for awhile..then we took them off..they get pretty warm. If they worry me too much I will take them off the tree and pack them away.

Chance and Far Guy admiring their work.

The Bubble Lights are mesmerizing..the liquid heats up and then they bubble..some are slow.. so you have to tap the glass tube to get the bubbles moving.

The tree would only have lights..but the Calvary(Jen, Andy, Noah and Adam) stopped by on Sunday afternoon and the tree was quickly decorated. Many hands make short work of a big project. www shopjendotcom delivered three gifts to be wrapped. Far Guy was going to drive 90 miles to pick up two items…and Jen graciously agreed to pick the items up for us.

More packages were delivered in the mail yesterday..we are getting quite a pile upstairs on the gift wrapping table.

The Calvary brought extra cookies from the cookie exchange..so we won’t be baking any cookies:)

Health Updates:

Far Guy is still exhausted..he tires easily..but managed his mile walk yesterday morning.

My Mom is surviving..she walked a short distance (five feet) with the aid of a walker in Physical Therapy yesterday. There has been big medication mix ups several times at the Nursing Home..she is not getting her pain medication in a timely manner and then she gets behind and cannot catch up with the pain and lies awake all night in pain. I spoke with her Nurse yesterday..and I believe my brother spoke to the Charge Nurse. I told one of the Nurses that I can call every two hours if that is what it takes to get a Nurse to give her the meds. (they said that was not necessary)

It is very frustrating..yesterday I immediately knew that she had not slept well. She has to be able to sleep to heal and to get better.

Treatment for a broken pelvis includes bed rest, physical therapy and pain management. It may take 8 to 12 weeks before she is all better and is able to care for herself.

Hand Carved Ornaments

2011-12-12T06:02:00.000-06:00

Every year we try to come up with a new design for a Christmas Ornament. We give them to family and friends. This year we made 64 ornaments.

Most of them have been delivered or are in the mail today.

We knew we wanted a spool ornament. HOWEVER spools are hard to come by..we finally found a whole bunch in an Antique Shop but they were all hardwood. Hardwood is very hard to carve.

Our Son In Law Handy Andy has a wood lathe and he was roped into the making of the spools. These are basswood. We worked long and hard carving on the spools. I can carve the face in about twenty minutes. The first few took hours.

After they were carved they were painted.

Flesh..white..red..eyes..and snow on their eyebrows and moustaches and finally antiqued.

All were wood burned with the year. I am pleased. They are not our greatest design..but they will do.

I have two extras that I made to give away. I will throw the names in a hat and I will draw one from the blogspot blog and one from the local area voices blog. To enter just leave me a comment on todays blog. I will draw a name on Wednesday night at 9PM and reveal the winners on Thursday and get them mailed out:)

Chance: Duck Update

2011-12-11T06:08:00.000-06:00

Something or someone tore up my duck..it is in pieces. Someone must have been playing too rough and been so excited that he just ripped off the ducks feet…one by one. After that someone took all the stuffing out and chewed up the noise maker. It was a vicious attack. Someone spread that stuffing fluff around on the floor and some of it accidently got on my nose. It looked incriminating..but every dog should have his day in court. Doncha think?

I am in the dog house ..I was out by the wood pile chasing rabbits and got all full of woodchips from the chain saw. I drug a bunch of wood chips in the house on my fur…between that and that messed up duck..I was feeling a little sad.

I was really good during the rescue call the other night.. I tried to make Far Guy all better by licking him in the face. I did not bark..and I listened really good. When Far Side said to go lay down I did..and when she told me to come downstairs off the landing I did. She said I was the best dog ever. The Fire and Rescue guys all patted me on the head and said I was a good boy too.

Since I was such a good boy maybe someone will look extra hard for a new duck.

Far Guy and I walked to the mailbox yesterday and hauled the garbage to the dump..I make sure he takes a nap every day.

I go along to the Nursing Home..but I cannot go inside because they have a fat girly dog named Maggie in there. Far Side said “We don’t need no ruckus.” So I stayed in the car and watched other dogs barking in their cars! Far Side reports her Mom was finally able to sleep a little and she looks a little better too:)

December 10 2011

2011-12-10T06:07:00.000-06:00

We still have minimal snow..

I took this photo on December 08, 2011…and two days later it still looks the same. Not enough snow to cover the grass.

We did some Christmas Shopping Online and some in town. It is a start. We can always just write checks..

I am still tired and I napped for several hours this afternoon. Far Guy and Chance napped too.

My Mom had her first Physical Therapy session yesterday, my brother and I went along to see what she could do, and how to properly do it. She can get herself up out of the wheelchair one handed and to a standing position at the walker. She can transfer from the wheelchair to another chair. It was painful ..but she did it and her confidence level was greatly increased. Mom was concerned that she would have no Physical Therapy over the weekend..we found out that the Nurses can assist her practicing and getting stronger over the weekend. She is not sleeping well because of the pain. I strongly suggested that her Doctor be consulted.

My brother was cooking vegetable soup to freeze..and my Aunt Anna was cooking chicken soup for supper for the men. My Dad has never cooked..well toast and an occasional egg and oatmeal..that is his entire cooking experience. The next few months his cooking skills may improve. I must get the few cooking skills I have from him:)

Shopping days left 14. Gifts purchased a few whoo hoo! Decorations up 0. Trees up 0.

Ice and Medical Updates

2011-12-09T06:03:00.000-06:00

The other day..when things were still normal…we stopped by Leech Lake to walk Chance. It was still about zero degrees F so it was good ice making weather.

The ice might have been singing a happy cold chorus..or perhaps it was the water singing its death throes as it was turned into ice. The sound was almost continual..it came in waves of groans and moans almost as if the lake was serenading someone. Perhaps it was the waves under the ice trying to break free.. there were huge ice ridges out on the lake.

There is not much snow. Just enough to cover the ground in some spots. The winter shadows are long..and it gets dark at 4 PM…sunset is officially 4:30 PM..but if there are any clouds in the sky it is dark at 4.

Updates:

Far Guy is doing just fine, he is listening to me and is resting and taking his medications. He has no chest pain..I guess I ask him about it too often because he said “Are you going to ask me that question from now on?” Maybe..I have not decided yet.

My Mom has a wonderful roommate who is 104. Mom is still in pain.. and she is very tired. There are plans in the works for a handicap ramp to be built..possibly she will go home next week. We will see how she progresses. My brother from Oregon arrived safely.

Thank you everyone for your kind words and prayers

Say a little prayer

2011-12-08T06:02:00.000-06:00

Tuesday Far Guy, Chance and I took a little road trip. We went to Duluth. It is one of our favorite places..it has a great Train Shop and some antique shops that we wanted to explore.

Far Guy was feeling fine when we left. Along the way he felt like he had a catch in his shoulder that moved to his arm. He thought he had lifted something wrong.

We continued on..in Duluth he started to experience some Chest Pain. We headed home..we discussed going to the ER on our way through town. Far Guy just wanted to come home and lie down. He was cold and could not get warm..I had the heater on high and he was covered with a blanket. At home he rested and took some nitro ( it didn’t help..he had a stress related Heart Attack in 1995) he went to bed, about 11:30 he got up..talked to me and headed to the kitchen to make some toast because he was hungry. I heard him fussing in the kitchen and then a huge crash.

I was able to arouse him..he asked “What happened?” Well that is what I wanted to know. I had him lie still. I said “This is it you are going to stop *******around and go to the hospital.” I grabbed the phone to call my brother.. My parents and my brother share the same last four digits of a phone number because it is easier for my Dad to remember. The first three numbers are different. CRAP..I dialed my parents phone number and my Mom answered. I hung up. I redialed my brother..she who sees robins first answered..I said “Send Jody now.” As soon as I hung up..the phone rang it was my Mom..I told her that Far Guy had collapsed on the kitchen floor but was conscious and I needed to tend to him and hung up. Jody arrived, he said call 911 so I did. We figured we might need some oxygen and backup. It was looking very much like a heart attack. Far Guys Buddies from Carsonville Fire and Rescue showed up..and then the Paramedics. He was in good hands..but not doing great..his color was like a sheet of paper. They ran a portable print out of his heart activity..he was deteriorating rapidly. I said “let’s bring a backboard in here.” I was certain that he was going to bottom out..and he almost did..he lost consciousness and turned even paler when they administered some IV Nitro. He was having difficulty breathing and was not “with it.” The last thing you ever want to do is CPR on people you know..I have done it several times..with no good result. The situation was rapidly spiraling downward. (I was an Emergency Medical Technician years ago.)

My Dad stuck his head in the door and said “Send out Jody, Mother fell.” My parents drove out to see what was happening. Mom fell. They got her up and had her sitting on a gurney outside the door. Her hip hurt and her shoulder. They called a second ambulance.

Meanwhile Far Guy needs to get moved on out. We get him backboarded and up the steps and out into the ambulance. They ran another strip..the paramedic came in and said “He has a blockage in the lower part of his heart and needs to be air lifted to the cath lab.” I said “do it.” After some more farting around..they leave for the airport.

The guys move Mom who is now on one of my kitchen chairs outside covered with a blanket, inside onto the landing. ( area where you can go up or down) We wait for the next ambulance to arrive. The paramedic doesn’t think Mom broke her hip.

I call the girls and pack a bag. Jody gets all my stuff into the car and Chance and I trek to Fargo 90 miles away. It is 1:11AM. There are herds of deer along the road..but no traffic.

At 2:12 the phone rings..it is Jen. She was there when the helicopter landed after a 25 minute trip. She reports “ Dad was talking and they took him right on into the cath lab.” BIG sigh of relief..talking is a good sign. I was nearly to Hawley.

I arrive at 2:45AM to fill out paperwork. The phone rings Jen says “The Doctor is coming out to talk to me..better hurry on up.” The Doctor that performed the cath found no blockage and reports a healthy heart. I am dumbfounded..why then did he exhibit all the signs??? The Doctor doesn’t know..but they will run more tests in the morning. Far Guy is stable and has no chest pain.

We get to see Far Guy..I told him “You scared the crap out of me.” He says “I already told the Nurses not to listen to you.”

Trica arrives with the Grandgirls. Far Guy has a room full of girls that love him! He gives me a rash of shit when he asks about Chance and I say “He is in the car laying on your down coat and toasty warm cause it is 30 degrees and he has a little of his own hair too.”

I put Jen in charge of the cell phone. Jody calls with a report about Mom..she has a dislocated shoulder and has broken her pelvis in three places. She is being transferred to a hospital with an Ortho Doctor where they will be able to give her pain relief. Damn..double damn.

Later we decide to send Chance home with Trica and the girls..they leave about 5AM..there is nothing to do but wait anyway.

Throughout the night they ran blood tests. They run EKGs..and in the morning..it is now Wednesday they run an Echocardiogram. The Cardiologist waves to me..goes into the room and has a quick look and says “His heart looks good..the function is fine. Your husband has inflammation of his pericardial sac. (The double walled sac that surrounds your heart.) It is treatable. It is caused by a virus, it happens sometimes..we see it occasionally. He will be fine..don’t worry. It presents just like a Heart Attack..and until we can rule a heart attack out it is treated just like one.” He patted me on the shoulder and said again “ He WILL be fine..don’t worry…he can go home this morning.”

Jen left..because she hadn’t slept all night. There was lots of “no sleep” going around. We finally got all our instructions and left too..170 miles later we picked up Chance and a prescription and stopped by the Nursing Home where my Mom will be spending a couple of weeks. She was not there yet..we were both exhausted..we came home and took a nap..the phone rang off the hook..I was just too tired to answer it.

I spoke to Mom later..she is in considerable pain. My sister was with her Wednesday..and my brother from Oregon will be here soon. Prayers for my Mom would be greatly appreciated. Prayers for pain relief and for a complete recovery.

Far Guy could always use a prayer too..I am still a bit miffed with him for scaring me half to death. He has no chest pain..he has some pain at the cath site and is supposed to take it easy for a few days. I have had enough excitement to last me a long time..:)

Wistful Wednesday : Christmas 1969

2011-12-07T06:04:00.000-06:00

This is a photo of Far Guys Maternal Grandparents. This was taken in December of 1969. The year that Far Guy and I got married.

I am not quite sure why these two got married? Opposites must attract.

Curt was kind and gentle, small things delighted him..just visiting brought out the best in him..he loved to read..mainly westerns. He always sat in an old oak rocker. He was tall, he walked bent over..his hips and knees had seen better days and he walked with a cane. He died in 1973 four years after this photo was taken.

Meade was ornery. Of course we have to cut her a little slack, she almost died from Tuberculosis. She was in the sanitarium for many years. The TB destroyed her hearing, she was deaf and refused to learn to read lips or sign. Everyone used the “Magic Slate” to communicate with her. She would talk to herself..of course she could not hear herself..she often cussed under her breath, or so she thought. She did beautiful handiwork, embroidery and crocheting with fine thread and a very small hook..until she lost her eyesight. I have many of her works of art. She lived a good long time. She spent 17 years as a widow.

Curt liked a “nip” occasionally and kept a bottle hidden in the barn. All the Grand boys knew where it was hidden. If he went to town with Walt the next door neighbor, Meade would be sure to send Alaska Guy along..thinking that they wouldn’t stop at the liquor store for a drink if they had a child with them…she was wrong. Alaska Guy enjoyed a soda at the bar almost every trip to town…and he was sworn to secrecy.

For a wedding gift we got a full set of embroidered tea towels. I still have them in the same box with the same tissue paper covering them. The box was decorated in an odd way. I wish I had kept it. Tied to the bow was a large plastic spoon, tied to small holes on the outer edge of the spoon were many blue and pink bows that held about a dozen tiny babies..Meade wrote on the spoon..a little poem..about “spooning” and the result which would be lots of babies!

Our girls called her “the scary grandma”..because she couldn’t hear she spoke loudly and made lots of extra noises that she didn’t know she was making. Her voice was high pitched and squeaky. We took them to visit late on Sunday afternoons for years…when she became blind..often she would grab at people..searching for a friendly hand.

One day before Meade went totally blind. She looked at Far Guys Mom and then at Far Guys Dad and said “ You sure have been bringing that man with you for a long time.” :)

Waiting for snow..

2011-12-06T06:03:00.000-06:00

We are waiting for snow..no I have not heard that any is coming. The ground is barely white. My prediction of no measurable snow until February is getting closer to fulfillment every week…

Next door there is some big time waiting happening.

New shovels ready for three kids to shovel some serious white stuff. They told me that they love to shovel. Their Mom told me “ We only had one shovel and they were fighting over it.” She did what anyone would have done..she went out and bought three shovels, one for each of the little darlings. Now there will be no more fighting over shovels. I told them to come over and shovel at our house if they run out of snow at their place.

It is below zero here. It was –5F or –20C at 10 PM last night. It was a cold damp day yesterday, the air was bitterly cold. If it would snow it would feel warmer…at least I think it would.

18 more shopping days until Christmas..gifts purchased 2. Ornament project completed. Trees decorated..0. Decorations up..one carved Santa from a garage sale, I cleaned out my wood carving bag :)

Christmas Parties

2011-12-05T06:01:00.000-06:00

I am not a big fan of Christmas parties. I am all partied out. The two parties I was expected at are over..I can breathe a sigh of relief. Goodies were purchased..gifts were exchanged. All is well in Christmas party land.

My cousin was all decorated for Christmas..her tree was up and everything. I think hosting the Cousins Christmas Party may have something to do with that. Most of my cousins had some kind of old lady Christmas shirt on..some had ornaments..some had glittery poinsettias..some had snowmen. I wore my thermal hot pink top..you know the kind..it looks like long underwear and is toasty warm…and being thermal if I have a hot flash or two it absorbs all the beads of sweat. I do not have the inclination to muck up my wardrobe with some fancy smancy glittery thing that I will only wear once or twice a year. How in the world do you wash some of those 3D sweaters and vests anyway? Goodness sakes..I suppose they go to the dry cleaners. I have been there..I take my feather pillows there every five years or so to get cleaned and re-ticked.

At cousins the food was all potluck..I took a pork roast and some Chocolate Covered Cherries and some Turtles..my kind of baking..straight out of the package!

At the Historical Societies Party..it was order off the menu at a local restaurant..but with restrictions since we were a group of 18 we could not order anything but baked potato or French fries..and could not order their specialty a “Sizzler”..which is a decent steak served in a cast iron skillet. We thought we were being nice by making a reservation..instead it just gave them the opportunity to restrict us. I asked “Don’t you have enough cast iron skillets?..next year we can bring our own.” The service was fine..but the food was not that great..the salad bar had no herring and no sunflower seeds. Plus that..it smelled like grease in the place. I absolutely hate it when I am out for dinner and my hair comes home smelling of fried grease..it is still quite obvious that their fans in the kitchen have not improved. That was one of the reasons we stopped going out for dinner there years ago. We most likely will not return for a very long time. I would not have left a tip..but my husband overlooks poor food and feels sorry for the struggling wait staff.

Gifts purchased 2. Shopping days left..19. Decorations brought out 0. Trees decorated 0. The Hand Carved Christmas Ornaments will be all finished tomorrow morning..and Far Guy and I have discussed the tree:)

Chance: I Killed My Duck

2011-12-04T06:05:00.000-06:00

My name is Chance and I killed my duck. I ripped out is innards and sent them flying..innards were everywhere. Far Guy said “Stop already, take it to Far Side and she will fix it for you.”

Okie dokie..here it is..

My duck had a hole in it and his squeaker fell out. Luckily Far Side can wield a simple needle and thread.

She would never have made a good surgeon..but she stuffed that squeaker back in and sewed it all up. It only has one little wing. I think someone may have eaten the other wing accidently. It is almost good as new..and may last a couple more ~~days~~ minutes. My duck used to live on top of the fridge and then someone who is tall forgot to put it back up one day last summer..so it has been in my toy bucket..it is one of my favorite toys.

Yes, my name is Chance and I love my duck to pieces:)

Cold Feet

2011-12-03T06:05:00.000-06:00

We checked out the water coming out of Fish Hook Lake yesterday. The lake seems frozen for the most part. The ice is not safe yet..for dogs or humans. I heard that there was a successful rescue of a dog on a nearby lake.

The Fish Hook River has quite a current and the water is open.

“Whatcha been doing ..are your feet cold?”

“Crazy youngins ..I guess when they get cold enough they will sit on their feet and warm them up.”

“Bottoms Up!”

I had a blast watching the Swans. I wonder if they will stay all winter? We will have to keep an eye on them. Chance rolled down his window ( he does that all by himself if he wants to hang his head out..it scares the crap out of Far Guy) anyways Chance watched patiently and did not bark. As soon as he rolls down his window Far Guy locks all the windows..so he doesn’t try to roll it up on himself..crazy dog.

Swans and other fowl like ducks and geese can get cold feet. The temperature in their feet is cooler.. they escape hypothermia because their arteries and veins are close to each other and exchange cold for heat and visa versa..very efficient. If all else fails they sit on the ice and cover up their feet, or hold one foot up under their feathers to warm it up.

A much better system than fuzzy socks! :)

21 shopping days till Christmas..gifts bought 2..both were wrapped and delivered. Ornaments left to paint..14.

December: Christmas Lists

2011-12-02T06:02:00.000-06:00

It is the second day of December. 22 more shopping days till Christmas. We have a skiff of snow..not enough to cover up the grass. We have had some real frosty mornings.

Usually we have lots of snow by now..It is hard to get into the shopping mood without three feet of snow and the wind blowing and temperatures below zero.

So I am not in the shopping mood yet. I am not sure when or if the mood will strike me..guess I will just wait around and see what happens. I have 22 days..that is over three weeks!! Certainly within the next three weeks I will be in the mood to shop for an hour or two. Maybe.

I guess everyone has a list someplace on some web site..not sure how to find it..I suppose I should figure that out first. I was there once and couldn’t find anyone's “stuff.”

I never gave my Grandmother a list. I usually got one gift from Grandma and Grandpa because I was their God Child ( they renounced the devil and all his wicked works and ways for me when I was an infant at my baptism.) The other grandkids didn’t get anything. They got a gift when they were born.

Sometimes I got a pair of flannel pajamas from them..warm and cozy for the long winter. Or a hat and a scarf that matched..or mittens. When I got older, I got Corning Ware..and much later in life..Grandma would say, “Pick out a couple of my pretty dishes to take with you.”

My baby brother and I would mark up the Wish Book that came in the Fall. We would circle all the treasures we wanted, and dream about what would be under the tree for us. The Wish Book was good for many hours of entertainment. We used to save them from one year to the next so we wouldn’t have to share the same book. I suppose the Wish Book was our way of making a list. We may have made a list of the most important things we wanted and tucked it into the Wish Book.

I suppose Amazon or wherever those lists are must be the equivalent of a Wish Book..however sometimes I would just like to feel the paper between my fingers as I turn the pages. Of course that makes me “Old Fashioned.” Sometimes the Grands say “Grandma, you just have to get with it.” :)

Playing With Dolls

2011-12-01T06:05:00.000-06:00

I never was much for playing with dolls.

At the Museum we had a naked doll. I shivered every time I passed her case. I was tempted to cover her with some kind of blanket. I wished I could sew…alas I cannot.

However I have a Board Member who is a kind gentle soul who can sew! Her name is Alice! Alice has her own Schoenhut Doll. She told me that her name was Margaret or Beverly or some such name..all really good doll people name their dolls. I have never named a doll in my entire life.

This was the poor naked doll, one foot is a little longer than the other. I am showing you this for a reason. Notice the joints.

Albert Schoenhut was a German Immigrant that settled in Philadelphia, PA in 1911. His family was well known for wooden toy making. He made this doll completely out of wood. The doll heads were carved from basswood. Then they were put in a mold of some sort and heated up to make the head all smooth. Now for the joints. Albert designed and patented a steel spring hinge tension technique. The joints were flexible and allowed the doll to be posed.

Alice sewed. We test fit the new outfit..Alice didn’t like the color of the muslin she used, it was very white. I suggested that she mix up some tea and let the fabric soak up the color. The next day there was a package for me on the Museum steps.

Inside the package was tea stained clothing and tiny little shoes. I sat at my desk and dressed the doll and took some photographs of her.

I emailed Alice a photo. She called me back..and said cut the shoe laces..please! So I did. This doll looks pretty good for being 100 years old.

Some days at the Museum I get paid for playing with dolls. I am working for the Museum part time over the winter..from home. I can work in my jammies..and sometimes I do! :)

Wistful Wednesday: Relatives

2011-11-30T06:02:00.000-06:00

This is an old photo from years ago. I found it among the hunting and fishing photos in my Father In Laws album. I finished that scanning project and made a CD of the photos and packed it all away in the trunk. One more project completed! All the photos were marked with who, when and where with a photo safe marking pencil.

Uncle Willard, Lola, Evelyn, Don and Aunt Louise

This was taken sometime in the early 1950’s. That is Far Guys Mom at the end of the table. The photo is taken from Far Guys Dads spot at the table. So I can safely say he took the photo. It was taken in the formal dining room at their home in Park Rapids Minnesota.

I think this photo has a spring feel to it, the ladies are in short sleeves, the linen tablecloth is the one with the green leaf pattern. They have just finished a platter of sweets of some sort and the silver creamer and sugar set is on the table. I bet it was taken on a Sunday afternoon. Years ago Sunday afternoon was a time for relatives and visiting.

Uncle Willard is not in the best health. Most of his children were here for Thanksgiving. On Sunday afternoon they converged at our house along with other cousins from Detroit Lakes Minnesota..there was no linen table cloth..and no one showed up in a suit…but there was much laughter and lots of reminiscing and coffee and a plate of goodies. Alaska Guy and his brother from Washington DC were very impressed with this photo..it was one that they had never seen before. I made them both copies. ( Lola and their Mother Louise are sisters.) It was a fun afternoon..almost like old times visiting with the relatives on a Sunday afternoon:)

Back to Brown

2011-11-29T06:04:00.000-06:00

It was unseasonably warm one day..it was almost 50 degrees . So all the snow melted. Let’s all say AWWWW together.

So our second snow has come and gone. The next snow.. the third will stay. We are back to brown.

My Dad stopped by one day, I told him that we were going to have a frosty winter without measurable snow until February. He said “Oh no the muskrat houses never lie and we will have lots of snow.” I asked him if he wanted to bet 20 dollars…he didn’t. he said “ If the muskrat house is low..there will be lots of snow. If they are built high..not so much snow.” We will just have to wait and see.

We are still working on the carved Christmas ornaments. In the next day or two or three I will have it all wrapped up! What a pain in the butt this design has been. As soon as I have them all packaged up and mailed out I will share all the details.

I passed up shopping Black Friday..and I passed up shopping on Small Business Saturday too..and Cyber Monday passed without me buying a thing. I never got that shopping gene that women are supposed to have…you know the one where they get all dressed up and shop all day long and smile as they rush from one store to the next picking out the perfect gift for everyone on their list. Was I gypped or just one of the lucky ones?:)

The Five

2011-11-28T06:02:00.000-06:00

We have five grands and it doesn’t look like we will get anymore grandchildren.

They are growing like weeds.

I took the above photo in May of 2011.

Thanksgiving Day I took another photo. Someone who just might be the oldest has stopped growing for the moment…maybe forever. Her sisters passed her up. She was not happy to have slipped two spaces.

She asked me several times “Grandma are you sure? Are you positive that they are both taller than me?”

Sorry “Shorty” ..Your sisters really have to slouch while standing next to you for you to be taller than them.

Just as there are no two stars in the night sky or snowflakes in the air that are exactly the same. These five are very different from each other, they continue to amaze and entertain Far Guy and I:)

Men at Work: Making Lefsa

2011-11-27T06:05:00.000-06:00

Last Wednesday evening was the making of the lefsa. Jen learned how to make lefsa from Andy. His family makes lefsa. Lefsa is mainly potatoes and flour. From what I understand every family has their own recipe, handed down from generation to generation. Andy's family has honeybees so they put honey in the potato mixture…so does Andy. ( I was not paying close enough attention to tell you exactly what the recipe was…besides that it may be a family secret.)

I will eat lefsa..even though potatoes are one of my favorite foods..lefsa is not. IF I eat it I like it with butter and sugar.

I took some photos whilst the men worked!

Andy is mixing and rolling..Far Guy is frying the lefsa on the lefsa griddle. You pick it up with that stick and flop in on the griddle..it looks easy..but I think it might involve a wee bit of coordination.

You need special tools to make lefsa..a special board with a cover and a rolling pin..and a lefsa stick and a griddle. The potatoes must be cooked ahead of time and riced in a potato ricer.

After it comes off the griddle it is folded in half and then half again to cool..then these triangles are cut in half again and packaged. There are no preservatives..so it must go into the freezer until it is used. Take it from me..lefsa can grow some great looking penicillin mold in the fridge if it is kept there too long.

I think this one might be an oops.. maybe Far Guy did it on purpose..he loves lefsa!

I asked Far Guy, “how was your lefsa experience?” He replied “ Fun! I learned how to flip lefsa.”

My Aunt Skip used to work at a lefsa factory, I am not sure where it was located..it might have been in Lake Park or perhaps Hawley. I know there is an old lefsa factory in Hitterdahl Minnesota because there is still a sign on the old building.

Lefsa is a “holiday food” that many people in Minnesota enjoy:)

Pie Bakery

2011-11-26T06:03:00.000-06:00

The pie bakery will not be opening soon. It was a lot of work and I would never be able to resist tasting them all. The pies turned out okay. My Son In Law said “ I didn’t think you were a pie baker..but I guess you are.”

I gathered all the ingredients and the chosen recipes and I moved into Jens kitchen and baked them.

I have made a Pumpkin Pie before. I could not find the can opener. I asked Adam “If you were a can opener where would you be in your Mom’s kitchen?” He replied, “I have no idea.” Far Guy came to the rescue. Jen had some new kind of fancy smancy can opener that is kid safe and grandparent safe too..because it took us a half an hour to open a can of pumpkin… and then only because Far Guy went through the motions without realizing he had opened the can. I have never seen the likes of that can opener before.

This pie was tasty. Far Guy told the Grands.. “You know kids, I never used to like pumpkin pie, but now I do.” They decided that he had old taste buds..as none of them like pumpkin pie.

I used two different kind of apples..Granny Smith and Pink Ladies. It was nice and tart!

I still don’t have that crust push pull look pretty edge technique down correctly.

Late at night, Maddie and Noah volunteered to help me create the Chocolate Caramel Pie…the kitchen was a lefsa factory for quite awhile..before it could go back to being a pie bakery. I had everything pre measured..so it was easy. Maddie melted the dark baking chocolate and Noah stirred.

I am sure it had a gazillion calories:)

Scraps

2011-11-25T06:05:00.000-06:00

Tuesday I spent the day with my cousins. It was a quilting project. We each brought a half of a yard of fabric that was cut into 2 1/2 inch strips.

It seems everyone had more than plenty of scraps. These are Hilda’s. We threw them all inside a paper bag and mixed them up. Those who sewed were supposed to blindly grab three pieces of fabric out of the bag and sew them together. There were four cousins ( Geraldine, Diana, Evelyn and Hilda) that sewed the strips together. They are multi talented and can talk and sew all at the same time… and giggle.

I pressed the seams all the same way and Kathy squared up the blocks and cut them to the correct size. Aunt Anna did whatever needed doing..sewing..ripping out seams that were too fat..and squaring up squares.

Then they were sewed into long strips.

And finally a quilt emerged.

This one had two more strips to be sewn on..but it was getting dark and it had been a long day..so I came home.

Things heard at the gathering:

“How big of a quilt are we making?” “We are just sewing all the fabric up.” “We have no idea.” “Who knows?”

“What if we don’t have enough fabric?” “Never fear I have more fabric stashed in the house.” OR “I can run home and get whatever we need.”

“What time is lunch?” “Noonish..what time is it now?” “12:30 ..time flies when you are having fun.”

Lunch was a feast..Roast Pork for sandwiches on homemade from scratch flat bread, two kinds of homemade soup..and enough bars to feed your sweet tooth for days. I brought grapes and pumpkin bread.

The quilts..I think there are two in the works..one full size and possibly a twin or a throw will be completed over the winter and they will be put away for a family in need or donated to a good cause:)

Turkey Day!

2011-11-24T06:03:00.000-06:00

“Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.” Author Unknown

I hope the pies turn out..but who really cares after a wonderful meal with family:)

Wistful Wednesday: The Twins

2011-11-23T06:07:00.000-06:00

My Uncle and Aunt are twins and they were born 60 years ago this week. I am just two months older than them. When they were born..there were three babies in the house..my Mother was staying with her parents while my Dad was in Korea. Can you imagine the cloth diapers the three of us went through?

This is my Aunt Karen and my Uncle Kenny. Karen was very spoiled and often got me and Kenny into trouble. She used to bawl even before we thought about doing bad stuff to her..she was a brat. Kenny was a fun kid..and remains a very good friend..even though we don’t see him very often. He is one of my favorite people.

It was with these two that I spent almost every Thanksgiving Day from the time I could remember until I was married. Grandma would spend the entire week preparing the feast and the house would be filled with Aunts and Uncles and babies..lots of babies over the years…and lots of dishes too. The men would be in the dining room and spill over into the living room and all the women and children would be in the kitchen. It would be a long day..I always wanted to be home by the time The Wizard of Oz came on TV..remember when it was telecast only on Thanksgiving evening..or sometimes Christmas Day in the evening? It only came on once a year..there were no reruns. Sometimes Kenny and Karen and I would all be sitting right in front of the TV in the living room watching the magic unfold..and then my parents would say “Come on..it is time to go home.” So I would miss 25 minutes and I would hope all the way home that the commercials were very very long.

The Wizard of Oz, stuffing with apples and raisins, dark turkey meat and pumpkin pie with real whipped cream….just a few memories of Thanksgiving so long ago:)

My Cookbook

2011-11-22T06:03:00.000-06:00

My Cookbook is almost 42 years old. We got two of them as wedding gifts. One was hard bound and one was in a five ring binder. One of them was from one of Far Guys X girlfriends. I was insulted. ( I think my lip may have quivered..people that know me well will run for cover at the first sign of a quiver.) After all I could make a real tasty grilled cheese sandwich complete with warmed up tomato soup out of a can and I could scramble an egg, sometimes even without burning it!

As it happened..she (the X) got married the next weekend. We attended the fancy smancy wedding with candelabras on every pew and violin music. I re-gifted her the hardbound Betty Crocker cookbook..and I kept the one in the five ring binder for myself. I wonder if she still has it..I know she doesn’t have the husband. ( Ha! I still have mine!)

There are parts of this cookbook that are all worn out. The cookie sections have notes and recipes written in the margins.

Pathetic looking isn’t it? Perhaps I should invest in some of those circle thingys to reinforce the holes.

Some are single sheets..well loved recipes..proof that once upon a time I made cookies for my girls. A long time ago they were each encouraged to choose two kinds of Christmas Cookies..and they would help me bake. Far Guy always chose the Ginger Snaps with that improved recipe written in red ink. That other recipe in the center of the page is for a soft molasses raisin cookie that gets topped with a powdered sugar frosting..yummy. That was my favorite! I know it doesn’t say anything about raisins or a frosting..but believe me..that is a good cookie.

One confusing recipe is written on the front cover. I know I was talking to my Grandma Drewes on the phone when I wrote it down. It was her recipe for my favorite Russian Dill Pickles. Hopefully I have the real recipe written down someplace else.

I have almost worn this book out and I still cannot cook. I watch all kinds of cooking shows and collect recipe books to read..not sure it has ever done a lick of good.

42 years ago this cookbook had a front and a back cover..I still have the back cover..for old times sake. I suppose I should look for a new index..everything beyond half of R is missing:)

Chance: Snow Fun

2011-11-21T06:05:00.000-06:00

Hey it’s me again..the handsome blogging Border Collie..seems like only a day or two has passed since Far Side handed over her computer.. she is busy doing “stuff” and trying to get her head above water with some of her projects before Thanksgiving. So I get to blog.

I love the snow..betcha didn’t know that..I love it as much as Far Side hates it.

I love it when the snow moves.

Hurry up..hurry up..shovel faster!

Someone could shovel for me all day long if they were bored.

Far Guy quit as soon as the patio was all shoveled off. Did you know that I eat snow? I love it..but if I eat too much I start to shiver..and then Far Guy makes me come in the house to warm up. I keep busy licking the snow clumps from in-between my toes while I warm up enough to go back outside again. Yes, I have my very own water dish in the house..but snow..there is nothing better than cold cold snow..it is so much fun:)

Lost in email

2011-11-20T06:07:00.000-06:00

I had to come up for air..I was being swallowed alive by emails. They were calling my name..demanding attention and organization. Do you remember this..where is that info?

I was born in September..us Virgos like to be in control of everything around us and we will micro manage everything that we can..if we have enough time.

I have three email accounts to manage..two of my own and one for the museum. Not everything can be saved nor should it be.

At the museum I often print out important emails… and I printed out a list of all of the museums email contacts!! Yes..I am organized!

Over the summer I got a little behind in my personal email..in one account I had over 500 emails. I had to send out a couple of apologies..and an inquiry or two or three. I still have 80 messages in that account..progress..but still not completely organized.

Last June when I got a new computer I could no longer use Outlook Express so I called our Internet Provider and went to Live Mail. Did you know that they can take over your computer remotely and move your mouse around and click here and there and get it all set up in just a few minutes. I did not know that anything like that was possible and I am sure I sat here at the computer with my jaw dropped very near my keyboard. Anyways I lost every email address I had..and I had not backed them up or printed them out. Who knew? I got caught up on that email the hard way by losing it all. Not organized.

I make folders for important stuff and after I read something I folder it or delete it..unless I just need it for a short time before it is deleted..it is that short time that gets me behind. I suppose it all depends on what your definition of a short time is..days ..weeks..months.

I do not allow the snail mail junk mail to stack up at home..I love my shredder..now if I could just use that same mentality with my email. How do you handle your email? Do you have any helpful hints to help control email?

The snow has not melted yet:(

Chance: Free free at last

2011-11-19T06:03:00.000-06:00

Hiya! It is I, Chance the most handsome blogging Border Collie in Minnesota!

I am free, free at last. It snowed and all the skunks S.H.O.U.L.D. be in hibernation for the winter. There are only deer, rabbit and fox tracks out there…along with mine of course!

Getting skunked was the worst. Far Side can’t get over it and reminds me almost daily to “Leave all the skunks alone.” She doesn’t care if they are looking for bird seed or wandering through the yard..I am to leave them alone. Do you know how hard it is for a Border Collie not to herd something?

I am allowed outside by myself now. I am very good about staying in my yard. Far Guy and I go for several walks everyday, out of the yard..together. We keep the wood fires burning down at the shop. Far Guy takes his phone just in case he falls and breaks a hip or something..and IF I come back by myself like I did yesterday Far Side will take me in her car to go see what the problem is. ( There was no problem..just a bunch of guys loading up an old tractor and Far Guy was helping.) For awhile it was me and Far Side to the rescue! I love it when she says “Chance get in the car!”

The deer are now running through my yard. There must be a whole herd of them. I bark at them..but I do not chase them. Far Side calls them “Tick Carriers” and wishes that more of them would have met their demise during hunting season.

I went to see Odda last Sunday..she musta been missing me because she was real happy to see me!

Odda has her own furball…I didn’t chase her either. We had a good visit. Yesterday I heard that Odda was off to the Doctor for a little surgery..so she cannot have puppies. Far Side said “No Puppies..that is sad.” Oh well..I cannot have puppies either… and she wasn’t real heart broken when she drug me to the Vet for my “little surgery.” So she should just get over it!

That cats name is either Sophie or Sophia Furball, Odda has two cats and it is hard to remember which one is which:)

Pies

2011-11-18T06:03:00.000-06:00

Someone has more faith in me than they should. I am in charge of pies for Thanksgiving. Perhaps they just assumed I would bale out and buy some pies at the store..and that was an option I thought about..but dismissed.

I sent out an email and took votes. Some family members responded and some did not. I warned them in the email..if you don’t vote don’t complain.

I considered the votes and made the decision to make Pumpkin ( one of my favorites) and Apple. I will try to lure in the No Pie votes that were made by two young men by making a Brownie Caramel Pie with no nuts. I have the recipes out and the items I need entered on the grocery list..I am prepared to bake!

I am also in charge of the Pumpkin Bread..there are no fussy eaters when it comes to pumpkin bread..all of the grands like it. I use a very old recipe that was shared by Joyce a long time ago. I always think of her when I bake it and smile..Joyce would have liked that..she was all about food and family and good times shared.

Joyce’s Pumpkin Bread

4 Eggs

3 Cups Sugar

2/3 cup H2O

3 1/3 Cups Flour

1 Cup Oil

2 Cups Pumpkin ( Yellow sticky note says 15 oz can of Pumpkins works fine and it does. All Pumpkin is not created equal either..I always try to use Libby’s)

1 1/2 teaspoons Salt

1 teaspoon Nutmeg

2 teaspoons Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Cinnamon ( I use about two)

Bake 350 degrees for an hour

( I put all the liquids in a large bowl..mix well and then add the flour..etc.. I usually make a number of small loaves and bake them about 30 minutes. If you use a bread pan it will take 60 minutes to bake. This recipe will fill two bread pans.)

I had a heck of a time hanging onto this recipe..I would have to call Nellie and say “give me your Mom’s Recipe again”..and she would. The last time I got this recipe about 35 years ago..I wrote it in my Betty Crocker Cookbook. Since then I know exactly where to find it:)

Second Snow

2011-11-17T06:01:00.000-06:00

It began to snow late on Monday and it has snowed off and on since then.

Chance looks good in snow.

I guess winter must be here..I found my snow boots and my parka. Far Guy moved the snow shovel next to the front door..it seems he put it away such a short time ago.

Far Guy picked a new spot for the snow stake so we can keep track of the snowfall levels. Blog readers ~~can be bored to death~~ amazed at the snow fall amounts in Minnesota once again and yes we will most likely have a snow stick contest of some sort. Not sure what yet..but it will be something really exciting! ..maybe.

Thirty two of the sixty Christmas ornaments have been completed. We are over half done.. whoopee!

I am never in much of a Christmas mood until after Thanksgiving..and sometimes not even then. I am already sick of the Christmas Carols..if I hear “Have yourself a merry little Christmas” a la wally world or Justin Biebers rendition of “Little Drummer Boy” even one more time I may just skip Christmas this year…with all the hype surrounding that dude I thought he would be able to sing better than me..and I am tone deaf. He has all three of our Granddaughters swooning. “ OH he is so dreamy.” “He is the best singer..and makes me have goose bumps all up and down my arms.” Uffda..youth:)

Wistful Wednesday: 1955 Deer Hunting Continued

2011-11-16T06:01:00.000-06:00

Last week I told you all about the deer that hung in the stairway at Far Guys childhood home for many years. It is now upstairs in our home.

I actually found an old photo of the deer hanging high in the stairway.

Then I found photos of many members of the family with the deer. Now this would have been totally normal in the 1950’s and beyond if you were part of a hunting family. I was always excited when my Dad came home with a deer and we wanted to have our photographs taken with it too!

Cousin Jay, Far Guy and Far Guys Dad.

Far Guys sister..I can just hear Far Guys Mother saying “Janice put your scarf on before going outside with that deer.”

This sure looks like cousin Bonnie to me..high-water pants and all. Look at that.. no snow boots either…no wonder she likes to escape to Florida in the winter.

It was fun for me to find all these old photos in an old hunting and fishing photo album that belonged to Far Guys Dad. I am in the process of scanning them…just one of my many projects:)

Brown and Pins

2011-11-15T06:02:00.000-06:00

I like the color brown..earthy..most of the interior of our home is decorated in warm shades of brown.

I have a hard time with the outside browns. Blah brown mixed with shades of grey. How wonderful…

This is our yard to the east looking north. I put up a chickadee flag to brighten things up. Yes, that is a clothes pin holding the flag in place. When the wind blows it will blow that flag right off of the holder and I will have to walk around in the woods looking for it..I still have a flag lost out there someplace. Since that loss.. the clothes pin does a good job.

Now this is a highly scientific survey..how many of you have heard the term “Pin Money?”

Far Guy insists that he had never heard that term before. We were conversing..I said “OH so and so thought that she was working for pin money when in fact she was working to buy groceries and pay rent.” Far Guy said “What is pin money?” I replied “A woman’s money that she can use to buy pins or whatever else she desires.” Hat pins, stick pins, clothes pins..fabric..rugs ( my Aunt Toots took a job once because she wanted new throw rugs in her kitchen).

Far Guy said “Oh..like us guys have fun money..you women have pin money?” Yes dear.

I suppose he has never heard of “Egg Money” either..my Mom had egg money..from the sale of eggs..but egg money was usually used to buy groceries not pins:)

Little Black Box

2011-11-14T06:07:00.000-06:00

One day last September as I went up the steps to the museum I noticed that someone had left me a gift. Alice sometimes leaves me items in plastic bags with notes inside. But this was just a little black box. I scooped it up and opened the door and went in and sat it on the volunteer desk.

Too late I thought..what if it is not a gift? What if it is something not so good? It was heavy..it didn’t feel like it could be anything alive?..or worse than that something deadly. It looked old. Besides that it was too late..if it was going to explode it certainly would have done it when I picked it up. Yup I was still alive..I work in a museum for gosh sakes..in a small town..stuff like that doesn’t happen here. People drop off donations and set them on the step…that is normal.

Just then Kelly and Sam ( Kelly is the Director of the Art Gallery upstairs and Sam is her son whom she homeschools. ).. came in the door. I showed them the black box. Sam was immediately captivated..who do you suppose left it on the step? Cool..how does it open? I wasn’t sure. Finally we got it open..

It is a very portable Bennett Typewriter. I told Sam to go upstairs and when he was done with his homework we would try it out and see what we could find out about it.

We found an advertisement..so we made a copy and put it in the typewriter.

New Typewriter $18

A remarkable typewriter carried in grip or in overcoat pocket. Standard keyboard. Does work of $100 machine. Over 26,000 in daily use. Bennett Portable Typewriter has less than 250 parts against 1,700 top 3,700 in others. That’s the secret of our $18 price. It’s built in the famous Elliot – Fisher Billing Machine Factory, sold on a money back unless satisfied guaranty. Wt. 4 1/2 Ibs. You can carry for home use, business or trips.

D G Bennett Typewriter Company 365 Broadway NY

Charles Bennett invented this smallest keyboard ever produced. ( Well the smallest back in 1910.)

Sam and I had fun with our research..we even got the typewriter to type! Later that day Sam came back downstairs and told me that he wrote a paper all about the Bennett.

When someone donates something I try to get as much information as possible about the item. The paperwork for this accession is still in my “in” basket, I thought that someone may come by and take credit for the donation.

One of the great things about working in a museum is learning about so many different things and sharing them. The museum is closed for the winter, the building has no heat. I still work for them on a very part time basis, checking phone messages, emails and writing the weekly blog:)

Projects and Fall Cleaning

2011-11-13T06:04:00.000-06:00

The windows are all washed! It was a beautiful day yesterday..warm..almost 50 degrees. I helped Far Guy haul and stack some wood and then he helped me wash the windows. Teamwork.

Slowly I am getting some Fall housecleaning done and some projects completed. I had to sneak in a few hours working for the museum this week, updating a phone and email list and sending out the invitations for the Christmas Party. I also had a meeting..brainstorming fundraisers..which ones are worth a try..and which ones we should pass on.

The Christmas Ornament carving project is coming along. Not as fast as I would like but we still have time. This project is not only hand carved but painted too. I am an idiot.

My cousins and I are doing another quilt to keep on hand just incase. We are supposed to cut strips of fabric in 2 1/2 inch strips, I washed the material and will attempt to cut some strips one of these days. (It involves measuring and cutting straight..both things that challenge me.) We are all donating fabric and will put all the strips in a bag and the gals that sew will just grab them out of a bag and sew them together..it will be what it will be. I did not make a dent in my fabric stash..and I don’t even sew anymore. The day we work on the quilt I will be a presser..my Aunt Anna will tell me exactly how to do it.

Which reminds me..I recently cleaned out the furnace/laundry room. The ironing board was all dusty. I grabbed it out of its hiding place and dust rabbits flew all over. I had to vacuum it off before wiping it down. I had to do the same thing with the iron. Far Guy said “Maybe you should just toss it away?” I said “Well it was a wedding gift.” He said “Really? Who gave it to us?” I have no idea..I could look it up. The last time it was used..his sister drug it out..about five years ago.

I hate ironing..I used to do all Far Guys heavily starched military uniforms. The Shelties hated the sound the metal sliding thingamabob on the ironing board would make when the ironing board was set up or taken down. I could almost hear them barking… Chance doesn’t bark.. he rarely barks. He whines sometimes..but he is really silent compared to the Shelties. They hated the vacuum cleaner too..they would bark and snap at it.. Funny what the sound of a thingamabob sliding on a 42 year old ironing board will remind you of.

Todays pretty picture.

Chance in the daisy’s last June :)

Out and About

2011-11-12T06:04:00.000-06:00

One afternoon ( Wednesday Nov 08 before the snow..which melted! ) we went out and about for a ride. Chance and I were a little stir crazy.

There is ice on the river at the Dead Beaver Area.

This was taken at 4PM..the sun is on it’s way down.

We headed over to Guyles Lake..it was frozen over. A group of Swans came over looking for open water..they attempted to land and took off trumpeting. You can see them off to the left by those two trees.

The moon was almost full.

The sun was retreating.

The turkeys were in the neighbors field scratching around for leftovers. Chance opened his window..but he just watched and watched until the turkeys took off.

We headed home in the twilight just before dark..and it wasn’t quite 5PM. We thought we might see a deer or two..no luck..we did see some hunters on their stands. It has been quiet around here with very little shooting. Two more days and Deer Hunting season will be over:)

Eleven-Eleven-Eleven

2011-11-11T06:02:00.000-06:00

This won’t happen again for another hundred years..and it is Veterans Day too!

We should never forget about the fight for freedom.

The granite is cold under foot.

My Dad and my Uncles..one of my Uncles is left behind buried on a foreign shore. I believe it broke my Grandmothers heart when he was killed in action in 1944.

Far Guys Uncle Jimmy.

Far Guys Uncle Archie.

The names..the granite blocks form a walkway..a walkway of soldiers names.

ALL GAVE SOME……………………SOME GAVE ALL

All photos taken the The Veteran’s Memorial Park in Park Rapids Minnesota.

If you are a Veteran..Thank you for your service to our country! :)

First Snow

2011-11-10T06:03:00.000-06:00

It started snowing yesterday afternoon..then I had a nap..when I woke up the ground was white. I thought it might be an apparition or a nightmare..but it was not.

This is our first snowfall of the winter. I have been wearing my crocs with socks..it may be time to put them away. Winter doesn’t officially arrive for another six weeks or so..I knew it would be early again and it was only a matter of time. I have to go upstairs and find my parka..and my mittens… and maybe my cheerful winter attitude too.

I am so not a winter person..I like it 72 degrees year round. I like sunshine and warmth…not cold and darkness. Since some idiot decided to change the time..the sun sets at 5PM. I think I would like to hibernate like a sleepy old bear..or a stinky old skunk. ( I am hoping that all the skunks are sleeping away the winter..I let Chance out this evening off lead.)

We started the outdoor woodstove this year on October 30th. The woodstove keeps the house and the hot water toasty warm. Far Guy is still cutting wood for the woodshed, he has enough cut for the winter but would like to fill it up …it must be a guy thing.

**** Area News: Someone I have known for years ( since high school) is growing one of those Jack Pine Savage beards. He looks like he is impersonating someone who wears a hat and has a horse and buggy. I wanted to get a photo of his beard..since it was so interesting looking with multiple colors..brown, blonde and grey. He was fairly uncooperative. He only let me look at his beard when I put my camera away.

In our Senior Class in High School he was voted the “guy with the prettiest eyes” and “a wolf” ..

I did get a shot of his other assets:)

Wistful Wednesday: Deer Hunting 1955

2011-11-09T06:05:00.000-06:00

During November 1955 Far Guys Dad and Uncle were hunting near Northome Minnesota.

Far Guy does not remember the hunting story. It must have been a cooperative effort between brothers.

This is Far Guys Dad, Marvin with the deer. The photo is labeled on the back. Marvin nice deer.

This photo is marked. Jim and a nice deer. ( The little dog must be Tiny..he was a a Chihuahua.)

This sign hangs at the bottom of the mount. It says:

Taken by James and Marvin Henderson Near Northome Minn Nov 1955.

I do know that the deer hung in the stairway that went upstairs at Far Guys House. When Trica and Jennifer were little they couldn’t figure out where the rest of it was. Some nights they would not go upstairs to sleep because the scary old deer was looking at them. They would would sit on the steps and bawl. When they got older we would encourage them to run up the stairs real fast and not look at the deer. Some days they were very brave and wanted to be picked up and held on the stair rail to pet the scary deer.

Somehow we inherited the deer. It hung in the family room in the house in Harwood North Dakota. Nowadays it hangs upstairs on the wall above the bathroom door.

Some days I think it has a smirk. We dust it off every once in awhile with the vacuum cleaner. It looks really good for it’s age.

Cousin Bonnie gave the old photos to Far Guy last summer:)

Comb Case

2011-11-08T06:04:00.000-06:00

How many of you have a comb? I do not own a comb. I have used a hair brush for years. Far Guy has no hair but he has a comb, in the spring and summer he carries it in his back pocket so that he can comb through Chances hair and remove ticks before they have a chance to attach themselves to the dog.

Far Guy’s Dad used to have a comb in his pocket. For the comb over..you know..he was one of those balding guys that tried to hang onto every hair on his head. So he grew his hair longer on one side and combed it over..he looked funny in the wind. He usually wore a cap of some kind outdoors.

This is a comb case from the museum. It is the pioneer cabin..it should probably be in the heritage room. It is one item that people comment on. “ I have not seen one of those before.” “I didn’t know there was such a thing as a comb case.”

It is made from tin. I think this was painted by someone who might not be an artist.

It may have been in a Barber Shop and it may have held regular combs ..or it may have been in a dressing room of a fancy lady during the late 1800’s or early 1900’s. It may have held pretty combs..for holding your long locks in an updo:)

Hunting

2011-11-07T06:03:00.000-06:00

My Dad got a deer on Saturday Morning. He showed up for coffee and to wash his hands.

I can be a sensitive old broad sometimes so I will spare you the fresh kill photos. Knives..to cut open the body cavity..and water to wash it out.

One less tick carrier is in the woods now. I hope for a good deer harvest in our area. If you ask me everyone that hunts should be able to harvest several deer. Dad would have enjoyed hunting longer and would have taken another deer for his friend Darrel who is blind if multiple licenses were issued.

If it is a winter with heavy snow..the deer will be wolf meat anyway. Mother Nature is sometimes cruel.

I found a feather, maybe from a Wild Turkey. It is on my desk so I can share it with Adam the next time he visits..I wonder if we can make a quill pen out of it? I will heat up some sand in the oven in a soup can and then put the quill in the sand until it is cool..to temper the quill..so it makes the quill stronger. I wasn’t hunting for feathers..but I was pleased to find this nice specimen. I even found a recipe for children to make their own ink to use with a quill.

Natures Ink

Crush 1/2 cup ripe berries add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon vinegar. Store in airtight container.

I think I will go hunting tomorrow for another feather:)

Flu shot or not?

2011-11-06T05:02:00.000-06:00

Flu shots in the grocery store..flu shots in Wally World..flu shots in the corner drug store..walk in anytime. Insurance covers most shots and they do the paper work for you.

Far Guy gets a flu shot E.V.E.R.Y. year. He was upset that he missed the one at his favorite grocery store..where you have to stand in line for two hours. ( But they have free cookies and juice.) On Friday when we were in town he was insistent that he get his shot. It must be the Military part of him..he musta missed being shot full of all kinds of strange serums. You should read his shot record..then again maybe not.

I was not convinced. I had a flu shot two years ago that irritated the bursa in my shoulder and I had a really hard recovery that included a cortisone injection and physical therapy for six weeks. At least the flu goes away in a couple of days. Since then if they want to give me a shot..they can find a nice fatty spot on my butt. I had my pneumonia shot and my tetanus shot there with no adverse reactions.

The Nurse had never given a flu shot in the butt before..she thought it was a strange request. Come on sweetie..seen one seen em all..just pick a spot. I figured if she didn’t want to give it to me..I would go without.

I have an area about the size of a grapefruit that is hard as a rock in my left butt cheek. I have a scratchy throat..I am achy all over..I am cranky..I think I might have the flu. I think I got the flu from the flu shot. They say that is impossible..

I got the flu shot because I remember when I was little and had the Asian Flu and was in the hospital and the Nuns washed me in cool water and took my temperature rectally. I also remember in January of 1976 when we all got the flu..Far Guy, me and Trica..the only one that didn’t have the flu was Jennifer and she was just four months old. My Mother had to risk her health to come take care of us all.

Last winter I did not get a flu shot and I did not have the flu. Far Guy had the flu shot and he had the flu at least three times. I think I should cook up some soup and put it in the freezer and stock up on jello and seven up…maybe popsicles too for the scratchy throat:)

Pretty Picture Today: Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’ a perennial.