Residue

a small amount of something that remains after the main part has gone or been taken or used.

I had Lymes from a tick about 22 years ago...untreated.  That left me with residual Lymes.  

Every once in a while it rears its ugly head.   It is miserable.

So I take my medication (doxycycline) until it goes back to where it came from until the next time. 

The symptoms I get are: headache...which I got about two weeks ago and should have known what was coming. Fatigue, chills, swollen lymph nodes, large muscle aches, joint pain and neck stiffness....death would have been welcomed. 

 I am not sure what made the flare surface this time...I was most likely too busy and a bit tired so it got the best of me for a couple of days. 

I am feeling better now, but will take it easy for several more days.  ( I had a five hour "nap" yesterday.)  My Doctor is well aware how a flare effects me and with the medication plan in place I will recover. 

Far Side

Happy Birthday Andy!

 Yesterday was our son in law Andy's birthday!  

Sadie likes him a little the best!  She loves everything he does. 

Happy Birthday Andy!

Far Side

Slowing down

 Another busy day on Thursday, the last of the appointments and a grocery run.  Laundry and some house work and I was done for the day. 

I reached my stop sign about 3PM and headed for the couch and slept and dreamed for almost three hours.   Freezer was for supper...Far Guy chose Spaghetti and I made some nachos for myself and fruit.  Watered tomatoes and flowers after supper and folded the last load of laundry.  It will be an early night.

Friday all I have on my list is to cook up eggs and potatoes for potato salad for a gathering on Saturday. 

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Busy Day Wednesday

Virtual appointment in the morning, some laundry, I met a long time blog reader Kay from Kansas in the afternoon over at her beautiful place on Potato Lake.  I had a very nice visit and the opportunity to pet both of her dogs!  On the way home I stopped at my parents, they were on their way out to a fish fry with old friends from Indiana....so I walked them to their vehicle.  Dad gave me a hug but there was no smile to go with it...so I am sure he did not know who I was.    I did some grocery shopping for some hard to find items and came home and made supper.  After supper we took Ranger Blue to do recycling and took a ride around the block....a country block is 4 miles:)

Rainbow and clouds

After we got home I wandered through one of the wild gardens. 

Black eyed Susans.

My ever vigilant husband locked up for the night.  Apparently he was talking to me and I was not answering ( nothing new about that)...it didn't dawn on him that I was still outside.  I would have been locked out!  However my other baby brother and she who sees robins first stopped by for a visit...she had jury duty yesterday but the case was settled and she got released.  I am very jealous of her getting called for jury duty...I have never been called...that and her hair is turning the most beautiful shades of silver.  I have been working on this grey hair thing for years...and she just started going silver during covid and is way ahead of me! ( Far Guy is helpful...he says he will work harder at helping my hair get more grey.)

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Appointment week

 We have four appointments this week.  Two down and two to go...one is virtual!!  I like those the best. 

Far Guy had a CT scan and saw his Pulmonologist in Grand Forks ND.  Far Guy is doing well and we are supposed to keep on keeping on and come back in six months. 

We did a little shopping at Best Buy, Harbor Freight and Kohls where we met up with Jen.  We went over to Panera Bread for lunch where our grandson Adam is the assistant manager.  He likes his job and the people he works with.  After the last appointment we went to see Sadie and Little Elvis...both were happy to see us. 

So most of the day was spent in the car.  

In this 1928 Model A  it would have been a longer day.  They cruised about 45 miles per hour on good roads. 

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Activities on Monday

 Laundry ( several loads), 51 pick up and put away, mowed lawn and sprayed for ants.   It was a full day.  I went with Far Guy to his Car Club meeting in the evening.  It was okay...they don't run a very organized meeting and it started 23 minutes late but they served root beer floats!  

During the afternoon I worked on the baby afghan and I am now doing the border.  In a few more days I will have it done. 

More yarn may have been stuffed in the mail box and the mail box didn't break this time.  As I was unpacking it some one who shall remain nameless said " When you were a paper hoarder it was less bulky compared to yarn."

Goats Beard or Tragopogon dubius   The large flower has gone to seed.  The root of this plant can be dug up and roasted and may be used as a coffee substitute.  If the economy gets much worse it may be a source of income:)

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Critters

A bear visited...  bent the bird feeder pole took down a bird feeder plopped down on his butt and ate two suet cakes and some bird seed.   The Trail Cam was turned off so there is no photo.  We are bringing the bird feeders in at night now. 

Baxter ate a piece of metal ( part of a fence post wire) got really sick and had emergency surgery on Sunday afternoon.  As of last night he was doing okay. 

Sadie was spayed last week and only spent a few hours quietly before she returned to her normal busy self. 

Photo taken the last time Sadie was here visiting us....it will be a bit before she can go swimming again. 

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Stuff

 I took some photos over at Spirit Lake.  

They added some resting benches along the lake so I sat a spell until the Deer Flies found me.  Oh those buggers can bite.

We had a quiet day on Saturday Far Guy putzed in his garage and woodcarved...he managed to cut a finger but didn't need stitches or bleed to death....how he managed to cut through a steel glove and a layer of vet wrap is beyond me.   He really needs to see a hand surgeon to see if anything can be done for the finger that had the severed tendon years ago in another knife accident....it was surgically repaired but was never really "normal" and is now causing him pain.  I just splinted it and he says it feels better. 

I am working on a baby blanket, hope to finish it up soon.  I finished watching Ozark on Netflix.  I enjoyed that series very much...I give it a 9 ...a little less emphasis on the F word would have gotten it a 10...and many of the night scenes were really dark and it was hard to tell who was who and what was happening.   Not sure what I will watch next...I think Virgin River has some new episodes.  

Partially done...it is further along now.  This is mosaic crochet and a variety of patterns from Winter Wonderland ( still in progress) and Geometrics...I wanted to use variegated yarn...not sure yet if it was a good idea or not but I am using it up! 

Far Guy cooked...Steak Enchiladas...of course the meat was left over from the last batch so I threw it in the crockpot for him.  I should have saved the easy prep for  a night I was cooking!

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First Tomatoes

 We finally had some ripe Yellow Pear Tomatoes!  They are our favorite!   Waiting so long for the first ones to ripen on the vine is so worth it! 

There are many more to ripen.

These are the La Roma tomatoes.  Similar to Roma tomatoes...we like them on salads. 

Not sure what is causing the leaf curl...perhaps the heat. 

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Mosaic Crochet : Costa Nova

 This is one of the projects I am working on. 

This part one of the CAL (crochet a long), I am not sure how many parts there are...six maybe.  

The top part is supposed to be beach umbrellas.  Costa Nova is a small fishing village in Portugal. 

Here is my bucket of yarn.

It was a busy week, my eye appointment was okay...not great but okay.  I am still suspicious for Glaucoma and will have to be tested every six months.   My mammogram results are in and everything boob wise is just fine!   So I am done with Doctors for a bit.  What a relief! 

Far Guy is doing okay, he woodcarves every day. 

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Peg Project

 Some of my Sheepjees Stone Wash yarn has  similar colors...since I like to make yarn balls out of every skein I needed some way to keep track of colors...I have 30 of the 36 colors. 

Using clothes pins/pegs works quite well and will also help me with choosing colors to reorder and help with the color decisions for a mosaic crochet project. 

Far Guy is a great yarn winder.  I pile the near his desk and he winds while watching music videos or movies. 

This yarn is a cotton /acrylic blend so it washes well and you lay it flat to dry.  I use it for my small purse projects and presently a mosaic crochet as you go blanket. 

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Grain Bin Flowers

 The flowers by the grain bin are in full bloom.

Clematis paniculata or Sweet Virgin's Bower.

This is a very old plant...most likely about 23 years old.   It likes this spot!  It started with one small cutting from Faye.   It climbs up a section of wire. 

It will also grow as a ground cover.   Seeds have spread over the years and took over this spot near the grain bin. 

We had a couple of quiet days, Far Guy woodcarving on Christmas Ornaments...I carved one yesterday ...my thumb is just not ready and it begins to hurt.   So I crochet instead.  

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Tomatoes and Flowers

Tomatoes are not ripe yet, we are not so patiently waiting. 

Here is a photo after the pruning...they were taller than my garage.   There are two different plants there...Yellow Pear and La Roma.   Both plants are loaded with green tomatoes. 

The flowers out front are not doing much this year.  Not sure why...perhaps I should have cut them back right after I planted them....usually I pinch all the flowers off. 

They are what they are....the squirrels and chippys are of no help.

It was quite warm yesterday, we were in a heat advisory.  The high was 91 F or 33 C eh!  with high humidity.  

I water the plants every evening when it is this warm.

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Savannah's Birthday

 Wow we are the grandparents of a 26 year old!  

She had a milestone this year with her graduation from College... and her business is doing well...who woulda thought that eye lashes would be a thriving business!  

Of course we should have known. 

This photo was taken about the time that she loaded rocks in her wagon and sold some to the neighbors in Elkhorn Nebraska.   A couple of years later she sold  drawings and coloring book pages to a few of our greenhouse customers they were 25 cents each or 5 for $1.00  a bargain! 

Happy 26th birthday Savannah! 

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Saturday stuff

 We saw a double rainbow one night last week. 

Far Guy wood carved yesterday.  I went to town to visit my parents.  Mom says that Dad is having some very confused days.  However yesterday he was having a good day and knew who I was...not my name but that I was his oldest "kid."   He talked about when Mom and he first met and how she slipped and fell last week and he was not strong enough to help her up.  She has fallen twice recently...she has a bump on her head and a bruise on her arm.  On his confused days Dad is a hand full for Mom.  

In the evening we trimmed back the tomatoes...they were getting way too tall, we had to get a ladder out to trim them.   It was a warm humid day yesterday. 

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Baxter Visits

 Baxter visited us most of the day yesterday since his people had to be in Fargo for surgery.  A plate was put in Beth's foot....the surgery went well and she is recovering at home. 

Baxter was a good boy, he took off once...he knows the way from our house to his house....but he came back after a couple of minutes and I put the leash on him.  He doesn't like the leash so the rest of the day he stayed close to me and came when called...helps to have treats in your pockets!  He was funny when I was scrubbing the kitchen floor, he kept coming up to me to see if I was okay!  ( I scrub on hands and knees/butt) We shared some lunch and then we borrowed the Gator and went off to spray poison ivy...he is a good co pilot keeping watch for anything that moves. Using the Gator I could take him with me....I usually spray off my lawn mower.  After a while we both got warm so we headed into the AC, he laid on the steps so he could look out the window and then we had a short nap...after that he wanted to go home.  He was done being away for the day!  He likes riding in the Ranger and goes in and out easily for me. 

He is a pretty smart small dog....I think he weighed 46 pounds on his last visit to the Vet. 

Not even a look back to say thanks lady with the treats.  He is very attached to his people...but I will do in a pinch.

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Ouch

 My sister in law (my baby brother's bride) stepped in a hole and broke bones in her foot.  Ouch... she is having surgery today in Fargo.

Wednesday we went to the Dentist for check ups and teeth cleaning.   I had a spot that was driving me nuts...near a tooth it felt pointy and hard...I thought perhaps it was the root of a tooth...well it was a sharp piece of bone stuck in my gums...and it was removed...but left a hole.  My tongue has nothing to patrol anymore.  Other than that our check ups were both good!  

Thursday Far Guy had his Infusion and I had a mammogram...I hate them.   I always get called back for my sparklies or a random cyst...so I will be shocked if they don't call me back in for an ultrasound or more squishing. 

The Eye Doctor wants to see me in person to review some tests next week.  He says my eyes are suspicious for glaucoma....so we will see how that plays out. 

I mowed grass yesterday, in the morning our lawn so Far Guy could have quality time in the afternoon woodcarving ( the dust and flying grass are awful for him) and then at my other baby brothers in the afternoon.  I sprayed for weeds the other day and need to get caught up with ant stuff and Poison Ivy spray.  It is going to turn hot and humid....sauna like. 

The wreath outside the door needs to be changed. July is half gone already....time flies when you are having fun! 

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Bullwinkle

 My other baby brother and she who sees robins first had a visitor at their trail cam.

The photo was taken about July 6th.  

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Date Night

 We drove Tilly to town and went out for supper.   It has been a long time since we visited the local Steakhouse.  The steak was great but it sure went up in price...doubled in price from before the pandemic. 

Then we cruised Main and stopped at the Fairgrounds for a photo. 

Our Great Nephews Jordan and Gavin and Great Niece Aubrey are here on vacation so they went for a ride too...and both boys got a chance to drive. 

They all liked the old car.  They are great kids, they used to live right next door now they live in Western North Dakota.  The boys are going into their Senior year and Aubrey into her Freshman year of High School.

12.7 miles per gallon and she uses Premium...it was $5.19 a gallon.

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Gaillardia

 The Gaillardia or Blanket flowers are in full bloom.  

I enjoy them when I go to check on the tomatoes. 

I have several yellow blooms. 

I do nothing to tend these flowers, I collect their seed and mow them off before winter.   They get water that the good Lord provides in rain. 

Speaking of rain...we got an inch plus of rain Sunday into Monday.  

Yesterday Far Guy and I ran errands and stopped to visit with a few of the people at our old wood carving group.    Came home and made Chicken Enchiladas for supper...I made a big pan so two nights in the future we will have easy meals. 

Yarn may have been delivered because when the Post Man tried to stuff the bags into the mail box the steel post that supports the three mail boxes broke ...my other baby brother and she who sees robins first came along and helped us fix it.  We share the post with them and also with my nephew.  It should be good for another 20 years. 

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All dressed up

 The Great Grands and our Granddaughters were all dressed up for a wedding.

Cee Cee good thing she had a loooong nap. 

Hey Mikey and Cee Cee  our Great Grandchildren.

Savannah, Paige, Maddie and Cee Cee

Jen and Andy got the little ones all dressed up and delivered them to the wedding venue and Jen took a photo for me. 

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Water Dog

 Sadie will follow Andy just about anywhere/everywhere. 

Sadie had a blast playing in the water!  She is most certainly a water dog! 

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Green

 So far this summer the rain has helped to keep non irrigated fields green.  Some so green it almost hurts your eyes. 

Not sure what this field is ... when it was planted they went over the whole field with a very large roller. 

Here are the tomatoes

They have grown much taller in the past couple of days...I may need a ladder to pick them. 

Far Guy got Tilly back yesterday...she now has power disc brakes.  I have not driven her yet but I heard she stops on a dime.  I should mention that I have a recurring dream where I am driving a car and the brakes make the car go faster and faster.  (yes I am a tad strange)

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Book Club X 3

 We had book club yesterday.

To catch you up....

 The book in May was Fountains of Silence  by Ruta Sepetys I give it a 6 out of 10, I wasn't thrilled with it, however I must have missed Spain in the 1950s in World History class. 

The June book was Westering Women by Sandra Dallas I give that one a 9 out of 10 I really enjoyed it.   I enjoy Sandra Dallas as a historical fiction writer. 

The July book was Anxious People by Fredrik Backman  I give that one a 7 out of 10.  The book is proof that people will read a book about idiots. 

We have a list of the books for the next four months and I have purchased the books.   One of the books has been made into a movie that comes out soon.  I have not been in a movie theater in a long time and I probably won't go to this movie either...sooner or later it will be out on Netflix. 

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Cruise

 Nope not that kind of cruise.  A cruise around town in the new old car (Tilly).   Far Guy joined the local Car Club.  

After the cruise we met at A & W, it was a nice evening and there are a bunch of picnic tables there. 

We met another couple, he acquired his car a Mustang a few months ago.  He was also a new member.  I visited with his wife.  

Town people are sometimes stand offish...stuck up...most are not the kind that will walk up and introduce themselves....so you have to be outgoing enough to break the ice.  (They will ask everyone else around who are those people...but not walk up and ask for themselves.) 

Far Guy wanted a photo of Tilly and the Park Theater on Main.   We hope to get a better photo sometime ...this one will have to do for now....as you can see there were many tourists in town. 

I would like to get just the car and the theater!  We may have to go into town later at night just when the theater is closing. 

It was a fun evening out, it probably counts as a date night even though I bought supper because I was in town early getting an oil change on the Buick.  Far Guy met me in town and after all the doings we dropped off his Desoto named Tilly to get new brakes. 

Yesterday we cleaned out the garage that Tilly resides in because she rarely leaves her garage. 

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Behind Closed Doors

 I admit it.  I was a book hoarder, a few winters ago I cleared out about 500 books.   I looked at every one as I boxed them up.  I had books everywhere; downstairs, upstairs, in boxes, in drawers under the bed. I was bound and determined to get into "recovery mode."  After all I have a Kindle that stores books....according to my Grandson Adam "Boy Grandma you have lots of books on your Kindle!" 

I have allowed myself one area for real books....some I have read, some are gifts, some are waiting to be read. 

Yesterday I was looking for the next book club read and the cabinet was a mess...so...

There are 50 + books in the cabinet....some are shoved behind ( not many but a few).  Nine of these books will be out of here soon....either going to a book exchange, to a friend or donated.   I do have a few "emergency books" at our daughters home, however I bet she could find me a book to read in a reading emergency!

How many books do you have at your home?  Do you consider yourself a book hoarder?  Are you in recovery mode? 

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4th report

Youngest daughter Jen stopped by for a quick visit and had lunch with us...potato salad and fruit.  Far Guy was cleaning up the interior of the Buick when she got here, so she helped us finish it up.  

We went for a Ranger Blue ride later in the afternoon.

The wind storm last week took down some trees across the trails. As you can see the wind came from several directions. 

It was a very humid day.   We had our picnic for supper...brats, baked beans, potato salad, pineapple and cherries. 

People down at the lake started with the noisy fireworks July 3rd just about dark. 

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