Our grandsons

 The wedding was a good time to spend some time with our grandsons Noah and Adam...and of course their parents Jen and Andy.  Jen and Andy rented a large enough place for all of us to be comfortable.  Far Guy and I just stayed one night. 

Our oldest Grandson Noah, he took a vacation day from his job at Simplot in Grand Forks ND to come to the wedding.

Our youngest grandson and the baby of the entire family...Adam.  

Adam has a gal named Courtney, we like her too!  They both live in Western ND where Courtney is attending school and Adam is working at Menards and planning to go back to school Winter semester.  

 A wonderful group photo! 

Time always goes too fast when you are around the people you love most in the world.  We get to see Noah quite often...Adam not so much since he moved. 

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Grands and Greats

 Our youngest Great Granddaughter, Peach is flanked by two very handsome young men.  They almost look like security guards!  

The handsome young men are our two favorite Grandsons; Adam and Noah. Adam and Noah's parents are our youngest daughter Jen and her husband Andy.

Where is the littlest piggy tailed Peach heading?  She had been at the motel with her siblings and her Dad and a family friend who helped with their care...because their Mom was busy being a Matron of Honor.  

Where ever is she headed?  She had quite an entourage....all people who love her; Adam, Noah, Jen, Hey Mikey and Andy with Cee Cee.

Peach had activated her Mom radar!

And then they were photo bombed!

But you get the idea.

Maddie and Peach.   Maddie is our oldest daughter Trica and her ex husband Richard's middle daughter  (they were divorced after being married for 24 years)...and Peach belongs to Maddie and Brenton. 

The wedding was beautiful.  I will share more photos as the days go on.  I will wait until Paige posts some photos on facebook to show you what a beautiful bride she was.  I had to get what photos I could and not agitate the professional photographers.

We are safely back at home. 

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One in a million photo

 I was going through a bunch of my old photo files....2009  was an interesting year. 

I happened to capture this photo of neighbor Joe's horses all lined up...

Just a whistle out the car window and they came and lined up...it was almost like magic.  It is my one in a million photo.  Oh I am sure if you had well trained horses you could duplicate the photo...but these are just horses raised by an extraordinary man. 

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Looking forward

 Our youngest Granddaughter Paige will be married later today to the love of her life a fellow named Cole.  We will travel about 90 minutes to the wedding venue at a winery.  The weather looks really nice 68 and sunny so the bride gets a beautiful day!  

I will be back with a wedding report and a few photos in a couple of days. 

Photo taken in 2010...seems like just yesterday. Paige was 11 years old. 

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Update

 Still not feeling great.  The Doctor believes I have an infection in the deep stitches in my face and has prescribed antibiotics.  So I hope that make me feel like a new person and SOON.  She said she would hate to go back into my face to retrieve those deep stitches.

This is one of the prettiest Maple trees on the way to Detroit Lakes.  I have stopped many times to take a photo...it looked just about the same yesterday...although this photo is from 2009. 

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Chilly

  It froze the other night and the high yesterday was 52F or 12C eh. 

I have some swelling at the surgical site on my face.  The Dr said to use ice once in a while and Benadryl...well I fell asleep with ice on my face.  Good thing the ice had a towel covering it!  I woke up shivering and haven't warmed up since.  Needless to say I am not feeling terrific as my body is fighting off whatever this is. 

I will return to the Doctor on Wednesday if there is no improvement. 

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Crochet Scrubbies

 There is a great pattern for a number of scrubbies at Yarnspirations.   Niece Katie first shared the pattern with me a number of years ago.  I have a small workbag with balls of scrubby yarn...Red Heart or Hobby Lobby brand they are all good.  There are many different types of yarns to use.  I use a 4mm crochet hook just because I like the feel of that size hook and I have several Tulip Crochet hooks that size. 

I like scrubbies that are a bit larger so I usually do four rounds instead of three as the pattern suggests. 

It is an easy to carry with you project easily worked on in the car or waiting at some appointment.  

I do make them to sell in a craft shop but I give many of them away.  

Personally I use them all the time much like a dish rag...they dry out quickly and are easily washed with other kitchen towels...or replaced. 

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Lake views

 The leaves are changing fast now.   It has cooled off significantly.  The high yesterday was 51F  or 11C.

This was the view from my spot over the weekend at my Baby brothers home.  The other side of the lake is beautiful.   I took the photo through the window that had a screen...kinda gives the photo texture.

Here is another view.

Only two medical appointments this week...practically a week off. 

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Quilting

 I do not sew tiny pieces of material together to make quilts.  My Mother was a quilter and many of my cousins are and my sister in law is. 

We gathered on the weekend of my Mother's first birthday in heaven.  Last year Mom quilted with the gals on her birthday weekend. 

Cousin Wilma's quilt pieces.

Cousin Geraldine's quilt pieces.

My sister in law (my baby brothers bride) was putting together a quilt that she and my Mom started together.  

Everyone made some progress on their projects...my cousin Art's wife Bonnie was cross stitching, cousin LeAnn was playing with watercolor on cards and cousin Cora was doing some embroidery.  

We had more good food for lunch and supper and great conversations:)
 

Busy Days

 Friday was a busy day.  I cleaned the bathroom, did a few loads of towels etc, straightened up a bit and then went to my baby brother and his brides home for a quilting /crafting day.  There I had good visits with a couple of my cousins...got to give them hugs and support when we learned of our cousin Kathy's death.  So sad...she never really recovered from the stroke that she had years ago and slipped further and further away every day.  Kathy gave the best hugs...we will all miss her.   It doesn't seem real that she is no longer with us. 

I spoiled Baxter and Smudge...I tell ya Smudge is pretty cute!

I worked on some crochet scrubbies...I sell them at a shop in Grand Forks ND.  Everyone else there was sewing...they are all working on quilts...maybe I will take some photos as I will head over there today with my camera and some wild rice soup that I have ready to go together right away in the morning and some sauerkraut and sausages that we will have for lunch.  

Yesterday we had chili and a wonderful cabbage salad, sourdough bread and cookies!

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I have 45 ( I make it 46) cousins on my Dad's side of the family.  Kathy is the 9th to die. Kathy was 75 years old she was just 16 days shy of her 76th birthday. 

Dry Needles

 Yesterday at Physical Therapy I had a dry needles treatment.  Thin needles inserted into my back and left butt cheek, then they were electrically stimulated.  It was a bit weird...and seemed to help with the pain for a short time.   Then the pain was back again...and I was real sore and exhausted...tired upon tired.  I had a long nap.  

Very little accomplished around the house...one load of laundry, groceries put away, one small organizational clean up project ( I went through all the acrylic paints and threw away old ones!) and I completed painting the Christmas ornaments. 

  Looks like Fall out the window. 

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Uffda x2

 I had the high dose flu shot on Monday afternoon...3 days later I am still feeling like death warmed over. BUT it must be better than the flu. Right? 

To make things even more difficult...our septic system water sensor alarm started beeping Monday night...the phone was ringing and the alarm was going off...the alarm company wanted to make sure we were aware..."yes I know it is going off we are dealing with the situation"   Far Guy said "Something is plugged."  I called my other baby brother and his phone went to voice mail...it was 10 PM ...I called she who sees robins first and she answered right away.  She woke up my other baby brother and he and our Great Nephew Mason came right over...they decided it was tree roots...got it partially unplugged enough so that water would drain out...and they would fix it in the morning.  

So the next morning nephew Josh, Ryan and David came to dig up the tree root clogged septic line. 

They replaced the pipe and hopefully it will take another 26 years to become clogged with tree roots again.   My brother says it is normal for tree roots to seek water and cause problems over time. 

Luckily my other baby brother lives right next door and he owns a Construction Company that does septic systems and all kinds of dirt work.   How lucky are we??  Very lucky to have someone you can call late at night and will put you on his list for repairs the next morning!  

Living in the boonies has it's challenges. 

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Marker

 My Dad's Veteran's grave marker is in place.  He still needs a flag holder.  

Good to see that it was in place. 

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Weekend Wedding Photos

 Some of the wedding photos appeared on facebook...so I shall share them with you.

Mother of the bride and the bride.  Both beauties!

The brides family: her mom, her step dad, her sisters and her brother. 

The happy couple!  Congratulations!

* Photos by others used with permission.

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Trees

 Some of the trees are getting a bit of color...most are just blah...

These Maples were showing off quite nicely against the blue sky! 

So far we have just two medical appointments this week...I get to go back to Physical Therapy on Thursday...yeah me I will be able to walk without pain again for a few days!   I am consistently doing my PT exercises...but I need that extra deep massage and am looking forward to it. 

We had terrible winds late Saturday night early Sunday morning...lots of twigs are in the yard.   Our lights flickered several times but we didn't lose power...the winds were 62 mph. 

A few more days and I will be done painting the Christmas ornaments...some have even been delivered instead of mailed!

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Something old

 Our Great Niece Hailey was married yesterday to the love of her life Isaac.  Hailey is the oldest granddaughter of my other baby brother and she who sees robins first.  The first of their Grands to get married. 

The wedding was outdoors. 

We sat on hay bales.  Immediate family sat on chairs.   It was a short but sweet ceremony.  It was a bit windy but the sun was shining.

When I congratulated Hailey and Isaac in the receiving line  ...Hailey showed me the something old that I had given to her at her wedding shower.  It was a simple hankie that belonged to her Great Great Grandmother then her Great Grandmother and then to me.  The hankie was tied around the stems of her wedding bouquet.  It was perfect as something old. 

Other things old...are my siblings. 

Hailey's Grandfather my other baby brother is on the left, my sister, me and my baby brother. 

It was a good day.

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Red Leaves

 The leaves are slowly beginning to change.  We have had a few chilly nights and that helps color things up.  Usually we are past peak by now....strange weather. 

I was out mulching leaves and noticed this Oak...a Red Oak with nice fall color. 

I got my stitches out on Thursday, my face feels much better without the stitches, so I am back to mostly normal activities.   I am on a three month recheck program now since I had skin cancer. 

Far Guy got his Flu shot at one of his Doctors appointments this past week.  I did not have mine yet.  He had little to no reaction. 

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Book Club: October

 We had book club yesterday.  We read  Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen.  I give it a 9 out of a 10.  It was a short but good read all about a young man who at the age of 15 joined the First Minnesota Volunteers in 1861.  

All of the women in book club enjoyed the read.    One thought it was a very simple read, perhaps a good read for Middle School children.  I thought it would be good for any Social Studies or History class. 

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Up North

 We had a combined 5 Doctors appointments on Tuesday and Wednesday Up North in Grand Forks, ND  2 for me and 3 for Far Guy.  All is well, other than we are aging...no cure for that. 

We went out for supper with Andy and Jen to a new place (Helix). My steak was good....my only complaint was they make their own steak sauce and I like Heinz 57.  Far Guy did not eat his crunchy green beans and I thought they were delicious.  This new place rivals Harry's and they have mostly gluten free options. 

Sadie was great company...she woke me up in the morning...first she jumps on the bed and lays down on top of you and licks your face, then your hands covering your face all the while her tail wags 90 miles per hour.  That is Sadie for you. 

Someone bought her a new toy.   She likes it.  

Pet Co is a great store.

We are back home safe and sound.

A few trees are beginning to change color.

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Younger

 Found this photo, it was most likely taken around 1991 or 1992. 

Amazing Far Guy had hair...well some hair.  My hair was quite long and was not yet grey. 

When I showed this to Far Guy he said "What in the world were we doing?"  

The photo was taken at our old resort Pine Springs and we were moving dirt around in forms so that we could pour cement.  We were making cement pads for the campground.   We borrowed a cement mixer from Uncle Archie and mixed the cement and poured it ourselves. 

We were younger then. 

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Fall Blooms

 I got a photo of the Lilacs...blooming again after losing most of their leaves.  The few green leaves they were left with produced flowers. 

It is a strange happening they say it is due to the funny Spring/Summer weather. 

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Sad News and Good News

 Last week was a week.  It began with my cousin Diane who lived in Alaska her Memorial Service was live on Facebook.   She was 68 years old. She died after heart bypass surgery.  Her Mother and my Mother were sisters. 

This past Saturday was my second cousin Patsy's funeral, she died from a tick bite that went to a bacterial infection and then septic...she was three months younger than me...her  Father and My Grandfather were brothers.  She spent the entire summer on hospice. I sent a card I did not attend the funeral.

Then Little Elvis died on Friday...that hit me hard.  He and I had a special connection. He loved me unconditionally. 

Friday was also a bit of good news, my second biopsy came back with clear edges!  Thank goodness I don't have to have more surgery on my face!   AND all of my eye tests came back okay, the Doc says my eyes show normal aging.  I also learned that I have an appointment with a different Rheumatologist...but not until April of 2025...this is after waiting two months for a referral and being accepted by their Rheumatology Department.  I am doing my PT exercises and I believe it is making a difference...I have PT appointments starting October 10th. My stitches in my face come out on Thursday this week. It is a medical appointment week ...we have six appointments....it is what we do. 

So the good news outweighs the bad I am not on hospice, I am not dead, I don't have to have more surgery on my face, I can see reasonably well and we can make it by ourselves to appointments...and we still have some dogs to love...Sadie, Baxter and Smudge.  

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Little Elvis 2009 - September 27, 2024

 Little Elvis was almost 15 years old.  He was my constant companion in the Winter time, sleeping most nights at the foot of my bed.  I will miss him, he was mostly deaf and could hardly see anything...old age is hard on dogs.  BUT he had a good life! 

January 2010  Miney, Little Elvis and Chance

 

Adam and Little Elvis

May 2010 

 

Noah and Little Elvis

Chance and Little Elvis 

 

Chance, Little Elvis and Miney

Chance and Little Elvis

 

Miney, Little Elvis and Chance

Little Elvis

 

Little Elvis and Sadie 

Little Elvis has left the building.  Rest in peace little buddy.  

Little Elvis and Miney helped to cushion the loss when Chance died in 2018, Little Elvis cushioned the loss of Miney in 2021.  Now they are all mourned and missed more than ever. They were a real pack! Three of the bestest dogs ever!

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