Great Stuff

 The Greats visited here today after daycare/school.  They like pickles...and bananas.  Of course we have fruit snacks on hand all the time and Tootsie Roll Pop suckers for the road. 

Ree has her first tooth and has almost conquered sitting up by herself...she still has a round butt.  She is smiley and sometimes happy even though she is teething. 

I helped Jen with an art project.  It was Sadie's day at daycare....rumor has it that there are four Goldens there about her age and they keep each other running all day so she is exhausted when she gets home.   It is a day off for Little Elvis. 

Far Guy warmed up left overs for supper.  

The art project, hopefully I will get a photo of it when it is finished.  Can you guess what it is?

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Winter warmth

It was 39 F or 4 C here today, it was a very nice day, some snow and ice melted.   Sadie got to go for a long walk.  I made supper; pork roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, roasted carrots and parsnips = comfort food.

Far Guy is not feeling great, he is fighting off a cold. 

I worked on some of  my crochet projects and played with the dogs. 

Photo from my archives.

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Weekend Stuff

Saturday I did a bunch of laundry, cleaned a bathroom and crocheted.  Noah joined us for a early supper/late lunch at the Blue Moose.  It was good to catch up with him over a meal.  

We had a quiet day Sunday, everyone is back home after meetings and weekend get aways.   Sadie is much happier with everyone at home. 

Far Guy and I did some grocery shopping and some more laundry.  We picked up Pizza from Papa Murphys and that was supper on Sunday.  

Our weather has turned warmer.  It was 35 F or 2 C eh yesterday...nice! 

Sweet Peas with raindrops, photo taken years ago one Summer day.

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A Trade

 Sadie visited me early one morning and brought me a ball, she left it for me but took my small pillow.  I suppose it is a matter of perspective whether it was a good trade or not. 

I gave her the ball back, here she is playing keep away from Gramma...if I reach down to get the ball she quickly snatches it up in her big old mouth.  Once in awhile I can get her to drop the ball but not consistently. 

Little Elvis and Sadie are sometimes pals, Little Elvis loves a game of ball so he can run and bark...he has yet to get a ball and bring it back in the last 14 years. Little Elvis has his own rules for playing ball. 

Far Guy went to Dog Obedience Class with us last week.  Sadie works well for him too.  She is so big and strong it was nice to have someone else to help with her. She wants to smell everything and pull on the lead.  She still needs work on recall, stay and walking on the leash politely. 

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Mayhem

 Our latest puzzle was Mayhem in the Library.  There are 101 names of books illustrated in the puzzle. 

It was a fun puzzle. 

No mayhem in the kitchen. 

I can cook a one pan meal and enjoy the Amaryllis.  The meal was Chicken Alfredo. 

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Experiment Part Two

 Our experiment with the Amaryllis bulbs continued.

Jen and Far Guy found that the faster you dipped the bulbs in the wax the faster they were coated.

We used painters tape to seal off the tops of the bulb and then Jen spray painted them.  There was a purple one but it went over to Maddie. 

As you can see the red one has growth already. 

It was a fun project. 

We have a bunch of beautiful blooms. 

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Quiet Day

 Not much new here...same old same old. 

My major accomplishment for the day was folding a load of laundry and petting dogs. 

Clean clothing and happy dogs! 

Little Elvis

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Stuff

 Finally I am done with Doctor appointments for a bit.   I have two types of Arthritis...Rheumatoid and Psoriatic, possibly Lyme Arthritis and Chronic Pain Syndrome. 

My Doctor up here in Grand Forks started me on an antidepressant that sometimes helps with joint pain and it seems to be working.  My every other week injections of Humira also seem to be helping finally.  I have kept a pain diary since November 1st.  The past week my pain has been less...I am at a six instead of a nine or ten. I still have severe fatigue...the Doctor hopes that will get better as the pain retreats. 

I have Polyclonal Hypergammaglobulinemia. The Hematologist and the Rheumatologist believe it is from Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Basically my immune system has gone nuts making so many antibodies.   There is nothing that can be done about it.  It won't kill me. Just another by product of arthritis.  The only way to treat it is to get rid of the underlying cause...which is Arthritis. 

 Ya well if I had a magic wand to wave! 

One day at a time.  One foot in front of the other! 

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Wood Crafts

 Jen and Andy make some awesome woodcrafts.  Far Guy and I have been helping with the painting.  

Jen said make something out of the left over wood scraps so I did.

It can be what ever you want it to be.  I see an Angel.  Jen was not in the immediate area when I chose the shimmery turquoise paint color...she came into the room and said "Oh not the metallic paint...oh well do your own thing Mom."

The next time she showed up she thought is was very pretty. 

Here is another of my scrappy creations. 

Fun stuff makes the day go faster. 

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Down Boy

 We are through with the below zero weather for now.  I am sure it will warm up just enough to have freezing rain again. There is much to be appreciated about temperatures down below zero...too cold to snow or rain. 

Down Boy is the name of one of the sculptures in the Red Bridge Park.

I found it interesting.  At least the dog looks happy!  Photos were taken last November. 

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Blooms

 Our Amaryllis bloomed!  We were all excited to see it. 

So far there are three blooms but I think there is a fourth one tucked in there. 

Such a pretty thing on a cold Winter day.

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Experiment Part One

 Jen ordered some Amaryllis bulbs to see if we could recreate the wax covering on the bulbs. 

First you soak the bulbs in water for about 6-8 hours.  Water should come up about 3/4 of the way up the bulb.

Then you let them dry for a couple of hours. 

Then you cut the roots off  bottom of the bulb so that it is level.

Then you dip them in wax, we used Gulf Wax. 

More on this again one day.  We have to finish applying wax and then paint them and see what happens. 

Our Amaryllis is just about to bloom. 

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Obedience Class

 Sadie and I went to Obedience Class, she did well.  Her nose gets her distracted from time to time.  I might need some smelly treats...right now I am using Cheerios.  She knows her name, come, look, sit, down, search for a treat and touch.  She will leave treats alone in my open hand until I tell her they are hers.   We need to work on "spot" this next week...last year she knew where her spot was...I hope she recalls the command.  We also need to work on the heel position.  She needs lots of leash work...lots and lots. And we need to work on come/recall also. So we have homework.

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Puzzles and Hats

 This is our 5th puzzle this winter.

This one was pretty easy except the outer edge gave us fits.  After the 100th try Jen finally got it right. 

Hats...this is number 4 for this winter. 

Far Guy and I are watching The Kominsky Method on Netflix it is a good comedy. 

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Sitting Up

 Ree is learning how to sit up by herself.   Soon she will not be a baby anymore. 

She looks so serious....part of the teething process. 

She is a well loved child.  She is just a few days shy of seven months old. 

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Greats

 Our Great Grandchildren or "Greats" were here on Monday morning, their school and day care were closed due to the holiday yesterday and their Mommy had to work part of the day.  Thankfully Jen and Andy had the day off.  Andy made them bacon and French toast for breakfast and for lunch hot dogs and mac and cheese.

They can sure liven things up around here. 

Hey Mikey snd Cee Cee did a fair amount of goofing off during their photo session with me. 

Hey Mikey with Ree...she is working on getting some teeth.  She is very entertained by her siblings. 

After they left I had a long nap.

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Sunday

 Sunday is usually Pizza Day.  It was too cold for delivery so we had to pick up our own pizza.  Sometimes we even make our pizza.  Just not this Sunday. 

The Amaryllis is forming some nice buds. 

Snow and cold out there.  

Far Guy stayed inside and wood carved.  I worked on a crochet project.   I went with Jen to get the pizza....the first time I have been out since last Friday. 

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Below Zero

 Our high yesterday was below zero...seems that will be the trend for the next week or so.  Our high was -4 F or -20 C  headed for a low of -16 F or -26 C  eh! 

I did not venture out of the house.  I cleaned the bathroom and did some laundry and crocheted a bit. 

Street Art in Pelican Rapids, MN one day when it was warmer.

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Sadie at school

 Dog Obedience School...Sadie, Jen and I went.  Sadie did great, many of the things she already knows, Look, Sit, and looking at you when you say her name.  She was very interested in all the smells.  She needs work on coming to a heel position and coming when called.  She likes to do things in her own time...sometimes she has to think about what SHE wants to do. 

There were about 9 other dogs in the class, classes are taught by volunteers. 

So we have some work to do!  

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Is it Art?

 I always enjoy looking at the Art in The Red Bridge Park.  Last Fall I took some photos. 

This one is called Nautilus.  It is made from welded and painted handlebars.  I saw that it was for sale ...if you have an extra $6,695.00 it could be yours. 

Our weather has turned cold and windy.  Far Guy's infusion went well yesterday, I cleaned the kitchen at the rental and then we went to Wally World and out for lupper (lunch and supper).

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1960's

 A Winter in the 1960's must have had a fair amount of snow.   I recall that some times riding the school bus that the snow banks were almost as tall as the telephone poles in the ditch....the old fashioned T poles that were probably only about 12 maybe 15 feet tall, remember all the glass insulators lined up on top of the pole? 

 Snow removal equipment was not like it is today.  Heck for that matter School Busses weren't either they were cold.  You had to scrape the frost off the window to see out or get real close to the window and blow on it.  No one ever took off their hats or coats on the bus. 

I believe this photo was taken on the gravel road just North of the farm I grew up on.  I will guess that the photo was taken in the Spring as there is some water on the road.  My Mom is driving and that is my other baby brother standing up in the front seat.  My Dad must have taken the photograph.  The car is a 1962 or 1964 Chevy. 

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Lemon

 I made the lemon pudding and Jen whipped up the meringue.  Supper was leftovers or brats which ever you preferred.  Lemon pudding was a nice addition! 

I attended Stitch and Chat at the library.  Three other gals were there, two were crocheting and one was knitting.  One gal was real talky.  They meet once a month.  I worked on one of the shawls I have in progress.  I wish they met during the day rather than at 5:30 PM.

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Spoiled

 We have been spoiled by the unseasonably warm Fall and early Winter weather.  Yesterday we had a low of -2 F or -18C and a high of 12F or -11C  and it will be getting colder as the week progresses. 

Our days are quiet.  Far Guy wood carves and I crochet and we pet Sadie many times during the day. Little Elvis gets attention when Sadie is not watching...because she is jealous and does not understand the concept of two hands one for each dog.  Two hands and they should be all hers. 

 Yesterday we went to the grocery store...the car is in the heated garage so Far Guy drives me and drops me off at the door and picks me up at the door when I am finished.

  We made a wonderful supper; chicken, carrots, fruit salad and french fries. Everyone pitches in with dishes and clean up so it takes only a few minutes after supper.

I finished watching 1883 it is a really good series on Paramount.  I will watch 1923 next and hope it is as good. 

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A red bridge

 Last Fall I went to the Red Bridge Park. 

This bridge is red but it is not the old Red Bridge on the south side of town along the river.  Someone painted this one and started calling it the red bridge.   The park is even called The Red Bridge Park...

The park was decorated with wreaths for Christmas.   I was the only one in the park that day, no tourists and no pooping machines... Canada Geese!

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A bud

 One of the Amaryllis bulbs has a bud.

I did a bit of research on these bulbs.  They are soaked in water and then the roots and the bottom of the bulb are cut off then dipped in paraffin wax a number of times and then spray painted.  There is no hope for these bulbs to be planted or bloom again because their roots are amputated.  

We had a quiet Saturday...it snowed.  Far Guy woodcarved, I embroidered a bit and then had a long nap...I had more arthritis pain than normal probably due to the snow.  The pain exhausts me.  Jen sewed and worked on craft projects.  Far Guy made ribs and french fries for supper, I made green beans and took the pickles out of the fridge.

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A Christmas Book

 Just before Christmas I read a very entertaining book.  It was Jen's Book Club selection at the local library, so I read it but we were not able to attend book club the evening they discussed it.   

I thought it was a hilarious book, it made me smile.  Jen did not finish the book and it was not to her liking at all.

Has anyone else read it?   I suggested it for the book club that I belong to for next Christmas. 

Our weather has turned into freezing rain and snow again.  Just what we need snow on top of ice we already have to disguise its whereabouts. 

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Book Club 2024

Book Club was yesterday we read The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. 

I was impressed by the first part of the book but it went downhill from there.  It slid in my ratings from a 9 to a questionable 5.  It could have been better on so many levels.   Most of the women in the book club liked it. One said the violence was a bit much for her and she had to quit reading for a bit.  I just wanted the book to be over with.  

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One word intention

 I do not do resolutions.  I will attempt a one word intention.  Flow as go with the flow...don't cause ripples and don't try to go upstream...meander along at my own pace.  If that is slow flow...so be it. 

This was a sculpture on Main Street in Park Rapids, someone repurposed just a few tools.   I have no idea what the name of this one is...I would call it "A fish out of water"

I have a couple of goals for the New Year.  

#1 To update the grands photo albums with the photos I took of them in 2023. 

#2 Make a hard cover book out of the blog that I wrote about my husbands paternal grandparents. 

#3 To organize all my Mother's photos that are scanned and put them on flash drives for my siblings. 

#4 To back up the photos on my computer...which means going through all the folders month by month sorting many before they go on flash drives. 

All are big projects but good ones to work on over the Winter. 

Lately my crocheting and embroidery are going in spurts and twists and turns with no finishes. 

Oh well I must go with the flow:)

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Puzzling

 We have a puzzle happening most all of the time.  Early in December we finished a vintage postcard puzzle but I did not take a photo.  Then just prior to Christmas we finished the manger scene.

A very bright and cheerful puzzle that we will possibly do again some day, it was a fun puzzle! 

Book Lover Puzzle

Jen got a gift from Noah earlier this year, it was an Advent puzzle and pieces were inside each little box, so you had pieces to put together everyday.

It was a very pretty puzzle. 

Sadie thinks puzzling is a good activity because you can put pieces together with one hand and pet her with the other.

We have a puzzle board that has drawers and we also have stacking sorting trays! 

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