Easter Joy

 Happy Easter from our family to yours!

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Sunrise

 My baby brother sent out this photo of the Good Friday sunrise from his home. 

What a beautiful way to start Good Friday. 

Far Guy is doing a tiny bit better every day.

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Sunflower scrubby

 I had this wacky idea to crochet a sunflower scrubby. 

Who wouldn't like a bit of sunshine in their kitchen anyway? 

This was one of the rejects, the brown area is a bit large....but it does resemble a sunflower.  I perfected the pattern after I made this one. 

Far Guy was feeling much better yesterday..we even went out for supper...the first time in a very long time.  We are packing up a few things to take home with us the first part of next week.

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Poof

 The winter storm went South of us.   It was a big ta - do about nothing. 

Here is the lawn before the big bad three day storm.

There was still a bit of ice in the neighbors lawn.

After the big storm.

The sun came out and it warmed up...and poof all the snow is now gone....so it looks like the first photo again. 

Far Guy had an appointment with his Pulmonary Doctor.  She says it will take a long time to get back to normal...many, many weeks.   So he should be patient... 

One day at a time. 

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A different craft

 Quilting without sewing is what daughter Jen said. 

Yes but at the end you have to sew down the strips.  So I will just remain an assistant!

I helped her create this piece of art this week.  Mosaic fabric art.

The design is drawn on the paper...then you apply some kind of paper with sticky stuff onto fabric, then you cut the fabric into a million strips, pull the backing off and apply the strips to the design.  I was a stripper...ya know pulling the backing off and I designed those mountains off to the left...the ones that look like pointy boobs.  When the pattern is completely covered you hang it in front of the patio door to see what areas you missed.  Then it is pressed ...the iron heat activates the sticky stuff on each small piece of fabric, then Jen sewed straight lines all over the piece.  It is quite a large piece even if it looks small on the floor.  Andy will make a frame for it and it will be for sale at Flippin Happy Home. 

Far Guy had a pretty good day yesterday, and he has a Doctor's appointment today. 

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63 years ago

March 26 1961 my baby brother was seven years old, my other baby brother was five months old and I was 9 1/2. 

It must have been close to Easter that year as my baby brother has a bunny amongst his seven candles. 

Not sure who the hair dresser was most likely my Mom...those bangs of mine will take a long time to grow out..those curls were made with those spongy pink hair rollers.

Happy Birthday to my baby brother! Welcome to your 70's.

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The little girls

 Maddie visited the other day with the children.   Everyone is growing up! 

Sisters

Ree is really growing.

She has six teeth now and is getting a few more teeth.  Her Mom called her Miss Crabby Pants but she was perfectly fine when she was here.  She has a wonderful giggle and belly laugh that ends in a snort. 

Far Guy is holding his own for now. 

We have snow in the air but it is not staying on the ground for now, we are in a Winter Storm Watch until Tuesday morning. 

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Sadie

 Any port in a storm or Grandma will do.

Her paw is on my foot...socks with crocs....that way she can snooze and know when I move.

In the afternoon Jen and I went to the dog park.  Sadie had some interaction with other dogs but was mainly interested in a stick.  She was the prettiest dog there!

As you can see there is no snow...but that may change on Sunday. 

Far Guy had a decent day, he is getting stronger. 

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A reminder

 In 1997 we were preparing for the historic 500 year flood. I began writing about it here.

I try not to think about that flood too often, but up here in East Grand Forks when I leave to go anyplace I go by the dikes and the flood walls. 

Recently we saw cans of drinking water donated by Anheuser-Bush.  We wondered how many cans of water were donated.  I googled it and found that Anheuser-Bush is known for donating water when it is needed.

The use by date has long passed. 

Far Guy is still doing okay, he is getting stronger and doing more things everyday.

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Another Thursday

 Thursday is Infusion Day, only two pokes this week.  We went out for late lunch after the appointment.  That way we don't have to cook supper! We both had eggs. 

We both had an afternoon nap.  My Doctor put me on an antibiotic because he said that 23 days with a cough was too much and I needed help getting over it.  

Far Guy is making progress, he even read two books!  He is getting stronger everyday.  Knock on wood.

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Sandhill Cranes

 The Sandhill Cranes are the oldest living bird species,  in fact they have been around for two million years. 

Perhaps that is why the sculptor named his sculpture "Thread to the past." 

If you have heard them flying overhead they make a prehistoric sound.  Here is a link to hear their calls.

Far Guy had a pretty good day.  He is improving a bit everyday.

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bird art

Last Fall I spent some time in the Red Bridge Park taking photos of the sculptures.  

This one is called "Thread to the Past"

This was my favorite sculpture that day, I thought is was very well done.  It too can be purchased for $4,000. 

The Sandhill Cranes have probably started there way up North already.  They could be in for a surprise because our weather has turned cold. 

Far Guy had a good day yesterday but after supper he was real tired. 

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one

 There is always one in a crowd.

No one is pushing up daisies yet. 

Recovery is still slow but headed in the right direction. 

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Cards

 I finally caught up with the Thank you cards from my Mother's funeral.  I ran out of the normal cards that the funeral home supplied us with (250 cards), so I watercolored some of my own.  After my siblings and I met to do the original cards from the visitation and funeral, each of us has been in charge of sending out thank you cards to cards we each receive in the mail

I appreciated all the cards and notes I got from blog readers.  It is nice to know that people care enough to send a card. 

Far Guy had a quiet day Sunday, no huge improvements, but no going backwards either.  I still have a lingering cough and fatigue.  But with my Arthritis fatigue is normal.  Interesting fact to note when I was on antibiotics for a UTI for ten days I had no Arthritis pain...now the back, neck, left hip, left knee and left ankle pain is back. 

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Book Club: March

 We had book club a few weeks ago.  We read Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.

Although is is a young adult book, I enjoyed it very much, I give it a 8 possibly a 9 out of 10 stars.  It was an easy read. All the gals in the bookclub enjoyed it. 

I am going to send this over to my baby brothers house as he has some readers coming up that would enjoy this novel. 

Far Guy and I had a quiet Saturday, recovery is slow.  He is still improving a bit each day.

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St Urho's Day

 

In Menahga Minnesota there will be the Changing of the Guard at noon and shortly after that a parade on Main Street.  We have seen that parade in warm weather and with a snow bank down the center of the street.  Finlanders and wanna be Finlanders will be there celebrating St Urho as he chased the pesky grasshopper off of the grapes or so the legend goes...

Sadly we will miss the parade and all the doings this weekend. 

Far Guy is hanging in there, he is spending more time upright and walking around which makes him very tired. 

The parade in 2014

Happy St Urho's Day to you all.  I heard that a news station out of Fargo was doing a story on Menahga Minnesota this weekend. 

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Keep on keeping on

 Far Guy had his infusion and shortly after that his doctor's appointment.  His lungs still sound junky, he is suppose to keep on keeping on with what he has been doing since he came out of the hospital.  Two appointments in one day tired him out.  The Doctor said " Influenza A is really hitting people hard this year ...even young healthy people are taking a long time to recover.  It may take weeks or maybe even a month or two to get back to normal."

This was a puzzle Jen and I worked on back in February sometime.  Lots of pastel colors and it was a nothing is exactly the same from the picture on the puzzle box. However they did include a special envelope with the correct picture that we never looked at...nice of them. 

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Impatient patient

Far Guy is getting a tad impatient with himself.   He is taking his meds, eating well, drinking fluids and resting.  Things are just not moving fast enough for him.

I have to remind him that he is elderly now...that went over like a lead balloon. 

He has two appointments today...one for his Infusion and then a Doctors appointment for the follow up after his hospitalization. I hope they both go well. 

  

My climbing roses before they froze out after a brutal Minnesota winter. 

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Progress is slow

 Far Guy is much better than he was.  However I have witnessed respiratory distress many times with him, he can be fine one minute and struggling the next.  He says he is weak as a newborn kitten.   I remind him that he is stronger than he was a few days ago.  

I am finally getting some rest, I do not listen to his breathing constantly...I am not waking up every time he coughs or takes a deep breath.

So there is progress just a tad slow.

Flowers last summer.

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4

 Our Great - Granddaughter Cee Cee was 4 on Sunday.   She had a trampoline park party with Aunts and Uncles present.  Afterwards they had pizza and cake. 

Photo stolen from her Mom's facebook page.

Looks like she had a good time!  She got a bike from her Aunts!  That balloon creation was something special! 

We were not able to attend the party but will ask her over to retrieve her gift when Far Guy feels all better. 

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Napping

 Far Guy spends a fair amount of time napping, he was sleep deprived in the hospital.  I join him every other nap or so.   I am hoping that he turns the corner soon....and gets on the upward swing. 

I am making a few cards...watercolor...quiet things to do while Far Guy is napping.  Of course I do have just a few crochet projects. 

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Flowers last summer

Slow going

 Far Guy thinks he should be doing better than he is.  He had a number of naps yesterday, he got very little sleep in the hospital. 

When I was out running some errands I stopped by a Mexican place that we eat at ...so I ordered supper and Noah picked it up for us and joined us for supper.  Andy and Jen were invited out for supper elsewhere. 

Yes it is slow going but at least it is going!

My baby brothers bride grew Non Stop Begonias last summer.

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Home again

 Far Guy is home and yes he had his weekly infusion right after he was released from the hospital.  It is good to have him home.  He needs time to recover, it has been two weeks of sickness for him and he will not feel better in a day or three...possibly weeks. 

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Goals

 We hope that Far Guy gets out of the hospital today and gets his infusion.  It is the goal for the day.  Then our goal is to keep him away from germy and perfume soaked people and out of the hospital. 

One of his goals is to work on his car come Spring and get to a few car shows during the summer.

We both need time away from hospitals and time to rest and recoup from funerals and flu and feel somewhat normal again.

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Feeling Better

 Far Guy is feeling and looking so much better.  I will keep my fingers and toes crossed that he has turned the corner and will be able to come home in a few days.  The Doctors have made arrangements for him to have his weekly infusion as soon as he is released from the hospital. 

Thank you for your prayers !

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Sepsis

Well now the diagnosis is sepsis and pneumonia.  They are bombarding him with broad spectrum antibiotics and steroids.  He is breathing okay as long as he doesn't move. Once he moves from the chair to the hospital bed his oxygen saturation level drops.  He has a long way to go to get better. 

Your prayers are appreciated. 

Far Side

Repeat

 Far Guy had a fairly good weekend; he rested, ate good food, took all his meds and breathing treatments.  We thought he had turned the corner and was getting better.

Monday morning he struggled to breathe.

The ambulance got him to the hospital, he was put on the bi-pap machine which forces air into your lungs.  He got two IV's, steroids, antibiotics and the usual blood work with many pokes (8) for one sample, x rays and a cat scan.

Pneumonia is the diagnosis and he is in the hospital.  People were stacked up like cordwood in the ER hallways on gurneys when he finally got a room.  I am not so sure about the Doctors there...I was not convinced that he should have been released last week when he was. They don't seem to understand about Alpha One either and the need for the infusions every week that protect his lungs from damage.  (If you are on Medicare you cannot receive the Infusion when you are in the hospital.) So he missed last weeks infusion...and his Dr could not assure us that he would be out for the one this Thursday either. 

Far Guy was breathing easier last night when I left.  

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A special quilt

 My Mother requested that a quilt be used under her urn.  My sister and I thought about all the quilts that Mom had made...how do you pick one special one?  I thought I knew which one or two were the most special.  Mom carried around the embroidery on many travels she worked on the squares in the car and in the evenings.  Turns out she lost track of the number of squares she made and she had too many...so she had to make two quilts.  They were used on her bed and my Dad's bed at the apartment...before that they were used at their home.  She was so excited when the quilts were completed!

The bluebird quilt.  It became the inspiration for preparations to purchase a urn and flowers.  My sister and I picked out two urns...both were very pretty. One would look lovely with the quilt.  I am not sure who made the final call...one of us.  My sister was in charge of the flowers, she made awesome choices. 

I think that Mom would have liked it. 

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Quilts

 My Mother was a maker of quilts. I took nine of my quilts to the church, but I still had a few in use at home. 

The quilt on the right is made from my fathers shirts, she made four of them one for each of us.  She was finishing the bindings on the last two when she took a turn for the worse...my cousin Wilma took them home and finished the bindings for Mom. 

Far Guy is a tad bit better today, I am still exhausted.  

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He's Home

 I picked up Far Guy at the hospital yesterday when they finally released him mid afternoon.  He is weak and will have to slowly build his stamina up again.  It all takes time.  Recovering from Influenza A and Pneumonia doesn't happen overnight.  I think they may have released him a bit early...but Jen and I have four eyes on him.   He is very discouraged...patience is not one of his endearing qualities. 

One day at a time.  If that doesn't work try an hour or if you have to minute by minute.

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Friday

 Far Guy gets to come home Friday...at least that is what his Dr is hoping for.  

I have been resting and sleeping mostly...I did some laundry yesterday and washed the sheets. 

Jen made chicken and homemade noodles and took some over to Maddie and her family,  I had some also they are delicious and there are left overs that we can feed Far Guy too.  Nothing better than chicken and homemade noodles when you are sick. 

Little Elvis is my constant companion.  I think I might be on my way to recovery...knock on wood. ( I have enough pills to take)

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