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.  

Far Side

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!

Far Side

 

Parade

 Yesterday was the Homecoming parade in town.  We found a spot to park Tilly on Main Street and waited for the parade. 

We waited quite awhile, we talked to my baby brother and his bride...they are sitting on the bench waiting for the parade.

It was a nice day sunny and 80F or 27C. 

Homecoming King and Queen.

Great Niece Olivia is in the ripped jeans and Great Niece Anna on the far right. 

A hayrack full of football players was the last parade unit. 

The parade was short and sweet, lots of kids smiling and waving!  

Fun times!

Far Side
 

Uffda times two

 Wow this little big surgery is kicking my butt.  I managed all the errands in town and then came home to crash for several hours.  Woke up to help with supper and spilled my entire plate of food on the floor.  

Uffda...life is sometimes messy.

Far Side

So...

 So sore from the surgery...or maybe it is the stitches that burn...who knows.  

Yesterday Far Guy went with  me to have lunch with long time friend Susie so we could celebrate our birthdays!  We don't get together often enough.  Susie always makes me laugh!  

I came home and had a five hour sleep.  

Here is an energizer bunny for you...our Great Granddaughter Cee Cee getting ready for jimbasticks. 

Isn't she just as cute as she can be!  I shamelessly stole this photo from her Mom's facebook page. Wish I had her energy!  

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Tests

 I had a small bigger than I thought surgery yesterday at the Dermatologists Office.  The biopsy on my shoulder came back as atypical cells and the spot on my cheek came back as malignant melanoma. So both spots were taken care of.  I have a considerable amount of discomfort but am glad to have it behind me....keeping fingers and toes crossed that these biopsies come back clear and the huge hole in my face heals well.  They will do some kind of genetic testing on the first samples...some study to see if there is a genetic link to melanoma. 

 Hopefully I can cross this off the freaking list. 

All my eye tests came back okay/normal for aging eyes...cross that off the list too. 

Far Guy is taking good care of me.

Far Side

Vintage Paper

 I made a big ole project for myself.  

I wanted vintage looking cotton watercolor paper for the Christmas cards.  

I could only buy large sheets...but if I ordered them I could make my own size papers. 

They had a deckle edge... uffda...I watched some You Tube Videos...but finally just went out on my own and figured it out. 

I scored the paper...turning it every which way. 

Then I ripped and ripped...

Perfect vintage looking papers to watercolor on...maybe I have not tried that part yet. 

Lots of scraps. 

Far Side

Happy Fall

 Lots of the leaves are just turning brown and falling off the trees...especially in our Oaks. 

Fall is here, our temperatures in the 80's might be history along with the humidity.  The potato harvest has begun after the temperatures cooled off. 

The little Asters are blooming quite nicely.  

Far Guy is feeling a tad bit better, improvement is slow.  Yesterday we recycled, searched for something lost that was eventually found and went out for lupper at our favorite Mexican place...we can still sit out on the patio there.  One more Sunday lupper and they will close until next Spring. 

Grandson Noah has Covid, praying he makes a full recovery.  Grandson Adam has started a new job in Western North Dakota.  The giggly Grand girls Savannah and Paige called me on my birthday.  Maddie messaged me that Grandpa should spoil me all day long. 

So Fall is here, I wonder if we will have good Fall color or not. Soon I will begin mulching leaves with the lawn mower.  

Oh and some of the Lilacs are looking better with new growth and some are even blooming again...who knew? 

Far Side

Oh deer

 The twin fawns were at the bird bath taking turns getting a drink.  They are losing their spots.  I went to get my camera and they left...but

their Mama came in for a drink too.

My what big ears you have.

She sauntered over and began nibbling on the chokecherry bushes.  She is a very dark color now. 

Far Side

Birthday report

 I woke up to my husband singing Happy Birthday! 

I escorted him to Urgent Care because his breathing had changed...he has meds on board now and should improve every day.   The covid vaccination last week may have been too much for his system and he needs a bit of help to feel better. 

We still managed to go out for lupper,  had afternoon naps and then headed to friends who had baked me a cake.  

Thank you for all the birthday greetings! 

The last card on the right is from my other baby brother...it says "If anyone asks how old you are tell them to count your fingers!!"

Far Side

Another year

 Well I made it another year!

This was my birthday party in 1955 when I was four years old. Guests were; Corrine, Sharon, Rhonda and my baby brother Carey.  Carey is holding a small birthday cake.  Awesome neighbor lady Lorraine would make a small cake just for the birthday girl/boy...a tradition she carried on for many years. 

Here I am with that special cake. 

Far Side

Smudge and the treat lady

 I could interview Smudge for you today.  I am not quite certain of her voice yet but will give it a whirl. 

"Smudge how old are you now?"  

Arf Arf  ...4 months plus a week or two

"Is it true that you encountered the electric fence around the garden?"

Yippp Yippp

"Did you try and eat a Wooly Bear Caterpillar?"  Note that she has a pointing action going on.

Yes but the treat lady told me NO.

"Was it a solid black Wooly Bear, that could mean no Winter or the worst Winter ever?" 

All I know is it smelled bad so I didn't eat it.

"Smudge did you terrorize Snapping Turtle babies today?"

Yes, I gave them the what for ...for a long time...did you hear me barking at your place?

"Smudge who is your favorite treat lady?"

Well you would be #1 but all you have is the lousy Cheerios that are a low calorie treat for my fat brother. 

:)

Sweet as a Strawberry

 Just yesterday she was little.   I have proof.

1983...lets see that was 41 years ago.  Her shirt says Sweet as a Strawberry. 

Today is her birthday...the glue that holds our family together often putting her needs and wants aside to take care of others.   She often asks me "Mom what can I do for you?"

 Always just a phone call away or in the Winter time just a holler away. 

 

We are so thankful to have her in our lives, God has blessed us! 

Me and Jen 1975

She loved those big birthday cookies! 

Me, Far Guy and Jen in Hawaii a few years ago.

Happy Birthday Jen!  Have the best birthday yet!! Love you lots!

Mom

Jewelweed

 Impatiens capensis or Jewelweed is a wildflower.

It is growing quite nicely along the dock over at my baby brothers home.  It likes a bit of sun and lots of moisture to grow well.   Flowers can be orange or yellow.

See the fleshy stem/stalk...the clear gelatinous substance inside is what kills the itch and spread of poison ivy.  I pick the largest stalks and split them open with a knife.  Some people will keep stalks in their freezer for the next years early poison ivy problems.  We have a slurry in our fridge...one year Far Guy got some stalks and threw the whole stalk into the blender...it works great.  

I managed to escape a huge outbreak of the Poison Ivy this year...I had three small spots...one should not touch sweaty cleavage with a lawn mowing glove.  Lesson learned. 

Far Side

Sunday aftrernoon

 We had company on Sunday, first my other baby brother and she who sees robins first, then two of our Grands.  Savannah and Paige came to spend some time with the old folks!  

We got caught up with the goings on in their lives. 

Then we went to lunch at our favorite Mexican place. 

We all had a fun time!  They make us smile and laugh!

Far Side

Booster reactions

Both of our arms were really sore! 

After the covid booster Far Guy felt like he had been hit by a truck, he had the chills, headache and body aches.

As per my normal reaction...a fever and fatigue.  I slept all night Friday and most of Saturday.  I was somewhat achy...but again that is normal for me.  

Between the two of us we managed a trip to the transfer station to get rid of our garbage and together we managed supper...which was pretty easy we just warmed up leftovers from the fridge. 

Far Guy woodcarved outside for awhile.  I managed to paint a few Christmas ornaments.  

Our old place on the lake....we lived there nine years (1986-1995).  That is the boathouse that is directly on the lake. 

Far Side

A Wildlife

Yes we live a wildlife. 

Picking tomatoes every day and sharing them with others. 

  Painting the Christmas ornaments, Far Guys says there are 109 ornaments.  

We got our Covid Boosters Friday afternoon  So far so good...but as I write this it has just been five hours. So who knows. 

We went for a Ranger Blue ride the other night.  My hip is not as sore as it was so we got to have a longer ride.   I still have some pain, but I am doing the exercises and the whirlpool and heated rice bags.   I hope PT can fit me in their schedule next week...I am on the call list. 

More Doctor appointments have been scheduled...seems like it never ends. 

Far Guy got a call from his Doctors office warning him of an increase in covid hospital admissions, the covid wards in Fargo, ND are open again.  They told him to isolate and stay out of crowds.  We are practically hermits already. 

A fawn with fading spots.  The fawns are slowly turning a darker color.  Their Mama is really dark.

A Grouse on the back road...she is living right behind our house...safe except for the Fox that is a frequent visitor.  Sure hope there is more than one Grouse...we have not seen one in this area for a long time. 

Such is our wildlife:)

Far Side

Baxter and Smudge

 Baxter turned four the end of August.   He still likes me...possibly because I have treats (Cheerios). 

Here is Baxter enjoying the pontoon ride one night this week.  My baby brother and his bride have a pontoon. 

Smudge can run faster than Baxter now.  Far Guy and I were at the end of the dock waiting...and they came running! 

It was a nice night to be out on the lake. 

It was getting close to sunset before we came off the lake.  When we docked Smudge took off ninety miles an hour...happy to be off the pontoon. 

Far Side

Lists

 I have many things on my list for September...you know all the things I should have tended to before they made the list!

I crossed a few off my list the other day..I returned some photos to one of my cousins and had a nice visit with her, I also dropped off photos my Mom had for the American Legion Auxiliary Historian.  I got the car washed...and had some of the eye tests that my eye doc wanted...I still have one more test next week.

Far Guy finished carving this years Christmas Ornament, I did the final quality control check and they are all set to paint.  

I am researching ideas for this years Christmas card.  I may have to audition a few of the designs I found. 

My lawn mowing is done for now, we have hot dry weather and the grass is starting to turn brown.   I finished up next door on Monday...it had been two weeks or more since I was there. 

and along the back road...

Far Side