Our three GREATS have so much energy...that is why parents are young and not old!
They are growing up so quickly!
The Grand Girls were here on Thanksgiving morning before taking off for their Thanksgiving dinner.
Our Grandsons ...Noah worked a late shift and Adam lives too far away...but we will see them at Christmas! Hopefully all five will be there then!
I got to see Paige's beautiful rings.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Far Side
We are going to be Great Grandparents again!
We are truly blessed.
Far Side
We had our second snow on late Sunday night/early Monday morning. We now have about two inches of the white stuff.
See all those tracks in the snow? Something was having a party around the bird feeder.
This is a photo of the security camera. They sure had fun and emptied out one side of the feeder. I suspect the five squirrels that showed up enjoyed a bit of that spilled seed too.
We made a list for errands in town and as we left the yard the smaller deer was watching us from the edge of the woods...I suppose he/she wanted a morning snack.
Town was fine the Turkey is thawing in the fridge and the rest of the groceries were purchased for a simple meal on Thanksgiving Day. Turkey, mashed potatoes, GF gravy, GF Green Beans with sour cream and onion potato chips on top instead of the onion rings with gluten, corn, olives, pickles and Snickers salad. Guests are bringing GF stuffing and GF cake. There will be more than enough food!
Far Side
Brumotactillophobia. Go ahead and say that three times real fast...kinda rolls right off the tongue doesn't it?
I realized I had it when I saw this photograph of my Nephew Kirk and his daughter Jordyn. Kirk had a birthday last week and I think he wants to be a Viking:)
Notice their plates...Kirks is a real mess...but Jordyn ...I coveted her pretty pink divided plate immediately when I saw this photo on Facebook (photo used with permission)
Anyways Brumotactillophobia is an irrational fear of food touching. It is a quirk I have had as long as I can remember.
My stomach has compartments...I am convinced of it. Perhaps it is my CDO (Compulsive Disorder Obsessive) in hyperdrive! Or is it a control issue?
Sometimes I have a plate and several bowls at the supper table...you know one plate for my steak and my steak sauce way far away from my steak even though I drag my steak through the sauce I do not want it touching until I want it touching...the other bowls would be a salad and a potato...not together... separate bowls..and if I had a slice of bread it would be off my plate on my napkin...and holy moly if I had a pickle it would never be on the plate or in the bowls...it would be on the far corner of my napkin no where near the bread. Pickle juice on any other food is unacceptable to me...Far Guy doesn't care he balances his pickle and bread anyplace on his single plate. I try not to look at his plate or anyone elses while eating.
My eating habits are just chaos...and it is getting worse as I age. I watch lots of cooking shows...and when they stack food up all nice and pretty...stuff under the meat and stuff on the meat... it nauseates me...I am not a good one to take to a buffet...when Far Guy fills up his plate I cannot look at it because I will start to gag.
It is exhausting for me to put more than one food on my plate...If I put three foods on my plate I would be continually pushing them far apart as possible. I will never put Jello on the same plate as meat, veggies and mashed potatoes...ever. No red/orange/lime colored mashed potatoes for me or melting toward my meat or veggies... Jello Alert!! Jello always needs its own bowl.
I can eat soups and hotdish because it is all cooked together! So see I am a little bit normal!
Far Side
Yesterday we had a busy day. We both worked upstairs. Far Guy managed to gather together a garbage bag full of worthless stuff so I added some old computer accessories that I had shoved under my desk up there too many years ago to recall. We went to the transfer station and recycle once and are gathering for another recycle trip...mostly old magazines...Farm and Ranch Living and nearly every issue of Martha Stewart Living.
I filed last years Christmas card photos and letters that I could not part with. I sorted through some of the Shiny Brites and will sell some of them. Three boxes were sold yesterday but that is just a drop in the bucket. The lady was just thrilled!
Friday was a quiet day, I did some laundry and sorted my way through a project. Far Guy warmed up meals out of the freezer for supper...he had a Impossible Sausage dish and I had Hotdish..the one with potatoes, veggies and hamburger topped with cheese.
It has been a while since I sorted for our Grands...I have three ring binders for each of them filled with "stuff" they might appreciate someday. My Mother kept a few things that I did not keep. I have been shoving things for the Grands in a container and it just needed to be sorted and put in its proper place. Far Guy helped and in no time at all we were done!
I found a tiny bunch of LED lights on the pantry shelf. I think I was going to put them on the wreath outside the front door...I put them up by the blue glass in the window instead.
It makes for a bright spot in these dreary November days.
Far Side
Rain turned to snow in the early morning hours on November 20th. We have enough to almost cover the grass.
Isn't it beautiful? At least some of the brown is covered up with white. I shoveled off the walk. Typically it snows three times before the snow stays...we will see what happens...our weather forecast looks like wintery temperatures for the rest of November.
Jen sent a photo of Sadie in the snow...they got more snow Up North than we did.
Looks like she walked outside on the patio and laid down. I am sure she was racing around like a wild girl before long.
I had a sorting day...sorted out some more "stuff" and labeled a bunch of photos. I also cleaned out the old toy box...threw some old hiking boots out and began a donation pile for scarfs and hats no longer worn. I tried to clear some odds and ends or "I will get to it later" stuff off my desk. I was partially successful.
Far Side
Some of my cousins on my Dad's side of the family gathered yesterday for lunch. Seven showed up; Geraldine, Hilda, Wilma, Georgianna, Evelyn and Chuckie. It was a nice visit. Better than visiting at a funeral....plus we were at the place that has the wonderful Sour Cream and Raisin Pie!
I had a few old photos to share with the gals.
I mailed a whole bunch of odds and ends AND this years Christmas ornaments yesterday. It took the postal clerk about 30 minutes to deal with my 15 packages. He said he hadn't mailed that many packages in the last six months. The lady waiting behind me was not too happy.
We still have a few Christmas ornaments to hand deliver.
Back at home I gathered together all my lawn mowing garb threw it in the washer and washed my red boots off in the sink. All of it including my hat will be stored in the old toy box until next year.
I got two pair of snowboots out and washed up a pair of crocs for the shoe drawer. Also decided to get rid of two pairs of shoes from the shoe drawer...progress! ( Truth be told I still have one pair of crocs by the door just incase I need to slip them on quickly instead of my snowboots)
Listed a few more things for sale on Facebook Marketplace. It all takes time.
My desk is full of "stuff" from upstairs...paper stuff...old stuff..."stuff" that my Mom kept..that needs to be sorted out...many things will find a home in the Grands three ring binders that I have been keeping for them. ( I sorted things out for my siblings last Spring and my pile of "stuff" just sat upstairs.) All that "stuff" needs a proper storage spot!
AND I am ready for the snow! I can tell the snow is coming...change of weather is painful for me.
Far Side
Imagine my surprise when I saw that the weedy little daisy in our rocks on the West side of the house decided to bloom.
No one said November 17th was too late to bloom.
The rabbits, squirrels, skunk, deer or bear have trampled part of it... I have treated the area with round-up many times over the Summer and into the Fall...yet the daisy blooms.
Far Side
Yesterday we had a project day...well project morning anyway. Recycles went to recycle and garbage went to the landfill. Patio chairs, table, various lawn ornaments and a bird feeder went into winter storage. I vacuumed up the counters in the garage and threw a bunch of stuff away....some old gloves, yucky rags and empty containers. I brought the snow shovel to the front door in anticipation of snow.
Two things on my mind/in my craw this week.
Thursday the grocery store not Wally World had two checkouts open...they have at least eight lanes and four self checkouts. I stood in one line for a bit...the cashier was coughing so much she was doubling over and then lifted off her mask to talk to people...can you imagine the hasty u turn I made to the self checkouts? If a manager had been around I would have complained...that gal should not have been allowed to come to work...what is wrong with people?
Dancing with the half naked Stars... men could you keep your shirts on? I don't mind watching you dance UNTIL your shirt is ripped open then I just want to fast forward or turn the channel. There isn't one among them that has bald chest that is worth looking at.
Far Side
The foggy mornings of November are here. I woke up about daylight and it was really foggy..the light from the sunrise made it look really strange so I went back to sleep. Nothing like avoidance.
We had a quiet day at home tending to a few things. Laundry, a bit of cooking and various odds and ends.
Far Guy reports that a large deer was in the yard...possibly that accounts for an empty bird feeder either that or the bear was here.
There is a sculpture on Main Street in town that is named sticks and stones.
A stick, some stones and a metal frame. Who knew?
I was reminded of the childhood saying "Sticks and stones will beak my bones but words will never hurt me." Do you recall that one? A children's rhyme from 1862.
I do know that some words can hurt. I was reminded one day by a very little girl who I had just scolded for doing something or another...as a tear rolled down her cheek she said "You hurt my feeling" Yes not feelings ...just feeling...apparently one feeling. When you are little you can have just one feeling.
Far Side
The rain is turning the grass green and the grass is growing. I am not getting the lawn mower out again.
The few leaves that were in our yard and on the patio blew away in the gale force winds on Tuesday.
I have an old mower propped up against this tree...you know the old push mower with the cutting blades that went around as you pushed. I believe it is called a reel mower. It took some arm power to push it in tall grass...I recall getting a run at it. At one time years ago...like 50 years ago you could buy a weed killer bar to attach to the back of the mower and all your dandys were killed...possibly it was 2, 4 - D who really knows for sure.
Now a days I leave the dandys in the side yard for the early bees, dandys do stop blooming if you mow over them often enough. But then again I have no neighbors that complain about them.
The rains in the Fall are good for the trees it will help get them through the winter. Our high temperature yesterday was 40 F or 5 C...it was a tad chilly but not cold enough to snow.
Far Side
Sometimes you have to be reminded that you are awesome!
Sam sent me a belated birthday gift...a reminder that I may be older but I am still awesome! I love the project bag too...:) Also included were a compact mirror, fuzzy socks and a drink cup...there was also a candle that we will use out on the patio. Thank you Sam!
Far Side
I have several old photographs of me and a deer.
Who: My Dad and me
Where: the Farm in Carsonville Township
Why: Hunting photo
When: 1953 or 1954 I am either two or three years old.
Far Guy is a Veteran he was in the Air Force and the North Dakota Air National Guard for 26 plus years.
He was always going places in planes.
I knew when he was leaving but the return home could take place at anytime ...usually days late.
One time he took a camera with him and took a selfie .
Then he took a photo out of the canopy.
Happy Veteran's Day to my husband and all others who have been or are now in the Armed Forces. Thank you for your service!
Far Side
I washed a window today and Far Guy did one more...maybe tomorrow we can get another one done. We are slow but steady.
This afghan is still in my work basket...I have been working on it off and on...mostly off... for a year. The Fall like colors should inspire me!
The deer hunters around here were quiet...I didn't hear any shots. It spit rain here when I was washing that window on the outside. It was not cold enough to snow.
Far Side
We are deep in the brown season, usually we have some white by now...I am certain it will come sooner or later.
We had a busy week and the time change caught up with me yesterday and I slept the afternoon away.
Deer hunting starts today, hope everyone has a safe and productive hunt here in Minnesota!
Far Side
I picked the book for book club this month. I read it previously and enjoyed it very much...in fact I enjoyed it the second time I read it too! I give it a 9 1/2 out of 10. It is a fun read.
We needed a quiet day after traveling for two days. I am not doing well riding in the car...about an hour from home I crawled into the back seat and slept. The pain was too much.
I did some laundry on Wednesday and put a few things away, had a nap and we cooked supper together. A Philly Cheese concoction on pretzel buns....a double batch was made so that the next time we can just heat it up and not cook!
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Philly Pretzel Buns
Brown a pound of hamburger
Add 1 cup of beef broth and three tablespoons of A 1 Steak sauce. I save the other cup of broth and freeze it for next time
Simmer until mixture is reduced
Slice pretzel buns in half, top with half the mixture and cheese we like mozzarella
It makes four servings so I freeze the rest for a no cook day.
Broil until cheese melts.
I served it with pickles and carrot sticks.
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I am finishing up my book for book club...I have read it before but it is a fun second read.
Neighbor and good friend Jolynn had a hysterectomy yesterday in Duluth for Endometrial Cancer. Her daughters report she is doing okay, there will be no results on the status of the cancer until next week. So she is heavy on my mind.
Fun! We got to see a Grand and the Greats in between medical appointments. Peach was especially friendly showing me her stick horse and her turtle dolly. She even sat with me for a bit.
Peach is a doll.
Not so fun; I had the MRI and will be seeing my Ortho PA soon to discuss the results. That MRI is not a fun test 25 minutes and nine rock and roll songs...one of which was "I wanna get outta this place if its the last thing I ever do." I had to do some real controlled calming breathing...because I wanted to get out...what if the gals left...what if there was a power outage...what if there was a fire...thank goodness that song was number seven and I was close to getting pulled out. Next time I will not be brave and I shall be in a medical induced coma medicated. I am too old to be brave.
Okay might be fun. My Primary Care Dr is pleased with my blood pressure and I will have some more tests in January.
FUN! Going out for supper with Andy and Jen.
More fun! Sadie! She still loves us.
Fun. We drove back home and voted.
Two three more medical appointments scheduled this week.
Far Side
The far tree is Larix laricina also known as Tamarack or Larch.
Uffda. I hate the time change...I dislike the dwindling daylight hours. Someone said "Welcome darkness my old friend."
November is not my favorite month of the year...it is the brown month here in Minnesota everything is a different shade of brown.
Brown is so boring...how about some blue? Like the waters of the Caribbean...nope not happening...only blue dishes.
The big kids and little kids carved some nice Jack O' Lanterns
Such expressive faces!
Great Granddaughter Peach even had a taste!
All photos by Jen.
Far Side
I was not at home when the first batch came through so I missed a photo of the littlest trick or treater Lola. Far Guy says she looked like a ballerina maybe. Then I met part of the first batch in the driveway and had them come back for a photo.
