The Cards

 Here are the Christmas cards that I made this year.  The best laid plans and all that.  I wanted a vintage looking card.  I bought the wrong cards...they were like a postcard with an envelope...oh well.  

I stamped them on the back

Then I created the front of the card on the homemade watercolor cotton paper.  

It was a process; the top card is the background, at the left trees are added and at the right I stamped Merry Christmas. 

Then it was time for the gouache...I had never used it before...but it makes great snow.  

Boy did it snow...on the cards, on the table and on me...it was a wild time. 

After the gouache was dry I glued the card to the cardstock and weighed it down...the first batch was a mess...too much glue and I had snow all over the backs of the cards....little white dots all over!  I was not happy luckily I solved that problem by using wax paper between the cards...well wouldn't you know it ...that trapped the moisture from the glue.  Trial and error...what finally worked was using less glue and wrapping each card in a Kleenex and then weighing them down.  

When you have no idea what in the world you were doing it all takes some trial and error.  

Yes all the cards are similar but different...some have more trees and some trees are tall and skinny and some are big and fat...kinda like trees in real life.  

I ordered special address labels...of get this... trees...it would be perfect.  Well those labels went back and forth stuck on a truck that kept circling between Brooklyn Park Minnesota and West Fargo North Dakota for 23 DAYS.  Go figure I finally said "enough" I will use those address labels next year and used some generic not pretty at all labels.  On the way to the Post Office to do the mailing we stopped at our mail box and guess what was there?  If you guessed my labels with trees that were ever so pretty you would be correct. 

All is well that ends well.  126 cards were mailed. 

Far Side

A smile

 This may make you smile. 

Someone was a pill when it was time to take photos.  These are our Great Grandchildren growing taller every day.  That is Peach being a pill. 

We will be seeing more of these children, by the time you read this we should be Up North for the worst of the Winter weather.   Hopefully we are all settled in by now and Sadie is keeping track of us!

This was the snow that delayed our departure by a day, the roads were crappy for traveling, and we traveled in between storms.  

Far Side

Christmas 1961

 Looking back on some old photos, this one made me smile. 

My other baby brother.  He would have been 14 months old.  I am certain he was wearing his brothers coat!  He was such a cute little guy!

Far Side

55 years

 We were married 55 years ago today.  

Here we are with our parents.  Far Guy's Mom was celebrating her 55th birthday that same day. 

It was cold...it was like -20 F  or -29 C that day.  Cold. That is what most people recall about that day. My baby brother said the other day " You remember how cold it was?  AND I had to haul gifts out of the church to the car!"

Happy Anniversary to us! 

We don't always agree, sometime we agree to disagree, but we are on the same team!

Far Side

Christmas 1952

 My Dad missed my first Christmas in 1951 because he was in Korea.  

However he was there for my second Christmas in 1952. 

Christmas 1952 the photo was taken at the farm house where I grew up. The tree was in the corner of the living room.  I am pretty sure that all that occupied that room that year was the tree and a rocking chair.  My parents purchased the farm in the Spring of 1952. 

You can see Dad's Army photo high on that shelf...he must have hung up that shelf as it was pretty tall...as was my Dad. 

My Dad was 96 years old when he died in 2022, the last of 14 children when he died on the morning of December 19th what would have been his Father's 132nd birthday. 

I miss my Dad, but I have many really good memories of him!

We had a Winter Storm when he died and today we also have a Winter Storm. 

Far Side

Christmas 1965

 In December of 1965 we went on a family vacation to see my Dad's relatives; our Aunt Anna, Uncle Stanley and their children Clark and Leann in Ontario California. 

 My parents took turns driving straight through to Utah.  My other baby brother napped on a blanket in the floor boards of the front seat, my baby brother and I slept in the back seat.

I recall being impressed with Salt Lake City and the Provo Utah area where we stayed in a Motel...the first Motel I had ever stayed in. Our Mom had packed food to eat along the way...we did not eat in restaurants.  At the California border we sat at some picnic tables and ate what fruit we had because it was not allowed into California.

Leann, Carey ( my baby brother), Jody ( my other baby brother), Clark and me

We had lutefisk at Sylvia and Gusty home ( Uncle Stanley's parents), luckily there was also roast pork, potatoes and gravy!  

We went to a Candlelight Church Service on Christmas Eve.  The day after Christmas we went to Disneyland. After we left California we headed toward Houston Texas and stopped at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico and someplace that had reptile gardens (I was scared nearly to death). 

Leann and Aunt Anna.

It was a good trip, the only family vacation that I can recall. 

Far Side 

A Shopper

 My baby brother is a shopper...I think he must surf the net for many unique gifts. 

He brought over a gift for me.  A divided dish that will allow me to completely separate my food because I have Brumotactillophobia...fear of food touching! Note how everything has its own space!!

I gave it a whirl and it worked perfectly for my chicken, french fries, baked carrots and a pickle.  

Ain't life grand!

Far Side

Done

I finished the remainder of the watercolor Christmas cards on Saturday.  Far Guy signed and folded the letters and tucked them inside.  I attached the address labels and wrote a few notes inside some of them and sealed them.  I have all the stamps but I am waiting for the return address labels that should have been in the mail last Friday.  

Cards in progress

Using the homemade cotton watercolor paper was a challenge as it sucked up water to beat the band and extra drying time had to be allowed.   No two cards are exactly alike...

The final count was 126.  I am not sure I will do the homemade watercolor cotton paper again...but it did make a very pretty card.  

Pain Report: Some improvement...is it enough?  Is that it?  I knew I wouldn't get complete relief, perhaps I was expecting too much.   Before the steroid injections my pain was at a six...now it is a five at times.  I am still doing the exercises and the pain at night that came on right after the injections is now gone...so at least I can rest comfortably again. 

Far Side

Christmas Ornament 2024

 Far Guy wood carved for many days last Summer.  He carved a quilted ornament.  

He carved 109 of them.  They are carved out of basswood although a few may have been carved from pine. 

I painted on them a good long time on Fall days inbetween mulching leaves in the yard. 

I used metallic paints in all different color combinations.  Here are some in progress.

I am pretty sure that no two are exactly alike. 

I gifted a number of them this year to very special people: two of my cousins that quilt and a few bloggers that are quilters.   

There were none left to give away.  But I felt good about the people that got them!

The last of the packages with ornaments have been delivered except for my sister...hers are at the Post Office awaiting her return from vacation. 

2024 marks the 30th year that we have been making some kind of homemade ornament for relatives and friends. 

Far Side

Christmas 1978

All those old Christmas photos are treasures.  I do not recall what gifts were exchanged other than the gift of Family. 

My Mother wrote on this photo the year 1978.   My sister Julie (age 12), our daughters Trica (age 6) and Jennifer (age 3)  

Not sure what my sister was telling Jen ...probably say cheese.  Looks like Trica was in first grade as she has some missing front teeth.  Jen has a Raggedy Ann doll that I do not recall at all. 

The Nativity set in the background was ceramic and I made it one year as a gift for my Mother. The tree was in the corner of the living room in my parents home on Straight Lake.  I see tinsel and satin balls. 

I am still not sure what my Mother was thinking with the choice of carpeting! Uffda high low shag.

Christmas was always celebrated the same; church on Christmas Eve, after church my Mother would disappear and begin her last minute gift wrapping...there would be knocks at the door and neighbors would join in the festivities...my Mother invited everyone for Christmas Eve.  There was food and plenty to drink...it was always terribly cold outside...Minnesota ..freeze your butt off cold.  The next morning was church and the rest of the day was spent at my Grandparents home.

Far Side

  

Ah poop

 Poop heads anyways.  

Yesterday I went into the Clinic to get my two Cimzia shots in my belly as I am supposed to have them every 28 days for my many forms of arthritis.  After reading my Doctors notes from the last injection the nurse called a Dr..he said call the prescribing Dr ( she has moved to the great city of Bismarck, ND...good luck to all who she touches there) then the nurse  attempted to call the Rheumatologist...who was busy with patients...SO...

The nurse felt that I had a significant reaction to the last injections and I should see the Doctor in Fargo.  Good thing I have an appointment with him next week. 

I was hoping to get these injections behind me as they made me really short of breath and tired for three days. I had meals prepared and laundry done up...so the three days would be easier.  

 Well so much for having my poop in a pile. 

...other people like Doctors who had 27 days to prepare and come up with a plan...do not have their poop in a pile. 

Buggers anyways. 

My Pain was worse yesterday...might be weather related as our high was -3F or -19C.  I had to run errands in town, in and out of the car multiple times.  We were in town for four hours. ( I had a list a mile long to accomplish) 

I took two Tylenol and a gummy and had a long nap after we got home so the Christmas Card count remains at 117. 

Far Side

I drew you all a pile of poop...only the last plop is a happy plop. 

Don't forget your hat

 or mittens or scarf or extra heavy parka or below zero boots and maybe even a blankie! 

The deep freeze is here.  40 BELOW zero windchills...uffda...such is life in the frozen northland.  What happened to Global Warming?  Apparently it does not apply to Minnesota.  The only good thing about the cold weather is that it is making good ice so the fishermen can get out on the lakes without drowning. 

I heard there were sundogs and saw photos on Facebook...I was not going to venture out for a photo.

Far Guy and I attended at Virtual Craft Get Together sponsored by the VA.  They mailed us supplies.

They are Gnomes...you need the cardboard from a paper towel roll or tp roll, yarn, a pine cone and something for a nose.   The yarn is measured and then cut to length and wrapped around a small ring of cardboard from the paper towel holder, turned inside out and then you tie off the pom pom add a hanger, glue on a pine cone and a nose and VIOLA you have a cute gnome.  Perfect little project on a cold Winters day. 

Christmas card report: 10 more are done drying the total is now 117.  One more productive day and I should be done...but tomorrow is filled with many appointments and errands. 

We got the Christmas letter printed out..not without some drama...upside down a couple of times as the paper was all mixed up....must have been the Christmas Elf:)

Far Side

a little snow

 It warmed up enough to gift us with some very fine snow on top of the ice.  

Thank goodness for my other baby brother, he brought over a load of sand with his skid-steer and covered the wide icy path to the garage.  Now the new snow covers the sand but at least it is not a treacherous path anymore. 

The snow is so tiny it is hard to see in the photos.  We are headed into the deep freeze for a couple of days now. 

I am making lists and checking them multiple times.  Plus the normal laundry, cleaning and all the other fun stuff around here. 

Pain: Is somewhat less at times, but still there.  

Christmas card report:  12 more on the final dry time so the total is now 107.  I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and hope it is not a train coming. 

Far Side

Cataracts and stuff

 Far Guy had an eye appointment, he has cataracts...he wants to WAIT to get them taken care of.  I couldn't wait to have my cataract surgery.  I could see so much better.  He got a new prescription for glasses. 

We are making progress selling some of some Christmas Shiny Brites and some of the old woodcarvings that were stuck in a drawer.  Less for someone else to sort through some day. 

The Shiny Brites were especially hard to get rid of...they were like treasured old friends. 

We still have one Christmas tree and lots of decorations...not sure what for.  We are not doing much for decorating around here.  

Christmas card report: 16 more were finished drying so the total is now 95.  Yeah me...I am getting tired of watercoloring!  I usually listen/watch sappy Christmas movies while I paint. 

Far Guy has completed the Christmas letter! 

Far Side

Cemetery, pain and cards

Saturday I took some red silk poinsettias to the cemetery where my parents are buried.  It was a nice day about 40 F or 5 C and the snow was melting fast.  I had been wanting to get there before it snowed...I didn't make that deadline...but finally got er done!

The flowers look nice against the snow.  I am glad that the headstone has vases on each side...it makes flower taking easier.  Needless to say we were the only people there...but a bunch of Wild Turkeys were in the area. 

Not much snow for this time of year.  Even less now as it began to rain early Sunday morning...it will be a skating rink out there with the dreaded black ice.  36 F or 3 C was our high yesterday with those rain showers.

Pain Report: Small improvement...not enough to cheer about...yet.

Christmas card report: 14 added to the previous 65 makes 79 total...I am making progress.  A rainy day helped and I skipped my nap. 

Far Side

1979 a blast from the past

 My other baby brother and she who sees robins first celebrate 45 years of wedded bliss today! 

1979  That is my sister Julie age 13 on the far left and the flower girl is our oldest daughter Trica she was 7 years old that year. 

Congratulations! 

Christmas card report: 12 finished so total is 65

Pain report: I have a little less pain....hopefully it will keep improving. 

Far Side

Who knew?

 I saw these UGLY Poinsettias in the grocery store the other day.  Why anyone would spray a perfectly pretty white poinsettia this awful blue is beyond me.  

A dear old friend once told me "it takes all kind to make the world go round" and then she would giggle. 

Far Guy and I made it to the Car Dealership for an oil change and tire rotation without buying a new car, I think Far Guy accompanied me just so I would not buy a new car.   After that for a really exciting time, he dropped me off at the Clinic for a blood test the Rheumatologist ordered.  

My back pain has changed, the pain does not go away when I lay down after the injections...so I am more restless and get up often.  The pain is a full dull feeling...maybe it will get better with time... I sure hope so. ( I want my no pain time back)

Christmas card report: Only 6 were finished for a total of 53 so almost half way.  I have a bunch coming down the assembly line in the next few days.  Drying time is holding me up...four dry times...background watercolor must be dry before proceeding, then drying time for the foreground watercolor and then for the gouache ( it makes snow) and then drying time for the glue. Uffda.  I didn't know how time consuming this project would be.

Far Side 

Book Club 2024: December

 I had virtual book club yesterday.  We read The Women by Kristin Hannah.

I give the first part of the book a 10 and the second part a 9.5 ...I would highly recommend it, it is about a Nurse that served in Vietnam.   Everyone in the book club liked the book. 

I ran errands in town whilst Far Guy had his infusion yesterday.  Groceries, bank, picked up our special order Christmas paper for the non existent Christmas letter and I went to the Meat Store...we were out of Bacon!  Came home put everything away, visited with my baby brother, his bride, Baxter and Smudge.  Smudge grew a bit taller when they were gone for a couple of weeks and Baxter is looking thin...I think he missed my treats (Cheerios). 

No huge improvement in my back pain yet....might be a little less pain...time will tell.

Christmas Card Report: 12 more added total is now 47.

Far Side

Ground Blizzard

 Yesterday we had what they call a Ground Blizzard.  The winds kick up what snow it can and blow it around.  On our way to my appointment we saw many snow-nados/ snow-devils ...that is snow picked up into a swirling cone the air.  The high yesterday was 13 F or -10 C  the low was -2 F or -18 C  the windchill was brutal.  The weather is headed for the negative numbers for a few days and then it will warm up again...maybe above freezing and rain...I could do without rain and ice everywhere.  Stay cold enough to snow...please. 

Some spots in the road were icy and in some places it was hard to see. 

The epidural steroid injections into my back were not real painful, I expected that they would be more painful.  The Doctor said it will take several days to know if they worked or not.  So far the pain remains...I have a full feeling in my back and a headache...and I am not normally a headachy type person. Time will tell.  It was worth a try. 

I had another biopsy on my face last week, they were atypical cells but the margins were clear...so praise God no more surgery on my face!

Christmas Card Report I was able to take 12 cards from the drying area so my total is 35.  Slow but sure. 

Far Side

One step at a time

 Today I have steroids injections into my back.  God willing and we hope the roads are good. The injections were ordered by the Spine Clinic Doctors. I hope that it helps with the pain.  Time will tell.  I can have 4-5 injections in a year if it works. When it no longer works I will be evaluated for surgery. 

Next week I have more arthritis injections two at a time in my belly.  This is the second time ( every 4 weeks) on a new med called Cimzia.  Last time I had no adverse reactions...and my psoriasis was a bit better as for my arthritis pain...no change...still a bugger.  Since I have multiple types of arthritis...Rheumatoid, Psoriatic and Lymes Arthritis...I am a challenge for the Doctors.  The Rheumatology PA that has been managing my care finally moved on and I go back to see my other Rheumatologist later this month. 

Riding in the car for any length of time is so very painful.  I am still doing PT exercises, whirlpool baths and we purchased a massage gun that has heat.  I take 6 Tylenol a day and a gummy on the days that I am able to stay at home.  Most days I have a long nap with a heated rice bag. The pain just wears me out.  I have no pain or very little when lying down...however I cannot lay around all day. 

One step at a time...

Far Side

Christmas Card count... a measly 4 cards yesterday total now 23.  It is a new project and has some kinks to work out...drying time is very important!  It is all a learning process.

A little progress

 I am busy between household duties; laundry, organizing, not much cooking, selling "stuff" on Facebook and creating the Christmas cards.  I ordered the paper for the Christmas letter and ordered a gift for Far Guy and one for myself.  Progress.

I didn't have to shovel the snow that fell...about an inch maybe a bit more...my other baby brother came by and blew it off the walk and the patio!  The snow came down gently in huge flakes ...Far Guy's sister would have called it a Winter Wonderland. 

Christmas Card report only 9 completed today...total 19. 

Far Side

Cards and Deer

 It is about time, not sure if it was the snow, the below zero temperatures or turning the calendar to December...but I finally figured out this years Christmas card.  Usually by this time of year I have mailed them out.   I missed going to Craft Retreat this Fall as that is usually a project I work on while I am there. 

Anyways...I made the final decisions on what I am doing.  I want it to look like an old Christmas Postcard.   I have that vintage paper that I ripped to size last September and it has been sitting on my desk...waiting. 

So...I completed 10 cards yesterday...at this rate I will be done by mid December.  

The cards are stamped and signed on one side and watercolored on the vintage paper on the other side.  The stamped side is all done...120 of them. 

in this photo is the old Volcan sad iron on top of a small plastic box that is holding down the ten completed cards to keep them flat, my glue bottle upside down to make it easier for me to grab and my stack of card backs.  

Progress is slow...I have lots of watercoloring to do! 

While I was working at my desk...what did I spy? 

Do you see her? 

Far Side

Sitting pretty

 Peach drove me nuts climbing up on the bench by the dining room table...the floor is tile and if she fell off backwards it would really hurt. 

Then she found out she could sit by the fireplace all by herself. 

She loves sitting next to her favorite person in the whole world...and cried real tears when it was time to say goodbye to Auntie Jen.

When you are little you can make your own spot to sit.

My yarn bowl turned upside down makes a good place to sit if you have a little butt! 

Goodbye to November and Hello December.  Doesn't seem like it should be December this soon. 

Far Side