Biopsies

 Plural...yes more than one. 

Far Guy had to go to surgery on Monday to do a biopsy on the glands in his neck.   He did fine and preliminary results are good, next week the complete biopsy report should be back.  Our hope is that everything is benign.  He has a very sore throat from all the tubes and scopes they put down his throat. He also has a wound on his arm where the Charge Nurse who was called in to do his IV ...put such awful tape to secure his IV that when it was pulled off it took off his skin so now he has a very sore wound too.  I would show you a photo but it is awful looking. 

We both got to visit with Grandson Noah and I got to see Granddaughter Maddie while Far Guy was in surgery.  Jen made a wonderful meal for us on Monday night...pulled pork, eggs and potatoes topped with cheese.

Tuesday on the way home we both saw our Dermatologist.  Far Guy got the all clear and I had two biopsies; one on my forehead and one on my arm the results take about ten days. I also had two other spots taken care of one on my chin and one on my ear...cauterized and frozen for those.  

We are back home in the woods again.

We miss this dog.

She got a good amount of attention from us while we were there. 

Today is our day off.  Then Thursday and Friday three more appointments locally.  Far Guy says he is tired of Doctors. 

Minnesota weather: High 74F or 24C Low was 50F or 10C they say it was real foggy in the morning...however I did not get up that early on Tuesday. Nice Fall weather and some of the trees are showing some color especially the Fall Gold Ash trees and the Maples.

Far Side

More Fall Flowers

 The Asters that grow wild are so pretty on the edges of the road. 

Far Side

Fall Flowers

 Fall flowers seem to have the best color! 

These were Dahlias a few years ago.  

We have a busy week this week, many appointments... six possibly more. 

I watched the Miss America pageant and Miss New York won.  However the contestants all won at least a three thousand dollar scholarship.

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Miss Minnesota

 Miss Minnesota lives just down the road from us.  She is a very bubbly, happy down to earth Minnesota NICE gal. 

Tonight is the Miss America pageant.  We will be watching and keeping our fingers and toes crossed for Emma.  You can watch on the Miss America channel on You tube or at Pageant Vision.

I have been watching the Miss America evening gown and the talent competition with she who sees robins first and other family members.  It has been great fun!  Emma wore a beautiful pink and silver gown for the evening gown competition and for her talent she sang California Dreamin'.   I thought she sang better than many of the contestants!  

Minnesota weather yesterday: High 57F or 14C Low was 37F or 3C.  It was a tad chilly in the morning and it rained a bit. 

We went out for lupper at our favorite Mexican place that will only be open a few more weeks. 

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Practically a herd

 Of deer!    A doe and two fawns who have not lost their spots yet.  The doe is turning darker brown.

Not the greatest photo but you can see the doe and the two spotted fawns just behind her.  They were having an acorn snack. 

Minnesota weather: High 54F or 13C Low was 38F or 4C  It rained on Thursday night. 

Supper last night was smoked pork chops, fried potatoes and green beans.  Far Guy said the potatoes were the best thing ever...must have been the bacon grease I fried them in.  A few nights ago we had chicken enchilada hotdish and then one night sandwiches with ham, roast beef, turkey and cheese.  I am getting stronger I can cook an entire meal but then have to rest part way into the clean up.  Some people leave their dishes for the next day...we like to clean the kitchen and all the dishes after a meal. 

Our days are quiet, doing what we can do and having rests/naps when we feel like it. 

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Book Club 2025: September

 For book club this month we read The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger.  All of the ladies enjoyed the book.  I give it a 9 out of a 10.  I did not like two parts of the book and I cannot see why he wrote them the way he did...so it is a 9 not a 10.   Three fourths the way through the book I wrote the ending in my mind...and it was nothing like the way it ended. Go figure.

It was still a good read.  One of the gals in book club went to the book signing by William Kent Krueger in Park Rapids last weekend and she said it was very interesting and that he talks just like he writes. 

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24

 Yesterday was baby Adam's birthday.  Of course he is not exactly a baby anymore...but he is the baby of all of our Grands...so there ya go... always the baby.  It seems like only yesterday that he was a little guy.  He loved pushing the wheeled hand cart all over the yard and playing in the sand in the greenhouse and sometimes dumping sand in my water barrels!  Since he was the baby sometimes instead of being bored and doing adult activities with his parents and older brother he would spend time with us and be bored at our house! 

Far Guy and Adam in 2004  when Adam was 3. 

Since Adam lives far away in Western North Dakota we don't get to see him often.  The last time we saw him was at his brothers wedding.

Happy Birthday Adam, we miss you!  Love you now and forever!

Grandma

Fall is in the air

 Acorns and leaves are falling out of the trees.  It looks to be a good acorn year.  The deer will come into the lawn and eat most of them.   My other baby brother says you can put them in hot water until all the tannins are cooked out (using clean water to boil them up several times until the water remains clear)...then you can roast them and make a kind of coffee.  Who knew?

Mums

We had another quiet day.  Far Guy did some wood carving and I did some laundry and organized some "stuff".  

Minnesota weather: High was 74F or 24C Low was 46F or 8C.  We had a couple of rain showers early in the morning Tuesday. 

Supper was Apple Pancake.  Far Guy enjoyed it...he said it was easy to swallow and didn't hurt his mouth. 

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Labor Day

 We had a quiet day, not much labor involved.  Far Guy did some woodcarving.  We discussed our plans for the wood carved Christmas ornament and have revised our plan.  There was simply not enough outside woodcarving days to accomplish Far Guy's original design.  However he will have all Winter to finish them up for next year.  So we are going forward with a different design....one we think we can accomplish. 

I finished up my card project and emptied out that container and then immediately filled it with "stuff" to do Christmas Cards with.  I think I have decided on a design...maybe. 

We are getting our ducks in a row...maybe. 

 

Minnesota weather: High 78F or 26C  Low was 58F or 15C.  I heard the s word for Northernmost Minnesota. 

Supper was Hobo dinner (Hamburger, potato, carrots baked and then covered with cheese) :)

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Cards

 Last Spring I made up a box of photo and watercolor cards fronts that needed to be squared up and matted.  They will eventually be cards.  I like playing with paper.  

I played with them half the afternoon until Far Guy said lets go get some food.  I think he was hungry!  It was a nice day to sit outside on the patio at our favorite Sunday lupper place. 

So we had a quiet day, great lupper and a really nice nap.  My other baby brother and she who sees robins first stopped by to visit, my baby brother and his bride stopped by when I was doing my PT exercises so I missed saying Hi to them. The newest PT exercise has me hurting a bit more than usual.  Hopefully after a few more days it will get better.  It is doing Clamshells with a resistance band. 

Minnesota Weather: High 78 F or 26C  Low was 54F or 13C eh! 

Happy first day of September!

Far Side

Long Weekend

 When we were working people we used to look forward to long weekends...as retirees every day is just about the same.  Sometimes we even lose track of what day it really is!

Lots of traffic on the roads...people going here and there with campers and boats. 

We ventured out to meet one of the new puppies in the neighborhood.  His name is Hutch and he is pretty cute with sharp teeth! He is a Jack Russell Terrier.   I did not take my camera or my phone. 

We had walleye (thank you Mike and Susie!!) and corn for supper!  It was delicious!! 

Minnesota weather: High was 80F or 27C Low was 53F or 12C eh!  Nice day to sit outside visiting.  A few more days of nice weather and then we will really cool off.  So much for August!

Far Side

Long Week

 We ended our week with Far Guys infusion and my PT appointment.  The therapist says he noticed improvement so I must have done something right! 

I may stay in my jammies all day on Saturday!  Next week we do not have five medical appointments..only two possibly three. 

I got to see the Great Grandchildren on Wednesday evening.

Baby K is growing and they say she smiles!  I got to hold her and save her from Peach...who doesn't yet understand what gentle means.  (Think eyes, nose and mouth a favorite game I play with her.)

Hey Mikey, Peach and Cee Cee

The big kids started school.  Hey Mikey is in Grade 3 and Cee Cee is in Kindergarten.

 

Here they are on the first day of school...all smiles! 

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Waiting

 I waited for Far Guy to have his Pet Scan.  They have these cool cubbies/pods/whatchamacallits with outlets and a charging port.  The Pet Scan took over two hours.  I read my book.  There were several different waiting areas and I was all alone in the area I chose. 

They have a robotic floor scrubber that was having troubles staying on course.  Finally someone showed up with a phone and moved it out of the area. 

Anyways...Far Guy had his Pet scan and blood work. 

We saw the Oncologist yesterday for the report.  Great news on the breast cancer...it is under control and almost gone comparing the June Pet scan to the August scan!!  The Doctors says he considers it a Stage Three now not a Stage Four...good news!!  

We are awaiting an appointment for a biopsy of Far Guy's Thyroid.  It has nothing in common with the breast cancer....so it is NOT a metastasis as the Dr originally thought.  It is something else...and the biopsy will tell the story.  So we wait for an appointment and then after that we wait for about two weeks for the biopsy results.  Then the Dr and Far Guy can decide what the next plan will be. 

We are very thankful for the good news and thankful for everyone that has been praying for Far Guy!

Far Side

Appointments

 We are off to a number of medical appointments.  Best part is we get to see Andy, Jen and Sadie.

I saw this really nice Hydrangea when I was in line at the car wash.  I bet they have a underground sprinkler system for their shrubs to look so good all the time. 

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Lunch

 I met my very dear old friend Susie for lunch yesterday.  She is getting a titanium knee next week so she is going bionic! We had a good lunch and some laughs that were needed so very much.  

Far Guy did some woodcarving in the nice weather.  

Minnesota weather: High 74F or 24C  Low was 51F or 11C

Supper was a hamburger patty no bun instead we had bacon on top and green beans.  

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Getting Ready

 For Winter.  There is no doubt that Winter will come to Minnesota sooner or later.  Yesterday we pre bought all the propane for our furnace and fireplace for the Winter.   Check that off our list.  The pre buy program works well for us, we know up front what the cost will be for the whole year.  We usually order more than we use ( just in case it is extremely cold Winter) so they carry over the credit.  Last year it cost $904 to heat our home for the year. We think that is very reasonable.  We never have to call for fills either as the gas company monitors the tank. ( I don't have to traipse back there to check the levels and then call them.)  We usually keep our thermostat at 74 degrees during the Winter, if we are gone we turn it down to 70.  We do not like being cold. 

We are both anxious to hear what the Oncologist has to say at the end of the week.  We will be happy when the next battle plan is in place.  We both want to move along on this fight with Cancer...we want to win the battles and eventually the war!  Being patient is hard...and being THE patient is even harder. 

Yesterday I was busy all day except for a restful reading, watching TV nap time.  Laundry and some cleaning was calling my name.  Far Guy did some woodcarving. 

Supper was left overs in the fridge! 

Minnesota weather: High was 68F or 20C Low was 50F or 10C eh!  There were freeze warnings for way Northern Minnesota.

A huge snow drift at my parents home a few years ago. Photos found on my Mom's SD cards.

Here is my Dad walking back from the bird feeders after someone had snow blowed a trail for him.

It has been a number of years since we have seen that amount of snow. 

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Last week in August

 Seems like Summer will be over after this week.  Our weather sure feels like Fall. 

We went out for lunch/supper to our favorite place to eat in the Summer, their hours are reduced now as their College help has gone back to school.  We like their open air patio....and the chips, salsa, the half strength margarita I order and the enchiladas.  Even Far Guy had an enchilada and it tasted good to him. 

Their pots of begonias were blooming nicely. 

We have a number of appointments this week...five to be exact. 

Minnesota weather: High 64F or 18C Low was 41F or 5C eh! However the sun was out!  There was no wildfire smoke either...almost a perfect day. 

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Out

 Houses.   The farm where I grew up had no indoor plumbing. We had an outhouse.  We got indoor plumbing when I was 9 years old in 1960.  Having a bathroom inside the house was such a treat.  Especially since my Mom did not allow any of those covered enamel buckets in the house...she called them "piss pots."  I recall my cousins had "piss pots" and did not have to go outside to the outhouse on bitterly cold nights. 

Here is an old photo of the outhouses in Osage all painted up for the centennial a number of years ago.  They have since been demolished. 

We had two sets of outhouses at our old resort.  They came in handy if you were outside and needed to go  and one time our septic system had problems and the outhouses were a blessing.

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Visitors

 Yesterday my nephew Jacob and his wife Saki visited with their boys.  They had fun in the Ferris Wheel seat, playing hide and seek and collecting acorns. 

Acorns were a big hit and they learned a new English word.  The boys live in Japan and will all begin their school year in September.  They usually come to spend several months with their Grandma (my sister) and their Grandpa every summer. 

They have their birthday shirts on...three, five and seven all with lots of energy.  The highlight of their Summer was the airshow at Oshkosh Wisconsin. 

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Last Days of Summer

The last days of Summer are upon us.   School is starting in most states, some North Dakota schools started this week.  Minnesota public schools do not start until after Labor Day.  

 This little girl with her sparkly shoes on the wrong feet started her Senior Year...hard to believe that she is old enough to be a Senior in High School.  The photo was taken a long time ago. 

Minnesota Weather: High 83F or 29C Low was 64F or 18C eh.  AND it was very humid. 

Supper was pizza, I declared it a day off of cooking after I picked up groceries in town. 

The lawn is turning brownish in full sun areas...August is upon us. 

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Delphiniums

 My Mom used to grow some really tall Delphiniums. She put a wire cage around them to keep them upright. 

They were very pretty.  My Dad used to drag the water hose over there and then rest in that chair. 

Years ago there was an elderly lady that lived along the West Shell Lake Road that had a huge planting of Delphiniums in all colors...it was very impressive this time of year....now when you go by that place it is just a sandy parking spot.  I never stopped there but always slowed down to see the flowers. 

My cousin Geraldine had some really pretty plantings of Delphiniums along her deck at her old place. 

Minnesota weather:  High was 81F or 28C Low was 61F or 17C eh!

We had brats, sweetcorn and raspberries for supper. 

Far Guy felt good enough to visit with a couple of former co workers. 

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oh Deer

 The deer have no fear and are coming through the yard daily. 

Can you see the white tail?   It is just above the angels head. 

Our days are quiet.  I do my PT and then tackle a few projects that vary from day to day.  Nothing too exciting.   Far Guy has been trying to woodcarve in the afternoon before his nap.  He still struggles with the side effects of the cancer medications.  His weight is holding for the moment.  

Last night for supper we had some potatoes, leftover pork roast and raspberries.  I had a salad...Far Guy did not as any kind of lettuce tears up his stomach. 

Minnesota weather: High 79F or 27C Low 56F or 14C eh! 

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Peaches

 We got a box of Colorado peaches.  I peeled and sliced them, added a bit of sugar and fruit fresh then Far Guy stirred them up and put about a peach and a half in food saver bags that we put in the freezer.  That way we can enjoy fresh peaches during the winter. 

It took us less than an hour to complete that project! 

Minnesota weather: High 79F or 27C Low was 59F or 15C eh!

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Little Library

 We stopped by to see the new Little Library.  It is really cute!  These gals are quite the carpenters and painters!!

I looked at the books but didn't take any.   Next time I will take a book to swap.

I might even have some bookmarks to share:)

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Midlife

 Was it a midlife crisis that they both suffered at the same time?  Andy turned the big 50 in July, Jen will turn the same number in September...and what did they do in August?

It sure is pretty and now Andy can go to car shows! 

Not sure I could ever drive anything with a hood that long but it might be fun to try!

Far Side

Sunflowery

 Jen and I teamed up to paint a porch sitter.  A porch sitter/leaner is a piece of wood that usually has a design or says something like welcome, home etc...it sits on your porch leaning up against the wall. 

I did the blue/green and then Jen painted a sunflower on one end and I painted on the other end.

It was a fun project! I think it turned out great!  

The sunflowers in all the sunflower fields were turning their heads downward from the weight of the seed heads.  

Grain harvest has begun and some of the bean fields are starting to turn color.  

Minnesota weather: High of 82F or 28C Low was 60F or 16C eh!

Long time friends Mike and Ginny from Iowa stopped by today and then my other baby brother and she who sees robins first, then nephew Josh came by with his new puppy who is really cute!

Supper was steak and a baked potato along with the first yellow pear tomatoes of the season.

Far Side

Oh Sadie

 Sadie is such good company except in the mornings...she likes to nap the mornings away...I guess I do too if possible. 

I called her name and she lifted her head very reluctantly...how dare I disturb her morning nap.  She eventually got up and turned the other way so she didn't have to look at me. 

I am all done with my Doctor appointments for a bit.  Everything is on the way to being normal for an old lady according to my Primary Care Doctor.  Come back in six months he says:)  Keep on doing the exercises and going to PT he says...alrighty then.  If my left leg swells put a compression sock on it and elevate!  There is no reason for it to swell...no blood clots etc...just an old lady thing.  My back and leg pain will just take time a long time to return to some kind of normal.

We ended up with six medical appointments this week, five Up North and one locally.  It was a week.  We are safely back at home in the woods. 

Far Guy has a bit more appetite now, at 132 pounds he can eat whatever he wants.  He still has burning mouth, nausea and tummy troubles and other side effects from the cancer medications. 

Far Side

August 13, 1994

 Yesterday would have been my Father In law's birthday.

This was his last birthday on earth, he died a couple of weeks later from complications after a simple surgery...they called it multi system failure...he was 80 years old. 

In the photo Far Guy, Marvin and Jen....three generations.  As I recall we had angel food cake with berries to celebrate.  Marvin was a wonderful man who we still miss very much.

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Good news!

 The oncologist says the tumor is still shrinking, the cancer meds are working.  In two weeks Far Guy will have a pet scan and a Dr visit and the Dr will have a plan. All the prayers are working!

Far Guy has some of his appetite back…maybe that is Andy’s good cooking. Ribs on Monday night and last night was BLTs and green beans. 

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At least they wore helmets

 This old photo from the Summer of 1969 was among the ones that I scanned. 

My sister and my baby brother on the Yamaha 50 that our Dad brought home for us so we could drive faster to the back fields versus our bicycles.   My sister was 3 and my baby brother was 15 in the photo.  Note Far Guy's 1959 Desoto in the background. 

That was a fun little motorcycle to drive.  

Far Side

Sunday

 We had a quiet Sunday with no company.   I did some laundry and some odds and ends.  I had a long afternoon nap, Far Guy napped for about 15 minutes.  I win the napping award! 

This week we have five medical appointments, most are Up North.   Good thing we have lots of "stuff" up there, so there are only a few things that we need to take along.  Sadie will be happy to see us. 

I started Physical Therapy last week and it tires me out in no time.  I have the same Physical Therapist that I had last Fall when we were chasing the pain.  This time we are working on strengthening my back muscles and lots more walking. 

I think this is one of those Spidery Zinnias. 

Minnesota weather: High 72F or 23C low was 56F or 14C eh!  We had a couple of smoke free days...but the wildfire smoke is coming back in for a few days this week.  

We had english muffins, fried eggs and raspberries for supper.  I had a piece of Pork Sausage...Far Guy did not.  He is still losing weight.  He is eating many small meals a day, but his stomach doesn't like most foods.

Far Side

Andy and Tilly

 Our son in law Andy took Far Guy's Desoto to the local car show on Saturday morning.  Far Guy did not feel good enough to attend.  However we are happy that Andy could go and show Tilly off! 

Photo by fellow blogger and neighbor Leah!

Andy reports that many people stopped to talk with him!  Some people he knew from Robotics too! 

We enjoyed seeing them all...Andy, Jen and Sadie.  Jen helped me do some of the hard housework...vacuuming, cleaning the tub and scrubbing the bathroom floor and helping me change the sheets on the bed.  So wonderful to have helping hands! 

It was a nice day in Minnesota the high was 79 F or 27C and the low 59F or 15C eh! 

We sat outside part of the afternoon visiting with Cousin's Bonnie and Wayne and in the evening with my other baby brother and she who sees robins first.

Far Side

Odds and ends Friday

 Friday seems to be the catch all day around here.  Everything that has been put off the entire week has been waiting long enough.   I go from one thing to another...cleaning bathrooms (what parts I can do) doing laundry, dusting a bit, taking care of mail, taking a project off of my desk...this week it was a couple of old 1980's photos to send to relatives...of course I have to include a note inside a homemade card:)  It all takes time. 

Appointments are becoming overwhelming so I must print out a calendar for August and September that I can have with me...please do not recommend I keep things on my phone...half the time I have it shut off anyways. 

Far Guy and I are making potholders.  I have encouraged him to help me especially when he has bouts of high anxiety.   Everyone deals with anxiety differently...I clean something or have a nap...the nap usually wins.  What do you do when you are anxious or stressed out? 

I like this plaid pattern and I think we will make more of them. 

Far Side

Book Club 2025: August

 Yesterday was once a year in person book club meeting.  I did not attend.  I sent my regrets and a score of 7 out of 10 for The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski. 

I enjoyed the book.  It was a good read. 

Far Side

Nothing

 Nothing new here everything is old....including us.

Saw this on facebook and it made me smile. 

We had a very quiet day with naps.  I did a load of laundry and we made pretzel buns with a hamburger  and cheese topping for supper. 

Far Side

Old Craft: Potholders

 Yes several readers guessed correctly.   I am revisiting the old craft of making potholders that I enjoyed as a much younger person child.

Where the witchcraft comes in...there are several websites out there that have wizards where you can put in two colors and it will show you many patterns...one site has many potholder weaving charts in black and white so you can pick and choose your colors. 

 What fun!   At least I think so.  It gives my arthritic fingers and wrists a good workout!

I like the larger finished product of the Pro loom kit.  The potholders finish at 8 inches by 8 inches...a very nice size for potholders or for a spot to sit a warm pot on your table.

As I recall from the "olden days" the potholders were very small and if you bought some of the inferior loops they would melt if they got too hot.  I also recall that the loom was plastic and if you broke off any of the teeth your loom became useless.

I am using only cotton loops and the loom is metal.   So far so good.   I hope to make a few gifts.

I went to the Dentist...no cavities!  Yeah me!  

Far Guy sat outside for a short time, the air was less smoky.

Supper was pork chops and wild rice. 

Far Side

Old Craft

 Before I had surgery Sara at Punkin's Patch sent me an email...are you aware of the witchcraft!  I was and I ordered a kit. 

Can you guess what old craft it is?

It brought back some great old memories for me. 

We had another quiet day at home. Far Guy is just not feeling well. 

Far Side

Sunday

 I made a nice Sunday supper...mashed potatoes and a hamburger gravy along with green beans and for fruit cherries. I was tired out cooking for two! My Maternal Grandmother cooked for about 50 people every Sunday afternoon.  I am not sure how she did it.  She put on quite a spread.  Chicken was often on the menu.

This is a very old photo of someone feeding chickens. My mother thought it was Lela ( only sister of my maternal grandfather Albert). At any rate the photo was taken at my Great Grandparent Drewes home place.

We were expected to be at our Grandparents home every Sunday and every holiday...like Church you didn't get excused unless you were vomiting or had diarrhea.

It was another smoky day and we stayed indoors.  Far Guy felt rotten all day and had a number of naps.

Far Side

Quiet Days

Far Guy woodcarved for a bit on Saturday morning.  He felt pretty good in the morning but the afternoon was a struggle for him. 

 Far Guy cleaned the bathtub and he scrubbed the bathroom floor for me, I could manage the rest of the clean up in the bathroom.

I did some laundry and had a nap.  

Supper was BLT's and corn on the cob.  

It was a smoky day with very unhealthy conditions out there. So we stayed inside.  Sure hope it rains on the wildfires soon.

The Grey Headed Coneflower or Ratibida pinnata is in bloom in the wildgardens.  I see them swaying in the breeze out the window. 

Minnesota weather:  High was 76F or 25C low was 58F or 15C eh!

Far Side