Sprung

 Spring has finally sprung here in Minnesota.  The warm temperatures this week made everything pop out of dormancy.  Green is all over...and pollen coats most surfaces outside. 

The Chokecherry's are blooming.

They begin  to bloom as tiny white dots.

Oh and the Oaks...we call the stringy male things ...danglies. 

Pollen filled...uffda.  The wind carries the pollen to the female trees so acorns can form.  The danglies fall to the ground when they are dried up and spent...they are messy but the lawn mower mulches them up nicely. 

It is not an easy time for Far Guy...he is still fighting a respiratory exacerbation...now he has pollen,  wildfire smoke and ozone to contend with.  We hope for rain to stop the fires and clear the air of smoke and pollen.   He is back on a different antibiotic.  Needless to say he is discouraged. 

Supper last night was a steakburger, carrots and tator rounds. 

Weather yesterday;  87 F or 31 C eh.  Sunny and warm, we watched a few thunderheads go by in the afternoon.  One more day of warmish weather and we are to get cooler temperatures and a chance of rain. 

Far Side

Sunny

 I finished the Sunny Yellow cheerful baby blanket.  It joins a green one waiting for a baby.  The yarn is Baby Bee from Hobby Lobby called Snugs and Kisses...I believe I used 4 skeins. 

I have not replaced this project yet..although there is yarn waiting in the wings for the next baby blanket...maybe two.

I am TRYING to work on an old mosaic crochet project that has been languishing around for a long time.  

We still have warmer than normal weather but it may freeze this weekend...so there is Minnesota for ya. 

My baby brother's bride, Beth and I went to Cousins lunch yesterday.   Nice to see the gals! 

Supper was Naan bread pizza and fruit.  

Sunny warm weather 90 F or 33 C eh...gale force winds all day and we are so dry they have issued Red Flag warnings for most of Minnesota.    There are fires North and East of us ...one of Far Guy's Classmates lost his home to a wildfire over the weekend. 

Far Side

Trolls

 Jen took Maddie, Hey Mikey and Cee Cee on an adventure! 

In a nearby town there is International Recycling Art by Thomas Dambo.  There is a treasure hunt and a map to find all the trolls.   It is a wonderful way to get out and hike to different areas and see something different. 

Maddie and Jen sent some photos! 

It was a great adventure, the great grandkids didn't think the Trolls would be so big!  

Yesterday was very warm again  91 F or 33 C and gale force winds all day.   I did some things in the morning but napped and crocheted the afternoon away inside in the AC. 

Supper was BLT's and peaches. 

Far Side

A Golden Day

 Mother's Day began out on the patio.  It was a beautiful morning that I enjoyed before the really warm weather descended.  By afternoon we had  92 F or 34 C eh...but at one point in the afternoon the car said it was 94 F ...anyways it was really warm for the first part of May. 

Jen and Sadie arrived just before dark the night before Mother's Day. 

Golden Morning.

Sadie busy collecting sticks in the yard.  She was very interested in all the smells in our yard, especially where the bear lounged around the other night.  Yes we have a steel sculpture of a small bear in the old flower bed. 

After playing ball and a swim in the lake!  

Jen helped me do some things around the house...stuff where I have to crawl up a step stool to clean.  She crawls up a step stool better than I do.

We went to our favorite Mexican place for a delicious lunch.   It was a wonderful day spent with Jen and Sadie!  (Andy is at the World's Vex Tournament in Dallas...and we missed him)

Far Side

Mothering

My days of "mothering" up close and personal are pretty much over.  My role as caregiver takes over my mothering ability/energy.  Yes, I am still available to my daughters, son in law, grandchildren, great grandchildren and assorted in/out laws but in a limited capacity.  I can still give advice or an opinion when asked...sometimes even without asking.  I am pretty much past the holding hand stage. "Be careful when you cross the street look both ways" she said covering her eyes.

However...there is someone who has the energy to do the "mothering" in our family.  That is our youngest daughter Jen who is like a mother hen gathering all her chicks/cats...you know cats? 

Usually children can team up...Jen has no back up.  Our oldest daughter Trica struggles with alcoholism. She was a good Mom at one time, but the disease of alcoholism took over and has robbed the entire family.  

Jen cares for her elderly parents, making sure we have what we need when we need it.  She often asks "What can I do for you Mom?"  She has nine young adult children ( her boys and their gals and then Trica's daughters and spouses)  in her life that may/may not need guidance/financial assistance/ groceries/a good home cooked meal/ a soft welcoming place to land for a bit.  She has a very busy husband who needs attention too.   Then her three great nieces and great nephew with new great baby on the way to spoil, love and mother. (She will be in the delivery room)

AND then there is Sadie.

Yes being a dog mom is a very important job too. 

 I loved being a human mom but I also loved being a dog mom...when my daughters were teenagers they often said "Mom you love the dogs more than us"  Some days in some situations that was entirely possible. 

I am thankful to Jen for picking up the slack in our family, things I can no longer do...she embraces. 

Thanks Jen you are the bestest Mom/Daughter ever!  You are very important to so many people!

Love you lots!

Mom

Happenings

 My best friend Susie and her husband live North of us deeper in the woods than we are.   Her husband left on a Fishing Trip so we got together for lunch, conversation and a whole bunch of giggles.   We have children the same age and used to live across the road from each other back in 1975.   That is a 50 year friendship I am so lucky to have!  It was nice to get away for the afternoon...to enjoy the company of a like minded person!  We met at a place called Ice Cracking for lunch and a bit of slot machines!  No big winners but we still had fun! 

The woods are coming to life in the warm weather.  The Pin Cherries made their presence known...usually the blooms are frozen so there are no berries...if there are berries they are tiny and although it makes great jelly it takes a lot of berries...and the birds need food too. 

Late Thursday night we had a hungry visitor.

One of the Security Cameras caught him ripping down feeders and making a mess. 

The feeders were repaired and several were taken in...only a few will remain and be placed in a bucket inside the house overnight.   Bear have awfully good memories and he/she will be back.  I believe this is just about the earliest we have seen a bear...although one night over a week ago he visited Baxter and Smudge's house and they gave him/her the what for! 

It was a day. The high was 79 F or 27 C eh.  In the afternoon we had wildfire smoke come down from Canada...I hope they get a good amount of rain up there...we are dry here also. 

I brought home a Bacon Double Thunderburger for Far Guy for supper...that and a salad was a perfect end to the day.   Far Guy's weight he lost is just not returning as we had hoped.  He had another conference with his dietician.  He will try to do more high calorie stuff...smoothies...dried fruit...he is supposed to eat 6 times a day...and sometimes he is just not hungry. 

Far Side

Blast from the past

 I was searching for on old recipe.  Funny thing I never found the recipe but I did find this. 

Some kind of game was played...not sure what...not sure who kept score but I came in last (4th) place. Paige and Maddie are just one point apart...Savannah was clearly the winner!

I like to play games...board games, card games if you name it I will play it!  Far Guy used to play Scrabble with me a long time ago. 

In the Winter Jen and Andy like to play games in the evening.  I think it is a great family activity! 

The old recipe remains someplace in oblivion...but the score card remains in one of my recipe boxes:)

On the back of this sheet of paper was hand written pattern for a floral frame that I wanted to make.

Yesterday our high was 72 F or 23 C eh. 

Supper was scrambled farm fresh brown eggs and an English muffin.

Far Side

Progress

 I bought a new pole for my flag outside the door.  My old flag pole was too darn difficult to attach a flag and this one works better.  I have enough flags I could change them every week.   (years of collecting)

This is the one I chose for a week maybe two.   The Loons are here down at the lake according to my baby brother.  I have not heard them ...but the Canada Geese are honking when flying over and the Bald Eagle circles above in the trees.  ( He is looking for small critters to eat as most of the road kill has been consumed.)

 The patch in the side yard might be grass someday.  If it doesn't rain soon I will have to get out the water hose and tend to it myself. 

I have been selling some stuff...a very Vintage 1970's love seat left the house yesterday!  One less thing to clean around.   It was fairly ugly... it was useful when youngest Grandson Adam was a little boy ...he could stretch out on it and sleep very comfortably. (He grew)

I bought a set..a sofa and this love seat from friends Bonnie and Rueben when they got new furniture about 1999.  Chance claimed the couch but never the love seat...so it was almost as good as the day I bought it.  No one ever sat it it anymore...Jen used it for a luggage rack.  

Progress is slow but still progress.   Trying to look at the bright side of things!

Supper was salad and a Philly on a pretzel bun.:)

Weather: High was 69 F or 21 C eh.  Warm for the first part of May. 

Far Side

Yard Stuff

 We got some soil for some bare spots in the yard and will plant some grass seed soon hopefully just before a rain.   We can always hope for rain. It is dry here.

I unearthed some of my pretty whirly gigs.

That bird feeder on the right side of the photo is supposed to be squirrel proof...well maybe for dumb squirrels...they have figured out how to unclip the springs that shut the feed off.  Buggers anyways. 

I put up some solar bees around the wreath next to the door.  Not sure if they get enough sunshine there.

I have some more "bee" stuff to add to the wreath but every time I go upstairs to retrieve them I forget and do something else... like put stuff away that I have thrown upstairs ...like look at yarn...sort yarn...:)

Nice day yesterday sunny and 72 F (Far Guy says it was warmer than that!) or 23 C eh.  Supper was tri tips over a baked potato and fruit..raspberries and pineapple.  Oh and a loaf of fresh bread.

Far Side

Project Replacements

 When I am crocheting on any certain project I am always thinking ahead..possibly that leads to yarn hoarding...ya think? 

Last week I finished this shawl.  It is crochet.

I like the pattern and it is simple enough to do while watching tv or traveling in the car or sitting someplace waiting.   It was in one of my project carrying bags all Winter.  It has been so long I am not sure what the yarn is called anymore. 

I started another one right after this one was finished...hence the immediate replacement...but from the stash.   I have a few more choices up there in the stash for this project...maybe more...maybe yarn replicates itself. 

This is Sheepjes Wanderlust in the Bangkok colorway.  I had two skeins of it stashed away for the past couple of years.  It is an acrylic yarn so a good one that can be washed, dried gently and blocked out to completely dry.  

 

I am curious to know if you rotate through favorite projects like I do?  My rotation is two different shawl patterns, baby blanket, scrubbies, small crochet bags and a mosaic crochet pattern for a larger afghan.  Oh and then a few projects..scarfs, baby hats and booties...but I am not CDO enough to want to replace them immediately. 

Right now I am trying to get this shawl completed so I can wash it and block it.  I have about 4 or 5 more skeins of this yarn for replacement...maybe more...it is a lacy shawl...it has been a while since I have worked on it also...so long in fact that I struggled with part of the pattern and a certain stitch...finally just relaxed and let my fingers do their thing instead of my brain...and my fingers recalled before my brain...amazing huh?  I have made many of these lacy shawls and given most of them away.   One this same color was given to Far Guy's sister when she was going through breast cancer chemotherapy...she loved it.

Another unseasonably warm day yesterday in Minnesota.  The high was 81 F or 28 C eh!  I worked outside on projects all morning and then came inside to have lunch, rest and crochet.   Supper was BLT's and raspberries.

Far Side 

Spring might be here

 We went for a Ranger Blue ride and the Marsh Marigolds  better known as Butter Cups, Cowslips or really Caltha palustris are beginning to bloom.

The pussy willows are pretty much done. 

Their pollen has been collected or dispersed into the air.  Sneeze.

The sun was out yesterday... Far Guy woodcarved for a bit and enjoyed the warm sunshine.  Our high temperature was 80 F or 27 C eh!  I gave the kitchen floor a good scrub and did some laundry. We ran an errand to town to get a bunch of stuff for our projects this week and then we went to our favorite out on the patio Sunday dining Mexican place for  lupper.  The food was just as good as last year, although our favorite waitress is no longer working there...I know as I asked the owner. 

We came home to read and nap. That was enough activity for the elderly.

Far Side

Just one more thing

 The SD card slots on both of our Macs quit...must be a glitch or an update where they forgot about all the people that still use SD cards in their cameras...are we a dying breed or what?  I fiddled with it and swore a bit...nasty word...nasty word.  Researched the problem and ended up ordering a thingy.

What is one more wirey thing to hook up anyway...and it works...it transfers my SD card images flawlessly for now to the C slot in the back of my Mac.  Kinda the pits that it has a short cord as my computer has to be moved to put the SD card in.  Oh well. 

In other news.  Far Guy has relapsed a bit and he gave the crud to me.  I am on antibiotics and a steroid.  Both meds help with my Lymes Arthritis so I have less pain some of the time.  

This weeks meals:

Scalloped potatoes and ham, pulled pork and salad (Thanks Andy and Jen), omlettes with ham and cheese, pizza from Pizza Hut, a new to us chicken hotdish and one fend for your self night, last night was chili and grilled cheese. 

Company last week: My Other baby brother, my baby brother and his bride with Baxter and Smudge.   Last week Saturday we saw Jordan and Paige and Cole.  Paige helped with Spring House cleaning so I might have a handle on the house cleaning for now.  Cole helped with projects outside...we are very thankful for their help. I still have more drawers, cabinets and cupboards to clean out...a purge. And beds upstairs to wash up and windows to wash.  Enough to keep me busy when I feel better. 

The grass is turning greener every day after our rain.

And then I broke my toe...stubbed it so hard on an old trunk when I was barefoot that my toes cracked. Clumsy.  It is very sore...no need to go to the Doctor as they would just splint it to the next toe or three. 

I do my own pedicures obviously I could do better. 

Far Side

Book Club 2025 : May

 I missed last months Book Club because we were traveling to a Doctor's appointment.

April's read was a mystery called Still Life by Lousie Penny, the book takes place in Canada.  I give it a 7 maybe...I usually don't read mysteries.   All the gals liked it.

May's read takes place in Minnesota.  A story well written although there were many characters to keep track of...there were some very memorable characters which include a young man in high school.  I gave the book a 9 out of a 10.  I think I will try to read something else by this author.  Lorna Landvik wrote Chronicles of a Radical Hag. Everyone enjoyed the book. 

Now I will begin reading something totally different by Debbie Macomber...the Rose Harbor Series before I read the really heavy depressing but uplifting June Book Club read...I have read it before and have heard the Author speak. 

Read on!  Oh yes I ordered a few more books. Read 3 ordered some more...total is now 58.  I should be good for a while.  I order my books through Thrift Books because they have free shipping and occasionally I get a free book. 

BTW my book club is all wives of Veterans and it is virtual, it is headed by one of the VA Social Workers...we also have time to share about crafts we are working on. 

Far Side

May Day Smiles!

All the May Baskets were delivered on May Day.  

My nieces sent me some photos of their kids!  All these children are grandchildren of my other baby brother and she who sees robins first. 

Megan and Frank's Crew

Stacey and Justin's Group

Fun to keep the May Day Tradition going! 

After supper I delivered a few May Baskets in the neighbor hood...no one was home so May Baskets were placed inside screen doors when possible.  I talked with Opie, Titus and Toots ( all dogs)...they were excited to see me. 

Late afternoon visitors were my baby brother and his bride with Smudge and Baxter.  They are back for the Summer.  Smudge and Baxter did not forget me...or the Cheerio treats they really like.

I think Far Guy has turned the corner and is gaining a bit of strength everyday.  His infusion was a two stick day...errands were accomplished and we should be set for a day or two. 

Far Side

Happy May Day!

 I hope that something brings a smile to your face today!

The May Baskets are finished.  I made 20 this year.  The racoons are filled with candy... the baskets themselves are made out of paper...the pattern requires 17 pieces to be glued together.  I like playing with paper almost as much as I like playing with yarn.   All the paper for this project came from the stash in my desk:)

I put a bit of tissue paper in them for a pop of color!

And they are in a cake pan ready for deliveries!  (When I was growing up we always put our homemade baskets in a cake pan or muffin tin to make deliveries easier...my baby brother and I would hold them in the car).   Let the smiles commence:)

If you took a May Basket to a friend...young or old..tell me about it!  

Far Side

Getting along

 I finished the green blanket that I have been working on.  Here it is folded.

 It is a good size.  I used four skeins of Bernat Blanket Mist-ical the color is spearmint. 

So it was off to the Yarn Store upstairs...for a different color yarn. 

Nothing much new here.  Far Guy continues to rest, take his meds and do his nebulizer treatments.  I am making headway on the May Baskets...GWATCDR I will finish them today...I am cutting it close this year!

Far Side

Heads Up

 May Day is on Thursday, you have time to make a May Basket and give it to a small child, a neighbor or a friend.   It doesn't have to be fancy just a cup or paper folded with a treat inside.  Here is a link to one of the simple May Baskets that I have made.

Mine are in process hopefully I will have them done by Thursday.  Yesterday afternoon was spent with my die cutting machine making all the parts.  The candy was purchased last week. 

I have been celebrating May Day for about 72 years. 

My  Mom and I in 1953.

Far Guy is holding his own for now. Must be the excellent care from the day and night nurse!

Far Side

ER Visit

 Far Guy has a really bad COPD exacerbation.  He was evaluated at the ER.  Our niece Stacey was on duty so he got excellent care!  They gave him IV steroids, a nebulizer treatment and fluids.  His blood work and x rays looked reasonably good. He could have stayed in the hospital for observation but he preferred to come back home...even if the night nurse is cranky.  He was started on a course of antibiotics and steroids.  Of course he will do nebulizer treatments often, rest in the recliner or bed and do what ever I say!  His Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency makes him very prone to breathing problems. 

I hope we do not have to go back to the hospital.  Time will tell. 

A nearby creek where we always look for Marsh Marigolds...they should be blooming soon. 

It rained. 

Far Side

White Tails

 We have deer running through our yard all different times of the day.  There is no dog to make them afraid.  They drink the water out of the bird bath and eat what ever bird seed they can shake out of the bird feeders. 

One night I saw seven.  That is a bunch...and they multiply. 

Not a great photo but you can see the white tail.  The grass is turning greener in parts of the yard.  Hopefully it will rain soon and things will really green up. 

Last night I mowed the wildflower garden just east of the house in anticipation of a rain.  Hope it isn't snow. With a predicted Monday morning low of 26 F ...it could very well be snow...and all my snow shovels have been moved to the garage!

Far Side

Okay then

 Yes I have another skin cancer (malignant melanoma), but just the one spot on my shoulder and the margins were clear with the hunk that the dermatologist took out.  My mole is just a mole and the pearl removed from my chin is nothing to worry about.  Good thing that I see my dermatologist every three or four months so that the little spots don't become huge surgeries like last September when she removed a spot from my cheek.  That was no fun.  Yes the biologic Rheumatoid Arthritis meds can cause your already haywire immune system to go wonky....and skin cancer is the result.   FYI I take no biologic meds for RA anymore.  I take Tylenol (six a day) and THC gummies which are legal in Minnesota.   The joint damage won't be stopped but at my age does it really matter...the biologics did not stop my pain...they just gave me skin cancer as stated in the adverse reactions.  

In other happenings.  I am making progress in Spring Cleaning.  I have 15 out of 17 kitchen drawers done and a few of the other cupboards.  I should finish up next week ...maybe.   I have been listing and selling a few things on facebook marketplace.  In the evenings I am working on a notebook of family history. I have added what I can to Find A Grave and discovered an error...that I need to work through...if people kept better records there would be less errors...it will take a fair amount of unraveling to figure it all out. 

Far Guy and I share cooking duties this week was; Naan Bread Pizza, Steak and Salmon, fend for yourself and Pork Chops and Rice. 

Far Side

A Tad Cranky

 I am sure Far Guy would agree with me...that I am a tad cranky.  

My visit to the Dermatologist was a failure...biopsies of head, shoulder and chin ( betcha thought I was going to say knees and toes). Uffda.  The chin one was something she called a pearl...and she doubts it is cancer.  For the others we await the pathology report.  Since taking all the biologics for Rheumatoid Arthritis...skin cancer is popping up all over.  

Our town is changing, one of the grocery stores is closing. It was a store I only went into a few times a year...because the produce department smelled rotten all the time and the meat section had a strange odor. 

 One of the restaurants is closing. We went there once in awhile for breakfast.  Since covid they have been closed Tuesdays and Wednesday. 

Walmart did an entire remodel...I have not been inside Walmart since last Fall...I just order groceries to be picked up.  Who knew...new floors...stuff stacked higher than a very tall person can reach...nothing is where it used to be.  I went inside for Aileen's Clear glue...they don't carry it anymore or they moved it so far I never found it...Elmer's tough glue will have to do. It remains to been seen if it works as good as Aileens.  I complained at the self check out when the gal there asked if I found everything...yum...NO.  She said she was sorry but many things have been discontinued.  Oh well...I am a Walmart Plus member so I get free shipping...so if Fed X has to deliver stuff a couple of times a week...

Then...get this...I noticed on Facebook that one of the small Mom and Pop restaurants in a really small town nearby was bought by a honest to goodness Chef.  I saw their ad...it said half price dinners $60.00  I thought wow then half price would be $30.00 alrighty then.  I went to the website...the regular price is $120.00 per person, they have two seatings a night and you should make a reservation with a deposit of $20 per person.  The menu...lots of fancy stuff that I would not eat anyway...well maybe the brownie for dessert!  This restaurant is located just off a highway that is going to be under construction all Summer.   So much for fancy...then again maybe people will show up in limo's from Fargo and Minneapolis/St. Paul.   I can just see ladies in heels walking through a road construction zone. 

Needless to say I rarely spend $120 a week for groceries...so those prices are out of my comfort zone. 

Other small town rumors: The old bowling alley was demolished last Fall and a new building is being built in it's place...it may or may not have event rooms and pizza.  That makes four pizza shops in town. The Furniture Store in town that has been having a moving sale for a couple of years is moving into a different building...and the event rooms there may or may not be used.  A new Ice Cream shop may open...that makes four ice cream shops in town not counting Dairy Queen.  One eatery downtown may or may not have caused a whole family to have food poisoning.  As far as I know there are no new auto parts stores slated to open...perhaps the max has been reached with four.  So if you need auto parts, pizza or ice cream you should be able to find some in town....oh yes and candy...but there are only three candy shops to choose from. 

Not much green here yet...this is Shell River at what we call the dead beaver area. 

Far Side

Lolli

 Monday evening was my sisters last night at dog obedience training with Lolli.  It was a nice evening for the last session to take place outside.  They had a rally type course set up.  It was fun to see all the dogs and Lolli did real well.  

Lolli is not like my sisters other Boston Terriers...but then each dog has it's own unique personality! 

She needs to work...as soon as her brain was engaged she did great. 

She has the basics down and with continued practice she will do great, the last pass was with the leash dragging...and she did not run off!  Lolli graduated and got a certificate!  

Far Side

A funeral book

 Many of the blog readers had never heard of a Funeral book.  Perhaps it is a Midwest thing?  Anyways when someone dies the Funeral Home gives the family a book.  It has room for all the pertinent information...name, birth, death, location of service and burial...etc...it also serves as a guest book for the mourners to sign. 

This is a look into my Great Grandmothers Funeral book from 1968.  The front is decorated with a golden door and Cala Lilies.

Grandma Hattie

The newspaper clipping and her funeral pamphlet.

A handwritten list of expenses and the people who attended. 

Not much of her information was filled in...so I did it...57 years later.

I do not recall Grandma Hattie.  I recall my Mother going to the nursing home to visit her, nor do I recall the funeral. 

A four generation photo taken in the spring of 1952.  Me and my Mother, my Grandfather Albert and my Great Grandmother Hadwig (Hattie) she was 74 years old in this photo almost the same age as I am now.

Far Side