Spring Cleaning

Paige, Cole and their dog Rosie came to help Spring House Clean Upstairs.   They are good workers!  Much was accomplished in an afternoon.  Cole took care of a few things outside, we are very appreciative of their help. 

Upstairs the windows still need to be washed and the sheets and blankets on the beds need to be washed too...but I can work at that one project at a time. 

We have a busy week coming up...three doctors appointments.  One for me on Tuesday( hopefully it won't be a winter storm that day) and two on Thursday and Friday for Far Guy.  We also have to "people" a bit on Monday.  

Here is a photo of Paige in October of 2000.  The occasion was her Great Grandparents Y. 50th wedding anniversary.

 

Well... we can say goodbye to the long month of March after today. 

Supper was homemade pizza. 

Far Side

Old

 We are both feeling our age this Spring...we need some Geritol or something to perk us up...although some warm sunny weather might help.

Yesterday we went to the transfer station with our garbage, we stopped by recycle, turned in some no longer used medications at the Sheriff's Office, went by the Post Office to mail a package and ordered and paid for a recliner with heat and massage.  We checked a bunch of stuff off our list.

I took this photo of an aging church a number of years ago....up North someplace.

We fixed grilled cheese sandwiches and chili from the freezer for supper. 

It spit rain a bit yesterday...not enough to amount to anything.

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Crochet Projects

 I finished another baby blanket, a hat and booties. 

Lots of young ladies are having babies.  I need to have a few blankets etc ready to go. 

It keeps me out of trouble. 

We had a quiet day on Friday, we had thunder like in the summer but very little rain after all the rumbling.  Again the changing weather and the system coming through was the pits. 

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Brown but sunny

 Yesterday was a sunny day, it made all the brown colors out there pop and some of the snow melt.

Far Guy had his infusion, the Zemaira makes him feel less sick and he is less short of breath...so that is a win!  

I picked up my grocery order at Walmart, went inside Aldi for fruit and into Hugo's for a few items and to the bank while Far Guy had his infusion.  I actually saw two relatives in town....I did not have time to chat just time to say hi.

We made a menu list for two weeks and I shopped accordingly.  Good to have that done and be back on track.    

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Bright and Cheerful

 The days are a tad dull and dreary so I have to look for bright and cheerful in my archived photos.

We really like our Primary Care Doctor in Grand Forks, we both have the same Doctor and he has hospital privileges so he saw Far Guy in the hospital earlier this month.  It is a 2 1/2 hour drive one way to the appointment, we went the night before and enjoyed supper and a game of cards with Andy and Jen and of course Sadie who was so happy to see us.  We went to our early morning appointments and were back at home early in the afternoon on Tuesday.  Our appointments went well...come back in six months. We can cross that appointment off our list.  I need to get an RSV shot...I read it is best to get it in the Fall...so I can wait until then. 

The ride was not real comfy for me, we stopped several times and that helped.  The jury is still out on whether I have a SI joint problem or an L4 L5 spine problem...none of the Doctors agree.  I have another consult next week. 

Far Guy is back on a course of antibiotics, hopefully it will get him over the hump and back to "his normal".  Fingers crossed.

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71

 My baby brother is 71 years old today. 

Well here he is a long time ago using his new fishing rod in a water bucket.  Perhaps he was practicing his casting with a new fishing rod.  (Maybe I told him to practice casting to keep him busy!)

Note the wash on the line.  The photo was taken about 1957 or 1958 before the old farmhouse was remodeled the first time.  Baby brother is sitting on the front steps of the old farmhouse. 

Happy Birthday baby brother!

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Pretty Branches

 We enjoyed the bit of snow on the Balsam Fir branches.

The snow makes for interesting designs in the woods. 

Today we both have Doctor appointments.  Nothing exciting just regular check ups.

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Ranger Blue

 Far Guy got Ranger Blue out of the garage and we went for a ride. 

It snowed.  Not much maybe an inch of snow but there is some ice under that snow so it must have rained first. 

Fun to be back on the trails again.

The road home.  

It was fun to get out and about...we didn't see anyone else while we were out...no people, no traffic, no dogs. 

Sunday was a quiet day...Naan Bread Pizza was for supper. 

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Saturday

 We have weather coming in and it makes my arthritic joints hurt.   I needed some comfort food...so I made some scalloped potatoes.  I make the rue first...about 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup brown rice flour...heat it up and stir like mad for a couple of minutes then slowly add milk...about 3 cups heat it to almost boiling and set aside.  Then I peeled potatoes, chopped some ham and threw it all in a enamel speckled blue and white oval covered pan. Stir it up...add some salt and pepper...bake about 90 minutes.   It freezes well and I froze enough for several meals.   Far Guy said they were good.  Using the brown rice makes them gluten free.   Supper was a plain hamburger patty, salad, fruit and those wonderful scalloped potatoes. 

Far Guy worked on one of his wood projects.  He is feeling a bit better and I am cautiously optimistic that he is getting better a little at a time.  Of course we are living like hermits again only venturing out to get the mail. 

I did some crocheting while catching up on Survivor and watching old episodes of Tournament of Champions (a cooking show). 

 I added a few puzzles to Jigsaw Planet.  Here are the canoes on Spirit Lake.

It is a fun place to work puzzles...no missing pieces!

Far Side

Out with the

 old broken  plastic brown sewing box, the latch was broken and if you lifted it up by the handle..."stuff" could fly everywhere.  I have had that sewing box about 50 years.  I think I got it for Christmas one year. 

 In with the new...also a Christmas gift from Far Guy.

All organized...I hardly ever use it but I have it just incase I need to hand sew something.  The crayon and colored pencil boxes from Michaels sure come in handy!  AND the best part is nothing will go flying everywhere. 

Who ever heard of a sewing box without a scissors??  I do have razor blades and a seam ripper!  I am sure I can find a scissors someplace for it.

We had a quiet day Friday, most everything is put away from the move.  I did a bunch of laundry and cleaned the bathroom.  We had salmon/pork burger no bun, baked potato, salad and raspberries for supper. 

Far Guy is maybe(knocks on wood)...maybe a tiny bit better. 

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Thoughts

 I found this photo in my archives.  Our fields look similar today...but it was warm so much of our snow has melted. 

There are Sandhill Cranes in the background with Trumpeter Swans and Canada Geese out front.

My thoughts...I like birds...they do not have "stuff"...they have what they need to get along day by day.  Three different species of birds all getting along in the same area...

maybe people could learn from birds. 

Happy Spring!

Far Side

Settling in

 The roads were good.   We have snow in our yard.  My other baby brother sent Ryan over to shovel our walk!  The car was unpacked, Josh (next door nephew) helped with the last four heavy items.  I ran out of steam and had lunch when he stopped by to check on the elderly. 

Wednesday morning I went to the Post Office to stop forwarding our mail and by the store to get bananas and milk.  We are slowly getting "stuff" put away in its proper spot.  Luckily we have the same beds here as we have up North so that is never something we have to get used to.  The TV controllers are different! 

Inventory of the deep freeze was accomplished and a grocery list compiled.  

Today I will get Far Guy to his infusion and pick up groceries.  Our hope is that the infusion will not only protect his fragile lungs but allow him to breathe better.  Zemaira is the name of the Infusion that works the best for him.  Aralast is the infusion he has been on since June of 2015.  Zemaira (99% pure) is a more pure infusion...meaning it has less fillers and other "stuff" than Aralast (70% pure). 

One day at a time. 

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Moved

 We should be all moved back in the woods by the time you read this. 

Far Guy needs to be at a different Infusion Center.  The Infusion he has been getting doesn't allow him to get completely over the exacerbation he has been dealing with.  The proper infusion is available at our local small hospital infusion center...but not at the fancy big hospital ( they say it is a shortage or a distribution problem). 

We will have to travel back and forth to a few medical appointments for the next couple of weeks. 

A house, outhouse, woodpile and some geese at my Maternal Great Grandparents home a very long time ago. 

Thankful that we don't use an outhouse or a woodpile anymore and the Fox would just kill the geese. 

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Projects

 The Grands photo albums are up to date.  

They are good for now and I am glad to cross it off of my list.  

I have been working on my photo files on my desktop.  They were a mess, many need to be identified because they are old black and whites and I know the people in them but will the next generation?  Probably not...but will they care?

My Paternal Grandmother had no obituary at Find a Grave, I found an old newspaper clipping and transcribed it.  I have many more obits to transcribe  at Find A Grave....relatives and friends.  I should make a list and do a few here and there.  A large project sometimes appears daunting, so broken down into smaller parts it seems a bit more manageable. 

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Inbetween Book

 Jen passed a book down to me and I passed it to Far Guy. We all enjoyed the book.  I give it a 9 out of a 10.  Jen is reading it aloud to the Greats. 

The Eyes & The Impossible by Dave Eggers

It was a quick read for me, Far Guy read it over the course of a few days sitting in a chair by the window soaking up some sun/watching it spit snow. 

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Big Storm and Happy St Urho's Day!

 We were spared yet again from a blizzard.  It was sure windy....and some snow came in sideways and blew further into Minnesota.

Jen and Andy returned from their vacation in Grand Cayman,  Sadie is very happy that they are back to take her on daily walks!

I finished watching Territory on Netflix.  It was a limited series and there is no second season...too bad ...because I enjoyed it very much.

Happy St Urho's Day!!! The parade and all the "doings" for St Urho's Day in Menahga were cancelled because of the big storm...they got ice and snow...parade, craft show all cancelled.

Far Side

Storm is a coming

 We have a rain/ice/snow event coming this way.   The wind makes Sadie nervous and clingy.   Jen and Andy should be home before the storm hits. 

The barometric pressure falling makes my arthritis miserable.   I am sure Far Guy's lungs don't like the change either...but there is nothing we can do about the weather. 

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Book Club X 2

 Book Club in February read Mrs Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini.  I give it 8 stars out of 10, it was a very good Historical Fiction book, based on many things that actually happened. 

Book Club in March was The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar.  I give it a 9 out of a 10 because I really enjoyed the book!  It is also Historical Fiction.

I just finished another book that Jen left for me to read,  Far Guy is reading it now...fun to have discussion with him about books. 

We did the usual Thursday things, I accompanied Far Guy to his infusion.  I picked up some fruit and eggs from Aldi and we went out to lupper.  Maddie came by and did some household chores and Noah took Sadie for a walk.  In the afternoon, I put my feet up in the Movie Room and began to watch Territory on Netflix...so far I am enjoying it(while crocheting)! 

Far Side

Wha??

Our car must have a mind of its own, as it drives through toll roads and doesn't pay tolls and someone could go to jail if the fines are not paid...WELL come and get me!

Someone wants to collect the money for the internet/tv bill...it is overdue and must be paid immediately. However they have an outlook email address and my internet/tv provider has a different email address.  Go figure.  They even include one of those helpful links...never open those!

Medicare open season is over however Far Guy gets multiple calls every day from people who say they are with Medicare.  I even heard him swear right out loud at one of those people ...

And then there is this...a reminder that I hate this song...a long time ago teenagers would bring their boom boxes in the kitchen and sing to me while I was cooking them supper. 

Checking on the elderly yesterday were Noah and Maddie, Maddie took Sadie for a walk. 

Far Guy is trying his hardest to get better, I think I may have turned the corner with the head cold from hell. I can breathe through my nose again!! Will wonders ever cease. I felt good enough to do some laundry.

Far Side

 

Focus

 My word for 2024 is/was focus.   Presently I am working on the five Grands photo albums.

I ordered extra pages. My Mom had some school photos and a few photos that I scanned from when I did the big sort.  I ordered photos three time from Walmart...the last bunch arrived yesterday.  

The Grandboys have plenty of photos because their Mom is a good picture taker....however this view is from Grandma's camera.  The Grandgirls have no photos.  They are left with just Grandma's view. 

I have a few photos at home in an older photo storage box...those are mainly Savannah when she was little.  So this project is not done...done...but at least it is moving forward and all caught up until December 2024. 

Far Guy is about the same, me too, we are managing our care and Sadie.  Maddie stops by to walk Sadie and check on the elderly. Some members of this household are enjoying a few days of Island warmth over Spring Break.

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Grand

 Two of our Grands visited us on Sunday afternoon.  Fun to see them. 

Paige

Savannah and Far Guy

Cole ( Paige's husband) accompanied the girls to Cee Cee's waterpark birthday party. 

We had a really good visit! 

Far Guy is about the same, forward progress is very slow.  I have the head cold from hell, my nose is like a faucet that won't shut off.  We are having a quiet week with no scheduled appointments until Thursday.

Far Side

 

5

 Our oldest Great Granddaughter is five years old today! 

Yeah Cee Cee you are five!  She had a waterpark pool party to celebrate!   It seems like only yesterday that she was born during Covid. 

Far Side

the same

 Far Guy is about the same, not much better if at all and not worse.  The not worse part I am thankful for. 

I ran some errands in the morning...gas, car wash, groceries and Jen and I both had rewards to spend at Michaels.  It was a quiet afternoon...we watched Number 24 on Netflix...it was an interesting movie.  

I have a head cold...and I hope to kick that to the curb soon.  We had chicken alfredo, raspberries and strawberries for supper last night.  

Time that we Spring forward...gosh I hate the time change it takes me about two weeks to get straightened around...I wonder how long it will take Sadie as her tummy is on a time clock also:)

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Slow progress

 Far Guy is making slow progress toward recovery...and I mean SLOW.  We will take it one day at a time.  He is coughing and then his oxygen sats drop.  We both had a much needed nap yesterday after the restless night before. 

I worked on a project a number of years in the making.  I worked on Far Guy's Paternal Grandparents history and their diaries.  It was a blog now converted into two books.  I am pleased, it is ordered and when it is delivered I can cross that project off my list!!  I attempted to upload it last Winter with no luck...but with some focus(My word for 2025) I got it done this Winter! The books are not cheap....but  Far Guy and I felt the expense is worth it.  I used Pixie to create the books. 

The blog is called Tracie's Treasures.  I am certain it is not perfect...but it chronicles family history for many years. 

In the photo ...that is Far Guy standing up between his Grandparents.  Far Guy's sister Janice is on the far left.

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Roller Coaster

 I feel like we are on a roller coaster ride, ups and downs and wild and crazy turns. 

Photo I took several summer ago. 

He felt good enough to get his weekly infusion, I accompanied him instead of running errands.

He is still at home for now...under my eagle eye and is instructed to voice that he is okay when he is awake.  He had a partially obstructed airway yesterday afternoon that he fought through that was no fun. 

Far Side

A bit worse

 Far Guy is a bit worse.  We may have to make another ER visit soon.  Time will tell.

Yesterday was a struggle for him, no doubt his body is coming off of all the IV meds that he had while in the hospital.  

Prayers continue.

Far Side

Hanging in there

Far Guy is doing his best to do everything he should to get better. It all takes time.  He is tired.  I am tired. 

IF we were sloths we could just hang around in trees upside down eating the most tender shoots....they leave the trees to poop once a week on the forest floor...who knew?

 

The cloth sloth is now framed and at the consignment shop...I wonder how long it will be there? 

My other baby brother and she who sees robins first stopped by and had lunch with us yesterday, good to see them again!  They were out in Western North Dakota visiting Katie, Hunter, Gavin, Jordan and Aubrey. 

I made chicken wild rice soup...it was whats for supper yesterday.  Chicken soup makes everything better!

Far Side

Out

 Far Guy got out of the hospital about noon on Monday.   He actually got to see his Primary Care Doctor in the morning.  It helps that at least one Doctor is familiar with a persons health concerns.  (FYI he is also my Primary Care Doctor and he has hospital privileges...unlike the Pulmonary Doctors that care for Far Guy..they do not have hospital privileges...strange I know...must have something to do with insurance)

Anyways he is feeling weak, but is breathing mostly okay and he can be off oxygen when he is sitting in a chair...and his O2 sats stay ok for the most part. He will sleep better in his own bed here at Andy and Jen's home. 

After Jen got home from work I ran necessary errands for prescriptions, Post Office and grocery store. Nice to have a back up person!!

Sadie was happy to see Far Guy...then she decided to take a nap. She can survey the whole neighborhood watching for delivery people, squirrels and Andy's blue truck coming home...I swear she can hear it inside the house when he is a block away.   Lately the new puppy next door named Trixie  has her bugged. 

Far Side

Hospital Report

 I think that we got him into the hospital in the nick of time before he turned Septic as last year when he had Influenza A, Pneumonia and Sepsis his numbers were almost the same...however I am not a Dr. 

Bottom line is that he is improving with IV meds and nebulizer treatments every 2 to 4 hours. Yeah Far Guy...and I may bust him out on Monday or Tuesday.

He looks much better than Saturday!  

So this is the inside of the fancy new hospital.  He has a private bathroom and there is a recliner in the room and a couch under the window...where I had a nap!  The decor is mostly battleship grey and Far Guy says they must have bought the paint in 55 gallon drums. 

Here is the view out his window. He is on the third floor. Jen visited him in the morning, me all afternoon and then Jen and Andy at night. 

Note the wonderful parking situation, that is our vehicle parked by the little grey Valet Shack...they don't work late.  My keys were at the security desk.  

It took me eight minutes to walk from Far Guy's room to the vehicle.  It was 709 steps from the car to his room...that is about  1/3 of a mile.  You cannot even cross over on the mud because you know it was goopy mud.  Who ever designed this new hospital is a blooming idiot.  Yes I am older and have RA and it is a struggle to walk...but I made it.  Apparently they think that the only people coming into the hospital should be young people with no handicap.

Security is good...as soon as you walk in the doors you are met by a person who asks you why you are there and escorts you to another desk where you have to show your drivers license and get your photograph taken and you are issued a sticky label with your name on it and the room you are supposed to go to...I suppose just in case you get lost.  

Oh yes the many colored moss on the wall behind the Security Desk is drying up and falling off.  The grout between the tiles is already dirty...as I noticed that the grout lines are very clean near the walls.  There are still remnants of sheet rock dust and who ever cleans doors/cabinets needs a lesson as hand prints are visible.  Paint is falling off the wall in some places.  I think after the three or four years it took to build this monstrosity it would be better than it is.   Can you tell I am not impressed?  Not even with the grand staircase or the Grand Piano.

Far Side

In

 Far Guy is in the hospital, he has a COPD exacerbation, he got a number of Nebs, blood work and xrays. We went to Urgent Care where they said he was too ill to be seen there and sent us over to the ER. 

I was with him all day, Jen took over in the late afternoon, so I could have some supper and get some rest. 

God willing and the crick don't rise I can bust him out of the hospital in a few days. 

Far Guy quote of the day " My body has had enough but my soul thinks otherwise."

Far Side

Hello March!

 Far Guy is very ill but hanging in there...Jen and I have four eyes on him...six if you count Sadie who gets real excited when he is coughing.  The next couple of days will tell if we can avoid a hospital visit.  I think he is right on that bubble of getting worse...or better.  He is doing all that he can with neb treatments and his percussion vest along with lots of fluids, rest, steroids and antibiotics. 

I finished the yellow blanket with a white edge, I may send this one over to the consignment shop.

Yesterday it was a very windy day, Jen and I ventured over to the neighbors to visit their new 9 week old puppy her name is Trixie and she is awfully cute for a Toy Poodle/Lhasa apso/King Charles cross. Sadie had to inspect us when we got back home.

We all played SkyJo in the evening. Fun game. 

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