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. 

Far Side

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. 

Far Side

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. 

Far Side

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! 

Far Side

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!

Far Side

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:)

Far Side

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.

Far Side

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. 

Far Side

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

Friday all day

 Finally done with appointments!  Whew what a week...only trouble is one appointment lead to another three appointments in a couple of weeks.  My baby brother and his bride suggested that we get a camper and park it in the clinic parking lot, they could share it with us as they have their fair share of appointments!

We had a mostly quiet day on Friday.  It was very smoky outside again ...not good to be outside when the air quality is very unhealthy.  It looks like bad air quality for a few more days.  So far this summer we have endured 30 plus days of wildfire smoke.  

This weekend is the All School Reunion.  Far Guy would like to attend but the air quality will keep him at home.  I have absolutely no desire to go to my class gathering.  Hope they have fun! 

We had some wonderful fried potatoes, bacon, eggs and corn on the cob for supper!  Minnesota weather: High was 78F or 26C Low was 53F or 12C eh!

Far Side

Yellow

 We saw some Canola fields and a number of Sunflower fields on our travels this week.  I was driving so there are no photos...you will have to imagine the solid intense yellow of the Canola and the pops of yellow color dotting a Sunflower field.  Both made me smile. 

From my archived photos..I have just a few photos of sunflowers! 

Far Guy's Infusion was postponed from morning to afternoon...I picked up the walmart order, fruit from Aldi and went by the Meat Market, bank and pharmacy.  My key fob stopped working at Aldi...yes stuck in the parking lot with no way to get in the car...I took the fob and whacked it against the palm of my hand a couple of times and may have said some kinda not magic words...and it finally worked.  I drove straight to the car dealership and had one of the parts guys replace the battery in the fob.  Usually I get some kind of notice that the fob battery is going bad...not this time.  

We had corn on the cob for supper along with a small burger no bun with cheese on top and a orange to raise Far Guy's potassium.  Far Guy is getting a little bit of an appetite back...progress is slow...but still progress. 

It was a smoky day from the wildfires.  Our high was 75 F or 24C our low was 51F or 11C eh!  We did not sit outdoors. 

Far Side