What to do?

 I ran out of yarn. Let me rephrase that I didn’t bring enough yarn with me.  Problem solved as there are two stores that carry yarn here in town.

I like doing the shell stitch, it is easy to do when watching tv. I brought the pink with me and not sure why I only brought one ball.  The blue is the new purchase..same stitch but a little bit larger crochet hook.  Both will be added to my stash of finished blankets.

We had a good day. Far Guy and I went to Wally World and walked around…I needed som new fuzzy socks…I just hate it when the elastic goes bad and the socks slip down my feet. There were a few other things picked up also …all on sale. 

It was a very warm day the high according to our vehicle was 86F. 

We had salad for supper topped with chicken and bacon…pineapple rounded out the meal.

Goodbye September

Far Side

Busy days

 Puzzles, crocheting, woodcarving, enjoying time outside sitting in the sunshine and going out for lunch with Jen, Andy, my other baby brother and she who sees robins first who stopped by to check on us on their way back from Western North Dakota. Oh yes and going for a ride in the 1976 Corvette.  What a nice ride! AND petting Sadie..of course that is a great activity!

Far Guy is gaining strength and his appetite, now keeping him from overdoing is a concern.  He had a very nice nap after all the activity!

Far Side

Little kids

 We spent some time with the Greats and three of the Grands yesterday. All are doing well. 

The little Greats stayed when their parents went to a wedding.  They really liven up the place!

The Greats watching tv with their favorite Uncle Andy. Sadie is supervising.

This little munchkin Baby K was watching me instead of tv…and I received a number of smiles.  Peach reminds me often that it is her baby and not mine. 

Far Guy had a fair day, he still has some pain and has to watch it so he doesn’t use his left arm very much.

Andy made supper for us and the Greats …hamburgers on the grill and French fries…perfect food for the kids and the elderly!

The weather was beautiful with the high around 70 F.

Far Side

Things

 Daughter Jen and Granddaughter Maddie busted Far Guy out of the hospital on Friday about noon. He is doing well but still has some pain.  It is good to have him home from the hospital…well not quite home but close as it can be for now.  Sadie was real happy to see him too! Company at the hospital was a quick visit from Grandson Noah.

These “things” are hanging in the main hospital entrance. I asked several nurses what they were…germs or bacteria was the most popular response. 

For supper I made wild rice and baked carrots and some bacon gravy to go on top of the pork chops that Jen sous vied and Andy browned up in the fry pan. It was a great meal. Far Guy is getting back some of his appetite so that is a good thing!

Nice day here highs in the 70’s.

Onward and forward to healing things!

Far Side

Report

 The news is encouraging. The surgery went off without a hitch.  The Dr is cautiously optimistic that all the cancer is gone.  The preliminary report of a frozen section of a lymph node looks to be free of cancer. The final pathology report will take about a week. 

Far Guy’s pain was being managed well.  He does have a drain to deal with. We will spring him out of the hospital on Friday morning…hopefully.

I did not stay the night because I was cold and very tired. Jen spent the day with me and Andy and Maddie visited after they were off of work. 

One of the stairways in the new hospital. 

Thanks for all the prayers…they are working!

Far Side

Surgery Day

 Today is Far Guy's surgery.  If you are so inclined please pray for the medical team that will be caring for him. 

Thank you!

Far Side

Yard

The Oaks are slowly dropping their leaves in our yard. 

 Not sure how much time I will be able to spend on the lawn mower mulching leaves this year.  

We will see...one day at a time. 

Far Side

A Fall Project

 I needed to cross something off my list.  My Father's Veteran flag holder.  I picked up the flag holder from the local American Legion as suggested by a very nice neighbor Phyllis!  I have had the holder all Summer we just have not gotten around to placing it until this past weekend.

Far Guy pounded it into the ground, it will be there next Memorial Day for the flag. 

I also refreshed the flowers in the vases on my parents headstone.

I tucked a flag in with the flowers on my Dads side of the headstone. 

The trees at the cemetery are beginning to show some color.

I will try to bring different flowers for the Winter...it all depends on the weather.  For now the gravesite looks great.  Luckily we have gotten some rain and I suspect my baby brother has been there with seed and fertilizer over the summer as there was a pretty bunch of clover in the area.

Far Side

Summer turns into Fall

 We have many appointments this week.  I see the PA who works under the Neurologist who did my spine surgery.  I am 114 days post surgery!  Far Guy sees his dietician, Primary Care Dr for a Pre Op Physical, his Pulmonary Doctor and then his Surgeon for the big surgery later in the week.  Three medical appointments were put on hold this week..my PT appointment, my biopsy and Far Guy's Infusion.  

One of these weeks things will slow down. For now juggling all the appointments is what we do.

The leaves are changing as our Summer turns to Fall.

We had a quiet Sunday, we had the last hurrah of Summer at our favorite Mexican place on their patio enjoying the food and the company of my other baby brother and she who sees robins first.  Many of the "Summer" eating place close down after the tourists leave, and if they don't shut down totally they shut down a number of weekdays.

We gassed up the vehicle and were the only people at the gas station and after we dropped off our outgoing mail at the Post Office we drove down Main Street...if you shot off a cannon you would have only hit a few cars. 

Minnesota weather: High 70F or 22C Low 51F or 11C eh!  We had a rain shower in the afternoon and it was still fun to see the Summertime clouds in the sky.  The weather report looks great for the next week or so daily highs in the 70's...so we will enjoy that!

Far Side

Thanks!

 Thank you for all the birthday wishes! My husband, my other baby brother and my sister sang to me, my Great Grandchildren sent a video greeting and I heard from many friends and relatives. 

It was a quiet day,  it rained some during the day.

The leaves are changing and we should be at peak color next weekend. 

Far Side

Older again

 Yes I am older again...and I feel older too! 

Here I am in 1953 I was two years old back then....I am older now. 

I laughed out loud when I saw this on facebook. 

Not sure what we will do to celebrate...I asked my other baby brother and she who sees robins first to come over for root beer floats!  That should be perfect. 

I believe Jen was my gift that came two days early 50 years ago.

Far Side

Update

 Far Guy is having surgery next week. He will have a mastectomy and a sentinel node biopsy.  The surgeon seems like a confidant young fellow, who had a decent bedside manner.   The oncologist had Far Guy stop the horrid Verzenio because the side effects were so bad.  He feels like surgery is a good option at this time and put in the referral immediately.  Luckily the surgeon saw us right away for the consult. 

Far Guy is very anxious and scared.  I keep telling him that this battle is almost over and the war with cancer will be won!  Moving forward is a good thing and moving forward faster than we thought is great! A month ago the Oncologist mentioned surgery this winter...so there ya go...things are moving along! 

I had a great mammogram report....nothing suspicious however the biopsy of a spot on my forehead came back with atypical cells ...so I will have a punch biopsy in a couple of weeks. 

Physical Therapy is going well and the sessions have been put on hold...I have all kind of exercises to do and walk walk walk.  I still have considerable pain especially after riding in the car. 

Minnesota weather has turned cooler and rainy.   High 67F or 20C Low was 58F or 15C.

Last night we did not cook supper, we ordered pizza when we were in town for Far Guy's infusion. 

Far Side

Camera Ready

 All together now!

Happy Birthday Jen!  

She loved the birthday cookies from Hornbachers back in the day!  I believe she was about 4 years old in this photo in 1979.  Too bad I had her facing into the sun so she is all squinty! 

Her real name is Jennifer and mostly we call her Jen but sometimes we slip and call her Jenny! She prefers Jen.  She is our rock, she is always ready to help her elderly parents, we appreciate all that she does for us! 

Oh yes she loves to take photos.  And sometimes I catch her doing what she enjoys. 

Photographing flowers at Bergeson Nursery near Fertile Minnesota.

Jen and Adam at a beach near Hilo Hawaii

Jen and Andy waiting for the sun to set before heading to the airport from the Big Island, Hawaii

Jen admiring the sunset... camera ready

Jen is off on an adventure with Andy for her birthday, we went out for supper to help her celebrate early.

Happy Birthday Jen, love you always and forever!  

Mom

Gone to a dog

 Yes we are visiting this dog again!  

She will be happy to see us. 

We got good news on Tuesday; the areas around the thyroid are just thyroid and not a worry at this time, they have no connection to the breast cancer. Some time in the future his thyroid my need to be removed but it is not a priority now.  Since Far Guy is having such awful side effects from the cancer medication we are seeing the surgeon on Wednesday (today) for a consult for surgery.  It is our hope that the surgeon thinks that Far Guy is a good candidate for surgery and to get surgery scheduled ASAP. 

Far Side 

No sleep or jelly

 Monday was a catch all day for me. Laundry and putting away "stuff."  Far Guy has slept very little in the last 48 hours.  It must be a side effect from the cancer meds.   I try to do quiet things just incase he is asleep.  

See the dark berries?  Those are Chokecherries the local bear may get them sooner or later.  Just did not have it in me to make jelly this year....I do have a few jars left over from two years ago.  The brighter orange leaves are Virginia Creeper growing up the Chokecherry shrub/tree. The yellow leaves are the Chokecherry leaves. 

Minnesota weather: High 80F or 27C  Low was  60F or 16C.   Today (Tuesday) will be our last really warm day then we cool off a bit and it may rain. 

Supper was Hobo dinners again...what can I say it is easy with minimal cleanup. (Hamburger, Potatoes, Carrots and Cheese)

I finished the book I was reading in between Book Club reads.  Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz.  I started the book a number of years ago and never finished it. So I read the whole book again.  I give it a 7 out of a 10.  Not usually the kind of book I read but nice for an inbetween book. 

Far Side

Colorful

Sunday my other baby brother and she who sees robins took us out to lupper at our favorite Mexican place.  The food was great as was the company.   Far Guys stomach was a bit iffy but the ice tea seemed to work a bit of magic so he could eat a taco. Yeah for another no cooking day!

We wood carved on the Christmas ornaments for a little while.  It was a very nice Fall day.

The driveway is getting colorful.

 Minnesota weather: High 79F or 27C Low was 68F or 20C.

We have four medical appointments this week. I think Tilly has an appointment to get her transmission leak checked...so that will be the excitement for our week. 

Far Side

Weekend Stuff

 We wood carved on the Christmas Ornaments, made progress and will continue until we have it all done! 

My lawn mower still starts after it's Summer rest.  I used it to spray/kill the weeds/Round Up the rocks by the house, we even have a tree growing in the rocks.  I had to see if the lawn mower still mows and it does.  It went well for my first time on the mower since about June 6.  I know I cannot be on the mower for hours but a little at a time is possible unless I drive like a wild woman!

Flowers in town

Supper was a salad and leftovers.  Chalk up another night of no cooking! 

Minnesota weather; High 77F or 25C Low was 63F or 18C 

Far Side

Partially Done

 I am glad this week is over, yesterday I went to Physical Therapy and then for my Mammogram.  

Check something off the freaking list.

Next up an eye appointment, flu vaccination and then covid vaccination.  I will do the vaccinations about a week apart. Then I can say I am ready for the Winter and all tuned up. 

Physical Therapy is going well and he says he sees improvement from week to week.  So that is something!

Minnesota weather: High 78F or26C  Low 63F or 18C.  

Supper was easy: Chicken enchiladas that were in the freezer!  Yeah for cooking once and eating three times:)

Far Side

Town

 Town was not too busy for a change, many of the tourists have gone and soon the Snowbirds will take off and it will be even quieter. 

No waiting in line anyplace....bank, Walmart pickup, Aldi, Hugos and Main Street Meats....where the young guy always calls me ma'am. 

The bank got a new potted plant for Fall. 

Far Guy had his usual Thursday Infusion to protect his lungs and then he came home to rest and nap.  He had a hard time sleeping the past couple of nights.  

Supper was mashed potatoes, hamburger gravy, carrots and raspberries.

Minnesota Weather: Highs 73F or 23C Low was 61F or 17C eh. 

Far Side

Remembering

 

24 years ago a day that many will not forget.

Far Side

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.

Far Side

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. 

Far Side

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. 

Far Side

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. 

Far Side

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. 

Far Side  

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) :)

Far Side

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