Goodbye January

 I saw my Rheumatologist on Friday.  He said " I can do nothing for you, I think you have Chronic Pain Syndrome."  He is tapering me off of the daily prednisone dose and I should be seen at the Pain Clinic.  Alrighty then.   

Far Guy had his infusion appointment...while he was there I picked up groceries at Wally World and then stopped by Aldi to get fruit.  I had a very long nap in the afternoon. 

Not much progress on my various projects.

Today we say goodbye to January...perhaps February will be better! 

Far Guy will have his Thyroid Biopsy in February...nothing heard about his other appointments...stress test and echocardiogram.

Supper was leftovers...all good. 

Minnesota weather: High 4F or -16C  Low was -14F or -26C.  We have a Winter weather advisory until noon Sunday.

Far Side

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON SATURDAY TO NOON CST SUNDAY... * WHAT...Mixed precipitation and areas of blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 1 and 3 inches and locally up to 4 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Portions of northwest and west central Minnesota and northeast and southeast North Dakota. * WHEN...From noon Saturday to noon CST Sunday. * IMPACTS...Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Plan on slippery road conditions. Falling and blowing snow will lead to areas of quick and sudden reductions to visibility, making travel difficult, especially in rural areas that are prone to blowing snow.

More appointments

 It seems like every appointment that we have leads to three more.  At this rate will we ever be done with Doctors and appointments??  doubtful

Yesterday was a frustrating difficult day.  Anxiety as we saw the Ear Nose and Throat Surgeon in Fargo.  Far Guy has a nodule on his Thyroid.  The needle aspiration that he had done back in September showed it was Thyroid. (Go figure) The Oncologist Dr B wanted it checked out...the referral took place the first week in December...well yesterday was that appointment...finally. That appointment is leading to another biopsy....not sure when...they will call.  Far Guy is fit to be tied.  There are no ENT Surgeons in Grand Forks....Fargo is the next best option or Rochester.  ( We are not driving back and forth to Rochester in the Winter) ( Far Guy does NOT like the Surgeon in Fargo)

One day at a time...we keep on keeping on. Trying to stay positive! Three appointments on Friday to get through before we get the weekend off. 

We are still waiting for the we will call you from the appointments last week.  

One good thing...the roads were not snowy and not icy. 

Two good things...Jen went with us and we went out to lunch.

Another good thing...furnaces instead of wood fired stoves like in the olden days...I am not sure how people stayed warm.

Far Side

Great

 Here are our Greats!

At least three of them were looking at me!  

Tuesday night I held the pickles hostage until after they finished some food on their plates!  It was a good meal and good to see them all! 

Wednesday weather: Chilly!  High was 2F or -17C  Low was -17F or -27C. 

Supper was delicious leftovers!

Far Side

Fun Foods

Tuesday was cooking/baking day.  Granddaughter Maddie and Brenton and the Greats are coming for supper.  The Greats are not sick at the moment so we can get together! 

I made cheesecake with no crust so that it is gluten free it will be topped with cherries.  

Fun foods for the Greats...

Foods for little hands...mini brownies and toast points. 

The rest of the menu is a pork roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, baked carrots and green beans...oh yes and pickles.  But with our Greats you should almost serve the pickles as a dessert because they really like them! If they had their way they would make pickles a meal.

Minnesota weather: Sunny!  Above zero! BUT the windchill is still nasty. 

Far Side

Little stitches

 I finished water color cards for now and started some stitching around the outside of a dish towel.  Had to retrain my brain it has been a while since I have done hand stitching. 

I was struggling with it so much it exhausted me so I had a little nap and when I woke up I remembered how to do it.  Perhaps I dreamt about it. Will wonders never cease. 

I went to PT on Monday then we went to the grocery store.  

Andy made supper...ribs, potatoes and corn...delicious.

Minnesota Weather: High was 10F or -12C  Low was -8F or -22C eh!   The snow was blowing and drifting some inside town so I imagine it was much worse outside of town.  By the weekend we should have nice Winter weather again. 

Far Side

Watercoloring and more

I finished up a bunch of water colorings for cards.   I only have a few more stamped...however I do know where a bunch of stamps are in the craft room.  Possibly I will call this project good and move onto something else. 

We had a very quiet day, I cleaned two bathrooms except for the floors...I am still not getting down on my hands and knees to scrub. Maybe one day soon.  I did some laundry and worked on a baby blanket while watching The Closer on Netflix. 

Sadie keeps one eye on us all the time.  When she sleeps she lays in front of the front door so we cannot escape.

Her people will return late Sunday night.  Last we heard they were boarding their flight in Cincinnati and that 90% of the flights had been cancelled due to weather.  Jen was visiting a friend in Ohio and Andy was Master of Ceremonies at a Vex Tournament.

We made homemade pizza using a Pillsbury Pizza Dough for supper...just as good as a Pizza Shop.

Only six medical appointments this week. Sure hope it warms up for the appointments on Thursday and Friday!

Another cold day in Minnesota: High -10F or -23C  Low was -20F or -29C eh! 

Extreme Cold Warning in effect until Monday, 9:00 AM CST. Source: U.S. National Weather Service

* WHEN...Until 9 AM CST Monday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 45 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.

Far Side

Too cold...

to snow.  Yes, it can be too cold to snow.  Too cold to go outside...for people.  Sadie manages to lounge out on the deck and get a good roll in the snow when ever she feels like it!  

This is the drop zone...the place where we stack up mail forAndy and Jen,  Doggie Daycare did the photo of Sadie for Christmas.

Saturday activities...Far Guy did some woodcarving.  I did some watercoloring on some stamped cards.  Far Guy managed most of supper we had chili and grilled cheese...he is a great prep cook and had everything ready for me to toast the sandwiches after I finished my nap.  He is now watching Hockey and I will join him soon. We pet Sadie...I may put her on the treadmill again tonight so she gets a walk!  Thursday night she refused my suggestion, Friday she was anxious to get going on the treadmill as I showed her a treat in my pocket.  She reminds us when it is 5 PM and we should feed her...same thing at 8PM when she gets a treat and a second supper.  She will be happy when her people get back from their travels.

Minnesota weather: High -3F or -19C Low was -30F or -34C eh! 

Stay warm!

Far Side

Stitching

 After the photo project cleared my work space I got out the diamond squares that a blog reader sent me.  

The diamonds needed to be sewn together with a mattress stitch.   That is a difficult stitch but I finally conquered it... mostly.

It is a lap afghan size.  It is not perfect... it will be donated to one of the stores in town that benefits people...Salvation Army Store most likely or the Dakota Boys and Girls Store.

I began this project before Christmas and then I packed it away now I am pleased to get it off of my to BE finished list!  The pattern is called Tulip Cube Throw.

It was a cold day here, I took Far Guy to his Infusion and waited in the parking lot for him while crocheting and talking to my best friend Susie! 

Supper: Far Guy browned some brats and warmed up some potatoes and corn.  

Minnesota weather: High -12F or -24C  Low was -24F or -31C 

Weather Advisory

EXTREME COLD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST SUNDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 50 below. * WHERE...Portions of north central, northwest, and west central Minnesota and northeast and southeast North Dakota. * WHEN...Until noon CST Sunday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 50 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes.

Far Side

Cold

 It is cold here.  

We have enough snow, we have enough cold. 

Far Guy and I had a quiet day, he ventured out to the mail box and that was his outside activity for the day. I opened the door and took a photo for your enjoyment.

Far Guy is organizing his medications, woodcarving and making ice for the ice bin...there are three of us that like the softer smaller ice cubes that the on the counter ice machine makes! 

I did some laundry and completed my photo album project 2026 for now...yeah me!!  I must go through some archived photos and order reprints...I will put that on my list to BE tackled at a later date....before Winter ends for sure.

We made a pan of lasagna for supper.

Minnesota weather: High -13F or -25C  Low was -26F or -32C eh! 

Here is the weather warning.

The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 55 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes.

Far Side

Ground Blizzard

 We had some ground drifting on the way to Fargo for Far Guy's Cardiology appointment.  His appointment went well, it created three more appointments in the future. He had an EKG, saw the Cardiologist and went for his six minute walk for Pulmonary.  The Cardiologist wants to check out a few things so she ordered a stress test, echocardiogram and a virtual follow up appointment.  

I drove and Far Guy took a couple of photos for me.  Here is ground drifting...at least we could see the road. On the way back to East Grand Forks...just out of Fargo it got really icy...a couple of semi's in the ditch and several cars.  

Then the visibility turned to crap...really sh$##y crap.   Traffic slowed into the 20 mph range...some places you could not see the fog line.  

About 40 miles of really slow going...high stress driving hanging onto the steering wheel until my hands hurt.  I must be an OK excellent driver because we made it to Grand Forks in one piece.  We picked up our grocery order from Wally World and then headed to Perkins for supper.  It was good to get out of the car and be safely indoors.

Thursday I am not leaving the house...same with Saturday and Sunday.  Friday Far Guy has his Infusion so we must venture out then....but my errands are all done for the rest of the week.  Jen and Andy will be gone to Ohio for four days.  So it is just us and Sadie.

Supper at Perkins was a skillet breakfast for Far Guy and I had a Patty Melt on sourdough bread. ( It was lunch and supper all in one meal as we missed lunch)

Minnesota weather: High was 16F or -9C  Low was -11F or -24C.  Snowy and windy.

EXTREME COLD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM THURSDAY TO NOON CST FRIDAY... ...EXTREME COLD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...

* WHAT...For the Extreme Cold Warning, dangerously cold wind chills as low as 53 below expected. For the Extreme Cold Watch, dangerously cold wind chills as low as 46 below possible.

Yes it will be freeze your butt off cold...Stay Warm!!

Far Side

I wonder

 Old photographs are interesting.  

My Great Grandmother (Hadwig) is in this photo on the right.  I have another photo of her taken the same day.  The photo was taken on my Great Grandparents farm.

The fellow on the wood pile is a mystery.  My Great Grandfather (Christian) had crippling Rheumatoid Arthritis and spent most of his time in a chair or on the couch.  My Great Grandmother took care of him.  

Christian is a bit of a mystery himself.  He came to the East Coast on a ship...by himself?...probably not.  Did his family die on the ship?? Maybe.  His name before he was adopted was Christian Higher.  

Anyways back to the wood pile guy...he looks tall and he had a dog that apparently would follow him anywhere.  My Mother did not know who he was.  I will speculate that is was one of my Great Grandmothers children...Louis maybe as he was tall. (My Grandfather Albert was not tall and his two other brothers would have both died by the time this photo was taken.)

I am working on family information this Winter getting bits and pieces of information compiled...Granddaughter Savannah is interested in family history...so it will be shared with her. 

We had a quiet day yesterday, I did some laundry and organized a few things....we watched a movie in the afternoon...Frosted on Netflix...we both fell asleep. 

I made smoked pork chops, smashed potatoes and sweet corn for supper.

Minnesota weather: High was 10 F or -12C  Low was 5F or -15C eh!  Headed into the deep freeze on Thursday and beyond. 

Far Side

In between Snow and a book

 Some of our snow has taken on a dingy brownish color...snow and good old North Dakota soil makes the snow look yucky.

Here you can see the strip of dirty snow. 

I ventured out for my PT appointment, Andy was up at o'dark thirty shoveling and snow blowing.  I came back after my appointment and got Far Guy to drop me off at the grocery store door and pick me up again...much better than walking across an icy parking lot.

I finished an in between book. It is a Sandra Dallas book called Little Souls.  It is historical fiction. It takes place in Denver Colorado during the Spanish Flu epidemic.  I give it a 7...mostly because I think sexual abuse can be in a book but I do not want it to fuel the whole book.  I would have written it differently...but you all probably guessed that already. 

Four medical appointments this week, my one is done...Far Guy has three to go. We must travel to appointments in Fargo on Wednesday so we hope for no stormy weather. 

Progress continues on the photo album project...I am on 1994.  

Supper is Tacos, Far Guy's Chili Cheese Dip, fruit and some Rice Krispie bars that I just finished making!

Minnesota Weather:  High 3 F or 16C  Low was -11F or -24C   Wind Chills were in the -40's.

Far Side

Blowing Snow

 We have been indoors since Friday noon.  It has snowed and the wind has been horrid.  Wind chill temperatures are in the -30s below zero.  On Sunday most of the roads in the Red River Valley were closed. 

Andy made Calzones for supper and Noah joined us as he lives just two blocks away from us. 

I watched a season of Hi Jack on Apple TV it was really good.  I am making progress on the photo albums.  The Grands albums are caught up with for now through 2024.  I am working on the family albums now and I completed 1972-1986... previously I did 1951-1972  in an album for myself.  Progress is happening and I hope to finish up this week.  Well mostly finish anyways there are some photos that I have taken that must be ordered as prints as I want to include them in the album.  It seems to be an ongoing kind of project that grows as I try to contain it!

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Baby K Baptism

 Baby K was baptized last Sunday.  We did not attend because of Influenza A that is going around. 

Maddie shared photographs. 

Brenton holding Peach on the far left and Maddie on the far right.

Baby K is wearing the baptismal gown that her brother and sisters wore that is made out of my wedding dress. 

Galatians 3:26-27

"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized in Christ have clothed yourself with Christ'

We are have nasty winds and blowing snow...and way below zero windchills.  We are in a Winter Storm warning and a Blizzard watch until late on Sunday.  High was 4F or -16C  Low was -1F or -18C eh.

Supper was leftovers for me...coleslaw, sweet potatoes and some lil smokies.  Far Guy had a Philly Sandwich that Jen brought home from the Blue Moose where she ate lunch.  No cooking!!

Far Side

Pretty Blanket

 I finished another blanket.

It is a very pretty turquoise/aqua  color.  I believe I know who this one will be gifted to. 

Far Guy had his weekly infusion on Friday afternoon.  I ran errands to Walmart and Aldi, then we went out for lunch.  I returned to clean a bathroom, do some laundry and take care of a few things on my list that swirl around in my head...just as the wind swirls the snow around...then I had a nap!

I need to BEgin another blanket.  The weather is perfect for starting projects...we are in a Winter Storm Watch and a Blizzard Warning.  The wind is really howling outside.  

Minnesota Weather; High 9F or -13C  low was -5F or -21C eh! Snowy and blowing. 

Since we went out to lunch supper became quite easy.  Chili, cheese and crackers.  No Cooking just warming up!

My Photo Album project is coming along, the Grand's photo albums are caught up with for now...I still need to order their 2025 photos for their albums.  I sorted to decades when I pulled the photos from the albums and marked them by year, now I have sorted the years....1972-2023.  Next comes the year sorted into months...then I can put them all in albums.  There is a method to my madness. 

Far Side

Book Club: January 2026

 I enjoyed the recent book club read.  I give it a 9 out of a 10.  It is historical fiction that takes place in the early 1950's in Washington DC.   Kate Quinn wrote The Briar Club.

All of the gals at book club enjoyed the book.

Thursday was a quiet day around here, I did some laundry and cleaned out two drawers in the kitchen. 

I made supper...some of those small rock lobsters and steak along with some crispy tater rounds and coleslaw.  Andy is off to a Vex Robotics tournament...he doesn't like any kind of fish or seafood....so we had it in his absence.

Minnesota weather; High 37F or 3C Low was 10F or -12C eh! We are in a Winter weather advisory until Friday evening...snow and wind.

I continue to work on the big sort of photographs for albums. I hope to finish in the next week maybe two....by February 1st for sure!  I have updated 3 out of 5 of the Grands albums. 

Far Side

Tiny House

 Far Guy and Jen have been working on a tiny model house.  It has hours and hours of work. 

It has lights and everything!  I love the little porch swing on the upper deck. 

I asked how they would dust it??? 

They have been working on it while I have been sorting photos.  The big sort has expanded...I ran into a bunch of photos of the Grands so those are being added to their photo albums.  One Grand album done and four to go.  Progress is slow.  When I get all five albums done I can resume the big sort!  Decades will be sorted into years in chronological order...COD you know. 

I had a PT appointment yesterday.  We have a weather system moving in and I can sure tell it.  I had to have a morning rest yesterday....usually I do not lay down in the morning...laying down with a hot rice bag eliminates my pain. 

Minnesota weather: High 12F or -11C  Low was 8F or -13C.  It cooled off before the stormy weather moves in on Thursday. 

Supper: BLT's.

Far Side

Appointments and dogs

 All of Far Guy’s medical appointments went well. Return in one year, one month and two months.  It was a full day with three appointments. One was at a new location but we found it easy enough. 

We had breakfast for supper, Far Guy made the potatoes, I warmed up the little smokies and ham and Andy made the eggs….so it was a group effort! 

It was a beautiful day with the highs in the 30’sF. We hardly needed a heavy parka! 

I am still sorting photos. Still. It keeps me out of trouble. 

Four of our Shetland Sheepdogs or “Shelties” that were a part of our family for years. 1986 to 2001. 

Misty, Moses, G’day Mate and Captain.  All Shelties with different personalities. Misty and Moses had a litter of four puppies and Mate and Captain were part of that litter. 

Far Side

Monday stuff

 Lots of odds and ends filled the day.  Photo sorting, some online work trying to straighten a couple of idiots things out, a bit of organizing and cooking.   I made boneless pork chops, smashed Yukon gold potatoes, green beans, coleslaw and raspberries.  The green beans from Aldi were awesome! Fresh in a microwave bag...very tasty for those of us who like green beans. 

Weather is mild for January.  High was 36F or 2C the low was 34F or 1C eh! Nice! The icy deck out back got all dried off! 

Tuesday is appointment day as Far Guy has three appointments.  

Andy has returned to teaching and Jen went to Maddie and Brentons to take care of Peach because she was not feeling good enough to go to daycare, she had a slight temperature.

Far Side

a goat

 Wow it took me forever to get past 1990 the summer of the goat.

We had a Summer exchange student by the name of Anke from Germany that was the same age as our oldest daughter.  Far Guy took all the girls to a centennial celebration over in Ponsford and a goat was being sold at auction…so he bought it for me. The girls thought it was all great fun. BUT I had always wanted a goat. We named him Seger (Ziege).

The goat was supposed to be a miniature goat. Nope not so much he was a good sized brush eater. He would eat anything green…flowers…poison ivy… you get the idea.  We kept him in the dog fence in the daytime but he would often escape. It was fine if he laid down in front of the door…however he began to jump in peoples boats…during this time we owned a resort.  He jumped on top of Far Guy’s car every day when he came home from work.  Seger didn’t care who chased him with a broom he thought it was great fun.  He had a dry place to sleep up in the horse shed.  He followed me around like a dog and would bleat mournfully if he lost sight of me.  He was afraid of thunder and would show up at the front door and I would let him inside where he would bury his head under my arm until the storm had passed. No he did not poop in the house!

One of the camping people put the shucks from sweet corn in a bag on top of his car…well you can guess where the goat went. So I had to rehome the goat.  It was a sad day when I left him with other goats at a tourist attraction where he had lots of room to roam with a tall fence and bridges to cross.

Seger was a very smart goat. He learned that if he lowered his head and ran at teenage girls they would scream and run from him. He tried it with me…I stood my ground and he would stop and press his head against my leg to be scratched. 

I have very fond memories of that goat!

Far Side

1990

 Sorting through the years.

February 1990 my Aunt Marie and I took the train from Detroit Lakes Minnesota to Seattle Washington for my cousins Clark’s wedding to Mary Jo. 

We had a great time!  The dogs are two of ours Captain and G’Day Mate. They were two years old.

We had a quiet day sorting photos and watching a movie, we decided not to cook and went over to Arby’s drive through. The influenza A is going around so the less we encounter people the better. 

Far Side

Progress

 I am doing a deep sort of all the photos that I have with me.   I brought a huge tote of photos with me.  I will guess that I brought about 3,000 photos with me.  I am making progress.  I have begun the sort for our own album/albums.  I have mostly finished with our daughter's albums. So there is forward progress. 

It all takes time.  Since we have a few less Doctor appointments I do have some time.  I discovered that I should have brought Far Guy's album with me to redo...alas it is back at home.  Oh well I will get to it someday.  In the meantime photos that should be included in his album are being sorted.

Some things you even forget you have.  Like this old postcard photo taken back before there were zip codes...there were other codes...E84E  what ever that means.  We owned this resort from 1987 to 1995.  So it is a bit of our history.   I would guess the photo was taken in the 1940's -1950's.

Interesting that the old metal glider was there.  Far Guy took off the old paint and repainted it and put new wood on it and it was just like new and people used it all the time:) FYI the photograph must have been taken at the waters edge or else the photographer stood in the water. 

Far Guy's Infusion went well...only one stick for the IV !  I went to Aldi and bought fruit. 

Minnesota weather; High was 29 F or -2C  Low was 13F or -11C.  Nice weather for January.  However every place you walk there is ice.  Oh well January is only 1/3 done we still have time for a brutal Minnesota Winter!

Far Side

Quiet Day on Thursday

 We had a quiet day on Thursday.  I slept late as we had no place to be. I did some laundry, cleaned out a drawer and a cabinet in the kitchen (if I do one a day soon they will all be cleaned out before you know it) and worked on my photo album project.  Far Guy and I watched a movie in the afternoon.  I do appreciate quiet days!

Far Guy's weekly infusions have been switched to Friday mornings for all of January. 

We had leftovers for supper...no cooking only warming up.  Soup is often better on the second day anyway! 

Minnesota weather: It rained.  High was 28 F or -2C  Low was 2F or -17C eh! 

Far Side

Books, Blue Sky and Back

 I read Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson.   It is about the Yellow Fever Epidemic in Philadelphia through the eyes of a teenager.  It is Historical Fiction.

It was an easy read.  I give it an 8 out of a 10. 

I made vegetable beef soup for supper.  It was really good.  

It was a nice day with blue skies and sunshine. 

Minnesota weather; High 36 F or 2C Low was 23F or -5C eh!

My MRI results are back and there is nothing wrong in my back that requires surgery.  I will continue with PT and I have an appointment with a pain management Doctor.  The PT says I should never stand still but shift my weight back and forth when standing. At the present time I am taking 10 mg of Prednisone every day as recommended by my Rheumatologist.  I failed the Methotrexate that he prescribed last month...it gave me tremors. What can I say I am complicated. 

Far Side

Still Frosty

 Frosty again yesterday.  

Far Guy played chauffeur and dropped me off at the grocery store door and picked me up again when I was done. 

Supper last night was pretzel bun hamburger Philly cheese,  Yukon Gold smashed potatoes with cheese and for fruit grapes and kiwi fruit.   Can you tell I cooked...I do like potatoes most anyway they are made. The small Yukon Golds are boiled then smashed (I should have used parchment paper or a silicone mat instead of aluminum foil) anyway top the smashed potato with a bit of butter and cheese then pop into the oven for awhile. 

I worked on my photo album project in the afternoon. Jen's album is pretty much done.  Old empty albums tossed in the trash 2. 

Minnesota weather; High 22F or -6C  Low was 17F or -8C eh!  Mighty fine weather for January!

Far Side

Frosty

 It was frosty here on Monday, I heard it rained a bit and it was slippery out in the early morning. 

I made it to my PT appointment just fine.  I am tired ...but that is nothing new. 

I spent the afternoon sorting photos and getting up to stretch and walk around every little bit.  Far Guy watched Movies on his I pad. 

We had leftover calzones for supper.  

Minnesota weather: Frosty  High 28F or -2C  Low was 21F or -6C  eh!   Nice weather for January! 

Far Side

Quiet Sunday

 I worked on photographs and finished my book club read!  I can start an inbetween book again.  Far Guy watched movies on his I Pad.   Jen went grocery shopping,  Andy took Sadie for a walk and then made Calzones from scratch. They were really good! 

This was an easy puzzle 500 pieces that was finished last week. 

Only three medical appointments this week...practically a week off! 

Minnesota weather; High 24F or -4C  Low was 22F or -6C eh!  Looks like we are in for a mild week with temperatures above zero! 

Far Side

New Year Old Project

 The puzzle board is moved for now...off to the side.  Maybe by the end of the month it can be moved back:)  No promises.

For years I put photos in albums...never ever more than two alike. Now I have like albums in different colors.  All the old photos in the old albums are being sorted into three piles...Trica, Jen and us.  I am writing names and the year on the back and location if I think it is necessary.  I am using photo safe pencils. Mine come from Creative Memories but I think they can be purchased at Hobby Lobby and other places. 

Jen carried everything downstairs for me to the puzzle table.  And so it begins.

Here is an old photo of Far Guy and I back in August of 1994.

Far Side

BE prepared

 Recently I finished two baby blankets for the stash.  

Purple...because someone told me when I have a baby I would like a purple blanket because the nursery will be purple.  Alrighty then.  Great Grandma is prepared! 

Blue...just because. 

The yarn is Baby Bee Snugs and Kisses...the purple is called Grape and the blue is called Blueberry.  I used a size J hook and 3 to 4 skeins of yarn.

One thing about this yarn is that you stay nice and warm when crocheting! 

Far Guy made brats and tater tots for supper.  He can cook!

Minnesota Weather; High was 10F or -12C and the Low was 5F or -15C. 

I had an MRI on my lower back to see what is or isn't happening. I slept all afternoon after the tiny little pill the Dr prescribed so I would not freak out in the confined space.

Far Side

Be

 I have decided the BE will be my nudge word this year....again as it was my word in 2022.

BE happy, BE sad, BE in the moment whatever that may BE.  BE kind and patient if you can BE, if not BE bitchy  assertive...above all else BE a good advocate.

TBR  To BE Read  I should work on my stash of books and probably have a rule that when one book comes in the house another goes out.  Sounds good in theory. 

I have a huge photo project that should BE worked on.  Photo albums from many many years ago.  I have all the "stuff" just need to declare that puzzles are done with until the photo project is completed.  Puzzles are more fun but the puzzle board takes up the space I would like to have to work on photographs. 

I have many photos on my computer and many flash drives that need to BE gone through.

The yarn stash needs to BE worked on.  I am not entertaining the idea of one in one out for yarn skeins.  A person has limits. It might work with book but there is no chance it will work with yarn. 

These were the Christmas Cards this year...watercolor and gouache snowflakes. It was great fun!

 I did not sign the cards on the inside in the hope they might BE recycled sometime. 

Minnesota weather; High 5F or -15C Low was -10F or -23C eh!   It was snowing in the evening. 

Andy made Pulled Pork Tacos for supper!!

Far Side

Happy New Year!

 Best wishes for a safe and Happy New Year! 

We finished some Winter puzzles recently. 

We had a quiet New Years Eve, we warmed up leftovers for supper and watched Animal Control on Netflix. 

Minnesota Weather; High was 6 F or -14C  Low was -11F or -24C eh!  Wind Chills were in the -20's all day just a tad chilly. 

We will have a quiet New Year's Day doing what ever we want! 

I usually have a one word intention...I do not have one yet for 2026.

Far Side