Happy Father's Day!

 We remember our Fathers on this special day.  

Far Guy's Dad, Far Guy and Far Guy's sister photo taken in the Summer of 1950.

My Dad, my baby brother and me in the Fall of 1954...note how attentive I am.

My Dad with my sister and my other baby brother in the Spring of 1967.

My husband is also a great Dad!!

Trica, Far Guy and Jen at the Needles in South Dakota Summer of 1978.

Happy Father's Day!

Far Side

3

 This spunky little gal is 3!  Hard to believe as she is growing up so fast. 

Here she is with her Mom...she looks a lot like her Mom.

Here she is hiding behind her drink cup with Uncle Andy:) This photo was taken one day before her birthday!  She had a pizza party in the evening but we missed that part...still good to see her! Andy made her breakfast...a dipping egg, bacon and toast and of course chocolate milk and she ordered pepperoni pizza for the evening.

Her person is Auntie Jen but she adores Andy also...he can hold her little feet in his hands and she straightens up to touch the ceiling...again and again...fun stuff!

Happy Birthday Peach!  We love you!

Great Grandma

Minnesota Weather Friday: Rain and a bit of hail.  High 63 F or 17C  Low 47F or 8C.

What's cooking: A chicken hotdish...shredded baked chicken breasts, stovetop stuffing, cream of chicken soup, some sour cream and a bit of chicken broth. Yummy!

Hark! Back! Issue #8

 January 09, 2008

Ironing

I gave up ironing about ten years ago when Far Guy retired from the Military.  Up until that time I would do the ironing twice a week.  I would double starch his uniforms...that is a chore I gladly gave up.  However it did relieve some of my frustrations with him over the years,  If I was upset with him...I would just imagine him in his uniform as I ironed it. 

 I just don't use pillowcases or tablecloths that require ironing. The ironing board is stashed away behind the washer/dryer in the furnace room, if for some reason my sister in law Jan visits, I have to drag it out and dust it off before she uses it.  Then there is the old iron, I think it might be an antique.  It used to be a steam iron, it isn't steamy anymore...and at one time it had a short in the plug, so Far Guy replaced the plug with a much larger one and used a lot of electrical tape to insure that I was not electrocuted while ironing...he is very thoughtful!

I do not purchase clothing that needs ironing,  Far Guy does not pay attention to types of fabric and has a thing for really wild cotton Summer shirts. I have learned that if I hang his shirts up when they are still a bit damp...they don't need to be ironed either...and if I overdry them, I just rewash and try again...those shirts are really clean.

I learned to iron when I was about ten  seven years old.  I used to love to help my Mother sprinkle clothing, roll it into a tube and put it into a plastic bag. If you didn't get to the ironing the next day it was placed in the freezer so the clothing would not mold.  My Mother still has a pile of clothing waiting on the ironing board to be ironed...and she still irons...sometime I miss the smell of fresh laundry as it is being ironed...then I remember that I am liberated:)

*************

Here I am ironing in 1958 when I was seven years old.

Photo taken in the kitchen of the farm house where I grew up. 

I still have the hidden away ironing board should it be needed.  My sister in law Jan died a few years back so no need to get it out for her anymore.  I traded Jen an old rotary dial phone for a new iron and threw my old one in the garbage.  When we packed up my Mother's apartment when she went into the Nursing Home she still had clothing on her ironing board to be ironed.  I am still hanging up damp clothing to dry instead of ironing!

Far Side

Hark Back! Issue #7

February 7,  2008

SHRIMP

The first time I was invited to my future in laws for supper they served deep fried shrimp. It was the first time in my life that I had eaten shrimp... Far Guy had to point that out in front of God and everyone...not to eat the tails...as I was unsuccessfully trying to chew them up.  I was a little embarrassed.

What happened next was not the least but embarrassing to me...but my future Mother In Law was horrified. 

During the quite formal meal complete with linen tablecloth, china and the good silver...their Chihuahua named "Muggy" decided that he did not like me and proceeded to take a dump on my foot.  Suddenly there was this stinky dog poop smell permeating the room...and my foot felt warm...my embarrassment about the shrimp was forgotten...and the poor dog had to be chained up to the clothesline outside. 

A few years later on our Wedding Day "Muggy" tried to get even again...he had been sent to the basement because there were a number of people in the house...he ran up and down the wooden steps so much that he pulled out a toenail and bled all over...apparently his timing was just a little off...because everyone was only a few minutes late for the ceremony...that "shrimpy" little dog with a big attitude had tried his best:)

*****

Good memories of a very faithful dog who eventually came to accept me and to love me too!

The old photo was taken with a Swinger Camera...Muggy is sitting in the favorite/warmest spot in that house.

Far Side

Tomato

Our Yellow Pear Tomato is really growing!  It has flowers.

It sure likes the sunny spot next to one of the garages. 

We have a very busy week with many doctor appointments...six over a couple of days. 

We are both tired of Doctors. Do this... do that... hurry up and wait. 

Far Side
 

Late Lilac

 I mowed the yard and one other area on Monday.  The weeds in the rocks near the house needed some attention.  

Daisies are allowed along the edge until they look scraggly or someone is an overachiever when trimming:)

The Late Lilac is in full bloom.  Funny that the deer don't eat them too.

We took Tilly out for a cruise to A & W for lunch.  

What's cooking? Ribs, salad and raspberries. 

Minnesota weather: High 77F or 25C     Low 46 F or 8C

Far Side  

Petunias

 My Petunias are missing...here one day gone the next.  

The deer must not like Snapdragons. 

As I was grieving for my Petunias...I noticed a possible culprit.  She looks innocent enough.

We had a quiet Sunday...we stopped by to see she who sees robins first...she is recovering from her knee replacement.  Aubrey is doing well also...she is still on a liquid diet...her Doctor says she is doing great! 

What's cooking?  Nothing as we usually go to our favorite outdoor patio place for Sunday lupper!

Minnesota weather: High 70F or 21C           Low 51F or 11C

Far Side

Dog Sitter/Treat Lady

 My baby brother and his bride had a day of Doctor appointments. 

Good thing their dogs love me...I am a good substitute ball player treat giver.

Baxter

And his delinquent sister.

 Smudge

She has to twirl while waiting for you to throw her ball. 

The treats I give out are Cherrios which are almost no calories. 

They are good about doing their business and staying near me outside.

Dogs are a good distraction for me.  

Minnesota weather: It turned cool.  High 59F or 15C   Low was 44F or  7C.

What's Cooking:  Hobo Dinners one night...my favorite, Far Guy not so much.  Ribs and French Fries with peaches for dessert last night.

How I make the Hobo Dinner...on a piece of foil stack a hamburger patty, cover with sliced potatoes and carrots...enclose in the foil  I put the packets on a cookie sheet just in case one leaks then bake about 1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees...when they are done top with your favorite cheese.  You can add onions, different meat, veggies what ever floats your boat.  It is an easy meal with easy clean up!

Far Side

June 13

 A very special day remembered for so many years with a "party."

This is a photo of Far Guy's paternal Grandmother... Theresa or Tracie.  She is showing off her Dahlias just North of the house. 

She loved her birthday and a "party"  everyone that could would gather at the farm or at her apartment in later years for a gathering to celebrate her. 

June 13 1895 was a special day so many years ago.  She celebrated 87 birthdays!

I cannot think of a better Grandma...she was well loved. 

Far Side

Almost three

Almost three year olds can be a challenge.  

I had a conversation with Peach.  Her favorite person in the whole world is Jen...the rest of us are chopped liver. ( Jen took daytime care of her from the time she was born until she was about three months old and daycare had an opening for her)

However she likes a song I play for her "Corrina, Corrina" by Ray Peterson and oldie but a goodie.  We all call her Peach but her given name is Karina.  She always wants to hold my phone and usually walks around with the phone on her head...no idea why?  Usually she messes up the song and boy can those little fingers swipe right and left and up and down just like that.  

Anyways we were putting together large wooden puzzles pieces of a elephant, a moose and a bird.  The does so...does not began...she was putting her hand on her hip and making faces...apparently I said does so a little loud. 

Peach said "You screamed at me!" 

What a turd. 

Far Side

White Petunias

 Jen and Andy picked white petunias for their cattle  tank.  I heard that Andy picked the number of plants bought...seems like plenty and they should overflow the tank:)

If I would have felt better I would have pulled the spent blooms.

Back at home...Far Guy did something with Tilly...while I did laundry, made ice and supper. Oh yes in the morning Far Guy spent about 90 minutes on the phone with a specialty pharmacy that supplies one of his breathing meds...then his Insurance Company...then the specialty pharmacy again...who made an error.  Finally everything might be straightened out...but you never know.

What's cooking?  Pork chops and rice.

Minnesota weather:  High 77F or 25C      Low was 57F or 14C 

Rain report: We got 1 1/2 inches while we were away and another 1/2 inch early Wednesday morning.

The rain helps to settle all the pollen!

Far Side

Up North

 We were Up North for a procedure that was cancelled and a Dr appointment.  

We had supper one night with the Great Grandchildren and supper one night with Grandson Noah and his wife Hanna.  We did more that eat...we petted Sadie, played cards and went to Menards. 

Nice to get a photo where Peach isn't trying to strangle Baby K.

After we left Up North we heard that Cee Cee put a rock up her nose that required a trip to the ER and an Xray.

Something always happening when there are four! 

Far Side

Hark! Back! Issue # 6

 March 02, 2008

"Janice go see is he is dead"

Oh, sometimes little boys do the darndest things...well boy things...they have a curiosity and an ability to scare their Mothers half to death.

When Far Guy was little he apparently had a fascination with electrical outlets.  One day the fascination became experimentation...and he did it...he tried to electrocute himself...something to do with a record player and an electrical outlet...the fuse popped, all the lights went out...his Mother said "Janice go see if he is dead."  He recalls having to wear a mitten in the Summertime because his hand had been burned.

Janice and Far Guy

Far Guy must have been a handful, because his Mother had a harness for him, she would put him in the harness and then clip him to the clothesline. This worked fine for some time and gave his poor Mother some peace and quiet.  However he learned to unhook himself and escape into the neighborhood for wild adventures and then hook himself back up on his return.   I used to think that this was a cruel thing to do to a child but he must have had Attention Deficit Disorder, because as an adult he has it...so I am sure that any treatment to save your sanity was warranted.

Speaking of little boys...our youngest daughter Jen and her husband Andy have two little boys...they are older now but when they were little we had a checklist.  Hide at least one flashlight because we may need the batteries in one to be working.  All ladders should be folded up and laying on the ground.  Put the three wheeler keys in your pocket...the boys should never have access to keys because they are brilliant mechanically and only have to see the sequence of starting one time and they will attempt it.  All sharp tools should be put away out of sight. All water hoses should be disconnected because water fights will happen.   This is all a learning experience for me but Far Guy being a former boy has a special insight into appropriate boy behavior.

**************

Yes a long time ago houses had fuses that screwed into an electrical panel...the fuse would burn out and have to be replaced.  As I recall the fuses were small about the size of a quarter maybe a tad larger, one end screwed into a spot in the panel and the top side had a small window where you could see if there was a burn mark...as I recall the fuses came in different colors I suppose something to do with wattage.

Oh yes...boys do grow up...way too fast.

Far Side

Hark! Back! Issue # 5

Hark! Back! Is a look back at blogs that appeared in a now defunct blogging site before I started with blogger in September of 2008.  They are in no particular order. 

December 30 2007

Telephone Communication

The ways that we communicate has changed over the years. When I was growing up in the 1950's we had an old black crank type phone...our number was 12F12O, yes I remember that number but was it two shorts and a long or two longs and a short?  I met the telephone operator once, she sat in a little room off the General Store/Post office, she was quite old, looked cranky and wore a dress with huge flowers on it.  She sat in a chair in front of a big board with lots of wires coming out of it.  It was the days of the Party Line, as I recall five or six phones were connected on a mutual line, you were only supposed to answer if your assigned number of short and long rings came through. If you answered any other time or listened in to anyones conversation it was called rubbernecking.

Later on we got a regular dial phone, but we were still on a party line, we had to be careful and listen before we dialed, or you could interrupt someones conversation.  I still have a phone with a dial, the Grand kids are amazed they think it is an antique...but hey if the power goes out as it occasionally does when you live in the boonies  I can still use that old phone.

My how times have changed...cordless phones always getting misplaced that never happened when we had phones with cords. 

 Cell phones...everyone has one except us. Why? We live in part of Minnesota where there must be a lot of Iron Ore in the surrounding hills, we cannot get cell phone reception here.  We had one for a short time, but found it inconvenient to walk to the end of the driveway and stand in one particular spot to make a call.

Then came the Trac phone, I purchased one at Walmart in Detroit Lakes, thinking that when we were away from home we could use it. WRONG...you have to be able to get a signal to activate it and so it sits in the glove compartment.  Those were perhaps the most expensive calls I never made.

I used to get quite confused with all the people talking on their cell phones in the grocery store...then I joined the group...I just pretend I have a cell phone in my hand, hold it up to my ear and talk to myself, heck I even answer myself sometimes and giggle!

Have you noticed that you hardly ever get to talk to a real person anymore?  It is all automated press one or two, listen for options, listen for options again and select, then...your call is important to us...please wait...your call will be answered in the order it was received...your call is being monitored for quality control purposes and then some person says ..."Hi this is Happy, how may I help you?" Well you have to repeat your name, address and phone number again...then Happy says " Please wait while I access your information" THEN the music starts, well you can bet your life's savings that it is not going to be the Oldies.  I want options for my music...don't give that classical junk that is supposed to sooth my frazzled nerves...I want to press one for "I don't get no satisfaction" press two for "Eve of Destruction" ...then I start praying that the power won't go out because I am on a cordless phone:)

********************

Update...we did get cell phones and in 2024 we gave up our land line.  Far Guy got a Cell Phone first and I succumbed shortly there after.  I am not fond of phones and occasionally I forget to turn mine back on after I turn it off!  I often lay it down in one room and forget where it is until someone calls me...and not many people have my cell number!  

The old switch board that I recalled as a child from the Osage Telephone Company was donated to the Hubbard County Historical Museum.  

I am still aggravated by the press one or two and in some cases never talking to a real person.

Far Side

Book Club 2026: June

 This month we read a novel by Mary Lawson called Crow Lake. 

It takes place in the 1950's in Northern Ontario Canada.  It was a good book, I give it an 8 out of 10. 

The author was born and raised in the farming community in Ontario.  All the gals enjoyed the book.

Onto the next book!  I have 63 books waiting in the wings to be read...I stack them in the TV cabinet and shut the doors.   I really should have less than 50 to be read...I need to work on that and should not be allowed to buy more books unless it is a reading emergency. 

Jen listens to books as she works on craft projects and even as she cleans house.   The ear thingys hurt my delicate ears...so I would much rather curl up and read a real book. 

Far Side

Happy Anniversary!

 Our youngest daughter Jen and her husband Andy celebrate 28 years of wedded bliss today. 

NOW

I snagged this photo from the ones Jen uploaded to our skylight frame.  I think this was from their Vacation to Bryce Canyon National Park in early April.

THEN

A photo I took at their wedding 28 years ago.

Happy Anniversary!

Far Side

Thursday stuff

 Thursday is our busiest day of the week.  First stop to the corner of happy and healthy where a prescription was supposed to be ready but it was not...that place is so not organized.  I drop Far Guy off at his infusion where the gals take extra good care of him!

Aldi for fruit, Walmart online order pick up...sometimes I time them...yesterday it was four minutes.  To the local grocery store for "stuff" that Walmart didn't have...this week Apple Juice,  Crunchmaster Crackers and ICE Drinks (I like the Cherry) then off to the Butcher Shop!  Pick up Far Guy and head to the bank.

Home to unpack and put away groceries, have lunch (a peanut butter half a sandwich). 

Enjoy bookclub and then collapse on the couch for a nap...Far Guy woke me up when leftovers were all warmed up for supper. 

Minnesota weather: High  80F or 27C    Low was 58F or 14C

Flowers at the bank

Far Side

Blooms

 We went to recycle and stopped along the way to admire a few blooms.

The white lilacs are still looking good, the old fashioned purple lilacs are looking a tad old...the warm weather last week was hard on them. 

We planted a pot of red Petunias and some who knows what color maybe they are all white Snapdragons.   I am sure the deer will eat them sometime soon.  

The deer are coming into the yard to drink out of the bird baths. I think one is either a new Mom or about to be a new Mom.

Minnesota weather: High 79F or 26C    Low was 60F or 16C 

What's cooking?  Salad and Steak 

News:  She who sees robins first had a knee replacement on Wednesday.  It all went well and she should be able to come home on Thursday.   Aubrey and Katie came over to visit on Tuesday...Aubrey is doing well and goes back to the Cities for a re check soon.  

Far Side

Little Golden Book

 Do you remember The Little Golden Books?  Did you or your children have a favorite? 

We had one special one that we could recite over and over. 

I found it for sale.

In 1973 it was 69 cents and it along with a few other story books were gifts for our oldest daughter's 1st Birthday. (Gifts from Snuffer...our much loved dog)

Far Guy and I read that book over and over on our trip home on leave from Lowry AFB and then again on the long trip to Mac Dill AFB in the Summer of 1973. 

As Trica got older and was able to turn the pages she would turn them as you recited the book and would make you go back and say it right if you messed up. 

Anyways...I have a copy of the book...in todays prices the book would be valued at $5.50  well it is kinda rare...so I payed a tad bit more than that for it. 

"Wake up baby this is your special day" 

Far Side

Hark! Back! Issue #4

 Hark! Back! Is a look back at blogs that appeared in a now defunct blogging site before I started with blogger in September of 2008.  They are in no particular order.

January 7, 2008

Mission Impossible

I don't know about the rest of you but I hate grocery shopping...first of all you have to be organized enough to make a list. In order to do that ...I have to know what I want Far guy to cook.  Have you ever stopped to think how many times groceries are handled?  #1 Take it off the shelf and put it in your cart #2 take it out of the cart and put it on the grocery store counter #3 Put it into a bag #4  Put the bag into your cart #5 Put the bag in your car #6 unload car #7  put groceries away #8 cook..finally #9 serve food # 10 leftovers and clean up # 11 clean leftovers out of the fridge #12 take out garbage.  ...so in summary you must handle something at least 12 times just to be able to cook...plus the added aggravation of having to make the list in the first place. 

Sometimes when I am feeling especially like Suzy homemaker, I insist that Far Guy and I go up and down every aisle in the grocery store. He likes a heads up on those days and will wander around the entire store looking for people to talk to. ...as I am in charge of the cart. Other times, I take half the list, he takes the other half and we meet up in the store occasionally so I can dump my stuff in his cart. When Far Guy is in charge of the cart he will try to avoid me at all costs, he thinks it is funny to watch me peer over the top of an arm full of groceries to give him the evil eye.

Years ago when we had children living at home, I would play "Mission Impossible" with them. I would brief them in the car, everyone was in charge of three or four items the "Mission" was complete only when everyone had their items and was at the check out counter...seems to me that grocery shopping and cooking is still a "Mission Impossible"...and there are only two of us to cook for.

***************

Far Guy is a great cook!  

I love ordering and picking up groceries at Walmart and other grocery stores too.  What began in 2020 with the Pandemic continues for us.  Sometimes I have the groceries delivered to our door...especially when we order water for Far Guys coffee.  ( He uses bottled water for his coffee because our water has  lime deposits.)

We make menus for two weeks with room for change here and there.  At least I know what groceries I will need for the next two weeks:) 

We usually share cooking duties especially when we make chili or gumbo with portions to be frozen that end up on the menu as "freezer". 

When we are up North for the Winter our son in law Andy likes to cook and he is really good at it!  So we enjoy any meals he cooks and are so thankful for a cooking break!

Far Side

ONE!!

 Our youngest Great Grandchild turned one year old yesterday!

What a cutie!   She had a party yesterday but we did not attend.  Jen took a photo and shared it with me! 

At one year old she finally has a few teeth, she is crawling but not walking. She is not talking very much.  She still has a short fuse as in no patience when she is hungry, thirsty or tired...she pitches a fit and you are left to figure it out!  FYI  none of her siblings were like that so she is uniquely herself. 

Happy Birthday Baby K!  We love you!

Great Grandma