Cosmos

 My baby brother and his bride planted a bunch of Cosmos and it is very pretty this time of year.

Far Guy and I had a quiet day on Friday; I did some laundry and some kitchen work...boiled some eggs and potatoes and cleaned the kitchen sinks real good while waiting for things to boil and not burn!

We worked on the Christmas Ornament woodcarvings, we are making progress...slow but sure.  Then we watched Grey's Anatomy we are still on Season 14.   

TV watching...This week I finished up Yellowstone...I had seen bits and pieces but never the whole show from start to finish.  Now I am watching Dutton Ranch. 

What's Cooking?  Biscuits and gravy and peaches

Minnesota weather:  High 78F or 26C   Low 54F or 12C

Far Side

Just Peachy

 Our local Lion's Club sponsors Palisade Peaches for sale in August every year.  It is a good fundraiser for them. 

I bought two flats and my baby brother picked them up and delivered them to us. 

One flat was ripe and ready to peal, slice and seal.  I put a teaspoon or two of sugar and sprinkle with fruit fresh on about 1 1/2 sliced peaches seal them up and freeze them.  

When I put the first batch away in the bottom of the freezer I found three bags from last year.  

They looks as good as the day we froze them. 

All of the peaches from Palisade Colorado are delicious!  Using my Food Saver Sealer locks in the freshness and it is like having fresh peaches year round. 

Most of the last flat will be processed in the next couple of days.

What's Cooking? Not cooking!  Pretzel buns with ham, turkey and cheese.  Yellow Pear Tomatoes!

Minnesota weather:  It rained about a half an inch early Thursday morning with thunder and lightening.

High 81F or 27C   Low 58F or 14C 

Far Side

About Time

 Having another Arthritis flare, Prednisone was started so I will be productive again in no time.   I suppose it was about time. 

We had a quiet day Wednesday, we both worked on Christmas Ornaments. 

What's Cooking?  Chicken Alfredo...the chicken was supposed to be cooked in a crock pot...alas the crock pot bit the dust...I bought it back in 1995 so I suppose it was about time.  I can still chop up chicken and fry it in a pan! I do have another crockpot from about 1976 that still works just fine...avocado green:)

We had a fellow stop by to check out our garage door situation...our new vehicle is a tad wide for an 8 foot garage door...only 3 inches to spare on each side. So I am certain that we will be getting a new larger garage door! 

Minnesota weather: High 78F or 26C  Low was 59F or 15C

Far Side

Layers of color one day last week. The greenest part is a Potato Field

Granny Square Shell Stitch

 I finished an afghan.   I started it mid July and finished it mid August.  I was pleased with how it turned out.

I did not go rogue with the colors...the main color is called Stone and then I used six different repeating colors. Some of the colors were Petrol, Copper, Cyprus and Claret...plus two more whose names escape me.  I am not sure how much yarn was used for the main color...3 maybe 4 skeins...I had partial balls from previous projects.

I began another using Stylecraft Special DK using just two colors Parchment and Denim using a 3.5 crochet hook.  I am starting this project with 4 skeins of Parchment and 1 of Denim and we will see how far that gets me. 

I suspect this one will take about a month maybe longer to finish. 

I crochet in the afternoon when we watch Grey's Anatomy and in the evening when I watch TV. 

My stash is not going down very fast...I have not ordered yarn in a long time...I have four large totes of Special DK in all kinds of colors:)

Far Guy had company for coffee on Tuesday morning an old friend from the Air Guard.  

After the visitors left we worked on Christmas Ornaments in the garage.  With Fall in the air around here I cannot waste a nice day. Progress is slow but steady. 

Minnesota Weather: High 71F or 22C  Low was 46F or 8C

What's Cooking?  Brats and Far Guy's Famous Dip. 

Far Side

Little company

 My Nephew Jacob, his wife Saki and their boys visited yesterday, they will head back to Japan soon. 

The boys had fun running around and swinging in the Ferris Wheel Seat.

We had a quiet day.

What's cooking?  Freezer meals...Chicken Enchiladas.

Minnesota weather: High 79F or 26C  Low 54F or 12C

Far Side

Catching Up

 Two of our Grands were here yesterday...Savannah, Paige and Paige's husband Cole. 

They came to catch us up on housework and yard work.  We are good to go again for a while.  The girls...one took upstairs and one downstairs...they vacuumed and scrubbed floors and washed some windows.  They did all the climbing on the step stool that I used to do...dusty decorative items were all cleaned up.  Cole worked outside he dug up a dead shrub, cleaned out the window well, cleaned out the grate by the front door, blew out my garage, washed the garage door and sprayed down the house...oh yes and washed Ranger Blue.  

Best of all we got to catch up with them and the goings on in their lives and we all went out for lupper at our favorite patio place.  The food was great as usual!

The girls...Paige and Savannah

Far Guy and Cole

As you can see from the photos is was a blue sky with white fluffy clouds day. 

These kids have way more energy than we do...we are tired out now.

Minnesota weather: High  75F or 24C   Low 53F or 12C

Far Side

Busy all day

 I was busy all day...laundry, cleaning a bathroom, some dusting then some time working on the Christmas Ornaments.  

It rained in the morning but the afternoon was nice working in the garage. 

This is one of my favorite Black eyed Susans...called Cherokee Sunset....it has bloomed in the same spot for the past ten or so years.

We called it quits about 4PM and watched Grey's Anatomy...we are in Season 14 now.  I did have a nap!

What's cooking?  Not a thing because our fridge has a bunch of leftovers that we warmed up in the microwave. 

Minnesota weather:  High 81F or 27C  Low was 59F or 15C  It rained about 3/4 of an inch according to my other baby brother.

August is half gone.

Far Side

Caterpillar

 I was very surprised to see a Monarch Caterpillar on the Milkweed, butterflies of any kind are few and far between this year. 

Friday was a busy day for me.  I had a list in my head of the most important things to do and I got most of them accomplished.   Just usual stuff that had piled up; My baby brother brought me more green beans...they were cooked correctly, cooled and vacuum sealed.  Pineapple was cleaned and chopped up.  Linens were changed and blankets that we use daily were washed and dried.  I cleaned the vacuum cleaner ...now the parts on are the kitchen counter drying.  

Far Guy did some wood carving.  

What's cooking?  Brats, corn on the cob and tomatoes.  I had a baked sweet potato...Far Guy does not care for them.

Minnesota weather:  High 83 F or 28C      Low 66F or 19C

Far Side

Town

 Our usual trip to town was okay.  Two sticks this week for the weekly IV for Far Guy.    I made it to Aldi for fruit and cheese, Walmart for my pickup order and Hugos for what Walmart didn't have. (The crackers Far Guy likes for lunch and lemon pudding )  Then to the bank...finally to the parking lot to read my book until he called for me to pick him up at the door.   Town was pretty busy for mid August....the tourists are hanging on longer than usual.

The Mandevilla is looking awesome in the planter outside the front door at the Bank, the planter also has Petunias and a single Gerbera Daisy. 

We came home and unloaded groceries...cut up the watermelon that was supposed to be seedless but was not...I did some misc things and then we settled down to watch Grey's Anatomy we are in season 13.

Minnesota Weather:  High 80F or 27C Low 59F or 15C

What's Cooking?  Pizza! The homemade kind and it was really good!

Far Side

August 13th

 Yesterday Far Guy worked on the wood carved Christmas Ornaments...I joined him in the afternoon.   In the morning...I did a whole bunch of "stuff"  I had a number of tasks going at once....making Humming Bird food, laundry, clearing off my desk etc...I had a Post It Note nightmare near my computer...recipes and notes to self.  

My baby brother and his bride visited in the evening...Smudge and Baxter like visiting here...I have Cheerios for treats:)  They brought me more green beans that I will cook up and freeze. (I shall watch them like a hawk)

Minnesota Weather: High 81F  or 27C  Low 61F or 16C 

What's Cooking?  Walleye,  corn on the cob, tomatoes and kiwi.

August 13th was the day my Father In Law was born back in 1914.  

This photo was taken on his birthday in 1994 when he was 80 years old.  That is Far Guy and Jen in the photo.  A few weeks later he would die from multi system failure after a surgery.  He was a very kind man...he is missed.

Far Side

Finally

 We finally had that Date!  Tilly cooperated...she had a dead battery for some unknown reason.  Far Guy will figure it out.

You can guess where we ended up!  Yes, that is Far Guy's newest dash ornament. 

We made it to town and back home safely. 

We had a quiet day we both worked on the Christmas Ornaments and after we got home both of my brothers and their wives visited!

Minnesota weather:  Warm day  High 82F or 28C  Low 58F or 14C 

Yes we went to A & W:)

Far Side

Driving

 We began the week thinking about the wood carved Christmas Ornaments.   Far Guy does the bulk of the carving and I help out with the final sanding and painting.  I had several ideas on how to paint them.  

Three of my sisters Grands will return to Japan in about two weeks...so their ornaments were our priority on Monday.  They just need hangers to be complete.  Yeah us!  Four down and many to go!

Look what nephew Jacob and my sister found at the dump...it was cleaned up and the boys were having a blast. They even hauled hay to my sisters horse.  They have had a fun Summer here in Minnesota.  When they return to Japan school will have begun.

Far Guy asked me out on a date...but alas Tilly didn't feel like going...so we stayed home.  He reminded me that it was better than being in the ditch...a long time ago in the Winter he was supposed to pick me up for a date...he went in the ditch twice because of icy roads....each time he called me and said he would be late.  We never went on that date either. 

Minnesota weather:  High 79F or 26C  Low was 58F or 14C almost a perfect day!

What's Cooking?   Buttermilk pancakes, sausages and peaches. 

Far Side

Sunday

 Sunday was a quiet day... I needed it!  I did some laundry and put a few things away.  Far Guy did some woodcarving.  

We went out for lupper and got a car wash.   Far Guy picked tomatoes.  Then we watched Grey's Anatomy we are on season 13.

The deer are leaving my petunias alone enough for them to bloom a bit! 

Minnesota Weather:  High 77F or 25C     Low 52F or 11C

Far Side

Hitting the Wall

 If you have an autoimmune disorder you understand about "the wall." 

NO not the game show "The Wall."

Saturday I got up early...washed and dried my hair and got ready for the day.  Far Guy wanted to go to the Car Show...I dropped him off so he could visit with friends and appreciate the old cars and not have to walk blocks and blocks.  I waited in the vehicle and read my book.  The car got warm and I had about a ten minute nap.  When I woke up I knew I had hit the wall.  Soon after that Far Guy called and I picked him up where I dropped him off earlier.  We talked about going to a Community Picnic in the evening. I was pretty sure that I was not going.

For me the wall comes down like a veil.  There is no stopping it.  Back at home I did a few things...folded a load of laundry and got things ready for supper...for after my nap sleep.  I headed for the couch and was asleep as my head hit the pillow.  I slept for four hours.  I did not move...I had many dreams...I woke up stiff and sore.

How can a person sleep for four hours after a good nights sleep the night before...nine hours with only one bathroom break.  How can you feel like your body has been drug through a knot hole?  How can you be looking forward to ten PM when you can go back to sleep? 

Anyways I made us supper and cleaned up the kitchen. Now I am whining to you.   Thanks for listening.

Sadie against the front door...it came with a caption..."Sadie is broken"

Minnesota weather: High 83F  or 28C  Low 57F or 14C

What's Cooking?  Pork Burgers with no bun, corn on the cob and yellow tomatoes.  Far Guy cooked up a dozen ears of corn on Thursday then they are cooled put into storage bags in the fridge and then rewarmed in the microwave...it works for us!

Far Side

Friday

 It was a busy day.  I mowed a bit and washed one window inside and out!  I have one small corner of the house cleaned real well now!  Progress is slow.  Then I had a nap.  

The Liatris is blooming in the wildgardens. 

Something lost was located yesterday...never give up!  

Far Guy worked on his woodcarving Christmas Ornaments.  

Minnesota weather:  High  75F or 24C  Low was 50F or 10C   It may have hailed a bit in the early morning I was not awake at 6 AM  East of us had lots of big hail. 

What's Cooking?  Ham, egg and cheese croissants and corn on the cob.

Far Side

Book Club 2026: August

 We read Finlay Donovan is Killing it by  Elle Cosimano  for August Book Club.  

The book is a hoot!  I really enjoyed it.  I give it nine stars out of ten.  Jen recommended it to the book club and all the gals enjoyed it and said to tell Jen thanks! 

The book club gals meet in person once a year and yesterday was the day.  We had lunch at 3rd Street Market and then went next door to Beagle Books where the shop owners talked about a few different books.   It was a nice afternoon. 

Minnesota Weather: High 82F or 28C  Low 61F or 16C  

What's Cooking?  Soft shell tacos, corn on the cob, yellow tomatoes and Far Guy's famous dip.

Far Side

Out with the old

 In a moment of boredom I decided to dust the cookbook shelves.  Yes I have two plus an overflow.

This was a cookbook that one of Far Guy's old girlfriends gave him us as a wedding gift back in 1969.  So it has been used and appreciated for the last almost 57 years.

Many pages were falling out.  I will be able to have the best used pages for a long time now that they are  on the blog.

My original Pumpkin Bread recipe from Joyce.  She used to make it for her Grands and so now I make it for mine.  There is a Gluten Free option...take and mix everything up except the flour.  Then take 3 1/2 plus 1/3 cup cups of the 7 2/3 cups and then add your gluten free flour a bit more than 1 1/2 cups.   I used half the recipe for my Dad and I always put the batter in cupcake liners (bake about 20 minutes) so he could put some in the freezer and take them out as he wanted them.  Note I use a whole can of pumpkin:)

My Ginger Snap tried and true recipe...not sure who I got it from.

Recipe from my Maternal Grandmother Drewes...I think she gave it to me over the phone one day when I had ample cucumbers and dill.  These are by far my favorite pickles...either sliced or as spears...I prefer the sliced:)  This is the goup that you cook up to pour over the prepared jars filled with a head of dill on the bottom and filled to the neck of the jar with cucumbers.  Grandma never processed the pickles...she said they had enough vinegar to kill germs.  She had to think about the recipe a bit...hence the crossed out parts.  Oh yes I recall a slice of onion at the bottom of the jar!

And these are going along to Book Club for an exchange.  We meet in person one time a year.

Six recipe books out and no more coming in...now I do not have an overflow problem!

Nice day on Wednesday.  I took care of some weeds in the rocks and on the patio. 

Minnesota Weather: High 78F or 26C  Low 58F or 14C

What's Cooking?  Ribs in the crockpot, corn on the cob and yellow pear tomatoes...perfect!  We would have had Green Beans but there was a Green Bean incident...one should not leave beans cooking on the stove and take a couple of phone calls and be off in la la land:(

Far Side

Tuesday

 Tuesday is a no mail day....as in we hardly ever get mail on Tuesday.  

Far Guy is working on woodcarving Christmas Ornaments.  

I did three loads of laundry...sounds like a lot but one load was towels and another bath rugs.  I gave the bathroom a real good cleaning. 

Minnesota Weather:  A perfect day.  High was 68F or 20C  Low was 50F or 10C

What's Cooking?  Leftovers!

Far Side

Bee Balm

 The Bee Balm or Monarda is blooming. The Bumble Bees love it.

These plants are over in my baby brothers wild gardens.  I went to check them out one day and came across a bunch of baby turkeys and two adults.  As long as I don't come across the bear that is in the neighborhood...there are two of them. 

We only have one appointment this week!  Yeah us!  

I am not sure what I did all day on Monday...one load of laundry and some paperwork...hardly a days worth.

What's cooking?  Phillys on pretzel buns and corn on the cob.  We made enough so it was a cook once eat twice meal! Tuesday will be a no cooking day!

On Sunday we tried the Pizza Ranch in town.  We need a Sunday place to go when our favorite patio place closes for the season.  The pizza was good and so was the chicken after we stripped off all the coating:) Seems like it will work just fine for an alternate place. 

Minnesota weather:  High 83F or 28C    Low 55F or 13C 

Far Side

Peach and Lichen sclerosus

 Peach is our #3 Great Grandchild, her parents are Maddie and Brenton.

Last Winter Maddie said "Grandma look at Peach's bottom, the skin is turning white."  We talked about what it could be...maybe vitiligo.   Peach has Eczema and has been using a special soap for several years.  Maddie scheduled an appointment with the Dermatologist in March.   The skin on her bottom was white and in an hour glass shape that encompassed her entire bottom....think bikini like. 

The Dermatology appointment in March was cancelled because of a snowstorm and rescheduled for mid May.  On May Day Maddie said "Now Peach has a sore on her vulva."  Indeed she did...we were all feeling really uneasy now. 

Finally the day came in May and not with good news.  Peach has Lichen sclerosus and possible Vulvar Cancer. We were all shocked and scared. 

Lichen sclerosus is a skin condition with thin white wrinkled patches of skin that causes itching, pain and burning.  The skin tears easily and can have blisters or sores. Ongoing inflammation can break down the skin.  If untreated it can become skin cancer.   It is thought to be genetic and or autoimmune....like having an overactive immune system.

Treatment:  Special creams that are applied twice a day.  It is a lifelong treatment. Maddie says there are two types of creams and she keeps track of which cream is used on each day.

Peach was three years old on her birthday...she loves The Lion King and I was lucky enough to find an outfit for her. 

Maddie, Brenton, Peach and Jen went to the Mayo Clinic on July 7.  The Doctors there confirmed the diagnosis of Lichen sclerosus.  The special cream was doing a really good job and the blister that I saw on May 1st was almost gone so no biopsy was needed.  We all breathed a sigh of relief that there is no Vulvar Cancer. 

Peach enjoying the pool.

I asked Maddie's permission to write about Peach and she agreed that it is important to share with others.  I asked Maddie if she wanted to write something and she did. 

Maddie wrote:

 To the parents of children with lichen sclerosus:

I know there are days when your heart breaks because you can’t take away your child’s pain. You question if you’re doing enough, research late into the night, and carry worries no one else can see. But never underestimate the power of your love. Every hug, every doctor’s appointment, every tear you’ve wiped away, and every moment you’ve spent advocating for your child is shaping a future where they know they are deeply loved, never alone, and stronger than this diagnosis. Lichen sclerosus is part of their journey, but it will never define their worth or limit the beautiful life ahead of them. Keep believing, keep fighting, and keep hoping—because your child couldn’t ask for a stronger advocate than you.

Keep your faith, trust in God, and trust in your instincts.

Maddie and Peach

 We love our Great Grandchildren so very much.  It is difficult to see them struggle with health issues especially when they are just three years old. 

But they keep smiling! 

Far Side

Chokecherries

 The Chokecherries along the driveway are ready to be picked...or left for the birds.

The foliage of the Chokecherry bushes looks all beat up...probably from the heat. 

When the berries are this color they are ready to be picked...they will strip off easily.

Yippie for the birds...sadly I do not have the energy to pick them.  Picking is only half the work...

We had a quiet day on Saturday.  I did some laundry and almost finished my current book. My other baby brother and she who sees robins first visited along with their Grand Lola. 

What's Cooking?   Smoked Pork Chops, Green Beans with Bacon and a Baked Potato. Yummy!

Minnesota Weather:  High 82F or 28C  Low was 61F or 16C  almost a perfect weather day! We could still use some rain!

Far Side

Tomato Report

 Our one little Yellow Pear Tomato plant likes the sheep tank and being next to the garage. 

Even the parts that fell over in the wind are doing okay.  I will need a ladder to pick tomatoes before long.

Right now we get about two sometimes three ripe tomatoes per day.

We had a quiet day...we did a few errands in town and then went to our usual Sunday Lupper Patio spot because this Sunday that little town will be full of people...so we did Sunday on Friday and will try out a different place on Sunday.  That is a win win for cooking!

Minnesota Weather:  We got about 1/3 of an inch of rain...enough to perk up the brown lawn.  High 78F or 26C   Low 57F or 14C

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