Inside the red coffee can

 The most important part of the winter survival kit is the red coffee can. 

Here is ours refreshed.

The metal can on the left hold the tea lights...you would be surprised how much a tea light heats up a metal can!  (The pretty wrapped tea lights came from my parents 50th Anniversary in 2000) the lighter and matches also go into the metal can.  Then there are hand warmers and snacks. It all fits in the red coffee can nicely. 

Cross that project off my Fall project list!  Note that many people have shovels, bags of sand, jumper cables etc inside their vehicles all Winter. 

Years ago we had a friend who was stranded in a snowstorm...before cell phones were popular.  He burned newspapers and all kind of paper in his car to stay warm.  He was a salesman so he had lots of stuff to burn!

Minnesota weather:  Cooler   High was 44F or 7C   Low was 36F or 2C 

What's cooking?  Spaghetti and GF cheddar biscuits

Far Side

Happy Birthday Jody!

 It is my other baby brother's birthday today.   I was nine years old when he was born. 

Here he is sitting by his birthday cake when he was 2 years old back in 1962.  Others in the photo are maternal cousins  Dwight, Dean and Tim. 

Photo was taken at the farm...I still have that table in the garage...we found it at the dump one day many years ago and rescued it.  The table is grey as are the chairs.  The curtains our Mother sewed ...the fabric was yellow with shades of brown circles. 

We went out for a late lunch on Saturday to celebrate Jody's birthday!  

Happy Birthday Jody!

Far Side

Progress on Projects

 I finished painting the last of the Christmas ornaments and a few more have been delivered.  One of these days I will have a wrapping and packaging party!

I finalized the Christmas card design for this year.   I like it very much...but it will be time consuming.  I have been working on it while watching TV...it is a stamped watercolor card. 

Far Guy is wood carving roses...he may have to move from the garage into the greenhouse/woodshop where it is warmer. 

I updated the Winter Survival Tote in the car and got out the ice scrapers.  I have yet to refresh the snacks in the red coffee can in the tote...that will happen soon.  I need to buy some hand warmers.  We have extra mittens, a hooded sweatshirt and a quilt...and the red coffee can that I am updating.

Sadly I brought in the outdoor dog water dishes...probably no visiting dogs for a bit. 

Minnesota Weather: High 59F  or 15C   Low 31F or -1C  It rained.

Far Side

Books and a friend

Friday afternoon I met with long time friend Susie for lunch.  We try to get together twice a year for our birthdays and Christmas.    We had a great visit and then we played the slot machines.  I won a little and Susie won a lot!!  It was a fun afternoon!

I gained four books.  My total is now back up to 69 books waiting in the wings:(

I sent three books with Susie...The Midnight Library which I wrote about a few days ago. AND

Fighting Back by Deena Burnett a recommendation from Betty.   It was a faith filled book.  It was also sad in some parts...I gave it a 9 out of 10 stars.  I finished reading this book back in September.  

Foxfire Bride by Maggie Osborne.  Historical Romance at its finest that takes place out West during the Civil War.  I give it a 9.5 out of 10. 

Susie belongs to a book club that meets in person vs my virtual book club. We need to get together more so we can talk about books! 

Minnesota Weather...a cold front came through and it rained.  High 70F or 21C   Low 56F or 13C.  We will have a couple of days of highs in the 50's and then the 40's.  November is close to being upon us. 

Far Side

Mulching is over!

 I am declaring leaf mulching done for the year!  I was really lucky that my baby brother has a huge mulching mower and he came through our yard a couple of times. 

The mower was washed off and is drying overnight before Far Guy puts it away for the Winter.  My red boots were washed and my lawn mowing clothing is in the washer...so I am done. 

The weather was great yesterday as I made the rounds for the last time. 

Not sure when this Popple will lose its leaves but they can blow away!

My other baby brother has some trees that are still losing leaves...but I got what I could. 

Sounds like snow is in the forecast for next week.  Far Guy moved my regular snow shovel and my electric snow shovel to the front door. 

I mowed off the wild gardens West of the house, the ones East of the house are mowed in the Spring.

We still have a few things to do outside yet....but we are hopeful and will leave the patio table and chairs out for a few more days!

Minnesota Weather:  High 71F  or  22C  Low 55F or 13C  

What's Cooking: Eggs, sausages and potatoes:)

Far Side

In between

 I read The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.  I enjoyed it very much and give it a 9 out of a 10 on my reading scale...at Good Reads I gave it a 4.5 out of 5. 

The bookmark is a gift from Betty!  I love it...red is my favorite color!

Yesterday Far Guy got his stitches out...he had a basal cell carcinoma on his forehead and had a Moh's Surgery a week ago.  It is a good thing he sees the Dermatologist every six months.

Minnesota weather: Beautiful for October!  High 67F or 19C    Low 39F or 4C. 

I wish this beautiful weather would stay all Winter!

Far Side

Large Cross Stitch

 Jen used yarn and a peg board to make a giant cross stitch piece of art!

 I helped with a few stitches... not many. 

Yesterday we crossed a bunch of Fall "stuff" off our list.  Leaf mulching is still happening...my baby brother came by with his huge mower/mulcher and that really helped out.  We blew the leaves out of the rocks on both sides of the house.  Of course more will collect there!  Hoses were disconnected and brought into the garage, the tomato plant was history so we clipped it down stem by stem and then pulled it out of the soil.  The deer will finish it off back in the woods. 

What's Cooking?  Walleye, baked potato and corn. 

Minnesota Weather:  Really nice for October!  High was 67F or 19C    Low was 43F or 6C 

Far Side

Land of

 Sky Blue Waters! (Hamm's...the beer refreshing)  If YKYK

My sister Julie sent a few photo of her plane ride on Sunday.  It gives you a beautiful view of Minnesota in the Fall.

The Tamaracks are just beginning to turn golden yellow.  I see a few Maples and probably some yellow Piss Popples (Aspen). 

Sunday Far Guy and I went and got our vaccinations at the corner of Happy and Healthy...Flu for me and both Flu and Covid for him...his arm was sore...I slept all afternoon on Monday and spent the day in jammies. 

We can cross something off of our "to do list"

Far Side

Pink Ribbons

 Far Guy is a Breast Cancer Survivor...in a few months it will be a year since his last radiation treatment.  His Breast Cancer was found by our Dermatologist...so far he is her one and only male breast cancer discovery.  

The local clinic had pink ribbons to sign and they are hung in the window. I signed one for Far Guy.

I also signed one for our sister in law who is a 20 year Breast Cancer survivor!

Breast Cancer is a struggle and everyones struggle and treatment are a bit different.  My hats off to them all as it is not a pleasant journey. 

Ladies remember to get your mammograms!  AND men can do a breast exam just like women can...I watched Far Guy's Oncologist do Far Guy's exam... men just do it!

Far Side

A gift

 Peach painted me a gift at daycare.

A gourd mostly covered in blue paint.  It is a work of art and I love it!!!

The craft sale was fine, I saw lots of friends and a couple of relatives...however I did not make enough to retire...oh wait I am already retired...I can buy more yarn!

Far Side

The Greats

 I had two appointments in Grand Forks on Friday...a recheck after my change in BP meds and an MRI of my Thoracic spine for the pain management Doctor. 

On Thursday night we had pizza with the Greats!

Baby K is getting her molars...hence the bright cheeks! 

Peach do you have your shoes on the right feet? 

They are a busy bunch of kids! 

We got home just in time for me to load up stuff for a craft sale on Saturday.   We shall see how it goes!

Far Side

Bloom

 Bloom where you are planted, and then bloom again! 

Miss Kim Lilac blooming October 2026.

Far Side

Lexie and Chase

 Our eldest daughter Trica and her beau have two dogs.   They are well behaved and very good therapy for Jerry who has suffered six strokes since early Summer.   The Doctors are not finding the cause very quickly.   Jerry talks slower, thinks a long time on some things and his sense of taste is whacky...he liked anything with peaches, sauerkraut, eggs and lemonade other than that all food tasted the same. 

Lexie and Chase patrolling the yard

Lexie and Fall color 

Chase 

Chase really like me...and I really liked him.   Lexie liked to be petted and liked treats...but was not as calm and chill as Chase. 

It was fun to have dogs to pet again. 

Far Side

 

The Pearls

 The pearls have some family history and it can be found here.  

On Adam and Courtney's wedding day Jen sent me a photo.

It should have dawned on me...but my thought was oh Courtney's hair is so beautiful.

Paige is the keeper of the pearls and she brought them so that Courtney could wear them...they must have been the something borrowed.   I gave her a hankie from my Grandmother/ Mother/Far Guy's Grandmother stash of hankies. Courtney's hankie was pink with a crochet edge.  

The pearls are 76 plus years old this year. 

Far Side

Cemetery Visit

 Far Guy and I made a cemetery visit a few weeks ago to change out the flowers from Summer to Fall.

It would have been my Mother's 97th birthday she died when she was 94 years and 121 days old. Mom picked out the gravestone after my Father died.   Having vases on each side of the headstone makes it easy to have flowers there year round....nothing to obstruct mowing or trimming grass. 

Far Side

Company

 We had good food, good conversation/discussions!

Trica, Far Guy and Savannah

We played a Murder Mystery Game on Sunday afternoon. 

Minnesota Weather: High 64F or 18C    Low 49F or 9C

What's Cooking?  Polish sausage, sauerkraut, potatoes and fruit.

Good to gather and hug each other!

Far Side

Book Club 2026: October

 The October Book club choice was The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne by Ron Currie.

I give it a two on my scale of one to ten on Good Reads I gave it a one out of a five.   Not my kind of book...it was a struggle to get through. 

Minnesota Weather:  High 85F or  29C   Low 52F  or 11C. 

Our oldest daughter and her beau are here visiting.  Nice to have company!

Far Side

Sore Arm

I had my Covid Booster on Thursday...I have sort of a sore swollen arm and had a long afternoon nap on Friday....other than that I am ok.  I will get my flu shot when I am totally recovered. 

Smudge likes to play ball so she limbered up my arm nicely!

 

You can see her brother Baxter in the background...he does not play ball.

My sister in law spent a night in the hospital this week after three ER visits and one ambulance ride.  She has Myasthenia Gravis and getting meds to the right levels is a challenge.  Prayers for her are appreciated!

What's cooking?  Pork chops and wild rice. 

Minnesota weather:  High 69 F or 21 C   Low 56F or 13C

Far Side

100

 My Dad would have been 100 today.  He only made it to 96 years and 71 days.  Just a bit short of his goal. 

This is us...Dad and me twenty years ago...Dad was 80 and I was 55.  

Time marches on...and our days are numbered...so make the best of each day that the good Lord gives us...until he calls us home. 

Far Side

Job 14:5  "Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass."

Grands At the wedding

 Four of our grands were at the wedding in Western North Dakota.  Maddie was taking a Class and could not attend.  We missed Maddie, Brenton and the Great Grands. 

Noah the Best Man

 Noah's wife Hanna

Paige 

Savannah 

Savannah was in charge of driving.  Paige and Cole rode with her.  When she picked them up she said "How far is it?  It should only take a couple of hours.  Paige and Cole informed her that they were going all the way to Western North Dakota and it was a 6 plus hour drive...Savannah replied "Oh $#@%"  She thought it was really strange that I texted all the Grands that were going to the wedding that we would be in the Mountain Time Zone.  We all had a good laugh!

Paige, Savannah and Cole  The Bartenders! 

Cole and me ....he said "I want a photo with you Grandma" 

 And of course the Bride and Groom

Adam and Courtney

Far Side 

 

Leaves

 The leaves from our Burr Oaks just turn brown and fall off.   They are about 75% down.  I have mulched twice and maybe a third or fourth time will be needed. 

We have a little color along the driveway.

Most likely a Northern Red Oak. 

I am painting Christmas Ornaments, Far Guy wood carved.  It was a very nice day! 

Minnesota weather: High 71F or 22C  Low was 42F or 6C.

Prayer Warriors:  Prayers for our Sister in law Beth as she struggles with side effects of Myasthenia Gravis.  Prayers for Brother in law Ron in Indiana who had surgery for Bladder Cancer. 

Far Side

Far Guy and some bras

  Far Guy's Dr appointment with the Endocrinologist...the appointment went well, the two growths on his left thyroid have not changed in size in the past six months...The Dr said they are nothing to worry about only 4% of benign growths become a problem.  Come back in a year!  That was good news!

We stopped by a small place to eat called Hub 41 lakeside in Detroit Lakes.  Over the weekend they had a fundraiser (Skippin' and Sippin' Breast Cancer Walk) sponsored by the Lakes Area Parrot Heads ...we got to meet the gal in charge (Kathy) they raised $20,000 over the weekend.  They had one man that showed up as a breast cancer survivor.  Men get breast cancer too! Kathy was happy to meet Far Guy and encouraged him to show up next year the first Saturday in October.  He gave her a donation. 

Far Guy said he wished he had been there when all the bras were taken off!  In December he will have one year post breast cancer chemo, surgery and radiation.  He will tell you that once you have cancer it is never over...it stays with you forever.

Far Side

47 minus 10

 I had 46 cousins (47 counting me) on my Dad's side of the family.  Sadly our number decreased by one on September 24th.  My cousin Diana died from hardening of the arteries in the lungs. 

Diana was a marvelous quilter, she had a long arm machine and everything.  Her health began to go downhill after her husband died back in February of 2026.  

She was very active with our cousins group.  She was a wonderful Grandmother and Great Grandmother! 

She will be missed by her family and all of her cousins.

I was glad that I was able to attend her funeral service.

Far Side

Catching up

 We had ten medical appointments last week.  I like to bunch them all together if possible.  We had seven on Monday and Tuesday in Grand Forks, ND.  Far Guy saw his Palliative Care Dr, Pulmonologist and Oncologist.  A few meds were changed but nothing new is noted...he will have a PET scan in three months.   I saw a Neurologist who wants better nerve studies done that he will do himself, I had Visual Field tests at the eye Dr and she did a quick exam...I am still suspicious for glaucoma but don't have it yet, my eye pressures are great.  Then I had an MRI...I hate those things...The cysts on my pancreas are stable  the one on the uncinate process of the pancreas measures 5.2 cm x 3.8 cm  previously it was 5.3 cm x 3.5 cm  the cyst on the neck of the pancreas measured 9mm  and it measured 8mm in May.  I have not heard from the Gastroenterologist for his recommendations.  They can do nothing about them...I will have to go to Mayo at some point in time. 

Thursday Far Guy had his infusion and I ran errands.  On Friday we both saw the Dermatologist...I was all clear but Far Guy had a biopsy taken from his forehead. 

It was an exhausting week...next week we have three appointments...practically a vacation for me as they are all Far Guy's appointments. 

We are finally unpacked here at home, I am still catching up on laundry.  I had a nap every day since we got home. 

Far Guy has been fussing with Tilly and woodcarving. Hockey pre season games have begun.

I mulched leaves in the yard yesterday...they are about 50% down. 

Minnesota weather:  High 61F  or 16C   Low 40F or 4C

What's cooking?   Steak burgers, french fries and green beans.

Far Side

September 27 Sunday and friends

 Last Sunday I woke up early and began packing for the trip to East Grand Forks, MN  My sister Julie and I warmed up lots of stuff in the fridge and made some scrambled eggs.  We had cooked breakfast for everyone the past two mornings.  Family came and went enjoying a meal with us.  Jen carried suitcases down the stairs and loaded our car for us. 

We headed out...minus my sister...she caught a ride with our other baby brother to her car in our yard. 

We got a little lost in Bismarck ND but enjoyed the scenery along the river.  I took the exit too soon. 

Long time friend Floyd and Shirley were waiting for us at Cracker Barrel...good thing they were patient! 

Here is a photo of our guys...Shirley and I are reflected in the glass!

We had a great lunch and after lunch we sat outside and visited!  

So good to see old friends!  

Too soon it was time for us to leave.

Far Side

September 26 Wedding Day

 It was a beautiful day for a wedding 72 degrees and sunshine.

The road to the wedding.

Adam

Waiting for the wedding party. 

The best man arrives

 

Bridesmaids waiting

The lovely Courtney has arrived!

Photo by my brother Carey. 

They had very traditional vows.  The ceremony was short and sweet!  

 

They lit the unity candle

 

Photos by Carey

Very happily married!  

We were so happy that we could be there to see them married.   They had a reception after the ceremony and party later with singing and dancing...we were sound asleep by that time. 

Far Side