April 1 Snow

 It began to snow about suppertime.  Huge flakes. Sounds like we may have some weather in the next three days or so. 

It is not even an April Fool's joke. 

Andy and Jen made supper....chicken, potatoes and fruit. 

Minnesota weather:  High 35F or 2C  Low was 30F or -1C eh! 

..WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 3 and 8 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. * WHERE...Portions of northwest Minnesota and northeast North Dakota. * WHEN...From Friday afternoon through late Saturday night. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday evening commute.

Far Side

Pastel

 I am working on colors in the stash.  The stash could be an ongoing project for several years:)

There will be more colors, it is a shell stitch and I am using DK yarn and a 3.5  crochet hook. 

Tuesday morning Sadie came to tell us that she had a problem.  It was TUESDAY.  She goes to Daycare every Tuesday and plays with friends.  Andy forgot it was Tuesday and left her at home...good thing Far Guy knew what day it was and what her problem was!  How in the world did she realize it was Tuesday???  Dogs know more than we think they do. Yes Jen took her to daycare!  No April fooling either!

Minnesota weather: Snowy and windy.  High 35F or 2C  Low was 23F or -5C eh!

Far Side

Last day of March

 We can March right into Spring...but the wind is still raw and you need a parka, mittens and a hat....note to self your crocs with socks just don't cut it yet. 

We completed #21 and #22 of our appointments in March.  What a relief to put that behind us!  One Doctor says come back in a year and the other said 6 months!  Alrighty then.

Far Guy can see without glasses.  His vision is pretty near 20 20. We have eight drops left to do...out of 318 that is an accomplishment itself.  The Doctor reports his eyes are healing well after the cataract surgery. 

I am getting better at scheduling appointments...we have some scheduled in June and some in September all on the same day or two. Unlike last year when we had appointments every week and had to drive up North often....or appointments every day that had us staying with Andy and Jen a fair amount of time. 

Minnesota weather: High 42F or 6C  Low was 29F or -2C. There was some sun but mostly wind.  I am thinking that March is going out like a Lion as we have snow in the forecast.

Whats cooking?  I made Chili and Grilled Cheese:) 

Far Side

Moon

 We saw the moon after supper on Sunday.

Snow is melting but the wind is just raw. 

Far Guy and I ventured out to Michael's I needed some beige yarn for a project and he needed the parts for a clock.

Only three Doctor appointments this week!!

Minnesota weather: High 49F or 9C  Low was 29F or -2C.

Supper was whatever you liked out of the fridge.  I love a no cooking day! 

Far Side

Blooms

In warmer climates..they have blooms.  Photo from my sister.

 We will have blooms in a couple of months.  After all it is Minnesota...my Dad used to say that over his years he witnessed snow in Minnesota every month of the year.  I wish I could recall what years he said...but I cannot.

Minnesota weather: Sunny!  high 48F or 9C low was 25F or -4C eh!  

We had a quiet day on Saturday.  Far Guy did some woodcarving.  I did some laundry and crocheting. 

I made potato salad and Andy grilled steaks so it was almost a Summertime meal.  And it was delicious!

Saturday evening they are all watching hockey, I will join them for a bit...hockey is ok ...I can watch a bit and no one gets upset if I ask dumb questions!  Then I will escape to read:)

Far Side

Friday

 We finished #19 and #20 of 22 appointments.  Come back in three months and come back if you have problems...alrighty then. 

We have had some cold windy days and it snowed huge snowflakes a couple of times yesterday.  The wind is just raw.

A sunset photo that my sister sent from Phoenix where she reports it is very warm:)

Minnesota weather: High 30F or -1C  low was 21F or -6C.  We should see warmer temperatures over the weekend and into next week when it could rain instead of snow...but you never know. 

Far Guy, Jen and Andy watch Hockey...playoffs I guess.  I read, work on a puzzle or watch whatever I want to on another TV....lately old reruns of Project Runway Allstars. 

Far Guy and I made pizza for supper..it was really good...Pillsbury Crust with Italian Sausage and Pepperoni.

Far Side

Onward and forward

 I finished another baby blanket.

Sage Green this time...same old story ...single crochet...6.5 crochet hook and three skeins of Baby Bee Snugs and Kisses yarn. 

Started another blanket...using misc colors of yarn...you know from the stash. 

I will frog ( rip it ) what I have started...as I was not pleased with the spacing of the pattern.  Plus maybe I should have an idea of how I am going to work out the colors...decisions...decisions.  It will be stripes of different colors that I know for sure!

We finished up #17 and #18 of 22 medical appointments on Thursday.  Come back next week and come back in three months.  So it goes onward and forward.  #19 and #20 happen today (Friday). Next week we finish up the month and the last two appointments before we turn the calendar to April. 

Far Side

72

 My baby brother is 72 today!  Happy Birthday Carey!

I wonder how old he was here...he had lots of candles! 30 maybe:)

Far Side

what to cook?

 That is a daily question.  

Today I am cooking.  Pork roast, mashed potatoes, gluten free gravy and baked carrots. 

If I had more energy I would make a dessert.

We had an adventure yesterday...a trip to an antique shop that was stuffed to the gills with "stuff".  I did not buy a thing.  However I did see some cute signs.

Far Side

Red

 Sadie is turning more red than golden this Spring.

She was waiting patiently for someone more exciting than me to come home!  

Who knew?  Sadie can hear me say popcorn downstairs when she is upstairs, she comes running!   She sometimes has great expectations when I put my corn bag in the microwave to heat it up...and looks so disappointed when I say nope not popcorn this time. 

She is very good company for all of us. 

Far Side

Sunday

 Far Guy, Jen and Andy went to the movies. They were all interested in Project Hail Mary. They report that the movie was really good. Sadie and I stayed at home. 

I finished the blue blanket.

It is a simple single crochet using a 6.5 crochet hook. I used about five skeins of Yarn Bee  Cozy Occasion in the color Nice To See Blue. 

The next blanket has been started it is a pale green.

Then I will be onto a different stitch trying to use up some of the yarn stash!

We have four appointments this week all at the end of the week. We have finished 16 out of 22 appointments. 

Far Side

Happy Spring!

 We left East Grand Forks to go back home and sign our taxes so they could be electronically filed. 

The fields were steaming it was so warm.  We picked a couple of great days to travel!

64 degrees in March...now that was nice!  We went out for supper in downtown Park Rapids and then back to our home for a good nights sleep.  The next morning it was still 50 some degrees as we welcomed the first day of Spring!

Not much snow as we travelled back up North. 

It was a good trip and Sadie was happy to see us again. 

Far Side

Smile

 Jen and Far Guy have 3D printing fever.  One of them is always printing something. 

This one is worth a number of smiles.

Far Side

Penmanship

 I still have some questions about my Mother's side of the family.  I know that her Paternal Grandmother was a twin and was born in Germany in 1878.  Not sure what ship they came over on  but I do know the year...1884. The parents (Christina and Fritz Kuhn) came along with eight of their children according to an old obituary...but I believe that only six of the children were born in Germany and came along on the voyage and two children were born after their arrival in the United States. Children with their parents were ages 14,12,10,9, 6 and 6.  Hattie or Hadwig ( My Great Grandmother) was 6.

 First they settled in Kansas (Olathe) and then in Missouri before they came to Minnesota in 1896. 

My hunch is that they came with other relatives to the United States.

This is a postcard of a hotel in Onaga Kansas...is that where they lived for a time? 

The postcard is from a cousin by the name of Fred Berg.   Fred had beautiful penmanship...was he a teacher?  Fred Berg is a common name so no luck there...which side of the family was he related to???Christina or Fritz???  Perhaps someday I will unravel the mystery.

Far Side

Update from Frank who did some research! 

The Top Candidate: Fred Berg of Onaga

In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census for Onaga, Pottawatomie County, Kansas, there is a record that matches the author’s clues almost perfectly:

• Name: Fred Berg

• Birth Date: May 1879

• Birthplace: Germany

• Immigration Year: 1883 (Aligns closely with the Kuhn family's 1884 arrival).

• Connection to "Penmanship": While later records show him as a caretaker or laborer, census records from that era often show young men with "beautiful penmanship" working as clerks or in postal service before settling into other trades.

The Kuhn Family Link

The author mentions her Great-Grandmother Hattie (Hadwig) Kuhn was born in 1878 in Germany. This Fred Berg was born in 1879, also in Germany.

• The Hunch: Given their nearly identical ages and birth country, Fred was likely a first cousin.

• The "Fred Berg is a common name" Problem: The author is right—there were many Fred Bergs. However, this specific Fred lived in Mill Creek Township (Onaga), exactly where the Kuhn family postcard originated.

The "Hotel in Onaga" Clue

The author asks if the Kuhns lived at the hotel in the postcard. Historical records for Onaga show:

• The Landon House (Landon Hotel): Built in 1877, this was the first hotel in Onaga and a major hub for travelers and new settlers.

• The Connection: If Fred Berg worked or lived near the Landon House, he would have had easy access to the postcards he sent to the author's family. In 1900, many young single men in Onaga lived in boarding houses or hotels while establishing themselves.

Eyes and Yellow

 I saw the eye Doctor again for visual field tests...etc.  I do not have glaucoma or macular degeneration!

Come back in six months. Yeah me!  

I finished this delicious looking baby blanket a few days ago and started another one.  Single crochet using a 6.5 crochet hook and Snugs and Kisses Yarn in the Sunny Seasons color. 

We are happy to have Jen back home again!  

Minnesota weather: High 45F or 7C  Low was 25F or -4C  Snow was melting!

The kids made supper...bacon, apple pancake and fruit!

Far Side

A plan

 Well...finally all four Doctors agree on a plan of action for Far Guy's Thyroid Nodules that are benign.  They will be watched for change.  NO SURGERY.  The Oncologist wants a PET scan done in three months.  The Endocrinologist wants a ultrasound sometime...six months maybe...I need to check for that appointment. 

We completed #12 and #13 out of 21 medical appointments yesterday.  We are making progress.  One Dr says come back in six months and the other in three months.  Yeah !!

It was a snowy day.  The roads are slick in some spots.

We must remember that God is in charge! 

Far Side

Slow but sure

 I finished a blanket last week.

It is a linen stitch.  I used a 6.5 Crochet hook and 5 skeins of Cozy Occasion Yarn in Ivory.

Jen and Maddie sent a photo of a Mama Sloth with a baby! 

Monday activities...laundry, grocery store and cooking.  Biscuits and Gravy along with fruit for supper. 

Minnesota weather: Cold!  High 12F or -11C Low was -5F or -21C.  Hopefully yesterday was the end to the cold spell. 

Far Side

Happy St Urho's Day!

 I am certain by now most of you have heard of St. Urho!

Now for the St. Urho’s Day Poem

Ooksie kooksie kollme vee
Santia Urho is the boy for me
He chase out the hopper as big as pirds
Never before have I heard those words
He really told those bugs of green
Bravest Finn I ever seen
Some celebrate for St. Pat and his snake
But that Urho boy got what it takes
He got tall and strong on feelia sour
And ate Kalla Mojakkaa every hour
Thats why that guy dould chase those beetles
That crew as thick as jack pine needles
So let's give a cheer
in our very best way
On the sixteenth of March
St. Urho's Day!

Saturday

 Our snow is going nowhere for awhile.  Headed into the deep freeze with below zero temperatures for Sunday and Monday.  We are escaping the Blizzard that is happening in Central and Southern Minnesota.  Andy spent a good part of the morning snowblowing and shoveling.

Remember that old commercial... Calgon take me away? 

Jen and Maddie sent photos of their Costa Rica vacation!

Minnesota weather: High 25F or -4C  Low was -2F or -19C eh! 

We received sad news from my sister. Her Father in law (Dean's Dad) died on Saturday morning...just three weeks after his son Dean died.  Double heartache for the family. Dean had been caring for his Dad who was on hospice. 

Far Side

Snow and a baby

 We got about 7 inches of snow...it blew around a fair bit in the night time. 

Well at least it covered up the dirty old snow for now. 

In the night my phone was beeping...it was my baby brother sending a photo of his #13 Grand!  

9 pounds 4 ounces welcome to the family Kian!  We will probably get to meet him next Summer. 

We had a quiet day...some laundry...some crafts and a pan of lasagna for supper. 

Minnesota weather: High 18F or -8C  Low was 4 or -16C  We are headed back into the deep freeze for the weekend...

We completed 11 out of 21 appointments this week...we could count it 12 out of 22 because we had to go back to one clinic because they forgot to do a test....we barely got home and they called and said to come right back.  Can you say ...organized???

Far Side

The Greats

 The Greats are all growing like weeds! 

Ohhh...impressed by sisters cake!

Baby K cannot have cake yet...she has no teeth.  She is motivating around on the floor by rolling where she wants to go.  Not crawling yet. 

We have a blizzard warning and a winter snow advisory for Friday.  It is supposed to be real windy. 

Far Side

6

 Cee Cee is 6 years old.  We celebrated her properly with a great supper...mac and cheese, pulled pork on buns, coleslaw...and birthday cake! 

The candles relit but she was a trooper and kept blowing them out! 

Hard to believe she is six years old! 

Far Side

2nd eye

 Far Guy had his last eye surgery yesterday.  The left eye this time.  It all went well.  

The total number of drops in EACH eye is 159 over four weeks.  Good thing we have a chart to fill out with the times. 

8 out of 19 appointments completed. 

Some of the snow has melted in the front yard. Dirty snow remains.

Minnesota weather:  High was 32F or 0C  Low was 13 or -11C. Mostly cloudy.

As I write this on Tuesday late afternoon...Andy is cooking up a storm in the kitchen...it is Cee Cees 6th birthday and she requested a surprise supper...but she said "It better be good!"

Far Side

Book Club 2026: March

 We read another historical fiction book for book club.

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

I gave it an 8 out of 10 on my scale.  Parts of it seemed to be interjected willy nilly and didn't really go along with one of the female lead characters. 

Everyone said they enjoyed the book. 

Far Side

Puzzling

 I cleared off my end of the table and started a puzzle.

We had a quiet day on Sunday. Andy returned and we went out for supper at Pizza Ranch. Sadie is thrilled that he is back home. 

This week we have four medical appointments.

The sun was out and it was a warm day for March. The high was 51F and the low was 32F. 

Far Side

A winner or not

 I do like a Tootsie Pop!  Grape or cherry...orange in a pinch.  Far Guy likes the brown ones.  At home I have a jar full of them and our Grands knew they would get one for their trip home after a visit. 

I got the fellow in a headdress shooting a star!!!  In the olden days I would have saved the wrapper and turned it in at the local grocery store to get a free Tootsie Pop.  You know back then they were sold individually and usually displayed in a box on a rack in the candy area.  They used to say it was good luck to get the fellow shooting a star...it happened about once in every 4 to 6 pops.  Not every store followed the unwritten rule about the free one!

Springing ahead. I am not a fan...I will be discombobulated for at least a week.

Minnesota weather: High 43F or 6C  Low was 33F or 1C eh.  Mostly cloudy and we might get some rain.

Far Side

Keep smiling

 Thankfully we are at the end of this week.  #6 of 19 appointments have been accomplished...with no extra appointments added!!

I am all done with Physical Therapy...my therapist is a gem.  I will keep keeping on with exercises!

Jen made this ...she loves sea glass:)

We were up early for Far Guy's appointment for an echocardiogram.  It was a tad slippery out.  No sunshine here...maybe over the weekend! 

Far Side

Stripes

 I ventured into something new for me.  A striped blanket.   

 Hobby Lobby Cozy Occasion Yarn one skein ivory and then five skeins of colored yarn.  I used a 6.5 hook and the Linen Stitch.  I repeated the colors twice so it ended up an ok size.  This is the yarn that was supposed to become colored hearts on an ivory background...I didn't like it at all so I frogged it and went with a totally different idea to use up the yarn.  I finished this blanket on March 4 and quickly began an ivory blanket to use up the remaining yarn plus two more ivory skeins procured on a trip to Hobby Lobby. 

4 medical visits out of 19 are done.  The ENT Surgeon advises that Far Guy see the Endocrinologist for follow up ultrasounds/biopsies to keep an eye on the Thyroid nodules.  So no thyroid surgery is scheduled. 

I picked up groceries at Wally World while Far Guy had his infusion and then we went to Hobby Lobby together and out for lupper at Perkins where we had breakfast. 

Minnesota Weather: Cloudy, gloomy, frosty, slippery.  We are in a Winter Weather Advisory for all of Friday mainly for ice and slick roads.  High was 36F or 2C Low was 19F or -7C eh.

Far Side

The Greats

 One guess where the Great Grandchildren are this week. 

Peach and Cee Cee waiting for their brother to come off of a ride that they were too small for.

Baby K and a Princess

Peach and a Princess

Looks like they are having fun.

Hey Mikey

And eating well too!

We had a quiet day at home.  I did some laundry and cleaned the bathroom for excitement.

Jen made egg bake and pineapple for supper.  It was delicious. 

Years ago when Far Guy was stationed at MacDill AFB in Florida we visited Walt Disney World several times...it opened in 1971 and we were stationed at MacDill in 1973 and 1974.

Far Side

Frosty

 It was a frosty, gloomy day.

Far Guy had a check up with his eye doctor and everything looks great after his cataract surgery. Next week he has the other eye done. 

Minnesota weather: High 22F or -6C low was 18F or -8C eh! We are supposed to be in the 40's F by the weekend. 

Andy made supper...ribs, potato crowns and corn. 

Wednesday is our day off this week with no medical appointments. 2 appointments out of 19 completed this month.

Far Side

Eye report

 Lots of drops! Far Guy had cataract surgery on Monday. He is doing just fine…he reports that some colors are surprising. 

Far Side

Fantastic News!!

 How about a little good news! 

Far Guy has two nodules inside his Thyroid Gland. They were first discovered when they lit up last August on a Pet Scan.  He had one biopsy in September that didn't tell anything useful because that Surgeon was an idiot.  He had more biopsies on February 9th. One nodule we knew was benign and the other biopsy was sent off for genetic testing and the results are back...BENIGN!!!

So the Doctors three will all have opinions...the Endocrinologist, the ENT Surgeon and the Cancer Doctor.  The Endocrinologist thinks it is reasonable to have the surgery (to remove half of the thyroid) and it is also reasonable to monitor the nodule for change....so she is not that much help with the decision.  The other Doctors will be seen in March. 

The good news is that it is not cancer!  If he has part of his thyroid removed he will not have to have further treatment.

Far Side
 

Back to embroidery

 I finished #8 out of 10.

Then I finished #9 and #10 out of 10.

Both got this same edging one in blue and one in green.  

Yeah for a finished project...unless of course I buy more towels. 

Minnesota weather:  High was 2F  or -17C  Low was -11F or -24C.  Chilly for sure. 

So far in March we have 19 yes count them 19 medical appointments. It will be a long month.

Far Side

Two more

 Two more deaths... do they come in threes or fours?  My Cousin Diana's husband Dan he was 82 years old.  A second cousin also died Dickie a first cousin of my Mothers....his obituary is not out yet but he was also in his 80's.   I sent cards.  We are pretty much funeraled out.

Planning on a quiet weekend. 

Today is the last day in February.  Leaping onward into March.

We are thankful that we were able to travel on Wednesday and Thursday because on Friday snow squall warnings were issued...my phone even went off with an emergency alert. 

Snow Squall Warning

HAZARD...Flash freeze on roads. Intense bursts of heavy snow. Gusty winds leading to blowing snow and visibility rapidly falling to less than one-quarter mile. Wind gusts greater than 35 mph.

SOURCE...Radar and webcams. IMPACT...Dangerous travel conditions are expected to develop rapidly in the warning area.

Far Side

Red Plaid

 I helped to search my photo archives for photos of our brother in law.  I found a few photos on a flash drive that belonged to my Mom.

It was curious that in two of the group photos that included Dean he was wearing a red plaid flannel shirt.

This photo was taken in 2019. 

This photo from Father's Day I think in 2020.

From part of his obituary.

Throughout his life Dean shared his faith and encouraged others to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. He ended his phone conversations with "Have a Blessed Day." Dean was blessed with a servant’s heart and was kind and helpful to everyone. He was known as a mechanic and fixer of all things. He helped anyone who needed it with joy. The week before his death he volunteered at Camp Shamineau's Rock Ridge in Ely, MN refinishing the dining hall. He loved and cared for his family; he fiercely prayed and was the definition of a good and faithful servant for the Lord. Even his last day here on earth is a testament to the way he lived life. Saturday was a beautiful Minnesota winter day, the earth had been covered by new snow earlier in the week, the sky was cerulean, blue, he noticed how the American flag flew in the wind. He started the day with Saturday morning Bible study via Zoom with his treasured Pastor Jim, and dear friends he met while living in Massachusetts. While having breakfast he noticed two rabbits out the window and laughed at their antics. He kissed his wife goodbye and traveled to Aitkin, MN planning to help his siblings and mom care for his dad. He saw a vehicle stuck in the ditch just before getting to his mom and dads, so when he got to his mom and dad's he said a quick "Hello" and headed back outside to offer his help. His heart gave out while helping shovel the snow to get the vehicle out of the ditch.

John 3:16

God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

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