Firsts

 Far Guy had his first infusion of Aralast here yesterday the nurse was very nice and her parents live in Park Rapids and we know her father.  Small world.   It took about two hours.   A bit longer than the 45 minutes that it took back home.  Far Guy has to have the infusions weekly. 

I had the first book club from here, no problems it is all online.  The Persian Pickle Club was the book, I had read it several years ago but enjoyed reading it again. 

We got our first Christmas Card in the mail! 

I got out the next book for book club The Children's Blizzard a blizzard that took place in 1888.... a historical novel of the Upper Midwest. 

Far Side

Busy Days

 No big surprises with grocery pickup.  I even got some Apples at Wallyworld. 

I ran errands in town and stopped by my parents to wish them a happy anniversary in person!   Mom had Mohs surgery on a cancerous spot on her face on Tuesday...she has a few stitches but she looks pretty good. 

I had book club in the afternoon, the book was Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K Hamilton a vampire/horror book.  I give it a 3 out of 10...I would not read it again. 

I mulched leaves ... again... 6 1/2 out of 10 times.  I might even be able to stop at 9 this year we will see.  It is supposed to rain and I didn't want the dry leaves to get wet.

In the evening I made ice cream cakes with the help of my baby brothers bride and visiting Cindy. 

Far Guy finished all the woodcarvings for Christmas Ornaments...I have to do some final sanding before we declare that part finished...but the end is in sight!

 Today (Friday) is potato salad day...in preparation for a party at my baby brothers lake place for my parents on Saturday afternoon.

So the days are busy around here!  I look forward to some calmer days next week....we get our flu shots next Thursday....I scheduled it for a few days that I could set aside to just be sick....and if I am lucky enough to not be sick I can find some things to do! 

Far Side

Oranges, Books and other stuff

 Grocery adventures included no oranges...really?   How can you be out of oranges.  I like oranges with my breakfast....actually I like Cara Cara oranges the best but will settle for other oranges.   I can adapt and will have grapes or cherries ...but adjustments are hard...I like a routine. 

Book Club is held virtually...which is great for me.  I prefer it that way.

We read The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths, it was a gift from Kay in Kansas!  Thanks Kay!  The book club enjoyed the read...I give it an 8 out of 10.   I am passing it on to my friend Susie who is also in a book club.  

My desk is full of projects...I am cutting some paper, making some cards and putting the starting stitches in a bunch of zippers for some crochet bags.

I am still stumped about our Christmas Card this year...I am making no progress figuring that out. 

Far Guy had his weekly Infusion and I had my annual visit with my Dermatologist...I missed last year because of the Pandemic...so we are back on schedule.  She found a questionable spot so it was removed and sent in for biopsy and she took care of some skin tags.  I am good to go!   The waiting room only had a few people waiting and there was space to spread out.

Far Side

Book Club

We read The Book Lovers Cookbook.   I wasn't thrilled with it...and I like reading cookbooks.   We had our first in person meet...some of us brought a prepared recipe from the book.  

I chose Carrot - Raisin Pineapple Salad; 4 cups shredded carrots, 1 cup of raisins, a can of crushed pineapple, a dash of lemon juice and a bit of cinnamon.  It was okay...I give it a 7 out of 10.  It is from Midwives.   I also made punch...well I took small bottles of Welches Grape Juice and small cans of 7-UP and slices of lime.  You  mix it equal parts...it is called Merry Punch  ...I give it a 10...it is from the book Pride and Prejudice.

Onto the next book.  We also had a book swap...that was fun....I came home with three new to me books. 

Infusion Day and grocery pickup went just fine.   I wore a mask in the one grocery store I went into to purchase cherries and peaches.  Far Guy napped all the while I was gone to book club. Cases of Covid are exploding in this area.  I skipped Bingo.  We still have wildfire smoke...it is supposed to clear out on Friday and then come back.  We had 1/4 inch of rain in our rain gauge.

Far Side

The Point

 Grocery pickup was uneventful on Thursday.  Far Guy had an x ray at the clinic...we had a few extra minutes to wait in town so we drove out to "The Point"

We found a sculpture  ...the ant one.   Why not some art at the point. 

In the afternoon I had bookclub.  We discussed Life in a Jar The Irena Sendler Project by Jack Mayer.  I found the whole book just sad, I was sad for the children, sad for the parents, sad that no one knew what horrible things the Nazis were doing to the Jews.   Even when people spoke of the horrors no one believed them...not even Churchill or Roosevelt.  Irena Sendler was a small beacon of light...she rescued 2,500 children....either orphans or children given up by their parents.  I give the book a 9 out of 10. 

Next month is a recipe book...that will not be as sad. 

Far Side

Book Club

 We had book club.  We read Something in the Water...I give it a five out of ten stars ...for a Bestseller  it was a train wreck of a book.  Who gets to pick those books anyways?  We also read Anne of Green Gables some of the gals have not finished it so we will review it again next month...I am about half done with the book and I am enjoying it as much as the series on Netflix.   I give the book a ten!  The series follows the book quite closely. 

Now we are to read The Radium Girls, I tried to watch the Movie on Netflix and fell asleep I do hope the book is better than the movie. 

What good books have you read lately?

A Spider Lily in bloom on the Big Island 

Far Side

Book Club and other stuff

 Grocery Day wasn't much of an adventure...everything was as ordered.   At Wally World I am usually the only car there, yesterday there were three other vehicles.  Some people must be cooking for Easter!

Yesterday afternoon was Book Club...not much of a Club...there are just three of us...a few others may or may not join in from time to time. 

I chose the book for April.  A few of my blog readers can guess which book I chose. 

The gals enjoyed it!   It was a good Spring read.

One of the gals said she has already mailed the book to her brother.   

So my pick was a success.  Next month we discuss Something in the Water by Steadman...along with a side discussion about the book Anne of Green Gables vs the Netflix Anne with an E.  Neither of the gals have read the book or watched the series.  So that should be interesting.  Book Club is an online meeting.

I ordered the next couple of books...I use Thrift Books.

I am almost done with the car seat cover....the last fitting happened yesterday.  

The bit of yarn in the photo with my favorite book is cashmere...and ever so nice to work with.

Far Side

Hibernation

 It is turning downright cold...freeze your butt off cold....sub zero cold with horrid wind chills.  So we are hibernating at home. 

 Grocery pick up was great, just a brand swap on bread.  

Far Guy made a list for groceries...he said he may as well cook up some Seafood Gumbo.  Miracle of miracles everything he needed was available.  I am not a huge fan of Gumbo...I will have it once the day he makes it...maybe with some fresh bread!  It is one of his favorite freezer meals.

Book Club was a good discussion on the trials and tribulations of pioneer life in 1877 North Dakota;  An Untamed Land by Lauraine Snelling.  The book to read for the March meeting is My Life with Martin Luther King Jr by Coretta Scott King. 

For something new this week, I took out the cards that were a gift from Jen. 

Can you see the faint design?  It is there...it is a new kind of stamp that allows you to see the outline of the design. It is called Fadeout, no line coloring detail ink.

This one was created with Prismacolor pencils and a lot of glitter.

This one was created using Tombow watercolor markers and just a bit of glitter. 

I have some Arteza water based markers and some good old pan watercolors to try the next time I decide to play with these cards. ( Jen pre stamped ten cards for me, five different designs.)

Stay safe and warm out there! 

Far Side 

Cold

 It is cold here...start the car and wait a while cold.  Wear a scarf around your head cold and wish you had heated mittens when you go to get the mail.  I shoveled a bit in front of the garage.

Cold quiet day activities; laundry,  finishing the book I read for book club...I give it a 7 out of a 10... A Untamed Land  by Lauraine Snelling.  Of course I would have written it differently...the last parts of the book were very sad and depressing.  Guess she had a story line to finish up.  Next week is book club so I have finished in time to discuss it. 

The afternoon movie was so bad I fell asleep.  I was about to rise from my slumber to put supper in the oven...when Far Guy said "I can do it sweetheart!"  So I hunkered down to finish my nap....waking up for the news and to check on supper...Pork Chops and rice. 

I started a new to me crochet project...not sure it will turn out the way I want it to or not....time will tell.

Far Side

Saturday Roundup

 Here we are at the end of another week.  My online grocery order was number 45. They keep track.  This week we were missing Yogurt.  I spent some time planning meals...Far Guy had a couple of requests. 

I waded through the Insurance and Medicare paperwork that you get in the mail...not sure why I keep them...I suppose in case I have a question. They are now shredded.  New folders were made to collect the 2021 papers. 

I am still working on the granny square lapghan...in a couple more days it will be done.  I am working on the border now.  Not sure how wide of a border I will put on it.  

I am reading the book for Book Club.  It is a good read so far.  The Untamed Land by L Snelling...about Norwegians coming from Norway and making their way to the Red River Valley in North Dakota and Minnesota.  

I am enjoying the Discovery + channels...no ads...no news...just perfect.  I watch a number of cooking shows.

Far Guy reports no horrid side effects from the vaccination...his arm was a bit stiff.  One of his infusion nurses said it is not really a vaccine...it is a protein that protects you from the virus.  She also said the Moderna is 80% effective shortly after the injection and then goes up to 95% after the second injection.  The Pfizer injection is just the opposite....begins with 15% and goes up to 95%.   Far Guy's sister and brother in law in Indiana are supposed to get their shots today.   Far Guy is a bit bugged that I do not have the shot yet...I told him that he is the important one as he has to go out to the Infusion Center once a week...I do not have to go anywhere...so I am very safe at home. 

A cheerful photo I took last year inside a grocery store. 

Our weather has turned cold...down right bitterly cold.  Normal for us in January. 

Far Side

Little things

 It was a very frosty day.  

I took a photo of the Flowering Crab that is near where I park for picking up groceries.  It is full of frosty berries.

Grocery pickup was not remarkable.  No Glad Press and Seal...I prefer it over Saran Wrap...they have substituted that once already.  No Original plain Naan Bread...just Garlic ...no thanks.  At least there were no huge mistakes.  In the messages I put my suggestions and their prior weeks errors all in CAPS!!  Since I show up every week about the same time...I am sure they draw straws out back to see who wants to bring me my groceries.   This was order #43...same time same place.   

I handed Far Guy my camera on the way home...he took some frosty photos. 

I joined a Zoom meeting Book Club...only four people were there. I ordered the next book  Untamed Land by L. Snelling hope it gets here in time for me to read it!  I have always wanted to join a book club...and Zoom works better for me than a gathering.  Safer!! 

Talking about little things...look at these little stitches! 

Jen made these...a Partridge and a Pear 

I think this is Number 1 as it says so on the back...must be a series!  I cannot believe how perfect her French Knots are.  She loves working with felt...her Great Grandmother also loved to work with felt...I can recall Far Guy's Mom looking all over for felt kits to make Christmas Stockings because she knew her Mother loved to work with felt...and her stitches were perfect also! 

Far Side