Frosty Morning

 We had a nice frost. 

You can also see how that Popple spit its leaves all over the lawn:(

My sister sent a photo of the frosty morning at her place.  She is retired now and starting her first week as a retired person.

Far Guy is a tad better today.  He had several naps.  Perhaps he can avoid an ER visit...I am hopeful that the antibiotic and the steroids are finally working. 

We had company on Friday morning...Jen and Maddie and in the afternoon my other baby brother and she who sees robins first. 

I did a couple of loads of laundry and a bunch of stuff that never shows. 

What's cooking:  Leftover pizza

Minnesota weather: High 45F or 7C  Low 23F  -5C 

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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"

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September 25th Wedding Rehearsal Day

 Friday September 25th started early for my sister, Julie and for daughter Jen.   The entire house was asleep as we made mints for the wedding.

Three sets of hands made short work of the mints. 

My sister and I cooked up breakfast for whoever was hungry!  Egg Bake....I cooked up eggs and potatoes for a potato salad to be served at the Gluten Free Food Table after the wedding.  Grandson Noah and his wife Hanna arrived.

In the afternoon we drove out of town. 

My sister Julie drove us out North and East of town...to the bride's parents and grandparents ranch.  She had been out there helping Andy and Jen with last minute details. 

 Julie

Adam our youngest Grand... the groom 

Adam and his Mom our daughter Jen 

Adam, Andrew and Jen worked really hard getting the old barn ready for the wedding service.  The old wagon wheel was strung with lights.  The wagon wheel was made by the bride's Grandfather as he was a very talented wheelwright. 

Inside the barn...rehearsal went well. 

The barn from across the way in the machine shop where the reception would be held. 

Andy and Jen our hosts for the grooms dinner. 

The meal was wonderful...choice of rib eye steak, chicken or walleye served with mashed potatoes and asparagus.   It was all delicious...my first real beef in a month and my stomach was very happy and the best part I did not get sick!!!! 

 Then we were off to the Air B &B to see if Savannah, Paige and Cole had arrived! 

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Kids and a car

 Far Guy got Tilly ready to go for a ride.  A quick call to my baby brothers yielded two adults and five kids that wanted a ride!

Being captivated by the window that rolls down. How many kids can ride in the back seat?  Well five!

Maz,Otto, Jordyn, Lulu and Xavier

Five of my baby brother's Grands from Washington, Oregon and New Jersey.  11 of my baby brothers grands are here out of 13. 

#13 was born last Winter.  I got to meet him the other night, he is a happy kid!

Here is Keon with his Dad...Keon loves the front pack and walking puts him to sleep. 

Fun to see all the kids...most everyone got taller this year.  They are busy busy kids!

Minnesota weather: High 81F or 27C  Low was 65F or 18C

What's cooking?  Ham and turkey buns and potato salad. 

Today is my sister's birthday  Happy Birthday Julie! 

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FLY IN

 My sister, Julie hosted a Fly In at her airport.  It was scheduled by her husband well before he died.  My sister did not feel right about cancelling it. The FLY IN must go on!

It was a beautiful day for flying. 

About thirty planes landed to enjoy a picnic of burgers, brats, beans, coleslaw, chips and desserts

Planes landed and took off all evening.

You may notice a horse..Julie has a horse and he is not bothered by planes landing and taking off.  

Here he is waiting to cross the runway to get to some good grazing.  I wonder what he is saying...hurry up most likely. 

Little kids were playing games.

and smiling

We could have taken this one home with us...she is so darn cute...but alas her Mom our niece Rachael loves her very much. 

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Sad News

 My sister's husband Dean died yesterday while shoveling snow/ helping to get a car unstuck. Please pray for the family.  Sudden unexpected deaths are just hard to accept. 

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At least they wore helmets

 This old photo from the Summer of 1969 was among the ones that I scanned. 

My sister and my baby brother on the Yamaha 50 that our Dad brought home for us so we could drive faster to the back fields versus our bicycles.   My sister was 3 and my baby brother was 15 in the photo.  Note Far Guy's 1959 Desoto in the background. 

That was a fun little motorcycle to drive.  

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Visitors and a birthday

 Far Guy was quite ill most of the day on Thursday.  Jen took him to his Infusion and picked up the Walmart order and a few other things for us.  I stayed home with Sadie...she slept all the while they were gone.  Late in the afternoon I went to town for an oil change appointment.  Jen and Sadie returned to their home Up North.

My baby brother and his bride brought us some garden produce; green beans, carrots and new potatoes.

Visitors in the evening were four of my baby brother's Grands. Ten of his twelve Grands are here on vacation this week.

Otto, Xavier, Maz and LuLu

On Saturday my baby brother and his bride will host a picnic at their home.  I cooked the eggs on Thursday and will cook the potatoes on Friday for potato salad. 

Happy 59th Birthday to my sister Julie! I found this photo on our Mother's flash drive.

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Roses

 I found some photos of roses on my Mom's old Flash Drive.   

I believe these are from the Rose Gardens in Duluth, MN. 

Here is the proof...no idea what year but that is my sister and her husband and the iconic lift bridge at the Duluth Harbor in the background. 

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News from home

 There was a storm through Minnesota on Friday night, many people are without electricity. Luckily our home in the woods is okay. Grandgirls Savannah and Paige both had trees down…in fact a tree blocked Savannahs door. My sister has no electricity and my friend Susie has no electricity either. It will be a number of days before electricity is restored. The weather people are calling it a hurricane.

Neighbor  Leah sent me a photo of the Flax field blooming across from our driveway! I wish I could have seen it, maybe next year!

Such a beautiful sight to see! 

In other news, Miss Minnesota was crowned…and she is the beautiful Emma who lives near us and just so happens to be dating our great nephew Mason! You can check out the Miss Minnesota Facebook page to see a photo.  She is a nursing student and her platform is Water Safety Knowledge which is perfect for all the lakes we have in Minnesota.  Onward to Miss America..wouldn’t that be something!  Just so you know she is as beautiful on the inside as outside. 

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Lolli

 Monday evening was my sisters last night at dog obedience training with Lolli.  It was a nice evening for the last session to take place outside.  They had a rally type course set up.  It was fun to see all the dogs and Lolli did real well.  

Lolli is not like my sisters other Boston Terriers...but then each dog has it's own unique personality! 

She needs to work...as soon as her brain was engaged she did great. 

She has the basics down and with continued practice she will do great, the last pass was with the leash dragging...and she did not run off!  Lolli graduated and got a certificate!  

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Christmas 1978

All those old Christmas photos are treasures.  I do not recall what gifts were exchanged other than the gift of Family. 

My Mother wrote on this photo the year 1978.   My sister Julie (age 12), our daughters Trica (age 6) and Jennifer (age 3)  

Not sure what my sister was telling Jen ...probably say cheese.  Looks like Trica was in first grade as she has some missing front teeth.  Jen has a Raggedy Ann doll that I do not recall at all. 

The Nativity set in the background was ceramic and I made it one year as a gift for my Mother. The tree was in the corner of the living room in my parents home on Straight Lake.  I see tinsel and satin balls. 

I am still not sure what my Mother was thinking with the choice of carpeting! Uffda high low shag.

Christmas was always celebrated the same; church on Christmas Eve, after church my Mother would disappear and begin her last minute gift wrapping...there would be knocks at the door and neighbors would join in the festivities...my Mother invited everyone for Christmas Eve.  There was food and plenty to drink...it was always terribly cold outside...Minnesota ..freeze your butt off cold.  The next morning was church and the rest of the day was spent at my Grandparents home.

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1979 a blast from the past

 My other baby brother and she who sees robins first celebrate 45 years of wedded bliss today! 

1979  That is my sister Julie age 13 on the far left and the flower girl is our oldest daughter Trica she was 7 years old that year. 

Congratulations! 

Christmas card report: 12 finished so total is 65

Pain report: I have a little less pain....hopefully it will keep improving. 

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A Blanket and "stuff"

 I finished the car seat blanket for my sisters newest grandchild.  Hadlee is three months old now.  

We met them up at Itasca State Park. 

I also delivered a bag of "stuff" for my sister.   "Stuff" being things my Mother never threw away. 

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Happenings

 Not too much snow left yet. 

June the snow bank is barely hanging in there.

Far Guy had blood tests and a chest x ray.  No pneumonia although his white blood count is up, after two days trying to get a script to the correct pharmacy I recalled a bottle that had a fill left on it.  Who knows when or if the script will get to the correct pharmacy.  No one does their job anymore.  Anyways...I am trying my best to keep Far Guy out of the hospital. 

My other baby brother called Wednesday morning, our brother in law Dean was in an accident and life flighted out to St Cloud and the puppy Lolli was with the Highway Patrol.  We went to the scene of the accident to get the puppy. We found out later that Dean has a broken sternum.  I took Lolli and gave her a quick exam...she seemed okay...everything worked.  I dropped her off at my baby brothers, he has Baxter and dog food.  He discovered a small spot near Lolli's anus after she pooped...he took her to the Vet and she has a rectal bruise. Poor puppy.  My baby brother and his bride, Baxter and Lolli went to St Cloud to see how Dean and my sister were doing.  My sister Julie was on her way to work at a Regional Office in Thief River Falls when she got the phone call about the accident....so she had a really long drive.  We are thankful that Dean will be okay eventually, he will have pain for a really long time. 

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Sister's birthday

 My sister is older today.  She is still pretty young...as I was almost 15 when she was born.

My Dad and my sister were deer hunting together a number of years ago. 

Happy Birthday Julie!

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Annie

 Not sure how many "Annie" Boston Terriers my sister has had...one was named Nellie.  My parents  had two "Annies." 

My sister's Annie came to our house on Friday.  She will be going home on Monday. 

 Here she is looking for Chipmunks....she likes to chase them...if she was a little faster and could breathe quietly and the Chippy was slower and deaf...

Yesterday she had quite a day.

She looks pretty innocent????  Looks are deceiving...

Far Guy and I wanted to attend a 50th Wedding Anniversary.   So we left her with my baby brother and his bride for the afternoon...she likes Baxter and Baxter likes her.  Well the two made a "pack"( I am sure Annie was the gang leader)..and they took off.   Everyone at my baby brothers...5 adults and 4 children went off looking for them.   They were eventually located in the woods...which is better than in the swamp or the lake. 

Annie rolled in Deer Poop...yuck...I cleaned her up...so she is mad at me and thinks Far Guy is her favorite now...  She may get an entire bath today.

My sister's birthday is today.  Happy 55th Birthday Julie!  I will try to keep your dog safe until you pick her up! 

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Company bearing gifts

 Our youngest daughter and my sister are having a Christmas Gluten Free Baking Adventure.  They hiked over to visit.  They are baking at my baby brothers lake home. 

We visited outside on the patio.

My sister and her Boston Terrier

They brought gifts.

My sister made potholders for my birthday...they are too pretty to use!  Chex mix and a yummy Rolo, pecan, pretzel treat. All Gluten Free as they both have Celiac Disease... it comes from my Fathers side of the family...so far I have escaped it. 

Soon they got cold and left.  They had many more gluten free recipes to try.  Shortly before they came over they baked some Ginger Snaps and were not sure if they were going to be Ginger Snaps or Ginger Folds. 

Nice to have company.

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Wistful Wednesday: Gift from the heart

Each year I try to do something a tad special for someone.   Something that might make a difference someday.  Who knows how or when…but maybe if you just believe that is enough.

The antique sleigh bells were a Christmas gift a number of years ago from Jen, Andy, Noah and Adam. Last winter I polished them.

Some ended up with sparkly dark ribbon and some with sparkly white ribbon.

Back in 2006 we received a sleigh bell/jingle bell ornament from Brother In Law Tim, Nephew Jacob and Niece Rachael.  It always has a special place on our tree.

  They wrote; “ Merry Chistmas 2006 from Tim, Jacob and Rachael!  We hope you enjoy this authentic Victorian Sleigh (Jingle) Bell.  It would be difficult to figure out the exact date that it was made , but it is close to 100 years old if not older.  The kids and I have restored this bell and offer it to you in celebration of the Christmas season.  We hope that you will find a place on your tree or perhaps and entry door to hang it and each time you hear it jingle, be reminded of all your blessings in life.”

Tim died November 1st, 2018.  He has two grandsons both just babies…one is a year old and the other a few months old.  They haven’t a chance to remember their Grandfather.  So two bells along with the story were mailed to the oldest Grandson with instructions to share with his cousin someday.

My sister with Tim, Rachael and Jacob.  I believe this photo was taken in 1995.

Other recipients of the sleigh bells were our daughters, grandchildren and our great grandson.