He is baaack!

 Jinx escaped out of the Christmas decoration box...

He was lounging in the empty wreath next to the door...soaking in some sunshine and wondering if he should chop something down. 

I am certain he had nothing to do with the tree in town that sadly is too damaged to be raised from the street.  

Our mild December weather continued one more day...the shady spots still have snow. 

I did some laundry and then we both worked on Christmas cards...writing a few notes in some of them.   I delivered a Christmas card and an ornament to one of the neighbors....they were not home but will find a bag attached to their door knob when they return.  Then I headed over to the nearby cemetery and got a few photos...it is at 96 % photographed right now.  There are still 13 graves there that are difficult to find.  I am going to have to give up and phone a friend who might have a map of the cemetery. 

Far Side

Afternoon Out

 While Far Guy was woodcarving and then napping I took off and went to a couple of cemeteries.  

I take photos in two sometimes three cemeteries for Find A Grave.  I also transcribe obituaries if I have them.  I have a backlog of obits to enter ...a good winter project. 

My Aunt Anna's funeral was live streamed on Monday.  I wanted to visit her grave...so I did.   It was a chilly day.

I worked over in the shady snowy spots last summer.  Yesterday I just walked in the non snowy parts. 

Pickerel Lake Cemetery

This is a very familiar spot for me....high on the hill...I have come to this spot since I was a little girl.  The fence used to be right where I was standing to take this photo....now that area has been cleared for a road and more graves. 

I visited a few more graves and then went to a different cemetery close to home.  I made yet another list for that cemetery.  In my leaving no stone un turned I discovered that an old friend's obit was missing ...so I transcribed that for approval. 

The stone gate at Linnell Cemetery

It sounds like the weather is going to be great the rest of the week...I may be able to get a few more photos before winter snows settle in. 

One cemetery they say is 94 % photographed but no one is entering new info...so I just wander around until I find new graves or new headstones...people drive by and honk.:)  The cemetery on the hill is only 47 % photographed...so it is a real work in progress..it is so far out of the way that no one ever shows up while I am there. 

Far Side

Sights and Sadness

 On Saturday morning we went to the local transfer station ( fancy word for dump)  and on the way we saw movement out in one of the bean fields. 

Luckily I had my camera along but not my long lens.  There were three Coyotes in the field. 

We watched them for a bit and they watched us. 

We headed over to the cemetery.  It was going to be a busy place later in the day. 

Far Guy's Cousin's husband died and was going to be buried there in the afternoon.  He was a really nice guy and we always enjoyed visiting with him.  He was just 63 years old and died after having a seizure.  We did not attend the visitation or the funeral...we will visit the grave site again some day.  With Covid 19 on the rise in Minnesota to attend a gathering would be risky. 

Last Sunday there was a motorcycle vs car accident and a husband and wife both in their 50's were killed instantly.  They were going to be buried in the same cemetery side by side. 

Many people in the community knew this couple...I did not...but I knew part of the fellows family a long time ago. 

Far Side

Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  James 4:14

 

Aunt Louise Laid To Rest

Tuesday morning was Aunt Louise’s funeral.  It was a very nice service with a luncheon afterwards….Minnesota funeral food; lettuce salad, scalloped potatoes, ham, dill pickles,  crusty bread and all kind of bars.

Aunt Louise was a heck of a bread baker we always enjoyed when she shared a loaf of bread with us.  I recall one day years ago when Far Guy’s Mom was alive Willard and Louise were visiting her in the Nursing Home and someone mentioned fresh bread…a little old lady came over and said “That is one thing I miss…fresh baked bread.”  Well you can guess that planted a seed in a bread bakers mind and a few days later fresh bread was delivered to that little old lady. Years later when Far Guy was at his Mom’s bedside for days…loaves of bread were delivered for him to bring home… comfort food from a special aunt.

After lunch we left town and drove the 15 miles to the cemetery…a number of cars pulled to the side of the road and waited for the procession to pass by.

Funeral procession

She was laid to rest next to her husband.  We have a plot in the same row as does Alaska Guy.  Family has to stick together.

New Neighbor

Got a new neighbor over on the Carsonville Property.  The flags went up to mark the spot and a small vase was left.  Not sure who it is…or what their dash was like.

I am just guessing that their dash was very short.

A perfect square cut out of the sod surrounds the little angel vase.  The earth has hardly been disturbed.

No chance we will meet this new neighbor this side of heaven.

The Plot

We picked out and paid for our final resting place.  Our ashes will be interred at Linnell Cemetery in a plot across the walkway from my cousin Mark and down the row from Uncle Willard. The cemetery is just a mile down the road from where we live…it is a favorite night sky watching spot for me. Safe spot to park, quiet and a grand view of the entire night sky.

Linnell Cemetery is where Far Guys Maternal Grandparents, Great Grandparents and his Uncle Willard are buried.   We chose Linnell Cemetery because the lawn is always mowed nicely…unlike Riverside at Osage…sometimes you could bale hay at that cemetery. Sad to say that the decision came down to lawn maintenance…but it did.

So we can cross something off the list. 

I am working on my obituary.  I wrote it before but that computer crashed, this time I will print out a copy.  Far Guy has not begun to write his obit….he is dragging his feet.

There are certain things we have done.

Our wills are notarized and registered with the county.

Our Minnesota Advanced Care Directives have been filled out and our signatures witnessed by my other baby brother and his wife.  The Clinic in town has the original papers on file and I have a copy.

We have discussed and noted special items that we own and who they should be passed down to.

Far Guy says “We can’t do everything, something has to be left for the mourners to do.”

I agree BUT some things should be done together before one person is left to make all the decisions.