Year in Review 2024

 It was a year!  Why is it as we age time seems to go by faster and faster?

Our oldest daughter Trica lives in Duluth Minnesota, we saw her one time this past year and that was at Paige's wedding. 

Our youngest daughter Jen and husband Andy still live in East Grand Forks Minnesota and we spend the Winter months with them.  They have a Golden Retriever named Sadie.  Jen teaches at Northland Community College and Andy teaches at the University of North Dakota.

Savannah is doing well with her Lash business in Bemidji, Minnesota.  She has two dogs Chewy and Kalila.

Maddie is a Dental Assistant, her husband Brenton works at Bobcat. They live in Grand Forks, North Dakota and they have "The Greats"  Hey Mikey, Cee Cee and Peach.  With a new baby due in June!  They have a very busy household...two dogs Sam and Koda and a cat named Doug. 

Paige married Cole in October.  Paige is a Dental Hygienist and Cole works for a Irrigation Company. They live in Bemidji Minnesota. They have a dog named Rosie.

Noah lives in Grand Forks, North Dakota and works at Simplot, he supervises the cleaning of all the machines and the chemicals used.  Simplot processes potatoes.  Noah has a dog named Aurora. 

Adam moved to Dickinson, North Dakota. He works at Menards in the plumbing department and will attend Dickinson State University this next semester.  Adam's gal Courtney is also a student at Dickinson State University, if all goes well they will graduate about the same time. (2 years from now) Adam has a cat named Phoebe. 

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No births this year or new pet additions. 

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Deaths...we had a few. 

Far Guy's Cousin Bill Weeks  January 25  age 78

High School Friend Cyndi 

My Mother Madeline February 11 age 94

Neighbor Cheryl  July 13 age 70

My Cousin Diane August 13  age 68

My Cousin Patsy September 15 age 72

Far Guy's Cousin Tom's wife Linda October 4  age 78

My Cousin Kathy October 11  age 75 

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One of our bestest Winter friends Little Elvis died September 27, 2004 he was almost 15 years old.  He had a good life.  I miss him sleeping on his bed near the foot of my bed and as old habits are hard to break I look for him automatically when I get up during the night.  I miss him.

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Far Guy keeps busy; he woodcarves, fixes on his old car and occasionally he goes to a car show.  He is my best sous chef and helps readily in the kitchen.  His lung function is about 19% so we limit our activities to outdoor gatherings as much as possible.  He rarely goes into a store because of perfumes, aftershave and cleaning products that people/stores use. 

I keep busy, I have many crochet/craft projects in the works at all times.  I am still struggling with pain from all my ritises  I do daily exercises and should have bought stock in whoever makes Tylenol.  One day at a time. 

There you have it the big wrap up for 2024.

What will 2025 bring us?  A new Great, time spent with those we love...both humans and dogs!

Happy New Years Eve!  We have not stayed up late enough to ring in the New Year for a number of years.

Far Side

Sad News and Good News

 Last week was a week.  It began with my cousin Diane who lived in Alaska her Memorial Service was live on Facebook.   She was 68 years old. She died after heart bypass surgery.  Her Mother and my Mother were sisters. 

This past Saturday was my second cousin Patsy's funeral, she died from a tick bite that went to a bacterial infection and then septic...she was three months younger than me...her  Father and My Grandfather were brothers.  She spent the entire summer on hospice. I sent a card I did not attend the funeral.

Then Little Elvis died on Friday...that hit me hard.  He and I had a special connection. He loved me unconditionally. 

Friday was also a bit of good news, my second biopsy came back with clear edges!  Thank goodness I don't have to have more surgery on my face!   AND all of my eye tests came back okay, the Doc says my eyes show normal aging.  I also learned that I have an appointment with a different Rheumatologist...but not until April of 2025...this is after waiting two months for a referral and being accepted by their Rheumatology Department.  I am doing my PT exercises and I believe it is making a difference...I have PT appointments starting October 10th. My stitches in my face come out on Thursday this week. It is a medical appointment week ...we have six appointments....it is what we do. 

So the good news outweighs the bad I am not on hospice, I am not dead, I don't have to have more surgery on my face, I can see reasonably well and we can make it by ourselves to appointments...and we still have some dogs to love...Sadie, Baxter and Smudge.  

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Little Elvis 2009 - September 27, 2024

 Little Elvis was almost 15 years old.  He was my constant companion in the Winter time, sleeping most nights at the foot of my bed.  I will miss him, he was mostly deaf and could hardly see anything...old age is hard on dogs.  BUT he had a good life! 

January 2010  Miney, Little Elvis and Chance

 

Adam and Little Elvis

May 2010 

 

Noah and Little Elvis

Chance and Little Elvis 

 

Chance, Little Elvis and Miney

Chance and Little Elvis

 

Miney, Little Elvis and Chance

Little Elvis

 

Little Elvis and Sadie 

Little Elvis has left the building.  Rest in peace little buddy.  

Little Elvis and Miney helped to cushion the loss when Chance died in 2018, Little Elvis cushioned the loss of Miney in 2021.  Now they are all mourned and missed more than ever. They were a real pack! Three of the bestest dogs ever!

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Looking up and looking down

 The garage sale has been a success, lots of items found new homes. Most of what is left will be donated.

I was stung by a wasp in the morning, but he barely got me so no huge reaction just a little owwie and some swelling. Granddaughter Maddie spent the morning helping me with the sale. Jen and Andy helped on and off throughout their busy day. 

Here is my looking up photo..  Little Elvis is looking up but showing his age and is more senile than he was a few weeks ago. I have told him it is okay to just slip away in his sleep, but of course he cannot hear anymore, can hardly see…but his nose is still good. 

My looking down photo is a plate of steak that my talented son in law grilled for supper last night with salad and corn on the cob…it was all excellent. 

These were the left overs resting.  Nothing better than a great steak! 

I believe Far Guy will be coming to get me sometime today, then we will head back home together. 

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Gone to the dogs

 Little Elvis and Sadie were very happy to see us!  Little Elvis took his sleeping spot at the foot of my bed on his special dog bed.  Sadie was a frequent visitor in the evening and in the early morning.  What can I say ...she loves us.  

Here she is sharing the sexy red bra she was carrying around.  Far Guy is one of her bestest friends! 

She is all retriever!  It is her job. 

Far Guy and I both had Doctor appointments.  

The Cardiologist said Far Guy is doing good and he should come back in six months. 

My Doctor is reducing one of my blood pressure meds in hopes that I regain some lost kidney function.  He will run more blood tests in a month.   He wants me to follow up with Orthopedics to discuss injections in my knee and hip before thinking about surgery.  He was not well versed in Rheumatology to offer an opinion on RA meds.  Pain meds would probably have the bad side effects like the Cymbalta.  ( I never want to do that withdrawl again.) He suggested an alternative to pain meds...and since we live in Minnesota where more options are legal I will give that a try. 

Far Side

Andy and Jen, Little Elvis, Sadie

 Far Guy had Doctors appointments Up North so we left right after his Infusion on Thursday and came back late Friday afternoon.   He is doing okay.

Guess who else was happy to see us?

Little Elvis had a sleep over with us in our room.  He had a small problem last week, he caught a toe nail on something and it bled something fierce...and he traveled throughout the house ...no doubt looking for help...poor boy.  Jen asked me if I wanted to take him home...I would like to but I don't think he would be happy here.  He doesn't hear anything, hand signals work the best with him...and I am not sure how much he can see.  

AND then there is the retriever...

She was so happy to finally get my shoe.  Her tail was wagging ninety miles an hour.  She enjoys being a shoe thief!

She wasn't the least bit remorseful.  However she did give up my shoe...eventually...but would not retrieve the other one.   Sadie is quite the dog, Thursday evening she went from person to person for attention.  Her own personal round table of attention.  She has been shutting herself in the bathroom...she goes in there to drink out of the toilet bowl...yes dogs do that!  I am sure her big old tail hits the door and the door partially closes behind her...she isn't brave enough to nose the door open...so we worked on that a bit...with me standing outside the door saying "Sadie nose" and offering a treat through the open part of the door...she nosed it open multiple times.  Will she remember...not sure.  When she shuts herself in the bathroom she doesn't bark or whine she just waits patiently until someone rescues her.  Thats Sadie for you!

Did you know our son in law Andy is a marvelous cook? ...well he is...he made bacon cheeseburgers on the grill,  potato rounds in the air fryer and a caprese salad.  I miss his cooking and I miss the days off from cooking when he cooks! 

Jen is a good cook also...but she does not enjoy cooking like Andy does.  She is a marvelous baker! So they make a good team.

It was good to see everyone...we also got to see Adam,  Maddie and Andy's Mom!

Far Side

More pills

 What do the Doctors do best?  Add more pills to your diet, he doubled my Potassium and hopes that next weeks blood test is better.  Low Potassium makes me so tired.  He checked me all out and scratched his head, and ordered more blood tests...guess what I still have low Potassium. I have no doubt that he is a good Doctor, he teaches Medical Students.  He is also Far Guy's Primary Care Doctor.  

It was great to see the kids: Andy and Jen, Noah and Maddie!  AND of course Sadie and Little Elvis!  They were very happy to see us and I think Sadie was petted and fussed with for several hours straight!

Jen has a few things coming up in her front garden....looks like her Bleeding Heart made it another year! 

The weather was downright warm and sunny in East Grand Forks on Monday afternoon, then it cooled off on Tuesday and rained a bit. 

Sadie and Little Elvis

Far Side

A Trade

 Sadie visited me early one morning and brought me a ball, she left it for me but took my small pillow.  I suppose it is a matter of perspective whether it was a good trade or not. 

I gave her the ball back, here she is playing keep away from Gramma...if I reach down to get the ball she quickly snatches it up in her big old mouth.  Once in awhile I can get her to drop the ball but not consistently. 

Little Elvis and Sadie are sometimes pals, Little Elvis loves a game of ball so he can run and bark...he has yet to get a ball and bring it back in the last 14 years. Little Elvis has his own rules for playing ball. 

Far Guy went to Dog Obedience Class with us last week.  Sadie works well for him too.  She is so big and strong it was nice to have someone else to help with her. She wants to smell everything and pull on the lead.  She still needs work on recall, stay and walking on the leash politely. 

Far Side

Quiet Day

 Not much new here...same old same old. 

My major accomplishment for the day was folding a load of laundry and petting dogs. 

Clean clothing and happy dogs! 

Little Elvis

Far Side 

Spoiled

 We have been spoiled by the unseasonably warm Fall and early Winter weather.  Yesterday we had a low of -2 F or -18C and a high of 12F or -11C  and it will be getting colder as the week progresses. 

Our days are quiet.  Far Guy wood carves and I crochet and we pet Sadie many times during the day. Little Elvis gets attention when Sadie is not watching...because she is jealous and does not understand the concept of two hands one for each dog.  Two hands and they should be all hers. 

 Yesterday we went to the grocery store...the car is in the heated garage so Far Guy drives me and drops me off at the door and picks me up at the door when I am finished.

  We made a wonderful supper; chicken, carrots, fruit salad and french fries. Everyone pitches in with dishes and clean up so it takes only a few minutes after supper.

I finished watching 1883 it is a really good series on Paramount.  I will watch 1923 next and hope it is as good. 

Far Side

Afternoon pals

 Jen was at work and then came home to rest quietly.  Far Guy was downstairs working on a puzzle and having a nap. Andy was at work and came home in time for supper. 

Sadie and Little Elvis had me cornered in the computer room.  No way was I escaping without them.

They had the exits covered.  Smart dogs.  I will "do" in a pinch. 

View out the window in the computer room.

Notice no snow.  There was some morning frost but I slept through it. 

I was the cook yesterday.  Roast pork, mashed potatoes and gravy, with roasted parsnips and carrots.  There are enough left overs to eat again today.  BTW the Pioneer brand gluten free brown gravy mix was excellent!

Far Side

Getting Settled

 We made it Up North safe and sound.  Our youngest Grandson Adam came by and helped us move stuff from the car to the house.  We unloaded stuff and settled in quickly.

Saturday we went grocery shopping and I had a long rest time. 

Sadie and Little Elvis are thrilled with our company.  When Far Guy put on his jacket to go along to the grocery store Sadie was visibly sad. She makes us laugh with her antics. 

I moved one dog bed between Far Guy and I in the computer room.

Little Elvis is happy to be there with us.  He rested with me in the afternoon. 

Andy custom built the cabinets and drawers for the computer area.  It is just perfect.  It is a very pretty room where we spend some time off and on throughout the day. 

No snow here yet. 

Far Side

Sadie and Little Elvis

 Both dogs are doing great and they are happy to see us. Andy is working in the backyard preparing the site for the above ground pool and a new patio. 

Sadie supervises in the backyard in between bouts of playing ball.

Far Side

Tooth and Dogs

 One of these days I should count my teeth.  I kinda like Nitrous Oxide, it takes the edge off.

Yes I had a messy tooth...it had an abscess that they cleaned up, packed it with something that will dissolve and put in a couple of stitches.  Uffda...

I cannot say that they were a real organized Oral Surgery Office.  My prescription never got to the Pharmacy...and when Far Guy called back to the Surgery center they only sent one prescription in.  We finally left town without the pain reliever. Far Guy was disgusted...we waited in the parking lot of the Pharmacy just about an hour.   I was so ready to just get the prescription and head home...

Little Elvis enjoyed our stay and he had a sleep over in our room. 

Miss Sadie was so happy to see us especially Far Guy.  

The kids painted the living room and Jen got new curtains...and the popcorn ceiling is history. 

 It is a much brighter room!  

Far Side

Faithful companion

 Little Elvis is thirteen years old now.  He is my constant companion.  He can hear a little and see a little...he is elderly and sleeps a lot so we get along just fine. 

He moves when I move...his nose must still be pretty good because I can rarely sneak away.  In the night time if I get up to go to the bathroom he follows me and then goes to get a drink of water and is ready to settle back down again when I return.  

He and Sadie get along mostly, she is very jealous of him and will nose him out of the way.  He does run and bark with her outside. 

I will miss him when we go back to the woods.  

Far Side

Footwarmers

 This is the scene by my feet.  Little Elvis is usually there, but Sadie joined him as Andy is stacking wood, Jen is getting her hair cut, Far Guy is woodcarving and I am alone in the office...so tag I am it...the safe place. 

They have situated themselves so that they can nap and will know if I get up to do something else...like get them treats:)

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Photo Project

 I am working on the photo album project for our Grands.  Some of the photos make me smile. 

February 27,  2010  Adam holding Little Elvis. 

Miss Miney, Little Elvis and Chance.  Noah is in the background.   Feb 16, 2010

Little Elvis must have turned 13 now as they have had him 13 years. 

Here is a photo I took just the other day...his eyes are getting cloudy and his hearing is not great, he sleeps in our room most nights.  He has a fluffy dog bed.  He has a touchy tummy so the only treats allowed are rice cakes...and he likes them.

Far Side