Nice day

 We had a nice sunny day here..just about half the air temperature of Belize.

Jen sent this photo from the resort in Belize.

Thursday Far Guy had his weekly infusion, I went to Walmart Pickup, Aldi and Hobby Lobby and still waited for him in the parking lot.  All four medical appointments are done for the week...Friday is our day off! Next week we have four appointments...mostly me for a change of pace.  Taking turns I guess.

I am tweeking the last of the photographs to be printed for the photo albums I have been working on...I can see the end in sight! 

Happy Birthday today to our nieces Katie and Bethany! 

Far Side

The eyes have it

 Cats...or Cataracts, Far Guy has them and surgeries have been scheduled.  He is a bit bummed out that one appointment yielded five more appointments.  Can't say I blame him but I know he will be happier when he can see clearly again!

We had lunch with my other baby brother and she who sees robins first as they were passing through town to visit Katie for her upcoming 44th birthday in Western North Dakota. Happy Birthday Katie!

Minnesota weather: High 30F or -1C Low was 21F or -6C. Partly cloudy day. 

3D print of a cat for Cee Cee's Valentine box. I painted the eyes and put a bit of color on the nose and the inside of the ears.  Andy will put it all together..the cat will be peeking out of a cardboard box. It is amazing what that 3D printer can do!

Here is the completed Valentine box. The heart is also a 3 D print.

Far Side

Train

 This is one of the puzzles that we picked up at the puzzle exchange at the library.

Proof that we finished it!

It was a difficult puzzle.  

Sunday we met my other baby brother and she who sees robins first for lunch and a quick visit as they had been in North Dakota for Thanksgiving visiting Katie, Hunter, Gavin, Jordan and Aubrey.  Gavin and Jordan have moved into their own apartment.  Both have good jobs and are striking out on their own. 

We had leftovers for supper and cleared out a bit of "whats in the fridge".

Minnesota weather; High was 20F or -7C Low was 3F or -16C eh! 

Only 7 medical appointments this week practically a vacation...and two days this week we have nothing scheduled!

Far Side

Visitors and a nap

 I am a tad tired after the busy week.  I spent most of Friday resting and doing quiet things.  I tended to a few things on my list of things to do and had a nap. 

Niece Katie, Hunter and Aubrey visited us they are here from Western North Dakota.  Aubrey is a Senior this year and has been accepted into the Nursing Program at Minot State University!  She will be an awesome nurse!! ( Aubrey is my other baby brothers Grand)

Far Side

Family History

 I have to back up a bit in our recent family history.  Back to February 24, 2024 the day of my Mother's funeral and interment.  ( Just in case someone a long time from now wonders...or wants to know because they were not there)

Mom's urn at the church was carried out by her granddaughter Rachael (aka Toots), followed by all of Mom's granddaughters...except for one who was unable to attend.

Luckily because of the warmer than normal Minnesota Winter weather we were able to go to the cemetery for the interment of ashes.  My other baby brother, Nephew Josh and a few others not sure who...dug down to the double vault that contained my Father's urn. 

The Granddaughters bringing the Urn up the hill. 

Mom's urn joins Dad's  ( he has a prayer book that he had with him in Korea on top of his urn)

Our daughter Jen dropping her flower and her sister's flower into the urn vault. 

We visited the grave this week. 

May 22, 2024 the spot that was dug up was reseeded by my baby brother.  New grass will grow there eventually.  The cemetery high on the hill is beautiful in the Spring, the green so intense this year that it almost hurts your eyes. 

Dad's Veterans foot marker is not in place yet nor is his flag holder.  Mom's date of death has not been engraved into the headstone as of yet.

It all takes time.  I for one was very thankful that we could inter Mom's ashes in February, after Dad died in December of 2022  his ashes were not interred until the end of July in 2023...it was a very long seven months for me...it was like the grieving process was halted.  I know we all grieve differently but that waiting was difficult.

Far Side

Flashback to 1982

I am still in the process of sorting and organizing.  I should be ashamed of myself for tucking so many things away in different places.  I will blame it on the three moves between 1995 and 1998 and putting “stuff” into storage several times.

Yesterday I found a piece of heavy cardboard in a drawer, tucked inside were many old 8 x 10 photos. Now they are on my desk to be scanned. They will make good blast from the past blog fodder.

We gathered at the top of the hill overlooking Straight Lake at my parents resort (Bass Bay).   Mom had hired the cranky old photographer from town.  He really didn’t take his time to get good photos.

The year was 1982.  At this time my parents had six grandchildren. My Mom is holding Katie (6 months old) and Dad is holding Benjamin (2 months old).  Jennifer (age 7) is sitting uncomfortably on the edge of the two lawn chairs.  Trica has her eyes closed (age 10).  Our dog Snuffer is running around someplace…irritating the photographer.

Back row: Julie (my sister), me, Far Guy, Jody (my other baby brother) She who sees Robin’s first with Josh (age 2), Beth and Carey(my baby brother) holding Kirk (not quite 2).
This summer will mark 35 years since this photo was taken.  It seems impossible…but the calendar doesn’t lie.

Katie’s Ornaments

I got a nice note and a photo via Facebook Private Message.

Katie wrote:

Thinking of you guys today as I pack away my favorite ornaments! Hope you are doing good!  Katie

****

These are all ornaments that we have made over the years…beginning back in 1990 the Loon top left was the first ornament.  The small bear with the pink shirt is an ornament that my Mom gave her grandchildren in 1989.

Time for an updated list!

1990  a Loon

1991  Santa or Mrs Santa or an Elf.   Katie got a Mrs Santa

1992 a pair of Mittens

1993 a wooden toy soldier

1994 a shot gun shell santa

1995 a big red sleigh bell

1996 a wooden birdhouse

1997 a wood turned snowman

1998 a shell that smelled…Katie is missing this one…mine is in the garage someday I will get the box of sea shells down and make her another one.  After 19 years they shouldn’t smell any more!

1999 clothespin angels

2000 santa face on a bent spoon

2001 a black walnut tree with buttons

2002 a black walnut gingerbread boy with buttons

2003 a decoupage photo..everyone was different ( Katie’s was a photo of them on one side and a photo of the day their trailer moved in next door on the other side.

2004 a wooden flag

2005 a little light bulb santa

2006 a hand carved candy cane

2007 a beaded angel

2008 a snowflake design burned into a piece of basswood

2009 a loon wood burned and painted

2010 a cottonwood bark hand carved church

2011 a basswood spool with a hand carved santa face

2012 a christmas tree handcarved

2013 a Milkweed Pod Santa

2014 Showy Lady Slipper handcarved

2015 Loon handcarved

2016 Yellow Lady Slipper handcarved

I have two ideas in mind for next years ornaments they are both carved.  One I have carved previously…one is just an idea.

It was fun to see all the ornaments together.  Katie is my niece who used to live next door but has moved far far away to North Dakota…and she took the twins and Aubrey with her!   I miss her and her children.  Her husband works in the Oil Patch.

Katie and Aubrey  July of 2016

Gavin, Aubrey and Jordan