Lotza appointments

 Now that the house and yard is mostly taken care of, we can concentrate on the medical appointments this week.   Far Guy has three medical appointments and one misc appointment. I had four appointments but I cancelled two of them...Jen can remove my stitches from the biopsy in my forehead and PT is going well so it can be rescheduled in two weeks.  BTW my biopsy came back with clean edges so that was good news!  So between us we still have six places to be on various days this week.

These Mums were outside the Farm Supply place where we went to get Tilly a new battery.  She refused to start the day before she was supposed to get her transmission checked.  Hopefully she will start now and eventually she can make it to her appointment one day soon.  My baby brother and his bride helped to get the battery loaded in the car so we could take it for an exchange.   My baby bother was also here several afternoons taking care of leaves!  We appreciate all the help!

Supper was homemade pizza.  It was really good!  I think a twice baked crust was the secret!

Minnesota Weather: High 51F or 11C  Low was 34F or 1C eh!

The last outside water hose was disconnected. All the misc "stuff" that was in Ranger Blue was put away.  We went to town for a prescription with stops to recycle and to drop off outgoing mail, and a book to the local little library.

The Ben Franklin store in town is now closed...they moved the store to a different town...not sure where...but as nasty as that guy was I hope the door hit him in the you know what on his way out of town. (he let it be known that he could not survive on the Winter time locals, there would be no going out of business sale and to stop asking because all inventory would be moved to a new location and there would be no warning as to when the store would close)

Far Side

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. 

Far Side

63 years ago

March 26 1961 my baby brother was seven years old, my other baby brother was five months old and I was 9 1/2. 

It must have been close to Easter that year as my baby brother has a bunny amongst his seven candles. 

Not sure who the hair dresser was most likely my Mom...those bangs of mine will take a long time to grow out..those curls were made with those spongy pink hair rollers.

Happy Birthday to my baby brother! Welcome to your 70's.

Far Side

Stuff

 I am working on the Video for my Mother's funeral at the end of the week.  I am waiting on a few photos and then maybe I can call it done.  I have a limit of about 100 photos. 

Had lunch yesterday with Far Guy and my other baby brother and she who sees robins first...they were on their way back from Western North Dakota. 

Today I will work on the photo boards for the funeral, I picked up possibly the last batch of photos at Walmart yesterday. 

I did some laundry and finished a book. 

1963 photo, me in some of those fashionable stretch pants, my other baby brother, Mom and my baby brother.  The dog was a Spitz named Chipper...or maybe it is Wally.  Chipper went out on the highway and was killed, Wally lived a good life and died about 1974

Far Side

Town and Visitors

 I ran errands while Far Guy had his infusion.  I had quite a list at Wally World.  Main Street was full of cars, there are still a few tourists around. 

I have a list of many others things to pick up here and there but did not feel up to doing it yesterday.  One day soon I will have Far Guy drive me around and drop me off here and there to get everything on my ongoing project list.  Embroidery floss, Seven Ant Killer, white primer and paint, a wood sealer for some wood trim that needs a refreshing and bath tub molding...our tub has a rounded back edge and the sealant and molding need to be replaced.

My Cousin Chuckie came out to visit us in the afternoon and my baby brother and his bride and Baxter visited us in the evening.

1933 Buick that was at the last Car Show.

The oven repair fellow is supposed to be here today (Friday) to fix my oven.  It works for a couple of hours then makes dinging noises and shuts itself off.  It is a Jenn-air range that is 24 years old.

Far Side

Trail on Sunday

 We went on a trail ride on Sunday with my brothers.

The woods are still colorful in spots.   My other baby brother knows lots of trails and we even found an outhouse at a trail junction! 

Usually our riding spot is in between them, but on Sunday we were bringing up the rear and I took a couple of photos. 

Today is my other baby brothers birthday...he is 61 today...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!  I was 9 when he was born.   I am blessed with two of the greatest baby brothers!! 

Far Side

Oh Brothers

 My baby brother brought his bride, daughter, son in law and grands over after the storm last week...the kids all used the electric shovel.  My brother helped to shovel...they moved lots of snow so that made it easier for me. 

Here they are hiking back to their house. Photo taken Wednesday December 30.

Later that day my other baby brother came and moved a lot of snow with his big old snowblower. 

Here he is moving snow behind the bird feeders. 

On New Year's Eve day we puppy sat for Baxter. 

He did not like being left with us.  He was a turd.   Good thing I put a leash on him or he would have ran back home.  He ignored us both for most of the time he was here, I walked him outside and we played on the snowbank named June...he likes being up high and sliding down the snowbank...he also chased some leaves....but he was just miserable.  He would not take treats from my hand until I had him on the leash. Most of the time he was here he hid under the dining room table and closed his eyes every time I got down on the floor to make eye contact with him....it took him almost four hours to get his toy off his blanket and drag it under the table.  

 Oh so pathetic! 

He is a 17 week old puppy...he let me touch his ears and nose and he has a soft mouth and finally ate some dog food out of my hand.   He growled at me several times....I growled back!  He is right at the age where he is bonding with his pack and he has decided I do not belong. My brother and his bride hiked over again yesterday...I had my brother put him on the leash...I took him to the snowbank to play and to do some leash work and then I released the leash and praised him....he promptly ran to my brother. 

We will work with him a little at a time.  I think he is a little stuck on himself...but will eventually like me.  I am not sure if he is stubborn (like G'Day Mate was) or just needs more socialization.  My brothers Grands went home...so he is a puppy adjusting away from some of his pack. He has only been with my brother for 12 days. 

 Baxter is a work in progress.

Looking toward his home feeling real SAD! 

Far Side

Visitors on Sunday

 It was a reasonably warm day 31 F or -1 C eh!  Time for some social distancing out on the patio.

My other baby brother and she who sees robins first came over first.  We enjoyed catching up with them! We were warming up after their visit and my baby brother and his bride and daughter Ellie and Grands were hiking over...they were exercising their new puppy in hopes that he would sleep real good as his first night was hard for him. 

This is Baxter and he belongs to my baby brother and his bride.  He is a Mini Australian Shepherd and he is almost 16 weeks old.  He will be a regular visitor in our yard.  He is a happy well socialized puppy that likes kids. He is a fluffball! 

My baby brother and his Grandson Cruz who was trying out a snow board.  He did quite well and will be zooming down hills before long. 

Miss Marley was trying out some short skis and perfecting her moves.

Kids and dogs it doesn't get much better than that! 

There is one more Grand but he was having a bad day...sometimes that happens.  

It was a wonderful break in our day to have visitors. 

Thank you everyone for the Anniversary wishes we appreciate them all! 

Far Side

Pocket Shawl and other stuff

 I found a pattern for a pocket shawl on the interweb...it had a long fringe so I adapted the pattern...and it had small pockets...so I changed that also.

As I worked on this project I wondered who I would give it to...two people came to mind...I think I have it figured out. 

 I can tell you it is very warm...just working on it warmed me up. It is bright and cheerful!

I learned a bit about this larger project...I have yarn to make a another...a bit of a different pattern... perhaps sometime this winter I will start that project.

I am back to smaller projects with a quicker finish again.  (gifts)

We did our Wally World pickup...they are out of the 20 ounce bottles of water that Far Guy likes for making his coffee...we have to use bottled water or buy a new coffee maker every few months. 

I finally got the French Door washed up and sparkling...two more windows to go and I can cross windows and doors off my Fall work list. 

My baby brother came by with his huge mulching tractor...the wildgardens were done in no time!  Stiney (his little dog)  tracked him all the way over here and then went back home by himself...Stiney has not been feeling well...he is old and has liver issues....but he was running like the wind yesterday.  It is hard to have old dogs...you never know from one day to the next how they will be. (Stiney has been on many walks through the trails to get to our house so he knows his way around.)

My other baby brother and she who sees Robin's first came to visit and give us the Covid report...some neighbors tested positive but are feeling okay.  Scary times we live in...is there any rhyme or reason why some people get so sick and others have mild to no symptoms? 

Far Side

Busy Day

 Another busy day yesterday...picked up curbside groceries...no Naan Bread or Green Enchilada Sauce.  We have another order in at Walmart that I will pick up today.  We did get a Turkey Breast so we can have Thanksgiving dinner. 

While Far Guy was at the Infusion Center at the Clinic I stopped by a locally owned appliance store and ordered a new refrigerator...ours is 22 years old...I ordered another Amana.   Not sure when it will be here but they will give me a heads up before it is delivered.  (There was one other customer and one salesperson in the store and we all wore masks.)

Back at home we unpacked groceries and then did some more projects...Far Guy cut out some wood for carving and I messed around with glass flowers ...it was perfect weather to be in the greenhouse/woodshop.

My baby brother stopped by along with his bride and Stiney. 

He has new wheels...it has heat and air conditioning and will be outfitted with tracks for winter ice fishing.

I put up the Thanksgiving Flag.

We have just a little snow left in the yard.

Sounds like another day or two of nice weather and then winter will return.

Far Side

Baby Brother's Birthday

My baby brother is older today...soon he will pass me up as I have decided to go backwards in age now so in a couple of years he will be older than me.  I was 2 1/2 years old when he was born.  I was the best big sister ever!

Carey and Connie 1954 at the farm in Carsonville Township.

He had knee surgery January 23 and says his PT gal really makes him work.  When he gets done with physical therapy he will have two good knees again.

The Trailcam catches him from time to time as he comes by to visit or mow.  Last summer we were gone to the University of Minnesota and he and his lovely wife mowed our lawn.

My baby brother and his wife stopping by to visit.  Their lake home is just down the road.

Happy Birthday Baby Brother!
Far Side

Imagination

Three of my baby brother's Grands came over to do an art project...goodness knows I have lots of supplies.

They admired the little Fox that I made for May Baskets at their Grandparents house and wanted to know if they could make a batman and wolves.

I got out the die cutting machine for the basic parts and they added their own ideas. 
Note to self if we do this again we need safety scissors for kids!  They did okay with my long sharp scissors but I was uneasy.

They have imaginations!
After the craft project they went upstairs to view the Train Set...that was a big hit! 

Far Side

Wistful Wednesday : July 1978

In July of 1978 we...Far Guy, Trica, Jen and I along with my parents my other baby brother and my sister traveled to Missouri to witness my baby brother's marriage.

I was a bridesmaid...not one of the skinny ones, Far Guy was a Groomsman as was my other baby brother and Trica was the flower girl.  It was a late in the afternoon wedding with a reception that followed.  We arrived on Friday afternoon and left on Sunday morning during a lightening storm.

That was 41 years ago.  Now they are Grandparents to eight.  My baby brother shared this photo with me last summer.

They have Grands that live in Oregon, New Jersey and Maryland.  They will all be here to visit later this month.

Far Side

Veteran’s Day

Today is the day to thank all the Veterans in our lives. Those that serve now and those who have served.  Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air National Guard, Army National Guard at home or overseas….THANK YOU!

Far Guy

My baby brother, my nephew, my dad and my husband.  Thank you all!

Luckily these family members made it home.

My Paternal Grandparents were not so lucky. Five of their twelve sons were in the military.

They all returned but one.

My Uncle Arthur is buried in the Sicily Rome American Cemetery in Italy.  He was 23 years old when he was wounded and died during the invasion of Italy.

Some gave all.

Struggles

We all have our struggles and crosses to bear.  I have stiches in my hand that are driving me half totally crazy.  Nothing seems to help…except ice and elevation…one night I even took one of those poop stopping pain pills…I was desperate to be pain free to sleep. I figured if one stopped me up at least I was pain free for four hours…and eventually I would poop again.  Thank goodness just one had no effect!!!

I am tired. I bawl at the drop of a hat. I am cranky…yet I am not in a forest fire or a hurricane ..SO I should quit the bitchin…suck it up and put my big girl panties on and not rip out the fourteen stitches in my hand by myself.  ( I could start and remove a few and then Far Guy will have to help me finish.)

If I were a dog I would certainly have bitten them to release the torturous things. I would have to wear that doggie cone of shame because I could not be trusted if I were a dog.

Life would be easier if I WERE A DOG.

I am beginning to think that I am allergic to those stitches and what ever else they used to close up that incision.  It hurts, it itches…I am done bitching now…the stitches will be gone in a few more hours. I can do it…maybe.  I wonder how many minutes it is until then?

This is a photo my baby brother sent me from Houston.  He works there. He wrote “ I had a leaky garage ceiling, no significant issues. Some folks down the street not so much see the photo…”  He was away from Houston during Hurricane Harvey and returned after Labor Day.

Wistful Wednesday :1964

I remember the day this photo was taken, I was inside doing dishes when Mom wanted a photograph of us with her flowers.  Check out those dirty feet.  I hated shoes..still do.  This photo was taken in 1964 towards fall..that in between time when you might wear a sweatshirt with shorts.

I was 13 or really close to 13, my baby brother was 10 that year and my other baby brother was going to be 4.  My baby brother has on his jeans uniform…jacket with white T –shirt and pants and high top sneakers. My other baby brother had some issue going on with a belt and his pants and or pants leg.  His pants look all cattywhampus…oh well he was just a little guy. Looks like he is wearing cowboy boots.

Our dog should have been around someplace, he was a Spitz named “Wally”…he followed a Spitz named “Chipper” who was run over on the road one night when us kids were out playing in the cow pasture.  Wally would live a good long time until he chased the wrong vehicle and was injured and lay under the lilac bushes for days before he finally died..in 1973 - 1974 if I recollect correctly, I think he died on my birthday or very near it.

I think those yellow flowers were Dahlias but I am not certain.  We are standing on the old basement entrance that was made into a trap door.

When I was little there were outside stairs there and the outside entrance was covered in tarpaper.  The steps were dark and scary and I think there were snakes on those stairs.  There were stairs inside down to the basement also, the basement stairs were right outside my parents bedroom.  When the house was remodeled, those stairs disappeared, a new basement was constructed right next to the old one and a hole was cut in the inside wall connecting the new basement to the old.  New indoor basement steps were built near the outside door so if you had your chore/barn clothes on you could go right on downstairs to change.  At that time the trap door was installed and the outside steps disappeared.

Now my brain is tired from all that thinking:)

March 26 1954

March 26  1954 was a day that changed my world forever.  Life would never be the same again.  I was no longer the “only child” I wasn’t the baby anymore. My spot had been taken..just like that  things changed. The world did not center around me.  From then on times would be tough, I would have to learn how to share both of my parents..and most difficult of all I would have to learn how to be a big sister.  Of course I would have to find new ways to get attention..holding my breath and then throwing myself on the floor until I turned blue worked for a very long time.

A girl and a boy..perfect.  My brother was always my Mother’s favorite.  I think because he was a colicky sick baby that cried ALL the time.  Anyways that would make me my Dad’s favorite so that wasn’t all bad, my Dad would take me places and the baby and my Mom would stay at home..perfect.

“Be careful of your brother”..I must have heard that a million times..”Be nice to your brother”  “Don’t do that to your brother.”  “Connie Joy!!” I was only 2 1/2 years old..and he was like a big doll. ( I never liked dolls very much…but real live babies were another story.)

Now I am old..and he is getting older.  Happy Birthday to my baby brother!

  Summer of 1954 my baby brother and me.

Wistful Wednesday: My Baby Brother is a Grandpa!

This is an old grade school photo of my baby brother.

Taken..maybe when he was in first grade in 1960-61.  That is a homemade shirt he is wearing.  He was very blond and pretty cute.

Last weekend he became a Grandfather for the very first time.  His only daughter delivered a gift straight from God..a true miracle baby.  The pregnancy was tenuous at best..so it was wonderful news to hear that Cruz was born on Saturday afternoon weighing 6 pounds and 14 ounces.  Many prayer warriors breathed a sigh of relief and said a prayer of thanks for his safe delivery. 

“A Grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart.” ~ Author Unknown

My baby brother and his wife shared the following photographs with me.

Welcome to the family Cruz:)

Wistful Wednesday: 1954

This photo was taken in the summer of 1954.  I was a good big sister.

I am sure I did not let go and let my baby brother topple over..did I?

This photo sat in amongst a bunch of film to be developed for a long time.  In January of 1956 the film was finally developed.  Those were tough times financially for my parents..crop failures..grasshoppers..army worms..farming was a real challenge back then.

My much younger brother and sister don’t remember the hard times.  By the time they were born in 1960 and 1966 my Dad had been working out on the road (construction) for many years to help make ends meet at the farm.

We didn’t have dry cereal out of a box.. only porridge either Oatmeal or Malt O Meal..or Cream of Wheat.  I hated and still hate hot cereal.  When we had chickens I learned to eat eggs for breakfast…over hard. 

There was no syrup for pancakes or French toast.  I learned to eat mine plain with butter.  My Mom would boil up a syrupy concoction on the stove sometimes..but I found it too sweet.  I still like my pancakes plain with butter.

We rarely had a candy bar and if we did it was shared. We would enjoy a whole candy bar all by ourselves every Halloween from Ray and Bev’s grocery store in Ponsford.  

My Mom would can what she could..green and yellow beans ( I love yellow beans) and she made a sauce out of rhubarb that was wonderful.  This time of year the jars would all be lined up on the shelves in the basement waiting for winter.  Quart jars full of Peaches, pears, cherries and rhubarb sauce.  Green and Yellow beans, old hens cooked and canned, and pickles..sweet and dill and my favorite Russian dills.  Pickled beets and  spiced crab apples in half pints. A working crock of sauerkraut..yummy! Sometimes I still get hungry for mashed potatoes covered in sauerkraut.

The only thing I disliked was the stewed tomatoes..I like tomatoes but only fresh ones..not cooked and not chunky.  Sometimes supper was some macaroni with some of the horrid stewed tomatoes on top..I would eat the macaroni and slide the chunky tomatoes to the side of my plate..in fact I still do that whenever I encounter chunky tomatoes:)

Wistful Wednesday: 1957

In the summer of 1957 we left the farm and went to live in Ray North Dakota where my Dad had a job with a construction company.  We stayed there all summer and into the fall.

Back then Dad was in charge of all the equipment.  So when we would go out to visit him we could pretend we were working.  That is me in that checkered shirt and my baby brother  is on the other “Cat” perhaps we were having an imaginary race.

This summers weather is reminiscent of that warm summer in North Dakota long ago.  North Dakota is different from Minnesota and far away from the comforts of home.  No lakes..no swimming..no cool breezes coming over the fields at night. No good tasting water unless you went to the spring by the side of the road to fill the water jugs.  There were large bull snakes in the road sometimes..they scared me.  That was the summer I learned to play Jacks and Marbles..the summer I was growing so fast I had growing pains at night..and real bad dreams.  I was five that summer almost six years old and headed to first grade in the fall.  My baby brother was three and when I went off to school he would be an only child during school days and have to do “stuff” all on his own:)