Progress

 I bought a new pole for my flag outside the door.  My old flag pole was too darn difficult to attach a flag and this one works better.  I have enough flags I could change them every week.   (years of collecting)

This is the one I chose for a week maybe two.   The Loons are here down at the lake according to my baby brother.  I have not heard them ...but the Canada Geese are honking when flying over and the Bald Eagle circles above in the trees.  ( He is looking for small critters to eat as most of the road kill has been consumed.)

 The patch in the side yard might be grass someday.  If it doesn't rain soon I will have to get out the water hose and tend to it myself. 

I have been selling some stuff...a very Vintage 1970's love seat left the house yesterday!  One less thing to clean around.   It was fairly ugly... it was useful when youngest Grandson Adam was a little boy ...he could stretch out on it and sleep very comfortably. (He grew)

I bought a set..a sofa and this love seat from friends Bonnie and Rueben when they got new furniture about 1999.  Chance claimed the couch but never the love seat...so it was almost as good as the day I bought it.  No one ever sat it it anymore...Jen used it for a luggage rack.  

Progress is slow but still progress.   Trying to look at the bright side of things!

Supper was salad and a Philly on a pretzel bun.:)

Weather: High was 69 F or 21 C eh.  Warm for the first part of May. 

Far Side

More sorting

Yesterday we had a busy day.  We both worked upstairs.  Far Guy managed to gather together a garbage bag full of worthless stuff so I added some old computer accessories that I had shoved under my desk up there too many years ago to recall.  We went to the transfer station and recycle once and are gathering for another recycle trip...mostly old magazines...Farm and Ranch Living and nearly every issue of Martha Stewart Living.  

I filed last years Christmas card photos and letters that I could not part with.  I sorted through some of the Shiny Brites and will sell some of them.  Three boxes were sold yesterday but that is just a drop in the bucket.  The lady was just thrilled!

This is the next bunch on the chopping block.  

We made some discoveries...you know things put away so well that you forgot you had them.   A sure sign that we are aging.

Far Side

First Snow

 Rain turned to snow in the early morning hours on November 20th.  We have enough to almost cover the grass.

Isn't it beautiful?  At least some of the brown is covered up with white.  I shoveled off the walk. Typically it snows three times before the snow stays...we will see what happens...our weather forecast looks like wintery temperatures for the rest of November.  

Jen sent a photo of Sadie in the snow...they got more snow Up North than we did. 

Looks like she walked outside on the patio and laid down.  I am sure she was racing around like a wild girl before long.  

I had a sorting day...sorted out some more "stuff" and labeled a bunch of photos.   I also cleaned out the old toy box...threw some old hiking boots out and began a donation pile for scarfs and hats no longer worn.  I tried to clear some odds and ends or "I will get to it later" stuff off my desk.  I was partially successful. 

Far Side

Mailed and other stuff

 I mailed a whole bunch of odds and ends AND this years Christmas ornaments yesterday.  It took the postal clerk about 30 minutes to deal with my 15 packages.  He said he hadn't mailed that many packages in the last six months.   The lady waiting behind me was not too happy. 

We still have a few Christmas ornaments to hand deliver.  

Back at home I gathered together all my lawn mowing garb threw it in the washer and washed my red boots off in the sink.  All of it including my hat will be stored in the old toy box until next year.  

I got two pair of snowboots out and washed up a pair of crocs for the shoe drawer.  Also decided to get rid of two pairs of shoes from the shoe drawer...progress! ( Truth be told I still have one pair of crocs by the door just incase I need to slip them on quickly instead of my snowboots)

Listed a few more things for sale on Facebook Marketplace.  It all takes time. 

My desk is full of "stuff" from upstairs...paper stuff...old stuff..."stuff" that my Mom kept..that needs to be sorted out...many things will find a home in the Grands three ring binders that I have been keeping for them.  ( I sorted things out for my siblings last Spring and my pile of "stuff" just sat upstairs.)   All that "stuff" needs a proper storage spot!

AND I am ready for the snow!  I can tell the snow is coming...change of weather is painful for me. 

Far Side

Rain

 The rain is turning the grass green and the grass is growing.  I am not getting the lawn mower out again.  

The few leaves that were in our yard and on the patio blew away in the gale force winds on Tuesday. 

I have an old mower propped up against this tree...you know the old push mower with the cutting blades that went around as you pushed.  I believe it is called a reel mower. It took some arm power to push it in tall grass...I recall getting a run at it.  At one time years ago...like 50 years ago you could buy a weed killer bar to attach to the back of the mower and all your dandys were killed...possibly it was 2, 4 - D who really knows for sure. 

Now a days I leave the dandys in the side yard for the early bees, dandys do stop blooming if you mow over them often enough.  But then again I have no neighbors that complain about them. 

The rains in the Fall are good for the trees it will help get them through the winter. Our high temperature yesterday was 40 F or 5 C...it was a tad chilly but not cold enough to snow. 

Far Side

The Big Sort

 It was raining on Monday, so....I began the big sort.  Many totes full of "stuff" were brought upstairs after my Mom died.   Lets just say I have a rather large mess up there...Far Guy refuses to go upstairs. 

Rainy days and evenings will be time to sort.  I will eventually get done...I hope. 

My baby brother brought me three more totes yesterday, one tote had...greeting cards and a small box with some of my Fathers things...like an old billfold...no money in it...a leather belt that has seen better days...a Japanese or Korean book of maps....his drivers license ( I shredded it)...a razor, hearing aids and glasses. 

Not sure what is in the other totes as I didn't get to them yet.  Have to leave those surprises for another rainy day or evening project. 

I know the Lions take glasses...I heard they take hearing aids too!

Six pair...I wonder if that is all I will find?  I tried them on..and no I cannot see through them..he had two real fancy pairs of prescription sunglasses.

Just thankful I didn't get the totes with fabric in them my baby brother has stacks of them in his all season craft/gathering room. 

Far Guy had a pretty good day, we got the bird feeders filled, a Pileated Woodpecker was in the yard and I am sure he will be back for suet.  It was nice to sit out in the sunshine!  The high temperature was 55 F or 13 C eh!

Far Side

Marbles

 Haven't lost my marbles yet. 

It has been a busy week helping my parents go through "stuff" ... they gave me some marbles. 

The afternoons have been sunny and warm, June the snowbank is melting.

We will have a winner soon. 

Far Side

Blast from the past: a coat

 My Mother keeps many things.  Imagine my surprise when I opened up a tote and found a fake fur coat I wore back in the early 1970's. 

It had great pockets...but it was very short...it had to be dry cleaned until the day I threw it in the washing machine and it didn't fall apart.

I marked it a quarter and a young lady was thrilled to have it!   I think my Mom was going to use the fur to make something and never got around to it. 

Far Side

Blue Dishes

 I needed a project on Friday morning. So I washed those blue dishes in the open cupboards.   That was the end of the Spring Cleaning in the kitchen.   Far Guy helped!  Somehow we drag each other into some projects. 

We finished just in time to head for town for my last eye test.   I have looked at the green star twice now ...they told me they were two different tests and the test for macular degeneration where there are lights that move around and you have to press the button.  Old people tests.  I would guess I passed the tests..the Doctor will send out a written report after he has reviewed everything.  

It rained most of the afternoon and the temps were in the 40's.  A chilly Spring day in Minnesota.

Far Side

Old Tool Box Cover

 Far Guy's Dad built a wooden tool box a long time ago.   Far Guy inherited it.  

We were talking one day about how the new /old car may need a few tools in the trunk.   Far Guy said he might finally have a use for the old tool box that we have been carting around for 25 some years.

He cleaned it up ...leaving scratches and paint smudges as part of the character. 

He had an image that was applied to the top cover.   It turned out great! 

I am still working on the cover for the front seat...I had to order more yarn...

***

I saw a commercial...it was for a diabetic medication...apparently they want you to feel safe using their product...a gal is texting someone on a dark street at night, another gal is grilling food and her floppy scarf is very near the grill...who comes up with these ideas for commercials...idiots or do they think we are the idiots?

Far Side

Ongoing Project: Sleigh Bells

Christmas gift from long ago…probably about 5 years.

 

It was a bunch of sleigh bells from Jen, Andy and the boys.   I put the bells in this wooden container and put them up on a shelf in the kitchen…twice a year when I would clean off that shelf I would think…I need to clean up those bells.

I started this project before Christmas.  I soaked them for a few days and then polished them…and polished…and polished.

Most of them still need their throats cleaned…but I could not stand the suspense of what one might look like? They were laying out on the counter drying.

Pretty…this one is a B/C bell ( Must be the place it was on the harness)

I am not sure how I will use these four bells…They are attached to the base with a screw.  Historically I can find no reference to bells mounted in this fashion.  So they are mystery bells.   They are all #3  petal bells. The creative part of my brain has a few ideas how to use them as Christmas ornaments….but I am not sure how they will look. 

For now, I will finish the cleaning…attach ribbons and put name tags on them and put them in a Christmas Tin to be opened before Christmas next year.

It was turdy below that old zero mark on the trusty old thermometer yesterday morning. 

Rescued Santa

We stopped by the antique shop in town one day…we didn’t have too much time to explore but as we walked quickly through I happened to spy a couple of things I needed wanted should not have bought for $2.

It just added to my project/someday list.

Who can resist an old carving that just needs a little help…and the jingling bells were driving Far Guy nuts just in the store. (Yes it might be me and the bells that drive him over the edge.)

The Santa had a strange look.

Before: Santa stares…kinda spooky.  He needed to be rescued.

After…I sanded him a bit, thinned down some brown paint and brushed some on and took most of it off, re painted his wonky eyes…put some snow on his hat and cuffs and a little glitter glue on his tree…and then I sealed it.

He looks good on the wreath outside the door.  Maybe I will add some lights and maybe not.

The bells ended up outside also…that was the extent of my Christmas decorating this week.

Call me

Call me anytime….not before eight or after eight.

If I can hear the phone ring I will answer….so call me anytime!

Not sure of the number…but you can call me anytime.

My kind of phone.

This old phone still needs a cover on its receiver and the cord is frayed but we decided that the frayed cord gives it character.  This phone was patented in 1900 and 1901.  Far Guy cleaned it up with Murphy’s Oil Soap…there was at least 116 years of grime and dirt on it.  This original sticker is still intact, if we had refinished the telephone we would have sacrificed the original sticker so we chose to just clean it up.

CCC Camp Lake Itasca

We have some Memorabilia from the Lake Itasca Camp.

February 10 1936.  It was –52 F or –47C

This is a patch from Lake Itasca CCC the 3701 st

There are two companies called 3701.  One is inside the park with Co. 1785 and one is just outside the park with Co. 1764.

We think that Far Guy’s Dad Marvin was at Co. 3701 Co. 1764 just outside the park in 1936.  The other CCC Camp was established in 1938.

So off we went to locate the old camp.  We took a gravel road and spotted some fellows planting trees.   We asked if they knew where the old CCC Camp was?  One said “We only come up once in awhile so where that camp is would just be a guess on my part…BUT go talk to Dorothy my aunt, tell her Lyle sent you.”

We had a lovely visit with Dorothy. She was Minnesota Nice!!  It turns out that she moved to this farm in 1940.  The CCC Camp was gone, only the foundations remained.  The Camp was right on her farm.  She reminisced about how her children loved to play fort and look for relics over in the pasture.  One time they were certain they found some Indian Burial Grounds because of the bones they found…turned out they were beef bones buried near where the Cook Shack was.  Dorothy has lived there for a a gazillion years according to her nephew Lyle..it is really only 74 years.  Her husband died two years ago.  When I asked if I could take her picture she said “Sure but your camera will probably break.”

Out in the pasture where that Oak Tree is was where the old CCC Camp Company 3701 and Company 1764 were.  This old camp is right along Highway 200 on the North Side of the road…at Dorothy’s place.

So this part of our adventure is complete.  We still need to measure the mileage for the other CCC Camp down on the Hanna Ore Road and take some photos before all the leaves come on. 

We have shared the Lake Itasca Old Photo and the Patch with a fellow who is writing a book about Itasca State Park, the book is due out this spring.   I helped him gather info for his research last summer.

Say it isn’t SNOW

Well it did it.  The April Showers turned to April SNOW.

Far Guy and I had a date day away.  It started to rain as we left home.  Many hours later when we returned the temperature was dropping and we had snow.

It snowed on Little Elvis.  His teenage best friend should enjoy this photo while he is in California.  Miney is also visiting…she felt that she needed to eat as soon as we arrived home.

We visited a new antique shop…well not new…but new to us.  Oh there was Lionel Train “stuff” galore but Far Guy only bought one piece.  I found some more old photos…imagine that.  I also looked at some marbles and dice but they were too expensive in my opinion. It was so relaxing to just wander and browse the shops.

Chance had a boring day, we walked him several times in the rain.  He enjoyed some ball playing in a field near the airport.  Meeting up with Miney and Little Elvis meant that he had to share his backseat.

He is a gentleman and always shares his backseat, water dish, toys and food.  He may look a bit worried in this photo…there was some snow thunder.  He will be real happy the next couple of days as he loves having company.

More Old Games

Ack!  It is a struggle.  I am still organizing and selling, trying to make a dent in the crap fine collectables I have collected over the years.  I like to sell  local on the Facebook site versus eBay which involves packing and mailing.

I don’t know that I am making a dent yet.  Far Guy says “Well,  more stuff is going out than is coming back in.” 

I have quite a mess upstairs…I have a spot to take photos and then local stuff, eBay stuff and rummage sale stuff and donate stuff.   I hope no one is coming to visit that needs a bed for awhile.  One good thing about upstairs as I can leave it a mess and come downstairs!

I am learning as I am going along.  Many things need to be researched.  This is a Puzzle Peg from 1922.  I have to re photograph before I put it on eBay.  I will put all the pegs in the holes.

Did you know that bingo was originally called “Beano” and then someone called out Bingo one time and that was all it took and Bingo was born?

WELL.  How about the game of RIGHT.  Was it some ones miserable failure?  If so I have ten of the cards.

12 ways to make RIGHT.  The cards were hand stamped with numbers. Some numbers overlapped and appear in two rows like R 17 and I 17.  I wonder if that made it more difficult?  The cards are made out of some kind of pressed wood/fiber.  I have had them a long time…20 to 25 years and I cannot recall exactly where I purchased them.  For awhile I was fascinated by really old games and I guess this one qualified.  I have had no luck finding any like it on the web.  I know I am not the only one out there with these cards.  Then again maybe I am and I am filthy rich and don’t know it yet..these cards could be priceless.  Ya sure.

The perfectionist in me wants to know more info about them before I put them up for sale.  Who made them and what year?  And why?   It frustrates me that I cannot find any information…but maybe one of my readers have seen these before..maybe.

New snow and old toys

We got five inches of new snow at the snowstick.

Fun. 

I worked upstairs most of the day.  Sorting “stuff.”  Here are few old toys that I found recently!

This is a wooden cube puzzle from about 1960.  It has Disney Characters, originally it came in a plastic case and it was made in West Germany.  It is a six sided puzzle and a real treat to put together.  There are some sheets of paper that show the completed puzzle. I bought it at a garage sale a few years ago for $5.00

This is an old rocking horse with storage under the seat.  I bought it at a sale and our Grandkids used it, it is a safe rocking horse because it was closer to the ground if they fell off.  It was made in Michigan.

I thought there was just one kind of logs…Lincoln Logs.  Not so… these are Vintage Halsam  American Logs.  They have the hand hewn look.  I should have built a house or something…maybe another day.  These would have originally came in a old cardboard container with a tin cover.  I am not sure why I have this set.  I had several other new sets and the grandkids loved to play with them as did lots of other little kids when they came to the Greenhouse with their parents.  I had two drawers full of toys for little kids.  The only thing I can think of is that I bought this set to go with the others and it never quite made it there.