A Puzzling Book

 Jen had a book and showed it to me.  Needless to say I ordered a couple from Amazon...one for me and one for my friend Susie.  I hope she is still talking to me after working in the book.

It is a murder mystery with clues and 46,600 possibilities.  

Jen solved the puzzle...I have not...it is all consuming...but I put it down a couple of days ago to give it a rest!  Noah also has a book.  

The Wildfire Smoke is awful. It gave me a headache. We are lucky to have Air Conditioning and two air purifiers in our home. 

Far Guy had his weekly infusion and I ran errands...paint for the trim around the new screen door, to the accountant for tax advice, Aldi, gas and a car wash, the bank, Walmart for a grocery pickup and the Meat Market.

I saw a gal holding a sign that said 20 ribeyes for $39.99 on a street corner.   There was a truck in a nearby parking lot...called Backyard Butchers.   Well they try to upsell you from the tiny paper thin ribeyes...dinkiest rib eyes I have ever seen.   If it sounds too good to be true it probably is...lesson learned.  What a waste of time....I know where to buy good meat at the local meat market.

Minnesota weather:  Smoky air.  High 87F or 31C   Low 71F or 22C

What's Cooking: Far Guy made eggs and potatoes:)

Far Side

Wednesday happenings

 I had lunch with Susie a very old friend from a long time ago when we both had small children.   It was good to catch up and give her a hug.  Life throws us curve balls from time to time and it is good to have a friend that you can call anytime night or day.  Anyways we had a great visit with lots of giggles!   It was a girls lunch out as her husband was busy and Far Guy wanted to get some woodcarving time in before the smoke from the Northern Minnesota Wildfires  invaded our area. 

Our Niece Rachael and family left Ely Minnesota when the smoke got heavy and ash began to fall out of the sky.  Pray for rain, a good soaking rain!

Our nephew Jacob and family are here for the summer from Japan. 

Henry is four driving the green car...assisted by his Dad, Jacob. 

What's Cooking?  Nothing...I brought home a burger for Far Guy from the lunch place.

 Minnesota Weather:  High 86F or 30C      Low 66F or 19C We have an air quality alert until Friday.

Far Side

Still Hot!

 Not much happening here.   A little cleaning, cooking and crocheting...that is about it.

Far Guy managed to sit outside and woodcarve a bit in the morning. Then it got too warm for him.

I trimmed around the bird feeder and around a couple of trees...that is an on going project.

Rudbeckia or if you wish a Black-eyed Susan. 

What's Cooking?  Pork chops and rice.

Minnesota weather:  High 94F or 34C      Low 69F or 21C  We are in a heat advisory and a Air Quality Alert due to the Wildfires in the Boundary Waters.  Sure hope it rains.

Far Side

Sunday

 We had a quiet Sunday with no company.   I did some laundry and some odds and ends.  I had a long afternoon nap, Far Guy napped for about 15 minutes.  I win the napping award! 

This week we have five medical appointments, most are Up North.   Good thing we have lots of "stuff" up there, so there are only a few things that we need to take along.  Sadie will be happy to see us. 

I started Physical Therapy last week and it tires me out in no time.  I have the same Physical Therapist that I had last Fall when we were chasing the pain.  This time we are working on strengthening my back muscles and lots more walking. 

I think this is one of those Spidery Zinnias. 

Minnesota weather: High 72F or 23C low was 56F or 14C eh!  We had a couple of smoke free days...but the wildfire smoke is coming back in for a few days this week.  

We had english muffins, fried eggs and raspberries for supper.  I had a piece of Pork Sausage...Far Guy did not.  He is still losing weight.  He is eating many small meals a day, but his stomach doesn't like most foods.

Far Side

Friday all day

 Finally done with appointments!  Whew what a week...only trouble is one appointment lead to another three appointments in a couple of weeks.  My baby brother and his bride suggested that we get a camper and park it in the clinic parking lot, they could share it with us as they have their fair share of appointments!

We had a mostly quiet day on Friday.  It was very smoky outside again ...not good to be outside when the air quality is very unhealthy.  It looks like bad air quality for a few more days.  So far this summer we have endured 30 plus days of wildfire smoke.  

This weekend is the All School Reunion.  Far Guy would like to attend but the air quality will keep him at home.  I have absolutely no desire to go to my class gathering.  Hope they have fun! 

We had some wonderful fried potatoes, bacon, eggs and corn on the cob for supper!  Minnesota weather: High was 78F or 26C Low was 53F or 12C eh!

Far Side

Cooking Day

 Friday was a cooking day.  My baby brother and his bride brought over fresh picked produce from their garden.

New potatoes and carrots joined a hamburger patty for an oven meal that cheese will be added to before serving. 

We used to do these all the time when we were camping.  Some people called them Hobo Dinners...our girls called them gore~slop...yes they made up a word for them.  Some people add onions...I do not.

Then I cooked up green beans, cooled them and Far Guy vacuum sealed them for me.

Potatoes were cooked, cooled and sliced for potato salad.  

I pulled a chair up to the fridge and straightened it up...now I have a bit of room again.

We stayed indoors because of the wildfire smoke. 

Far Guy felt a tiny bit better after a couple of naps. 

Far Side

Saturday

 The smoke from Canada made it to Minnesota, we stayed indoors all day.

  We had several naps through out the day. 

For supper I made baked potatoes and steak for me and salmon for Far Guy... there is enough leftover for lunch.  Far Guy doesn't have much of an appetite.  

I crocheted for a bit, and did some laundry.

My brothers came over and mowed the lawn on two mowers so it went fast. My baby brother put out some ant traps for me outside.  She who sees robins first put some flavored water in the fridge and refilled the box that is on a shelf that I can reach.  We had a nice visit with them all! 

Far Side

A bit better

 Air Quality was a bit better yesterday...we still had moderate particulate pollution due to the Wild Fires in Canada.   I wish they would put the wet stuff on the red stuff. 

We limited our time outdoors.  Wednesday the air should be better...we hope. 

There is a patch of Pussytoes in our yard, also known as Antennaria neglecta.  It often forms a dense mat...it poisons its neighboring plants so it can expand its territory.  It is a plant Native to Minnesota.

Yesterday I took a look at the canned goods in the pantry and organized it so I know what I have.  I did a couple of loads of laundry.  No nap. 

Minnesota Weather: High 71 F or 22 C Low 47 F or 9 C eh!

We had a Doctors appointment in Detroit Lakes yesterday so we went to KFC and picked up chicken and biscuits for supper. 

Far Side

 

Holy Smoke!

 Usually you have to go out of our trees to see the smoke.  Well not yesterday.

I took photos from inside the house. 

Looking murky out there. 

Needless to say the wildfire smoke covered up the sun.

We stayed indoors all day...again.   I read a bit and then had a four hour nap.  

Minnesota Weather: High 82 F or 28 C  Low  47 F or 9 C eh.

We had pork chops, rice and peaches for supper. 

Too many days inside is discouraging...at least when it is 40 below we can stick our heads out in the fresh air.  Canada please put out your fires!!

Far Side

Trillium

 The Trillium are in bloom. 

This is a nice patch that extends off in to woods who knows how far..I guess as far as the eye can see:)

Such a simple pretty flower!

Minnesota Weather; High 86 F or 30 C and the low was 60 F or 16 C eh.  Wild Fire Smoke from Canada filled the air so we did not go outside the house.  We have two air purifiers going inside the house all the time.

We had a quiet Sunday. I cleaned out the bathroom closet and my bathroom drawer that holds everything I need daily.  Laundry and deep cleaning the bathroom kept me busy in the afternoon.   My other baby brother and she who sees robins first stopped by to visit. 

Supper was Tri Tip Steak and baked potato. 

Far Side

 

Upgrade

 Time to upgrade!  

I had a very old iron, it would steam stuff but often with obnoxious water spots...rusty looking...I usually used a pressing cloth (an old white dish towel)  not sure how old it was but I used it to starch and press Far Guys military BDU's many years ago.  At that time a new iron was much cheaper than sending his uniforms out to a laundry.  The cord had been replaced once...

I traded Jen an old white desk top rotary phone for the iron at the garage sale!  Win win.

Far Guy and I had a quiet Sunday, we listened to church and in the afternoon we went for a Sunday drive to our favorite Mexican place for lunch/supper.   One more day of no cooking sure works for me. 

Our area is experiencing wildfire smoke...it is awful...it even smells inside the house. We have two air purifiers going.

Goodbye August and hello September!  The construction on our road to town was supposed to be finished...it still needs lines/lanes painted...it was Sunday and no one was working...so we took it anyway and ignored the detour. 

Far Side

Fawns in the field

There is a bean field across the road from us.  News Flash: Deer like beans and green leaves.

 

It is a bit smoky here from the wildfires up in our neighbors to the North.

They cut some grass around the edge of the irrigated field...this doe and fawn were not yet in the bean field.  The twin fawns in the bean field look a bit older than this little one. 

Far Side

Smoke and other stuff

 It was very smoky on Sunday.  I took a few photos on our way to have late lunch/early supper with my brothers and their wives on Mother's Day.   The meal was good, I had my first margarita of the summer, half strength...I am a light weight. 

Excuse the bugs on the windshield.  The smoke cleared out late Monday morning and we ran a few errands in town....something for the old car Tilly and bird food...the birds are very hungry this Spring...especially the  Rose Breasted Grosbeaks!  The Hummingbirds are busy at their feeder too! 

The road construction has not started yet!  Maybe we will get one more week before they show up.

The Chokecherries are really putting on the blooms, we will have a bumper crop of berries if it doesn't freeze.  Hope the bees are active enough to pollinate the flowers! 

I mowed at my other baby brothers shop yesterday and our front yard, I am leaving our side yards that are full of Dandys for the bees.  I mowed for  about ninety minutes. ..that was enough for the day. 

Far Guy is busy working on Tilly...something about valves and gaskets...he is feeling pretty good at the moment.  Getting a bit stronger everyday. 

Far Side

 

Lunch and smoke

 Sunday afternoon we drove over to Laporte and had lunch with Savannah, Jen and Andy.  It was a good time to catch up on Savannah's recent travels and spend some time with her! 

She is as smiley and pretty as ever! 

The wildfire smoke has invaded our part of Minnesota again. 

Far Side

Smoky Air

 It was a wildfire smoke day here in our part of Minnesota.  We had planned to go to one of the first car shows of the season....but the air quality kept us indoors all day.  We had looked forward to getting out with Tilly. 

Far Guy got out the flower carvings he worked on all last winter.  He wanted to do a mock up arrangement before putting the flowers on a wooden base. 

He has a very pretty walnut board for the display.

I worked on the border of my mosaic crochet Winter Wonderland.  It is almost done. 

The smoke is supposed to be less soon.  It is a red alert meaning the air is unhealthy for everyone. Hard to stay inside but we watched the birds and the bunnies and the tailless squirrel in the yard through the windows.

We both had naps in the afternoon. 

Far Side

Smoke and Tomato Report

 The smoke from the Wildfires in Canada moved into our area yesterday.  They say it will move out sometime on Friday.  

I had a day where I did odds and ends all day long...the Electrician was back again due to problems with the  new thermostat...a special part was ordered.  In the meantime he hooked up our old thermostat and it works perfectly.  I sprayed Thistle and Poison Ivy and weeds in rocks around our home and up at my other baby brothers shop.   I am caught up for a few days. 

We will be doing very little outside today because of the smoke.

I took this photo about 7:30 PM.

The tomato plants are really growing! 

I think I may have to trim them some...so they don't get so tall that they fall over.  They are loaded with tomatoes...so it looks like a bumper crop.  

Far Side