Town Report

Since we only go out once a week it is the highlight of our week.

I dropped Far Guy off at the Clinic for his infusion.  One nurse was at the door taking temperatures a post it note goes on your chest as proof that someone was doing their job.  They also gave him a fabric mask to wear instead of the papery mask he was wearing.  The fabric mask can be washed.  He saw the temperature nurse and one gal over at registration.  He takes the steps upstairs so he doesn't have to push any buttons in the elevator.    He has his infusion and he calls me when he is done and I pick him up at the door.

I did errands while he was getting infused.  The grocery store, a different one this time they are not as organized as the usual store but more people are ordering online and so I missed my delivery time at the other store. Groceries were brought out to the vehicle.  I need to be more organized about my online ordering!

 I stopped by the Post Office...they have red x's marked on the floor with red tape.  There is a sign that says stay 3 feet away from the  counter.  They have spit shields up and the workers are wearing gloves....they have to take them off to type.

I went by the butcher shop and got some meat...a roast beef to make vegetable soup, some hamburger for chili and some bacon because everything is better with bacon!  You call in your order and they bring it out to the vehicle.

I stopped by the liquor store to get some Fat Tire beer for the chili that will be made today.  We freeze it in individual servings.  I was the only person in the store.

Back at home everything was wiped down with Lysol Wipes and we threw all our clothing in the washer and washed up real good.

We did what we could to stay safe. 

I finally took the snowmen down and put up a bunny.  It snowed icy balls off and on all day...with some snow squalls.
Far Side

Projects

Far Guy has a woodcarving ready to paint.   I told him he could do it!

All his facebook friends think it should be a yellow rose....maybe.  I believe he was thinking red.

My old brain finally finished another scarf....I had three projects going at once and my brain kept messing up...forgetting which stitch I was supposed to be doing.  ( brain farts)

This is more fallish...but it is finished.  You can see the yard is mainly brown.

The yarn is Sugarbush Drizzle a super kid mohair and silk.  The color is called Rustic Downpour.

I am STILL working on the kitchen cupboards.  I try to do a few everyday...yesterday I did 4 cupboards and 5 drawers.  I began raking parts of the yard a few days ago...yesterday I raked whilst it spit round snow icy balls out of the sky.

We are both feeling okay....I was a bit discouraged to hear  that the Governor of our great State is extending the Stay at Home until May  and he expects that we will reach a peak outbreak in July when there should be enough ventilators to go around.  He is also asking summer people to stay home and away from their cottages. ( Lotza luck with that one Gov)

There are no COVID 19 cases in our county yet.
Far Side

Happy Birthday Paige!

Our youngest granddaughter is 21 today.   Seems like it was only yesterday that she was born.  The youngest of our three grandgirls and a prelude to the grandboys.

Chance and Paige 2009 Miss Paige was ten years old...Chance was five years old.

Summer of 2019 at her sisters wedding. 

Paige is doing well.  Presently she is waiting to see if she will get into a Dental Hygienist School. 

With the Pandemic ... schools and most businesses are closed here in Minnesota so Paige is temporarily unemployed.

We haven't seen Paige in awhile...but she calls often! 

Happy Birthday Miss Paige!  Love you lots!  

Grandma

Another Day

We walked.  I organized some cards and envelopes...did some laundry.  The usual not so exciting stuff.   Finished a stack of cards.

I put my feet up and crocheted and watched the last of  Virgin River on Netflix.  Now I wait for another season to be released.  Back to Zumbo and his fabulous creations.

Our spring/fall trail is almost free of snow.  I never walk this way in the summer too much Poison Ivy.  We had rain overnight and more snow melted.

Far Guy cooked as in...put the chicken thighs I had been marinating in Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce into the crock pot at the right time and warmed up vegetables.

No known virus cases in our county yet.

Talked with my Mother and Dad they are doing okay.  Dad was outside digging up a spot to plant some potatoes on Good Friday.
Stay Safe!
Far Side

Signs of the times

Over the weekend I supported three small businesses.  I ordered yarn from Nevada, goat milk soap from Minnesota and a new my little carry and go pillow also from Minnesota.

Boxes sit outside in quarantine... all are opened outside.

This was coffee, unscented lotion and toothpaste.

My sister reported that she wiped down all her groceries in her cart before putting them in her car and she left all grocery bags in the garbage there...she said she got a few weird looks.

The other side of the marquee at the movie theater in town.

We sat outside yesterday, Far Guy woodcarved...he has music out there and one crazy bird singing along!   I walked around in the yard, got a bit wet...but walking round and round is possible....another quiet safe day at home.

Watching the Netflix series Virgin River...very entertaining...but  predictable.  I give it an 8 out of 10 stars so far.

Stay home and stay safe!
Far Side

Ice and my messy desk

All that rain we had before that pathetic snow really showed up on Saturday morning in the sunshine.

Every little twig on the trees were coated in ice.   The ice caught the sunshine and the trees looked like they were dressed in diamonds.

We had a quiet day.  My other baby brother went on a grocery run for our parents and called me from the store...he delivered Far Guys cereal and a tomato to us.  BLT's were on the menu plan and I forgot the T.

I worked in the kitchen cleaning drawers...how do silverware drawers get so crummy?   I played with coloring and cards...my desk is a mess.

I am still blocking squares for my afghan...two squares a day is slow going.  I hope to finish the blocking soon and crochet all the squares together.    I still have three shawls in the works...progress is slow....those cupboards and drawers I am cleaning are taking up valuable crochet time.

We are both feeling just fine and are safe at home.
Far Side

Snow again and Town Report

It snowed Thursday night...it began with rain and turned to snow before morning.

No sitting outside in wind chills that were below zero.  It snowed just enough to almost cover the grass.

Anyways...here is the before the snow town report.

Grocery online ordering and outside pickup was a success.  Lysol Wipes were available...we needed some for the vehicle.  I am contemplating wiping down all the groceries in the parking lot and then putting them in the vehicle.  That way it would be a clean transfer someplace else besides in the house.   I have time while waiting for Far Guy...I might just try it next week.  FYI they were still out of TP as I tried to order one package.

Things were the same at the Clinic...only the patient is allowed inside.  Temperatures are taken and a post it note announces to the world what that temperature was.   Masks are handed out.

There was a nurse in the parking lot tending to someone.

I drove down Main Street on our way home.

Downtown

Once at home...Far Guy leaves his shoes in the garage and changes to another pair...leaves his oxygen tank carrier in the garage....wipes down his oxygen bottle, throws the oxygen tubing away and heads for the house where he throws all his clothing into the washer and washes up...including giving his moustache a good scrub.

So far there are no cases of the nasty virus in our county.  Knock on wood.

This is day 26 for us being safe at home.  Far Guy feels good, the best he has felt in a long time.  Having no lung irritants like perfume, aftershave and cleaning solution in buildings  makes a big difference. 26 days staying at home having no contact with other people except for the Infusion gals on Thursdays seems to be the key to keeping him feeling good and healthy.  I am now contemplating some kind of bubble I can keep him in.

Far Side

Snowstick Winners!

It rained and lots of snow melted.  The snowstick is free of ice and snow.

So we have two winners!   I took these photos just before dark on April 2nd in the rain!

I can walk out to the snowstick without wading through a snowbank.

Congratulations!  DJan a blogger and long time blog friend from Washington State and Maebeme  a blogger from Canada. They both guessed April 2.   DJan  I have your address, Maebeme please email me your address  captainconnie2001atyahoodotcom.   I will mail something off to you next week! The Post Office in our nearby itty bitty town  will work for me as I can tell by cars parked how many people are inside.. I will wait until I am the only one there. 

What will I mail...most likely a one of a kind work of art!

Thank you to everyone who attempted a guess this year.

Far Side

10 things

I have decided that instead of being in a funk about this virus situation I can do certain things every day.  This is day 24 for us being safe at home.

1. Do something to make someone smile.
2. Do something for Far Guy...like let him cook.
3. Reach out to someone....check on the elderly...mail a card.
4. Complete a small project...clean out a drawer or a cupboard.  Organize something!
5. Go for a walk...
6. Do something volunteer related...indexing, find a grave or crochet for charity
7. Do an activity that I enjoy...making cards, knitting, crocheting, watch a movie or taking photos.
8. Put my feet up and close my eyes for at least 30 minutes.
9. Disinfect something! Clean clean clean!
10. Pray many times a day ( easy). Accept the things I cannot change (very hard).

What would you add to your list?

I like to be in control of our situation...and this whole nasty virus has me feeling like I am in a tornado spinning out of control.   So I suppose I am a bit of a control freak (who knew).

Sometimes my thoughts get the best of me.

 I like to know that Far Guy is not taking any unnecessary chances that would place him in peril...

that he isn't walking too far running out of oxygen without having his phone turning blue at the edge of the road about to be run over by the Speedee Delivery guy that drives too fast on our back road that might accidentally encounter a spike stick someday...  see that is what it is like inside  brain at any given moment when I don't know what the heck Far Guy is up to.  He has a very worn out beat up Guardian Angel...that is probably on strike.

We are melting more every day.

Far Side

Robin not a joke!

Far Guy saw a Robin in the yard yesterday afternoon while I was taking a nap.  He took a photo and showed me at supper ever so proud!

I went outside after supper and got a photo of my own.

First Robin in our yard  March 31 2020

First Robins In Our Yard:

April 19 2008, April 11 2009, April 5 2010, April 4 2011, March 23 2012, April 27 2013, April 9 2014,  April 24  2015, April 21 2016, April 5 2017, April 29 2018,
some time in late May 2019, and March 31 2020.

Not sure what happened in 2019...seems like I waited to see a Robin in our yard all spring.  Other birds were showing up but no Robins.

There is still plenty of snow and ice at the snowstick.

We had another quiet day, Far Guy woodcarved outside, we walked to the mailbox and wandered around in the woodshop/greenhouse.   I cleaned the bathroom and did some laundry and cleaned one more kitchen cupboard.

Life as we know it goes on.  Stay safe!
Far Side

Muffins!

I baked!  Well first I cleaned out a cupboard in the kitchen and found a partial bag of Bran Cereal that I was supposed to use for muffins.  Saw it and threw it on the counter...that top cupboard is awfully tall so I have to use a step ladder to clean out all the corners real good.  I recalled the tart dried cherries I had in the deep freeze...would they still be good? 

There were more bran flakes than the recipe called for...so I didn't measure I just dumped and added more of everything....I could not replicate the recipe to save my life.

They turned out just fine...another baking success!  I found a bunch of corn meal...that will wait for another day.

Years ago I used to make muffins for Far Guy every week, he would grab two out of the freezer on his way to work...he would thaw them out on the 90 mile drive.  Back then he took coffee with him but he had a small coffee maker that plugged into the cigarette lighter so he could warm up his coffee or make some fresh.

It was a nice day here yesterday...in the evening it turned cool with the wind coming from the East across the lake. During the day Far Guy woodcarved outside and I cleaned up the solar light garden.

There is still about five inches of snow at the snowstick. We may get rain on Thursday.

Goodbye March....you were not a real pleasant month for anyone.  BUT I am thankful we made it through the month.  Stay safe everyone!
Far Side

Melting

We had another warm in the 40's day.  We lost another two inches of snow at the snowstick.

7 inches at the snowstick 

My other baby brother and she who sees Robins first saw a whole flock of Robins down at my baby brothers home.   They stopped by and visited ( staying 6 feet plus apart) and brought us a bag of carrots and gave us the grocery store report.  They made a grocery run and drop off for our parents also.  There still isn't TP at the store but they said that the canned goods were starting to rebound, not much left for pasta either.

The carrots were excellent with a pork roast, potatoes and gravy for a Sunday meal.  Comfort food at it's finest and we have leftovers for a few meals! 

Far Guy worked on his woodcarving project.  I did some laundry and tore a crochet project apart and started it again....it was just too heavy...no one would have enjoyed wearing it.  

Proof that planes are still flying...some idiots are still going places. 

We are safe at home, happy with each others company. 

Far Side

Cards, Snowstick and almost 50 degrees!

Cards from friends make any day better!  This week I got cards from Betsy and Sam...thanks gals!

I always put cards in the window for many days after I get them...or above my computer.  Old fashioned flower frogs make great holders for cards.

We melted some snow yesterday!

48 degrees is not very warm when we still have snow...the wind was a bit raw but I sat out on the patio anyway after supper.

The snowstick sits at 9 inches down 2 inches from yesterday.  It is a slow melt.  Sorry late March snowstick guessers.

We had one Purple Finch visit yesterday and a whole flock of Juncos....they must have been passing through because they didn't stay long.

Our big project for yesterday was cleaning up the winter dirt off the garage floor...before the Virus I bought a new floor squeegee and it works great!  It is remarkable how a yucky job can be so much easier with the right tools.

Far Side

Biscuits and Yarn

The grocery store was out of several items that were on our list.  Carrots... who knew there was a rush on carrots....maybe people have more time to peel their own now.  English Muffins that Far Guy likes to make egg and ham breakfast sandwiches and Pillsbury Biscuits that I wanted to use when I resurrected some Thanksgiving Turkey out of the deep freeze... for Turkey and Gravy over biscuits.

I spring cleaned one of the kitchen cupboards.  I filled the flour containers...I use a mix of white flour and wheat for bread.  I wanted to make sure I had enough if it comes down to me making bread.  I had a bag of self rising flour...so I decided to see if I could make biscuits.

I could and they are really good!  They are a bit tall and rustic looking!  Far Guy said they were really good too...I handed him the recipe card and said "You can do it! " 2 cups self rising flour, cut in 1/4 cup butter then add 3/4 cup milk stir well and then knead make biscuits bake 12 minutes 400 degrees on a greased cookie sheet.

My new yarn arrived earlier this week....I have four shawls in the works now...one will be frogged as I am not happy with it...one is being blocked and two others are in progress....here is one. 

You will see more of this yarn as I had to order five skeins.  It is called Restful Rainbow.  This is another Crochet Along called Keep Calm and Crochet On hosted by a gal on a facebook crochet group.

Far Guy did most of his walking outside yesterday.  I started  to watch a show called Tiger King on Netflix.  (I have to keep closing my eyes during the sssnake parts and one time I forgot to open them back up and fell asleep.) This week I watched Valentine's Day and give it a 9 out of 10 stars....a fun movie.
Far Side

Town Report

Thursday is Far Guys infusion day.  The infusion protects his lungs for 6 days...it replaces the protein that cannot escape his liver to protect his lungs.  WE are thankful for one more week.

Clinic Report:  They take your temperature when you enter the building, and ask the questions "Have you been out of the country?"  "Have you visited New York, California or Washington State recently?" " Have you had a temperature?  A cold or the sniffles?"  Then they write down your temperature on a post it note and stick it on your chest.  (Proof they did their job?)  They give you a mask to put on.  Then the gal tells you to go to registration....the gals there say "go ahead Gene you are all set Happy Thursday."

He is their every Thursday same time same place guy.

I waited outside in the parking lot...there are hearts in the window.  I called my sister and talked to her for awhile.  I crocheted.

After Far Guy was done we picked up our groceries from our online order.   Stopped by the butcher shop and bought bacon and brats.  You call in your order and they bring it out to the car.

Main Street was mostly deserted there were lots of places to park.

Minnesota goes into Stay at Home for two weeks this evening March 27 until April  10.

My other baby brother and his wife ( she who sees Robins first) stopped by to visit out on our patio. ( 6 feet apart at least)  She who sees Robins first already saw a Robin.  She brought me a skein of yarn from wally world so I can finish a project.

We are home and safe for another week   Stay safe!
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

Shell Lake and River

When we went for a drive on Monday we found ourselves over on Shell Lake always a favorite spot of mine.   Luckily there are no huge changes happening to the lake or the river.

Shell Lake where the melt has started. This is looking west..  The Shell River leaves Shell Lake at this point and travels under the road...and heads for the Smoky Hills.

Shell River looking East.

You can see the Smoky Hills in the distance. And yes they were truly smoky that day.

We haven't been out since Monday.  We should be crossing off "stuff" on our lists left and right...but I crochet and watch TV and Far Guy woodcarves and plays computer games.  I knit on my socks for a short time yesterday just to change things up then I had a nap.

Anyone else out there feel like they are stuck in limbo...waiting for the axe to fall?
We are supposed to get warmer weather soon....perhaps that will help

Far Side

Change

We went for a drive yesterday.   Two miles from home we noticed big changes happening. 

An entire woods is disappearing.   Oak woods that have been there since before I was born....and who knows how much longer than that.  The land was in a trust and then the land owner died and left it to some college someplace who apparently sold it to a cooperate farmer.   Center pivot irrigators will inhabit part of what was Native Prairie and the Oak Woods.

I was so angry last summer when they tore into the Native Prairie...such sadness for the Prairie Wildflowers that bloomed there...long ago there was a school and lilac bushes on that part of the property.

Now sadness for the Oaks that sheltered deer and probably some coyotes.  When I was growing up it was a shady pasture for cows.
.

The property across the road has also been sold at least that is what the sign says...Far Guy's Great Grandparents Lemon lived and farmed there. I suppose those Oak trees will be gone too before long...part was Oaks trees and part farm fields.

Sometimes change can be good...sometimes us old folks that remember how things used to be 70 years ago should just accept change.
Far Side

Projects finished

Two of my crochet projects have been finished and the third is being blocked. 

The fluffy Hawaii blue scarf is finished.The blue yarn is super kid mohair and silk it is a Canadian Yarn.

A red shawl was finished also

I attempted to take photos outside but it was windy.  So I went inside,

Both of these yarns drape beautifully.  The red is Extrafine Merino, Baby Alpaca, Silk and Yak made in Peru.

I have enough red yarn left over for another shawl.

In the meantime I started a different shawl in a  different mindless pattern.  I say mindless because I can crochet and watch TV at the same time. 

I still have two pair of socks on the knitting needles...I find that knitting takes much more concentrating for my old brain.

We had a quiet Sunday at home.  Not much new here.
Far Side

1973/1974 Florida

Back in 1973/1974 we lived in Tampa Florida on South West Shore Blvd not far from the Air Base.  Trica our oldest daughter was 14 months old when we arrived there and almost 2 years old when we left.

We did potty training in Florida.  She was a busy child...and would take off all her clothes by herself and put them in the laundry if she had an accident.  Then she would run around the house naked and giggling only to stop if her favorite commercials were on TV.

We had a tiny 12 inch black and white television.   We got one or two channels with the rabbit ears...sometimes we hung aluminum foil from them.

Entertainment for a child was commercials.  Trica loved two commercials in particular and would stop in front of the TV and  recite them...Chick Smith Ford in sparkling downtown Clearwater and learn to play guitar with Kenny Rogers.   I thought of those early times yesterday when I heard of Kenny Roger's death.  He was 81...that means he was 34 years old when he made that commercial.

Seems like only yesterday.

Trica 1973 18 months old in Tampa Florida.

Our stove and fridge were a lovely shade of  pink, some mornings were cool in Florida so I would turn the oven on to take the chill out of the kitchen. One day Trica asked me if she could have soup.  I said "Sure in a minute"  the next thing I heard was an explosion.  She must have decided to make soup herself and put the can of soup she wanted in the oven.  What a mess.

Far Side