Spring might be here

 We went for a Ranger Blue ride and the Marsh Marigolds  better known as Butter Cups, Cowslips or really Caltha palustris are beginning to bloom.

The pussy willows are pretty much done. 

Their pollen has been collected or dispersed into the air.  Sneeze.

The sun was out yesterday... Far Guy woodcarved for a bit and enjoyed the warm sunshine.  Our high temperature was 80 F or 27 C eh!  I gave the kitchen floor a good scrub and did some laundry. We ran an errand to town to get a bunch of stuff for our projects this week and then we went to our favorite out on the patio Sunday dining Mexican place for  lupper.  The food was just as good as last year, although our favorite waitress is no longer working there...I know as I asked the owner. 

We came home to read and nap. That was enough activity for the elderly.

Far Side

Just one more thing

 The SD card slots on both of our Macs quit...must be a glitch or an update where they forgot about all the people that still use SD cards in their cameras...are we a dying breed or what?  I fiddled with it and swore a bit...nasty word...nasty word.  Researched the problem and ended up ordering a thingy.

What is one more wirey thing to hook up anyway...and it works...it transfers my SD card images flawlessly for now to the C slot in the back of my Mac.  Kinda the pits that it has a short cord as my computer has to be moved to put the SD card in.  Oh well. 

In other news.  Far Guy has relapsed a bit and he gave the crud to me.  I am on antibiotics and a steroid.  Both meds help with my Lymes Arthritis so I have less pain some of the time.  

This weeks meals:

Scalloped potatoes and ham, pulled pork and salad (Thanks Andy and Jen), omlettes with ham and cheese, pizza from Pizza Hut, a new to us chicken hotdish and one fend for your self night, last night was chili and grilled cheese. 

Company last week: My Other baby brother, my baby brother and his bride with Baxter and Smudge.   Last week Saturday we saw Jordan and Paige and Cole.  Paige helped with Spring House cleaning so I might have a handle on the house cleaning for now.  Cole helped with projects outside...we are very thankful for their help. I still have more drawers, cabinets and cupboards to clean out...a purge. And beds upstairs to wash up and windows to wash.  Enough to keep me busy when I feel better. 

The grass is turning greener every day after our rain.

And then I broke my toe...stubbed it so hard on an old trunk when I was barefoot that my toes cracked. Clumsy.  It is very sore...no need to go to the Doctor as they would just splint it to the next toe or three. 

I do my own pedicures obviously I could do better. 

Far Side

Book Club 2025 : May

 I missed last months Book Club because we were traveling to a Doctor's appointment.

April's read was a mystery called Still Life by Lousie Penny, the book takes place in Canada.  I give it a 7 maybe...I usually don't read mysteries.   All the gals liked it.

May's read takes place in Minnesota.  A story well written although there were many characters to keep track of...there were some very memorable characters which include a young man in high school.  I gave the book a 9 out of a 10.  I think I will try to read something else by this author.  Lorna Landvik wrote Chronicles of a Radical Hag. Everyone enjoyed the book. 

Now I will begin reading something totally different by Debbie Macomber...the Rose Harbor Series before I read the really heavy depressing but uplifting June Book Club read...I have read it before and have heard the Author speak. 

Read on!  Oh yes I ordered a few more books. Read 3 ordered some more...total is now 58.  I should be good for a while.  I order my books through Thrift Books because they have free shipping and occasionally I get a free book. 

BTW my book club is all wives of Veterans and it is virtual, it is headed by one of the VA Social Workers...we also have time to share about crafts we are working on. 

Far Side

May Day Smiles!

All the May Baskets were delivered on May Day.  

My nieces sent me some photos of their kids!  All these children are grandchildren of my other baby brother and she who sees robins first. 

Megan and Frank's Crew

Stacey and Justin's Group

Fun to keep the May Day Tradition going! 

After supper I delivered a few May Baskets in the neighbor hood...no one was home so May Baskets were placed inside screen doors when possible.  I talked with Opie, Titus and Toots ( all dogs)...they were excited to see me. 

Late afternoon visitors were my baby brother and his bride with Smudge and Baxter.  They are back for the Summer.  Smudge and Baxter did not forget me...or the Cheerio treats they really like.

I think Far Guy has turned the corner and is gaining a bit of strength everyday.  His infusion was a two stick day...errands were accomplished and we should be set for a day or two. 

Far Side

Happy May Day!

 I hope that something brings a smile to your face today!

The May Baskets are finished.  I made 20 this year.  The racoons are filled with candy... the baskets themselves are made out of paper...the pattern requires 17 pieces to be glued together.  I like playing with paper almost as much as I like playing with yarn.   All the paper for this project came from the stash in my desk:)

I put a bit of tissue paper in them for a pop of color!

And they are in a cake pan ready for deliveries!  (When I was growing up we always put our homemade baskets in a cake pan or muffin tin to make deliveries easier...my baby brother and I would hold them in the car).   Let the smiles commence:)

If you took a May Basket to a friend...young or old..tell me about it!  

Far Side

Getting along

 I finished the green blanket that I have been working on.  Here it is folded.

 It is a good size.  I used four skeins of Bernat Blanket Mist-ical the color is spearmint. 

So it was off to the Yarn Store upstairs...for a different color yarn. 

Nothing much new here.  Far Guy continues to rest, take his meds and do his nebulizer treatments.  I am making headway on the May Baskets...GWATCDR I will finish them today...I am cutting it close this year!

Far Side

Heads Up

 May Day is on Thursday, you have time to make a May Basket and give it to a small child, a neighbor or a friend.   It doesn't have to be fancy just a cup or paper folded with a treat inside.  Here is a link to one of the simple May Baskets that I have made.

Mine are in process hopefully I will have them done by Thursday.  Yesterday afternoon was spent with my die cutting machine making all the parts.  The candy was purchased last week. 

I have been celebrating May Day for about 72 years. 

My  Mom and I in 1953.

Far Guy is holding his own for now. Must be the excellent care from the day and night nurse!

Far Side

ER Visit

 Far Guy has a really bad COPD exacerbation.  He was evaluated at the ER.  Our niece Stacey was on duty so he got excellent care!  They gave him IV steroids, a nebulizer treatment and fluids.  His blood work and x rays looked reasonably good. He could have stayed in the hospital for observation but he preferred to come back home...even if the night nurse is cranky.  He was started on a course of antibiotics and steroids.  Of course he will do nebulizer treatments often, rest in the recliner or bed and do what ever I say!  His Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency makes him very prone to breathing problems. 

I hope we do not have to go back to the hospital.  Time will tell. 

A nearby creek where we always look for Marsh Marigolds...they should be blooming soon. 

It rained. 

Far Side

White Tails

 We have deer running through our yard all different times of the day.  There is no dog to make them afraid.  They drink the water out of the bird bath and eat what ever bird seed they can shake out of the bird feeders. 

One night I saw seven.  That is a bunch...and they multiply. 

Not a great photo but you can see the white tail.  The grass is turning greener in parts of the yard.  Hopefully it will rain soon and things will really green up. 

Last night I mowed the wildflower garden just east of the house in anticipation of a rain.  Hope it isn't snow. With a predicted Monday morning low of 26 F ...it could very well be snow...and all my snow shovels have been moved to the garage!

Far Side

Okay then

 Yes I have another skin cancer (malignant melanoma), but just the one spot on my shoulder and the margins were clear with the hunk that the dermatologist took out.  My mole is just a mole and the pearl removed from my chin is nothing to worry about.  Good thing that I see my dermatologist every three or four months so that the little spots don't become huge surgeries like last September when she removed a spot from my cheek.  That was no fun.  Yes the biologic Rheumatoid Arthritis meds can cause your already haywire immune system to go wonky....and skin cancer is the result.   FYI I take no biologic meds for RA anymore.  I take Tylenol (six a day) and THC gummies which are legal in Minnesota.   The joint damage won't be stopped but at my age does it really matter...the biologics did not stop my pain...they just gave me skin cancer as stated in the adverse reactions.  

In other happenings.  I am making progress in Spring Cleaning.  I have 15 out of 17 kitchen drawers done and a few of the other cupboards.  I should finish up next week ...maybe.   I have been listing and selling a few things on facebook marketplace.  In the evenings I am working on a notebook of family history. I have added what I can to Find A Grave and discovered an error...that I need to work through...if people kept better records there would be less errors...it will take a fair amount of unraveling to figure it all out. 

Far Guy and I share cooking duties this week was; Naan Bread Pizza, Steak and Salmon, fend for yourself and Pork Chops and Rice. 

Far Side

A Tad Cranky

 I am sure Far Guy would agree with me...that I am a tad cranky.  

My visit to the Dermatologist was a failure...biopsies of head, shoulder and chin ( betcha thought I was going to say knees and toes). Uffda.  The chin one was something she called a pearl...and she doubts it is cancer.  For the others we await the pathology report.  Since taking all the biologics for Rheumatoid Arthritis...skin cancer is popping up all over.  

Our town is changing, one of the grocery stores is closing. It was a store I only went into a few times a year...because the produce department smelled rotten all the time and the meat section had a strange odor. 

 One of the restaurants is closing. We went there once in awhile for breakfast.  Since covid they have been closed Tuesdays and Wednesday. 

Walmart did an entire remodel...I have not been inside Walmart since last Fall...I just order groceries to be picked up.  Who knew...new floors...stuff stacked higher than a very tall person can reach...nothing is where it used to be.  I went inside for Aileen's Clear glue...they don't carry it anymore or they moved it so far I never found it...Elmer's tough glue will have to do. It remains to been seen if it works as good as Aileens.  I complained at the self check out when the gal there asked if I found everything...yum...NO.  She said she was sorry but many things have been discontinued.  Oh well...I am a Walmart Plus member so I get free shipping...so if Fed X has to deliver stuff a couple of times a week...

Then...get this...I noticed on Facebook that one of the small Mom and Pop restaurants in a really small town nearby was bought by a honest to goodness Chef.  I saw their ad...it said half price dinners $60.00  I thought wow then half price would be $30.00 alrighty then.  I went to the website...the regular price is $120.00 per person, they have two seatings a night and you should make a reservation with a deposit of $20 per person.  The menu...lots of fancy stuff that I would not eat anyway...well maybe the brownie for dessert!  This restaurant is located just off a highway that is going to be under construction all Summer.   So much for fancy...then again maybe people will show up in limo's from Fargo and Minneapolis/St. Paul.   I can just see ladies in heels walking through a road construction zone. 

Needless to say I rarely spend $120 a week for groceries...so those prices are out of my comfort zone. 

Other small town rumors: The old bowling alley was demolished last Fall and a new building is being built in it's place...it may or may not have event rooms and pizza.  That makes four pizza shops in town. The Furniture Store in town that has been having a moving sale for a couple of years is moving into a different building...and the event rooms there may or may not be used.  A new Ice Cream shop may open...that makes four ice cream shops in town not counting Dairy Queen.  One eatery downtown may or may not have caused a whole family to have food poisoning.  As far as I know there are no new auto parts stores slated to open...perhaps the max has been reached with four.  So if you need auto parts, pizza or ice cream you should be able to find some in town....oh yes and candy...but there are only three candy shops to choose from. 

Not much green here yet...this is Shell River at what we call the dead beaver area. 

Far Side

Lolli

 Monday evening was my sisters last night at dog obedience training with Lolli.  It was a nice evening for the last session to take place outside.  They had a rally type course set up.  It was fun to see all the dogs and Lolli did real well.  

Lolli is not like my sisters other Boston Terriers...but then each dog has it's own unique personality! 

She needs to work...as soon as her brain was engaged she did great. 

She has the basics down and with continued practice she will do great, the last pass was with the leash dragging...and she did not run off!  Lolli graduated and got a certificate!  

Far Side

A funeral book

 Many of the blog readers had never heard of a Funeral book.  Perhaps it is a Midwest thing?  Anyways when someone dies the Funeral Home gives the family a book.  It has room for all the pertinent information...name, birth, death, location of service and burial...etc...it also serves as a guest book for the mourners to sign. 

This is a look into my Great Grandmothers Funeral book from 1968.  The front is decorated with a golden door and Cala Lilies.

Grandma Hattie

The newspaper clipping and her funeral pamphlet.

A handwritten list of expenses and the people who attended. 

Not much of her information was filled in...so I did it...57 years later.

I do not recall Grandma Hattie.  I recall my Mother going to the nursing home to visit her, nor do I recall the funeral. 

A four generation photo taken in the spring of 1952.  Me and my Mother, my Grandfather Albert and my Great Grandmother Hadwig (Hattie) she was 74 years old in this photo almost the same age as I am now.

Far Side

 

A boot

 Far Guy got the new boot installed on his old car Tilly.  The boot is filled with grease and it protects the drive shaft from costly repairs.  Although Far Guy says it was an expensive fix.  I replied "old cars are expensive." 

We went out for breakfast and ran a few errands while she was being worked on.  Afterwards Far Guy filled her up with the proper gas...premium. 

So other than some polishing the old car Tilly is ready to go to car shows this summer.  

Far Side

Easter report

 We were invited to my other baby brothers and she who sees robins first for Easter dinner on Saturday afternoon.  22 people were there, it was an awesome dinner; ham, potato salad, fruit salad, chips, vegetables and dip, pickles, rice krispy bars and fresh fruit.  It was a nice day all the children big and little headed out for a rousing game of Annie I Over the garage, there was lots of giggling and running!  The EGGciting news is that my other baby brother and she who sees robins first will be GREAT Grandparents in October!  This also means that our niece Stacey and husband Justin will be Grandparents! 

On Sunday we had a quiet day at home, Far Guy worked on my lawn mower for the upcoming mowing season...I think it got a new air filter, oil filter and spark plug...all set to go!  I scanned a bunch of obituaries and added them to Find A Grave.   Late in the day we went for a Ranger Blue ride. 

Maddie sent photos of our Great Grandchildren with their Easter baskets! 

Hey Mikey

Cee Cee 

Peach 

They should be well sugared up for a day or two! 

Far Side

Happy Easter!

 

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!

Hallelujah!!

Far Side

Projects

 My desk is full of projects.  I brought a number of things from upstairs to my desk to be worked on.  I am adding old photos every day to the facebook site for my Maternal Grandparents...I hope to finish that up soon.  There is a gathering this summer for that part of the family.  I went down a couple of rabbit holes adding photos to Find A Grave...and I know that there are more photos I could add...and oh yes a pile of obituaries to scan.  

One by one the projects will be dealt with and put in the proper place.  I have my Great Grandmothers funeral book...she died in 1968.  Also my Maternal Grandparents funeral books...if my siblings don't want them ...then maybe I will take them to the gathering and give them to my cousins to fight over...ha!

More yarn projects have been added to my desk since I took the photo.  Far Guy winds my yarn into balls for me as he watches music videos. 

For a break I am Spring cleaning the drawers in the kitchen...there are 17 drawers and 8 are done.  Isn't is funny or not how weird stuff is saved...especially in the one kitchen junk drawer. 

Our weather is cool and a bit dreary.  The high on Friday was 43 F or 7 C eh.

This week our company was friends Joel and Jackie and their dog Buddy, my other baby brother and she who sees robins first.  

Far Guy got the old car Tilly started up as next Monday she has an appointment for a new boot.  (It is something that covers the drive train ...I think...I know it is something important that has been bugging Far Guy.)

Far Side

53

 Our oldest daughter Trica is 53 today.  

Here she is in 1972 at my baby brothers graduation (age18), that is my other baby brother holding her (age 11) and my sister (age 5 almost 6) looking on.  Photo taken at my parents home on the farm. 

Happy Birthday Trica, we all love you very much!

Far Side

27

 Our second to the oldest Grand Maddie is 27 years old today! 

Here she is and yes our fourth Great is due in June.  We are excited to meet him/her!  That is Cee Cee in the bottom of the photo. 

Happy Birthday Maddie, may your year be filled with happiness!  Love you!!

Far Side

Books and other "stuff"

 I finally made a list of the books that I have in the house to read.  I am only 52 books behind....but at least I know which books I have hidden away...just in case.  I had to order a few books for upcoming book club books.  That is what prompted the making of the list. 

We took it easy on Tuesday...because Monday was a busy day.  We made Jambalaya, salad and flat bread for supper guests.  Far Guy was the cook and I was the sous chef/dishwasher/bread baker.  Teamwork!  Tuesday morning we both said we are getting too old for cooking.  However Jambalaya freezes well and we froze some up for the summer...it will make a great side dish or main dish with a salad and fruit for the summer days we don't want to cook.  Far Guy follows the Cajun Ninja recipe for Jambalaya on You Tube. 

The flat bread was really good and made the whole house smell great!  No it is not perfectly formed but it tasted perfectly great! 

Supper on Tuesday was chicken thighs with skin removed in the crock pot with pineapple juice and soy sauce...salad and peaches. Easy cooking!

I have had a post it note floating around my desk space for a bit...it says...  

"Being popular on facebook is like sitting at the cool table in the cafeteria of a mental hospital" 

Far Side