Wistful Wednesday : In Laws

I ran onto an old photo yesterday.  Taken 1976… There was a family gathering in the summer.  My Aunt who used to live in Washington was home for a visit and almost the entire family gathered for a picnic at my parents resort.

The In Laws in my Dad’s family.  My Grandfather with his son and daughter in laws.

Most are gone..but there are a few left.

Back Row: Aunt Violet, Aunt Lila, Uncle Stanley, Uncle Otto, Aunt Sharon, Aunt Grace

Front Row: Aunt Jenny, Aunt Senia, My Grandfather, My Mother Madeline, Aunt Mia

There were two Aunts missing from the photo: Aunt Joan and Aunt Eleanor.

Those still with us are Aunt Lila, Aunt Sharon, Aunt Grace and My Mother.

One by one this generation is leaving us behind.

When I look at this group..I remember mostly..bingo, hunting, apple strudel, black coffee, flat bread, chicken and dumplings, cookies of all shapes and sizes..and from my Grandfather the smell of moth balls on his wool clothing and the taste of the pink peppermint candies that he used to carry in his pocket…good memories all:)

Aunt Senia

My Aunt Senia died last Friday.  She was 95 years old.  She led a good life until the last five years.  She has been in the Nursing Home for some time.  For a long time she would know you..or she would ask “Who are you?”  Prompting you to say your name and recognition would dawn on her face and you would get a hug..and she would be so happy to see you!  The last time I saw her there was no recognition on her face..no big smile and hug.

It is difficult for me to mourn the death of someone who had a full and active life.  She was more than ready to leave this earth.   I am grateful that she was a good Christian woman who knew she was saved by grace and grace alone.  So I cannot be sad.

Senia was married to Wilbert; my Dads oldest brother.

Uncle Wilbert and Aunt Senia

Uncle Wilbert died in 1990, my Aunt Senia was very lonely, they had been married 54 years.  I visited with them often enjoying cookies, coffee and conversation when my Uncle was alive, and the visits continued after his death.  Aunt Senia had quite a sense of humor and I enjoyed visiting with her.

Life goes on..widows are pursued…she was a good cook and homemaker.  At the age of 78 she remarried.  She took good care of Ralph..until he died.

They lived on the way to the raspberry patch.  I stopped there with fresh raspberries for them.  She was thrilled..probably not so much with the raspberries but with company.  One summer she had a garage sale..I bought her pickle dishes.

She would be at the family picnic in the summer and at the Christmas Party that the cousins have for Uncles and Aunts every December.

We went to the visitation at the Funeral Home.  I am just not feeling up to attending the funeral today.  I have given my condolences to my cousins.

The funeral home had a wonderful photo presentation with many old photographs.  I enjoyed it very much..however Far Guy and I both thought that the somber piano background music should be replaced with rock and roll oldies when it comes our time to go:)

Feeling Icky

The cold temperatures in the museum finally caught up with me and I have a terrible sore throat (felt like I had razor blades in my throat) cold, cough, headache and feel like I have been through the wringer several times.   Far Guy caught it from Miss Paige and then he shared with me..I thought I might escape..no such luck..I got the fever on Saturday at work.  It must be a virus because I am on antibiotics already and have been for some time.

Three weeks ago I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease, apparently undiagnosed for some time.  I am feeling a whole lot better  since I started the medication (Doxycycline) for treatment.  I will most likely need 60 days of medications perhaps more.  I take the medication twice a day..and it must be taken with food..or you suffer the worst nausea ever ( think seasickness).  I am thankful that the medication has taken some of the horrid aches and pains away.  My Doc says it will be a long recovery and is watching me closely.  She says that going back through my records that I must have had it for at least 18 months..my complaints of feeling tired and achy were put off to “old age” by my last Doctor who is no longer in the area.  My new Doctor ran about every blood test available and found the Lymes and a Vitamin D deficiency.

Such is life when you live in Minnesota.  No, I do not remember when I got a tick..we have ticks..they are all over in the woods.  If you get a tick you pull it off and life goes on.  Far Guy had Lymes a year ago..his Doctor treated him with antibiotics right away.  My brother had one of the fancier tick diseases anaplasmosis or ehrlichiosis…and he recovered.

I am sure I will recover also..it will just take time.

The ice is finally off area lakes and the farmers are in the fields:)

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful Moms out there.  The women that helped make you..YOU!

Far Guy and his Mom in 1953.

My Mom, my baby brother and me in 1954:)

No Show

The Governor was a no show at the museum.  Ya..he is a Democrat.

Some very nice people from the area showed up for egg coffee and cookies during our open house.  We were not over run with people and we had lots of cookies and coffee left over, it is an important Minnesota “Nice” thing to always have enough treats for your guests. 

Egg coffee is a Scandinavian thing.  You mix together 1/4 cup of water, 3/4 cup of coffee grounds and one egg.   Set aside and boil ten cups of water.  Add the mixture to the boiling water and let simmer for a couple of minutes..then set aside so the grounds settle.  Makes a wonderful cup of coffee…I usually don’t drink coffee..but I always enjoy egg coffee, so I had two cups! 

I think the Governor is going to have to fish on the river, unless some of the lakes opened up during the night.

Gas went up by another dime overnight..it was $3.89 a gallon.  Typical small town gouge them while you can mentality.

I stopped by the beach in Osage on my way home.  The ice has receded on the mill pond.

You can see the ice sheet along the north shore of the mill pond.  There is still ice on the big lake ( Straight Lake).  We will have made history with this late date for ice out:)

Visitors and Volunteers

We still have our usual birds.  Nuthatches both White Breasted and Red Breasted, Chickadees, and Downy Woodpeckers.  The Redpolls are still here off an on..I think many of them have gone north.

Two new visitors:

An American Goldfinch already dressed for summer.

A White-Throated Sparrow..who is supposed to sing but I have not heard him yet.  I think he may just be passing through.  He has a bit of yellow above his eye..like a bit of fancy eye shadow. 

Two old friends:

I was lucky one evening and caught a pair of Downy Woodpeckers chasing each other round and round the tree trunk.

It has been a really busy week at the Museum.  I had some wonderful volunteer help; Far Guy, Gravy and his wife Dawn (who is a remarkable woman with organizing skills that won’t end) and Marie a board members wife ( who showed up everyday this week and asked “What can I do?” )  Thanks to them the museum is ready for the Open House today.  I could not have done it without their help.  Four rooms in the museum were totally torn apart and had to be put back together again.  I finally got the extra shelves I wanted in my office/gift shop..It will make my life so much easier.  My office is so much brighter now that it is an off white instead of a navy blue.  The Military Room was baby blue and it is now off white…big difference in that room also.  I will take some “after” photos one of these days..I know I have some “before” photos in my archives.

The Governor or the Lieutenant Governor may show up for coffee at the museum today..we will see.  They were both invited.  We are serving egg coffee and cookies at our open house.  There are supposed to be 10,000 visitors in town this weekend, all the gas stations increased their prices yesterday to $3.79 per gallon..nothing like making everyone feel  welcome:)

Sunset and Clouds

Most people think that Minnesota has mountains.  I suppose because Little House on the Prairie was filmed in California where there are mountains.

Minnesota has some hills and some cliffs along rivers and the North Shore..but no mountains.

We have hills nearby called The Smoky Hills.  I grew up in their shadow.

Sometimes the clouds at sunset makes it seem like there are mountains.

Chance and I spent some time watching the sunset on Tuesday evening.  He is good company..I let him hang his head out the window.  Dogs are so easy to please.

It was a beautiful sunset. 

The best part of the sunset was like molten lava along the Shell River.

Probably the best photograph I have taken in a while.  I was real pleased with it.

I was happy, and relaxed..I had the whole dirt road to myself…no traffic…no one to stir up the dust and mess up my photographs.  I could drive down the middle of the road slowly…and stop wherever I wanted.  I passed the river once looking for wildlife…when I turned around in the middle of the road and headed back the sunset was perfect.  Sometimes the best photographs are not planned they just happen:)

Wistful Wednesday: Uncles

My Dad had eleven brothers.  They are all deceased.  My Dad and my Aunt Anna are the last remnants of their generation.

These are two of my Dad’s brothers.  Oscar and Ervin.  The automobile is a 1932 Model A and it belonged to another brother Wilbert.  My Dad said “That is Wilbert’s shed in the background.”  

My Uncle Oscar (John Oscar to be exact) farmed in Minnesota a few years.  He was adventurous and headed out west and lived in Montana and Idaho most of his adult life.

My Uncle Ervin was a farmer that could bake better bread than any woman in the country..because he grew up being the bread baker for his Mother and his 13 brothers and sisters.

I wonder who took the photograph:)

Flying recon in the yard

Far Guy’s newest passion is flying recon through the yard.

It entertains us in the evening when there is no wind..he flies and I photograph.  It doesn’t take much to entertain the aging.

It even has lights.  I don’t fly it, I have a hard time chewing gum and walking at the same time.

Sometimes I wonder where he is trying to land it.

Here he is flying recon over the daylilies.  Notice the green grass? 

We still have some patches of snow for Chance to lay in after playing ball.  It has finally warmed up  a tad.  The ice is still on the lakes.

I am hoping for a warmer week at the museum..maybe it will get to 60 degrees F in the building!!!  Not sure whether or not the Governor or the Lieutenant Governor are coming to the open house at the museum on Friday or not.  Some people say we are on “the schedule”..some people say we are not.  I just hope I get everything spiffed up, cleaned up and organized by Friday..it will be a busy week:)

Confirmation 2013

Fourteen years ago a tiny baby was baptized.  Our first Grandson.

And then he grew…and grew…

Into this handsome very tall and still growing guy that affirmed his faith In Jesus Christ!  Baptism day to Confirmation day…how time flies.

Confirmation Sunday was yesterday.  We got up early and traveled north..along with  potato salad in a cooler.  After Confirmation it is customary to have a lunch.  We had home made buns with ham and cheese, fruit, vegetables, potato salad, chips, nuts, mints, and cake.  A perfect lunch for 21 people. ( A ice cream pail of potato salad will feed them all with just a tiny bowl left over.)

Noah and his Great Grandparents (my parents)

Noah and his Mom..I think I will frame this one.  I love the love that they have for each other and it really shows in this photo! 

He wanted me to take a reflection photo in his really cool sunglasses so I did. 

He is growing up..not only taller.. so fast.  It is almost scary for this Grandma.

There was some discussion about his hair.  His Mother thought perhaps he should get a haircut for confirmation.  He  told me he liked his hair just the way it was..and so did I.

If you ask me he looks like one cool dude:)

Prom 2013

We were invited out for a pre-prom dinner by Savannah and her parents. 

Getting ready for prom must be hungry work..she wanted to eat baby back ribs..so she did.  Her Grandpa borrowed her his hooded sweatshirt so she wouldn’t get anything on her dress.

Her dress was beautiful…and so is she.

The back of her dress was corseted..after dinner she thought maybe it should be let out a little.

She went to prom with three of her best friends.

They all walked out together during the grand march.  They are a good group of kids.

Savannah was a little nervous.  She said “I have been dreaming about prom for a long, long  time and now I finally get to go.  It seems so unreal.”

Trica and I enjoyed seeing all the different dresses. Every color you can think of and every style…some were the same exact style but in different colors… sparkly with a cut out back and a slit up the leg.  Far Guy commented on a few of the short dresses..”Holy Cow that dress is short.”  He was correct..and some of the real short dresses should not have been allowed to leave the store without matching pants. 

The young men all looked so handsome.  Two were obviously horsemen, their western cut overcoats and hats gave them away.  Many wore white tuxedos with colored ties.  Some twirled their dates as they were center stage…and some of the more theatrical kids struck a pose.  It was fun to watch:)

Loony

Last night after supper we went for a ride.  On my way home from work I saw the loons on the Mill pond.  A pair.  They mate for life..but take separate winter vacations..then meet up again in the spring to fool around and raise babies then in the fall they leave  as a group with other loons and go their separate ways for the winter.

I watched this pair for quite some time..it is magical to see them again.

They are waiting at the Mill pond for the big lake to open up.

Not much chance of that happening real soon.  Usually Straight Lake has three pairs of loons.  They are very territorial..and will not share “their” part of the lake.   Usually they have laid their eggs by now and are sitting on the nest tending them. 

Here is the link to the loon cam, it is not active yet but should be any day now.

It is still cold here in Minnesota. It freezes at night, and barely hits 50 degrees F during the day.  The wind has been howling the last couple of days. 

With the electric heater in my office at the museum it got to 54 degrees F (12 C) today! Work is progressing at the museum.  I had some wonderful volunteers this past week! If you keep moving all day long you don’t get the bone chilling cold shivers until the end of the day.

I guess the Governor will fish on the river.  It should make the National News..Minnesota is so cold they still have ice for Opening Fishing.  One more week will tell the story:)

Towanda

The phone rang early.  Far Guy answered..and he quickly turned the phone over to me since I had been dealing with the “mess” for months.

Someone in their infinite wisdom changed to a different computer system.  During the change only half their information was retained..I heard they lost 2 million dollars because of this “little” computer glitch.

We have been part of this glitch for months..since January.  I have talked with many people at this provider of service..a different one every month.  (I keep track of their names and the time of day I spoke with them.)

They coded something wrong.  I asked them to fix it.  They said it would take at least two months to fix..that was four months ago.  I kept calling and complaining politely.  They always said they would get back to me with an update.  No one ever called back.

Then they sent me a letter that said I was way overdue and owed them $63.  I waited on hold one day for 20 minutes and finally hung up.  Let the bums call me, eventually someone will call.

The phone caller (collector) wanted payment right now with a credit card over the phone.  Ya sure..not likely.

I asked if the problem had been solved..”What problem ?  The problem we have is you did not pay your past due bill.”   I explained and she said “WELL, I will have to go back through 135 pages to find that problem.”  I said “FINE I will wait.”

After a while she came back on the line and said “I see that problem, it has not been resolved, it is still under review. Now lets talk about your outstanding bill.”  I said “FINE when did I make my last two payments?”  She found them..it seems that if something is under review..and you make a payment the payment goes to the oldest bill..unless you tell them different.  So I was paying part of the reviewed bill, and nothing was being applied to the other billing..which I had paid in full.   She said “Well it is your fault, you should have told us to apply your payment to the active account.”  DUH.. I said “You mean to tell me that you couldn’t have figured it out yourself?  You are wasting my time,  I don’t owe you anything ..correct?”  She had to agree.  I asked for her full name..she wouldn’t give it to me.  I said “Sounds to me like you people are real messed up calling people and telling them that they are past due on a bill that is non existent.”

Towanda:)

Pretty Picture: Loons at the beach.

May Baskets

We were surprised with a May Day basket!

What a great basket these two delivered!

We gave them their baskets.

Chance helped deliver to these three.

Can you see a theme?  May Baskets = Smiles!

Some girls were not at home.  So we hung their baskets high on the light fixture so the dog would not eat the candy.

I still have to deliver Teddy’s May Basket.  I didn’t get it to a drop off point today.   It is his first May Day!

I hope where ever you live..you got a bit of a May Day surprise.  What a fun day! :)

Wistful Wednesday: May Day 1954

It  must have been a cold snowy late spring in 1954..59 years ago. 

May Day 1954 and count them seven May Baskets all for me because my baby brother was way too little to eat candy/cookies back then.

I will be delivering the May Baskets I made after supper this evening.

I made some for the grand boys last weekend..and the baskets earned me some hugs..I mentioned to Adam that he was suppose to run after me and give me a kiss, he just shook his head and said “YEEEW.”

How about you?  Will you deliver at least one May Basket to a non suspecting not in the May Day Loop type person ?  If so I hope you will share their reaction.

Happy May Day! :)