Goodbye Odda

 Jo called yesterday morning to tell us that Odda was very sick and if we wanted to say goodbye we should come over.  Of course we had to say goodbye to one our favorite dogs. 

Odda was supposed to be called Bella but no one could stop calling her Odda. (Odda 1 died when she was 16 weeks old of a heart problem.)

Odda May 14 2009

 Hooch, Chance and Odda May 2009

 She liked chewing on my crocs and me!  Eventually we came to an understanding.   She liked me and listened to me without hesitation. 

Then good boy Hooch died.. a tick disease took him within hours in May of 2011.

 

Putz joined the pack in 2012....he was so little! 

Something happened around 2012 ( probably Putz)...Odda began to visit us on a regular basis...we thought it was just to see Chance but it continued after he died.  She would cross the road at her house go into the woods and come down the trails to our house. 

Odda and Chance were good friends. 

Odda was a good friend to us after Chance died.  She came to visit more often...we would sit outside with her until Jo came to get her...sometimes we would take her home.  Sometimes when we were gone to town she would be waiting for us when we got home.  We were her safe place. 

Bernese Mountain dogs are loyal, gentle dogs.  She loved to sit on my foot and get a good scratch.

There was no sitting yesterday...but she did lift her head up for a while...we got to pet her and say our goodbyes.  Goodbye Odda come to visit. 

We will miss our visits.  Our neighbor Jo will miss her girl Odda so very much.  It isn't easy to lose our four legged friends.

 Odda is survived by her little brother Putz or Putzer...who is almost blind...but his hearing and sense of smell is pretty good as he took the crumbs of a treat out of my hand.  He will miss Odda too...as she was the Alpha dog...poor Putz.

Far Side

Third or fourth time a charm

 I finally got it!  A new pattern learned...Mosaic stitch called Apache Tears.  It is worked row by row and you have ends on each side...lots of ends...reminder do not cut them too short. 

After some discouraging moments I finally figured it all out.  

The finished border from the front.

And from the back.

Yeah me...not perfect but I learned so much!  The swatch has an envelope type border it encloses all the ends...much better than a fringe and way better than sewing all those ends in. 

I have a project in mind for this pattern. BUT I had to see if I could do the stitch and do the border.  So it is a go.  

However I have two shawls in the works and this old project that I had tucked away upstairs. 

This was a join as you go Granny Square project.  It is almost large enough to be a lapghan...one more row and then some kind of border. 

We had a quiet Sunday...listened to church...made yeast rolls, potato salad and meatloaf for supper it seemed I was in the kitchen most of the day.

Enjoying Public TV...All Creatures Great and Small. 

Far Side

Not Much

 Not much snow, a little ice.  I shoveled the patio and the walk.  Far Guy got the mail and visited his new old car.   I made it through all our issues of Woodcarvers Illustrated.   There are now two  magazine upright storage containers that Far Guy can fill with "stuff."

I figured the crochet stitch out and have an idea for a project...I have a few kinks to work out in the binding.  The stitch is called Apache Tears..the special binding covers up all the ends...I have redone it twice now...but I am persistent. Third time is a charm. 

I watched two old movies or most of two old movies...Unforgiven from 1992 and Men Of Honor from 2000. I enjoyed both.  Unforgiven had some really good writers...if you listen closely there is some humor..."I read you were dead?  I read that too... hell I even thought I was dead, till I found out that I was just in Nebraska."

We started a television subscription to Discovery Plus...what a great adventure that is...no news!! AND I signed up for the no ad version....happy dance. 

I have to pick out another paper project to start this week. Not sure what I shall choose probably something to do with Medicare or Insurance.

Progress is very slow on old photos on my computer files.  I make a few puzzles as I go.

Chance and Peonies June 13 2009 a Puzzle

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Fizzled out

 Not much of a storm at our house...but who knows what it is like out of these woods.  We did not venture out.  I will shovel the small amount of snow that we got sometime today. 

Yesterday was a catch up day.  Some household duties that were let slide earlier in the week...cleaning the bathroom and steam mopping the tile floors. 

Then we were free to do whatever...Far Guys whatever was taking a nap.  My whatever was trying to figure out a NEW to me crochet stitch...the stitch  is a good one...no problem with it but I am stumped on the binding...I will figure it out...in the meantime it is frustrating.  I remind myself this is why I do a practice swatch...it can be accomplished or thrown out.  The important thing is I am trying something new to me.

I got the flag changed this week!  Yeah me! 

After supper...Chicken and Noodles... I was done...just done..fizzled out...headed to the couch for a two hour nap filled with strange dreams.  That will teach me not to crochet all afternoon during nap time. 

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Winter Storm

 We have a winter storm.  It rained early Thursday and then froze a bit. The bulk of the storm was suppose to begin about 3 PM on Thursday.  Plenty of time to get Far Guy to the Infusion Center and curbside pickup for groceries, a stop by the drive up teller, and a fill of gas...the first since Dec 24 and we still had a half a tank. Anyways it began to snow as we approached town.  

We got everything done and were back home by noon and snow continued.  We didn't get much snow...yet.  I took some photos just before dark.

There are six inches at the snowstick Jan 14 2021

I lightened up this photo so you can see how little snow there is.   The winds are suppose to come up.  We covered up the new patio heater and Far Guy put an eye bolt in the wood siding and he secured it with straps. 

The trip to town was uneventful...missing grocery was a slice of ham....so all in all that was pretty good.  I even got Press and Seal...so I ordered two...hoarding...and I am not ashamed.

We came home and disinfected all our groceries and had a nap....and waited for the storm. 

Far Side  

Jello

 In pre covid times Far Guy and I liked to attend Auction Sales...and garage/rummage sales.  

I am sorting through some old photos on my Simple Save...oh it is slow going but a good trip down memory lane.  I am working in 2009 right now. In 11 years many things have changed.

This is a fun puzzle.

I  had many a jello made in those crystal bowls... my Aunt Marie like to serve jello over a lettuce leaf and topped with cottage cheese...uffda.  ( For the record Cottage Cheese will make me barf.)  I tried to graciously scoop it off to one side.   I like just plain jello...with some whipped cream on top...and Lemon,  Lime or Blue Raspberry are not my favorite flavors.... give me Orange, Black Cherry or regular Raspberry any day of the week.  My Grandmother put all kinds of fruit in her jello....sometimes more fruit than jello...I hated the grapes.  If Grandma made plain jello it was kept in a crystal refrigerator dish that had a pretty crystal lid.  

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Twice the fun

 Far Guy ordered me some Cashmere and Silk yarn.  I couldn't resist starting a shawl. (Even though I have a different one that is 3/4 finished. 

Such pretty colors and a texture to get lost in!  Soft and silky! 

 I work on the shawls at night when I am watching TV and putting my feet up.

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Woodcarving

 I had two woodcarving projects...one has been in my carving tote for a year...the other was out in the woodshop just hanging around.  I have more unfinished carving projects...these were just the two I chose for this week.

The rolling pin was a turned project from my Cousin Chuckie.  Nice to have that one done...I put a hanger on it and hung it by the fireplace...yes Christmas decorations are still up.  The Santa was a project started years ago and is now finished. 

I have not carved in a while...I miss going to the Woodcarving Group on Monday afternoons...soon it will be a year since we have gathered.  The group always shared ideas and tips and tricks. 

Far Guy carves just about every day.  

We are making progress on going through the woodcarving stash of magazines.  My goal has been four issues a day, by the end of the week I should be done. 

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Baxter Visit

 My people handed me over...to that Lady that likes me....but she is not my favorite person.  She thinks a bag of treats and a squeaky toy will work magic with me...

Didyaknow I can sit with my bum on one step and my four feet on another? 

Someone thought it was really cute...I can do cute! 

I am about 18 weeks old now. 

 The lady won't let me outside without a long leash.  She pulls it up short and says sit and then heel and walks away...and I am supposed to follow.  After a few turns around the yard she lets me crawl up on June the snowbank and I give her the evil eye.  She calls it puppy training.  She makes a funny noise if I try and wrap her up in the leash...something like ACK kinda loud.  If I walk beside her nicely she says "Good boy, good boy!"

She gets real excited when I pee outside...she takes me to the same spot and says "Pee in the snow." There is snow everywhere but she takes me to the same spot in her yard...and I pee there.  I have to pee every two hours...and if I scratch at the door, she takes me out. She should report I had no accidents at her house!! 

She laid down on the couch...that guy that likes me too was walking round and round in the house...in the kitchen and around in a circle through the living room so I herded him round and round...about every fourth round I jumped on top of her on the couch...a couple of times I think she was asleep.

When I would remember that my people were missing I would run up the steps and cry...so she didn't get much of a nap.  If my misery is ignored...I can bark...and I can yip sharply...and howl pathetically.  The Lady says "Baxter it is not the end of the world."

I spent some time exploring...someone has a basket with some pretty strings in it...I decided to den up with it under the dining room table...the guy started laughing and said "The puppy likes your yarn"  She said "Oh crap"  but she said no harm was done.

She fed me some of my "treats" which are suspiciously like my dog food and then we went for a long walk...there was some target practice going on. She said I was a good boy and safe...so I sat beside her and watched and listened for the birds coming and going and the target practice in the distance. 

I like her a little better now, she says we are making progress. 

Soon my favorite people in the whole world showed up...I wiggled all over and she released me from that leash!  My people saved me!!

Baxter

****

Baxter is not like any other dog I have met.  I believe he is loyal to a very small group of people. (Right now I am not in that group)  He is very smart, shy and a bit of a turd.  He is food driven to a point.  He needs a job.  He ignores a ball...he batted it around a bit...he wasn't thrilled with it.  He may like a frisbee a soft fabric one.   He settles down nicely in the vehicle going for a ride and actually fell asleep....as soon as you slow down he wakes up.  My baby brother and his bride are working on the command down now, off  and heel should be the next ones learned, then stay followed  by kennel up and safe.  The commands he knows well are come and sit.  He also needs to be socialized more....hard to do in Covid times.  My goal with Baxter is to have him wiggle all over when he sees me and to have him off leash in our yard without his people present.

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Tracks

 There were some fresh tracks out by the sauna. 

Never mind the tubes by my garage...I use them to hold glass flowers during garage sales and I leave them in the ground.

It was a frosty grey day. 

My other baby brother stopped by in the late afternoon with his new set of wheels. 

She who sees robins first and my other baby brother.  This fancy new buggy has heat....they just picked it up on Friday. 

I got to see all my siblings yesterday.  My baby brother dropped Baxter off for a visit and my sister hiked over and sat outside while we visited with her through the window. 

We are having really nice weather for Minnesota in the winter!  It was 27 F or -3 C eh! for a high yesterday!

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New Projects

 I decided sometime over the New Year to try some new to me things or finish an old project every week.  I was tired of the same old same old in Isolation 2020 that carried over to Isolation 2021.

Baking dinner rolls from scratch.  I have made bread from scratch but not dinner rolls.

They don't look much like the photo that was on Facebook but they were still good and easy peasy. 

Big Fat Yeast Rolls

1 cup warm water

1 package or 2 1/2 teaspoons of dry yeast

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 Tablespoons softened butter

1 egg beaten

3 1/2 to 4 cups of flour

Put water and yeast in a large mixing bowl (I mixed this gently with a spatula)  add the sugar, salt, butter and egg. Beat with dough hook until well blended.

Add 3 1/2 to 4 cups of flour, mix until soft dough forms that is not sticky.

Put the dough on a floured board and knead a few times until smooth.

Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot for about 45 minutes.  I  use a corn/rice bag that is toasty warm after a few minutes in the microwave...I nestle the bowl onto the top of the bag. 

Punch down and turn onto a floured board. Divide dough into 12 large pieces and shape into round balls. Place in greased 13 x 9 inch  baking pan. Cover with plastic wrap.  Let rise about 30 minutes on a warm corn/rice bag.

Bake for 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Brush tops with butter. 

I timed this and you should start the recipe about 2 hours before you want warm fresh out of the oven dinner rolls for supper. 

Far Guy liked them...and I liked them also so we declare it a winner of a recipe!  I used all white flour but will try it with my mix of whole wheat and white flour..I mix my own flour... half and half.

Old project: Looking through all of our woodcarving magazines and books.  I tear out instructions for projects that I might want to do someday and put them in a folder and recycle the rest of the magazine after Far Guy has paged through them...I keep more than he does.. This project is about half done so it will continue a few more days.  

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Little things

 It was a very frosty day.  

I took a photo of the Flowering Crab that is near where I park for picking up groceries.  It is full of frosty berries.

Grocery pickup was not remarkable.  No Glad Press and Seal...I prefer it over Saran Wrap...they have substituted that once already.  No Original plain Naan Bread...just Garlic ...no thanks.  At least there were no huge mistakes.  In the messages I put my suggestions and their prior weeks errors all in CAPS!!  Since I show up every week about the same time...I am sure they draw straws out back to see who wants to bring me my groceries.   This was order #43...same time same place.   

I handed Far Guy my camera on the way home...he took some frosty photos. 

I joined a Zoom meeting Book Club...only four people were there. I ordered the next book  Untamed Land by L. Snelling hope it gets here in time for me to read it!  I have always wanted to join a book club...and Zoom works better for me than a gathering.  Safer!! 

Talking about little things...look at these little stitches! 

Jen made these...a Partridge and a Pear 

I think this is Number 1 as it says so on the back...must be a series!  I cannot believe how perfect her French Knots are.  She loves working with felt...her Great Grandmother also loved to work with felt...I can recall Far Guy's Mom looking all over for felt kits to make Christmas Stockings because she knew her Mother loved to work with felt...and her stitches were perfect also! 

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Desoto

 I had a special ornament made for Far Guy.  It was the day that he bought the Desoto and drove it away from the dealership. 

Noah and Adam were with their Grandpa when he drove away.  All the boys were excited I am sure it is a day they will always remember.

A good reminder of a fun day in 2020. 

Yesterday Far Guy started her up and took her over to my brother's shop.  She will get her brakes worked on and her gas gauge figured out....right now you don't have any idea how much gas she has.  Last Fall Far Guy gave her an oil change, more antifreeze,  worked on her lights and cleaned up every inch of her. ...and probably more stuff that I know nothing about. 

New tires,  some rust spots taken care of and new paint job are on the list....and probably a bunch of other stuff that I know nothing about.

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Warmth

 Jen and Andy came by yesterday to bring us a Christmas gift from them and all the grands.

Jen read instructions and sometimes Andy listened but mostly he did his own thing...and irritated his wife. 

It is a patio heater...it runs off of propane.  After a little while it warms up nicely... enough to warm your hands and make you step back.  The flame is going up a glass tube.

Andy shoveled a path to the greenhouse/workshop for me also...it was on my list of things to do...in just a few minutes he was done.  It would have been at least two leaners for me...you know the amount of time you lean on the shovel handle to rest before you begin again..  

It was good to see them even if it was just outside on the patio. 

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New Ornaments

 We received a few ornaments in the mail.   We opened them Christmas Morning.  

GOD BLESS THE USA 

Our friend Sue from Indiana sent these ornaments...she works with vinyl stencils. 

She also sent this little donkey.  Thanks Sue! 

 The Legend of the Donkey

God used a little donkey to carry Mary to Bethlehem, where Jesus would be born.  Many years later a donkey would carry Jesus to Jerusalem, where He would die upon the cross.  God marked the donkey's back with a cross.  It is a reminder of God's Son Jesus, who was born and died for all.

This year our ornaments were hung on the fireplace mantle where our children and grands stockings usually hang. We were just not feeling like putting up a tree...maybe next year.

 I did take the Santas down from the wreath by the door.  Time to redecorate it with snowmen.

I have not made a list of things I want to accomplish...yet.

Far Side

Found

 Far Guy's robot vacuum Dracula found the puzzle piece...my theory is that one piece was dropped and Dracula threw it under the couch and it took several days to unearth it from under there...Far Guy found it yesterday morning near my computer chair...it will join the other pieces again.   I took the puzzle apart a few days ago. ( we call the vacuum Dracula because it goes nuts in sunlight and sometimes it vacuums at night all by itself)

I found time to work on the income taxes...they are all set to go to the accountant after all the proper forms come in the mail....I hate that job so I am happy to have it done.  No I am not nuts enough to do the taxes myself....one audit will scare you half to death..and I am happy to have an accountant.

Roger (the Sexton at the local cemetery) called so I  have found general areas to search for the graves I am looking for ...I just need the snow to melt.  My theory is that some of the older graves have markers that sunk and have been covered with grass.  I wonder what is the best way to search for them? 

I found out that the Minneapolis Star Tribune offered four days free to search their Newspaper Archives...that was fun.

I found an old ad in the paper and Far Guy's parents phone number was 216J.  This ad was from June of 1953. My parents phone number was 12F12O around that same time. 

I also found some bits of family history that no one ever wants to talk about....how much is true and how much is exaggerated journalism remains to been seen.  Kinda like journalism today. 

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Neighborhood

 I took a ride on New Years Day. There are still signs of Christmas in the neighborhood down by the lake.  

A view of the lake through the trees.

I wore a heavy long parka and really warm gloves...it was a nice ride...I stayed off the side trails through the woods. Not many New Year's Days that you can go out without getting real cold. Usually this is the coldest part of the year...hope the nice weather stays!  Anything above zero is a nice day!! 

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Oh Brothers

 My baby brother brought his bride, daughter, son in law and grands over after the storm last week...the kids all used the electric shovel.  My brother helped to shovel...they moved lots of snow so that made it easier for me. 

Here they are hiking back to their house. Photo taken Wednesday December 30.

Later that day my other baby brother came and moved a lot of snow with his big old snowblower. 

Here he is moving snow behind the bird feeders. 

On New Year's Eve day we puppy sat for Baxter. 

He did not like being left with us.  He was a turd.   Good thing I put a leash on him or he would have ran back home.  He ignored us both for most of the time he was here, I walked him outside and we played on the snowbank named June...he likes being up high and sliding down the snowbank...he also chased some leaves....but he was just miserable.  He would not take treats from my hand until I had him on the leash. Most of the time he was here he hid under the dining room table and closed his eyes every time I got down on the floor to make eye contact with him....it took him almost four hours to get his toy off his blanket and drag it under the table.  

 Oh so pathetic! 

He is a 17 week old puppy...he let me touch his ears and nose and he has a soft mouth and finally ate some dog food out of my hand.   He growled at me several times....I growled back!  He is right at the age where he is bonding with his pack and he has decided I do not belong. My brother and his bride hiked over again yesterday...I had my brother put him on the leash...I took him to the snowbank to play and to do some leash work and then I released the leash and praised him....he promptly ran to my brother. 

We will work with him a little at a time.  I think he is a little stuck on himself...but will eventually like me.  I am not sure if he is stubborn (like G'Day Mate was) or just needs more socialization.  My brothers Grands went home...so he is a puppy adjusting away from some of his pack. He has only been with my brother for 12 days. 

 Baxter is a work in progress.

Looking toward his home feeling real SAD! 

Far Side

Happy New Year 2021!

 Ack this is the year I will be 70 if I live that long...who woulda thunk it?  I never thought I would live past the age of 50.  When I changed the age on my yearly calendar from 69 to 70 I winced, rolled my eyes and sighed. 

I usually have a one word intention for the entire year...not a resolution. Some of the former words were kindness, exercise, explore, ongoing, time, relax and one year it was laugh, smile,hug and dance four words that I could use right at midnight and be done for the whole year.

I had lots of different words in mind this year...safe is the word I chose.  I want to feel safe going out in the big bad covid world sometime this year. Safe to hug my family, gather safely with those I love. Safely hug and kiss those beautiful Great Grandbabies.  Safe to pick out my own fruit at the grocery store, safe to wander the yarn and thrift shops, safe to go out to dinner with friends. 

  If I cannot enjoy those activities then I choose to be safe at home for as long as it takes. 

Some good news:

 I got an email saying what the electrical bill was...it was so low I figured it was wrong...so I went online to check things out. 

There was a note on our electrical bill.  "2020 was a great year for Itasca Mantrap Coop Electrical Association.  We know others did not have such a great year and we understand the hardship many faced amidst Covid-19.  This month you will see a credit on your bill.  This is the Co-op's way to give back to membership after a tough year."

How nice is that! There was an $85 credit on our account!  A good way to start off the year! 

We finally finished the puzzle.  It is missing a piece...we are hopeful that we will find it someplace in the house...my theory is that Dracula ( the robotic vacume) spun it off into some corner...and the piece is waiting to be discovered. 

Happy New Year! 

We had a safe New Years Eve...we stayed at home. 

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