Saturday Stuff

 It was an alarming day first thing in the morning, the sump pump alarm was going off so we hollered for help from Andy.  Nothing like being awake at o dark thirty.   I think we are all struggling with the time change...Sadie too. 

We relaxed and napped during the day. We watched  the movie Hey God Its me Margaret.  A very enjoyable movie.  Far Guy even laughed a few times. 

We need the weekend to rest up for the radiation treatments next week.  Five down fifteen to go.  So far no huge side effects from the radiation, he uses a special radiation cream a number of times during the day.  His Doctor suggested a new med to help with his anxiety...well that was not a good idea because the side effects were horrid.  Hopefully we have him back on track again for a bit with his meds. 

I started a new hoodie/ scarf with pockets for Cee Cee...she and her brother both had requests for me. Hey Mikey wants a green and white striped scarf with fringe AND both said make us mittens...so I am going to try to knit some mittens.  It will be an adventure. I have attempted crochet mittens but just don't like how they turn out....so knitting it is....I believe I recall attempting to knit some about 40 years ago. 

Here is a photo of Sadie...I played with removing the background...as the other three people in the photo were not looking at me. 

As you can see she is one beauty of a dog!

As we made supper...Tacos and Far Guy's Italian Sausage, Chili with no beans, philly cream cheese and velveeta cheese dip  we noticed strange white things in the air outside floating past the windows. 

Far Side

Book Club: November 2025

 This month for Book Club we read Alice's Tulips by Sandra Dallas.

I enjoyed it very much!  It is historical fiction set in the Civil War from a young bride's view that she writes in letters to her sister.  I give it a nine out of a ten.  Parts of it I would have written differently...but that is just me being judgy. 

All of the gals in the book club liked it...it was one of my suggestions. So far I have liked all the Sandra Dallas books I have read.  Persian Pickle Club, Westering Women and true sisters all were excellent reads. 

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Greats and a Grand

Granddaughter Maddie and her husband Brenton visited us on Wednesday night, we had pizza as all the kids love pizza! Pizza and pickles a perfect meal for the kiddos!

 Hey Mikey and Cee Cee watching TV after supper

Baby K  who looks so much like her Daddy!

Hey Mikey

Peach...I gave her an old pair of dollar store reading glasses with the lenses taken out...she likes my readers so much.  

Maddie and her children. She is a busy Mom!

We are blessed to be able to see them often! 

Far Side

 

Nice!

 It was a pretty Fall day high in the mid 40's and sunny.  Nice weather!!

Far Guy did not have to wait around for his radiation treatment yesterday.  He barely sat down and they called his name.  I went with him to wait after the really long wait for his treatment the previous day.  35 minutes and we were in and out of the Cancer Center.   Yeah us!  Three treatments down and seventeen to go. 

We picked up our grocery order from Walmart and prescriptions at the corner of happy and healthy where for once they actually had the right prescriptions.  Will wonders ever cease?

Not so nice...I had to seen at the Express Clinic.  Since I have RA other things happen from time to time.  Pleurisy,  I had it one time years ago, I am on meds for the next five days and hope it is all gone by then.  Pleurisy is pain from inflammation when your lung rubs up against your chest wall. Uffda...it is no fun but hopefully will be all better soon.  Luckily I only have the pain on my right side. Old people get the darndest stuff.

Really nice that this dog still loves us.

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Turning

 Here in the city Up North there are still a few very golden trees hanging onto their leaves.  In the neighboring big city residents can pile leaves up next to the street and the city comes by with a huge leaf sucker upper and gets rid of them!  How perfect is that!

Back at home the Tamaracks or Larch have turned into a golden glow.

Far Guy had his second radiation treatment.  He had to wait quite a long time because one radiation delivery machine was not available..they have two...so that makes everyone wait.  Far Guy is not such a good waiting person anymore.   I dropped him off at the door because parking is just the most miserable thing around the Cancer Center...I parked a block away and waited for him to text me when he was done.   I read my book for book club while I waited.

I hear that the S word is being mentioned for the weekend...the weather is turning to Winter just like that! 

I am still not happy with the Falling Back...it makes me tired and cranky.

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One down

One radiation treatment down and nineteen to go.  I think Far Guy can ring the bell on December 1st...we will see.  A little 93 year old lady rang the bell today.  Every Monday Far Guy will see the Radiation Oncologist after his treatment.  Since the radiation treatment is very specialized to spare his lung the treatment takes 13 minutes.  Far Guy says it seems like forever. 

We are mostly unpacked.  

Meals for tonight and tomorrow night have been planned.  Brats and potato soup tonight, BLT's tomorrow night.  I like to plan meals a week ahead of time...but with moody eaters I count two nights menus as a win!! 

I took this photo last week at a friends house, a very cute fall arrangement in an old wheelbarrow. 

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The latest

 My latest afghan is coming along.  It is called Apache Tears and is worked one row at  a time from right to left, the yarn is cut at the end of the row and then you go back and start another row.  Therefore you end up with lots of ends.  As I watched Survivor last Wednesday night I tied end after end.  I double tied them because I have CDO...(Compulsive Disorder Obsessive).

Lots of ends to tie. They are trimmed short and ready to be inside the envelope border.  But first you have to slip stitch all the way around the afghan.  Slip stitches on the front are a single running stitch on the back.  Next step it to begin the border.  Soon I hope.  I began this project on June 18th. 

You have to imagine the running stitch on the back as I only took a photo of the front. 

Envelope Border in process.  I did not finish the border, I left it back at home in the woods to finish when we return.

Jen came over on Sunday morning, she helped load the vehicles and by early afternoon we were all unpacked at Jen and Andys.  Sadie was very happy to see us!

Far Guy starts radiation treatments at the Cancer Center today…November 3rd.

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Cards and other stuff

 I have a container that I had been putting parts of homemade cards in all Summer/Fall.  Some were photos I have taken, some were stamped watercolor images.   There was a bunch of them...I did not count.  One day I coordinated colored paper to frame the images.  The past few days I have assembled them and emptied the box!  Yeah me!  My desk and the dining room table have been a creative mess!

Saturday was a busy day, I had an early morning appointment at the Dentist for yet another new crown. After that we went by Burger King for a biscuit with egg, bacon and cheese.  Then home to do odds and ends all day long...and a nap:) 

I worked outside for awhile putting away chairs, rakes etc...bringing the snow shovel to the front door.  Almost all done with that in preparation for Winter.   It will snow sooner or later!

My other baby brother and she who sees robins first stopped by to visit and they brought us some canned venison.  So that was supper along with toast and peaches.  Next week Deer Hunting begins in Minnesota and they are hopeful to get a couple of deer!

Minnesota weather:  High of 40F or 4C Low was 34F or 1C eh! 

Oh by the way I am Falling Back...I hate the time change. 

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Halloween Report

 We had four Trick or Treaters!  Our niece Stacey's children.

Ava the skeleton glowed in the dark.  Brooke was a girl!  Kelly was something in sports a coach maybe and then Lola a skeleton/fairy. 

The report from Up North. Our great grandchildren.

A Devil Diva, a Porcupine Wild in the Woods, a Baby Bat held by Peely from Fortnite!  They carved pumpkins on Thursday night. 

 Peach wrote all over the front of her pumpkin with a marker.  Good job Peach!

Hey Mikey

Cee  Cee

Baby K

Peach was a porcupine! 

The quills were awesome.  Stir sticks attached together with duck tape and then glued to a piece of fake fur and then attached to a hooded sweatshirt found at a thrift shop with Wild in the Woods on the front! 

What fun! 

Far Side

 

 

Happy Halloween

 Our candy is ready...your guess is as good as mine if we will be eating a whole bunch of candy!

Pumpkins at Jen's last year.

Years ago the elderly neighbors would go out for trick or drink...Far Guy and I never were invited...we must have been the party poopers as we only drank sodas or coffee.  The elderly never went far...a mile maybe two to get a drink at their friends homes, but sometime they would pick up people as they went. 

Thursday was Far Guys usual infusion day.  I delivered some Christmas Ornaments while I waited for him.  Gravy and Dawn's new home is coming along...it is beautiful!  Right now they are fighting sheet rock dust...and waiting for flooring and trim.  

It was a rainy Thursday.  High was 45F or 7C and it was a frosty morning with a very pink sunrise. 

Supper was ribs and my baby brothers maple canned carrots...Yummy! 

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Far Side

Busy day

 We had a busy day, Far Guy got my lawn mower put away and woodcarving supplies gathered.  Medications were organized, some had to be ordered.   Far Guy takes 24 different medications...so that in itself is a task.  

I gathered my outside mowing clothing, washed them and put them away.  I made a list of the books I need to take along for book club, found them all and added a few from my stash. 

The pile on the couch is growing larger and I have no yarn or crafts over there yet.

I washed the dining room window inside and outside then had a nap. Lots of twisting and turning washing a window...who knew? 

The afghan I was working on is almost done, I am tying the ends in preparation for an envelope border...it remains to be seen if it will be finished or not.   It will be close. 

A few Christmas Ornaments were delivered.

Supper was steak, salmon, baked potato, carrots and peaches.  Yummy! 

Minnesota Weather: High 49F or 9C Low was 32F...but I think it was colder than that because it was frosty out when I got up. 

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Slow progress

We have 39 Christmas Ornaments finished bagged up and ready to deliver.  Hopefully I will get them delivered this week.

Far Guy had his Flu and Covid vaccinations on Monday morning...he had aches, chills and felt rotten most of the day yesterday.  I had my Covid booster on Monday ...fever blisters and feeling tired...yuck.  I had my Flu vaccination last Friday and slept for about 20 hours off and on....I started to feel chilled and off about 12 hours after the vaccination...but felt better after my long sleep.  Cross the miserable things off our list!

The rest of the Christmas Ornaments for 2025 will have to be finished Up North and mailed out before Christmas along with the Christmas Card that is still in my imagination. 

I know Halloween comes first...I bought the candy...I will guess that we will get 4 trick or treaters this year. 

I am gathering things that I know we will need Up North and putting them on the couch in the living room...like I said progress is slow. 

Ornament bags all set to go. 

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Greats

 Cee Cee had a minor surgery yesterday to put tubes in her ears. Hopefully she will be able to hear better.  She has very thick ear wax that clogs her ears.  Early indications are that she can hear better, she says she can...but she still talks loudly. 

Peach, Baby K, Hey Mikey and front and center Cee Cee.  Jen took this photo and Maddie had it on her facebook post so I shamelessly stole it from her!

We will be seeing more of the Greats when we are up in East Grand Forks Minnesota/Grand Forks North Dakota over the Winter. 

Jen sent me this photo last night with all the Great Girls!  She went over to check on Cee Cee after her surgery....and for hugs and snuggles! 

Peach, Baby K, Cee Cee and their Great Auntie Jen

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In a row

 Getting our ducks pumpkins in a row. 

Next week Far Guy begins specialized radiation treatments.  Twenty treatments. 

The Radiation Oncologist thinks that the specialized radiation can be done safely and Far Guy's lung will be spared injury.  With radiation there is a about a 2% chance the cancer will reoccur, without radiation a 20% chance it will reoccur.  So...we made the decision as a family that we wanted him to have radiation....because we want him to kick this cancer to the curb once and for all. 

June 3 he saw the Dermatologist Jess for what he thought was a cyst, she took a biopsy.

June 10 he was diagnosed with breast cancer from a biopsy taken at the Dermatologists Office

June 13 he was seen by a Oncologist in Grand Forks North Dakota. The next week he had a Pet Scan and various tests.

July 2 he began Verzenio and Letrozole  (blood tests and Dr visits every two weeks)

August 27 he had another Pet Scan and the tumor is now very small

September 8 he had a surgical biopsy of his Thyroid Gland (It is not cancer, it is thyroid and should be taken care of someday...no rush)

September 16 Verzenio discontinued due to side effects

September 25 Left Breast Mastectomy (biopsy results were good, no lymph node involvement, margins were acceptable concerning the tumor)

October 14  Switch in meds from Letrozole to Tamoxifen

October 22  he had a consult with the Radiation Oncologist

November 3 Radiation will begin in Grand Forks North Dakota

So there we are.  Men can get breast cancer too. 

Far Guy was the first breast cancer diagnosis for the Dermatologist.

He was the first male breast cancer patient for two of the Residents/Interns that were there for his surgery.

He was the third male breast cancer patient for his surgeon.  

I can truly say that we were treated by some very caring Doctors and Nurses throughout Far Guy's Cancer 

adventure.  The Doctor that did the thyroid biopsy was a bit of a turd...other than that we are very pleased that we chose The Cancer Center in Grand Forks for treatment. 

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Other Baby Brother

 Guess who is 65 and happier than a hog in slop to be on Medicare?  My other baby brother that is who! 

Here he is in 1965 when he was 5 years old. 

Happy Birthday to my other baby brother!  Love you lots and I am thankful you are my brother!

Far Side

One down

 One more to go.  I got my High Dose Flu shot on Friday morning.  On Monday I will get the Covid booster and then both are crossed off my list for another year!  

My Rheumatologist wants me to try a different medication for my RA and I cannot have any vaccinations while on the medication...so I will get my vaccinations and then wait two weeks and try the new med.  I am so not impressed with my Rheumatologist...he said "Oh your blood work is showing so much inflammation"...yes...go figure...I could have told him that.  He has no explanation why my Ferritin level is still high....nor does he care.  He also said "You have tried so many RA meds and failed them all"  no news to me...as if that statement helps at all.  

I will just keep on keeping on and hope that sooner or later the Clinic in Grand Forks will recruit a Rheumatologist.   My Primary Care Dr says they are trying their best in recruitment. 

I hope that both vaccinations will be smooth going with no major couch time. I could have gotten them both at once...but did not want to press my luck. 

Supper was roast pork, mashed potatoes, gravy and baked carrots.  Comfort food.

Minnesota weather: It was frosty!

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Nice Fall Day

 It was Thursday and Far Guy had his weekly infusion to protect his lungs.   I ran errands; Wally World to pick up groceries, inside to another grocery store to get a few things that I wanted to pick out myself, Pharmacy, Post Office and the Bank.  I was back in plenty of time to wait for Far Guy in the parking lot of the clinic.  I didn't even get to play an entire solitaire game on my phone before he messaged me he was done. 

We had a nap in the afternoon and didn't feel like cooking so we went to a place in town that we had not been to all Summer.  Cheeseburgers and French Fries at Good Times.  It is rumored that more businesses are closing for good on Main Street....most business are touristy ( assorted knick knacks, T shirts etc)...and many stores I have never been in...shopaholic or fashionista doesn't describe me. 

Flower pots on Main Street have avoided the frost so far. 

Minnesota weather; High was 46F or 8C Low was 26F or -3C eh!

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This dog

 We got to see this dog!  She did not forget us.

I didn't have any Cheerios and she really didn't like me sticking a cell phone in her face. 

We had a good visit with her and her owners and we are now back home again in the woods.

Supper was leftover spaghetti and salad.

Minnesota Weather: Cloudy and Cool.  High 43F or 6C  Low was30F or -1C eh.

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Hot Pads

 We are still in hot pad/potholder production.  It helps Far Guy with his anxiety.  I tried to teach him how to crochet...I am not a very good teacher.  I thought perhaps he could lessen the yarn stash by making scarves for school kids! 

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Keeping on

 Monday was a mostly quiet day. I did some laundry, made an apple crisp and organized supper.  I can while away a whole day doing a little of this and that and it never shows. 

This afghan was finished, it is a very pale blue with some flecks of white and green, it is crocheted with a 5.5 hook in a shell stitch.  It goes into the afghan stash. 

Sunday night Far Guy and I watched The Road on CBS.  It is a reality show that features songwriters/singers.  There were 12 beginning contestants.  Why watch you say?  I like reality shows for one and for another reason Forrest McCurren is one of the contestants.  Forrest is married to my baby brothers bride's niece Margaret. My baby brother and his bride often travel to Southern Minnesota and Wisconsin to see Forest and Margaret preform (Margaret plays the violin and the drums). It will be fun to watch Forrest compete...I like his music...for me he is like Bob Dylan but easier to understand.

Minnesota weather: High was 48F or 9C and the low was 37F or 3C.

Supper was spaghetti one of Far Guy's favorites.  His weight is holding steady at 130.  He is thin. 

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