Shopping, Flooding and SNOW

We went shopping in Grand Forks, North Dakota on Saturday. The Red River of the North is flooded.  There is only one bridge that is open between East Grand Forks, Minnesota and Grand Forks, North Dakota. This is the Kennedy Bridge.

 

So far the river is staying within the dikes.

This is the first time I have been in town when the flood walls have been up.

East Grand Forks flood wall.

These are my shopping helpers.  Adam is learning to open doors for women and to sit patiently outside a dressing room and hold “Stuff” for his Grandma. Jen is a shopper..she goes up and down the aisles..grabbing stuff..saying “I don’t care if you don’t like this on the hanger..you are trying it on.”  I had given her the mental list I had, a summer dress, a sweater or two and a couple of tops and a pair or two of new shoes.  Mission accomplished..Cabela’s even had a pair of brown crocs for me.

We met up with Noah, Andrew and Far Guy for lunch.  Noah took a Gun Safety Class and they all went to the indoor shooting range at the Police Station for the final tests which were a written test, a oral test and a shooting test. Noah passed with flying colors!  Hard for me to imagine that Noah and his friends are all old enough to hunt now..but they are and they have taken the Firearms class so they should be safe hunters.

We came home late in the afternoon..of course it had snowed at our house too:(

Hibernation

Far Guy asked me today if the bears were out of hibernation.  They are… Maddie saw one in a tree on a school field trip.

We were in a snowstorm last evening.  Going from one daughters to the other, it began to snow and the roads turned icy.  Minnesota weather can do anything in April. It is cold, it is snowy and the wind is blowing..it looks a lot like Christmas.  Old Man Winter is not giving up so easy this year.

It was dark when we got here..and I did not take any photos of any of the accidents we saw on the way.  One car was almost totally submerged in water.  The bad weather was supposed to be south of us..surprise..surprise.

We will hibernate here until the weather straightens out.  Chance is happy,  he has been playing ball with Miney and Elvis.  Jen and I will venture out to do some shopping..maybe..if the stores are not closed.

I know one thing I packed away my snow boots way too early

Head above water

I am just trying to keep my head above water this week. I have had appointments every day this week. Those old poking and prodding appointments at the regular Doctor..and then at the eye Doctor too..he wanted to do some fancy smancy tests for Glaucoma and corneal thickness.  I got new glasses that I will use for driving at night.  AGE..we are ALL GONNA EXPIRE..(now I feel like Gary Busey on The Apprentice..between him and Meatloaf I am entertained on Sunday evenings). 

I was scheduled to make a trip to Mpls/St Paul on Saturday to tour the Capitol Building..I had to cancel..there is just not enough of me to go around. They had a waiting list..so now someone else will be able to go. Someone that isn’t trying to keep their head above water.

I just want to stay home one day..well that ain’t happening again today.  I am hopeful that Saturday or Sunday will be all mine..it seems my day is always one day off.  I know I sound like a selfish old broad.

My Potassium is still very low..I cannot keep my levels up.  Now the Doctor has increased me to three horse pills a day.  I am pretty disgusted about that. Perhaps that will kick in and give me the added energy I need.

I insisted the Far Guy get the door on his truck fixed..you could not open or close the passengers door.  To get in you had to either jump through the open window like a teenager or drag your old fat body through the drivers door over the bucket seat and the stick shift to the other seat. It was all unsafe..not to mention uncomfortable..especially after multiple stops..one day I thought about just riding in the way back..in the truck bed. I wrote a check last Friday after the door was fixed at the auto body shop.  Their bank bag was stolen.  Well that caused a bit of excitement on Monday morning and caused me to lose one day this week..I closed accounts and opened new ones.  Far Guy was fit to be tied..and I tell ya if either of us would catch that criminal he would be trussed up someplace tarred and feathered minus some body parts. Yes, we could have just watched the account waiting for suspicious activity..that would have driven Far Guy nuts and kept him awake at night.

Another sign of spring..the first Pussy Willows.

It has been a week and it ain’t over yet..I am off to bake Birthday Cupcakes for the grand girls so we can deliver them later:)

Shell Lake and River

The other day the river was still up.  We decided to go over to the lake and see how high it was..

It was high..the water was nearly to the top of those posts.  Years ago you could walk over the river here..when there was a walkway. Perhaps it was a heavy spring thaw that took out the walkway..or perhaps the State just removed it because of liability issues.

This is the view across the road..the river is heading for the hills.  I am sure that the river has flooded the road back there in the hills..we have not ventured back there yet…it is more than likely really muddy.

Here is where we pick up the river again at the corner just down the road from us.  It is going across the road..this corner always has water in it in the spring..but to have this much water is really something else.

The river was too full and crossed the road here..

Making a mini waterfalls..

I think we should call this part of the river Little Shell Lake in the spring.  We could hear the Ducks having a party back in there, they must have been celebrating their good fortune.

I am just trying to keep my head above water this week..it has been a really busy week:)

Wistful Wednesday :1944

My Mother was Lutheran..so was my Father..Lutheran works for me.  Far Guy is Lutheran too..we went to the same church ( My family joined that church after I was confirmed..It might have been my vast knowledge of all things religion that convinced them that perhaps they should go to a church in town versus a small country church.)  Anyways Far Guy and I were married at that church and had our children baptized there and I suppose they will have to have our funeral someday too.  Far Guy’s Mother was raised Baptist..his Father..kinda Lutheran.

This is a photo of my Mothers Confirmation Class in 1944.  She was 15 years old that year. (Mom is in the back row, she is girl number four from the left.)

Confirmation always used to take place in the spring..a time of renewal and rebirth..when all things that look dead or dying after a long winter suddenly spring to life and blossom.

My Mother is a much better Lutheran than I am..she can still recite the entire Catechism in German..she can probably recite her Bible Verse too.  Every confirmand was given one.

I have no idea what my Bible Verse was..I was confirmed in 1966..in the spring and I cannot recite the entire Catechism…but I could give you a run for your money if you needed to find out exactly how many words could be formed from the words “The Lutheran Hymnal”..because that is what I did for two years during confirmation classes on Saturday mornings..that and daydream and catch a few cat naps. Hey I put in my time..God will count it..I am sure of it, you see the one little word that I couldn’t spell with all the little letters was the most important word I learned in confirmation classes  ..Grace :)  

Shell River Flooding

Far Guy suggested we just go for a drive after supper.  He got the OK to drive again..his physical therapy is going great and his therapist said he can drive..Whoo hoo for me! I like it when he drives ..I can take photos.

We went to the River..the part that I call the Dead Beaver Area that is a mile plus from the house.

The river is over the road in two areas. We did not drive through the water..I did get my feet a little wet..the water is icy cold.

Chance thought it was a lake. A vehicle came by, it was Far Guys cousin PD. He said that the river at the farm was really high and we should go and look.

The view of the river at Far Guys Grandparents old farm.

The rain the other day coupled with the snow melting in the swamps and running off has raised the river levels.

PD said that even the old cattle crossing under the road was full of water.  I didn’t know that there was a cattle crossing.  There is.  Far Guy remembered it, he said he had to reach way back in his memory to recall it.  His Grandparents H. lived very close to this area..and as a kid he played and explored the woods.

When Highway 34 was built, the farmer to the south ( in this direction) had no safe way to get his cows from one side of the highway to the other..so a cattle crossing was built under the road.

The cattle crossing is on the left near that post..it is hidden quite well from this direction.

From an approach I was able to zoom in and document that there is indeed a cattle crossing there and the river water is flowing through it.  PD said “Even with the high water we had two years ago the river never made it to the cattle crossing.”

It is supposed to rain again today..April Showers brings May Flowers..I am happy there is not much snow left on the ground..a few snow banks here and there in shady areas:)

Shell River

Yesterday as it rained the snow banks melted before my eyes..no they are not all gone..but what a difference a rain makes.  I could almost see the grass turning green! It was a cold rain..it hailed early in the morning and we had thunder and lightening which sent the very brave Chance to safety in the laundry room..behind the furnace..go figure.

I put my rain gauge away so well last fall that I cannot find it, so I can make up any amount..I think it may have rained about two inches..it really came down most of the day.

  The corner two miles away is full of water.

Yes, there are people that live down this road. The culvert is where those two sticks are…the river has come up and it will go down..it is a normal spring/heavy rainfall event.

The water was really rushing through the culvert, usually it is quiet here..but the rushing water was making it’s own music. No crawling through this culvert today..as a kid I crawled through this one several times. It probably was not the safest place to play..

what kid or camera toting grandma can resist the call of the river..I am wondering if the culvert is out at the Dead Beaver Area..I may have to go check it out..we have sunshine today!:)

Canada Goose

"One swallow does not make a summer, but one skein of geese, cleaving the murk of a March thaw, is the spring."
— Aldo Leopold

I am not sure if the river in town stayed open enough for the Canada Geese to stay all winter.  I know that they were fed everyday this spring.  If they are feed everyday they then become resident geese and not migratory geese. It is usually lack of open water and lack of a food source that drive them south.  The Canada Goose can be found in all of the lower 48 states at one time or another during the year.

Did you know that a flock of 50 Canada Geese can poop two and a half tons a year?  Now that is a pile of poop.

When we lived at the resort the four dogs (Shelties) kept them off in the water, if not I ended up down there with a rake and a shovel cleaning up after them.

My sister had so many when she and her former husband lived at Seney National Wildlife Refuge in the UP of Michigan that she had a sign on the outside of her door that said “Goose Poop Remove Your Shoes.”

I have always liked the Canada Goose..they mate for life.  They are very loyal to their group and will usually return to the same area where they were born.  Last years young stays to help the parents raise the new chicks..it is a group effort.

I saw a small flock at the Dead Beaver Area a number of years ago.  When I stopped to watch them they surrounded the chicks. People could learn much from wild creatures if they just took the time to watch.

There is one loud mouth in every group.. the continual honking must drive the neighbors nuts..oh well if you live on the river..then you have to put up with the residents:)

Signs of Spring

Yesterday Chance went to the spa for the day..well not the whole day because Far Guy would miss him too much ..he was only allowed to be there six hours.  He was waiting for us at the gate..as if to say “Get me out of here.”

For some reason Chance is mad at me.  I suppose he heard me saying “Lets get Chance a good trim, before mud season is in full swing and before the ticks are out.”

 

He wouldn’t even pose for a photo..I must be in the dog house.(what a turd)  His white is just brilliant!! Look at those feet..they are perfectly trimmed! ( less sand to drag into the house)

The last two times he was groomed he got tiny little sores, I think he was allergic to their soap or their cologne.  Far Guy is checking Chance every five minutes to make sure he catches any spots right away.  They used a special soap this time, so hopefully there will be no itchy spots. IF Chance has any itchy spots I will be in the dog house big time.

The ticks are out now.

Last evening I found two ticks crawling on Chance..both were the tiny little ticks..he will get a dose of Frontline today. There is no alternative. I wish there was…we live in one of the worst areas for ticks and tick borne diseases. 

Ticks are just a fact of life in Minnesota in the spring..one of those spring signs that you can count on year after year.

This week the Juncos and Finches showed up on April 04, 2011.  The Purple Finches were hot on their heels a few days later.  We saw the first Red Winged Blackbirds on April 08, 2011. 

This Junco hit the window and sat around on the patio for awhile..he eventually flew off.  I hope he lived. The Juncos will be here for just a few weeks..then they will go further North.

We still have snow banks in the yard..it is supposed to start raining..things will green up fast if it rains:)

Chance: Winners!

Yesterday it was well over fifty degrees and the snow around the snow stick began to melt some more.   The snow was still there at 3PM when we got back from my appointment at the Vet. 

This is me waiting patiently for my turn.  At one point I was under this bench..a big fat chocolate lab was going to lick me to death. Then I came out and made friends with a boxer..he was very friendly, minus the licking.   Finally Patty came out and said “It is your turn Chance, come on back.”   I tried to hide behind Far Side..I headed for the door..the outside door.  They made me go in. 

The scale ..the dreaded scale..I know that I have been suckering an extra treat out of Far Guy every once in awhile.   I weigh ten pounds more than I did last year at this time..I weigh 62 pounds.  Someone said the F word.. FAT..but I think I am just pleasantly plump.

I got my shots, and I had my blood test.  Far Side was fearing the worst..that I had one of those terrible tick borne diseases again this year.  Last year in the spring I had Anaplasmosis..darn ticks and darn deer.  I took my medicine and recovered completely.  The Vet (Gretchen) said  she was pleased..I am negative for all the tick diseases and for heart worms.  It seems that every other dog that comes through her door has a positive test..so I was the every or the other..and am negative!!

After supper..Far Side cooked..sometimes when she cooks she says “Ooops ..dropped something on the floor.”  I rush over and help her out..in this case it was some tasty roast pork..funny thing too..she dropped several pieces. Anyways..after supper we went to look at the snow stick.

Gone..the snow is all gone from the snow stick..and we have two winners.  Connie Peterson and Liz in PA!!  Connie,  Far Side needs your address please email her. Liz we have your address!  Thanks to everyone that entered..it was great fun, well not quite as much fun as playing ball..but still fun:)

Updates

Far Guys finger is healing just fine..it looks much better than it did.  The surgeon made a zig zag cut down the entire finger.

Warning: Photo of stitches in a finger…just prior to stitch removal. 

It looks good here..it looked much worse..but I won’t share those photos with you. The dots were made by the Surgeon..must have been the road map.

We have been going to therapy..I say “we” because Far Guy is not driving unless he has to. 

I think there are still a few stitches in his finger..he is really diligent about doing his passive exercises.  In a few more days he can begin to move it within the confines of his splint. We used a product called Glysolid Skin Balm on his fingers to keep the skin soft and pliable.  He must still wear his club for awhile yet…till the end of the month. Tendons take a long time to heal.

Chance is still enjoying a few of the snow banks..the snow is melting fast..the daytime temperatures have been near 50 degrees the past few days.

I took these photos at sunset on April 06, 2011.

Remember the rules..when the fluorescent green Smokey Bear ruler is free of snow when it is next to the snow stick a winner will be declared!  Connie Peterson 200 miles straight south of me here in Minnesota  and Liz in PA guessed today…I will take a photo before nightfall…we will see how much more of the snow melts away today.

I have an eye checkup today and Chance goes to the Vet for his annual shots.  Spring cleaning is coming along, I finished the furnace/laundry room and began on the kitchen..I would have gotten further on the kitchen but I needed a nap:)

Wistful Wednesday : 1940

In the Spring of 1940 Far Guys Mom was teaching school.  She was married in the Fall of 1940..and I am not sure how much longer she taught school before they moved to Omaha.

I can document where she was because of this old newspaper article.

The school had four rooms and Far Guys Mom taught 36 students of the first and second grade that year in one of those rooms. This was their Arbor Day Celebration.  The young lad holding the tree in place is a neighbor.  When I found this old newspaper clipping I sent him a copy. (He was thrilled)  I also knew the boy holding the bucket, of course he was much older when I met him..he is now deceased.  I wish the article named the rest of the children pictured..but sadly it does not.

Now why am I showing you this photo..these are the two ladies who taught at the Linnell School together back in 1940 pictured in the newspaper clipping.  Mabel Olson on the left and Far Guys Mom at the end of the table. Pictured also is Far Guys Uncle Willard and cousins Tom and Tim.  I won’t even guess whose funeral lunch it is or whose 50th Wedding Anniversary it was..Tim would remember and he would also remember the year and probably what they served for lunch.  Some people have the gift of remembering some occasions better than others.  Mable looks like she is giving Tim the old schoolmarm  “what for”..and she might have been..she was his Aunt.  Sometimes family history gets complicated..but Mabel's brother married Far Guys Moms sister.  So both of the ladies pictured are the young men's aunts:)