Bands

 Important stuff when you are in the hospital.  Feeling mostly crummy, hope I don't have to go back.

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Resting

We made the trip back home safely and I am resting and then resting some more.

Far Guy will have an exciting morning going to his Infusion and then to  pick up the grocery order.

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Away from home

 I became ill on Sunday afternoon.  I am in the hospital in Grand Forks,ND. I have tummy troubles. They think it is Gastritis. I was admitted  Monday afternoon. I will be fine eventually.

The view from my room.

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Foods

 I like to think that I will be remembered as a gal who makes great potato salad instead of the dreaded Hobo Dinners that the girls called goreslop.

My Mother made the best coleslaw...I think powdered sugar was her secret ingredient.  She made horrid macaroni with huge stewed tomatoes.

My Dad only cooked eggs... over easy or over hard....oh and Oatmeal not my favorite.  He fostered my dislike of cottage cheese by making me eat it...but I got to quit trying after throwing up near him.

Far Guy's Dad made the best fried potatoes and the worst black almost thick coffee.

Far Guy's Mom made the best Caramel Rolls/Cinnamon Rolls.  She loved to put a bay leaf in with a roast beef...not sure why...also not my favorite. 

My Maternal Grandmother made so many wonderful foods...Russian Dill Pickles and Lemon Bars were my favorite.   Old hens canned in a jar my least favorite. 

My Aunt Marie made a Jello Salad...lime jello with a half of a pear perched on a lettuce leaf topped with the dreaded cottage cheese.  But she made an awesome chicken and wild rice dish. 

My Aunt Grace made the best Apple Bars in the Fall when apples were plentiful.  She was a great cook and I cannot recall her worst dish. 

My Aunt Skip was a baker...she made bakery style fried cinnamon rolls topped with a maple frosting or a white frosting with coconut...it was all good.

My Aunt Toots owned a restaurant she made ribs that people would drive miles to eat. 

Son In Law Andy makes any kind of meat delicious...his best is ribs or maybe pork belly.  His worst when he makes a black bean, meat, cheese, corn, guacamole and hot sauce concoction that is supposed to be all eaten together but it is way too many food groups for me to mix together.

Jen makes the best gluten free apple pancake!  

What food do you hope to be remembered for? 

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Quiet Day

 We appreciated the quiet day on Sunday.  We have a number of doctor appointments this week.  Nothing earth shattering just re-checks.

This gal was in the wild gardens...I suspect she is the one who likes the bird bath water.  

We worked on the Christmas Ornaments in the afternoon as the air was better outside...not perfect but better.   We are making progress and our goal is to have them all ready to paint by next Sunday.  Would be nice to get that project done..or at least the getting ready to paint part.  Far Guy has other woodcarving projects that he would like to work on before the weather turns cold. 

What's cooking?  Not a thing as we went to our favorite patio place to eat lupper.

Minnesota Weather   High 75F or 24C  Low 55F or 13C

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Saturday

We had a small family dinner on Saturday evening with my brothers and their wives....one of our cousins from Missouri was visiting the area so we got together for supper.  My baby brother made brisket and ribs...the potato salad that I cooked ingredients for yesterday was our contribution to the meal.  Good food,  good company and good conversation. 

 

Far Guy and I finished preparing the last of the peaches for freezing.  We stayed inside most of the day as the air quality was bad.  

Minnesota weather; High 73F or 23C  Low 49F or 9C 

Fall is slowing coming...leaves are beginning to fall out of the trees and some of the stressed trees/bushes are turning color. 

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Cosmos

 My baby brother and his bride planted a bunch of Cosmos and it is very pretty this time of year.

Far Guy and I had a quiet day on Friday; I did some laundry and some kitchen work...boiled some eggs and potatoes and cleaned the kitchen sinks real good while waiting for things to boil and not burn!

We worked on the Christmas Ornament woodcarvings, we are making progress...slow but sure.  Then we watched Grey's Anatomy we are still on Season 14.   

TV watching...This week I finished up Yellowstone...I had seen bits and pieces but never the whole show from start to finish.  Now I am watching Dutton Ranch. 

What's Cooking?  Biscuits and gravy and peaches

Minnesota weather:  High 78F or 26C   Low 54F or 12C

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Just Peachy

 Our local Lion's Club sponsors Palisade Peaches for sale in August every year.  It is a good fundraiser for them. 

I bought two flats and my baby brother picked them up and delivered them to us. 

One flat was ripe and ready to peal, slice and seal.  I put a teaspoon or two of sugar and sprinkle with fruit fresh on about 1 1/2 sliced peaches seal them up and freeze them.  

When I put the first batch away in the bottom of the freezer I found three bags from last year.  

They looks as good as the day we froze them. 

All of the peaches from Palisade Colorado are delicious!  Using my Food Saver Sealer locks in the freshness and it is like having fresh peaches year round. 

Most of the last flat will be processed in the next couple of days.

What's Cooking? Not cooking!  Pretzel buns with ham, turkey and cheese.  Yellow Pear Tomatoes!

Minnesota weather:  It rained about a half an inch early Thursday morning with thunder and lightening.

High 81F or 27C   Low 58F or 14C 

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About Time

 Having another Arthritis flare, Prednisone was started so I will be productive again in no time.   I suppose it was about time. 

We had a quiet day Wednesday, we both worked on Christmas Ornaments. 

What's Cooking?  Chicken Alfredo...the chicken was supposed to be cooked in a crock pot...alas the crock pot bit the dust...I bought it back in 1995 so I suppose it was about time.  I can still chop up chicken and fry it in a pan! I do have another crockpot from about 1976 that still works just fine...avocado green:)

We had a fellow stop by to check out our garage door situation...our new vehicle is a tad wide for an 8 foot garage door...only 3 inches to spare on each side. So I am certain that we will be getting a new larger garage door! 

Minnesota weather: High 78F or 26C  Low was 59F or 15C

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Layers of color one day last week. The greenest part is a Potato Field

Granny Square Shell Stitch

 I finished an afghan.   I started it mid July and finished it mid August.  I was pleased with how it turned out.

I did not go rogue with the colors...the main color is called Stone and then I used six different repeating colors. Some of the colors were Petrol, Copper, Cyprus and Claret...plus two more whose names escape me.  I am not sure how much yarn was used for the main color...3 maybe 4 skeins...I had partial balls from previous projects.

I began another using Stylecraft Special DK using just two colors Parchment and Denim using a 3.5 crochet hook.  I am starting this project with 4 skeins of Parchment and 1 of Denim and we will see how far that gets me. 

I suspect this one will take about a month maybe longer to finish. 

I crochet in the afternoon when we watch Grey's Anatomy and in the evening when I watch TV. 

My stash is not going down very fast...I have not ordered yarn in a long time...I have four large totes of Special DK in all kinds of colors:)

Far Guy had company for coffee on Tuesday morning an old friend from the Air Guard.  

After the visitors left we worked on Christmas Ornaments in the garage.  With Fall in the air around here I cannot waste a nice day. Progress is slow but steady. 

Minnesota Weather: High 71F or 22C  Low was 46F or 8C

What's Cooking?  Brats and Far Guy's Famous Dip. 

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Little company

 My Nephew Jacob, his wife Saki and their boys visited yesterday, they will head back to Japan soon. 

The boys had fun running around and swinging in the Ferris Wheel Seat.

We had a quiet day.

What's cooking?  Freezer meals...Chicken Enchiladas.

Minnesota weather: High 79F or 26C  Low 54F or 12C

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Catching Up

 Two of our Grands were here yesterday...Savannah, Paige and Paige's husband Cole. 

They came to catch us up on housework and yard work.  We are good to go again for a while.  The girls...one took upstairs and one downstairs...they vacuumed and scrubbed floors and washed some windows.  They did all the climbing on the step stool that I used to do...dusty decorative items were all cleaned up.  Cole worked outside he dug up a dead shrub, cleaned out the window well, cleaned out the grate by the front door, blew out my garage, washed the garage door and sprayed down the house...oh yes and washed Ranger Blue.  

Best of all we got to catch up with them and the goings on in their lives and we all went out for lupper at our favorite patio place.  The food was great as usual!

The girls...Paige and Savannah

Far Guy and Cole

As you can see from the photos is was a blue sky with white fluffy clouds day. 

These kids have way more energy than we do...we are tired out now.

Minnesota weather: High  75F or 24C   Low 53F or 12C

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Busy all day

 I was busy all day...laundry, cleaning a bathroom, some dusting then some time working on the Christmas Ornaments.  

It rained in the morning but the afternoon was nice working in the garage. 

This is one of my favorite Black eyed Susans...called Cherokee Sunset....it has bloomed in the same spot for the past ten or so years.

We called it quits about 4PM and watched Grey's Anatomy...we are in Season 14 now.  I did have a nap!

What's cooking?  Not a thing because our fridge has a bunch of leftovers that we warmed up in the microwave. 

Minnesota weather:  High 81F or 27C  Low was 59F or 15C  It rained about 3/4 of an inch according to my other baby brother.

August is half gone.

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Caterpillar

 I was very surprised to see a Monarch Caterpillar on the Milkweed, butterflies of any kind are few and far between this year. 

Friday was a busy day for me.  I had a list in my head of the most important things to do and I got most of them accomplished.   Just usual stuff that had piled up; My baby brother brought me more green beans...they were cooked correctly, cooled and vacuum sealed.  Pineapple was cleaned and chopped up.  Linens were changed and blankets that we use daily were washed and dried.  I cleaned the vacuum cleaner ...now the parts on are the kitchen counter drying.  

Far Guy did some wood carving.  

What's cooking?  Brats, corn on the cob and tomatoes.  I had a baked sweet potato...Far Guy does not care for them.

Minnesota weather:  High 83 F or 28C      Low 66F or 19C

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Town

 Our usual trip to town was okay.  Two sticks this week for the weekly IV for Far Guy.    I made it to Aldi for fruit and cheese, Walmart for my pickup order and Hugos for what Walmart didn't have. (The crackers Far Guy likes for lunch and lemon pudding )  Then to the bank...finally to the parking lot to read my book until he called for me to pick him up at the door.   Town was pretty busy for mid August....the tourists are hanging on longer than usual.

The Mandevilla is looking awesome in the planter outside the front door at the Bank, the planter also has Petunias and a single Gerbera Daisy. 

We came home and unloaded groceries...cut up the watermelon that was supposed to be seedless but was not...I did some misc things and then we settled down to watch Grey's Anatomy we are in season 13.

Minnesota Weather:  High 80F or 27C Low 59F or 15C

What's Cooking?  Pizza! The homemade kind and it was really good!

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August 13th

 Yesterday Far Guy worked on the wood carved Christmas Ornaments...I joined him in the afternoon.   In the morning...I did a whole bunch of "stuff"  I had a number of tasks going at once....making Humming Bird food, laundry, clearing off my desk etc...I had a Post It Note nightmare near my computer...recipes and notes to self.  

My baby brother and his bride visited in the evening...Smudge and Baxter like visiting here...I have Cheerios for treats:)  They brought me more green beans that I will cook up and freeze. (I shall watch them like a hawk)

Minnesota Weather: High 81F  or 27C  Low 61F or 16C 

What's Cooking?  Walleye,  corn on the cob, tomatoes and kiwi.

August 13th was the day my Father In Law was born back in 1914.  

This photo was taken on his birthday in 1994 when he was 80 years old.  That is Far Guy and Jen in the photo.  A few weeks later he would die from multi system failure after a surgery.  He was a very kind man...he is missed.

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Finally

 We finally had that Date!  Tilly cooperated...she had a dead battery for some unknown reason.  Far Guy will figure it out.

You can guess where we ended up!  Yes, that is Far Guy's newest dash ornament. 

We made it to town and back home safely. 

We had a quiet day we both worked on the Christmas Ornaments and after we got home both of my brothers and their wives visited!

Minnesota weather:  Warm day  High 82F or 28C  Low 58F or 14C 

Yes we went to A & W:)

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Driving

 We began the week thinking about the wood carved Christmas Ornaments.   Far Guy does the bulk of the carving and I help out with the final sanding and painting.  I had several ideas on how to paint them.  

Three of my sisters Grands will return to Japan in about two weeks...so their ornaments were our priority on Monday.  They just need hangers to be complete.  Yeah us!  Four down and many to go!

Look what nephew Jacob and my sister found at the dump...it was cleaned up and the boys were having a blast. They even hauled hay to my sisters horse.  They have had a fun Summer here in Minnesota.  When they return to Japan school will have begun.

Far Guy asked me out on a date...but alas Tilly didn't feel like going...so we stayed home.  He reminded me that it was better than being in the ditch...a long time ago in the Winter he was supposed to pick me up for a date...he went in the ditch twice because of icy roads....each time he called me and said he would be late.  We never went on that date either. 

Minnesota weather:  High 79F or 26C  Low was 58F or 14C almost a perfect day!

What's Cooking?   Buttermilk pancakes, sausages and peaches. 

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Sunday

 Sunday was a quiet day... I needed it!  I did some laundry and put a few things away.  Far Guy did some woodcarving.  

We went out for lupper and got a car wash.   Far Guy picked tomatoes.  Then we watched Grey's Anatomy we are on season 13.

The deer are leaving my petunias alone enough for them to bloom a bit! 

Minnesota Weather:  High 77F or 25C     Low 52F or 11C

Far Side

Hitting the Wall

 If you have an autoimmune disorder you understand about "the wall." 

NO not the game show "The Wall."

Saturday I got up early...washed and dried my hair and got ready for the day.  Far Guy wanted to go to the Car Show...I dropped him off so he could visit with friends and appreciate the old cars and not have to walk blocks and blocks.  I waited in the vehicle and read my book.  The car got warm and I had about a ten minute nap.  When I woke up I knew I had hit the wall.  Soon after that Far Guy called and I picked him up where I dropped him off earlier.  We talked about going to a Community Picnic in the evening. I was pretty sure that I was not going.

For me the wall comes down like a veil.  There is no stopping it.  Back at home I did a few things...folded a load of laundry and got things ready for supper...for after my nap sleep.  I headed for the couch and was asleep as my head hit the pillow.  I slept for four hours.  I did not move...I had many dreams...I woke up stiff and sore.

How can a person sleep for four hours after a good nights sleep the night before...nine hours with only one bathroom break.  How can you feel like your body has been drug through a knot hole?  How can you be looking forward to ten PM when you can go back to sleep? 

Anyways I made us supper and cleaned up the kitchen. Now I am whining to you.   Thanks for listening.

Sadie against the front door...it came with a caption..."Sadie is broken"

Minnesota weather: High 83F  or 28C  Low 57F or 14C

What's Cooking?  Pork Burgers with no bun, corn on the cob and yellow tomatoes.  Far Guy cooked up a dozen ears of corn on Thursday then they are cooled put into storage bags in the fridge and then rewarmed in the microwave...it works for us!

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