Littlest Girls

 Our Littlest Great Grandgirls did not start school but I took/tried to take photos of them. 

Peach did not want her photo taken.  She is three what can I say. 

Her favorite person ( Jen) in the whole world joined her for a photo.

Baby K is holding Andy's hand...she is not brave enough to walk by herself yet...crawling is much faster! Baby K is almost 16 months old. 

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Crochet Report

 I finished the Shell Stitch Granny Square Blanket.  It was Stylecraft Special DK in Parchment and Denim.  It ended up using 2 plus skeins of Parchment and 1 skein of Denim.

Perfect size for a baby.

I shopped upstairs in my stash for the next colors.  I chose Shrimp and Apricot in Stylecraft Special DK.  I have 3 skeins of Shrimp and 2 of Apricot so this blanket may be a tad bigger...time will tell.

Very girly colors!

I enjoy this particular stitch and it works well for the yarn I have on hand...thus reducing the stash! 

Minnesota weather:  Cool   High was 59F or 15C  Low was 51F or 11C  it rained most of the day on Monday just a nice gentle rain.

What's cooking?  GF Creamy Rice Soup and GF Cheddar Bay Biscuits

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Hopeful

We may have a clue to my tummy problems.  Day 21.  I am still on a very limited diet.  

 I did a bit of research on one of the medications I am on for blood pressure.  Olmesartan medoxomil can cause tummy troubles.  So I discontinued the medication and sent a message to my primary care Dr to see what he thinks.   The intense burning in my stomach is gone. My stomach is still sore.

Hopeful. 

Summer is most likely over.  The weather turned a tad chilly. 

Minnesota weather: High 65F or 18C  Low was 38F or 3C

We went out to our favorite patio place for lupper.  I had a hard shell taco...a margaritta with no alcohol...which is just lime flavored ice.

This week I have an appointment for a different kind of injection in my back...hopeful.

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Cousins Bonnie and Wayne

 Yesterday we had a very nice visit with Far Guy's cousin Bonnie and her husband Wayne.  Wayne had knee surgery this Summer and is finally walking and feeling like company.  

It was good to catch up with all things family before they go back to their Winter home in Florida. 

Bonnie's Impatiens...looking really good in the cooler temperatures on Saturday. 

Recently it was Bonnie and Wayne's 60th Wedding Anniversary!  Their son shared a photo of them...and so will I.

The smiles say it all ...still mostly happily married!  Happy 60th Anniversary!

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A gift

 Imagine my surprise when a package was delivered to our door!  

The package was really cute...

Love this leather bookmark and a place to keep track of my books! 

Inside was a book Inspire 100 Devotions for coloring and creative journaling!  

Thank you Shug!  What a wonderful surprise!  

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Remember

 Another year down...twenty-five to be exact.

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Not much new here

Same old same old.  My stomach is still iffy...I am keeping a food diary. 

My diet is pretty boring.  Apples, Bananas, Rice, Gluten Free toast and baked chicken.  Oh yes Metamucil and Activia yogurt who could forget...gag a maggot. 

Sherbet made me go into a tailspin.  I checked the facility and they say wheat is present in the same facility..so could be cross contamination...who really knows for sure.  

I did some more sorting and organizing of wood for carving.   

What's Cooking:  Rice, chicken and pork chops.

Minnesota weather:  High 69F or 21C      Low 49F or 9C  We will have one more 80F day then we are headed into the 60's for highs the next week or so. 

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Organizing Woodcarving Supplies

 Far Guy was having a time with all his woodcarving supplies.  Things were spread out all over.  I asked him if I could help...he said "sure."

He has lots of carving gloves, sand paper and paint brushes!  Some of the "stuff" I had no idea what it did but I am really good at sorting like things.   After two afternoons he is mostly organized. 

It was a fun sort for me and I know he feels better knowing what he has...not sure if he can locate everything or not...but he only has a few place to look!

I have some bark left to sort and some small wood pieces that were cut for flowers.   When I have finished with that I will do some organizing and cleaning up of some of my "stuff" in the garage.

What's Cooking?  We made Gluten Free Apple Pancake it was yummy!  My stomach is still iffy.

 Minnesota weather: High 84F  or 29C   Low was 54F or 12C

We got a sprinkle of rain Tuesday morning...reported by Far Guy as he felt it on his head when he walked to the garage. 

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School

 Two of our Great Grandchildren started school last Tuesday.  The Minnesota School that they go to started before Labor Day.  I believe all School Boards could vote on starting before Labor Day since Labor Day fell so late in September this year.

Hey Mikey is in 4th grade and Cee Cee is in 1st grade

They are growing up way too fast!  I got a after school report that they both liked their teachers and they thought school lunch was great!  Hey Mikey switched schools from North Dakota to Minnesota and he was happy to find out that an old classmate had moved also.

We hope they have a wonderful school year.

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Building a New Home

 Andy and Jen designed and are building a new home!  Exciting but lots of work.  We wish we could help them...but alas we are too old.  The last time we built something was over 25 years ago.

It is a large home, all one level with floor heat.  Three zones of floor heat our Son In Law says...our zone will no doubt be warmer than the other two zones. 

Yes we will have a Suite in the new home...a living room, bathroom, bedroom and a walk in closet.  Jen will have a huge craft room with a walk in closet that I can spend some time in.  The rest of the house is massive...laundry room, guest bedroom, bath, living room, dining/game area, kitchen, scullery and a master bedroom with office and bath. 

I am most excited about the scullery/skullery.  It is a place for food prep and keeping the mess contained. There should be room to keep all the appliances...mixer, toaster, air fryer, coffee maker etc within easy reach. 

Far Guy took this photo a week ago.  Most of the windows have been installed. 

Our Living Room view.

Still the living room but with a window.

Our bathroom, we ordered a walk in tub with a shower. 

Andy and Jen want to be able to move in before the snow flies.  I hope Winter arrives really late this year! 

Far Guy made to scale furniture to put on the house plans so we know what may work.   So I am thinking about paint colors and should make a design board.  I am thinking shades for the windows.  Lots of things to think about. 

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Quiet day

 This fungi is growing on a tree at the end of our driveway.

Interesting looking.  It might be safe for consumption but I am not trying it!  My diet is limited! 

Saturday Far Guy spent woodcarving his own projects, he is happiest outside listening to the birds and wood carving. 

I cleaned the bathroom and washed all the towels and rugs and gave the floor a good scrub...used to be hands and knees now it is hands and butt.  I never quite got the art of a mopping.  We do have a steamer and I may use that one of these days to sanitize the tile floors. 

What's cooking?  Same old same old Chicken and Wild Rice soup.  There is just one serving left so maybe more diverse foods are on my horizon. 

Minnesota Weather: High 80F or 27C  Low was 66F or 19C

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Second Saturday

 I was a day off and thought it was Saturday on Friday so I guess I will have two Saturdays this week. 

Friday I made a pan of scalloped potatoes and did a load of laundry.

Far Guy and I finished up the final prep before painting of the Christmas Ornaments.  I have plenty of time to paint them this Fall on nasty days.  Once I get started it is like an assembly line... there are 111 of them. So it will take a day or three. 

I am feeling better, but still weak and my Rheumatoid Arthritis is kicking my butt again.  Plus I have fever blisters in my mouth and a fairly ugly one on my lip...no doubt from the temperature I had last weekend.  Did you know that if you are dreaming and bite your lip where the cold sore is that you will wake up?  What a rude awaking!

Blogger is being a pain in the butt...I cannot comment on blogger blogs but I can comment on Word Press Blogs...anyone have any idea what in the &^%$ is going on?  Update**  enough people complained and they finally fixed the problem.

What's cooking?  Far Guy made himself Salmon and French Fries, I had some rice soup and some scalloped potatoes.

Minnesota Weather:  Warm!  High 81F  or 27C  Low was 63F or 17C

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This week

 We ordered groceries to be delivered, I cleaned out the fridge before they were delivered. Many days of no good food in there...some 12 days old.  Yuck.

Far Guy worked on his wood carvings.  He has some new ones happening.  On Thursday we both worked on Christmas Ornament Carvings...one more afternoon and we should have them all ready to paint. 

I took care of beginning of the month bank stuff and paid some bills.  Called the bank as they sent me an email...and the gal who I talked with had no idea (twice)...finally got to a gal that knew something.  I think I know more about Bill Pay than they do.  I warned them that many more people would be calling. 

I am part of an Arthritis Study...they want my blood and will send someone out to do the blood draw and send me a check:)

On hold to schedule a couple of medical appointments...one that was mysteriously cancelled.  Really? 

I put a chicken breast in the crockpot, Far Guy shredded the chicken and I put in a can of Canoe Wild Rice and some gluten free chicken broth...it was really good...I had more rice than chicken.   I made enough so that I can have soup for a couple of days. 

On Thursday I was on the hunt for bananas that were not green...I found some organic ones. Other errands in town were accomplished while far Guy had his infusion.

I am feeling somewhat better but still very tired.

One day at a time.

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25

 Our youngest Grand is 25 years old today.  Hardly seems fair that he grew up...always being the baby...baby Adam. 

Photo by Jen

We have not seen him since Christmas because he lives in Western North Dakota.  

However he is getting married at the end of September...so we will be able to hug him then. We are thrilled that he found his person.  Sad that they will live in Western North Dakota...but we will adjust...maybe.  We miss him!

Love you always and forever baby Adam.  I was honored to be there when you drew your first breath and cried.  You were/are perfect! 

Grandma
 

Home

 We went to my Dr appointment...no confirmed diagnosis...could be viral, could be gluten intolerance, could be a medication reaction.  Some tests are still pending.  I am to add fiber to my diet in the form of Metamucil and two days later add Activia yogurt.  The Dr says all my good gut bacteria is gone. 

I am low on Potassium...hence the fatigue...I am to eat Bananas because the Dr feels that the Potassium pills would put my stomach in a tailspin...again.

So we are at home resting.  I ordered groceries to be delivered on Wednesday.  

I have been reading a lot, but not blogs...I will be around eventually.  

Thank you all for your good thoughts and prayers.  I appreciate them.

Just like that it is September...the past 10-12 days I have been in a fog. Jen, Andy and Sadie took very good care of us!

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BRAT diet

 I am real tired of Bananas, Rice, Apples and gluten free Toast.  It sucks. I am feeling better but still have pain in my stomach. Water is really boring too.

More tests were done and nothing is conclusive so far…some of the cultures take days.

My other baby brother, my sister and Jen all are Gluten intolerant…so there is that to consider too. 

I see the Dr again on Tuesday.  He “thinks” that it might be the Prilosec that the Gastroenterologist wanted me to take.  It is a strong possibility. 

I am still very tired. 

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Resting

 Still resting.

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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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