Good bye August 2012

Where did August go??  It has been a busy month but really did that make the month go fast?
As I recall August I think about:

• our garden starting giving us zucchini, squash, carrots, swiss chard, cucumbers and tomatoes and tomatoes and tomatoes and tomatoes--all came very early
• I made 18 round trips to St. Francis Hospital and finally Terry came home for good last Tuesday.  She is eating some, going for walks and each day the healing curve is slightly up.
• I was able to do much more cleaning and ordering in my wood shop.
• I was able to get a new floor in the pantry going down into the basement.
• I did some but very little polishing on the camper
• Terry and I did not get on our bikes once in August.
• I blogged more than in the last many months.  Don't know if that is positive or negative.
• I made six cards for birthdays and anniversaries.
• Made a picture hanging for the living room

Now I perhaps should list all that I wanted to get done but did not.  No I think I will skip that.
I hope people get out to see the moon tonight.  It is a blue moon and we will not have another for 3 years.  Last night as Terry and I sat on the deck for a short time it was picture perfect.
Enough for the day and enough for the month.

No State Fair in 2012

As today, Wednesday, arrives it is very clear that there will be no state fair for Terry and I this year.  We had hoped and planned to attend two days but it will have to be in 2013.  Terry did well yesterday.  She ate some food, we went on two walks and I think she slept fairly well last night.  It seems that her digestive system is slowly beginning to work better and better.  I am guessing that our diet for some time will be restricted but of course it is better to be safe than sorry. 
Once again as I sit in the sun room in early morning the cool breeze, the sun lit tree tops and clear skies tell me we are still in MN summer and for now we are enjoying wonderful weather.  The temp today is supposed to be about 90 so it will be hot.  I did give in to the weather and put back the two window AC units.  I had not put them in after I painted the windows but this week looks too hot to not have them in.
I was thinking of sister Joan this morning.  She has a BIG birthday coming this Sunday.  I will not mention what one it is but she will not be 29!  In August sister Helen caught up to me by one year but then I remembered---in January I will go ahead of her by another year again.  Dave, well he always keeps ahead of me.   Brother Red, who died at the age of 27, would be 76 now and I think sister Janet, who also died at the age of 27, would be 73 now?  I am not sure of that.
Each late summer at this time I look back at the many many years I was getting ready for a new school year at this time.  I am so so so thankful that I was able to retire from teaching five years ago.  The time goes oh so fast.  This fall is the 6th that I have been able to drive past the school and smile!!!
Another day to:

• enjoy that great FP coffee
• to get some trim on the stairs going into the basement
• for Terry to keep getting well
• mow the back yard
• maybe put some polish on the camper
• pick the ripe tomatoes
• water the garden
• take some walks with Terry
• take in my appt this morning
• make sure we  have the right food for Terry
• drink that great FP coffee--oh I already said that but then one can never get enough of FP

He made me do it



table saw, temporary paint place, wood rack, drill press




band saw, jointer, compound mitre saw, scroll saw




lumber rack minus the walnut




Too many screw drivers below the window-----the trim that goes in the basement is drying




compound mitre saw which I used last night

 Really brother Dave made me do it.  He sent an e-mail last night and asked to see pictures of  my shop.  I had to do it because he is holding that pint (quart??) of choke cherry syrup and I MUST have it when we stop to see them this fall.
Now as anyone can see the shop is FAR FAR from orderly, neat and clean but it has come so so so far.  My goal is to have it half as orderly as Dave's was in his hay day!  And the walnut Dave--sorry it is stacked in another place but you can not hold that against me.
Now the short story of my shop.  I would say about 1984 or so I kind of closed my mind to wood working and decided to try to raise 4 children rather than spend time in the shop.  I was able to open my shop to some degree and my mind in a larger way again in the spring of 2003.  So taking that into consideration and then keeping in mind that I tend to change things or do things differently each week or maybe each month the clean out and clean up just never took place.  AND I did not intend to do it this summer either but Terry was so wonderful in encouraging me to get my act together and in fact she was a huge help in making the lumber rack which when I get to sorting and placing the lumber where I want it will be so very helpful.  NOW I need to take the time to make some things and use that lumber.  One can not see but there is 300 board feet of tongue and groove ash along with maybe 100 board feet of oak and then in another place there is about 75 board feet of walnut and some huge pieces of maple. 
Lastly Dave it is also your fault that I got out of bed so early this morning.  I rolled over and looked at the time which showed 5:00 AM.  I wanted to sleep more but then the thought of you holding back that syrup prompted me to get up and post so you would not be unhappy!!!!!
Today, maybe Terry will come home for the third time.  I  will be waiting for her call this morning to see how she did last night as that will go a long way towards homeward bound today.  I am guessing they will want her to eat some solid food and then see how she does before she comes home which means maybe later today.
More heat is on the way but this morning the open windows in the sun room have a wonderful cool breeze that goes perfectly with my FP coffee.  It actually is extra special this morning as I bought some Truestone coffee that is roasted by friends.  It has kind of an tangy taste which helps wake a person up. 
Enough for August 28, 2012
I just realized my blog is still on eastern time and I can't figure out how to change the time zone!!  Not important I guess.

Am I surprised??

Again no picture but I guess I am out of gas on the human level and pictures are work!!
A Terry update.  She has now spent 16 of the last 18 days in the hospital--and counting.  Actually we are thinking she may come home again tomorrow.  Some progress has been seen so we will wait out the night and see what tomorrow brings. 
Mark L came over tonight for a small wood project.  It involved the compound mitre saw, the table saw, the band saw and finally the sanding drum on the drill press.  In all the time was maybe 15 minutes and it was fun.  It also was fun to show him the garage and the wood shop which are actually fairly nice now.  Before he came over I was at his place as he made dinner.  It was a nice time to spend with he and Mary.  We had a conversation about a person both of us know and it shocked me.  You would think that in my "golden years" I would not be surprised at anything but at this I was. 
I think I have picked up most of the tornado stuff that settled in the house in the last days that Terry has not been here!!  Oh my I don't know if I should blame my mother, blame my total upbringing or just be honest and blame myself but whatever it is I just have to remind myself to "put it away", "pick it up" "clean it up" or anything else but all I know is bad habits are difficult to break.
Some people have expressed a concern about our home in Naples in regard to Issac storm.  It looks like things should be OK and we do have a home watch who is just very very excellent.  Earlier this summer he called and said he thought the air fan was not working correctly and he was right.  It had to be replaced and he just took care of the entire thing.  The AC was still under warranty but if he had not caught the possible fault things could have been bad.  So the home is in good hands and we rest easy.
Terry and I had planned to depart on our long camping trip by September 9 or so but of course that is delayed and as of now we do not know "when".  All I know is we MUST visit Dave/Marlys because he promised some choke cherry syrup and for that I will crawl on bloody knees if I must to get it.
I thought I may get away with not putting any AC in the windows again but this week looks HOT and I know Terry will need some cool air so will put two units in tomorrow.  It is not difficult but I guess I tend to be a bit lazy.
Another day, another week, another month--what is one to say?  Time marches on to it's own drum, it seems to defy human influence and ignore pain, death, debt, sickness and anything else.  Time just marches on and with it life for all changes.  Sometimes for the better, sometimes for worse and sometimes it just changes because it can.  Nothing we say, nothing we do and nothing we desire influences it so we live each day as if it is our last and thank our Lord for his goodness.
I can not end with my FP coffee because it is 9:00 PM.  BUT I can go to sleep thinking and dreaming of that delicious FP at 6:00 AM.

What next??

I returned from St. Francis this afternoon leaving Terry there for the 3rd time.  Today will be her 14th day in the hospital since August 10.  Things still are not working correctly so we are hoping this time something happens.  My guess is her Dr. will come in Monday and we will make a decision as to what to do.  Today at 1:00 PM she threw bile again, the first since Monday night, and that was it.  Last weekend she became very dehydrated and we did not need that as nothing good comes of that.  So it probably will be wait and see unless things happens tomorrow.

Progress, another birthday and maybe!!

Here is Henry on his 9th birthday.  Oh my it seems like a short time ago that he was born and now 9 and in grade 3.  Anyway happy 9th birthday Henry.
I stopped in to say hi to Cynthia and the kids today.  Jude and Faustina were playing outside and they are so so funny.  Jude makes these goofy faces and talks a mile a minute.  Faustina has those fancy dresses on all the time.  She was wondering why I send goodies when I am in FL and not now!!
I visited Terry today and progress is slow and slower but maybe just maybe she will have solid foods tomorrow and then home--a stretch but maybe.  The last time she ate solid food was 15 days ago.  Some have asked how serious she is and being in the hospital is always serious but we feel that it will just take some time and she will be back better than ever.
I worked on another home project yesterday and today.  Maybe a year ago Aaron did his kitchen floor and he left the extra flooring for me.  (Aaron if you read this did I ever pay you for it?? :(    Anyway when we moved into this house in 1977 ALL, I mean all, the floors were covered with indoor/outdoor rubber back carpet.  The den, dining room, living room and kitchen were quickly converted to the original wood but there were places the old carpet just hung around.  Well another small spot bit the dust.  The floor as one goes into the basement now has no more orange carpet but rather a new flooring.  Not a big area but I would say a big improvement.
No it is bed time as I need to get up early enough to pick up after the tornado went through the house as Terry has been gone.

A step forward and a step backward

Up at 5:15 this morning and finished the sashes by 8:00 AM.  As they were drying I called the Dr. and said Terry just was not doing that well.  After a conversation we were off to the hospital.  Terry was carted to a room after 5 hours of tests and waiting in the ER.  We are hopeful she may come home for good Wednesday but that is a maybe.  The Dr. will try to get things working without any more surgery so will see.  So the forward step is the windows are DONE and the backward step is Terry in once again in the hospital.
The windows, well they have been on my mind since last mid summer.  I would say the 14 double hung windows took about 70 hours of work but oh my gosh they look very nice. 
I am sitting in the sun room looking at the last bit of sunlight on the treetops and the evening is prefect.  This weather could last forever but of course NOT.
Tomorrow is up in the air.  I do not know when I will go to the hospital and not sure what my focus will be now that the windows are finished.  The garage---it needs so much ordering that be be next!  For tonight I will shower, have a bit to eat and go to bed somewhat early anticipating that FR coffee in the morning.

Happy 3rd birthday Jude, August 18

There you have him, one of the cutest guys around.  Jude is one of the most outgoing little guys I have ever seen.  He wants to greet everyone he sees.
The count down to the "window ends" is going.  I think Monday will be the day when I can put the primer and paint away for this summer.  Yesterday I finished the north bedroom and got the window trim and the 4 sashes prepared and primed from the guest bedroom.  I should be able to finish painting them Monday and then what to do???  I am so happy with the way the windows now work and look.  For the price of the paint and the primer the work should have been self applied but now that the work is almost done I am so so happy with the product.  I will also rest easier this winter knowing the windows are not bare wood. 
Terry is recovering ever so slowly at this point.  Mostly resting and waiting for things to start working which has happened in a small way.  As she recovers I am cooking for myself which has consisted of mostly sandwiches.  Not that I can't cook but I just have not wanted to take the time and also the last couple of days I did not want to smell the house up with food smell as Terry just is not hungry.  This morning I did fry up bacon and ate an entire tomato with BLTs which tasted so so good.  One slice of tomato covered the entire slice of bread.  The tomatoes have been riping at a slow but good pace.  I do not know what we will do when they really start as there must be 50-100 green ones on the vines. 
Got a note from a friend in FL wanting our address and phone #.  Judy's husband John started to get dementia a few years ago.  Last winter he would go for daily walks with his white shirt and red cap and sometimes he would even know our names.  Well Judy said he went into a home in July and is adjusting fairly well.  I am sure it got to be too too much for Judy.  We need to daily be thankful for good physical and mental health. 
Another grand weather day in St. Paul with a slight breeze, sunshine and temps in the mid 50s this morning. 
I am not out of FP coffee this morning but need to go downstairs for a refill so time to close.

I may never learn

I know I have been void of pictures lately.  They take time and I have not used much time on the blog. 
Tonight is night 7 for Terry in the hospital.  It looks like she will come home tomorrow.  We need some things to happen first so have our fingers crossed and prayers are being said.
It seems like I am light years away from that AM FP coffee but really it is only about 14 hours.  I know I could get a gold medal for being the best at trashing a house in a short time.  I spent most of the morning picking up, ordering, putting away, cleaning and other things too as I can NOT have the house trashed when Terry comes home.  Well I did get a few things done but really not much.  I drove to Shakopee this afternoon and visited Terry for about 3 hours.  We talked, went a walk down the halls, had a foot rub and then said good bye.  She is ready to come home but really not ready to come home.  How about that for a statement!!
The lawn got mowed this evening and one small project got finished so some good came of the day.  Also got the drain for the kitchen sink fixed.  It was no small job and I planned to hire a plumber but decided to go to the store and buy every possible pipe and then fix it.  I planned to then return the ones I did not use.  It worked!!!!!  I spent $80 and returned $43 so for $37 I got the job done.  A plumber I am not, a electrician I am not and come to think of it many things I am not BUT a woodworker I am.
I may never learn.  Here is the thing.  Over and over and over and over I put in my mind expectations of people and of course that is a losing exercise.  Why?  Well for one thing the people don't know what they are, for another thing the expectations may not be good or right and for another thing well I know there is another reason but it escapes me.  Anyway I did it again.  Details--not necessary but yesterday my "down" day may have been a result of expectations that I had.  Anyway I think I am over it and I will just never do it again until it happens again!!!
A few days ago I started out with 10 windows, 20 sashes and 5 window trims to prime and paint.  Today the count down is two windows and 4 sashes to prime and paint, two windows and 4 sashes to paint and 2 window trims to paint.  Progress, yes, enough-maybe but I need to finish soon.
I have said to myself for the last several nights I need to take Advil PM and get a good night sleep.  Well I have not done that and I think every night for the last week I have looked at the clock at least 6-8 times.  Last night I thought it may be time to get up soon and then looked at the clock which read 11:11 PM--what the heck.  Anyway the porch light is on, the windows are secure and the blinds are shut so lights out.

Really

I kind of hit a wall tonight.  I painted in the morning, had a meeting at 11:30 and then visited Terry.  We had set Wednesday as a come home date but really had thought it would be Tuesday.  Well today is Tuesday and Dr. said she will NOT come home even tomorrow.  A downer for sure.  I thought I would get some work done when I came home but I could do nothing.  I felt as if I had worked a 24 hour shift!!  No life left in this limp body so will hit the pillow early and see if that helps.  Don't know if I am discouraged, tired, exhausted or just plain out but no energy, no desires and for sure tonight the get up and go has got up and left big time.  Tomorrow is another day and maybe with the sun rise things will look up.

Figured right

Terry talked with the Dr. yesterday and she will not come  home today but most likely Wednesday.  She still has not eaten any real food and still often feels sick. 
On the home front I finished the four windows and eight sashes in the dining room as well as the two windows and 4 sashes in our bedroom.  When I say two windows and 4 sashes I am talking of two windows side by side with a mullion between them and trim around both of them and then they are double hung so there is a top and a bottom sash.  One thing is really really nice and that is the grilles in the top sash are sandwiched between the two panes of glass so no paint.  Also the exterior is aluminum clad so no paint there and of course no glaze to paint!!!!  I really should be out in the garage as I write but that will come in a bit.  I became so busy yesterday I forgot to brew my beloved FP coffee so this morning I said I NEED some of that and why not write while I enjoy?!
As I look outside and see the tree tops becoming a greenish yellowish color as the sun appears it looks like another perfect day. 
I have decided to buy a couple of locks for our bikes in the garage.  There is a story in the paper today that says stolen bikes are on the rise as high end bikes become more and more popular. A few years ago the average bike cost maybe $450 and today that has gone up to $675 and many many are in the $2000-$10000 and up.  One bike reported stolen was valued at $20,000.  Anyway I will stop at Home Depot on my way to see Terry today and pick up a lock to use when they are in the garage.
No I best be getting some things done.  I want to send a card to Tom C who lost his father this past week.  Then it is out to the garage to paint those raw wood window sashes.  I will get a couple of them done this morning but have 8 left.  That sounds like a lot but when I started I was looking at 24 so progress has been made.
As I set my coffee cup down I look at the trees,deer,tent,flowers and rabbits on the cup and think to myself that for sure the FP in that great cup starts the day off with a bang!



Double the pleasure

It is a double coffee morning.  I set the coffee pot on auto so as I walked downstairs at 5:45 the smell was almost intoxicating--oh so good.  I poured a cup and almost immediately my "self" seemed to say "good morning to you and now get to work!!"  Do not fear I will have that FP coffee later when some painting is done and I can sit and enjoy it so much.  The goal today is to get the inside window trim in our bedroom painted and then venture into the garage and get the 4 sashes painted with the first coat.  A second coat of paint will be due either late today or tomorrow morning and then the bedroom can be back in order in case Terry is able to come home tomorrow.  After yesterday that may be in doubt.  She felt sick most of the day yesterday but I am hoping she will be doing better today.  The epidural should come out today which means they will begin to adjust the oral pain meds to keep the pain down.  When that is successful and she is feeling better it will be homeward bound. 
The temp is 55 this morning, cool enough so that as I sit at the computer in the sun room I actually closed the window.  Could cooler weather be here? 
No, time for another cup of coffee, time to get the recycling out on the curb and then after some work is finished that enchanting FP will be mine to savor.

Everything is fine

Just a quick update on how well Terry is doing.  She went on four short walks today and sat up the entire 4 hours I was with her this afternoon. She will have the epidural in until Monday and then when that comes out she will be discharged when they are sure they have the pain under control.  We are looking at a discharge of Wednesday and if it happens on Tuesday we will be happy.  I am sure we will wait for at least 6 weeks before we head out on our travels again.
Enjoyed A/A and kids for a couple of hours this morning.  They will be sleeping in their new house Wednesday and are so excited. 
The weather here on a scale of 1-10 has been about a 12+.  So so nice but we could use rain again. 
I will get to bed early tonight as I think the waiting, wondering and unknowns of the past week or ten days has finally gotten to me.  Could it be that I am 65 and on a down hill trend??NO
Aaron and I were talking a bit today and Aaron said I bet you miss Wallace.  For sure I really do but I know that Cynthia and family are taking good care of him and he loves those kids.  BUT really I have had a dog most of my life and I would say Wallace was the best.
Time for bed.

Not the same

     This picture was July 4th, 38 days ago.  This morning the same picture would be 52!!  As I did some things outside this morning I had a light jacket on and it felt good.  Did I say the only constant is change??
     The day will go fast.  Aaron/Amy should stop by for a short time this morning and then I will travel to Shakopee to visit Terry.     Terry called about 6:30 and she had a fairly good night.  I think today she gets something called not clear liquid but _____ liquid which means she will have a bit of food for the first time in about 3 days. 
     Don't know if there will be any work done or not today.  I am not worried but do want to get those windows painted by next weekend.  There is a lot of hurry  up and wait for primer and paint to dry and of course the painting itself is mostly delicate work as one paints around the glass.  For the painter there is nothing like a good brush.
     I am in one of those "twilight" moods this morning.  I am sitting in the south upstairs room, sun room, and I can see the tops of the trees turning bright with the sun.  For some reason I have had family on my mind this morning.  Well for sure Terry is on my mind the most as she begins her several days recovery but family just kind of spins around and around in the brain.  I think of ALL the changes in the last few years and it is almost hard to believe.  New homes, new babies, new marriage and more.  I was thinking of the time I asked John/Mary if they would like me to make a crib--seems not too long ago.  Now Henry is almost 9 and he seems so mature.  I think of the times one would wonder what it would be like to have grandchildren and now there is Henry, Liam, Leo, Faustina, Audrey, Jude, Ruby and Ben.  I think of Terry's grandchildren and the oldest one went off to college yesterday, it just seems like life is not fair because time goes so fast.  Anyway I had better not get into more things but---as I blogged about my grandpa/grandma Helen and Dave said it brought to the fore front many memories and they had a great conversation.  Well that is wonderful but after my thoughts this morning and memories on the blog I think I need to look to the NOW and the future for a while. 
    I will get out into the garage in a bit.  I want to do some small things this morning before A/A come.  I am about finished with my FP coffee and I have savored a BLT with tomatoes out of the garden so I should be good to go for the morning. 
      No got to go (GTG) now.
     Aaron turns 39 tomorrow.  Each time one of the kids has a birthday I think of all of them, John, Travis, Aaron and Cynthia and realize how blessed and lucky a guy I am to have such wonderful kids. 

Not much work done lately

After a walk this morning we will head to St. Francis Hospital this morning where Terry will be for the next few days.  As one gets older sometimes the "golden years" are not so golden.  She should be home by Monday or Tuesday and then rest and recovery for a few weeks.  I am sure she will be good to go when it is time to head out on our camping trip.  It may not happen quite as early as we had planned as we may need to by pass Glacier National Park because it often closes some areas by mid September.  But for sure we will head west when the time is right.
The tomatoes are starting to ripen too fast.  My skin is starting to turn red from them!!not really.  Most of the time on my way to or from the wood shop I stop to eat some grape ones.  I think I may need to dig up the carrots.  They are about 6-8 inches long which is a great eating size. 
Aaron/Amy will be in town tonight and then leave tomorrow again.  I am excited for them to stop by tomorrow as I want to show Aaron what I have done in the shop.  Many years ago, about 1986 or so, I kind of closed the shop except for repair work.  Then in 2003 off the top of my head I asked John/Mary if they would like me to make a crib for their first baby.  That opened the door to the shop again with new table saw and all.  Since then a jointer, planer, drill press, compound mitre saw, router, band saw and other items have been added but as things were added the order and the layout became more and more cluttered.  NOW finally it is in some kind of order, the walls are patched (after tearing holes for new electricity many years ago) some walls are painted, a lumber rack is in place and it is now more fun than ever to use.  Still the many hand tools and items are in need of order and places to rest but it will come.  Of course all this has come at an expense, no dining table and bench for Naples and no new storms for some of the older windows on the house.  They may have to wait until 2013 but that is OK.
No, time to sip the last tiny bit of FP and then get a few things done before we depart for the hospital about 11:00.

How do we get to be who we are????

Breakfast anyone?

After posting about Dave going to the Malheim reunion I received some e-mails from siblings.  It seems Grandma and Grandpa Lee were big in our life--FOR SURE.  Here are a few of the things I remember about growing up about 2 miles from them.  They lived on a farm and many of my memories are of that but really for me many are also of Grandma when she lived in town.  Shortly after they moved to Cayuga Grandpa died. Grandma's brother, Henry, lived with her most of that time.  Most of my school days in Cayuga and then in high school at Sargent Central Grandma lived in town.  Here goes but I warn anyone who many read this it perhaps is interesting only to me but really the "who" I am today very much is related to the grandma (and grandpa too until he died when I was in the 6th grade) in my life when I was growing up.  Memories come do not come in chronological order!!

• We went to see grandma as she lie dying in the hospital in Veblen, SD.  I was a senior in HS and in my last good-bye she pressed a $20 into my hand as a graduation gift.  Back then I "may" get $20 if I helped cousin Russel haul bales for 2 days so to me it was a lot of money.
• The skunk in their basement on the farm.  O my so bad and grandma and grandpa were so calm.
• Grandma seemed to have every kind of berry in the world.  Everything from currents to gooseberries to strawberries to raspberries to pretty much everything.  They were oh so good.
• Grandpa would go through the garden in the fall with his one bottom plow and then we would pick potatoes until our backs hurt. (well maybe they did not hurt way back then!)  We would fill burlap sacks with potatoes and they would go into the basement.
• Grandma always had cookies and they were always for the taking.  Mother would always tell us before the car stopped in their yard, "Now don't you go asking for cookies."  Of course all we had to do is look at grandma and she would ask us if we were hungry for a cookie--but we always were able to have more than one.
• In high school many many nights I would get back to Cayuga after a game and it would be midnight or later.  If dad was not waiting for me, and that was often, I would walk the block to grandma's and sleep there.  That is what happened one late late night in October of 1964.  Our football team had played an away game which meant I would get back to Cayuga maybe by midnight.  Dad was not there so I walked to grandma's and to my surprise she was up.  She said my brother Ronald was taken to the Fargo hospital (that was maybe 200 miles or so from Kulm) and it was serious.  The next morning grandma said I could use her car to drive home.  About noon mother and dad came home to say Ronald had died.  A time that remains fresh in my mind.
• Dave and I would walk and walk in the pasture, hills, behind grandpa and grandma's farm.  I am not sure what we would see but I do know at the far end was a tiny old empty building that we would usually end up at. 
• We would pick horseradish in the trees north of their farm and then grandma would grind it.  If you smelled it too close you may pass out!!!
• They had fruit trees.  It seemed like a 100 of them but of course not.  I know apples, plums and even a pear tree.
• Grandpa had the best laugh in the world.  It seemed to start at his toes, go through his body and come out so all the world could hear and enjoy.  In a little smaller scale he passed that down to my dad.
• Have to mention grandma's black dog whitey named so nobody would guess the name and steal it
• I hated grandma's oatmeal but could never get myself to say that so always would eat it.  Once I told her how good it was and I should have known a second helping would then come which of course I had to eat too!
• I remember butchering on the farm and grandma making sure we saved the blood so she could make blood sausage :( :( :(--well I never did get the courage to taste it.
• I know grandma was the one who would get aunt Ragna to send HUGE boxes of clothes from CA and I would eagerly go through to see if anything would fit me.  It seemed that was the source of clothes for some time.
• I can still picture grandpa on his tractor.  It seemed like the tractor was so tiny or maybe he was so gangly but it was funny. 
• One can not forget going to grandma grandpa's in the winter and falling asleep on their bed before the adults were finished with their card games.  Of course one would always fall asleep on a full stomach.  Then we would have to wake up, get into a cold car and feel some slight warmth just as we would pull into our driveway.
• For sure grandma made wonderful birthday cakes and then one birthday she made me a huge cookie for my birthday and I was so so happy.
• The memories, they can not be taken away.  The farm burned, grandpa and grandma died long ago, mother and dad are gone to but the mind is so powerful and memories never fade.

Yes, grandma and grandpa were special.  They were loving, they were fun, they made us feel needed and I know that some of whom I am today is because of them.  Growing up with little money, an outdoor three holer, no indoor bathroom, no sink to do dishes in and a "girls room" and a "boys room" for six kids it some how seemed that life was good, full and the "mush-eggs-venison and thick cream that we had in abundance was all one needed to be satisfied.
No, the paint brush is restless, the french press is gone, Terry and I have finished an hour walk so time to get on with the day.

BLT BLT BLT BLT

There is nothing like a meal over a camp fire



Ruby, the big helper




Anyone for a tepee

    We had our first blt with tomatoes from the garden.  We used the largest tomato but the next largest was 1.3 pounds!  We went to a back yard party last Friday and brought a salad.  In it were carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes from the garden.  Kind of fun.
   We are in the middle of perfect weather.  Yesterday it was 75, sunny and not much wind, I would say perfect for this time of the year.
   Much work was done in the wood shop last week.  All the patching was done and so now we can work on the interior windows of the house and maybe get some work done priming and painting as the windows dry.  I say work in the garage as we paint house windows because the sashes come out and I will take them into the garage and paint them there.  Some time in early summer I think I said no home projects this summer and just play!!!!!
   Terry has some more appt this week and so will take care of them towards the end of the week.
   I missed a Malheim reunion in ND Saturday.  Dave went and said he had a great time.  There were about 50 people there.  I am not sure I am spelling things correct but my Grandma Lee was a Malheim.  She had brother's Henry, Bennie, Sig, Anfin and more??  It would have been fun to go but it just did not work out.
   No this morning my french press is sitting on the downstairs table getting stronger and stronger as I write.  I best not wait longer or it may be so strong it will make my toe nails curl and then what???

What does August bring??

Choke cherries are so so yummy

August 2012 is here and with it many memories come.  Some of them:

• Harvesting those itchy itchy grains like oats and barley.
• Sitting in the big red truck with Dave eating choke cherries waiting for the tank on the combine to fill.  At the right time I would run across the field, (bare feet over thistles) climb onto the combine and level the grain in the tank so dad could go a bit farther.  Then Dave would drive up behind in the big red truck and dad would pull the lever to empty.
• Standing on the seat of the M tractor waiting for dad to return from town so we could unload the combine.  As I waiting I put a hand full of wheat on the tractor seat and with my big toe carefully pushed the seeds, one by one, through the holes in the seat.  As I did this I practiced over and over and over my speech for Sunday night Luther League.  In a moment of excitement I promised Chuckie that I would give a speech on the power of prayer!!!  Little did I know that was when my life turned towards God.  Well it took a while to come about but that was the beginning. 
• Dave and I plowing until almost mid-night so dad would take us to the Minnesota State Fair.  We had to finish plowing before we could go.  Dave drove the M with its 3 bottom plow and I drove the Ford with its 2 bottom plow, which would make the Ford stop dead in its wheels when I hit a rock.  Many many bloody noses from that darn tractor and those big hidden rocks.
• Dave and I plowing rye east of the farm and burning some so the plows would not plug up all the time.  One time the fire jumped the plowing and we almost saw Bert's field to the north go up with our straw!  :(
• Riding the little bike up to the lake after a day in the field.  A half mile there on gravel road with no hands, then wash cloth and soap to the dirty body and then a half mile back on gravel road with no hands and even turn into the driveway and stop in front of the house--look mom no hands!
• Going to my first football practice a couple of days late.  I knew nobody, all the equipment had been issued and I was so lost and so shy and so embarrassed.
• My first football practice in August of my senior year.  I was the captain of the team and I remember taking the task so serious.  I looked at George, who was a freshman and weighed close to 400 pounds.  I thought if I can get this guy to even stand on the line in a game we will do well.  For that task I was not too successful.
• Sitting at the supper table and having mom serve those think slices of her homemade bread and then we could cover it with cream and smother it with fresh chokecherry syrup.  As some people today would say, OMG to die for.
• Looking towards the start of school in the fall when we were to get on the bus and go to Cayuga.  I knew that in the spring our little Wood Lake had 12 kids in the 8 grades.  What I did not know is that I would enter a 4th grade classroom with 24 kids.  I also had no idea that there would be some kids who did not know their math tables.  At Wood Lake in my time after I had finished my work I would practice those table so that I could finish a paper with 100 problems on it as fast as I could write. 
• I remember driving to Fargo to get somethings for school.  A lady asked my dad if I were an Indian child as I NEVER wore a shirt in the summer and I was as dark as could be.  I also remember a lady saying to me I must really sit in the sun a lot.  I should have said I will leave that until I retire!!
• I remember mom bringing lunch to us in the field.  She always brought dad coffee in a ball quart jar.
• Our water jug was a gallon jar wrapped with a gunny sack and then we would wet it down with water in the morning.  We would set it in a shady place and it would stay cool most of the day.

So August does bring many memories.  As I sit here this morning I realize again that in some ways those days were magical, in some ways they were sad but for sure in many many ways they formed the Carmen of today.  I am thankful for what God give me those years.