MERRY CHRISTMAS 2014

Aaron, Travis, John and Lisa Saunders at Christmas 1974 or 1975

Two years ago I wrote a story about Christmas on the farm and Santa Claus Day in Lidgerwood.  I ended it by saying now each Christmas I pour my FP coffee, put a little Christmas cheer in it by way of Baileys and then sit and remember.  Well I thought I would do as I said so this morning I sat by the pool, sipped my FP and remembered!

• Dad came home from a medical trip and brought bright colored reflectors for the tree bulbs.  Mom put them on the tree and thought they were so pretty!
• In the winter on the farm my bedroom would get very very cold as I could lie in bed and see frost on the nails holding down the shingles.  That meant there was no ceiling, no insulation and NO heat.  When I was a junior in HS Mom and Dad got me an electric blanket--wow that was so nice.  During the basketball season Mom would even go upstairs and turn it on so when I arrived home, sometimes as late as midnight, my bed would be warm!
• I don't rememeber the year but I got my own radio.  I wanted it so much and there it was.  It even had a clock on it and with it I could fall asleep in the summer listening to Harry Cary do the play by play of the St. Louis Cardinals!  At that time their big guy was "Stan the Man"
• presents would be wrapped and kept above the kitchen cupboards.  Out of reach of little fingers to pick at, rattle and lift.
• Each Saturday in December before Christmas we would get in the car with Mom and go to Bergen Church.  There we would practice , it seemed for hours, our program which I think would be the Sunday before Christmas.  I did not like those practices but I know now, not then, that for Mom it was a bit of heaven.
• There were times we got puzzles, or the card game Touring, or other games and then we would play all day and into the night.
• Christmas Eve we would get in the car and drive the 3 miles to Grandpa and Grandma Lees.  There would be some presents to open only after we ate and the dishes were done.  Grandpa would eat slow, then have another helping and laugh in his vibrant long laugh as us kids would wait and wait and wait for him to finish.  Later the adults would play cards and us kids would play until we were too tired.  Then we could go into Grandpa and Grandma's bedroom, move the heavy coats and fall asleep.  When it was time to go home we would slowly walk out to a cold cold car and by the time we arrived home there would be a breath of kind of warm air in the car!
• Dave got an Erector set and I got a set of Lincoln Logs.  Those provided hours and hours and hours of play time for years.  I think Dave got his set before the fire but my logs were in the house when it burned.
• In 1976 I made night stands for the three boys.  I think I was more excited than they but each still has theirs today.
• We allowed the kids to open some of their presents Christmas Eve Day morning and they played ALL day and almost all night too.
• The kids squealed with delight as each opened a different part of their new computer.  That was the most excitement I remember in Christmas.
• Lefse making was always a great time as the kids would be in line for the next warm one
• Grand kids arrived and Christmas took on a meaning that we had almost lost.  Those little ones show that Christmas is really about them in terms of presents.  

These thought this morning are mostly about "Christmas Past" but of course there are many memories of "Christmas Present" too!  We spent Christmas of 2011 in St. Paul as Benedict came on Christmas Eve morning and last year we were at Terry's daughter's home for Christmas.  Each year brings memories, brings reflections and builds on how blessed we are to enjoy each new Christmas and thank God for his gift to us.  I know that I am most thankful for each season.  Of course it is different now but then life changes ALL the time.  I thank the Lord for kids, for grand kids for Terry and for the friends we have to be with.  We spent much of yesterday with Terry's daughter and family, then we spent last night with friends here in Naples and then tomorrow we head to South Bend and Madison to be with family so THANK YOU LORD.
And of course my FP with the shot of Baileys is gone so Merry Christmas to all and may we and you have a wonderful 2015.

Happy Birthday Benedict!

Happy 3rd birthday Benedict.  We wish we could be with you but we are sure you will have a great birthday. You look like the perfect biker boy, perhaps someday you will ride like uncle Travis and uncle John.
We love you.

Come Lord

 A couple of pictures of Christmas in either 1977 or 1978

We are getting oh so close to the birth of Christ.  Of course the most important thing in our Advent journey and Christmas is the birth of Christ BUT for sure we all know that Christmas is much more than that.  It is about family, friends, gifts, parties and more.  Terry and I have had our share of some of those things this week.  Well I did not mention work but we did get the wood floors in the two bedrooms Monday.  We are VERY happy with them.  We asked friend to help move furniture so we invited them to have a bite to eat with us Monday evening after things were moved.  We had to then share the guitar with them and the power point that Dave sent.  I have said it before but again Dave is getting rock star status in Naples!  Then on Thursday Terry was invited to a ladies lunch so while the women were having a good time I invited two friends over for conversation and fun!  Thursday evening we had a turkey dinner for friends which turned out very well.  We tried something different with the turkey this time.  We put it in the oven at 475 for 20 minutes and then turned the temp down to 250!  It was 15+ pounds and after 5 1/2 hours it was perfect.  Terry did a great job with the dressing and gravy etc so it turned out to be a fun time and a delicious meal.  And the left overs, they of course are great.  We were invited next door last night for dinner which is always fun.  John, who is going to be 77 does so many things (as does his wife Diane) and last night he played some hymns for us as he has taken up the electric organ.  It was fun.  As the week went I did play tennis for an hour and a half each day and finished the week up with an hour clinic yesterday after our match.  The clinic has been a great help in upping my play a tad bit.  We also squeezed in my final PT session and an MRI on my knee to try and find out why it is bothering me when I ride bike.  I should not forget that Terry organized a villa party (we live in one story homes where we share a wall with the neighbor and there are about 45 living units).  It was a huge success as I would say it was the best party Terry has organized.  About 25 people came and I know each person had a wonderful time.  I might add that the food everyone brought was great.
The coming week will be some what slower as we look forward to Jesus' birth.  I think the 23rd will be taken up in part with deciding what to bring to Madison and South Bend.  We will each take a personal bag and then have 1 carry on--that is it so we had better plan carefully!   On the 24th we will go to church and then afterwards will go to a friend's home for dinner.  Before church we will open presents which will be FEW.  We decided to not exchange gifts this year but we do have a few gifts from family that we will open.  On the 25th we will have a nice dinner and then perhaps go to the movie "Unbroken" which comes out that day.  We have both read the book so are excited to see the movie.  The story is true and a great great read.  Then about 5:30 AM on the 26th we will head to the airport to fly to South Bend.  We will arrive home again in the afternoon of the 31st.  As I look back on Christmas years ago today is VERY different but then so is life so one has to enjoy the moment.  I am so thankful for what I have today, life is good.  I know that so many people have or are dealing with illness so I most thankful for good health.
As I sit here I realize that it is kind of nice to have Saturday here.  No running to tennis, no parties and no travel planned today so I will take the last sip of FP and go read by the pool.

Excitment

Travis is proof that you can sleep anyplace when you are tired

neighbor John took a silver metal in croquet at the senior games.  John is the age Ronald would have been now

when you need a bath you make do as Travis shows with help from John

These guys actually skated with Peggy Fleming!!-NO

Why the excitement?  The floor people will be here in about an hour and then the house will be transformed into a new new home AND the furniture etc will be able to be moved out of the dining room, the den and other places! 
I was thinking last night about being in my late 60's and thought I am blessed.  Even tho I looked at my wrist which was broken last year and is fine but gave me some aches last week.  Then I got up off the couch and felt that twinge in my knee that is going to get an MRI Tuesday.  I then felt my left leg and thought: "It is fine but it still is a bit numb from that nerve in my back". I brushed my hand over my head and realized that the back of my head is kind of bare!  Then I needed a sweater on and as I walked into the bedroom there was the scale and I remembered that it does not work very well, it always reads way higher than the one I had 20 years ago!! As I went to put my sweater on I glanced at the tag and saw that it was not "M" but an "XL" and thought I never did like tight fitting clothes but really I have expanded a bit!  Well as Terry and I finished watching "It's a Wonderful Life" (actually we fell asleep before the end) I said to myself, "Yes it really is a wonderful life!"

12-13-14

Not much to say except that I had to blog on 12-13-14.  The next date we have these kind of numbers will be 1-2-34, that almost 20 years from now and who knows who will be around!!!

Almost mid December!!!!!!!!

Here is our second dog Frisky

The boys came running in with several puppies that a man had left on the street.  Mommy, Daddy look what God left on the street for us!!!!  
Terry and I are in the middle of MUCH.  The bedroom floors are now cement as things are cleared out and new wood floors will be installed Monday.  The house is in turmoil as things are everywhere as we wait for Monday.  Several other things are also in the works so life continues to be busy.
I have had 2 PT for my back/leg and I will opt out of more PT next week.  I do have a MRI scheduled for Tuesday on my right knee.  It does not bother me playing tennis but riding bike and going up and down stairs it is sore!  I know, I know these retirement years are the golden years for sure.  I AM NOT COMPLAINING AS I FEEL BLESSED AT THIS TIME IN MY LIFE.
Tennis at 7:30 this morning and then work around the house the rest of the day. I can not believe the weekend is here already.
We are experiencing cool weather according to Naples average.  The last couple of days the high temp has been in the high 60's and for the next several days it is supposed to be in the low to mid 70's.  That is below average for here.  Again, no complaints.
FP gone, tennis clothes are waiting to go out the door.

Happy 45th John--Going strong and you are half way to 90!!!

Happy birthday John, I think the pictures say it all.  Terry and I admire you, your family and what you and Mary are all about.  From Naples to Florida, we love you and are excited about seeing you after Christmas.
Perhaps everyone in the family should start putting bets when that red hair starts to fade--haven't seen much change yet!!

Advent 2014 is here

We met Jim at Thanksgiving--here he is playing Carmen's guitar and he did a great job

I have not spent time learning to play yet so any time we get the chance we ask someone to play the guitar which has a fantastic sound.  It never fails as each person who has played it says they play an acoustical guitar and the fretboard on a classical is so much wider.  Well I measured this morning to see the difference and there is a BIG difference.  On a classical the fretboard on the third fret is 2 1/4 and on Terry's acoustical it is 1 7/8.  Even with the difference Jim did a great job playing for us after we had enjoyed a tasty Thanksgiving dinner last Thursday.
Things in Naples are going at a nice pace with super weather and actually some work is getting done.  This week the weather forecast is for 80/81 all week with no real chance of rain.  That kind of weather is perfect for tennis and I will be on the court 5 days this week.  I feel I have elevated my game a notch or two which is good.  BUT Terry and I sat down and watched a match after I finished playing yesterday AND I am pretty sure I could have returned the serves BUT I know there would be no rallies if I were playing.  It was fun to watch play at a level I will never be at and actually do not aspire to as the time commitment would be too great.  My guess would be if you evaluated tennis players on a scale of 1-20 my play yesterday would have been on about 9 and the match we watched for a bit would have been on a scale of maybe 14 or so.
Terry and I purchased a scanner called "Neat".  We have thought about getting it for some time but never pulled the trigger as in my world it is expensive.  We intend to scan receipts and papers into the computer and then get rid of much paper.  It was super easy to set up and work it so now we will see how faithful we are at using it.  Yesterday we were out and about and made 3 purchases.  I came home and scanned the receipts and then threw them away so we are off to a good start.  We feel it will help us be organized and for sure I need that.
Enough, the FP is near the bottom of the cup.

Thanksgiving 2014

2011 Thanksgiving in Cozumel

Terry's daughter Kim and grand daughter Tori visited for a few days--the Mustang was rented!

One of the Thanksgivings I remember most for what did not happen.  We got in the car about 5:00 PM and headed for family for the weekend.  We thought the roads may be iffy but trusted things would be OK.  About half an hour out of town we hit a patch of icy roads, did a 360 with no harm BUT at the first side road we turned around and headed back home for the holiday.   We had a low key Thanksgiving but a safe one!
It is hard to believe that we have arrived at Thanksgiving already.  As we wake up tomorrow we will have visions of Christmas in our minds and with that dreams and plans for a new year.  AND what will a new year bring?  Well we hope and pray that it will bring good health, maybe dreams come true, perhaps new life in the family, some travel which will bring new experiences and more.  BUT of course one gets ahead of themselves as today is THANKS giving day.  I hope I and many can stop to really give thanks for all that we have.  I hope that all of us can look beyond ourselves and know that if we have aches and pains there are others who suffer more, if we are a bit short on paying the bills others would like to have what we have, if there is family strife many would love to be in our family, if our job is less than ideal someone would take our job in a minute, if our car seems less than ideal the person down the street who walks every where would welcome our car and if we wanted more on the Thanksgiving table today many would consider it a feast of all feasts. 
What am I thankful for one might ask.  There are at least a thousand things I could list but a very few are my wonderful wife Terry, my children and grandchildren, the means to travel and enjoy new experiences and health that allows me to do things that I desire.  Even if I had none of those things I hope I would still be thankful for life and for our God who gives all.
Actually I have one thing today that I am really really thankful for.  Two years ago I wrote many chapters of my life growing up.  I want to do more with those writings and have been unable to find them.  I was sure they were on the computer but I spent many many hours looking and came up blank.  This morning as I was doing some other work the folder appeared on my screen as if some magical thing happened.  Thank you Lord.
I just made a big decision.  I want two pots of FP today!

Headed towards Thanksgiving

Not the kind of sand castle you may see in FL but kind of a neat one!

We are only six days from Thanksgiving.  It seems like we just said good-bye to summer. 
We had a rainy day on Tuesday and then the sun returned with warm temps as well.  Terry and I took in a movie on the rainy day and enjoyed "The Judge".  I would say it certainly is worth seeing.
I had my first PT session yesterday for the nerve in my back.  I really think it is going away and the PT is a bit lame but then it is always good (for me I know) to be held accountable for doing what needs to be done so now it has to be some exercises everyday and then see if things are better in the next session. 
Terry's daughter is coming tonight and then two of her children, Tori and Josh, will arrive Saturday.  Should be a fun time as they will be here until Wednesday. 
I am having a bit of difficulty getting myself in gear around here.  At times I ask myself if I am lazy, at other times I ask myself if I am getting old and then it comes down to maybe I have too many thoughts out there and am having a hard time focusing in on one at a time.  Regardless what it is things need to change a bit or the winter will be gone and I will wonder why I accomplished so little.
Tennis again this morning and then some on Saturday too.  There is a guy here who puts on a social/fun/tournament about 3 or 4 times a year.  Guys pair up and play against others.  I have been in it a couple times and have yet to win a set!  Maybe it doesn't matter as last time the winner's prize went to the second place team!
No more FP and the exercises need to be done before I leave for tennis.

Maybe a movie day---no tennis for sure

One of my best pictures of Mom and Dad-I like it as it is in front of the entry way we had growing up, and Dad is smiling

John dressed up for Christmas at age 1

Travis ate more chokecherries than he put in the pail

Not  sure Aaron even had a pail!

Proof that Cynthia was an early book worm

I really should be on the tennis court as it is 7:40 and our match should have started at 7:30 BUT it rained and is still raining so here I am on the computer.  I was thinking I should be disappointed but then I thought about all the things in the world to be thankful for and decided I should be happy.
I have so many things I want/need to do but yet I am slow to start any of them.  Mike Adkins gave me the idea to buy a power pack before we left for our summer camping trip.  I holds a charge for several weeks and you can use it for anything to charge your phone to jump start your car to pump the tires up on the bikes.  I am thinking perhaps I will go out into the garage after I am finished with my FP and stick my finger into the outlet to jump start myself today!  Some where in the last few days I confessed that in the 70's I maybe had issues with making good decisions and here I am 40+ years later still having issues with making decisions!!!  By that I mean it probably is not a good idea to use the power pack to jump start the human body!
Actually as my FP slowly disappears in my Alaska Highway cup that Terry gave me I realize that all I really need to do it turn off the computer and get to work.

Happy 43th Birthday Travis

Happy Birthday Travis

We hope you have a wonderful day Travis and we think God will make this coming year special for you.
I have come to believe that birthdays are a time to celebrate, reflect and give thanks so by that standard your day should be full Travis!
We are coming to the middle of November which means we are past Halloween, close to Thanksgiving and have been in the middle of Christmas for many weeks already!  I think there are some things out of order.
Terry and I enjoyed a fun evening last night.  We had our neighbors Pete and Becky over for an Alaska halibut dinner.  Pete had flown in from IL so they arrived a bit later than expected but the evening was a lot of fun.  I think the meal was good too.  Our neighbors to the other side, John and Diane, were over for a fish dinner a couple of weeks ago so our fish supply is going down. 
I am scheduled to play tennis for the 5th day in a row.  I will go and have fun but my left leg is telling me it needs some time to limber up this morning.  I am hoping it is just kind of stubborn because I am so out of shape and that it is NOT because of that little nerve thing.  I will take some time to stretch and walk before I hit the court at 9:00.
I went down memory lane for a short while this morning on my way to put the garbage out.  Now that is a stretch one might say but the reason is my compound mitre saw went out to join saw heaven!  I purchased it  in 1998 with money from my Dad's estate.  The first project was to put the deck on the house.  That saw was used for more projects than any tool in the wood shop.  Finally I realized that the condition of it was beyond repair.  The last straw was when it was stored in a place that it should not have been kept.  That was the beginning of the end. 
I now have Veronica's middle name which is Therese.  I need to get the middle name of all the grand kids.  I should know them but I am guessing I am missing some.
I am in the middle of a picture project and it is getting a bit boring BUT in the end it will be good to have it finished.  I am sorting, throwing, keeping and changing so that down the road the kids will not need to do it.  One of my bench marks is IF there are no people in the picture or if I don't know who the people are the kids will not know either so out it goes.
FP--all gone!

Six days ago

Not sure Agatha knows that Veronica may steal some thunder in the Adkins household!

I am sure Jude and Benedict will be great big brothers

There she is, the star family person for now.  I would say Cynthia and Mike will be busy but as Grandpa Saunders would say, "A full house is a winning hand!"
I have now been on the tennis court for two matches and a lesson.  My wrist is NO issue so the excuses need to be real like "old age" or "rusty" or "I started playing too late" or maybe NO excuses and just go play and have fun!!
I saw Dr. Vickers yesterday as he had ordered an MRI of my back and then yesterday he and his staff did a nerve test.  The test seemed kind of complicated so I asked the nurse what it was called and she said a nerve test!  Anyway the conclusion is that somewhere in the lower back, I think he said between some second and third thing, is a bit of something that is aggravating a nerve that sends impulses to the leg and foot.  At this time it is not a big thing as my leg is not weak or bothered a whole lot except at times there is a bit of pain and always numbness in the left upper leg.  Dr. Vickers said that there are a few options but he suggested the place to start would be PT so my first appt is next week.  I told the nurse that if one would go through life with this being the most ever pain it would be an easy life so.....
God is allowing me to practice patience as it seems EVERY thing I do takes too much time and runs into too many things.
The weather here has been perfect.  This week each day has a high of 78-82 with sun and little wind.  Terry and I have gotten some exercise in each day.  We walk but if I play tennis Terry will usually walk while I play.  My playing time today is 9:00 AM
Of course one needs to have some variety so Saturday I am picking up a friend and I will take him to a new craft brewery about 2 miles from here.  I stopped in once and it certainly is a place everyone should visit!!!
I helped the pancakes and sausage go down with the first cup of FP and now I am down to the last drop.

Opening of deer season is past

left to right-self, Dave, Ronald, John and Dick  1961/62/63?

Putting up the tree stand in 2010 and it is still standing

Sitting west of the Binde farm waiting for deer--did not see one in 2010

I thought these pictures were good for the time as last weekend was deer opener in MN!  The top picture was sent by John M.  I really like that picture.  Thanks so much John.  In the picture "Dick" hunted with us many years and was a very good friend of John's and Ronald.  Maybe college friends, I am not sure.
I plan to play tennis at 9:00 today.  I had a certain weight that I wanted to happen before I got on the tennis court.  By the scale yesterday I was on track to see success BUT this morning my weight had gone south!  I thought I was good yesterday but I guess not.  Weight or not I will step on the court almost for the first time since the broken wrist.  I actually played once or twice in the spring before we went back but I consider this the first time since late February.  I had planned to use the long lay off and the fragile wrist as an excuse for at least a couple of weeks but the wrist feels so good I may just resort to "well I am a year older".
Terry and I took in a movie yesterday afternoon.  We enjoy movies but for some reason have not gone much so we hope and plan to take in more this winter.  It pretty much rained most of yesterday so that is a movie day for sure.
I just made my third trek into the kitchen for FP and came back with only 1/3 cup so I am almost done for the morning.
I think I may hop on the bike for a short ride over to the courts to make sure they are playable with the rain yesterday.  I think it stopped raining about 1 AM or so and if that is true the clay courts should be good.
One last thing but actually it is the most important thing that has happen in the family for some time.  I have waited as I do not want to steal any of the thunder from Cynthia and Mike but the event happened last Friday night so I am sure they have phoned everyone they intend to.  GRANDDAUGHTER VERONICA ARRIVED AT 6:40 PM NOVEMBER 7TH.  She is grandchild #11 and after the boys started out 1,2,3 with Henry, Liam and Leo the girls have caught up and with Veronica they are now ahead 6/5! No pictures yet but when we get some they will be posted.  She weighed in at 8 lb 8 oz and according to Cynthia has lotz of dark hair.  It seems that she will be like her mother as she was born less than a half hour after arriving in the hospital.  Her mother was born about 15 minutes after arriving in the hospital in 1980.

A perfect weather day

Here we are at our 51st national park.  It is right in the middle of Hot Springs.  We thought about taking a dip in the warm water but then found out it would be $33.  I figured if it made me 15 min younger I would run out of money before I got my youth back so we declined the bath!
Yesterday, at the Dr office, we waited in the office for almost a half hour, the nurse took out the stitches in about 2 minutes, the Dr. looked at the wrist for about 10 seconds, we talked to the Dr. about hockey for about 2 minutes and we were out of there!  My broken wrist is history and I can do what ever I want.  That only means I need to get in shape for tennis and I need to try on those black clothes for the guitar playing!!
This morning I am thinking about that big buck on Dale's farm and hoping he has him well fed and in the barn so maybe I could get a look at him in 2015.  If someone gets him this year I guess all I could say is well done!
Terry just let me know that she will be ready for a walk in less than 30 minutes so I need to sip and savor the last of the FP before we hit the road for an hour.

The ads are behind us for a few weeks!!

My sister Janet and her daughter Esther in 63 or 64??

RED IS IN
BLUE IS BLUE
Sister Janet died in February of 1966 at the age of 27.  When she, her husband John and brother Ronald were in Ellendale going to college in the mid 50's it was a holiday on the farm when any of them came home.  Dad could be in one of his "silent" moods but if Ronald or Janet and John came home all was well as they drove into the farmyard.  I am guessing Janet made the dresses for herself and Esther as she seemed to always be sewing or knitting something.
Things are looking up a bit this week.  I could not get the printer to work after spending hours on it so finally called HP support.  After I spent at least an hour on the phone and taking the ink cartridges out and putting in again several times they finally relented and said they would send a NEW printer.  We had the printer 11 months and there was a month left on the warranty so a new machine with new ink is on the way!  I dropped in to Verizon to talk to them about our payment plan, our upgrades etc and left with a monthly bill that will be $20 less and no change in the contract! The pool guy came and got the pool cleaner sweeping again and explained what happened so all is good.  So this week is different than last week and hope to keep it positive.
Terry and I stayed up to the late hour of 10:30 PM to watch the battle between the red and blue.  Terry then woke up in the early morning hours and watched for a while more.  Terry served in the MN senate from 90-96 so elections are more interesting to her than me but I enjoyed it too.
I  got on the bike this morning and rode about 3 miles and I thought my legs would fall off on the way home.  Out of shape, oh my gosh if I am to play tennis Monday I maybe should have my affairs in order before I step on the court or better yet maybe try to get some better legs before Monday.  I googled "betterlegs.com" but did not come up with a solution!   I see where Terry D scheduled a match with people who will not beat up on me so maybe I can survive.
I have an MRI scheduled for this afternoon to see if they can figure out why my left leg is a bit numb.  I am hoping they will say time will be the fix!
Enough, it is PM now, my FP is long long gone and there is work to do.

Week 2 in Naples

taken at Mom and Dad's 40th

There may be some old pictures in the days ahead as I work through pictures of pictures!
We are now pretty much unpacked and ready for the winter to come.  Here winter means that the mornings may be down to 50 and the highs may be only mid 70s but we can live with that.  Not anything big planned for the week.  I do have 2 Dr. appt, one to get stitches out and one for an MRI on my back but really not anything exciting.  I should not say that as the prospect of staying in one place for a while is exciting!
We had a fun evening yesterday.  Neighbors John and Diane had us over to their place for a piano concert by John and hor d'oeuvers and then they came over for an Alaska fish dinner.  After dinner we enjoyed looking at the guitar power point.  We enjoy having people see it and as everyone is John and Diane were amazed at the workmanship of brother Dave.  He may be getting into the "rock star" status around here! I am hoping and thinking that when the stitches come out I can get serious about playing.
We kind of have our plans for the holidays in place.  Last spring we accepted an invite for Thanksgiving.  For Christmas we are not sure about Christmas Eve and Day but on the 26th we will drive to Punta Gorda (50 miles) and hop on a plane for South Bend IN. Will stay with John/Mary that night and then follow them to Madison on the 27th.  It will be fun to spend time with family.  We are hoping Cynthia/Mike and those 5 kids can make a cameo appearance in Madison but with a tiny baby and 5 little ones 6 and under they may opt to stay home and rest which I would not argue about at all!  It sounds like Aaron/Amy want to fit ALL in their house so we will see how that works, actually I think it will be FUN.  We will fly back to FL on the 31st.  Will get to Naples in time to make a toast to the new year at 10 PM.  We find that with each passing year the new year comes earlier and earlier.  By the time we hit 90 it may come on the 30th!!!!
I just tipped my Alaska Highway cup and the last drop of FP slipped into my mouth.

One week and what have I done???

Sister Helen sitting on the M tractor on our farm

Our dilapidated granary, the little Ford tractor and the chicken house converted into a shed

I posted the picture because it tells a lot about our antique farm and Dad's antique way of farming.  The can on the exhaust of the tractor is to keep the rain out, we could not just put a new exhaust on!  The basketball hoop on the post, that is where I honed my shooting and ball handling skills--it is true but "honed" may be a stretch and perhaps I should say practiced.  BUT I did win all my games on the court and I played against such greats as Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Bob Cousy.  REALLY   The car, well I am sure that is a junker.  The large piece of wood sitting against the barn, that would be what Dad cut out of the hay room on the north end of the barn.  He then used it for a garage.  When I was growing up the hay room was full of hay, baby kittens, mice and it even had a 5 gallon pail 10 feet up on the wall which was used for a mini basket ball hoop which we threw a rubber baseball into!  Our garage blew down in a storm at least 12 years earlier and never was replaced.  The pole by the side of the barn, that is what I would shimmy up and get on the barn roof if I wanted to be by myself and dream.  I also would get on the roof, lie down on the far side which faced west and watch for dust from a car when I was waiting for Dad to come home.  Some Sundays during deer season, when I was too young to hunt, I would lie there all afternoon watching.  We had no phone so what was I to do.   The pole in front of the granary was the yard light which allowed us to play kick the can and hide and seek at night!  What can I say about the granary?  Feral cats liked to hide in the floor, there may have been two rooms that were dry during the rain, one that housed baby chicks in the spring and one where coal was shoveled into when we had the old cast iron cook stove in the kitchen.  The Ford tractor was what all of us kids learned to drive young--perhaps by the age of 6.  It could pull a 2 bottom plow that when it struck a huge rock underground would stop the tractor dead in it's tracks and often give the driver a bloody nose as the steering wheel and face met!  In looking at the picture of the granary on the right, that is where Helen would be posing on the M tractor.  I know she was not going to work because the exhaust is still covered with the tin can that most likely came from pork and beans!!
We have now been in Naples a week.  I have worked on the printer many hours but I can not get the black to print!!  I have worked on a leaky toilet many hours but there is still a tiny tiny drip!  I have tried to set up the slide duplicator and it will not work!!  I have worked on the pool sweeper but it will not sweep!!  The picture is bleak to be sure BUT on the positive I had the plate removed from my wrist on Wednesday and it is looking OK. (It turned out to be a bit more invasive than I thought)  I purchased some wood and put up an extra shelf in the garage for storage and I have a start on a power point for next summer.  SO all is not lost when I think about it.  Oh and I found, by accident, a craft brewery two miles away and their beer is good.
By Naples standards today is cold.  At dawn it was 52 and it is not supposed to get into the 70's so a chill in the air for sure.
I could go on but my favorite cup, which Terry purchased at Delta Junction in AK , is completely void of FP and that means good-bye.

Happy 34th birthday to my favorite daughter!

#1 reason to have a great birthday!  Mike and Cynthia

#2 reason to have a great birthday!  Faustina

#3 reason to have a great birthday!  Jude

#4 reason to have a great birthday!  Benedict

#5 reason to have a great birthday! Agatha

And #6 reason to have a great birthday is coming up in November!
Happy birthday Cynthia, we love you and have a super great day.

Grandma and Grandpa Lee

I had never seen the top picture of them but I would say they were a handsome couple young and old.  I can still hear Grandpa's laugh--hardy to say the least.
Surgery went well yesterday.  My arm is sore today and I would guess that typing is not so good for it so this will be  short today.
Life is again good as I was able to start the day wth FP.  Enough for the arm.

How about that!!!

How about that, the guitar is wonderful.  The skill, the effort, the patience etc is beyond the curve of woodworkers!!
It is 5:20 PM and NOT the time for FP!!!
I am thinking I need to learn to play well and then neighbor John in Naples and I can do a concert as he has learned to plan the key board!!  It will take me some time, I am not the fast learner that John is.

More miles behind us!!

We are in PeachTree City GA at Terry's daughter Kim's house.  Will be here for 2 or 3 nights.
We had a great campsite last night.  A National Forest with showers, flush bathrooms and VERY nice sites.  We had a great site over looking the lake and it had electricity which we needed as our fish needs to stay frozen until Naples!
Our trip meter this time turned over 1500 miles and I am guessing we have about 700 left.  On our way to Naples we will stop and see Sam in college.
I may be pushing things a bit but next Wednesday I will have surgery at 7:00 AM and then have a visit with a neurologist at 1:00 PM.  I will have to ask the Dr at 7:00 if I will be ready have an appt at 1:00!  That darn left leg is still kind of numb from some nerve (can't spell it) which starts in the back and goes around to the leg.  Got to get it fixed for tennis.  I am guessing that it will start to heal itself after we get out of the car for more than 48 hours.  Since we left Naples towards the end of May we have put on more then 20,000 miles in about 15 weeks of driving, I think I am getting a bit road worn to put it mildly.
Josh just came home here so it is enough for now.  We do get to set foot in a school tonight as Tori has a concert which Terry will really really enjoy!

Monday, October 21

After a lot of good food, much interesting conversation and 150 retake of old pictures we will be on our way to our 51st NP today. 
Had salmon and Halibut last night made on the George Forman grill and Terry thought it was the best salmon she had ever had.  The halibut was great too but I took the skin off before it went on the grill while the salmon skin stayed on for the first 3 1/2 minutes and the difference was NO difference in taste but the halibut was a bit dry.  Next time the skin stays on for part of the time!
My morning started great this morning as I did not start with Terry's and Helen's 1/2 caf coffee!!!  It was FP from the get-go this morning and it was great!
We will have to see if the fog lifts before we hit the road about 10 or so.
I smell bacon and the FP is long gone.

In Holiday Island AR

sunrise in Archie MO

I did not take my diamondback out of the case!

We liked the sign!

We arrived at Helen's Sunday about 12:30.  One bowl of potato salad is down so there is one to go.  Helen made a wonderful meal last night and it is her fault that Terry and I ate too too much.  BUT life is good when you have good food, good wine, good beer and good conversation.
We will hang out here today and then head south to Hot Springs NP tomorrow. 
Yesterday morning in Archie MO it was 39 and the side tent felt like we had rain over night as the dew was so wet and heavy.  I left my FP pot in St. Paul so I walked 1/8 of a mile to a small store for coffee.  What can I say other than to mention that I so missed my FP and for $1.29 I got a large cup of this brown colored drink.  This morning I turned Helen's coffee pot on and the coffee is good but that darn pot chatted with me for at least 15 minutes.  I think I did something wrong.  Helen will have to see when she gets up.
The fall colors were spectacular on our drive down I35. 
Wow, Helen just saved the day.  I was drinking her decaf but there is FP so I will be fine in about 10 minutes!!!
Enough for now.  Helen is up and already doing the crossword puzzle so enough for the blog AND the FP is coming.