Retirment Practice

We are in 'retirement practice' mode in the northland. Let's see....how do you spell retirement?

R-recreational

E-enjoyable

T-totally

I-irresistible

R-relaxing

E-entertain

M-ment

So when does the relaxation begin I wonder? Since our arrival here we have busted our butts every day. Although it has been a lot of work it has been fun, and will continue to be so I am sure.

We readied soil and put prairie grass and wildflower seeds down - the goal is to have very little grass to actually mow.

We planted tons of perennial plants. And thanks to my friend Mary I didn't go totally broke buying these plants. She has a huge garden and shares as things multiply...thank you Mary. And Bugs, you just let her continue to purchase new varieties I say!

We cleared another area for yet another flower bed. Pictures once, and if, anything blooms!

David has been working on the driveway installing tile, replacing gravel and compacting it. He has also attempted to organize the shed....that is another story for another blog day!

He put together three raised bed gardens for me and the vegetables are planted.

We have tomatoes (a ton of them!), pepper plants, beets, chives, squash, cucumbers, brussel sprouts, lettuce, cabbage, potatoes, onions, peas, beans and asparagus. If just half of it comes up I am going to have to learn how to can and freeze veggies! Oh and we planted blueberry and raspberry bushes as well......those bear have to eat too you know!

Saturday was supposed to be a 'play day'. David had heard of a little known fishing hole that was not easy to get to but was supposed to be well worth the trek. It is accessible by 4 wheeler only, or as in our case the little jeep.

Fishing gear, lawn chairs, lake lunch, bait, lots of bug spray and the dogs were packed. Off we went on the jeep's maiden voyage.

This is only one hazard that we went through on the 'path'.

And it was the one that hung us up. A very large rock can stop a jeep if you hit it just right...you

get a tad hung up. With no help anywhere near it can be a pickle!

David did get us off the rock with this little trick.

Does it surprise anybody (especially you Mikey) that this would happen to us?

Ahh retirement. This is what it is supposed to look like.

Not a fish was caught (again surprise anyone????) But it was a nice day.

The dogs agreed. Tack's favorite thing to do is swim swim swim.

The mailbox was put in as well...it is official so it seems.

As We Shuffle Along

We are pretty much settled in our temporary housing only to move sooner than we had hoped.

David's last day of work is June 24th. Yes finally a for sure date! In fact he has only five days left to work from today until the 24th...vacation time you know! And after that every day will be a vacation day. Our most difficult decisions may very well be.....should we weed the garden, go fishing or for a drive in the woods in the jeep? Quite the decisions huh?

We had a very successful final garage sale, sold everything but two very small boxes of 'stuff'. We also had quite a few people interested in our one big item for sale...our temporary residence. Thinking what the heck...people will be passing through, it's worth it to put a for sale sign on the house. We even had a gal who seemed very interested saying that she could see a lot of potential and took our names...however she has not called. RATZ we say. Oh well we are looking forward to futzing it up to put it on the market.

And the latest picture of Julia Bernice. Lenny and Kel had a 3-D ultrasound done this past week. They said they could see little Julia Bernice playing with the umbilical cord the picture was so clear! How cool is that?!

Both Kel and Jen are halfway through their pregnancies and both are the cutest darned itty bitty little expectant moms...nothing like me who gained 75 yes seventy five pounds! Mom used to tell me that even my nose and eyelids were fat...and they were!

Next update from the north land as we head there on Sunday.

A Special Wish For A Special Girl

Happy first birthday Dezbah Daisy.

A year ago today your brave mom and dad gave birth to you in a wonderful, natural way.

You are a special little girl and we love you.

Grandpa Dave and Granny B

Well He Had To Fight For It But......

HE GOT IT

Yup the fight is over, it's official, David is retiring early. He has not received his last date of employment yet but it should be June sometime.

Phew we say!

Congratulations husband you deserve it to be sure!

PS-He didn't really get in a fight but that really is a black eye. A cement saw kicked back and got him in the eye. It got much blacker than that as the days went by. Does he look mean as can be there? Ya whatever, old softy doesn't have a mean bone in his body!

A Special Day

For three special ladies.

Happy Mother's Day to Rachel who is celebrating her very first Mother's Day with her almost year old Dezbah Daisy.

To Kel and Jen who are mothers in waiting and deserve a special day today as well.

You all are about to begin a journey and a wonderful journey it is.

Love you guys
Grandpa and Grandma

And a happy mom's day to all of you mom's out there.

Oh My Goodness-Oh my Goodness!!!!!

So, we are in the northland this week. Weather is not bad however there will be ice on Leach Lake for the fishing opener. On to my story.

At 1:30am this morning our motion detector light went on. It is on the garage, the garage is about 25 feet from our bedroom window. I didn't think much of it as it goes off whenever a deer etc walks by it. For some reason though I took a look last night, well both of us took a look. We had a nice big black bear standing alongside the shed. He looked pretty large. David thinks bigger than the one he shot some years back hunting. He didn't seem bothered by the light and just ambled into the woods behind the shed.

This morning we looked for track finding this one. As you can see his paw is as big as my foot.

Now I have been saying that I want to see a bear, want to get a picture of one and in fact jokingly told David that I was going to throw jelly doughnuts etc out to attract them. BUT I don't mind telling you that I am a bit freaked out about this sighting! I will be getting bear mace for walking in the woods....IF I walk in the woods again...


David is sure that he was just walking through. It seems he came out of the woods on one side of the shed, walked around the front of the shed (between the shed and our house) and then back to the other side and into the woods. I think I will go with..yup he is just passing through. And if not I wish he would pass through during the day, when we are all safely in the house, so that I can get a picture of him!


Gotta love the northwoods.

A Year Ago Today

We were waiting for the drizzle to stop wondering if the ceremony would be held inside or out. At the last minute there was a break in the weather and Lenny and Kelly were married outside in a beautiful ceremony.

Today they are expecting their first baby and have built a wonderful life together. For a mom there is not much better than seeing your son turn into a fabulous man, married to a great lady that he truly loves and soon to become a father.

Happy anniversary Len and Kel.

I Didn't Forget

I just forgot to blog my husband a very happy birthday.

Yup yesterday was David's 58th and his last birthday celebrated as an employed person. Next year we will be retired one way or another and in the north woods.

Love you David

Some Weeks I Have Nothing To Say

And the next week you can't shut me up!!! Those of you that figure I am always talking and never say anything anyway....shush you....haha.

So, anytime that you are a survivor of a devastating illness or event people ask you what are you going to do next, sky dive? I have been asked that many times and my response has always been, "Are ya nuts!".

BUT yesterday I think I did my version of sky diving....I had Lasik surgery on both eyes. Being the weak stomach faint when I have blood drawn kind of gal that I am I never ever considered this as an option. But David talked me into it and I went in for the consultation, scheduled the surgery date and got them to prescribed Valium as a pre surgery relaxant.

Yesterday I was not a bit nervous...well maybe a tad but not so much about the procedure but the fear that I would pass out and screw the procedure up. The doc let me know that if I did pass out it wouldn't be such a much as I would already be laying down and my eyes would be taped open. SO.....I didn't take the Valium and made it through without passing out during the procedure. Afterwards the old feeling came twice and I needed to lay down but didn't totally go under.

The procedure really is not that uncomfortable and it is so fast and it sure is nice to wake up and be able to see. AND I have a wonderful little Valium saved for another time......

Yup, I did my sky diving and did it my way.

A Pre-Introduction

So it seems that pink is the color all around.....Len and Kel are having a girl as well and they are naming her Julia Bernice. Julia was Kel's grandma's middle name and of course Bernice is Lenny's granny.........it is hard to express how much that means to me.

I have permission to share the first photos

The profile

The face and Kel says, 'Look at that chin'!

Two eyes a nose, mouth and pudgy cheeks

I guess this is the gender photo! Couldn't prove it by me...LOL

Gonna be like her daddy...long long legs!

The other news that I have pales in comparison to baby news!!!! BUT David and I are officially homeless as of today. The papers are signed and thank goodness Renee is letting us rent the upstairs from her until June 1. We will then shuffle to the little house next door until we can go north.

Pink Pink Pink all around Pink.

Oh and happy birthday to Melvin, Rachel's husband. Sorry Melvin that you took a backseat but I am sure that you understand...haha. Anyway we hope your day is great.

A Successful Garage/Moving Sale

Despite the winter like weather!

The garage had been cleaned out-yes it really was absolutely clean and organized...however at least two loads have been taken north and I am fearful of seeing what THAT shed looks like!

We then filled the garage with household items in an effort to downsize in prep for the move north. Now the house is empty as well as the garage.

The sale was a huge success, we sold almost everything. Friday was the opening day and two hours prior to opening people came....and bought!

Saturday we woke up to 2 inches of snow on the ground, it was windy and damned cold...but people came and bought!

Sunday we opened at 8am and people came....and bought!

Thanks a TON to Chrissy for staging the sale (she really is in the wrong line of work. Needs to be on HGTV as a garage sale stagger!) and sitting with me in the cold helping to keep up with our customers. Even David enjoyed himself as he slashed prices continually!

One more sale to go to get rid of the few things that we have left and then we are ready to move north!

79 Years Ago Today

A very special lady came into this world. She grew up on a farm, poor as can be, with a loving mom and dad and many great siblings.

Everyone who knew her loved her. She persevered through many tough times..., her dad committing suicide when he was a young man, a daughter who was a daddy's girl when little (and was not so nice to her momma), she fought alcoholism and quite drinking at about age 70 and smoking as well after having smoked for over 40 years, her mom and some siblings passing at early ages and she herself fighting a battle with lung cancer only to lose the fight.

This lady loved her grandson and her son in law, her friends, family and of course me...her daughter.

She loved to go camping with us and had a campfire going from morning til night (see where I get it Jan!), she loved our annual vacations to warmer climates, and her vacations with her sister Etta as well as going to the casino with her nephew John.

My momma was a fabulous person and I can only hope to be half of the person that she was. I woke up this morning with a smile on my face realizing that it was her birthday. I celebrate her life and the life that she gave me. I feel the hug.

The Text Message Read

'It looks like a girl'.

Ryan and Jen had their ultrasound yesterday and it seems that we will have a new grand-daughter come September.

Lots of pink going on so far in the family....wonder if Len and Kel will carry on the pink or will we have some blue as well...

Family Treasures

My Grandma Grace passed in the early 70s, I was very close to her. When Lenny and I moved to StPeter my mom gave me Grandma's beautiful dinning room oak table for a keepsake.

As we are moving and no longer have a spot for this family treasure, I just knew it needed to be kept in the family.

The table is going to my cousin Deb, who 10 years ago, lost everything in the famous tornado...including everything that she had from her folks who are no longer with us is.

After looking at the table Deb immediately decided that she would take the keepsake and keep it safe. I know the table will be loved, in good hands, and be kept in the family. Mom and Grandma would be pleased.

As Deb was leaving we both had tears in our eyes.

Family Treasures.

One Of My Favorite Places

To shop and just 'be'.

The Tangled Skein was instrumental in my maintaining a positive attitude during and after chemo. It is a warm welcoming place that feels safe.

As most know I have suffered some cognitive impairment from the chemo and my ability to learn, remember and just think has been comprimised.

I found the TS and began to take knitting classes there. After the first class I came home in tears because I just could not 'get it' and I felt like I had no brain at all. However, I kept going back and the gals (Lori and Anette) were awesome and supportive. I continue to have a difficult time 'getting it' but with their help I have been able to knit knit knit. Not as professionally as these gals, but it sure is fun.

SO, I wanted to share this site with you all. I am very appreciative to them for hosting a money raising event for The Cure.

If you are a knitter, or know someone who is...please remember the Tangled Skein.

Hummmm, I am going to just try those danged socks and see how I do...lots of different stitches going on in them. If I am able to complete them I will certainly brag about it here!

A cure will come and with your help we will get there sooner than later.

http://www.thetangledskein.com/whatsnew2.php

By the way both Lori and Anette are teachers and both had Lenny in class. Interesting huh? Rachel I think Lori had you as well.

Ah Spring...Finally

And a great day to take a walk with a good friend and our doggies! We did decide however that because our walk was a 2 hour one that it was considered a hike rather than a walk!



7 mile park was our destination today. It is always an adventure when we go with my friend Mary and her dog Yoni (is that how it's spelled Mary?). Someone usually trips and or falls and one of us gets to laughing so hard that well...Bugs you know what the result of that is! But it is always fun.



7 mile is full of trails, streams, bridges and plants of all types.

The dogs appreciate the streams. A refreshing dip and drink of water

The trails can get difficult...yes Mary and Tack we go up and up and up

A bridge within a bridge

And our first fully bloomed flower. Jan do you have any idea what this is? The flowers are actually pink

Tomorrow a new adventure.

On My Way To The Doc Today

It seems that my bad cholesterol is elevated and she wants to talk to me about medication options. As I am driving to the clinic I think what the hell happened to the poor old bod?

Post-chemo and post 50 AND post-menopause has not been good on my body! Nothing seems to stay in place these days.

I always had the good ole saddle bags but now I have the god awful underarm flags. These are worse even than the saddle bags. You can hide those with jeans...but these flags are there hanging out for all to see.

And now despite eating fruits and vegetables daily and eating right in general as well as getting 30 minutes of exercise at least 5 times a week...I have to go on meds to lower my cholesterol.

Those brown spots on the skin...well there are getting to be so many of them that I could pass them off as freckles.

And allergies...for goodness sake aren't you supposed to grow out of allergies. Oh no not me...I grew into them. Never had them as a kid but as a falling apart adult they are here full force. And not just in the spring but all year long.

And the memory and confusion..well that goes without saying? Who are you again?????

As long as I am griping I may as well gripe about the worst of the worst. One would think that when you have reconstructive surgery and get new boobs, that they would be perfect! Uh huh.....these babies of mine are not at all symmetrical, they wrinkle (saline implants tend to do this I guess) and the one that is sitting under my arm has flipped itself around entirely so that the patch on the backside of the implant is now on the front of the implant and is visible through my skin. It looks like a 50 cent piece was left under my skin!

Oh and lets not forget about the hips. My hips ache constantly especially at night...wakes me up in fact (between that and the having to pee thing).

I know there is more but with the memory (or lack of) I just don't seem to be able to think of them at the moment.

So...what was that I said a post or so back...something about embracing the changes in your life....

It really isn't all that bad, just feels good to bitch once and a while! I actually enjoy my life but a few years back, when David rolled over and said, "I feel just like my mother and I hate it" meaning that he had aches and pains all over and was feeling his years....I thought to myself...HA I am glad it's you and not me.....that one bit me in the butt didn't it?

Despite it all I am happy to wake up in the morning and happy that I am here to be able to bitch about getting older. The alternative is certainly not desirable.

PS, this really is intended to be light hearted so I am hoping that a few of you did laugh about my malady's (is that a word Jan)?

Granny's Update

Lenny and Kelly and the growing baby are progressing nicely. The last doctor appointment found Kel healthy as well as the baby. The baby's heart rate is beating at 155 beats per minute, nice and strong. Kel's nausea is subsiding but she continues to feel tired. We (they) will be able to find out the baby's gender in about 5 weeks.

Our Corpus kids Ry and Jen are doing well. Jen is still experiencing nausea and tiredness. They too will be able to find out the baby's gender in about 5 weeks time.

Dezbah Daisy, Rachel and Melvin's adorable girl will soon be a year old. She is growing like a weed and is cute as can be...looks more like her momma every day!

Grandpa's been busy

Cradles for the new grand babies. Beautiful aren't they? I did ask him what he is going to do if one or the other (or both) have twins....he decided that the babies will just have to share!

No no Peeko it is not for you!

My contribution comes next (after having given David the idea of the cradles..). Pictures when I am finished with the projects....have to wait until we find out the genders.

Easter Creation

My home made desert for this year. Not only was it cute but it was quite tasty as well.




My friend Jessica, upon seeing the bunny cake, commented, "How did she get so creative". She just ASSUMED that Kelly had made the cake! What the hell...does it seem so impossible that I can be creative as well! Ok so maybe it does but hey, I am getting better! AND I may have had an assistant when it came to decorating the cake...thanks Chrissy.



I hope you all had a nice Easter.

A Reflection

http://www.mankato-freepress.com/local/local_story_087004350.html

Tomorrow will mark 10 years since StPeter was devastated by the F5 tornado. Today's Free Press features the events that day and since. The above link is the on line condensed version. If you are interested in reading the entire article you should be able to access it in tomorrow's on line addition. It is worth the read.

That day mom and dad were down and Len was home. David, Len and I watched the tornado approach the St Peter area from our back deck. Mom and Dad were in the basement. When Len was blown off of the deck we decided that it was time to join them in the basement. We were spared but StPeter was not.

Rachel was working in StPeter when the tornado hit. The restaurant had full glass front windows. She and everyone else rushed, just in time, to the coolers and were safe. Her car didn't fare as well...but it was just a car. She was safe.

The devastation was incredible but the caring folks who showed to help, without being asked, was something else. It was a time to remember.

FYI

I just received a spam comment on my blog, which I deleted. Because of this I have chosen to monitor comments posted to this blog. You are still able to comment (friends and relatives please do continue to do so) but there will be just a bit of a process to complete thus allowing you to comment.

Happy Birthday Jen

Today is our daughter in law Jen's birthday.

Have a happy birthday Jen and do something special for yourself on this day.

Testing

We are in the north land testing out our new internet service. I want to see how labor intensive of a process it will be to blog with this new service so here we go. The pictures are random ones as I am trying to see how long it takes to upload them as well.

We have sold our main home. It was not listed but a friend of a friend is going to buy it. The deal is not yet done, we are not sure when she will be moving and when we will be booted out, but we will make it work. It may be that she will own it prior to David retiring and at that time we will have to do some juggling.....However, we would be not so smart if we were to loose a buyer so.....

And Renee loves the house. She appreciates the wood and architectural detail, likes the decor AND she wants to keep the birds and feeders!

David and I put a lot of work into the house and we both have always been pleased and proud of how it turned out. When we initially talked of retirement (years back) I then thought...no no no I don't want to sell this house that we both love and have put so much work into.

But life changes, it shifts and evolves. We are now both very anxious to move to the north land, the new home that we put lots of love into refurbishing, adding on to and making it ours. My fondest memory is shingling our little slice of heaven while going through chemo (and yes it is a fond memory...it helped me live). It was 90 some degrees with 90 some percent humidity. I was bald, weak and very cognitively challenged due to the drugs that were pumped into my system. I had no business being on a roof much less trying to help poor David shingle. But we got it done. I felt as if I could fall off the roof at any time, was sweating bullets and for god's sake I could not remember which way to lay those shingles for the life of me. I think it was that project that pointed out to both David and I that I had lost some cognitive skills. Simple things like how to saw a board or how to correctly lay a shingle (tasks I had done with David numerous times) were difficult for me. It may have been difficult for me but poor David...I am sure he wondered if his wife was always going to be a mess (and I am...tee hee) along with, Oh the hell with the mess at least I have her! We laugh about that time often...a fond memory indeed.

Things just seem to have fallen into place, a buyer for our house that appreciates what we did with it, cancer free, early retirement (we hope), a little slice of heaven to move to, wonderful friends and family, grand kids and a spouse who is my best friend.

Have I been rambling...why yes I have. I do seem to do it well!

Embrace the 'shifts' in your life.

The Sun Sets On A Beautiful Day

And a wonderful vacation as well

Beach Gate Party

Sort of like a good ole tailgate party minus the snow and cold. Remember those.....before the Vikes games at the dome everyone would party outside in the parking lot...cold as hell...roast sweetcorn, grill burgers and DRINK.

Well it seem a family group from Arizona, Ohio and Wisconsin have brought the idea to the beach. Lots of sun, no snow, no football and no electricity so....

They rigged up a gas powered blender and brought it on down!

The best Daiquaris on the Island you can bet.

Keith, we cannot believe that you havn't come up with this idea yet! When we saw it we both thought of you and your inventions.

And Uncle Brent, David has found a couple of projects for you. In fact we have decided that we would be willing to spend the winters down here to watch over your projects for you.

Project number one-a great landcruiser that just needs some TLC

Project number two-a jeep that could be lots of fun if it were only fixed up a bit

Project number three-this one just needs the interior re-done.

Are you up to the challange Brent? These jeeps have actually been admired the whole time we have been down here by many passers by. Beats me what the hell they see in them...a guy thing I guess.

One more day on the beach left. Then it's back home, get a dumpster (yes Mary a dumpster) and start to lighten our load to get ready for retirement.

Our Texas Birthday Boy

Train lover and soon to be poppa.

Happy birthday Ryan and may you enjoy this new venture in your life. If your young one grows up with even a bit of your personality and caring ways, he/she will be a wonderful person just like his/her daddy.

Love

Dad and Bobbi
(Grandpa Dave and Granny B)

One Hell Of A Storm Blew In

Last night the weather went from 83 degrees to 68 degrees in no time. The wind began to blow and it rained rained rained. This morning the streets were littered with strewn about stuff (most of which was grabage) and it was still cold.

David however braved the beach. I knew it was bad when only he and a Canadian couple were the only fools on the beach. The wind had not calmed much (was still blowing at 18 miles an hour) so David rigged up a shelter to keep from being pelted by the sand.

I on the other hand spent the morning walking around town with camera in hand.

These are for you Jan.

The island cemetary that I like to visit at least once a trip. It is beautiful and very peaceful.

This side of the island didn't look at all stormy

But this side had 6 foot breakers coming in.

The main 'drag' before the crowds began with sand drifts to boot.

A look down a 'town' street with the ocean in the background.

David posing in the ocean (or was he really taking a leak??)

The paparazzi caught the two of us this week as we were walking on the sand bar

Well OK so it was only Jessica but she thought she would be the paparazzi and sneakily get a piture of us. BUT, in trying to be sneaky so also got lost....good thing the island is small and one can't be lost for long.

The Olivia, a Mediterranean eatery across from our hacienda.

Just another day in paradise....reality soon to hit, too soon we say!