The Week In Review

We arrived 'home' last Wednesday and ended the trip unloading the trailers and vehicles. As much 'stuff' as we got rid at the garage sale how oh how can we have this much left!

My gardens look good. I was afraid that they would have dried up but they really look good. When we left the last time the beets looked pretty tough but they perked right up while we were gone.

Prior to coming up I dug up perhaps 8 perennial plants to plant up here. The second day here was spent planting planting planting. Those eight plants were split up and turned into about 40 plants and all were planted in one day! I now have 6 flower gardens along with the three raised bed veggie gardens, two additional veggie gardens and two barrels of potatoes! Oh my momma, uncles and mother in law would be so proud! So if you are wondering what the heck I am going to do with myself up here....you will find me out with the bugs, sweating like crazy tending to the gardens! I used to hate weeding flower beds but for some reason I know like it. It is relaxing being out with the bugs pulling weeds.

We actually took a day to go fishing. The plan was to go out in the am for a few hours. We went out early on this little piss ant lake...Mikey you would love it...tons of bass. fun to catch but yucky to eat! Anyway we worked hard catching the fish that we did catch...all sunfish...and it took all day to get eight fish!

I caught the first fish, the biggest fish, the smallest fish and the most fish! My count was five...David's was three.

David finally took the fly rod out and brought in his three contributions.


The plan was to go back out the next day to pull in a few more so that we would have enough for a meal. The weather didn't cooperate however, it rained like crazy. So instead David got into the groove....

The flowers are blooming.

I spotted an old abandoned farm house behind a field of flowers.
On Sunday poor David headed back to work on the little house so here I am by myself me and the dogs. When David is here Peeko hardly ever barks...but when he is gone and we are alone he barks at every little thing. Creeps me out a bit as he has me wondering who in the hell is coming up the driveway. There is never anyone and he is probably barking at deer, or raccoon or whatever the hell but I wish he would quit!

Today Peeko met his new groomer lady. Buttons and Bows is the new place. They did a nice job.

However, Peeko seems to think that looking nice and smelling good is over rated as the minute we got home he ran to Tackla's swimming pond and got himself dirty, oh well.

I have spent the rest of the day hauling mulch, rocks (nice big rocks) and branches to the flower beds. Hey Kel L....look what I got for father's day. Yup my very own dump garden wagon. David says it was my father's day gift so that I no longer bother him when he is on the bob cat. I now no longer have to manually haul huge rocks to where I want them but can put them in the wagon and drive them there. HOWEVER I still have to pick the damned things up and get them in the wagon.


The dogs love it here. If they aren't in the pond they are in the grasses 'hunting', all that can be seen are the wagging tails.

We have been watching a very pregnant doe for the past month or so. She comes out every day (sometimes twice a day) to eat. I haven't seen her for the past two days and am thinking she may be holed up with a new fawn. When they do show up I hope to get a picture.

Tomorrow back to getting things put away in the house. Between that and the shed it will take us the first year to get organized...IF we ever do.

A True Surprise

We had a wonderful get together with friends and family and were successful in surprising David.

Even though the party was right next door and Chrissy and I had been working on it all week...he did not have a clue. In fact he was asked to come over to help move a picnic table and saw Mikey and Jan there...he still did not get it. Earlier in the week Chrissy told him that she was having a retirement party for her dad. David took the bait hook line and sinker! He just thought that somehow Mikey and Jan were related to Chrissy (only a man...only a man!). Chrissy then asked him to check out the cool cake (it was decorated with a deer scene and said, Happy Retirement Dave'). He still did not get it...says he was too busy looking at the scene and really didn't read the words. Chrissy then asked him if he could read it. David said well sure he can read it. I asked him to read it out loud then! He did and FINALLY got it. It really was the ultimate surprise!

Sharing the day with photos:

Immediately after he 'figured it out' hugging our friend Jan

Long time friends Wes and Karen and daughter with Marky to Dave's right

Carol and Jess

Four generations. A pretty good looking group

A proud Grandpa

Rachel and Dezbah.

This little lady is always on the go and is such a good girl! She is quite cute as well!

Lenny and Kelly

Auntie Etta, Uncle Dood, cousin Lisa and Auntie Sandy (my mom's side of the family...by the way David you do know that she is smiling down on us don't you?).

There is always a lot of BS and noise going on when we get together. And it is always a laugh a minute.

Uncle Dood (80 something) and his daughter Lisa (not 80 something!!!) roared in on their Harley's. Dood has been riding for a few (not many) years and Lisa for the past year. Lis MADE herself learn to ride so that she could enjoy time with her dad. How cool is that! PS Lisa, folks wondered who you were as they said you and I looked a lot alike!

A party isn't a party without a good game of cards. Shoot on the far table and cribbage with David and Len.

This is the entry that may make me cry...shush it's my blog and I can be sappy if I want! We all have neighbors and know who they are well enough to say hello (or maybe not...). It is not often that your neighbors turn into not only friends but family. Our little cul-de-sac has become quite close over the years and I consider my neighbors both friends and family. We take care of each other's dogs, walk right into each others houses, cry together and bitch together. They have supported me through a lot of tough times over the years and have shared in many joys that David and I have encountered. What do you say about people like this except we love you guys and will miss you terribly.

Chrissy, Jess and myself. We are certainly not trying to be 'sexy' with this pose (yeah right huh??) instead we are trying to hide our most unfavorite body parts that have gotten larger and sagged over the years! Notice the saddle bags are turned to the back and the arm flags are tucked to my sides!

Thanks all for helping me pull off the surprise. David and I are truly fortunate to have the friends and family that we do.

And The Verdict Is

Doc D called this morning. As we suspected it is a benign cyst on the thyroid gland. My entire thyroid looks good as well. That little worry is put to rest.

However, the zit on my face is getting larger and becoming more red...and that baby really thumps! Oh to have such maladies to crab about huh?

Tests Tests...And Why They Don't 'Jump' To Run Them

And I am not talking about SAT's or midterms!


About a month ago I felt a funny little deal in my neck. It actually feels like a vein that is just a bit large. At my oncological appointment a week ago I mentioned it to Doc C. He felt it and felt it and felt it. Thought it was nothing but wanted me to see my surgeon to get his opinion.


Now I really like my surgeon and never mind chatting with him and I trust him completely. But I totally understand now why the docs don't run every test in the world on you after having had successful cancer treatments. There was a time right after my chemo that I would feel this or have that ache and would have preferred Doc C to do whatever test needed to rule out the big C return. He refused saying that there are too many false positives etc etc etc....AND running unnecessary tests just make a person nervous for no reason.


Now I get that whole way of thinking. I was not a bit wigged out about this funny little deal that I had been feeling until my surgeon walked in the room and began to palpitate the nodule. He didn't think that it was anything to worry about but wanted me to have an ultra-sound just to be sure.


I got in right away for the ultra sound and became even more nervous. Lots of self talk going on let me tell you......'I don't think it is anything but if it is we will deal with it' yadda yadda yadda. The tech begins the procedure. I ask her how it all looks and of course she says that she is not at all qualified to give an opinion...Ok so that adds to my nervousness. She then takes way longer than what I felt it should be taking. She finally asks me if I am hanging in there....and I say yes I am but that she is making me nervous. She wonders why so I just tell her that it is taking so long so I am wondering if she is finding something and needs to look further etc. Well of course she says no no no. She just wanted to get more pics because the little nodule is so close to the thyroid gland. So she did a full thyroid scan or some silly thing. After it was completed she then asked me to stay put until she talks with the radiologist...about now I am jumping out of my skin thinking...Ok here it comes.... She came back in to say that I could go. The radiologist was pleased with the pictures (still didn't make me feel any better as pleased with the pictures only means that she got good images...). She did say though that he stated that it was 'unremarkable' and that my surgeon (Doc D) would call me with the results in a day or two.


Now I am no longer nervous and am sure that it is nothing...but Doc C was right...running too many tests is too nerve racking if you really don't need them. Crap, I barely thought about cancer until today....now that the scan is done I can just quit thinking about it again so there!

OK on with life and after Doc D calls to tell me it is nothing I will blog that as well....I am actually more concerned (and really crabby) about this big huge honkin zit that has appeared on my cheek...damn thing pulsates and I want to squeeze it I do!

After Many Days Of Rain

The sun finally came out. It was time to get the camera out and capture the warmth.

As David organized in the shed....I took pictures.

The hostas are finally starting to peek out (it is a late season up here).

Hey Mary, look what else is blooming. They are going to be beautiful!

The lilacs like the sunshine as well.

Jess, your favorite bird gets his nourishment from our lilacs.

Chrissy, will you ask your nephew what the heck this interesting fella is

The perennials are looking good in the 'boat garden'. Hey Mikey does the adornment on the left look familiar to you?

On an exploration trip we found a batch of honeysuckles. Orioles were abundant here.

Tomorrow we hope to fish in the little pond that is surrounded by honeysuckles. Hey Mary, can I grow them at the cabin do you think? MAYBE the next blog entry will be about catching fish.

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)?