Presley's Birthday 8-18-11 at 8:18

Happy 5th Birthday Presley

Gee grandma is getting bad, I remembered all week that it was your birthday today except today...then went on Facebook and got a reminder! Hope you have a sun shinny day, Love ya lots.

Feels like Fall

The sun is shining, but there is a breeze coming across the lake, and I had the window open all night so it feels like Fall to me. I know I have a few more weeks till it is officially here, but the kids have started practice at school for Fall sports and the Fair starts next week and that kinda all hails the end of summer.
The birds and the chipmunks are busy eating, and I'm told my brother is supposed to be across the lake fishing....I only see one boat on the whole lake....so maybe that is him. That big red bellied woodpecker has been back...infact he's at the suet right now....he also eats the grape jelly....strange as it may seem....oh my gosh there is a pair of them out there. The female isn't as pretty, but they are friendly with each other so must be mates....I'll have to look them up in one of my bird books.
Got an email from Sandi last night, they were only as far as IL and were spending the night. The funeral will be on Friday at noon at the new Catholic church in St. Michael. Sandi's brother lives there, so that is why they are having it there. They will have reviewal 1 hour prior to the service, and a lunch after....no graveside service. I was hoping that they would need some of my beds, but Sandi says her brother has enough room for them. It will be a quick (in time they are here) trip and they will probably head back home on Sunday. Sounds pretty rushed....with 3 long days drive back and forth. But that is what it took when I drove down last winter.
I got my infusion yesterday, after stopping at Jan's for a jar of coconut butter and to have some rubbed on my back. Didn't get home till about 2:30, and then packed and headed for the cabin....getting here about 5 p.m. I had to stop and pick up my pictures I had developed from Blair's wedding on my way too! I made dinner, did some emailing and then settled in to watch the Twins game. Fun game as we won. Thome hit number 601 last night....wow, he's on a roll this week. Bill and his buddies were in Cleveland the night he hit 599 and 600...how lucky is that?!!!
I slathered myself in oil while watching the game, seems like a constant battle.
Today I hope to see Phil, or it'll be a quiet day...don't have any plans....maybe work on that scrapbook that I ran out of pages for....I can still do my part and then glue them in when I get the backing pages....or start another and glue them in there if I can't get the pages. So that's all folks, love and prayers, m

Sunny Sunny Day!

We did get a lot of rain last evening, but no storms, and now the sun is shining brightly....and it's supposed to stay that way.
Got a note from Joe and Sandi yesterday that Sandi's mom died and they are coming to MN for the funeral. Don't have any other details but will let everyone know when I do. Also got a call from Aunt Loretta (she sounds good, and said Uncle John is doing well too) and talked to Kathleen as well. I did get my errands run before noon, but other than that, didn't do much constructive...the weeds are still in the garden. Later last evening I got a call from Jan Ranum and she has some coconut oil to offer my dry skin....so I'm going over before my infusion this morning and getting that....I also asked if she would put some on my back where I can't reach....she agreed....what a good angel she is.
Today, I have the infusion at 11 a.m., and then I will return home and get packed for the cabin. I plan on being there till Sunday....but funeral arrangements may change that. I have offered the cabin beds for Joe and Sandi's family, I hope they take me up on it. Don't know when they might arrive....Sandi said they were on their way yesterday morning....but don't know if they flew or are driving. Sandi's brother lives in St. Michael, so it's not far from the cabin.
Well must start moving, Love and prayers, m

Good Morning Sunshine!

It never rained yesterday, but it was mostly cloudy all day, so waking this morning to bright sunshine is such a treat. Unfortunately I hear they think it will rain this evening. Hopefully it won't storm....just rain....not that we need it.
I came home around 2 p.m. yesterday....or I got to Coon Rapids around 2 p.m. and then I stopped at Riverdale and finished shopping for Presley's birthday present....that didn't take long, and then I stopped and got a few things for a recipe I had torn out of a magazine on Sunday when I was catching up on my reading. It sounded really good, I thought I only needed the ground chicken and bread crumbs to make the oriental chicken meat balls, but I ended up getting grapes on sale, some carrots and cucumbers and rice noodles which I added to the meal (not the grapes but the rest). It turned out okay, but I don't think I'd make it again. We'll see how the leftovers taste today.
Don't have big plans for today....have to get Presley's package in the mail, and then I think I'll pull some weeds out of my garden....some look like trees!...with all the rain they seem to be doing quite well.
Undressed to take a bath last night, and realized my back is covered with dry skin (really dry flaking in big pieces)....spots I can't reach with lotion. This last month I have been plagued with dry skin....cracking on heels and fingers....I can't seem to stay ahead of it with lotion. My face is also a big problem....I'm looking older and more wrinkled every day. Most of the lotions burn my face...so I had to find one that wouldn't....the pharmacist helped with that. I also have some special hand and foot cream they gave me a sample of that works pretty good for them as well. My hair seems to be thinning now too....but as far as side effects from the chemo and the other targeted drug they are infusing me with....I guess I'm doing pretty well if those are my only problems.
So enough complaining, I guess I better get dressed and start doing something constructive. Love and prayers, m

Is It Going to Rain?

I saw a slight peak of the sun this morning, but it is very overcast right now....a slight breeze on the lake and I see a sail boat across on the other side. I guess now that we have a "no wake rule" I'll see more kayak, canoe and sail boats. I slept in a little later this morning. I was up several times during the night going to the bathroom and at 4 a.m. my phone alarm went off, as I had it set for 4 a.m. last week when I left Portland. It took me a few minutes to make sure that didn't happen again tonight or next week. Then my alarm next to the bed went off at 7 a.m. as I had it set for Sat. and Sun and forgot to turn off before I went to bed last night, but I managed to turn over and sleep a while longer.
I did some scrap booking yesterday...working on one that shows all the changes we've made at the cabin starting in 2006....it's a work in progress just like the cabin. I think I'm up to 2010 and ran out of pages, so I had to stop....but I emailed my supplier (Laura) and she is going to see if she can find some for me. It's a Creative Memories Album and they have changed the page size since then, and she is not actually a rep anymore. Hopefully I'll be able to finish with 2011 and then start a brand new album. Actually hopefully, we will be done some time soon, and I won't have to keep updating one....well....I guess we'll always be adding something.
I guess the landscaper has got a few big projects he is working on and won't get to ours for a few weeks. I hope that gets done before the snow flies. We have a few other things I'd like to get done this fall, like the front of the boat house and the stairs down to the new sliding glass door on the lower level.
Today, I'm just going to clean up around here and head back to the city. Have some shopping to do for Presley (her birthday is this week) and I have to get it in the mail. Then after I get my infusion on Wednesday, I will come back to the cabin till Sunday. Other than that, I guess I better get this posted and get to work. Love and prayers, m

The Lake is like Glass

Calm and clear. A good night and a full moon and now a beautiful morning. The birds are here and I'm lovin it!
Yesterday's meeting was not what I expected....the place was packed, I would say 50-75 Lake Sylvia owners showed up, and I think all but about 2 of us or maybe 3 like the "No wake Rule". Well, they really don't like it, but also don't want the lake to deteriorate....and either do I. The county DNR imposed the rule, and it is also now on all the lakes in Stearns county as well. Most of the people were old timers on the lake...but a few were waterskiers and tubers who supported the Lake Association and wanted them to do something to help move this excess water out of the lake and through the watershed into the crow river. This means cutting a wide swath of cat tails out of a marsh just past Lake Francis, and right now the DNR doesn't want to do that....so we need to find a way to do it ourselves. Anyway no wake rule is in effect till Oct. 1 or until the lake is no more than 6 inches above the normal high water mark....and we're no where near it right now. About 18 inches to go and at the rate of 1 inch per week (with no rain)it ain't going to happen.
I then went to the farmers market and got my good sour dough bread and to the grocery store to buy carrots as no one had any at the farmers market. I thought I would make chicken and dumplings for dinner....but when dinner time came I realized I was out of Bisquick....so settled for fish and left over Ricaroni from the night before. The fish were great (thanks Phil).
This morning I'm off to church and then back to the store to get my Bisquick so I can have my dumplings this evening. Other than that I don't have much planned for the day. Going to start scrap-booking last years addition and read a few magazines. Yesterday afternoon I read the Annandale paper and 3 additions of the Coon Rapids Herald...so I'm caught up on that. While I was out on the deck reading, a hummingbird came over and tried to get nectar out of the dark red part of my shirt. Never had one come that close before. It was really neat!
Nothing else happening here. Got to get dressed and off to church. Love and prayers, m

Another Rainy Night!

Went to bed to thunder and lightening. I don't know how long it rained....cause for the first time in ages I didn't wake up till morning. I had the alarm set for 7 a.m. and I woke up at 6:50 and waited for it to go off. I have it set for radio instead of a buzzer, and the song that was playing was "I Love the Rainy Nights" so appropriate for this morning. It's still overcast and 60 degrees....but the lake is calm and I've seen the hummingbird already at the feeder. I'll wait and fill the other feeders when I return from a Lake Association Meeting this morning to discuss the "no wake rule" in effect right now on our lake (and about 10 others in the Annandale area). Which means you can't do any tubing and Phil has to troll from the boat launch to the spot he fishes on our lake....which takes forever. So you pretty much can't do anything. I didn't see one boat on the lake last night, and not one boat fishing by the weed patch this morning.
Yesterday after oversleeping, I just made it to get unplugged at noon. Then I came home and started packing and finish washing clothes and messing around with the computer again and then decided I'd wait till the mail came before I left....well the mail didn't come till 4:20, and then I remembered that I needed to sign up for a "55 and Alive" class to get the discount for my car insurance...so I drove over to SLP Park and Rec office (the only place I could find a class that happens before Sept. 24, the deadline for getting my discount this year) and did that, filled up with gas at Holiday where I had a 7 cent coupon, and headed for the lake...it was now 5:10 but I finally got here and found that cousin Judy had been here in my absence and brought me a new hummingbird feeder and filled it, and the hummingbirds are loving it. For the first time this morning I saw two actually eating at the same time for a second or two...till one chased the other away. I did fill the oriole feeder with grape jelly, and even though it caught some rain water, the oriole was here already this morning too.
Watched that sloppy Twins game last night, and then with no news available in the area turned on HGTV and by about 10:15 I fell asleep and didn't wait up till about 12:15 when the lightening and thunder started followed by the rain. So I took all my evening pills and headed for bed.
This morning, I'm going to that meeting at 9 a.m., and then I'll run into the farmer's market and get some good bread, and then I hope cousin Judy will stop in on her way home from the cabin her family has been staying in for the last week. Don't know if anyone else will be here....I hear that Bill has taken off for a baseball weekend with his guy friends and they should be at the Cleveland game this evening. I'll have to watch for that, and Kim is going to a family reunion in Blooming Prairie. So I won't see their family either. If it clears up like it's supposed to it might be a nice late afternoon and evening...and tomorrow is supposed to be great. Love and Prayers, m

Unplus Day!

I finally got caught up on my sleep...or my body is still on Portland time. The alarm went off at 8 a.m. and I turned it off and fell back asleep and didn't wake up till 10:23 OMG I haven't slept that late in years. Thank goodness I don't have to be unplugged till 12 noon. If I type fast I should make it....but I won't be ready to go directly to the cabin...will have to come home and get packed up. The sun's not shining right now, so I don't imagine it'll be shining there either, and the only one missing me there are the birds and critters. I know Jimbo's family is going to a family reunion in Iowa this weekend, and Annie, Doug and kids are camping in Orr this weekend. Don't know about the Bill Kieckers and pretty sure the Chicago Kieckers won't be there either, so if you are free this weekend, please come and join me. I always love company. I hear it may rain this evening, but supposed to be a great weekend.
Yesterday, I ran my errands in the morning, and just got the groceries put away when Phil arrived to help me with my computers. We were unable to get the oldest computer...that I rarely use, but had done my scanning on most often...turned ON. We fiddled with it for quite a while, and Phil ended up taking it home with him. Then we went to my old laptop, and couldn't get that turned on as the power pack was down to zero and I had loaned my cord to Jack, and couldn't find another that fit...so put in a call to Ann, and she ended up bringing it over a few hours later. We then went to this laptop and ran some program that cleaned off all the junk I've already captured on this computer that I've only had since April. But I do use it a lot each day....so not too surprising. Then when the cord got here we went to work on the old lap top, by the time that Phil finished that it was working quit well, and I fixed dinner for both of us, and he went on his way. I haven't told him yet, but I tried to turn it on after he left and it said it was downloading some updates and not to turn it off, I went back much later around midnight, and it was still telling me the same thing, so I left it on and went to bed. This morning it is still stuck in the same place. So may just turn it off and try rebooting it again. Computer's are such a pain some days.
So that sums up my day yesterday, health wise I am doing fine...but Dr. Londer's office called and said that my blood work they took the day before showed my Potassium to be low, so they called a prescription to HP and I ran over while Phil was here and picked it up. So now I have a giant horse pill to take along with the other handful I take each day. Bananas are much easier way to get that Potassium.
Gotta get dressed and off to get unplugged, love and prayers, m

Day 2, Round 7 of 8

Can you tell I'm getting anxious to get this over. So far I'm doing okay, although they changed the dosage of the atropine trying to avoid the constipation, but before they were even done giving me the chemo at HHH I already had diarrhea so I had to come home and take a couple Imodium. I also had to take a quick nap for about 20 minutes and then felt fine. Although I then stayed up till midnight and then couldn't fall a sleep till about 3:30 a.m. or so. I seem to have problems that first night sleeping every round. So nothing new there....and I feel fine this morning.
I have a few errands to run this morning....one of which is to the grocery store....I went to the cupboard and fridge and they were bare.
My brother Phil is coming out to help with my old computers and try to figure out why my new one doesn't work right when using the explore browser. I need it to work soon, so he is going to check that out too.
Other than that no plans for the evening....maybe get organized to go back to the cabin. I plan on doing that after I get unplugged tomorrow. Till then love and prayers, m

Day 1, Round 7 of the real round 7

Two weeks ago I claimed it was round 7, but today is the real round 7 of chemo. Cousin Judy is on vacation this week.....so her sister Janet is coming to spend the day with me. I have to be there at 8:45 so will need to jump in the shower shortly.

The sun is shining and we have a promise of a beautiful day and I will be inside most of the best part of the day....but I'm happy for all of you Minnesotans who have had to suffer through the last 6 weeks of high humidity and heat that can't be outside today enjoy a perfect day.

I wrote so late yesterday I don't have much to write this morning. Love and prayers, m

The picture I have added is from the Japanese Gardens in Portland.

I'm Home

Long Day, when you get up at 4 a.m.....but the airport sitting was minimal, as I didn't arrive at the gate till about 20 minutes before boarding time, and then arrived in Denver just in time to board the plane for MPLS. My luggage was one of first off the carousal and Annie was there to pick me up right after I walked out the door. Nice to be home, but miss the fun of the last week. Never a dull moment all week. Being with Kathleen and her family was a pleasure, and getting to meet Eric's wife Laura was great....Seeing all the kids as now adults, and how well they all got along was nice too.
Yesterday we went to a Bakery/Cafe called St.Honore Bakery and had lunch,(food was awesome) then the Japanese Gardens which were awesome as well, and then shopping in the Hawthorne district of Portland a leftover of the Hippie generation that never grew up. But late in the day Kathleen and Gary had to take Christopher to the airport, so, Eric, Laura, Nate and I went to a place called the Salt & Straw that has the worlds best and unusual ice cream. Flavors like Balsamic and Strawberry, or sea salt and caramel, or almond brittle with ganache...a beer and something (I forget) coffee or pear and blue cheese and lemon sorbet with basil. They sound horrid, but tasted so wonderful We got to taste each kind and we all had cones with two different scoops, and then took home two pints with 2 different flavors in each. So before bed we all got a chance to taste. We couldn't not bring some home for Kathleen, Gary and Ginny.
Played some games before and after dinner. Oh, and I won a game of Dixit. I won so few games over the week, I need to mention at least one win. The dinner was a mixture of leftovers and food they needed to get rid of before leaving the house today. So I hugged and kissed everyone goodbye before bed, and did get a few hours sleep before the alarm went off at 4 a.m. this morning. It was a good end to a great week. Tomorrow is chemo again, Love and Prayers, m=

Last Day in Portland

Partly Cloudy, but still not bad!! Yesterday was a great day again....Kathleen and Gary hosted a brunch and gift opening for the bride and groom, and some of their friends that hadn't left town yet. It was a fun morning and into the afternoon, we ate and watched them open gifts, and exchanged pictures on our computers. Judith the mother of one of Blair's friends (Allie) had a card reader that had a USB cord on it, and I was able to upload mine from my camera to my computer too. I also put some of them on Facebook, so those of you that are my friends on FB can see them. I'll add a few here too.

We played cards and a new dice game called Dice Town that Eric gave to Gary for his birthday, and I won at Dice, but can't say I was that lucky at crisscross. Late (around 9:30 p.m.) Kathleen, Nate and I drove Blair and Justin to the airport as they left for their honeymoon in Honduras. Got home and we talked some and finally went to bed about 11 or so.

Today we are going back into downtown Portland and a great bakery/cafe for brunch and then to the Japanese gardens and maybe a art museum. Other than that it will be a pretty quiet day, Christopher (Gary's son) leaves at 5 to fly back to Utah, and both Ginny (Gary's mom) and I leave very early tomorrow morning.

I don't know if I'll be able to do the blog early tomorrow morning as I have to get up at 4 a.m. and leave by 4:30 for the car rental and airport. My plane now leaves at 6:15 a.m. ....not looking forward to that early morning stuff, and won't be getting up at 3:30 to blog....so may not be able to do that till later in the day....like when I get home. Love and prayers, m

Sunday, Sonday

What a wonderful day we had yesterday. Kathleen and I started helping Blair make her bouquet and other bouquets. Blair had bought 6 5-gal. buckets of dahlias at a dahlia farm. They were so beautiful. I will upload pictures when I get home on Tuesday, I left the cord I need at home to do it today. After that we came back to the house and started rotating in and out of the shower....only one shower and eight of us. Then Blair and her maid of honor and another girl friend came and got dressed here. At about 2:40 pm we left for the wedding in 3 cars. That's important as only one of them got there before the original start time of the wedding. That was the car Blair was in. The other two cars went to the wrong entrance to the park, which sent us on the detour to the right entrance and got us to the park (along with about 4 other cars who ended up at the wrong entrance) at about 3:10 and then we had to walk back to the wedding site...which was about a 1/2 mile. Kathleen wearing high wedges and Gary's 92 year old mother weren't able to jog....so we walked as fast as we could. But a lot of other people were still coming after we arrived. So it wasn't as bad as we thought....they didn't start without the mother of the bride. It was a very casual affair and only about 50 people gathered (mostly family). Beautiful wedding and then we all headed for a neighborhood coffee shop for the reception. The walls had been decorated with the pinwheels we made on Thursday night and pictures of the bride and groom. Then a ledge that ran along one wall had the vases of bouquets. Her dad did all the food, which was an array of appetizers. As one would get emptied another interesting tray would come out. There was a counter with about 6 or 8 big trays to choose from. Her friends helped with the serving and made sure the wine and beer flowed freely. Her friend Becka made the cake, and individual cheese cakes for dessert. They had a photo booth set up where everyone could go back and have wild pictures taken holding sticks with mustaches and bow ties and eye glasses on. Can't wait to see how they turn out. All in all it was a very beautiful, casual and Happy Day!
Today, Kathleen and Gary are hosting a brunch here and the bride and groom will open their gifts. Looking forward to another great day.
Love and prayers, m

Sunny Wedding Day

Kathleen and I had to rise early this morning, so we can go arrange flowers for the tables for the wedding. So I'm not really awake yet.
Yesterday, we shopped for more groceries, and then we prepared the salads for the dinner. First we cut up all the fruit and chopped fresh mint to put on it. We put it all in separate bags and mixed it when we got to the home where the party was. Then we chopped everything for the pasta salad. It was a Greek orzo salad....and did I mention we were expecting 40 guests. So we made this 4 quart kettle of orzo to start with, and then added 2 huge boxes of baby spinach torn up (this took the longest), 4 cups of fresh basil, chopped, 1 quart of olives cut in halves, cucumbers sliced very thin, grape tomatoes cut in half, feta cheese and pine nuts. Each thing we added made it harder to stir, and then we had to add a balsamic vinaigrette dressing and stir that. What a job that was, and it took us a couple of hours to accomplish. Then we had to pack everything up and take it to the home where the dinner was. Gary prepared brats and burgers on their grill, and we had brownies for dessert. Justin's mom took care of the beverages, and she made a huge sangria punch, and served beer, pop and water.
The guests started coming at 6:30 and soon the house was filled with family and close friends in town for the wedding. The place seemed to bubble with conversation and laughter. I think a good time was had by all.
Today the wedding is at 2 pm and till then we will be in preparation mode. But the sun will be shining and I'm sure we will have a great day of celebrating.
I'm holding up well, and loving all the company. Love and prayers, m

Another Sunny Day

I hear that this is unusual weather for Portland, but I guess the Son has something to do with that. Going to be nice again today, and tomorrow for the wedding looks even nicer.

Yesterday Kathleen and I went to the house where the dinner will be this evening. It is the people that Blair babysits for, and has since the children were very little, and they have volunteered their house for the night. The two children are in the wedding, and they are so cute and so excited. This house is on top of a mountain, (near the Pittock Mansion...if any of you know Portland, you know where I'm talking about) You walk in and look straight through to the most gorgeous view.
We also met Justin's mother, the first time for Kathleen and me. They had spoken on the phone many times, but never in person. They discussed final arrangements for the party and wedding. Sounds like everything is set.
We did some grocery shopping, and then headed back to the house we are all staying at. Played games all afternoon....a variety of dice and card games...including a new one that Eric gave to Gary for his birthday. Don't think I won anything all day, but really had fun trying.
Justin, Blair and her friend Allie, all came for dinner, and after dinner we all helped Blair make decorations for the reception. We made paper pinwheels, and they needed to be accordion pleated and then glued together....so it took a variety of people the rest of the evening to complete a gazillion paper folds of beautiful paper and a lot of hot glue.
During the day Gary made two trips to the airport picking up his son and his mom. So the house if full now. Five bedrooms with someone in each!
Today we will prepare food for the party this evening and then we will be off to the mountain top to celebrate. Life is good....I'm feeling great...Love and prayers, m

The Sun is Shining in Portland

Beautiful morning here and so was yesterday....all day! I know that's hard for those who live in MN to believe, but I've actually had three days in a row without rain. It's supposed to be like this the whole time I'm here.
Yesterday, we had a lazy morning, and then headed downtown Portland to see what we could find. Went to the world famous VooDoo Donut shop....where we had to stand in line for about 1/2 hour to even buy one. They specialize in obscene shapes and similar names for about 20 or 30 different donuts...3 of us tried the bacon maple long john (I think they called it a Bacle Maple) anyway it was a large long john with maple frosting, with two big slices of bacon on top....it was really good. A meal in itself. Others had an apple fritter, one filled with Bavarian creme (not their real names) and Nate picked one called the Dirty Something, and it had peanut butter, oreo cookie crumbles and chocolate frosting and anyway he ate two bites and decided that it was two sweet. I think he was the only one who didn't eat his except for those that had more than one and couldn't finish the second.
From there we strolled around town and did some shopping and an art gallery and ended up later in the afternoon at the Rock Bottom Brewery and played some cards and had a few beers (me not included...I still don't like beer) and some nacho's before we headed down to the river and strolled along it and then back to our cars. It was a fun day, but by the time we all got home, we were all exhausted and laid around and watched "So you think you can Dance" till it was time to go to bed.
Today, Kathleen and I are going to the home where the party will be on Friday night (sort of a grooms dinner)to check things out and make final arrangements, and Justin's mom is going to be there and that will be the first time Kathleen gets to meet her too! After that, Gary has to go to the airport to pick-up Christopher his son, and this evening, Blair, Justin and her friend Allie will all come and join us for dinner.
That's all I have to report...hope you are staying dry in Minnesota. Love and prayers, m

In Portland, OR and all is Well

I’m sorry I didn’t get back and update the blog yesterday, but it was quite a day. I got to the airport shortly after 8 a.m., and then sat around till about 9:30 at the gate I thought my plane left on, but the plane to Denver was leaving for another gate, so I decided I better check and see if that was my flight, even though it said it was leaving at 10:40 a.m. and I thought my flight left at 10:25….Surprise, Surprise, my flight left at 8:14 a.m. and I totally missed it. I was reading the original itinerary I got, and not the updated one with the time change on it. I printed boarding passes the night before….but still didn’t notice the time change….I wasn’t even looking for one either. So now I got to wait and see if I could get on the 10:40 flight to Denver flying stand-by….no luck….the flight was full, and there were 6 of us trying to get on it….so they finally booked all of us on other flights, and mine left MPLS at 2:00 p.m. and went to Denver and then another flight to Portland, and I arrived at 6:20 Pacific time….that’s really 8:20 Central time, so I left home at 7:30 a.m. and 14 hours later arrived in Portland….most of the time sitting in airports….not flying!!!
So I land, get my luggage which arrived much earlier in the day without me, and got the rental car and drove with the help on my GPS directly to the house Kathleen rented….and no one was home! I called Kathleen and Gary and they had been out shopping and were lost and their GPS was running out of power (a long story)….so I had to sit and wait….yet again…for them to find their way back before I could unload the car and go in. What a day!!!
Hopefully today will go a lot smoother. The reason I didn’t update the blog….wasn’t because I didn’t have time….the airport has WI-FI….but they charge you for it….and I refused to pay….so I had to do all my internet on the blackberry, and that is not conducive to my blog!!! So that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!
Blair and Justin (the bride and groom) came over and we had dinner together, and then Kathleen and Blair went to the airport to pick up Laura, Eric and Nate, all whose flights game in about 11 p.m.
Don’t have big plans for the day…we’ll see what the day brings….I’m sure I’ll have lots of stories to tell you again tomorrow. Love and prayers, m

Just a little known info about Justin Hamel the groom: His family came from Quebec to MN and settled in the area that is now Hamel. Our grandparents, and some Aunts and Uncles once lived in Hamel....and one of his relatives, Dr. Arnold Hamel delivered me and Kathleen....and probably Bill, John and Phil too! All info from my small world file deep in my head!!

Promise of Sun

They said the same thing yesterday, and I never saw it....rained almost all day....I don't know how long I've been collecting water in my rain guage, but I had 4 1/2 inches in it, when I checked last night.
Hopefully Portland will have nice dry weather like predicted for the next week. I am all packed and have taken my shower, eaten and all dressed and ready to go. Bill will be here in 20 minutes, and I can't wait to go.
I'll add to this at the airport. So come back and read later. m

Rain Again?

No sun although they say it's going to be in the 90's again today. So we'll have to wait for that to happen. The crawl is going across the bottom of the TV with Severe Thunderstorm warnings....looks like the cabin may get that too!
I accomplished all the tasks I had on the list for yesterday....finished making a gift, filled out and gathered a bunch of paper work that I need to fax off this morning. Yesterday I just gathered all the things I'm taking in one place, so today I need to actually put it in a suitcase. I may have to eliminate a few things, so we'll see how it fits.
I also have to go and get my infusion of Exturba after lunch, and this afternoon my new water heater will be installed. So it will be a busy day. I'm so excited about the trip. I haven't seen most of Kathleen's kids for a long time....and I've never actually met Laura, (Eric's wife). We are staying in a rented house with them, and will have a lot of time to visit and enjoy the preparation, parties and wedding all together.
Bill, Kim and Tommy stopped by yesterday afternoon on their way by on their bikes. They rode up to their new house (getting excited about moving) and then stopped to see me. I got to see a few more pictures of the new house, and it looks really nice.
Bill confirmed that he will pick me up tomorrow morning, so I'm all set. I may wait and write my blog at the airport, as I'll be there early. Till then, love and prayers, m

Happy Birthday Karen!

The sun is shining in Coon Rapids, I sure hope it's shining in Naperville too! Last night was a different story. I was driving home from the golf dinner a little after 9 p.m. and saw a few flashes in the sky....then it started to flash constantly, an then a wide area of jagged lines covered the sky. The lightening was wild....and the closer I got to home the worse it was. I expected to be driving in rain any second, but made it all the way home, and the rain didn't hit us till about 10:45 pm. But I guess the worst of it stayed North an East of me. My yard looks fine!...no branches down at least. Going to be hot again today.
Allie and her friends had to do with slow tubing again yesterday, but the kids didn't seem to complain. I headed out around 2 p.m. and got home with plenty time to get some things done besides my shower before heading to the golf dinner. It was supposed to start at 6 p.m. so I got there about 15 minutes early, and their were only about 6 people there. Evidently the golfers were a little slow!!! Really slow, Judy and family were some of the last to arrive, and that wasn't till about 7:30 p.m. So the dinner started shortly after that....I got a bottle of wine, but the Vermuellen group went home with about 8. They won 4 in a drawing, and the other 4 were bought like I did....you pay $10 and draw a number out of a hat and the bottle that matches you get. So really just buying a bottle! Jessie also won a golf umbrella that she was so excited about....she carried it around the rest of the evening. I guess the event was a good fundraiser and a good time was had by all.
Nothing much planned for today....church, then packing, and tying up some other things. Love and prayers, m

Waiting for the Sun

It doesn't look that cloudy from where I'm sitting, but the sun isn't shining here either. I thought it was supposed to be a bright sunny day, I guess we'll see about that. I just realized that I won't be sitting here watching the birds....(or feeding them for that matter) for a long time. I'm going home this afternoon, and won't be back for almost 2 weeks. I hope someone will give the birds and chipmunks a handout once in a while in my absence. The hummingbirds have been here constantly the last couple of days...I'm sure they are already bulking up for their trip south for the winter....it is almost August. This summer has really flown by fast. Speaking of birds, sadly one flew into the patio door last evening and is dead on the deck. I heard him hit it, but didn't realize he died till this morning. Doug will have to remove it before all the girls see it.
Today is Jessie's birthday, (Kathleen's oldest daughter) and I can't wait to see her and the rest of Kathleen's family at the wedding this week. Happy Birthday Jessie. Busy week for birthdays.
Allie brought up four friends to tube this weekend for her birthday, and while they went out yesterday early afternoon, as Matthew says they got arrested....well not really, but the sheriff did pull them over and told them that all 12 lakes in the area have a no wake rule being enforced,(because of the record high water and erosion problems because of it) and they couldn't be tubing even in the middle of the lake. So that ended that for a while, but after dinner Matthew talked them into pulling the tube really slow behind the pontoon, so that kept him happy....I guess the girls enjoyed it too....just a lot slower ride.
I can see some blue sky....but I still don't see the sun...I hope the girls have a good day for water fun today.
I'm leaving this afternoon to go to the Hope Chest Golf Tournament dinner with cousin Judy. It is for the Hope Chest Foundation for Lung Transplant patients, that she and Frank helped start. So since I don't golf, I thought I'd at least go to the dinner and silent auction this evening. Then tomorrow I need to get packing for my trip, and Monday I have my infusion of Exturba and more getting ready for the trip....plus I get my new water heater installed....at half the price! Thank goodness for new friend on Facebook.
Oh, and I think the landscaping at the cabin is finally going to get done...we are waiting for the landscaper to put us on his schedule. I'm really excited about that, it's long overdue! That's it for now....Love and prayers, m P.S. Here comes the sun!!! Yippee!!

It's Gonna Be a Son Shinny Day!

The sun is shining and the sky is clear...and a slight breeze is coming across the lake, I'm sure it's gonna be a great day.
Sadly, grandma Irene died this morning early. They took her off life support yesterday, and she fought till 2 a.m. this morning. Emily could use some prayers in handling this, so please say a few extra for her.
I just read my cousin Louie's blog on careingbridge, and he talked about how joy and pain go hand in hand...and when things get rough, you should have a party...and all of a sudden things don't seem so bad. To appreciate all the joy that God gives us, so we can withstand the pain. He said it much more eloquently...but that kinda sums it up. It was a good thought for the day.
Annie and Doug and family are bringing up a group of girls for the weekend to celebrate Allie's birthday, this afternoon, so the cabin will be full of joy and laughter...I'm looking forward to that.
Talked to Aunt Loretta last nite and she sounded good and reported that Uncle John was doing good too! Thank you for all the prayers for them and me. Love and prayers, m

Happy Birthday Allie!!

Still Looking for that Rain!

All that rain they predicted for yesterday, never showed up....but I didn't mind that. It was hot and humid.....with promised of more throughout the weekend. I may have to end up watering the flowers up here. But I'll take Sun any day over rain. Today, it's a great day in the neighborhood, and I can see the sun if I close my eyes.

Doug is here already this morning waiting for the insurance adjuster...who isn't here yet, but Doug brought lots of works with him, so we are sitting at opposite sides of the table working! At least it got me dressed for the day.

Yesterday I went and got unplugged, and a new nurse was doing it, and we got to talking, and I said I was going to the lake...and she asked where....and I said Annandale, Lake Sylvia....and she said "No Way, I'm from Maple Lake"...so needless to say she knew all the Scheibers, knew Mike and Mary very well....I think she said her maiden name was Sylvester and her parents were teachers. Her first name was Amy....I'm sure I'll see her again and we'll talk some more. But she knew Mary, Molly and Morgan, was a few years younger than Mary, but went to school with her.
It's such a small world!!

I did some of my shopping before I got unplugged, and then did some grocery shopping, gassed up and left town around 2:45...a little later than I had planned, but didn't have anybody waiting on me, so it didn't make much difference. I immediately had to take care of all the birds and critters, and they were there waiting for me. The orioles and hummingbirds came right away and the hummingbirds have been fighting over it since I put the nectar out. They are fun to watch. Yesterday morning at home I had a cardinal come to the feeder, and he sat there eating sunflower seeds for about 5 minutes. Don't see that very often.

Today I have a scrapbooking project that I need to get done, so I'll be working on that most of the day. Nothing else to report on any of the prayer requests I've had this week. I think the prayers are working though, and hope you keep them coming. Love and prayers, m

Waiting for More Rain.....Not!

We had rain during the night, and they say another torrential down pour is coming our way. It's not going to stop me from shopping and getting unplugged, and going to the cabin for a few days. I should be up there by 2 p.m....only problem won't have company....till tomorrow morning early when the insurance adjuster finally comes. Doug will be here to meet him, cause heaven knows I don't know all the problems the storm did to the dock etc. Doug was here the night of the storm (July 1)and 4 weeks later the adjuster is finally getting to us. Better late than never I guess!

I just heard that perhaps we will have some sun later this afternoon, just in time for me to be at the cabin....then 90's throughout the rest of the week and weekend. Yippee! I will be coming back to the city on Saturday afternoon to go to the Hope Chest Golf Tournament (not to golf...but for the dinner and silent auction). Gotta support Judy and those Lung transplant survivors.

Not much else to report, Uncle John's surgery went well...always scary when someone his age is having surgery. Thanks for the prayers. Emily's grandma I haven't heard any updates on her. I don't know if it's today or tomorrow they start to bring her temperature back up to normal and see what happens. She is 80, and all is scary. So still need prayers there. I'm doing good. Love and prayers, m

Correction: Day 2, Round 6

Good Morning, the Sun is Shining Bright again today, but boding for a HOT week, and storm tonight. Got lots to do in the house today, and the air is working fine.

Met with Dr. Londer yesterday before the chemo, and he is amazed at how well I am tolerating the chemo. He had another doctor following him yesterday, so he told her my whole story, (he must have just read it, cause he did a great job) and says I am spunky and a fighter and doing really well on this form of chemo that is really a very aggressive combination of drugs (FULFERON ?sp) So that made me feel really good. He asked if I had made a date to see the oncologist at Mayo yet, and I haven't but think I will do that in Sept. when I have completed the 8th round.

Judy met me there and we played GIN rather than cribbage. I even won, and now Judy owes me .10 cents. We finished really close, so it keeps us playing. Towards the end of the afternoon, a women came into the cubicle and asked if I'd like a foot massage....the answer was a resounding YES. She was volunteering and a student that was nearing the end of her program to be a massage therapist. We had so much fun talking with her as she massaged my feet, and she did it for almost an hour....how great is that!

Judy and I then went out for dinner, and then she left for a wake for Julie Bandemer's dad (June's daughter-in-law). I came home and pretty much did nothing.

Latest word on Emily's grandma, is that the plan is to bring Grandma Irene's body temp down to freezing and keep it there for 72 hours after which they'll warm her back to standard body temp. They will make assessments on how to proceed at that time. So please keep the prayers coming.

Uncle Johns surgery is today, and say some prayers for him too. I hear that Aunt Loretta is doing well, and is sharp as always. Love and prayers, m

Day 1, Round 7

I really can't believe how fast this is going. The sun is shining brightly again this morning, and I'm sure that the Son is shinning for me, and a couple of others I have been asked to pray for. My granddaughter Emily's grandma, is in a coma, (they think she has a blood clot in her lungs following breast cancer surgery last week)....and this morning I got the message that Uncle John will have surgery tomorrow. Please keep them in your prayers too.

Yesterday I had a quiet day at the cabin, and then drove back to town at 3 p.m. I stopped and did some shopping and then met Bonnie Sass at Panera for dinner. We spent a couple of hours there visiting and getting caught up on each other's lives. It was a great visit. This morning she is headed back to Emily, and I won't get to see her till she comes back to town.

Got home about 7:30 p.mm. and then spent most of the evening, following the happenings in Chicago with Emily's grandma, and sharing the news with my kids.
Well, must get in the shower and get ready for the day. Judy is meeting me and spending the day with me. Thank God for her too! Love and prayers, m

Gonna Be a Sun Shiney Day

A few puffy clouds, but mostly blue skies smiling at me! Yesterday we had a couple of waves of rain in the morning, but the afternoon ended up being very enjoyable. It didn't get too hot, and I was able to spend a lot of time on the deck.

Judy and I did get to the farmers market, and bought a couple of loaves of great bread....this week I got a green olive mozzarella and a cherry walnut....I've already tasted both. The olive I cut up and dipped in some EVO and fresh rosemary from my pot of herbs....and the cherry walnut I toasted for breakfast this morning. Katie's party arrived about noon, and Judy had to leave shortly thereafter. It was a great week with her at the cabin, so nice to have company. She'll be back sitting with me tomorrow for my chemo....so great to have cousins!

The birthday party went well. The girls had a great time tubing....once they figured out how to work the new tube....I guess there is a trick to it....can't just sit back and relax on it. The food they brought was devoured, and it seemed like they were eating all the time. Bill and Kim must have brought four different desserts, taco's in a bag for lunch and pizza and a ramen noodle salad for dinner....plus chips and popcorn...and cookies for snacks. They stayed late into the evening, and a good time was had by all.

Today I hope I get more company, but I do need to leave by about 3, so that I can meet with Bonnie and hopefully Lois for dinner and maybe a movie. Then tomorrow it is back to the chemo routine. But along with that, I'll be getting ready for my trip to Portland for Blair's wedding, and having a new water heater installed. I did cancel the one from Home Depot, but working on a different one....much cheaper.

As for me....I have a few new spots on my face from the Exturba (targeted drug)but other than that, I'll feeling good. Hope these drugs are doing their job, and I won't be tied to this routine forever. Keep those prayers a cumin! Love and prayers, m

Quick Storm Rumbling Through

A woke to s huge gust of wind that blew a few things around the deck, and I ran out to get the table cloth and chair pads just before the rain came....along with some thunder, lightening and more wind. Looks now like it might blow over and be a nice day...but I'm still waiting for that. Judy and I had planned on getting up early and heading to the farmers market in town but I guess we'll wait a bit for that to happen. She has to leave around noon, so hopefully by then we will have accomplished our trip into and back from town, and had lunch.

This afternoon, Bill and Kim are bringing Katie and friends to celebrate her birthday, which was in March, but never got officially celebrated. She thinks celebrating at the cabin is more fun anyway. They plan an afternoon of tubing on the lake. Right now the lake looks perfect for that the wind is gone and the lake is calm again. Hopefully no more storms will pop up.

Yesterday Judy and I played Gin most of the day, but after dinner, Jan Ranum called and told me how to play Polish Cribbage, so we tried that. But for as much as I couldn't win for losing the day before, I couldn't lose for winning (the goal of this game is to get as few points as possible), and I managed to go out before Judy both times we played. We did laugh a lot more, and enjoyed it a lot more than the regular game. It's really hard to not get points. Thanks Jan for calling! Judy and I went back to Gin after that and by the time the night ended and we added up the scores....at a penny a point, I owe Judy $.14....so not too bad. I hope she accepts an IOU.

Thanks for reading....I'm well over the 12,500 mark. Love and prayers, m
Nothing else to report.

Waiting for the Sun

It's just starting to peek through....it might be a warmer and more humid day than yesterday, but yesterday will be hard to beat. It was so gorgeous all day. Today we have clouds but no wind...so I have hope for a nice day where we can sit out side most of the day.

Yesterday was perfect in every way cept for cribbage!!! Had good company, good food...tried a new recipe and made chicken and veggies on the grill. (Fresh green beans, zucchinni, green onion, sweet potatoes, red peppers, and fresh rosemary....heavenly) I pounded out two chicken breasts and put mozella cheese and cut up cherry tomatoes coated in basil and garlic seasoning and rolled them up, and poured vinegar and oil and a little more basil and garlic over the top and put them on the grill on a piece of foil so the cheese wouldn't muck up the grill. It was really good! I'll try that again.

Judy and I sat outside and played cards most of the afternoon, but the cards and the cribs just seemed to go from bad to worse for me. After falling behind at least 6 games, and getting almost double skunked and a couple of zero cribs, I cried UNNCLE, and refused to play anymore cribbage. Much later I taught her how to play Gin, and I held my own, but managed to get beat there too! Don't know if I'm ready to play cribbage yet today either! I know it's just a game....but it's no fun if you don't win once in a while!

Don't know if we'll be sitting outside today....or closing the windows and turning the air back on. It's a little humid already. Wish me luck, love and prayers, m

Oh What a Beautiful Morning! Oh What a Beautiful Day!

It sunny cool with a slight breeze and I'm sitting out on the deck writing this blog. Can't beat that! The birds are all back (didn't see any yesterday in the heat and wind). The squirrels and chipmunks are back too, of course! In full force...I think I had 5 of each here all at once. I see one boat full of fishermen across the lake by the weed patch but other than that Judy and I are all alone in paradise.

Yesterday Judy and I were busy playing cribbage and eating lunch when company arrived. Annie, Doug, Allie and Katie came first, and shortly behind them came Doug's mom and dad along with Matthew and his two cousins, Seth and Aaron. They all got their suits on immediately and headed for the lake. They all jumped in the boat and took off for the other side to swim and tube where the water was calmer. Everyone was happy when they returned for dinner, which was great too! Annie claims it was the best meal (or one of the best) she ever had at the cabin. Katie and Allie made a salad with ramen noodles and cole slaw, they fixed a big pan of potatoes and onions and put that on the grill, they grilled up peppers and zucchini had some fruit and then had steak, chicken and hot dogs. Something for everyone to like!!!

Judy and I continued our cribbage tournament most of the day, and after the company left we went back to it....but the cards were so bad, neither of us could get much more than two out of the crib for hand after hand. So we decided we needed to quite for the day. It ended with Judy reigning queen 6 games to 3. But neither of us got skunked and it was always close. We'll see what today brings, it's so nice we can play outside.

Wonder what or who will surprise us today! Love and prayers, m

HOT but Windy!

A lot cooler at the cabin than in town, it hasn't even reached the 80 degree mark yet this morning.....but it is windy as hell (well if hell had wind along with it's heat). Actually their are white caps on the lake, and the flag is standing straight out.

I only slept till 8 a.m. this morning, sorta making up for the 7 a.m. of yesterday. I waited till around 2:30 or quarter to 3 before the installer came. Then he proceeded to tell me that the water heater I ordered wouldn't work as I needed all new plumbing and venting and with a different water heater that would now cost $400 instead of the $349 one I ordered, and the permit, and the installation it was now going to cost me $1202. I rescheduled for next Tuesday as he had to order all the right parts, but have since had reservations about the whole deal. I believe I am going to call and cancel the order this morning. I think after waiting all day for him to come (when I wanted to be at the cabin) and all the added costs I was kinda in shock. I realize that it was an old water heater (1988) but....$800 to install is a bit steep. I think I need another bid or two.

After that fiasco, I quickly packed the car and left the heat of the city...stopping twice to pick things up along the way. Got to the cabin around 5 p.m. and spend a relaxing evening waiting for Judy to arrive. It was a little after 9 before she came, and we visited till 10:30 but the early rise left me really tired and ready for bed shortly there after.

No big plans for the day....cept maybe some cribbage. Got to restock the bird feeders and change the hummingbird nectar, but that's about it. Restful except for the wind!! Love and prayers, m

HOT HOT HOT1

The heat wave is still with us, and will be for a couple more days. Lot's of records being broken with the humidity and heat index....but so far I've managed quite well.

Yesterday I had lunch with the ARCC group and then headed to HHH for my infusion of the Exturba a targeted drug which makes the chemo work better. It was actually cold in there, so I put a little jacket on while in the building. Then back to the oven blast as I walked out. My car was giving me temps of 103 for a while, but calmed down to 97 by the time I got home. Then I went to dinner at the Shorewood Inn in Fridley with my FF group, and had a nice evening eating, talking, and laughing in the cool air-conditioned restaurant.

This morning I'm waiting for the water heater to be installed. They said it would be between 8-12 noon, so I got up at 7 a.m. and got dressed so I'd be presentable....but I'm guessing it will happen later, rather than earlier this morning. But I'm ready whenever they get here.

This afternoon, I plan on heading to the cabin for the rest of the week. My cousin Judy is going to join me this evening. I see another cribbage tournament in my future. May take some scrap-booking stuff with me too....want to update the remodeling scrapbook I started back in 2006 when it all began.

Last night I was updated on the many deaths in the last month of members of St. Tim's, and was so shocked to here. I guess I haven't been doing a very good job of reading the obits. My prayers go out to all those families, and also to a few that have had resent diagnosis of cancer. It seems like there are so many people in the same boat, or worse, than me. Please pray to remove my spots, but don't forget all those others we know need the prayers too! Love and prayers, m

Another HOT One!

But we have blue skies and SUN shining. Yesterday it was overcast most of the day....along with the heat and humidity....I'm sure it will be even hotter today (if that is possible) but somehow with the sun shining, in my mind it seems better....once I go out I'll probably change my mind quickly.

Sorry I'm late writing today, I slept in till 9 a.m. and then had a few business things I had to take care of right away, so hence the late entry.

Yesterday I went to church and then out to breakfast with Carolyn and Gary Buhr and his aunt....and had a nice visit....as I hadn't seen them for about a month. Then I went home and waited to go to Shakopee and take part in a backyard concert by Martin Zellar.....OMG what a contrast in concerts....Friday nite was the complete opposite of Sunday nite. We sat in lawn chairs around a raised deck and listened to stories and songs Martin had written about his life, It was acoustic (NO ELECTRIC GUITARS and BASS VIBRATING) relaxing and so enjoyable. Then after Martin visited with all of us on the deck, allowed us to take pictures (as many as we wanted)didn't rush us off, and continued to visit with my family like he had nothing better to do. During the concert, he invited my cousin's daughter, Jessie, up to sing along with him, and she did such a great job. She is only 8 (I think) and she stood up there poised and not afraid. She got a big hug from Martin after. It was just a wonderful afternoon and evening. Then the mosquito's appeared in droves and we rushed home. Wish the evening could have lasted even longer....darn mosquito's.
Today, I have a lunch date with ARCC group, then my infusion of targeted Drug for my chemo, then this afternoon dinner with the FF group, so I'll be forced to be out in the heat, but I think I won't mind much....love to be with people. Always boosts my spirits. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers, Love and prayers to you too, m

The Heat is On!

All of my windows are fogged up, but the sun is shining....so hopefully that means the Son will be helping to keep me cool too! Have big plans for the afternoon, and it requires being outside.  A umbrella, sunscreen, and lots of water will be at hand.

Yesterday started out a little lazy, but I did get both bathrooms cleaned, shopped for several things I needed like groceries, and even ordered a new waterheater to replace the leaking one I have in my basement.  It will be delivered and installed on Tuesday morning, so that means I can't go back to the cabin till later that day.

This morning, I need to go to church and then this afternoon I'm going to Mike Vermuellen's for a Martin Zellar concert.  It should really be a fun day, if the heat allows!  I'm going out to Judy's first and riding over with her so not so many cars to park.  Her son Bob will be with us too.  She was picking him up at the airport this morning.

Tomorrow I have lunch and dinner dates.  First a group from ARCC at Pizza Hut, and later dinner at W..A. Frost with my FF group.  Looking forward to seeing everyone.  So lots of social events for the next couple of days.  Love and prayers, m

Heat is on it's Way!

I awoke early and it was raining again, so I just went back to sleep and slept in till 9 a.m.  So strange for me, I had been getting up at 7:30 pretty regularly.  I'm pretty sure it is the weather and not the chemo.  They say the rain is gone for the day, but I still don't see the sun.  But Hot weather is on tap for the next seven days.....and I have to be in the city and not at the lake for a lot of that time.

Yesterday I came home around 2 p.m. and then went out for dinner and to the NKOTBBSB's concert.  OMG screaming girls everywhere....way out of my element....didn't recognize one song they sang.....had to hold my hands over my ears when they screamed, and the bass was so loud....my chest was vibrating most of the night.  Most of the women where dressed to the hilt, or in cut offs and tennis shoes.....a real contrast, and I'm sure Val and I where the oldest ones there.  But all and all it was a fun evening.  The best part of the evening was the dinner we had at a small Italian hole in the wall on 35th and East Lake Street.  The food was fantastic.

Don't have big plans for today, some cleaning of my house that I really haven't lived in for a couple of weeks and needs some tender loving care.  Then I may do some shopping....no food here either.  But for sure I will stay in the air conditioning as much as possible.  And I'll be staying away from those flash flooded roads from the enormous amounts of rain we got. 

Keep those prayers coming, Love and prayers, m

Rain Again!

Slept in this morning, as the rain gave me no reason to get up.  Doesn't look like it will stop any time soon either.  But Jimbo and Ann came last night, so I'm not alone.  They are sleeping in as well....they had hoped to get up early and walk....but the rain changed that plan.

Even though yesterday started out raining, it never got sunny, but it was dry.  I got a lot of cleaning, laundry, and shopping done. Felt good all day, found a great recipe for Key lime Grilled Chicken and Key Lime Salsa at the grocery store and prepared that for supper last night....I think I'll have the remainders for lunch today.

Leaving shortly after lunch to go to town, and then Val Knight and I are going to the BackStreet Boys and New Kids On the Block concert at the Target Center.....Twins game starts almost at the same time, so we are going down early and eating downtown before the concert....hope it's not still raining...but I do have an umbrella handy.

Talked to Aunt Loretta last night....and she is finally home....she had just walked in the door when I called. She said it was great to be home.  She sounded good....thanks for all the prayers you sent her way....Elaine says Hi too.  She is still in California helping out her mom.

No reports on any of the other family, but sometimes no news is good news!!!  Love and prayers, m

Rain Drops Keep Falling

Slept in till about 8:30 this morning, being mesmerized by the rain.  It's dark, so I had to turn the lights on, and I have the air off, and it's still chilly.  The rain is constant since before I awoke, and it doesn't look like it's going to stop any time soon.  At least it's not stormy and other than the rain on the lake causeing it to move, no waves or white caps.  But so grey at times I can't see accross very well.  The squirrels and chipmunks, along with the birds must be in a safe dry place too!  Haven't seen one this morning.

Think I'll do some laundry, and later make a trip into town to do some shopping, but other than that, no big plans for the day.  Just relax and watch the rain!

Lunch yesterday was so nice, food was great and had a great visit with Ann Sidoti Christianson....and on top of it she treated me.  Then I went and got unplugged, and headed straight to the cabin.  Don't know why, but I was really having a hard time keeping my eyes open on the way up, so almost as soon as I got the car unpacked and things put away, I laid down and took an hour nap.  Felt good the rest of the evening, and ended staying up till 11:30.  I guess I needed it at the time, but kept me going well into the night.

Missed playing cards before bed....I talked to Judy and both of us are having card withdrawals. Kathleen and Gary withdrawal too!

So, off to strip my bed and get some laundry done....keep those prayers coming, love and prayers, m

Good Day to Say Goodbye to my Chemo Pump

....but sad day to say goodbye to Kathleen and Gary.  The only good thing is that I get to see them in a couple of weeks in Portland at Blair's Wedding.

I plan on going to the cabin again this afternoon after getting unplugged, but before that I'm having lunch with a good friend.  So my day will be busy.

Yesterday was busy too....we started out on a tour of Minneapolis and St. Paul, but got into a quest for Yam Root Noodles.  So stopped at a few stores just off  94 in North Minneapolis and got to see some of the tornado damage....found two Asian Markets not far apart, but neither had what we wanted, then we proceeded to the River Road and drove to the Gutherie and walked through to the observation deck peering over the old arch bridge and the locks and the new 35W bridge.  They loved the area and the condo's built along the Parkway.  Then we went to the International Market in the old Sears building where Kathleen and I used to play on hot summer days when we weren't at the lake.  We ate there at a asian place, but found no noodles there either.  As we were walking toward the parking garage I realized I had left my purse back where we ate hanging on the chair....having a chemo pump hanging from my shoulder....I hadn't missed it...till I needed my keys.  So we all three rushed back in and low and behold it was right where I left it....and nothing was missing....Thank you God!!!  From there we drove down lake street and over the bridge into St. Paul.  We then found WA Frost and stopped for beverages, but had to try a trio of desserts....which were delicious.  Then proceeded down Summit avenue and around St. Paul.  By then it was rush hour and we crawled across 94 all the way to another Asian store in Brooklyn Center....this one was huge and had many things...but not the Yam Root noodles we were looking for....they went us to another smaller market down a block....but no Noodles there either.....so we started back home and Gary found a Korean Market in Fridley off Central and Moore Lake Rd. and Hurrah....he came out with a bag full....so excited.  Quest Achieved.
So it just goes to show if at first you don't succeed try try again....that's how I'm living my life too!

As is well on the health front....get unplugged soon and will be on my merry way.  Love and prayers, m
P.S. Miss you Kathleen and Gary, loved having you here, thanks for all you do for me, and letting me win one of the six games of Cut Throat last night....especially thanks to Gary for losing 5 of them also....I know it was hard for him to let Kathleen and I beat him badly....I'm sure he was trying hard to beat us!

Good Morning

Yesterday was a very good day, inspite of leaving the cabin.  The chemo treatment went well except that Kathleen continued to beat me in the cribbage tournament we started on Sunday afternoon, and then we started a new tournament and she beat me there too!

The wake and prayer service was very nice, got to see lots of cousins and friends that I rarely get to see....and after a bunch of us went to David Fongs to eat.  It was Bucky's favorite Bar and Aunt Millies favorite restaurant.  Uncle John and Florence, Annie and Mike, (J&F's children) Judy and I, and Dar Muellner (Ed's daughter) all ate at one table and Mike and Ed's boys sat at another table.  Thank you Uncle John for treating our table.

Today Kathleen and Gary and I are going to tour Mpls and St. Paul....maybe having lunch at W.A. Frost and visiting the International Market in the old Sears building on Lake Street.

Tomorrow they will be on their way to Wisconsin with me left behind to get unplugged at 1:30....but I may head back to the cabin for a few more days...not sure yet.  I'm feeling great again today....even though I have this pump hanging from my shoulder.  It isn't weighing me down.  Those "Spot Remover's" are working....I can feel the love.  Love and prayers for all of you, m

Here We Go Again

I have to leave the cabin....this beautiful morning....to go in for my new round of chemo.  I hate leaving, but it's the beginning of my next round of chemo and I'm anxious to get it started and get rid of these spots.  I hate having to be tied to chemo and working my schedule around that too. So here we go....please continue to help me get rid of these spots.

After the chemo today, Kathleen and I have a funeral to go to for my cousin Bucky (Robert) Huber.  He died of a massive heart attach last Thursday evening.  Only 61....way too young. So that is the plan for the day.  Not much to write about.

Yesterday we played a Spades Tournament before Judy had to go home.  We switched partners and each of us won twice except poor Judy.....she left feeling like a loser.  But we know she's not....it just wasn't her day or game....she won at Cut Throat the day before and even at Spades.  After she left we had to play Cut Throat a game three can play.  We had a great time all weekend playing cards and laughing and giving each other a bad time....it was great!  Gary fixed some fabulous meals and the weather helped make it perfect.

So back to my spot removers.....please go to work on that!  Love and prayers, m

Sunday Morning Sunshine

Yesterday turned out really nice....not the dreary day that it started out as.  We went to the Farmers Market like planned wearing raincoats and carrying umbrella's and shortly abandoned them.  It was warm and windy but a great day for walking around at the market.  Bought some great sour dough bread from a bakery from Elk River.  I buy from him everytime I go to the farmer's market.  Then we wandered toward the Flea Market, stopping to see the Osprey nest again.....which didn't dissappoint us, as the father was sitting at the top edge of the nest and two little ones inside.  The Flea Market was as fun as always, but lots of spots open as the weather had started out cloudy....but still lots to see, and they have a lot more food booths then I remember seeing before.  Gary wondered by himself, and found a pork chop on a stick.  Judy and Gary both bought veggies (part of which we ate for dinner) and Kathleen and Gary found these great old asian embroidered pictures that were originally framed at Dayton's....and a Fish lamp for a total of $39 from a man who originally wanted $40 for the pair and $6 for the lamp....Gary has now donated the lamp for the cabin. (You have to come it see it)

We played some cards....Gary made a couple of great meals....worked with Gary to figure out how to put a presentation onto Powerpoint.  I hadn't used this new version before....so it was a learning experience for me too.  But I think we finally got his master page set up so we were happy.  We also went on a boat ride....but had some problems starting the boat....so had to call Jimbo....then 5 minutes later had to call Jimbo cause I didn't know you didn't push the button in to move to reverse, and floated aimlessly towards shore till Kathleen took off her shoes and jumped in to save us....and I had to call Jimbo again....and he explained that I didn't need to push that button in on the pontoon.....only on the speed boat.  So when Kathleen got us back to our dock and she got back on the pontoon, we were off for a beautiful ride around the lake....admiring all the beautiful cabins. We had seen them all from behind on a car ride out to the penninsala and around the West Lake the day before.

This morning Gary is hearing confessions and praising God on the deck.....while we drink our coffee and eat this wonderful bread that I got yesterday.  No big plans for the day....we'll see what comes our way. Going to hate leaving tomorrow morning to go back to life in the city for a few days.  I'll be back here as soon as possible.  That's all the adventures to report....Love and prayers, m

Dreary....Cloudy...Windy

But we are going to the Flea Market and Farmers Market this morning....then head for Kimball and Knaus's Meat Market. Gary thinks they have the best soup bones.  We have lots of plans for the day.  Seems it could rain later this afternoon again, but we should be safely back at the cabin playing spades.

Last night Kathleen and I beat Gary and Judy....but after Judy had lost about 6 games in a row....no matter what we were playing or who her partner was....Gary took Judy as his partner again and finally got her a win. 

We are having a great time....I'm feeling great, and hating the thought that I have to go back to the city and resume chemo....but resolved to it....it's leaving the cabin and all the fun I hate leaving most.

Love and prayers, m

A New Day is Dawning

...even though we all slept in til 9 a.m. or later.  Just sitting around with coffee for a while.  I figured I better get this written.
Kathleen came with me to the Dr. yesterday so I had a second set of ears.  He says I look great on paper, and then added well you look great too.  The spots are shrinking so that was a good thing....but not gone...so more chemo in my future. It is working!! And last year I had 11 rounds before they were totally gone.  But, he wants me to start again next week, and the only time they could squeeze me in was Monday at 11 a.m.....So I get hooked up on Monday and unplugged on Wed.  Had plans for lunch on Monday, Meals on Wheels on Tuesday, and camping with Judy, Kathleen and Gary on Wednesday....so I wasn't too happy about that, but then I will have the week free to go to Portland for Blair's wedding.  So it will all work out....just won't have the fun I had planned for next week.
Judy arrived late, but still had time to play lots of cards, and Gary was on a loosing streak....so that was really fun.  We didn't win much for the rest of the evening, but Gary did loose the first game.  We played well into the night.

The orioles are back!!  Yeah!!  So the crowd of people must have scared them off.

My cousin Bucky Huber who died, will have a funeral on Monday evening, and Judy saw June yesterday and says she is doing great....Jackie's eye sight is still a little blurry.  But on the whole, things are looking better.  Love and prayers, m

Waiting for the Sun

It hasn't burnt it's way through yet this morning, but I do see some blue patches out there.  Was a wonderful, sunny, perfect day yesterday.  The lake is calm again this morning, and the squirrels and chipmunks have gathered under my feeders, that they totally cleaned out yesterday, waiting for me to fill them up again.

The family that was left yesterday,  had a lunch with zero calorie noodles that Gary made, and then Karen, Emily, William and Presley headed back to Chicago.  The Culley's arrived at 12:30 and the Culley's, Kiecker's and Stalboerger's took the pontoon and speed boat out for the afternoon of listening to the Twims game and tubing on the lake, while Kathleen, Gary and I sat on the deck visiting and playing some cards....it was a relaxing afternoon. 

When the gang came back they quickly packed up and were on their way back to life in the city.  We didn't sit on the deck long, and my brother Phil came out carrying a bucket of frozen fish he had caught a few weeks ago and had at home in his freezer.....I think we'll eat them this evening.  We played spades with Phil, changing partners every game., but Gary managed to win, no matter who his partner was.  But a fun evening.....I got to be his partner once!

Today, Kathleen will accompany me in to see Dr. Londer and find out the plan for the rest of my summer.  I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that I will be doing more chemo....but I want to do it on my schedule. 

Later Judy is coming to spend the night and play some cards, and we'll see if we can muster a win from Gary.

Got a call last night from Rita that her brother Bucky had a massive heart attack and died about an hour before.  I will let everyone know the details of the funeral as soon as I get them. 

The shower is calling, and I need to get moving to head to the city.  Love and prayers, m

All Quiet on the Lakefront

Seems the lake knows the crowd is gone, and it's relaxing and resting for the next weekends on-slot....it is calm and the sky is blue and the sun is bright.  What a beautiful morning.  The squirrels and chipmunks have just about cleaned out every bit of food I had out for them, including the grape jelly I put out for the orioles....which I haven't seen since I got here last week.  I wonder if they have moved further north for the summer?

Yesterday was another great day at the cabin....birthday party got in full swing before noon....kids had a great time with silly string, the pinata didn't last long, and Kennedy got great gifts to open (all her favorite craft stuff along with clothes and money)  and it was capped off around 3 p.m. with the pulled pork Jimbo had leftover from Jack's party.  It was just as good....it not better....but we'll be eating that for another couple of days....but we won't mind.

Kathleen and Gary showed up just in time for food, but they had just eaten, so they had to watch us eat.  Later they both had pulled pork as we all were snacking on the fly.  But the big deal was the Pig Tournament that Gary started last year and the kids were waiting to play.  They had a sheet with all the brackets on it for a double elimination tournament that Kennedy made, and Wil managed to pull off the win for the second time.  Don't know how he's so lucky.

Later they all played another game that Kathleen brought....Dixit...a fun game that the kids really liked.  Kathleen, Gary and I played some Cut Throat which Gary and I tied the first time around and he beat me by one point the second time.  Then Tom decided to play Spades with us, and we cut for partners and Tom and Gary ended up beating us twice.

Tom, Kennedy and Emily's friend Maddy all left at 5 a.m. heading back to Naperville, the rest of the family gets to stay a little longer.  Bill and Kim and family left around 8 last night and I think the Stalboerger's leave later this afternoon.  So it is thinning out, and we await more to come!

Waiting right now for the landscaper to come and talk with us....hope to get some of that started soon.  Other than that no big plans for the day....we'll take it as it comes.  Love and prayers, m

Happy Birthday Kennedy

Today Kennedy turns 11, and she couldn't be more excited....I think for the last 9 years we've celebrated her birthday at the cabin.  When she wakes up this morning the cabin will all be decorated, and the party will begin. The cake and cupcakes have been baked, the presents wrapped, the pinata filled....all the things we've done every year, and every year she enjoys it more!  Hope the day is as wonderful as you are!

Yesterday was another great day at the cabin. The weather was great, Rob and Cindy returned with another helping of dessert specially for Tom, as he didn't get any the two previous days.  Cindy is so thoughtful.  Chris, Joe and Marie came....Marie's birthday is today too, so we had a small recognition of that. The boats got well used, but somehow the great tube popped, and that was the end of tubing for the kids.  The little ones took up fishing in the evening after dinner, and Wil caught his first fish with a new fishing pole his dad brought.  Even Karen managed to catch a nice size sunfish.  The kids had a bombfire and roasted marshmellows and made somemores, using those giant marshmellows and the sugar high took over late into the night.  We ended watching fireworks from the cabin as the mosquito's were too bad.  But the fireworks this year were the best I've ever seen anywhere.  They were just continuous and sometimes on top of each other.  Fantastic!!

The 18 pound turkey was falling off the bone, and the potato and carrots tasted great.  I have a picture of most of us eating, but some were in getting seconds when I took these pictures! Love and prayers, m

Happy Fourth of Ju...lie...eye.

We didn't have a boat parade this year for the kids to wave and yell out Happy 4th of July....it was cancelled a couple of weeks ago because of the high water and fears of errosion....but after the storm on Friday.....people didn't seem concerned about that anymore, and the lake was like a bees nest of activity.  Our boats were both moving most of the day....only taking short breaks for eating.  The kids encouraged the tubing and Jimbo even took William and Jason out fishing for a couple of hours in the morning. 

It was a perfect day weather wise, and I think otherwise as well.  Rob and Cindy and the boys were back, and she even brought another huge bowl of her famous dessert.  Carrie and Jason brought baby MacKenzie, and we all got a chance to hold and play with her.....what a beautiful doll she is.  The evening drew to an end quite late, and their were fireworks well into the night....I still watched some at midnight when I was awake to go to the bathroom.

Tom arrived around 4 a.m., and is still sleeping, Annie and Karen have gone for a walk to the tracks, and Bill and Kim went for a run.  Doug beat them all and was done with his before they even got out of bed.  We are all moving cept the kids....only one awake is Kennedy.  I think they slept till 9 a.m yesterday too....so it's not a surprise.  Kennedy and William were having so much fun that they both ended up taking a nap yesterday and for a 9 and 11 year old they were playing pretty hard to do that.

Today I will put my turkey on the grill and I think Rob and Cindy will be back, but I don't know who else will show.  Jim and Ann and the boys went home last night to spend the day at Elm Creek with her family as that has been the tradition for them for the last 18 years.  They will be back this evening, so we can celebrate Kennedy's 11th birthday tomorrow.

The kids continually remind me to drink water, and I'm feeling great, I always do when the family is here.  I got a call from Elaine yesterday and Aunt Loretta has been moved to the Danville Rehab Center, and is doing well.  Her phone number if you'd like to call her is 925-678-1808.  I also heard that Bucky Huber is now out of the rehab center and home.  So we all keep getting better.  Keep those thoughts and prayers coming.  Love and prayers, m

Labor Day?

I guess it is July, but the guys sure did a lot of work!  As the day progressed, we got lots of help to clean things up.  Rob Kish brought a chain saw, and the real fun began....I can't believe how easy it had fallen into a right angle, and how hard it was to get it actually on the ground.  The top was caught in a couple of other trees, and the bottom ate the saw and wasn't going to give it up.....so they had to use another saw to free it....and that took some work too.  But finally with some rope and 3 or 4 men pulling it was a tug-of-war between them and the tree....but the men won.  They then spent the rest of the afternoon, cutting and dragging the branches to a large bombfire they made.  Finally ending with a log about 12 feet long that they rolled out of the way.  We now have room to park our cars again.A plunge in the lake was the reward for a bumch of sweaty dirty guys.  Then some relaxing.  The kids were then treated to tubing....as they had to wait for the guys to drive the boat, and the rest of us got a pontoon boat ride around the lake.
Rob's wife supplied dinner....taco's (chicken and beef) (hard and soft shells), all he fixings, spanish rice, corn, chips, salsa and her fantastic strawberry truffel dessert.  I think their were 23 of us eating, and I think we had leftovers of everything cept that huge bowl of dessert.  Thanks Cindy!
This morning, a group of harty souls left for a walk to the railroad tracks and back before breakfast, and this afternoon, Rob and Cindy and the boys will be back, and I think Jason and Carrie are bringing little MacKenzie for us to play with.  Then Later this evening, Tom will drive up from Chicago to join the rest of his family who came yesterday. (He stayed to run the store two more days)
You can hardly tell we had a storm on Friday....but all over the lake chain saws were buzzing yesterday.    This morning, the lake is calm and clear quiet and it's going to be a beautiful day.  Oh Happy Day!  Love and prayers, m

OMG Double Trouble

As if the excitement earlier in the week wasn't enough, yesterday afternoon's storm was enough to last a long time.  We have dock, floating dock, jet skiis, life cover ripped off and a cedar tree trashed, a branch laying across the deck, no power for over seven hours, and a cabin full of teenagers who don't know how to exist without electricity....and the worst.....no cellphone service....and then when it returned....no power to recharge the dying phones. Living in an all electric cabin....couldn't even flush the toilet after a few flushes as the pump wouldn't work to refill the tank.  It actually became quite a fun night as we had a pool to guess what time the lights would come back on, and they sat around the kitchen table with only one candle and (pretending it was a campfire) sang songs from Grease and asking trivia questions about the movie and giggling and singing "nah, nah, nah, nah, hey, hey, goodbye" as each person's time expired without light.  By 12:20 a.m. we were all ready for bed, and only had three people left with a chance to win, we all decided to go to bed.  But at 12:34 a.m. almost every light came on in the cabin and Annie and I got up and closed the windows and turned out lights etc. pronounced Jimbo the winner and went back to bed.
Then to add to the excitement.....we got a call from the neighbor (Sharyl Boes) that my boulevard tree was half across the street, and the rest laying across my driveway.  Thus the double trouble!  I'm hoping the city will take care of that.  We have enough to take care of up here.

I'm adding a couple of pictures....Doug, between storms, ran out and moved his Yukon from under that tree, literally minutes before it went down this far.  We all watched as it went in slow motion to this position.  I think it is caught in the top of another tree at the end of the driveway.  We have since moved my van so we can get the tree the rest of the way down.  The other picture is of the dock and jet skiis as the guys tried to put it back in some sort of working order, and rescue the jet skiis, by driving them across the lake to the boat launch and towing them back to the cabin.  At least they still run, and most of the damage was cosmetic I think. 
This morning, we are cleaning up the mess, and things are looking pretty good at least on this level.  All the neighbors have similar damage to their docks and lots of trees down around the lake.  We are just happy we were all fine, and no damage was done to the cabin or boathouse structures.  Now awaiting for the rest of the family to arrive and get this weekend going in a better direction.  Love and prayers, m

The State is Closed....but Kiecker Kabin is Open for Business....and FUN!

Jimbo, Ann and I are here and have the place all ready for company.  It's a beautiful warm morning, and gonna get HOT again today.  I'm recovering from my recent set back like it never happened.  Yesterday, at the college when I told people I got out of the hospital the morning before they couldn't believe it.  Karen calls me a Miracle Women!

After an afternoon of visiting, eating and a very nice farewell program for Carole Fuller, I was off to Cub to buy my turkey for the 4th of July....my traditional meal....turkey on the grill....I headed straight to the cabin.  Spent most of the afternoon inside the air conditioned cabin....as it was just too HOT to be outside.  Then ended the day playing Cut Throat with Ann and Jimbo.  Ann managed to win twice and Jimbo and I each got our turn once.

When I got here yesterday, I found that the squirrels had ravished all my BIRD feeders, including the hummingbird nectar...and had tore it apart, so that it was no longer any good.  I now have only one hummingbird feeder....which I promptly filled with fresh nectar and hung where the other was.  This one has a metal bottom, so I don't think the squirrels can rip it apart.  We'll see how long that lasts!  The hummingbirds have found it, and have been here drinking already this morning, so that makes me happy.  I haven't filled the other feeders yet....that will be a job for today.

Looking forward to all the company....I believe Annie and family will be here today....Chicago Kieckers tomorrow afternoon.  Haven't heard when Bill and family are coming, but soon their will be all 19 of us plus friends and I will be loving it!!!

Heard that June is progressing slowly but surely, Ed got some results that were good, but waiting for another test that they sent out of State to return.  My friend who had surgery is doing well, so those prayers are working....Please keep them coming.  Love and prayers, m