Cold, Rainy Weather

The weather has been cold and rainy for the last two days and that has greatly curtailed outdoor activities.  Since Tuesday is ladies' golf, Kathy, Linda, and I had decided to play nine holes in the morning.   It was grey and misty, but after much discussion, we decided to brave the elements.  Playing was rather wet and messy, but we persevered until the 8th hole when we decided to skip that one and move onto hole nine and call it quits.  We were are pretty cold and damp by then.  John played with John B., Dean, and Wisconsin Jim, and they also gave up after nine holes.

We hung out around the house in the afternoon and attended the potluck meal in the evening.  Cards were played and John ended up the winner of his second game.  He has now won two weeks in a row.  

The cold weather has continued into today, so we have stayed holed up inside.  Chuck E. stopped over this morning to get the mail we picked up for him while he and Lois were out of town for the holidays.  Tomorrow a group of us are going out for lunch and a movie--it will be a nice way to bring in the New Year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU IN 2015!!

Busy Monday

John and I started our day off with a walk around part of the golf course.  I am slowly expanding my walking distance every week.  The only shoes I can wear comfortably and for any length of time is a pair of Nike sneakers.  The rest of time I wear my Crocs or an old pair of slip-on shoes.  I still can't stand anything tight on the joint where the screw is located.

Following breakfast John headed off to wood carvers.  While he was gone, I straightened up around the house and did some work on the computer.  After he returned home, we headed off to Del Rio for lunch and some grocery shopping.  Since the golf course is closed on Mondays, most folks head to Del Rio, so it wasn't surprising to run into several people from the fort in Wal Mart.

Once we unloaded the groceries at the house, John and I headed over to the RV park for an afternoon of the game Washers.  You pay a quarter and draw a number and are teamed up with the person who draws the same one.  Linda G. and I were together in the first round and won the loser's bracket.  Diane and I went all the way to the final of the second game and lost by one point.  This was the first time we played here at the RV park and it was a great time.  We'll definitely be back next Monday afternoon.  

Enjoyable Holiday

John and I had an enjoyable Christmas.  We spent the morning just hanging out around the house and then headed over to the RV park for dinner and gift exchange.  There was a nice crowd in attendance with plenty of food to eat.  Following the meal we did the gift exchange.  Everyone sat in a circle holding their own gift.  As a story was read, every time the word left or right was said, you passed your gift to either the right or left and whatever gift you had in your hands at the end of the story, you got to keep.  John ended up with a set of tools and I got a beautiful tea cup with coaster.

Waiting to start passing the gifts

Since it was such a beautiful afternoon, John and I played a few holes of golf to work off some of the good food we ate.  When we returned home there was a message from Rodger and Tootie saying they were back on the fort so we headed over to their place to visit.  We ended the day Skyping with the kids and grandkids in Wyoming.

Friday was another beautiful day and we golfed with John B. in the morning.  Today the weather took a drastic turn with cold temps and strong breezes.  More of our Winter Texan friends arrived today so we went for supper at Burger and Shake with Rodger, Tooties, Darlene, Everett, Gene, and Jeannie.  We spent an hour or so visiting and catching up before returning home. 

Busy Holidays

John and I have been keeping busy.  We have managed to walk every morning before breakfast and then head off to our different activities.  Monday John went to wood carvers and then we went to Del Rio for a few last minute grocery items for the holiday.  We had made some Christmas cookies over the weekend, so after we got home, we made up a couple of plates and dropped them off at Ralph's and Sandwick's.

Tuesday we played golf in the morning as the forecast called for high winds in the afternoon.  We started out with just a light breeze, but by the seventh hole, we were playing in pretty strong winds. I spent the afternoon making a casserole for the potluck that evening and John went over to Ralph's to fix a faucet.  The numbers at potluck were down a little because some folks headed home for Christmas.  

John played golf with the men this morning while I did some chores around the house and made a salad for tomorrow's dinner.  This evening we attended the candle light service at the church and then spent the remainder of the evening watching "It's A Wonderful Life" and "The Chirstmas Story".  They have become a yearly tradition for us.

Tomorrow we'll be having Christmas dinner at the RV park. They are providing ham and turkey with everyone bringing a dish to share.  There is also going to be a gift exchange.  

Merry Christmas to our gang celebrating the holiday in Wyoming.  Saw the photos on Facebook and it looks like everyone arrived safely and is having a good time.   

 

Keeping Busy

Our weather here continues its up and down ways with cold and misty in the morning and clearing off late in the afternoon.  This weekend has been on the chilly side, so I haven't been golfing.  John doesn't seem to mind the cooler temps, so he has been out on the golf course just about every day--sometimes playing alone or with John B.

I have been keeping busy doing laundry, updating the finances, and getting some Christmas baking done.  This week will be a busy one with the usual activities and Christmas gatherings.  

 

Up and Down Weather

Our weather seems to be different every day.  One day it's sunny and warm and then the next is cool and cloudy.  We go from shorts and tee shirts to jeans and long sleeves.  At least there is no snow!!

Sunday afternoon John and I golfed with John B. and then spent the evening watching the Cowboys crush the Eagles (are you happy now, Ralph).  Monday was absolutely beautiful here with sunny skies and temps in the upper 70's.  John went to wood carvers in the morning and then we took a road trip to Del Rio for lunch and restocking the pantry.  We listened to Hanna and Sam's basketball games via the internet and managed to catch the final performances of the finalists on THE VOICE. 

Today was a little on the cool side with temps only reaching into the mid 60's with partly cloudy skies.  I played golf this morning with Kathy and Linda--we had to bundle up when first starting out, but by the third hole we were shedding our jackets.  John played 18 holes with John Bridger and then spent some time this afternoon at the driving range working on his swing.  Tonight was the first RV potluck of the season and about 17 folks attended.  Following the meal ten of us stayed and played 31.  I made to the last hand and lost to John B.  We got home just in time to see the finals of  THE VOICE--my guy won!

Keeping Busy

Christmas has come to Fort Clark with folks decorating the outside of their homes for the the holidays.  Our neighbors have nice light displays which we enjoy every evening and in another week or so we'll take a night time ride around the fort to see the lights.

With more Winter Texans returning, we are now back to a full slate of activities.  Wood carvers are meeting twice a week and men's and women's golf  have more players.  Even though the weather was cool and misty on Thursday afternoon, the couples golf scramble was held.  It was rather wet on the course, putting was difficult, and our shoes ended up caked with mud.  We were once again paired with Charles and Vida and this time we ended up with second place.  I was happy with that because if you win couples, you have to run the scramble the next week. 

Today was the first of the RV Saturday breakfasts.  It is served from 7-9 a.m. and for $3.50 you get two eggs,  sausages,  pancakes, and coffee or juice.   We got there a little after 7 a.m. and ate with folks we hadn't seen since last spring.  There was a pretty big crowd and everyone enjoyed a good meal.  Since there was a special tournament this afternoon, John and I played a round of golf this morning.  The rest of the day we just hung out around the house and then this evening Chuck and Lois came over for a night of cards and visiting.
 

Same Old Routine

Now that more of the winter Texans are arriving here at the fort, we are starting to settle into the routine of acitivities each week.

Monday John went to wood carvers while I did some laundry and cleaning up around the house.  Once he returned home, we headed off to Del Rio for lunch at Wendy's and then on to Wal Mart for another string of outdoor lights.  One of the strands we put up burned out right in the middle.  John couldn't figure out what happened so decided to just put up a new string of lights.

Tuesday morning was ladies golf and I played a round with Linda G.  John and John B. also played a round in the morning.  On Wednesay morning nine guys showed up for men's golf, so teams were formed and they played best ball.  Tonight we played cards with Chuck and Lois--this will be the last time we'll play until after the first of the year as they are heading home to Illinois for the holidays.  We heard that the Rungers arrived back on the fort today, so that'll add another lady to our golfing group. 

Busy Days

Friday morning John and I headed off to Del Rio to get the car serviced.  When we left the dealership, it was time for lunch, so we stopped at Wendy's for a bite to eat before heading home.  Since it was such a beautiful afternoon, we decided to play a round of golf.  The course is getting busier as more of theWinter Texans are arriving every day.    Friday evening I met up with Lois E. for bingo and returned home a winner.

Our warm sunny weather continued today, so John decided to take advantage of it and washed the car. He was just finishing up when John B. called and asked about playing golf this afternoon, so we met up with him at the clubhouse and ended up playing 18 holes instead of our usual nine.  Both John and I were pretty tired when we returned home and rested up for an hour or so (that means napping in the recliner).

For the past several years Brackettville has a Frontier Christmas celebration with a parade and vendors in the town square.  John and I headed into town and spent an hour or so walking around looking at the various booths and visiting with friends.  We hung out with John, Theresa, Chuck, and Lois to watch the parade of decorated golf carts and floats.  It was a beautiful evening with comfortable temperatures which made for an enjoyable time.

  

 

Change In The Weather

There was no golf or wood carving on Monday, and since the weather was misty and overcast, we decided to head to Del Rio for some shopping.  When we left the house, the temperature was around 65 degrees with a light breeze.  After spending an hour in the mall we came outside to temps about 25 degrees colder and strong winds straight out of the north.  Neither of us was prepared for the big drop in temperature which made it miserable getting from the car and into the stores at every stop.

The colder weather continued Tuesday morning, so ladies' golf was canceled.  With that change in plans, it was decided this would be a good time to get the Christmas tree up and decorated and start on the annual Christmas letter and cards.  The weather improved in the afternoon, so John and I played a round of golf.

More and more winter Texans are rolling in everyday and the RV park is getting a little fuller.  Our good friends John and Theresa finally got here along with some folks from Canada.  Wednesday morning was men's golf and there were enough guys for two teams.  John played with John B. and Georgia Jim.  ( There are several Jim's here, so we identify them by their home state--Georgia Jim, Wisconsin Jim, Minnesota Jim, etc.)

Today was couples' golf and John and I played with Charles and Vida.  On the final hole I sunk a birdie putt to put us three under par which gave us 3rd place.  Many of the winter activities are starting up once again, so we'll be kept pretty busy from now on.





 

Fall Is Here

When we arrived here on the fort almost three weeks ago, everything was nice and green, including the trees.  Today as we were taking our morning walk we noticed that the grass on the golf course is beginning to brown and the trees are fading and losing their leaves.  It seems strange to see Christmas decorations without the snow and cold weather of the holidays in northern Minnesota.

John and I spent this holiday weekend just relaxing and enjoying the beautiful weather.  On Friday we played a round of golf and in the evening I went to Bingo with Lois.  Saturday was spent visiting some folks in the RV park, hanging out around the house, and putting up the outside lights.  

Today the Advent season kicked off with a special service in church.  Following a quick lunch, we played a round of golf with Linda G. and then spent the rest of the afternoon watching the Packer's game.  All in all, it was a very enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

We have been keeping busy over the last couple of days with golfing and holiday preparations.

Wednesday morning was men's golf, but the chilly weather once again kept most of the golfers home.  John found Milo was the only other guy to show up, so the two of them played a round together.  While John was golfing, I spent the morning finishing decorating the inside of the house for Christmas.  The only thing left to do now is to put up the tree.  Following lunch, we moved all the furniture and gave the floor a good mopping. It's amazing how many cobwebs and dust gathered under the furniture over the summer.

After the cleaning was done, we took a little rest and then played a quick nine holes of golf.  The afternoon was just too perfect to stay inside.  Our evening was spent making stuffing for the turkey and watching some TV.

This morning we were up early for our walk as we needed to get back in time to get the turkey in the oven. We invited Chuck and Lois for Thanksgiving dinner and they arrived right on time bringing their contributions of green beans and pecan pie.  We all enjoyed a delicious meal and then spent the afternoon playing a couple of different card games.  John and I ended the day watching some football and trying to recover from all the good food we ate today. Even though we didn't see the game, we were very happy the Eagles crushed Dallas in their home stadium.

Our beautiful turkey before it was devoured.

 

Busy Monday

The temps were on the chilly side this morning when we left the house for our walk around the golf course, but it didn't take long for the sun to warm up the day.  Bright sunny skies and nice temps are in our forecast for this week and beyond.  I guess that's why we are spending the winter here at Fort Clark.

Following breakfast, John headed off to wood carvers and I got busy working on the laundry and sorting through the Christmas decorations he brought in from the shed.  Our plan is to get the house decorated and the outside lights up this week. 

When John got home, we headed off to Del Rio to do some grocery shopping.  Since it was lunch time, our first stop was Wendy's for a bite to eat.  Then it was on to Wal Mart.  The place was like a zoo, so we were anxious to get what we needed and out as fast as possible.  We went through the Self Checkout and when John swiped his credit card, the payment was refused.  He tried the card several times, but it wouldn't work.  As soon as we returned home I called the credit card company and found that the card number was stolen and being used in Illinois to make purchases at Victoria's Secrets, Lowes, coke machines, and several other places.  They closed the account and will issue us new cards which they'll send to us here in Texas.  We have several other hoops to jump through before everything is resolved.  Hopefully it won't be to much of a hassle getting this straightened out.

Warmer Weather

Here is what has been happening here in Texas over the last several days:  Even though Wednesday morning was cold with temps in the low 30's, John, the die hard golfer, headed off to the clubhouse for men's golf.  He returned home about 15 minutes later as no one showed up.  We then spent the rest morning doing some chores around the house.  By the afternoon, the sun was shining and the temps were in the upper 60's.  Those weather conditions brought out the golfers, us included.  John and I had just returned home and were resting when Chuck and Lois stopped in and invited us out for supper.  We headed into town for a quick meal at Burger and Shake and then over to their place for an evening of cards.

Thursday was a beautiful day and perfect for couples' golf in the afternoon.  I skipped golfing on Friday, but John went out and played a round by himself.  Following supper I headed off to Bingo while John watched college football on TV.

Today we headed into town to pick up a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.  The local supermarket had a coupon for $7 off any grade A turkey--who could resist a deal like that.  After lunch we headed out to play a round of golf.  As we were signing in, a gentleman from Canada asked if he could join us as he was by himself.  We had a fun time visiting with Ken and found him to be a pretty good golfer.

Our evening was spent Skyping with the kids and catching up on what has been happening at home since we've been gone.  Early this evening we had a strong thunderstorm move through our area and in its wake was a beautiful rainbow.

Rainbow 

 

 Shorts are back!!

Turkeys walzing through our yard

Pretty Quiet Day

This morning the temperature was 37 degrees when we left the house for a walk on the golf course.  By the afternoon, with the help of the sun, the highs reached into the upper 50's.  Each day here is getting warmer and everyone is ready for it.

This morning John cleaned the windows and did some yard work in between visiting with folks who stopped as they were driving by.  I got started on the laundry and did some more cleaning on the inside.  This afternoon we headed down to the clubhouse for a round of golf.  There were a few more folks out on the course taking advantage of the beautiful afternoon.  More Winter Texans are arriving every day, so more of the regular activities should be starting up next month.  Right now we are enjoying the slower pace and having the golf course pretty much to ourselves.

Lunch Out and Shopping

This morning we took a short walk on the golf course and though I had to walk slower than normal, my foot seemed to handle its first extended walking fairly well.  Following breakfast, John headed over to Wallace's where he met up with several folks to do some wood carving.  While he was gone, I did a little cleaning in the house--even though it was closed up all summer, dust and dirt still gathered inside.

After John was done with carving, we headed to Del Rio with Chuck and Lois.  Our first stop was Chili's for lunch and then on to Wal Mart for more grocery shopping to pick up all the items we missed last week.

The weather was bright and sunny today with the temps a little cooler than we had on Sunday.  The nice day brought some visitors to our yard late this afternoon.

 

Visiting, Golfing, and Church

Before I start filling everyone in on what we've been doing the last few days, I want to say the weather here has been very chilly with low's near freezing at night and high's only in the upper 40's.  The skies have been overcast and everyone here is complaining about the cold weather.  At least it's better than home.  Warmer temps are suppose to be heading our way in a few days. 

Friday morning we got the remaining crates and boxes stored out in the shed and all the outdoor furniture situated on the deck and patio.  I also took some time to bake a couple of loaves of bread.  Following lunch, we headed off to do some visiting.  Our first stop was to see Becky and Wallace and then we dropped in next door to to see Betty and Harlan.  Our final visit for the afternoon was with Sam and Leta.  John spent Friday evening home watching TV while I headed off to Bingo with several of the ladies.

Saturday was a little warmer, so I decided to give golfing a try.  The doctor said I had no restrictions other than using good judgement concerning activities.  John and I played nine holes and my foot felt just fine.  I find it a little different playing in Crocs rather than golf shoes, but it's going to be a few months before I can get back into them.  After supper we headed into the Post Theater for a Variety Show showcasing some very talented fort residents.

Today was our first Sunday back at the Methodist church and since it was the third Sunday of the month, there was a delicious potluck following the service.  When visitors were being introduced this morning, we found a couple from our hometown in the congregation.  They found Fort Clark through Jim and Kathy Runger and are planning to spend the winter, so we'll have to get over to visit sometime this week.  It was was a beautiful afternoon, so we headed out for a round of golf--it was much more enjoyable today.

 

Settling In

We arrived in Del Rio around lunch time on Tuesday and decided to stop at I HOP for something to eat before driving the last 30 miles to Fort Clark.  When we reached the house we found everything in order with the electric and internet back on.  The next hour or so was spent unloading the car and getting the golf cart up and running again.  In between all this activity, we received a couple of phone calls asking if we were back and Stan Metcalf stopped in and spent some time filling us in on what has been happenng here over the summer.

Since we had no food in the house, we headed into town and stopped at a local store for a few items to hold us over until we could stock up on groceries.  Neither of us felt we could stand a trip to Del Rio after three days in the car, so we put off that big shopping trip until today.  Our next stop was Subway for a couple of subs that would do for supper and the next day's lunch.  John and I also stopped in for a quick visit with Ralph R.

Wednesday morning was spent unpacking crates and getting somewhat settled in.  It always takes a day or two to get the house organized and in order.   John and I took a break from unpacking and spent the afternoon visiting with Chuck and Lois and then the Sandwicks.  Valada's sister is here for the month from Miami, Fl. so we were able to visit with her too.  It was then a trip back into town for supper at Burger and Shake.  John also managed to get in a few holes of golf this afternoon even though it's been rather chilly here.

Today we were up fairly early so we could get to Del Rio before the grocery store got busy.  Our first stop was the car wash to get rid of the salt that built up on the northern icey roads.  From there we hit the grocery store and started the process of restocking the pantry.  We'll probably be making a few more trips before we have everything we will need.  Since it was noon when we checked out, we headed to Wendy's for some lunch and then hit the road back to the fort.  After getting everything unloaded and put away, we watched "The Voice" on the DVR and then John headed off to play some golf.  It's just too cold for me right now.  In another day or two we should be completely at home here once again.

It's been rifle hunting this week up in northern Minnesota and with the cold weather and rut causing the deer to be on the move, Matt's patience paid off and he shot a monster buck.  Way to go
Matt!!

2nd Day On The Road

It was another early morning for us as we were on the road a little after 6 a.m.  We had good roads and plenty of sunshine the whole way to Wichita Falls.  The temperature was in the mid 80's when we reached our hotel around 3:30 p.m.  John likes to make the second day a little shorter after a long first one.  

After checking in, we relaxed a little and then headed out to do some shopping.  I have been looking for a pair of Crocs and, finding none in the stores up north, we thought to look for a pair as we traveled south.  I hit the jackpot in a local sporting goods store and am now the proud owner of my first pair.  As my foot still has swelling these are much more comfortable than my regular shoes.

Tomorrow we make the final push to Bracketville.  We have managed to stay in front of the cold weather, but tomorrow it will be about 50 degrees cooler here than it was today.  At least there shouldn't be any snow.  

Made It To Missouri

John and I were up bright and early so we could get an early start; however, Mother Nature had other plans in mind.  We had snow overnight and it was slow going for the first hour of our journey as the roads were snow covered and icey.  The further south we went the better the conditions.

Right now we are stopped for the night in St. Joseph, MO where the temps are almost 50 degrees warmer than at home and the leaves are still on the trees and showing their fall colors.  According to the forecast for the northern plains, we got out just in time as heavy snows are on the way.  The temps are suppose to cool off here with snow flurries, so it seems we are staying just in front of the cold weather. 

We're Heading South!!

This past week has been busy.  John and Matt got the last of their jobs finished and it's a good thing they did as our weather has turned very cold.  I kept busy cleaning up around the house and packing for our trip south.  Everything hinged on what the doctor said about my foot.  I had a good report, can get rid of the boot, and we can head south tomorrow.  I still have some swelling and foot pain, but he said that is normal and will last a while.  I have no restictions but have to use good judgement concerning walking and other activities.  I will see the doctor again the end of April and sometime next summer have the screw removed from my foot.  That should be a fun experience.  

Today was spent loading up the car and gathering those last minute items.  Everything is done and we are ready to head south bright and early in the morning.  We hope to be at the fort by Tuesday afternoon.  Pray for safe travels and good weather.  Will blog again sometime after we get the computer set up.  

A Taste of Winter Weather

Our weather is definitely turning toward winter.  This time of year our temps are rather erratic--one day up near 70 degrees and then snow flurries a couple of days later.  The colder weather has finally decided to stay for good--won't see 60's again until sometime next spring.  But as we are heading south very soon, it won't make much difference to us.

Our first dusting of snow earlier this week

John and Matt got one of their big addition jobs completed on Thursday and were able to take off on Friday.  John appreciated that as he was getting a little weary of working everyday.  We took the advantage of an off day and did some shopping in Bemidji.  I see the foot doctor next Friday and, hopefully, will be released from wearing the boot.  The only problem will be what shoe can I wear.  My foot is still painful at times at the incision site and also still swells.  I contacted the doctor about that earlier in the week and was told that was quite normal this soon after surgery (it's be five weeks).  I think getting back to normal is going to be a lot longer than I first thought it would be.  I talked to a lady in the store and she told me it was six months before she could get back into her regular shoes.  What I have read on the internet supports what she told me.  John and I went on a search for some possible footwear.  We saw one pair of slip-on cloth shoes that might work, but right now I leaning toward a pair of Crocs.  Mainly, I have to wait and see what the doctor recommends and if I will have to keep my foot wrapped with the ACE bandage.  

If the doctor gives the go ahead, we are planning to head out on Sunday, November 9th, and will worry about shoes after we get to Texas or try to find something on our way south.  I have been busy getting clothes packed along with keeping up with laundry and sorting through other items to pack.

It's been bow hunting season here in Minnesota and Hanna shot her first deer with bow and arrow this week.  Both Rachel and Hanna are now done with hunting, so now it's up to the guys to get their tags filled.  Rifle season starts next Saturday morning and that usually means pretty cold weather.

 

 

Quiet Monday

Our weather is beginning to change and it's looking more like winter with all the leaves gone from the trees and brown everywhere you look.  The temps reached the mid forties today and rain moved in late this afternoon.  Fortunately, Matt and John are working inside right noq, so the weather doesn't affect their work.

I spent the day catching up on laundry from our trip and organizing a few more items to take south.  We have received a couple of emails asking when we're heading out and right now it looks like we'll be leaving here around the ninth of November, depending on how my foot is doing.  Right now I still have trouble with swelling around the incision area and that prevents the toes from moving freely.  Still have another week and a half until I see the doctor.  

Back Home Again

Like the title says, we're back home again after a 12 hour drive today. We said good-bye to the boys last night since we hit the road a little before 6 a.m. and drove a couple of hours to Spearfish, SD where we stopped at McDonald's for some breakfast. We got better than normal gas mileage as there were strong winds at our back the whole trip.  It's going to be an early night as John is working with Matt tomorrow.

Enjoying A Few Days in Wyoming

John and I pulled out of the driveway at 6 a.m. on Thursday morning and drove straight through 12 hours to Gillette, Wyomng with some stops for gas, meals, and just to stretch our legs.  Since the drive is on innerstate just about the whole way, the ride is pretty easy.  Since it was Amy's birthday Thursday, we brought along a cake to celebrate the big day.

Singing Happy Birthday and blowing 

out the candles

The boys had school on Friday, so the adults headed out to do a few errands and purchased supplies to fix the leaky outdoor faucet and a new ceiling fan/light for the kitchen area.  After lunch, Dave and John got busy working on the faucet, and once that was fixed, put up the ceiling fan.  There were no glitches and they got everything done in pretty fast order.  While the guys were busy, Amy and I discussed putting some toys the boys no longer use on ebay and I gave her a crash course on selling.  The evening was spent watching a movie and visiting.

Today we just hung out around the house, sorted toys for selling, and even got a couple of items listed on ebay.  Tonight is pizza night and then we will be heading out bright and early in the morning for the long drive home. 

 

Planning a Quick Trip

With the nice weather holding, Matt and John have started work on another job just a couple of miles south of town.  It's nice for John as Matt picks him up every morning on his way to the job site.  Before he heads out for the day, I have him bring the laundry downstairs along with anything else I might need up from the basement.  The boot makes navigating the stairs a little tricky and I try to avoid them if I can.  My foot keeps improving more each day, but I still can't be up on it for long periods of time.  I just do a few chores and then sit down and elevate it for about half an hour and then get up and continue on with whatever I was doing.

We are planning a quick trip to Wyoming to visit Amy's family before we head south, so today I started a little packing and did some straightening up around the house.  Tonight John went to watch the Bears playoff game.  Sorry to say the got beat pretty bad--sad way to end the season.

Outside Jobs Finally Finished, Or Are They?

Today I looked back at what I wrote on this blog a year ago and found the days were cold with highs in the 30's, rainy, and snowy.  This year is much different.  Our October remains very pleasant with sunny days and comfortable temps.

Each day John tells me he has finished up all the outside work and then I find him headed back outdoors to complete one more task he forgot to do.  I think he is really finished now and ready for winter.  All the leaves have been gathered and tilled into the garden, eveything is picked up and put away, and the wood shed is full.

 Garden is put to bed for the winter

JD and Josh came down yesterday morning and dug the rest of our potatoes and helped John split several big logs.  Now the splitter can be stored in the shed for the winter.

 John, Josh, and JD splitting the larger logs

This weekend was youth early rifle deer hunting.  Matt and Rachel went out behind their house and Rae shot a nice big doe.  This was her first good sized deer and everyone was pretty excited.  Since you can shoot only one deer, Rae can now stay inside and stay toasty warm during the usually cold days of deer hunting the first week of November.

It's time to think about heading south for the winter.  John's tentative departure date is the first weekend in November.  It all depends on how my foot is doing and what the doctor says.  Right now, I can't imagine I'm going to be able to wear shoes in three weeks.  The nerve pain is getting better, but the joint and incision area are still swollen and I can't put weight on that joint.  However, I have been gathering items, packing a few boxes, and making lists for what needs to be done before we head out.  Several friends have called asking when we're going to be heading south, but definite plans are still up in the air.

Nice Weather

Our weather has been very enjoyable with sunny skies and temps in the mid 60's.  According to the forecast, we'll have a couple of days of cooler temps, but nothing too drastic.  The local golf course will close for the year on Sunday, so John has been golfing the last couple of days before he has to put it on hold until we get to Texas.

John has taken advantage of the good weather to get more of his outside chores completed.  He is waiting for Matt to come down and dig the rest of our potatoes--John started that job, but tweaked his back so he can't get the remainder of them dug.  With many of the leaves off the trees in the back yard, he used the lawn mower to gather them up and then dumped them on the garden. 

I am still hobbling around but am able to take care of the laundry, prepare some meals, and do those things that don't require me to stand for long periods.   I must admit, wearing the boot is getting old, but at least it allows me to get around fairly well and protects my foot from further injury.

Tuesday night John headed up to Clearbrook to attend the last football game of the regular season. It was Parents' Night, but, unfortunately, the Bears lost.  They have the first playoff game next Tuesday evening, but not sure who or where they will play.

Hanna was the team manager this year 

Since Sara is going to school as well as working at the clinic and hosptal, she does hair cutting whenever it fits into her schedule, so this evening John drove me up to get a haircut.  We stayed and visited for a little before heading home for a quiet evening in front of the TV.

Not Much Happening

Our weather has been on the cool side, but still pretty nice.  John has only the potatoes to dig and then the garden is completely done for this year.  My foot is improving very slowly.  The main issue right now is nerve pain and numbness in several toes.  I think that will be ongoing for quite a while.

I have kept busy listing and selling items on ebay and catching up on my reading.  Still have to keep my foot elevated when sitting and can't do much walking.  When the stitches were removed, the nurse said I need to start manually moving the big toe about five times a day.  Right now things are so stiff and swollen at the joint that movement is minimal.  I think that will improve with continued working of the joint.

 

Will Be On The Mend for Quite A While

Yesterday afternoon we headed off to Bemidji for another follow-up appointment at the doctor's office--this time to have the stiches removed.  Though I was very nervous about it, the whole procedure went well with no discomfort.  My foot is healing nicely; however, I need to stay in the boot until my next appointment on November 7th.  I will have x-rays at that time and then visit with the doctor.  I have to work the joint in my foot several times a day, keep it wrapped in an Ace bandage when moving around, and keep it elevated when sitting or resting.

At first we thought it would be a quick trip to Bemidji, but after checking the pantry and looking over some other things, we discovered we had several errands to run.   We picked up a new battery for the four wheeler, took a bag of coins to the bank, stopped at Wal Mart, twice, since we forgot furnace filters the first time, and then went to BK for some supper.

This morning Matt brought down their lawn mower and bikes so he could store them in the old shop for the winter and then loaded up his snowblower to take back to his place.  He stayed to visit for awhile and showed us some pictures taken with his trail camera.  He captured a couple of bald eagles walking around the bear bait site along with another bear looking for more to eat.

Tonight John went up to Clearbrook to watch Sam's game.  Sam ran for 255 yards, threw for 90, and scored two or three touchdowns.  The Bears lost by 2 points--38-36.  

Time For An Update

Last Friday I had the dressing changed on my foot and was told to continue minimal activity, so that's what I've been doing.  After the doctor's appointment, John took me out to Perkins for a late lunch and then we stopped at Wal Mart to pick up a few grocery items. I had a fun time driving around the store in one of their little mortorized scooters with a large shopping basket on the front.

It sure felt good to get out of the house even though the weather was pretty miserable.  We had heavy rains Thursday night with showers most of the day Friday along with very windy conditions.  Our fall leaf season came to an abrupt end with this weather and most of the trees are looking pretty bare.

The repair shop called last week and said our car was ready to pick up.  Since I couldn't drive, Matt went with John and they picked up the chevy and returned the rental car to the airport.  Our car looks brand new--here are the before and after photos.  Repair shop said there was pretty extensive damage behind the grills and the whole front end had to be replaced.  The hood was also crinkled, and they were able to fix that without purchasing a new one.

John has continued working with Matt and they completed the outside of the addition.  Now they'll be off a few days while the electricians wire the inside.  He also went with Matt and Sara to watch another football game.  Unfortunately, the Bears lost.  

Speaking of bears, Matt and Hanna have been "bear baiting" this fall and after many weeks, their hard work paid off.  Hanna shot her first bear on Saturday evening.  After she shot, they had to track the bear, but it got too dark and they felt it wasn't safe to continue.  John went up to their place early Sunday morning to help them track it down.  John found it on the edge of a swamp--it's a beauty.  They're going to make a bear rug and a head mount out of it along with processing the meat.

This afternoon Rachel had her final volleyball game of the season and, since it was being held close to home, I decided to go with John.  We found a place to park close to the school and got there early while there was plenty of room to get a seat and I didn't have to worry about someone stepping on my foot.  The girls won one game out of three, losing the third one by two points.  Overall, they had a very good season.

Tomorrow afternoon I head back to the doctor to get the stiches removed from my foot and then we'll learn more about the time frame for full recovery.  We would like to take a quick trip to Wyoming in a couple of weeks and hopefully we'll get the go ahead for that trip.

On The Mend

For the past week I have been pretty much laying low on the couch and keeping my foot elevated with ice applied every hour for about 15 minutes each time.  I think the swelling has been limited and the pain very managable with the help of pain pills.  In fact, I have been off the pain meds for the past three days.  Crutches were used for the first three to four days and now I do what the doctor calls the Charlie Chaplin walk--putting weight only on the heel of my right foot.  Tomorrow morning I go back to see the surgeon and get the dressing changed.  I can't wait.  I hope I get rid of the bulky bandages and wrappings and can finally take a shower.  Sponge bathing gets a little old after a week.  I'll also find out what my limitations will be and how long I will be wearing the boot.

John has been busy this past week helping Matt with an addition and attending Sam and Rachel's sporting events.  He is holding up our end of the grandparent cheering section.  The Bears won a big game last Friday night and have another big one tomorrow evening.
In between these activities, he has helped with laundry,  been cooking meals, and generally keeping the home fires burning.

 John, Sam, and Matt after victory

As I mentioned earlier, our garden got hit pretty hard with the frost while we were out east.  John is still hoping these green tomatoes will ripen, but I don't hold out much hope.  The forecast says to expect one inch of snow tomorrow.  Only the potatoes are still in the ground--they'll probably get dug this weekend and then the garden is FINISHED.

Surgery All Done

Tuesday and Wednesday I kept busy getting laundry caught up and the house in order so John wouldn't have so much to do while I'm out of commission after foot surgery.

The hospital called on Tuesday and told me to be at the Outpatient Surgery facility by 6:45 a.m. Thursday morning.  YEAH!!  Was so glad it was first thing in the morning so I didn't have long to worry about the whole thing.  John and I reached the hospital right on time and we were back home before noon with me hobbling along on the crutches.  The procedure went well and from what I can see of my toes, they are all nice and straight again.   I have to keep my foot elevated and iced for the first 72 hours and keep ahead of the pain with the prescription we picked up last week.  I have been following the doctor's directions religiously as he said if I don't, and the foot doesn't heal right, it would mean another procedure, so I have been a good girl.  The crutches are coming along better and better as the numbness in the foot wears off--they gave some sort of nerve block and I still have numbness in the big toe and along the incision.  My foot is bandaged, wrapped in an ace bandage, and encased in a big sandal-like boot.  I will be on crutches until I see him next Friday for a dressing change and then the stiches will come out the following week.  The boot will be a permanet fixture for a while.  Asked about heading to Texas, and seems that will be on hold until the second week of November at the earliest.  Matt and John have been working on an addition, but I was able to get around okay on my own when I needed to today.  John just left to head north with Matt and Rachel to watch Sam's game--that was out of the question for me tonight.  Maybe I'll be able to go to a home game a week from now.

Days Busy with Canning and Car

After our long day of driving last Tuesday, it took us a couple of days to recover and then we dove right into canning, car repairs, and doctor appointments.

While we were out east, a heavy frost hit our area and that brought our garden to an end.  John harvested several large buckets of cucumbers and we made two batches of dill pickles and one of relish.  The tomato plants bit the dust, but there are plenty of green ones we hope will ripen.

I have spent some time dealing with the insurance company settling the question of where and when our car can be repaired.  Everything finally got decided and today we went to the airport in Bemidji to pick up a rental car and then dropped ours off at the repair shop.  They said it should only take about three days to get it done.  Matt went with us so he could pick up a new deer stand for Hanna and then we met up with Sara for lunch at BK.

Last Friday I had a pre-opt appointment with my foot doctor to discuss the surgery, recovery time, and the limitations I'll be facing while recovering.  He also gave me a prescription for pain meds and crutches, so I think I'm all set for Thursday.  The hospital will call sometime tomorrow or Wednesday to tell me what time I need to be there.  

 

Back Home Again With A Bang, Literally

John and I just arrived home after a super long day of driving.  We started out this morning in Lake Village, IN which is near the Illinois state line.  We reached the Twin Cities a little after 3 p.m. and decided to push on home arriving here a little before 9 p.m.  

Now I need to backup and fill everyone in on what happened over the last few days.  On Saturday morning we all left Ocean City and made our way to Oaklyn, NJ where we were spending the night.  John's cousin Joan and her husband Jack arrived mid-afternoon and were soon followed by his nephews and their families.  We had a wonderful time visiting, talking about family history, and just enjoying each others company.

Sunday morning John and I hit the road bright and early and stopped just over the Indiana state line.  Monday morning we drove to Lake Village, IN where we spent the remainder of the day visiting with Gene and Jeanne Bevins and Everett and Darlene Endris, good Winter Texan friends.  Now this is where the bang comes into the story.  After the Endris left, Gene's grandson, Zack, stopped in for a quick visit while waiting for his dad to get home from work.  We all talked for a while and then it was decided to go out for some supper.  Since our car was full with the backseats down, John moved our car to the side of the driveway and Gene drove.  We were only about two minutes from the house when Gene's cell phone rang.  It was Zach.  (Can you guess what is coming?)  Zack backed into our car and smashed both grills and front bumper.  Soooo, the good news is the car was drivable, the bad news is Zach's insurance rates are probably going to go up.  His insurance agent contacted us while we were on the road this morning, and they will be contacting us again, I'm hoping tomorrow, so we can get the car into the shop for repairs.  They will be providing us with a rental while we don't have ours.  Zack really felt bad, but at least no one was hurt and the car can be fixed.  What a way to end what was a wonderful trip.

Beach Vacation Coming to an End

Our beach time is coming to an end and John and I have really enjoyed spending this week with family catching up and retelling many old family stories.  The weather co-operated with only one cloudy day with strong winds, but that didn't deter us diehard beach goers.  John and I did take one afternoon to visit friends who live on Long Beach Island.  Hurricane Sandy extensively damaged the first floor of their home and they were out of their house for over seven months.  It was quite a hassel with FEMA, but now the house is completely restored and they are once again enjoying life on the island.  

We have to be out of our rental by 10 a.m. tomorrow morning and will head up to the Philadelphia area where we'll all spend Saturday night with John's sister.  Some additional family will also be coming so we'll get to see our nephew's family and one of John's cousins.  From there we will head out for home early Sunday morning and will stop in Indiana to visit with our Winter Texan friends, the Bevins.  After one night with them, we'll make the final run to home.  We are hoping to arrive back in Bagley sometime Wednesday so I probably won't be posting again till that time.

Nice Day At The Beach

After a good night's sleep, we were all up and out the door on time for church this morning.  Our first choice was the local Methodist church several blocks down from where we're staying.  The wrong service times were listed in the paper, so we were too late for worship there.  We headed further down the street to the Ocean City Tabernacle where we enjoyed a wonderful service and message.

Following lunch, we headed to the beach.  It was a little breezy, but we enjoyed ourselves just relaxing and trying not to get too much sun our first time out.  Tonight for supper we had our first Philly cheese steaks.

 

 

The Ocean At Last

After almost three days on the road we have finally arrived in Ocean City, NJ.  The others had already arrived at the house, so with their help we soon had the car unloaded.  After visiting for a bit, the decision was made to head for the boardwalk and scope out the beach and places to eat.  John and I settled for a couple of slices of New York Pizza and then some DQ as we headed back to the house.  Tomorrow will be beach time!!

First Day Down

Not much to write about tonight--just a long day on the road.  We arrived in Beloit, WI after driving for ten hours.  John and I took a five minute break from the car, stopped at a local familly restaurant for some supper, and then took a stroll through the local Wal Mart to stretch our legs.  The weather here is very warm and humid which takes some getting use to after our cool temps at home.  Tomorrow we hope to reach the eastern side of Ohio once we navagate the perils of Chicago at rush hour.

Packed and Ready To Go

John got up early and headed into town for a last round of golf before we leave on our trip.  While he was gone, I took care of a final load of laundry and got most of the packing finished.  

The other day John picked a five gallon bucket of green peppers so this afternoon we chopped all of them in our new food processor,  measured them out in four cup incriments, put that amount in baggies, and then stuck them in the freezer to be made into relish when we return from our trip.  We also blanched and froze several more bags of green beans.  We'll have to wait and see how the garden holds up while we gone and if the cucumbers will be okay to use.

We'll be heading out bright and early tomorrow morning and will be spending the first night in Beloit, WI.  I'm not sure if we'll have internet while we're gone, so this might be the last posting for a week or two.

Getting Ready to Travel

Our weather continues to be just about perfect for this time of year--daytime temps in the low 70's and cool enough at night for good sleeping.  John and I have been busy getting ready to leave for the east coast on Thursday morning.  He has continued to play golf in the mornings, but I still haven't played as I am uncertain as to how my foot will react to walking the hills and uneven terrain of the course.

Our trip preparations were put on hold for a bit with a phone call from our daughter Susie.  Mike's dad passed away after battling lukemia for the past year.  She and Mike flew into Grand Forks on Saturday and will be there until flying out on Sunday to return to Sacramento.  John and I went to the visitation and prayer service last night and then back to the house for a late supper and to spend some time visiting.  Mike's dad left a hunting rifle to his grandson and since Mike couldn't take it with him on the flight home, asked if we would hold it at our place until someone is heading to CA again.  Mike and Susie are planning to come to Sam's football game here in Clearbrook on Friday evening which will give them some time to visit with Matt and JD.  John and I, unfortunately, won't be here as we'll be on the road east.

This morning we left the house bright and early as I had an eye doctor's appointment for 8:30 a.m.  The eyes checked out just fine, so I'm good to go for another year.  This afternoon John finished mowing the lawn and just has a little weeding left to do in the garden.  The laundry is all done and just needs to be packed.  After supper we headed up to the school to watch Rachel play volleyball.  The Bears lost 2 games to 1, but the games were close and the girls played good.

 

 

Pretty Quiet

Our weather has been cloudy and on the cool side for August with the temps dropping into the low 40's at night and only hitting the upper 60's during the day.  It sure makes it hard for the many tomatoes in our garden to ripen.  The peppers and cucumbers are doing great, but those tomatoes are driving us crazy.

John has been playing golf every morning and seems to be improving his game.  The injection I received at the doctor's earlier in the week has really helped my foot, but I'm not quite sure I'm ready to walk nine holes on the course.

We have been busy getting things around the house under control before we leave on our trip next Thursday.  John mowed the lawn again today and has been working on getting the garden weed free.  I'm trying to keep the laundry current and working on sorting through what we need to take.  This evening Matt, Hanna, and Rachel stopped at the local drive-in, picked up some supper, and then came down to our place to eat it.  Since Sam was on a date and Sara was working at the hospital, they decided to visit with us for a while.  

Pickles and Golf

John went off bright and early to play a round of golf.  He is determined to get the most out the dues we payed back in May.  Right now a round of golf is costing him about $4.50.  I opted out once again as I am having trouble with my right foot.  Arthritis has settled into the big toe joint causing a good sized bunion.  I had called the podietrist last week, but couldn't get an appointment until the end of September.  On Monday I had tripped on the golf course and stepped right on the foot that was giving me pain--after that dumb move, the pain was off the charts and I couldn't walk without it, let alone wear shoes for very long.  Since we will start our trip east next week and will be gone for a while, I called the podietrist's office to see if they could fit me in and maybe get a steroid injection.  The receptionist was so friendly and helpful and found a cancellation for 11:30 this morning.  She told me to come at 11:00 since the doctor wanted an x-ray of my foot before seeing me in the office.  After looking over the x-rays, the doctor said the bones in my foot were pushed out of place and, since it will only get worse, he recommended foot surgery, so I'm scheduled for September 25 as that will give me enough time to get healed up before leaving for Texas.  Before I left, he gave me a steroid injection in the hopes that would help ease the pain over the next several weeks.  We got all the pre-op appointments set up before we left the clinic and then headed to BK for a quick lunch before stopping at Target for a few groceries.

When we returned home, we got busy getting cucumbers washed, cut up, and put into jars along with some hot brine.  After processing, we have seven jars of dill strips.  Once the pickles were done, we attacked the green beans and got them blanched, bagged, and into the freezer.  We're all caught up with the garden produce for now.

A Pretty Cool Morning

John was up early to play golf, but one look at the thermometer told him he needed to wear long pants.  The temperature was 41 degrees at the start of our day with high's only reaching into the low 60's by the afternoon.  I opted out of golfing and stayed home to get more of the Legos sorted and ready for ebay.

We found the food processor we ordered last week sitting on the porch when we got home last night, so we gave it a tryout this afternoon by chopping up cucumbers.  It did a great job and we ended up making a batch of sweet relish.  The entire process was much faster and easier with this new appliance, so it's definitely a keeper.  This evening following supper, I headed up to Sara's for a haircut while John stayed busy at home watering the garden.  It seems most of the heavier rains have bypassed our area, so things have gotten pretty dry.

Fall Day

The high humidity continued yesterday, so after church I hung out around the house working on sorting our old Legos and getting them photographed and ready to put on ebay after we return from the East Coast.  I'm hoping folks will be thinking of possible Christmas gifts and might be looking for some vintage Legos.  While I was busy with the Legos, John headed up to JD's place and helped John and Joanne erect a trellis for their grape vines.  John had given them a couple of shoots in the spring and they have taken root and growing quickly.

A cold front went through last night and the humidty finally moved out.  In its wake came much cooler temps (highs in the low 60's) and strong winds.  It really felt like a fall day, but perfect for playing golf.  Once we were back home, I packaged up the items I sold on ebay last week.  I dropped them off on my way to Bemidji for a doctor's appointment--it was my turn for my annual physical.  As soon as I was finished, I drove back home where an hour and a half later John and I returned to Bemidji for some quick grocery shopping, supper at BK, and then on to Blackduck for Rachel's first volleyball game of the season.  The eighth grade Bears were winners tonight--two games to one.  We stayed and watched the varsity play a couple of games, but decided to head home as it was getting late and we both had a busy day.

 Rachel returning vollies