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.