Mural Art

 Back in the Winter of 2022 our daughter Jen was exploring different art ideas.  She sent for a tile from  The Mural Mosaic Global Roots Project in the Midwest Region.  

1500 people painted tiles.  As I recall she was asked to paint something mostly blue the color of the sky. 

Her tile arrived the same day that her Aunt Jan (Far Guy's sister) died on April 21, 2022. 

Jen painted what was heavy on her mind that day.  

The mural was unveiled in Port Washington Wisconsin in April of 2023.  Jen and Andy visited the mural yesterday. 

Here is a link to a photo of the entire mural.

Isn't it wonderful what artists can create together! 

Far Side

Until we meet again

 The funeral for Far Guy's sister is today. 

The rose bush near her mail box that was full of blooms one year when we visited her....the dew was still on the roses. 

One of the things she always told her brother on their many phone calls was that she loved him and she would see him in heaven. 

Far Side

Day off

 I ran errands in town on my "day off" due to no ironing.   I visited my parents, they are adjusting well and seem happy in their new apartment. 

Far Guy cooked supper...hamburgers with bacon, corn and french fries.   I laid on the couch with my feet up and was available as a consultant if need be. 

Far Guy's sister was very sleepy and hardly awake at all yesterday.  She did send a message to her brother via her husband that she loves him.  She is not eating much at all anymore, a spoon of applesauce with her pills and a spoon of carrots.  Very hard to see her go downhill. We hear that the Hospice nurses are very kind and good about helping out her husband, daughter and son in law as they all care for her at home. 

We went for a ride down to the river to the area I call "dead beaver area."

 It was a dreary evening we are supposed to get some more snow to make it look like a winter wonderland again...ain't that just peachy keen. 

Far Side

Easter Weekend

 I should NOT complain....but I am a tad cranky. 

It doesn't seem like Easter time here, if I were hiding eggs outside I would have to traipse through the freaking SNOW.

It snowed off and on all day Friday and it was rather chilly.  21 F or -6 C eh!

 I tried to do too much with my thumb ...seemed like everything I did was a pain...grinding the pepper mill, shoveling the walk, lifting drawers upstairs and washing dishes.

I have a plantar wart...not sure how I got it...but I do know someone else who has one and I do go barefoot most of the winter.  What a pain in the foot....we will try to get rid of it here at home. 

Well you know what they say about a frown...it is just a smile upside down. 

The bunnies at Andy and Jen's home always make me smile. 

Ceramics from a long time ago, the basket is Mother of Pearl.

My parents seem to be getting along ok at their new digs.

We remember and pray for those on Hospice. 

Far Guy's sister Jan, and Andy's Dad Bob. 

Far Side

17 and 18

 I made some progress on my Patchwork Mosaic Afghan.

Square 17

Square 18 

Almost as pretty on the back! 

 Back of Square 17

Two more squares to go and then I can start putting borders on each square and put them together.  I hope to get the next two squares done in the next week.  We will see. 

It has been a fun project learning all the different designs.

Far Guy speaks with his sister everyday.  Yesterday she was very tired.

It was 44 F or 7 C eh yesterday... it was a melting day! 

Far Side

Snow squalls and stuff

 We had notices on our phones that Snow Squalls would be moving through our area causing white out conditions.  This is a new alert for us, something that the National Weather Service has just begun.  Here in town it wasn't bad but out there in the valley it was most likely real bad especially since the warning came after dark.

Some people are enjoying snorkeling weather and sent photos poolside...I sent a photo of a snow bank. 

Things are just going swimmingly here, some love tracks to clean up, a puppy to entertain, a kitty cat that needs to be saved from a certain puppy from time to time.  

My blood pressure is up so the Doctors are adding yet another med.  On a recheck the Nurse told me to sit quietly and go to my happy place and she would recheck my blood pressure in ten minutes...apparently my happy place causes me stress as it went higher instead of lower.  Go figure.

Far Guy had an appointment with his Cardiologist in Fargo this week and found out he has some extra fluid in his chest...so he will be trying out a new med also ...as soon as it is delivered.  His Cardiologist is hoping that it will make his breathing easier.  We will see. 

Far Guy spoke with his sister for a long time last night, she is becoming more forgetful ...but who among us isn't. 

Far Side

Progress on Mosaic Crochet

 Square number 16 of 20 was finished this week.  

Eventually it will get a border...and then attached to other squares with borders.   I have no plans to finish this project anytime soon.  I would like to get the designs in the squares done by April 1st...and maybe start on some of the borders.  (All those little ends get encased in a border)

This wasn't a terribly hard design....I can see it in a large afghan with a dark background and the design rows in many different colors...maybe a stash buster afghan. 

I have been resisting starting any more mosaic crochet projects until I make more progress on the two I have in the works. 

Far Guy had to have many sticks again for his infusion this week....discouraging....he said at one time three different nurses were poking him with needles. 

Far Guy's sister felt good enough to sit outside on the patio and call him the other day.  She seems to have rallied for the moment...good to see her up and out of bed.  She seems to be in less pain. 

Far Side

March

 It looks like March will come in like a lamb...above zero temperatures...yeah!! 

The streets are in good driving condition.  

Far Guy spoke with his sister and her family again yesterday.  She ate supper in the dining room with her family...her first night doing that since she came home from the hospital.  Her Pastor visited with her and she had communion.  She had a list of people she wanted to call, I asked her about that and she said yes she made all her phone calls. 

I was busy all day yesterday...cleaned a couple of bathrooms and changed sheets, puppy sat Sadie while crocheting and cooked supper...hamburgers, corn and French fries in the air fryer...a baked potato for me. 

Far Side

New Project

 One thing leads to another...first you buy an instructional workbook...then the supplies ...and then the containers to store the new found supplies.   This time it is in a tube watercolors.  Before I have used pan watercolors and dual brush watercolors....so it is different. 

Oh well it has been a long winter that is getting longer. 

Far Guy had a good infusion nurse with good aim so only one stick...thank goodness.

Far Guy speaks with his sister and her family daily, there are no big changes although he said she looked like she was in more pain yesterday as she kept rubbing her head.

Far Side

Chilly

 It was - 47 F with the wind chill yesterday and the same is forecast for Wednesday and maybe lower than that on Thursday.  Uffda.

I finally finished this mosaic square that is on my desk. 

 

Some times I have some help. 

If Sadie looks sad it is because I wouldn't let her tear up a book on my desk...or the cards...or pens...she uses this chair to elevate herself and get in range of the good stuff.  

She is biting less and less as her adult teeth come in and replace her puppy teeth!  She is 17 weeks old now.   She knows sit, down, shake hands, come and sometimes off and stay.  She heels pretty good on lead and I have been doing some target work with her with the target stick...she targets great...I work on Sadie Kennel Up and Sadie Heel off lead with the target stick.  She plays ball now...her favorite ball being a tennis ball...she runs after the ball, Little Elvis runs after her and barks (normal ball playing for him as he did the same thing with Miss Miney and Chance) most of the time she brings the ball back to you...we are working on that.   If she has to go out she goes to the patio door and barks.  I have been asking her to use the doggie door more often...she comes in through the doggie door but going out is a work in progress.  She is 96% house trained...she has an occasional accident.  She is doing great for being 17 weeks old.  She loves everyone and is great entertainment.   The cold air doesn't bother her...she runs like the wind through the snow in the back yard. 

Far Guy facetimes with his sister or her family everyday.  Hospice is helping to keep her comfortable. 

Far Side

Snow again

 It seems the winter storms are back to back. 

This is our patio, a photo I took when we were back home.  It is the most snow we have seen in many years.

If I had put the snow stick up it would be totally covered. 

Back home they are getting another blizzard Monday and Tuesday.  That one will miss us...but then we had bad weather up here on Saturday and Sunday.   

We took care of Sadie while Andy and Jen went to a movie.  Sadie and I had a nice nap!  I made Naan bread pizza for supper.  In the evening we played Hand and Foot and they finally let me win. 

Far Guy facetimed with his sister again yesterday, she was a bit more alert than the day before.  Brother In Law Ron felt a bit better too as he was finally able to get some sleep.   Ron, their daughter Bethany and son in law RJ are all taking turns caring for Jan at home. 

Far Side

Be Calm

 As you know my word for 2022 was just to "Be." This week it is to be calm and to be supportive as  Far Guy comes to grips with his sisters cancer diagnosis.  It is hard for him as he not only loves his sister he likes her too...they are very close.  She will be released from the hospital today and hospice care will try to keep her comfortable. The cancer raging throughout her body is very painful.  The months that they thought she might have is now days or maybe a week or two. 

I am sure we all find our calm in different ways.  I cleaned a bathroom and scrubbed some floors and made lemon pudding...comfort food.  

We have prayed for a better outcome, God is in control, the best we can do is to be calm and carry on. 

Far Side

Security

 Sadie knows all about security...for her it is falling asleep with her feet near mine and not caring that your ear is folded over. 

Far Guy's only sister Jan is very ill.  She is in the hospital and has been diagnosed with Leptomeningeal Carcinoma.   It is a very rare form of cancer that can occur after metastatic breast cancer.  Jan went through chemotherapy for breast cancer during the pandemic.  Survival for this kind of cancer is usually a few weeks to a few months.  Please keep Jan, her husband, daughter, son in law and Far Guy in your prayers.   It is very hard news to get.  Jan called to say goodbye to Far Guy and told him she would see him in heaven.  Jan and Ron live in Southern Indiana.  When we know what the plan is for her care  Far Guy may want to visit her.  

One day at a time.  Jan is secure knowing where she is headed.   It is the rest of us that need to embrace her calm acceptance of the diagnosis. 

"In my Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you."  John 14:2

Far Side

Far Guy's Sister

 Far Guy has only one living sister and she lives in Southern Indiana.  She noticed a numbness in her face last week.  She was admitted to the hospital with a subdural hematoma.  The Doctors are waiting to see what happens next, she may have to go to surgery, or they may send her home...time and more tests will tell. 

She spoke at length with Far Guy, the hospital is full and nurses are over loaded with patients.  These are uncertain times we live in, nothing should be taken for granted...not your health or an empty hospital bed should you become ill. 

Our days are numbered for us before we were born, so be thankful for everyday. 

Far Side

40 hours

 I was away for 40 hours.  Granddaughter Paige and I took a flight from Bemidji Minnesota to Louisville Kentucky.  Travel trip...do not wear a shirt with sparklies on it or you will alarm the system and have to have a wand search and then a pat down and residue swab on your hands.  Who knew?  They took Paige's toothpaste because it was too large. 

We had a lay over for a couple of hours in Minneapolis /St Paul.  The plane from there was a hunk of junk and kept making noises and you could feel vibrations and hear clunking noises under my feet.  As we landed in Louisville several streets were blocked off with cop cars...the lights were quite visible late at night we had no idea that riots were happening there and there was a 9 PM curfew as we traveled out of the city with Far Guy's sister and brother in law amongst very little traffic on the freeway. 

Thursday morning our oldest daughter was released from a hospital there and Paige and I drove 13 hours and delivered her safely back to the town where she is living.

Far Guy drove 3 1/2 hours in the early morning hours to pick up Paige and I.  Paige kept her grandpa busy talking and helped him watch for deer while I slept and reportedly snored in the back seat...only awakened with a charlie horse behind my knee.   After Paige was delivered safely to her apartment I completed the drive home. 

It was a quick trip...however it was nice to see Far Guy's sister and brother in law and our niece who lives in the area. 

Everyone wore masks in the airports and on the plane we were all spread out inside the aircraft with spaces all over...capacity was about 25% of normal.  They seated everyone in the back of the plane first row by row so no one had to walk by anyone else.   I believe that exposure was minimal...at least we hope so. 

On our way back through Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin everyone wore masks except a couple of people in a McDonalds in Indiana. 

Far Guy and I are both tired of driving and missing sleep.  Far Guy could not travel on the airplane due to his oxygen requirements and his weekly infusion. 

I came home to a carpet of newly fallen leaves so the second mulch of the season was completed...I would rather drive the lawn mower around for hours versus a car any day of the week.  Far Guy estimates that 1/3 of our leaves fell out of the trees while I was gone. 

Sunrise on Brazil Lake near Georgetown Indiana September 24 2020

It is good to be home.

Far Side

Town and Home

Grocery pickup is always an adventure.  This week there was no bread, pretzel buns, ham, Dawn dish soap, cherries, lemonade mix or crackers.  I masked up and went inside a different grocery store that had all the things I was missing except the pretzel buns. Town was fairly busy, I dropped off mail and went through the drive through at the bank.   I waited only a few minutes for Far Guy to be done....we were in town about 45 minutes total.  Lots of people in town without masks.  In that County there are 12 cases of Covid-19, in the County we live in there have been 69 cases.

When we got home I mowed our yard...found out where the bear pooped back at the edge of the woods.  Far Guy trimmed grass around the trees. 

Our small raspberry patch that we pay no attention to yielded a nice bowl of raspberries for supper....very flavorful!  The wild raspberries are beginning to ripen...they are very small.

This is one of the sculptures at Goose Poop Park.  It is a circle with a dangling swirly part that has rocks inside. This one is not named.  Rocks in a Vortex might be a good name.

Christmas Ornaments ...  28 are completely finished.  Waiting on hooks to properly finish more.  We have just a few more to carve ...we should finish with them in the next few days.

Far Guy's sister had surgery yesterday for Breast Cancer, she had a double mastectomy and lymph node removal...a same day surgery....she still has radiation ahead of her and a hysterectomy.  She had the surgery late in the afternoon and by early evening was on her way home.   Seems like lots of surgery to have and then get sent home....Far Guy is quite worried about her.

Far Side

Tuesday Times

More of the same at our house.  I sprayed yet more Poison Ivy in the morning when the wind was calm.  After that I joined Far Guy in his wood carving office on the patio.

I carved two ornaments...Far Guy carved more than that.  He has his phone and a speaker for his music and coffee...so he was all set.  He talked to his sister on the phone for a while. She is scheduled for a big surgery in early July as she is fighting Breast Cancer....she has completed two different rounds of chemo.

My latest shawl.

It can be worn many different ways.  I like this pattern, the yarn and the way it drapes.   This shawl made it to the shawl box but I have someone special in mind for it...someday.

In the evening I watered plants, cleaned out and filled bird baths and worked on the milk can project.  Far Guy ordered a new weed whacker...our last one would work about three minutes and then the battery would have to be charged...a new battery was almost as much as a new weed whacker. The new one works marvelously!  In a few days we will have the trimming all caught up with.  I can only walk around so many trees before I get dizzy!

The days seem to be going by faster and faster.
Far Side

Prayer Shawl

Last week I sent off a package to Far Guy's sister.  A chemo cap and a prayer shawl from me and a woodcarving from Far Guy.

Far Guy's sister was diagnosed with breast cancer just before Christmas and is now having chemo treatments.  The cancer was found during a routine mammogram. She will have chemo, radiation and surgery.

I saw some yarn in the Local Yarn Shop that draped beautifully.  It was a blend of silk and merino wool.  I struggled with the pattern and frogged it several times.  I was about to give up when I finally conquered the pattern. 

After it was finished I washed it gently and took it upstairs to my work area to block and dry for a few days.  Here the shawl is being blocked. 

Before I mailed it I took it outside for a photo shoot.

It can be draped several different ways.  I chose this pattern because I loved it and since Far Guy's sister lives in a warmer climate than Minnesota the shawl would not feel real heavy and overly warm for her.

We are sad that she has to fight cancer, we are sad that she has lost all her hair. We hope the gifts we mailed to her made her feel loved and make her cancer journey a tiny bit better.  Far Guy's sister has a strong faith and knows she is saved by God's grace.

lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world  Matthew 28:20 

Far Side

Wistful Wednesday: Far Guy’s Sister

Far Guy has one living sibling his older sister, he had twin siblings a brother and a sister who lived only a short time after their birth.  So technically he was born fourth….the baby of the family.  His parents were both 35 years old when he was born.

 

Far Guy and his sister…this photo was taken in 1982…so that was 36 years ago.  She had just nudged him with her shoulder.  I took this photo  at their parents home in Park Rapids Minnesota.  They are sitting on their father’s favorite red couch.  The couch was long enough that someone six feet tall could sleep there.  Black velvet pillows were on each end.  That wall paper was pretty wild…the red design was flocked. In the wintertime both of our grirls could easily sleep on the couch…their grandmother would make the couch up with a sheet and blankets with one little girl on each end.

Far Guy talks to his sister via Facetime a couple of times a week.  She lives in Indiana and is a retired third grade teacher. 

 

Wistful Wednesday : Ernie

Ernie was sometimes called Ern.  He was a Silky Terrier and he replaced Zack who replaced Baby Snuffer.  Ernie belonged to Far Guy’s sister Jan and her husband Ron and their daughter Bethany.  Lately Ernie had been staying with our niece Bethany. ( I think Bethany and her Mom had shared custody of the dog.) You see years ago right after Zack died Far Guy’s sister said “No more dogs.”  Well…Bethany waited for her parents to go on vacation and she brought home Ernie.  Ernie captured their hearts.

Chance and Ernie got along just fine.  When we visited we quickly learned that if we left them out in the yard at the same time…Chance would come when called…Ernie would ignore you and run willy nilly all over the neighborhood…he would come back when he was good and ready.

Far Guy, Ernie and Chance in 2007.

Ernie had quite a time with teeth.

Teeth help keep your tongue in your mouth.  I took this photo in 2014…I was up early and so was Ernie…I laid with him on the floor and took a few photos.

Last week Ernie died..I am not sure how old he was. O.L.D.  Ernie’s family in Indiana is very sad.   I understand.  Ernie was a fun little dog.   He liked us and we liked him.  We are sad too.

Far Guy shared a poem with his niece.

Dogs Never Die

You can go and read the poem if you like.  Basically it says that your pets never die they stay in your heart and wag their tail so hard your heart hurts and that is why we cry so much after they die.  As time goes on they are still there but the wagging of the tail is less and hurts less…or so they say.