Pictures

My culprit knee - isn't it lovely!!

The flood water pictures

McHardy Park

Top of the fire tower

I don't know what I did to make them disappear before. Sorry!!

A Surprise Find

Well, here's a picture of the culprit that's giving me grief - it's called a Bakers Cyst (look under mayoclinic.com - diseases - baker's cyst). Can't see a thing, other than a knee that's maybe slightly swollen. But the doc says I should elevate it often and ice it often and take ibuprofen or Aleve. So I'm trying - today is a good day - yesterday was not but then I was on it a lot.

I woke up one morning this week and my "deck Morning Glory" was all decked out - it had at least 4 blooms on it. That's the most I've had. It was really pretty - this picture just doesn't do it justice at all. Chase says the plant down on the trellis has lots of flowers too but I haven't been down there. Bad thing is that they only last one day and then new ones come so I never know how many I'll have.

Here are pictures of the flooding around Brandon this past week. Dad took these when he and Chase were checking out the area on Saturday morning. Went out Friday night with Amy and there was a lot of water in the park and the golf course. By the time I took Grandma for a short ride on Saturday morning a lot of it had gone down already.

I had lots more pictures but they keep disappearing on me.
Sorry!!

This is my cutie pie.

.

These two documents are the surprise find. When Uncle Rich left Flagstaff, he left behind an old suitcase that when Dad opened it was filled with bank statements and papers from Grandpa Haan's estaste. Dad didn't want some stranger buying this suitcase with all these papers inside so he brought it home with us. It's sat in the garage for the last year. Finally this week he opened it and started going through it. A lot of stuff he has been shredding but there is a whole pile that we need to take a second look at. Also in the suitcase was an old figurine from Grandpa's house, an old camera and several other small items. The first document is the Marriage Certificate/license for Grandpa and Grandma Haan - they were married in February 1934. Grandpa never talked about their wedding and Grandma only did once and it wasn't very positive. According to the certificate, they were married in the courthouse in Luverne. Uncle Auko and Grandma's sister, Anna were their witnesses.

This second find is Grandpa's Naturalization Papers from when he became a citizen. It's very interesting because he has signed his name as Jacob - this is the only place I have ever seen this. His legal name, we always thought, was Jake. It has some folds in it that I would like to be able to get out so I plan to call the Courthouse Museum and ask them what they would suggest to try to remove them. Then I may frame them - it's a shame to just put it in the strongbox where Grandma's papers have been for several years. Any suggestions as to what I might be able to do with them?

Well, that's about it for this week. Last Sunday we had guests from church for lunch but I forgot to take a picture. We had 7 people over and I thought we had a nice time. Had chili, chicken soup, homemade bread and apple pie & ice cream. I even made the pie myself - it was OK. I've made better but then I haven't made an apple pie for probably close to 10 years so I thought I was doing well.

Have a wonderful, wonderful week and hopefully I'll be able to post my blog from somewhere in Montana next week.

love to you both

Post-Tuesday Blog

Greetings dear daughters and granddaughter,

I realize that I am now 24 hours late in posting my blog; however there are some very good reasons for this:
1. My leg hurts VERY bad!
2. It rained last night.
3. I didn't have my pictures ready.
4. I had company for supper last night so I had to cook and clean for them.

Now, on to my blog:

This is a picture of our deck. As you can see, there is a morning glory that has decided to grow right up through the decking. It is also growing through the steps but the flower wasn't blooming so it's more difficult to see on a picture. Isn't this neat? Dad's mums are FULL of buds and once they bloom, they are going to be gorgeous. Can't wait.

OUR BUS TRIP:

This was one of my favorite activities - riding the train. Good thing I enjoyed it because we did a lot of train riding. This one happened to be an open car which were even more fun.
Dad took this picture the night we had our dinner cruise on the boat in Knoxville, TN. It was a picture of the lights on the bridge as we went under it. Isn't it cool? It was a beautiful night and a beautiful cruise. Loved it!!

This was one of our highlights - The Hermitage in Nashville, TN. It is the home of Andrew Jackson - I didn't get a very good picture of it. Dad and I could have spent another couple of hours there - it's definitely a must-do if we're ever back in that area.

All of the furniture in the house is original - they have been able to "purchase back" all of the original stuff from the family.

I need to get to the library now and check out some books on Andrew and Rachel Jackson. She was a divorcee when he married her and it was quite a scandal.

This is "Fat Man Squeeze" or something like that at Rock City. I think you were there, DeAnn. I made it through just fine.

We really enjoyed Rock City also and would have liked to have spent more time there - in fact even our tour guide said it was way tooooo rushed!! We bascially just walked through it and didn't get much time to stop and look. Then we picked up two little old ladies and we all got lost.

This is a scene from one of the train rides. We have lots of very pretty scenery inbetween all the trees - you just had to be really quick with the trigger finger to get your picture. I have more to show you later.

Before we left, Dad was very concerned about being able to take his naps on the bus - as you can see, he had NO problem. In fact, this is on the train. Because all of the train rides we took were vintage, they would go both ways on the same track so lots of people took naps on the return trip.

DeAnn, I'm hoping that when I am at your house, you will help me organize my pictures. Then I would like to put our bus trip on a CD, rather than doing an album this time..

I have a couple of projects I wanted to work on this week, but it doesn't look very promising. I went through all the mail today and have a little "to do" pile. The rest went in the garbage. We're having company for lunch on Sunday - just chili, chicken soup and bread and apple pie so don't have to do anything too difficult. Have to take grandma to a funeral on Saturday morning so that will shoot the day pretty much.

Well, that's all for now!! I hope you both have a wonderful week.

Amy, I sure hope your cold disppears as quickly as it came.

Love to all of you!! (especially my youngest reader - you're still one of the brightest rays in my sunlight)

Happy September

HAPPY SEPTEMBER - According to my calendar and the newspeople this morning, yesterday was the first day of Fall. Chase is showing us how to step back and jump right in.

My packing is all finished and my carry-on is almost ready. Have to shave my legs yet tonight and then I'm ready. Have a bit of a head-ache so I think I'll just head off to bed early tonight. Have to be in Sioux Falls by 9:15 so will have time in the morning to finish up any last minute details.

I had my blog all finished this morning, then I hit a wrong button and puff - it was gone, just like Puff the Magic Dragon.

We've had a good week - got several projects completed and have a couple new ones waiting for when I get back. I had a huge "to do" list when we came back from camping (15 items) and I've finished all but a couple.

In finally finished Chase's coverlet, valance and one of his pillow cases. I need to make him one more but have to get some skull & crossbones fabric. I went over Saturday morning and hung the valance (Amy helped just a tad) and then made his bed and put the new coverlet on it. Looks rather nice, I think.

I'm not sure if he noticed it or not. He didn't say anything tonight at supper and he usually notices things, but then I forgot to ask him about it too.

Well, I should have LOTS of pictures to show you in a couple of weeks of our journey. Dad wants me to take the computer along but I'm not sure that's such a good idea. We'll see.

Enjoy your Falls days - that white stuff will be here soon enough.

Was looking through some pictures the other day and remember when.....

* walking down the strip in 90+ weather

* having our picture taken with the president of the US

* staying in the most luxurious hotel I've ever stayed in

A little over a year ago we were doing all of those things - how I treasure our trips together - memories of a lifetime.

Have a good week!!!!

On Vacation in Northern Minnesota

People have been asking where we've been. Have we been on vacation? Well, is it vacation or just spending our days in another location? I think that being on vacation is what we're going to be doing in Tennessee beginning next week. So here are some highlights from spending our days in another location.



We started out in Prinsburg and stayed at some friends that are in the park with us in Tucson. They have a large area by their home that's cemented and a perfect place to park the motorhome. Only problem was it was RIGHT next to the road that is very busy with large trucks all day and all night until about midnight. Well, it didn't bother us one bit - we can sleep through almost anything.



We didn't get there until the middle of the afternoon and then had to set up and visit and all that. Went to dinner Tuesday night with our good friends, Cal & Delores in Montevideo, MN. Never been there so it was a new place to see. Had planned to leave on Wednesday to go to the DeRuyter's but Cal said he had our whole day planned for us. In the morning, we went to some gardens that a fella does in his spare time - they were very nice. I especially liked the vine at the beginning of the blog. It was feathery with little red flowers on it. I plan to write and ask him what it is. Wouldn't it be cute growing up some ropes to form a little tepee in the back yard.

Here are some additional pictures of the gardens.

This is a place near Foley, MN. The fella has a small replica of an old Standard gas station that he has built. We've often talked about stopping on our way to Aunt Jennie's - well this time we did. The guy said he quit smoking 26 years ago and started collecting. He has small tractors, cars, lots of oil cans and gas pumps. Dad really liked the gas pumps. The guy said that he's considered quitting his collecting but he said that both he and his wife really enjoy it so why quit?

Here's the gang - I should have put last year's picture in here too so you could see if we'd changed. On Friday dad and Gary put up a railing by Marv & Judy's trailer. It is very difficult for Marv to go up and down steps - he has a super bad hip. Then we went out to dinner - in fact the place was so good that we went there on Thursday night with just Marv & Judy and then Friday night with the Wood's and DeRuyter's. We had such a good time, other than all the bites I got on my feet. They're pretty well healed now or I would have taken a picture for you all.

From the DeRuyter's, we went to Little Falls to the Charles Lindbergh State Park - didn't take any pictures though. We had hoped to tour his boyhood home and museum but they were only open on weekends. The park was OK. Had a good time in Little Falls at the area antique store though.

Then took a VERY windy ride up to Itasca State Park - awesome. We had a great time. Very relaxing. Dad took a long bike ride while I read my book the first day.

Here's the headwaters of the mightly Mississippi River. We were here long ago when you guys were young -do you remember it?

I have pictures somewhere so when I find them, I'll post them next to these.

Had to get back home for the weekend because Gail & Irv were coming to visit. We go to church with them in Tucson. They arrived on Saturday noon and left Monday morning - had a GREAT visit. Here's a picture of their motorhome. The motorhome with the trailer measures 63 feet - too long for us unless it's parked. They will be gone from home about 5 months and are just traveling around the country visiting people this trip. They're doing some sightseeing also but have a huge list of people they're visiting.

That's our couple of weeks spending time away from home. We leave next Wednesday, Sept 8th for our vacation. Til then, have a wonderful week ahead.

Love to you both,

MOM

Wagons West Dinner

Good evening, daughters and granddaughter,
I know Thursday has come and gone but I've had a busy week. I did get Chase's coverlet finished but I haven't delivered it yet. I will take pictures once it's on his bed and I've hung his valance. It may not be for a day or two.

Friday night we had some friends from Arizona who live in Wisconsin come to stay the night. Actually they stayed in their new pickup camper in the driveway but they used our bathroom, so that counts as staying over. I had decided to invite the Arizona people who live in Sioux Falls to come for dessert and coffee when dad asked, why can't we have them come for supper? So, good wife that I am, I said OK. It was a simple meal of sandwiches, jello, relishes, watermelon, grapes, chips and pie for dessert but it still took a large portion of my Friday to get ready. Dad was working at the hospital. When he got home about 2:00, however, we did take a short nap.

Here are some pictures of our dinner: (note the tablecloths - aren't they cute?)

We had a good time. They arrived a half hour early at 5:30 and stayed til 9:30. Now, you may have noticed that Uncle Rich and Henrietta are also on the picture and as you are aware, they do not live in Sioux Falls. They were over for lunch (Subway) on Tuesday and we were telling them that we were having some Wagons West people over on Friday night. Rich asked why he wasn't invited - I said, you don't live in South Dakota and this is for South Dakota people. Of course, I relented and invited them because I thought it would give Henrietta a chance to meet some of the ladies from the park.

I made chicken salad and it was awesome. Uncle Rich said it was as good as Subway's and he really like the salad at Subway. Kudos for me!!!!

DeAnn, do you remember this angel that you made at Bethany Meadows with Grandma and then hung on my picture in the living room where it's hung for the last two years, at least, if not three. Well, keep a copy of this picture because she has died and was buried on Friday. Sorry!

We leave on Tuesday for Minnesota. I'll try to blog from up there if they have wireless at the park.

Great week to y'all!!!!

Tuesday Blog on Thursday

I'm in the process of working on Chase's bedspread so will do my blog on Thursday this week so I can do pictures.

Have a great week!!!

MOM