Golf Cart

In about 2007 I thought it would be fun for Grandpa to have a golf cart, just to get from the house to the shop, to the garage, barn, or mailbox. Apparently he thought the pickup was more fun to use, so the golf cart stayed parked in the garage for a few years. When Grandma came to live with us, I thought it might be a good idea again to try the golf cart. We brought it back, bought new batteries, and took Grandma and Mikiaha for a ride. They loved it-so our neighbors will see us with new wheels in the evening as we mosey throughout the neighborhood.



Happy Trails

Fathers Day

I'm so glad for all of the years we helped celebrate a very special Father's day and Birth day in one.
He would have been 97 years old this year.

My earliest memories are of him coming in from the field or from doing chores, sitting on the step and taking off his lace up boots.  Heading to the basement to wash up before supper.

Sunday afternoons teaching me how to throw, catch, and hit a softball
Ice skating down the Sheyenne-for miles and miles, looking for animal tracks along the way
Walks on the river on New Years Day
Shooting the 22
Being coached-how to saddle up, chase the bulls, vaccinate the calves
Driving the grain truck, the H International with a narrow front end, and the combine
Every Sunday-regardless of the season, being in Fellowship meeting

Smart, and a quick self learner, life had required him to leave formal education after the 8th grade
I can hear him say.....'Get a good education, that's something no one can take away from you'
He lived through the depression and World War 2,

Always so proud of his Granddaughters!! All 3 - soon - with a Bachelors Degree, the only thing of value in this life that responsibility didn't allow him to attain.

 

Some pictures of our trip to Arizona

Mikiaha's long day

Well, I do think she looks tired, it was a trying day, not the same as lying around on the porch, chasing geese
when Will wasn't here, going for a swim, and barking to satisfy her imagination.

Today she went to Muttly's a dog grooming place in town. It started with a bath, a blow dry, and finished
with clipping. Her long hairs on her feet are clipped, and the rest thinned and combed out.

To me she smells really good, and is welcome to stay in the house-to her, she smells really bad and is sitting
by the door waiting to bolt for the lake, and anything else she could find to get her old self back together again.

The rule is-her coat must stay silky and clean until Laura comes on
Saturday.........

Oh-oh

Oh dear, I hear clothes being hung in the closet of Gramma's room......

Monday when our guests left, she brought down the sheets from one of the upstairs bedrooms and put the sheets in the washer, I didn't hear the washer run, so meant to go in and start it......
However-I soon heard the dryer running, and checked and - sure enough, the sheets went from the washer (unwashed) to the dryer. I quickly took them out and washed them.

Today, wouldn't you know.....I  put Gramma's dark's in the washer and hurried out to grab a few more.
When I came back the dryer was going with the unwashed clothing.......Stopping the dryer-I ran to tend to dinner-Lesson learned - Nothing goes into the washer unless the washer is promptly started

Now......I hear the sound of clothing (unwashed I know) being hung back in the closet.

Wash day  Plan B....During 4:00 Tea time, I'll clean the closet and start the washer with the clothes that were slated to be washed this morning.....uff da

Picture proof

Bedroom and bath and pantry with a new look

Organizing-Part II

 

I've read that cleaning and organizing a house requires high level thinking skills

Yes, first I know something needs to be done

I comprehend it will be a big job, require several days, and get flack from Will

OK, time to apply my time and energy to the task

Analyzing the stuff, deciding what to keep and where to put it-what to donate, throw?

Synthesis of like stuff, and frequency of use

Evaluating  at various stages and at completion

Does it look clean and organized

Has it made life simpler and easier?

Organizing

Oooh....I am extremely Thankful for Daughters.

Adult daughters bring into the family new ideas and up to date suggestions to enhance quality of life for parents and even grandparents....For example:

The house is cleaned and furniture arranged for a new and refreshing look....Thank you Laura

We are reading the WSJ and having interesting and challenging discussions....Thank you Kristin

and  the newest awakening came this weekend from Elizabeth....

Elizabeth watched a documentary about hoarding during her stay in Florida before leaving for a cruise.
She shared this very interesting topic with us.

Monday I started on the pantry-Wednesday- the refrigerator and freezer in the kitchen. Yes, I am determined to work my way through the house purging as I go.

The documentary definitely made both of us think....but before Will left for golf today he said....' Don't throw out anything that is still good-if it's outdated but not bulging remember - it's still good ? '

I had lunch with a long time friend yesterday who said to me    "Don't you just LOVE GOLF"  !!!

Yes, I do like golf season, now I have at least 1 or 2 days a week that I can freely clean and organize and it's never missed

What do people do without daughters ??

                                                                                    

newspapers

This month we visited our Daughter and Son in law in Idaho. On their end table was the Wall Street Journal. Both of us thoroughly enjoyed reading most of what was in this paper, we found it to be current, informative, and pertinent to what is happening both in our country and abroad.

The first week we were home, Will subscribed to the WSJ and it arrived in our mailbox this week. The Forum, the newspaper we had subscribed to for years was coming up short. It seemed most of the articles were about area fringe groups, and contained little useful information. We started thinking of the Forum as a sister paper to the National Enquirer. We will most likely continue to get the Forum as Gramma enjoys reading through the funnies, marriage and engagement announcements, and the obituaries. But beyond that, the paper is basically useless.

We are looking forward to being better informed about the actual news in the country, money and investing, and being entertained with the journal section, which is a far cry from what we've endured with the Forum's newest 'She Said'

Thank you Blair and Kristin, we'll be so much smarter now 

Mystery

I was able to be with Elizabeth as she looked for a town home close to where she works. We had so much fun looking at neighborhoods, walking in different areas of town, and joining the realtor for walk through s of several homes marked for sale. Yes, Elizabeth made an offer on one of the homes, we are anxious to hear if the offer was accepted  :)

However, I got a call from Will, who was at home holding down the fort. He had Jason this week, as Jason had laser removal of facial fibroma. He also was the chief cook and  medicine assistant for both Gramma and Jason.

Will called to ask if I had purchased several packages of candy and put them in Gramma's dresser drawer. I hadn't, and actually didn't know she had a dresser full of candy.........He couldn't figure out where it came from and neither Gramma nor Jason seemed to know. What was evident, was that both Gramma and Jason were enjoying the chocolate.

When I got home, I went into Gramma's room to investigate. Sure enough, behind and to the side of the dresser  was a big box addressed to Gramma, with a return address from Washington. Soooo, the mail lady had brought the box to the house and must have set it inside the door-we think, Will may have been in the garage or office and didn't realize someone was at the door. Gramma-on her way to the kitchen, apparently noticed the box, read her name on it and opened it, putting all of the candy in safe hiding in her dresser drawer.

It is soon Easter and Gramma has all of the Easter candy she can possibly consume in the next couple of weeks.

Visiting Kristin and Blair

This spring, Laura didn't have vacation plans during Spring break, we hoped it would work for her to stay with Gramma so we could drive out to Kristin's. We hadn't been there for a couple of years, and knew a visit was long over due. We didn't say anything to Kristin, as should something come up we didn't want to disappoint her, Laura suggested we plan the trip, and just suprise Kristin. We needed to include Blair in our plans-so they wouldn't be gone. The drive was event free, the weather suburb, and it was wonderful to hug Kristin and Blair again.

Fixing Hair

Sunday evening after supper, Elizabeth asked Gramma 'Do you remember braiding my hair'?

'Oh yes' Gramma said, 'I braided your hair, and I also cut the neighbors hair for many years'.

I remember Gramma going over to cut Louise's, Mrs. Boelter's, and Sophie's hair, these Kruegers lived to the South of Gramma and Grampa. To the West-lived the other Kruegers, Ida and Hulda, and their sister Gussie.  Gramma would cut their hair, and give permanents as requested.

I mentioned to her, she should have gone back to school to be a hair dresser-but she didn't really like that type of work she said....

she was just willing to help out the neighbors.

I also can remember Gramma going over to Kruegers and helping put in their earrings. They couldn't see where the opening was in their ear lobes, so she helped them with this, too.

Gramma could do anything......Plow, milk cows, fix hair, grow a garden, knit, sew, and clean.

Company

We are very fortunate to live in a fun neighborhood. This past week we invited one of our neighbors over for dinner. They are also providing elder care in their home for an aging parent.

It was fun to see our 'gramma's visit, repeat, visit, laugh, and visit about the same topics again and again.

They laughted and seemed to enjoy the couple of hours together.

conversation about Hair

Thursday each week, I insist that Gramma have her "head warshed". So far she has had a permanent that seemed to last several months, with a permanent her hair becomes easier to care for and looks nice. We'll need to make an appointment for another permanent soon- this is simply one more thing she doesn't want to do but will thoroughly enjoy.

In the meantime we have this hair conversation every week.....

Me- Well, it's time to wash your hair, Gramma-

Gramma Defiantly-  " No it can't be, we just warshed it a little while ago!  Besides that-after it's warshed it becomes -  fly away and hard to handle !!! "

She always puts up a fuss when it's time to wash her hair....

Me- I'll get the shampoo and conditioner, you can get ready, you know you will always enjoy having someone fix your hair.......

I  get the supplies and set them by the sink, I know I might have to wait a long time until she is gets ready.  (usually during this wait I read a magazine, or start cooking)

As I wash her hair, she will say- Oh, look at that, my hair is getting gray...why don't you put some color in it??

Me-Well what color would you like, maybe red would be fun

Gramma- Oh No, we haven't had any relatives who have had RED hair...

Me-  Maybe brown, what do you think of having brown hair??

Gramma- Oh, my Dad had brown hair, but Mom had blonde

Me-  Maybe you would rather be blonde?  Would that be OK....

Gramma- thinking about having blonde hair- "It would sure be better than this gray hair I have"

We go into the bedroom where I comb in a mousse and Moroccan oil before setting her hair on rollers.

Gramma - Does your hair have any natural curl?

Me- Oh, a little, it seems to hold a curl for a little while

Gramma - My hair didn't ever have any curl, Gladys sure didn't want anyone to touch her hair, but I love
to have my hair combed.

Me- See it's not so bad to have your hair washed once a week, now is it ????

Gramma-  OH NO- I ALWAYS ENJOY  having someone work with MY  hair.........