October 26, 2009

• SURPRISE!!!

  Yes, I am still alive.
  I have just been too lazy to get pictures (and my thoughts) together to make a blog.

  First of all, my knee is 95% better.  If I use it too much, it bothers me—usually at night.  Maybe I will always have it.  When I see my Dr. in Jan., I will mention it to her.

  Ken’s sis did arrive—a little over a week later than she had planned on being here.  She stayed at our sis-in-law’s behind us, but saw her every day.  It is always fun when she is here.  She did bring something for the house, too. (She owns the homestead here).  Her married daughter had replace the outside lights on her house, and Diana took the old ones—which are only about 5 yrs. old.  We replaced the front porch light and the two front garage lights with those she brought.  They are sooo much nicer than what we did have.
  This is the one on the front porch.
   

  They are so nice and bright.

  Just  before Diana arrived, we had a tree removed that had died over the winter.  It was fun watching the process.  Now you get to see it, too—-aren’t you lucky!  LOL
  

  

  

  

  I don’t have pics of the stump removal, but did take a boring video, which I won’t bore you with, too.

  While Diana was here, a second sister, Linda, came and stayed overnight with us.  Had Diana and sis-in-law, Judy, here for dinner.  Of course, there were the obligatory pictures.

  
  Ken, Diana, Linda

  

  The four gals.  Diana, Linda, me, Judy
  It was a fun evening!

  The beginning of October, our oldest grandson was coming to LaCrosse from San Jose during his break from Chiropractic college.  (He just passed his second round of board exams!)
  He and granddaughter, Hannah, came across state and stayed overnight here.  It was sooo great to see them.  Hadn’t seen either one of them in over a year.
  Jacob went to Ken’s chiropractic appointment with him.  He said it was interesting to see how things have changed over the years.  Ken’s chiropractor is in his mid to late 50′s, and a lot of techniques are different now.  Jacob really enjoyed it, and Dr. J really liked Jacob a lot!  This is Jacob just before they left home—he wanted to look professional.  Even gave Dr. J one of his business cards.
   

  Afterwards, we went down to the beach.  Hannah and Jacob wanted to take a walk there.  I went along, but sat in the car with a book.  My knee still wasn’t good, and didn’t want to walk through the sand.  It was a beautiful day, but cool and breezy.
   Jacob and sister,Hannah
  

  Ken and kids—note that the snow fences were up already.
  

  After the beach, we stopped by son, Greg’s house.  He was at work, but Jacob and Hannah got to see Lori and the three kids at home—-along with the 3 dogs, 2 cats, several birds and a couple guinea pigs! 
  After that, we went to Beerntsen’s, a candy shop/restaurant in Manitowoc.  They are known for their homemade candies.  Local grandson, Avery, works there, and we surprised him.  He was in the middle of making carmel corn.
  Love their chocolates, but cannot afford them.  Most run about $15 a lb.!!  We did get a few pieces, though.  They make great ice cream sundaes, too, but we didn’t want any—it was too chilly to enjoy them.
  After that we went to the local sub place, which has been our boys’ favorite eatery since they were teens.  They passed their love of Fatso’s Subs on to their own kids.  That is what Jacob and Hannah wanted for dinner.  Of course, I didn’t object—didn’t have to cook then!!  I did have brownies for them, though.
  It was a nice, but short  visit.  Now Jacob is done with all his classes.  This next year will be spent in the chiropractic college’s clinic.  He will finally graduate next Sept..  I would love to go for that!  Time will tell.

  Our traveling family is all done with their tournaments until Feb.—which will be in Newport Beach, CA.  They have decided to spend the winter down around Yuma, AZ again—where they spent over a month the first winter they were on the road. 
  They had planned on going from their last tournament in Alabama to Colorado and Utah.  But, with the bad weather starting so early in Colorado, they changed their plans.  They stayed south, and went to a bus rally near Joplin, MO, and then on to the Grand Canyon .  Jeff and Judy had been there once before years ago, but not the kids.  One day they hiked about 1/2 way down into the canyon.  Catalina, now 14 mos., rode in a carrier on Jeff’s back.  On the way back up they were caught in a small rain shower.  Jeff said when it stopped he looked back and there was the most beautiful full rainbow way down in the canyon.  I hope he got a picture of it.  Forgot to ask him.  He said the weather at the Canyon was perfect—not too hot, not too cold.
  Now, they are in the Phoenix area, staying in a campground at Lake Pleasant (NW of the city).  Yesterday they were to go by my sister’s for dinner, and then on to visit her granddaughter (my great-niece), Dana.  Dana is married, and has a little boy who is just 3 mos. older than Catalina.  Dana promised me she would take pics of the two little ones together.
  Haven’t heard from any of them, so figure everything went well.  Jeff also wants to visit another cousin of his who lives out there, and also some friends from LaCrosse who have moved out there.   I think they plan on staying until the end of this week.

  While they were still in Alabama, they sent a picture of Catalina.  She is really a girly-girl.  Loves to wear her necklace with everything!
  

  A few weeks ago, Ken came home from one of his bike rides and wanted me to come with him in the car to see something, and to bring the camera.  He took me down near the river, where the power lines cross to the south side of town.

  He had noticed the big nests on the two double poles crossing the river.

  

  Got a close-up of the closest one.
  
  It is some sort of hawk—don’t know what kind, though.
  The city had mowed an access to the lines, but left an area unmowed.
    Lots of wildflowers.
  

  A close-up of one of the plants.
  

  One of our local granddaughters went to her first high school dance.  She is home-schooled, but a lot of her friends go to Lutheran High.  She was asked to Lutheran’s Homecoming by a nice young fella she knows from church.  She wore one of her older sister’s dresses, and looks so grown up.  She is a Freshman.  Her hair is usually straight, but curled it for the occasion.  I love it!!
  

  It is hard to think that there are only a couple grands left that are not at least teenagers!  Where did all those years go?  They went by so quickly. 

  That about brings you all up to date.  Hope you managed to wade through all of this!!  Life is quiet now, after a busy summer—busy for US.  But nothing compared to the busy life most of you lead!
  Will try not to wait so long to blog again.
  It is always great to read all your blogs, even if I don’t comment much!!
  Hugs to you all!!

  • 6:27 pm
  • 9 Comments