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Tuesday, 27 October 2009

Just a "heads up" to my Facebook friends.
I had problems with having no friends lists for gifting on several of my games. I contacted Zynga on Sunday (which runs Cafe World and FarmVille--and possibly Farkle) about the problem. They responded that there was a "known issue" about this, and they were working to fix the problem.
Well, yesterday, Monday, I could not access my account after about 10 a.m.. When I tried signing in it would give me the following announcement "Your account is currently unavailable due to a site issue. We expect this to be resolved shortly. Please try again later."
I finally managed to get on just before I went to bed last night. I saw that my friends list in Cafe World was back, but was too tired to gift then.
Soooo, this morning I went to get on Facebook, and got the same announcement again. GRRRR!! I know I must have run out of food in Cafe World, and cannot access any of the games that need to be "tended" every day. I hope I can get on sometime today!!
Whether this is due to Zynga trying to fix my problem, or if it is something else, I do not know.
Has anyone else had problems the last couple days? I miss being able to contact friends who do not read my blog here.
Just wanted to let you know what has happened.
Miss you all!!

Monday, 26 October 2009

Currently
Fire and Ice: A Beaumont and Brady Novel
By J. A. Jance
see related

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!!

Friday, 04 September 2009

Currently
While My Sister Sleeps
By Barbara Delinsky
see related

OUT OF COMMISSION

I was "lucky" enough to wrench my right knee about 3 weeks ago. It was doing OK until last Friday. After going to church that morning we ran errands---WalMart, Menards, bakery. Too much walking on that bad knee. Could hardly put any weight on it until Tuesday. It is slowly getting better---"slowly" being the operative word! Frustrating is what it is!
Ken's sis from Georgia was supposed to come this week--Wednesday, and Ken was so good about getting the house cleaned up. I dusted and straightened up, but he did the scrubbing of the floor and the vacuuming, and washed all the throw rugs. Then we found out she isn't coming this week---maybe next week. Oh well, the house had really gone to pot while I was out of commission!

Thank you all for your birthday greetings! They are much appreciated---even though I am not happy about being another year older! Better than the alternative,though.

The week before my birthday, we went to visit Ken's sis and hubby, who live about 1 1/2 hrs. away. I had pictures on my blog last year when we went to visit them. Linda has the most beautiful garden! And she made Popcorn Salad for lunch. Sounds odd, but it was delicious! Popcorn with celery, water chestnuts, bacon and cheese in a mayo dressing. I plan on making it when Ken's other sis finally gets here.
The day went by way too quickly. We never stop yakking.
Here are some pics of their garden. She like to make little vignettes.
This is her "yellow" garden:

She loves garage sales. Picks up things for free or next to nothing and paints them.

And, her beautiful, unusual Aztec sunflower:

It was a beautiful day in her garden. The weather was perfect, just a little windy.
Love this annual get-together. Hate coming home to our lackluster plantings. The weather this year was way too cool, and my flowers did not do well at all!!

The travelers are in New Orleans right now---well, a campground just outside the city. They will be leaving late today to tomorrow, heading slowly towards Mobile, Alabama. Poor baby Catalina got too many mosquito bites, and was feverish for a couple days. Poor thing. I remember that happening to her dad, Jeff, when he was about 3 yrs. old. We came back here from Colorado for a visit, and Jeff played outside under all the trees. Got eaten alive by the mosquitoes just before we left to go back to Colorado, and he felt miserable all the way home. Not itchy so much, just feverish. He was fine, though.
That is all from here for now.
We have the Kites Over Lake Michigan festival on Saturday and Sunday here by the beach. We will drive by, but with my bum knee, there is no way I will try to trudge through the sand!
I hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend.

Thursday, 27 August 2009

THANK YOU VAL, SUE AND DAWN

When the girls were here for lunch a little more than a month ago, they surprised us with a beautiful handmade card and a gift card to a local restaurant.
Ken decided that we could combine the card and my birthday dinner----a day early. Cheap date for him!! lol
We thoroughly enjoyed the meal, and kept thanking the girls during it.
The young waiter we had was kind enough to take our picture. The camera wasn't set right, and the flash didn't go off on the first pic he took. He then tried to set it himself, and pushed a lot of wrong stuff! Since I didn't have the camera manual with me, I sat there for about 10 minutes trying to figure out how to get it back to the proper settings! He did it right the second time!
We went early, and they were not busy yet.

Raising our drinks (Pepsi) in thanks to the girls!

I think I am turning into "Nanny"---the other Nancy, who takes pics of her restaurant meals with her trusty Nanny cam!

I didn't think to take the pictures of the food until we were about 1/2 done.
Ken had Planked Thai Chili Glazed Salmon

I had the Shrimp Trio
which included 4 skewered garlic lime grilled shrimp, 2 stuffed shrimp, and a dish of Shrimp de blanc Pasta (which was small salad shrimp sauteed in garlic butter and then tossed into fettuccine Alfredo with mushrooms, red onions and grape tomatoes.)

I had eaten the skewered shrimp by the time I remembered to take a picture. I ended up giving Ken about 1/2 of the pasta, too. It was a LOT to eat!

This was our view from the window next to us. Lake Michigan was fairly calm, and it was overcast and a bit hazy in the distance, but still beautiful---especially with all the flowers planted between the window and walkway outside.

We came home stuffed. Too full for dessert. Good thing we don't eat like that all the time. I would be twice my size----and that would truly be a scary sight. I'm waaay too big as it is!! lol

Thanks again girls. Wonderful meal with memories of good times together with you all!!

(And this meal was a LOT better than the concoction Ken made in the previous blog!! Remind me to sometime tell you about his chocolate chip cookie meat loaf!)

Monday, 24 August 2009

HAUTE CUISINE??????

Ken made scrambled eggs for supper tonight.
I took my share and made two sandwiches for myself.
Ken made "this" for himself.

This is two slices of pumpernickel bread with the scrambled eggs on top.
OK so far.
Even the ketchup isn't too bad----I used to put ketchup on my scrambled eggs when I was a teen.
BUT!!!
I did NOT put relish on top of that.
Nor have I ever put Cool Whip on top of all of that!!

Haute cuisine?? I think not!
Just weird Ken cuisine.

This is one reason that, when Ken cooks, I will often find something different for myself. He does have a tendency to put odd things together! lol