New Years Eve

We stayed plenty warm last night with the 4 space heaters, even had to turn the temperature down on the one in our bedroom.  It was minus 18 when we got up.  We went to Perkins for potato pancakes and then to Walmart for a few things.  It is hard going out in these temperatures but don't want Cabin Fever to set in!

Brenda made it to Brookings, she sent a picture of her car's instrument panel showing -28 degrees!

We brought dinner in and at midnight (Eastern Time) we had shrimp and wine to celebrate.  Too darn cold to go out.

Cold and no furnace

We had breakfast at Denny's with daughter Brenda.  We had a good visit, she is a busy person.  It was minus 14 when we left the house with a north wind.  Just bitter out.  We made one stop on the way home.

In the afternoon we suddenly realized that the furnace was not working.  The flame would come on and then go off.  The house was getting cold!  So called the furnace man, he got here in less than an hour.  Turns out we need a part which we can't get until Tuesday.  The furnace man left two space heaters and each daughter supplied one.  Hopefully we can stay warm in the sub zero weather.

Cold and packing

I worked on packing the office today.  It is a junk collection place so had to do a lot of weeding through stuff.  Much is Don's stuff so he is responsible for that!

It was darn cold so we stayed inside the rest of the day.  We are eating up the last of our food so we don't have to toss so much stuff.

Josh will be 21!

We went to Panera for our bagel breakfast.  It was not only cold out but snowing.  I was going to Walmart and Kohls but decided another day would do!  We did some more packing of the house, got the living room done.

In the evening we went out to eat with family to celebrate our grandson Josh's 21st birthday (which is tomorrow).  After dinner we went to their house for ice cream and cookie (huge cookie).

Christmas put away until next year!

Right away this morning I had a podiatrist appointment.  I sure didn't want to go out in -10 degree weather but it wasn't as bad as I thought.

The contractor came over today to finalize some things.  Still having a discussion with the townhouse management association, hope they get this figured out soon!

In the afternoon we put away Christmas decorations and took down the tree.  I also packed some of the living room decorations.  So the house is looking blank!

-6

After a slow start we cleaned the house and I did a bunch of laundry.  It was too cold to go outside.  Don did make a quick trip to Menards but otherwise it was stay home.

Christmas 2017

We went for brunch at daughter Sheila and family's home.  Our other daughter and granddaughter were also there.  Afterwards we opened our very nice gifts.  Everyone was too generous to us!

In the late afternoon we went to dinner at our son-in-law's brothers home.  35 people were there!  The dinner was great as usual.

We were tired from such a busy and fun day ---

Christmas Eve

Out for breakfast at Cracker Barrow.  They had a special menu for today which did not include the "Eggs in a Basket" which I usually order.  I didn't want anything with syrup and didn't know what to order.  Thankfully our waiter Jorges asked the cook and they prepared an "Eggs in a Basket" for me!

We then delivered stuff to both daughters homes and made a post office stop.  A light (unpredicted) snow was falling and it was cold.  When we got home we started on the list of things we needed to do, one thing was to fix the broccoli casserole to take for Christmas Dinner.  Then a nap, read a little of the paper and was time to get dressed for Church and the evening.  After church we went to daughter Sheila and family's home for fondue and crepes.  It snowed enough to cover the ground when we were there to give the ground a fresh white coat.

2 days B/4

Made the cheese balls for tomorrow's Christmas Eve celebration and cooked the wild rice for my vegetable casserole for Christmas day.  I made a mess of the kitchen!

We got stuff done around the house and then went for dinner at Culvers followed by a Turtle Sundae.

Friday in MN

We made a trip to HyVee this morning for a few things.  It was busy.  One mother had a screaming little girl - nothing would settle her done.  While I feel sorry for the mother, but makes me happy I don't have to deal with that.

Still no snow in Minnesota, blue skies today - cold but no wind so manageable.

We ate dinner at home and watched a DVD.  We wanted to see if our new DVD player actually worked and it did.

Christmas at our campground in Florida:

First day of winter

First day of winter and darkest day of the year.  It has looked like we might actually get the forecast snow, but did not.

The cellitious on my leg is still red and very red on the back of my leg.  I didn't sleep well last night, hot then cold, etc.  I'm sure it will all be fine in a couple days.

I packed the dishes from the China closet today.  It took three boxes as I used a lot of packing paper.  Then we cleaned out the top of the office closet.  Made chili for dinner.

Cellitious again

We went to Panera for bagels for breakfast and then grocery shopping.  There were a lot of people in the stores, probably - like us - trying to beat the forecast snow for tomorrow.  (Which may never happen.)  Then we went to pick up some boxes from the firm that is moving our stuff out for house repair.

I had bad chills last night and was fairly sure I was getting cellitious.  Sure enough my leg was about a third red when we got back for our travels this morning so went to a Minute Clinic and got an antibiotic prescription.  Don had cellitious a couple weeks ago - something to do with the bare concrete floors we are living with?

Sheila came over in the evening with more Christmas goodies! 

Haircuts, bank, liquor, confusion

We got hair cuts in the morning after waiting over 45 minutes, wish they had a call-in waiting list.  Then in the afternoon we went to Woodbury to a branch of our house bank to get them to endorse a check for the house repairs.  Came back to our area, Don went to our usual bank to deposit the check and I went to the liquor store.  (To buy Christmas spirits.)

Then I had a long talk with our contractor who was almost as confused as I was yesterday.  Think he and I are on the same page now and all is well.  (Until the HOA management interferes again.)


"There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy, and its charm." ~Teddy Roosevelt~

House work

Made an attempt to clean the house again.  It is hard with it being so torn up but we try.  I wrapped one last gift and put away the wrapping paper, boxes, bows, etc.

I am trying to decipher all the ins and outs of getting the  house repair done between our insurance, home owners association, etc.  Gave me a headache.

Family time

It is a foggy day, looks like it might snow anytime.  We went out for breakfast and then to Menards and then came home to read the newspapers.

In the evening we went to dinner with our daughters and families.  Was a good, relaxed get together before the craziness of the holidays sets in.

Daughters???

Earrings

After a very restless night I decided I need to get some things done rather than worry about them.  One thing was to clean out junk from closets and cupboards.  I was going through things in our walk-in closet where there is floor to ceiling storage about a foot wide.  I pulled out some clothing and couldn't believe what was behind - the two small boxes of earrings that I had been looking for since we came north about a month ago.  I had given up on them thinking they had been "taken" from a motel room.  Most of the earrings are not valuable except for some were given to me by family and friends.  Some of the earrings are gold, silver or turquoise and a couple pair belonged to my grandmother.  I could hardly believe what I was seeing and so thankful to have them back.  I had come to realize that possessions are not the most important thing in one's life.  (I did entertain the thought that I hopped who ever wore my earrings would have their ears swell, turn red and burn.)  I know I was quickly putting things away when we returned and must have had the earrings in one hand and other stuff in the other, put the earring boxes down to hang some clothing and they slipped behind and then I totally forgot about having them in my hand.  I had looked everywhere - almost!

We didn't get enough snow to plow so Don cleaned the driveway and walkway to our house. 

Gifts and Pizza

I finished wrapping the Christmas gifts! 

We went out for a pizza to bring home.  It was snowing and the roads were getting slick so a goon night to stay home.

Labels/pain

We went for bagels at Panera today.  It was cold and snowing some but got to get out sometime!  Then to Walmart for address labels  and HyVee for a few groceries.

Got home and tried printing on my Christmas card addresses on my new labels only to find they were formatted differently than the old ones.  Tried to fix them to no avail so finally downloaded the new template and mass cut and paste.  That didn't work but could one by one cut and paste.  So what should have taken less than 5 minutes took an hour.  I enlisted Don to help with stamps, return addresses, etc. and got the cards done and mailed.

Brenda came over in the afternoon and she treated us to dinner at Cracker Barrow. 

The Legion Lake (SD Black Hills) fire continues to grow out of control:

Home day

Looks slick outside, decided this would be a stay at home and get stuff done day.  I made some stew in the crockpot for dinner.

I worked on Christmas Cards but didn't have any computer labels.  Did some gift wrapping until my shoulder hurt.  Got to get going on things, time is passing!

IKEA today

This morning we went to IKEA first for breakfast.  They have a great breakfast for $2, coffee (which is strong and smooth) is free with our "membership card".  We then looked at dining room tables, chairs, computer desks and display (china) cabinets.  We found things in all categories that we liked and will work for us when we are ready to buy.  (I see a lot of assembly in Don's future.)  Then we shopped the kitchen area and picked up some ground coffee and other foods.  By this time it was lunch time so why not have a cheap lunch of Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy and a good vegetable combination.

Got home just in time for a nap!!!

We fixed grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner - not too hungry.

Busy Monday

We got some fresh snow last night.  Even through the pictures below are from last year it looks the same today, rabbit as well.

We cleaned the house again, washed three loads - ready for the week.

In the afternoon we went to Menards and Target and then picked up some KFC for dinner.  Sheila came to visit in the evening with Christmas Cookies!

Sunday in Apple Valley

Bakers Square this morning for breakfast, at least they weren't too busy!  I can always tell a new host as I walk in with my cane and they still want to sit us as far from the door as possible.  Even after I told her "something not too far in" she was leading us to the back.  The manager stopped her and sent us to a booth nearest the doors.  Veteran Hosts know without saying anything to put us in the front third of the seating.

Then we went to Walmart for some groceries and Kohl's for Don to get his band to his new watch made smaller.  Of course I did a little shopping.  We were going to Menards but decided that could wait for another day.

We used the new air fryer to fix dinner again and turned out good.  Might need one in Florida!

Chili

A few snow flakes were coming down this morning, we made an attempt at not doing much but drinking coffee.  In the evening we went to Chili's for dinner.  The place was packed, we had to wait awhile.  Then we got a server who had to be new at the job, she did Ok but kept coming to see if she could remove some dishes - we were still eating.  Maybe they were short of dishes!!!

Finally Friday

We went to HyVee food store and CVS Pharmacy this morning.  Hate it when parking lots aren't plowed like at CVS, makes walking treacherous.

We took care of some pesky business stuff in the afternoon after a false try yesterday. 

Don went out for a Subway for dinner while I cooked some potatoes in the new air fryer. 

Pearl Harbor Day

Don got up early for his doctor appointment.  I got up at my usual time, could have slept in but had things I wanted to get done.  It was 3 degrees when I got up.

Later the project manager for the house repair came to see what items he needed to order.  He also brought carpet samples.  We are all waiting to hear who is paying for this, will not be us!

Brenda came for waffles and brought some good raspberry compote and some vegetables.  Had a good evening.

Cold, wind, snow

Out for breakfast again.  We went to Panera for bagels and then Don went to Menards and I went to Kohl's where I got some deals!  It was cold out with a wind and snowing off and on.  Great day to be outside - not!

By this time it was about noon (I spent a lot of time at Kohl's) so we went to Culver's for lunch!  It was good to get home to our warm house.  Where we stayed for the rest of the day.

Taco Tuesday

We could hear a banging all night. Turns out we found the problem today.  Some trim from around our bedroom window had pulled loose and was blowing in the wind.  More house troubles.  Also during the night our streets were plowed which is a noisy operation with back-up alarms, etc.

We went for breakfast at HyVee Grocery, they had a half off coupon.  It was good, their coffee was Caribou so good as well.  We got a few groceries and then went to Target.  All this in cold and blowing snow.  The streets were not good but we didn't have far to go.

Had tacos for dinner.

We are living in a fish bowl?

Fun day, we cleaned the house. It is hard to clean and keep decent because it is torn up from the water damage.  Seems to take a longer to clean now.

Just before going to bed Don realized water was dripping in our hallway - again.  After some phone calls we got a person over to check the upstairs house (where no one is living).  He found problems with the water softener and got that repaired.  What next - that is the forth water problem from upstairs.

Sunday in Apple Valley

We had breakfast at Cracker Barrel, came home and read the newspapers.

Sheila and Brenda came over in the afternoon.  We had a good visit!

In the evening I made sweet potatoes fries (from actual potatoes, not frozen) in my new Air Fryer.  They turned out very good.  Also cooked pork chops in the air fryer and they were also good.

Cellulitis - this time it's Don

Don finally decided he did indeed have cellulitis on his leg and went to the walk-in clinic at Target.  Turns out it is either cellulitis or vascular infection, he was prescribed antibiotics. 

In the evening we went to Friday's for dinner, Don had ribs, I had salmon.  Then we went to HyVee for a few groceries.

Shopping

Don made a quick stop in Menards this morning and then we went to Sam's Club where we bought more than we had planned of course.  By this time it was almost noon so we had a slice of their pizza for lunch.

It started out a beautiful day but got cloudy in the afternoon.  We got some stuff done around the house and I spent time looking at paint colors.  It is a hard choice!  If I just had to do one room, not so bad but most of the house is a challenge.