End of July

House cleaning, hate the job but get it done on Monday and we have the rest of the week for other activities.  I have been trying to clean/organize cupboards and closets and also polish the wood.  I am about to the end of the job.  I have been taking one area each week.

Daughter Brenda came over for dinner.  I tried baking cauliflower for the first time, turned out good.

Sunday in the Valley

Went to breakfast at Baker's Square - good as usual.  The hostess had a hard time understanding that we didn't want to go to the back of the place, finally got a booth up front.  Then to Menards, spent $1.07, that must be a record low!

We read the Sunday Papers and did stuff around the house.  Grilled some thick pork chops for dinner.

Another nice day

Don applied the second coat of stain on the deck.  Thankfully we have had several nice days to give it time to dry.

We went for dinner at Ruby Tuesday in Shakopee.  I enjoy their salad bar but they have gotten expensive for what you get for a meal.  We ordered ice tea, I noticed it was cloudy and took one sip to find out it was instant.  The server said it was brewed, she didn't know, it was instant.  We sent it back and had water instead.  Not great service, a crowed place, probably will not go there again.

Good Friday

This is the last day of chemo for daughter Brenda, it has been a long haul so something to celebrate!

We went to breakfast at Panera and the to Menards big sale and HyVee for groceries.  Took the groceries home and then went to Holiday Gas Station to get the car washed and pick up brats for lunch.  They are having an anniversary celebration!

Just to make it a 3 for 3 day of eating out, we went to Culver's for a hamburger and frozen yogurt.


Last day of chemo!!!

Deck stained

Don put on the first coat of stain on our deck, he replaced some boards last week but has been waiting for a couple dry days in a row.

It has been a stay at home day!

Humidity and AC

About 4 AM we had quite a storm pass through.  Lots of lighting and thunder and rain.  Made for an even more humid day.

The air conditioner men came this morning, worked for over two hours.  They had to replace some equipment and align things differently.  Now no screech and no drip.  Hope it stays that way!  At least it all is under the new warrenty, just has been a 3 day pain.

We grilled smoked pork chops for dinner along with corn-on-the-cob and salad.

Rain, AC and dinner

Rain was predicted for this evening but rained hard for awhile this morning.  I had storm warnings and lighting alerts on my phone.

The AC man came about 10:30.  Turns out the loud noise is a vibration, will probably need some new equipment - all under warranty.  It is Ok to use.

In the evening we went to daughter Sheila's home for dinner to finally celebrate Don and Ken's birthdays.  Had a fun time.  Included wine.

AC

The old clean the house day, I am trying (despite my painful shoulder) to polish room doors, closet doors, vanities, etc.  I do some each week, will be done someday.  It is a cooler day, but the humidity seems to be high.

Our new air conditioner has been leaking a drop of pink stuff from time to time so today we called to have someone look it over.  Turns out the pink stuff is the new type of freon.  We had not lost enough to harm the AC.  When the repair man left and the AC shut down we got a loud squeal from the AC.  Called the repair man back, of course it didn't do the squeal again - until he left.  This time I recorded it on my cell phone.  We called him again, but he was at another job, will come tomorrow.  We will need the AC tomorrow as it is suppose to be hot and humid and don't know if OK to run.

The day was so messed up with lunch at 2 Pm, etc.  We went to Walmart at 6 PM and brought home McDonalds for dinner.

Sunday in July

Denny's for breakfast, they know us now and where we like to sit.  Probably know what we are going to order!  Then we went to Menards for a couple things.  Came home and read the Sunday papers.

Brenda and Becca invited us to their house for dinner, it was delicious AND vegan.  We enjoyed the food and company!

New place to eat, new beer

Don did some sanding on the new deck boards.  Heat and humidity again.

We at at a new place, Celts' Craft House.  It has an Irish flare.  Good food - we had fish and chips which were good and Big Wave Beer from Hawaii.  (Would rather be drinking it in Hawaii.)

Quiet Friday

We went to the grocery store in the rain, no rain when we came out.  Plenty of humidity.  Don continued to work on the deck.  He got all the boards hooked down.  Quiet day otherwise.

Memorial

It rained a couple times during the night.  The grass was getting dry so the rain will help.  Even though it is hot and humid, Don went out in the morning to work some more on the deck.

In the evening we went to the memorial for son-in-law, Dan.  It was nicely done with a time to visit and a time to share memories.  Brenda had many pictures around, guitars, and other items pertaining to him.  Sheila and Ken put together a video with pictures and videos of Dan.

Deck work

Don was going to Home Depot this morning and realizing this may be my only chance today to get out and walk, I also went.  I lapped the store, not much of interest to me, he did find the screws he wanted.

Back home, Don went to work on the deck again.  Now he is putting down the replacement boards.

We had some storms in the evening - rain and wind with a few hail stones.  No harm done.

Hot day, cold house

A hot and humid day.  It rained during the night just to be sure we have enough humidity and sprinkled on and off during the morning.  We got some groceries, etc.  Don worked on the deck again, big job and not a good job to do in the heat.  He had the air conditioner cranked way down so when he came inside he could cool fast.  Fine, but I was COLD.

Monday

Another week comes with all the good and sad.

Don continues to work on our deck replacing rotten boards.  A big job especially in the heat and  humidity. and the fact that he doesn't know when to take a break.  I have my third day of a slight headache and shoulder and back pain, but will get through it all.  Mostly concerned about what our daughter is going through .

We had family for dinner, good to get together and to take the time to relax and visit.

On a lighter note, this reminds me of last week when Don locked his keys in the car:

Family

We are trying to mentally recover from son-in-law Dan's passing.  Feel so bad for our daughter just wish there was something we could do for her.


  In our daughter's words:

Dan J. Peick, age 64, of Apple Valley, passed away on July 15, 2017 from cardiac arrest. Through the years, Dan gave his love to people in so many ways. His favorite way to connect to people was through his music – either playing guitar with them, recording them playing, or coaching young players. Dan also was ready to help friends and family fix their cars, lights, Nintendo controllers; and make their guitars play better. Dan worked at Carestream Health for almost 13 years, wanting to work in health care to pay back all of the support he had received from his heart problems through the years. In 2015, he was awarded a patent for the drum of an x-ray printer. Dan loved spending time with his daughters and grandchildren: going out to eat at different restaurants, going to the MN State Fair, and watching their activities. Road trips were Dan’s preferred vacation – he loved to go to Chicago (maybe even for lunch). He reveled in the energy and excitement of New York City and the peace we found on the beaches of Cape Cod. What will be most missed by Brenda, his wife, are the daily walks with Dan – most of the time at the Como Zoo & Conservatory. He had a great love for the Como Zoo, as he grew up in St. Paul, and he had fond memories with his family at the zoo.

Dan is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Patricia Peick. He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Brenda; daughters, Kazia (Dustin) Juell and Rebecca Peick; grandchildren, Logan and Holland Juell; siblings, Roberta (Don) Olson, Dianne (Don) Greeman, Janet (Gerry) Och, Catherine (Dwight) Pilon, Tim (Denise) Peick, Jean (Lyle) Stanley, Richard (Tami) Peick, Gerald (Trisha) Peick and Michelle (Ron) Johnson; many nieces, nephews, other family and many friends. A gathering of memories and sharing will be held 6:30 PM Thursday July 20, 2017 at the White Funeral Home Chapel, 14560 Pennock Ave Apple Valley (952-432-2001) with a gathering of friends and family from 4 to 8 PM. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred

Sad day

Sad, sad day.  My daughter's husband, Dan, passed away today.  He died from heart problems, the doctors and hospital did all they could to keep him alive but just wasn't enough.

Saturn V

I went with Brenda for her chemo today.  We put together a Saturn Missile complete with Gantry.  Meanwhile Don got some more deck boards and worked on the deck for awhile.
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We got 5 Guy's hamburgers for dinner!

Our Saturn project:

 

Peaches and deck

We went to HyVee for groceries today, didn't get much but did get some peaches.  They were very good last week so hope they are as good this week.

Don continued to work on the deck, still getting the old boards pulled out.  At least it is a nice cool day!.

Tags, food and deck

Breakfast an Panera and then we got our car license tags at the DMV.  The line was not bad going in but got much worse behind us - we picked the right time!

We then went to Cub foods for a few things.  They are still remolding the Cubs and everything is hard to find.  We really should go to a different store.  Today the main entrance was closed so had to go in the out doors.

Don started working on replacing the rotten boards on our deck.  Big job even getting the old boards out.  It was a hot day, I tried to tell him to wait until it was cooler but when he has his mind made up that is that.

For dinner we got a pizza, had been awhile.

A reminder that politics has always been this way!

Hot Tuesday!

We started the day by getting badly needed hair cuts and then we went to Walmart for a lot of stuff.  In the evening we had daughter Brenda over for dinner.  Good to catch up on news from her.

Hot day!

Hot, Humid and Parks

Our granddaughter's car was repaired this morning and not too expensive, now she can continue her trip across South Dakota.

We cleaned the house, it got hot and humid before we turned on the air conditioner, water poured out the drain so much humidity in the air.

I finished another level of the AARP Safe Drivers course.  What fun, will be so glad to get that done.

We got some KFC chicken to go with our leftovers for dinner.  I ordered a Lifetime National Parks Pass for myself before they go up to $80.  Don already has one.

Rain, hail and other challenges.

We went out for breakfast (two days in a row!) and then to Menards.  It threatened rain all day but had none during the day.

Son-in-law was taken off machines and some sedation.  Will know more tomorrow, I hope.

Our Granddaughter's car had problems as she was driving across SD.  Hope she can get it fixed quickly!

We grilled salmon for dinner.  Had a hail, rain storm later.  It knocked some of our cherry tomatoes off the plant but the large tomatoes were fine.  My flowers look fine.  Not much hail but all different sizes.

Don's birthday

Son-in-law Dan was somewhat awake during the night, enough to squeeze Brenda's hand.

This is my husband Don's birthday, we started the day with a free breakfast for the birthday person at Denny's.  Then came home and sat on the deck in the sun to read the newspapers.  In the evening we went to FGI Fridays for dinner.  I got some carrot cake cupcakes for him for a birthday cake and gave him a gift of a car part that he wanted.

At not so fun occurance for his birthday:  He went to Menards in the afternoon (I stayed home) and he locked the keys in the car.  Usually there would be someone we could call but no one was available.  He had to walk home, about half a mile, get my keys and walk back.  It was hot and sunny so he got some sun redness and blisters on his feet.




Birthday boy eating his birthday breakfast!

Friday

No news about our son-in-law heart problems, he is still under sedation.  They began warming his body temperature about noon.

We went to two grocery stores and did some things around the house.  Nicer, cooler day.  Grilled brats for dinner.

Badlands National Park.

On Thursday the son of William Bibb, 62, of McKinney, Texas, reported his father was threatening suicide.

As Pennington County deputies and park rangers entered a Badlands campground, Bibb drove away. He was pursued about nine miles at speeds of 30 to 40 mile per hours.

Bibb pulled over at a scenic overlook. A Pennington County Deputy and National Badlands Park Ranger attempted a felony stop when she noticed the suspect sitting in his car holding a gun to his head.

Suddenly Bibb started driving again. After about three miles Bibb pulled into the parking lot at the Pinnacles Overlook. Bibb exited his car still holding the gun to his head walking toward the main scenic viewing area in the Badlands.

Bibb never threatened anyone but himself. The area was crowded with dozens of people. Law enforcement quickly cleared the tourists and secured the area.

After about 30 minutes of negotiating, Bibb dropped the gun to his lap.
Eventually he was detained and put on a mental hold at Rapid City Regional West. No one was injured. A loaded 357 Ruger was taken into evidence

Heart

Today started out with a phone call from daughter Brenda that her husband had a heart attach this morning.  We rushed to the hospital to be with her.  The doctors tried to clear a blockage and when they couldn't sedated him and cooled his body temp to 91 degrees for 24 hours.  Then they can access the damage and what needs to be done.

We are anxiously awaiting to hear what is next for him.

Hot and humid

We made an AM trip to Menards for some concrete blocks to put my flowers on so maybe too high for the rabbits to eat.  Then to Calvers for a hamburger for lunch.

In the evening we got hero's to bring home for dinner.  It's a hot and humid day, too hot to cook.


Your from Belle Fourche SD if you can remember:

Happy Independence Day!

Independance Day!

July 4th!  We went to Menards and Harbor Frieght in the morning with lunch at McDonalds and then a stop at Target for more pop (soda).

It was a hot and humid day with thunderstorms just looming in the outstate ready to come in and destroy plans for celebrations.  It did hold off for the fireworks, we could see lighting in behind the fireworks.  We went to Sheila's house to watch as you can see many fireworks from their deck.

Coffee and spaghetti

Clean the house day again.  We are both trying to do more deep cleaning each week to get "Spring Cleaning" done.

In the afternoon we met Brenda and Becca for coffee (or whatever) and a good visit.  Granddaughter Becca is home for a few days./

Earlier in the day I had made "spaghetti salad" for dinner.  It has marinated artichoke hearts in it among other things and a dressing made from the marinade.  It was good and we have enough for dinner tomorrow!

Sunday - top 10 Weather Day

We had breakfast at Denny's today.  Their pancakes are huge and good!  Then we went to Target and home.  I'm breaking in new birkenstock shoes so my feet were hurting.  Love the shoes, hate the break-in period.

Came home and read the newspaper.  Sheila came over for a visit in the afternoon.  We grilled bacon wrapped steak for dinner and also had corn-on-the-cob.

July 1

Busy morning.  Cleaned the bathrooms and kitchen, did laundry, chopped rhubarb (will do something with it later) and caught up on book work (computer).  Lazy in the afternoon -----