Life in the Fortress

What is that Smell?

2007-04-08T18:26:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

An embarrassing but funny thing happened today as I was getting ready for church. When I am out with Maggie I carry small blue bags to pick up after her. Some time last week I put the blue bag in my pocket of my jacket to free my hands and on coming home I had an senior moment and forgot about the bag. This morning I put my hand into my pocket to check if I had tissues. I felt the plastic and pulled it out. There was the tied up bag of poop. People must have thought I had strange perfume or was farting a lot. I am glad I found it before church.

I will be up north packing the furniture and remaining stuff to put in the moving truck. No computer so no blogging for the week.

The Vet

2007-04-02T11:51:00.000-07:00

We had to take Maggie to the vet today. She was peeing every few minutes. The vet said she seemed OK that she probably had too many treats from the kids. Our crate is too large and my daughter and I have to be more strict. We found that she weighed 12.7 lbs.

My son got the shed open and no dead bodies or anything. There are planters that were left.

Thank you for the birthday wishes. We went out to eat at the Old Country Buffet. There is so much to choose from and you can't eat all that you would like to.

New House

2007-03-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

Our renter moved out on Saturday that is a week earlier than we planned. I had a chance then to go and see the house. He left it very clean ,uses a cleaning service. There was a shed in the back yard which I couldn't get open and he had never opened, so more surprises wait. My daughter's house has a cupboard above the desk which is not in this house. I measured the spaces for the frig, stove and washer and dryer. I also measured the windows for curtains.

My daughter found her car had a flat on Saturday . When my son came to pick up my grandchildren he helped her put on the spare. She had trouble getting the jack out because of her hand. She has not been using the car for work. Today she took it into the garage. About her hand it is better than the really bad time but if she hurts like falling and hitting it the RSD returns.

My sister called and told me about her six month checkup. The tumor is not growing and that is good news. Thank you for the prayers.

Maggie

2007-03-25T16:26:00.000-07:00

We have a new member of our family,Maggie. Maggie is a cute Springer Spaniel only 8 weeks old. She is brown and white. She is my daughter's but I dog sit,so I have been very busy. We went up to Green Bay to get my grandchildren to spend a few days with us and brought Maggie along with us to meet Spanky. Maggie does not like riding yet. She is a smart dog but sometimes naughty. She watch closely as we threw things in the garbage can that opens by pushing on a gray piece on top. She jumped up and pushed on the gray piece .She has been nipping, and while outside learning to "come" she ignored my daughter . until she hid behind a tree and said "come".

Here Again

2007-03-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

They would not let me blog until I changed so I haven't blogged but today for some reason I could get here.

What has gone by. I went out to a church womens group which met at Applebees. They had not mentioned they were a church group to the hostess and so I sat for a while. Being new to the church I didn't recognize the women so I asked the hostess to ask a group of women at a large table, and it was them. I was the oldest one of the group, they were around my daughters age. They are not a bible study group. They chose a name Friendship Links. I had a good time maybe if my daughter gets off work in time she can come next time. I am still looking for a bible study group.

We got a license for the car , and a drivers license for me. My Michigan license expired at the end of this month. I didn't have a written test or a road test and was thankful. The written test is not a paper test but at a computer. Now I will tell the embarrassing event. When It came to have my picture taken the lady said stand behind the line, so I did, facing the curtain back to the camera, which I hadn't seen . I was wondering where the camera was the lady said turn around and there it was. Next she said "I will take it on the count of three. 1 2 flash. I let it go, the pictures are never good. I am a legal driver.

After the getting the license we went into the Kohls mall next to the Kohls store where there was a model train store. The women working there was from Neenah and she and her husband were a part of a club.

I am a little afraid to leave now for fear I can't get back.

I am back!

2007-03-03T18:13:00.000-08:00

I could not get to place to write my blog. That is now fixed I think.

In the last few days we have been snowed in, although my daughter went to work and was on call. Our dryer was not drying the clothes. There was heat but the clothes would not dry the first go around. We cleaned out the lint for every load. We checked the out door vent and it had frozen lent on it. My daughter worked on cleaning that out and she bought a kit with special brushes. She took off the back of the dryer and cleaned that out. Then she went to the wall and unfastened the hose and used the vacuum cleaner with the hose that came with the kit. That did it and it is now working.

We played cards when my daughter was home earlier. We worked on getting my daughter's room for stamping in the basement ready. She has lots of stamps and materials and paper, so we put together some storage containers. She wants to hold a Stamping party this month. Today in payment for my daughter taking on call for a co-worker, the co-workers husband came and put together the desk we gave my daughter for Christmas.

During the storm my daughter had to snow blow twice in the evening. The next day while she was at work I thought I would go out and shovel. The pile the plow had left was hard to remove. The man who has a business across the road, and clears his driveway and parking lot with a small tractor with a plow offered and did clear my driveway. Good neighbors are a blessing.

Finding the right church

2007-02-19T07:31:00.000-08:00

What you see the first time may not be the truth. This is what I have found out in the last month in my search for a new church. On New Year's Eve we went to St Marks for Sunday service. The church was half full. There was one child for the children's sermon. The children's sermon was read loosing the very young child . They meandered through the liturgy. That is the only way I can think of to describe it. The people were friendly.
We went to other churches. We decided to go to one church for a month, starting with St Marks.
The church has been full. There is a large amount of children attending the services. Last Sunday the children were involved in their sermon. They have an adult bell choir but they also have a children's bell choir. The children and adults both have a choir. The people remained friendly and it feels like a family. I now like the way they do the liturgy it frees you from the book. The pastor is a pastor and pays attention to his congregation. This will be our church.
In looking for a church one needs to go to the service a number of times to find what the church is really like.

I have not been blogging for a number of reasons one being my computer was down for a time and I had to wait for my son to come and get it back on it's feet, or stand or just running. Then in preparation for new blogger I got my own place or something. You can tell I don't have a clue about computers. I just click my mouse on the little pictures I am told to. I started writing with pencil and paper and I was pushed into a manual typewriter. Reading what I wrote was a lot easier for others and also myself. It is bad when you can't read your own writing. I know there is so much I could do if I knew what I was doing. Everything seems so complicated.

The cold is here

2007-02-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

Our temp. is in single numbers and wind chill below zero.
A magazine came it was addressed to the former owner or who ever was living here. It is a very nice magazine and there were recipies so my daughter and I have been trying them out. When I was up north I did very little cooking because Dr John likes meat and potatoes [not touching like Monk]. This has been fun. Dr John still gets his meat and potatoes because I do his meal also.
My oldest son came down and I went out with him to celebrate. We went to St George's. The building looks like a castle. My granddaughter said it 's our place, a fortress. Dr john has a cold and my daughter was still at work so only I went with them. The food was very good. We came back to our house for cake, which was also very good. Dr John and my daughter got to share in the cake. It is good to be so much closer.

What a Sunday

2007-01-26T07:18:00.001-08:00

I am still recovering from last Sunday. My son in Green Bay had mattresses for my daughter to use for her new frame. The problem was how to get them because they would not fit in the vans. So my daughter went to U-Haul on the internet. She was going to be on call for the next three weekends so she wanted to get them last weekend. Saturday had no trucks available so she booked Sunday. We were to get snow in the evening no problem. The snow came early and we watched the big flakes fall through the stain glass windows as we sat in church. After church, my daughter and I picked up the truck and the snow continued. So with a truck she had never driven in a snow storm we headed for Green Bay. That was very scary. While we recouped my son and daughter-in -law put the mattresses in the truck. We headed back to Neenah. The driving was a little better, the roads were plowed and salted.

Our next problem was getting the mattresses in the house. We could not lift them. We slid them down the loading ramp. The box spring we sort of dragged lifted in. To move the other one we decided to lay some plastic down , the kind painters use to protect from paint splatters, and slide the mattress on it. My daughter put down the plastic reaching to the garage. I saw a piece sticking up and went over to pull it flat stepping on the plastic I did not see. Down I went. Nothing broke but I got a very sore bum which I still have. We did get the mattresses in. Next we returned the truck, but it had gotten dark. My daughter could not get the lights on. The cab lights were found but not what we needed. We returned the truck in the snow storm on slushy roads with out lights. We made it without an accident. We returned home to put up the frame and put the mattresses on it. I got a cold. So when I cough my bum hurts. I know all this is just life but it was a busy Sunday.

Winter has come

2007-01-16T07:01:00.000-08:00

We finally got snow. As far as I am concerned it could stay away, but for all that want to play in it, it was welcomed. I shoveled for many hours and came in very cold and sore. The snow blower had a flat and I didn't want the renter to get upset. I gave up when I looked behind me and the driveway was snow covered again. I thought I would go in the afternoon because it was to stop snowing, it didn't, and I was too sore.

I have found it is hard to find a time to blog. My daughter and I have been taking down the Christmas decorations. There are still some outside to come down. Up north I had to let them stay because they were covered with snow. Mary and Joseph had just their heads showing. The basement tree is still up also.

My daughter and I have been working in the basement setting up a place for her stamping. She is a Stamp-it-Up sales person. We are trying to set up the workshop for her and Dr John to share.

We went out and bought a saw that we had to put together. We did OK, but lost one hex screw. We have turned the saw all over trying to get that screw to fall out. We went back to the store and got a screw but we would like to find the lost one so it doesn't end up where it shouldn't.

Another thing that I have been doing is reading Eragon. We went with the grandkids to the movie and my oldest grandson said that the book was different. We then purchased the book. Dr John finished it first and I finished it last night. My daughter wants to read it also so we can't talk about it until she reads it. That may be awhile.

Last Saturday we went to my son's in Green Bay while my daughter went and visited with her roommate from old college days. We had a very nice day. The grandkids spent a lot of time with their grandpa. Most of the time just sitting at the table talking. When my daughter came to pick us up before we left, she and I went to the basement rec. room and played with the grandkids. The kids had set up a restaurant. Spanky just loved all the attention he got.{Spanky is the dog}.

This pretty well sums up what I have been up to. We have spent some time trying to find a dresser for my daughter that doesn't cost too much and you can put more in it than T- shirts.

Oh I forgot about the search for a church. We have have gone to five different churches. They all have been nice and we could go to any of them. One is very large and one is small. Maybe we will for awhile go back around. The most distance we have to travel is 8min. It is hard to believe that there are five churches in this small area. There are more churches but not of our denomination. Behind us is a Calvery Bible Church, which is large and has a school with it I think. There is a soccer field next to it and my grandsons and their dad went over and played on the field when they were here. The last church we went to also has a Tops group meeting there. They meet at 6:00 PM and I don't want to drive at night ,so I think I will wait until spring and hope I don't gain too much.

A New Year

2007-01-04T15:59:00.000-08:00

Thankyou for all the good wishes. I did stay up until the new year. My daughter, son and grand children played a board game/TV game called Scene it. It was fun. We also had fun baking. We made saffron buns and the children shaped the rolls. They did make some unusual shapes. My oldest grandchild made Hostess cupcakes. Every bowl was used, but they were good.

Went out shopping today at Hobby Lobby. What a fun store. We got Christmas decorations at 66% off. I bought a small tree with lights on for next year. We picked up some small dollhouse chairs for my daughter and as we left we ran into her at the door. She came in for them. That store just had everything. There was scenery for the train, and material for making dollhouses. My granddaughter and I had begun one at the old house, and now I know where supplies are when we get ready to finish it here.
Hope every one had a good start to the New Year.

Happy New Year

2006-12-28T08:30:00.000-08:00

I am going to say Happy New Year now because I am not sure when I will be back. Our computers are in the bedroom and I would blog after Dr John went to bed. He retires early.

It has been awhile since we have stayed up to midnight on New Year's eve. In the year 2000, we babysat for my son. The children were all young and I got them all in bed and asleep. What we didn't know was the city celebrated with fireworks. At midnight out came the booms and bangs. Everyone up, some crying out of fear, so we saw the New Year and century in. I think that was the last time we were up at midnight. We do a little cheeting by watching those who celebrate earlier.

Whatever you do, have a great time and be safe. They can go together.

Luke's Program

2006-12-16T14:21:00.000-08:00

Past Christmas

2006-12-09T05:55:00.000-08:00

I have mentioned it before but I remember my Uncle Harry stringing the large white bulbs from the clothes line in the basement and painting each bulb so we would have colored lights. There were no colored lights because of the war. We used those lights for many many years. My mother saved decorations we made as kids and each year they were put on the tree. There was a bird that clipped to the tree with a white bushy tail. As the years went by the tail also went. Our socks were real socks that were hung. We didn't have a fireplace so we hung them from the window sill in the living room. The windows that were chosen were those that did not reach down to the floor.

To get our tree we would go out with my uncle Ken into the woods. Uncle Ken worked for a lumber company and he had a tree chosen for each family. The trip was cold and hard for me. I was short and I had to climb over branches on the ground. For all my complaining at the time I am glad we had those adventures. I don't remember when we got an artificial tree but I think I was in college, or maybe married.

Now to our present Christmas in a new house. We have an artificial tree. The lights are on the garland is on but the ornaments are not. Many boxes will leave the living room as soon as we can get them on. Today should be a good day to get out the outside trimed as it should be warmer. Temps at a wind chill of below zero are not the time to be outside. Hope to get pictures.

The Puppy

2006-11-19T12:44:00.000-08:00

He came early this morning. He is very cute and playfull. That was the part I was upset about. How can I pack and get ready to move when he wants to play ball. He cries when I leave the room. If he is left outside alone he barks. The grandkids will love him. My brother-in-law loves him. He is very content with me at the computer. The dogs name is Spanky.
I have to go bring more stuff down from the attic. I will have to leave Christmas stuff until later. In the upper right corner are pictures of our new home.

In New House

2006-11-18T04:30:00.000-08:00

We closed and slept in the new house. I am very happy but this side of the house is my daughters so it is like visiting. We are waiting until warmer weather to ask the renter to move, and us to move into our home.
A surprise came because near the house on a road that I can handle the traffic is a large shopping area. I have been doing some fretting about driving and getting out to shop. I mean that when I thought of the move and the traffic my stomach would knot. The shopping area has a Khols, Wal-mart, Shopko , and Walgreens. To eat Applebees, KC, Wendys ,Culvers, and Mc Donalds. If you wanted to go to have this kind of selection you would have to travel two hours from my house in Crystal Falls. You could get Walmart, Shopko KC, Wendys and McDonalds by driving 45 minutes. God was good to me.
We did drive into Neenah and I liked the different architecture of some of the older buildings. I noticed an older train station. I am not sure if it is used as such. There is much to explore yet.
I will be using the coming week to get settled in so I won't be at the computer. Will be missing you.

Veterans' Day

2006-11-11T07:22:00.000-08:00

It is Veterans' Day .
I want to add my thank you to the men and women who have served and are serving in our armed forces. Pictured is my father who served in WWll. He did not talk about the war. He went to reunions of the men he served with.

What a Shoe Store

2006-11-10T06:58:00.000-08:00

On Upper Michigan and Beyond a link on my left side you will find a Different kind of Shoe Store in Crystal Falls . You will also find some more interesting photos, one is of my house. It is the picture of a house with a for sale sign.

Welcome Marathoners

2006-11-08T14:22:00.000-08:00

I haven't had time to write a post until now. I used the peace globes as my own marathon going ,and commenting on many, it was after midnight when I had to stop. There were so many nice messages.

At 4:00 AM the phone rang. That early in the morning you get concerned. They had hung up when I stumbled to the phone. The I D said private name, private number. My daughter has an unlisted number, so I thought it was her. I called her. It was not her. So I don't know who called, and I am sure my daughter was not happy at that time to hear my voice,although she said she was glad that I was concerned about her.

6:00 AM I hear my husband calling I get up . He didn't call me. I went back to bed and sleep and there is a car out front honking its horn. I look out no car. I get up for the day. Every thing is now out of order. Breakfast is late I have to wait to eat after I take my pill.

I began the marathon and doing house cleanup at the same time. I have been having trouble leaving comments. I thought this would be the time to blog.

What Would Peace Look Like?

2006-11-06T16:24:00.000-08:00

No bombs, no bullets, no violence but peace is more than that. There is a confidence that you will be not harmed by anyone. That you can play , work and rest without threat. Our world is far from that.

How do we get this peace. It has to begin with each individual respecting an other. How easy this is depends on the individuals background. How has that person learned to respond to conflict. The easy way to respond is to attack. The more difficult is to discuss and negotiate.

Another way to work for peace is to work for the well being of others. To work towards the goal of every one being fed and clothed. Health care should be within reach. This should not be for just the people who look and believe as we do.

Is this possible? Only if we change, and we have to want to change. I believe this change is only possible from God. Where does are help come from? Pray for a change in yourself to be a peacemaker.

A Good By Sermon

2006-11-05T15:55:00.000-08:00

All three services were very nice and different even though it was the same preacher. They were a little longer than his usual 10 min. Good bys are hard.

The last service the choir sang accompanied by french horn it was beautiful.

The congregation had a very nice coffee for us. We will miss them.

My oldest son and family were here and Pennie and his sister Christine surprised us. Pennie came on Saturday and Chris stayed at a motel here but we didn't know. Dr John forget his teeth and because we had gone to the church very early I went home to get them. I got them and was pulling out of the drive when a car was coming down the hill and I thought would pass by. I waited. The car slowed down. I was wondering why she could easily go behind me, but the car pulled up to the curb and rolled down the window and then I saw that it was John's sister. She went with me to the early service where she surprised Dr John. Then at the coffee she got to surprise Lori, Pete and Pennie. They came for the coffee and the later service.

Shunned by Little Ghosts and Gobblins

2006-11-01T04:49:00.000-08:00

I didn't have one Trick or Treater. No not one. I have 13 little pastic pumpkins with little candy bars in them. I don't buy a lot of candy because I know that I will not have many children. If my house faced Michigan Ave, I would have a few more but they have to walk in a block. Last night was very cold with a lot of wind.

Growing up in Escanaba I lived on a street in the middle. We had many many trick and treaters.

Hope you had a good Halloween.

Confusion

2006-10-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

Dr John is going to bed.
Betty," Do you know it is only 7:20 PM?"
Dr J, " The clocks have been turned back. It is 8: 20PM."
Betty " That means you will be getting up at 4:00AM"
Dr J, "No I will be getting up at 5:ooAM."
Betty," No you will be getting up at 4:00AM"
DrJ, "No I will be getting up the same time as usual. Yesterdays time."
Betty" I am so confused."

Even more confusing will be that all of my clocks will not have been moved back. The clocks on my ovens
are very difficult to set and I have been know to have bleeding fingers from the process. They can
wait.

I had a very nice Sabbath day. We [the church] hosted The Cluster. The Cluster is a group of women groups of our denomination from around the area who meet together twice a year. We sang, had bible study, a workshop on wellness, and a affirmation of Baptism. We closed with a lunch of soup and sandwiches and a pumpkin dessert. Our group was down in numbers because some of the ladies who would usually be there were in Mississippi, to help in rebuilding. There were on display some of the projects that the women of the church[ some men also take part] are doing. There were quilts made for babies in the hospital. I think almost all the churches make quilts for Lutheran World Relief.

At four Dr John and I went to the evening service. Hope every one has a good weekend.

Ice Cream Bar

2006-10-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

Last night just before I awoke I had a dream. It was not scary or any thing like that, but it had a few things in it that I had questions about. I would like to turn it in to a story so I could have answers.
It began with me in front of a two story building. It looked like a house in need of a paint job, but on the front porch was a freezer. It was warm and I wanted a an ice cream bar. The top was not locked but was in layers which I started to open. I then thought I should check with someone inside. I knocked. No one came to the door. I looked in the window on the door and could see no one. The porch wrapped around the side. I walked around the side and noticed overalls hung on a nail on the siding.
I was joined by a young lady and we looked across the street and there were a line of police officers standing at attention. They were mixed racially but my companion mention they were all male. I protested because I saw a female officer. I then awoke. My questions that were leading me into a story were: The building was it a teen center or what? Why were the police standing at attention? I now want to get a plot etc and write.

The Cold is Here

2006-10-25T17:42:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting all week for some dryer and warmer weather to finish getting ready for winter. Our temps have been in the thirties. My hands get cold so soon. I still have three window frames and two garage doors to paint. We also have been having rain [cold rain] or snow. I took advantage of the sun and temps in the 40 to drain the pool and taking out the pump. I cover it. There was a layer of ice on the water, when I started.

I also took the time to unload the left overs of the rummage sale still on a table by the garage. We were going to put them on free cycle but didn't so I put them in garbage bags. There was a old blender of my mother -in-laws which was filled with water from the rain now ice from the cold. It was just too early for this cold.

Lois asked if I was going to have another rummage sale. Answer no ,too cold. I did have a sale at the other house before we moved inside. We had moved all the other stuff we wanted and we were not trying to sell the house, which we are trying to do with this one.

Tops

2006-10-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

I belong to TOPS ( Take Off Pounds Sensibly ). I go every wednesday to the meeting. Has it been helpful ? Here is a before and after picture. Boy that dress really had to be taken in.

Crystal Falls Summer

2006-10-19T11:04:00.000-07:00

When I was in grade school, I would spend a week of vacation at my grandfathers. He lived in a log cabin on Runkle Lake. I enjoyed this because it ment that I could go swimming and boating every day. The cabin was located near the Runkle Lake Park and I could walk over there and have playground equipment to play on and meet other children to play with.

One summer I had a neighborhood friend come and stay with me. We had a good time. Something happened that was not fun. We wanted to make a tree house We gathered materials from around the area. We put up the boards doing our best to nail them to the tree. We were finished. A time had come to test. My friend climbed up the tree and our great work came crashing down with my friend. She thankfully did not break anything, but she was scared and had some scatches. That ended our building but we continued with swimming and boating.

Pigeon Falls Restored

2006-10-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

The weather was a bit warmer[the temp was 25 F when we went to church], but warmed so I could work with a sweatshirt with hood, and gloves on Pigeon Falls. I walked around to start with picking up roof pieces. I could not find a roof for one building, so I put it away. I picked up one ferriswheel and rounded up the people on it. I leaned the front of the Ghost House on the other three walls. The snow and wind had their toll but there were many hoof prints also. My mum flowers were eaten I am afraid but the other flowers were frozen. If it is warm enough Pigeon Falls will go away this week. I will miss this town but hopefully an other will be built in Neenah.

My sister came and visited with us on Saturday. I feel she had a miracle. After seeing a number of doctors who told her in effect they could do nothing she found UCLA and they could treat her with out surgery. She looked very healthy, but we won't know for six months. Thank you very much for your prayers.

A little on the dancers on the other post. The dances are from Finland. The college in Hancock was founded by those of Finish heritage. The college was called Suomi. They sewed[the parents] the costumes and they are one piece even though they do not look like it.

Folk Dancing

2006-10-06T17:07:00.000-07:00

When I was at the word and song festival there was a group of young folk dancers called the Kivajat Dancers. One of their dances pictured was a contest. The dancers danced around the crossed sticks until they touched them then they had to sit down. The last one standing was the winner. The music would increase in speed as they danced. The last two girls were sisters. They have other dances and I enjoyed them so much.

Autumn Pictures Will be Here Soon

2006-10-01T17:03:00.000-07:00

We had a beautiful trip up to Houghton and had a very nice meeting and service. We took pictures along the way. I planned on stopping but couldn't decide where because every thing was so nice. I wonder if those taking a bus tour just sit and awe--- all the way. So there are pictures coming.

We got to see many old friends and heard about the mission work in Russia, helping to rebuild the churches. We did sing in Finnish and English at the same time. You sang in the language that you prefered.

Autumn Pictures

2006-09-30T21:14:00.000-07:00

I didn't get any . I hope to get some Sunday. I found that Lois on the Web has some of our area. The link Upper Michigan and Beyond is on the left.

Hunting

2006-09-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

Last night I had a dream which I have no idea where it came from. My mother looking like she was in her ninties and I were packing to go on a hunting trip. We had rifles and were puting together our gear.[Neither one of us have ever hunted and there was no desire to do so]. Suddenly she was missing and I was sure she had gone on ahead of me. I looked out the window and there was a thin layer of ice on the sidewalk and I feared she would fall before she made it to where ever we were going. I was thinking my sister would be upset because I let her get hurt. Then I woke up.
My mother died a number of years ago. So I layed in bed trying figure out where this dream came from. Here is my best guess. The rifles came from the news that in Florida they were searching for a man on the run. The ice came from Gary's picture. What you ask, ice, he had a picture of water. True but when I looked at it I saw water that had turned to ice near a curb. I live in the Up and soon we will have snow and ice. I had a bad fall some years ago on just that kind of ice. I went to the post office and in front of the curb was some ice that I didn't see. I hurt my back. So maybe it was all those images. I don't know it was just so odd.

Today I got to paint the frame around one of the garage doors, took another load to the dump and went to the drug store in Iron River for meds. I had planned on taking my camera to Iron river to get some pictures of the color. But I couldn't find my wallet, which come to find out Dr John was sitting on. I had planned on going alone and had placed it on the seat, then I went in to tell him I was going and he decided to go and he got in the car not looking and was concerned to get the O2 going so he didn't notice. I went in to turn of TVs and lights etc. I forgot the camera and got all up tight about what happened to my purse. I looked all over the house, the garage, and even the car. I finally asked Dr John if he sat on it and sure enough he had. The trees are orange and yellow with a little red but they stand out against the green of the pine.

Thank you Chana and you know why. God bless you and your family and Joe.

It's a Rainy Day

2006-09-23T17:35:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been a week and I have not blogged. I have been working hard to get the windows out doors painted and when I come in I am just so tired.
I scraped the last window on the front of the house, and went in to get the paint and brushes and the phone rang and my oldest son said he was on the way up to our home. They stopped to look at a new dog so they would be here later, and they had lunch. I then started to make lunch for John and I, and the phone rang again. The leader of our TOPS group called to inform me that a member of our group was killed in a car accident yesterday. There was a picture of the accident in the paper but no names were given out but a friend also a member knew and called our leader. I just finished the phone call and the rains came. I thought this really fits the way I feel.

To brighten the day my son and his family arrived. They liked the dog but the dog chews toys and that may be a problem with Lori's eye sight. They are still thinking. My son carried out a bookcase to the garage to put the buildings from Pigeon Falls on for the winter. He helped me put the leg on the couch. We worked on putting the lights in on the floresent light fixture in the basement, My other son had taken down the old burnt out lights and I had bought new ones but I was just too short to but them in even standing on the ladder. We put the new lights in. They still did not light. Then one side lit It must be the fuses. Then came the question which fuse was working and which wasn't . We moved them around one light never lit but the other one lit up brightly. My son thinks that it would be better to buy a new light. We went out to eat and the food was good.

Lois's Apples

2006-09-17T15:47:00.000-07:00

I have nothing to write about. I went to church is the morning and greeted. I felt good that there were only three people I didn't know. After dinner I fell asleep until three. Then I went and sprayed the clear protective coat over the board that is taking the place of the tunnel in Pigeon Falls. I did a bit of scrapping the door sills and garage door.
Lois on the Web link Upper Pennisula and Beyond has more pictures of Crystal Falls and things to do with apples. Some may not be able to comment.

Life

2006-09-15T05:36:00.000-07:00

The paint around my windows and doorframes is peeling. It has been bothering me. I have a brick house so that does not have to be painted although on a TV program for fixing houses they painted the brick. I bought glazing and took along a scraper and went at the job. I took a ladder from the garage. It has the problem that for me it is heavy and not easy to move but it has larger steps. What this is leading to is a conversation I heard as I was working, between two boys riding by on their bikes.

First boy "I love that house. That house is for sale. I want to buy that house. The train goes with the house you know"
Second boy "Maybe they will trade houses."

On selling the house. I did not know about buring Joseph until people commented . Friends at TOPS said that they did this. My daughter got advice on the internet on what you were to do and a prayer. We do not pray to saints but I have been praying to God all the time. Really the word is begging. Then I feel guilty because it is not like the people in Katrina where they don't have a home. I have a very nice home. The problem is not knowing what is going to happen. We have found a place it is near my children and grandchildren our contract expires on Oct 20. We must sell this house or my daughters before then or that house goes back on the market. My sons garage is full of boxes of our stuff. My garage and basement are full of boxes. My daughter doesn't have a basement and her stuff is boxed in her garage. I do know that a lot of the things that I would have put off are now being done around here, and that is a good thing. Things are not bad just unsettled.

I heard some news that the old hospital across the street from us is going to be turned into senior apartments. That is good news because it means that across us will not be a empty building which will fall into disrepair.

St Joseph

2006-09-14T06:27:00.000-07:00

Many advice to bury St Joseph upside down. We want to sell our home. My daughter wants to sell her house. I take my St Joseph figure and bury it in my front yard. There is of course a lot of ideas on where to bury him. I pick the front yard in an area already ready for planting flowers no trouble.

My daughter wanted to bury him before her open house and there wasn't any time so she found a hole and placed him upside down. No one made an offer. So fearing it was not done correctly she searched the internet. On Monday she was ready, she took her shovel and her pager[she was on call]and went to bury St Joseph correctly. It was raining but that did not stop her. The pager goes off she goes in calls the hospital they solved the problem without her. She goes back out and digs and buries him. His feet stick out. She digs again the shovel hits something solid. She tries and tries can't dig deeper. The pager goes off again. She buries him feet sticking out. This time she has to go to the hospital and doesn't come home until 2:00AM. She considers trying again. No ,she will leave him with his feet sticking out until it is a better hour and no rain. One of the things she finds out that she hadn't noticed was that St Joseph is holding baby Jesus. She adapted her prayer. So we are still waiting for the houses to sell.

9/11

2006-09-11T04:28:00.000-07:00

I was getting ready to go over to the church for a planning meeting for the Board of Outreach the TV was on I saw the smoke heard the news. The first thought was they were interviewing some one about an up coming movie, then I saw the live on the screen and then the other plane hit. I was in shock. Then came the report on Washington.
I went over to the church and gave them the information. I told them what was happening in tears. There wasn't a TV so Pastor Tammy found a radio, and then we prayed.
From the time I began school I expected the Russians to bomb us. War planes from far away. No thought of someone using our own passenger planes. At the close of the day, we [a radio message told where and when] met in the church parking lot for community prayer.
Although I live many miles from the East Coast, TV brought me there and I saw the suffering. I saw the heros. There were also those who provided a place and food for the planes and passengers who had to land. For a brief time our country came together. 9/11 May we not forget those who died and their families. May we remember that we are one country and work for a safe and free life for all.

MzAries Tagged Me

2006-09-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

I have been tagged for a word association.
1Light------bulb
2Dog-------days
3Rusty-----nail
4Success--beckons
5Flowers--bloom

Animals in Our Neck of the Woods

2006-09-07T05:57:00.000-07:00

I have talked about the deer and the turkey in my yard. I also have rabbits.
Yesterday I picked up a news letter at the city hall.
There was an article about Smokey the Bear. Mr Smokevitch nick name Smokey found he had a bear in a tree behind his house. The DNR tranquilized the bear, they then moved the bear to a less populated area.
The trees have begun to turn to color. So fall is about to return. It is just beautiful here during fall. I will try to get some pictures.
Because I would like someone to buy my home I will again tell of the great location of the home in Crystal Falls. Two blocks from the main street called Superior where there is a furniture store , home decorating store, hair dresser, barber shop, variety story[Ben Franklin]Theatre[not movie] library,hardware store and more. There are Doctors and Dentists with in walking distance. The school is in walking distance. It is a short distance to snow mobile trail and parks. Crystal Falls is a nice place to live. There is a golf course.

New TV Shows

2006-09-06T04:57:00.000-07:00

I want something new for those of you on the marathon. Wecome!
I like Psych and Vanished.
I cam e by Vanished by accident and got drawn in. I was upset that it was a series. I could not wait for Monday. Monday came and Dr John called me in to watch. I sat down and I remembered none of the people. I thought I was really losing it. We were watching Prison Break. I was OK.

Diana Joy Tagged Me

2006-09-04T05:50:00.000-07:00

1 Are you happy with your blog?
Dr John does mine and I am happy. Mine is plain and I have seen some very fancy ones.
2 Does your family know about your blog?
Yes. My son started us on blogging and the whole family blogs. Some more often than others.
3Do you feel embarrassed to let your friends know about your blog.
No I am not embarrassed.
4 Did blogs cause positive changes in your thoughts?
I enjoy blogging. I like meeting new people.
5Do you only open to the blogs of those who comment on your blog or do you love to go and discover more by yourself?
I read the blogs on my links and Dr John's daily and I go to those who are new names. I wish there were more time.
6 What does visitors counter mean to you?
I dont have one but I have looked at others. I find all the different places interesting.
7 Did you try to imagine your fellow bloggers and give them real pictures?
Yes but as in the other world I can't remember names and faces. I try to remember names and and their stories.
8 Admit. Do you think there is a real benefit for blogging.
Yes. If you can not get out it keeps you in contact with people. I feel it is good to share your pain and joy.
9 Do you think that bloggers society is isolated from the real world or interacts with events?
Someone will comment on the events of the day. I am sure that bloggers go away from the computer and will be in contact with others.
10Does criticism annoying you or do you feel it's a normal thing.
It is a normal thing.
12 Did you get shocked by the arrests of some bloggers?
I think I heard about it on TV but I don't have the full scope. I believe there are limits[or should be] set by the blogger themselves. Anything that would be harmful to others should not be done.
13Did you think about what will happen to youg blog after you die?
I didn't give it a thought until this question. I quess it will die with me.
14What do you like to hear? Whats the song you like to puts its link in your blog.
I have not done that. Dr John found one that fit his blog. Friday's Child had a very nice one.
I will not tag anyone but if you want to do so.

Five unusual things about me

2006-09-02T20:36:00.000-07:00

I have been tagged by Lori.

1 I still like to pretend. Isn't that what fictional writers do.
2 I would much rather construct toy houses than do housework.
3 I always wear shoes because the minute I don't I hurt my feet in someway.
4 I am bother going up steep hills in a car. I have a strange fear feeling.
5 I do not like to throw anything away . I was trained very well by my school teachers[keep every scrap of paper] and my mother who still had a gift from her piano teacher we found as we cleaned out her home to sell it.

Bad Protects Good

2006-08-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

I made a garden early in the spring in the spot that the garden pool stood. It had all to be red flowers. We had deer problems with it. I sprayed then put out a noise maker up side down aparently which hampered it working. A huge weed grew and the flower s did well, under it's leaves. The weed covered the garden so I took it out with much labor. To day the flowers are gone eaten by the deer. I think that somewhere in the bible God said that the weeds should stay until the end because in pulling out the weeds the crop will be harmed. I am not sure this applies but I thought of it.

Need Trains?

2006-08-29T04:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Dr John and I went out to eat lunch as the people were looking at our house. The waitress gave us a big smile handed us the menu and said to John
"You have a lot of trains"
John said"Yes I do."
She said "You don't need that many trains. 40 or so."
She left. The comment stuck in my mind. No he didn't need those trains but yet yes he needed those trains. People who collect dolls, tea cups, shoes, cars etc don't need them either.
When he was in the hospital he was not responding to anyone. There was no conversation, just yes and no. He wasn't watching TV. He wasn't reading books. He was just there with no interest in anything. His sister[the one who doesn't like computers] and her husband came to visit . There wasn't much visiting until Paul asked about John's plan for Pigion Falls [not yet named]. Talking began John telling how Paul could help him in setting up the train layout. John began reading train magazines. For a life,John needed trains . We need other interests other than work, there is a need for play.

A Good/Bad day

2006-08-27T05:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a very strange day with good and bad. A friend passed away and one got married. There was a large age difference. My friend who died was elderly. He was a gentle quiet man. The one who got married was an aquaintence who with his wife will probably become a pastor.

There were two other events that added to the day. I talked to my daughter who went to a wedding of the daughter of the woman who hired her at this job. My daughter liked the service which was different than other weddings she had attended. Bride and groom were becoming pastors like the couple above. The father of the bride is a pastor. Instead of solos the congregation sang hymns. The the light for the two candles becoming one started with every one lighting a candle starting at the back of the church, and at the end the parents lighting the two candles and the bride and groom lighting the one candle.

Just before I called my daugher I listened to a sermon from a Catholic priest on TV. I don't know who he was. Something caught me as I was switching channels. It was on how a good God could allow evil.

Well that was my day except for grocery shopping and packing a few more boxes.

gadgets

2006-08-23T16:48:00.000-07:00

We love gadgets. I first came to know of them when I would go with my parents to the State Fair. There were booths selling different gadgets. My mother would always fine at least one gadget to come home with. Now these gadgets are sold on TV.

I watch as they demonstrate the use. There are testimonies of how great they are. I need one of those. They will solve all my problems. I order the gadget and it arrives and I use it and it doesn't work or it is no way as good as the ad. I have sewing machines, scissors, saws, gardening tools. choppers. You know the trunk loads I have been taking to the dump. We did put some of the items out for sale at the rummage sale telling the buyers that we couldn't get it to work. I must be one of the suckers born every minute or very inept.

The latest was an ad for a wire looking device that you push in the wall to hang pictures etc. I have bought many items for hanging which have failed.

We broke out laughing. No way would we beable to use it to hang anything on the walls here. They are not wallboard. These are solid. We were not suckers this time. But maybe they could work.

Does anyone cook or bake?

2006-08-19T06:11:00.000-07:00

I am going to go through my pots and pans to pack leaving just those I need. A cake pan, a sauce pan and a cookie pan. I put out some bread pans at the rummage sale and there were many comments I don't bake. even when I had a special cake pan of Winnie the Poo. I also don't use the bread pans because I have a bread maker. I am not packing that yet. Dr John commented we wouldn't have to buy a stove right off because we can use the Microwave. Most of my baking was for the church and for my open house. I do hope we get moved before Thanksgiving .

Update on my sister. She said she is doing fine but tired at times. She said she is now going home sooner than expected.

Lois on the web has a new post. That is Upper Peninsula and beyond. link on side.

What's wrong with me?

2006-08-16T16:14:00.000-07:00

Do I need help or what? I am dead tired, falling asleep on my feet. I look at Quildancer's contest Lori is tied with Donna. Donna where did she come from.? I vote for Lori some one votes for Donna etc. Two and a half hours later I quit after Lori is ahead by 200 votes. Morning comes and Lori is behind and I am voting again. I think Lori is ahead again. All I want to know is why.

Pennie has blogged again. It is been quite awhile so she would like me to remind people of her blog.

Rummage Sale

2006-08-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

The weather was perfect for both days. Friday we had many people. It was nice because we paid $3.00 and they put our name on a map . People came from all over. Everyone seemed to like the railroad and Dr John would say you can have the railroad for 100.000+ and we will throw in the house. All of our bigger items went except a uncomfortable computer chair and a youth bed which I couldn't bring up from the basement. It was not heavy but awkward. Some people came back with their children to see the train.

I filled the car again with things for the dump. Not from the sale yet, but junk from the basement. Monday is garbage day and I have bags in the garage for them to pick up. I have to get to bed so I can get up early and get those bags out.

The Hand Improves.

2006-08-10T19:13:00.000-07:00

Pennie was not going to the doctor put to Physical Therapy on Wednesday. They had the hand almost a fist and she is very happy about that. The fall did not set her back as we feared.

I plan on getting up very early, so that I can get items on the tables before people get there. Hope it doesn't rain.

Pennie update

2006-08-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

They [the docs] don't think she has broken any thing. They put her hand in a cast/splint just incase she has a bone in the thumb that is in question . The cast or splint is removable. Her hand doc e-mailed her that he saw that she had to go to the emergence room and to contact him if he could do anything. She will see him on Wednesday. The permission to drive came yesterday to the office.

The big rummage sale is Friday and Saturday. Have much to do.

I want to fix Just One More Thing

2006-08-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

I can't believe she did it again. The people helping to sell the Pennie's [my daughter] house suggested she repaint her walls that were red . She explained that her right arm doesn't work and that it would be difficult. Wanting to sell the house she decided to repaint. She had that done just before people came to look at her house, on Saturday. Sunday was the open house and she had some red paint on the ceiling ,marks from when she painted the red. She got some paint and began to paint on Sunday morning . The paint was very thin and she had every thing covered but they didn't stay covered and so paint was getting on the furniture and the rug. She was backing up and tripped and fell into the windowsill and then fell to the ground reinjuring her right hand. With her hand in pain she cleaned up the best she could, When the people came she went to Shopko and got something cold to put on her hand and fell asleep in her car. She awoke and went back to her home. The pain increased. When she called me with the news, I told her to call a friend and get to the hospital to have someone look at her hand. I am waiting now to hear from her. To find out about the condition she has you can go to her blog, the link is on the left . She blogged about it starting on May 1 . It is call RSD Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.

Another Van Load Leaves

2006-08-05T19:08:00.000-07:00

My son came up with my granddaughter and they loaded the van again with what we want to keep.

An up date on Pennie. Work wants her to have a permit from the doctor that she can drive. Her arm still is not working. We could understand why she could not transport the children but it has been five months . Last week her team partner left she was on internship. In three weeks she will have a new partner so she asked if she could transport the kids. They answered no and she could not drive during work hours until she had a permit. She called the doctor and he dictated a letter but it has not been sent yet to her work place. She told them at work that she could not go out to visit the homes until she had the permit because they would not cover her if she had an accident. They[management] suggested taking a cab. They would only pay milage not cab fare. She is checking on cab fare costs. Hopefully the permit will soon be there.

To the Dump

2006-08-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

It is raining, not a hard rain but a gentle warm rain which was very much needed. This is the day of The TOPS picnic on our aniversary so I hope the rain will stop in the afternoon. I went to the dump unloading the stuff I put in the car yesterday. There was nothing that would rot, just junk. the dump has beens to throw stuff into problem I am short hard to reach and harder with heavy bags. There was one bag I just couldn't get in and it started to open on the bottom[puncture proof bags may not be so] .so I used the little table with wheels which I was thowing away. I put the bag on it and wheeled it into the building with a pit and in went the bag and I wheeled the table back and threw it into the dumpster. My day has begun.

Marlene's Birthday

2006-07-29T05:27:00.000-07:00

Our Birthday club went out to celebrate Marlene's birthday. In our club the one with the birthday picks the place to go and the day. She does the driving. On my birthday celebration I pick a near by place because it gets dark early and there is still snow. Marlene's is in the summer more daylight hours. She picked the Holiday in Phelps WI. It is a newly constructed supper club. It overlooks the lake. They have cloth tablecloths and napkins. They had live music. The food was excellent.

We had a extra bonus. Some years ago we had a young women who was very talented musically. She had a breakdown and she went into a place for care. She would not have any communication with us. As we drove to the restaurant we brought up her name and were wondering how she was and where she was. The waitress had just seated us and we looked over to the table next to us and the young lady was seated at the next table with her sister. We had to take a double take, were we seeing things. It was her. We went over to the table, and she was happy to see us, and we talked and hugged while we ordered and waited for our food. She was staying during the summer at their cottage and in the winter at the family home in Ohio. It was so nice to see her and see that she was doing well.
On to the casino. They had a concert that was to be held in a large tent. As we entered a storm broke out with thunder and lightening, so they moved the seating time so the casino now was packed . The birthday girl won and every one but me won a little. I lost the 20 I set aside to play with. I can still be a part of the losers party. Here I was trying to win enough for our down payment on the house. There was a person from Crystal Falls that won 5 million before so maybe but I don't think she was playing the pennie machine. You have to play big to win big. That's not for me.
The day was a good one except for the rain. I forgot to mention that the power went out in the casino for a short time. Ihad gone to the restroom but there were people on the ATM machine and those at the slot machines that had trouble.

Day Off

2006-07-26T17:16:00.000-07:00

I took the whole day off. I was not planning to do this but a friend who use to live here came to visit. She has family here who she spent the morning with and then the group of us that use to be together went out to eat. In the morning I went to TOPS . We had good conversation and a good meal. This was true of both groups. I am also going out again on Friday with the group to celebrate a birthday. I don't think this is a good way to lose weight but it is good for sanity. One of the group who is going through a divorce and is selling her house and moving is part of the group. I think we both needed a break.

I was going to put up the tables tonight, but I need John's help and he felt it was too late to go out. Will need an early morning get up and move. Although the idea of name your price is a good one we will go with the quarter for this one. The next one a name your price might be good, it has some items that I would like more than a quarter. I could give a bottom price.
Hope I will be sane tomorrow night.

Working on Leaving this House

2006-07-22T17:33:00.000-07:00

Most of my time has been trying to clean the house for those interested in buying it. We have collected so much stuff and because of Dr John's illness we just brought in the boxes and put them down and we still hadn't put things away so in the basement you can just squeeze through a small pathway. The pathway is now a little wider. We [Lori and Pete] took two loads to the dump and two loads home to store for us. The garage is full of things for the rummage sale. We are thinking for our first sale to price every thing on the tables at .25. We don't have time to worry about pricing.

I am sorry I haven't blogged and I probably won't until I feel the house is in order .

Dollhouses I received

2006-07-10T17:23:00.000-07:00

Jill commented that she had a metal dollhouse which she loved to play with. My parents gave me this dollhouse also. I let it go when we moved here five years ago. I still have the furniture Its is a little old fashion for my granddaughter. She had to ask what some of the pieces were.

I also got another dollhouse when I was nine or ten, which meant a lot to me. Our neighborhood gang[not like the ones in the city just kids that hung together] consisted of four boys and three girls. The boys got in a fight two against two. Can't remember what it was about but I took sides. One of the boys walked by my house and I was on the porch and I engaged in some not so nice language back and forth then I took the bow I had[ I was not allowed the arrows they had metal tips] and raced down and hit him. He fought back and pushed me down on the ground Jumping on my legs which were crossed and I heard a crack and I felt the pain. He ran away. I broke my leg, and my parents took me to the hospital and my leg was set and I returned home to the living room couch.
There was pain but you should have heard the screaming and crying I did when the boys mother came to say how sorry she was that I was hurt by her son.

The father and his sister made from a wooden crate a dollhouse for me. It was decorated and had a number of rooms. They also gave me some home made furniture and dolls. That made me want to make my own dollhouse.

This story probably gives you another view of Betty.

Dollhouses

2006-07-08T16:12:00.000-07:00

When my granddaughter came last week we started to work on building a dollhouse. This was not probably a good choice on my part. I had to try and get my house ready for others to look at, and we put up a card table to work on in the middle of my dinning room. I love dollhouses and my granddaughter does also so I wanted to share that with her and I had the dollhouse kits in the basement. We did not get it finished because we ran into a wiring problem for some reason the tape did not work. We got the first and second floors in and got tile in the bathroom and carpet in the bedroom. Today I brought the undone house to the basement covering it ,reboxing materials not used yet. We will beable to finish it next time we get together. I have made three dollhouses and collected dollhouse furniture. Bree likes to use the dollhouses and as she plays makes up stories which she puts on her blog.

The desire for a dollhouse began when I was very young. I was three or four when I began a conversation with a boy across the street. For many days we would talk across the street not being alowed to cross the street. He lured me with a promise of a dollhouse his father had at work. I crossed that street and many more in search of his fathers work place. I got scared the further we wondered from my home but he threaten to beat me with his belt, so I shut up. We were at one time in the bus terminal where they told us to leave. They may have called the police. The police picked us up and drove us to our homes. We were by the ore docks when they found us. The docks were about six blocks away .I have a great guardian angel.

I have a problem that I will have to bring up to Dr John. I would go to his blog from my sons but the links are missing at my sons. I tried Lori's that didn't work.

Another Place to Go

2006-07-08T06:40:00.000-07:00

I would like to encourage you to visit Upper Peninsula Michigan and Beyond found to my left it is a small square under Mimi. She doesn't blog often but does have a lot when she does. She has other sites also which I found like Outside My Window Life in God's Country by Sue . Go to Sue's recent post also.

I am blank for writing so I want to share other places that have something to read.

A Hermit Life

2006-07-07T05:20:00.000-07:00

TC said that in his next move he might like to become a hermit. This is not a quote. I once when I was in college said that I would like to become a hernit and that was not acceptable to the instructor. He might have felt that was not a goal to have as you pay big bucks to go to school.

I like solitude. I like sitting by a river or a lake listening to the movement of the water. I like hearing the songs of the birds. I like walking down a woodland path.

I do not like noisy traffic,or crowds of people. I do not like calls from someone trying to sell me something I do not need. I do not feel comfortable with large parties, unless I am the host.

I have learned however that I would not like being a hermit either. When Dr John was ill I liked the support I got from others at the Beacon House or from my friends. I like bible studies. I like meeting at TOPS[take off pounds sensibly]. I like the friends I have made blogging. So a hermit's life is not for me.

We have been trying to get our home ready for people to see it. I put new lights in the front porch I know that doesn't sound like a big task and it is not but I also have to find the lamps a round it. At Christmas we took them down and put in an adapter to be able to light the Christmas decorations. I have one set done but can't find the other. I am going to have to go up in the attic, which is hot now but that is where the Christmas decorations are stored. It would have been smart to have restored them when we took down the Christmas decorations. We also began clearing the front door area of things we piled there. Boxes of trains not used in the train layout. We also put together an end table that was boxed sitting in the hallway sense it arrived. We are not speedy people.

My daughters arm is improving she can wiggle her fingers but can not bend them yet. The swelling has gone down. She decided not to go to Madison sense the meds seem to be working . They did increase the doseage.

My sister is in California for treatment and will be there for two months. Please continue to pray for her.

The 4th Weekend

2006-07-05T20:28:00.000-07:00

We went down to Green Bay on Sunday after attending a 50th wedding anniversary. We squeezed our gradndaughter into the car. She had a large suitcase and we had all the breathing equipment and two small weekend suitcases.

Monday we went house hunting and unlike the first trip we found the duplexes to our liking. Still have to do a lot of down sizeing. My daughter wants to look into building making to what we want. That is scary to us because it depends on the builder to do a good job and keep the cost to what we agreeded to. With a house already built you can see it as it is not a dream, even if it doesn't have all you want.

We had a good fireworks show and the only bad thing was my youngest son got hit in the face. That wasn't an only it did hurt but he said it was his fault because he got careless on the tapeing. I found and they gave it to me a completely safe firework a plastic globe of moving colors.

Find The Right House

2006-06-26T23:51:00.000-07:00

We are house hunting again. This is such a hard task and when you are comfortable where you are, it is harder. My son and family and my daughter are out looking. Last time we didn't find anything that we liked in our price range. I came home very happy with the house I am living in.
Now we are further along having put our house up for sale. I keep getting ovewhelmed looking at all that I have to do. The best course is small steps. This is the first time we have to sell a house. We have been living in homes supplied by the church.

I believe that buying the house we are now living in was God's guidance. When my daughter was born it was in the hospital across the street from this house. 36 years ago I looked out my hospital window and I fell in love with it. Had no idea what it looked like inside and I thought to my self I wonder if when we can buy a house will this one be available. Two years before Dr John was to retire the house went up for sale. We bought the house but continued to live in the parsonage. The plan was to gradually bring our stuff over and repaint etc. Other things happened, Dr John ended up in the hospital. He was there for 6 months and would have to leave the hospital on a ventiltor He had trouble walking ,going up stairs was very difficult. The church placed a temp. pastor as they searched for a new permanent one. Dr John had to go on disability and there was no way he could go back to living in the parsonage. The steps from the garage up into the house were 13. So although if we had known that the church was going to sell the parsonage and would have liked to buy it we couldn't live in it. The house we are in has only two steps and people from our church put in railings. They also tore up the carpeting so that Dr John could walk with a walker. On taking up the carpet they found hard wood floors. Does God not provide.
With all this knowledge of how God looks out for us I have become anxious.

We want to move because we want to be closer to the family. I do not like to drive and it is unfair to make them do all the driving. As we get older there are more chances that we may land in the hospital. When Dr John was in the hospital for the big event the kids took time off from their work. This was hard on them and their place of employment.

Reasons for not moving. We own our home and in buying a new home we will be back to those monthly payments which you worry about each month.

Why did They Have to Close

2006-06-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

In cars the town was dying because of the new super highway. My favorite restaurant on the way to Green Bay had to close after they put in the new highway. We have been stopping there since my children were kids. They at one time were open 24 hours. A new fast food place was built near the exit. The fast food place has no personality The Highway Cafe did. It reflected the small Abrams community.

Another restaurant that had to close that I liked was in Crystal Falls. It closed not to a new highway but I believe because of relationships. It had new owners and the food was excellant. There was a lack of experience that hurt. If you have experience in running a restaurant there is one for sale here. I just feel bad when they have to close. This came to me as I passed the closed restaurant and I had a pang of hunger and I thought of their steak sandwich.

In Search of a Hat

2006-06-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

I need a new hat. I do not need a hat for formal occasions, like church or a wedding. I have given up on finding one of those. I need a hat for gardening.
I bought a hat about five years ago. It is a cute hat light blue with cherries on it. I have a problem with hats because I have a small head. I bought this hat in a toddlers shop when my daughter-in law was looking for something for her youngest.

The problem with this hat is that it is lined and in the heat I am soon sweating and it comes down my face into my eyes. I have sunblock on and that is in my eyes. I give up on the hat but that is not good. I need to find a cool hat[temperature not style]. that will fit my head.

I have to admit that I am a blog idiot. I have no idea how to do a silent picture. I had one picked out and can't get to appear. Dr John although patient may not be for long. He says it is because I fear the computer.

I will list what I am thankful for:
Dr John's is able to work at his trains.
My granddaughter is comming for a week and that my grandsons came last week.
That my friend is out of the coma and they found out what was wrong and they are treating it.
That another friend is home from the hospital.
For Gods continual love and the blessings He gives. He really has blessed me and wrapped me in His love though all the tough times. I am so thankful to be able to talk to Him when I am so afraid of what is happening.

Happy Fathers Day

2006-06-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

The man I called father was not my biological father but he raised me. He was an intelligent man, with a gift of humor. He was also gifted musically.

His job was that of a postman. Before he went off to war he was called the whistling mailman but the whistle was gone for awhile after the war.

I remember the vacations we would take each year. We would take a month and traveling by car and sleeping in a tent we would see the USA.

I remember making kites and going to the park to fly them.

I also remember the long days for him at Christmas.
I loved my father and the things I loved about my father is also what I love about Dr John

Happy Fathers Day to my sons who are also great fathers.

I also want to comment about another father that I learned about from my friend in the hospital. When she came out of her coma she saw by her bed her x-husband who she hasn't been with for 28 years. The children who couldn't be there with their mother called their father and he drove 6 hours and picked up his former mother-in-law,bring her to the hospital because his children requested it. Happy Fathers Day "B"

All Is Quiet

2006-06-17T16:33:00.000-07:00

The boys left this morning to go back to their home.
The house is so quiet, no laughing or giggling. No calling for grandma or grandpa. We miss them already.

Yesterday we went back to Fortune Lake. Alex couldn't find his running shoes which he miss placed on Monday. He was sure he didn't leave them at the park. I searched and searched and in unusual places thinking that his brothers as a prank had hid them. So yesterday I took only Alex and went to the park and asked the ranger and sure enough thats were they were. We also discovered it was very warm. So in the afternoon I took the other boys also and they went swimming. There was more swimming because of the heat. After swimming we came back to the house and picked Dr John and went to Shellies the ice cream place. Waiting for his father to come Alex made cookies and brownies. I needed the cookies for the bible camp for women and kids week. Crystal Falls ladies of our church make cookies for treats. I gave some of the cookies to the boys to take home. In the picture the boys are painting a base for the rollercoaster for the train layout. The rollercoaster is out now on the layout. The rollercoaster was put together by Alex with help of his brothers.

When I was talking to my sister I mentioned that even though I had the air c onditioner on it seem very warm. The temperature was 80. My brother-in-law said to check the circuit breaker and I did it was off I put it on and now my home is cooler.

My sister still needs your prayers. She is feeling fine but is going out to California for more consulations for less invasive methods for the brain tumor.

I would also like prayers for a friend whom they are not sure of what she has. She went into a coma and her leg and arm are very swollen have sores and are very painful.

Fortune Lake

2006-06-13T17:15:00.000-07:00

On Monday my grandsons went toBewabic State Park. It is on Fortune lake just out side Crystal Falls. The day was cool unless the clouds parted. So they did not do much swimming but did what they love to do catch frogs . When we first arrived we were the only ones on the beach except for the geese. I tried to take a picture but I didn't want to get too close. They moved into where the boys were trying to catch the frogs in the marsh surprising Caleb and he screamed and they took flight over us. My camera wasn't ready and they were in the middle of the lake by the time I was set. We also saw a beaver swimming.

People have asked about my travel to 48 states. My family took a months vacation traveling by car staying in campgrounds. We would go in a circle not coming back the same way we strarted.The two states I haven't been in are Alaska and Hawaii.

Tagged by Cissa

2006-06-07T21:30:00.000-07:00

Four jobs i've had in my life:
teacher
camp cook
mom
unpaid health care giver
Four movies I would watch over and over :
Star Wars
Wizard of Oz
Pink Panther the old ones
The Princess Bride
Four places I have lived
Escanaba, Mi
Marquette,Mi
Trout Creek/Ewen Mi
Crystal Falls, Mi
Four TV shows I love to watch:
House
/Deal or No Deal
Apprentice
Law and Order
Four places I have been:
48 states
Mexico
Canada
Europe
Four blogs I visit daily
Lori's Minute
Links on my page
Links on Dr johns page
New commenters
Four of my favorit foods:
Pizza
Subs
Shrimp
Lamb Chops
Four places I would rather be right now:
Green Bay
Appleton
Madison
Bed
Four friends that have been tagged that I think will respond:
Lori
Chana
Pennie [when she is able]
Who ever would like to

Catching Up

2006-06-06T19:40:00.000-07:00

There have been some question raised in the comments on my blogs. So I will try to answer them.

On the slide show just below this blog are my oldest son's family. On the slide show below that are my youngest son's family. Pennie is in both slide shows.

I found the hanging strawberries at Wal Mart while buying my flowers for the garden and I thought I would give them a try. I have been using Butterflies suggestion that they should be watered twice a day. I was afraid they would suffer because I was gone over the weekend. God watered them tonight.

There were suggestions that I write my stories on the blog. I don't know if I am comfortable to do that at this time. The stories are more for teenagers than small children. It is funny because I do not like even using a typewriter to write them. I will give this some thought.

Pennie's hand is still giving trouble. On Saturday morning the swelling had gone done some and she could straighten her hand up and wiggle her fingers except the little one. The little one is not moving. In the afternoon we went swimming at the motel pool. She swam and went into the hot tub. The swelling was back . The nerves were upset with something she did or the treatment wore off. On Thursday she will go talk with the doc and see if they do the next series of treatments.

We have not begun working on the water falls of Pigeon Falls. We did look at Steins . We looked at rubber lining. It was $200.00 for a ready made water fall. We probably should have spent the money in the first place in stead of going cheap. We know the problem the little tub which was second in the series has tipped back from the snow and the water is going out the back. We can't move the tub because we cemented it in with rock. We are thinking of capping the back. I planted water lilies for the first time and they are growing in the pond.

Ist Communion

2006-06-04T17:53:00.000-07:00

We had a nice weekend at our sons. It was my granddaughter's Ist Communion. On Saturday afternoon the family went to our motel and swam in the pool. After the pool Our son and Dr John went shopping and Pennie and my granddaughter and I went shopping /we went in separate cars. The males arrived back at my sons way before the females. Lori and Pete prepared the food.

Finishing Sentences

2006-05-31T16:31:00.000-07:00

I saw this on Cissa Fireheart's blog and although I was not tagged I thought it would be fun.

I AM tired
I WANT to rest my feet.
I HATE; to gain weight
I MISS having a dog.
I FEAR : a storm
I HEAR the town clock
I WONDER: who will win the 5 million on Deal or No Deal.
I REGRET: being a scarty-cat.
I 'M NOT: doing the dishes.
I DANCE: looking at my feet.
I SING: when i am alone.
I CRY: easily.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: at ease
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: model buildings.
I WRITE: childrens stories.
I CONFUSE: the names of people.
I NEED: to be more mineful of others.
I SHOULD: do the laundry.
I START: a new plan tomorrow.
I FINISH: what I start.[not]

I planted a hanging basket of stawberries . Last night after it cooled a bit I made a cake for strawberry shortcake. I couldn't find the shortcake in the store.

I don't know if my daughter will blog or not. she had her second treatment tuesday and it was different than the first. Her right arm was blocked but also the left. She will have another treatment tomorrow.

The Falls in Trouble?

2006-05-29T21:21:00.000-07:00

After we put out the restaurant and the people, and the boats around the "lake" [ a small plastic garden pool]. I planted in the lake flowers. This I have never done. I used plastic one that floated before. I then planted the rest of the flowers in the red garden. This was the former pool hole which took 30 bags 0f costly soil. " Dirt poor" The day was very hot and the plants needed water. I looked at the lake which was down about two inches and filled it and started the waterfall. I went to water the rest of the plants and when I came back the lake was dry. The engineers now have a problem, where did the water go.? Will we have to take everything down and start over.? When we go to Green Bay this weekend maybe we will find another way to make a waterfall.

Memorial Day

2006-05-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

In my home town I don't remember a parade but we put flowers on the graves of our relatives. My mother would purchase the flowers and take them and as we became able to we helped plant them.

Now being away from my home town we do not put flowers on the graves but we have until Dr John became ill would go to the parade and to the ceremonys. Dr John sometimes was the speaker and sometimes he was called on to pray. All of the children were in the highschool band and they would march out to the cemetery . Besides the band , and the veterans, The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts would march. As a Girl Scout leader I made that march. When everything was done at Crystal everyone who was a part of the ceremony would drive to Amasa [a place smaller than Crystal Falls]. After the ceremony there refreshments were given out. There were two bad things that are a part of our memories The heat and the bugs. The heat ans standing make for people passing out in the band.

We made two trips for dirt yesterday and another one today to fill the pool hole. I got the dirt in and the flowers planted. The For-get-me -nots do not look so good every thing else seemed OK.

In the morning we were to have a baptism at 10:00 but the people showed up at the 8:00 service. The pastor called the lady working with me at 7:45 and she set out the cake and made coffee We provide a cake and coffee and punch to celebrate after the service. I went late to church since I went Saturday night. I came in during the sermon which is followed by the baptism. No baptism I couldn't understand why. I am on the altar commitee for May so I couldn't get down right after service. We also provide refreshments after the last service of the month. I expected to see the cake. No cake. I said the whole cake is gone. Then my friend explained they came at 8:00.

Fighting the pool

2006-05-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

Most of my day I fought with our 4'x 6' pool. Why you ask.

Here's the problem. Way back when we began plans for this garden railroad we bought it with thoughts that it would would be our lake. We have a smaller pool in the middle of the layout where we have a mountain with tunnels and a waterfall over it into the pool . It was a lot of work and still is not complete. The hole and larger pool were in place but we were far from ready to work over there. So it just sat there collecting rain water and debree and looking ugly. Last fall we pulled out the pool and placed it over the little pool protecting the little pool for the winter.

Afew days ago we pulled off the large pool and sat in the ground. We change a mind for a lake . Now we looked at the hole where the pool was.

I had ordered flowers to put in that side of the garden which was bare now with with a large hole in it. We had notice that the flowers had been shipped. Where were these flowers going to go. I could put dirt in the hole,or I could fill the hole and dig another one another place, or I
could put back the pool and fill it with dirt and plant the flowers there.

after going over in my mind for sometime. I decided to put back the pool. I dragged it over and up over the rail and into the hole. It did not go in nicely. It sat on top. So I pulled it out and got a shovel and dug some more. Pulled back into the hole and it went down a little but still was sticking up. I pulled it out again and dug some more and put it back better but still not right. Lunch time. When I looked out the window and saw that I still had a foot more to dig. I decided to pull out the pool . I went and got that cloth that keeps out weeds and I layed that down. I am going to fill the hole with dirt and plant my flowers there. No Pool.

Now we have the problem of where to store this pool. Don't know.

People have been asking about our colds. Mine has gone. Dr John is having some coughing.

My daughter after finding a doctor that knew what she had and how to treat it , went in for an injection of something that would block the pain to the hand and arm. I am a layman and I donot know the medical name, but the nerves will relax and begin to think all is OK now. I made that very simple and it isn't but that the best I can do. There can be one to six injections. She can move her fingers after the injection and got a muffin and pealed off the wrapper. She will probably blog about it later.

Remembering Harry

2006-05-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

The more I think about my uncle Harry I am amazed. He had retired when I knew him. He stayed at my aunts home [it was his house too because my grandparents had left the house to the children] and when my birth mother died my father also came to stay in the house with me. When my birth father died I was adopted by my aunt. Harry was the babysitter for my baby sister and myself.

Harry was a bachelor. He was a sargent in the army during WWI. They rode horses. We had a room upstairs in the back which was like a walk-in closet. In that room he set up a "war room" during WWII.

He had maps and newspapers keeping track of the war. This is not the type of man you would think of changing dypers . He wash clothes and there were no automatic washer and dryers.

I remember a Christmas when because of the war the lights were not colored. He was not happy with that so he painted the white lights individualy different colors. To do that he hung them on the clothes line in the basement. We used them on the tree for many years.

Today was a beautiful day as warm as a summer day. We worked on the center of the railroad, uncovering the water fall and pool. We cleaned it out and added water and ran it.

It is my sister birthday. Happy birthday sister!

Happy Birthday Dr. John

2006-05-21T05:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Dr John!

I am glad that we can celebrate together. I love your humor. You have put joy in my life.

I have an update on my sisters trip to Mayo. The Doctors do not recomend surgery. She is still able to do almost every thing she could before eg: golfing , cooking. Surgery might take a lot away. The tumor is slow growing and with three month check ups and radiation that would be a better option. She wants to say thankyou to all that have been praying for her and would ask for more prayers.

I remembered a n other story of Las Vegas with the grandmas. We stayed at Vegas World the first time with the grandmas, and they had a pool at the top of the building. It was HOT so we decided to go swimming. It was freezing and windy up there but we bravely went swimming, but we didn't stay there long.

Life With The Grandmas

2006-05-18T17:19:00.000-07:00

The move of my mother to my home was gradual. First she broke her arm and I went and stayed with her until she could be on her own again. Then she broke her hip . She broke her hip the week after her 80th birthday. The next year she broke the other hip. My sister and I were with her for a week or two and I stayed on until she was able again to be on her own. What was not noticeable when we just visited occasionaly was that do to small strokes she was losing her short term memory.

Two things pushed the move into staying with my sister and myself. There was a relative who stated that he was coming to live in the house, who she did not want there. He did on paper have joint ownership of the house,but my mother had been living there since her mother died. The second thing that happened we felt that she was unsafe because she had been robbed during the day with as much protection that we could provide. Meals on wheels came around noon. Housecleaning came in the afternoon, and a friend came at supper and visited until time to go to sleep. She had a help line. Still someone had come in and had taken money from her wallet and bank. The bank was a large crayon shaped cylinder she kept her change in. She had no memory of being robbed. The friend found the wallet and bank on the floor. Because my sister lives a long way. My mother would stay with each of us for three months. My sister would have her come during winter because they have warmer weather.

My mother -in law also was losing her memory due to having small strokes. She also was having fractures in her back. When she was home on her own she grew fearful. She lived on a farm and the neighbors were not close. John's sister had her move in with her with home health making visits. While I was staying with my mother after the second hip broke, John's sister asked for help,so my mother-in-law would stay with us a month and John's sister a month. Until my mother came to stay with us John's mother would travel with me to my mothers a two hour trip one way once a week. We would go out to eat and visit.

Having the two grandmothers at my home together was best for them because they had each other for company. No one complained about what TV show they should watch. They didn't mind if a story was repeated over and over but the fear of being alone was not there.

Since they had only the now we tried to make the now as pleasant as possible. While they both could walk fairly well we took two trips to Las Vegas. We also included them in the activities we participated in. My mother-in-law enjoyed being the hostess at our open houses at Christmas. She also would go over to the church with Dr. John and helped put together mailings. In the picture above you see my oldest grandson learning to walk using my mother-in law's walker.

My mother-in-law past away at Dr. John's sisters house.

My mother as she got older got more demanding. My sister and my mother looked at assisted living places in a town near us. They found one that was very nice. She would have her own apartment with a fairly large bed room. The apartment had a kitchenet. She would get housekeeping and laundry. She moved in after Easter with my encouragement because we had trouble on Easter.

Easter morning our church has three services. The bell choir which I was a part of played at the early service. I left leaving instructions for my daughter and daughter -in-law to help my mother get ready for church and we all would attend the later service. Now I was not there but I was told that my mother was very irate because I did not get her up to go church . She refused to get dressed. She called out for juice repeatedly as the family tried to get dressed and feed my oldest granddaughter who was a baby at the time. This is when I lost it and decided that she should go to the assisted living place. I have a bit of guilt about this maybe a little more time she could have stayed with me.

She liked the assisted living place and felt like she was on vacation. I visited her regularly and we participated in the activities. During the summer they had a picnic and the families of those staying there would bring a dish to pass. They dressed up at holloween in costumes. They had an Easter egg hunt at Easter. My mother did not stay in her room but would go down and sit in the living room with the fireplace, keeping track of all those coming and going. When she first went there they had a large piano which she would play. Her sight became bad and she had difficulty reading the music, so the playing ended . A major stroke brought her to the hospital and then to a near by nursing home as she continued to have larger strokes.

The Town Begins

2006-05-17T18:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had no rain. It was windy and cool in the morning but warmed up in the afternoon. This means that we could begin on our garden railroad.

We changed the layout some and so the foundation of the buildings had to be painted. I began that task . I put on a apron trying to keep the paint off my clothes. I also put on gloves. I started with spray painting and the wind blew the paint everywhere but on the block. The wind picked up my apron and it flew up over my face. I gave up on the spray and used a brush. I finished all but three before we had to go to the doctors. I took off my gloves before cleaning the brush so I worked at getting the paint off my hands, didn't look at my face.

When the doctor went to examine me he was alarmed because I had a new black spot on my face. I then remembered the apron flying up. I told him no it was paint not a mole.

Today working around the raindrops we put out some buildings. The next day that should be nice is Sunday. Hope they are wrong and we get some sunshine.

Mother's Day is Over

2006-05-16T06:38:00.000-07:00

For Mother's Day we {Dr. John and I} went out to eat. Some advice: go when they begin serving. I made the mistake of thinking I would avoid long lines. I avoided long lines but got cold food, good but cold when it should be hot. Very good service eight servers to just us. There were also no food left as far as the special breads they were known for. It was nice to get out anyway.

Monday I tackled the vacuum cleaner. It needed to have it's belt replaced. I began to do this some months ago. The problem I had was the right size belt. I got the right numbers and a nice lady tried to help me at Walmart , but none of their belts had the right number so we took the closest. It did not look anything like it and no way to put it in. So back to store with old belt in hand and numbers. We found a belt and I bought two. Yesterday I tried to put it in. Directions sound not to difficult, put the left end of roller in first and stretch the belt and put in right end. It was the stretch part I had difficulty with. I was determined and after an hour I managed the feat ,very proud that I got it done. It worked.

In the afternoon, I built the fire station, which arrived in the morning.

To day we are going to have partly cloudy skies and we should be able to paint the building foundations. Tomorrow back comes the rain but in our area we have not had the flooding yet.

Mothers

2006-05-12T19:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers Day!

I have had three mothers in my life. They were all great. They have all passed away. My birth mother died when I was four years old. I went with my father to live with my aunt, my fathers sister. My father died the next year and my aunt became my mother. Her name was Margaret, nick name was Peg.

She was a working mom but she didn't need a babysitter or daycare. My uncle was staying at her home. He was an other brother. He was mr. mom.Her husband was over seas fighting in WWII. Her husband became my father.

She was a secretary but worked at different jobs through the years. She worked for the railroad, the DNR, and the church. After her husband returned from the war, a baby sister was born.

My mother was active in the P.T.A. and worked at the Halloween carnivals. She had great respect for teachers and when they had conference she would provide a place to stay. She attended every activity my sister and I were in. She was a church organist since she was in highschool. She was in the Eastern Star. She would play the organ for the Ice review practice. She loved to play Bridge, and won very often belonging to a Bridge Club.

My mother never spanked. She never raised her voice. She just gave you that look.

My third mom was Edith my mother-in-law. She was a stay at home mom. After Dr John's brother died she began taking in foster children mostly babies. She was an expert on baby care. When I was going to have my first child I had much to learn. I had done baby sitting but it was for children out of diapers. She gave me practice with the baby she had at that time. After the birth she came and stayed to help me. She was with me when I was with Dr John in Green Bay when he had that ear infection.

I loved my mom's and I miss them.

Rain and Snow in May

2006-05-11T22:10:00.000-07:00

This is very yucky weather. The wind is strong and drives the sleet into you and it is slippery and cold. A friend of mine said she has not turned on her furnace all winter but she did on May 11.

I want to thank all of you who said they would pray for my sister.

There is good news coming from my sisters house, her youngest daughter will graduate from Purdu {not sure of spelling} this weekend. She is not done though she has to get a licence.

If you haven't read Chris and George blog you would not know that Chris's youngest son will be leaving for the Middle East Friday. Our prayers go with him.

We had a nice meeting at the church. The number was small but considering the weather it was a surprise that we had anyone. We started with a salad luncheon, then a short meeting and ended with the final bible study in the Lutheran Women Today. It was led by the Pastor. We usually do the bible study in circles and the women lead.

Speaking in Tongues?

2006-05-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

Dr john brought this subject up in his blog. He said that I spoke in tongues and so questions arose. This practice is not in most Lutheran churches. But I would bet , although I have not any facts that there are people who speak in tongues in most congregations. This I believe to be the case in most congregations no matter the denomination. Why because it was the way God seemed to move in the 70.

Dr John heard about a Lutheran Charismatic conference in Minneapolis. It was about thirty years ago. We went with the children staying in a campground near Minneapolis. I think the conference was held in a large auditorium down town. We attended the conference and the children were taken and cared for by a near by church. I loved the music and the enthusiasim of the worshipers. The singing in the spirit was beautiful. There were people who spoke in tongues and then there was someone who would interpret what was said. At the end of each day it was hard to get people to leave. There were no 20 minute sermons think of an hour or more. You did not feel that it was so long because they were good speakers. There were free material and there was a book store. There was no fear there because everything was in order. There was no pushing tongues but explanation. No one attacted you.

We left with neither of us speaking in tongues. John did go up for prayer and he said nothing happened. We now kno w better.

I found a little book on how to speak in tongues when I got home and was putting things away from the trip. I read the book and prayed the prayer at the end,but I said I wanted to beable to just to speak to others I didn't care if I spoke in tongues. I was very shy.

During my devotions I played Christian songs and would sing along. As I was singing I began to sing in a different language. When I told John he said don't tell anyone.

This experience let to more Bible study. I found I could pray in tongues and did not have to sing or talk out loud. I searched for a Lutheran understanding of what had happened.

Dr John was correct the information that he spoke in Latin was a sign that God was in control .

Beacon House

2006-05-08T05:16:00.000-07:00

I have mentioned before about the Beacon House , a remodel Best Western. When I came there they had a small family room and kitchen. When I left they had a large kitchen in the basement with three refrigerators , one freezer, three stoves and ovens. Each room had it own cupboard. The had a large screen TV. There was a counter, and a number of small round tables . There were two or three micrwaves Across the hall they had a large family room with TV, Puzzles,and magazines,and homemade afghans. They were putting in a childrens playroom and computer room when I left. The charge for the rooms were whatever you wanted to give. There were no TVs in the room so that those staying there would leave their room and meet others for support.

The Beacon House brought to mind two other stories. They were connected. There was a young lady whos husband was in the hospital. I can't remember why. Dr John had been moved to sixth floor so I met her the Beacon House at breakfast with the other Betty. She was interested in healthful life style, commenting on the number of calories in the sweet rolls we were eating provided by Beacon House. She did lead me to make some changes. I bought a loaf of bread and milk and cereal. I began walking to and from the hospital, about three blocks if you cut through the parking lots. She and her husband lived in the woods and didn't have running water or electricity. Her husband passed away.

There was another family who I met in the ICU. The father who was elderly had heart problems and he as the other heart patience left the ICU in about three days, in a wheelchair balloons tied to the chair and loaded with gifts and stuff. All very happy to be leaving for home. We shortly heard the code blue. He had not made it out of the hospital. Their long trial began,John was moved to the sixth floor . The young woman from above had come into the ICU. The family of the elderly gentleman offered to drive the young lady to her home because she didn't have anyone with her. This was not a short distance and she agreed and they took her to her home. Writing this and bringing her to mind I wonder how she is doing. The elderly gentleman did pass away.

We painted the street of our garden railroad, actually we painted it yesterday but we put in the parking spaces. I got my hair done and we drove over to get our car license and cold medicine.

A Family

2006-05-06T08:35:00.000-07:00

Those of us in the waiting room of the I C U became a family. We prayed for each other . We answered the phone and put messages on the board if family members weren't there. We of course did not meet their loved ones.

One of the ladies husband was in the ICU a week before mine. Her name was Betty also. She was from my home town. I called her the other Betty. Her husband had open heart surgery. The surgery went well but he had a reaction to the anesthesia He pulled out the stitches and then came along many complications. Betty and I stayed at the Beacon house . We ate breakfast together with others that were staying there. Betty had a large family that was careing. She left the hospital a week before I did. Her husband left the hospital with her. Many of the complications were like what my husband had. He unlike my husband did not stay on the ventilator. I missed her for that last week.
..
Another lady with strong faith and a large caring family,husband fell from a latter at work causing a head injury. She and her family were Packer fans and she made sure we got to see the games. Her son who was there with her had a miracle. The son was in an accident and they thought he would die and there he was supporting his mom. Her husband did die . She had to make that terrible decision to take him off life support.

There was a family who's mother was there due to a car accident where the son was driving. Again this
was a large family who gave each other support and had great faith.
My sister-in law and her husband were there every day.

My family was there taking off work to be there for their father and to support me. When the time became so long they had to go home and back to work but they would come back on week ends. Thanksgiving we got the meal prepared at Super One and we took it to the Beacon House to eat.

There were many who came and went, I just commented on the ones that stayed for a long time in the I CU.

There was one family who 's loved one was Dr. Johns room mate. that didn't get along with each other so badly that the security had to be called and them removed but most were supportive of each other and those others in the waiting room.

A Note

2006-05-04T21:35:00.000-07:00

This will be short I didn't have time to write and I am very tired. It was one of the days starting at midnight. I remembered just before going to bed that we needed to get our car license. I thought that I put the envelope from the State in my little wood letter holder. It was not there. So I spent the early morning hours looking for that envelope . I gave up and went to bed. I looked after I woke up, and I still have not found it. Dr. John had a bad night with the BiPap on different settings. As I was looking for the envelope the tray to hold my keyboard fell down.

Dr John did have a good Doc report.

I forgot the part about someone leaving the freezer door open and every thing defrosting. There goes my diet as we try to eat that food and not thow it away. Well I must try to get some sleep.

The ICU in Marquette

2006-05-02T06:49:00.000-07:00

John was in the ICU for six weeks when we first arrived. I lived in the waiting room, sleeping at the Beacon House. We could see him for fifteen min when we went in his room. They told us to talk to him. I found this most difficult,because He was the talker and I was the listener. At one time there was another man next to John in a coma and his wife was very good at talking to her husband.
The waiting room was a large rectangle. The end near the door was very cold, Jacket cold. The other end was very warm, shorts and t-shirt warm. You needed to dress in layers as you never knew where you would have to sit. I took a short time going out shopping buying clothes that I could wear in layers. I also carried a small blanket. It was nice that we trusted the others in the waiting room and did not have to carry everything around with us. Our other things we had were magazines and puzzle books. I had also my cross-stich. There was a cupboard of old, very old magazines and puzzles with pieces missing.

I did a lot of puzzle making, I found it kept my mind busy with things other than John. I went out and bought new puzzles . I know that most people are there a short time and the magazines and puzzles were not important.

In my next blog I will talk about the amazing people who were in the waiting room with me sharing our troubles.

Ride to Marquette

2006-05-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

I want to begin with a thank you to the doctors and nurses who took care of my husband in Iron River. I also want to thank Pastors Fred and Kim who were there with me. It was early morning when I was told that John would be sent to Marquette, It was late afternoon before the ambulance left . My oldest son and daughter arrived . The doctor talked to us as a family. Pat had not arrived and the ambulance pulled out . As we were driving away Pat passed us. He was flagged down. We drove to the house where I threw in a suitcase a bunch of things to wear. I had no idea how long it would be before I could return, and as it turned out it was a long time.
It was late when we got to the hospital. We tried to stay at the hospital guest rooms but they were filled. There is a former hotel which was open to people who needed to stay for someone in the hospital. The former Best Western became the Beacon House. There was no charge just a donation. You can't smoke and there isn't a TV in the room. There is a room that has a TV and a refrigerator for the guest to use. The room at that time had a couch and a chair and a table with some chairs around it. Quite small. At this time we couldn't care less. It was a place to stay. We got to see John who was in a coma and attached to many tubes. We didn't see a doctor but the nurses talked to us. I will continue later.

We had a nice weekend with the family. My youngest grandson missed the train show because of his behavior in school. He understood this. He did get to go to the water park. I enjoyed the train show and tried hard not to buy everything. I proved to be a coward at the park and would not go down the slide which everyone else enjoyed. I got in the hot tub however. Best of all, we got together as a family.

John's Tag

2006-04-28T06:05:00.000-07:00

John tagged me with something called

The 30-second Rule

Rules: Bold the following that are true about you, italicize things you wish were true, add one true thing about you.

I miss somebody right now.
I don't watch much TV these days.
I love olive rice.
I own lots of books.
I wear glasses or contact lenses.
I love to play video games.
I've tried marijuana.
I've watched porn movies.
I have been in a threesome.
I have been the psycho-ex in a past relationship.
I believe honesty is usually the best policy.
I curse sometimes.
I have changed a lot mentally over the last year.
I carry my knife/razor everywhere with me.
I'm TOTALLY smart.
I've broken someone's bones.
I have a secret that I am ashamed to reveal.
I hate the rain.
I'm paranoid at times.
I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free.
I need money right now.
I love sushi.
I talk really, really fast.
I have fresh breath in the morning.
I have long hair.
I have ost money in Las Vegasl.
I have at least one sibling.
I was born in a country outside of the U.S.
I past. have worn fake hair/fingernails/eyelashes in the
I couldn't survive without Caller I.D.
I like the way that I look.
I have lied to a good friend in the last 6 months.
I know how to cornrow. (er, I know how to cornflake.. it counts? =)
I am usually pessimistic.
I have a lot of mood swings.
I think prostitution should be legalized.
I think Britney Spears is pretty.
I have a hidden talent.
I'm always hyper no matter how much sugar I have.
I have a lot of friends.
I am currently single.
I have pecked someone of the same sex.
I enjoy talking on the phone.
I practically live in sweatpants or PJ pants.
I love to shop.
I enjoy window shopping.
I would rather shop than eat.
I would classify myself as ghetto.
I'm bourgie and have worn a sweater tied around my shoulders.
I'm obsessed with my Xanga or Livejournal. (or Blog)
I don't hate anyone.
I'm a pretty good dancer.
I'm completely embarrassed to be seen with my mother.
I have a cell phone.
I believe in (a) God.
I watch MTV on a daily basis.
I have passed out drunk in the past 6 months.
I've rejected someone before.
I currently like someone.
I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life. (I'm having enough trouble figuring out THIS portion of my life)
I want to have children in the future.
I have changed a diaper before.
I've called the cops on a friend before.
I am a member of the Tom Green fan club.
I'm not allergic to anything.
I have a lot to learn. I have been with someone at least 10 years older or younger.
I have scared people off with my enthusiasm

I am shy situations)around the opposite sex. (in certain situations)
I'm online 24/7, even as an away message.
I have tried alcohol or drugs before. (just alcohol)
I have made a move on a friend's significant other or crush in the past.
I own the "South Park" movie.
I have avoided assignments at work/school to be on Xanga or Livejournal.
When I was a kid I played "the birds and the bees" with a neighbour or chum.
I enjoy some country music. (old stuff, mostly)
I would die for my best friends.
I think that Pizza Hut has the best pizza.
I watch soap operas whenever I can.
I'm obsessive, and often a perfectionist.
I have used my sexuality to advance my career.
I love Michael Jackson, scandals and all.
I know all the words to Slick Rick's "Children's Story".
Halloween is awesome because you get free candy.
I watch Spongebob Squarepants and I like it.
I have dated a close friend's ex.
I like surveys/memes.
I am happy at this moment.
I'm obsessed with guys.
I have pajamas with turtles on them(but with tiggers on them)

I am punk rockish.(or I was as a kid)
I am preppy.
I go for older guys/girls, not younger.
I study for tests most of the time.
I tie my shoelaces differently from anyone I've ever met.
I can work on a car.
I love my job.
I am comfortable with who I am right now.
I have more than just my ears pierced.
I walk barefoot wherever I can.
I have jumped off a bridge.
I love sea turtles.
I spend ridiculous amounts of money on makeup.
I believe in prophetic dreams.
I plan on achieving a major goal/dream.
I'm proficient on a musical instrument.
I worked at McDonald's restaurant.
I hate office jobs.
I love sci-fi movies.
I think water rules.
I went to college out of state.
I am adopted.
I like sausage.
I am a pyro.
I love the Red Sox.
I have thrown up from crying too much.
I have been intentionally hurt by people that I loved.
I love kisses.
I fall for the worst people.
I adore bright colors.
I love Dear Abby.
I can't live without black eyeliner.
I think school is awesome.
I think pigtails serve a purpose.
I don't know why the hell I just did this stupid thing.
I usually like covers better than originals.
I don't like multi-textured ice cream.
I think John Cusack is adorable.
I f**king hate chain theme restaurants like Applebees and TGIFridays.
I watch Food Network way too much.
I love coaching youth sports.
I can pick up things with my toes.
I can't whistle.
I can move my tongue in waves, much like a snakes slither.
I have ridden/owned a horse.
I still have every journal I've ever written in.
I can't stick to a diet.
I talk in my sleep.
I've often thought that I was born in the wrong century.
I try to forget things by drowning them out with loads of distractions.
Climbing trees is a brilliant past-time.
I have jazz in my blood.
I would not be friends if they weren't family.
I wear a toe ring.
I have a tattoo.
I love vaginas.
I can't stand at LEAST one person that I work with.
I am a caffeine junkie.
I know who Santos L. Halper is.
I read trashy romance novels and I am ashamed.
I love wrestling.
I am completely tree-huggy spiritual, and I'm not ashamed at all.
If I knew I would get away with it, I would commit at least one murder.
I cosplay or know what cosplaying is.
I have been to over 15 conventions.
I will collect anything, and the more nonsensical, the better.
I enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner.
I am an artist.
I have a goal to collect every Johnny Depp movie ever made.
I have an unhealthy Taco Bell obsession.
I have had a crush on a cartoon character when I was a kid.
I have spent more on anime and manga than many spend on computers or other high end products.
I only clean my room when neccesary.
Weight is my enemy!I'm a serious chocoholic.
I absolutely adore animals.
I love surprises.
I love to be seen.
I often act without feeling for people.
I like arguing for the sake of arguing.
I think most girls look better with spectacles
My skin is peeling because i had been under the sun.
I want to ORD.
I like men who are much taller than me.(Everybody is taller than me)
I bite/chew my nails.
I love safron buns.

I love Subway sandwiches.

In a blink of an eye ?

2006-04-26T19:21:00.000-07:00

The event that changed our lives seemed to have taken place in a blink of an eye. This was not the case for over two years John had sleep problems. Just before the event the doctor had scheduled John for a sleep study but his body gave out.

I am going to tell the event with my eyes. I have not talked to others on how I felt . I would answered it was hard. I have told others about some of the actions of God. Because of the length I will take several days .

On September 18, 2002 John asked me to go up to the clinic and see if he could get some O2 . He was having trouble breathing. I went to the office and asked and they said they would have to see him. So we struggled over to the clinic and they quickly determined he need O2 and that he should go into the hospital. I am not sure anymore but I think they took X-Rays. John refused to go in the ambulance insisting that I take him over to Iron River. Taking the oxygen tank we drove to the Iron River hospital where they quickly worked on Him. He recovered enough to give me instruction on who to call to make the changes that need to be made. In the evening I left him and went home trying to get sleep. I didn't I was up early and the phone rang it was the Doctor and he said that
John's vital signs were shuting down and they were loosing him. They didn't know why. I should call the kids home. I had called the kids already and they were already coming home. I lashed out at God. This was so unfair. John had served him well. He didn't take vacations. He was looking forward to retiring and "playing with his trains". Then an inner voice said that I was angry with the wrong person. Satan was the cause. I began praying for John's healing and rebuking Satan. I got in the car and drove to the hospital. As I entered the door I was met by the doctor. He told me that they had but a tube in and they were sending him to Marquette.

The next part of the adventure takes place in Marquette.

Buildings by Betty

2006-04-24T17:06:00.000-07:00

Pictures of the buildings I have been working on for the railroads.
The large buildings are for the outside garden railroad and the smaller ones are for the layout in the house. We have a long way to go for the inside layout. Most of the work now will wait for the fall.

Dr John and I worked on making a street for the garden railroad. These buildings came in kit form and were not difficult. The mine not shone was in kit form but the pieces did not go together easily so I am still working on it. I found that I had the crane on backwards so took it apart and glued it on correctly.

And I Laughed

2006-04-22T18:04:00.000-07:00

I have a problem. My problem is laughing at the wrong time. At the Good Friday service , at the beginning where there was to be silence and the church was still , no noise, I heard a belch. I wanted to laugh so much . Only remembering why we were there kept me in check.
When I was in high school my sister[who is younger than me] and I were at church in the balcony. It was a special service and the lights were dimed as we went through the service. My sister pointed someting out about the composer of one of the hymns and I began to giggle and I couldn't stop. The pastor stopped the service and yelled at us., but I couldn't stop. I had to leave the service. I told my sister I would never sit with her again at church.
When I was in Jr. High I was doing a book report, and I was telling the story. It was one horrible event after another and I started to laugh and I could't stop and I had to leave the room.
In high school I had to give a speech for forensics and as I was practicing for my father he pointed out the men had bald heads{In the speech the had removed their hats }[bared their heads]. I started to laugh and couldn't stop. Every time I gave the speech I would start to laugh. I was so afraid I would do that in the competion. I didn't.
Some can't stop crying others can't stop laughing.

I finished the hotel today. I am still working on the mine. I found the right glue but at this point I can't understand the directions. Yes I found them they were under the box of the other mine.
Some of the floweres I planted from seeds on the garden railroad had died . I had empty cars. I took some of the flowers we bought on Friday and planted them in the empty pots.

How do I speed up?

2006-04-21T17:53:00.000-07:00

I looked at my house today, and there is so much work to do. I need a speed up button, like they have on the games the kids play. When I was young ,so many years ago ,I could quickly clean up, if you ignore the kids rooms. There are no kids now, but there are clothes to fold ,dishes to wash floors to clean and I don't want to . I want to do projects. I forgot to mention all the boxes still sitting in the basement from the move that have not been put away. Of course if I was not blogging I could be cleaning but that isn't fun. I know there is no answer but I thought I would tell about my frustration. Maybe I am just a kid and I don't want to do my chores.

Scam or No Scam

2006-04-19T19:15:00.000-07:00

Today we recieved an offer to buy our house.
We had put it on a place for a month for sale by owner just to see the possiblity. There were people who looked ,but no interest. The month had passed. We had not found anything in Green Bay that equaled what we had. So this was a surprise. The next surprise was where the person was from ,England. Question why with all the whole USA would someone pick a small town in the UP of Michigan. We love it here, but we knew the beauty of it. So the question is scam or no scam?

We went to Subway,and again had a good meal.
In the afternoon I worked on the mine. The tractor has only it's steering wheel to be put on. I finished the ore car. I was in the process of putting the elastic on the shovel so it could go up and down when I lost the directions. Can you believe it? I didn't go anywhere. I only went from one end of the four foot table to the other. I then went to working on the shop and have two walls up.

I wonder what surprises await us tomorrow? Until then have a good day.

Quiet day

2006-04-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

Spent the last two days picking up candy wrappers even though we tried to clean as we went. The washer is going with loads of sheets and towels.

The number of eggs is down to 14. Dr John helped and he ate two eggs even though he doesn't like them. I appreciate the sacrifice.

I have the crane standing on the base, but the work is so slow that I opened a box with plastic pieces. I have all the windows in the shop.

Dr John has started on working on the trestles for the out side railroad and I have at least six buildings to put together.

I wonder if we will go to Subway for lunch [The Tops friends] tomorrow. I went with my daughter on Friday for supper.
Have a good day!

Happy Easter

2006-04-16T17:22:00.000-07:00

My son and family came in at around Midnight . They found a place to sleep on the closest spot, couch chair floor. My daughter came earlier.
This sleeping arrangement would cause problems for the Easter bunny. How do you hide eggs and other stuff with people sleeping all over the place. Send them to a bed room where all would sleep even if there are only two beds So at 1:00AM all went to bed , after seeing Narnia. Another problem the stuff for the Easter Bunny to hide are in the closet.in that bedroom. He solved it and I don't know how .
Sunday we got to church.
Hope you had Happy Easter.

Which Holiday?

2006-04-14T04:44:00.000-07:00

I have the opinion there are two holiday s for each Christian holiday , Christmas and Easter. At Christmas there is Jesus's birthday and Santa Claus. At Easter, Jesus resurrection and spring ,flowers and bunnies. Santa claus and the Easter bunny are secular and are used to promote sales. There has developed confusion between the two holidays so much so that the bunny is a Christian symbol. It would offend someone?
There is an offence in the Easter holiday. It is Jesus death and resurrection. Jesus who said He was God [ He was crazy or God] was killed. Then He arose . The cross or empty tomb are Christian symbols, the Lily also means new life. End of my rant.

Dr John blogged about my new monitor taking away my thunder. It is great . I am excited about the buildings but I am still working on the mine. I have the base done can't get the crane to stay on.

I went to the new Subway. What a long line . I stayed in line for an hour just to get to the store. It was worth the wait. They gave away sandwiches, cake, soda and cookies for the kids. I think the wait was because the workers and buyers were new.

Have a happy holiday which ever you are celebrating.

Nice day

2006-04-12T20:02:00.000-07:00

After a gloomy beginning the sun came out and it felt like spring. I roamed around the yard planning for things that had to be done. It will be a race with my hostas, who yesterday were not seen yet,today they were up a good inch. I want to remove those close to the house where they should not be. I would like to find some on to paint around my windows. That job would be easier if the hostas were still small. The man who does my yard work did a great job in the fall so he won't have too big a job now.
I have succeeded on my first mine to where I have the base done. Now I am having trouble with the crane which should work if I do it correct. The book says no glue should be in the wrong place for it to work. Ya fat chance that I will be able to do that,but I will give it a try.
Tomorrow a new Subway will open here. It will be in the mall where we have our only restaurant. They are giving away sandwiches tomorrow. I will be standing in line. I sure hope they do well.
Well I should go make my call. Do well all

No mine finished

2006-04-10T20:24:00.000-07:00

Most of my day I was trying to build a mine for the HO layout. It is metal but you are to put it together with glue. I used glue for metal. It said so on the bottle. You have to wait an hour for it to set. With plastic it is a 30 second wait, useing another type of glue. As I tried to put all the pieces together they would fall apart. I gave up and looked at the other mine I had that was metal but was to be put together with solder. I have never used solder before . I didn't have the correct solder, so I put that mine away. I returned to the first one. I am stubborn. I have now the individual pieces glued. Will try again tomorrow .
While I labored up stairs men were putting in a new furnace. The furnace works and is very quiet.
Time to stop for now and call my daughter.

Sunday Visitors

2006-04-09T16:50:00.000-07:00

Today four visitor s came to my home . We went out to eat.After we came home, they cleaned and moved the stuff from the left side to the right side of the garage,giving room for the men bringing us a new furnace to get to the basement.
Lori instructed me on how to enlarge the print on the computer so I can read it.
Peter put up a shelf in my bathroom so that I can put my hair dryer and curling iron up. Then they put up my curtains .
The granddaughter and mother beat us at canasta.
My grandson ate strawberries before I could get them in the bowl to make strawberry short cake. There were enough berries left to make some for those who wanted some.
It was a great day . Glad they came.
Lucky Me