Minnesota Vacation Part 2

Hello From Rockville 
The past six days have been fast moving and oh so much fun!

As I told you earlier I spent my birthday with my sisters, and I don't know how long it has been since that has happened, and back home on Monday.

Sue and I spent Tuesday here unpacking suit cases and doing laundry so we'd be ready to take off again on Wednesday morning this time heading north and west with first our first stop at Lowry near Alexandria to spend time with Joyce and Jim. We had not seen their Minnesota home, they are on a lake and are in the process of remodeling, a project that is keeping both of them very busy and I dare say out of mischief.  It was so good to be able to visit with them, after chatting we headed into town for lunch, a Chinese buffet was chosen and Sue and I both left filled to the "brim."  After "Good Byes" and a stop to fill the car we headed to North Dakota then noticed the temperature on the car thermometer registered 91 but as we got nearer to our destination it did cool down to mid 80's and by evening it was very comfortable.  We spent the night with my cousin Dan and Bonnie and really enjoyed their hospitality, had good food a nice place to sleep and lots of fun looking at old pictures and talking about our childhood etc. with lots of memories and laughs to last a long time.  Wednesday morning after a great breakfast they took us into town as Sue wanted to pick up something from Edinberg North Dakota to take back home we then headed east toward Minnesota.  Oh yes, Dan's dad and my dad were brothers.

Our third stop was to Oslo Minnesota in the Red River Valley (this area of Minnesota floods every spring) to visit relatives on Mom's side of the family.  Again we had a wonderful dinner and again we ate more then we needed but it's hard to know when to stop when it tastes so good.  We talked about family and looked at many pictures some I knew and others I did not but again we had a very fun afternoon.  Before leaving we were treated to a fresh raspberry dessert and coffee and we were back on the road by mid afternoon and got home a bit after 7:00.  

I am so thankful to Sue and the time she took to drive me around Minnesota it's been a fun "Minnesota Vacation."........Fran

Vacation part one

Hello From Rockville

Sue came in on Friday, Jenny picked her up at the airport and did some fun things to her hair and Denese brought me to Jenny's house.  From Jenny's I spent the afternoon with Doris and Bob, I spent several hours with them then I was picked up and Sue and I headed down to Owatonna to be with Lucille and Harold, enjoyed dinner with them then Cheryl joined us for cake and I received several packages (it was my birthday)  each one contained goodies for our trip, candy and nuts we'll snack on the way.  Our last stop today was time with Becky, Walt, Luke, Kristen and Kate.  We had dinner with them then headed home to Rockville.  We'll do a few things here then head out west and I'll fill you in on more activities when i get back.....Fran.

Another busy day

Hello From Rockville 

Denese woke me up before leaving for work she leaves at 6:30 on Friday, I had an 8:15 Dr. appointment in St. Cloud and I needed to leave here by 7:30.  I did stop for breakfast @ McD then on for the appointment and that went well I don't need to go back unless I have a problem.

The appointment behind me I did a little grocery shopping at the Aldi store and Cash Wise, then home to put stuff away and on to church for our YAH'S outing.  We went for lunch at Bonanzas then a tour of a granite mining area called Quarry Park.  This was so much fun, we were able to ride through, we had a guide on board to tell us about it, just too far for Seniors to walk, they no longer take granite from there, some very deep holes that are filled with water over 100 feet deep, you can fish for rainbow trout, there is rock climbing, and swimming.  There are many walking trails for summer and winter recreation and ski and snowmobile trails for the winter time also. 

I hadn't been home very long when Denese called to see if I wanted to go out to eat she took me out for my birthday we went to an all you can eat fish place, it was okay but I don't think we'll go back again.

It is now time to get ready for bed as a busy day is coming up tomorrow........Fran

Hello Hello Hello

Hello From Rockville

A very nice day, it's cool and cloudy but no rain.

I must talk about yesterday.  Building 50-1 had a pizza party, all the pizza you could eat and pop for drinks.  This is the floor that was home to Harlan for nearly three years and the best was I was invited, it was so much fun to see the staff and the residents that were there when Harlan was there.  There has been some changes as residents come and go for many reasons.  I got hugs and more hugs from both staff and residents, I was sung to as my birthday was close enough for birthday greeting.  SOOOOO much fun.

Yesterday was great for other reasons too, my home was cleaned and Sarah spent the afternoon with me, I love spending time with family and mine is so great, God is so good to me.

Today was a shopping day I went to Cold Spring for lunch saw Ed and he bought me lunch for my birthday.

Tomorrow will be another fun day, YAH's has a fun activity planned and on Saturday Sue comes and I'll begin a Minnesota Vacation..........Fran    

Hello Fall here we come

Hello From Rockville

Yesterday is behind me and I thought it would be hard but it was a great day.  Yesterday, September 18th Harlan and I would have celebrated our 60th Wedding Anniversary, 60 years of difficulty and wonder, blessings and hurts.  We went through a lot together, nothing is easy but in looking back we were so blessed.  Our greatest blessing is our family, Denese, Rick, Sue and Becky, they have been beside us through the last years helping with many difficult decisions  that had to be made.  I am also blessed with a Heavenly Father that is here and listens to me when I laugh and when I cry.

One of the hardest thing Harlan and I went through was the loss of Son Rob, his death brought us closer together and I believe closer to God.  And now as I think back MY most difficult time was the last three plus years, watching Harlan go down hill and I couldn't stop it (no one can).  I enjoyed my time with him, he appreciated everything I did for him and he always looked forward to my visits, there were very few days I didn't spend with him, but sometimes twice in one day.

Sundays were special as when he was able to go I took him to church and out for a noon meal, the afternoon was spent taking a nap along side him and maybe watching a game, Twins or Vikings, he seemed to be able to follow them and understood most of the plays. 

Yesterday Rick surprised me by showing up in church and I was really very surprised.  Then Rick and DeeAnn came to the house and we had a great time visiting.  Becky came later and took Denese and me out for dinner we enjoyed wonderful food at Antons.  Sue called to see how I was, my family surrounded me with love and support, I am so blessed. 

I know many of my blog readers pray for me and I really appreciate you, thanks...........Fran

Frost On The Pumpkin

Hello From Rockville 

Last night we had a freeze with temps in the high 20's, I did some covering of plants so I saved some flowers, tonight will be another cool night but not as cold as last night, I didn't do any covering so hope I still have unfrozen plant tomorrow.

I have made several phone calls to my bank and also made some trips in to get Harlan's name removed from accounts like checking etc. why does things have to be so complicated?

Tuesday I went in to St. Cloud early to do some shopping before I helped with reading at school, then met Sarah for lunch.  She had large blankets to wash and my washer does such a good job, so after lunch we headed to Rockville to do laundry and while the blankets were washing and drying we had a good time chatting also went to Cold Spring and picked up a few grocery bargains.  I hadn't spent much time with her so that was a really fun day.

Wednesday I got a perm and will be set for the trip Sue and I have planned, I so look forward to her coming.

Today was our board meeting followed by our Social-Pot-Luck.  I brought a 7 (actually it's 14 layers) jello salad and everyone really enjoyed and I may make it for our Christmas Social, today's was in fall colors, lime, orange, lemon and some red flavors, Christmas will have to be red and green, not hard to make but very time consuming. 

Tomorrow should be quiet, I have no plans to go anywhere...........Fran

Wow! Another Beautiful Day

Hello From Rockville 
I went to The Twin Cities on Thursday and had a great time saw many Crosslake friends, it was our monthly Crosslake Care Group Support.
Coming back we watched a helicopter "string highline wire" for the new power line along the free way, it appears very dangerous as men are working at the top of poles about 150 feet in the air.  There was a write up in the paper about it and they said the men working so high up are very safe and the helicopter pilots are very well trained for the work they do, at times they hover between the lines with not a lot of space, not my kind of work.  They also said stringing the lines using helicopters is more cost effective then using trucks to do it.  
I bought a new printer/copier/fax machine I know I'll use the printer/copier but not sure about the fax it was on sale for a good price so I couldn't pass it up.
Will write again when I have something "important" to say..............Fran 

Beautiful, beautiful weather

Hello From Rockville

Laundry done and put away, house clean or at least straightened up, floors washed and furniture dusted and carpet vacuumed, it feels soooo good.

I went into the VA and joined the support group I have been involved for over two years, they meet twice monthly and I have missed many of them since Harlan is gone, several times I had other commitments on the Wednesday we met.

Following the meeting I did a little shopping then home to start supper only to have Denese call me, I met her at Home Depot to return a fan and we had a great pizza at Pizza Ranch I had not been there since maybe May.  I didn't realize how good their pizza was until my first bite, have to get there more often.  We ordered a large and took part of it home. 

Tomorrow a trip to the Cities for our care group, that will be a good day........Fran

FUN - FUN

Hello from Rockville

Going back to Wednesday I met Shirley in Kimball for lunch we had good food (too much) and just a fun time of chatting.  Next time we'll meet closer to her home.

Thursday (a last minuet decision) I met Porky (a resident at the VA) and Bev for lunch at the Park Dinner, Harlan and I had many fun times there and Harlan loved their sliders with batter bites (potatoes).  We each had an order of the sliders and Porky and Bev each had a malt, a malt is just too much for me so they shared theirs with me.  I do enjoy visiting with Bev she is so funny, she had done some redecorating to her home and shared many pictures with me.  After eating and talking I had a little shopping to do then home.  Thursday evening was our Social Birthday party and I being the hostess had do the dessert, set up and clean up, we had a great time. I made a lemon dessert, I had gotten the recipe  from Myrna it turned out good!  I also served watermelon and peanuts and coffee of course, water was available.  

The weather appears to be cooling down and my tomatoes are just about done so that tells me Autumn is fast approaching, I'm looking forward to cooler weather but not winter, until I write again enjoy the cool down...........Fran