Even though the temperatures were in the low-30s and it was
really windy, it was sunny. We moved the Sundance off the street, parking it
alongside the garage until our next trip. Didn’t hook up anything, as we’re staying in
my mom’s house while we’re here.
That afternoon my mom’s youngest sister Fern and her husband
Kenny, from Grand Marais, stopped by for a visit, on their way home from
Minneapolis. They were amazed to see how well Mom is moving around with a
walker. Occasionally Mom takes off without it, but soon realizes how much more
stable she is when she uses it.
Dick and I decided that the walker she was using was too big
for her, so Monday we went to the local medical supply store and picked up a
smaller one (more similar to the one she was using in physical therapy at the
hospital), a handle for the bath tub, railings for alongside the toilet, and a
hand-held shower head. Dick installed everything that afternoon while I made
chocolate chip cookies. Then, we celebrated with the ever-ready cup of coffee
and cookies! Temperatures were still in the low-30s that morning, but
thankfully, NO SNOW!
By Tuesday afternoon the temps had risen to the high-70s;
rain started in the morning but changed to sun that afternoon. It was a good
day to set up some of the deck furniture so we could be outside to enjoy the
sunshine and warmth. We still have the
deck swings to uncover, but that’ll come next weekend in time for Memorial Day.
Wednesday Dick and I visited Sherri, our local hairdresser.
Yeah! Feels so good to have the locks shorn again.
The temperatures had risen
to the low-80s that afternoon so we spent the afternoon out on the deck; Mom
doing her word find puzzles, Dick reading and me knitting. Love that sun!
Mom’s pastor, Doug Green, stopped by for a visit that
afternoon, announcing that he’s going to retire in September. He’s been in
Mom’s church for over 27 years.
Thursday was another beautiful and sunny day, with
temperatures reaching the mid-70s. Dick visited the dentist and Mom and I sat
outside again, before I picked up MacKenzie from school. She spent the
afternoon and early evening with us and helped me make comfort food for dinner:
meatloaf, baked potatoes and fresh asparagus. YUM! There wasn’t much left! Oh, and I made two loaves of banana bread that night.
Friday was my turn at the dentist. Good thing Dick checked out my teeth before
we got married—I’m still in good shape! No problems.
That afternoon I accompanied my brother Rich as he sang “The
Lord’s Prayer” at a memorial service in downtown Cloquet. I hadn’t played a
piano or keyboard since August last year, but it’s sorta like riding a bike—it
comes back. Went very well. While I was gone, and Dick was downstairs in the
basement, Mom sat down at her piano and played for over a half hour. She won’t
play when I’m there—or when she knows anyone is there for that matter. Dick heard her playing and was thoroughly
entertained for that little while. She played hymn after hymn—so glad she does
that.
Later that afternoon Dick and I drove to Duluth to attend
the wedding of a cousin of mine, at the Greysolon Hotel. Turned out to be quite
the family reunion! Saw aunts and uncles and cousins; some cousins I hadn’t
seen in over 45 years! By the time we drove the 18 miles to my mom’s, the
temperature had dropped to the high-40s, with wind. Rain appeared overnight,
making Saturday morning dreary and gray.
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| Groom Brian (cousin) and Bride Susan |
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| Flower girl Katelyn and ring bearer Nikoli |
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| Cousin Julie and her husband Peter |
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| Uncle David and Aunt Glenna |
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| Gail with cousins Kara and Kim |
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| Cousin Jane (right) and her daughter |
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| Cousin Susie (right) and her kids. I haven't seen Susie since she was just a baby |
Temperatures were in the low-40s on Saturday morning, with
fog and occasional drizzle. My uncle David (you may remember me mentioning him
over the past year—he had a stroke a year ago), aunt Glenna and their two
daughters Kim and Kara stopped on their way back to the Minneapolis area
following the Friday night wedding. Kim’s and Kara’s husbands were
child-sitting while they were taking a much-needed break from homemaking, to
attend the wedding. Was so good to spend time with them again.
That evening, my brother Rich, wife Karen, and daughter
MacKenzie came for pizza and game night. After devouring salad, half a
pepperoni pizza, and half an all-meat pizza, we tackled “Pegs and Jokers.” (Remember,
Dick had been given this game for his birthday, when we were in Illinois.) Only
five of us played, so we didn’t compete in teams. I won the first game (Yeah! Marv
and Shirl, I didn’t even have to move around the board!) I didn’t do so well
the second time around…Dick won. It was still a good game and lots of fun.
That’s it for this week. We’ll be here in Cloquet for the
next few weeks, so our adventures may be a bit sparse, but nevertheless we’ll
keep you informed.
Hugs and blessings to you as we head into a new week.
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| Lake Tahoe, Christmas 2012 |
Dick and Gail
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