Yup..

...we have snow today. Not much by our recent experience in ND. We are told to expect up to 3". It very well could be at the rate it is snowing now.

Christmas morning and...

...we have opened the gifts and the turkey is in the oven.  Our guests for dinner will be arriving about noon. Dinner is at 1PM.  It'll be a very nice holiday meal with all the trimmings.  We are missing our family in North Dakota a lot.  I'm sure the feeling is mutual.

NO SNOW

I bought Pat and I matching walkers and they certainly look racy.  I think Pats is faster.  Damn, I should have test driven both!  Just funnin'.  No walkers yet!
Kids; (all of you) we will be thinking of you specially today.  You'll be in our prayers.
Our extended family and many friends across this country;  May God bless you all on this day and during the coming year.  May your trials and tribulations pale in the light of your joy.

Seven days...

...Oh Boy!!

Gotta git 'er done!...

Our Indiana tree...

Lest we forget...

..America under attack:

December 7, 1941

September  11, 2001

Well, well, ...

..well.  We are expecting our first "snow storm" this evening. (expect 2-3")  The temperatures are forecast above freezing.  This is not what we have become accustomed to in N.Dakota.  Meanwhile it is rainy and soggy, decidedly unpleasant, but not sub zero!  In looking at the historical weather data, I surmise that we are probably going to experience very few days below zeroºF.

Pat is ill with the creeping crud.  Sinus, headache, and miseries of all sorts.  It appears to be starting to break-up some so there is hope of survival😃.

I have discovered that the pick-up is too long to fit in the garage.  Only about 6", but it may as well be six feet!  We will have to deal with that in the future somehow.  This winter the pickup will have to be an outside truck.

Canuck was tested for his thyroid and he was found in need of medication for it.  The medication for his itching has helped and we are hoping the thyroid med will help too.  I do not like using steroid based meds, they are hard on the liver and probably will shorted his life.  We are working with "trade offs" here and it's kind off a rock and hard place scenario.

I like this….

 

* I woke up,  I lifted my arms,  I moved my knees,  I turned my neck....

Everything made the same noise:

'CrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaccccK!'

....I came to a conclusion:

 

I am not old,  I am crispy!!!

 

 

I suppose...

…you can tell that things have settled in to somewhat of a routine here by the lack of my posts.  We are busy though.  Mostly eating!

We went to the local Methodist Church (New Market) with Tom and Elinor for a Turkey dinner last night. Then they came to the house and played games.  The dinner was "OK".  I know all of you have experienced a meal like this, long on enthusiasm and that was about all.  It was nice to be with family, meet our local towns folks and we enjoyed the outing.

Pat is still playing with her Pie Safe.  It is full of dishes but their arrangement in still in doubt and she reassesses her arrangements and adjusts daily.  We have determined that the glass in the doors is very old (it is 'wavy') and may have been part of the original design.  So my original thought that the 'tin' had been removed is suspect now.

I am going to MISS thanksgiving with my family.  This will be the first year we did not have Thanksgiving with our kids for a very long time.  It has always been a special day for us and the kids.  Color this paragraph with sadness, please.

Kids; Please remember us in your prayers on thanksgiving, we will certainly be remembering all of you that day.

Things seem... [updated]

…to be settling down to a dull roar.  We have had the items we anticipated that needed to be done when we purchased this place.  Roof repair, exhaust fans (Kitchen and both bathrooms) are now vented to the outside and we have plenty of insulation in the floor and ceiling.  The insulation has made a noticeable effect, I think that will pay off in the long run.  Still lots of yard work to do though.  Spring will be a busy time.

Our friends at Lake Holiday have included us in many of the activities that are part of that private community.  Pat had a "ladies luncheon" yesterday and today she is going to a "Antique Club" outing in Crawfordsville.

Fall is upon us!  Wind, rain (not much) and falling, blowing leaves.  There is even talk of possible snow showers north of Lafayette this afternoon.  That's a good place for the snow.  OMG!! it started to snow about 3:30 PM, Canuck thought it was wonderful. Nothing stuck.

We are well taken care of as far as Thanksgiving meals is concerned.  There are Church meals, Club meals and family meals.  The 'Lamb bunch' are going to Turkey Run for Thanksgiving dinner.  I expect that will be fun.  After the meal we expect most will come to our home for games etc..  Keep everyone out of the bars.

Saturday we are planning a trip to Covington to claim a antique "Pie Safe" that we purchased last weekend while shopping with Carol Clem, a cousin.

We will use it for storing the china, et al.  The perforated tin inserts in the door have been replaced with glass. What do you think?

 

A Birth Certificate….

…….shows that we were born.

A Death Certificate shows that we died.

Pictures show that we lived!

Have a seat . . . Relax . . . And read this slowly.

I Believe...

That just because two people argue,

Doesn't mean they don't love each other.

And just because they don't argue,

Doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe....

That we don't have to change friends if

We understand that friends change.

I Believe...

That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt

you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe....

That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.

Same goes for true love.

I Believe...

That you can do something in an instant

That will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...

That it's taking me a long time

To become the person I want to be.

I Believe....

That you should always leave loved ones with

Loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...

That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...

That we are responsible for what

We do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe....

That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...

That heroes are the people who do what has to be done

when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe...

That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe...

That my best friend and I can do anything, or nothing, and have the best time.

I Believe...

That sometimes the people you expect to kick you

When you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...

That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,

But that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe...

That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had,

And what you've learned from them.....and less to do with how many

Birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe...

That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.

Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe....

That no matter how bad your heart is broken

the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe...

That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,

But we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...

That you shouldn't be so eager to find

Out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe...

Two people can look at the exact same

Thing and see something totally different.

I Believe...

That your life can be changed in a matter of

Hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...

That even when you think you have no more to give, if

A friend cries out to you........you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...

That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe....

That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe.....

That you should send this to all of the people that you believe in. I just did.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;

They just make the most of everything.

Thank you God for all the wonderful people who help us throughout the journey of life..

More pictures..

that were taken after Jim-Bill passed.  These first were taken at the Beef House in Covington, IN on Oct 27 in a celebration of Bills life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following pictures were taken at Turkey Run on Oct 29 after Brenda and Denise (Bills daughters) arrived.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we had another get together at the Beef House before the two girls left on Oct 30:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sad family news:

Jim-Bill Lamb passed away yesterday afternoon in the home of his sister Carol Clem while visiting from Texas. He was 79.  He apparently had a massive Stroke/Heart attack(??).

I had a very small contact with him at a family get-together at Uncle Smileys restaurant in Crawfordsville.  I was immediately impressed with his presence and the obvious affection shown by the many relatives present.

 

 

It's raining..

… and it looks like it will continue for a while.  Our outing yesterday was fortunate, we had some really pleasant weather.  Tomorrow Pat and I are planning to return for some additional looking and shopping.  We will have to dig out some rain gear I suppose.

Pat is planning a family get together for Saturday.  I will post some photos and comments after the event.

We spent..

..the day with Lambs and folks.  First we went to the Covered Bridge festival in Rockville.  That's who are in the bus below.  We really had a fun time.  Pat and I are planning on returning some time this week to do some looking and shopping,  The other pictures are taken at Uncle Smileys (restaurant in Crawfordsville) where we all went to see Jim Bill.  Sorry, I did not get a picture of the whole bunch at Smileys, there were eleven. That was also very enjoyable.

 

 

A Special announcement:

The book "Understanding Women" 
has finally arrived in book stores:

Pictures

I finally have taken some pictures of our home after we moved in.  You can see our fenced area and clothes line too.  Canuck really enjoys his yard.

Back yard looking at back of house (west). That spot behind the fence on the right is Canuck.

Looking South from back yard

Looking East from the fenced area for Canuck towards where Smiley lives. The tan area behind

the neighbors flagpole is soybeans ready for harvest.

Front looking east

We are having a...

… wonderful Indian Summer.  The trees are turning the colors of autumn, we are enjoying the changes.  We have so much we want to do with the yard.  It'll have to wait 'til spring.  Looking forward to that!

The Covered Bridge Festival will be this month and we will be touring the bridges by bus with cousins.  I think it will be a lot of fun.  We also have a date with friends from the lake (Betty's friends) to go to a play put on by local thespians in Crawfordsville.  Pat and I have always enjoyed amateur theatre in the past and I am sure we will this time.

We have some repairs that needed to be attended to and a contractor friend is going to get things done before winter starts.  He was also introduced to us by Aunt Betty.  I'm beginning to believe she somehow knew we would be moving here, she was very good at seeing that we were informed about so much.  Thank you Betty!  It has made us feel so comfortable here.

 

 

Lest..

..we forget.  Things are really changing.  Some are not for the good.

 

Busy, busy..

…day today.  Pat has a load of hay being delivered this morning.  Then a new refrigerator and dish washer being delivered some time this morning and I

need to finish up erecting the clothesline poles.  Our nest is almost complete.

I am setting the clothesline poles in concrete so it will be a couple of days more before the actual clothesline will be attached.

I'll winterize the RV sometime this week.  I have the anti freeze so it will be just doin' it.

 

 

 

 

 

Not as..

..cold as advertised, still on the chilly side.  I am going to move all the "garden" tools to the new shed from the garage today.  We will be spending the day at home so I'll be able to attend my chores. I am leaving this open and will add to it later.

The leaves are falling and changing to fall colors where they are remaining on the trees.  I think we will have to take a drive this week to see some color. This week is supposed to be dry and warm, good weather to prepare for winter. The garden tools are moved to the shed.  I need to arrange for hanging some stuff though.

I came in to which the NASCAR race at Dover.  It was a very entertaining race and my driver Carl Edwards put on a real show.  That man can drive a car! He didn't win but he should have.  A speeding penalty really hurt, from first to 23rd.  He still came in 3rd.

Pat is preparing supper and I need to get cleaned up to eat.  She really is enjoying her new stove!

 

Ladoga sights

Right: Butcher shop in store.. Great prices, pork chops w/fat still on.

Below:  Neat house.  4 stories, can't see if there is a basement

 

Weather rpt. ...

... Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. North wind between 10 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.   Tonight: Areas of frost after 4am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 34ºF. North northwest wind between 3 and 9 mph.

I suspect we will be found frozen in our beds tomorrow.

My new Rhuematologist is a lady from India. I think she will do fine.

Pat will be going to the church for the Bazaar today, Elinor will go with her. I am electing to not go as I think I saw all I wanted yesterday and reached in my walking ability. We observed a strange custom; Chili is served with peanut butter sandwiches. The chili saw very little chili powder, very mild slightly flavored beans and burger soup. Joyce Woodward makes much better rhubarb/strawberry pie too. I already miss my birthday pie. I really didn’t think about that when we planned our move. MY BAD!!!

The fall colors are really just starting now. After tonight they should come on in full force. We are looking forward the that! I will try to post some pictures if we survive the cold tonight.

 

Sorry 'bout..

..not posting recently. We have just been darn busy and I may have been a bit lazy. Smiley is home with us now. He was in very poor condition when we picked him up, seems he had a case of flu like symptoms some weeks before we picked him up. He had not received the care that Pat would have given him and he did not recover well. He is now coming around well, gaining weight and obviously feeling a lot better. The unpacked boxes in the garage have become few. Things don’t seem so hopeless now. We purchased a storage/garden building and it has been delivered. The John Deere zero turn mower has a place now. I am sure glad we have that mower, I have about a acre of mowing to do and it takes the better part of two hours to mow with a 48” mower. I will move the garden tools in the garage to the shed and I will have lots of room in the garage for me and my stuff. Pat has a new stove now. It has two ovens, one above the other. Pretty nice! Our refrigerator is on back order with no estimated delivery date. We can wait. Today was my birthday and Pat baked me a German Chocolate cake. That was the sum of my celebration. I had a call from my Aunt Maxine, that was so neat.  She is a special person in my life.  I heard from my son Brian and my sister Sandy but have yet to hear from Beth or Greg. Maybe later, eh? Bruce

Pat made..

me do this.