tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-273403312024-03-13T10:09:00.830-05:00News from DD4's CottageDD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.comBlogger1380125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-19537429278469566252021-07-19T19:11:00.001-05:002021-07-19T19:11:32.376-05:00Christmas TreeFor the first time in nearly ten years, I bought a Christmas tree to celebrate the Christmas season. The reason I hadn't had one was because of my cat, Nels, who loved to climb things. Sometime after he died, a friend commented, "Now you can get a Christmas tree!" So after I returned from Washington, D C where I celebrated Thanksgiving with Hans and his family, I went shopping for a nice, artificial Christmas tree and decorations. It took me a couple of tries before I found one I really liked.
Once I got my tree up and decorated, I continued to decorate my home. In the fall I had purchased two, darling Christas pillows for my couch. I was so excited to finally put them out.
The I proceeded to get the rest of my decorations out. I have several nativity sets but only put oit a few each year. This one I bought at Sam's Club the year Heidi and I moved to the cities. It's large, but fits nicely on my breakfront.DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-20180273340509639622020-12-20T15:32:00.002-06:002021-03-12T10:57:43.348-06:00Thanksgiving<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Sometime in late October, Hans invited me to fly out to Washington D. C. to celebrate Thanksgiving with them. Even though we were in a world-wide pandemic, I decided to take him up on the offer. After all, most, if not all of the activities where I live, were canceled. And I hadn't been with him or his family since last Christmas. I am so happy that I accepted his invitation because I had the best time!</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRElZPQ-IQGZfBnHaPXBeWvGea5jZ4mtY8TBc59lNc65PUskFabbkuB0QS2FrcN7K3tPfEKyPQXgQ6ASaMGCEPD0JhUAMomxZ3ssrzS3ViiVfaNOZRN43WD00NjBibLrlo9scvQ/s2016/Thanksgiving+2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRElZPQ-IQGZfBnHaPXBeWvGea5jZ4mtY8TBc59lNc65PUskFabbkuB0QS2FrcN7K3tPfEKyPQXgQ6ASaMGCEPD0JhUAMomxZ3ssrzS3ViiVfaNOZRN43WD00NjBibLrlo9scvQ/w400-h300/Thanksgiving+2020.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Minneapolis, I was the ONLY one going through security!<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI45eYCPrjRPHwFXrUBhIHStLW6WqsbUcyfMuvfJzfAauKpsTJuocn6BcUptG-wI-oOVSdHk7rBa7Y10alKRsZxv431dIzujFI4tYQCbs3lXgMFwT4_C4zqwJDxvYxu_xs2I0BIw/s2016/Thanksgiving+2020+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI45eYCPrjRPHwFXrUBhIHStLW6WqsbUcyfMuvfJzfAauKpsTJuocn6BcUptG-wI-oOVSdHk7rBa7Y10alKRsZxv431dIzujFI4tYQCbs3lXgMFwT4_C4zqwJDxvYxu_xs2I0BIw/s320/Thanksgiving+2020+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just before landing at Reagan National, below me is the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hans picked me up at the airport, which, by the way, was nearly empty! It was nearly empty in Minneapolis, too. My flight had 22 passengers—the plane held 176. When we got to his house, Rachel, Josiah, Annie and William were all inside the door to welcome me. That sure made me feel good. Josiah gave me his bedroom, and he also carried my luggage upstairs. We visited for a little bit and then it was bedtime.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, Rachel made a delicious meal. She insisted on doing it all by herself and wouldn't let me help at all. She also did all the clean-up.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVFP1mGSgTHiQAq34Wh0PbKpLiSOFPdn_qWiS_dpYaWaW2ERjvoyf7Wl0Os8FVurW2TExvg2TXGoBDpaEpVTNUHy_A1Z2VUj0LYCg_yzxOhRqyqhpf2wkpoE1XacIlsq5sxXXgA/s2016/Thanksgiving+2020+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVFP1mGSgTHiQAq34Wh0PbKpLiSOFPdn_qWiS_dpYaWaW2ERjvoyf7Wl0Os8FVurW2TExvg2TXGoBDpaEpVTNUHy_A1Z2VUj0LYCg_yzxOhRqyqhpf2wkpoE1XacIlsq5sxXXgA/s320/Thanksgiving+2020+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsCSQDjNmZ8GUozm3uFk8O-IFtp1kKJ3upUF8jLrCLBXnZUYPfEPPKeZBxIm87r6Czq-RSxwqGVhrcZP0QFMy-ox66SSMslPvfVFicxjHAEiAFIr0cczBh2o_kUFnYMZoMRq0KQ/s2016/Thanksgiving+2020+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsCSQDjNmZ8GUozm3uFk8O-IFtp1kKJ3upUF8jLrCLBXnZUYPfEPPKeZBxIm87r6Czq-RSxwqGVhrcZP0QFMy-ox66SSMslPvfVFicxjHAEiAFIr0cczBh2o_kUFnYMZoMRq0KQ/s320/Thanksgiving+2020+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLzpApBGdUuYSQz4MMKw8owJCTU4tE-bREO_xL1iuySOomaC3M4BpNf5TDrqePp2nZkMqTNXsOY7gNF7ba8Ja1kNKI6Ob6esP_UfOjiCLDlQjN4P9xH4aXm5QW1p0viwpBOopGQ/s1409/Thanksgiving+2020+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLzpApBGdUuYSQz4MMKw8owJCTU4tE-bREO_xL1iuySOomaC3M4BpNf5TDrqePp2nZkMqTNXsOY7gNF7ba8Ja1kNKI6Ob6esP_UfOjiCLDlQjN4P9xH4aXm5QW1p0viwpBOopGQ/s320/Thanksgiving+2020+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72TH8UlO6Ip4pVHgPW9L-cqHZ7ZWUtWARFiqrOnH34UmwegqoYIhIX_4R3L6j0TriESAHR3Y06liFqdbPhXn6l-KnsmoQOujOcI3sUhwevHCbGRuJRGQ0CqtJed4lrUZGdbXRMw/s2016/Thanksgiving+2020+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72TH8UlO6Ip4pVHgPW9L-cqHZ7ZWUtWARFiqrOnH34UmwegqoYIhIX_4R3L6j0TriESAHR3Y06liFqdbPhXn6l-KnsmoQOujOcI3sUhwevHCbGRuJRGQ0CqtJed4lrUZGdbXRMw/s320/Thanksgiving+2020+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hans showed me around the house, pointing out all of the work they had had done since I had last been there, which was two years ago. They had added a screened in porch, a new deck and a lovely patio underneath the porch. Their cats, Rhett Butler (a beautiful black and white) and Newt, a new, 6 month old that is gray and white, and rather small. He has beautiful orange eyes. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In the evenings we watched Netflix episodes of "The Crown," a fiction account of the Royal family and a new Netflix season of "The Great British Bakeoff." Hans' kids don't really watch tv, so there was no arguing about what we should watch.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">During a couple of the days I played Mario Brothers with Josiah and William. I am terrible at this video game, but the boys think it's fun and they encourage me, telling me I'm doing great. Annie stays in her room quite a bit, but was friendly when she was out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On Friday night Rachel and the kids decorated their beautiful Christmas tree. Hans and I sat nearby watching them and enjoying the scene. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSmm3VJO7VI6AitgeIx1Tg6Eib4z0Gg1nqXKHNtChVIJpBTtLmgMO97nPvUOC6avwMapMeNTA3omg0cMn0S366IZqsJVcY57hgUryT_vW-0InOvNUKyoM4EpJ3-pno4tuBE0OKw/s2016/Thanksgiving+2020+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSmm3VJO7VI6AitgeIx1Tg6Eib4z0Gg1nqXKHNtChVIJpBTtLmgMO97nPvUOC6avwMapMeNTA3omg0cMn0S366IZqsJVcY57hgUryT_vW-0InOvNUKyoM4EpJ3-pno4tuBE0OKw/s320/Thanksgiving+2020+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVly32L7DFCx-ywyOAQWe1nU1_AJph_u3HD5MuH_JiyieHDyjxEXBbPRjBcwgRQclhJlQkHGfiYCgiD-7Iui9LHHPPYvTUOYIqZcssvOssDTef4HM30dNabp8z9IS0HEvxqCFsw/s2016/Thanksgiving+2020+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVly32L7DFCx-ywyOAQWe1nU1_AJph_u3HD5MuH_JiyieHDyjxEXBbPRjBcwgRQclhJlQkHGfiYCgiD-7Iui9LHHPPYvTUOYIqZcssvOssDTef4HM30dNabp8z9IS0HEvxqCFsw/s320/Thanksgiving+2020+8.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_oBHB9RxRDPmluebOrBBDH411xHNaUYIiiP5CNTizOhZRlgXPgoSlBJmnuDdsC_7LZ8LP8gcNkb7s70jLSuS6Skuk8bHmJATf04GyVFtXXBoOgsNsLa0pKB7wYDZZwhx__0iLg/s2016/Thanksgiving+2020+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_oBHB9RxRDPmluebOrBBDH411xHNaUYIiiP5CNTizOhZRlgXPgoSlBJmnuDdsC_7LZ8LP8gcNkb7s70jLSuS6Skuk8bHmJATf04GyVFtXXBoOgsNsLa0pKB7wYDZZwhx__0iLg/s320/Thanksgiving+2020+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Saturday Hans took William and me to Five Guys for hamburgers. Then later he and I went for a drive in the country. What a beautiful area they live in. Sunday and and I went to church together.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8PiRyAvAVCXKJHY2GXzyV8SIC5Rn34LSvq1TLUOiLSh8Ozct0L-3dl_3gBl5xV7ih1AxvHMBEWhG2_aBZAqLyO-tE3dTIKq8HRsZKvV16azgngHIQTJsOESoDdOTU5oB3zfxsQ/s2016/Thanksgiving+2020+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8PiRyAvAVCXKJHY2GXzyV8SIC5Rn34LSvq1TLUOiLSh8Ozct0L-3dl_3gBl5xV7ih1AxvHMBEWhG2_aBZAqLyO-tE3dTIKq8HRsZKvV16azgngHIQTJsOESoDdOTU5oB3zfxsQ/s320/Thanksgiving+2020+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By Monday it was time for the kids to return to school and Hans and Rachel to go to work. Hans stayed back a few hours and first took me to the airport before reporting to work at the Pentagon. I had a great time!</span></p>DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-45548261468564664872020-10-07T12:49:00.000-05:002020-10-07T12:49:28.342-05:00Nels 2009 - 2020<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzvv-Fv-uubjJlk-lb0S0Xsj2xpZjCuOXmXvmvdjHtUNfQIwn3V3M_lkHIuEIihRQDHfb4Lc4r5MZYQ5vRWqi44fjBq_SGan5hOXDw1fzHvCIcbgWyrEuNe06-Zh3L34dk3m_6w/s1620/Nels+at+photoshoot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="912" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzvv-Fv-uubjJlk-lb0S0Xsj2xpZjCuOXmXvmvdjHtUNfQIwn3V3M_lkHIuEIihRQDHfb4Lc4r5MZYQ5vRWqi44fjBq_SGan5hOXDw1fzHvCIcbgWyrEuNe06-Zh3L34dk3m_6w/w360-h640/Nels+at+photoshoot.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nels 2009 - 2020<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>The day after my birthday, I took Nels to the veterinarian because I noticed he had been drinking so much water. Due to COVID, I had to wait in the parking lot while he was inside the building. Twice during the two hours I waited, the veterinarian phoned me to tell me Nels has been diagnosed with advanced diabetes. He wanted me to bring him back to the clinic in two days and leave him there throughout the day while they checked his glucose levels. After that they would tell me how much insulin I would have to give him twice a day, and that I would have to bring him to the clinic twice a week going forward to have his foot pricked to test his glucose level. </p><p>I brought him home, and the next day I prayed and prayed, and cried and cried. I came to the conclusion I was not a candidate for this. I didn't want my last memories of him being me catching him to give him another shot. So I called and canceled my appointment.</p><p>The follow day the veterinarian phoned me to tell me he understood my decision. He had a feeling that is how I would react. I asked him what to expect and he said the food Nels is eating is not nourishing him. Rather, it is turning to sugar and he is peeing it out. He went on to say Nels would begin having diarrhea, vomiting, or getting very weak. </p><p>I watched for those signs, but continued to love him and take a lot of photos of him. I thought back about six or seven weeks and recalled he no longer had jumped up to his cat tree, and also had stopped sleeping with me at night. He drank about two bowls full of water each day and I had to clean out the litter box about three or four times a day. He stayed pretty close to the bathroom and kitchen. </p><p>Three weeks after I got the bad news, I made an appointment to have him euthanized. It was a hard decision, and I vacillated about keeping the appointment. Three nights before that date, I played with Nels and the laser light. He always came running when he heard me take it from the cupboard. He ran and ran, and I thought I was making the wrong decision. But the next morning, he was lying by my kitchen table while I ate, and he could barely stand. All through the day he would come close to wherever I was and just flop down on the floor. This continued on to the next day—the day of our appointment. </p><p>Once at the clinic, they took Nels from my car and told me they would put him in a room and sedate him. Once he was drowsy, they would call me to come into the building. This is an exception they make during COVID. I was ushered to a room and told to wait there. About 12 minutes later the veterinarian came in to say Nels was still very active, so they were going to give him a second shot to sedate him. I waited a period of time and again he came in to say they were having to give him a third shot. After a few minutes, he brought Nels into my room. The first thing I noticed was his front paw was wrapped in a blue bandage. It had a port sort of thing hanging from it. The doctor put Nels on the table in front of me, and he tried to climb off. The veterinarian told me Nels was a lot like him. He was part Irish and part German and could drink a lot of beer and it didn't affect him. That little bit of humor helped a wee bit. He told me I could take a few minutes to say my good-byes to Nels. I petted him, kissed his head, told him I loved him, and would miss him very much. Then the veterinarian asked me if I was ready. I said I was, and he gave Nels the final shot. Nels' head relaxed on his paws, and he was gone. I was left alone with him for about ten minutes. I petted and petted him, and held his paws. That was one thing he never liked me to do. He would always pull away. When I felt I could finally leave him, I kissed his head once more. He was still warm. </p><p>Nels was cremated and his ashes are in a beautiful wooden box. A few weeks before he died I sent photos away to be printed in a hardbound book. I treasure his memory.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUxX_d5pWAOHRkrCXpWZGIfDuhkCynrMzNik3wnqMmdYS773zrRx4NCOSBLoDYSyL-JeTL5PcvLqichgTL2Byi4LtESqHCTJZ8e2Kt96QCbMUX2ZTQJwjuf-bcjqRdXqCt07_yA/s2048/Nels+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUxX_d5pWAOHRkrCXpWZGIfDuhkCynrMzNik3wnqMmdYS773zrRx4NCOSBLoDYSyL-JeTL5PcvLqichgTL2Byi4LtESqHCTJZ8e2Kt96QCbMUX2ZTQJwjuf-bcjqRdXqCt07_yA/w400-h300/Nels+book.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Book of Nels<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBjExclKOMW-wP9dic5GPZA-BV5Z_LphbLc1P8Z9U8eZ1O_xA6i6OtTD8KSRcLqrfImzVc3GwC8awk9WpoIvoFcvUITqUXyFwtIzPVjy9zhU4jjKvaZlc-I-LpQy_3RZFyJnxjQ/s2048/Nels+in+cat+tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBjExclKOMW-wP9dic5GPZA-BV5Z_LphbLc1P8Z9U8eZ1O_xA6i6OtTD8KSRcLqrfImzVc3GwC8awk9WpoIvoFcvUITqUXyFwtIzPVjy9zhU4jjKvaZlc-I-LpQy_3RZFyJnxjQ/w300-h400/Nels+in+cat+tree.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nels in one of his favorite places<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-2273084856269891722020-10-07T11:55:00.001-05:002020-10-07T11:55:47.863-05:002020 Birthday Parties<p> This year my birthday was a big occasion because I turned 75 (August 3). It hardly seems possible! Where has the time gone?</p><p>With 2020 being such an unusual and odd year, due to the COVID-19 virus, I didn't think there would be such a fuss, but I was wrong. On the Saturday prior to my birthday, my son, Peder, and his wife, Sarah, had me over to their house for a cookout. We had a very nice time. They served cupcakes for dessert and mine had a lit candle in it.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIM_DauBuQdc8ocj7ZKuZg8RghAEOvhZwGQsudDzJYK3x5d32_OT7UOzlYRDWDFRoDElBP-Xx8iZQD7X6GbhQOMY_sgiLR_luSyYNBCsojw7QGUfRCLuw-wtkmibjz9KROemnHDw/s2048/2020+my+birthday+at+Peder%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIM_DauBuQdc8ocj7ZKuZg8RghAEOvhZwGQsudDzJYK3x5d32_OT7UOzlYRDWDFRoDElBP-Xx8iZQD7X6GbhQOMY_sgiLR_luSyYNBCsojw7QGUfRCLuw-wtkmibjz9KROemnHDw/w400-h300/2020+my+birthday+at+Peder%2527s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: yours truly, Peder, Leo, Felix, Rellie, Sarah<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>A couple of days before the actual day, my kids had a delicious German chocolate cake delivered to my house. It came from my favorite bakery: Lund's/Byerly's. What a surprise! Once it arrived I decided I couldn't eat alone, so I called some of my friends here in my building for an impromptu birthday party.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5q6IlJHi8lf2GIo0l9hB6nd_rwmkyCJ8jTyHrglHFKT0ON_ESCJrybPAtmcWTfUoHqna35a3xyBbES55dWu3ch0d-siXSWrFSvXxp0CkLmQ92yDNs-iOL2TM5lhddeICqArJ1A/s2048/2020+my+birthday+at+my+home+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5q6IlJHi8lf2GIo0l9hB6nd_rwmkyCJ8jTyHrglHFKT0ON_ESCJrybPAtmcWTfUoHqna35a3xyBbES55dWu3ch0d-siXSWrFSvXxp0CkLmQ92yDNs-iOL2TM5lhddeICqArJ1A/w400-h300/2020+my+birthday+at+my+home+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Janet, Carol, Anne<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBy7VAty8KYPHNm6MJk6aw2xu4Sg_gCDWv_QXxFqrrcYcDp88hKn0xCKgsi-3NLlN6jPKWYNoPzH5Qh0duwSTwPkRCWwKcbts_BGgcVFqa_TQz926n8R8Be1iMj9m-JDK48k5sg/s2048/2020+my+birthday+at+my+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBy7VAty8KYPHNm6MJk6aw2xu4Sg_gCDWv_QXxFqrrcYcDp88hKn0xCKgsi-3NLlN6jPKWYNoPzH5Qh0duwSTwPkRCWwKcbts_BGgcVFqa_TQz926n8R8Be1iMj9m-JDK48k5sg/w300-h400/2020+my+birthday+at+my+home.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birthday girl!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Z7gYdy7Y6jq6-F5bbJe7uXKVipfNqgP9WBxroJlB7UA81CM6sF35Ybci6q9CBChCQyU3z1SNISkfMW49Eewh0KjadWhIlG4-TgHENuuX85dep9A3XaOjBvZqq3JZNCGa77-mYQ/s2048/2020+my+birthday+at+my+home+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Z7gYdy7Y6jq6-F5bbJe7uXKVipfNqgP9WBxroJlB7UA81CM6sF35Ybci6q9CBChCQyU3z1SNISkfMW49Eewh0KjadWhIlG4-TgHENuuX85dep9A3XaOjBvZqq3JZNCGa77-mYQ/w400-h300/2020+my+birthday+at+my+home+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Pat, Nancy C, Nancy L<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>On my actual birthday, my birthday club friends met at my friend Nancy's home and we had birthday cake, plus some other desserts. It was a lot of sugar!</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwr2gRSQSjFyQrBVGUelEjwRfEYL0O0HQNyCIz17z537HaEigNL4555C-xFvG5NZEyzwjyQyJoNADt-ySrueJy5FN5h7N9EKi7OaBa77wbdG1YiDa8wVR6fqvo11tideZfCNl94A/s2048/2020+my+birthday+at+Nancy+Carlson%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwr2gRSQSjFyQrBVGUelEjwRfEYL0O0HQNyCIz17z537HaEigNL4555C-xFvG5NZEyzwjyQyJoNADt-ySrueJy5FN5h7N9EKi7OaBa77wbdG1YiDa8wVR6fqvo11tideZfCNl94A/w400-h300/2020+my+birthday+at+Nancy+Carlson%2527s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neighbors decorated my door</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_3EjLvgtsVdoB_6ru7QhafReFWn-F25cHjCEUpDPQq6cqu0FmmVV3wFsjBpTfDMT4RtYIf-_1zyDC3UExWs85_TzPC_h6G40JEukUfkB9OEccHzrpQSKCf9_Wd3399W7dDP-XQ/s2048/2020+my+birthday+at+Nancy+Carlson%2527s+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_3EjLvgtsVdoB_6ru7QhafReFWn-F25cHjCEUpDPQq6cqu0FmmVV3wFsjBpTfDMT4RtYIf-_1zyDC3UExWs85_TzPC_h6G40JEukUfkB9OEccHzrpQSKCf9_Wd3399W7dDP-XQ/w300-h400/2020+my+birthday+at+Nancy+Carlson%2527s+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hostess Nancy<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AbxN-qQRZkr4zjdygnOPn0FVTo4B17NpdwBqtSjsRBHsyfF5Edr084C2fDkmSIbyHCIZdWBLjYjTfT7cis1Rh0uvrQpn_G69dBN59MoL-DeTbG0dNNkG7yV0oBmEvctlk0Rzvw/s2048/2020+my+birthday+at+Nancy+Carlson%2527s+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AbxN-qQRZkr4zjdygnOPn0FVTo4B17NpdwBqtSjsRBHsyfF5Edr084C2fDkmSIbyHCIZdWBLjYjTfT7cis1Rh0uvrQpn_G69dBN59MoL-DeTbG0dNNkG7yV0oBmEvctlk0Rzvw/w400-h300/2020+my+birthday+at+Nancy+Carlson%2527s+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Louise, Bonnie, yours truly, Nancy and Debra</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdFSJa3mzO_7U8lIOzIzaLfy20cSGPpEqtyY-5uKeYrELZ5Bu2SmnUe_bx1woI-Gy7UdBH-UKHg65JnDQtToxC-QNR-G-Hg4RFuS0St6QnSYCNjKSg9P8UjyBZHSfUkbTVOQUeA/s2016/2020+my+birthday+cake+at+Nancy+Carlson%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdFSJa3mzO_7U8lIOzIzaLfy20cSGPpEqtyY-5uKeYrELZ5Bu2SmnUe_bx1woI-Gy7UdBH-UKHg65JnDQtToxC-QNR-G-Hg4RFuS0St6QnSYCNjKSg9P8UjyBZHSfUkbTVOQUeA/w400-h300/2020+my+birthday+cake+at+Nancy+Carlson%2527s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another birthday cake!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Believe it or not, my Valley View friends hosted another party for me the next day at one of my favorite restaurants. Due to COVID, we were seated outside. I ordered my favorite thing: an apple pancake. It is very similar to a pannekoeken, but in my opinion, it is 200% better. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M7VvviLWGHEypFuXRANf4MUZLihjYyuFsJ4BQSC9DODzC0E7RD6MXscBIHlv_fmvi2tDepvXg7k4Y1Q6OzUMujcpnOh6YnjHIWfXfZmYcoomv6D6vW6bv7N0ahogOF9meLHUaA/s2048/2020+my+birthday+at+OPH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M7VvviLWGHEypFuXRANf4MUZLihjYyuFsJ4BQSC9DODzC0E7RD6MXscBIHlv_fmvi2tDepvXg7k4Y1Q6OzUMujcpnOh6YnjHIWfXfZmYcoomv6D6vW6bv7N0ahogOF9meLHUaA/w400-h300/2020+my+birthday+at+OPH.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Laurey, Sheila, Nancy, Donna VS, Pat, yours truly</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15YRedjWHH4vtlFsbio8m_x0YATQwRPubAMycrYLUcEBgobZ_qhA-kh4ui_2VXyuUaJUj_k1a5IwyqphTherAjAXczJKZUwfJyGicTdysPVD2fscHTmy-UDnUNlrKL8CsZg-8bQ/s2048/2020+my+birthday+at+OPH+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15YRedjWHH4vtlFsbio8m_x0YATQwRPubAMycrYLUcEBgobZ_qhA-kh4ui_2VXyuUaJUj_k1a5IwyqphTherAjAXczJKZUwfJyGicTdysPVD2fscHTmy-UDnUNlrKL8CsZg-8bQ/w400-h300/2020+my+birthday+at+OPH+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple pancake, tomato juice, thick sliced bacon. Yum!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-M2u8rIYHE2WE1m1ef6IUZ7x-JOLY_PjTH1yBVwhV_BlUj0ZqHrV3K-bZ5GL-SeGDsZvPu6N8oyZ-Fbwpx5C7JkQ_WA4rE135gt4LreG53jqSCJZOei5IzjnlFPmweBw8EN6GcA/s2016/2020+my+birthday+cake+at+OPH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-M2u8rIYHE2WE1m1ef6IUZ7x-JOLY_PjTH1yBVwhV_BlUj0ZqHrV3K-bZ5GL-SeGDsZvPu6N8oyZ-Fbwpx5C7JkQ_WA4rE135gt4LreG53jqSCJZOei5IzjnlFPmweBw8EN6GcA/w400-h300/2020+my+birthday+cake+at+OPH.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yet another birthday cake!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0Indian Ocean-33.137551 81.826172-61.447784836178847 46.669922 -4.8273171638211565 116.982422tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-52107288863107144662020-07-13T15:07:00.000-05:002020-07-13T15:07:43.211-05:00Returning to ChurchIt has been four months since our church congregation has been permitted to convene. Yesterday was the big day and I thought it was really special. The church had to follow the rules of the CDC (Center for the Disease Prevention), so there were many volunteers who helped get the building ready and rehearsed their part for ushering. Those who wanted to attend had to RSVP. They were told they must wear masks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihv1WhqVTlUwKJoVgoWzLlEzxAp7kYPx8rhkVSV0OLKA6zO-QbrpiUmnswoYUGxYfCB7jbuUCu0XTxfUubU0kx1I7iw0rCr0ekJraAUbYr1ynHfU-58GDZTu9s2QJgEK5OPXTEiA/s1600/church.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihv1WhqVTlUwKJoVgoWzLlEzxAp7kYPx8rhkVSV0OLKA6zO-QbrpiUmnswoYUGxYfCB7jbuUCu0XTxfUubU0kx1I7iw0rCr0ekJraAUbYr1ynHfU-58GDZTu9s2QJgEK5OPXTEiA/s400/church.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wooddale Church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXtEq8L-e52h5TDk6GE9-WjwlQbImp3bEYXp1wmrY0aszxCwVFkegT8wkoUqFUL_nfb4DAaoUIh4pkdDy7D0svkPvyeAxfUa0v55ua7SUxBmF6zFPdoj8y6ai0LPc4KG4UAK08A/s1600/church+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXtEq8L-e52h5TDk6GE9-WjwlQbImp3bEYXp1wmrY0aszxCwVFkegT8wkoUqFUL_nfb4DAaoUIh4pkdDy7D0svkPvyeAxfUa0v55ua7SUxBmF6zFPdoj8y6ai0LPc4KG4UAK08A/s400/church+1.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobby inside Door 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoM2PcTsayiwazYPahNNoBVciD3BG30OTLBx_6LYmpqRtSdmmEcBTLDLBFp1TzZN3OwdDn1CgAjFqsOKDOWdJlQaBIm9adxNlWhJIkIm1uJ8yFAxDjVLY92ne11pKEbM9SzLCuZA/s1600/church+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoM2PcTsayiwazYPahNNoBVciD3BG30OTLBx_6LYmpqRtSdmmEcBTLDLBFp1TzZN3OwdDn1CgAjFqsOKDOWdJlQaBIm9adxNlWhJIkIm1uJ8yFAxDjVLY92ne11pKEbM9SzLCuZA/s400/church+2.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Receptacle for offering </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSOq8SZ-n_URu3uPmv5GjIKy3Je2F82wiDYYTNZOV_DXUkAsewGDu6QI0cHMbhv_qZQgLJ73OwdTYkcUOjQO5pVriImvB91jQTARUkDYPoBao8YfTmNZjRK1ZItTYxX8pg-A21Q/s1600/church+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSOq8SZ-n_URu3uPmv5GjIKy3Je2F82wiDYYTNZOV_DXUkAsewGDu6QI0cHMbhv_qZQgLJ73OwdTYkcUOjQO5pVriImvB91jQTARUkDYPoBao8YfTmNZjRK1ZItTYxX8pg-A21Q/s400/church+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sanctuary is ready for the worship service</td></tr>
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Ushers brought the congregants in a little at a time, spacing them appropriately. They seated them from the front pew to the back. I watched them from where I was seated in the choir loft.<br />
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Speaking of choir, we began meeting about three weeks ago on our regular Thursday night time. We rehearsed for a half hour and then performed our part of the service to be used for the Sunday online service. This Sunday we were finally able to be in our choir loft and sing praises in the presence of the congregation. It was glorious!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAxPjlpOr17INprXlNVFWAg4i6DsBvArK7p5bBLd5ZKcovA3L4YtnK6YKsT70QjAAZn11p8qxW1INfIjKW3Fxp55WlADPKhDTRyeEIVLcRHjGEQKPoxl-usSJ7Hwjfe8epCCuVw/s1600/church+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAxPjlpOr17INprXlNVFWAg4i6DsBvArK7p5bBLd5ZKcovA3L4YtnK6YKsT70QjAAZn11p8qxW1INfIjKW3Fxp55WlADPKhDTRyeEIVLcRHjGEQKPoxl-usSJ7Hwjfe8epCCuVw/s400/church+4.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo showing the spacing of the congregation</td></tr>
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<br />DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-43196340993131598142020-07-13T14:50:00.002-05:002020-07-13T14:50:24.559-05:00New WindowsLast year our building budgeted for all of our windows to be replaced. They were 20 years old and some reported having air leaking in. So a couple of weeks ago a big lift was driven here and the workers began removing the old windows and replacing the new ones. The workers did one apartment at a time, staying with the stack before moving on. A stack is such as apartment 401, 301, 201 and finally 101. It took a little over a week before they got to mine.<br />
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In preparation of their work, I had to have some help to move my tv and the unit it sits on. I was able to move the things in front of my library window and the furniture on the balcony.<br />
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The morning they started on my apartment, Nels was asleep in my closet, so I closed the closet door tightly so that he couldn't come out. It was safer that way.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleaning out the old seal while the window is out</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crew of men installing the window of my library<br /></td></tr>
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DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-51421984238867254762020-04-21T18:17:00.000-05:002020-04-21T18:17:39.891-05:00We Are Still in Pandemic ModeWell, we are still in pandemic mode. People have tested positive; people have died. Thankfully I don't know of anyone who has been affected.<br />
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Our church services are still being done online. Last week our choir gathered in the "new to me" zoom. It was so fun to see so many of my friends and our choir director on my computer screen. We filled 3 pages – about 75 individuals. Until the moderator muted all but one of us, we could talk, sometimes being interrupted by others. I really enjoyed it and look forward to it happening again this week.<br />
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Activities where I live are still cancelled, with the exception of going out on our balconies or the parking lot at 3 pm on Mondays and Fridays. We have had two days where the weather didn't cooperate for us.<br />
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I am a people person and therefore I need to get out of my apartment and see others. I also need to leave our complex and get out on the road and see big sky, farms and farm animals, etc. The Sunday before Easter I invited Nancy, my next door neighbor, to ride to St. Peter with me. We saw county, apple orchards, farms, small towns, and once in St. Peter I drove her past the little church where my mom and dad were married and through the campus of Gustavus Adolphus. She really enjoyed seeing the nice little city.<br />
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This past Sunday I again invited her to ride with me, this time to Willernie to see my cousin Pat's house, the high school I attended in 10th grade, and a bit of White Bear Lake. Then we drove to Stillwater where we saw the paddle boats lined up along the Saint Croix River. Following that I drove west to the town of White Bear Lake. We stopped to say hello to my nephew Keith and his SO Debra and her daughter Annika. It was so nice to see them.<br />
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If this continues, where will I go next? I'm not sure, but it sure helps my tolerance to stay home a couple more weeks. I am praying for this virus to dry up.DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-77213407244063960722020-03-27T11:07:00.001-05:002020-03-27T11:07:47.433-05:00Coronavirus<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made these Easter bunnies for Hans and Peder in 1975</td></tr>
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Well, the Coronavirus is now sweeping the USA. My intention here is not to be a news reporter, but to reflect on how the virus is affecting me.<br />
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On March 17 all public rooms where I live were closed with an orange sign on the door which read "Do not enter. Room is closed until further notice." This includes the Library, the Exercise Room, the Eden Room (small party room down the hall from my apartment), the Valley View Room (the large party room), and the lobby. All activities on the calendar for the remainder of the month were canceled. We were instructed to not congregate in the hallways or at the mailboxes. We are to use the hallways to get to our destination and to use the shortest route. We are to limit our visitors. No vendors would be permitted to work in our building. We are to call for maintenance only in an emergency.<br />
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On the Thursday after my doctor cleared me of pneumonia, I went to church to rehearse in the Tour Choir (for our trip to Germany and Austria on June 1), and to rehearse with our church choir. The choir had the weekend off, so I decided to go to church for the Saturday night service. I hadn't been in church for many weeks and it felt so good to be there. I was especially happy that communion was observed. I coughed a bit during the beginning of the sermon and considered leaving after sucking on two cough drops didn't seem to be taking care of the cough. Finally, my chest settled down and I was able to sit quietly for the remainder of the service. It was sometime during the next week, March 20 I believe, that we got the notice we would not be having choir rehearsal and that the entire service for the weekend would be online only. Wow! This had never happened before. We thought it might be for one weekend only, but now we are about to experience our third weekend. This week we got the notice our choir trip to Germany and Austria has been canceled.<br />
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And starting at midnight tonight, our Governor Walz has ordered a "Stay at Home" to last for the next two weeks. Only those with essential jobs will be permitted to work. We can go out for groceries or drugs, walks or runs, keeping the "social distance of 6 feet from one another." Schools are closed until at least May 4. Students in many cases are taking classes online. My heart goes out to the children. This is so different for them. They miss their friends and teachers. Many seniors will not experience prom or graduation.<br />
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Heidi called me yesterday and told me starting next week the Air Traffic Controllers are going to be working five days on and 10 days off to keep the numbers of controllers in the towers down. Her five days will start Monday and she will work the same shift all five days which is new for her. Hans told me the Pentagon made a similar move to keep the population down two weeks ago. He works every other day each week—he worked Monday, Wednesday, Friday last week and he worked Tuesday and Thursday this week. Rachel's job has slowed down due to customers not wanting vendors in their homes at this time. She Facetimed with me Wednesday.<br />
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All in all, this is so different and weird. One highlight was a notice I found on Monday morning that had been pushed under my door. It was from our Valley View president who suggested we who live on the parking lot side of the building go out on our balconies at 3 pm with noisemakers, pom poms, or other means to be able to see our neighbors. She said she would be out in the parking lot to video us and perhaps send it to a news station or two to air, showing others how we are trying to safely connect. Someone suggested we do it every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It was decided to do it every Monday and Friday. So I am looking forward to 3 pm today. I have put out my American flag and will continue to put it out each day when it is not raining. In the meantime, each days seems like the day before.<br />
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<br />DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-53424169787577026262020-03-21T12:18:00.001-05:002020-03-21T12:18:59.169-05:00PneumoniaOn Friday, February 21, I worked as a volunteer in the office where I live. During that morning shift, I started coughing and coughing. I was so thankful that there were only a few people who stopped by to either ask our office manager something or to visit with me. I was so relieved when 12:00 noon came and I could lock up and go home. I spent the weekend at home, coughing and blowing my nose nearly every minute.<br />
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It didn't get any better as the days rolled by. Tuesday afternoon I drove my next door neighbor, who is also a dear friend, to the airport. On the way I experience a big coughing jag and told Nancy after dropping her off I was going to head to a minute clinic which is near our home.<br />
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I checked into the minute clinic at 3:50 pm, then donned a mask and sat in the waiting area (coughing most of the time) until I was finally seen at 6::30. The PA who was on duty listened to my lungs and said she was positive I had pneumonia. Since the minute clinic doesn't have an x-ray machine, she advised me to head to an urgent care clinic. She kindly checked online to see which one(s) was/were open yet. There was one not far away and the "wait time" was 7 minutes. I high-tailed it there and was ushered to a room immediately. After the nurse checked my vitals a PA came in, listened to my lungs, and sent me to the x-ray room. Back in my examining room the PA returned and told me my right lung was full of pneumonia. She wrote two prescriptions for me and I headed to a near by drug store.<br />
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That was Tuesday. By Thursday I wasn't any better. Coughing and spitting up gunk, and blowing gunk from my nose (disgusting, right?!), and unable to get any good sleep, I called my clinic for help. I was able to talk to my primary doctor's nurse who was relaying messages from my doctor. He sent a new Rx for an antibiotic to Costco. My dear friend drove to Costco to get the prescription for me. She returned telling me the pharmacy couldn't fill the entire order but sent a three day supply. I was to go back for the remainder the next day. My doctor also instructed me to see a different doctor on Friday at a clinic closer to my home.<br />
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Friday came and I went to my appointment to see Dr. Ditty. She was very nice, listened to my lungs and sent me to x-ray. Results showed I still had a lot of pneumonia in my right lung. I told her I wished I could get some good sleep which I knew would help me improve. She prescribed Robitussin with codeine. I had taken this before and was confident this would definitely help me sleep better.<br />
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I headed to Costo to get the remainder of the Rx that the pharmacy couldn't fill the day before. I picked up a few things in the drugs portion of Costco and proceeded to check out. I couldn't believe the crowds of people I saw with their carts brimming with bottled water, toilet paper, paper towels etc. There were twelve carts in my line, which snaked back quite far into the store. Each line, and there were many, were the same. When it was my turn to get to the checkout, I asked the cashier what was going on. I had never seen this at Costco—even at Christmas time. She said it was the media frenzy over the <b>Coronavirus </b>that was beginning to sweep the world! I paid for my items and left the store. It wasn't until I was half way home that I realized I hadn't gotten my new Rx for the Robitussin. Argh! I waited until around 6:30 pm to return to Costco to get it. At that time, there were very few customers compared to when I had been there earlier. Friday night I got an excellent night of sleep and for the next seven days I stayed home and took care of myself. On the 15th day from when the coughing started, I saw a PA at my clinic and she told my lungs were now clear. Hallelujah!<br />
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<br />DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-79582122739570724952020-01-29T22:34:00.000-06:002020-01-29T22:34:01.554-06:00It's 2020 now!My goodness, how time has flown. It is already 2020! I remember well when we were concerned about Y2K and wondering if our bank accounts and other things would work come January 1, 2000. I brought in a few logs for my fireplace, in the event my electricity failed, and some bottled water. Now that is two decades ago!<br />
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This month I have managed to do some entertaining, in spite of having a virus of a cough. Also, I dealt with plantar fasciitis in my left foot, but had a cortisone shot in my left heel and it has really improved. Also, I have been to my dentist where I had a patch on the lower part of two crowns where the gum has receded just a titch. My dentist says it should last for a long time and keep me from having to get new crowns. Another issue I took care of: I had a cortisone shot injected into each of my hips due to bursitis. That was given to me just yesterday and I slept all through the night last night for the first time in weeks. I'm walking better, too.<br />
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January 10th I hosted a birthday dinner for two gals in our church choir birthday club. There were 9 of us around my table and we all had a really fun time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Jane, Louise, Bonnie, Joanne, Barb, Nancy, and Laurey</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Louise, Nancy, Jane and Barb</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonnie and Laurey</td></tr>
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January 22 I co-hosted a dinner party with friends Pat and Nancy for two gals in my building. We invited each of the birthday gals and told them they could each bring two guests. At 6 pm they arrived at Pat's home where Pat had set a beautiful table. She served a very nice salad, bread sticks and some sparkling juice. We sat around visiting and enjoying each other when I piped up and said, "Is this all we're having to eat? I'm still hungry. Let's go down to my apartment." So Pat and Nancy stood and said, "Yes, let's go!" Well the guests sat there dumb founded. They didn't really know what to do but then joined us down the hallway where they entered my apartment and saw a fully set table and could smell the lasagne. I had them sit and served them a sparkling drink, lasagne and garlic toast. They thought this idea was really fun.</div>
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After eating and enjoying visiting, Nancy announced we should go next door to her apartment so we could continue celebrating. Nancy had her dining room all decked out with birthday party decor. She had us sit at her table and then served a delicious ice cream dessert. The two party gals, Sheila and Donna, were so happy and loved the attention paid to them.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Pat, Laurey, Nancy, Marcia, Donna, Sheila, Myra, and Shirley</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-926pr2uUMiAZov1tyxErC57AcRIylI-DOGCzL0vRbHoUIQTLJT5Hyt9kbLa_rONPebJa5PvROBf1RtQzPe74UBxayDsb8-aRSKrm1Q55rGQ68DakaSC5UnmnSK0tyEFFuvG8g/s1600/Progressive+Dinner+Jan+2020+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-926pr2uUMiAZov1tyxErC57AcRIylI-DOGCzL0vRbHoUIQTLJT5Hyt9kbLa_rONPebJa5PvROBf1RtQzPe74UBxayDsb8-aRSKrm1Q55rGQ68DakaSC5UnmnSK0tyEFFuvG8g/s400/Progressive+Dinner+Jan+2020+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend and next door neighbor, Nancy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0S-HDicrkqmUC5LjsxZfGUOffnwn7wNviI5RERYl_ds6JqKM7t2s3OXh9SKkr8MAy-AbR9U8yu54a4HRUvCWIzuAGdbmKE2duATcZRp8XfXKEm97j0n3gpIa3XGxoD9SEo71gg/s1600/Progressive+dinner+Jan+2020+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0S-HDicrkqmUC5LjsxZfGUOffnwn7wNviI5RERYl_ds6JqKM7t2s3OXh9SKkr8MAy-AbR9U8yu54a4HRUvCWIzuAGdbmKE2duATcZRp8XfXKEm97j0n3gpIa3XGxoD9SEo71gg/s400/Progressive+dinner+Jan+2020+4.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday gals: Donna and Sheila </td></tr>
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DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-55060603474241409402019-11-06T18:30:00.000-06:002019-11-06T18:30:34.331-06:00Time Got Away From MeLife has gotten busy and I have neglected keeping up on this blog, but I want to update it on what I have been doing for the past six months.<br />
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I have done more entertaining. Here's a recap:<br />
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In early April my sister-in-law came up to the cities to spend the weekend with me. Over the weekend she attended church and Sunday school with me; ate at The Original Pancake House, saw the flower show at the Galleria, and attended a concert with Sandi Patty as one of the featured artists.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vnqJYMw9JNShGkXk1lVU9Jtudemx_qEsX9Yeg0-PmQBOKJMYG7Aj0EijogBATx5MdVuCUSB1o4dN-oM-XWNenC7Kq-LenxrSBsrxQ2H075CYVrkVhdiMOHOtI1A2qSYA-g5HyQ/s1600/Donna+DeFor+and+I+at+the+flower+show.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vnqJYMw9JNShGkXk1lVU9Jtudemx_qEsX9Yeg0-PmQBOKJMYG7Aj0EijogBATx5MdVuCUSB1o4dN-oM-XWNenC7Kq-LenxrSBsrxQ2H075CYVrkVhdiMOHOtI1A2qSYA-g5HyQ/s320/Donna+DeFor+and+I+at+the+flower+show.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yours truly and Donna at the Galleria Spring Flower Show</td></tr>
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I entertained some of my co-workers from Bethany House over lunch in early April. Those who came over were Natasha, Ellen, Paul (my former boss), Eric and Randy. Sadly, I didn't think to take a photo of them.<br />
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A couple of weeks later two other dear friends from my Bethany days, sisters Jeanne and Joanie, came for tea, orange juice and muffins. These dear women and I were once in a Red Hat group that was a lot of fun. Again—no photos.<br />
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The end of May, Hans, Rachel, Josiah, Annika and William came to spend a weekend here where I live. We rented the guest room for a couple of nights and it worked out very well. It was the first time all of them, except Hans, had been to my new home. They told me they liked it very much. On Sunday they left and made a road trip out west. They went as far as the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. Then on their return, they spent a couple of nights in my guest room again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-Fhho2No_Ig3xTNcGtAxPU_B_MfLXGWkswCNo8-C7v5vkVFvwd6UWbeWrRdHXlu032BMVXkaxM4UhZuG5LvBBGmdO_IWVKrHpZ9ckl08yrgRekxLyVdpRsPl7HSw8S94f3Csng/s1600/Annika+and+Rachel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-Fhho2No_Ig3xTNcGtAxPU_B_MfLXGWkswCNo8-C7v5vkVFvwd6UWbeWrRdHXlu032BMVXkaxM4UhZuG5LvBBGmdO_IWVKrHpZ9ckl08yrgRekxLyVdpRsPl7HSw8S94f3Csng/s400/Annika+and+Rachel.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annika and Rachel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3QTc6YjL_oaEh5G6dWGSnNW4DZiihIci8_n1ml9R3FQ-XnWsA7zVrYGZCEXJgCzrSTaV0PRg7ptuncMXhEeD5RGqdgFuxTQeqo5XOEuvXQ3VqKGaj6cFEOgaaqJGpb2hTu7yFg/s1600/Annika+and+Rachel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3QTc6YjL_oaEh5G6dWGSnNW4DZiihIci8_n1ml9R3FQ-XnWsA7zVrYGZCEXJgCzrSTaV0PRg7ptuncMXhEeD5RGqdgFuxTQeqo5XOEuvXQ3VqKGaj6cFEOgaaqJGpb2hTu7yFg/s400/Annika+and+Rachel.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josiah and yours truly</td></tr>
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Hans and Peder took the opportunity to get together to play board games during this visit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKMLXUhBPuKYulqBFSjw3yXgsKFnsKCSnd4ihsFzj_tQ4ht-Lh9Zd6DZ6VC_CQUP8FATMH7Bu9yYw43-ZdohppY6ARtZ3P0Y-bxaybkHmM1QJMcB-L3q0t0iPlN2Z-14kdzBKLQ/s1600/Annika+and+Rachel1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKMLXUhBPuKYulqBFSjw3yXgsKFnsKCSnd4ihsFzj_tQ4ht-Lh9Zd6DZ6VC_CQUP8FATMH7Bu9yYw43-ZdohppY6ARtZ3P0Y-bxaybkHmM1QJMcB-L3q0t0iPlN2Z-14kdzBKLQ/s400/Annika+and+Rachel1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peder and Hans</td></tr>
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While Hans's family was here, I hosted a potluck lunch with my family. Cousin Linda was here from Chicago, and her brother, Cousin John, came, along with his son Doug and Doug's fiance, Caitlin. Cousin Pat and her husband, Pudge came, along with their daughter Kari and her husband, Charlie. Jerry and Janet were here, as well and Peder, Sarah, Aurelia, Felix and Leo. We met in the party room that is just down the hall from me. What a great time we had visiting and eating together. Pat brought along her bells so we had a blast singing and ringing the bells. Sadly, I was so busy I didn't get any photos of our music. Here are the few I took:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfObjR3K6SSnWeELZJM-PYwE7IMHGaBTdLatdrlfOgSyuXY1JwvtEFIwAV3hPry-uJsKpdPoAFA1oIOgZbzPZsTDQDzTva2MRerYSmsNpeXZ1iS2H-GEgrUvIGinxefSVh1JAcQ/s1600/John+and+LInda+Addleman.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfObjR3K6SSnWeELZJM-PYwE7IMHGaBTdLatdrlfOgSyuXY1JwvtEFIwAV3hPry-uJsKpdPoAFA1oIOgZbzPZsTDQDzTva2MRerYSmsNpeXZ1iS2H-GEgrUvIGinxefSVh1JAcQ/s400/John+and+LInda+Addleman.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousins John and Linda (brother and sister)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FUQVL5V70gBxvMMHTtKMt8SoXtoAQT56OQOyf4iPsyQTD1ad9qZTzkmsPEt0o6_YMJEckpDx-_AIcdKiE1opixFyIGE-SV_iVAEqJAHnZEZnXPEu2nZ8KWoOOa04p5_SMcpvHg/s1600/John+and+Pat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FUQVL5V70gBxvMMHTtKMt8SoXtoAQT56OQOyf4iPsyQTD1ad9qZTzkmsPEt0o6_YMJEckpDx-_AIcdKiE1opixFyIGE-SV_iVAEqJAHnZEZnXPEu2nZ8KWoOOa04p5_SMcpvHg/s400/John+and+Pat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousins John and Pat (Janet in the background)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrS7_J-XpQF93GWMabisr86Hzb4Z0Ox7ljfUJ2udpRU5ZZ97BKMKAEO08_QIwhADJHNk2QMvdXGPB82uuL-oZ1zmZwfpK5WfyEqm4n0OGDzMi7rMwbBPpHJVc54bSPBsquZ0OTw/s1600/Janet%252C+Jerry+and+me+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrS7_J-XpQF93GWMabisr86Hzb4Z0Ox7ljfUJ2udpRU5ZZ97BKMKAEO08_QIwhADJHNk2QMvdXGPB82uuL-oZ1zmZwfpK5WfyEqm4n0OGDzMi7rMwbBPpHJVc54bSPBsquZ0OTw/s400/Janet%252C+Jerry+and+me+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janet, yours truly, and Jerry</td></tr>
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June 8 I drove to Austin for the burial of my brother-in-law, David. It was a wonderful time reminiscing his life. Cousins Kenneth and Dale were also in attendance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufWb_jzchZ5GcgoBONNXjfHMDxCHBoXqRf4OYdfNwbJLes1XA2IvkANRiCUd6pwrIADISU5DEXE7-hmlA4mF3vm034lR0DWU6OiLZq39fmPTjfneG_YtPJAPfEGhFVlOz4h5q4Q/s1600/David+DeFor+grave+stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufWb_jzchZ5GcgoBONNXjfHMDxCHBoXqRf4OYdfNwbJLes1XA2IvkANRiCUd6pwrIADISU5DEXE7-hmlA4mF3vm034lR0DWU6OiLZq39fmPTjfneG_YtPJAPfEGhFVlOz4h5q4Q/s320/David+DeFor+grave+stone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEtYtc1FHCq6WaVrzz-LrvxqGK-gSnJpZwbOfcEbeNWZENjoOgwj2SXvzQfTPnsNJLJhx6ubwKldCE2yI4TfXf9puAypQqQAd8yd1lht4wNCClxoe73XzrzX-cl1PqbNXOxAB6Q/s1600/Donna%252C+Tim%252C+Andrea%252C+and+Amy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEtYtc1FHCq6WaVrzz-LrvxqGK-gSnJpZwbOfcEbeNWZENjoOgwj2SXvzQfTPnsNJLJhx6ubwKldCE2yI4TfXf9puAypQqQAd8yd1lht4wNCClxoe73XzrzX-cl1PqbNXOxAB6Q/s400/Donna%252C+Tim%252C+Andrea%252C+and+Amy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donna, Tim, Amy and Andrea</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ctv3nRToVCWSsG7aluEn4a42GsG4AxuG1KWz5SMKigQi-tp3c3qAH_KyHE38C0W8Apy624OgwEWIcBOxk82wCX0az8wUQC7VtnA2MeYOGTvl1IPA8yepbQkehCmddRfJ3gG4yg/s1600/Kenneth+and+Dale+De+For.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ctv3nRToVCWSsG7aluEn4a42GsG4AxuG1KWz5SMKigQi-tp3c3qAH_KyHE38C0W8Apy624OgwEWIcBOxk82wCX0az8wUQC7VtnA2MeYOGTvl1IPA8yepbQkehCmddRfJ3gG4yg/s400/Kenneth+and+Dale+De+For.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenneth, Jr. and Dale (Steve's cousins)</td></tr>
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July 31 my dear friend, Nancy, came over to have lunch with my on my balcony. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed food and conversation in this fun setting.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeC7bFkDJCn_rD6TZ5k8XqHBHGxZi4jcbH69cgjZ2vw_vJxuLO9CmPBX05126LRZ8RkzQXfzyBYRjgcRizunKndlCDffS0Lruol3JB-6Uj1-aVR1LkKdCOepFUXtn6E9fRaGhX4w/s1600/Nancy+Carlson+on+my+balcony.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeC7bFkDJCn_rD6TZ5k8XqHBHGxZi4jcbH69cgjZ2vw_vJxuLO9CmPBX05126LRZ8RkzQXfzyBYRjgcRizunKndlCDffS0Lruol3JB-6Uj1-aVR1LkKdCOepFUXtn6E9fRaGhX4w/s400/Nancy+Carlson+on+my+balcony.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend, Nancy</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokK7YJbmAmU-xexpBFpvIA7_HzTwvuvFIBvQj3TE5BdPbkNrDkYx1Wwq8J6Zw81CkMfHl-eME2zXNtdiCJYh0r5CzBKTFQkDPkwkTqo55rKCRy2hofT_Lu2z6r0KmxzpFXmg_kA/s1600/Yours+truly+on+balcony+with+Nancy+Carlson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokK7YJbmAmU-xexpBFpvIA7_HzTwvuvFIBvQj3TE5BdPbkNrDkYx1Wwq8J6Zw81CkMfHl-eME2zXNtdiCJYh0r5CzBKTFQkDPkwkTqo55rKCRy2hofT_Lu2z6r0KmxzpFXmg_kA/s400/Yours+truly+on+balcony+with+Nancy+Carlson.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yours truly<br />
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Again I had a new friend, Tena, over for a little lunch with me. The date was August 26. Tena is very active at Valley View, serving as leader of our weekly Bible study. She also attends the Strong Bones exercise classes.<br />
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August 3 I turned another year older. My next door neighbor, Nancy, and down the hall neighbor, Pat, gave me a birthday party, which was really nice.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavKa7neiAAchpY2SyK3Uh6aqdWDgk5UTpAwOEKJ7ZqNsd-tQPeIsHFMVNUTC4xS-DYFu2TlxIs4e3Q0AeRc0KyS1MFbkccmUAMwMJ29GMq1DMwkVHX8Cd3zHrsN2wqEp2uJwt4w/s1600/Donna+2019+birthday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavKa7neiAAchpY2SyK3Uh6aqdWDgk5UTpAwOEKJ7ZqNsd-tQPeIsHFMVNUTC4xS-DYFu2TlxIs4e3Q0AeRc0KyS1MFbkccmUAMwMJ29GMq1DMwkVHX8Cd3zHrsN2wqEp2uJwt4w/s400/Donna+2019+birthday.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pat playfully reversed the order of the candles on the cake she made for me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGN_hNSitys7Yf8A4g2v85NEtEXQiGNvy6HzDOpKBxVaig9bmS3Biuky_HkUu8hCAfUqG8iuRl4ncGgfuRhu4fSGNtnK-MfPM6OfAqbNWAWQ91ZJczo512mWja1y78XQex5ADqtg/s1600/Donna+2019+birthday+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGN_hNSitys7Yf8A4g2v85NEtEXQiGNvy6HzDOpKBxVaig9bmS3Biuky_HkUu8hCAfUqG8iuRl4ncGgfuRhu4fSGNtnK-MfPM6OfAqbNWAWQ91ZJczo512mWja1y78XQex5ADqtg/s400/Donna+2019+birthday+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Nancy, Donna, June, yours truly, Laurey, Pat, Anne, and Sheila</td></tr>
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<b>* * *</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Early August Marshall and Corinne flew to the midwest to spend some time with their grandparents. They spent a few days in Hudson at their paternal grandparents and then were brought to my home to spend five days with me. We had a very good time together, spending part of one day with Peder and Sarah and their kids at a park and then at the National Night Out at my place where they got to climb into a fire truck and attend an ice cream social. I loved having them with me.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7ON_748VPL2G90qm7saTxisY9LeDVHFGqmr7vadGxQ_UTOVo_E18ECytGekodxgA1Y1zItuX6Qe5pEBehdIlodAKPcVm0UxYKoU2TIoBQBi24lE4IKS-Uea1POxplDTL4N4IyA/s1600/Marshall+and+Corinne+in+garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7ON_748VPL2G90qm7saTxisY9LeDVHFGqmr7vadGxQ_UTOVo_E18ECytGekodxgA1Y1zItuX6Qe5pEBehdIlodAKPcVm0UxYKoU2TIoBQBi24lE4IKS-Uea1POxplDTL4N4IyA/s400/Marshall+and+Corinne+in+garden.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marshall and Corinne in garden where I live</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbk72XobzIXfgFZOUgHXFe9V9LjV95-N0ef_N3YOavXLolYIvUzZIqYSzR1ciVjUjmiyBEZ-0SQ6NpotlzlB-7H7IIlCf2E_pHd0nbZtf1qKNDvMe2XZkibLTyGd9L-VMoGvZ8sQ/s1600/Grandkids+on+steps+August+2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbk72XobzIXfgFZOUgHXFe9V9LjV95-N0ef_N3YOavXLolYIvUzZIqYSzR1ciVjUjmiyBEZ-0SQ6NpotlzlB-7H7IIlCf2E_pHd0nbZtf1qKNDvMe2XZkibLTyGd9L-VMoGvZ8sQ/s400/Grandkids+on+steps+August+2019.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: (seated) Corinne, (standing) Marshall, Rellie, Felix and Leo</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vdDKwATsCvGYuctL-KeumZLhsaROLXA9uJRujqavcJmsyIf1sN9OSEgzpddFiaNxHXFVR8k4dQMOwUvgOy0fjBXm2E5w0Z84RNokG_aXMjEIyX_krp5IJS83Jt5u5UdShFwyGw/s1600/Marshall+and+Corinne+by+fire+truck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vdDKwATsCvGYuctL-KeumZLhsaROLXA9uJRujqavcJmsyIf1sN9OSEgzpddFiaNxHXFVR8k4dQMOwUvgOy0fjBXm2E5w0Z84RNokG_aXMjEIyX_krp5IJS83Jt5u5UdShFwyGw/s400/Marshall+and+Corinne+by+fire+truck.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corinne and Marshall outside fire truck on National Night Out</td></tr>
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<b>* * *</b></div>
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Steve Oates has been a good friend of mine for many, many years. He is one of the vice presidents where I used to work and when he traveled I would tend his many cyclamen plants in his office. He has helped me around my home with many projects including putting together furniture I have purchased from IKEA. Steve actually loves putting their pieces together because they are always cut perfectly and have all the hardware necessary. </div>
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This past spring Steve suffered a major heart attack and had to have a valve replaced. It took him some time to recover. Thankfully he is young enough and was in good shape so he is now feeling really good. August 29 I had him and his wife Nancy over for dinner.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VbxL6c4yuv1csJEUaa2f-LnYeK__a0UrPcINuchn7DGUhDUbg1eBCWbh-hPxxMkvTXDh2VfIlIzk682moyHa3_DxDOYtsY_Nsn_7VvKnI46KA8SpwCjplYaQzBaX_cYz3rwQgQ/s1600/Steve+and+Nancy+Oates.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VbxL6c4yuv1csJEUaa2f-LnYeK__a0UrPcINuchn7DGUhDUbg1eBCWbh-hPxxMkvTXDh2VfIlIzk682moyHa3_DxDOYtsY_Nsn_7VvKnI46KA8SpwCjplYaQzBaX_cYz3rwQgQ/s400/Steve+and+Nancy+Oates.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve and Nancy standing next to one of the sunflowers in the gardens where I live<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: medium;">* * *</b></div>
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Wednesday, September 4, I had a little brunch with friends Jo and LaVonne. I used to work with both of them. LaVonne got married a couple of years ago to a widower who has nine kids. Some of them are in their late teens and one is in her early twenties. LaVonne is really happy. It was really nice to be with these gals again. <div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HeWB_dmzxIsO8egdfJz_shiopcVDmaeZ3kr66G0oUMPGxlui-UK5CeisE7R8uF8EFpv-5f_XVKn6mnWPMec03RjFRV0N77uIDKw5Csao49ccSdNBClEOYh8Si_6rqceNjDdrXA/s1600/LaVonne%252C+Jolene+and+I.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HeWB_dmzxIsO8egdfJz_shiopcVDmaeZ3kr66G0oUMPGxlui-UK5CeisE7R8uF8EFpv-5f_XVKn6mnWPMec03RjFRV0N77uIDKw5Csao49ccSdNBClEOYh8Si_6rqceNjDdrXA/s400/LaVonne%252C+Jolene+and+I.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jo, yours truly and LaVonne<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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<b style="font-size: medium;">* * *</b></div>
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Sunday, October 20 I hosted a birthday party for my friend and neighbor, Laurey. Many neighbors came to join in the celebration. My friend, Pat, made a delicious cake.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69hYBZB8pfHVggAaTXByApfMYvGO9iCsj3JbXonowLWb4F59I9iJudD_jkpsWFGrR2qCz0_-y4sp4mYNfoOlvd5yfvn6-cpjlHEoC300wOluUuTYCyUWQQWu7RnkA0iyieFS8Eg/s1600/Laurey+and+I.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69hYBZB8pfHVggAaTXByApfMYvGO9iCsj3JbXonowLWb4F59I9iJudD_jkpsWFGrR2qCz0_-y4sp4mYNfoOlvd5yfvn6-cpjlHEoC300wOluUuTYCyUWQQWu7RnkA0iyieFS8Eg/s400/Laurey+and+I.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laurey and yours truly</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-38KEIMv3_n5TdZSBQlUtAHcN1qMfUIL_T8y6e4Lr8sRURnsRa2hJfU5cpuCWTEa6Ulw9bQCgWQTINiFRivWOX-9rKxiGneaPwSVw1UdSreZy3NVuP6RxFP4nIpuZXncNKGdhQ/s1600/Laurey+Brink+birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1269" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-38KEIMv3_n5TdZSBQlUtAHcN1qMfUIL_T8y6e4Lr8sRURnsRa2hJfU5cpuCWTEa6Ulw9bQCgWQTINiFRivWOX-9rKxiGneaPwSVw1UdSreZy3NVuP6RxFP4nIpuZXncNKGdhQ/s400/Laurey+Brink+birthday.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Betsy, Pat A, and Doris</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZFxBb27Wcdf3v9fLlp-005EQLwW5IPyrSMW1EA1wUzKTT6cLVER9KU-jKGJL39JS87o5EauoorUgO8_SzyDkHpGqDu1V7HsNE0jqsm07EcL6SC2mVdGZlh3PwV01-bgQ9DV43g/s1600/Laurey+Brink+birthday+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZFxBb27Wcdf3v9fLlp-005EQLwW5IPyrSMW1EA1wUzKTT6cLVER9KU-jKGJL39JS87o5EauoorUgO8_SzyDkHpGqDu1V7HsNE0jqsm07EcL6SC2mVdGZlh3PwV01-bgQ9DV43g/s400/Laurey+Brink+birthday+2.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Doris, Pat C and Anne</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlocwgjq0EtzUlft6uglVyVKYLQxC8B9OOhlEQyz5R68AzbyI6hPm2bAIkqpAg2alAjlNNcB2-vetkmRdGj8vLEwLLWft5l4aTKySLus4MBLgzSkrjjHN2-5Yqbb1hKlIIX0-_oA/s1600/Laurey+Brink+birthday+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1337" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlocwgjq0EtzUlft6uglVyVKYLQxC8B9OOhlEQyz5R68AzbyI6hPm2bAIkqpAg2alAjlNNcB2-vetkmRdGj8vLEwLLWft5l4aTKySLus4MBLgzSkrjjHN2-5Yqbb1hKlIIX0-_oA/s400/Laurey+Brink+birthday+5.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Sharon, Marcia and Laurey<br /><br /></td></tr>
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DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-50790353726768627652019-10-06T09:13:00.000-05:002019-10-06T09:13:44.406-05:00Little Cousins Meet for the First TimeYesterday I took my 7 year old grandson, Leo, to Rochester with me to be with my brother, Jerry, and my sister, Janet. Janet's great grandson, Levi, was to come over later in the day to meet and play with Leo.<br />
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Once there, Leo got to take out the hundreds of toys that are Levi's but are stored at Jerry and Janet's. He set up the Matchbox cars in rows and rows as though they were at an outdoor theater. He said they had to pay $1,000 admission, except those who were in the rear on the high platform. They paid $.02 each. I thought that was funny.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j4f_J3V2Hysi4cA1IqwN9Ism6pKObJFxKJd3s1fmcl2vFRsGhvdgAsNtNGL0i1U20q3MH449CdWgn705rcNNEr3k7yV2JYOyGtk2T7hT2jwmYh3MHDKlQwCIQn4KPMqS2Ew10A/s1600/Leo+at+Janet+and+Jerry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j4f_J3V2Hysi4cA1IqwN9Ism6pKObJFxKJd3s1fmcl2vFRsGhvdgAsNtNGL0i1U20q3MH449CdWgn705rcNNEr3k7yV2JYOyGtk2T7hT2jwmYh3MHDKlQwCIQn4KPMqS2Ew10A/s400/Leo+at+Janet+and+Jerry.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leo arranged these car as at an outdoor theater</td></tr>
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After a nice lunch prepared by Janet, Levi and Lynn arrived. It didn't take long for the boys to begin playing together. I thought it was really interesting and amazing, that Levi never had the attitude of selfishness with what are are his toys stored at his Grandma Jan's. He never seemed to be concerned to see his cars out of their container and on the floor. He is a real sweetheart.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMtalZeo1x1S5LEa_Aa3wqPS7f0jwTbKDqJoqgCruVn1xlWLGofRpt6j7OrkkWFqcgzhWZjhZWlDgvbyMlZMnb4ZlZAb-vlo6bjRAJYDnXPafNbnIzguBBx07lHkKxcGA4bj_wQ/s1600/Leo+and+Levi+at+Janet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMtalZeo1x1S5LEa_Aa3wqPS7f0jwTbKDqJoqgCruVn1xlWLGofRpt6j7OrkkWFqcgzhWZjhZWlDgvbyMlZMnb4ZlZAb-vlo6bjRAJYDnXPafNbnIzguBBx07lHkKxcGA4bj_wQ/s400/Leo+and+Levi+at+Janet.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Levi and Leo</td></tr>
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The boys turned their play into a game of hide and seek and played well together. When it was time for Levi to leave, the boys said they wanted to get to play together again. I loved that.<br />
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Except for driving in continual rain both down to Rochester and back, it was a really nice time.DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-84292661532845488002019-04-15T14:00:00.002-05:002019-04-15T14:00:46.820-05:00More EntertainingIn March I hosted two dinner parties. The first one was on the 15th. I had the Linnihans and the Forces over. After eating, the men adjourned to the living room and enjoyed talking about their jobs—they are both in the field of investments. We women stayed at the dining room table and talked about our church choir. Each of us is in the soprano section.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYFHhuh88nWL1w_hBA0vLmsrvB7NZ2HEQ7jI1LE-BgjXVAPaRHkPxszsR-rBJlZfpdtkOJti-ZWVcFNuTYU9L-8hTB04C7ussty7NL0lm6O-u9R8bDNwKDFVb44YmbHySs75nrg/s1600/Linnihans+and+Forces+dinner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYFHhuh88nWL1w_hBA0vLmsrvB7NZ2HEQ7jI1LE-BgjXVAPaRHkPxszsR-rBJlZfpdtkOJti-ZWVcFNuTYU9L-8hTB04C7ussty7NL0lm6O-u9R8bDNwKDFVb44YmbHySs75nrg/s400/Linnihans+and+Forces+dinner.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Dick, John, Barb, and Debra<br /><br /></td></tr>
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A week later I hosted our pastor and his wife, Dale and Marcia, Del and Louise Gorham, and my dear friend, Nancy Carlson. We had a nice time of visiting and getting to know the pastor and his wife better. They all seemed to have a good time. For both parties I had fresh tulips on the table. I had such a good time and forgot to take any pictures of my guests. I did take these photos before they came.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-hatkxluEEVUYRfqA-g6tNMxJFxpT5q3J3YkseFWibTT9HPEL1SglyMRTYKiTFQDi2ZAlUt5lpzEMuEhUlT8s8zp7osQIr8InZpLvtKiy5u20ZL0j7fq-599nxJaKnYG10_C8g/s1600/Dining+room+table+flowers+March+2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-hatkxluEEVUYRfqA-g6tNMxJFxpT5q3J3YkseFWibTT9HPEL1SglyMRTYKiTFQDi2ZAlUt5lpzEMuEhUlT8s8zp7osQIr8InZpLvtKiy5u20ZL0j7fq-599nxJaKnYG10_C8g/s320/Dining+room+table+flowers+March+2019.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlUQ8iCCFsggarknvbkMyHL_uSPc7wFye_IGazFKgK4WPsJwhXih0TujfId-A0qXqZ9WRwyyciRLLmuVDHMcofMp76sSbq0RWHs2_yjyuDBFsIzWuTX2S7rVRN-k_0jlS1w7MDQ/s1600/dining+room+table+March+2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlUQ8iCCFsggarknvbkMyHL_uSPc7wFye_IGazFKgK4WPsJwhXih0TujfId-A0qXqZ9WRwyyciRLLmuVDHMcofMp76sSbq0RWHs2_yjyuDBFsIzWuTX2S7rVRN-k_0jlS1w7MDQ/s400/dining+room+table+March+2019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFkNtONm9scr29eriY6Ng_j6Z0hxzbugGmo0kG0Ao0Yi6Z5MyCWS6zsE3GubkOhPJRO2l0R89j5yYOC52CNaFT9HqskXWm-mmRhx6MWGQcLy4q8YsWwUH-t7ajfiIfKiQuCKK8g/s1600/Ceramic+bunnies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFkNtONm9scr29eriY6Ng_j6Z0hxzbugGmo0kG0Ao0Yi6Z5MyCWS6zsE3GubkOhPJRO2l0R89j5yYOC52CNaFT9HqskXWm-mmRhx6MWGQcLy4q8YsWwUH-t7ajfiIfKiQuCKK8g/s400/Ceramic+bunnies.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made these bunnies for Hans and Peder in 1975</td></tr>
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April 3 some of my former colleagues came over for lunch. They included Natasha, Ellen, Eric, Randy and my former boss, Paul. It was fun for me to show them where I now live, but the time went by too fast, however.<br />
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This morning two dear friends, Joanie Brooks and Jeanne Mikelson—they are sisters— came for a little tea party. Joanie had been here before. Jeanne is having trouble walking, is using a cane. Things are a bit difficult for her now. I really enjoyed catching up with them.DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-3123154023141669732019-03-20T17:42:00.001-05:002019-03-20T17:43:08.103-05:00A Trip to ArizonaEarly in the morning on February 28 I flew to Arizona. This time I flew with Sun Country. The experience was interesting in that the gate agent upgraded me to sit in row one, seat one. I had thought this would be a cushy, first class seat with a meal being served, but I was wrong. Sun Country has downgraded their service and one has to pay a fee for each seat they chose. The only "privilege" for sitting in row one was being offered an alcoholic beverage (I gave mine to the man sitting in the aisle seat) and a Dutch cookie: <i>Stroopwafel</i>.<br />
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I left Minnesota in minus 5 degree weather and landed in Phoenix where it was already 56 degrees—above zero. Later in the day it would warm up to the mid 70's and even low 80's. Walking through Pat and Pudge's golf condo to their back yard, I witnessed my first green grass of the season—the 7th fairway of their golf course.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuUaTYuPowXdkpgC0Qwh7uwb8z472lXyYs6frwGJ2MsQngH34ibVZT2eVQIKkTfNt2ZJlNp7921havwQGGD7NG6bBJeQyrbhOPZLNy4DRzhBkp11PBJJJq-7IFRokiHVunjObhg/s1600/Arizona+2019+fairway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuUaTYuPowXdkpgC0Qwh7uwb8z472lXyYs6frwGJ2MsQngH34ibVZT2eVQIKkTfNt2ZJlNp7921havwQGGD7NG6bBJeQyrbhOPZLNy4DRzhBkp11PBJJJq-7IFRokiHVunjObhg/s400/Arizona+2019+fairway.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7pV73he5xBb5RRdxlEtYdYyj9opsRnNt6GohyqG3J6ULXNG0vJplZlYVaskFn_Za3BvTWUggO5GxIzvKdi1CaalZZ7i_uj-nDx1TMRE6d7aav9nFZauw4GpBaA1yNTO-wecezw/s1600/Arizona+2019+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1442" data-original-width="1160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7pV73he5xBb5RRdxlEtYdYyj9opsRnNt6GohyqG3J6ULXNG0vJplZlYVaskFn_Za3BvTWUggO5GxIzvKdi1CaalZZ7i_uj-nDx1TMRE6d7aav9nFZauw4GpBaA1yNTO-wecezw/s400/Arizona+2019+flowers.jpg" width="321" /></a></div>
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I took the opportunity to walk down past other condos and witnessed blooming flowers. There were geraniums, petunias, hibiscus and others. What a treat for the eyes.<br />
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In the afternoon their association sponsored a classic car show. We had fun riding in Pat and Pudge's golf cart to witness the beautiful, restored cars. This 1972 Super Volkswagen Beetle was my favorite. Steve and I had one in 1972 in this exact color. It was fun for me to see the inside.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8BAAv1gtOQqQySJmtOMFcGR0Hu8mJI7RbxGSp_fGlcKZOX1U9MkxY1_Q-WOphvxQOE8cySxjmVpLrBFgeSPcfoujVhBODeGKUE5UyXqsk0iQsj0ZKN279h1g_8L2B1ng7VBV1Q/s1600/Arizona+2019+car+show.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8BAAv1gtOQqQySJmtOMFcGR0Hu8mJI7RbxGSp_fGlcKZOX1U9MkxY1_Q-WOphvxQOE8cySxjmVpLrBFgeSPcfoujVhBODeGKUE5UyXqsk0iQsj0ZKN279h1g_8L2B1ng7VBV1Q/s400/Arizona+2019+car+show.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Restored 1972 Super Beetle</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyw9ilS3F_HZu-fsoKRSx1rcORqSIMoxqp79hfG6ogpNv7bxB9SF2QU-CrHDkUgEWf_8JNDi0siAiP14lTzJZiVKqYJpvk5az5YpqDCyBEM_z_pAZc8s8jwjTWF3GlqrX12Dt4Q/s1600/Arizona+2019+car+show+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyw9ilS3F_HZu-fsoKRSx1rcORqSIMoxqp79hfG6ogpNv7bxB9SF2QU-CrHDkUgEWf_8JNDi0siAiP14lTzJZiVKqYJpvk5az5YpqDCyBEM_z_pAZc8s8jwjTWF3GlqrX12Dt4Q/s400/Arizona+2019+car+show+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A couple of restored vehicles</td></tr>
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Friday night I went out with some former class mates of mine from Austin. The live in the same association. Dick and I started kindergarten together. I treated them to dinner at a steak house (They treated me the last time I was in Arizona.)<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaaV_-mOFrfgtroXhdovts4AUDuaXnKjbfK3NnP3ewA_pXCGT7vOwddwXTl6lUTHXOWHMUeUJWTXCfsfo3ukAtO7IMSSEX47dkg1bsVo3ML2gvHE1UPMEWIllVae6rmJHFm7Xfg/s1600/Arizona+2019+dinner+with+Dick+and+Kaaren+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1261" data-original-width="1600" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaaV_-mOFrfgtroXhdovts4AUDuaXnKjbfK3NnP3ewA_pXCGT7vOwddwXTl6lUTHXOWHMUeUJWTXCfsfo3ukAtO7IMSSEX47dkg1bsVo3ML2gvHE1UPMEWIllVae6rmJHFm7Xfg/s400/Arizona+2019+dinner+with+Dick+and+Kaaren+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Dick, his wife, Kaaren, and yours truly</td></tr>
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Saturday was the big day for Pat and her dancing troupe, the Sunsationals. Janet and I attended the matinee and also the evening performance. Sadly, I didn't get any pictures of her or the other dancers during the shows. I did get a couple of her fixing the fruit on her hat prior to the dance in which she is playing Carmen Miranda and then a photo of her next to Elvis.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmL1pLgs4RNQkmvYIag7LEw2I1oXu5lSyniOSwrbArMITXRgLmbU2thAoU6WuMD0pYLk8BfY0cCywXEj0uS69OguYxN3AniI-k34VnJrhYkFhe67TBYifibgS-z1UhAOmHkVuc6Q/s1600/Arizona+2019+Pat+in+costume+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmL1pLgs4RNQkmvYIag7LEw2I1oXu5lSyniOSwrbArMITXRgLmbU2thAoU6WuMD0pYLk8BfY0cCywXEj0uS69OguYxN3AniI-k34VnJrhYkFhe67TBYifibgS-z1UhAOmHkVuc6Q/s400/Arizona+2019+Pat+in+costume+2.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFQYf5NdZP5GZZEa4bCR5qEdwhU4yLBtnnIZalRS6bg2dhBPXB2a86NA407jbUqExPFRhpLX91GW6wTQ7vmbJTAuEInMy8QLJKlkecTmz3xel1dQZbrfwuh9YhPLW2MYhad1PBw/s1600/Arizona+2019+Pat+and+Elvis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFQYf5NdZP5GZZEa4bCR5qEdwhU4yLBtnnIZalRS6bg2dhBPXB2a86NA407jbUqExPFRhpLX91GW6wTQ7vmbJTAuEInMy8QLJKlkecTmz3xel1dQZbrfwuh9YhPLW2MYhad1PBw/s400/Arizona+2019+Pat+and+Elvis.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Our friend, Sonja, was planning on going to the shows with us, but wasn't feeling well. She complained of having a tummy ache. We also heard that a couple of our other friends—friends from our childhood who either live in Arizona or winter there—were dealing with shingles and prepping for prostrate cancer surgery on Monday. Therefore our planned meeting to attend church on Sunday and then to be followed by brunch, got canceled. They felt bad about it, but it was definitely out of their control. Sunday night we got a message from Sonja letting us know she could not take us to Sedona on Monday because she was on the way to the hospital to have her appendix removed. Wow! Thankfully this whole thing happened before we had gone to Sedona. What if we had driven up there and she had gotten really sick Where would we have taken her? God took care of this for us. Monday we went to the hospital to see her.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZmIS2kjsgJAAA3WS0C8XQoWGr5rSqK3QNw071xE4q0Uuay145tAcDUXa-OBd10kQ8ErYb97M4io6aWgnJPPq-ZmNhPTUFnwBMKVN0hWRd-l1jJUg6QcJEEGfRLIZUwfcY_1gTQ/s1600/Arizona+2019+Sonja+in+hospital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZmIS2kjsgJAAA3WS0C8XQoWGr5rSqK3QNw071xE4q0Uuay145tAcDUXa-OBd10kQ8ErYb97M4io6aWgnJPPq-ZmNhPTUFnwBMKVN0hWRd-l1jJUg6QcJEEGfRLIZUwfcY_1gTQ/s640/Arizona+2019+Sonja+in+hospital.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">In bed: Sonja; L to R: yours truly, Pat, Janet, Esther</td></tr>
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While there we went to the grocery store a couple of times. Walking down one of the aisles I noticed unusual glass pop bottles. They had hobnails, and one of the flavors was in a cobalt blue bottle. I decided to buy one of the blue ones and give it a try. I also bought a bottle of California Raspberry <i>Coca-Cola</i> and Georgia Peach <i>Coca-Cola</i>.</div>
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The blue bottle was very pretty, and I considered keeping the empty to use as a vase, but then changed my mind and recycled it. The flavor was Guarana, which I found rather tasteless. Google says this about itl: <b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Guarana</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. ... As a dietary supplement or herb, </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">guarana</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> seed is an effective stimulant: it contains about twice the concentration of caffeine found in coffee seeds (about 2–4.5% caffeine in </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">guarana </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">seeds, compared to 1–2% for coffee seeds). The additive has gained notoriety for being used in energy drinks. </span>The Georgia Peach <i>Coca-Cola</i> to me tasted like regular <i>Coca-Cola</i>, but the California Raspberry ticked all the boxes for me. [Today I bought a four pack in my local grocery store.]</div>
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Sunday was a nice day for a drive. Pudge drove us out to the desert to see if we could find any wild horses. We had no luck seeing any, but loved the drive where we saw many interesting sights, including the Mexican poppies.</div>
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Sunday night Pat and I went over to the community center and played many rounds of Bingo. Neither one of us won anything, but I thought it was a lot of fun. We met some nice ladies, too.</div>
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We enjoyed beautiful weather, gorgeous sunsets, and joyous times sitting around the table eating and visiting. The time went by so fast, and soon it was time to go home. This next photo is what welcomed me home.</div>
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DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-43984170786432847832019-01-27T14:23:00.001-06:002019-02-03T09:39:57.308-06:00DavidSteve's brother, David, had been dealing with cancer for a couple of years. Prior to that he had heart issues and diabetes, plus he was overweight. The day it was discovered Steve had died (January 12, 2018), David had to be air-lifted to Rochester due to a huge infection in his body and he remained in Intensive Care for about five days and then spent an additional four days in St. Marys Hospital. Thus, he couldn't attend Steve's memorial service. This past summer he wasn't doing well and was told he had about three to five years to live. December 4th, Heidi and I drove down to Austin to have a meal with David and Donna. He looked frail, but was able to eat at the table with us. By this past Christmas his diagnosis was shortened to three to five months. His kids and their kids came for Christmas and it was a great celebration.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLz1L7AfNZ4nnI0qId_KOcxwmKVWOwO9llt_wIIUax3r_HqvWb4VdWug4cnxsgaXygwUwP76db5-U3ym4GENSYUj8nUuWHkulFSAx6xJLnBZxXxW9U2_gVTuN_6-V0ExOlu7ky7g/s1600/David+DeFor+Christmas+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="960" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLz1L7AfNZ4nnI0qId_KOcxwmKVWOwO9llt_wIIUax3r_HqvWb4VdWug4cnxsgaXygwUwP76db5-U3ym4GENSYUj8nUuWHkulFSAx6xJLnBZxXxW9U2_gVTuN_6-V0ExOlu7ky7g/s400/David+DeFor+Christmas+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David's family Christmas 2018</td></tr>
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January 9th of this year, Peder and I drove down to Austin to be with David. I took a prayer shawl with me to give to him, knitted by someone in my church's knitting club. David looked very week and had oxygen going into his nose. Initially he had a bit of trouble conversing with us, but then he seemed to wake up and was sharp, very sharp. I wrapped the shawl around his shoulders and he said it felt nice, comforting. He and I reminisced about our second grade teacher who taught us to knit. David did a very good imitation of her with her blinking eye condition. We had a good time.<br />
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The following day a hospice nurse came and a hospital bed was delivered to their house. It was determined David could rest and breathe better with the bed. The nurse warned Donna that David would be on a steady decline and she gave him about two months. David lived six more days—dying one year and four days after Steve died. All of his kids were with him and they had a beautiful communion service with him the day before he passed.<br />
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Hans and Heidi flew home to attend his funeral which was this past Monday, January 21. The service was very nice. I was impressed with the pastor who no doubt had had a very good relationship with David. In my opinion, the best thing that happens when a death occurs is the reunion of family and friends at the memorial service. It was wonderful seeing David and Steve's sister, Cece, and her sons Michael and Ben. Since they live in California, we just don't get to see them often. Also, Andrea's husband, Troy, managed to detour to Minnesota when he was supposed to be in India for the filming of a special NBA documentary. Her son, Jaxon, and his wife, Hannah, and her daughter, Morgan, also came from long distances. I hadn't seen them in a very long time. A nice lunch was served after the service followed by family photos. Here are some of them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-GBypado79KmAh6dHfJYDFk9HYHRyON0JSweN5r4eLL7B7CeZuL7fS5WDojFbK4yrbjLfmCEfUfrFdI8AD19jVMMonhFuvgxrQDAHIE0rEPx08Z27r1WZyXa8TAaON0JQ7hM7w/s1600/Davids+funeral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-GBypado79KmAh6dHfJYDFk9HYHRyON0JSweN5r4eLL7B7CeZuL7fS5WDojFbK4yrbjLfmCEfUfrFdI8AD19jVMMonhFuvgxrQDAHIE0rEPx08Z27r1WZyXa8TAaON0JQ7hM7w/s640/Davids+funeral.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our family</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2C93Y_Ig3XU-FBR2tj9pBso-leS2qYJ6TEvEjR9w87DO7FZNick7qpRSF-J3UwiqEDTVZJtnvdwyVSmKOqG-BsP6kWs4OjWvmwfQsek5OOe1pMedUMtRvl6AHf-FgD-CHzdL9Ig/s1600/Davids+funeral+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2C93Y_Ig3XU-FBR2tj9pBso-leS2qYJ6TEvEjR9w87DO7FZNick7qpRSF-J3UwiqEDTVZJtnvdwyVSmKOqG-BsP6kWs4OjWvmwfQsek5OOe1pMedUMtRvl6AHf-FgD-CHzdL9Ig/s400/Davids+funeral+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the family</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAYGrJ5gMramCmUZYEiOXC_n1s-iUMHJGqxOnLr5zsq7PaiQfyyEoNukqHRuNcJFoRtf-j84mufDpwhqPODi_wqmizbom11nz46AB3B8zTOwcKpXai8-AiDAXUZsa6C2Mor2S-g/s1600/Davids+funeral+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAYGrJ5gMramCmUZYEiOXC_n1s-iUMHJGqxOnLr5zsq7PaiQfyyEoNukqHRuNcJFoRtf-j84mufDpwhqPODi_wqmizbom11nz46AB3B8zTOwcKpXai8-AiDAXUZsa6C2Mor2S-g/s400/Davids+funeral+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim, Donna, Andrea, Amy</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBc4K4HmHgdLoUGxL0EKibOGR_tdUUe-ptShxSYaGKAN4j-5wpDz_FBcqIRRTuDQ8QY35wL85BteLZUttmGt9f_NYfbFkmR95uZ-bgKPWWo9szYOPKWmdQ5jsbu2G5ZKUbdt4s5w/s1600/Davids+funeral+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBc4K4HmHgdLoUGxL0EKibOGR_tdUUe-ptShxSYaGKAN4j-5wpDz_FBcqIRRTuDQ8QY35wL85BteLZUttmGt9f_NYfbFkmR95uZ-bgKPWWo9szYOPKWmdQ5jsbu2G5ZKUbdt4s5w/s400/Davids+funeral+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amy's family</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgSagIg4Tr3QBJWGHkfFXShr35cJTEdoUJKUhGe0XysxomG8j98DqBKaQdVDRKcNAGZ1RA04CwVnlbjCC0C-gKthYnjTmQG_kxjSnZpWuMutluKhoMlfniMFaC2flvEy5yfORKw/s1600/Davids+funeral+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgSagIg4Tr3QBJWGHkfFXShr35cJTEdoUJKUhGe0XysxomG8j98DqBKaQdVDRKcNAGZ1RA04CwVnlbjCC0C-gKthYnjTmQG_kxjSnZpWuMutluKhoMlfniMFaC2flvEy5yfORKw/s400/Davids+funeral+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea's family</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFK5Cr-4mPgZB1tMtfWbC1cP6ic_cTviCZt7owJhEjokm-bNCjav9t5w3Rj0_4xL2LsV015arX_SkgVF_BLj7hy8zKrNWcxUIcHhuVlwibEqz-QhU6b13jivn4-6gt92rAVHALQ/s1600/Davids+funeral+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFK5Cr-4mPgZB1tMtfWbC1cP6ic_cTviCZt7owJhEjokm-bNCjav9t5w3Rj0_4xL2LsV015arX_SkgVF_BLj7hy8zKrNWcxUIcHhuVlwibEqz-QhU6b13jivn4-6gt92rAVHALQ/s400/Davids+funeral+14.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim's family</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbGOc7gp1vXBFPQzd0DLUHjSd1RDINMpWGuKYa6zvVZnyvqRlK8VDf2f17jH20fYFhhZW1cNhJzclHpWQIYvdeXSdg4uL6jTkpjXQLcl6mxnYV0tTnqaI5eSVBCSkAi0e3hh1-g/s1600/Cece+and+sons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbGOc7gp1vXBFPQzd0DLUHjSd1RDINMpWGuKYa6zvVZnyvqRlK8VDf2f17jH20fYFhhZW1cNhJzclHpWQIYvdeXSdg4uL6jTkpjXQLcl6mxnYV0tTnqaI5eSVBCSkAi0e3hh1-g/s400/Cece+and+sons.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben, Cece, Michael</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_p0l5AEnGbdC7FSRCliQi3R547W9JVurQaqtRl0mwEF_jjjPrZGBdaoGvjihdQ_FCQtwc99iCWRC8Cgabf9WXV8RGEoz4VIkhfd_dpq68Ple5gQ_N-PBT5rAJLNvp3GOzZpPCag/s1600/Davids+funeral+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_p0l5AEnGbdC7FSRCliQi3R547W9JVurQaqtRl0mwEF_jjjPrZGBdaoGvjihdQ_FCQtwc99iCWRC8Cgabf9WXV8RGEoz4VIkhfd_dpq68Ple5gQ_N-PBT5rAJLNvp3GOzZpPCag/s400/Davids+funeral+11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yours truly; my sister-in-law, Donna; my sister-in-law, Cece</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9uxipvBUOmC5yHGVeg3M0olygzggNlSiZj8P_a3t2BaymEkKMX4VaH_EOuTnZX7-1r1i5Zp1TgEXe_oNHH-6vDrUAu2UM2veejrTtW9vZbdF8zfpIifiNffgq9qwnyCw8iisEw/s1600/My+kids+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9uxipvBUOmC5yHGVeg3M0olygzggNlSiZj8P_a3t2BaymEkKMX4VaH_EOuTnZX7-1r1i5Zp1TgEXe_oNHH-6vDrUAu2UM2veejrTtW9vZbdF8zfpIifiNffgq9qwnyCw8iisEw/s400/My+kids+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hans, Heidi, Peder</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9G6LSClv17wqFXC_wAirSIT-l0OpIEkPjQa49vkW4pj23drWEEhqF4T9Ng1-1qKNedJ9aBS2zf5cHMBXQUXQumIhsNo8X8lpxBQD63t5hJs6YLvvfmdIqWeCcJC-wCroOEQgUGQ/s1600/My+kids+and+me+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1337" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9G6LSClv17wqFXC_wAirSIT-l0OpIEkPjQa49vkW4pj23drWEEhqF4T9Ng1-1qKNedJ9aBS2zf5cHMBXQUXQumIhsNo8X8lpxBQD63t5hJs6YLvvfmdIqWeCcJC-wCroOEQgUGQ/s400/My+kids+and+me+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heidi, Hans, yours truly, Peder</td></tr>
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<br />DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-78967076671074194702019-01-07T19:43:00.000-06:002019-01-07T19:43:31.840-06:00Another Party!Friday night I hosted my fifth dinner party in my new home. This party was for my former neighborhood "pool" ladies. Sadly, three of the neighbors couldn't make it. They all really liked my new place—couldn't get over how large it is. It was a lot of fun having them here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNh6BolGUc_ukjieAmyz17P3Oaf0-Ci9YabkGYSYj9vaoZIPlZCRjMIN-TLBaodxxSw3_kUzdFBXryRNLekubietuiVkes42ame1-2yrHALXcOs9Zqx0hQoMWE5aht1sIjhbjBg/s1600/Appetizers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNh6BolGUc_ukjieAmyz17P3Oaf0-Ci9YabkGYSYj9vaoZIPlZCRjMIN-TLBaodxxSw3_kUzdFBXryRNLekubietuiVkes42ame1-2yrHALXcOs9Zqx0hQoMWE5aht1sIjhbjBg/s400/Appetizers.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMB0SzI8yXknKQ7CEd8V6r4DiiPcEWFUoySHmc65Ma9HDDMNrf0Rth86FllLVRKSKz8tYNbkNVMiRFibGlRZ47Kv1qnKLg9AQ4bbyWyJGHx-4MoEqkN3O2AUHvPlZ6pAiGHICh5g/s1600/Devonwood+ladies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMB0SzI8yXknKQ7CEd8V6r4DiiPcEWFUoySHmc65Ma9HDDMNrf0Rth86FllLVRKSKz8tYNbkNVMiRFibGlRZ47Kv1qnKLg9AQ4bbyWyJGHx-4MoEqkN3O2AUHvPlZ6pAiGHICh5g/s400/Devonwood+ladies.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Patti, Colleen Mc, Mary Jo, and Gwen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxNmLoYNFjkr76svGHpL9XXq3NJNCzNYYGUoYM2tI3XsQ0XugNNShTbDloHhFNv6r2ICG-mo3maJmGrju9GPEEuPTWblVSFXcsuCJEjHOGEvodBZNxC-6ITrkWn8bT8Kozj9w6Q/s1600/Devonwood+ladies+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxNmLoYNFjkr76svGHpL9XXq3NJNCzNYYGUoYM2tI3XsQ0XugNNShTbDloHhFNv6r2ICG-mo3maJmGrju9GPEEuPTWblVSFXcsuCJEjHOGEvodBZNxC-6ITrkWn8bT8Kozj9w6Q/s400/Devonwood+ladies+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Rita, Susie, and Sheryl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXo_RYxVVVL6k2vTM9LHJwTHw23VnC2Gv3rx7PKzqX1KI1VMQZi9hJYqmnqnSWF8pLd5aqoXRya1uuZK0_j8EeN8JyO-SX2xuqQJMZquCVvrgBA1yRRL4uAqg2AHwmN4vraVQSQ/s1600/Devonwood+ladies+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXo_RYxVVVL6k2vTM9LHJwTHw23VnC2Gv3rx7PKzqX1KI1VMQZi9hJYqmnqnSWF8pLd5aqoXRya1uuZK0_j8EeN8JyO-SX2xuqQJMZquCVvrgBA1yRRL4uAqg2AHwmN4vraVQSQ/s400/Devonwood+ladies+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yours truly and Colleen M</td></tr>
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I kept the menu simple: appetizers: spinach dip and crackers, candied mixed nuts, sparkling juice; dinner: salad, sloppy Joe's, scalloped potatoes, relishes, pickles, and cherry devil's food cake with chocolate chip ice cream for dessert. After dinner, we moved to the living room where I opened the hostess gifts they brought. [I do not want people to bring me anything. I spent weeks getting rid of things and now I have everything under control.] We talked and talked and laughed and laughed. The evening went past so quickly.<br />
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I am blessed to have so many friends. It's a rich feeling.DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-60269451391671057572019-01-02T13:43:00.002-06:002019-01-02T13:43:28.640-06:00100th Birthday of My MotherHad she lived, my mother would have turned 100 years old today. I don't know anything about her birth except that her parents were farmers. I believe she was born near Lake Crystal, Minnesota, but I'm not entirely sure about that. I like this photo taken of her and me.<br />
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<br />DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-17823050252971916042018-12-30T13:49:00.001-06:002018-12-30T13:49:39.802-06:00More Entertaining!It has been so nice to entertain in my new home. With a bigger kitchen and more dining room space, I have been enjoying having people over.<br />
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On Friday, December 21, I had Peder and his family over for supper. They were so surprised to see how big my apartment is. When they were here the first time, I had only moved in the day before and there were boxes, boxes and more boxes stacked in the kitchen, living room and my bedroom. This time everything had been put away. Sadly, I forgot to take any pictures that night.<br />
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On Sunday, December 23, my brother and sister drove up from Rochester and my cousins Pat and Pudge (back from Arizona for 10 days) drove over from Willernie to have dinner with me. It was wonderful to catch up with everyone and Pat, Pudge and Jerry wanted a tour of my building. I think they really liked it. Pat, bless her heart, managed to make us a plum pudding, so the tradition continues. The recipe for the pudding is from our grandmother, and is well over 70 years old. Our kids aren't fond of it, but our generation sure is. While we we eating dinner, the pudding was being steamed (reheated) on the stove. The sauce was also being warmed up. It is so delicious!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Janet, yours truly, Pat, Jerry</td></tr>
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This past Friday night I hosted another dinner with friends I know from my church—specifically the choir. Each of the three women helped me with unpacking at my new home and I appreciated their help so much.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: yours truly, Laurey, Max</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Judy, Pat, Ed</td></tr>
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Another dinner is coming up this next Friday night. I'm looking forward to that one, too.DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-1114058003445397532018-12-22T10:16:00.000-06:002019-02-03T09:33:49.702-06:00My First CompanyThis past Wednesday I had my first company—ladies who sit next to or behind me in choir. It was really fun getting my place ready and for the first time, having extra space for appetizers.<br />
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Once everyone arrived, I gave them a tour of my home. Two of them had been here before, but it was while there were stacks of unpacked boxes and nothing yet on the walls . They loved the transformation. Also, none of my Christmas decorations were up, so this time things looked festive.<br />
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We had a nice visit and the ladies raved about my casserole (hotdish) and asked for the recipe. It was my hot chicken salad. I served it with a chopped kale/broccoli salad and raspberry/cranberry jello, plus banana bread. For dessert I served peppermint ice cream. Those present are (L to R): Bonnie, Debra, Joanne, and Nancy. Unfortunately Anne couldn't make it due to illness.<br />
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The following day my friends Jolene and Mark came over and baked Russian Tea Cake cookies with me. Actually, they did nearly all the work. I merely showed them where things were. Both of them love to bake and they thought my spacious kitchen was really nice. I agree.<br />
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<br />DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-25518989159585837712018-12-12T12:43:00.000-06:002018-12-12T12:43:08.512-06:00Getting SettledOctober and November days were filled with preparing to sell my home, showing it, and after five days on the market, marking it "sold," with a closing date of November 16. Next came the huge job of packing everything up and getting rid of things I no longer needed or wanted. I donated a love seat, two chairs, two ottomans, a night stand and a cedar chest to Bridging, a local charity who helps immigrants. I made trip after trip to another charity with my car trunk full of "stuff." How did I accumulate so much of it? While I was packing, Nels took it all in stride—sleeping most of the time.<br />
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November 10 I closed on my new apartment at Valley View Cooperative and the next day the moving van came to move my things. It took them an hour and a half to load everything and over two hours to unload. For a few weeks the living room was full of boxes and tubs. There were some in the kitchen, too. Steve Oates, a VP at Bethany House, came to my home and put together a new tv table and book shelves for my library. He returned and installed a hub on my new tv so that I could use my DVD player and VCR. I have quite a large movie library, and he hung pictures, plates and shelves.<br />
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And now things are settled. I have some things in my storage unit that will remain there for a time. I am a bit weary of moving and want to enjoy the Christmas season.<br />
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<br />DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-48437882878425301592018-10-23T09:05:00.000-05:002018-10-23T09:05:30.760-05:00A Belated Birthday Gift for AureliaLife was busy in August around the time of Aurelia's birthday so my celebrating with her got delayed until a couple of weeks ago. I had asked her what she would like to do for her special day and she requested going to a ceramic studio like I had done with Annika this past summer.<br />
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We got to the location before they opened so we stopped in at a Panera and had a little breakfast. After that we drove a little ways to the studio. We were the first customers there, so that allowed Rellie to take her time to look around to see what she would like to make. The pieces at the studio have already had the seams removed (at the greenware state) and been fired once. So that means the pieces are now bisque and less fragile—ready for glazing. In the past I had a ceramic studio of my own, with two kilns and about 30 students a week. My students first worked on the greenware, often using underglazes for such pieces as figurines. Then they were fired to about 2300 degrees. The next step would be to glaze the piece, followed by another firing. If gold or platinum was to be added, that would require a third firing.<br />
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Rellie chose a mug that was either a whale or the bottom half of a mermaid.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWla9g7mh5R8keOzxdBusvPXFDi6hjYskBKd0Fe7-4q7-ABgQnmdwGD9XNfShyphenhyphenf-LCMdgsgcxw707Ayt-5Xvm2h4vvUZ0PORcLyg7luPzj6ubpioVfOLJl73fvzKonReRzM322yw/s1600/Aurelia+at+ceramic+studio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWla9g7mh5R8keOzxdBusvPXFDi6hjYskBKd0Fe7-4q7-ABgQnmdwGD9XNfShyphenhyphenf-LCMdgsgcxw707Ayt-5Xvm2h4vvUZ0PORcLyg7luPzj6ubpioVfOLJl73fvzKonReRzM322yw/s400/Aurelia+at+ceramic+studio.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rellie applying the aqua glaze interior. Once she had one coat brushed on, I set my timer for five minutes to allow it to dry. Then a second and third coat were applied, letting each coat dry for five minutes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtLagL618dsLvONzBeMppPwapvS-vkJ2sy_DAO7hp8coyXkye7CTFnnA_wvs9JlwEy1K8BZOej4zNhZ_Wn_YWV-gCJrNQbMp3pnfknMld7MhjcCcWnb9oXaYYZt4KUkLz96JoCA/s1600/Aurelia+at+ceramic+studio+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtLagL618dsLvONzBeMppPwapvS-vkJ2sy_DAO7hp8coyXkye7CTFnnA_wvs9JlwEy1K8BZOej4zNhZ_Wn_YWV-gCJrNQbMp3pnfknMld7MhjcCcWnb9oXaYYZt4KUkLz96JoCA/s400/Aurelia+at+ceramic+studio+3.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rellie chose a bright yellow for the exterior. She followed the same procedure as with the interior.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the scroll work she chose to embellish the fins on the tail. It was applied with a bottle that has a pointed nozzle.</td></tr>
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<br />With the glazes applied to the mug, it was ready for firing. The studio has two large kilns and has the customer return in a week to pick up the finished piece. My brother and I drove there Saturday to get the mug and delivered it to Rellie. She loved it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWj1SVE5uEK9Bny5zIz48WRJFpZMJOF-xehftaxJVC2jp-jPZVdi9VVcdh6RwrDPWGmLI_3K9xGEbLEDPEtEVengpF9xJyr9WW3vAZdo-cXDdb2oLOP5js7QhWaUayeCO5mTBN6g/s1600/Aurelia+with+finished+mug.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWj1SVE5uEK9Bny5zIz48WRJFpZMJOF-xehftaxJVC2jp-jPZVdi9VVcdh6RwrDPWGmLI_3K9xGEbLEDPEtEVengpF9xJyr9WW3vAZdo-cXDdb2oLOP5js7QhWaUayeCO5mTBN6g/s640/Aurelia+with+finished+mug.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy belated birthday, Rellie!</td></tr>
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<br />DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-87065594402049893702018-10-05T09:22:00.000-05:002018-10-05T09:22:42.932-05:00I sold my home!This past weekend was one I'm not keen to repeat. A week ago today my home was listed on Zillow and in the south metro realty association. An open house was set for Sunday afternoon. By noon Friday a showing was already requested, followed by two on Saturday. Then on Saturday two more showings were requested for Sunday—one overlapping the open house. For each of these days I had to make my home look the best I could, having it appear as though I didn't live there. Before leaving the house, I was to turn on every light in the place.<br />
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Sunday morning I got up very early to vacuum, make up my bed with the decorative pillows, hide a few kitchen things here and there, and went out to door for church by 7:15. After church I checked my phone and discovered there were two more requests for showings on Sunday! This meant I couldn't return until after 3 pm. Oh, my. So I went to a favorite restaurant for a leisurely brunch and then to a furniture store where I placed my order for new living room furniture.<br />
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I came home after 3 pm and slumped into my living room chair. I placed a call to my brother and sister and while I was talking to them, a request came in for a second showing at 5:30. So once again I had to leave for another hour. Lucky Nels got to stay home during all of these showings. I wish he could have told me what went on while I was away.<br />
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Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday brought two more showings each . My stress level was high and my energy level was low. Then Tuesday afternoon I got a message from my realtor letting me know there was an offer for full price. He called me shortly thereafter and we agreed to some terms. He came over in the evening and I signed a document stating I wouldn't have any more showings. The Wednesday showings were canceled and I'm relieved. God is good. He brought the right people to purchase my home in five days. Whew!DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-20416930871491248002018-10-05T08:57:00.001-05:002018-10-05T08:57:15.327-05:00Marshall and Corinne Were Here!Right after Anni left to go home, Marshall and Corinne came to my home. We had a lot of fun together, going over to my pool every day, plus other things. Here are some of the photos of this time together.<br />
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The kids loved sitting out in the porch in the evening. Things were quiet then and we were able to chat for a bit.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marshall took a turn at playing the piano. I taught him to play "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corinne did a great job of coloring this restaurant placemat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corinne playing with my dolls. I thought it was fun she remembered me having them.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marshall did a great job of steering our cart at the grocery store. Isn't this a cutie behind the wheel?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another visit on the porch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leo and Corinne playing in the sand at Shoots and Ladders playground</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R at McDonald's: Felix, Leo, Rellie, Corinne, and Marshall</td></tr>
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Near the end of the visit, Nels had warmed up to the kids. Marshall asked if he could try holding him for a bit. I put a towel on Marshall's lap in the event Nels would want to bolt and thus, scratch him. But to our surprise, Nels really enjoyed Marshall holding him and he sat there for a long time.<br />
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<br />DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-32507923067817541962018-09-17T20:05:00.003-05:002018-10-05T20:06:34.695-05:00I'm Moving!Last Friday I got the call I have been awaiting: "We have a unit for you to look at in Valley View." I have been on the waiting list two and a half years. Today I went to look at it and I think I'm going to take it. Here are photos of the rooms.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0w3V1IU27_wovgfiRI-7fE-FnybWDvLLNGjfpBHirkUTc5DgAwVDYv0w5QjfkAC0bnFoAXaOhyphenhyphenbTf0muBVvY3W_cXxY_6U1uL-hihJ4mIQDltj02F3L7fq6LHFekMa1malfZVA/s1600/Valley+View+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0w3V1IU27_wovgfiRI-7fE-FnybWDvLLNGjfpBHirkUTc5DgAwVDYv0w5QjfkAC0bnFoAXaOhyphenhyphenbTf0muBVvY3W_cXxY_6U1uL-hihJ4mIQDltj02F3L7fq6LHFekMa1malfZVA/s400/Valley+View+1.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Master Bedroom Closet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JOlj7gFlJJZOnFYY99aoluI4f7Igd5f4MXTRJcigGjPNibIkEr4p0tisIzqLMRduJwm9DzPpd-xgW8uVs45ibDqBLyDLNFYZ5W1Oa8Q9tQAPxENLlCnnV16O5eJGlz4D6qi2Wg/s1600/Valley+View+1a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JOlj7gFlJJZOnFYY99aoluI4f7Igd5f4MXTRJcigGjPNibIkEr4p0tisIzqLMRduJwm9DzPpd-xgW8uVs45ibDqBLyDLNFYZ5W1Oa8Q9tQAPxENLlCnnV16O5eJGlz4D6qi2Wg/s400/Valley+View+1a.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back corner of the Master Bedroom Closet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xtDtc4eWChHROmiP-UXGs6ECi0bUhKhYYC8tspGEvsL-AZwuiZ_Lremv7oFWRNSwPO5CY2ejEau7E382TUqDppGTIA8lXtcMvqZ7VszHjxDI503YJGhRlE9zyC7n9bPQqryh4Q/s1600/Valley+View+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xtDtc4eWChHROmiP-UXGs6ECi0bUhKhYYC8tspGEvsL-AZwuiZ_Lremv7oFWRNSwPO5CY2ejEau7E382TUqDppGTIA8lXtcMvqZ7VszHjxDI503YJGhRlE9zyC7n9bPQqryh4Q/s400/Valley+View+2.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Master Bedroom bathroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8j1s0ScIhMm2FKSXvOzmj5eC_5fIWshGFxxzRlXOhTC3dAfE3_FqYxZ3nEqkG3cPS_e3C_xbJnZpCRAMzD5zB9FstQBOQsHZD_7nqE6NlZok9diP4GH0Jyq6rO8vflr-qXJejkw/s1600/Valley+View+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8j1s0ScIhMm2FKSXvOzmj5eC_5fIWshGFxxzRlXOhTC3dAfE3_FqYxZ3nEqkG3cPS_e3C_xbJnZpCRAMzD5zB9FstQBOQsHZD_7nqE6NlZok9diP4GH0Jyq6rO8vflr-qXJejkw/s400/Valley+View+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside Master Bedroom shower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJnEPIVVXdCetosFSOsJJic_Qxwr5JxFw8CIIOkntXwmvg3NNOF6yLrec5_DVuDOQPgSIuQYNFdGPfTh_R0s8GMj2z6vZQapFuEq9ru-VeTWTqniBWtXI5ytokeM_WYXz7PNtIg/s1600/Valley+View+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJnEPIVVXdCetosFSOsJJic_Qxwr5JxFw8CIIOkntXwmvg3NNOF6yLrec5_DVuDOQPgSIuQYNFdGPfTh_R0s8GMj2z6vZQapFuEq9ru-VeTWTqniBWtXI5ytokeM_WYXz7PNtIg/s400/Valley+View+4.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linen closet in Master Bedroom Bathroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjE-8F0vQV2CL9t5VMNjLvgCC-yySaw8V9kog2Jl2tTtn8pI3MI5BvMV0qTTPMpYvX8q379E8nG7YHMOP6ddYZYljzygRTZzHCK26w1UEC1UhLP8s0V_gAqTDMAEH6RxLCmKh2Jg/s1600/Valley+View+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjE-8F0vQV2CL9t5VMNjLvgCC-yySaw8V9kog2Jl2tTtn8pI3MI5BvMV0qTTPMpYvX8q379E8nG7YHMOP6ddYZYljzygRTZzHCK26w1UEC1UhLP8s0V_gAqTDMAEH6RxLCmKh2Jg/s400/Valley+View+6.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Master Bedroom Vanity</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cFaRX16L8ofRHPEpq38U10MB1IdNDf6w0VHQz3L80vlKWVSpfNt-uJagrjRItGGoBdFQTFPpF6JM3fA115sffXJwoxKXcA4WYyK9LiJ6LNi68HYH-fBFd-y679t0YAQYMWwZJg/s1600/Valley+View+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cFaRX16L8ofRHPEpq38U10MB1IdNDf6w0VHQz3L80vlKWVSpfNt-uJagrjRItGGoBdFQTFPpF6JM3fA115sffXJwoxKXcA4WYyK9LiJ6LNi68HYH-fBFd-y679t0YAQYMWwZJg/s400/Valley+View+7.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Master Bedroom Vanity</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88sgU1KiwiJPc_DKFGJB2jLJsWhDA8pOkhautZskjo5mhmaA82FCma2jxDUl-JYbEeqC6o6IyPyPgOxOwFSM8NjcAFHGAmOY6FSpPESB4fvbP1sZSYOZS5xg3CDBme-FTBcOlwA/s1600/Valley+View+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88sgU1KiwiJPc_DKFGJB2jLJsWhDA8pOkhautZskjo5mhmaA82FCma2jxDUl-JYbEeqC6o6IyPyPgOxOwFSM8NjcAFHGAmOY6FSpPESB4fvbP1sZSYOZS5xg3CDBme-FTBcOlwA/s400/Valley+View+8.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large closet inside guest bathroom (perfect spot for Nels' litter box)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytqhxn9YdzsDs0_pdzxXV91lFAaVJyhXG-Vqtfa5_wxaz-P4Bv0nUX7yB9c2Dd79NMzpdaYGya3GYl2TGe19uLtmHRIMPyECzRxARsXrW_T2g8OxcdYcPsRQEV7cXxy8xmdGyQw/s1600/Valley+View+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytqhxn9YdzsDs0_pdzxXV91lFAaVJyhXG-Vqtfa5_wxaz-P4Bv0nUX7yB9c2Dd79NMzpdaYGya3GYl2TGe19uLtmHRIMPyECzRxARsXrW_T2g8OxcdYcPsRQEV7cXxy8xmdGyQw/s400/Valley+View+9.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hallway to Master Bedroom and Guest Bathroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjThHC8CAYH4VFO69QKfjJ9zjWLTYG8J9ku1ZuEIHJi2ICf-QgiYc6th1bW49QfMqYmzKurEaU8TkMj4vR1CRyt7eYAFmtQ2Ib7Vc_gUxKAJqWqMuXiUqymphxr-dWh-aJ08mYg/s1600/Valley+View+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjThHC8CAYH4VFO69QKfjJ9zjWLTYG8J9ku1ZuEIHJi2ICf-QgiYc6th1bW49QfMqYmzKurEaU8TkMj4vR1CRyt7eYAFmtQ2Ib7Vc_gUxKAJqWqMuXiUqymphxr-dWh-aJ08mYg/s400/Valley+View+10.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French doors to the Den</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_RTCLSVcjfexXS-FOvVihyphenhyphen2FQGacFq-KIOb0vjyeFGkJoR4hNSeImfzm1-UOI16RGkwV40TISn92zOUaursGv-xJORI1fDTUCH1XuOGnSKJ5svhhnedGyPA4m1be4t2gJ94MSA/s1600/Valley+View+12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_RTCLSVcjfexXS-FOvVihyphenhyphen2FQGacFq-KIOb0vjyeFGkJoR4hNSeImfzm1-UOI16RGkwV40TISn92zOUaursGv-xJORI1fDTUCH1XuOGnSKJ5svhhnedGyPA4m1be4t2gJ94MSA/s400/Valley+View+12.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining and Living Room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfw_Ey_siUM0RmThPYUaycSh9Ckss9bz-FEMxlyBSEndVXVYHrGSCNOlcBpcPW0PmetSTWSCKoyxByvFzc_WwToi-PQL4HEW9Pfi019kI8hSDb1okn6zneE1LmfG8bBdIbx5K2A/s1600/Valley+View+13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfw_Ey_siUM0RmThPYUaycSh9Ckss9bz-FEMxlyBSEndVXVYHrGSCNOlcBpcPW0PmetSTWSCKoyxByvFzc_WwToi-PQL4HEW9Pfi019kI8hSDb1okn6zneE1LmfG8bBdIbx5K2A/s400/Valley+View+13.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining and living room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXsx9lVSCAu6q4wG3gpZghiZ-Z3aQjjE_cwiOKrOjeZuWSLK2n3-IR_5GL3NSbKgonWUUAF_8pwSxCJgMU0FyhuC4EPR3H2eIzz1_J5FDXpNFmPe0N_AyuDkEfZMurWsBKuFQzA/s1600/Valley+View+14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXsx9lVSCAu6q4wG3gpZghiZ-Z3aQjjE_cwiOKrOjeZuWSLK2n3-IR_5GL3NSbKgonWUUAF_8pwSxCJgMU0FyhuC4EPR3H2eIzz1_J5FDXpNFmPe0N_AyuDkEfZMurWsBKuFQzA/s400/Valley+View+14.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKDccr0R7Z79l5xP4R4mRqkkuy1jaXwfIeIGbnci2mnWXD_jhC409MlgXBvrARniKd1LaBaRTVWcZLgSuqR065LyXEkldUI3_AnpnWp-y3hyphenhyphenJFSfQfMdzB1pUgHdCTSJ1QYNZ0A/s1600/Valley+View+15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKDccr0R7Z79l5xP4R4mRqkkuy1jaXwfIeIGbnci2mnWXD_jhC409MlgXBvrARniKd1LaBaRTVWcZLgSuqR065LyXEkldUI3_AnpnWp-y3hyphenhyphenJFSfQfMdzB1pUgHdCTSJ1QYNZ0A/s400/Valley+View+15.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWZPnkwUjpBI-wXfAB-VdV2U8uXAiD0pjzYeJiKOo93Vb7U_iQvFASehLT20uavcHxg3DY21jw6P8dMCX3hgIhnJz7PXriqAReZIRElZG-sA9MepY_nm2cbz-J4qngHUutsGpJg/s1600/Valley+View+17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWZPnkwUjpBI-wXfAB-VdV2U8uXAiD0pjzYeJiKOo93Vb7U_iQvFASehLT20uavcHxg3DY21jw6P8dMCX3hgIhnJz7PXriqAReZIRElZG-sA9MepY_nm2cbz-J4qngHUutsGpJg/s400/Valley+View+17.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPHVxENaqu2i3fd7kUtP0BlypwXaW4fIdypyil0V3zpMCUjaqv7ffpEMYwjPy-yxSdcLuNG5lUPCDBLsgw85ElEwgB_SA_Yk_2Mu-eKgxdLBQ59OUdXuVYmrXXRmOJKOiTp3yGA/s1600/Valley+View+18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPHVxENaqu2i3fd7kUtP0BlypwXaW4fIdypyil0V3zpMCUjaqv7ffpEMYwjPy-yxSdcLuNG5lUPCDBLsgw85ElEwgB_SA_Yk_2Mu-eKgxdLBQ59OUdXuVYmrXXRmOJKOiTp3yGA/s400/Valley+View+18.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White porcelain kitchen sink. I'm excited about this!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1pfrxxyrrqJMYZm8-q1I3Gka13-nDee1MSpKEttZkw50TPmHVRitVnio6F2if_QTRbc4tLU-O56VG4lsuDnKuA8SwxjpSmeqDt-HJTP4SgO1XP05NhJkN8tWsMU_0anQTxIsFQ/s1600/Valley+View+19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1pfrxxyrrqJMYZm8-q1I3Gka13-nDee1MSpKEttZkw50TPmHVRitVnio6F2if_QTRbc4tLU-O56VG4lsuDnKuA8SwxjpSmeqDt-HJTP4SgO1XP05NhJkN8tWsMU_0anQTxIsFQ/s400/Valley+View+19.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen. I'm going to have this counter on the left removed. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABDRf-FcrcSdwwXD4ADlGu_Q7BuKJXEVgpGrihdruMtmq2zfVEXvRVANb-hm9_irzLLgOBkChsq3v1TMGeC1FndRBnN38ZjZZaEqRriUD1yBJSlPlPkn1vAzX0mK_IcRN-wRVlg/s1600/Valley+View+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABDRf-FcrcSdwwXD4ADlGu_Q7BuKJXEVgpGrihdruMtmq2zfVEXvRVANb-hm9_irzLLgOBkChsq3v1TMGeC1FndRBnN38ZjZZaEqRriUD1yBJSlPlPkn1vAzX0mK_IcRN-wRVlg/s400/Valley+View+20.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the balcony. It was dark outside with a storm coming in. This faces east.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgGgzHQYbLsoyZOmVJFmGATs-WOy91tv-zc0QCTnRMtZ4gqWv5cU-P-VyNvLFIN-fOEk-4yC8Zv6Bkl7I0Ac7lqL39qGnqpJ7vZA1PVkwkF0QQ9MNOc_PBNaguqTAnV4P-t22Sw/s1600/Valley+View+21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgGgzHQYbLsoyZOmVJFmGATs-WOy91tv-zc0QCTnRMtZ4gqWv5cU-P-VyNvLFIN-fOEk-4yC8Zv6Bkl7I0Ac7lqL39qGnqpJ7vZA1PVkwkF0QQ9MNOc_PBNaguqTAnV4P-t22Sw/s400/Valley+View+21.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen on the left and dining room and living room on the right</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTk6RVvo9e_uAllfD035b_l5Kz-Th0mX6ua1fnoajZkfNHR5JhR3m6mk1nam2AiNBFUjKHWA8_JsxKonYba5b_lKVf85WpRFe1THeFG-Ga0VAHjGCaryXpj9UDtLtl_FeXXAL6mA/s1600/Valley+View+23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTk6RVvo9e_uAllfD035b_l5Kz-Th0mX6ua1fnoajZkfNHR5JhR3m6mk1nam2AiNBFUjKHWA8_JsxKonYba5b_lKVf85WpRFe1THeFG-Ga0VAHjGCaryXpj9UDtLtl_FeXXAL6mA/s400/Valley+View+23.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living room looking toward balcony and den</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRORuku5o4J-f4SRZPgQrW_qavxwVi4x_tRo58hyphenhyphenBjHgUXKLJJ8w5vWRfixETbUk2i_dJsRaHv2qoMwcQdRjZAqYHaj9cz8xlA80WY3RPcD1NgoFeogzN0bi_0bU9VF76H2OHoaw/s1600/Valley+View+24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRORuku5o4J-f4SRZPgQrW_qavxwVi4x_tRo58hyphenhyphenBjHgUXKLJJ8w5vWRfixETbUk2i_dJsRaHv2qoMwcQdRjZAqYHaj9cz8xlA80WY3RPcD1NgoFeogzN0bi_0bU9VF76H2OHoaw/s400/Valley+View+24.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">living room looking toward balcony and den</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSJNsPdgUEreIrC1F4wzmN62oaw3IVardND4lp8G8LoCRF1EuMfEWFzVJ8j-mXB_7JqqYYaHvEq8U_4HUh2o6goLVaukpsvuEzYj51uQ7HwK1IDW8egWVCLO-N1HCB2OFBgEuzw/s1600/Valley+View+25.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSJNsPdgUEreIrC1F4wzmN62oaw3IVardND4lp8G8LoCRF1EuMfEWFzVJ8j-mXB_7JqqYYaHvEq8U_4HUh2o6goLVaukpsvuEzYj51uQ7HwK1IDW8egWVCLO-N1HCB2OFBgEuzw/s400/Valley+View+25.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laundry room a couple of doors down. There are three laundry rooms on each floor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryN9uq4WBjGRHkCJNTJQb9NTRKHQNBJBon5i1-3YlCx2XwxWR-alHZl4O2K6-R9GJgVQYkIknajM5LZWgnJeXUfZp_9di2nG-rIt6YFEXE681CcH4j6wF-Q4gKH7gOElTBVPEuw/s1600/Valley+View+27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryN9uq4WBjGRHkCJNTJQb9NTRKHQNBJBon5i1-3YlCx2XwxWR-alHZl4O2K6-R9GJgVQYkIknajM5LZWgnJeXUfZp_9di2nG-rIt6YFEXE681CcH4j6wF-Q4gKH7gOElTBVPEuw/s400/Valley+View+27.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laundry room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoO1fA9S2ZWTHi67nRoyTzKfwShYbJanFq4nlGwfYO0co90MTFeau1xIZAJnCc62aSTJULYD5xI0PTBopeCzkhUfYnmHh22UsmO-IV_h8y7LnL5GEL7F1RxwTsFhPEU-dug71-g/s1600/Valley+View+laundry+room.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoO1fA9S2ZWTHi67nRoyTzKfwShYbJanFq4nlGwfYO0co90MTFeau1xIZAJnCc62aSTJULYD5xI0PTBopeCzkhUfYnmHh22UsmO-IV_h8y7LnL5GEL7F1RxwTsFhPEU-dug71-g/s400/Valley+View+laundry+room.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laundry room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEL4yDDs4cBjKTu1gjTYPXF4Rxg-LHa8VA5DixcKlkP2b31ltOoPj_Z4R1_c-DaMEY5CspkmWXRUSPW8i1MjqK_uJiLy4rtVEJMsB5j2jmL8CCAdCki0TA_fk4pGG2CdtAAyIuzg/s1600/Valley+View+storage+closet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEL4yDDs4cBjKTu1gjTYPXF4Rxg-LHa8VA5DixcKlkP2b31ltOoPj_Z4R1_c-DaMEY5CspkmWXRUSPW8i1MjqK_uJiLy4rtVEJMsB5j2jmL8CCAdCki0TA_fk4pGG2CdtAAyIuzg/s400/Valley+View+storage+closet.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storage closet down the hallway</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHgvb7Iq2yBVMgLgnJU7BbpR1rPyNGF_MqmzXhhcolISBDQWfEfhlnB3fFPjEX16bkTMr5o718zNpAKMdcuYCmDYksnVqrYv3bJcYq0h-E6wzg5Pu-hX3zbbQKB5zOkjmvHB8LA/s1600/Valley+View.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHgvb7Iq2yBVMgLgnJU7BbpR1rPyNGF_MqmzXhhcolISBDQWfEfhlnB3fFPjEX16bkTMr5o718zNpAKMdcuYCmDYksnVqrYv3bJcYq0h-E6wzg5Pu-hX3zbbQKB5zOkjmvHB8LA/s400/Valley+View.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Master bedroom</td></tr>
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The co-op will be replacing all of the flooring, which I get to choose. They will paint all the ceilings and walls, replace all the blinds with new ones, replace all of the kitchen appliances, except the microwave, and are replacing the two toilets with new taller ones. I am considering screening in the balcony. The unit is on the top floor—4th floor, so there will no longer be heavy foot steps above me. There is underground parking with a car wash bay. There are more amenities, too. I'm thrilled about this!<br />
<br />DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27340331.post-34244969814348180732018-08-30T10:01:00.000-05:002018-08-30T10:01:47.630-05:00Anni Was My GuestThis summer Anni stayed with me for a week following the vacation time with her family. Both Nels and I loved having her here. During our time together, we were really busy.<br />
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First off, Anni helped me with hosting a neighborhood picnic. I had been planning to do this all summer, but put it off. I finally got my invitations out for Tuesday, August 7, which is National Night Out. We had 21 gather in my back yard. Each person brought their own chair, beverage, and a dish to pass. We set the food up inside my porch. It was great getting acquainted with some new neighbors and visiting with long time friends.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6459vPzhab1aOOLCDZ8y3CsWseVKn0NsK7f84BLwSwQ1BqqP44L-m1fl_n92wSnxPLRvIbK8y4BtEN90n26NRN4wI_ONY0SkbinqV3B-9_OcI5KzA8E5hNfGwoFcjc8l37qyM6g/s1600/Neighborhood+picnic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="1600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6459vPzhab1aOOLCDZ8y3CsWseVKn0NsK7f84BLwSwQ1BqqP44L-m1fl_n92wSnxPLRvIbK8y4BtEN90n26NRN4wI_ONY0SkbinqV3B-9_OcI5KzA8E5hNfGwoFcjc8l37qyM6g/s400/Neighborhood+picnic.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Julie, Colleen, Anni and Jennifer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8vt8lqjSY0JCd-uSL2SZ-ik_cfYuEjtdaN8-wGHDsmcxb-tbxJ9PNqD1Wbr7As85LXsx-kIKmBssxZW4aR4mV2oMrs28sFjc5mBmqTXvckPQRDf_F5ipgZnKmVpI7c1dNwiY6g/s1600/Neighborhood+picnic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1600" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8vt8lqjSY0JCd-uSL2SZ-ik_cfYuEjtdaN8-wGHDsmcxb-tbxJ9PNqD1Wbr7As85LXsx-kIKmBssxZW4aR4mV2oMrs28sFjc5mBmqTXvckPQRDf_F5ipgZnKmVpI7c1dNwiY6g/s400/Neighborhood+picnic+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Mary Jo, Kitty, Susie, Rita, and Patti</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7-b9EYC5wqjbX5J8rSZiUhD4l4KMS38vSE4w-OLPfuvOSbGDhnEM30oUH9W5bHnMmuAXJKjg9zfr-d0STeSv6S0fSUmoIXR7MEpvG4l_7uE7_BCSIiMxupbsPbeTFXQFg6si4A/s1600/Neighborhood+picnic+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="1600" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7-b9EYC5wqjbX5J8rSZiUhD4l4KMS38vSE4w-OLPfuvOSbGDhnEM30oUH9W5bHnMmuAXJKjg9zfr-d0STeSv6S0fSUmoIXR7MEpvG4l_7uE7_BCSIiMxupbsPbeTFXQFg6si4A/s400/Neighborhood+picnic+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Mark, Susan and Sue</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqG604imCoIwd8iPsCXPNqhoTH3AfqhUNdhUz07LvuuRsDVII7pj2cgDK8iZUbsXt75rwh2W5mNZqxYCP2Wgkl1WBT2xkMR47goHneQ5miSfUbfYXeZ0m2sSDIwLWaJJX1_ppSw/s1600/Neighborhood+picnic+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1404" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqG604imCoIwd8iPsCXPNqhoTH3AfqhUNdhUz07LvuuRsDVII7pj2cgDK8iZUbsXt75rwh2W5mNZqxYCP2Wgkl1WBT2xkMR47goHneQ5miSfUbfYXeZ0m2sSDIwLWaJJX1_ppSw/s400/Neighborhood+picnic+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Alison, Sandra and Gwen</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLd0VPaGtGYNwBZ5qBCDyusSoLISMyr-rSuV3lYMzlLUO1vu3InBhkNiIS6TuqWu5RmxCCIXUBTL5ylEIqAWTxQCCcPr_p0fxtc1iozMKxAolBnI3Jp4oudYKdi02_bcyQIADb8g/s1600/Neighborhood+picnic+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1280" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLd0VPaGtGYNwBZ5qBCDyusSoLISMyr-rSuV3lYMzlLUO1vu3InBhkNiIS6TuqWu5RmxCCIXUBTL5ylEIqAWTxQCCcPr_p0fxtc1iozMKxAolBnI3Jp4oudYKdi02_bcyQIADb8g/s400/Neighborhood+picnic+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave and Kathy</td></tr>
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The next day I took Anni to the Mall of America—one of her favorite places. We shopped for several hours. She bought some things and really had a good time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Jyyl1cbfb4tnqfK3e74Dqy28Y_6ieDvKDV9ErjJ5ImfIknlEmBDtd3xmUS63Fl_IH-KFP8EwCqxHEs1in4NiVjFAb6tzWRWZ-VSraDfTkp7bmjHbWAg7tfPAgbkz7D6j0Y35rA/s1600/Anni+and+I+at+the+MOA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Jyyl1cbfb4tnqfK3e74Dqy28Y_6ieDvKDV9ErjJ5ImfIknlEmBDtd3xmUS63Fl_IH-KFP8EwCqxHEs1in4NiVjFAb6tzWRWZ-VSraDfTkp7bmjHbWAg7tfPAgbkz7D6j0Y35rA/s400/Anni+and+I+at+the+MOA.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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The following day I took Anni to a ceramic studio where each of us chose a piece and began glazing it. Anni chose a cat and glazed it to match the cat she previously had designed in her cartooning program. I chose a 9" Christmas tree. We really had a good time doing this.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJoaFMrPO2dW21QqaY3BgqfswqpMjqVSjtukHma_vksYGPzLKt1oTuV3yjcRgzeXNu6HI5DA9RT3W3zMaIbgiIUCq6QQSUPy1KyH3MQUhjND2EreB90Me4PUhuIEniTerbYTpvA/s1600/Anni+at+ceramic+studio+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJoaFMrPO2dW21QqaY3BgqfswqpMjqVSjtukHma_vksYGPzLKt1oTuV3yjcRgzeXNu6HI5DA9RT3W3zMaIbgiIUCq6QQSUPy1KyH3MQUhjND2EreB90Me4PUhuIEniTerbYTpvA/s400/Anni+at+ceramic+studio+2.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anni checking her artwork on her phone for her cat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_pBpTyr8tCBpqFv5sXsOpjfdhs7ZLbm3rgESanWMACQF7emewFaFW9XgN3mE8pIbB-n4rZOTNTWqIbsTIKGx8fHb2d6Axlzi__7ggg_XlKy3HDCKqd_7EilOu2hQawARmTSFNw/s1600/Anni+and+I+at+ceramic+studio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_pBpTyr8tCBpqFv5sXsOpjfdhs7ZLbm3rgESanWMACQF7emewFaFW9XgN3mE8pIbB-n4rZOTNTWqIbsTIKGx8fHb2d6Axlzi__7ggg_XlKy3HDCKqd_7EilOu2hQawARmTSFNw/s400/Anni+and+I+at+ceramic+studio.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anni and I glazing the first coats on our pieces—requires three coats of glaze</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQypVHisE1jikGKPW3WhHJ7JwWeKX-TosaVMLE1RW6pFLGY3v9klJCA-f6Dko8zAxnUxt-_xeJVTyXGMqVshFModmJJk6HoVgNp3mOYFrLbVVh-dI7Ko-S42DEaTbFPHevv5liA/s1600/Anni+at+ceramic+studio+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQypVHisE1jikGKPW3WhHJ7JwWeKX-TosaVMLE1RW6pFLGY3v9klJCA-f6Dko8zAxnUxt-_xeJVTyXGMqVshFModmJJk6HoVgNp3mOYFrLbVVh-dI7Ko-S42DEaTbFPHevv5liA/s400/Anni+at+ceramic+studio+3.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9RmhW53Y46tfY34iXnPkQLiwEtvGUfITi2z8vLDvHfepYTdIkFG4Ku7TDHGNGdoapU-yIO74hlR3Awf_p6Z9Aru-Fq4lS0zWHeO9pTjbuCRYUMxeVukwr-8sjAlMXVegq-hKEw/s1600/Anni+at+ceramic+studio+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9RmhW53Y46tfY34iXnPkQLiwEtvGUfITi2z8vLDvHfepYTdIkFG4Ku7TDHGNGdoapU-yIO74hlR3Awf_p6Z9Aru-Fq4lS0zWHeO9pTjbuCRYUMxeVukwr-8sjAlMXVegq-hKEw/s400/Anni+at+ceramic+studio+4.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anni had fun and now her cat will be ready to go into the kiln.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XKOe3RqJ765DT-Uz8pNIi9W_r0tj7f7D-_aZq2RdCgH_9dqwne7SQyHPQFOXWMEPFNYNkqGw-VVe9i3T3uTJbIjajJI3xemJIN6xHR7BBAeuQQ9_4vyffio4bGZ_O2q0Fgv_7w/s1600/Annis+glazed+cat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XKOe3RqJ765DT-Uz8pNIi9W_r0tj7f7D-_aZq2RdCgH_9dqwne7SQyHPQFOXWMEPFNYNkqGw-VVe9i3T3uTJbIjajJI3xemJIN6xHR7BBAeuQQ9_4vyffio4bGZ_O2q0Fgv_7w/s400/Annis+glazed+cat.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A week later I picked up our finished pieces. Here is Anni's cat.</td></tr>
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The next day we picked up Rellie and I took the girls to the movie theater to see "Christopher Robin." They told me they enjoyed it. After the movie Rellie asked to come to my home to hang out for awhile before going out for pizza. I was happy these cousins could have a good time together.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_yfBm_FvtVyQ5-2WmwLSheTCpufvlrpLxIRxX3bNjdKkxMpWnsYLhoHOfRkVTEsZj3QyzopGTyvD-Yw4TEO9EbJ-aqISKiXKGs4GBMaeSAzcQMmEKgql9E_nhNeszjLRqW2UOQ/s1600/Anni+and+Rellie+at+movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1560" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_yfBm_FvtVyQ5-2WmwLSheTCpufvlrpLxIRxX3bNjdKkxMpWnsYLhoHOfRkVTEsZj3QyzopGTyvD-Yw4TEO9EbJ-aqISKiXKGs4GBMaeSAzcQMmEKgql9E_nhNeszjLRqW2UOQ/s400/Anni+and+Rellie+at+movie.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anni and Rellie<br />
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We spent as much time at the pool as possible while Anni was here. She is like a fish in the water. My neighborhood ladies pool friends really enjoyed having her around. Some of the time we just sat out on my porch which is so pleasant. Anni loved holding Nels.<br />
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On Sunday we got up really early so Anni could sing next to me in my church choir service. While she didn't know the music, she did great! That same day we had lunch with my theater friends prior to going to the Bloomington Theater <i>Artistry </i>to see the live performance "Legally Blonde." Initially Anni was a bit shy about applauding after each scene, but after intermission that changed. She really got into it. When I took her to the airport the following week (she spent the next week with her other grandparents in southern Minnesota), I asked her what her favorite things were while she was here. She said "Seeing the musical 'Legally Blonde' and playing with the kittens at Uncle Eli's farm."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJF-g5_rHn5KBzMA8Aiy9jINaXoYy6ta4gDHCGAGwb-WjTC2eGOC_lG4VJw6U0Di0h_KiSuz8RblS7ErYkZs-_6aYHU7nol5SE-e5Espif5THL-oJcbPNATQV825iZ7VJ9F7JITA/s1600/Anni+and+I+at+BCT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJF-g5_rHn5KBzMA8Aiy9jINaXoYy6ta4gDHCGAGwb-WjTC2eGOC_lG4VJw6U0Di0h_KiSuz8RblS7ErYkZs-_6aYHU7nol5SE-e5Espif5THL-oJcbPNATQV825iZ7VJ9F7JITA/s400/Anni+and+I+at+BCT.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anni and I at the Artistry Theater</td></tr>
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<br />DD4http://www.blogger.com/profile/07727766657651928739noreply@blogger.com0