the arm

Who knew a broken arm could hurt so much - its more the attempt to get the arm moving again that hurts actually.  Physical therapy twice a week for three weeks and I can actually lift that arm high enough to quickly touch my nose before it gets too heavy to hold up.... right now I am working on range of motion exercises with the goal of getting my arm to go straight up with the therapist holding it up or using a pulley - not using my own muscles even and that seems like weeks away still. In two weeks I get to start building strength - right now I can not life any weight with that arm other than its own weight....

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch

Nostalgia

Last time I was at the lake I was hit by all the memories of 40 years of coming here- and all the little things I love here in the condo. So I snapped some iPhone pictures. Then a condo neighbor told me how glad she is her parents are keeping their condo after the death of the second grandparent and one reason for her was "because it still smells like grandpa" (his cigars probably..). Two weeks ago I visited with my 94 yr old aunt, another condo neighbor, during what would turn out to be her last time here- she's dead and buried now and wow, another wave of nostalgia and missing my parents..
So here we go - last time was a walk outside at the lake, now a walk inside






Early morning on the lake view from the porch






From a favorite breakfast spot - or lunch or anytime the lake view calls






Refrigerator magnets, some bordering on antique status

Mom's domain but now






Her stool that was always in the kitchen is retired...





The garages but 117 should be open and Dad out there working







The table - scene of many meals, puzzles, games- Hearts, Yahtzee, Apples to Apples, etc






Loons of course, what Minnesota lake place does not have these?






Dad made this and it I held it for about 5 hours on the way up here






The door to the parents' room
My dad's sense of humor- did I mention I miss him






I made this 40 years ago and it has been on the other bedroom door all this time






We used to have two bunkbeds for the kids in the other bedroom






Kathy slept on the sheepskin rug, probably using the same sleeping bag that's in the picture






Not sure if the Notre Dame toilet seat was mom humor or dad humor













Gotta love the orange, harvest gold and avocado green throughout













This says it all - have to be a little glad 3M is making Bill take all that saved up vacation







Although while you can take the man out the workplace you can't completely take the work out of the man - or should the paraphrase be - you can lead the man to vacation but you can't make him take it?

But soon it will be the weekend and most of the family will be here for almost a week (about 13 of us - so happily we now have two adjoining condos)






and out will come the model airplanes to fly, boat rides, some long walks with the dogs, bloody mary's, a few movies and video games, puzzles, time with friends and family, adding to 40+ years of memories here






-- Post From My iPhone painstakingly tapped on with only my left thumb....

balance or lack of it

Too bad I didn't manage to keep my balance better about a week ago. I fell while walking the dog and broke the top of my arm bone right by my shoulder. So its immobilized until healed with physical therapy starting next week....

Ok, so it is not life threatening BUT it is a pain in the butt, besides in the arm. It's incredible how handy it is to have two arms.... and this was my right arm (and I'm right-handed...)

So it has made me a little crabby having to ask for help with almost everything.

Maybe not quite a silver lining but I am getting better at typing one-handed. Hopefully today's appointment with the orthopedist will show it has remained in place and the healing can go on with no surgery....

my walk up north...

We have spent one weekend up north - and this is the year we are trying to do it more! So we have a 4-5 day weekend at the end of the month and planning 2 either long weekends or weeks in August and Sept...

I took a few pictures trying to capture some of the sounds, feelings and sights that I love at the lake - although most of them are not lake this time but the woods...

Started out by the lake - it was cool but kids played in the water and on the docks anyway.

Walking up the road behind our condos is a mixture of everything - views of the lake, tall evergreen trees, cottonwoods whose leaves make the lovely sound in the wind, white   trees, old cabin, beautiful luxury lake homes, wild flowers, untouched woods....

Looking back at the lake from the road...

shimmering, noisy cottonwoods, I love the sound in the wind and the contrast with the blue sky

Birch trees grow in groups of several ...

but they don't live long and there are always picturesque birch logs lying on the ground

an old lake cabin across the road from

a gorgeous lake home... I keep thinking about winning the lottery and buying one of these

 

Woods are lovely, dark and deep... can't help but think of this poem even with the dappled sunshine coming through...

Last tree picture - the majestic evergreens that are truly awesome - they inspire awe...

and back to the lake

I did this walk every morning and afternoon with the dog. 

our week of summer

Last post was during our summer - which evidently is only one week this year. Since then its been cool weather, mostly sunny but cool. The past few days - windy, cloudy and really cool - like touching on record lows at night. Did we do too much to compensate for global warming in Minnesota??

In many ways I'm not really complaining. I love weather between 50 and 75 degrees, I love sunny. I love breezy. I love cool.... but still a little weird to have not had one thunderstorm (or tornado warning) this whole spring/summer so far. 

The dog is reacting to the longer days by sleeping later - its now 5:50AM instead of 5:00AM when he wants to get up and go for his walk. 

More steam!

Power went out about 5:30PM - supposedly due to the heat, Xcel Energy just wasn't ready for it evidently when all the air conditioners went on.

So Katie and I waited awhile - figuring out whether to try to make something to eat and what since we had no electricity and hated to open the refrigerator. Finally we decided to go out to eat - only to realize the garage door opener is electric and it was very dark in the garage and I wasn't quite sure how to disengage the motor anyway. So it was peanut butter sandwiches - untoasted, which really isn't as good!

So then after taking a few minutes to remember who the heck the power company is - I pay automatically online - remembered it was Xcel, texted Christina to find out the phone number and called. After probably 10 prompts to enter information I got a recording and found out 10:14PM was when the power would come on.  Actually it came on at 9, for about 30 seconds.

Took the dog for a walk and realized that nearby (a block away) Fridley had power, first time I wished I lived in friendly Fridley....

I had signed up on the phone to be notified on my cell phone if that predicted time changed but heard nothing.  So at 10:30  I called again and they said 11PM and that that update had been made at 8:30 - so much for their notifying me....

About 10:30 we gave up and went to bed - after alternately cursing the hot, humid weather and Xcel - and laughing about how funny it was that everything we thought of doing required electricity. So using my iPhone as a flashlight I went to bed. Woke up when the DOG alarm clock went off at 5:00 - still no power. Luckily it was lovely outside so we went for a walk and when I got back, power had just come on - and stayed for probably 3-4 minutes this time! Finally around 6:15 it was back on and still here after 30 minutes!

Since we are looking at 95 today, I'm hoping it stays...

So this morning, I get back online, eager to see what went on in my absence - turns out I didn't really miss too much.... :)

still around but way behind

Oh, so far behind here - I think I skipped our whole trip to California, daughter Christina's graduation, all the trauma in our cattery this spring, Katie's visit home and the new addition to the family (a dog).

So, will be doing some current stuff, some catching up.

Biggest current story is dog - trying to name him, dragging myself up at 5AM when he cries to go out, rescuing shoes and other non-chew-toy items from him. I'm walking LOTS more, he's a great exercise program, but I'm tired and don't get as much other stuff done as I should... This big boy is still somewhat of a puppy -  still full of energy, needing to chew a LOT with a very big mouth and still being housetrained...

Yes, its enough to make you wonder WHY you wanted a dog. But on the other hand, he's a very nice dog and will be some company and eventually even protection when I'm home alone. I guess I'm never home alone with a bunch of cats and kittens but that's another story coming soon.