Big Jack!

In my opinion, this is a really big Jack In The Pulpit. What do you think?

Weird Vacation!

We decided to try a little getaway to Duluth. Cher was going to be around in the event anything came up with Mom and Dad so we hoped we didn't have to cancel like we did last July. It started out with us taking a totally different route. We came up through Spooner, Wisconsin so we could stop at the coffee shop owned by the brother and sister-in-law of a friend of ours. Jill doesn't like coffee but the pizza was good anyway! It was 73 degrees there. About an hour north it was 46, windy and we were dressed like this!

We came out from our hotel to watch the Roger Blough come in through the Canal. I kid you not when I say I was having trouble standing up facing into the teeth of the wind. It was kicking up all sorts of waves.

The Blough seemed to be lined up to head in but I didn't notice behind me that the Bridge wasn't up and soon I realized that he wasn't going to come into the Canal sideways! So there he parked himself until the waves settled down.

They leave their lights on all the time and he looked pretty cool out there in the dark!

Finally, today about 4:30 after going WAY out into the lake to turn around our ship came in!

Sometimes we never know what those guys are doing. We spotted another one that wasn't on the schedule so on this ShipFinder app we determined it was the Presque Isle but he was supposed to have stopped in Two Harbors. He, too, was anchoring due to the weather but had to come all the way down to Duluth/Superior to wait out the night.

We had supper last night at the Canal Park Brewing Company and bucking that wind again on the way there was horrific! It was beating at us so badly that I felt like my equilibrium was a little off. But nothing a good beer and unique sandwich couldn't fix!

So this morning about 2:30 Jill says "what's that?!" It was the Walter J. McCarthy coming in right on schedule. Of course, they don't toot their horn in the middle of the night. If you weren't looking you probably wouldn't even know they were gliding in. They seem so silent! The best picture we had of him was of live stream on the iPad!

This morning before the clouds moved in the sun was a beautiful orange streaming in the window and a blip was on the horizon...

...that turned out to be the Coast Guard cutter, Alder.

That's one of them that has heavy duty work in the Spring to break up the ice in the harbor.

The waves were still crashing in today.

Some were bigger than others...

...but the general rule is, once you think you've captured a good one on "film", the next wave is always bigger!

It being the inclement day that it is we thought we'd try something new and this is where it really gets weird. We went down to the exercise room! Jill rode the bike and me the elliptical for about 15"...

 ...and then we both did the treadmills for another 30"! 

The pool and hot tub sure felt good after that! 

But, hey! There might be something to this exercise thing. It just felt good in general. Of course, it helps to have an exercise buddy!

Walter, the ship that came in during the night, was ready to leave early afternoon. Since we face the lake we don't have a clue when he's coming UNLESS.......we use our technology and live stream the bridge! So when the bridge goes up we know soon we'll be seeing him peek around the corner of the hotel!

He's a 1000 footer and fills up every inch of the Canal and then some!

We think we could get in on three more comings and goings tomorrow morning before we have to leave. In the meantime, supper at Grandma's and just a relaxing evening. Very wet outside right now.

Happy Mother's Day!

All I wanted for Mother's Day was.....Mother!

We had our usual cup of coffee with a promise to return later to, hopefully, take a roll around the building on this gorgeous May day. But I couldn't let Dad get away with not having to pose for a picture too.

A glorious day to all!

Stinky Face

I'm so far behind on blogging I'll just start with yesterday! We all got an early start and headed up to Stages Theatre Company in Hopkins to see the play "I Love You Stinky Face".

It was a very cute and colorful play whose message was, basically, that a mom loves her babies NO MATTER WHAT! :) The dads in our group are in that same category!

Natalie got autographs from everyone.

William was there too but I only got these three for pictures after.

Fun morning and perfect timing!

Mammo Monday

Jill says Mammo Monday doesn't sound as much fun as Taco Tuesday!

I Suppose I Should Think About Income Tax

Since April 15th is soon upon us (although I think we actually have 'til the 18th this year) today is probably as good a day as any to get started on mine. I logged onto Turbo Tax and, voila'...they're like my old friends...so happy to see me!

So! Here we go!

No Words Needed

I've Gone Blond

What do you think of my new 'do?

Kidding! Certainly kidding! My hair lady was having fun with me today.

That Was Then...

Two days ago we were looking pretty "Springy"!

60 degrees, all the snow is gone, we'd already golfed once this season.

 This is now...about 10.5 inches later!

But a March snow...how long can it last?!

Together Again!

Mom came home from Samaritan Bethany today!

It was quite an emotional homecoming but we think we have Mom settled. I keep telling Dad he has to teach her the ropes since she was at Shorewood Memory Care for only a day and a half before spending almost the last two months between St. Mary's and the nursing home. In 70 years of marriage I'm pretty sure that's the longest they've ever been apart. 

Sharing Cher's Birthday!

Today it's a dual celebration...one of the young, one of the (not so terribly) old!

Charlie turns 3 and Cher's turning...older than that! Happy birthday you two!

Headed North

You haven't seen one of these pictures in awhile!

Jill's been off to Texas for the last week or so. This afternoon she started the trek back. No non-stop flight with SunCountry anymore so she's on United to Houston and after a couple hour layover she'll be headed to MSP arriving around 10:30. It was in the 80's and sunny down there today. Will she be prepared for the shock? :)

Pretty Day For A Birthday!

Looks like a sunny morning anyway!

Happy birthday, Alan!

Rollin' Along!

My folks, even in their 90's, continue to humour me. As much as they don't like being in pictures I make them take them with me with my selfie stick! Today Dad and I went for a stroll...

...while Mom and Rand and I went for a roll!

Mom was having a heck of a time figuring out where she was supposed to look with that phone waving around out in front of her. Kinda funny but she was laughing with the rest of us!

She's Hit 92!

Mom's had a rough three weeks or so having taken a couple of falls and weathering two stays in the hospital for a broken arm, cracked pelvis and, most recently, a shortness of breath episode. It's hard to find a picture without her bruises! In spite of all that, she's celebrating her birthday today! She's currently rehabbing at Samaritan Bethany so we're planning to take Dad down to visit.

 When I stopped by yesterday she was up in the chair, feeling good and in great spirits. But I've already promised no hoopla for her special day. This blog post is as raucous as we're going to get!

Did I Forget To Mention...?

A Birth Day!

Claire turned nine today...one year away from double digits!

Happy birthday, Claire!

What A Difference A Week Makes!

Last week right about now I was stressing about setting up a 70th anniversary party for my folks in the Activity Room at Shorewood. It wasn't necessarily a "Surprise!" party. It was just something we didn't tell them about until it was time to go down so I guess it was a little surprise to them. We had such a nice time and such a nice group of people!

This week Mom's in the hospital following a fall in the bathroom...

...and Dad's by himself.

Today Gramps got a new stuffed kittycat to keep him company while Mom's away...Tiger, unless one of the kids comes up with a better name when they meet him. At least in the course of the week we'd gotten them moved into the memory care area at Shorewood...the Reflections Neighborhood...so Dad is in a safe and caring place.

At The End Of The Day...

We got Mom and Dad moved. It actually went pretty well. We set off the alarms only three times!

Seriously, we had two flats going and piled them high on each trip so most stuff was moved by around noon. And we had the bedroom and bathroom arranged so they could come back from lunch for their nap. There's a little organizing and labeling to be done but they've got more available and constant care now so I hope it cuts down on how much I worry about them!

Moving Day!

Six weeks ago we thought this day would never come. Today we move Mom and Dad into the Reflections Neighborhood at Shorewood Senior Campus.

We're getting so practiced at moving their stuff that we think it should go smoothly. The biggest deal for this move is going to be wa-a-a-aiting for the slo-o-o-o-ow elevators. But, ultimately, this is a good thing. We feel very fortunate that a memory care unit became available when it did. Let's see how it goes!