Vacation

We just had a wonderful couple of days with the whole family. Mike and Belinda drove down to see us, but also enjoy a few days with the family, and some relaxation .

They came in Sat. afternoon. We had supper together and then they went out to Beaver Lake and stayed in one of Kim's cottages. Sunday we went to church and Mike graciously sang a special (had to twist his arm some) "My Redeemer is faithful and True" and it was just beautiful.

Monday Ev. and Gt. came to Rogers with their trailer and crafts and began to set up for the big fall War Eagle craft show which is this week. That evening we all went out to Famous Dave's and had just a wonderful night out together. The food was great and we stayed and chatted for about 2 hours.

They came and went each day, but stayed an hour or so each time. All went well and dad enjoyed it, and did really good. They had time to drive out to Roaring River--see some of the changing leaves--watch the many deer that get fed out by their cottage--play 18 holes of golf-- and go 4 wheeling with Rich and Cindy in Mark Twain Forest. They had a blast. Come again. Maybe the kids would also enjoy 4 wheeling.

Bertha and Marie

Way back in 1935 I went to school, in the third grade, with a very sweet girl ( a little Shirley Temple), by the name of Marie Visser. Her mother was a widow, living on a farm 1 1/4 north of Maurice, on Hwy. 75, with her 5 children. She had another sister, Bertha and 3 brothers.

One night ,after school, we visited Marie and stayed overnight. We were playing in the corn crib (most of us girls had playhouses in one of the cribs after the corn was out.) It was so funny-here came Ivan chasing Bertha with a pail of water. It turned out, it wasn't so funny. The hay stack was on fire. The fire truck came, saved all the buildings but lost the hay stack. In those day we still mixed baking soda in the water to fight the blaze.

The Visser's moved to Orange City a few years latter and I lost contact with them. While in College I met Bertha working in the GOLDEN RULE store. World War 11 was on, Bertha had a boyfriend in Germany. She was always so pleasant, and while working she'd be singing the top song of the day "Mares Eat Oats and Does Eat Oaks and Little Lambs Eat Ivy." Well, her boyfriend got killed. She became the Tulip Queen for the year and latter married a Van Gelder.

Marie married a Rowenhorst and lived on a home farm just out side of OC. I latter saw her in Meza, Az. while visiting Lois and Pete. Never saw her or talked to her otherwise in all that time.

Bertha past away at 88, in May. I, just on impulse, sent Marie a sympathy card and wrote a letter with it about old memories. GUESS WHAT? I got a telephone call yesterday and it was Marie. She appreciated that letter so and we just talked for a long time about old times. Since May she lost her great grandchild of, 8 mons. and she has had a lot of trouble and operations in regards to her gull bladder. She's fine now again.

Just that one telephone call made my day and days to come.

My Friend

Today I thought I'd send a picture of Sentner and Pugsley. They really are getting along fine. I did a bad job of getting a picture that wasn't blurred- but this is it. I took so many, even the dog got tired of it.

We are doing fine. Yesterday it was so cute. We watched an animal show on Halmark. Pugsley just sat like a little kid, about 3 feet from the screen and watched EVERYTHING that was going on. SJ really enjoyed watching him. He thinks he's so nice and likes it by us.

Fall Harvest

I talked to one of my friends from Iowa yesterday. She had been to Lebannon the other day and said the beans were really getting dried and it would not be long until harvest would start.

That brought back memories of the harvest for me. Nothing was automated like it is today, so that meant everything was done by hand. We had to pick our corn that way also. Every year , if you helped your parents do farm work, you could have a week off from school. So in the fall Lois an I got off and picked corn for that week.

We had a triple bang board wagon , hitched up with horses. We had special fleecy cotton gloves with two thumbs used special for picking corn,. When one thumb, and side wore out we would turn it over and use the other side. We had a metal hook on top of the glove on our right hand that would help strip the husk off of the ear, before we threw it on the wagon. Leaving any husk on the ear was a no-no. We would carry our lunch to the field, using gal. and 1/2 gal. syrup pails for our lunch bucket.

Generally we would be out to the field about 7:30. Pick until near noon. Unload our 50 bushels of corn picked that morning--have dinner and go back and pick another 50 in the afternoon.. Harry De Jager always helped dad pick each fall and he bragged about how much Lois and I could pick each day. He could pick 100 bushels a day but the two of us could also.

I remember one morning it was especially cold and damp. We were picking in the back 40 that morning. It wasn't nice. The wet corn stalks were hitting us in the face all the time- We had rubbers on, but our feet were wet and cold. Well-Lois had enough. She walked home about 9 and never did come back.

We picked two rows at a time. The one who picked in the row closest to the wagon would pick ahead of the one in the back row. That way no one got hit with an ear when throwing it on the wagon and the last one double checked if the front one picked EVERY ear. (Course, I never left any behind).

We got paid well, but it still took us 2 1/2 year to save enough to buy a $24.50 Bolovia watch. Isn't that something? My how things have changed.

Promise

I promised to send a poem along the next time I blogged about Sj. Here it is.

DO NOT ASK ME TO REMEMBER, DON'T TRY TO MAKE ME UNDERSTAND. LET ME REST AND KNOW YOU'RE WITH ME, KISS MY CHEEK AND HOLD MY HAND.

I'M CONFUSED BEYOND YOUR CONCEPT, I AM SAD AND SICK AND LOST. ALL I KNOW IS THAT I NEED YOU- TO BE WITH ME AT ALL COST.

DO NOT LOSE YOUR PATIENCE WITH ME, DO NOT SCOLD OR CURSE OR CRY. I CAN'T HELP THE WAY I'M ACTING, CAN'T BE DIFFERENT ' THOUGH I TRY.

JUST REMEMBER THAT I NEED YOU, THAT THE BEST OF ME IS GONE. PLEASE DON'T FAIL TO STAND BESIDE ME, LOVE ME 'TIL MY LIFE IS DONE.

We had a bad day so far today. About 4 am he woke up and wanted to know how I found my way home without getting lost. I knew things were not right. He rambled on and muffled all his words. I said, it wasn't easy, but I made it. "Where is the car now" In the garage. "How long have we been gone?" I think about three weeks. "Where have we been" We just took a little ride and stopped at various places. He went back to sleep.

When he awoke at 7:30, I asked if he wanted to go to church? We have not been going to SS. lately. (Much to confusing). Yes, he wanted to. So when he got out of bed, he didn't even wash up or shower, but I suggested he run the wash rag over his face and shave. He has not been taking a shower for at least 5 days, so will suggest he do so tomorrow. His hair is badly in need of a shampoo.

We had breakfast-he put on his Better shirt but kept the same everyday pants on. (I really didn't care.) He doesn't get dirty anyway and his clothing is all in good repair. Then he was antsie until we left for church at 10:15. Where is my collection--where is my comb--where were we for 3 weeks--do I need my cane--etc.

As people welcomed him at church he had to tell them all we had been traveling for the last 3 weeks. He likes the new minister-but couldn't tell you what he preached on nor can he find books in the Bible or numbers in the hymn book without help any more.

He is very tired today and was asleep before I even had his BLT made up at dinner time. I feel so bad for him--but knew this was coming. He still is so gentle and sweet-I can't help but love him, although some times my patience's get very thin.

Isn't this weather something else. I put a blanket on the bed last night and had it up to my shoulders by morning. Suppose to get colder tonight. Heard Mn. had 39 this morning. On our 50th we went fishing in Mn. over the 1st part of Sept. , with Alan and Hendrene,- and it was so hot yet the fish were still out in the deep water.

See you next time. May you all have a great week.

COLTON'S

We really lived it up last night. Friends of ours from church called and wanted to go out for an evening meal. They are Lytle and Myra, and the exact age that we are.

Any of you heard of Colton's ? Well, that's where we went. We got there about 4:30 and they were still running there early bird special, plus all the peanuts you wanted and you could throw the shells on the floor and not get bitched at.

Lytle and Myra each got the 6 oz. steak. Sj got the chicken fried steak and I got catfish. Each meal came with FRESH--HOT buns--salad- and one side dish. Lytle and Myra each got a baked potato( With everything )--SJ got french fries that were 1/2 inch wide and 1/8 inch thick and enough to feed an army. I got a baked sweet potato that must have been the largest one you could find.

The salads came and they were a meal in themselves. Except for Lytle, we other three did not finish ours. Then the food came, and I couldn't belief the portions. Lytle finished everything, but actually it was sinful all the food we wasted. SJ doesn't eat as much lately, so I believe he only ate about 3 french fries and about 1/4 of his big platter of meat covered with brown mushroom gray. But oh-was it all good.

You know--they had black cloth napkins with the silver wear rolled up in them. I never saw black napkins before-but it makes sense--You can't see the lipstick--gravy-ketchup and coffee stains in them.

We had a good time. They visited with us for a short time , but left about 7 . This is both there second marriage. He always brags about that she was the first girl he ever slept with. Very early in life they both went to the same church. While they were in the church nursery- both babes slept in the same crib. Funny!

Cards, anyone?

Thanks everyone for your responds. I'd love to share the goings on around here, but don't wish to have you folks feel I need pity or that things are really rough.

Today Georgean from El Direct came down for her bi monthly check up on our needs.


We had a great discussion this time and different things are developing. Cindy has found a very cute pugs for us which is very healthy and compatible. She was very pleased to hear that--for pets are suppose to have great value for people in his condition. Cindy brought him into town today just to make a visit with us. Dad was very pleased with him and seemed to be ok with it. Then she took him home and he is now wondering where our pugs is. She is making sure it is well house broken and healthy, before we take him.

He can not get his toenails taken care of free, so I will keep on trimming them for him. (Not too big a deal). He fell again today while Vicky was in charge of him. This time in the den. He said his legs just buckled on him, but was not hurt. He just about fell again going to the supper table, but I was right there and helped him stable himself again. He also had more trouble with his stools, which isn't nice for either of us. She thinks too, I should try to get him into elastic pull up pants--no zippers-belts etc. Soon, I will try that. I do have two pants like that for him already. Must wait for the time, and I believe it can be done.

Geeorgean is going to check on me wearing the life line, since he would not know what to do even if he had a need. She is also going to check more on his diagnosis of Spinal canal Stenos . I have checked it out on google, but would like more info if possible.

Also I had to get my pills refilled today. While at the pharmacy I got a booklet on Alzheimer's. It is very interesting-but looks like he is very near the end of stage 3. the late stage. After that he'll need more care--we will wait to cross that when the time comes.

Now for the good news. Georgeann suggested having a person come in once a week, as a friend. to have coffee with us and play some games or cards. She thinks that will help a lot for both of us. This would be for an hour or two in the middle of the afternoon, after our naps. So that would mean I could carrying on a conversation with a person who is also understanding in regards to this matter.

Like I said last time--God is so good. There is a beautiful poem in the booklet I picked up today. Will share that with you all the next time.