Tuesday - Can you stand it, HILLTOPPERS

I made my dessert last night when I got home. Now this is a recipe you have got to try.
BLACK FOREST PUDDING CAKE. No pudding in it of course but oh so yummy. I cut an inch off of each end so Jim could go nuts. It has two cans of cherries in it and pecans, chocolate chips and butter and a chocolate cake mix. Kill me now, I only had a bite. I am going to work harder at keeping my diabetes in check. Good isn't good enough.
We are having a German dinner today and listening to German history. Will be fun.I can't forget the Black Forest Rye bread I bought in Duluth.

I feel like we are going out in the woods today. You better not go alone.

Monday in Duluth.

OK, I am always up for a challenge, now I have Diabetic Neuropathy. That is what caused my extreme pain last month in my back and leg. Let's see, I did acupuncture twice, waste of time and $100. After the first appointment he let me know insurance doesn't cover it. Heck I was already for my second appointment so why not go for it, can't hurt. Big spender that I am I just threw my Visa at him. I remember I left there crying I was in such pain. Walked from his office over to the hospital, they are sort of connected. Second phase, a steroid shot in my back. Helped a little for two days because of the lydocain Then another appointment in Deer River for a hip X-ray. Another appointment in Duluth for a test for damaged nerves and muscle. All came back negative, then I see a neurologist and Walla - he has me diagonosed in 10 min.
Ya gotta love the system.

I am having an MRI on Friday to rule out back problems. I feel like a Transformer.

Pork chops and salad for supper. We were home by 5:45.

Sunday Sweet Sunday

Church as usual. I pulled our raffle quilt down from the rafters, had it hanging from the balcony in church ever since the fall gathering. It's back on a table, I sell raffle tickets after every service, the raffle drawing will be held on Dec 4th.

I will add a picture when I get from my IPad to my computer. One electronic device at a time.

Thank God for Jim. I haven't been able to thread my new sewing machine. With Jim reading the instructions it became clear and we did it together. My machine is a self threading Baby Lock sewing machine named Elizabeth. Isn't it silly, having problems with a self threader. Kind of an oxymoron.

DEATH AT CHURCH

Betty Evenson's husband died on Friday. He has been in a nursing home and the Lion' members and the men at church build a ramp at their house just about a month ago, he came home for a large dinner, used the ramp, went in his room to take a nap and died in his sleep. I think he just wanted to come home to die.
Will have to see how I can be of help to Betty.

BIG DAY AT CHURCH

We will be there from 9:30 to about 2pm. A pastor is coming in to discuss the future of small churches. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see the decline.
For my part I made split pea soup.
Hey you wouldn't believe the fog out today speaking of pea soup. it's at least that thick.

I got to see little Hope in the bath last night. Having face-time sure is a joy.

Lots to do and I need to get to G.R. To P&D sewing, I need help with my self threading machine.

The Wester's are here!

We had a wonderful visit. Pam and Rachael stayed in the house and John, Andrew and Mikee stayed in the barn. I never got cookies made for Alex but his favorite is Special K bars and I made a double batch for them to take for their weekend with him in Grand Forks. We had a nice dinner on Thurs night and on Fri. A big Chicken dinner with all the trimmins. Was fun and in the morning Andrew, Rachael, Pam and I played RACK-O. I sure enjoy games. Just never get to play them. It was fun having them around. I know the kids had a good time on the BEE.

Jim and John worked on the Fish-house. It seems it always need something. This time a new outside door.

You would think it was HOLLOWEEN what with all the green soup I have been making.

I have just been in a cooking mood. So far two batches of split pea soup, chili,two batches of cookies and I really need to bake some more. Pam, John and 3 of the kids are coming today and I want to make some cookies for Alex at college. Jim and I will have to run up to see him some weekend.

Have crafters at 9:30 so I need to get going.

TUESDAY - TO OZ, NO TO LITTLE FALLS

Off to see Alexis today to sew some curtains. We will see how the day goes. Nothing else on the calendar. Hip Hip Hooray!
I had a great time with Alexis. Next time I will bring more tools. To put up a rod takes 4 times as long because we just don' t have the proper tools.
They had 4 new windows put on the house this year and now that Jeff doesn't live there she can get some help with a roof. Time will tell.
I gave her my old sewing machine and she is sewing new curtains. We are putting up tiebacks and things are shaping up on the windows and we are having fun.
I don't seem to be able to arrive before 10am. I try to leave by 4pm because it is just easier not to drive after dark. The deer up North are Rutting right now so they are really on the move. I think that's what you call it.

I had to get up early on Wed. To get my Bible study done. We work With the "Gather" magazine, it's the old "Lutheran Women Today" magazine and it's updated and very good. It's nice that we don't have to purchase a study guide for the session. We are using the Gospel of Mark. It just so happens we are also reading "Mark" for the Pastor. He challenged us to read it 6 times. I am still on my first time, Jim has finished it twice already.
Some more coats came in to church. Got them ready for our coat give away after our WELCA meeting.

MONDAY

Had a wonderful day. I met Gail in the morning at Bethany and we worked getting ready for our Coat drive. We have at least 3 racks of coats.

Got my teeth cleaned at the dentist. They wanted to do full mouth x-rays. Are those really necessary every 5 years. I declined. Also went to Maureen and she straightened out my glasses. I sure do get them bent up.

Had a lazy afternoon because I slept so lousy on Sun. night.

Went to my Northland Lion's meeting at 6pm.

I so wanted to get my carpet shampooed today but each day the time just goes by like a bullet. I am not nearly so peppy in the afternoon as I am in the morning.

FRIDAY THE 14th

Well I thought I had already done Fri and Sat but no such luck. Had Fun Thurs doing the meat raffle, We made a bunch of money, stayed after for an hour talking with Joyce, she trained me in. I have a friend in Garden Club and she lost her son to suicide about 2-3 weeks ago, he was 44. Joyce lost her sun to suicide 30 years ago yesterday. How does one cope with that. I really have no idea. It has to be like loosing your mind.

Friday I went on an adventure with Loretta and Audrey, we went to Hibbing to do some craft shopping. Was fun, we went to Jo Ann Fabric's and Walmart and off to lunch at the Chinese Buffet and believe it or not neither one had ever bee to the Hull Rust Mine in Hibbing and Old downtown Hibbing, they moved the city you know so they could blast right next to it. Moved the whole town a couple of miles away back in 1920. After we were driving downtown looking for another Chinese eatery and found it, it was closed but on the way back to 169 to head for home Audrey spotted a knitting shop. Can you stand it, it was across from the Chinese Buffet that we ate at. We went in and were in instant heaven. Every nook and cranny was jam packed with yarn, Beautiful heavenly yarn. Let me tell you we had fun, I being the sch rood shopped I am only purchased from the 1/2 price sale rack. I still spent $53 on fun yarn. Shoot me now. I could start a store.

I no sooner got home and I had to get my hordorver ready for D.O.S.S. my wine group. Made a cheese ball and have a new lovely platter to serve it in. that I bought at the silent auction the day of the Fall Gathering. It is lovely. Picked Janet up at 5:15 and we went to Denise Green's house. She has to be the best cook in the county. She made a fall soup in a pumpkin and it tasted divine. She does a lot of entertaining and I can see why. She is good at decorating, cooking, being a hostess. Tough act to follow. D.O.S.S. will have Doe Camp in Nov and Denise will have the Dec Party and I picked up Jan. We will be leaving late Feb and I have only had D.O.S.S. once before and it was in the winter too. I need to get more chairs. Church is a good place for that. I don't think they let you borrow their chairs. Heck June across the street has 4 folding chairs and I am going to buy 2. We usually have from 10 to 17 people at D.O.S.S. By the way did I share with you. D.O.S.S. stans for the Diving Order of the Sipping Sisters. We even have denim shirts with D.O.S.S. on it. CUTE!

Busy day today

Getting to know my I-pad is getting to be fun. I was able to get the unline Bible Iwanted. We are reading the book of Mark. Jim is on his second time through it. We are challenged to read it through six times.

I shed my tears over Mac, Laura, Hope and Hudson not coming and I understand why we had to uninvited them. Jim is so very sick, we just couldn't have them get what he has. He has slept in a chair so many nights, I almost feel like the Day room is his bedroom. Poor guy.

This week the weather has been so beautiful, I had a fire outside a few times. Gordy is giving me all the cut up wood I want. I just have to take the BEE over to get it.

Yesterday I made chili and a dessert. Was fun even though the Pumpkin bars didn't turn out. We won't go into why not.

I have been ironing all the Bethany aprons for church. There sure are a lot of them.

I am getting a tank heater on my car today. It sure will be nice not having to warm the car up so long in the Winter.

Knitting crafts today and the gals want to go to Grand Rapids after. Why not! We will do lunch at the Chinese Buffet.

What necklace to wear, so many choices. It was so special of Dede to donate a necklace to our silent auction last Sat.

GETTING READY FOR FALL

Can you believe the last time I blogged was May 19th, Skye's Birthday. She is 36 and 1/2 now.

My how time flies.

It seems so much goes on and I get so mad at myself for not visiting my blog.

This last month has been challenging. My back went out the first of Sept or so and I haven't been the same since. I just went off pain medication yesterday and feel I can manage the pain. I have to because I just feel to weird on the meds. Pain levels have gone from 7-9 or 10 down to 2-4. I can live with that. Have had x-rays, a test in Duluth, many Dr. appts. and no results yet. Going to a Dr. in Duluth on the 24th to find out about my back. Enough of that.

What a fall we have had. No rain and that part is scary because of the fire danger but the burst of color is so beautiful.

I was with Sharon, Dot and Nancy last Monday through Friday. They got here Tue of last week just before Hilltoppers. We had about 30 out to our house for a Fish fry. Was fun.

Then we 4 gals took off for the "Crossing Border's Art Tour" from Duluth to Grand Portage. We stayed two nights at Lutsen Mountain Inn. It was a good time and we drove home Hwy. 1 through Ely and stopped in at the Wolf Center. The girls left Friday morning about 9am. I did nothing on Friday or Sat. Lazy - lazy - lazy.

I have had a super busy week - getting ready for our Fall Gathering at church. Worked at church 4 hours on Thurs, Friday and spent 7 hours there on Sat. the 8th.

DeDe I can't tell you how much I appreciated the Turquoise colored stone necklace with silver beads that sold at the silent auction, I don't know what it went for but the bidding started at $20 and we raised $250 at our silent auction. It was very nice and a big thank you to you DeDe for donating it. I want everyone to remember next year's fall silent auction. We won't host it but we always bring something.