Wednesday

It was sure cool today.  Fall is definitely in the air.  After breakfast and showers, etc., we went out to go bike riding.  The wind was pretty brisk as we went around the bike trail.  My sinuses were killing me!  The good part of riding, though, was that we didn't get hot!  We also had some errands to run.  It was 11:30 when we were about to head home, but Dave suggested we go surprise Kaylee at the Wild Carrot and eat lunch there!  We had a good time with her and her boss...in between customers!  We turned down dessert and then Dave suggested we head to Cedar Falls to Scratch Cupcakery to see if Sami Allison was working.  As it turned out, she was in W Des Moines...so we each had a cupcake in her honor!  Dave had a turtle cupcake and I had a cookies n'cream one.  Delicious!  Good thing we rode two complete laps around the trail!

Tonight Dave went out to help Bryan with a project and I stayed home to watch the Cubs annihilate the Reds!

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Tuesday

Dave went to put gutter guards on a lady's gutters (on 3rd floor).  While he was gone, I worked on my "list".  I also made another 6 Christmas cards and now I've lost count of how many I have.  I guess I'll have to count them again tomorrow.

I got some more email addresses for my Cyclone football players from 1975 or so.  I was able to send out invitations to the reunion to them.  I sure hope we have a good turnout.  I guess the only one who knows who all is coming is the guy who is collecting the cash.  I'll be anxious to see a list.

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Woohoo!

I got my tooth fixed this morning with very little pain involved.  The hygenist gave me my shots to numb me...never had that happen before.  I liked the dentist, too.  He came in and talked to me about my options and then when I decided to have it filled today, it only took him about 5 minutes of drilling and finishing up!  I like that much better than having to sit in a chair for 5 hours!!

I took a nap this afternoon - I think the numbing went to my brain!!  This evening, Dave and I watched DWTS and then the end of the Cubs game.  Cubs win 1-0 in 11 innings!!

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Sunday

Church was good again today.  The message today was about Jacob from Genesis.  After church we stopped at HyVee to get me some soft food.  I don't want to take a chance on breaking that tooth before I get it fixed.  Tomorrow I'll try to get a dental appointment.  I've got a PEO meeting tomorrow and if I can get an appointment at the dentist I may have to miss the PEO meeting.

Tonight we went to Bryan's for dinner.  I took Aidan some strawberry shortcake Goldfish!  He liked me, tonight.  He even let me help him walk around the house.  He'd really like to walk, but no one seems to work with him.  His other grandma tends to monopolize him, so I have to grab him when I can.  Don't get me started on that subject!

I hope you all saw the lunar eclipse tonight.  It was beautiful!

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Family day

Dave went out to help Bryan this morning.  They only had a few hours before Bryan and Erin were leaving for a wedding.  I made some more Christmas cards and tried to call my cousin, Alma Dell.  I've called numerous times with no answer.  So I decided I'd try to find her brother, Paul.  I found that he died in 2011...I think maybe I knew that, but I'm not positive.  I'll have to ask Bob if he knew that Paul had died.  If he knows, then I probably just forgot.  Anyway, I've got some pictures of Alma Dell's family that I want her to have.  So I guess I'll just mail them to her.  Her older brother lives in Fairfield (or used to anyway), but I can't find him...his phone is unlisted and the phone number I had for him no longer works.

I went to Carlos O'Kelley's and bought lunch for all of us.  I took it out to Bryan's so I got to see Aidan.  He's still leery of me, but he likes to play peekaboo with me!  Sometime during lunch, I guess, I lost a filling on a tooth that will be prepped for a crown in January.  Unfortunately I'm afraid I can't wait to have it worked on.  It hasn't hurt yet, but I'll probably find a dentist Monday and see if I can get it fixed.  Grrr.....

Later this afternoon, Dave and I went out to see Kyle & Cassie's new acreage.  Nice house, but really dated.  They're working on it and it'll be nice some day.  Blaise was at Linda & Al's while his parents and other grandma were painting his room.  So on the way home from their house, we stopped by to see Blaise.  He's just a riot.  He just runs around, throwing balls at me, and generally being busy, busy.  When we left, he gave me a hug and a kiss!  It's nice having family near by!

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Woohoo!

I'm so easily pleased!  Our new countertops are in and the plumbing is hooked up...the water filter is working and now our ice doesn't taste funny!  We also went to Lowe's and picked up some samples of backsplash tiles.  I think we got 6-7 samples and I've narrowed my choices down to 3.  Actually I think I can get rid of one more...and it's the most expensive!!  Yay!

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Thursday

We have new countertops!!  They are really pretty.  Now we have to go pick out backsplash samples so we can choose what we want for our kitchen.  Everything worked out for today!  The plumber came early, unhooked the old sink, etc.  Tomorrow he'll come back to hook up the sink and put in the faucet.  I sure hope he comes early so we have a usable kitchen sink.  Even if you don't wash dishes by hand, you still use your kitchen sink many, many times during a day!

Lunch with Marsha & Ron was good!  We met them at LJ's and after lunch they came back here to see our place.  Then Ron had a tee time, so they didn't stay long.  We'll see them in Florida the end of October. The second plumber rescheduled.  So it was a good day.

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WednesdAY

I had a good day today.  I was able to get another 5 cards done this morning while Dave was out running errands.  When he came home, he asked if I wanted to go to IHop for lunch.  We had a gift card for there.  It was really good!  After we got home, we cleaned out the cupboards because the new countertops are supposed to be installed tomorrow.  Sure hope so!  We've also got a guy coming to change out our copper water pipes (the condo assn arranged for this) and a plumber putting in an under the counter sink and a water filter system.  Then we have lunch with Ann's brother and sister-in-law tomorrow.  Again, I wonder why everything happens on one day!

Now we're watching the Cubs.  Unfortunately they're getting beat tonight.  They've only got 1 more inning to make up 3 runs.  Grrr...

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It's Fall, Y'all

It was in the 80's here today and kind of humid...nothing like fall so far.  Tomorrow it's supposed to be a little cooler, but not a bunch cooler.  Gee, maybe we'll leave for Florida before we have to run the furnace.  Wouldn't that be nice!

Dave went fishing today and I worked on paperwork.  Tonight he tore off the backsplash and tomorrow he'll have to repair the walls to get ready for the new backsplash.  The countertops are to be here Thursday last we heard.  I hope so.

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Beautiful Monday

Dave and I had an adventure this morning.  We went to the Lake and rode our bikes a mile first.  Then we got in the boat and took it for a spin around the lake.  It was beautiful on the water today.  I enjoyed it a bunch.  The worst part for me was walking out on the dock - there were no rails and it was a floating dock so it was very unsteady.  We pretty much had the lake to ourselves.  There were a couple of kayakers but no other boats that we saw.

This afternoon we made crockpot lasagna and then Dave went to Bryan's to chop down some more brush.  He's having a ball!

Dave said to tell you that we took the SS Minnow out for a tour - not a 3 hour one, either...and we didn't get stranded on an isle!

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Sunday

I didn't post last night - we had a fun evening.  About 6:00 we went out to Bryan's for a bonfire.  Unfortunately, we had another engagement at 7:30 so we didn't get to stay long.  Why is it that you have two things to do one night, but nothing other nights?  Our other commitment was to me, et up with Linda and Al in Janesville to hear Clayton's family play and sing.  He, his dad, and brother, along with another guy played at this little dive bar in Janesville...it was a fun time.  The music was good and the company was better.  Kyle also came and brought Blaise.  Blaise is such a hoot!  He walked up to the stage, sat on the floor in front of the band, and looked up at Clayton watching him sing.  After every song, he would just smile and clap.  He's 16 mo old!!

It was a good day because I got to hold both Aidan and Blaise!!  Then we came home to catch the last quarter of the ISU game - double overtime...got beat.  I'm starting to believe that our offensive coordinator shouldn't be in that position any more.  His offense can't do shirt-without-the-r!!  I still love my Cyclones, though.

Today was good, too.  We went to church and then met Bryan, Erin, and Aidan at Newton's for lunch.  Aidan is pretty much a mommy's boy right now.  He doesn't even want Bryan to hold him, so I don't feel quite so bad.  I did get lots of smiles, and he came to me after Bryan picked him up, but as soon as I had him he wanted Erin.  Little squirt!

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Icky day

It was pretty icky here today.  It rained most of the day.  My poor little hummingbirds just sat on their feeders trying to stay dry.  There was one on each of our two feeders almost all day.

They just sit there all hunkered down...bless their hearts!

I was pretty bored today.  Dave went to help Kyle & Cassie move to their new acreage.  I stayed here and made some Christmas cards.  I also finished the Oct newsletter and calendar for Holiday Ranch.  Yay!  My desk looks really good, but my craft table is a MESS!  I've got 41 Christmas cards done and 4 more almost done.  I only have about 25 more to do!

Here's a picture of Aidan last week when we were out to dinner.  I finally got to hold him.  He's leery of me because he doesn't see me often.  He's a cutie!

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Thursday

Yay!  Cubs win again and Anthony Rizzo hit another home run.  I'm glad he's out of his little slump!  Unfortunately the Sox didn't fare as well.

We cleaned our condo today.  I vacuumed and dusted and cleaned the master bathroom.  Dave ran the swiffer and cleaned his bathroom.  He also had to run the vacuum in the main area of the house.  My back was killing me!  It was pouring down rain, so it was a good day to clean.

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Wednesday

One thing I'm not loving about retirement is that I often do not know what day it is!  As you noticed, I titled yesterday's post as Monday, when in fact it was Tuesday.  I guess I forgot to post on Monday.  Darn.

Today Dave made a quick trip to O-town to pick up his moving carts, etc.  Since he's going to help Kyle & Cassie move to their new acreage on Friday, he thought he'd like to have his moving carts!  They certainly helped make our move smooth.   I continued to work on paperwork today.  I paid bills and generally cleaned up my desk.

I made rice jambalaya for supper.  We love that!  We got some spicy salt from Tarpon Springs this spring and put some on our jambalaya...Dave put way too much on mine!  It was hot, hot, hot!!

Now we're watching the Cubs!

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Monday

If you weren't pulled down with gravity, you would blow away today!  It was really windy and I hear it's to be very windy again tomorrow.  I had the balcony door open this morning, but our chairs were blowing over one right after the other.  That noise made me jump, so I closed the door and it was much quieter!  The wind was blowing the cover on the grill so hard that it kept scaring off the hummingbirds.  Dave finally put a bungee cord over the cover so the hummers could eat again!

Dave went fishing this morning and I worked on paperwork.  I also finished 4 more Christmas cards. Since we didn't send out cards last year (I left them in Iowa), I thought I'd get the cards ready before we leave.  I'd better get busy, though.  I've still got about 40 more to do!

We were able to get a picture frame for our last 20x30 picture.  Got it at Michaels and had them cut us a couple of mats for it.  It really looks nice!  Then we were both able to get haircuts, too.

Tonight we're watching the Cubs.  I had to decide between them and DWTS.  Dancing was really good last night, but I'd rather watch the Cubs!!

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Sunday

Church was good today.  Pastor Amy's sermon was titled, "When God was a little girl."  I wondered where she was going with this.  She actually showed a video of a child's book with the same title.  It was very good.  After church we came home, had a bowl of chili outside, and then Dave left to pick up a brush cutter for Bryan so I had the afternoon to watch the Cubs.  I'm thinking I'm going to stop watching my favorite teams, cause in the last two days my teams are 0-4!  Not such good odds!

This evening we watched The Express, a movie about Ernie Davis, the first African-American Heisman Trophy winner.  If you haven't seen it, you should.  It's very good!

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Well, poop!

We had a fun day.  We went to Williamsburg to watch Vicki's team play softball.  They won two in a row, which put them in the championship game.  Unfortunately, they lost that game.  Allison pitched the second game and really pitched well.  She had a good day at bat, too.  I didn't hear how she did in the championship game.  We came home after two games.  I'm burned!  It was supposed to be cool today - wrong!  It was downright hot sitting in the sun.

When we got home, I watched the ISU-Iowa football game.  It was a good game, well played on both sides until the last 4 minutes of the game.  Actually I felt our guys came out of halftime a little conservative.  Oh well, the sun will come out tomorrow!

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Chilly

It sure turned chilly up here this afternoon!  I had to dig out a sweatshirt even.  We had a good day, though.  We were able to eat out on the balcony for lunch.  We went out for supper.  Met Bryan, Erin, and Aidan at Mulligan's Bar in Cedar Falls.  We had pizza while Aidan had peas, chicken, french fries, a few bites of pizza crust, and some bites of tomatoes off of our pizza.  He's such a doll!  I took some pix tonight, but I haven't uploaded them.  Maybe tomorrow.

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Thursday

I think that fall has arrived!  Today was a perfect fall day.  You could almost smell fall! I opened all of the windows and the balcony door and let God's air in the house...it was wonderful.  We ate our meals outside today and got up close and personal with the hummingbirds.  At first they were scared, but they ended up feeding from both of the feeders while we were out there.  As I got up to come in, one female or juvenile male came up to me like he was checking me out.  I wondered if he would land on my hand, but he/she didn't.  It was quite an experience.

I worked at my desk all day and I've still got at least another day of working there.

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Beautiful day!

This day was what I would call perfect - mid 70s and  no humidity!  The sun was plentiful - true football weather!

Dave and I got the bikes out today.  We only rode a mile, but that was good enough until I get my lung capacity back.  Maybe we can ride 2 miles tomorrow.  After a wonderful lunch at Olive Garden, Dave worked on his boat most of the afternoon.  I worked on paperwork but didn't get done.  I've got more to do tomorrow.

Tonight we ate on the balcony and were entertained by the hummers!  They're getting used to our being there with them.

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PEO

I visited a PEO chapter today and enjoyed it very much.  It's a good thing the president picked me up.  I probably would have been lost!  The meeting was actually in Cedar Falls, but I don't have this town figured out yet!  The meeting went until about noon so Dave had lunch figured out and started cooking burgers as soon as I walked in.

There was some urgency for lunch because Dave and I both had dr's appointments to establish care.  Our Dr is of Indian descent but went to Michigan State to school.  She was very nice and very thorough.  Both of us liked her a lot!  We'll see her when we return in the spring.

Now we're watching the Cubs lead the Cardinals!  Yay!  I hope I didn't jinx the Cubbies...it was 8-0 when I wrote this.  Now it's 8-5 with 1 out in the 9th...make that 2 out in the bottom of the 9th...Come on Cubs, finish this!

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HAPPY LABOR-LESS DAY!

I guess I have this every day (if I want)!!  We had a nice day here...a little rain overnight, but not bad today.  Dave says we're to get more tomorrow.

Dave went out to Bryan's this afternoon.  Helped him put down a laminate floor in his office.  It really looks nice!  Tomorrow evening they're going to move the furniture into it.

As for me, I tried to make a couple of cards, but I was very shaky so I stopped.  I'm afraid I'm getting even shakier than I was.  Yuck.

I didn't do much other than watch the Cubs annihilate the Cardinals...yay!!  Great game!!

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Another warm one!

We were busy today.  We went to church and didn't even go out to eat afterwards.  We came home so that I could make the pudding for homemade ice cream and chill it for a while.  I also needed to bake a pan of brownies.  While the pudding was chilling, I got the brownies made and then about 3:00 we froze the ice cream.  It only took about 45 minutes so we had to pack it and keep it frozen until after supper.  We went to Bryan's about 4:45 and enjoyed Erin's family and watching Aidan entertain!  He is a cutie!  I took a picture of him, but for some reason it didn't take.  It wasn't on my card when I got home.

On our way home, the sunset was GORGEOUS!  These pictures do not do it justice!

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Woohoo!

I like days like this.  Not only did the Cubs win, but so did my Cyclones!  I like winning.  I'd like us to do more of it!

I'm watching Paul Rhoads' press conference.  He's a class act!  So much enthusiasm!  And the addition to the stadium is awesome.  Quite impressive!

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Friday

I had another sleepless night last night.  I was still awake at 4:24, but I must have fallen asleep shortly after that.  Dave woke me at 8:00 so I got about 3 1/2 hours of sleep!  I tried to nap this morning, but after 20 minutes some solicitor called and the phone woke me.  So, hopefully I'll sleep really well this afternoon.

Dave went to Bryan's to paint the boat trailer and mow Bryan's yard for him.  When he got home, he took a shower while I watched the Cubs game.  We went to 4 Queens after that and to HyVee.  I just needed to get out and I needed an ice cream cone.

It was a good day for my Cubbies!  The White Sox aren't looking too shabby either!  Hopefully they'll not lose their 7 run lead.

We don't have any plans for tomorrow.  But Sunday after church, we're making brownies and homemade ice cream to take to Bryan's for supper with them and Erin's folks.  Finally we're going to make homemade ice cream.  It's been almost 2 years since we've made any.  Bryan thought that sounded very good.

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Summer is back!

Yes, summer is back.  It was 92 here today and only 91 in O-town.  Isn't it supposed to be warmer the farther south you go?  Something else to ponder!

Dave went fishing this morning and then when he got home, he worked with a couple of the men here to try to find a leak down in the basement.

Another thing I'm pondering...I have shorts where the zipper is sewn in as if they were men's shorts I think.  The ones I have on today are correct, but the ones I had on yesterday I have to zip with my left hand.  Weird!

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We had a good day today.  Dave left here around 8:00 or so to go fishing in his little boat.  He actually left around 6:30 but it started raining on him so he came back home.  He said he enjoyed himself but didn't catch any fish.  He had a bite or two but no luck landing anything.  While he was gone, I went to Walmart for some picture frames and some groceries.  I found some boneless pork ribs that looked wonderful, so I put them in the slow cooker for us for tonight.  Mmm...mmmm - they were delicious!  I also bought some Rhodes frozen rolls and sat 9 of them out to rise.  Unfortunately they rose to past double and I had to cook them at 3:00 PM so we had a little snack in the afternoon!

Bryan sent us a video of Aidan last night...he's learned something new!

I sure hope you can see this - he's so cute!!

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Tuesday

I felt better this morning, so Dave and I took the bikes and went to Big Woods Lake to ride.  We got to the back side of the lake, so about 1/2 mile when my bike blew a tire!  We've decided that there must be a nail sticking up on the bridge or something because there was a definite puncture in the tire!  So tomorrow Dave is going fishing early in the morning and while he's there he's going to check the bridge to see if there's a nail or something sticking out of one of the boards.  While I was waiting for Dave to come pick me up, I met a nice couple who winter in Dunedin, but used to have a place on Ulmerton.  Nice couple!

Now we're watching the Cubs.  Sure wish they'd get their bats to working!

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