This week has given us much joy and presented me some challenges too. It was definitely a busy time with extra people visiting us, but I seem to be pretty much back to my normal self, health-wise, so it went quite well. Still following doctor’s orders with lifting and some of the housework, but I am walking and enjoying more activities each day. It feels good to be out and about again!
My mom has one sister still living out of her five siblings. She has been staying with her son and daughter-in-law in Parker, Colorado, for the past several weeks. They surprised us with a four day visit this past week, and my mom and her sister, Lois, were able to be together again after a three year absence of seeing one another. What fun that was, not only for mom, but for all of us. We did a lot of eating, laughing, and visiting about “stuff”, both old and new. And my dad sure enjoyed our visits at Maple Lawn too.
Both my mom and her sister enjoy the outdoors and are able to walk and get around quite well for their ages, 88 and 91. One day we spent a long afternoon in the Pipestone area, hiking the trail at the Pipestone National Monument and enjoying the warm sunshine and pretty landscape and flowers. By the time we finished sight seeing and doing a little shopping at the nearby gift shop, we came home ready to rest! Between all of the fresh air and walking around, we all seemed to need to get some renewed strength! But we managed to get some great pictures and make some new memories.
Another day my cousin, his wife, my aunt and myself took a little drive to End of the Line Railroad Park. We so enjoyed a two hour tour with a young gal that was so personable and knowledgeable. The “Coloradoites” just thoroughly enjoyed their time there, and had many questions. Some times we think there isn’t too much interesting to show visitors, but really if we just think a little bit, there is a lot to see and experience right here in SW Minnesota!
One morning our visitors accompanied me to Fulda to buy feed at The Feed Shak. They were interested in what Lloyd Winter had to tell them about his products and business. Another spot they enjoyed was “The Farmers Daughter” as we purchased some great sweet corn and melons. These relatives lived in a congested part of California for many years, and this slower pace of our little Minnesota town appealed to them. Before we drove back home, we stopped at the Depot for a couple treasures that they found.
Lacey, their little dog, made the trip with them. She has only lived with them for a couple weeks and came from an animal shelter. One evening she got loose, and the hunt was on, down the gravel roads and into the ditches. I did not know if they would find her, but when my cousin came back up the lane, there she was waiting on our deck by the door! Thank goodness!! So glad she had the good sense to return “home” on her own.
They had only been gone a couple hours on Saturday when our daughter-in-law, Heather, and her seven daughters arrived for a few days. We remade the beds, cooked up some of that good sweet corn, and began our visit over supper. They had been looking forward to a Hallmark movie, so we ended the night all curled up in the living room enjoying it together. We have missed having our son, Mark, here with them, but his work schedule didn’t allow him to get away this time.
Grandpa Pete sure enjoyed their visit to the nursing home on Sunday night. It really perked him up, and they can always make him smile! We sat out on the patio with our chairs all around him, and his eyes and just kept hopping from one young voice to another. When the weather gets colder, I think he will really miss being able to get outside and enjoy that visiting spot.
After a little shopping and another visit to see grandpa, we ended up with an evening of swimming. Because of my surgery, I wasn’t able to get into the pool yet, but the girls and their momma sure had fun! Even though none of us remembered to bring towels….it all turned out fine! Home to popcorn and blankets and more movies!! I’ll probably find those corn kernels for days to come…
The week has flown by with all of the activity, and we have been so blessed with family coming. This week I will get to spend a couple days with my sister near Omaha. That is always a treat for me, and I am looking forward to it. While I am doing that, my husband, Dan, will go on his first airplane flight without me to Denver. He is going out to help our youngest son, Peter, and his family move back to this area. So now we have new adventures to look forward to, having grandchildren living within just a few miles of us! That should bring sunshine and smiles to the cold winter ahead!!
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