How to Dance In The Rain

How to Dance in the Rain
It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.
On exam, it was well healed, so I got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning,

As he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I inquired as to her health.

He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.

He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said,

'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought,

'That is the kind of love I want in my life.'

True love is neither physical, nor romantic.

True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

Should I call the Plumber?

This is what I saw when I came home yesterday.

Dewey's head was under the sink fixing a leak and the dryer was pulled out to clean the vent. "Honey, I am trying here, this is not my gifting but I 'm trying for you" Dewey said. I told him that he was doing GREAT! He got up , greeted me with a kiss then we ran to Menards - he had already been there four times. We did a bunch of cleaning and then relaxed for the night. big sigh....it was a very nice evening. Uneventful. That's how we like it.

Vuoi PER PASTIFICI

You want Pasta? Dewey woke up this morning playing the Italian lover - he did the whole voice and hand gestures. I was smiling so big my cheeks hurt. It all started when I asked him if I should make pasta for him to go with the Chicken and Alfredo sauce he made earlier this week. We also made Ravioli and The Big Sexy made pasta for the D team. (Dewey's crew at New Page) So Dewey says he turned Italian over night. He spent 15 minutes playing an Italian lover he did this whole improvisation thing. He is so good at that. He sure keeps me laughing. A girl likes an accent for sure. When he started talking Minnesotan - he saw the disappointing look on my face - I guess I really got into his character I love You Dewey

Home Made Chicken Soup

Maddison has been ill. Who do you call? Grandma - asking her to make her chicken rice soup Yummy! I have memories of walking in the door from grade school and smelling that chicken soup , fresh laundry and homemade cookies. My kids are enjoying this soup just the same. My wonderful mother would make this for Maddy in a heart beat but this week she was not up to it. "Jennifer" she said "you will have to do it" "I can do it" I repeated to myself trying to believe.

I have raised children for 18 years now- wow! that surprises me every time I say that out loud! I fed them - of course - but I never really got the hang of real cooking - like the meals my grandma and mother make- they can look in the fridge and say "I will whip something up quick, if you want to stay and eat" They would call us to the table 35 minutes later with chicken and rice and potatoes and squash and cucumbers and carrots and bread and they will even pull out dessert. For me to do that takes planning and shopping and calling my mother to ask her - what goes with rice?

My mom raddled of the recipe - boil a small chicken for an hour - remove and cool- use the juices for the stock - "stock?" put onions (make sure their small so the kids will eat 'em) carrots - celery - beans -any veggie you want really. Take the meat off the bone- put the meat in the soup add brown rice and cook for another 45 minutes.

Wait a minute....take the meat off the bone? This is really going to be made with LOVE!

Ok...If I am going to do this I want to do it right. Maddy has been sooo sick. feverish- extremely tired-swollen glands-stomach ache and nausea. If she is craving grandmas soup then I need to make grandmas soup. I went to the grocer , bought all the ingredients and started in. I was chopping green onions, yellow onions , celery, yellow peppers, carrots, fresh green beans, I even grabbed squash. I called to check in with my mom to tell her how I was doing "leave the squash out" my mom said....everything else sounds great. It sounded good to me - mom says it is a little too sweet for this soup -


Maddy was hesitant of my cooking abilities. She was watching me and keeping me company - trying to stay awake and she was drooling over the thought of fresh hot soup. She was sure to critique my every move- grandma does not do it that way. She even called my mother to check on the recipe. "Do you put green beans in your soup?"

After 2 1/2 hours of boiling and peeling and grading and chopping and slicing it was done!

Maddison took one bite and said "YUM!" "fantastic!" "what did I hear?" O nothing-with a gigantic smile on her face.

I will post the recipe...It is delish

That felt good - I think I can handle this one again. We have eaten it for two days and froze several containers too. Dewey woke up just when I was finishing up around 10 am. He was on nights and was on his way to read at Pdogs classroom. Sounded like you were chopping down a plastic tree for about an hour. I tilted my head and smiled " You could hear that honey?"

He leaned in and kissed me - That's my 'Puddin :)


We then headed for the doctor and found out she has Mono hmmm?
Love Jennifer

Track O Rama

Pdog received a second place ribbon for the 50 yard dash in the All-Area School Track O Rama. It took place at UWS. GO Pdog! We are proud of you!

My new dining room table

When my mom and dad put on a new front door to their home I knew I needed to take the original door.

My dad made that door 40 years ago!

I now have a dining room table made from this awesome door. I left everything original (for now anyway)

I took off the hinges and handle. Macy has them displayed in her room. I took off one layer of poly and used 4x4 posts for the legs. I will - someday - refinish the entire table. For now I am enjoying it just the way it is..it's cool..it was made by my dad....it looks great in my house.

Parker knew I was searching for months for the perfect chairs. He spotted a pile of chairs on a trailer outside a local restaurant that was being remodeled. For sale! Awesome find PDog. $2.20 each! I had the truck this weekend and we piled them in. I called my mom and brother "Any one need chairs?" I bought 28 chairs that day. I kept 12. I spent another three weeks looking for the perfect material to cover these chairs. I found some gorgeous chocolate brown material with embossed leaves and flowers. They turned out so Cute! I love my table

The funny part of finding the chairs was that Dewey was being dropped off by his buddy Hollywood that day. Hollywood just happened to be 'complaining' about his wife coming home with junk. Rummage sales- junk sales...etc Dewey was telling Hollywood " Jen really doesn't do that" just as they turn the corner to our home, Hollywood smiled when he saw 28 chairs lined in the drive. Dewey shakes his head "that's my 'puddin"

Love Jennifer


I know I know...the carpet is bad! Look beyond it...I do.
I will show you later when we rip it out...It will be a few months. The question is should it be before the grad party in June?

The rest of the house is great- it has been an empty canvas. I like that.

The Apostle Island Ice Caves

The kids and I went
with the Adventure Group through church to the Apostle Island Ice Caves.

Maddison mentioned she wanted to go with a friend, I figure we should go as a family instead. Another bonding moment. I find it harder to get us all together, doing something we all enjoy. Two teen girls and an active sporty 12 year old boy....it takes some creativity. We were to meet at the church at 9:30 am last Saturday. I told everyone to get their stuff and be in the car by 8:45am sharp! I wanted to stop for donuts and coffee.

I have a rule "no micro managing the children" even if it kills me..and sometimes it does. It was 32 degrees and sunny but breezy. Nice day, yes but still winter and we are spending the day on Lake Superior in ice caves. So what do my children wear? tennis shoes, no hats, no gloves!!! Yes we are tough - we can handle the cold and outdoors but come on .....I park the car and walk over to the van waiting for us to carpool together, I peek in and everyone else is dressed for winter-snow pants-boots-hats-everything you would expect. I took a deep sigh and prayed for patience. We arrived to the south shore an hour later.




We truck on down to the lake and instantly we were in this new beautiful world. We walk a well worn path to the caves along the shore line. We saw the most beautiful ice and rocks - we thought we would not see anything more beautiful then we would turn another corner along the jagged shore and see another one of God's beautiful creations. Here are some photos of our day. We came home 'bonded' tired and hungry. I enjoyed to spend time with the kids and watching them laugh and smile. It was a very good day
And the kids were just fine- a little cold but - just fine. (I bought extra gloves)
Love Jennifer

Bonding Over Panties

On the way to Fleetwood we did stop at Rue 21 and I bought 35$ in panties. Dewey was proud of me..I picked them out in 7 minutes flat!
Girls love new panties.
We had cotton and lace. Boy cut and hip hugger. Pink, brown blue, red, stripped and polka dot.Some with sequins, beads, letters and flowers- 35 different styles.

I called the girls upstairs. Told the boys "stay out!" - not an easy task for a 12 year old boy!- Pdog thought of several ways to come upstairs-he could not stand it that we had secrets. I insisted he stay down in the troll hole.
We sat at the kitchen island,together,the panties laid out. M&M had huge smiles on their faces- girls love panties!. They were sizing up their favorites and deciding which ones to nab before the other 'called' that pair. I told them to look and hold off grabbing. I took out my note book and said "OK, Here are the rules, before you pick you must say one of three things to your sister" It must include what you LOVE about your sister, what you WISH for your sister or what you DREAM for your sister. It was so fun to hear them reminisce of the days they laughed until they peed their pants. Ate too much peanut butter right out of the jar and what they wish for each other in the future. We laughed and told stories. (while Pdog tried to spy on us) I wrote them all down. It was a good reminder to us - sisters are great!

It goes to show you that memories can be made from the simplest of things....even pretty panties.
Love Jennifer

I love You

Ti amo

Rock N Roll

Dewey surprised me with Fleetwood Mac tickets! We leave tomorrow for St.Paul. I am SOOO very excited. I have always wanted to see them in concert. I love this about Dewey , he loves concerts and he loves music....all kinds. Some I won't mention...but he tells me he is a "Big boy". Mostly I like his taste, it is a little bit of everything.Except country.
Dewey says "This is your day honey, tell me when we leave & where we are stopping" He asked if Ikea is on the list. Usually yes, but we will skip that place this time. Maybe a couple second hand stores. Maybe Rue 21. I like to get M&M panties there. TMI - I know, but it's true, they have a huge bin, they come in every color and style. There is 50 different kinds and every pair is 99 cents. They are pretty too.

Love Jennifer

In God's Country.

My darling husband and I set out Saturday for a date in God's country. I packed my lipstick, put on a couple layers of lounge pants, and grabbed my pink Stormy Kromer and we set out for Mahtowa to get on the sleds. When we got to the end of the in-laws drive Dewey gave me the Cadillac of the two - how sweet is that? It was below zero and sunny. We were headed to Kettle River. As I followed him I was in awe of the beautiful nature. The trees were all trimmed with white snow. As we were winding through the woods I had a smile on my face one because the sled Dewey traded me for was pulling him all over the trail and two It is fun to play with Dewey. Before we left Carol asked Dewey if he was taking me to lunch at the new bar and grill in Kettle River. So I was also thinking how hungry I was for a burger and a beer. I was hoping he grabbed his wallet. There was a two mile bumpy stretch that nearly put me to sleep. I was like an infant being bounced around. I was very happy when he pulled into the grill.I am so blessed to have him in my life. I took the lead after lunch and saw so much wildlife- a dozen deer or so, we stopped and watched them prance through the woods. I stopped to watch a porcupine 15 feet in up in a tree and I stopped to take a closer look at a partridge bouncing around a small bush. We put on 60 miles. It was a beautiful day in God's Country and a day full of fun and laughter with my husband.

Love Jennifer