Old Folks At Home

I am spending the week in La Crosse, WI visiting my folks...been here since Sunday evening. Three weeks ago my 86 year old dad took a fall in the garage. His foot slid under the door of their van and his knee hit the underside of the frame, breaking the kneecap. He had surgery to repair it two weeks ago and is no in recovery and rehab at the Hillview Care Center, basically a nursing home. My dad had some serious mobility issues before the fall, and I would put the odds that he is able to walk again (with the aid of a walker) at 25% or less. He's losing strength and balance just sitting in a chair or lying in bed all day and night. he does go to physical therapy twice a day but I don't think that it's enough to build any strength. While Im here I am helping them to be more comfortable and happy with the current situation (he's going to be here at least another month) and will be trying to ready them for what's to come. Today there is going to be a conference with his care team so I hope that there will be a little more light shed on dad's current state and what is ahead. It has been hot here...100 degrees both Monday and Tuesday...and pretty humid too. I'm loving it! Last night there was a little lightning in the air to spice things up a bit. I'm hoping for storms this evening. I'll get some pictures and try to past them later.

The Deer Hunter

Earlier I was lamenting the inactivity that has been characteristic of our cul-de-sac.  Well, I was out there again this evening, at the end of a beautiful day (more on that below), and the activity picked up considerably.

Just about sunset a young deer found her way into the neighborhood and was having a very difficult time finding her way out.  That provided about as much excitement as I could handle.

I mentioned the beauty of the day, and to add to that I can say "It's about *#$& time!  The official high at the airport today was 98 degrees, and since the airport is about the chilliest spot in the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene metro area most spots were no doubt up to 100.  Yes!!!  Things are looking just about as nice again tomorrow.  No if we could just have this kind of weather for 9 months out of the year, and the other 3 we would cool back to the 70s and 80s we'd be onto something great.  So much for pipe dreams!

Not A Creature is Stirring

Last evening, our first real nice warm evening of the summer season (I know, I know, some of you think that it was hot), we were parked on the porch to enjoy the world around us.  We sat out there for a couple of hours and the following is a list of all that happened.

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That pretty well sums it up.  Not one person emerged other than from their house to garage to automobile to points unknown.  The only excitement was watching Junior the cat, across the street, wander out of from underneath the garage door and collapse in slumber on the driveway.  Seeing that the weather today will be even better...a handful of degrees warmer...I am sure that we will be out there again this afternoon waiting for more excitement.  I want to thank all of the people of the eastern 2/3s of the nation for finally sharing some of their heat with us.

Speaking of excitement, today we have our St. John's Church Picnic after our worship service.  Things will be getting underway picnic-wise at about 11:00am (worship is at 9:30).  There will be brats, burgers and dogs with all the trimmings, and whatever other wonders that the folks in the congregation pack in with them this morning.  Pot-Luck is always an adventure...in a good way.

St John Picnic Lunch

If you know me at all the title of this post seems to be something to yawn at. I spend at least 6 days a week at St. John's...Lutheran Church that is...so what would be the big deal of having a picnic lunch there? Actually, the thought of it is kind of pathetic since today is a holiday and I was supposed to be taking the day off. That is just what I did. After an early (well, not that early) morning tennis romp...I played pretty well...I came home and my bride said, "Why don't we take a drive?" I suggested that we take picnic lunch to enjoy somewhere along the way, so the cooler was packed and off we went. The idea was to head south and west, to places that we never had been before. We turned off Hwy 195 a little before Spangle and wound our way across the northern Palouse. We hit Mauldin and Fall City, then St John. That's where lunch broke out. St John is a pretty little town with a little city park right in the middle. From there we headed farther south to Endicott, then over to Winona and Benge, finally heading back north toward Ritzville. A turn to the right had us headed for Lamont, which could only be accessed by about a 10 mile stretch of gravel road. What an adventure! We hit home a little after 4:00pm, and now it's just about time for a cocktail and the ignition of the Coleman Campfire Tripod Grill. Butterflied chicken with southwestern beans and salad is on the menu this evening.