Jenn's passing

35 degrees as I start this at 9:30 pm Wednesday evening here in Cape Girardeau, MO.

This is niece Jennifer Lynne Miles' high school graduation photo.

This morning, at 12:20 am she passed away at Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau.  She had one kidney removed several years ago and for some time had trouble with the remaining kidney, which was finally removed in August.  At that time they found Cancer around that last kidney as well as in the liver, and lungs.  It was stated it was in stage 4.  She was having much back and leg pain and after receiving dialysis for a month or so was finally hospitalized and tests showed cancer in the back; the tumor had cracked a vertebrae and was causing pressure on the spinal cord giving much pain.  She was hospitalized at that time and given some radiation to try to shrink the tumor away from the pressure points.

She was advised there was nothing that could be done except to help her be comfortable as possible.  She finally quit dialysis 10 days ago and was put on hospice this last week, being moved from the hospital to the care center.

Our daughter, Michelle, came from near Columbus, OH about 2 weeks ago and has spent most of her time with Jenn.  The last couple nights someone stayed throughout the night.  She was in quite distress the last three hours of her life with her dad, Don Miles, Michelle, Phyllis, myself and a close friend Marcie Ridenour at her bedside and trying to ease her pain and fear.    Over the last couple weeks she has had literally hunderds of friends calling on her.

A memorial service for Jenn Miles will be held at Ford & Sons Funeral Homes,  

1001 N Mt Auburn Rd, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701  at 6:00 pm Friday, December 2, 2016. 

We will stay here in Cape Girardeau until Saturday when we will go north to Iowa, stopping at our home in Clarinda briefly to pick up some shop items to take them to our place in Texas.

Later, Lynn

In Cape Girardeau, MO

26º here in Cape Girardeau, MO at 5:45 am as I start this blog this morning.

Photo at right is of my niece, Jenny Miles, taken last week as she lay in bed in hospice care here in Cape Girardeau.  Without either kidney and cancer in many parts of her body, she went off dialysis a week ago yesterday and is slowly leaving us.  I have to report that Jenn is not now as alert as she shows in this photo.

Phyllis had baked 5 turkeys.

We decided a week or so ago to come up here from La Feria, TX, to be with her, and my brother Don at this time.

making the mashed potatoes.

Phyllis was in charge of the Thanksgiving dinner there in Kenwood RV Park and had around 90 people sign up for the dinner.   About 76 turned up and we had plenty of extra turkey, dressing, potatoes and gravy that the Park furnished and volunteers prepared.

All brought side dishes of vegetables, salads, deserts, etc.

 With two serving lines for the 4 basic items and then lines going down both sides of the three tables of other food, it didn't take too long for everyone to get their plates filled.

Think everyone got their fill and enjoyed each other's company.  We left the hall when we were done eating and pulled out of the park at 1:13 pm heading the 1140 miles to Cape Girardeau.

By not pulling our travel-trailer, Phyllis shared the driving and we pulled into Red Roof Inn in Waco, TX well after dark about 8:30 pm, driving 448 miles since 1:13 pm.

The next morning it was raining and we drove in rain for couple hours.  We were sticking entirely to Interstate roads and had even taken the Pickle Parkway which is some 130 mile tollway around some of San Antonio and all of Austin, Texas.  This is an 80 mph road, though we did not drive that fast, and had lighter traffic than I 35 for that distance.  The toll is to be mailed to us, but I understand it is something under $20 for this privilege of avoiding the I 35 traffic.

Coming to Dallas, on I 35E

Faded fall color in trees east of Dallas

Our daughter, Michelle, who lives near Columbus, Ohio, had been with her cousin in the hospital and then later at the nursing home for the last two weeks.  We had supper with her Friday night after driving some 700 miles and getting to Cape Girardeau around 7:00 pm and visiting a short time with niece Jenn.

Something we don't see in the Rio Grande Valley now is the bright color of this red maple that is in front of my brother's house here in Cape.

Yesterday, Saturday, we spent time at the nursing home with Jenn and also at my brother, Don & his wife Vicki's home.  (In photo at left)

My brother, Darrell, had driven from Miami and he and his wife spent time with us.

At right is Darrell's wife, Lin, and Phyllis.  These three photos are in Don's house.

Several visits to Jenn during the day (someone is with her most of the time).

Last evening the three brothers, wives, and our daughter Michelle, all went to a buffet just north of Cape Girardeau.  Darrell & Lin are leaving this morning heading back to Miami.  Michelle may need to leave by this Tuesday; and we plan to stay several more days.

We are staying in "the big house" on the hill in the complex where my brother and his wife have their residence.  It has many houses, apartments, nursing facilities, etc.  The "big house" is some 4 stories tall and is center for meals, nursing care, and they maintain several apartments for guests of anyone who lives on the facility.  At $50 a night it is less expensive than motel and only a couple minutes drive to brother's house and about 5 minutes drive to facility where Jenn is.

More later, Lynn

On way to Cape Girardeau, MO

55 degrees here in Waco, TX.  Helped serve Thanksgiving dinner yesterday at the Rec Hall in Kenwood RV and then we pulled out at 1:13 pm.  Drove 438 miles to Waco, TX got here about 8:30 pm.  Up this morning for about 700 more miles and an 11 hour drive.

My niece is in her final days in Hospice in Cape Girardeau and we want to be there for her, and my brother at this time of great stress on him.

Will post more, when pictures when have time.

Later, Lynn

Thanksgiving week.

67º here in La Feria, TX as I start this at 8:40 am Monday.  33º at our home in Clarinda, IA.

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 Phyllis coordinated the biscuits & gravy with scrambled eggs breakfast for about 20 people Saturday morning at the Rec Hall.

Lois Sumner

The Creasey's, Lawrence Ferguson & Don Unger

Lawrence Ferguson, Don Unger and Marion & Ardel Finken

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Bobbi Raab's lemon tree

Bobbi Raab's Lemon tree

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Clusters of Grapefruit

We picked Grapefruit

Bob & Bobbi Raab - this is for you.  The house by Bob's daughter's place is gone.

Gives a different look!

Friday night we had about an inch of rain in 15 minutes as the cold front came through.  High winds - note all the palm tree stuff here.  TV reported 57 mph winds in Harlingen - just a few miles from us.

Oranges & grapefruit hanging
in our sunroom

Local grocery store, HEB, put on dinner
for 9,000 people last week.  The newspaper
article said they put this on in 33 cities across
southern Texas before Thanksgiving, serving
250,000 free meals.

Look at the amount of food served at this one location

We did not go to this meal, but think quite a few Winter Texans do.  It is for all customers of HEB.










This is the week of Thanksgiving and Phyllis is in high gear.  Most of the food has been bought and put in the kitchen, refrigerator or freezer.  We pick up 5 turkeys that will be thawed out on Wednesday.  She will fix the dressing before hand, the mashed potatoes and gravy on Thursday morning and the Turkeys baked Thursday morning.  Have something over 80 people signed up to attend.  All will bring pot-luck to add to the Turkey, potatoes, gravy and dressing.

Weather is forecast to be in the low to mid 80's all this week, with lows in the 60's.  Not bad weather.

Later, Lynn

Another week in the valley

77º in La Feria, TX real muggy with cold front and possible rain approaching as I start this at 6:30 pm on Friday.  Had been 86º earlier in the day.  High tomorrow is predicted to be 65º.

Taken about 5:00 pm

Storm clouds - had some distant thunder -- unusual
here in the valley.

Taken over the top of our house, looking to the north east.  The sun hitting the white tops of clouds was a lot brighter than showing up in the photos.

Gave some floor vents a paint job and drying them in the sun.

Betty and Felix Paterak and Pat Sumner

Thursday was the first "meet and greet" get-together and had pretty good percentage of people show up.

Don't know the lady - behind her is Mac Laster

Brenda and Ed Wood are the two to the right.

Donna Montgomery is standing behind Felix Paterak and
Pat Sumner with Lois Sumner to the right.

Ron Siegfried, Darlene Winslow, Brenda Wood, Robert Randolph
with Phyllis behind.

Had a small water leak near the clothes washer -- finally figured it was coming from the wall where the pipes come up to the washer.  Had to take the wall off, including the upper portion in the picture to the left so could get to the pipes. 

Turned out to be the metal clamp at the coupling to the hot water faucet.  Seems like this 24-year old fitting wanted to leak.  I got some pex pipe and replaced the ends to both of them and now it is dry.

One day Phyllis trimmed up "old baldy"

One day we drove west to Pharr, TX to the Costco store (Gas at $1.74) and on the way back stopped in Weslaco at Garcia's Hamburger.  You notice there are no signs of any kind on their building. 

We are told they are listed as a grocery store (note the little shelves at the left of this photo) and somehow avoid some restaurant rules.  They bring in quarters or halves of beef and cut it up and grind it all in to hamburger.  Some of the best hamburger you will ever eat.  They have the grill at the back and tell you "20 minutes" when you put in your order.  They only sell hamburger, cheeseburger, french fries and onion rings. 

We just get one order of onion rings and one hamburger. 

This is half of the order and all one person can eat.  And, REALLY REALLY GOOD! 

Thursday morning we finally moved the pickup load of fabric we had brought from home and bought in Batesville, Arkansas on the way down.  Some of it went to the sewing building and most went to the Friendship Room where several ladies sorted and sewed.

Got the flower basket mounted on the end of the shop area. 

Much was made of the "super moon" last week.  We had clouds during all but a little of the last day of it.  This photo I purloined from Facebook -- taken in Nebraska.  It is a time lapse and shows the earth station multiple times going across the moon.

More later, Lynn