Cousin's gathering in Clarinda

 68º with heavy overcast here in Clarinda, IA at 2:00 pm Wednesday.  Scattered showers forecast.  Have had nearly 2" of rain over last 4 days or so.

Monday we went to Judy Heuer's as did Joyce & Loren Tornholm, Larry and Linda Gutherie, Jan & Lynn Frye -- Judy, Joyce, Jan and Larry (Brother and sisters) are all first Cousins of Phyllis'.

Today I looked at a bunch of photo files on the computer and came up with pictures from 2016, 2023, 2024, and 2025 and made an album where you can look at all by CLICKING HERE

Haven't gotten out and done much this week so far.  Went for my Physical Therapy session (about leg pain/numbness) yesterday.  Will have another on Thursday and then have consultation with Dr. Berkey in Omaha next to hear here ideas after x-rays and MRI a couple weeks ago.  While in Omaha we will meet with friends Tom and Lisa Urban from Pennsylvania who live a few houses from us in Kenwood RV Park.  They will come to our place that evening and stay overnight before going to Fort Dodge, IA to visit family.

To have Cataract Eye Surgery on my left eye in Red Oak Hospital Friday morning.  The following week we will be involved with the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Music Festival at the High School.  Phyllis is in charge of Ushering and lining up people.  With my eyes not able to have glasses following surgery on both of them I'm not sure how I will see things, but will make an appearance.

"Decoration Day" 2025

 Today is "Decoration Day", at least that is what Mom always called it many, many years ago.  What is formally known as Memorial Day now.  Because they always went to the cemetery and decorated the gravestones.  Today is the 17th anniversary of my sister Louise's funeral here in Clarinda.

     Phyllis picked many of the peonies from the back yard and we spent an hour or so at the cemetery here in Clarinda before noon.

She spent time cutting, sorting and arranging.

In the back of the pickup and we were on our way.

On the left is stone of Phyllis' parents Melvin and Pauline Cabbage.  On the right is stone of her Dad's sister Millicent and Ed Guthrie.

Getting the flowers from back of pickup and making sure the plastic containers were full of water.

Stone of Phyllis' mother's parents Lester and Etta Runyan.

Stone of Phyllis' dad's parents, Ed & Edna Cabbage.

Stone of Phyllis' cousin Carrol Sandahl Yei.  She was granddaughter of Ed & Millicent Guthrie and daughter of Joyce Guthrie Torhnholm.

Stone of my sister Louise Miles.  As I stated above, her funeral was 17 years ago today.  Still missed.

Stone of our daughter-in-law Patty Miles' parents Fred & Fern Baze.

Clarinda Regional Health Center -- Wellness Roots Ribbon Cutting

68º with sunny sky here in Clarinda, IA at 5:48 pm Thursday.

Here is something for you to listen to: CLICK HERE 

We attended the ribbon cutting of the Wellness Roots Ribbon Cutting   just a block east of our house yesterday.

This is the ribbon cutting -- we are sitting at a table behind all the crowd, eating some vegetables and lemonade they were serving.  At least I did.  Phyllis had some cookies.

Here we are at the table.

Phyllis getting a snack

Well, here is an exciting photo.  Shows the Chives after regrowing from being cut a couple weeks ago.

And here they are after being trimmed.  Got a Ziploc bag full to add to salads the next few weeks!  Now, wasn't that exciting.

Don't know if many peonies will be good for taking to the cometary on Memorial Day. 

I go to Optometrist tomorrow for check-up on first eye cateract surgery.

Cool in Clarinda

 57 degrees here in Clarinda, IA at 10:30 am Wednesday with predicted high of only 67 degrees.  Had 1.8" of rain over last two days.

Couple more photos of Phyllis' flowers

For several years the roses in front of the house have been scratching the windows, we have tied them up, but finally decided to make a trellis for them to climb on.  Worked on it last week and finally put finishing touches on it yesterday.

We have had robins in a nest at the northeast corner of our garage for several years.  Don't know if this is same robin.

You can see little head of baby robin.

Last Friday I had cataract removed from my right eye in hospital in Red Oak, IA.  (Yes, I took this photo with my phone - the darned thing reverses, I don't know why) Amazing how I now have bright color in that eye verses yellow-grey in the left eye, which will be worked on May 30th, also in Red Oak.  

Here is one of many YouTube videos showing this surgery:  CLICK HERE  Amazing the things they can do!

I have to wear that shield at night for a week, get daily drop in eye of a mixture of things.  I had my optometrist remove the lens from the right side, as it was so very blurry.   Am sure will need both lenses replaced after getting both eyes done.

Memorial Day is very early this year.  Used to always be on the 30th, but now with the Monday thing it is this weekend - May 26th.  My next-older brother Don's birthday is on the 29th -- will be 86 years old.  We will be visiting him and Vicki on Forth of July weekend -- along with younger brother Darrell and his son Jonathan.  

Finally some rain in our area of South West Iowa

 64 degrees, cloudy - had .8" rain overnight.  Been a long time since last rain here in Clarinda, IA

Have been watching our peonies grow for the last 6 weeks.  They are blooming now (a little early)....... here are some pics.

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 Here are some photos    of some of      Phyllis' other flowers