Back home

     Yes, this blog is long overdue for a post. Please excuse me. But I've been away and didn't feel like typing into my cell phone!
     Yesterday (Tuesday, 4/3/12) we drove from Freeman, SD to Mall of America parking in Mpls, Minn., and took the light rail to the airport and flew back to Harrisburg, PA, arriving back in Akron at about 8 pm.
      We had a great trip west, visiting family and friends. Flew to Mpls, then, using our son Adam's car, drove to beautiful Cass Lake, Minn for three days, then back to Mpls. for about two days to help paint a basement in preparation for a home sale, and then to Freeman, SD, for five days.
      All the traveling went well. The weather was great. (It go up to 90° in Freeman). In northern Minnesota we were treated to a fabulous fish fry hosted by Barb's brother and sister-in-law, Rick and Arliss Baird. We also had a taco buffet and Red Solo Cup Pool Party at an indoor pool in Bemidji. Party, party, party. A great time was had by all. The ice fishing ended early this year. Cass Lake was ice-free 100 feet out from shore. We saw some really cool and unusual fog clouds over the lakes during our drive up.
     In Freeman we attended Schmeckfest (schmeck=taste; fest=festival), visited family and friends and celebrated my mother's 90th birthday Sunday noon and afternoon. Her birthday was Jan. 4, but we opted to come later in the year when the odds of fairer weather are higher.
     Below is a copy of the meal ticket stub which includes the menu. The meal, comprised of ethnic foods, is served family style to over 1000 each night for four nights over two weekends. During the day we attended historical presentations, saw cooking and craft demonstrations, heard a music concert and toured the fantastic Heritage Hall Museum. There is so much happening you can't see it all in one day. Each evening a musical is presented by the community. This year it was Wizard of Oz and it was superb.

Demonstrating sausage making. 11,000 lbs are made for the meals and for sale during Schmeckfest much of it smoked in a specially designed cold smoker (not in photo).

A large, clearly marked, walk-in cooler is used to store the popular wurst.

Schmeckfest offers the "best of the wurst".

 We filled a table for sixteen with the traditional checkerboard square tablecloth and real china plates, soup bowls and silverware waiting for guests to file in.

Tasty and cute - Zwiebach, a Low German staple, ready to be delivered to the meal by one of hundreds of generous volunteers.

Upon our return to Akron we were greeted by these lovely tulips which Barb planted last fall.
     I have been doing very well, thank you. Other than my ongoing annoying digestive tract issues, I felt fine the whole time we were gone. This "healing and recovery" phase has been most welcome. We were, however, very disappointed to hear a message on our phone answering machine that my CT scan had to be postponed one week because of an insurance approval glitch. I am really eager to find out what the status of my cancer is and now have to wait another week. Bummer. Now the CT scan is next Wednesday. Doctor's appointment next Friday, April 13, with discussion of next steps. I had hoped to have that discussion this Friday.
     It was exciting to see everybody we got to see on our trip. I think many people expected me to look worse than I look, so I was given many compliments about my appearance. That is great to hear and I hope people can keep saying that about me for a long, long time. Thanks, all, for your prayers and deeds.