Mom and dad are home

Just a quick update to let anyone reading know that mom and dad arrived in palatka safely yesterday. They had a slight brake caliper issue that they got fixed enroute. And they discovered a stowaway on board. Sure dad will be updating soon.

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still moving forward

We went to the Erie County Fair 3 different times. With the super good weather this year, over a million people attended. This is more than most of the State Fairs attract. Anyway, I neglected to inform everybody of the very unusual event that occurred on the way to the Fair. We had just picked up Lester and Sue and were on Plank Road, heading North, when a big black something was loping across the road. We all said"what is that?" and then realized it was a small to medium sized black bear. We were surprised to see this critter so close to home, and now we watch for it everytime we go through there.

As usual this past weekend was busy and typical. Thursday, Friday and Saturday were busy getting ready for the end of season pancake breakfast at Lakeside campground. After it was over , and some cleanup, we headed out to Buffalo to the flea market at Gex (Walden Ave), and some shopping, followed by a Fiddle Club Gig at Uncle Gs (formerly Cappys). Heidi and Kat came out and met a family with a 4 year old boy named Michael from Guatemala. Heidi and Kat are now in the loop of other families in the area with children from Guatemala.

Then, after the gig we visited with Wally and Joan Tanner, who live very close. Then to Heidis' house to spend the night and in the morning, assisting Heidi and Dan to get ready for the open house, which was quite a success. Then home via the Hamburg Casino, where I won $3.

The weekend before , we went to Crooks Farm in Bradford, Pa about a 70 mile drive where they had a musical event of ald time music. We were impressed with Saturday, but not so much on Sunday. Next year, Saturday only.

During the next week or so, we intend to complete shutting down Lakeside and the Vikings so we will only have Ripley to shut down.

Our present plans are to leave WNY on Oct 5th, staying in Tennesee for several days, arriving in Florida about the 11th or 12th of Oct. We will try to keep in touch and let you know what is happening.

Things are getting better

We went to the Dr in Amherst last week for a checkup and a review of the results of the latest bloodwork.

To summarize, my iron level is still going up, my blood results in general are improving, my kidney function stayed has remained the same , not completely normal, but a long way from requiring dialysis(sp). My weight is down from 219 to 208, and the knee hurts only ocasionally. In addition, I can walk on it sometimes, but I try not to abuse it. My waist size is now 38, down from 40". My general muscle tone and appearance have improved, and I no longer look like a scarecrow. I am eating well, sleeping well and in general feeling well. The Dr eliminated the lasix(water pill) and reduced the daily intake of one of the so called heart pills. So other than being unable to walk, I am very close to being the person I was before this all started last Dec 14.

I have started to accomplish some things, that I could not do before, such as wiring the new pole barn, crawling under "Criket" to adjust and repair its front running gear. Tomorrow, I will be installing new rotors and brake pads on the caravan. It is not easy to get up and down, but once in place I can do the work.

So it looks like we are going to meet our goal of staying in the North until early October and then work our way back to Florida to face the last phase of this operation, and resume a normal life once again.

We continue to be busy here in Ripley. We had a family reunion in early August. Mel and Greg and their boys, Scott and Chris, along with their girl friends Amy and Michelle were there, along with Carol Runkle from Colorado and Heidi and Kat, newly moved from Seattle, along with Esther and Ken from Bradford.

We just had our annual "TurkeyJam" here in Ripley, with musicians from Buffalo area and Pa. The group was small, because of the short notice and other activities going on, but everyone who attended had a great time , with many of them staying until 10:00 at night.

Laura and I have been utilizing "Criket" to the extent that we went to The Chautauqua County Fair, and the Erie County Fair in Hamburg(twice).

This past weekend we went to Lewiston to play with the Fiddlers at the lewiston Art Festival, attended Kats birthday party at Dereks, then spent the night at Dereks', so we were able to help Heidi move their stuff from Johns house in Buffalo to their new house in Amherst. Then we hurried back to Bemus Point for the final night of the Chautauqua County Idol, and spent the night at the Vikings. Today we did some shopping in Erie, and tonight we are in our bed in Ripley.

I am sure we missed some details, but in general, we are doing well and enjoying life as best we can with what we have. Will try not to take so long for the next report.

wow.here does the time go?

It has been 28 days since we last checked in and I apologize to those who still read this thing.

To summarize, we have been very busy and doing very well. I have regained most of my former charactistics. I am eating fairly well, sleeping well. building my body back up to what it used to be, and feeling pretty good. Other than not being able to walk, I am nearly normal again. At the present time it looks like we should be able to remain up here in the North until Early October and then head for Florida and the installation of the new knee that will make me whole again and improve our quality of life.

Did I mention we have been busy? The United Refinery (Kwik-Fill) has been getting rich from us, it seems we fill up every other day. We have been to Sanborn to play with the Fiddlers, went to the Springville and Waterford flea markets(thanks to Kriket). We went to the Buffalo Zoo with Shawn, Cheyenne, Charlotte, Grace, Eli and Alison and Liza.

We joined in the "Roar to the shore", which was a very large motorcycle event in Erie. They had a parade of motorcycles over 5000 strong, which was impressive. We have been to Presque Isle in Erie, several times. Kriket likes it there. We rode their tour boat out into Lake Erie, which was different, but very enjoyable.

We have been to St Vincents Hospital in Erie, to deliver, or pick up Lauras' Brother Ray. He has been dealing wi9th a kidney stone, and it appears that after multiple attempts, they finally found it and blasted it.

Then of course, Heidi and Kat came in from Seattle and we were there to get them to Johns house, where they have taken up temporary residence, until the house they purchased becomes theirs. They have a period of limbo to deal with before they can settle down.

You can read Katnaps to read about the last weekend and the violent weather we experienced. We had been informed by several concerned parties about approaching tornados, but nobody knew exactly what and where. We were on our way to the Dewittvile Fire Hall where all the people there had been sent to the basement. We later drove around and there was significant damage in Mayville and Dewittville, but it was not visible from the road.

We were lucky none of our properties were affected.

Sunday was family day at the Vikings. Kat, and Charlotte and Grace and Eli enjoyed the animals, fun and games. We have been enjoying the Chautauqua Idol at the floating stage in Bemus, and just got our 10th night in at the Vikings.

Upcoming is the Mohr Family Reunion at the Vikings, this Sunday, and next Saturday, we will host our annual garbage can turkey dinner for the local musicians.

We will try to report back a little sooner tha n 28 days, but!

Next week is the Cattaraugus County Fair , followed by the Erie County Fair.

Busy Times

The last week was typical of how things are going. Last Friday, we went to Amherst for Laura to see her eye doctor. They put in drops, took pictures, etc. She is developing cataracts, but surgery not needed for at least another year. Saturday was yard sale day in Jamestown, Sunday was flea market day at Waterford , Pa, (South of Erie).

Monday was my Dr visit in Amherst. Other people have been looking at my blood work info and making judgements about this and that. Dr Bodkin was pleased that I lost 3 more lbs, (down to 216). He said the kidney function is improving, and generally was satisfied with the information. Iron level is low, but not critical, overall, doing well, no prescription changes. come back in 5 weeks.

After that it was over to North Amherst for the pot luck supper(discussion of fathers day breakfast), spent the night at Dereks. Tuesday morning, joined Jeanie and Mike Caputi for breakfast at Friendlys, and then went to their house for a review of how to play pinocle., Then to the zoo, where we had all the grandchildren, except Kat.

From there, we did a few errands, and went home via the Hamburg Casino, where I won $13.

Yesterday, we picked up our new Dish 625 receiver and put it in, and have tv again(long story).


Since the 4th is a sunday, everybody is celebrating on Sat, the 3rd. . We have to be at the Vikings in the morning for the annual trailer association breakfast, then to Lakeside for the 4th of July picnic. Sunday is open right now, but we will find something to do.

Of course we had to go back to Amherst for the Fathers day breakfast. We stayed at Dereks on Saturday night. I worked the orange juice concession and poured 1100 cups of oj.

We have been back and forth so much, we are thankful for the cheaper pennysylvania gas and the Indians at Silver Creek. until next time.

Finally, we catch up

Sorry about the lack of info. a combination of things has kept me away.

Anyway, we received permission from all of our drs to come North for the summer. So we left and had such a good trip , we did it in two days, rather than three as originally planned. Ray and Luella were here to help unload all the stuff into the house. We have been busy, mowing the lawn, here and at the Vikings. We have spent 4 nights at the Vikings, and we are supposed to put in in at least 10. We do not know when our season ends. Generally, I have been doing ok, eating and sleeping better. We have been taking the Kricket to town wide yard sales, where it is easy to ride around and for me to see what is available to buy.

Derek and his family have beeen to the Vikings, so we have seen them, and we visited Jerry and Alision, and have seen Shawn and Cheyenne. We have been to some of the Fiddle Club events, and to to the casinos in Erie and Hamburg. We presently are going to only one Dr, Dr Bodkin in Amherst. All of them are getting results from our our blood work, so theoretically, every one is monitoring our progress.

Heidi is planning on returning to Buffalo, in July, so we will see Kat more often, as well as Heidi and Dan.

Depending upon conditions, I can walk unassisted for short periods, but am reluctant to do so, because, I am wearing out the cartilege on the other side of the knee, and and do not want to have to go back to Florida, until hopefully, October.

So I struggle with the crutches, use the wheelchair or the Kriket. Fortunately, driving is no problem, and I can drive all day. The biggest problem is getting in and out of the car.

I wll sure be glad to walk normally, or at least without help. It is amazing how difficult it is to do things, when you have only one good leg, and you cannot easily get up and down.

This weekeend is fathers Day and we are going to Buffalo, where we have a fiddle gig, and Laura wants to participate in the North Amherst Fathers Day Breakfast. We will be staying at Derek's house in Clarence.

So, for the most part, things are going reasonably well here in Ripley, NY.We are looking for better days eventually, however we are very much aware that others have things tougher than we do.

Did I mention that the boat is not going into the water this year, because I cannot even get into it. Oh well, we have a number of graduation parties to go to, so maybe we will see you at one of them. until next time.

Dad really needs to update his blog....

Sent from my iPhone. Sorry for any typos.