Finally Spring here in Minnesota — the forsythia and the front door spring wreath out of storage.

Spring!

And here is Bob in his workshop — and we are grateful.

We had a big scare. Bob was taken to the ER in the middle of the night March 14 – unconscious and not breathing well. He regained consciousness in the hospital and then stayed a few days, partly in ICU. They give him every test – brain scan, heart monitor, CT scan MRI — and blood work and maybe some I don’t remember. They could not determine the cause of what seemed to me to be a seizure. His instructions were that he could resume normal activities, but not driving. After every unexplained unconsciousness no driving for three months. He is on a heart monitor for a month. We have a follow up with the neurologist in three months.

Neighbors, friends, everyone was so helpful, Jodi across the street and my friend from the library Sarah and her daughter took care of George. Our neighbor to the north said her whole church was praying for him. I was too. Bob’s good friend Bryan, across the street, when told he was going to be all right, said,” you mean I will see Bob back in his building again?” Bob’s children were in close touch.

Treasure all the time we have together.

T-shirt given to me by my niece and her husband —

“Heaven, where all the dogs who ever loved you are waiting at the door.”

George comfy in the chair

We had a nice visit with Todd and Ann Marie. I had a chef! Ann Marie brought the turkey and fixins’ and made the meal. I did manage a pumpkin pie. Now, today we will watch the Badger/Gopher “axe” rivalry… Lots of Badger fans in this family, but Bob seems to have taken to the Gophers.

Wonderful dinner – thanks to Ann Marie.

Ann Marie wrestles with the turkey

We are thankful for so many things. Each other and all the loved family members and friends. George is with us for a little while longer. We learned he has cancer, but he seems the same, just slowing down.

We are especially thankful for the good doctors in St. Louis treating brother Jon’s heart. Never forget how precious life is. Tell people you love them.  I love all of you too, reading this post.

We have quite a nice collection of political signs in our excellent location — a big lawn and a busy street.

Democrats and favored city council candidates

the garden is sort of bittersweet this time of year – it has its own fading beauty

mums always feel like our wedding flowers since we had lots of them in pots for our October wedding in the Dells

Buddha patiently waits for the snow

prayer flags and Franken

Bob and I met our friend Beatrice Looking Horse and her family at Canterbury Park in Shakopee for the Indian Horse Relay races.  Wilfred “Wolf” Looking Horse was the rider for the Lakota Pride team from Cheyenne River Reservation. The race is run bareback and one rider races around the course and then changes horses in front of the grandstand — and repeats it with another horse for three times around. Beatrice said Wolf did not have his favorite horse since he ran into a fence or something and was injured so didn’t come.

This picture of Wolf and his family helpers was in the paper. I tried to get some good photos but you needed a good camera to get a shot like this! Although the team did not win the Championship, Beatrice said it was always their dream to come and race in a place like this.

Bob, Beatrice, Mahto and other family from South Dakota – Beatrice is always surrounded by children (her own and others) that she has raised or helped raise. She also teaches elementary school in Eagle Butte, SD

Stanley Looking Horse, Jr. and his girlfriend. They live in Minneapolis and he teaches Lakota.

a couple of nice teepees there

I was so glad to see the fry bread stand. I have tried to make it, but it never comes out as good as one made by an elderly Lakota woman over an open fire in South Dakota.

singers

another rider coming up to the start line

a shot of the exchange – quite exciting

flashy colors and proud rider

What a treat for us to see our friends, this family from South Dakota.

This is when the garden is such inspiration and joy. For the first time I have seen my daylilies blooming. I became entranced with these lilies and then remembered that my New York friend, whom I know from Mexico, is a daylily nut… so when I asked, she sent me some last fall from her divides — all of them bloomed except one, but maybe that is a later bloomer. Here they are…

This is my first daylily — Mini Pearl. I bought it here at Rose Floral last summer. It was blooming at the time and that is when I fell in love with daylilies. Sweet bloom and a soft fragrance that is indescribable.

Beth Barth from Pat

I think this is the “Pat Neumann” a daylily named for her.

an unknown one — also from Pat

Wrestling with Angels from Karol Emmerich, daylily grower and cultivator extraordinaire in Jordan, MN.

daylily end of the garden

The Monarchs are back on the Rough Blazing Star

The birds planted their own sunflower seeds this year

The prairie is breathtaking

George is lost chasing mice in the prairie grasses