Week in AZ with Darline, Danette's mother.

Danette flew to AZ for a week starting Dec 3.  Darline (Mom) flew in from Fargo, ND.  We stayed at Valle Del Oro in Mesa, which is the place Mom and Dad stayed when they went to AZ.  We had a fabulous week visiting friends, seeing a show, going to restaurants, and enjoying time together. 

July to August 2012

Jim and Mary H.

Deb and Sandy (dog)

After weeks of staying at Deb and Teri's, with our great lake view, it was time to pack up and say goodbye to family and friends. 


Sorby, Wahowske, Wolfgram, Potochick family

Mike, Katie, Ian

We drove north of Brainerd, MN for a family camping weekend.  Danette's mother, brother, sister, and their families all came.  Enjoyed our time together swimming, biking, and relaxing.


Susan (sister of Danette) and Chelsea, Kayla, Nicole (nieces)



headwaters of Mississippi

We hooked up the Casita and headed north to the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi in Itasca State Park.  Our big accomplishment was stepping across the origin of the river and paying a visit to Paul Bunyan and the blue ox.


Our international part of the summer began when we crossed the Canadian border to Hecla Provincial Park, west shore of Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Greg and Corinne, our boating friends, live within the park.  It was a great stay and they were perfect hosts.  We biked, met their family, and saw the sights.  We drove to Winnipeg for the weekend, saw more of their family, and went to four plays as part of the Fringe Festival.  We were impressed with Winnipeg as the city has done a great job of preserving the architecture.  It is a clean and vibrant city.






After Winnipeg we started our trek south and made a quick stop at Larry and Susan's on Lake Delavan, WI.  We headed east toward Cleveland, OH and stopped to see Renee, our friend that we spent a lot of time with when we lived CA.  From that point on, it was "the horse going back to the barn" when we drove non stop to Palm Coast.

 Within a couple days of our return, we saw our grand kids who were visiting from Tampa and CA.  We packed up PEACE and headed to St. Augustine with Chloe, Hans, and Sofia.  We stayed on a mooring ball which they enjoyed.  They played hide and seek on PEACE, played games, and read. We went to the Pirate Museum, Sofia bought two turtles, and they fed the fish from Santa Maria restaurant.  We were also fortunate to spend time with Jim's kids, spouses and Lynnette and her children.

June to early July 2012

On May 26, 2012 Danette flew to Fargo to be with her mother and father in Fargo, ND.  Danette’s father had been ill for some time.  Jim drove to Fargo, ND pulling the Casita camper and arrived Memorial Day.



Church and Pastor Bill, June 15

Dad, June 5, with intarsia he made for
Fargo Redhawks and donated
to head coach.

Parents grand and great grandchildren

We spent the next three plus weeks in Fargo.  Danette’s Dad passed away the early morning of Monday, June 11.  While this time was sad and emotional for the family, it was tempered by the great 84 years of life he, Sam, had lived.  The funeral was a great celebration of life which included 150+ people.

Mom, Darline, with niece and nephews



Tom and Kris home WI

Jim's family

June 20, we drove toward the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers and camped along with MN and WI borders.  We took the scenic route south to Jim’s brother and wife, Tom and Kris, place in Rising Sun, WI (south of LaCrosse).  Jim’s cousin and wife, along with his sister and husband, spent the weekend with us.  We went to a wine and beer festival and enjoyed time at the house.

southern MN

Left WI and camped overnight in MN at an old Sioux Indian reservation area, which is now a state park. 



Scott Maurer with golfers

Adrian, ND

ND rain and fields

Took a scenic drive toward ND and went to Monpelier, ND, which is south of Jamestown.  We saw the cousins and participated in the Dally Cup golf tournament on June 30.  Scott, Danette’s cousin, was the organizer and is also Mayor of Montpelier.  60+ people attended and we stopped at three bars after the tournament, with the Dally Up being the final stop.

Jim grilling for 20 guests

Deb, Teri, Viki at MN winery

We stopped to see Danette’s mother, Darline, before going to lakes.  It was difficult to leave Fargo after spending so much time with family.  July 4 week we spent at Deb Anderson's, my best friend, cabin along with her two sisters, Teri and Viki, near Detroit Lakes, MN.  Saw some good long-time friends, and Uncle Marv. 

Jim and Sandy relaxing

Biking by Paul Bunyan

Next adventure will be toward Brainerd.  Remember the movie Fargo and the wood chipper!  After that, north to Canada.

Winter 2012

Jim and I drove up to North Dakota to support my family. 
Dad, Sam, went to rehab January 5.  We got up to ND Feb 13 and stayed until March 14.  Sam is at Bethany Nursing and Rehab facility where he receives care and therapy.  Sam enjoys looking out the window at the events outside.  The staff really enjoy him, and his humor, and take good care of him.  Sam takes everything "a day at a time".
Mom, Darline, ended up in the hospital for four days after fainting and falling and was also in rehab short term.  She has been cleared and is back home.  It was great to spend a month with my parents.  Jim was outstanding with his support and spent hours on end with my father.

We managed to have an outside life while up in Fargo.  Spent time with Susan, my sister, and her family, Mike, my brother, and his family and Uncle Marv.  We went to a blues festival with Deb.  Spent time with with my good friends, Nancy and Cathy, and also saw my cousins, Bill and Scott, and their families.

 

After leaving ND, we spent time with Tom and Kris in WI.  Also stayed in Chicago with Kathy and Gary and enjoyed the fun for St. Patrick's Day.  Tom is Jim's brother and Kathy is Jim's sister.

Family comes first

For those checking the blog regarding our Bahamas trip, we have a change.  After being on PEACE for less than a week, we decided to cancel our trip and go to Fargo, ND.  Life's priority right now is to support Danette's mother as her father has been in rehab since January 5.  We will update with photos from North Dakota!