Encouraging Day

Jim was honored at Brookdale at the 2:30pm November Birthday Party. Jim was given a gift from management and all of us sang Happy Birthday to him. He is the "Handy man" here that helps us fix, change, or move anything in our apartments that we need help with. We have called on him at least 6-7 times since we have been here. There were some 50 people at the party that enjoyed cake and the music of 3 fellows from Lincoln who played Guitars, Banjo's and sang. It was a busy day for us with making plans with Dan to pick up our 100 USDA Ag Yearbooks and take them to the Lincoln Office where son Jon has made arrangements for them.  Carolyn and I met with Chuck at the house and talked about it eventually being put on the market. I also had an appointment with Dr. Rudersdorf who had the results of my over-night sleep test. I told him of the Medical Supply people bringing out equipment next week to get me started on it. He said the test showed that I definitely need it. He gave me encouragement that it would help relieve my shortness of breath and lack of energy that I have experienced over the past year of two. We have enjoyed this evening with NET's  WWII music of the Big Bands, Andrew Sisters, etc.

Every Day a Holiday

The food staff at Brookdale converted the Dining room into a "small town eatery" this noon by placing Menu slips at each place on the tables and brought the cooking equipment out into the room.  They then proceeded to serve each of us by filling our orders. I had Orange Juice, Coffee, French toast, Bacon and a Fried Egg. We also had Peach Cobbler for dessert. While the Menu was somewhat limited, the food was excellent and it was a welcomed change from the normal most courteous serving. Not only that, they served the Bacon cooked just the way I like it. If it's rigid, it's overcooked in my judgement.

We had a couple other things to do downtown and stopped by the house for a while. I sorted out these books and we dropped them off at Etc. on our way home. The "Prize one" is "The Nature of Nebraska" by Paul Johnsgard. I hope someone else has a chance to enjoy it while learning about our many Nature blessing in this state. I brought some other books along up here to look at. One is a big "American Automobile" book that has many pictures of cars from 1919 through 1974. I learned that Henry Ford shut down the assembly line for 6 months as they prepared to introduce the Model A in early 1928. It includes a beautiful picture of a 1937 Chevy that brings back a lot of memories as does the '41 Chevy.

Flowerday Family

Elaine's sister Joyce died yesterday at age 98 here in Seward at the Ridgewood Care facility. She had not been in good health for some time but did come out earlier this year when Sadie's Dance Group performed there. There were 11 years of age separating the two sisters so they were never real close. Joyce worked as a "hired girl" for the Althouse family after graduating from Seward HS and getting a "Teachers Certificate". She then taught country school for a couple years while she and Les Althouse went together before getting married. They had no children but enjoyed farming, fishing, etc.

The family picture was taken in 1955. Joyce was born in 1919, Bill in '22, Dale in '27 and Elaine in 1930. They all "grew up" during the Drought and Depression years of the '30's with Bill going into the Army during WWII and Dale in the Army during the Korean War. This 3rd picture shows Joyce holding a "chubby" 2 year old Elaine. It is admirable that parents like Albert and Flora were able to raise a family of healthy, well dressed and well nourished children during such trying times. They all learned the importance of work and living conservatively. Their Church, extended family and farm neighbors were important factors in their livelyhood.

Joy to the World

Carolyn brought Sadie and Jack over to put ornaments on our Christmas tree. It was almost ironic that Cathy Blythe interviewed a lady on her KFOR program this morning that had written a book on the importance of teaching kids to do household task at a young age. As I watched Carolyn work with these two, I thought it a perfect example of teaching youngsters responsibility.  We were too particular when our kids were young to let them do such task. Sadie has already developed a sense of how things should be arranged. Jack isn't concerned about looks, if he can find a place to "hang it", that's all that's necessary.  Having them around really brightens up the home of Great-Grandparents and it gives the kids a feeling of helping us.

While we will have several of my Model, cars, trucks, and tractors on our Auction, the Texaco trucks that were on the display shelves for several years have now become Jack's toys. He even came back with Carolyn this evening and brought me peanuts while I worked on the computer. He went along to see the people we eat with and brought some joy to many Grandparents. Jack even did his "walk like Granddad" which I hope didn't offend anyone. I'm not sure they caught on or where he was reminded to do it.

Christmas in Brookdale

Thanks to Carolyn for bringing up our Christmas tree, etc. and getting it set up in our living room here at Brookdale. We had some problem with one string of lights and the Angle but got it all going this evening. This picture was taken with my camera using the flash. I also took one on the camera without the flash. It is interesting to note the difference. I personally like this one best. The tree still doesn't have ornaments but Carolyn plans to bring Sadie and Jack up sometime this week to do that chore. That will be a real treat getting to see them on task and hearing their conversation. Carolyn also hung some pictures up here this afternoon. As I set here, one of the pictures within my view, is of the snow covered Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. We took it on our way back to Seward from our wedding trip to California in June of 1949. Another newly hung picture is my "Lone Wolf"  that I inherited from Aunt Dorothy and hung for years in the Grandpa Walker house when I was a boy.  Looking at it, helps me visualize exactly where it hung in their upstairs. 

The picture to the right was taken without the flash. Here is the "Lone Wolf". I didn't recon with all the reflection of bathroom cabinets and me in the Wolf picture but that comes with it on the blog page at no added cost. We still have a way to go with pictures on these walls but what has been done is real pleasing. I'm sure more will be put up in the near future. We have more pictures than wall space so hopefully will be able to switch some around as we may have different feelings for them. That process has already began with switching the "Yawning Boy" from our bedroom.

Christmas Festival in Seward

Another very nice day in Seward, NE for all the Christmas Festival Events which began at 8:00am and continued throughout the day. It included Lego contest, Quilt Exhibit, Fruitcake Toss, Reindeer Games, Live Reindeer, Santa's arrival downtown, Model Trains, Crossmakers, Homesteader Display, Chili Cookoff, Sing along, Beard contest, Horse and 

wagon rides, Ugly Sweater contest, Story time with Santa, Tree Lighting, Honor Choir, and at 5:30pm, the Lighted Christmas Parade. There were many people down town when Elaine went to the Beauty Shop at 9:30. We were served an early supper up here to be able to get down to the house ahead of the parade. It was necessary with it going right in front of our house. We met Carolyn and visited in our living room after the Parade. On our way back up to our unit, we discussed the possibility of this being our last Lighted Christmas Parade to enjoy. Easier to stay home.

Beautiful Nebraska Weather

Elaine had gone up to the County Treasurer's office the other day to get our new license plates. We went down to the house after lunch today and with the temperature up to 75 degrees, decided it was a good time to put them on while she worked on the washing. This was a "selfy". The old plates will go in the box that holds a good sized collection from the past many years that will be on the Auction. I would rather have started up the mower and chopped up leaves in the front yard before picking them up with the catcher but got talked out of that and used the leaf blower. We had a very strong, gusty wind from the north which helped me in my efforts.

This picture gives some idea of my "leaf blowing" efforts of getting them off the lawn. We will still plan to get out the mower when Verlon gets here ahead of the Auction and do a yard clean up before putting the place on the market. I hope Larry isn't too upset since there is little doubt but what my efforts resulted a few extra on his lawn. The stakes have already been put in where "No Parking" signs will be attached on Saturday. The Lighted Christmas Parade is scheduled for 5:30pm that evening to go past our place. I certainly wanted to get our place cleaned up a bit before that occurs. We will plan to go down and see it. It looks like we might even be able to set outside on lawn chairs. Iowa 56-Nebr. 14.

Thanksgiving 2017

We were out to Julie & John's for Thanksgiving Dinner this noon. The people were dispersed as I got this picture of Julie cutting the Pumpkin Cheese  Cake that she had baked. (It was very good). We enjoyed a Turkey that Ben had fixed along with the special dinner of stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, "pink stuff", sweet potatos and green salad. The Cheese Cake was ideal for "topping it off". Jack sat on my lap after we finished eating. We hadn't seen them since they were in Arizona last week and had the flu the week before that. He continues to "grow like a weed" and has really put on weight. We enjoy Sadie too but she just isn't as animated around me as is Jack.

We didn't stay very long after eating but came back home and had a nap. Duke played Portland U. out there and won 99-81. It was 49-45 at the half with Portland leading. I don't remember of ever seeing a game with as many technical fouls as was called in this game. Grayson Allen was even amused at one of them. We talked to Jon this evening and have talked to the other 2 boys within the past few days. I will write in my Journal later this evening and add it to our record of: "Thanksgivings Over The Years". It covers the Thanksgivings from 1940 to this year with the exception of '45, '46 & '47 when I didn't keep a Diary nor Journal. Our temperature got up to 71 degrees today which is a new record.

Happy Birthday Jon

I posted a picture of Jon on Facebook this morning to recognize his birthday. We have had a practice for some years of sending each of our kids and their mates a check in an amount related to their age, for their birthday. But Jon won't get one this year on his birthday. We are quickly picking up on the adage that the less you have to do, the less you do. We forgot about his birthday coming up until yesterday when we got his check in the mail. (We didn't forget you Jon, just your birthday). I was also able to send him greetings via the smart phone by speaking vocally and sending it as a written message. I could become quite a pest to friends and relatives as I perfect my use of that technique. I also sent him a picture of Jeromy helping serve Dinner in an inflated Turkey suit. Jon thought it weird.

Jeromy told me that there is a little battery powered blower in the suit that keeps it inflated. He is the son of Holly, the Care Giver here, and does a lot of "chores" for people, like walking their dogs, etc. We didn't leave the building again today and participated in a group singing session with Ellie on the piano. There were some 10-12 of us with only a few men. We spent some time in an old general song book singing the likes of, "I've Been Working on the Railroad" where one of the fellows blew a whistle at the appropriate time. We switched to a religious book and sang several of the old favorites including "Beautiful Savior" and "How Great Thou Art" among others. That helped round out a pretty full day. Brother Don called this morning and we had a good visit. I envy his still playing golf but the 4 1/2 years difference in age shows up. I sent a note to the Plugger this evening saying that: "You know you're a Plugger when you thread your belt through the loops of your clean pants before you put them on". I do it which is much easier than reaching back with a bum shoulder.

Seward Welcome Sign

It was announced at Kiwanis this noon that the base for the "Welcome to Seward" sign was to be poured at 3:00pm this afternoon. There was some question as to getting a picture so Elaine and I worked our schedule to be down there at that time. We got our new license plates from the Court House, picked up a some things from the house and a few groceries from Pac n Sav. While I was able to get a picture of the reinforced pit that was ready for the cement, it didn't get there during the time we were there. In addition to me with the cane, the crew consisted of Dave, Clarence, Ken and Lloyd. It was an ideal day for pouring cement with the temperature in the mid-50's. We started talking in the 1st Impressions Committee about the need for a new Welcome sign on Highway #34 at the east entry to Seward at least 2 years ago. It is great to see the Kiwanis Club crew pick up on it and bring it to reality. Clarence Wattier who has been a member of both organizations for a number of years, deserves a lot of credit for it happening.

A Good Day

This was an interesting day. We were up ahead of the sun and read the Lincoln paper after our Oatmeal breakfast at the table. Following our morning "chores" and listening to Plymouth Congregational Church services in Lincoln while shaving, etc., I set out to see if I could get my little wooden elephant back together. It had fully fallen apart in a plastic bag while moving. I had spent some time on it last night, made some progress, and finally got it figured out this morning. We had an excellent Dinner this noon with a Jello/Apricot salad, Chicken Fried Steak with gravy, mixed string beans, scalloped potatoes, bread, coffee and Angle Food Cake with Strawberries and Whipped Cream. I did some work in cleaning up things in my computer room

and had a short nap. Then worked on the computer listing of the additional phonograph records to my earlier list. I even played one of the Ernie Kuceria records and wished Jack was here to enjoy it. I also worked at the computer in scanning, processing and filing pictures. Elaine even brought out some Vanilla Ice Cream with Peanuts and Chocolate syrup as I write this. A day like today makes us appreciate that our life  following our Careers, years of golf and Public Service, this is a very logical progression where we can still enjoy many activities without physical work.

A Virus

Brookdale residents have been going through a digestive track type "flu" over the past 2-3 weeks. I was one of the early victims at the early part of this month. Elaine followed me a week later. I got through it in a couple days but was tired for the next several. Elaine had Holly help her get over it. It has reached the point that the food servers all wore breathing "masks" today. Some of the people have missed getting to the Dining room for 3 days. We hope it can get all "cleaned out" before long. Actually, we are very happy with the food. It is a much more varied menu that we had at home. We always have a salad, entry and dessert. We do enjoy our "Home-made" instant Oatmeal breakfast and reading the paper in our PJ's.

Carolyn -Our Appreciation

After moving our '92 up to our #4 garage here, Jack Underwood brought the flatbed they use for hauling stuff down to the Auction which will be a month from today, December 17. I has a 2x4 edge which will hopefully keep things from falling off on the way down to the Ag Pavilion. Ben came down and helped them push it up the driveway and into the garage. We didn't go down until about 2:30 and Carolyn had this all loaded. I don't know how many trips she must have made carrying boxes up from the lower level. The Auctioneers have movers to take the furniture, etc. down and we will probably haul boxes of fragile stuff down on that Friday ahead of the Auction when Linda will lay it all out. 

We plan to leave the washer and dryer, refrigerators, ladder to go with the house.  I did enjoy seeing the color on the Burning Bush along the fence in the back yard. It would be easy to get sentimental about all of this transition were it not for the continued time and effort that Carolyn has put in to take over and relieve us of it. She had done everything possible to make our unit at Brookdale an enjoyable home while also doing the hard work of getting ready for the Auction. I didn't plan to do this blog page until after seeing just everything she had done in the last couple days. Her 3 brothers don't know what they are missing but hopefully they will appreciate it.

 

Our '92 Buick LeSabre

Linda was over to the house Monday working with Carolyn taking pictures of things that she will have on our Auction at the Ag Pavilion here in Seward on December 17. 2017. This '92 Buick Le Sabre will be on the listing. We bought it new from Rolfsmeier's here in Seward in April of '92 and have continued to keep a record of all expenditures (including gas). We drove it over 12,000 miles in '93 which included Tim and my 4,000 mile Baseball trip. We have driven it from Coast-to-Coast and Mexico to Canada before my taking it as our second car when we bought a new Le Sabre in 2002. I drove it to the golf course, coffee and to the many meetings so that Elaine always had a car for her use. During the past few years as my activities have narrowed, so its use has been limited. It has 157,000 miles with less than 3,000 miles on 4-new tires. We have had it serviced regularly and never needed to add oil between changes. It has always been in our double garage and in very good condition with everything still working. It will make someone a very good 2nd car.

All Things Considered

Our day was brightened by my having pulled this RCA radio, cassette and DVD player, out of the closet. I listened to a polka cassette and then tuned it in to the Nebraska NPR station at 91.1 FM. I enjoyed it the rest of the afternoon. I used it very little down at the house but had it on the card table next to my desk. I also had the instruction pamphlet and remote next to it. I have the distinct memory of picking them both up and putting them somewhere in our moving process. I have looked through everything up here and haven't found them. I can get along without but still won't give up.

This is an example of what I found in one plastic grocery bag today in my search. I pulled out the barometer as something that can be put on the wall as Carolyn hangs pictures. The golf balls all go in a separate bag and the pens went in the desk drawer. This Telephone # finder was a very useful tool during the 80's when I was with State Gov't and for a few years later while I was involved with many people. I'm sure its not been used in the past 10 years. As I "played with it" the only use that it may be put to is helping me remember names if I can think how it starts.

A Picture in Lieu of ---

We were down at the house late this afternoon where Elaine had 2 loads of washing to do. Our cleaning lady is in the hospital with an ankle injury so we miss her laundry and cleaning. I sorted through some old books and papers and brought up all of the remaining cassette tapes. Just even sorting them out will require some time. I noticed one of Julie singing, "Somewhere out There", which will bring tears when I play it. I shot these 4 pictures near our front door as we were leaving. These items like the post cards, will have at best, a picture to look at of things we took for granted but were important to us.  The Flowerday butcher kettle has been with us since 1956. Jerry Hemphill did the 4" wooden pallet for hose storage just a few years ago. The part of one of the fins from the old

Dempster windmill wheel came from the old Vrana farm. As a kid, I remember when it was new and picked this up out there some years ago. The "River Rocks" are part of a small collection that we accumulated over the years in our travels. I used a couple of them on my desk while in Washington, D.C. for paper weights.  I may keep a couple of them.

Change is Sometimes Questionable

This picture of the off-street parking in the front yard of our first house came up today while making selections for our 2017 collages. I have selected some 120 pictures in each of the last 20 years, and put them on 3 or 4 collage pages. While I put all of our pictures on DVDs, the printed collages of selected ones are a quick way of getting an impression of our activities during the year. I got started on the project a bit earlier this year with having moved to this Independent Living Retirement Home. We are continuing to go through the adjustment process of downsizing and giving up many of our possessions and the lifestyle we enjoyed for many years.

When I set down at my PC and work on pictures, it's one of the few things that I can do exactly like I did before we moved. That is the reason I take time-out from getting ready for our Auction and getting things sorted out, to do it. I should add that writing  blogs on my laptop are also similar to what I did before. The upper picture was taken in April of this year and the lower one in 1954. It was also my Folks first home after getting married in 1920. We sold it to Elaine's folks who had it for years. It has a lot of family history.

The Nebraska Coliseum

I spent much of the afternoon sorting through old picture postcards. We probably have between 2 to 300 of them and most with a memory. This one of the UN-L Coliseum prompted some research. I learned that it was completed in 1926 with Nebraska losing to Kansas 25-14 on 2/6/26 with seating capacity of 4,030. The Huskers got revenge in 1958 when Jim Kubacki came off the bench to score in the final seconds and beat the #4 Jayhawks with Wilt Chamberlain 43-41. University Basketball was played there until 1976 when Devaney was built. Nebraska women racked up 3 National Championships in Volleyball while playing there until 2012 when they too went to Devaney. The place closed down for inter-collegiate play in 2013 with wrestling bringing down the Curtain. I believe it it still used for intramural sports. I first attended a sporting clinic there with our HS Coach in early '41 and we stayed on to see a Nebraska basketball game that evening. Several of us "farm boys" remarked at how much hay this largest building we had ever seen, would hold. We saw many University basketball games there over the years including what may have been the greatest one ever played there when Kubacki beat Wilt Chamberlain. The question is, "What do I do with the old Post Card and many others?"

Football and Walking Plows

I would like to have reported on the Nebraska football game up in Minnesota this afternoon but what can you say when your team is on the short end of a 54-21 score. Their running back the opening kickoff was an indicator of things to come.  So, I will make reference to my October 26 blog page where I referred to the USDA Seal. J. Sterling Morton, USDA Secretary of Agriculture at the time, spoke of the importance of the walking plow as part of the Seal. I told in that blog, the story of our little model plow having a broken handle and  unsuccessful efforts to repair it. As it turned out, a good friend was able to put it back in beautiful condition. I have placed it on top of a bookcase in front of Morton's declaration. While the picture leaves something to be desired, so too does the plow as a symbol for modern day Agriculture. Like many symbols, statues, etc. we have evolved in our thinking and practices beyond what may have been very appropriate at one time, . They can still be very useful in showing how far we have come in our evolution.

When the game was over, Elaine and I went back to the exercise room where I again rode the NU STEP bike.

 Elaine spent some time working on a Jigsaw puzzle that was in the process of being put together. She wasn't able to add many of the remaining pieces since they all were the same color. I enjoyed my supper of potato soup, dried beef/Swiss cheese sandwich with Rocky Road ice cream. We are already looking toward changes in Nebraska Football. 

Brookdale Activity

With moving into the 3rd month of our being in Brookdale, we took advantage of some of the features today that are offered. Frank Hronik, Tony Dolezal, Bert Hernacek, Elmer Nemec and others entertained this afternoon in the Dining room. Elmer and Bert also sang the Czech words to many of the songs that Dad played on his accordion. Frank mentioned that he could sing and he could play the accordion, but he couldn't do both at the same time. I wondered if Dad had that same problem because I don't remember of ever hearing him sing while playing his accordion. As they played the "Green Meadow" waltz and "When we Parted",

it seemed that music can condense time and space to where I felt close to hearing and of Dad being in our presence. We got around good time this morning and walked down to the exercise room.  I adjusted the "Nu Ride" after the picture was taken, to where I fit better, but didn't ride long. I do expect to become much more of a regular on it. Holly stopped by to visit this evening. She is the lady that helped Elaine get through her bout with digestive problems a couple weeks ago. We learned that her husband, is a Grandson of Ralph Fenster. His dad was Duane. My brother Jerry was a good friend of Verle, one of the 4 Fenster boys. Dad even farmed their land during the time the folks lived on the Sandusky farm.

Sleep and Eat

I went to the Seward Memorial Hospital last evening for a 9:30 appointment to have an overnight sleep study.  I was "wired" with sensors placed from head to nearly toe.  After the first few hours, it was apparent to the technical that I had a problem so remedial equipment was placed up my nose that wasn't acceptable. That gave way to a mask covering both nose and mouth. With some adjustment that worked pretty well and I made it to 6:00am before being awakened. I am to receive a report and am likely to hear from a Medical Supply company. I was back in our Unit at Brookdale by 7:00am. It wasn't long after that when the food truck rolled in and the driver wheeled in boxes of food for us residents here in Brookdale. The truck comes a couple times each week to keep us well fed.

Meeting an Old Friend

Elaine and I decided to go down to Pac n Sav this morning to pick up a few things that we keep for our breakfast and snacks. I heard someone say "Tony" and here was my old friend Ray Bieber. Ray and I go back a long way. In later checking my Diary, I found that he came to our house in Lincoln on New Year's Day, 1961 to check on some assigned UN-L Chemistry problems. Ray and I went through Freshman Chemistry during the '60-'61 school year. He and I stood out in the Class of over 100 because of our age and became good friends. He had been in the Service, lived down in the North Bottoms and was just starting to University. We lived in the Havelock area and I had been picking up credits on a part-time basis. We were very supportive of each other because it wasn't easy.

We got together numerous times during the course of that school year to provide each other help and encouragement. I became involved in an SCS Administrative Trainee program and transferred 70 Credit hours to GWU in Washington, D.C. where I went on to get a BBA & MBA. Ray went on to get his BS and MS from UN-L and a PhD from Colorado State where he spent his career teaching. He and his wife came back to Nebraska and bought an 80 acre farm SE of Garland. Marv Taylor and I went out to their place in the fall of 2013 and installed a light for the Kiwanis flag. We were both walking with a cane and I told him of having moved from our house of over 35 years to Brookdale. It was Great to be able to have a good visit this morning and Thanks to the "Checker" for taking the picture.