Kayaking Anyone?

 Hello and good morning to all of you on this beautiful Saturday morning from beautiful Custer, South Dakota. On Thursday we drove from Chamberlain, SD to our camping spot here at Ft. Welikit, just outside of Custer. This is our second stay here this summer and the place we come back to over and over. 

First of all the results from the biopsy came back benign. Hallelujah! They have already scheduled ANOTHER colonoscopy for next August for a follow-up. So that's over with for another year and I'm so very thankful for that. I'm also VERY thankful for your wonderful thoughts and prayers during the past few months of dealing with this.

I'll show you a few sights from our drive on Thursday along I-90 across S.D. We passed several of these stunning sunflower fields. They stretched on for miles each time and sure made both of us smile at the happy flowers turning their faces toward the sun. The blue, blue, blue skies stretched for miles and was a perfect travel day.

Then, we passed "Fire Henge"! I thought Dee might enjoy these next few photos. We were going 65 MPH so I had to take two shots to get the entire thing in as we drove past. How did they get these trucks to stand up like that and withstand the prairie winds?

Here are my toes enjoying the beautiful weather and peace at our campsite on Friday. We really love this place. Dennis has traveled the world and I've been a few places myself, but our favorite spot in the world are the Black Hills of South Dakota. It's so peaceful here.

Yesterday Dennis, Curt and Barb went Kayaking on Sylvan Lake. Curt & Barb brought their kayaks from home while Dennis rented one at the lake. It was only $20.00 and easier than taking his on our six week journey for this one paddle. Once we get into Idaho and Washington it would mean stopping for every boat inspection point to check for invasive species and it just wasn't worth it to him. He did say that he missed his own kayak. The rental didn't paddle as well, but they still had a lot of fun exploring the lake. Zoey and I sat in the truck and read a book and people watched. My back just won't let me sit in a kayak and although I would have loved to go with them, I'm glad that they enjoyed themselves on the lake.

Afterwards we drove the Needles Highway and saw the gorgeous views and tunnels. Just before we reached Bluebell campground where we had all camped together with our kids in 1988, we saw "George" the buffalo taking a nap along the rode. This is the actual distance he was from our truck where we stayed safely inside. I would estimate he was about 10 feet from us! He didn't seem bothered that we were there at all and never even opened his eyes.

The view as we drove back toward Custer. I never get tired of seeing these vistas and imagine being in a covered wagon heading west back in the 1800's. I can imagine that although they found it beautiful, they probably weren't as comfortable as we were in our air conditioned truck.

Here we were last night, sitting outside our camper. Barb checking the weather forecast for today. That huge motorhome parked just as we were eating the fajitas that Dennis made for dinner last night. They are very quiet people and we never saw them outside. They hooked up their satellite TV dish and disappeared inside for the night! Most people will probably leave tomorrow after the weekend. Curt and Barb will leave Monday morning to stay at Ft. Robinson St. Park in Nebraska for a few days before heading back home. We'll be here until next Friday when we will drive to Buffalo, WY for one night. Then we go to Helena, MT to see our son and his family for the weekend. It's a great life and we're very grateful to the Lord for allowing us to do this.

I've been SLOWLY crocheting another Virus baby blanket. I admit that I've done more talking and reading than crafting so far on this trip. :-)

My three companions left about an hour ago to hike to the top of Black Elk Mountain, which used to be known as Harney Peak. It's been 35 years since they last hiked this mountain together! It's the highest point east of the rockies until the Swiss Alps!!!! Crazy! Not bad for a bunch of 70+ "kids". Again, my back hasn't cooperated for such a strenuous hike, so I'm at the camper with Zoey and catching up on laundry. I don't mind. I don't want to slow them down or make them stop hiking because of me, so I am happily staying behind for the day. Tonight we're planning to drive the Wildlife Loop and see what we can see. Curt is making meatloaf in the crockpot for our dinner with baked potatoes and corn too. Sounds delicious and we love to share our meals when together. 

Take care my friends and I'll check in again sometime soon. May God bless each and everyone of you during these unusual times that we're living in.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

Being in this greatness of the outdoors and seeing the beauty all around me, I find myself singing this great hymn often.

How Great Thou Art

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.


Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!


When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.


Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!


And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.


Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!


When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"


Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Good Morning! We are on our way to South Dakota! It's about 11:30 am as I'm typing this and we just passed one of the many Lewis and Clark State Parks around the midwest and northwest. We're only going about a four hour drive today. We planned it that way since I had my colonoscopy yesterday and we didn't know if I would be feeling very well. I admit to being a little sore in my abdomen as she cut more of the mass out. She thinks she got it all this time and it's been sent for a biopsy. I'll need another colonoscopy, probably in a year or so, but she's waiting for the biopsy to say for sure.

Meanwhile, while waiting for me at the hospital, Dennis got a raging migraine. He hasn't had one in years but they took him off his BP medicine about two weeks ago because his BP was on the lower side. He's in great shape! We knew the meds were keeping him from the migraines because this happened in Spokane too. I have a message in to his doctor to get a new RX for just amlodipine without the BP component. She talked to him about it at his appt. and I wish she had just prescribed it then. 

Anyway, obviously I couldn't drive, (I slept all afternoon). He barely made it home before being violently ill. He took his migraine meds and slept a few hours and was good to go again. Ugh. It's always something. 

I don't have a lot to report from the last few days other than medical stuff and who wants to just read that, so I unearthed a few photos from one of our trips to London a couple of years ago. I don't remember if I shared them then or not so I thought I would again.

I don't remember which museum this was but we were able to see the Rosetta Stone in person. It was so interesting and a fascinating piece of history.

Here's a close up photo of the writing on it. Let me know if you can read and interpret it! Ha!

I believe it was the same trip that we went for a VERY nice English high tea at the historic Landmark Hotel in London. The tables were set up on this elevated area. We had our very own server who was very attentive. It was a gorgeous setting.

A few of the delectable treats. We also had sandwiches and tea/coffee. 

I wish I could show you more of the wonderful food and hotel, but all of my photos have our dear DIL and son in them and I can't show you her face online. 

Jenny bought me this sweet little antique oil lamp at the General Dodge House in Council Bluffs, Iowa when she visited this summer. It's very old. They have a corner where the people who support the Dodge House sell trinkets and family heirlooms. I found the little birds at the Thrift store for fifty cents apiece! They match almost perfectly and I love them together.

Okay my friends, I guess I'll close this short post and try to pop in on your blogs while I have internet! I'll be checking in when I can.

Blessings and hugs,

Betsy

THRE IS A REEDEMER

There is a redeemer
Jesus, God's own son
Precious lamb of God, Messiah
Holy one

Jesus my redeemer
Name above all names
Precious lamb of God, Messiah
Oh, for sinners slain.

Thank you oh my father
For giving us your son
And leaving your spirit
'Til the work on earth is done.

When I stand in glory
I will see his face
And there I'll serve my king forever
In that holy place.

Thank you oh my father
For giving us your son
And leaving your spirit
'Til the work on earth is done.

There is a redeemer
Jesus, God's own son
Precious lamb of God, Messiah
Holy one

Thank you oh my father
For giving us your son
And leaving your spirit
'Til the work on earth is done.
And leaving your spirit
'Till the work on earth is done.

Still Standing!

Happy Thursday. Thank you all for praying for Spokane. Yesterday was the last time I heard anything and the evacuation orders were almost all lifted for the city. Our old house still stands and people are making their way back home and slowly coming to the realization of what is left. It's a terribly sad time for them all. I know many other communities around the west are dealing with the same thing and it breaks my heart. I'm praying of all of them and that the rains will arrive soon.

Meanwhile this was the state of the weather here yesterday. Notice the "feels like" temperature of 107F. I think we're all over this heat wave this summer and just want some cooler weather to arrive.

This was the containment for the fires as of Tuesday afternoon. I haven't been able to catch a screenshot since then but this is so much better than last week  and I'm sure the numbers have improved even more since then.

I was able to complete another baby blanket. This was using Bernat Baby Sport yarn in the Blossom color way. I used an I hook and made a simple picot border. I've been making this for years and is a very simple sc, hdc, dc pattern. 

I was asked about the blanket on my last post. It's the "Virus" baby blanket. I've had the pattern so long that I don't know where I found it. I know it was a free pattern because I rarely pay for them. 

It has been a busy week. On Tuesday I had to be at the cardiologist at 8:10. I had to drive to the other side of town in rush hour. I'm glad I left at 7:15 because I barely made it on time. I was there over two hours. Apparently my pacemaker battery has about 9 months left so there were several appointments made for January and February for pre-surgery tests like an echocardiogram, X-ray and blood work. When we're back from Texas in April the actual replacement will be done. 

Then, Dennis and I both had our annual dentist appointments in the afternoon. That was another few hours of sitting in an office. I'm so glad I take along a sock to knit on when we have medical appointments with waiting involved. All ended up well there though, with no cavities or other work needed. That was good news!

Dennis went kayaking last night with our friends. He used his new to him kayak we found on FaceBook marketplace. He said it worked great. They saw two eagles, herons, a duck family and lots of other birds and people. I'm so glad we decided to sell the double inflatable kayak and get him a regular kayak. He said it's much easier to propel with a lot less effort.

My colonoscopy is scheduled for next Tuesday and we're leaving for our camping trip for about 6 weeks on Wednesday. We're getting excited to see our son and Montana grand kids, along with all of our friends in Spokane. First we'll be in the Black Hills for a week with Curt and Barb. I'm praying that during the colonoscopy the doctor will find that she was able to get the entire tumor/mass that was removed six months ago. I really don't want to drink another gallon of that vile concoction anytime soon. :-)

What a blessing you all are to me. Thank you for hanging in there with me with a relatively sporadic summer of being online. I'm hoping that the campgrounds over the next 6 weeks have good wifi for my laptop.

I also hope and pray that that each of you has a great weekend and I'll be checking out your blogs.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

MAKE ME A BLESSING

Text: Ira B. Wilson

Music: George  S. Schuler

1.        Out in the highways and byways of life,
 Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
 Making the sorrowing glad.

 

Make me a blessing, make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
  Make me a blessing to someone today.

2

Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,
  Tell of His pow’r to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove
  True, every moment you live.

3

Give as ’twas given to you in your need,
  Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
  Unto your mission be true.