Monday, December 29,2025

 The weather has turned once again and we are getting another full on snowstorm that started with rain and drizzle, followed by heavy, wet snow and then changing to a light snow that is accumulating to about 6". Temps are to drop near zero with wind chills in the -20° range. Yuck!

I had a really nice conversation with Pat yesterday morning and just as we were ready to say goodbye, another topic came to mind.  I love it! Pat recommended a Netflix move, "Train Dreams" and I watched it this afternoon - just down my alley with love and romance, adventure, history, and some tear jerking.

I was just off the phone with him when Ben called to tell me about their terrifying afternoon.  Since the roads were so bad, they decided not to take Yoshi to the dog park, but invited the neighbor dogs over to play - Cliff is a retriever and Kevin is a pit bull mix and they are together quite a bit.  Things started getting rough and Yoshi backed off and was barking at the other two when Kevin turned and attacked him.  Ben was kicking Kevin and fighting to get them apart, broke his collar, held him down, and Jill even ran into the house to get a kitchen knife in case it came to that. Fortunately, it came to an end before he had to use the knife but they ended up having to make a trip to the emergency pet hospital where Yoshi had several deep cuts and got lots of stitches. 

The neighbors immediately returned home with Kevin and surrendered him to the place where they got him - they have 2 little toddlers and I question why they ever chose that kind of dog in the first place.  On Christmas Day when we were out for a walk, we met up with them at the end of Ben's driveway and Ben intervened so I could get past them with Joey - the owner had no control and he is a very big dog.

Today is my brother Ron's 65th birthday. Happy Birthday, Ronnie!

Friday, December 26, 2025

Well, today started out with terrible news that my 68 year old brother Randy had a stroke last night and has a 90% blockage in the carotid artery. He had surgery at noon and the doctor said it was a very back blockage but he came through the surgery well and is expected to have a full recovery - might even get to go back home tomorrow.  Whew!  What a relief but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed and positive thoughts going his way.

Going back to the last time that I updated, most of my activities were related to getting ready for Christmas.  I was supposed to go to Charlotte's 8th grade choir concert on the 18th but the weather was questionable and when I looked out the window just before time to leave, the snow was blowing sideways, almost a whiteout, and I could hardly see across the street.  I cancelled and was glad that I did because I learned that it was really slick and I had made the right decision. Needless to say, I don't feel very comfortable driving in the slick or in the dark these days.

On Saturday, the 19th, it was cookie baking day at the Bridge's house and we had a very productive afternoon.  Charlotte and I worked together to make peanut butter kisses, Granny and Camille made Rice Krispy treat wreaths, Jill and Norah worked on cutout sugar cookies  and Granny made Spritz with the help of everyone who wanted a turn.  Ben was chief dishwasher and cleanup guy and helped where needed - always a good sport.  It was a fun afternoon.  As I was leaving I got a request to make my fudge too - guess it just isn't Christmas without it.

This week, I started the reduction of Prednisone that I'm taking from 10 mg/day to 7.5 mg/day and have been keeping a log of side effects/reactions.  The worst is fatigue, just feeling dragged out and tired.  The strangest was waking up at 4:30 am with my teeth chattering - it lasted at least a minute but hasn't happened since.  I will be at this level for 3 weeks and then reduce by another 2.5 mg/day and then will consult with Neurologist again to see if I can completely discontinue.

I made the fudge on Monday so it would have time to settle and the traditional Cranberry Cake with Hot Butter Sauce on Christmas Eve before I went to Ben's house.  Ben and the family went to Christmas Mass (a Quinn family tradition) and I met them at their house when they got home.  We had their tradition Mulligan Stew with Blueberry Muffins for dinner.

Naturally, the girls were excited for gifts, so we all got decked out in our Christmas PJs and we did our Secret Santa exchange that was lots of fun and the gifts were all thoughtful and personal.

Oops, I wasn't wearing mine at that time.

I slept in Norah's room with her, didn't sleep very well, and none of the girls were into sleeping very late on Christmas morning. The girls opened their stockings, we had breakfast, and all headed out for a nice walk to get some fresh air.

We played a silly game where gifts were tightly wrapped in a Saran Wrap ball (see picture above).We sat in a circle, one person had the dice and the person next to them had the ball and was wearing oven gloves.  The person with the dice threw quickly until they got doubles, while the person with the gloves tried to open the Saran Wrap and release as many gifts as possible until doubles was called and it all passed to the next person.  We also played  Spoons and BS.  

I remember when the actually fit on my lap - kind of miss those days. 

It was a wonderful Christmas, I decided to spend another night and slept with Charlotte, again getting little sleep.  I headed back home this morning after having a bit of coffee and I couldn't wait to get a bit of a 

nap in.

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

My Stampin- Up group met at the Club room in Pat's apartment building and what a beautiful place Amira is!  It's got to cost a pretty penny to live there. Everyone made very unique cards and gave beautiful and thoughtful gifts and we had a very nice luncheon.  

 Sunday was so darned cold that it took four attempts in the morning for Joey to be able to take care of his big business. He couldn't keep his feet on the ground long enough to squat and poop.  Our trips outdoors were very quick and limited.

I had a video visit with Dr Pati on Monday and it was good news and bad news.  The bad news is that the EEG confirmed that I continue to have seizures, although they appear to be mild and since I am in the 20% range of repeat seizures for those people with LGI1 Encephalitis.  The good news is that I can start to wean off the prednisone and/or Anti-Seizure meds, under the guidance of my Neurologist.

The Neurologist suggested cutting back on the Anti-Seizure meds first but when I told him that I was more concerned about the side effects and long term use of the Prednisone, I would prefer to start there. He agreed and once I get back from my holiday vacation with the family, I will start.  According to what I have read, there is the possibility of having withdrawal effects (headache, achy joints, fatigue, loss of appetite & weight - yay! - and also possibility of having seizures) when cutting back on the med and I don't want to go through that while I'm on vacation.

We actually had a couple of nice days that were in the upper 30s and 40s this week and I was able to get out for decent walks with Joey.  It felt good to get some fresh air.

Saturday, December 13, 2025

 I went back to the clinic on Tuesday to have the electrode connections checked and everything was intact and none had come loose - thanks to the technician and to me for being careful.  They even called me to see if I wanted to come in early, as there was snow predicted and roads were expected to get nasty.  I did see some issues but not much.

Another trip to the clinic on Wednesday and I was able to get the apparatus all removed and, like Randy said, I am wireless once more!  They used acetone to get the glue off of the gauze pads that were holding the electrodes and that was stinky but didn't hurt at all.  Those technicians are going to get good reviews from me!

We had to move our cars out of the parking lot by Thursday morning so the snow removal company could come in and clean it out.  They do that whenever we accumulate around 10" of snow.  This year so far has been the coldest and the snowiest in many years around here but it looks like it will turn around starting again on Monday.  Since I had to move my car back into the lot later in the afternoon, I decided to get some groceries so I wouldn't run out of anything over the frigid weekend when temps are expected to be below zero with some even colder wind chills.  

I started working on Joey's haircut later that afternoon, as it is way overdue and I don't want it to be an issue while I'm gone over Christmas.  He does not like it at all, but he sure is a good boy about it.  I got the upper part of his body and his face done. 

I finished the job on Friday morning, it took about  two more hours but we made some progress this time in that he actually let me use the clippers on his legs, tummy, and rear end.  He's getting better about it all of the time.  A few little chunks of cheese every now and then really helps .

Monday, December 8, 2025

 Norah called yesterday, asking if we could hang out - Ben wasn't feeling good, Charlotte was with friends, and Jill and Camille had something going on.  I headed their way and we went to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum where they had over 50 Christmas trees on display, all decorated in different ways, plus the gift shop, a craft sale, and the cafe.  Norah was excited to find a gift for our Secret Santa exchange on Christmas and now has that checked off her list.  

While we were having a snack, she told me my fortune - first, that I would get good results on the EEG test that I am having today, second, that I will live a long life, and third, that Joey would settle down and be a really good dog in two years (this one is really funny)!  

I went to the clinic to get my ambulatory EEG apparatus hooked up this afternoon and it took about 2 hours to complete.  The technician  sectioned off my head, put markers in about 25 different areas, scrubbed this areas, then glued gauze pads that have the wire connectors attached to them.  She used some type of heat/air gun to set the glue.  The wires that are coming off my head are individually attached to a small box like a purse that I will carry around and that box is a recorder that will document any seizure activity.  It is not painful, just kind of awkward and I was able to get a decent night of sleep.

 

The white diagonal piece is the wire that can be seen farther back on my head - it is harnessed with all of the other wires that are connected to the recording box that is in the over the shoulder bag.

Friday, December 5, 2025

I didn't do much over the weekend, we had about 9" of snow on Saturday and it was the light, fluffy stuff.  All I had to do was clear it from my car and shovel a path on both sides of the car to get in and out without dragging the snow with me.  I did shovel an area on the side of the building where Joey didn't have to go through deep snow to go potty. I did venture out to the grocery store to stock up on a few things before the snow got too deep.

I helped out with the food shelf on Wednesday and we got a lot of extra stuff this time (probably additional donations over the holiday) and we had less helpers, so I was ready for a nap when we finished.  Mary, the pet nail trimmer came that night and I escorted her to three apartments for kitty nail trims.

Typical for this area after a snow, we got hit with a real cold spell that night and it was -6° when I woke up on Thursday morning. It was not fun to take Joey out - even with his fleece lined blaze orange jacket on, he had a hard time finding spots to go potty and the big potty had to wait until later.

I got up on Thursday morning and made ham and bean soup and delivered some to Ben for the family (he was on a work call when I got there) and I wasn't able to stick around to visit because I had an appointment.  

I saw a doctor about my right ear that has been bothering me for a while.  I had been to urgent care for it about 3 weeks ago, prescribed some meds, but not improved. She found no infection, only some fluid behind the eardrum, but since it has been persistent, she referred me to an EMT, so I'm hoping I can get in to see someone before our trip on the 22nd. 

Joey tried to wake me around 3:00 this morning but I told him to go lay down and he did - until 6:00 and I knew then that he really had to go potty. I dragged myself out of bed threw on some socks and a sweater, my coat and boots and headed outside. I really do not like getting up and moving first thing in the morning, but he really did need to take care of business.  He is so good about that kind of thing - has only made a mess in the apartment once since I got him and that was probably out of desperation. I will definitely be having a nap in a few hours.

Saturday, November 29, 2025

 My neighbor, Maria, wanted to treat me to breakfast at the Fresh Perks Cafe down the street on Monday to thank her for helping her with her MN rental refund forms this spring. We walked there and had some great conversation, getting to know each other a little bit better, learning about lots of differences in our childhood, education, and lives as adults.  I had an Italian Frittata with toast and greens that was delicious.

I did my grocery shopping for Thanksgiving after that and cooked the cranberries on Wednesday.  

I spent a lot of time on the phone the last few days, wish people a Happy Thanksgiving and catching up on the latest news.

We had a turn of very cold weather this week, a couple of days that were down into the 20s with high winds that made it seem even colder, so walks are getting a little shorter these days.  I'm making that up with a Silver Sneakers workout and more playtime for Joey. 

Our Thanksgiving day, hosted by Lois was very nice. Ben smoked the turkey breast, Jill made dressing, apple & pumpkin pie, Lois made sweet potatoes and almond green beans, Charlotte made candied carrots, and I made wild rice dressing and cranberries.  Everything was  yummy and there was plenty to take home for the next day's dinner.

I was exhausted and went to bed shortly after getting home and had a lazy day on Friday other than doing my laundry.

Joey really ticked me off yesterday when a visitor was walking through the hallway as I was heading back to my apartment from the laundry.  When I opened my door, he scooted out and went into attack mode with her - barking, growling, attack position, and wouldn't stop or come to me when I called.  I wasn't very nice to him for a while after that - sending him away when he came near me.  It scares me, as he has behaved like that in the past with kids (mostly with black kids or just other people dressed in all black) and I wonder how to handle that situation and if I should be even having a dog, especially one that is so unpredictable. He is great around me. 

Sunday, November 23, 2025

What a busy week and when Friday came along, the only thing I had to accomplish was to do laundry and even that was a big deal because I had lots of it after putting it off for a few days.  Ben and I had talked about meeting up in the morning for a walk but his work schedule filled up and that didn't work out. I was kind of glad because I was tired of having full days. I was also supposed to meet up with a tentative dog sitter but she had been sick so that was rescheduled for Monday.

I met with the Stampin Up girls on Monday and we made a couple of cute cards and came up with a plan for our holiday pot luck that will be held at Pat's community on December 15.

On Tuesday, I had an appointment to have blood work done for a follow-up to my cardiology appointment last week as she had made a slight change to one of my meds in hopes of helping to reduce fluid retention that could be caused by the prednisone.  All good there - I got the results the next morning on My Chart (I sure do like that feature).

When I got back home, I spent over an hour on the phone, just waiting to talk to an insurance advisor regarding my health insurance options for next year and I even had an appointment.  Their advice was to continue with the Medicare Advantage plan that I currently have and when the time comes that I relocate to Stoughton, to switch to a Medicare plan plus a supplement. That's another thing that I can check off my list of things to do.

We had food shelf on Wednesday and we got less than usual, but still pretty generous donations.

I saw my ophthalmologist that afternoon because I wanted to make sure there had been no changes to my eyes since I had the seizures back in June.  I'm glad that I went because I learned that my eyes are healthy and my vision is the same, although I have noticed some strain and that is all due to spending time on screens.  His only recommendation for that was to decrease the time that I spend on my phone and iPad. 

 I went in to see Shirley on Thursday morning and she gave me a quick complimentary trim on my bangs and neck hair.  On the way back home, I stopped at American Sharpening company where I was having my dog hair clippers sharpened.  Those guys work out of their garage and are so friendly and nice. He only charged me $10 for the job - now, I hope it makes a difference when I give Joey his next haircut.

Penelope provided us with a very nice holiday dinner with all of the usual Thanksgiving fare that was well attended.  

Joey and I managed to get a nice walk in that afternoon. The weather has still been good and we have not seen any wintery stuff yet - temps are still mostly above average, 45 to 55°.

Saturday was a lazy day and I just lounged around - reading, crocheting, taking a couple of short walks, and napping. Cathy offered to make lasagna for dinner and we invited Deb and Elaine to join us. I offered my apartment because I am the only one that can seat four at my table.  Dinner was delicious and we had some good discussion about the current state of our country, politics, and lots of other stuff.

Dang - I didn't sleep well last night.  In fact, much of this was written at 2:30 am after being awake and reading at 11:30 and then again at 2:30.  Tossing and turning and an aching lower back was keeping me awake.  

Friday, November 14, 2025

 I called Rene on Wednesday to see if her visitor (Russ) arrived ok and she told me that he was there, but now he is gone.  He got there, in bad physical shape, exhausted and went straight to bed.  When she went out to check on him a while later, he was shivering and had a high fever, so she called 911.  They took him to the nearest hospital in Clinton but he needed so much more care that they transferred him to Kansas City.  It sounds like he has serious liver problems and has spent the last few days detoxing. My hope is that he goes into a rehab program after this and is able to clean up before returning to Rene's house. She was able to have a good conversation with him and he does want to get sober.  

Addiction has been such a scourge on my family and it just makes me feel so sad and helpless.  My Dad and five of my seven brothers (three have already passed) have been affected.

Tom and I had a really nice chat on the phone yesterday and we both agreed that we would like to see each other more often.  I am going to look into a visit there in February, maybe about the time of his birthday on the 27th? 

It has been beautiful here this week with temps in the upper 50s.  Yesterday afternoon when Joey and I walked past Sue's house, she was out cleaning up her yard. We hung out in the back yard and talked for quite a while - she is such a fun person to be around.  

Monday, November 10, 2025

It's been a while since writing again.  It seems that my days go by, sometimes with hardly anything to do, but yet I find ways to fill them. I'm usually busy in the mornings and by the time I take Joey out for his second walk, I'm ready for a nap.  Speaking of naps, I also wonder how I'm able to take a 1.5-2 hour nap in the afternoon, but I am.  

I totally messed up on an eye doctor appointment last Tuesday - following the directions that my GPS gave me that took me to the wrong address and I didn't arrive in time for the appointment, having to reschedule.  What I learned from this experience is that I really need to actually review the map before following the directions.  I knew where I was going but usually use the GPS to make sure I turn at the right places or avoid construction.

I was able to make it to my dental hygiene appointment the next day, Wednesday and got a clean bill of health - not a single issue with gums or teeth and great compliments from the hygienist. All good news to me.

Camille called me on Thursday night to see if we could hang out together on Friday, as they didn't have school.  So I picked her up around 10:30 and we shopped and shopped.  Most important on the shopping list was for her to choose yarn for the blanket that I will be making her and it took three different stores to find it and she ended up sticking with her first choice.  I told her that I was going to watch for sales before buying it, so it might be a while before she gets her blanket.  

I found a Celiac safe restaurant at the mall, so we went there for lunch.  It is a fast food type restaurant in the food court and we feasted on chicken nuggets, cheese curds, and onion rings.  It is so good to see more of these options coming up, as I feel bad for the girls sometimes with their diet restrictions.  Of course, while at the mall, we had to stop at a body care store - those girls are so into that kind of thing - bubble bath, scents, skin care, makeup, hair products - you name it!

After several hours of shopping, that was enough for me, I took her home and headed back home myself.  I didn't have to worry about Joey for a while, as Deb took him for a walk before I got home.

Rene called me on Saturday afternoon with some big family news. She has decided to help out our youngest brother Russell who has been homeless and living in a shelter and on the streets of Madison. She bought him a bus ticket and will let him live in her husband, Mike's, 'very nice' workshop that is on their property and has not been used since Mike passed away in August.  Rene decided to give him a chance and that it would be a good place for Russ to recover from the lonely, miserable life he has been living.  It is furnished with a sitting area, tv, bed, heat and water - he will share her kitchen/shower in the house.  

She is one big hearted gal and I sure hope that this doesn't become a burden to her. I also can't help but feel that Russ will be so appreciative, that he does the right thing.  He will be traveling by bus this week and arriving in Warsaw on Wednesday.

It has turned cold here and we are getting a taste  of what the winter will be. There have been a few snow flurries in the air and small amounts are accumulated on the ground - 23° and a cold, cold, wind on Sunday.

When I came out of the bathroom yesterday morning after getting ready for the day, I found coffee and coffee grounds pouring over the counter and onto the floor.  What a mess! Apparently, I did not have the carafe centered on the base.  What a nice way to start the day!

Norah called me in the morning and wanted to hang out, as her parents were back and forth from Charlotte's swim meet and Camille had other plans.  So I headed over to pick her up and we stopped to do a bit of shopping (thats what they always want to do) before getting to my house.  We spent the afternoon playing Monopoly and she ended up winning by almost $2,000.  All of the time we were playing, we were watching You Tube videos of her favorite singers - mostly Taylor Swift and she knew the words and dance moves to every song.  And did I mention that she ate constantly too.

We had our weekly family dinner at Lois' house yesterday - Canadian Walleye that she had in the freezer from Dennis' latest fishing trip that included is brother Don, Don's two sons and Ben.  Ben had watched him cook it several times and was able to duplicate the recipe - it was so good!  Next week is my turn to host the family, so I will have to come up with a plan for something that will work in my small apartment. I don't think I've ever had seven people in here at once. It will be interesting to see, but like Lois and I were saying - does it really matter as long as we are together?

After several attempts this afternoon, I was able to get the cover on my AC unit.  The new AC unit had a frame that was hard to remove and then just the awkward positioning made it difficult.  I was determined and kept trying different approaches and finally got it. It will keep the cold wind from getting in here.

We saw a little bit of sun today and the temps got up to the mid-30s.  Joey and I went for a walk later in the afternoon and as we were going through the park, I put my foot in a hole and came straight down and caught myself with my forearms - otherwise it would have been a face plant.  I'm glad that I have been diligent in my stretching and exercising as I was able to get back up and didn't even limp away.  I might feel it tomorrow though.

Saturday, November 1, 2025

 I watched the leaves falling from the birch tree outside my window this week, starting with a bright yellow and going to naked in just a short time.  This is the latest and I thought it was cute. 

I had an eye doctor appointment on Tuesday and got all screwed up and missed the appointment. I have been to this clinic before but apparently when I chose the location from the pull-down menu on the GPS, I chose the street spelling as Highland rather than Hyland and it took me to a residential area far to the west.  I definitely questioned whether I was going to the right place but didn't pull over to check. When I called the clinic to let them know - it was going to take too long to get there, so I had to reschedule.  Dang it!  When things like this happen, I question if it is related to the damage that my brain has had from seizures or if it's just me having a senior moment.  I tend to think it's a bit of both. 

I did make it to my 6-month dental hygiene appointment the next day and all is good with that. I got an A+ on how well I take care of my teeth.  

Wednesday was a beautiful day here but Thursday and Friday were cold and rainy.  It was not nice for the Trick or Treaters yesterday.  My community had a Halloween party and I decided to go since there were a lot of people signed up (not only the usual 5-6 regulars) and this is the first party/gathering that has been held since I moved in.  I came up with a simple costume and another gal came as the Pink Lady from "Grease" but most wore only a printed sweatshirt or goofy headband. I ended up winning 1st place and getting a $10 gift card.  We also played a few games and had pizza, green punch, and cupcakes.

Saturday, October 25, 2025

 This has been the most active day that I have had in a long, long time.  It started with a decent walk for Joey as he was going to be left alone for quite a while. 

I then headed for Minnetonka where the girls were involved in a swim meet and Charlotte had 3 events starting around 10:30. It  was crowded but I met up with Jill and Lois right away and we found a good spot to watch.  Charlotte did great - coming in 4th for her team in the 100 yard breast stroke & 100 yard freestyle.

The  twins were swimming later in the afternoon so Lois and I took Charlotte home, as she had a party to get ready for and then we headed back in time to watch Norah and Camille's first event - the 200 yard free style and they both cut their previous times by quite a bit. Norah came in first in her heat.  There was a 1.5 hour gap between events, so I went back and took Charlotte to her party, then came back home so I could let Joey out.  I watched the rest of the meet streaming on You Tube.

Earlier in the week, Cathy had told me that I was invited to a gathering of girls at Tillie's house this afternoon and I really debated whether to go or not.  I hadn't been able to meet up with them during the summer, as I was either recovering or just unable to go when they had things going on.  So I took Joey for a decent walk and headed to Tillie's house.  I'm so glad that I did, as it is always nice to hang out with a bunch of girls, eat great food, and talk, talk, talk.  Just as I got there, the neighborhood was out in force with a parade of adults and children in Halloween costumes and that was so much fun to watch.

Sandy, Susie, Tillie, Cathy, Me

Friday, October 24, 2025

 It is always fun to meet up with the Stampin Up group and we did that on Monday. Pat brought the treats this time - some yummy pumpkin cupcakes and cinnamon ice cream. We made two cards - one was a real challenge and the other just pretty.  I might attempt to make them both again.  One of the problems I see with these cards is that they are heavy and require 2 stamps - the cost of a postage stamp has gone up to $.78. I still plan to make my Christmas cards - guess I had better get busy with that. 

There was a presentation on Dementia that afternoon and it was so informative and well presented.  Colleen spent the first 10 minutes or so describing the different types of the disease and the rest of the time was spent on the individual with the disease - how they perceive things, what their behavior can be like, and how we can help them to maintain their dignity and quality of life.  I'm feeling that it was well worth going to.

I got a much needed haircut on Tuesday and did a little shopping at Target afterward.

It was only 32° yesterday morning and 28° this morning - so the winter coat came out for the first time.  We are expecting warmer temps this week and back up to 50s. Yay!

I took these two pictures of the view from my bedroom and living room - just love these birch trees through all seasons.

Sunday, October 19, 2025

 It was a pretty busy week with helping out with food shelf and the pet nail trim with Mary on Wednesday and art class with Genevieve on Friday.  It was nice to see her again, as it had been a couple of months that she wasn't able to come.  We did embroidered greeting cards that were a lot different from the ones that I had done in the past.  We came up with our own designs and the cards were stitched freehand.  Since I've been thing about getting going on some Christmas cards, I made a wintery one.  

Yesterday was Dennis' memorial service and it was very nice, although sad and tearful.  I only wish I was one of those people who could control their tears but I'm not - my eyes water indoors, outdoors, and when I'm happy or sad.  I've always said that my emotions come out my eyes. It was nice to connect with Jill's Aunts and Uncles and some cousins (a big family) many who I had only seen at Ben and Jill's wedding.  They all traveled quite a distance to get here - an example of how much he was loved.

After the visitation, the Deacon said some prayers and then Jill got up and talked about the influence her Dad had on her while growing up.  He encouraged her to be a strong woman with courage to take on the challenges of life, take risks, and pursue her ideals.  And she thanked him for the influence he has had on her children whom he loved with all of his heart.  Ben spoke a little bit about how he was welcomed into the family and Dennis' influence on him and his family.

And then his brother Don got up and told stories of their childhood and how much Dennis loved fishing, hunting, golf, and being around friends and family.  I certainly saw that side of him.  His sister-in-law Linda also had some loving sentiments for him.

We went over to Lois' house afterward for a lunch and just to visit.  I didn't stick around too long, it was standing room only, and I was ready to get back home - a long and stressful, emotional day.  I was in bed by 7 pm.

I made a big pot of chili on Sunday afternoon and invited the neighbors, Tom and Sue to join me for dinner.  We had some great conversation and it was good to see them again. 

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

There sure hasn't been a lot going on around here and the days have felt long and boring. I did do some thrift and consignment store shopping but nothing stood out to me and didn't buy anything.  

We did have some nice warm days and then last weekend the temps dropped down and I actually saw a 36º morning last Thursday but the days have been comfortable.

I went to Ben's house Sunday afternoon to give Norah and Camille their birthday gifts and had dinner with them.  It was nice to see them all again, including Lois who is adjusting to the huge change in her life.  Ben cooked a yummy dinner of smoked pork tenderloin, roasted potatoes and smoked broccoli.  Dang - he is a good cook!

I finally finished Norah's blanket that she requested last summer. What a project that was - she was really happy with it.  I asked Camille if she would consider some other options as that yarn was so difficult to work with.

I helped out with the food shelf this morning and we got the least amount of donations that I have seen since helping with this project.  I also got a call yesterday from the county food pantry asking for financial donations.  

Our damned President and Representatives have shut down the government - it has been two weeks now and there is no sign that they will come together to come up with a solution.  It just really ticks me off - he is sending billions of $$$ in aid to other countries but refuses to help Americans.  We shall see what happens - I hope they don't mess with my social security - he says that won't happen but I don't believe a thing that he says

Monday, October 6, 2025

 Jill's Dad passed away last night and my heart has felt heavy all day, even before I knew.  He was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma back in December of 2021 and has tried all of the treatment options that were offered to him but this last one was just too much.  I feel so bad for their family but am glad that he is no longer suffering and I know that he will be missed by so many. He was a good guy!

Dennis Keith Quinn

( October 17, 1946 - October 5, 2025 )

Dennis Quinn, age 78, of Chaska, Minnesota, formally of North Mankato, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025 starting at 1pm with a prayer service at 2:30pm at Bertas Funeral Home, 200 W. 3rd St. in Chaska, Minnesota. A private burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Minneapolis or Multiple Myeloma Research Fund. https://themmrf.org/

https://www.cancer.org/support-programs-and-services/patient-lodging/hope-lodge/minneapolis.html

Born in Carroll, Iowa, on October 17, 1946, Dennis was the son of John and Estelle Quinn. He was raised in Defiance, Iowa and graduated from St. Paul’s High School with the Class of 1965.

From 1966 to 1971, he proudly served in the Iowa National Guard and later received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army Reserves. Dennis dedicated more than 40 years to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, retiring on July 3, 2009.

Dennis was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He was blessed with  a loving marriage of 53 years to his wife Lois with whom he had 2 children, Jill and Casey.  He is survived by his beloved wife, Lois; daughter, Jill Quinn (Ben Bridge); and his treasured grandchildren, Charlotte, Camille, and Norah Bridge. He is also survived by his siblings, Mary (Chet) Plisiewicz and Don (Barb) Quinn; and sister-in-law, Linda Quinn. He was preceded in death by his son, Casey Quinn; his parents; his brother, Dan Quinn.

Whether you knew him as Denny, Eskimo, Mo, Esk or Papa, Dennis was someone who brought warmth, humor, and generosity to every interaction. A man of many talents and passions, he loved the outdoors—especially fishing, golfing and traveling. A self-taught handyman, Dennis was proud to have built his own log home and was always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need.

Dennis took his responsibilities seriously but never missed a chance to enjoy life’s simple pleasures—whether casting a line, golfing, reading, or sharing stories around the dinner table. Above all, Dennis cherished time spent with family. He was immensely proud of his children and grandchildren and was their greatest supporter—rarely missing an opportunity to cheer them on in every milestone and activity.

Dennis will be remembered for his warmth, quick wit, and the love he so freely shared with those around him. His legacy lives on in the hearts of his family, friends, and all who had the privilege to know him.

I have been just dragging butt the last two days, sleeping at least 8 to 9 hours at night and getting at least one nap in each day.  I guess I'm still recovering from my road trip. 

Happy, Happy 12th Birthday to my twin granddaughters, Camille and Norah!  It's hard to believe this much time has passed - they are beautiful girls in so many ways. Will probably celebrate this weekend due to Dennis' passing. 

I heard from my PCP this morning after an inquiry on whether or not I needed the pneumonia vaccine. She said yes, and there were openings today, so I got it. Check that one off the list - I believe I am fully vaccinated now.

I took Joey to to dog park for a while this afternoon and he is out on the couch after romping around for a bit.