Change in Winter Plans.

Oct, Nov and Dec.

Sandy and I want to wish everyone a BLESSED CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Just wanted to update everyone on the latest goings on up here in the north country.  I have been having issues with my prostate for the last couple years. Last October I had a biopsy done and one of the probes had a 10% indication of cancer and a PSA of 5.63. I had another biopsy done this last April because my PSA jumped up to the mid 7’s and this biopsy showed the same area probe was now 90%. This last October I had another PSA done and it had a reading of 10.43 so my urologist set me up for a MRI scan at the U of MN. This showed there was a cancerous area about a half inch by 1 inch, but it seems to be all contained in the prostate. In talking with him I decided to wait until next Spring to look into options at that time. However, after more discussion with Sandy and others I decided on a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic. Based on my numbers, the Mayo urologist felt "active surveillance" was not an good option anymore.  So ,again, I  asked about waiting until  April and he said I could, but the chances of cancer spreading before then would be greater and I would need to have PSA tests twice more before April if I leave for the winter.  After discussing many treatment options and thinking about it for awhile I decided to have surgery. Surgery will be at Mayo on January 24th  (or sooner, as I asked to be put on the cancellation list).  This will be the robotic assisted method of prostatectomy which is less invasive. So, if all goes well, we hope to  still head to AZ the later part of February.

Now on to so brighter stuff.

Generally around the third week in October my brothers Glen, Joe and I go to Lake of the Woods for three days of fishing with some friends, but Glen and Becky were scheduled to go to Hawaii to watch their daughter, Cydney, play in a college golf tournament over there, so he did not make the trip. We sure missed his expertise in catching the real big fish, but we did OK.

Musky



Walleye



Joe and smallmouth bass.



Another walleye.



Joe with a musky.



I think this one needs another 3 years before I catch it again.



We spent Thanksgiving in Aberdeen to be with Sandy’s family. Cindy and John put on the Thanksgiving spread for all of us.



Have to get in a picture of Dad with his latest great grand daughter, Grace.



We got our first real snowfall on Saturday evening 12-8-12 and Sunday 12-9-12. It gave me an opportunity to use the snow blower 3 times and as we got over 12 inches of snow. Here are a few pictures Sandy took out our back window during and after the snow. The first big snowfall is always so beautiful.







Even though it’s pretty it was a mess to drive in.

On Friday the 14th Sandy and I drove to Staples to visit Dad at the Care Center’s Open House/Christmas party. They had cookies and beverages in the lunch room and Santa came to visit.

Here is me, Dad and Joe. Glen was in San Antonio, TX for an Athletic Directors meeting and some golfing.



That evening we stayed at Joe and Barb’s and went to the Staples vs Wadena basketball game. Staples ended up losing 61 to 62 which wasn’t so bad considering they were down 15 points with 9 minutes left in the game.

Barb and Joe.



These are turkeys  behind Joe’s house. This was in the late afternoon and we caught them heading to their roost.



The next morning when we were leaving they were on the road and really were not afraid of the vehicle. I sure would not want to hit one of these big birds at highway speeds.



Note the turkey flying in the upper left corner.



We tried to get a picture of all of us in front of the fireplace at the Care Center the day before but it was too crowded, so it’s just Dad and his oldest.



Until Next time,

Dave and Sandy

Fall Colors on Lake Chippewa, WI.

9-25-12 to 10-2-12

When Glen, Joe and I got back to Lakeville about 10:30 they continued on to Staples and I started getting ready to head out again. By noon Sandy and I were headed to Lake Chippewa in the Hayward, WI area to spend the next week with friends, Terry and Elaine.

While Marlin, Terry and I were out fishing, Elaine, Dee and Sandy stayed in camp and played dominoes.





This was the kind of sunrise we woke up to most mornings we were there. The weather was perfect and the colors continued to get more spectacular as the week went on.



One night after supper we played the 18 hole miniature golf course at the campground. Terry whooped us all badly.



While I am getting ready to take my second putt, Terry is still celebrating the first of his two hole-in-one’s.



And then Elaine got one later. Must be a family thing.



A heron appeared out front of our campsite just about every day we were there.



Terry and Elaine were catching all the crappie.



Then I caught one.



Whoops, what did Dave find out in the lake? Good thing I always carry a spare.



For these fall trips we usually come in on a Sunday and leave the following Sunday, which Terry and Elaine did. Because of my motorcycle trip we did not get here until Tuesday so we got to stay a couple more days.

The night before they left we had a campfire and watched this awesome full moon coming up over the lake.





Here Terry and Elaine a hooking up the fifth wheel to their truck.



And ours gets to stay put for a couple more days.



This is what Terry’s setup looks like heading down the road. 69’ 11.5” of fun.



On our last day here we woke up to a cool morning with the sunrise poking through the fog.



When Sandy went out to catch this moment she heard a woodpecker working in the tree. What she found was this Pileated Woodpecker. They are not uncommon in our area, but they do seem to stay out of sight and are not seen very often.



The colors were just perfect for us this year. The weather was also the best we have ever experienced there the four years we’ve come here.

What can I say about the following photo’s that Sandy took. Enjoy the---
“Symphony of Fall Colors”.











































Until next time,

Dave and Sandy