Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Forrest and Lily Come to Visit!

This week we had another example on how much life can change in a blink of the eye. Less than 2 weeks ago Barb’s stepmother went into the hospital with pneumonia and was diagnosed with stage 4 lung and pancreatic cancer. They gave her 3 months to live so Barb immediately started to make plans to go out to California after our son Forrest left. Two days later that diagnosis was changed to 3 weeks. Paula, 74, was very active, still working fulltime at an insurance agency was a loving wife to Barb’s dad for many years and took care of him during his battle with cancer before he passed away in 2012. Life can change in an instant…….

Forrest and our granddaughter Lily arrived on Wednesday the 10th for a weeklong visit. Well, to be honest it is a visit/work vacation as Forrest is going to wire all the electrical in our house!
Forrest and Lily arriving at the airport!
That same day we received another phone call saying that Paula had 24 hours. Within a matter of days the diagnosis went from 3 months to 3 weeks to 24 hours. She passed away during the early morning of July 12th in her sleep.

Our hearts go out to Paula’s family but are happy with the thought that she is now at peace with Barb’s dad.
Paula with Barb's dad
Forrest and I have been busy getting the house wired up. As a licensed electrician he has wired many a house so his knowledge and experience was invaluable. Day one found us walking through each of the rooms with Barb, detailing locations of lights, outlets and switches. Then we started installing said outlets, switches and lights.
Lots of boxes in the kitchen alone!
While we were doing that we received a text from Rudee and Phil asking if we wanted to meet them at the Pringle bar for dinner. Of course we did! So along with Jim and Brenda we all went there for a nice dinner.
The next day, while Barb watched Lily, we started wiring…… for the next three days we wired, wired and wired…..1500 feet of 12/2, 1000 feet of 14/2, 250 feet of 14/3, 100 feet of 6/3, 27 can lights, 73 outlets and 4 fans later we were done! Whew!
Forrest working in the bathroom

Lily even got in on the action!

That is a mess of wires!
All cleaned up and ready for inspection!
Forrest did great work hooking everything up and tying it together, now we just need to get it inspected and flip the switches. This is another big step in our build and are glad to have it done.
Lily meanwhile was decorating the floor in our bedroom. We will now forever have part of Lily under our flooring when the house is done.

This is a picture of Dakota
Speaking of big steps we got the all the exterior doors installed plus….
Front door is also in!
The garage doors installed! We are all buttoned up and ready to head north!
With the house work all done it was time for some play! Barb had taken Lily to Evans Plunge, a combination hot springs/waterslide in Hot Springs. We had never been there before and although Barb said it was a little crowded she said she would go back there again. She had also taken Lily to Wind Cave National Park to complete the Jr. Ranger program where she got another badge for her vest!



The four of us went for several jeep rides, with the weather being so nice we were able to remove the top and enjoy the fresh air. We visited The National Forest Office, Mt. Rushmore, drove the Needles Highway, the wildlife loops in Custer State Park and oh ya, the Purple Pie Place!
Lily with the Purple Pig

Did you know Smokey turned 75 this year!?!?
We ran into a "buffalo jam" in one section of the road where the beasts had both sides of the road blocked for about 20 minutes. They eventually wandered right past us and we were able to carry on.

Dance Party!


The next day Forrest and I snuck out for a quick fishing trip to Ditch Creek. Forrest started out the action by landing this beautiful rainbow.
Not to be outdone, I landed this one a few minutes later. My biggest non-Alaska rainbow to date!
One day when Jim Jordan and I ran over to Kevin's for some tools we ran across two snapping turtles on the road, one was just wandering aimlessly and the other one was laying eggs.

Our week together went way too fast and before we knew it it was time to drive them back to the airport except they had one unexpected passenger on that flight as well. Barb had booked a ticket to fly west with them to Medford Oregon where she will be renting a car and driving down to Redding California where she is assisting with the settlement of Paula’s estate. She only booked a one-way ticket as she does not know how long it will take. I, in the meantime, am headed to Ontario with Daisy and Dakota. Barb is planning on flying into Thunder Bay in a couple weeks when the time is right.

So although I am headed to one of my “Happy Places” it is bittersweet with the death of Paula and going without Barb. Just another reminder of how fragile life is and how it can change in a minute.

38 comments:

  1. Gosh are you lucky to have Forrest do all that wiring. That's a major job. I'm surprised you are even required to have inspections in that part of the country. That fish?? OMG I love it. Been a fisherwoman all my life and never caught a trout that big. Congrats!!!

    My heartfelt condolences for the loss of Paula. You are right .. you just never know how quickly life can change.

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    1. I did catch one bigger in Alaska but this was definitely my biggest small stream trout. They don't have building inspectors here but they do require an electrical inspection.

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  2. Congrats on getting buttoned up, looks like you found the right person for electrical work. So sorry about the loss of Barb's stepmom. It's a rough year for us, just lost one friend and will probably lose another by the end of the year.

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    1. Losses like that do make you think about life and be grateful for the time we do have. Keep making the most of it!

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  3. My condolences on the passing of Paula. Sounds like a very eventful week with Forrest and Lily and lots of progress on the build. Enjoy your time in Canada.

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    1. Now it is our turn to catch a few walleye and have a fish fry, cannot wait!

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  4. Our sympathies to everyone touched by the passing of Barb's stepmom, Paula. Cancer takes so many of the people we know and love, that's why we need to get in all the adventures we can while we're here. Never know when your day will come.
    Fantastic work on the electrical! To go from the "mess" of wires to a perfectly organised, labelled and functional panel is an incredible talent. Certainly not one we possess.
    Welcome back to Canada! Enjoy some time off at Pasha Lake, hope Barb can join you soon.

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    1. The certainly does know what he is doing, we had a few hot and miserable days and we are both glad that is done and behind us!

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  5. So sorry to hear about Barb's step-mom. To have it happen so fast is a blessing for the person with cancer but harder on the family with the shock of it all. Thinking of you Barb having to go and settle things ... it is always hard. Our thoughts are with you.

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    1. She had a horrible start to her journey, her flight out of Rapid was canceled and is now stuck in Denver for an extra day.

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  6. Our condolences to family and friends on the passing of Barb’s Step Mom. How handy is that having an electrician in the family when you’re doing a build. At least it wasn’t all work and no play. Safe travels and enjoy your well deserved vacation at Pasha Lake. Do I here fish fry at Q this season???

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    1. Unfortunately the take home limits in Ontario are not as liberal as where Red fishes so we will have to rely on him for crappies again!

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  7. So very sorry for the families loss. How fortunate that Barb is free to help out. Sadly life is short and we really need to live it each day to the fullest. Sounds like Lily made a lot of special memories that week. Safe travels to both of you and hope that you are together sooner than later.

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    1. Hopefully Lily will have memories of this adventure for years to come. Forrest said she usually only remembers the traumatic events in her life. I suggested we do something traumatic so she remembers it but he said we should probably pass on that!

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  8. SJ sorry about Barbs stepmom. The house looks fantastic! How sweet to have Lily’s pic there! Nice fish! Good luck to you all on your separate journeys. Have fun up North!

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    1. That was a huge trout for that little stream! Glad we were able to share it with you as well.

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  9. I admire an electrician who can have all those wires coming down, and know exactly where to put each and every one of them into the box. Sorry for the loss of Barb's step-mom. We lost a friend of Marcia's a few years ago...she went into the hospital on a Thursday, diagnosed with Leukemia by Saturday, dead by Tuesday. The daughter said to us, "Dad died the most horrible, longest death with his cancer, thank goodness she did not face that...."

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    1. There is some comfort in knowing she went quickly and it was not drawn out and painful. Forrest did a great job on the panel, I could have never done it that cleanly.

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  10. Sorry to hear of the passing of your loved one.

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  11. Thanks for sharing all the updates...the good, the bad, the sad and the very difficult loss of Paula...sending hugs

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  12. So sorry to hear about Paula, Jim. Lily sure looks like she had fun. Talk about a front row for the bison jam! And another Junior Ranger badge...that’s great stuff right there.

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    1. I don't know how many badges she has at this point but I know it is not as many as you two!

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  13. Sorry to hear about Barb's stepmother. We never know what tomorrow will bring so we need to live each day to the fullest. How nice to have a son who can handle all that electrical work. That was a LOT of wire and outlets. It is also nice to have that time with your son and granddaughter. The house is looking great. Have a fun trip to Ontario.

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    1. Forrest was a Godsend, I don't know how we would have ever gotten all that done without him!

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  14. Condolences to you all on Paula's passing. You all have been busy in many directions but know you enjoyed Forrest and Lily here and helping. Very nice tidy work on the electrical from Forrest, what a huge help to you. Glad you got some play time in with them though. Shout out if you need anything from here. Safe travels!

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    1. Thanks guys, we will see you in a few weeks if you are still around when we get back!

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  15. Our deepest condolences on the passing of Paula. You are truly right life is Fragile and some just take it for granted.
    Glad to see the House is coming along but will you be heading South this winter?
    Be Safe without Barb in Ontario.

    It's about time.

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    1. As of right now our winter plan is to stay in SD through December then head down to Quartziste and wait out the really cold months.

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  16. Sorry to hear of the passing of Barb's step-mom.
    Wow, I'm just getting caught up on the house build. And I thought I was busy! Sheesh, you guys have done a lot in a short while. Very nice work and looks like you've spent your money wisely and on the important things. Nice job!
    Enjoy your time fishing in the great north. Hope Barb can join you soon. Drive careful.

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    1. It is nice to get up here and do nothing but fish. Actually I am looking forward to a couple days of just doing nothing!

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  17. My deepest condolences for the loss of Barb's stepmom. There is nothing good about cancer it just sucks! But for Paula's sake it did not drag on. It is so hard on everyone. You are so right now life can change in a moment,we have too live it to the fullest. The house is coming along great, Forrest did a great job. It is something how much wire you use in a house. When we built our log house we used over a mile of wire. Have a great time in Canada. Really nice rainbow!!

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    1. Wow, a mile of wire, I never thought of it that way. We were short of that but it sure seemed like a lot!

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  18. My condolences to Barb and your family for her loss. Congratulations to Lilly! I love the Jr. Ranger program and look forward to swearing these kiddos in whenever our volunteer opportunities allow. Ron has wired many a house, so I know how much you are appreciating your son's help. Stay safe in your separate travels. Never easy to be apart since the full-time lifestyle keeps you together!

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    1. It is weird being up here alone, hopefully she is able to join us soon!

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  19. So sorry to hear about Barb's stepmother. The message is a great one. Do it now!

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    1. Six years in and we have no regrets, we are very fortunate to be able to do this now!

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