Susan Lee Diedrick, 1941-2013

Last summer, we bumped into old friends as we entered the gate of the Great Minnesota Get-together, the State Fair. This was a happy meet up, we hadn't seen Sue and Dale Diedrick for many years and so we took some extra time under a leafy tree to pause and recall old times in Chaska, where Dale and Sue were Kathleen's long ago paint store landlords and where Stan and Kathleen often met, partied and dined at their popular Butch's Tavern and Restaurant on Chestnut Street.
Dale was navigating about the fairgrounds on a brand new pair of hips and he freely passed on plenty of advice and encouragement for Kathleen's brother. (Be sure to do all your exercises!) By that time Kathleen was doing quite well on her own new knee so the two could compare joints, the surgeon they happened to share, and their respective coaches. Stan and Sue just rolled their eyes at this exchange. We shared other news, mutual friends, vacations, retired life, and grandchildren, of course.
We're so glad we stopped that day and took our time and this picture. Eventually, after hugs and handshakes, we parted the sweet company of this happy retired couple, certain indeed that our paths would cross again. We promised each other that they would, then said good bye.
Back home, we posted the above photo and it wasn't long after that a serendipitous relationship was discovered. We got an email from Jennifer, our nephew Ford's wife. "That's Lucie's grandparents you have on your blog," she wrote. We were delighted by what we learned. Ford and Jennifer happen to live across the street from Dale and Sue's daughter,  Jodi, and her husband and their little daughter, Lucie. Lucie plays with Jennifer and Ford's daughter, four-year-old Kaia. Lucie and Kaia have enjoyed many fun outings at Dale and Sue's Lake Bavaria home in Victoria, as Lucie shares her grandparents with her playmate Kaia. We've seen them happy together many times on Jennifer and Ford's blog, but deduced nothing.
Now we just scratched our heads, thinking about how close we are in this world.
Monday we were stunned to learn that Sue had suddenly died at home, medical cause of death not immediately known, leaving a loving husband bereft and an extended family riven with grief.

We have returned today from a service in Victoria, where throngs gathered to pay respects and try to support a family shocked by the sudden loss of this vibrant soul.
The jolt of her passing has generated an appreciation for the tenuous, fragile threads of our lives and the importance of always stopping to hold what is dear. Sue and Dale's Lake Bavaria neighbor told us today, that the day before Sue died, she saw Sue jogging down the road as usual, a 72-year-old woman living life to the full.
We drove to Victoria to share our condolences with Dale and the four children today, wondering how they would bear this, knowing that the strength of their family would somehow uphold them.
It was a day for lessons, we thought about how important it is to take the time to make the call, take the picture, share some time; and we thought too about little Kaia and Lucie, as they come to understand why Lucie's grandma doesn't play with them anymore.

The Master's Final Cut

Dorian Gray will cover up the old Luscious Lavender, thus
matching the gray and yellow comforter we scored at Kohl's,
who, of all things, just happened to be having a sale yesterday.

Today we finish the master bedroom/bath painting project. Above, Edy J. cuts in the Dorian Gray, tight against the Antique White crown moulding and ceiling he sprayed Thursday. No masking tape for Mr. J. . . . No sir. A precise masterful hand accurately divides the two colors, creating a nice look and deep envy in the homeowner, who would be using gobs of expensive blue masking tape to achieve a similar result.
Steady, Edy.

Kathleen offers encouragement. She'd be helping out, of course,
but with an arm in a cast, she's on injured reserve.

Breaking out the champagne at last. . .

Here's Marcy and her boss celebrating at the Smack Shack in the North Loop of Minneapolis this afternoon. For the past five years, our daughter has been the personal business manager for Matt Giovinetti, director of photography for the popular Food Network show, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. The two marked the achievement of an important five-year financial goal today. Matt credits his "financial guru for facilitating his financial harmony," according to the press release received moments ago on Kathleen's smart phone. :) Next project for these two? Watch for "Matt's Five-Star Dive Bar." Sounds interesting.
Congratulations Marcy, we're very proud of you... now don't forget to claim the champagne as a business expense on Matt's taxes.

Yellow, gray and blueberry

The doors and trim have been sprayed Antique White, the soffit over the sinks has been brushed Monorail Silver, but before he mixed up the Amulet AF-365 for the bathroom wall, "Fast" Edy J. took a break for a fresh blueberry muffin and a visit.

We took this color and the
blue out of the granite.
Of course, it's hard to get
a true value in a photo.

Edy (that's how he spells his name, not Eddie) likes Minnesota a lot. He moved to nearby Chaska a year ago, after working in California for the past 20 years. He says he enjoys the lakes here. The snow? Whatever he said about that was somehow lost in translation. In California, he lived in San Bernardino County, and there painted tons of interiors in Indio, Palm Desert, 29 Palms, Big Bear and elsewhere.
We could tell he's held a brush before, the years of experience show. He's painting our master bathroom and bedroom from a palette of grays, with gold and blue highlights.
So far, the work is beautiful. We'll give you a final "Katie's List" score later on quality and price when the job is finished.
Meanwhile, we have to score The Masters.

Winter, by Cousin Larry

Today's snowy weather comes shortly after we received this inquiry about a couple of our cousin Larry Veeder's lovely paintings of winter settings. These paintings were purchased in the 80s, held and cherished by an art collector who has since passed on. It's an interesting note reflecting the value of art in our lives.
The note reads:
My name is Dale Sxxxx, I live near Sacramento, California. I just returned from Minneapolis on Monday, where I'm the Executor of my Aunt Dolores' estate. (Dee was my dad's sister, dad was born in St. Paul, but settled in California after WW2.) Aunt Dee passed away in January; she had quite a bit of art, most by Minnesota artists dating from the 1960's to 1980's. Dee and her husband operated an art gallery in the 60's; but she also retired as President & CEO of the Minneapolis Telco Credit Union (now Topline CU).
Attached are close-up photos of two acrylic paintings by Larry Veeder which Dolores bought at Zonta art auctions, the first in 1981 for $150 [I'm not sure of it's name, could it be 'January Trail'?, I saw that title in another area of her files], the second - titled: 'Morning Light' was bought in 1983 for $250. Aunt Dee cherished these paintings for 30 years; you can tell by the photos that they were hung prominently and lit with art lights. The prospective buyer of her condo is interested in buying both paintings and I'm trying to establish a current market value. Any help you can give in determining their value will be greatly appreciated. (I was only in town for 6 days and didn't have time to get anyone to appraise them.)

-------

Cool. We passed on cousin Larry's email address. Aren't the paintings great? They're hard to see in these low quality phone photos, but you get a feel for them. They're so winterish, so Minnesota... especially right now.

Postponed

Cardiology, not meteorology, postponed Dan's hip surgery scheduled at Abbott/Northwestern today. In an abundance of caution, we opted to look into some additional heart issues to increase the certitude of success in this elective procedure we so desire.
A predicted eight-inch snowfall today did not play into the decision-making (Dan lives in the same complex as the hospital and could stroll to the surgical suite). However, the postponement did provide some stress relief to the support team located out in the burbs. Now they can watch the storm blow in from their armchairs.
Thanks for your continued interest and support for Dan. He's disappointed, but vows to press on.

Everybody likes to help Melissa cook. . .

Melissa's day-care kiddies get into the action with a boost here and there.

Testing Carl and Eloise's wifi. . .

Thanks, Carl and Eloise. Twins fan Dan waits for his pager to buzz.

We're in a waiting room here this morning at the Abbott Northwestern Heart Hospital, in the Family Care Center given by Carl and Eloise Pohlad, the late owners of the Minnesota Twins. Free wifi, a pager and soft chairs. What could be better? Oh yes, free coffee.
Dan and Stan are making sure Dan is ready for hip surgery tomorrow and are checking with some specialists to be sure. Thanks for all your good wishes as we embark on our challenging journey seeking the best of all outcomes.

Oh, C'mon. . .

Our lovely climate continues to frustrate. The big stuff is coming tonight, they say. Joy.