Adapting to our Schedule and Surroundings....

Dakotah Meadows RV Park at night

     It's been a busy week!  George met with the doctor that will be performing his cataract surgeries next week and the following week, Dr. Thomas Samuelson, with Minnesota Eye Consultants.  There were numerous patient forms to complete.  He picked up five different eye drops from the pharmacy, and has been following a strict schedule of use in preparation.

The Mdewakanton Dakota Shield -- the buffalo skull is a symbol of the Sundance altar, the arrowhead and ax represent tools to safeguard and provide for their people as they hunt food, the tipi symbolizes the meeting of the Dakota tribes, the pipe is for communication between man and a higher power, and the feathers represent the seven council fires.

      We are still facing several issues with the motor home, and received a recommendation from the campground here at Dakotah Meadows for Steve Voldt of Northern RV, to check out our damaged slide topper and our ongoing electrical and slide out issue.  We are still looking for a craftsman to re-configure a cabinet below our kitchen sink as well as some cabinetry in the area of our TV sets.





      Valerie is still working on raising her good cholesterol, so she signed up for a special month's membership at the Dakotah Sport and Fitness Center, which is within walking or biking distance, and  also owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community,  http://dakotahsport.com.

Drying out the carpet in the corner of the leaking slide, or maybe just cooling off the dogs

      We took advantage of the excellent lunch buffet at the casino on Tuesday last week.  The food was great, and Valerie picked up informational sheets and is determined to figure out the Bingo games and schedule, which appear to be fairly complicated.

Clouds approaching over the golf course

     The weather has been hot and humid with more and more rain!  Late on Friday, George had already gone to bed and Valerie decided to check the weather, since we had secured our drop on the big awning after they mowed the grass earlier in the week.  The forecast looked entirely clear, but she happened to look out the window just as lightening divulged a wicked black cloud looming across the prairie.  We managed to fight against the wind and get the awning mostly in as it began to rain, and rain hard for a long time.

An interesting bus parked at Walmart in Shakopee

      We learned that many folks took shelter and tornado sirens sounded just a little further north of us, and one of our neighbors was not as lucky with their awning.  The Shelties seem to believe the fans were in place for their comfort.  We understand that it will be at least a two week wait on the replacement fabric for the slide toppers.  It's been a stormy summer!

Our neighbor's storm-damaged awning

      George tried out our new compact, Element grill, which fits easily into the bays, and he was very impressed.  Valerie was missing her smoothies and found a single serving MyBlend blender by Oster, to replace the larger blender she gave up in the move last year.  Valerie fights the ice maker in the refrigerator on a semi-regular basis. This last time, it decided to take a bite out of the dish cloth which had remedied the same issue a couple of weeks ago.  Together, with the help of a small pair of scissors, we got it to let go, and our fingers are crossed that we will again get ice.

Family! -- Kathy, Alicia, and Bob -- (Photobombed by Max and another photographer's hand)

      George's daughter, Kathy, and her husband, Bob, hosted a fun family get-together on Sunday afternoon.   We all ate well, shared memories, and the dogs and grand-dogs all got along.

Sydney has worked very hard to be held all afternoon, so nap time is now!

      Monday we enjoyed a great meeting with RV Driving School instructor, Jon Bjonfald, and his friend, Laurie.  We learned that the Steak House at the casino is closed on Monday and Tuesday, so we made do with the buffet.

George's new Element propane grill

Valerie's new blender

      We got the go-ahead for George's surgeries following his physical yesterday morning, so positive thoughts and prayers are appreciated.  We're looking forward to a relaxing weekend with the Rib Fest http://www.mysticlake.com/midwestribfest.php and lots more family time.

Jon Bjonfald and Laurie at the Mystic Lake Casino Buffet