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April Update

  It's been awhile since I've posted.  Justin's situation is hard to write about, but I know there are people who want to know what's going on with Justin, my son.  In truth, he is getting sicker and weaker.  For awhile,he made great progress, talking, eating, and getting back into his power wheelchair.   Then he started getting weaker.  His left lung became covered with secretions, and he needed surgery to scrape things out. Then a CT scan revealed more new spine fractures (total of 7).  After that, he just hasn't been able to get over the hump.  This week, Justin decided to discontinue the weaning from the ventilator.  He is on full breath support and can no longer use the voice valve to talk without dangerous oxygen drops.  Pain medication has been significantly increased to help him deal with the pain. It's a tough thing for a 23-year-old to confront one's mortality.  We will continue this journey with Justin to the end to the best of our abilities.  We
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A Fall Update


The last few weeks have been busy with matters mostly unrelated to this blog.  Julia’s mom, who was a frequent commenter to this blog, succumbed after an uncomfortable and lengthy battle with congestive heart disease and related kidney issues.  Her ashes were placed in the ground on Monday.  Berla was a generous, optimistic woman who almost always had a smile on her face and encouraged others to smile by showing her  love and support.

In early August, I purchased the 100 watt solar panel kit from Harbor Freight for the Brew Hut.  It worked okay, but I wasn’t satisfied with the build quality of the panels or the solar controller. It was also quite bulky.  After trying it out for awhile, I returned the kit and purchased the Renogy 100 watt solar suitcase kit. 

So far, so good.  It is much smaller and easier to transport.  The solar controller provides information on amps supplied to the batteries(something that the Harbor Freight controller did not do).  The panels produce   more amps in direct sun than the HF kit.   

I think it will be an excellent tool to top off the batteries for the Brew Hut when boondocking (camping without electrical hookups).

We’ve had a stretch of hot, humid weather that ended yesterday.  I celebrated with a Slack’s Hill hike on the Ice Age Trail to the Merrimac Ferry and back.  One of my favorite spots on the Ice Age Trail is a bench overlooking Lake Wisconsin and the Baraboo Hills.  This is the view:

 
This is the bench:


The header photo to this post shows my feet on the bottom part of the bench as I stretch out.  This bench was built in honor of a professor who loved the trail.

 
This segment of the trail ends at the Merrimac Ferry, the Colsac.


The Ferry crosses the Wisconsin River from the Town of West Point to the Town of Merrimac. From the deck of the Colsac, looking upstream, there is a railroad bridge.


In our family room, we have a painting of this bridge. Bernie Kvam, a sign painter for many years, became an artist in his retirement. Bernie was a coffee shop customer and continues to give me a hard time when we meet.  I try to dish it back, but he usually wins.



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