Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:47 pm on August 23, 2026 Permalink  

  A Pleasant Sunday 

  The sun is out with a pleasant temp with just the right mix of all things Mother Nature.

  We did have an early morning visitor, Tom.  Apparently Dennis did what is called a butt call to Tom last night at 10:30.  What had happened is Dennis had tipped his chair over when the call went through.  I heard the noise and had ask Dennis if he was doing ok.   It began a two minute call with both of us speaking while Tom was listening.  Tom was checking in.  I really appreciated it a lot.

  When I had been in the grocery store last week I bought a fruit, I had not bought before . . . cherries.  The cherries were with their own stems at a handsome price per pound.  I bought them because they were Elvera’s favorite and I want to see how they tasted.  So, so.  Too bad Elvera is no longer with us, I could have had a spitting contest to see which one of us could spit the pit the farthest.

  Lena in decades ago would buy several crates for canning the cherries.  They were the most expensive to can of all the choices of fruit.  It was a special deal when mom would open a quart jar for a Sunday supper.  It could also cause a bit of angst when mom dished up our sauce dishes with the cherry sauce.  One of the four of us noticed someone had more pits in their dish than someone else.  The angst began when dad, Raymond, in a rather loud voice stopped the count-down right then and there.  He allowed us to know that no one had ever gone hungry around that oak round table and just be thankful for what we had.  It got quite quiet as Sunday supper finished up.

  Oh the memories.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:02 pm on August 22, 2026 Permalink  

  Busy Saturday 

  Due to the fact that I slept late, Saturday started without me.  

  Thursday night, I did not go into stage 3 Non-Rem.  I was awake every few minutes.  I did not get the physical restoration needed for the body repairs of my muscles, tissues and cells or the immune system strength.  It was a night of tossing and turning.  Friday night, I made up for it, sleeping until 9:30 this morning.

  First cup of coffee at my lap-top and I saw a car pulling into the drive with a beep of their car horn.  I knew what was going down.  We really enjoy the sugar free Lipton’s green tea.  A case of 36 bottles, 16.9 ounces, from Sam’s Club is very, very heavy.  Tom and Denise do their Mankato run early and they were delivering a case of that tea along with a rotisserie chicken.

  This early spring on an unusually hot day, I had nothing to offer Tom but a bottle of the tea.  Since then they have gone through many cases.  I think it’s less than $12.00 for the case, as Tom needed $17.00. for both the tea and the chicken.  Dennis hasn’t been drinking a lot of brewed coffee lately and pulling out a bottle of tea.

  We have enjoyed that tea since Megan was a tot.  When I would be working in the yard and Megan and Nicholas or one or the other were staying with us and they wanted a drink, I freely shared.

  There are two bags of wonderfully diced chicken in the freezer, two loads of laundry done and I am off the clock doing the Amaze Go puzzle on my phone.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on August 21, 2026 Permalink  

  Friday the 21st 

  A usual day with unexpected company.

  Dennis’ daughter from Silver Bay came for a visit.  Susie came alone as Saturday her and her son, Ryan and Callie are going to do sweet corn for the winter freezer.  Wow, what a sticky situation that will be.  They will get the corn at eight tomorrow morning and then the day commences.

  Sixty years ago, mom and I with four other gals car-pooled from Boon Lake to Glencoe to work the Green Giant corn pack.  We worked the night shift.  Mom was on the line, cutting out worms from the cobs.  I worked the huskers.  The trucks came in from the fields and dumped the corn into huge downward troughs outside the building.  I needed to pull the cobs free from the gravity fed trough and put it point first into the pigeon holes that stripped the husks.  Splatter, splatter.  I signed in with my badge.  If I kept up with the conveyor I stood a chance of earning bonus, which I did.

  The ride home from Glencoe as the sun was coming up, had six gals sitting close together, stuck together from the corn starch on our aprons that we wore home. 

  Christmas was via the corn pack that year.  Later on in the season, those that had their badge from working could visit the warehouse in Glencoe and purchase cases of Green Giant canned goods.  A sweet deal.

  Memories of decades ago.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:34 pm on August 20, 2026 Permalink  

  Tree Man 

  Ryan our tree man stopped in so I could pay him for the last greatest tree limb that had gone down from the Hackberry.  He said he had looked the tree over . . . good.  It is a large tree that is now split down the middle.  He suggested taking down the tree in total as it would more than likely nickel and dime us.  More like $100s and $100s us.  I asked him to put us on his list.

  That tree has had a built up flower garden around it for decades complete with lime stone huge rocks and other concrete blocks.  Ryan winked at me with the assurance it would all work out.

  Dennis was my chauffeur this afternoon for errands in and around town.

  First stop was the Family Dollar.  Dennis was out of the hard candy known as Lemon Heads.  In the grocery store they are $1.75 per bag.  In the Family Dollar they are $1.50.  I cleaned off the peg with what they had.  The gal behind the counter said it was my lucky day as the sale was 10 for$10.00 until this Saturday.  That was the best $20.00 I spent on Dennis in a long time.

  Our next stop was the post office.  Retail therapy for me is ordering online.  I have found a company with free returns.  One return was needed.  I have the tracking number.

  The grocery store was the last item.  Fruit for me and cookies and pastries for Dennis.  Shy of being 90 . .  . no quibbles of what he likes to enjoy.  His breakfast box is a pastry with two cookies.  It’s no longer just a box.  It is a Bernina shopping bag with hand-straps.  The box goes in with the cookies on top of the box with his thermos coffee cup sitting beside it.  One hand for the bag, the other for his cane.  Safest way for him to travel from the house to the patio porch.   

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:38 pm on August 19, 2026 Permalink  

  A Bity little Scene 

  It’s difficult to stand perfectly still when a bity little scene is playing out six feet from where you are standing.  Tiny little wrens perched on a tall asparagus plant enjoying the seeds representing the asparagus is busy growing their root base.  Quite the sight to take in.  On and off there were three feasting.  Mother Nature at its finest.

  In the evenings, Hulu has been my favorite on which to watch older series of shows.  The latest one I finished was five seasons of “A Million Little Things.”  Very entertaining and remarkable writing to keep me wanting more right up to the end.

  I called Aunt Janet last night to catch up.  Dan, on the homestead farm, just finished up the second batch of Hay for the bunkers.  In between time, Janet has helped bachelor Dan, age 61, pickle crab apples for his fruit cellar.  A bushel of peaches was scored from the Amish near Henderson for peach sauce to enjoy over the winter months. 

  My cousin Dan lives as I remember life 60-70 years ago.  All is well and good for the time that Aunt Janet can help.  It will be hard to replace a 93 year young aunt that would peel a bushel basket of peaches.  Janet has a heart of gold and would never say . . . no.  Arthritis in her body and I can imagine and I know for a fact, recovery takes time. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:07 pm on August 18, 2026 Permalink  

  Off the Clock 

  I am off the clock today, but it is not my idea.

  Eye appointment today with lots of tests.  Three months ago when I visited the clinic there was a hemorrhage in the top of the left eye.  Today that was gone, replaced by two in the lower left eye, calling for another appointment in three months.  Tim said it might be something as simple as a head-cold caused by sneezing or coughing.

  Along with the dialation drops in the eyes, it takes some time before one feels steady.  This blog post is the sum total of my afternoon.

  I know I am in good hands with Tim.  When he says it’s nothing to worry about, I believe him.  Quite a few years ago I went to see him about some flashing lights in my eye, I was on my way to Mankato that afternoon as it was a sign of a Retina tear in the left eye.  Sure enough.  A year or so later, similar symptoms and the right eye needed retina repair.  Each time I see Tim, he assures me the laser repair of the retinas are holding and good.

  The good news is that with my glasses on my vision is 20/20. 

  A quiet rest of the day will do the trick.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:31 pm on August 17, 2026 Permalink  

  My Tuesday 

  My Tuesday has gone exceptionally well.  Good ole Gemini did me good.

  I found a hand stitch pattern that I have had for some time.  It is monotone which I am ready for.  The previous pattern had 50 thread color changes.  From 2021 to 2026, mission completion.

  The new pattern is black floss on white.  The issue I had was that I had a half skein of black left from previous stitching.  I asked Gemini how many skeins of black floss I need for 39,000 stitches using one thread of the six on a skein on 22 count fabric.  Thank you Gemini and thank you Amazon for the 8 skeins of black that will be here on Tuesday, aka: tomorrow. 

  I do not feel the need to wander through retail stores to find what I need.  Been there, done that.  I have a specific need and it’s done in a heart beat.  It also saves the tempting item on the end-caps in the stores.

  The work in the studio went smoothly today.  The sewing machine never skipped a beat or a stitch as I went through two full bobbins via 40 vibrant spools of thread.  I still have a lot of work to do before I can call the fancy rag rug done.  Many, many wandering thread ends as well as removing the stabilizers on the back.

  Dennis has had a napping kind of day . . . that’s not a bad thing.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:48 pm on August 16, 2026 Permalink  

  First Floor Today 

  Tidy, tidy for a bit today on the first floor.

  Dennis volunteered to peel cucumber for our favorite cucumber and onion creamy dish.  When he volunteers I stay out of his way as I would not want to be the factor that he doesn’t volunteer again.  I had thinly sliced the onion ahead of time.  The last of a mayo jar had also been taken care of.  Nothing worse than sticky goopy knuckles as the scrapper is swirled around in the inside for the very last bit.  A new jar had been opened just in case more was needed.  We now have a bowl chilling in the refrigerator of tasty cucumbers co-mingling with the onions.

  A while back when I went grocery shopping, most of the refrigerated containers were empty.  A  condenser or some such had gone out and most of the refrigerated items were in the back.  There were signs everywhere to ask for help.  Which . . . I did.  I wanted two packages of all beef hotdogs.

  Out from the back came a flustered meat department person.  He had two packages of beef hotdogs . . . would they be ok?  I didn’t comment, I thanked him for his troubles and in the cart they went.

  One package I wanted to use when Megan and Nicholas had come for a Sunday.  The other package went into the freezer.  A little extra on hand never hurts.

  Today I took out the second package of hotdogs for our picnic type of supper.  Actually looking at the package . . . I never knew these beef hotdogs even existed.  Quarter pound each!  It was a Schweigert’s brand.  I took two out and put the remaining two back in the freezer.  When thawed I cut each one lengthwise.  I am looking forward to putting a half in a hotdog bun.  I will give each a char in the frying pan.  Bring on the picnic.  Live and learn.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:45 pm on August 15, 2026 Permalink  

  Street Lights 

  At one time this early morning, the street lights came on after seven, it was that dark out.  No . . . we received no rain or winds.

  In the studio this morning, I continue working with my fancy rag rug.  I had a design and the way it was digitized it was not the size I had hoped for.  What to loose.  When it came up on the screen, I chose to increase it 100%.  A bit risky.  My computer of a sewing machine increased the stitch numbers by 100%.  I do believe you get what you pay for.

  Dennis is out today visiting his life long friend, Lyle Grove, in the assisted living.  Lyle is hard of hearing and almost blind, but he and Dennis have decades of life to share with each other.

  Today, what came up on “One Drive” was several photos of 2012.  Dennis’ son Jeff was working on the garage of Kevin’s with Kevin that was near not being a garage.  The guys worked great together.  Jeff was going through a rough patch.  Jeff used Dennis’ little red pickup full of gas each day plus $40.00 in cash each day.  The near ka-put garage is now an amazing tricked out clay block building with 100% utility.  Sweet memories.

  More minutes spent visiting on the phone this afternoon than I had anticipated, but giving moral support . . . very needed and worth it.

  Again, I tried contacting Mediacom to come and pick up their router.  Perhaps next week will be the time.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:54 pm on August 14, 2026 Permalink  

  Gray Day 

  Its a gray day with a bit of a breeze from the southeast.

  Many decades ago after a mis-guided surgeon did a number on me, I made more trips to the Mayo in Rochester than I can recall.  Sometimes it was appointments over several days.  Across from the Days Inn was a restaurant that did drive-throughs.  It was a Boston Market with tasty food to go or eat in.

  Last week, I decided to try a Boston Market frozen oven meal for us in our grocery store.  I purchased one meal for us as I had side dishes as well.  I can tell you for $3.49 it was a tasty Saulsberry Steak meal with two large pieces of meat.  I took one of the meats and I let Dennis have the mac’n cheese.  I am not a fan of mac’n cheese.  What was T.V. dinners of old have come a long way. 

  As I open my email each day, I receive a reminder to open a “One Drive” recap for the day of the calendar that it is.  I cannot tell you how much I enjoy seeing recaps from the late 80s going forward.  There is no one photo book to hold all that can be seen. 

  There are more blurbs of rain showers that a weatherman can keep track of.  Mankato’s station has a weather man that show-cases county fairs.  I was surprised that Brown County, Nicollet County and Redwood Falls County were held with the same week’s span.

  The Nicollet County fair was the one that I took Megan and Nicholas to multiple years when it was senior citizen’s day.  The kids could run ahead of me without a worry.  Those photos that I mentioned pop up, today many of them were of the kids at the fair.  Nicholas was hanging over the pig’s pen, Megan had a bunny to hold.  Those days were rounded out with a trip to the Dairy Queen in St. Peter.  So many wonderful memories.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥