Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:07 pm on December 31, 2022 Permalink  

  New Year’s Eve 

  Today may be New Year’s Eve, but in reality, another day on the calendar.

  Dennis and I have never done anything out of the ordinary for this evening that always ends up getting a bad rap when some tend to celebrate too much.

  I have spent time in the studio.  Creating a pattern that is an original, thus no given time is allotted.  Measure, once . . . measure twice and then place it under the sewing machine embroidery module.  Tomorrow may show evidence that my thinking is meshing with the stitching.

  This morning I looked out and thought the bare drive was a treat.  No ice to worry about.  KNUJ has just popped my balloon when they reported a storm coming Monday and going through Tuesday with snow and an icy mixture. 

  I have my blue speckled roaster in the oven with pork steak.  Dennis’ blood panel indicted his hemoglobin is a bit low.  We do tend to have chicken often.  Ground beef will be put on our menu for this next week.  I really don’t feel like buying liver right now.  What is purchased in a grocery store is not sliced for pan ready.  A good list of foods on the computer helped.

  Enjoy the first 2023 day tomorrow.  I have high hopes for a very good 2023 for us two on Stauffer Avenue and for all our children.

   
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  Noreen 3:25 pm on December 30, 2022 Permalink  

  That is All Folks 

  The sun is out and our drive is clear of ice and snow.

  Our only agenda for the day was to have Dennis out to our clinic today for a pre-op physical.  Dennis passed it with flying colors for the surgery he will be having on January 11th.  Dennis will be having the remaining three toes removed from his left foot as well as a metatarsal bone adjacent to the little toe.

  In October of 2021 something did a number in and on Dennis’ foot and he has fought the good fight ever since with that foot.  There is nothing to explain or complain about.  Our bodies can have medical issues that are out of our hands.  For myself, I am so thankful it is not cancer for Dennis.  I am humbled as to how Dennis is handling this. 

  So back to what I started out with . . . rejoice in the sunshine.

  I have attempted to spend time in the studio.  After today, there is only marking time until January 11th and perhaps the studio will be given more time.

  As we have agreed to a soup and sandwich supper, I am heading to my bedroom porch to read a bit while taking in the sunshine.

   
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  Noreen 3:36 pm on December 29, 2022 Permalink  

  It is Hopeful 

  I have posted this bit of hopeful news quite a few times.  Hopefully this time is a winner, winner . . . chicken dinner.

  We just may have a contractor for our front door repair.  I need to pinch myself.  Dennis and I watched a two-man team totally redo our neighbor’s house to the south of us.  Through all of the false hopes we had with numerous contractors that came, they looked but never returned.

  I called Bryan Estrada, one of the two-man team I just mentioned.  He was here by twelve noon.  On the building permit that we will need, Bryan is a family member willing to work right along beside us on the repair of our front door.  Our city does have a watchdog of a building inspector.  Screw them.

  We had a generational lumberyard, Overson’s, that went belly up trying to support too many family members.  A young fellow, Vaughn, that worked his way up from sweeping the lumberyard to eventually managing Overson’s.  It didn’t take long after the doors closed here in St. James, he went down MN HWY #15 to the south to manage the lumber company in Truman.  

  I called Vaughn, in Truman, this afternoon and explained that we had a contractor.  That alone shocked Vaughn as no one wants the small jobs.  At the time that Bryan will start our job, they, Bryan and Carlos, can go to Truman and pick up whatever is needed for our project.  Vaughn had no problem invoicing what would be needed as well as keeping an eye on the material being picked up for a project such as ours.  As the size of the exterior door will now be 32″ x 76″, it will be a special order that may take a month or perhaps two.  Vaughn drives past our home going to work in Truman and on his way home.  Vaughn will slip the brochure in the mail slot as to the design that will be ordered.  

  I am hopeful as it would be a treat to use our front door after many, many years of not.  What was once an open porch with a slant floor to shed water has since become an integral portion of living area, aka: my bedroom.

  Soon 2022 will be history.  Bring it on.

   
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  Noreen 3:04 pm on December 28, 2022 Permalink  

  A Drippy Day 

  There are puddles everywhere.

  I had an appointment this morning with my doctor.  With the strong south wind, I felt lucky to get into the clinic.  In September I had several batteries of tests and x-rays for my “farmer type” back.  I printed out the results and one by one I went online to see what the huge terms meant.

  This morning, I wanted to find out what could be done going forward.  If I would have surgery to repair my lower back, there would be five vertebra that would need to be rebuilt.  It would most likely take a full year of rehabilitation to get back to relative normality.  For now, I am going to try meds.  If an opioid can give marginal relief, so be it.  If, after a time, perhaps a cortisone shot may be of a help.  Yes . . . the shot has to be spot on to help.  For now I am willing to try this meds recourse. 

  Yesterday I had a text conversation to brighten my world.  I have known Sharon Skolberg since we were each in country school.  Sharon and Ted farmed north up the road from Orlin and me in Boon Lake Township.  Ted and Orlin have since passed, but the special friendship between Sharon and I remains.  Sharon had shared with me that phone conversations are difficult for her as she is on oxygen therapy.  Texting works out just fine via Facebook’s messaging.  Sunshine can come into my world when least expected and so appreciated. 

  Dennis was off to the grain elevator.  He is stockpiling shell corn for his deer.  It seems as a mama deer and two small ones come early for a snack.  Dennis did say that larger, older deer can put up quite a fight for food.  The older and larger are more apt to fend for themselves.

  Tonight is a soup and sandwich night.

  No sunshine but seeing puddles where not too long ago there was ice . . . is a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 2:29 pm on December 27, 2022 Permalink  

  Happy Tuesday! 

  With 26 degrees out, there is a whole lot of happiness going on our drive.  There is bare concrete sticking out.  Even with all the hard packed snow, once Dennis got down to the concrete by our back door, it was wet from the rain we had right before the snow.  A weird winter.

  I had a project in mind for the studio.  After one of those things . . .  “you can’t fail if you don’t try.”  I tried and now the waste basket has had an offering of failed.  I had some ultra suede, a manmade product.  Stick pins, safety pins and any other kind of a pin I had would not go through it.  My attempt of putting a zipper in, in what would be a pillow . . . failed.  the two layers wanted to walk away from each other.  This morning was garbage day and now the clean wastebasket in the studio doesn’t feel like it isn’t needed.  Tomorrow is another day.  Lights and my electric heater . . . shut down for the remainder of the day.

  A friend, Linda, was the gal that took all of the Dueber fabric and embroidery floss for her church’s mission sewing.  Today, I sent her a get well text.  The 20th of this month she had surgery for a portion of her jaw and some lymph nodes removed due to cancer.  A bone from the calf of her leg is now a portion of her jaw.  She is in amazing spirits.  Linda could talk a leg off of a chair.  She shared with me that she is getting callouses from texting as much as she had talked.  A very sweet friend.

  Dennis and Dwayne did the McDonald’s coffee group today.  As the fellows were catching up, a woman from the First Lutheran Church came to the fellow’s table and thanked Dennis for all the fabric his wife had donated.  Sweet!  Dennis drove Dwayne past our backyard.  The deer-trampled acre is quite the sight.   

  Our Christmas tree is still shining brightly.  I don’t feel in a hurry to tuck it away.

   
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  Noreen 3:30 pm on December 26, 2022 Permalink  

  Monday a Holiday 

  When Christmas Day is on a Sunday, the Monday is then considered a holiday.

  It was a good thing that Lewis Drug was indeed open today.  They had closed on the 23rd in the morning due to blowing snow and the same for the 24th.  Now today being the 26th they were backed up ten deep.  Dennis was one of their customers standing in line.  Not a good day for a new employee behind the counter.  All is well as Dennis did come home with the correct items.

  Grandson Ryan was here this morning with the skidloader.  The pile of snow in our front yard is huge.  Ryan takes the snow from Stauffer Avenue, which is where Dennis needs to back out of with the little red pickup for his errands, and that snow is piled in the backyard.  Oh so much white.

  Who knew that the snow that began to fall Christmas day would continue most of the night.  When I went to bed at ten and looked out, the snow against the street light looked as if glitter were falling from the heavens.  Every color imaginable reflected.

  The storm that we had over Christmas blew snow in drifts that became hard.  We had never had snow pile up at our back door to the depth that this was.  It took quite a push for Dennis to get out of the house Christmas Eve morning.  That push also took off part of the sweep from the bottom of the combination door.  There we had it . . . flopping every time the door opened and closed.  After Dennis cleared off snow from the back door walk to the garage, he was due a break.  With the bitter cold, I rolled up a carpetrag rug to keep the cold at bay.  A short term fix.

  When Dennis was napping, I looked the door situation over.  What would my dad, Raymond, do?  The vinyl sweep tore through from the screw holding it on.  The sweep was kept at bay by that screw length and thus not fitting back under the combination door.  The sweep had u-shaped channel that was now full of frozen snow.  I dressed warm and took one step at a time.  That step was clearing the frozen snow off of the inside door sill.  I got out my pastry brush and cleaned all the snow out of the channel.  I couldn’t get the screw out.  With a side clipper I snipped out just enough of the vinyl sweep so it bypassed the screw and I could get the length of the sweep back under the length of the door.  It’s not the best fix.  With the snow being kept away from the bottom of the outside door, it will do for now.  At least the sweep will keep the cold air from seeping in under the inside wooden door.

  When Dennis got up he couldn’t believe we were back in business.  There is nothing like a DIY Grammie.

  Today with laundry done, I decided to come down into the studio.  It had been dark for far too long.  It also gave me a chance to try out the small heater we purchased to sit under the sewing table.  The remote works great and can be set to oscillate if needed.

  Yes, this is a winter that we have not seen for many a year.  Now . . . if the forecast is correct we may have temps in the 30’s for the remainder of the week.  Go figure.

   
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  Noreen 2:49 pm on December 25, 2022 Permalink  

  Christmas Day 

  Christmas Day, the birth of our Lord and Savior.  No one’s life on earth would ever be the same again.

  We have so much power over our own life once we are out from the shelter of parent’s love.  It is quite humbling and also quite frightening.

  Little do many of us remember that that shelter lasts as long as God gives them breath.  For myself, my shelter for my children is as large as the biggest umbrella you could find.  I am right here for them, just a phone call away any time of the day.  Moral support is powerful.  I sure had a lot of it from Raymond and Lena.  I try to give as good as I got.

  Today, as Dennis and I are sharing our Christmas here on Stauffer, alone but not lonely.  It gives me contentment that my children and my grandchildren are safe within their homes.  What better Christmas present could I have.  It warms my heart.

  I will add that our home is fragrant with a small beef roast in the oven.  I wrapped it in two layers of foil after I had put a rub on it.  The foil wrapped beef was put in a fry pan at 300 degree at nine this morning.  I am hoping for a steamed tender roast to go with our favorite carrot casserole and cheesy potatoes.  Once the winter dictated we would be two rather than eight, I scaled back the size of the dishes I prepared, but maintained the original menu.  Sweet.

  I did my family responsibility and called my brother in Iowa.  Nothing newsworthy came forth.  I struggle to understand his lack of family feelings.  I have chosen to accept rather than expect.

  Looking outside, the snow is lightly falling.  We have reached nine above zero.  Not bad. 

  Each time Dennis goes out to the patio porch he takes another swipe at some of the hard packed snow that found its way right by our back door.  The deer appreciated the offering of the corn as evident of all the tracks around the patio porch.  A bit of corn for each one offers good body heat for them.

   
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  Noreen 3:47 pm on December 24, 2022 Permalink  

  Christmas Eve Day 

  With the sun shining bright it does make one not immediately need to keep their finger on the pulse of the temperatures.  The wind is not wanting to be stifled.

  Grandpa and I will be spending a quiet Christmas Day.  It does my heart good knowing my children will be safe and sound within their homes, plus . . . with their fur babies.

  I did decide to make some of Dennis’ favorite dishes for our Merry Christmas day.

  It is now in the mid afternoon and we are officially off of the clock.  The dishes are fixed for tomorrow with all the dishes done.  Several loads of laundry have been done and folded.  It is indeed a very good feeling for us two older ones on Stauffer Avenue.

  Many years ago this afternoon would have been an early day of all outside livestock chores.  Our Christmas program would be taking place at the Lutheran church in Stewart.  Our Christmas’ finest clothing would have been prepared and pressed days before.  Dad would have the Plymouth idling waiting for our family of six to get into the car for the 10 mile trip.  Dad was a stickler about being on time.  Christmas Eve, getting ready to leave for church, Dad never complained about Mom being the last one in the car.

  Mom was the Santa that had a small window of getting all the Christmas presents out of hiding and under the Christmas tree for us four kids while we were sitting very patiently in the car.  We didn’t catch on for many years.  Sweet.

  Those memories are still as sweet now, just as they have been over the years.

  We all can make our own traditions and then look back on them as they become sweeter with time.

  My wish for my children is that they know they will always be my little ones in my very own special memories. 

  Love to all and a Merry 2022 Christmas.

   
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  Noreen 3:48 pm on December 23, 2022 Permalink  

  Wow 

  I feel as if I am in a snow globe that continually has enough movement to keep the snow swirling.

  There is no new snow falling, it is just being rearranged with very high winds.  I noticed on the south window where snow had clung to the screen, there is a fine line of dirt.  We are getting somebody’s field dirt from far away.

  Some vehicles are still braving whatever the wind can throw at them on the streets.  The business end of our little town is at a stand still, including the medical clinic and the drug store.  I have no doubt there are some wonderful people manning the ER.  Bless their hearts.

  Where are those little birds finding shelter!  I hope they are huddled in the depth of the evergreen bush northwest of my bedroom.

  With the wind that comes in a gust sounding like a train, my mojo is absent.  There is little to show for local effort today, and . . . I don’t seem to care and that is very uncharacteristic for me.  Perhaps tomorrow will be better.

  Safety is what I pray for everyone.  Our motel is full of those that felt they could travel to their destination.  The rest are being housed in the Presbyterian Church.  A whole lot of uncertainty for those individuals, when all that was sought was getting to that very Merry Christmas.

  Dennis and I feel very fortunate in our snug little home.

   
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  Noreen 2:59 pm on December 22, 2022 Permalink  

  Thursday the 22nd 

  This is the type of day, I am thankful I can stay indoors.

  Dennis’ grandson, Ryan, stopped by with nephew Brett’s skidloader.   It has saved our neighbor Randy from coming over after Randy gets off of work.

  The gusts of the wind from the northwest are fierce.  We have taken our small American flag in to save it from being shredded on the steel stake that normally holds it.  As I sit here in the living room, I can see across the street to the neighbor’s American flag that was whole last week and now has shreds.

  Dennis is spending time in the patio porch this afternoon.  The three Kitties seem to appreciate the company.  In a perfect world we could have a fur baby in our home.  The ultimate word is “a” fur baby.  Now with the three kitties in the patio porch it would be hard separating them and no way am I about putting up with fur baby fur . . . everywhere, in every nook and cranny.  Kitties don’t stay on the floor.  As long as Dennis enjoys his patio porch, the kitties have a good home . . . safe, sound and warm.

  There is more of the oven meal left for us to enjoy for supper.  We do so enjoy leftovers.

  With winds whipping, it sure hasn’t slowed down the traffic past our home.  That does to speak to our heavy duty vehicles.  Our vehicles are doing just fine in our garages.