Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:29 pm on August 28, 2022 Permalink  

  A Whirlwind 

  Last night about seven we had a wind that whirled.  The patio umbrella had been lowered earlier in the afternoon.  We always have a heavy rock sitting on its cast iron base as an anchor.  In a flying second that was literally down being tipped over.  A good sized branch snapped off of the sugar maple and landed on the back patio.  I was in the house watching it all through the bathroom window.  Dennis was in the patio porch getting a very close view of it all.

  The wind whipped and tore with driving rain.  It may not have lasted long but it did do a fair amount of limb and branch damage.  Once we were down to rain falling, Dennis came in for the night.  He had had enough as did the porch kitties.

  I waited until this morning to view the backyard.  Breakfast was the first order of business.  With my yard shoes and cane in hand I went to the farthest branch damage, the east line of the acre.  With using one of the limbs as a hammock, I kept coming west, piling on smaller branches.  Dennis would meet me at the potting shed and begin building a pile.  I made five more trips while Dennis picked up the dead wood that had blown down from on high.  I would not have liked being underneath one of them, as the momentum from on high could have been fatal.  Amazing that they had hid out for so long without us seeing them.

  We may very well have continued with yard work, but I received a text that we were getting company.  My cousin Mark lives near Hastings with family ties in Jackson.  Mark and Tammy had been in Jackson for the weekend and would be stopping by on their way home.  Heck yes, I will put off yard work.  

  We had a great time catching up.  Mark’s dad and my dad were brothers.  Mark works for an industrial printing company. 

  The sun is out this late afternoon with a bit of humidity.

  Tomorrow is another day.  The day will bring a lot of cleaning up of branches and leaf tips.  Enough that it will count as good exercise and the walking crutches will be for another day.  I will be slow and steady . . .  no whirlwind of activity from me.  Besides . . . Stauffer Avenue is really mucky after the heavy rain.

  I am so very thankful that we have leftovers from Dennis’ oven dish of last night.

   
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  Noreen 1:10 pm on August 27, 2022 Permalink  

  Felt Wonderful 

  My walk this morning felt wonderful.  There was a strong breeze from the north with enough cloud cover I didn’t have to walk against the sun.  Stauffer Avenue does run east to west.  I feel safer on it than I do the cemented 11th Street with all the heavy truck traffic.  I tried it once last week and will remain on Stauffer Avenue.  There is a four-way stop north of us, less than 300′, but the need for speed . . . I won’t take a chance of falling off my walking crutches if I were to be startled.

  The cottonwood trees are letting go of their leaves, making the ground take on a sheen from their unique leaves.  As they rustle in the breeze they take on a tune all of their own.

  As I walked east I had to give out a “Hello” to the Hispanic fellow working on his garage.  He was kind enough to take all the extra bricks that we had accumulated as flower bed borders.  Those same bricks are now a part of his exterior to their home. 

  When I came back from my walk, Dennis was in the kitchen.  I was told he would be making an oven dish for supper.  Get out of the man’s way!  It is best that I give Dennis the space and time he needs.  I know if he would need me, I would answer the question that he posed to me and then hands off.  Who am I to question this.  I will take it any day of the week.  Besides . . . he washes the dishes that he used after the round blue speckled enamel roaster is perched on top of the kitchen range ready to pop in the oven at 350 degrees at 4:45.  The digital thermometer was also laid out to make sure it would be done when it hit 160 degrees.  Sweet! 

  In between being busy in the studio and taking breaks reading a few chapters in a novel that has really gotten spellbinding . . . I am having a very fine day.

  Happy, happy weekend!

   
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  Noreen 2:24 pm on August 26, 2022 Permalink  

  A Good End 

  Today was a good end to the week days.

  The exercise peddling was followed by using the walking crutches down Stauffer Avenue.

  My breakfast was cold leftover chicken tenders from yesterday.  They were just as good today as they had been yesterday.  I am not a fussy eater.

  The sewing studio and I got along great today.  I was tempted to travel to The Old Alley Quilt shop as one of the gals was having her last day of employment there.  Lori has been on hand for any and all that would need help.  I sent her a message allowing her to know that she was indeed a wonderful friend over the years.  At this time, she didn’t know what was going to be in her future.

  As I said I was tempted to visit the shop, but just couldn’t justify it.  Everything is coming together so well working within my stashes . . . why ruin it by purchasing what isn’t needed.

  When I cashed in a gift certificate at Gathering Friends in Bird Island, one of the newly acquired tools was a Gingher 7″ scissors.  This purchase was amazing.  It cuts as if going through air.  When it cuts this easily, it is easier on the hands than the rotary cutter that requires pressure even if a new blade is being used.  Not to overdue on the hands and shoulders, I have a book with which to enjoy when a break is needed from the studio.

  Dennis reports it is sprinkling out.  From the sounds of it, sprinkles are in the possibilities every day going forward.

  KNUJ is about to be shut off as are the lights in the studio.  It feels so much better to quit while I am ahead.  Once I hurt . . . it’s too late.  I deem this a good end to this day in the studio.

   
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  Noreen 2:11 pm on August 25, 2022 Permalink  

  Preparing for Winter 

  Today, just because we could we went in search of magnetic weather stripping.  As it were we have a metal clad door on the patio porch.  We lucked out and found the last one in Home Depot.

  What we also found out is that there is road construction going on everywhere.  The clock is ticking!

  I did want to find socks for Dennis today.  Nope, I will need to go online.  Crew socks and similar ones have elastic that is too tight in all the wrong places.  These socks have a very forgiving snug on the calf of the leg.  Walgreens said they just did not have enough call for them to continue carrying them.  One of these days Dennis will be able to put shoes and socks on.  Right now there is still too much healing going on for the shoe option.  We tried it for one day and Dennis knew it was not the time as yet.

  The day is still early and at three in the afternoon, I don’t feel like starting anything.  As Dennis is preparing for winter, I am sizing up a lamp that I have over my bed.  Years ago, before eyesight changes, I could read in bed with no glasses on.  Bi-focal lenses squelched that.  I am going to take that lamp and hang it over the reading area in my bedroom porch.  Gray days and shorter days of winter could use a bit more light to read by.  I also need to be prepared.

  Though tomorrow is Friday, it is a new day with new enthusiasm.  I plan to participate . . . how about you?

   
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  Noreen 2:17 pm on August 24, 2022 Permalink  

  Hump Day 

  After today, whatever weeds and clover did not get whacked out with my hoe and rake will get a bit of a spritz with Roundup.  I do know that Roundup is taken in at the surface and travels to the root.  Caution is needed.  I will not be encouraging Dennis to use it.

  Dennis has all he can do to keep the wasp nests at bay.  The favorite place for them to begin nests is in the shelter of our patio umbrella.  I thought it was just our yard.  Not!  I happened to look out of our east bathroom window and took in quite the dance.  Two doors south of us, Mong had spray can in hand and was trying to take the wasps out while they were in flight.  I watched long enough to see him knock down three nests from the eaves of his storage sheds.  The flying wasps were not happy.

  When I came in the house this forenoon, Dennis volunteered to clean my garden shoes.  What a fellow.  Though the ground has gotten hard enough to make weed pulling difficult, thus the Roundup spray, the soil is still ready to stick to shoes big time

  Stauffer Avenue is a gravel alley.  It gets enough use that the city applies dust control.  That happened on Monday.  It is the messiest liquid stuff ever.  For a week or so, Dennis will be using the car for errands.  The pickup backs out onto Stauffer Avenue and the tires will then drag the liquid creosote into and onto the garage floor on the return trip.  It will literally leave puddles on the floor.  I won’t be using my walking crutches on Stauffer for awhile.

  The studio and I were not in harmony today.  The 1/4″ seam allowance was eluding me and could not to be attained consistently.  Try, try again another day.  I hear a book calling me from my bedroom porch.

  Today is not only hump day, it is my day to dig out the alcohol wipes as Dennis just came in with wasp stings on his neck.

   
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  Noreen 1:29 pm on August 23, 2022 Permalink  

  A Summer Day 

  There’s a bit of a summer feel outside.  I was glad to have my outside work done by 10:30.  Dennis continues piling up the vegetation as I get it out of the Hosta.  Who knew we would get rain overnight!  His pile to purge and burn will have to wait a bit longer to dry out.  With the acre mowed and us making strides on weeds and clover . . . it is looking . . . sweet.

  Both of the beds have fresh bedding on for tonight’s slumber.  I think linen closets are a thing of the past.  The beds are stripped, the washer and dryer do their thing and it is back onto the bed.  A very good thing.

  The car has new tabs on it going forward into 2033.  It’s best to do it when the notice comes in the mail.  Why take a chance of forgetting.

  The house directly south of us has been vacated and it is the house that needed to be cleaned out to the tune of three huge roll-off dumpsters.  The property has been sold and the new owners have not decided if they will fix it up to rent or if they will make it their home.  Very nice people.  After the three roll-offs, I am surprised that there is still a pile of discarded items coming out of the house.  I am not surprised that after night settles in, the scroungers are rearranging the pile.

  The day is drawing neigh and I am feeling it.  Tomorrow is a new day and I will be up for taking it in.

   
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  Noreen 1:58 pm on August 22, 2022 Permalink  

  Laundry Monday 

  Laundry indeed!  Three good sized loads and for a short time the basket is empty.  Nothing feels better than putting on clean clothes.  Tomorrow will be bedding laundry, another great feeling to get done.

  My morning routine is one that I like.  Peddling the bike and then on to a walk down Stauffer Avenue.  Out came the garden tools as I was going to lob out a bit more clover under the Hosta.  What?  Not a patio porch kitty in site.  The end result was more greenery to dry out for it to then be burned.  The clover patch is getting less.  As long as the soil remains damp so I can work the hoe, we may get to the end of it.  This time of the year, the weeds aren’t apt to try one more growth spurt.

  Dennis and friend Dwayne were on a road trip this morning.  The 2022 Heston belt buckles are out.  Miller-Sellner in Sleepy Eye handles them.  Dennis’ collection was started at the very beginning in 1974.  It would be silly to stop picking up each year’s buckle after all this time.  I knew I wouldn’t see Dennis until noon, if then.

  I enjoyed a cup of coffee while cooling off from the clover weeding.  I had worked up a good sweat and reading for a bit while enjoying the coffee fit just right.

  Dennis got home after one.  He and Dwayne stopped at LaSalle and had noon lunch.  He let me know that supper would be light if non-existent.  A half portion of a beef commercial plus a piece of strawberry pie can do that to the appetite.  

  I now have enough fabric cut for sewing up two quilt tops in the Log Cabin pattern.  Using the rotary cutting tool, it is best if I cool it for the remainder of the day.  Stopping the use of the hands and arms when it begins to ache . . . it’s too late, the damage has already been done.  I have a booklet from mom, Lena, that is called Quilt in a Day.  When I do start sewing, I may well follow her step by step instructions, rather than doing the willy nilly of times past.  Reading “the rest of the story” is a good idea before beginning.  Read twice . . . stitch once.

   
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  Noreen 2:15 pm on August 21, 2022 Permalink  

  Happy Sunday 

  It is Sunday and a bit warmish out.

  Never to mind as I had my outside work done by 10:30.  The bicycle peddling in my bedroom is the first item on the docket after a cup of coffee.  No, I am not steady enough to slurp while my feet are busy.  With my walking crutches I walked north towards the railroad tracks.  AJ adjusted them while I was in the house.  After a walk in the great outdoors, I realize they need to be made a bit taller by maybe one more notch.  Not to worry, I will nab someone to get that done.  Even AJ had a time getting the clips off for the adjustment.

  I took a cup of coffee with me as I headed to the Hosta to get more clover pulled up.  The dirt is muddy, but the clover pulls easily.  If I would stay out in the gardens for the full days like I used to, the oldest cat, Honey Bunny, would stay close by and play in the catnip.  As soon as my back tells me I need to pull up stakes, Honey Bunny is off across the yard to the vacant house to the east.  She has her hiding spot either in it, under it or by the stuff piled around the foundation.  She comes home every night as if she has a curfew.  Tomorrow morning, I will hit the clover again.  Some here, some there and at least some local effort is being accomplished. 

  The dew was heavy this morning.  Dennis had to wait until noon before he could begin mowing the acre.  Here it is, midafternoon and he has just finished for the day.  The yards look wonderful.  The rain was needed, and the grass knew to grow.

  Tonight, will be chicken tities, mashed potatoes and green beans for the yard’s keeper.  Dennis has earned a hot supper.

  I may cut a few more 2.5″ stripes of fabric before closing down the studio.  

  After I do Dennis’ foot dressing this evening, I think I will see about doing the dressing in such a fashion to allow him to try on a wide width shoe for the left foot.  I know he will know in short order if the pressure felt to too great of an extreme.  It doesn’t hurt to try. 

  Tomorrow is the beginning of a week for us older ones on Stauffer Avenue to have no appointments.  Sweet!

   
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  Noreen 1:11 pm on August 20, 2022 Permalink  

  Greetings 

  Greetings from the sewing studio of Grammie on her new Dell laptop.  What a learning curve!

  I may have already clicked on something I should not have.  Well maybe one or two.  When I set up the wireless mouse the prompt came up either right or left.  I thought it was either to the right or the left of the laptop itself.  I chose right.  Dah!  I went up to the living room to see what I had loaded on the HP for photo resizing.  The mouse for the HP had been converted to the right click as well.  That being said, I may have clicked on something that did tie the two units together for some things but not all.  Not that big of a deal.  Got that little detail fixed.

  I do have Google Chrome downloaded as my default.  As yet the resizing of photos needs a bit of tweaking to get the photos to the size that the blog is happy with.  Not everything in one day.  My next step is to go into the control panel and disable the touch pad.  Right now in doing this blog, my thumb grazes the touch pad and the screen does its own thing.

  I am also cutting fabric into 2.5″ strips for my Log Cabin projects.  They do sell what they call jelly rolls that are already cut into 2.5″ strips.  Within the roll is a variety of fabrics that blend well.  I have done my own blending and I will get the cutting done as well just not all at one time.  I was so close to not having enough yardage of one of the chosen, that I couldn’t cut it at 2 and 4/8ths, I had to cut it at 2 and 3/8ths.  Got it done.

  Grandson AJ was here for the morning.  Dennis is one happy camper for television viewing.  AJ put an antenna up on the east side of the garage.  Dennis now has choices of the REA tower or his Samsung smart TV.

  Last week the walking crutches came from good old Amazon.  Today, AJ adjusted the height for me.  From the first few steps I could feel getting equal pull on the back, hips and knees with each step.  Stauffer Avenue look out.  It is a tad muddy as we have gotten rain yesterday and today, but these walking crutches will make walking for a distance more enjoyable. 

  AJ also carried my teak rocker from the studio into the living room.  The chair that has been my go-to place after supper has no support left for the cheeks or the back.  Near as Dennis can recall, that chair was new in 1980.  I am content in the rocker.  My choice for reading is in my bedroom where I have natural light from three sides and I have a good chair for that.  I spend little time watching TV. 

  So much contentment on Stauffer, the sweetest spot ever.

   
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  Noreen 1:20 pm on August 19, 2022 Permalink  

  Wonderful Rain 

  We received a wonderful rain last night.  It came down slow and steady.  Dennis could report this morning that we had 6/10ths.

  Once I had my morning routines done that included the exercise bike, I put on my old shoes.  The last thing I did before I left the house was to make sure the coffee pot stayed hot.  I knew I would enjoy a cup when I took a break from pulling up clover and weeds.  A good rain allows for roots and all to be gotten.

  As a few branches of the catnip were tweaked, Honey Bunny stayed right with me to enjoy that treat.  The lopper took care of a few Lilac branches that were always ready to whoop me in the head.  As big as around as my thumb I can take care of.  If there were larger ones, Dennis could do those when he came home from having coffee with the fellows.  I was able to have a pretty good sized pile of stuff before the FedEx truck had stopped near our front door.

  Taking my time, I got two boxes into the house.  I expected the delivery but I also knew I would not open them until I was totally done outside.  I got back to the clover and just like that a downpour came overhead.  I decided my gardening was done for the day.

  Both boxes were carried into the studio.  One box held a wireless Dell laptop, a Latitude 5520.  The second box was the wireless mouse.  I had kicked around getting a laptop for the studio ever since the Dell laptop I had purchased in 2007 up and left me.  I had called Dell and put out what was important on a new one.  I was accustomed to Windows 10 as the kids had given me an HP Pavilion in 2015. This laptop will have the ability to do an upgrade when the time comes.  No extra bells and whistles from Microsoft.  I very much liked the 15 inch on the HP and this also has it.  All I have done thus far today is unbox it and the mouse. . . and save the boxes until later. 

  No more loading a sewing design in the living room on the HP and making multiple trips up and down the basement steps when tweaking is needed.  Of course the HP was mobile, but I know myself well enough that I do not carry anything with me up and down the steep steps if I can avoid it.  If this Dell lasts me as long as the previous one, it will be sweet.  I can have access at a moments notice and not bother Dennis.

  What has also transpired in our home over time is that Dennis is prone to spending more time in the house and enjoys playing cribbage and other card games on the HP.  What better therapy than eye to hand brain function.  It beats sitting in the recliner and falling asleep.  The HP is set up so the eyes need to lift just a bit and the television can also be enjoyed.  As recent as yesterday Dennis had a physical at the VA clinic and had been given the comment that for his 86 years he is doing well and he functions well.  Music to my ears and I know it bodes well for Dennis to receive positive affirmations from the medical world as well as from me.

  While I was in the studio today, I have made decisions in regard to color pallets for two projects.  There is enough fabric for both double bed sized quilts to be made in the Log Cabin pattern.  I realize the double bed sized quilts may not be sufficient for many of today’s beds, bit it is large enough for covering and snuggling while watching . . . whatever.  I tucked everything else away and off of the church tables.  In time there will be 2.5 inch wide stripes cut.   

  The clouds are thick this afternoon.  More rain would be welcomed.