Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:53 pm on October 21, 2022 Permalink  

  Good Day 

  Dennis and I have really made use of this Indian summer day.

  Dennis headed out to the garages.  I saw that he hooked up the rake behind the rider mower.  As Dennis mulched the leaves by mowing, the rake picked them up and added them to the canvas carrier.  Dennis had chose a dump site for the mulched leaves on the far east edge of the acre.

  I was determined to finish tipping in windows in my porch bedroom for the cleaning that was needed.  I had half a bottle of Windex that I filled to the brim with white vinegar.  The solution worked well to give a streak-free cleaning as possible.  I will admit, I am not as fussy as in decades earlier.  I had moved my bed over to the south and gave the woodwork on the north side of the porch some freshening up with Murphy’s woodwork wipes and then did a damp mop on the floor as well.  Having done the south half of the room earlier in the week . . . I am calling the fall cleaning of this special room done.

  At a time past, my bedroom porch was actually an open porch complete with the slanted floor for rain to run off of.  Our living room has a huge 66″ window looking out to the now enclosed porch.  The old glass with its wavy view is classic.  The very top has an insert of a frosted glass landscape.

  When Megan and Nicholas would stay with us as toddlers and they had been tucked in for the night in the bedroom porch, invariably they would get up and stand on the bed and peek back into the living room, leaving finger prints and nose prints.  I never minded the peeking, but no pounding on the glass.  Today as I cleaned that huge window, it brought back many memories of those cherished visits.  I would have given anything to find one last such print.

  When Dennis came in at noon and we had some Herring with cheese and crackers, he commented that with the window washing using vinegar and the lingering scent and now the Herring in wine vinegar, he thought we might just get a head rush.  Nah!  

  Megan did call yesterday from college.  She is going to make a gift for a friend.  She needed some advise on thread and hand embroidery stitching.  I steered her to a YouTube video. This morning, I got a text from Megan that she found the help she needed.  YouTube has the answers on anything for everyone.

  Dennis had made an oven chicken dish for last night’s supper.  Dennis and I have had a very good day.

   
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  Noreen 1:58 pm on October 20, 2022 Permalink  

  Indian Summer 

  With two killing frosts under the belt . . . here comes the reprieve.  The frosty mornings got our attention to get with the preparedness while we can. 

  Dennis did break out the mower to swipe at some leaves.  I think he decided to wait until he could actually see some results.

  For the last several days I have felt claustrophobic in our first floor living.  Putting something down where I thought it should go, to only pick it up and move it when the item for the intended spot reared its head.  No . . . there is no more physical square footage that is going to appear.  The answer is to sift, sort and eliminate that which I have no emotional attachment to.  Ya, right!  I will deal with this.  I will not carry anything up to the attic.  I will not carry anything into the studio. 

  The problem lies in the closet of the bedroom.  When I put things in the closet after laundry day, my eyes wander.  Kevin put up some wonderful extra shelving over the clothing rods.  Those shelves are now full to capacity.  I am making lists of what is going to go home with a number of people.  Some items have been earmarked decades ago.  Mom, Lena, made a quilt for Carrie and also one for Kevin.  Nothing that would be entered into a quilt show, just miles and miles of hand stitches in scrappy quilts.  I know one of them was started by Grandma Schafer and Lena finished it. 

  Quilts are to be used and abused, the whole while they emit memories of who cared enough to make it.  A quilt does not need to be on a bed to be enjoyed.  Wrapping up in a quilt on a chilly day works, even if the tail ends drag on the floor.  Quilts have been used as wall, window or doorway covers.  I have a quilt made by my grandmother Laura.  It sure does show wear. That only makes it sweeter.   

  With the quality of the fabrics I have used, they will last through wear and tear and also laundry.  The washing machines of today are not as harsh as the old wringer wash machines.   

  I have made quilts for each of the two kids.  One of Kevin’s quilts, he used when we lived at South Branch and somehow it ended up at my home.  Carrie will be receiving a quilt done in my choice of colors.  Kevin’s has a predominate theme of red, white and blue.  Years ago when a quilt was received, there was no thought of “that really isn’t my color theme.”

  I will not make anymore quilts for my two children as there is no need for more.  I don’t plan on ceasing my work with threads and fuzz.  There are some blankets that I have made in using up my stashes that don’t qualify for quilts.  There it is . . . its ready to be used.  I do have two such blankets that will be sent home the next time Dennis’ grandson Ryan comes to help us and also one to grandson AJ as he is always ready to help his grandpa. 

  Having made some decisions with my threads and fuzz stuff, I feel so much better.  Whew! 

  Indian summer will be here for the weekend.

   
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  Noreen 2:46 pm on October 19, 2022 Permalink  

  Quite the Day 

  Maybe, just maybe the harvest is winding down.  So far the concrete trucks are the ones burning up the street in front of our home.

  With a second morning of temps in the teens, Dennis is eying the back yard, willing more leaves from the Oak and Maple trees to fall. 

  I, on the other hand, am planning to get the remaining four windows tipped in and cleaned that are in my bedroom porch.  

  Old fuddie duddies are always on the prowl for the next thing to conquer.  It keeps us out of trouble with our kids.

  Right now, I do not have anything under the needle in the studio.  Plans . . . there’s never a shortage of those. 

  The patio porch kitties have to escape every morning and check out what has dared to infiltrate their yard during the night time hours.  When they realize how brisk it is, they are standing next to the slider doors wanting back in.  They do know how to work the ole cowboy.

  We got a call this morning from the limb and prosthetic lab that the orthotic and shoes are ready for Dennis to pick up next week when they made the appointment for us.  The special orthotic in his shoe will make up for the amount of loss that has occurred in the actual shape of his foot during several surgeries.  Praise be.  It will also help the stability in walking.  Big toes and metatarsals have been given to us for ease in balance . . . plus it looks better as well.

  Daughter Carrie will be flying to Virginia tomorrow for the college’s “family weekend.”  I know Megan and her mom will enjoy all that is planned.  Nick and his dad will be doing a guy weekend.

  Happy hump day everyone!

   
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  Noreen 1:58 pm on October 18, 2022 Permalink  

  A Sunny Tuesday 

  For once the wind is not so fierce.  The temps in the teens when I awoke were not a surprise.

  Yesterday we had a trip into the Minneapolis suburbs.  It had been years since we had traveled #494 into the depths.  Dennis did comment that our multiple trips to Mankato for doctor appointments was a breeze compared to some we know that feel if you don’t travel to Abbott Northwestern, the care is not sufficient.

  Dennis and I had been talking for some time to look up daughter Carrie’s dress shop that she purchased in November of 2021.  Seeing as how we could also extend birthday wishes to her, it was a good fit.  Since her purchase and up until recently, we had been focused on Dennis’ foot.  Whew . . . so few new appointments for the foot.  Her shop is not very far from South Town, the first major mall in Minneapolis on France Avenue.

  When we arrived, the shop had customers and that did not change for the time we were there.  Surprisingly, Dennis was poking around on the racks and taking it all in.  Yup . . . the ole cowboy was curious.

  We did get home in the late afternoon, non the worse for the wear of dipping our toes into what the metro had to offer.  I didn’t do anything all day but sit, but it wore me out anyway.  A break in our routine here on Stauffer Avenue.  As we shared a late day cup Dennis asked what was on the agenda for a Tuesday.  I peeked at the calendar and couldn’t believe what I was seeing . . . no appointments for the remainder of this week or for the next.  We are gaining!

  This morning I had laundry to tackle and Dennis had an appointment to pick up his friend Dwayne for coffee at McDonalds’s.  I give Dennis credit for getting up and moving to keep up with the rest of the fellows that meet and greet.  Dennis has the social streak that I lack.

  A high of 38 degrees with another day just like this one coming.  That should take care of Dennis’ leaves.

   
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  Noreen 2:06 pm on October 16, 2022 Permalink  

  Sunday the 16th 

  Here we are and the month is officially half over.  I am quite satisfied for how the year has gone for us.  May all of you reflect and put more things on the plus side than the negative.

  I knew I had wore myself out to a good place yesterday with doing some windows and the area around that portion of my bedroom porch.  I am not sure what Dennis had been up to in his patio porch.  Whatever . . . at eight this morning, as I was coming to, I woke Dennis up as we were expecting company between eight and nine. 

  Dennis’ grandson AJ was coming from Mankato to help with a few things.  AJ is an early riser.  I think Dennis beat him to the patio porch by five minutes.  Too funny.  We now have the large patio umbrella and its cast iron stand in the potting shed.  AJ put an antenna on the east exterior wall of the garage so Dennis can either get the smart Samsung television channels or the channels from the Godahl tower north of town.  AJ showed his grandpa how he can point the antenna with the controls from inside the patio porch in case the wind has its way with it. 

  AJ’s mom stopped in from up the street and the forenoon was time for catch up.  AJ had told his grandpa he needed to be back in Mankato by noon for the football game.  AJ’s girlfriend would have a kettle of chili ready for the first kickoff. We have no idea who is playing.

  I had thought the harvest was far enough along that the grain elevator wouldn’t be open on this Sunday.  Nope, the harvest is on the move.

  Tomorrow Dennis and I are going to be taking care of some errands out of the area.  I know it will be a full day.  I will not be doing a blog post for Monday the 17th.

  If the weather people can be believed, the killing frost is on its way for Monday and Tuesday.  We are ready and may all of you also realize . . . we are at a point of no return.

   
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  Noreen 2:09 pm on October 15, 2022 Permalink  

  Bright Sun 

  I needed to concentrate on the bright sun and not the strong winds.

  Both Dennis and I slept in this morning until eight.  We had a one hour interruption during the night.  The CPAP machine of Dennis’ had slipped when he turned over in bed and the noise was much like a wounded moose.  I thought it was a great blessing that we could go back to sleep after having been up.  I am so thankful that I do not need to use a CPAP breathing machine.  Dennis has afib which is irregular heartbeats.  When the heart misses a beat and does not start up again, the CPAP machine gives a burst of air to get the heart beating again.  Dennis has been on the machine for about fifteen years.  We take the silent nights with those that may not be so silent. 

  I got my gear and rear going for some window washing.  There are eight exterior windows, two doorways and two windows opening up the porch into the rest of our home in my bedroom porch.  Not much left for wall space.  Dennis washed off the exterior of our home last weekend when it was nice.  Today I wanted to get a start on cleaning the soap scum and hard water droplets off so we can see through them.  The bright sun does quite the job of letting light in, but not seeing through the mess.  I did get four of the exterior windows tipped in and tidied.  Dennis came behind me and got them locked.  It went so well, I was tempted to keep going, but taking it easy on the arms and hands will allow for possibly feeling good enough to do the other four tomorrow. 

  We will have a repeat performance of our oven meal of last night for this evening.  Sweet!

  When I think of how many semi tractor loads of harvest have gone past the house today, that is only from the southeast part of the farming community.  It has been a marathon.  It’s been a dry harvest with no hint of a slowdown with no rain in the forecast.

  Dennis is waiting for a hard freeze so he can harvest his leaves. The strong winds have rearranged quite a few of them that didn’t wait for the frost to knock them loose.

   
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  Noreen 2:33 pm on October 14, 2022 Permalink  

  Friday the 14th 

  It is truly a fall feeling day.

  I know both of my kids have had quite the week.

  It began last weekend when Kevin and Kersten traveled to Wisconsin to pick up a waste oil burning furnace to add to their wood burning furnace for the huge shop.  Dennis could relate to that as several shops here in town do the very same thing.  As late as yesterday, Kevin had concrete poured into his shop area for the expansion of adding a second hoist.  Working smarter rather than harder.

  Every Thursday morning, I catch Carrie’s live Facebook 30 minutes where she features new inventory that has come into her shop in Edina.  Her Main Street Boutique is a busy shop due to her and the wonderful location is a strip mall.  What she would most like to feature is a new employee.  Like everywhere else, people are not wanting a job.  I know Carrie would enjoy a partial day when Nicholas needs someone to run him to and from school.    

  My week in comparison . . . well, there can’t be a true comparison.  Considering all that I am . . . yes, my week has also been quite eventful.  As late as this forenoon, I have an oven meal ready to pop into the oven.  I have found that Dennis and I do well with an oven meal that has the variety of vegetables and protein.  I stand a better chance of getting vegetables in Dennis when they are in an oven meal than vegetables prepared on top of the kitchen range.  If an oven meal is not desirable, he can take his little red pickup up town.  Nah!  He will stir the oven meal around on his plate until one or two non-desirables are on the lip of the plate.  So be it.

  I did work in the studio working an embroidery design that is now a pin-up poster.  Yes, it took a bit of time, but I happened to have that.  It’s not about the rarity of this, but more to the fact of Megan getting something in the mail.  

  I don’t think we are going to get much in the way of warm temps beyond the high 40s or low 50s.  I have been listening to KNUJ and the farm forum.  It is interesting when they include young men and women that farm right beside their parents.  

  Today past our home, it was a race between cement trucks and grain trucks.  The harvest must be dwindling down.

  Enjoy the weekend days.  There should always be time for relaxing a few minutes and doing a mental rewind of the week we have had.  Thanks be to God for what we have accomplished in good health.

   
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  Noreen 1:54 pm on October 13, 2022 Permalink  

  Wind Blown 

  From the time I got up this morning, the wind chimes in the evergreen northwest of my bedroom were clanging.  I was up at four.  Seeing as we needed to be on the road by seven for an appointment. I got the coffee pot going and clicked on the early morning news.  I knew eventually the noise would roust Dennis gradually. That works so much better than being shaken awake.

  Hmm.  The sun was just breaking the cloudy horizon.  I had forgotten how the workforce could make such heavy, fast moving traffic. 

  We got to the appointment in plenty of time.  My ole cowboy doesn’t believe in being late.  Dennis could have sat in his little red pickup for a long time and watched the cranes that were at work putting three more floors onto the existing hospital.  I get that.  My dad would have been the very same way.  The intrigue of it all.

  A good report was had.  Progress is ongoing with the wound.  November 17th we make a trip back to Dr. Madsen’s second in command.  Check and balances warding off possibility of infection. 

  We stopped for some groceries.  I didn’t have much of a list.  I could hardly believe that where we stopped did not have soda crackers or Progresso Chicken Noodle soup.  Nope. The reply was that there has been a shortage of some items, listing them as being back ordered.

  Coming home, the wind from the north could be felt on the little red pickup.  The most important thing is that we are home safe and sound.  From my perspective, the day is shot.

  It’s a good thing the farmers hauling in their grain are making the most of the entire day.  There is only one farmer hauling in their harvest via a tractor and two grain wagons.  The remainder are 18 wheelers with huge grain trailers.  Changing times.

   
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  Noreen 1:47 pm on October 12, 2022 Permalink  

  Winds and a Chill 

  The winds have switched and now the leaves are blowing from the north.  When I looked out the east bathroom window . . . there was Snuggles in a pile of leaves.  I watched to see what had his interest.  Last week when I weed whipped the Hosta, I took a fair amount of catnip out as well.  In the pile of leaves, there was some catnip being pulled by Snuggles.  He was determined to save some of his favorite snack before the wind took it all away.

  The lights are on in the studio.  I have a project under the needle.  I had to take a break as I got a call from my brother in Decorah, Iowa.  I shut down the stitching.  I knew this could be a long one.  I did “due diligence.”  I realize he has no family in the area and both of his sons are not near.  After an hour, and when I had hung up, I put the phone on the charger.

  I started up the stitching and then sat back watching the needle and reflecting on the phone conversation.  My brother focuses on what was.  Ya, there are a lot of things I used to be able to do.  There are many more things I can no longer do.  His cup is half empty, mine is half full.  I can’t sell my brother on my thinking.  If it was ever possible, that ship sailed decades ago. 

  So . . . my thoughts and days are filled with the things I can still do.  Oh my gosh!  I have even found out ways to do things that are not the usual and customary.  Over these last several years I have realized this little tidbit:  the hurrier I go, the behinder I get.  My solution . . . I have no reason to hurry.  I have no quota for each day, not like it was eighteen years ago.  If I do hurry I may either drop what I was holding, or I might hurt myself.

  When Megan worked at the Mustard Seed Nursery during high school, Megan would take home the plants that were destined for the garbage bin and bring them back to health and greenery.  Her bedroom had a full window view for them which to heal.  It was a marvel as to how many were in her bedroom.  Megan had heard that plants bring good indoor air. 

  Come to think of it, Megan never had as much as the sniffles.  When Megan was taken to college in August, there were quite a few favorite plants that made the trip with her.  Her roommate in the college dorm shares the love of plants.  Today, I found an embroidery design using some fabric that looks like suede that I want to make into a poster for her.  It will be about 8″ x 11″. I think getting something in the mail from Grammie and the sewing studio that she spent a fair amount of time in, will bring a chuckle and a smile.  When I send it to her, I will include a Command Clip.

  It matters not how long it takes me to find what I think is the perfect project.  It is very self-satisfying.

   
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  Noreen 2:48 pm on October 11, 2022 Permalink  

  Blast of Summer 

  It may be one of our last days in the 80 degrees.  I am ready for whatever comes.

  Today I finally got to turn on all the lights in the studio.  Work comes before play.  Dennis and I agreed we have had a successful fall of taking care of the acre.  The potting shed doors have been secured.  Yes . . . we checked to make sure all three porch kitties have been accounted for.  It is not surprising that one may had snuck in to check all the corners.  The way the wind is blowing from the south, it may take a few leaves with it.

  I couldn’t remember the last time I had the embroidery module on the sewing machine.  I had finished the Long Time Ago scrappy quilt and then jumped into the purple log cabin quilt top.  This last week I had a post from the Bernina sponsored embroidery site: OESD.  The design tripped my trigger and before long I had snagged it and also had it loaded on a USB stick.  Picking through my stashes, I found a fabric that could do justice to the design.  The finished design is 8″ across and 7″ in height.  I put it on a large enough piece of fabric that it would work to make up a pillow.  Time will tell.  It felt good to change the thread colors out, sit back and watch the stitching.  Sitting back and sitting still was a welcomed change.  When Dennis came in for a fresh cup of coffee, he thought my sitting still for a change was great.  I encouraged him to follow suit.  We are, after all, retired.

  Neither Dennis nor I are up for eating out often, shooting darts or bowling.  We don’t feel that we need to be joined at the hip with other couples.  We tend to be homebody hermits and it suits us just fine.

  Tomorrow Dennis has an appointment in regard to a recall for his airbags in the little red pickup and I am sure his friend Dwayne will ride shotgun.  My home has been tidied as of yesterday and as of this morning, the laundry has been caught up.  I may well have a second day in the studio.  Sweet.