Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:13 pm on February 5, 2022 Permalink  

  A Saturday 

  It is the weekend and never a dull moment on Stauffer.

  I always check our bank’s website . . . every day.  It is called consumer take care of your money.  For authentication purposes this morning, it was needed to have a one time pass code entered by having the site call your phone number.  The last four of the number was given.  My phone never rang.  A second option was to have it sent to your email.  The bank was using my Chrome search engine that I also use for my emails.  I had no choice but to set up an email on Microsoft Edge.  I had found out that if I closed the bank site and opened the Chrome email, get the pass code, close the email and open the bank site, it was the wrong number.  With having the Microsoft email open, I could get the pass code while the bank site was open.  Got it!  What a crap shoot.  Amazing how they test us older folks.

  Last night was great.  I was able to see the first live Facebook of my daughter in her Mainstream Boutique in Edina.  Her sidekick was her daughter, Megan.  They took turns wearing garments as an introduction of what the boutique had.  It was so spontaneous, unrehearsed, it was wonderful to see the two of them playing off of each other.  At times it brought a chuckle.  I was very proud of them cutting their teeth to do a “live.”  I am ready to see more reveals in time to come.  I opened the video up this morning for Dennis to see it.  He stuck it out for the entire video.  Poor lamb.  The price of the clothing was economic shock for him.  Hey . . . this is big city digs.

  Nothing brings me more comfort knowing that when I stop to see Kevin in his owner-operator shop in Fairfax he is smiling.  Seeing the two gals doing the video, will have to suffice until we can drive to the metro and see the the boutique first hand.  Dennis said that is on the schedule this spring.  

  I am in my studio today.  The embroidered blocks for the mini-quilt are done, now on to straight seaming.  It was sweet to crank down my Husky sewing table to a lower height to allow my shoulders a comfortable reach to the needle.  I love this table.

  It is leftovers for supper of the oven meal from last night.  I do have a surprise of turtle cheesecake for later.  Today was the RFD programs for Dennis.  This is my night of PBS mystery programs to enjoy.

   
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  Noreen 4:45 pm on February 4, 2022 Permalink  

  What a Day 

  Getting up at seven, it is at least daylight.  A dusting of snow looked like a covering on the driveway.

  Dennis decided he wasn’t in the mood for the patio porch and he opted for his recliner.

  I had my sites on some tidy, tidy on the first floor.  We have shelving on the east wall of the kitchen.  As I ran my first full glass of drinking water to start the day, I stood with my back against the kitchen counter and I thought . . . how much more clutter could the shelving and counter top hold!  It is so easy to pick up something and park it where it should not be.  I knew I had to have a cup of coffee before tackling it.

  It took several trips to the basement pantry with extra items before a check on the east wall of the kitchen passed mustard.  A second cup of coffee and the kitchen countertop was the next to get tackled.  The whole idea of the pantry in the basement was to let our tiny kitchen’s minimal sink countertop allow for food prep.  Surprisingly, having dirty dishes pile up is not an issue.  Either one of us will clean up after supper.  Cleaning products do have room under the sink . . . if they just get put there.

  The sun was so bright, I couldn’t help but get dressed and push away the snow from the back door and also make a path to the service door of the garage.  The areas for the bins for garbage and recycling also got a clean-out.  The winds from the north were plenty brisk.  I decided one more cup of coffee was waiting for me inside.  When I got inside I fired up the HP.  When I saw on the bottom task bar how cold it was outside . . . wow.  I did get my share of fresh air with my small jaunt of pushing a bit of snow.  

  All Dennis had on his plate today was to be at the eye clinic in town by 1 pm for his eye injection.  After he left I got items together for an oven meal.  How much easier when there is room on the countertop.  The kitchen will feel the extra warmth when the oven dish gets popped in at 4:30.  We stick to having our evening meal no later than 5:30.

  I spent some time in the studio cleaning up around the sewing machine.  I had quite a few spools of thread that needed to be put back in their boxes as going forward, the white spool of thread will suffice.  After trimming up some blocks of the mini-quilt, I could feel when enough was enough.  Tomorrow is another day and I don’t want to overdue the trimming with the rotary cutter.  It is a fair amount of repetition in gripping the handle of it with enough pressure to cut.

  My hope is that everyone stay safe.  When Dennis came home from being out and about he commented that the snow was moving out in the open making visibility slim to none.

   
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  Noreen 3:08 pm on February 3, 2022 Permalink  

  Long Day 

  Dennis and I were in Mankato by 8:45 to meet with the surgeon for stitches to be removed from Dennis’ surgical foot site.  There was a glitch in the operating room and we didn’t get to see the doctor until 10:45.  We stopped for some groceries and home never seemed so welcoming.  

  By the time we got home we both felt as if we had run a marathon in this cold weather.  There is only so much anticipation and the ups and downs of waiting that we realize we can take or want to take.  Tuckered out we are and calling it a day.

  I will get back with you tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 2:49 pm on February 2, 2022 Permalink  

  A Wednesday 

  A cold morning allows for deeper sleep.  I must say sometimes there is a restlessness in the house.  That happened Tuesday during the night with Dennis.  By 2:30 a.m. we were done sleeping.  I didn’t nap yesterday and I was in bed by nine last night.

  I am usually in bed by nine as it feels so good for my challenged body to lay flat and unwind even if sleep doesn’t come until much later as Dennis goes to bed by 11 p.m.  Last night I believe I was asleep by the time my head hit the pillow.  I slept hard and fast and didn’t wake up this morning until I heard the school bus stop across the street.

  This is something happening on Stauffer Avenue.  I can tell you, spring cannot come soon enough.  Dennis is caught up on anything that may have needed to be done in the garages and the patio porch.  When Dennis goes out to the patio porch, the RFD television channel is on . . .  there is a cat on his lap . . . and Dennis is sound asleep.  This goes on multiple times during the day and after supper.  It is no wonder he doesn’t sleep well during the night.  This is happening with several of his friends of his same age as well.  Idle hands causes the eyes to be checked for cracks. 

  If it were not for me being on top of Dennis’ health, I am seriously contemplating wearing a mask during the night, so when a light goes on in the house, it wouldn’t wake me and also purchasing a pair of ear plugs.  The old adage: “Hear no evil, see no evil and do no evil.”  Hmm . . . perhaps a hammock strung in the patio porch would work.

  Once I am up, I have my schedules on the ground floor for tidy, tidy.  About noon, I am ready to hit the studio.  I may not always be stitching, but I can keep busy.   Today I stitched out a few more blocks of the grouping for the Red, White and Bloom series.  I checked the booklet and I am now ready to trim each block to the size needed to make the mini-quilt.  That task is a bit hard on the back and hands, allowing for slow and steady.

  Yesterday when June and I went for our Shingles shot, she commented that now at the age of 80, she wished she had picked up some crafting or sewing.  This is June’s first season of winter in her apartment.  June had always done her own yard work.  With spring coming, she is in for a challenge when there is nothing but her apartment to care for. 

  The only sideeffect I have from the Shingles shot is a bit of a sore left injection site.  Good going.

   
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  Noreen 3:01 pm on February 1, 2022 Permalink  

  A Team Effort 

  Today June and I had a date out at the Lewis Pharmacy.  We had been talking about it for some time and today was the day for us to get our Shingles shot.  We had procrastinated long enough.

  I had Shingles the year after I retired . . . 2010.  It started like an itch on my left arm.  Within 24 hours, I was in pain 24/7.  Even with a formidable tolerance for pain, this kicked my butt in my awake hours and in trying to sleep.  The open blisters that weep do not feel good with anything touching them.  They didn’t feel any too good being naked either. It remains a virus within us during our adult lives that invaded during chicken pox as a child.

  It took me back to our Boon Lake farming days when Orlin had Shingles in the dead of winter.  Both Carrie and Kevin were small and tried hard to be busy and quiet in their play.  I needed that as there were livestock chores to be done.  We no longer had milk cows, but we did young stock as well as having sows that were farrowing.  Many trips from barns to the house.  There had been something akin to clear nail polish that needed to be painted on the Shingles blisters that was to seal them and not let the weeping spread.  Believe me, I was thrilled when Raymond and Lena came over to keep the kids busy while Orlin was upstairs in bed.  We made it through the worst of the first two weeks.  After that it took some time for Orlin to regain overall strength.  It was a good thing Orlin had sick leave from the shift work at 3M in Hutchinson.

  Shingles effects the nerves in the area of the Shingles outbreak . . . mine was the left arm and left shoulder.  Some damage can remain and is called postherpetic neuralgia.  I went on to have reverse shoulders in both the right and left.  The stroke hit on the left side.  All in all the left arm shows resilience in my now . . .  day-to-day life.

  Our insurance does not cover the vaccine shot for Shingles.  WTF!  I gladly plunked down the $200 this morning.  Within 2 to 6 months the second shot for shingles needs to be administrated for an additional $200.  Again, I will willingly do.  Dennis has had his given to him at the VA clinic here in town.

  Considering how all encompassing Shingles are, I would encourage anyone over 50 to get the shots.  It takes one down for several weeks.

  When June and I had sat for the 10 minute timeout at Lewis’ we went to her apartment for coffee and banana bread.  We, the Shingles team, called it a good day.

   
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  Noreen 4:32 pm on January 31, 2022 Permalink  

  Road Trip 

  Today was a road trip to New Ulm as my car needed an oil change.  As I have an extended warranty, it is a good feeling to have it go through a once-over.

  I stopped at Hy-Vee on my way out of town.  I wish we had one closer, not that 35-40 minutes is that far.  The price at Hy-Vee is so much less than our grocery store.  We are thankful to still have a grocery store as that is more than some small towns.  When our business takes us to New Ulm or Mankato . . . why not purchase the groceries we are in need of.

  When I got home I chatted with my main advisor on what the car garage had on their tick list.  Kevin knows an automobile from exterior front turn signal to tail pipe.  I feel secure going forward with my new used car.  It is a 2012 model, but most take it for a much newer.

  Dennis had a check up at the VA clinic here in town.  He also had a good checkup as to his INR level . . . the blood clotting indicator.  There is a prescription med that is now the latest and greatest . . . also very expensive that would not be covered under the Well Care that we have to cover our prescriptions.  Once a month Dennis has such an appointment which is five minutes from home.  He is comfortable as he has stated many times, it’s like a mini physical.  Can’t beat the level of security that that brings to the ole cowboy.

  This last calendar year, we had $129.00 out of pocket for Dennis’ meds.  Even with the stroke and heart surgery that I had in 2021, my out of pocket was $89.00.  Our coverage via our policy was $15.00 per month for each of us.  This year, 2022, the policy is $10.00 per month for each of us.  We know we are very fortunate to be in relative good health.  I have stood in line many times in the pharmacy and the individual in front of me has been handed a small bag after laying down several hundred dollars. 

  Dennis drove me to the customer UPS depot and the latest Trettin Christmas stocking will be at rural Stewart tomorrow.  Other than a new grandchild, I should be off the hook for additional stockings for a time.  I will keep the additional fabrics on the back burner.

   
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  Noreen 3:20 pm on January 30, 2022 Permalink  

  Sundays 

  Sundays are not like they used to be.  

  Decades ago when the fare for a Sunday afternoon didn’t have any big plans, there was always a plan “B.” My parents lived several sections to the southwest.  We were on the same telephone exchange and a short phone call allowed for the coffee pot to be put on whether I was headed there or if the folks were coming over.  Even though my sister meant a long distance phone call, it was worth it to see if that was a chance for a visit on a Sunday.  She was a five minute drive and most of that time was spent on their one mile long driveway.  If I had struck out with mom and my sister, it was not out of the question to pack up the kids and visit their grandmother in Hector, perhaps fifteen miles away.  Sundays were meant for chitchatting.

  Hmm.  All those options are now gone.  I feel the loss.  Dennis’ family members are not great chitchatters.

  Left on my own today, I decided to tidy up the laminate flooring in the house with my mighty little shop vac.  The Filter Queen vacuum is the studio’s go to for tidy, tidy.  It is too cumbersome for going up and down steps.  Since the hardwood floor Swiffers have been updated, they aren’t worth the trouble.  They pick up little.  New improved . . . they are not.  Dennis helped with pushing everything around, so the total area could be done in the living room and both bedrooms.  Taking the last bit of breakfast coffee when we were done, I did have to comment how thankful I was that we have no carpeting and that we have a tiny home.  I know that heavy furniture would get moved once in a blue moon and the amount of dust bunnies we found today under the furniture would have been the same volume, just growing month by month.

  Dennis wandered to the patio porch and I stirred up a stroganoff for two with some of the pork roast from last night.  Having the evening meal nailed, the next stop was the studio for several hours. 

  The way the first minutes went, I questioned if I should stay at it or not.  The first mistake was that I had not tightened the ratchet on the embroidery hoop.  Floating fabric is not a good thing.  The next item to stop the machine was . . . I had not put the bobbin into the machine.  I must say after that, the stitching went well.

  Sunday evenings have several good programs on the PBS stations.  I will be planted in my chair after the supper dishes are done.

   
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  Noreen 2:25 pm on January 29, 2022 Permalink  

  A Saturday 

  My plans today were to give the bathroom and kitchen a lick and a promise.  With our forever home being in the tiny house category, it doesn’t take much to be out of place and it screams “Clean me!”  I got with the program.

  Dennis and his friend Dwayne went for coffee.  It was just what Dennis needed . . . getting out and about and not dwelling on what he couldn’t change . . . his foot.  No doubt he would love to put on a shoe and move some older snow around.  That isn’t going to happen for some time.

  I had put together a grocery list for the late forenoon and right now the kitchen is letting me know, I had made good choices.  There is a pork shoulder roast in my mom’s blue speckled enameled oblong roaster with a sliced onion, baby carrots and two large peeled potatoes snuggled in along side for the roasting process.  We have not had a treat like this in a long time.  Dennis had offered a tuna pasta dish but nothing beats a total meal in a blue speckled enameled oblong roaster.  Set at 300 degrees for a long afternoon in the oven . . . tasty.

  When Dennis got home this noon, he decided to get the vehicles washed this afternoon.  The streets are dry for now and getting the salt residue off is a good thing.  Both his pickup and my car may well be the last vehicles we need to own.  I hope so.

  My brother called today.  As he is cleaning some items after Lois’ passing, he had to fly some things past me.  The Bernina sewing machine shop in Decorah must have seen Lois coming.  Calvin had found ump-teen attachments still in sealed boxes for her machine model.  Many were at a $200.00 crack each.  Lois had not done any sewing for many years.  Calvin equated it as a man that buys tools because they are available.  Calvin has placed an ad in the Decorah paper.  Whoever decides to contact him with an offer would be reaping quite the honey pot.  

  I am not spending any amount of time in the studio today.  I did go down and prep some supplies going forward.  It always feels like a treat when I don’t have to start from scratch the next time I visit.

  May all of you relish this warm weekend.  On days such as this one, I feel as if I am missing something.  That would be the fact that I am relishing a quiet home as the furnace is not spinning the meter off of the house.

   
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  Noreen 6:25 pm on January 28, 2022 Permalink  

  An Aunt 

  What a dose of “need.”  When nephews have no moms or mother-in-laws . . . there comes the need for an aunt to pitch in.  That would be me.  Eric now has a price range to know what to sell his mom’s sewing machine for.  Larry tapped me for one more Christmas stocking to sew.  His son, Alex, brought home a girlfriend for the family to meet.  As it were next weekend there is still some Christmas to enjoy for the family and a Christmas stocking with her name on it would be just one more way of saying “Welcome to the family.”

  I don’t mind helping family out as long as family know my kids come first with my time and energies.  There will be a package at the UPS depot on Monday and arrive in rural Stewart in plenty of time.

  Dennis knew I was busy in the studio so he brought out his culinary skills.  Canned stew over mashed potatoes . . . I will take it any time.  Dishes are done and I did frost the scones that he had baked.  A very good end to a very good productive day.  On another good note, I did find the missing two pieces of the broken sewing machine needle from yesterday.  It would be just like me to forget about it and have it end up in my stocking when I would go down there for a quick errand and not have shoes on.

  Who doesn’t enjoy a break in the cold!  This weekend looks promising.  As frigid as it has been the concrete drive froze clear of snow.  

  Dennis has turned a corner with pain from his foot surgery.  I am so happy for him.  In six days we will meet with the surgeon for stitches to come out.  I have read on the Mayo Portal that the biopsied big toe has no sign of osteomyelitis, a fancy name for no infection of the bone.  That would have been big time cruel if there was another surgery right around the corner.

  We have no plans for the weekend.  I flew that past Dennis and I got no argument.  Sweet.

   
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  Noreen 4:18 pm on January 27, 2022 Permalink  

  Yesterday 

  Yesterday I got a phone call to see if I could come into the eye clinic today as Dr. Pinke wanted to visit with me in regard to the tests that he ran last week.

  Needless to say it did cause some concern.  Why would he need to speak with me!  What I was in for was images in full color of my actual eyes.  Whatever a doctor can see when they dilate your eye, I was seeing on his computer screens.  I could see the thickness of the cornea, the macular and what impact the pressure was in each eye.  The end result was that these tests were now the base-line of glaucoma going forward in each eye.  Right now there is no concern.  My left eye is stronger than my right eye.  In time to come, it may mean eye drops of some type.  In six months I will have an appointment and these same tests will be run again to see if any factors have changed.  I went home feeling much relief.

  The temps are falling just as they said they would.  I spent time in the studio this afternoon.  All went well until the thread jumped out of one of the tension disks.  What it does is called a “bird’s nest.”  Also known has a huge mess of threads under the bobbin and in this case it also broke the needle.  That hadn’t happened in a long time.  I cleaned up the mess and finished that block . . . lights out in the studio.

  We are doing Subway for supper.  A treat indeed.