Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:49 pm on May 20, 2021 Permalink  

  Another Check Off 

  Today was my yearly scan for skin cancer at the Dermatology in Mankato. 

  I have been a farm kid that had more sun burns that I can count.  Going fishing with the family for bullheads on Waverly Lake gave one whopper of a burn from the reflection of the water.  I remember not sleeping well that night.  It was a memorable burn.

  Several years ago I turned myself in to the dermatology clinic as I had a spot on my right facial cheek that didn’t look too good.  It was biopsied and it was put on the surgical schedule to be removed.  It was a sobering experience and thus was the yearly schedule put in place.  Today one spot on my right ankle was taken for a biopsy.  Normal moles are brown.  Moles that are black and rough are looked at, but with not much concern.  This little sucker was as black as the ace of spades and totally smooth . . . danger, danger.  I will hear in time to come what the outcome tells me.  My poor ole but amazingly resilient body. 

  There was some black paint to be picked up at Home Depot and several items at Sam’s Club.  The last stop was at Drummers’ for two miniature Rainbow’s End Alberta Spruce shrubs.  One at each end of the filled in Koi pond.  Max maturity is 6’tall and 2 ‘ wide.  

  We have had 6/10ths of rain over several days.  Maybe by the weekend we will plant them into their new home.  Dennis still has two remaining lawn chairs to paint and this humid air is not the best drying.

  At this late afternoon hour. . . I am beat.  Dennis is not the errand person.  Dennis drives the pickup . . . That’s all folks.

  OMG . . . there still is a supper to prepare.  It is amazing what I can accomplish within my days.  Never underestimate the whiles of . . . ME!

   
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  Noreen 2:04 pm on May 19, 2021 Permalink  

  Get a Grip 

  Everyone has heard the saying “get a grip.”  It may be said for someone that is experiencing a good amount of angst.  

  I needed a grip this morning . . . literally.  My breakfast is a bowl of plain yogurt, a dollop of Mott’s apple sauce topped with several tablespoons of flax meal. It is my yum breakfast.  The 46 ounce plastic jar of sauce has a plastic screw type lid.  Due to some previous incidents of various products, I make sure to check for secure closings to the best of my strength.

  Getting everything back before eating, I made tracks to the refrigerator to put items back.  With the door open, I used two hands to place the newly opened jar to its destination.  My grip slipped and before I knew it, the heavy plastic jar took flight.  It hit the edge of the stair tread that was to the immediate right.  The force of 46 ounces of apple sauce, minus a few ounces, popped the lid.  My oh my.  I needed to get a grip in deciding the plan of action to get this cleaned up.

  Out came the kitchen wastebasket and the roll of paper towels was taken off of the bracket at the kitchen sink.  I scooped up globs of apple sauce one paper towel at a time.  I was gaining on the floor and then realized the wall, the side of the refrig, the front of the refrig and the first step of the stairs going to the attic needed a lot of clean up.  After the paper towels had done what they could, a hot soapy kitchen sink was filled and the rest of the cleanup ensued.

  I did eat my breakfast that I had now worked hard for.  A long walk down Stauffer Avenue did the trick to catch my breath, get a grip and realize that this had been the first mess that had happened since my left side is not quite working at its ultimate mobility.  

  Life happens in such a way that hopefully in the future, a small warning sound in the gray matter allows me to know . . . been there, done that.  My best needs to be double checked.

   
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  Noreen 2:53 pm on May 18, 2021 Permalink  

  Damp and Cool 

  I did head out for a walk and immediately felt a mist.  I finished my walk as I am working on getting my legs as strong as possible for a time when walking will be my best avenue to healing.

  When Dennis finished mowing our front yard yesterday he commented that there were spots that were brown.  What!  The earlier mowing’s left a lush carpet.  When I checked it out, I couldn’t believe it. The spears were  so dry, they took on a copper color.  Admittedly, we have used umpteen types of grass seed over the years.  Last year we went to Drummers in Mankato and bought seed for full sun.  Where I had used it in the areas where it was down to the black dirt from digging up crab grass, the grass looks great.  Try, try and we might get it right.  If not, there is always another year.  Out came the grass seed and the spreader.  With the mist of today and rain in the forecast, the seeds may get a soaking.  When I was done, I welcomed my cane.  Sometimes both hands are needed to execute a task.  It’s not that I need to put a lot of weight on the cane, but in the moment when a small amount of stability might be needed, it is worth its weight in gold.

  Dennis took the car for a fill and also took it through the wash.  When he came back, I vacuumed it and cleaned out some of the winter items.  We will still keep some new masks as each store can set their own guidelines and all medical facilities require them.

  By two this afternoon, I was in my chair for a break.  The eyes went shut for a good 20-minute nap . . . that was my dad’s secret ammunition.  

  Dennis is doing a great job on painting our lawn chairs.  He has his paint booth set up in the pickup garage.  Most importantly, Dennis has a project . . . that is always a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 3:24 pm on May 17, 2021 Permalink  

  A Trade in Duties 

  We knew that the acre was going to be a once a week mowing for the first portion of spring.  That week really goes fast.  I traded pushing the front yard and around the house with Dennis.  If he would use the rider in total, I would do all the trimming with The Works trimmer.  It takes Dennis several hours of mowing the entire area with coffee cup and cigarettes’ on board.  Even with many breaks, pushing and bagging can take the starch out of me.  

  The trimmer is light weight.  I could trim around one tree or two trees and then stop and watch  the clouds before continuing.  The trimmer was comparable to my cane.  Extra stability can never be under valued.  The end result was a great looking yard for us to sit on the patio to enjoy. 

  I was feeling like I had had enough for the day.  Dennis went on to wash off the north and east side of the house.  Again with the cheap Family Dollar laundry soap and the wonderful bubbles that smelled like lavender.  Cloudy days work best for wash jobs of buildings.  The glaring sun can dry the wash cycle too quickly before the rinses can take off all the soap residue.  Dennis has this down pat.

  Super is oven pasta leftovers with a side of apple crisp.  The clouds have hung around all day with the look that they might hold rain . . . not.  We could use a slow, all-day rain.  Even the birds have no water to bathe in as the sump pump drain is dry . . . dry to the bone.

  Don’t forget to say your prayers tonight as a good day of local effort does make the eyelids heavy in short order.

   
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  Noreen 2:59 pm on May 16, 2021 Permalink  

  Too Nice 

  Today was too nice of a day to stay indoors.  While Dennis was still asleep this morning, I took a cup of coffee and sat in the early sun on the east patio.  Peaceful does not even begin to describe it.  The morning doves gave quite the serenade.  Looking to the far east of the acre, the Hackberry tree was alive with squirrels.  Early morning church bells could be heard at various intervals.

  There wasn’t a heavy agenda for us today.  There is always a load of laundry to start.  Push several buttons and it’s a go.  Oh so different than the wringer washing machine that Lena had.  A bar of lye soap along with Duz laundry powder as a length of hose filled the wash tub.  By the way, for a time, there was a dish inside each box with the hope of accumulating somewhat of a matched set.  A set of twin rinse tubs were on a rack that allowed the swivel of the wringer on the washing machine to go from wash tub to first rinse to second rinse.  Sorting of the clothes was paramount.  First batch was the delicates.  From there each batch progressed down to the work jeans and last were the rag rugs.  With a huge wash day, Lena would take out some of the machine’s water and add fresh as the loads took its toll on the color of the water.  Not like the laundry of today, where fresh water from a faucet treats each sorted load.  Aren’t we spoiled.

  We have been limping along with our suppers since the leftovers from Mother’s Day have been used up.  Tonight there is an Alfredo chicken pasta dish for our oven meal.  Yum.  We spent just enough time in the house to swap out the laundry and put the oven meal together.  I worked on raking out the dirt in what was the Koi pond and Dennis is giving some of our lawn chairs a fresh coat of paint.  I need to search the internet as we will be putting in one or two miniature shrubs into the new dirt.

  Always busy here on Stauffer.  It makes for a sweet life being stewards of more than either one of us could ever have anticipated.  Thanks be to God.

   
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  Noreen 4:02 pm on May 15, 2021 Permalink  

  A True Spring Day 

  75 degrees is quite telling that spring is here.

  Dennis and I made a short trip to Fairfax to see the building that Kevin and Kersten have purchased for Kevin’s repair shop.  I can tell you that it is huge with plenty of room for repairs of multiple types.  Amazing items from days of old ready to continue being viable. Hats off to our small town businesses.

  As we drove to and from, there was no farming going on in the fields.  Hard to believe that such a wacky spring has allowed for the field work to be done with corn seen in the rows.

  Not much brewing on our home front this weekend.  It does feel good to enjoy a sit on the patio and take in a breeze and watch the traffic.  I did get the sewing studio’s floor vacuumed.  Yup, I am getting closer to getting a project going.  Its easier to sink my teeth in when all has been made ready and tidy.  

  Enjoy what the Lord has made available to us in time, energy and opportunity . . . it is priceless.

   
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  Noreen 1:07 pm on May 14, 2021 Permalink  

  Bubbles Everywhere 

  Dennis found the cheapest laundry soap possible in the Family Dollar store.  A container filled with soap and attached to the garden hose puts Mr. Clean to shame.  Stauffer Avenue is gravel.  Not much more is needed to be said.  We have, as of this morning, wonderful lavender smelling bubbles all around the garage, the patio porch and the potting shed.  Talk about spring cleaning.  As the water and soap combination hits the siding, rivulets of muddy water are running.  With a switch of a lever the rinse ensues.  I marvel at Dennis’ strong arms to keep at it.  His legs mandate the breaks.

  As I was in and out, I realized how few lilac blooms we have this year.  It isn’t just our yard.  On either side of us, the blooms are scarce.  Earlier in the year, we had unseasonably warm weather followed by freezing cold and snow.  Mother Nature has a way of putting her foot down.  The perennials are slowly looking as if they will participate in this spring.  Some are just inches tall while some are beating their core stems to reach tall.

  With the challenges that our earlier months gave us, we are on board having our home and yard up to snuff.  How wonderful is that!  Our calendar had been super full with my PT appointments, both of our dental appointments and Dennis’ two cataract surgeries.  Next week . . . there is nothing on the calendar.  Sweet!  We are going to enjoy this while it lasts.  

  Good grief May is half over.

   
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  Noreen 3:50 pm on May 13, 2021 Permalink  

  First Solo Trip 

  Today was my first solo trip out of St. James to run errands.  I gave it a lot of thought.  I have been driving myself to the clinic, Pt and grocery store.  All mere blocks from our home.

  Today, armed with cell phone, cane and determination, I headed for New Ulm which is 43 miles north.  Our car needed an oil change and check over.  We will be making trips to Rochester and the car needed to be road ready.  I had several items I wanted to check out at Walmart.

  I left early as the plan was to hit Walmart first.  I was well rested, and having had breakfast, there were many steps to be taken.  With purchases made, I sat back and rested when I hit Spaeth’s garage for the car to be serviced.  Watching old shows on MeTV was relaxing.

  I stopped at HY-Vee for groceries on the south edge of New Ulm before heading for home.

  I got home at one this afternoon and had been gone from home for four hours.  My solo errand trip went well.  Dennis met me as I parked the car in the garage and did a visual once-over.  All was good . . . me and the car.

  This is my real world.  I know there will not be trips such as this one multiple times during the coming weeks, but I now know I am up for them when they come.  Sitting on the patio chatting with Dennis this afternoon was self-fulfilling knowing I had a very normal day.  I most likely will be visiting my favorite chair after supper with feet propped up feeling a bit weary but very content and happy.

   
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  Noreen 2:39 pm on May 12, 2021 Permalink  

  Feeling Fit 

  
  It may have been brisk this morning, but out came my walking shoes.  I took the longest walk in some time.  I texted my friend June to make sure she was home.  Me and the cane took off.  June lives on the end of Stauffer Avenue.  It gave me the opportunity to arrive at June’s to take a respite before heading back home.  It felt great to do the walk and it felt just as great to get back home and soak up some of the morning sun sitting on the east patio.

  When I got back, Dennis was in the potting shed.  Dennis announced that he would be in charge of putting out some garden art.  I smiled and gave him the thumbs up.  We cleared out a lot from the potting shed last year.  That allowed for an old bushel basket to be viewed.  Oh my gosh!  Years ago Elvera and I had been at the Arts in the park in Hutchinson.  We both came home with ceramic mushrooms that were attached to the narrowest of PVC piping.  The colorful ceramics are attached via a spring to the PVC.  With the slightest of a breeze, the mushroom tops dance and wobble.  Dennis did a great job of decorating. 

  This has been my first photo to insert into a post since February.  I may have missed a step or two.  Practice makes . . . better.

  We are going to enjoy a Subway Tuna for supper.  After having gone through leftovers, it sounded like a great treat.

   
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  Noreen 2:32 pm on May 11, 2021 Permalink  

  Red Letter Days 

  Today all the sewing studio lights went on, illuminating every corner.  The next step was to put on my battery operated radio tuned in to New Ulm’s KNUJ.

  A decision was made in regard to Dennis’ Levi jeans . . . styles 509 and 505.  The 509s are going back via UPS this afternoon.  The pre-frayed jeans are being mailed back. Dennis needs the waist measurement but not the full fit in the legs.  I set about getting Dennis to model so I would know how much to shorten the 30″ factory length.

  It was slow going in the sewing studio.  Measure twice, cut once.  This would be my first project since the middle of February.  After the fingers on the left hand had gotten its fair amount of pin pricks for being slow to the gate, we did make headway.  Dennis will no longer look like Little Abner with a rolled up cuff on each leg.  For the life of me, new jeans are so stiff and heavy even after being washed for the first time.

  The lights went out at noon in the sewing studio . . . jeans shortened and hemmed . . . me being exhausted.  I am not ready for any marathon in the sewing studio.  It was time for a sit-down to catch my breath for the PT later in the afternoon.  The morning brought a red letter.

  All three of the therapists that have worked on me came in and checked on my stamina and motion during the hour and a half.  I passed, and I got to put my pretend tassel on the other side of my head.  There is no shortage of work that I need to continue at home.  I had two weights of clay to work with for my left hand exercises, yellow and pink.  I came home with a tub of blue clay.  It’s more like the rubber in a bungee cord that does not take the pressure of my good thumb to make an imprint.  The afternoon rounded out as a total red letter day.

  So goes life on Stauffer Avenue . . . sweet!