Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 12:33 pm on March 24, 2021 Permalink  

  A Different Me 

  One month out from a a stroke.  My oh my.  The spirit is willing, fingers not so much.  I am hoping that making my left hand acknowledge the keys it needs to may help get the hand wanting to participate.  I am so very different but yet kind of like the old me as well.  Each day I hope to put a short post on for PT.  Big news today is going for a hair cut here in town . . me and my baggage.  If the left hand and arm come back to working order, my catheter won’t be needed. Enough today.  I here a muffled “uncle.”

   
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  Noreen 4:19 pm on February 24, 2021 Permalink  

  The Verdict is In 

  The good old fashioned head cold has its grip on me.  I thought I was better than that.  Humbling to say the least.

  Sitting in my chair covered with an afghan, looking out the west windows, I don’t have any problem counting cars versus trucks.  That is . . . until my eyelids have no power and drop much like the last vestige of the ice icicles from the warming sun on the window awning.  Clunk! 

  Notice was taken that even the train whistles sound happier now that the freezing temperatures are not stifling them.  Everything is aware that spring is within 20 plus days from now.

  Our chilly basement is off limits for a few days.  The south facing windows of our first floor have enough sunshine that can stream in, thus causing the furnace not to run as often as it did in the weeks past.  We do have an open register in the basement, but not to the point of it feeling like anything other than a basement.  Our heating bill came for the month via an email.  I was leery of opening it.  Surprise!  It was $30.00 more than last month.  I was sure with all the north cold winds it would have been more considering that heating the patio porch is much like heating an additional cabin.  Dennis did blow snow up onto the service door of the patio porch . . . almost five feet tall of snow in that area.  It is needing some repair this spring as the weather stripping is nil.  Taking a chance on how the thawing would go in relationship to the cold coming through . . . Dennis felt it was worth it.  Regardless what the heating bill would have been, the patio porch is an intracule portion of our living area.  Dennis and the three kitties would be on the first flight to Florida come December 1st. 

  Tomorrow is a new day and as long as I am able to get a good night’s rest, the head cold doesn’t have a chance of hanging around for too long.  The extra TLC from my ole cowboy hasn’t hurt any either.

   
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  Noreen 4:36 pm on February 23, 2021 Permalink  

  Hmm 

  Not my usual today.  Today I am not up to par.  There was a glint of it last night after supper.  I had hoped I would snuggle in and sleep it off during the night.  I can explain it as a dense fog that has encapsulated me.  I am drinking water and taking nutrition, just not much at a time.  Nothing has much taste.  My temp is 98.1.  Though feeling like this is foreign to me, maybe I need to sit still for awhile.

  Dennis had company today in the patio porch.  That did wonders for him.  The table in the patio porch got a cleaning and I noticed from the bathroom window the vacuum was danced around a bit.  Coffee and cookies were served.  Friend, Dwayne, must be perking up from the heart valve and pace maker job.  I do believe both of those fellows were having a bit of cabin fever.

  No sewing studio lights today.  I read a bit.  I sat in my chair and nodded off a bit.  A little of this and a little of that.  Tomorrow  is a new day.

   
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  Noreen 4:39 pm on February 22, 2021 Permalink  

  Mud Making Day 

  Yesterday we pushed snow off from the drive and it was icy underneath.  Today the drive has been dry since the morning and Stauffer Avenue has turned to mud.  What a difference a 40 degree day can make.  Hopefully it freezes over the night hours and it slows down the thaw.  

  We have been getting text messages to schedule our covid vaccines.  We have not made any appointments. Our calendar is full for some time ahead.  Dennis’ medical appointments come first.  If Dennis is willing for his eye injection schedule and then two cataract appointments, taking a chance that he would be one out of 1,000 that would have a bad reaction to the shot . . . we will decide when and if we take a later schedule.

  We did not feed the deer this winter but our backyard has trails that the deer have used many times to travel here, there and everywhere.  When Dennis has done the little red pickup road trips, he has noticed that the area behind our water plant does not have and has not had much snow cover.  There have been several events of thawing in between our snowfalls.  Shrubs and brush will hold them over for another month and then there will be green abound to nibble on.

  When we were in Mankato on Saturday, I picked up quite a few green options in the vegetable department.  Tonight we are having sliced mini cucumbers, onions and mayo.  The onions smelled so good as I sliced away.  I have been watching the onions in our local grocery story.  Soft to the touch and I know not much would have been usable.  I have passed on them all winter.  I bit and bought a 5lb. bag in Mankato as they passed my quality control.  On the bag the suggestions were given on how to keep them at peak.  I took the option of wrapping each onion in paper towels and putting them in the refrigerator crisper.  Hmm.  Time will tell.  We do like onions and work them in whenever possible.

  I didn’t purchase the brush for the cats I had intended to in Petco.  I bought the glove for Dennis to wear that has spiky nodules on the palm with which to brush the cats as they schmooze on his lap.  The cats are literally standing in line waiting to get on Dennis’ lap to have their turn.  Soon when Dennis opens the patio doors all three will be out checking what they have missed during these last two months.  Each day he would crack open a patio door . . . sure enough, they would sit in the open doorway but not venture out.  Smart cats.

  Time to wind down and do the kitchen stint.  Chicken titties and cucumbers.  Dennis usually tops supper off with a piece of jelly bread.  I would swear Dennis is a blood relative of my dad . . . meals on time each and every day.  That’s o.k.  I may loose a battle here and there, but it kind of all balances itself out and Stauffer Avenue has happy people at the end of the day. 

  Yup, my oldest kid is heading to the house and he has mud on his shoes.  What . . . it is concreted from the house to the garage . . . he must have had the need to explore.

   
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  Noreen 2:35 pm on February 21, 2021 Permalink  

  Scrappy Flannels Competed 

  It is time for a new theme in the sewing studios.  It seems as if I have been doing scrappy flannel for a long time.  I did work on my Santa quit as well as the embroidered blocks for Megan’s quilt.  But to have three of the flannels done out of the scrap pile feels good.  I  did want them to have some personality each to their own. The colors of two of the blocks were identical.  The size and the backing made each different.  I feel comfortable with having several giveaways if needed or request. The very first of the flannels was a bit more colorful.  I really had no idea how it would all shape up.  There is nothing like a surprise ending when the last stitch of the binding is in place.

  Cleaning the sewing area was the last step in the process.  Considering all the fuzz . . . everywhere . . . I think I will stick to cotton for a time.

  This morning as I was considering getting up, I looked out the north window and saw the evergreen tree with the snow falling and settling on the branches.  I realized I didn’t want to pop out of bed.  I closed my eyes several times and drifted off.  I have done this previous times.  The house is still and it is the best way for me to start my day.  It’s not to say that eventually my bladder will determine how many times I drift.  We take our special moments when we can and we treasure them.  Each day has more to be thankful for than not.

   
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  Noreen 6:26 pm on February 20, 2021 Permalink  

  Too Pooped to Pop 

  We had a good long day, even if the sunshine let us down.

  I kept busy on the first floor until Dennis got up from his nap at eleven.  The grocery list was grabbed with a botte of Boost for Dennis and we were off to Mankato.

  Our pantry was showing signs of emptiness.  Sam’s club is still used for many of the items I know we can use in bulk packages.  Then again there are other items that I don’t care to handle because the containers are too large for my hands.  We hit the pet store for a new brush for the kitties and the last stop was Hy-Vee.  That took care of the groceries.  I had a good workout and Dennis caught a few cat-naps.

  We were off to Charlee B’s three o’clock birthday party.  Quite the mad house of small people.  We were on our way home by five.

  Too bad we didn’t have an elf to unpack the groceries when we got home.  My way is to get everything where it belongs as soon as we hit the house.  

  That is the sum total of our Saturday.  The laundry that waited for me in the washer from this morning is now spinning to completion.  I think my chair is going to feel great this evening.

   
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  Noreen 4:29 pm on February 19, 2021 Permalink  

  Sound of Dripping 

  Thank goodness, what I hear is dripping water and it is not within our home.  The sun is showing the ice cycles who is boss.

  Today I walked down to visit my friend June at the end of Stauffer Avenue.  June is a bit older than I am and has been a widow for two years.  June shared with me that she has a huge project ahead of her.  She has had a dripping pipe in her basement that she has put off having it fixed for some time.  It was easier for her to check on the bucket under it several times a week.  June needs work done in her bathroom as she knows if she wants to stay in her home, it’s time to make it June friendly.  I do feel for June.

  Making changes in an older home is not always as easy as saying it out loud.  It’s been some time ago when there were changes needed in our home.  My oh my.  If I would have been making notes on a role of toilet paper, it would have taken a role plus.  The project didn’t start where I thought it would . . . in the bathroom.  It started in realizing our soil pipe that looked like solid copper wasn’t very solid.  The entire top of the huge pipe was eaten out.  So began the huge project of plumbing, electrical, walls coming down, walls going up.  The entire east end of the house was affected.  

  Now, looking back, that huge project done in love, sweat and tears has given us a home that is senior citizen safe and friendly and will be for some time to come.  Thanks Kevin!  Many of our friends have moved to assisted living complexes due to the fact their homes were no longer able to allow them safe mobility.

  Today, I knocked on one of the Dennis’ grandson’s forehead.  Ryan is in charge of measuring and working up bids for nephew Brett’s concrete business.  We need to have the steps that service our front door redone.  The small area right outside the front door needs to be able to service a walker or a wheelchair to exit the home.  No . . . we do not need it right now.  If something would happen to Dennis or I . . . it would be too late to get the work done.  I have been known to be a bit pushy, as can easily be attested to by my children.  It’s time to push those that can get this done before it is needed.  No rotting boards, but concrete.  Yes, there are plans to use these new steps far longer than the boards of today’s quality.

  The things I have just touched on are the things that cause homes to be left behind for a facility.  Small investments here and there are minimal compared to the thousands of dollars spent per month because of having to leave a beloved home as it has not changed with the owner’s needs.  I have seen it happen to many of our friends. 

  I am so proud of my friend June wanting to stay in her home that she is working towards continuing to live independently.  Dennis and I will continue enjoying our forever home for many more days as glorious such as this one.

   
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  Noreen 5:57 pm on February 18, 2021 Permalink  

  Chalk One Up 

  Over the last three days I have been machine quilting one of my projects.  I had embroidered the flannel blocks in the early winter.  I surely could have sewn the eight inch blocks together and called it done.  Why not enhance the project when I can.  It made me happy to do it.  The flannel for the blocks had been given to me.  The batting was cobbled together and also had been given me.  The flannel backing and border were on me.  Yes . . . you could say that I am conservative and frugal using to the max whatever I can and have on hand.

  I am going to take a break before I work on the binding.  In my later years, I can tell when I have been working over an uncovered cement floor, my legs can tell it, even with my heavy duty walking shoes on.  Do I want carpet on the entire floor . . . no.  I have a small piece of bound carpeting that brother Calvin gave me and I have that in the ironing board area.  It is a real challenge to clean fuzz and thread off of it let alone the entire area.  The answer to my legs recovering is to stay out of the sewing studio for a few days.  The transition of having the furnace run often and now with the temps changing, the furnace doesn’t run quite so often makes a huge difference.  

  The dusting of snow didn’t take long for Dennis to use the leaf blower and clear the drive.  You bet!  I took time to do several laps.  I had a bit of time before supper needed to be started so I sat in my chair with the heating pad over my legs while being covered up with a treasured afghan.  Sweet. 

  This latest from the sewing studio will soon be chalked up and then . . . next?

  I am getting a bit tender as to what my body reacts to, but I am wealthy via being healthy.

   
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  Noreen 4:31 pm on February 17, 2021 Permalink  

  Moving on Up 

  The temperatures are moving on up.  The cold was still the best of the last days as the storms, tornadoes and power outages would have been horrific for most of us to get through.  I have a fare amount of body fat in conjunction with knowing how to dress to take it in stride.

  The skies are gray but the snow that has been falling is dry as talcum powder, thus I can understand why the dew point is one.  I think we might have gotten an inch or so.  I went out with Dennis and it was easily pushed to the sides.  Fresh air and exercise . . . it’s a good thing.

  I continued on the meandering quilting of my flannel project.  When the bobbin is empty, I take apart what is under the hood.  Fuzz in abundance.  I have a very long-handled tweezers and it comes in so handy to get in all the small places to pull out the fuzz.  It was also a good time to change out the needle.  Taking a lot of breaks is key.  Using my right foot on the foot feed for the continual motion in quilting can take its tole as after a bit it can be followed from the foot right up to my right titanium knee.  From there it follows up the right side of the thigh.  Funny how the body works together in tandem.  I have my daily exercise for just such circumstances.  Shutting down the sewing studio is the best exercise.  Enough is enough.  Time to turn to some reading.

  Dennis is off to have afternoon coffee with his people in the apartment complex where his friend Lyle lives.  It is a supper of chili for us.  A bit of grated cheese and sour cream for toppings fill the bill.  

  I am pleased that I have managed to block over fifty phone numbers since the first of the year.  Now all I have to do is figure out how to shut off the alarm on my phone when I have chosen to use it.  Yes . . . it says tap to stop it.  My fingers don’t tap like they used to.  So be it.  Shutting off the phone for a bit also does the same job.

   
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  Noreen 4:49 pm on February 16, 2021 Permalink  

  A Feel Good Day 

  Though 1 degree above zero, it felt really good to take my walk today.  The sun is powerful and God is good.

  Local effort always needs to be attended to before I hit the sewing studio for fun time.  Keeping everything humming smoothly on the first floor of our home brings harmony.

  There is definitely some serious sewing going on in regard to the latest project that is under the needle.  I was timid when I knew machine quilting under the needle was the next step.  There is a certain amount of self satisfaction in completing a quilting project from A to Z.  The Old Alley Quilt Shop has done some wonderful long arm finishes for me.  My finishing techniques are not up for any type of grading for perfection.  I feel I am doing some wonderful projects that will keep someone warm and cozy.  I have invested into a sewing machine that can take a lot on.  I have the tools within the machine and using them is the only way for me to work towards proficiency.

  What I was tickled about today was the stitching areas I can pull together to make the motion of machine quilting easier for my arms and hands.  The church tables to the left of the machine are at the same height as my adjustable height sewing table, and my adjustable ironing board straight ahead of the sewing machine needle allows for an easier flow of a hefty project.  Slow and steady and this project will see completion.  I can tell you the walk outside today was literally a breath of fresh air to clear the head after a bit of too much stitching.  Keeping the day balanced is key for this Grammie.  Hmm . . . it’s been too long of not hearing my people calling me by that . . . whether the two legged or the tail wagging of the four legged.  During this cold weather, I am content knowing they are all safe.  

  Dennis has picked up a head cold and naps have been the order of the day.  Smart move.  He wouldn’t be napping if he didn’t need it.  I think resting up for the next week’s forecast of normal temps is what this doctor ordered. 

  Today my tip is . . . upon waking, think a positive thought and the rest of the day will follow as such.