Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:45 pm on July 16, 2020 Permalink  

  Shifting Gears 

  This morning Dennis and I both have recovered from the day of yard work that we enjoyed yesterday.  The acre looks stunning.  The areas where there are Hosta and such . . . stunning.  

  We are realizing that with the summer conditions our mowing will be slowing down.  With these summer fluctuations of heat and humidity, we are so thankful that the physical work on the out-buildings are done.  That “done” will remain for several years to come.  It was slow and steady since the first of May.  Hello July 16th!  There isn’t so much as a penny to rattle in the job jar.  We are awaiting some shutters to come via Home Depot.  We were told in the first part of May that the covid would be delaying deliveries.  When they do arrive the prep work of the patio porch has been completed.

  This morning as Dennis and I were sitting on the patio, I was asked what my day held.  Rare as it may seem . . . I was speechless.  I definitely need to shift gears.  My early afternoon was down in the sewing studio checking things out.  When Dennis came down to play a game of solitaire on the old Dell laptop, he found me with pencil in hand jotting down a few notes.  Dennis took that as a good sign that I may be onto something.  On to something is where I am at.  Checking to make sure that what I have in mind is what I already have on hand.  Last year I had made Christmas felt tree ornaments for send-outs to family and friends.  This year I need to hatch out a new item . . . all of it coming from what is within the sewing studio.  Given enough head scratching and “what ifs,” July is a good time to get things rolling.

  I sure have missed getting together with the stitchers for a luncheon in Mankato.  It seemed as if the ideas flew around Baker’s Square like a wind storm and solutions were abound.  February seems like a lifetime ago.  But . . . here we are on a Thursday. Thursdays are always rewarding.  The day brings satisfaction to what has been done and it also gives us a window as to what the weekend may have in store.  It’s a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 3:14 pm on July 15, 2020 Permalink  

  Taking Turns 

  I had just commented to Dennis yesterday that the biting black flies had taken over to be the pest of the season.  Hello!  Today, as we geared up to mow the acre the mosquitoes gave fair warning it was their turn to be the pest.  I did the trimming with the weed whip of the acre first.  My forehead felt like it had ripples of swelling bites by the time I hung the trimmer up.  Once I hit the garage to get the push mower going, I got out the Bug Soother that we had gotten from Kersten’s Cassey’s store last year.  The north side of our home always is a haven for bugs as it is quite sheltered.  I am not sure if the Bug Soother did the trick or that I smelled so good I didn’t notice the bites.

  It has been unseasonably hot for a spell but the grass sure has continued to grow.  I passed on a huge portion of our front yard as it looked stressed.  I hit the high spots and did a bit of trimming and I think that will have to suffice until we get more rain.

  As I was blowing off the drive, I noticed a fresh pile of dirt at the corner of the flower bed on the southeast corner of the house.  Hmm.  That was not there on Sunday and here it is Wednesday.  It gave the appearance of an ant hill.  Something has been busy.  When I put in the plants at this flower bed, there had been the same pile of fresh dirt within the bed.  I had a sneaky feeling it was the female Cicada Wasp who’s nest I had destroyed just two weeks ago when I dug out the flower bed.  Why on earth do we need a wasp that tunnels and make nests in dirt.  Dennis sprayed hornet spray into the little opening until it welled out in a white foam.  Out she came and buzzed off.  The Cicada is huge and has orange strips on her back.  I got out the vinegar jug.  When I had looked it up on the internet, that was one suggestion to discourage the wasp.  After the foam of the spray disappeared, I poured pure vinegar into the area and in between where the step and one of the pavers were.  I am going to continue trying to move her somewhere else.  With that being said, I need to go back onto the internet and do a bit more research.  Tomorrow I will clean up this pile of dirt and check back to see if there has been any fresh activity.

  This day has about had all the activity Dennis and I have ump for.  The day started out humid and by glory now the humidity and dew point are neck and neck in the low 50s.  All of you, take heart.  Each day presents itself with something that had not been expected.  Take it in stride, as there are more blessings in each day than not.  Take a breathe, close your eyes for a bit and the blessings will come to mind.

   
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  Noreen 1:50 pm on July 14, 2020 Permalink  

  One More First 

  Today is Tuesday and my oh my have the temperatures changed.  It had been a long time since we have had a number in the 60s.

  I did spend some time out in the gardens taking care of few stray weeds.  The rain that moved through only amounted to .02″.  For the thunder that boomed I thought we would have had a downpour.

  This afternoon Grammie, at age 76, had her first Freezer Pop.  We had bought a bag for the picnic on Sunday and of course leftovers can’t go to waste.  The Freezer Pop took me back to when my parents farmed near Winthrop, Mn.  The Watkins man had our farm on his route.  The Watkins Nectar was the best.  It didn’t take but a small amount of the favored liquid to make a two quart pitcher of wonderful delight.  It was the summer 1949 when Michael was born that Fred, the Watkins man made his rounds.  Fred was giving away free forms with the purchase of a bottle of nectar with which to make frozen treats. The forms came with sticks that needed to be placed into the slit of the form before it went into the freezer with the liquid nectar. 

  Elvera, Calvin and myself would sit on the lip of the house foundation and think we had gone to heaven when the frozen treats were ready to enjoy.  Those plastic forms were around for many a lick to be enjoyed.  I can tell you that same set of wooden sticks toughed it out for many more Watkins Nectar jugs.  No one, and I mean no one, was allowed to abuse the sticks by trying to get the last of the flavor out of them when the treat was gone.  Today, sitting in the patio porch enjoying a Watermelon Freezer Pop, I could almost hear giggles as if 1949 wasn’t more than a heartbeat from the past.  

  Yup . . . lots of water over the dam.  I am so thankful that the memories that I hold near and dear are always ready for a rerun.  Sweet.

   
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  Noreen 1:43 pm on July 13, 2020 Permalink  

  My Goodness 

  After yesterday’s picnic, this Grammie was still in bed at 9:30.  What woke me up was Dennis making sure the blankets were still moving by me breathing.  I really did need to get up as my back began aching as soon as I moved under the blankets.  

  I do admit, hosting a family picnic is quite a bit of planning and work.  It all did go off without a hitch.  The foods that needed to be chilled were on ice.  Three crock-pots kept hot and warm what needed for a good serving temp.  All we offered for drinks was chilled water.  A few brought their own beer.  No one got out of hand.  The grandchildren are all getting a few wise years on them as they have become parents.  Four of the five of Dennis’ children were able to be here for the day.

  What made my day was two-fold: Dennis’ well-being in enjoying himself and . . . having the great grands feeling so comfortable at our home.  The buckets of the Schleich animals that were Megan and Nicholas’ favorite at our home kept the great grand girls busy for hours.  The five great grands that were here, needed no invite, they knew just where to go in the basement to bring them to the patio.  As I said, they have all been here often enough to know how to roust out the dust bunnies.  Yup, the animals went right back on the shelves in the basement after the day until the next time we have children here.  Only one granddaughter from Mankato has never had her two children here to visit in our home.  They are two and six.  I know they would have had the best time joining right in. 

  A few freezer bags of beans and Bar-B-Q hit the freezer, but the food had disappeared to good stead.  The crock-pots are back on their resting shelves in the basement.  After I had the food containers washed and then care of, I went out to the patio porch at about 5:30. Dennis was welcoming the porch kitties home after, I am sure, they felt they had been displaced.  Dennis was enjoying a bottle of water and agreed it had been a great day, but . . . he confided he was glad everyone had gone home.  Dennis was weary from such a busy day.  Though he had not helped in the preparing of the food, he had contributed hugely by ramrodding, getting tables and chairs set up ahead of time.

  Dennis and I are spoiled.  We love family.  We love family coming over . . . usually in pairs or by four.  This group of 25 had been over the top.  It was better than groups getting together for funerals. 

  Here it is the later part of the day and . . . I am still in my robe and slippers.  Maybe just getting a head start on bedtime.  Why not!

   
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  Noreen 4:02 pm on July 12, 2020 Permalink  

  Sunday Evening 

  It is just about five in the afternoon and . . . shh . . . Dennis and I are home alone.

  What a great day of activity on Stauffer Avenue.  There was a group of 25 for the Curry picnic today.  The ages ranged from 83 to 2.  I have no idea if it was hot out or if it was humid out.  I kept to the schedule I had going for myself in my head to get this pulled off.  I know that I kept an eye out on Dennis and he made his rounds from the back patio to the front patio and to the tables that were set up in the car garage.  He socialized to a huge degree.  The food was enjoyed and yup . . . there is a small amount of everything left over.  Dennis and I are taking it slow on the cleanup.  I know that before we go to bed all will be in its place as if nothing had happened except knowing it was a good day of family getting together.

  This next week will be on the slow side for the two of us and I know that we are deserving of it.  We did good!

   
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  Noreen 2:23 pm on July 11, 2020 Permalink  

  Worth a Try 

  This morning Dennis left home for Sioux Falls to pick his son Kenny up at the airport.  I left for Windom which is 26 miles down the highway to the west.

  I was on my way to Runnings in Windom.  I thought the hanging fly traps were worth a try.  This season the biting flies have been worse than the mosquitoes.  I purchased three of them for the price of $5.95 each.  If one works near our patio and fills the bag, we will have several backups.  As per neighbor Jan, they last about a week and a half.  When the bag is full the cover is pushed down and it goes in the trash.  The label said it would take anywhere from one to three hours for the attraction to begin.  It was more like fifteen minutes and there was a group of the greasy green looking flies waiting their turn to crawl on in.

  It is now the afternoon and we are awaiting some rain as per the warnings for our area.  I do hear thunder.  The fellows are home safe and sound from the airport in Sioux Falls.  Kenny is using the little red pickup to visit some friends in town.  He will have until Tuesday evening to get that job done as his flight is Wednesday morning out of Sioux Falls.  For me there is no crush and rush of any plans yet to be put in place for the picnic tomorrow.  Pre-planning makes all the difference in the world.  

  Dennis is watching a rodeo on the RFD channel and Snuggles is close by.  His three patio porch cats always stay near when there is thunder in the distance.  Maybe they have heard the blurb that if you can hear thunder there is a definite danger of being struck by lightning.

  This evening is the calm before the storm . . . multi family picnics . . . there is no calm.  24 hours from now the calm will return to Stauffer Avenue.  Praise be to God.  I wanted to do this for Dennis.  Dennis’ family needs to realize that making memories with him is in a priceless time frame . . . maybe they don’t realize that.  My thinking is often quite different from others.  

  Right now, it is 3:30 and my newly seeded area of the lawn is getting a good soaking.  There is some wind but it doesn’t seem to threatening.  Time for us to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening.

   
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  Noreen 3:30 pm on July 10, 2020 Permalink  

  Stauffer Kitchen Closed 

  What a whirl wind in the Stauffer Avenue kitchen.  We are preparing for a Curry family picnic on Sunday.  There usually isn’t much activity in our kitchen as Dennis and I enjoy one meal each day and it does not have multiple entries.  The best part is that there is nothing that has gotten splattered onto the ceiling.  Not like the eggs that I let boil dry several summers ago.  Yup . . . they exploded and the skylight needed cleaning.

  So . . . you may ask why Dennis and I decided to prepare all the food.  I can recall  in the late 60s and early 70s, we would have 4th of July picnics.  How could we not as Kevin’s birthday was on the 4th.  Oh so many of Orlin’s siblings’ families and from my family.  Everyone brought something.   Here would come an aunt in the early forenoon with raw chicken on ice needing a fry pan to do her “to share” dish.  “Splattering grease . . . watch where you walk.”  There are only so many lineal feet of a serving table.  Fifteen to twenty small dishes of soups to nuts is difficult to manage and towards the end we would have been thrilled to find chop sticks to use as serving utensils.  Oh for the memories.  I would do it all over again in a heart beat.

  By three thirty today there was a calm in the Stauffer Avenue kitchen.  All dishes have been prepared and are in the refrigerator.  I love the co-mingling process of flavors.  The hubs of three crock-pots are in the garage on the serving table, ready to receive their portion of the picnic Sunday morning and then hit “On.”  Dennis has multiple electrical plugins ready as we don’t want to be blowing any circuits.  Potato Salad and the ring pasta salad dishes will be sitting on a pan of ice. 

  Dennis’ daughter had good suggestions for the day keeping in mind safe gatherings.  There are several containers of hand sanitizers available.  No finger food.  The refrig in the basement has 20 plus individual baggies chilling with grapes.  Dennis has filled individual baggies of Chex Mix, individual wraped Rice Krispies and . . . we call that the dessert options.

  Neighbor Jan gave me a great idea for fixing the beef Ball Park wieners, seeing as we don’t do grilling.  They do look a bit bland right out of the package.  Her idea is to put them on a cookie sheet in the oven for a short time for the exterior to bubble a bit and then slide them under the broiler for a bit to get the rest of the color on them.  She assured me they would look wonderful in a crock-pot.  Dennis commented that one thing that is awkward is runny Bar-B-Q that is to stay in a bun.  He was right.  After all the cooking of flavors was done, I mixed a bit of corn starch with a small amount of cold water.  Ramping up the heat as that is what makes the corn starch work its wonder, I poured the mixture evenly over the top of the Bar-B-Q.  Yup!  The meat will stay on and in the bun with no alterations of flavor.

  I am off the clock for making supper.  Dennis has plenty to choose from as I left a bit of everything on a supper dish.  

  It’s Friday.  Kick back and realize the wonderful week you have put in whether at work, in the yard or checking out a few chapters in a book.  Everyone has their niche.  I plan on having mine next week. 

  I will admit getting to this point for the picnic has been all encompassing.  When the scraping and painting was done, I thought I was done and could see if my sewing machine still worked.  How could I not kick in and help Dennis cleaning and washing out the garages.  Did we know at that time we would be using the garages for the picnic . . . No!  Is it going to feel wonderful to be able to set up multiples tables in the clean garages for eating . . . Yes!  No one enjoys sitting at a table eating on the patio if the sun is blinding.  As I said . . . next week may find me in my nightie feeling the day for what it may bring.

   
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  Noreen 2:31 pm on July 9, 2020 Permalink  

  Kitchen Time 

  Several decades ago, I would be in the kitchen preparing for a noon courthouse luncheon.  The custodians at the courthouse would clean out the garage where the county vehicles were parked.  There were tables made up with plywood and sawhorses.  All the departments of Watonwan County would be invited during their noon hour for a get-together.  It could well be 100 employees coming together to visit and share a meal.

  Perry, in the auditor’s office at that time, was in charge of the pop machine monies.  With the blessings of the county commissioners we funded a lunch every year.  Goodwill within employees never hurts.  As it was, I was in charge of the menu and the food prep.  Dennis was right there in the kitchen with me preparing food.  Most of my office staff was given permission to help me pull it off on the day of the lunch.  It was fun and it was rewarding to see people from different departments get to know each other.  Of course the highway fellows always looked forward to a hearty hot lunch and passing on brown bagging it.  The last noon lunch I prepared was in 2008 as I retired in February of 2009.  I did host the county’s Secret Pal luncheon in 2009 on our patio, patio porch and garages as my last picnic going into retirement.  Good memories.

  Today, I am in the kitchen working on getting a noon lunch put together for this coming Sunday.  Maybe not a 100 guests, but perhaps 25.  Dennis’ son will be flying in from Arizona on Saturday.  With us having a cozy, comfy small home, Dennis wanted he and me to have his entire family here on Stauffer for a family picnic utilizing the patios, the patio porch and the garages.  Why not!  With Dennis being on the phone and personally inviting his kids and his grandkids over the last several weeks, I trust that they will honor his invitation.  There are always a few that can do or do not give a definite response.  It matters not.  We do know that with 8 great grandkids it will be a lively bunch.

  As we had first talked between the two of us, Dennis asked that I would fix all of the food.  With many families, many hands, one source for all the food would be the best.  I had to agree with him.  Dennis has been on top of cleaning the luncheon areas, which included all the cleaning he has been doing in said garages.  We have it covered.

  Today was my day to begin the baked beans.  The molasses, the brown sugar, the Lipton Onion dry soup mix, a lb. of seasoned pork sausage, pre-cooked chopped bacon . . . and last but not least the huge can of Bush’s beans, plus one smaller can, all co-mingling in the refrigerator, ready for a crock-pot Sunday morning.

  It is going to be another warm day on Sunday.  But . . .  we have coolers, we have crock-pots, we have pans that will hold ice to have the cold dishes sit on.  Dennis is out in the drive this afternoon, cleaning off a rather large squirrel cage fan to move air across the floor of the serving area, aka: the little red pickup garage.  As I said, we have it covered.  As I mentioned, this is not Dennis’ or my first rodeo fixing a picnic.  One day prep at a time.  It works well not to leave too much for the last day.  Nobody wants to be wore out and not enjoy the day.

  Tomorrow will be potato salad day and the ring macaroni salad day, the latter being Dennis’ favorite.  Some use ham in ring macaroni salad, but Dennis and my kids have always liked Spam in it.  Dishes with multiple ingredients need time to co-mingle.  Mom, Lena, was a great picnic fare teacher.  Somewhere in the days ahead will be Bar-B-Q fixings.  We are not grillers.

  Take care everyone.  Today is a bit more desirable outside, but having the yard work done yesterday, I am content making lists and having kitchen time.

   
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  Noreen 2:36 pm on July 8, 2020 Permalink  

  A Day in July 

  July has always had the reputation as being hot and this year of 2020 is right on . . . hot.

  Dennis took his friend Dwayne to Mankato today for a doctor’s appointment.  The fellows left here at 7:30 and I was dressed in gardening clothes and went out the door the same time Dennis did.  The weed that I call a sand burr has just taken off under the Lilacs like crazy.  Left to their own the entire length of the stalk has burrs that fall off and become . . . more burrs.  

  Snuggles and Harriet stayed with me the entire time.  As I was whacking weeds, I did make sure that I cut some stems of catnip for Snuggles and Harriet.  Oh my gosh.  The rolling on and rubbing of those stems was too funny to watch as they got a bit of a high on it.

  I came in at 10:30 with the job completed.  I have several pails of stuff that will dry out in several days for Dennis’ burning ring.  Yup . . . off came the sweat-soaked clothes and into a loose cotton duster.  I had had water with me and it did not matter that the water I had enjoyed was lukewarm.  It was wet and it tasted great.

  Dennis got home at noon, safe and sound from the Mankato trip.  Neither one of us was too hipped up to do much.  Of course the laundry was beckoning me.  Nothing could be more of a punishment than wearing clothes that had been soaked through and having them turn sour.  Get it laundered and ready for the next time I want to be outside for several hours.

  I am thinking of grilled cheese for supper with a cup of soup.  Last week when Carrie and the kids were here we had sandwich fixings out.  Good old Nicholas . . . “Grammie you know this isn’t real cheese.”  Oh my Lord!  The same thing had come out of Kevin’s mouth a short time ago.  I promise once this box of pre-wrapped cheese singles is gone, I will purchase real cheese.  I am just too much of a tight-wad to not use it up.  As it turned out it became the topic of conversation that it reminded Megan and Nicholas of the cheese that McDonald’s uses and it was a trip down memory lane.  Kids!  No matter what the age . . . gotta love them.  

  Dennis checked the temp outside . . . not good . . . 89 and it feels like 101.  The humidity and dew point are neck and neck.  July is having its way.  Get done what is needed and then pamper yourselves.  No one needs to do that “one last thing.”

   
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  Noreen 2:49 pm on July 7, 2020 Permalink  

  The Early Breeze 

  The early morning breeze was delightful.  I had no care to look at the temperature or the level of humidity and the dew point.  I was content to get my mowing done with the breeze to keep my sweat evaporating.  Even with the hot weather the grasses have got the gumption to grow. 

  The breezes didn’t last long.  As I was doing the trimming and getting the mower put away the black biting flies let me know they were hungry.  Last week, neighbor Jan had shown me a fly bag she had bought at Runnings in New Ulm.  It was a bag to hang up in the tree branches.  There were instructions to fill water into the bag, just enough to cover the crystals in the bottom of the bag.  There was an opening on the top much like what is on top of a bottle of water to allow the flies to enter.  She thought the solution had a weird smell . . . I didn’t notice that.  After getting the yard work done, I went over to Jan’s to see what her opinion of the fly bag purchase was.  As luck would have it, she had just hung up a new bag as the first one had done its job.  With the size of the bag being about ten inches long, even with the solution in the bottom, she said it had gotten quite full of deceased flies.  That may be on our list of needs.  Biting black flies are worse than mosquitoes. At least mosquitoes can be swatted at with the end product being a dead mosquito.  Flies just keep coming back for more feasting.

  Dennis had gone to our Fleet and Farm store, of course not having anything similar to Jan’s take on fly control.  He did come back with a packet of eight cartridges that are then hung up individually.  As time goes by they slowly pull down out of the cartridge and allow a long tale of stickiness for flies to be attracted to.  I honestly didn’t think they were on the market anymore.  Dennis did say it was the last of those on the shelf.  They may well have some age on them.  Time will tell.

  I peeked . . . Dennis’ job jar is empty for outside work.  It doesn’t matter how warm the day is, we seem to get it done.  Now . . . it may be my jar that gets a shaking.  The potting shed is due for some tidy, tidy.  Shovels and such that had spots to be hung up are now all leaning on the east wall in such a lax degree, it takes up one third of the floor space when the door is opened.  Who knows what tomorrow may bring for me.  Dennis is helping friend Dwayne out by taking him to Mankato for a doctor’s appointment.  I think that is a good thing.  Those two fellows have been life-long friends having gone to school together way back when.  Dwayne was the fellow that had the International Tractor dealership here in town and helped Dennis with the Cub-L0-Boy.  It’s for sure a good thing to help each.