Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 4:47 pm on November 7, 2020 Permalink  

  A Shortage? 

  We had spent two different days in Mankato this last week.  We did stock up on pantry items.  The need to have a bit on hand hearkens back to my farm days. 

  When Orlin and I were farming in Boon Lake Township, there wasn’t a fall that did not find our cellar shelves full.  No worry if we didn’t get into town often during the winter months.  The huge difference is that the shelves glistened with quart fruit jars when we pulled the string for the light bulb to show us the way.  We had two chest freezers filled with frozen poultry and frozen bags of sliced apples ready to be put into pie crusts when needed.  In the cooler portion of that cellar where carrots and onions hanging from the ceiling via their stems held with twine.  Potatoes to last us till spring in the far corner.  Priceless.

  Now our pantry is filled with cans, glass jars of sauce for hotdishes and cardboard boxes of various items.  What was interesting was that one of Dennis’ favorites to fall back on when he needs a quick hot meal couldn’t be found.  Sam’s Club usually has an abundance of Dinty Moore Beef Stew.  Not one can to be found.  We stopped at Hy-Vee for a few items and also . . . there was no Dinty Moore Beef Stew or the store brand.  Hmm.

  Today I went to our Super Fair grocery store to pick up milk and bread.  Ah-Ha . . . the Dinty was in stock.  None of the smaller cans, but I did take home six of the larger cans.  That will take care of Dennis for quite some time.  It was an interesting seek and search.

  The local effort today was finishing the last of the porch windows and a bit extra cleaning in the porch.  I still need to clean the shelving and I must not forget Mom’s spindle glider rocking chair.  That will be tomorrow’s task.  The beds have clean linens to enjoy after showers tonight.  

  It was time to pay it forward.  Marcia brings us fresh eggs time after time.  Several days ago her mate Scott stopped in and he had two jackets that needed mending.  That had been the deal.  Tit for tat.  Oh my gosh, I had forgotten how heavy hunting jackets are.  The hunting jacket needed hand mending in the inside where sleeve meets the body of the jacket.  The other jacket was a lined nylon from when he worked for Mathiowitz Construction.  The exterior side seam was frayed wide open.  I can see hands in the pockets pulling on that nylon seam and it is not attached to the side seam that has the puffy quilted lining.  That side seam is now sewn shut and attached to the lining for extra support.  Once nylon begins to shred at a seam it’s not a good thing.  I will give a call out tomorrow and let them know the jackets are ready.  Scott does go hunting towards Thanksgiving.

  Again we had a red letter day.  Though for strong breezes it was wonderful.  Here we are in November and taking these great days for those last minute items outside before our fingers will scold for procrastinating later on.

  The beautiful sunset is reminding me to think about supper.  So fortunate Dennis and I are to be enjoying our own home and fixing a tasty meal of our choosing.  Sweet!

   
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  Noreen 4:15 pm on November 6, 2020 Permalink  

  This Day – Another Gift 

  We started out the day with a bang.  The Watson boys were going into the basement with a new 50 gallon hot water heater.  Efficient and tidy, they were going out of the house at 9:15.  As it was we had just paid the water bill for the month.  I saved the invoice to see if the new water heater will show a difference next month.

  It took me awhile to get organized, but I was determined to take out some water spots on the west porch windows.  The windows tip in and there is still an amount to prepare for so as to not spring them from their frames as both panes need to be tipped out at the same time.  I managed to get four of the nine windows done. Using the foam spray of the CLR worked great.  The secret is to use enough thereafter to make sure the film of it is gone.

  The fellows have been working for the greater part of the day with the electrical harness for the Cub.  Other than taking coffee out to them this morning and lunch this afternoon, I have stayed clear.  I figured Dennis would catch me up over supper.  I would have done the same if it were my dad working on something so tedious.  Concentration can be broken in a heartbeat and then the angst springs forth.

  With any luck, tomorrow will allow me to finish up the porch windows.  Today was moving about my reading table which holds the modem and all the electrical stuff for the computers, the printer, and the cable television service.  Tomorrow should be a breeze of just moving out the bed to get at the north and west walls.

  I have supper ready to pop into the oven.  I am not pushing or rushing.  I just heard the outside water spigot and I am hoping it was for water for the Cub’s radiator.  I will put an update out tomorrow on the two repair fellows.

  It appears we may have good weather over the weekend.  Find joy in this blessed weather and know that it is truly a gift and the Asian beetles are the freebies.

   
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  Noreen 5:31 pm on November 5, 2020 Permalink  

  Need Some Home Time 

  Grammie is not used to a heavy schedule.  This week has been an all time whirlwind.

  I did go to Mankato alone yesterday.  When I have returns to make, it make me nervous to put that off and have the items damaged before I can return them.  Three of the huge caulking tubes needed to be off of Stauffer.  Three cats can rearrange almost anything and everything in the garage.  Menards would probably not appreciate scratched and dented caulking tubes.

  I had not bought new underwear since I retired ten years ago.  Seriously!  I needed to take my time and feel comfortable in making choices before cleaning out that which was at home.  

  Right next door from the clothing store is Michael’s craft store.  It had been a long time since I had stepped inside.  Not thinking that they would have Christmas trees, I was drawn to that part of the store as if a magnet was pulling.  They had a lot of choices.  What pulled me to it was a labeled pencil 7′ tree.  I was determined to have a tree this year and had worn the keyboard out looking online.  A half tree would be ideal, but the one I found was over $200.00. 

  As if in a fairy tale, myself and another gal, about my age, stood in front of the tree is if in a trance.  We looked at each other and began reading the labels of the boxes tucked under the shelf.  The amazing part is that the price was $135.00 and for this week the price was $59.99.  We called over an employee and we requested two to be brought to the register. I am thrilled.  Not so thrilled that I need to wash the windows where this little lovely will be sitting.  Well done Grammie!  I nearly floated the way home on HWY 169.

  Today we went back to Mankato for Dennis.  His CPAP machine needed to be sent in three months ago as it had crashed.  Today we could take the loner back and get his original machine.  I needed a haircut yesterday and today we pulled up to Great Clips for Dennis to have his ears lowered.

  Several months ago when Dennis was at our VA clinic the doctor checked his feet.  Dennis is pre-diabetic and feet are the window into the “rest of the story.”  Due to that check, today Dennis picked up a pair of leather shoes with orthodontics that had been ordered and fitted just for his feet.  Who knew that the VA would cover that for veterans.  They have Velcro closures making it easy on and off.   

  We rounded the day with a few groceries in the back of the car.  I had started the day with an early physical therapy while Dennis was having his oatmeal for the morning.  I picked up two donuts in the grocery store and we had a picnic on the way home. 

  What a great road date today.  So thankful to have our stuff up to snuff and being home safe and sound.

   
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  Noreen 5:01 pm on November 4, 2020 Permalink  

  80 Degrees 

  80 degrees has got to have set a record.

  I went to Mankato solo today.  I can tell you it was a marathon.  With that being said, I will fill in details tomorrow.  My main objection was to get a haircut and return caulking to Menards . . . got it done.  The rest of the stops and the rest of the day proved interesting.  

  I will catch you tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 4:23 pm on November 3, 2020 Permalink  

  Let the Sunshine In! 

  The sun still has some heat.  The sun is shining in through the windows and the Asian beetles are coming in clinging to our clothes.  

  I have kept a bit quiet today.  The day after the first physical therapy session lets me know who was boss yesterday.  In limping around for more weeks than I should have, there are a few other areas that were compensating and now know it’s time to pay the piper.  I have been doing some reading in my bedroom porch and doing enough stairs to keep all systems moving.  Thursday is my next appointment with Mike T.

  I have been rubbing the ink off of one of the pages of a quilt pattern book that I dug out of storage.  The key to the quilt pattern I really like is that there is a center tile of an image of Old Victorian Santas within each log cabin block.  I thought I had fabric coming in the mail of what I needed.  Not.  It was a yard of fabric alright.  The images were postage stamp size.  Bummer.  In the same storage area where the quilt pattern book came from, I remembered a Dover book I had ordered years ago when I did Cricut Christmas cards using the older Christmas memorabilia.  Various images of Santas, images of old Christmas cards and poems.  I knew I had used the printable ink jet fabric sheets when I did crafts with Megan and Nicholas years ago.   Wouldn’t you know it . . . I had one sheet left.  I did go to the sewing studio and had to see what would happen if I copied a page of the book having a Santa image onto that last fabric-backed sheet via the HP printer.  Dennis followed me and he was amazed how great it copied.  The colors were vibrant.  At some time the paper needs to be peeled off and the sheet needs to have cold water ran over it to set the ink.  I have the biggest challenge of this project nailed.  I will need to make sure I find the same product of the printable fabric when we go to Mankato sometime.  I am sure I had found it in JoAnn’s Fabric.  All that in due time. 

  Dennis had a nephew from Windom come over today, and how can those two talk over guns better than going to our Home Town Café over the noon hour.  A good gab session always does the trick and is complete when Matt had a chance to look over Dennis’ stash.  There were even several that Matt ended up taking home with him.  You know how those “needs analysts” go. The end result was that Dennis assured me the new hot water heater that is being put in on Friday has been taken care of.  Sweet!

  The electrical harness for the Cub-Lo-Boy came in the mail today.  Dennis and Dwayne have already made arrangements to work on the tractor here in the pickup garage on Friday.  It will be great to have it running and tucked in the back garage until next spring.  Dennis’ pickup is not used to sitting outside, and it surely wouldn’t be happy having frost needing to be scrapped off each time Dennis needed to use it.  It does seem that all things do work out in the end for us older ones here on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 3:48 pm on November 2, 2020 Permalink  

  Great Monday 

  A 65 degree day out and everyone is enjoying it.  I would have thought for sure that the bugs would have been chilled into hiding with the cold we have had . . . not!

  Today was my first day of physical therapy with Mike T.  I had to be honest with him.  I didn’t know if it was the ham strings that attach at the pelvic bone that were pulling at my knees. With them being titanium they were not budging.  Perhaps it was the lower back that was bucking and pulling on the tail bone as if I had sat down hard on a surface that didn’t have any give in it.  All I knew was that I had junk in my trunk and needed help.  Not being comfortable in any one place whether sitting or standing for any length of time . . . that’s not a good thing.  Needless to say it didn’t take him long to find something to attack.  The right leg was so tight he was sure Willie Nelson could strum those tendons and such just like a banjo.  Dang he can make his thumbs dig and press so hard, you’d think a bone would shatter.  I am now a work in progress.  It’s either this or better.  Hopefully getting everything done before the winter hits for real.  Mike reminded me that it was about this time last year that I was on his docket.  With the grunt work done for the year, it’s tune up time.

  Dennis’ friend Dwayne had one tractor that didn’t sell before Dwayne had to turn over the keys to the new owners of his rural farm place.  One item remained that Dwayne didn’t get sold.  Our back garage now has an H-Farmall tractor with a narrow front end, complete with a bucket.  My oh my.  Dwayne gave Dennis a go-ahead any time Dennis wanted to use it.  Hmm. I don’t want to think about that right now as with a little imagination I can see Dennis using it on the back part of the acre . . . putting that bucket down and rolling sod right along with the snow.

  This week has gotten full for us.  Dennis has two appointments on two different days.  If he takes in his Korean Veteran’s luncheon it will be three days in the big city.  Sometime working my whiles with that schedule, we need to stock up on some pantry items.  Our cupboards in the basement are quite sparse.  We had really stocked up in February when the covid first was proclaimed.  It’s now ready for some restocking.  I still like to use Sam’s Club for taxables.  Some of the other items are in too large of a container for me to handle with ease.  Seriously, how large of a quart container do we need for ketchup?  Dennis is our only heavy user.  I can do just as well at the Family Dollar for some items.  I will get my list ready and will include items from Sam’s and Cubs.  

  It’s the close to a very pretty bright day.  This week is the week to relish all things Minnesota Indian Summer.

   
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  Noreen 3:46 pm on November 1, 2020 Permalink  

  There is a Price to Pay 

  There is a price to pay when one, aka: me, is content with a Tracfone.  Most that I know that something that it is a bit more sophisticated.  I am in a “group” for phone calls with the stitchers.  It can keep you in stitches when one or more needs to chat back and forth.  

  When my phone lets me know that I have text message, and if I do not open it immediately, it will continue to chirp until I do open it.  The first screen “New Message” needs to be pressed. The next screen allow me to know how large of a text is coming in via KBs, and then I need to press the “Get” button. The message is then downloaded and allows me to know how many minutes will be subtracted and how many minutes I have left and then press “List.” Then the screen message is “Press for New Message.” Finally I can read what the text was.  Too funny.

  When the texts are flying fast and furious, Dennis just shakes his head.  I have observed other’s phones.  I don’t really need all those bells and whistles.  I have a calendar in my phone and we have not missed any appointments.  The biggest drawback for me to change phones is the size of those phones.  I would not be able to hold them in my palm comfortably.  

  There are only a few instances when the stitchers are hot and heavy with what they are sharing.  What they do share is very informative and from my point of view my phone is very doable.  It costs me $99.00 a year and I always have in excess of a 1,000 minutes to use.  Yup! I am content and after this last round of text messages I have a great lead on a stabilizer that works great for doing machine embroidering.  By the way . . . Mills Fleet and Farm in Mankato is having a great sale on white large feed sacks at $1.50 each.  Those towels are also wonderful quality also for machine embroidery.  Just a heads up for the stitcher gals!

  What is important is that we all must decide what price we are willing to pay in regard to patience.  Are we richer for the inclusion of a group of friends. . . thus putting the inconvenience of it to the side?  I voted yes to that.

  On a sidebar, Dennis got leaves mulched this afternoon.  The plus to Dennis’ day was that he  flagged down one of the Watson Boys that were paying a visit to our neighbor in regard to the neighbor’s furnace throwing a fit.  Watson’s now know that we will be needing a new electric water heater.  The one in the basement has been leaking for some time and it is not prudent to continue paying for water to be heated only to have it leak out.  We put that one in, in 2011.  Hmm, didn’t last as long as those in days of old.  But then, what does!

   
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  Noreen 3:36 pm on October 31, 2020 Permalink  

  Being on a List 

  In a small town being on a list that does not mean a lot of volunteering, is a good thing.

  The list we are on is our handyman’s list.  Elmer did get over to our home yesterday and fixed the entry door on the patio porch.  It may not stay fixed, but our name is on his phone.  As our old garage sways in the winds the patio porch must go with as it is attached.  We are secure for the winter.  The caulking job on the patio will wait until next spring when the weather is warm enough to work a caulking gun.

  Dennis and I walked to the back garage at three and man was it brisk out.  This morning the wind was from the south and now it is the north wind that is pulling up our collars.

  It is hard to believe that tomorrow November begins.  Time is fleeting.  Dennis and I did achieve our goals for the year.  The next goal for us is to stay upright over the winter months.  

  When we had walked to the east part of the acre to the back garage, we noticed how many times the deer have been through the backyards by the amount of the scat that can be seen.  Dennis didn’t give me a firm answer about whether he will be feeding the deer over the winter months or not.  My thought is that if he wants to, we should stock up on some bags of corn now while there is not slick ice under foot.  Last year, Dennis was going to the grain elevator weekly and sometimes bi-weekly with five gallon pails to get corn.  The surface of the ground and lifting heavy pails up into the pickup does cause me some concern.  Time will tell.

  The afternoon is rounding out with the sun shining. That immediately makes for a better feeling.  We won’t be doing anything for the Halloween celebration.  Over the years the kids in the neighborhood have been treated to an earlier afternoon with the entire Main Street being closed down and the businesses handing out candy. 

  Dennis and I need to mind our clocks this evening with turning them back an hour.  So the changing of the season begins.

   
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  Noreen 5:37 pm on October 30, 2020 Permalink  

  Sweet Day 

  My fellow stitchers said “all aboard,” and I answered the call.  After meeting up in Mankato, two vehicles with lots of chit chat fueling the trip headed for Rochester to the Pines and Needles Quilt Shop.  I had never visited said shop.  

  I had a bit of a list and came home with . . . not so much.  Each shop has its specialty and unique line of fabrics.  Between you and me and the fence post The Old Alley Quilt Shop in Sherburn had this one beat.  But . . . it doesn’t hurt to expand the horizons.

  We spent two and a half hours visiting in Panera Eatery.  That was the best part of the day.  Sharing, encouraging and listening . . . sweet day.

  Home is always sweet, and due to the lateness of my return we had smorgasbord for supper.  Dennis peeled the boiled potatoes that were on hand, threw in the corn left from last night, cracked two eggs in the pan and sprinkled with Asiago shredded cheese.  It tasted great and we were  content.   

  That brings to mind what contentment means to me.  Contentment for me is knowing that my world is enough for me.   

  We are on a streak of great weather.  Have at it everyone before someone else gets their hands on it.

   
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  Noreen 3:11 pm on October 29, 2020 Permalink  

  Warp Speed 

  Considering what is going on here at Stauffer Avenue, there may be different definitions of warp speed for each of us.

  When I awoke this morning and the skies were gray, I really did not feel any urgency to plop my feet on the floor and take off like a herd of turtles.  Yesterday was huge for us and it was meant to be that today would be a bit slower pace.

  Yesterday the Koi were transported to Boon Lake Township in Renville County.  Our Koi are now taking up residency on the family farm with my sister-in-law being the caretaker.  Her two huge Koi and our five Koi will have pretty good digs until it is time to enjoy the huge pond next spring that Joann has in her yard.

  When Dennis and I prepared to make the 70 mile trip, I took a step back from the preparations.  The 100 gallon horse tank was placed in the back of the pickup.  I had no idea how much water Dennis would put in the tank for the trip.  We let the city water set in the tank overnight to dissipate whatever additives might have been in the water.  The Koi would be sloshed around quite a bit and that sloshing would create bubbles that contained self made oxygen.   Dennis had cleaned the pump that JoAnn would use over winter complete with the cement block that the pump would set on.  It would be a sweet setup for her to just plug in and let the fish swim.

  I don’t think Dennis nor I realized how thick the ice was in our pond yesterday morning.  The large pump that we had been using all season kept the water right around the pump open.  Of course the Koi were not right at that spot to be dipped out.  We pounded out ice on each end of the pond.  I used a small net to stir the water on my end so the Koi would go the Dennis’ end.  Get ready, get set, go!  Try and net them before they returned to my end.  We did find the mighty five Koi and they had a chance to rest once they were in the tank, in the pickup.  We did the tick list; Koi, cement block, pump, net and finally the fish food for JoAnn to use next spring.  Down the highway we went.

  After all was said and done, the tank is in JoAnn’s adjacent house garage and the pump was doing it’s thing while the Koi could settle down.

  We enjoyed sharing lunch at JoAnn’s and catching up as to what our families have been doing.  We don’t see each other often, but it is always a good time when we do.

  When we got home, I knew Dennis would want to get our old pump out of the pond before it would freeze in.  I could not convince him that we did have a few days to get that done, but I backed off.  The best place was for me to be in the house and deal with whatever fallout would come.  Thankfully, the only fallout was getting him warm and dry clothes and getting the wet shoes next to a furnace register to begin the drying out process.

  As yesterday came to a close, Dennis did openly comment over supper that relocating the Koi was meant to be as the large pump with the filter system that he took out of the pond ceased working as he was working on removing it.  It had a lot of hours on it, pumping 24/7 over the last 20 years.  By the grace of God and Dennis taking care of it every fall that we had gotten such good use out of it.  We had priced out replacement parts this summer . . . it would have been pricey to duplicate what we had going.  Dennis had also banked on his little sump pump to empty the pond yesterday after we got home.  Come to find out, it is now in the garbage as it quit working.  Hmm.  Some things are meant to be and all that can be done is to take a deep breath and see what the morrow brings.  Dennis slept until 8:30 this morning.

  We do keep moving, and it is at our own warp speed.  Regardless what each day brings for that to happen, any forward speed is forward and that is a good thing.  The older ones on Stauffer Avenue are just fine, thank you very much.