Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:54 pm on April 27, 2020 Permalink  

  Worth Waiting For 

  As I headed out for my walk this morning, I couldn’t help but think that a day such as this was worth waiting for.  Fierce winds have subsided, storm threats have passed us, and . . . no bugs.  

  This morning as I headed down Stauffer Avenue, I knocked on our neighbor’s back door and then stepped back at least six feet.  Chuck and Bonnie spend the winters with family in the southern states.  The day after the snow birds were back, Chuck fell and broke five ribs on his left side.  Now, after a month, I thought I could at least say “Welcome home and how are you healing?”  Our small band of friends and neighbors on Stauffer Avenue needs to stay connected.

  Dennis had picked up a cold or perhaps it is a sinus infection.  I stared him on some over-the-counter meds yesterday.  They don’t interfere with his prescription meds but they do make him droopy.  When I came back from my walk . . . where was Dennis?  It took some checking. The coffee cup and pack of cigarettes were still on the table in the patio porch.  Dennis doesn’t go far without these.  The pickup was still in the garage.  As I was walking past it to check the car garage . . . I found Dennis.  Dennis had the seat in the pickup reclined and he was napping.  Of course he had the windows up or a cat would have been right in there with him.  I watched and when I realized his breathing was steady . . .  I left him to it.  A nap when you are not up to par is a good thing.  Two hours later, I did gently knock on the window to wake him up.  He did comment it was pretty cozy for napping.  More napping would have screwed up his bedtime.  My, oh my.

  Knowing that Dennis was safe and sound, I headed for the sewing studio and was determined today would be the last day of having the hexagon project in limbo.  It’s not like I didn’t enjoy the challenge . . . I did.  The base fabric that all the triangles had been cut out of was not one that I would have ever looked at twice when standing in a fabric store with hundreds of bolts of beautiful prints.  This print had caught Rita’s eye, more than likely as she was standing in a fabric store and seeing it done as a finished project.  What was a bit of an irk for me, had a lot to do with the fact that for the size of the end result . . . 55″ x 65″, there had been many hours of piecing and ironing, opening all the seams on the six pieces of the hexagon.  Nonetheless.  It is finished.  I had fabric for the border and I had fabric to use for the backing and binding.  It will be the new cover-up when Dennis decides to take his naps in the recliner in the living room.  It will not be going out to the napping annex, aka: his pickup.

  After the long nap, Dennis can now be found at the site where his nephew is pouring concrete.  They are always in need of a straw boss.  I need to get out the basement Filter Queen vacuum and start on all the threads that I have flung at will.  After a while, aiming for the waste basket looses it’s importance.

   
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  Noreen 4:39 pm on April 26, 2020 Permalink  

  A Good Sunday 

  Sunshine and cooler temps gave way for a great walk this morning.  As I toddled down Stauffer Avenue George and Sherry were out in their yard.  Of course a chat ensued.  A bit further June was out raking rock out of her grass after the winter’s snow plowing.  Always time for a bit of chit chat with June.  I had missed out on walking Friday and Saturday and today I could feel it.  How soon the old body wants to go back to the old ways and shorten the tendons and muscles in the hips, legs and even toes.  It is true . . . moving is the tonic to staying mobile.

  Dennis did take the day off . . . in total.  I took notice that he moved from the east side to the west side in the patio porch, taking advantage of where the sun would warm him to allow him to catch cat naps.  Snuggles and Harriet were right there with him each in their own basket.

  The sewing studio had not had its lights on for the entire week.  It took me a while to get back in the grove.  The hexagon quilt was under the needle just where I had left it.  I have realized that sewing a straight line is still difficult for me.  It’s one thing to move the fabric forward allowing it to be pulled into the needle area.  I could do straight quarter inch seams non-stop. With machine quilting the goal is to move the fabric left to right, at a right angle, right to left and also pulling it towards me.  It’s a whole new mindset and my mind was not cooperative with this machine quilting.  My goal was to mirror the hexagon angles, sewing straight lines from point to point.  Doing each hexagon, I would tell myself that this one would be better than the last.  Not!  It is what it is.  With all the seams that are evident in sewing hexagons together . . . looking at 89 of them sewn together, my erratic seaming fits right in.  Hey . . . if it were perfect there would be a label on it stating that it was a product of China.  This is definitely one of a kind.  Dennis is already eyeing this 55″ x 65″ as a new cover when he is in his recliner.   

  Tomorrow, being Monday, begins a new week.  New opportunities.  New perspectives.  Out with the old mindset . . . onto a fresh outlook.  When I listen to new statistics of health issues, I can only say a prayer to keep my family safe.  I realize that being at your place of employment has brought on new challenges to get through the day.  I realize that having to work from home is annoying as there is no way that the noise from children being home and needing to be home schooled can be closed out.   Those scenarios are doable in relationship to what some are enduring when a family member is ill and they can’t even have the presence of family support to get through their fight.  Being in a hospital bed with only a masked health care worker for company . . . scary.  Not even able to see and read what their eyes are saying.  Eye contact is part of our communication. 

  Dennis and I are good through this and pray that those we love and know will also endure.

   
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  Noreen 3:54 pm on April 25, 2020 Permalink  

  Snapped 

  Yesterday Dennis and I were going at it like we had had new rubber bands installed in our get-up and go.  I am here to tell you my rubber band has done snapped.

  I do believe if I had gotten up and hit it the mojo would have kicked in.  What we discovered yesterday after the Koi were in the pond . . . we had no food left from last fall.  Those fish had been in the horse tank in the garage all late fall and winter hibernating.  Now they are swimming laps and they need nourishment.  We got the Lincoln out of the garage and headed to Pet Expo in Mankato.  Going for a car ride mellows one out.  This would be our huge excursion since we had left home last weekend.

  We needed the break.  We have been hitting all the marks getting Stauffer Avenue opened up from the winter.  Unfortunately, Dennis also hit the garage floor on Thursday.  He was doing such a great job of cleaning his garage floor to rid it of an oil leak . . . that has since been taken care of.  Shoes with the soles worn smooth was no match for the bubbles and slick floor.  It took a bit to get Dennis up.  No . . . I didn’t dust him off as I needed to first see if he had either broken something or if he would be okay.  Yup, by the grace of God he was on his feet and moving without pain.  The aches came on Friday.  A few black and blue marks and stiffness.  Dennis did keep moving throughout the day on Friday as he knew if he didn’t, he would really get stoved up.  Today was a good day to totally take a break from Stauffer Avenue.

  The Koi went right after the fish food sticks when Dennis threw some into the pond.  There are six fish for the season.  Five Koi and Dorothy.  Dorothy is a transplant.  Megan and Nicolas had gotten Dorothy when she was a mite swimming in one of those small glass bowls that were showcased at the end of isles before the Moms and Dads checked out of big box stores.  A real gimme for the kids, Dorothy is now a good six inches long and doesn’t mind hanging with the Koi.  When Nicolas brought Dorothy from Eden Prairie, she was in a baggie with some water.  The ideal situation is to add some of the new water that will be enjoyed by the fish for some acclamation.  Dorthy went from the warm water of being in a car with sunlight perhaps shining on her to . . . plop, in ya go.  

  It is a bit cool out today and looks as if it could rain.  Tomorrow is a new day with new things that present themselves.  Dennis and I try to live as it is our last opportunity to take care of what we have.  Being good stewards of what He has allowed us, is a mighty big job.

   
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  Noreen 3:59 pm on April 24, 2020 Permalink  

  Not Bedtime Yet 

  It’s 4:30 and no bedtime any time soon.  I think someone has installed new rubber bands in us. 

  Our home is small but we are blessed with a lot of windows to let the sunshine in.  With the house being washed off, Dennis is right.  It’s time to do the windows.  Our west porch has eight of the lovelies.  They all tip in . . . a huge plus.  When Dennis had gone to the dollar store to pick up cheap soap to wash the house down, it was a no brainer . . . the cheapest that there is.  We both thought the house siding looked great with the grime washed off.

  What I noticed today when I started on the west porch windows . . . there were no hard water spots.  St. James has the hardest water imaginable.  In years prior, it took foaming Lime Away to cut the water spots and then the Windex washing could begin to have windows that would let the sunshine in.  Today it was a matter of using Windex and lint free cloths for a quick job of the outside of the windows.  Dennis went back to the store and brought another gallon of “Sun Laundry Soap” home.  As I said, it was the cheapest product.  More than likely in the fall when we do the house again, they will have changed companies to purchase things from.  Who knew!  The west porch is deemed to be cleaned from top to bottom.

  Dennis was no slouch outside, either.  The Koi are in the pond doing laps.  They will begin eating in earnest and get some color back into them.  The horse tank from the garage is out and cleaned from the garage.  The car garage floor has gotten a cleaning with many winter items now being put into the potting shed.  The acre has been treated for crab grass control with an additive of nitrogen, both in a granular form.  

  We have decided to order from the Eagles Club for supper.  They are doing take-0ut via their back door.  

  We are getting close to calling it a day.  Whew!

   
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  Noreen 3:21 pm on April 23, 2020 Permalink  

  4 P.M. Thursday 

  It’s 4 pm . . . is it bedtime yet?  There are some days when the work around our yard is similar to finding a trail of jelly beans.  You take up one bean and oh, look . . . there is another one, etc.  

  After I came back from my walk, Dennis had our small stepladder out next to the bathroom window.  Of all of our windows the bathroom two windows are the only two that need to be done from the outside.  Yesterday Dennis washed the house and it then follows that the windows would be next.  I do not let Dennis up on a ladder, no matter how slight the height.  Windex, rags and me with Dennis at the side of the ladder and those two windows did get done.

  We have taken the sump pump off of the underground tile and have a heavy black hose taking the water to the street.  The area around the underground tile was a huge swamp.  That swamp was now a divot with a hard crust around it as the water evaporated.  It needed to be raked to let the air get to the soil  That was my next task as Dennis was determined to get lawn chairs out of the potting shed.  It is getting nice enough to sit on the patio and catch one’s breath.  We have realized that the plastic chairs have a knack of allowing cobwebs to catch on the underside of the seat.  Where there are cobwebs there are spider eggs.  It has happened to me to have spider bites on my legs.  Dennis had plenty of soap to put through his sprayer and he went to work getting the chairs ready to enjoy.

  The lilacs have signs that we will have beautiful blossoms.  When I looked at the deep purple bush, I noticed that there were Night Shade plants around the base of the bush.  Those plants get nasty and vine to twine themselves to the Lilac branches.  I started on finding their bases and began untangling.  Their roots are very shallow and easy to pull out.  Those nasties plus a huge amount of dried pine needles that pile up next to the sidewalk and small branches are now in Dennis’ burning ring. The front yard has been tidied.

  I kind of thought we had a good day . . . Dennis disagreed.  Out came everything in the pickup garage and the pickup was left in the driveway.  The garden hose needed to be drug through the car garage and the plan became to scrub and wash the pickup garage floor.  There had been an oil leak that has now been fixed on the pickup.  Kevin had given Dennis several gallons of pink degreaser.  Some of that went into Dennis’ sprayer and away we went cleaning the concrete floor.  The city always sprays down Stauffer Avenue twice a year for dust control.  I think it is calcium chloride.  That muck drags into the garage on the tires.  Over time with snow and ice dripping off of the tires and gravel that stick on to the tires . . . it almost makes the perfect confection for a hard clay.  The floor has been brush scrubbed, ice scrapper used on the hardest of spots and rinsed, rinsed and rinsed.  All is drying with lots of air going through the garage.  

  Again . . . let’s call it a day.  Not.  The plants that have been in the patio porch are now out on a shelf of two 2″ x 6″ planks over the west end of the Koi pond.  When I came in, I was assured Dennis was not going to tackle any more for the day.  Dennis has been on a role this spring, but caution still needs to be adhered.  

  Yup . . . whether it is acknowledged by Dennis, bedtime will be sweet.

   
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  Noreen 2:41 pm on April 22, 2020 Permalink  

  Contrary Weather 

  Yesterday was my red stocking cap day and today it was 62 degrees by nine this morning.  It is for sure contrary weather that can also bring about storms.  

  Our home on Stauffer Avenue is bright and white.  There are soap bubbles everywhere on the driveway.  Dennis has achieved his objective . . . the house and garage are washed off.  Last I saw of Dennis he was looking for the scrapers to begin scrapping off the peeling paint from the garages.  There is something to be to said for the old oil paints of days of old.  The latex . . . no matter how much you pay for so-called premium, if it’s going to peel, it peels like a banana.  The scraping will be for another day as I have just been notified Dennis found both of the scrapers.

  Neighbor Jan works at the school.  She has been going into the school every forenoon to make up lunches for the kids.  The school buses stop at their regular stops . . . as if there was school, and the kids come to the stops and pick up lunches to take to their homes.  

  One of my friends up town was served with papers yesterday that her shop was to close down and have locked doors.  She is not considered essential.  Karen has a multi-purpose retail store on Main Street.  She sells soaps, shampoos, bottled honey, baby clothes as well as diapers, clothing, greeting cards and home decor.  Karen is fighting it.  Fleet Farm on the edge of town is open and they have a multitude of products similar to Karen’s line up plus all that you would find in such a farm store.  Fleet and Farm is essential. 

  Our neighbor Jim Sizer suffered a heart attack and was taken to the hospital.  Jim’s wife is not allowed in the hospital.  The medical staff can keep her up to date but she has no contact with him and won’t until he is able to use a cell phone.  That must be so difficult for her.

  My Lord and Savior is pissed . . . rightfully so.  We have veered off course too far for too long.  It can be said that ill mannered and bad behavior is a call for attention.  We most certainly have God’s attention with all that is going on medically and with the severe storms.  When I say my prayers . . . which can be multiple times during the day, I give thanks for what I have.  I may not have everything that I want but I have more than I deserve.  Praise be to God!

   
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  Noreen 2:49 pm on April 21, 2020 Permalink  

  It’s the Prep 

  We have an agenda for when the weather will actually stay over 50 degrees for several days at a time.  Exterior paint was put on the agenda last fall for this spring.  The garages and the patio porch are in need of some new faces.  Now that’s not all bad.  99% of it can be done standing flat footed on the ground.  I know the last time the gable of the car garage, I tackled on the ladder.  I won’t be doing that this year.  We have a grandson to tap for that this year.  

  Dennis was doing prep work today.  The dollar store sells a gallon of soap of some weird brand quite reasonably.  We have saved a Windex window washing container for several years.  The soap goes in . . . it is attached to the water hose and it has the ability to spray out water mixed with soap or turn a small knob and it is plain water for rinsing.  It is amazing how much of the old paint was chipping off by the spray of water and soap.  It will make less scrapping when the time is right.  I know before long the entire house will have a “Dennis Wash Job.”  

  As I have mentioned prior, my ole cowboy has been moving right along.  His energy level I think is wonderful.  To date:  there are no branches that need to be picked up from the winter, the mowers are ready to role and now the first layers of grit and grime are being washed off of the garages.  I did start him on a supplement and he has been on that for a month as of now.  Whether the supplement is working or if he believes it is working, I will take it.  

  By the way . . . the hotdish from last night was tasty.  The quartered brussel sprouts made a windrow on one side of Dennis’ plate.  I let it pass.  The rest of the ingredients were enjoyed.  Yes . . . we will be having leftovers this evening.  I might just pick out the sprouts before they hit his plate and save him that task.

  I may not win each excursion, but . . . I plan on winning the war.  Being in charge of our care is a challenge that is worth my energy, time and scheming.

   
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  Noreen 2:26 pm on April 20, 2020 Permalink  

  Hang On 

  What a season of winds!  After I had taken care of what needed to be tidied in the house, Dennis mentioned that maybe my walk should be done sooner than later.  His forecast was that the winds would only get stronger as the day went on and there might be rain.  I checked the computer and 45 degrees was doable for walking.  

  I checked before I left home as to what Dennis had on his plate.  Oil needed to be changed in our Sears rider lawnmower as well as the Cub-lo-Boy mower.  Dennis had coffee on board and I knew he would take a break or two during this.  As an ole 18 wheeler trucker, Dennis does know how to take care of the mowers . . . me not so much.  The extent of my portion of the mowers is . . . pushing mine.

  Saturday as we came back into town from our road tip we had stopped at the grocery store and picked up a rotisserie roasted chicken for supper.  For us, it is a lot of chicken, but . . . bones out it speaks to a chicken pasta hotdish within several days.  Today was the day!  I had a package of small egg noodles that would pass for the hotdish.  Lots of cubed chicken.  There was a lonely package of frozen brussel sprouts that was weary of being pushed around.  Those sprouts were quartered and will add great color in the mix with the Alfredo sauce.  Though not Dennis’ favorite vegetable, he will enjoy them when they are outnumbered by the other ingredients in a hotdish.  This hotdish will actually take me out of the kitchen for tonight’s supper as well as tomorrow night’s fare.  I love leftovers.

  As of today my itchy, bitchy hexagons are one.  They have been gathered, paired and rearranged multiple times to find just the right configuration.  There was no one right answer.  Within my stashes, I found a good green to use for the border.  The green border actually made me like this project a bit more.  It mellowed it out.  The backing is sewn together and ironed with a tone of the golds that are within the hexagons.  That is as far as I took it today.  All I have on hand is a king sized package of batting, aka: 12o” x 12o”.  It will take a bit of doing to decide where I take out the 55″ x 65″ to allow the remaining batting is be a good fit for the next project. 

  By the way . . . today the evergreens in our backyard were not whispering . . . they were howling with the 20 mph winds.

   
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  Noreen 3:04 pm on April 19, 2020 Permalink  

  Chilly Sunday 

  Dennis asked this noon if the plants for the edge of the Koi pond could be put out.  The way the raw wind blew my hair every which way on my walk this morning, I suggested he wait a bit longer.  The night temps in the twenties could make easy work of killing off the plants that he has been nurturing all winter.  Every once in awhile a bit of Miracle Grow crystals found its way into the water to keep their interest alive.  The patio kids, aka: cats, must be getting older.  Not one of the three raised havoc with the foliage this winter.  They will actually look fairly decent when put out for their addition to the pond.

  Someone is getting spring fever.  When I took a break from the sewing studio to swap out some laundry, Dennis had the Windex bottle out and a ton of cotton towels.  There was commencing of washing the patio slider windows.  Dennis’ bursts of energy ebb and tide.  How great is that!

  I continue to work with hexagons for a quilt top.  From what I can estimate is, the 528 triangles that my friend had cut will equal a quilt top of 56″ x 46″.  I do believe the heft of the top will be from all the sewing thread.  Tomorrow may be the day when the piecing will be done and I can spend some time going through stashes to see what I have on hand for a border.  Dennis keeps encouraging me with the idea that I will have my very own lap robe with I settle down to watch some television in the evenings.

  My situation with this project and all others is . . . I don’t want to leave things unfinished.  To me starting something and then leaving it to go onto another task . . . it’s just not right.  Being surrounded by UFOs . . . unfinished objects, is counter productive.  I remain stimulated with my abilities and creativity by seeing the finished results of my energy, time and materials invested.  Ya . .  I would say that sums me up quite well.

  It’s about closing time down here in the sewing studio.  Today went well and tomorrow is yet to be.  

  Today was chilly while I took my walk.  I am weary of my nose feeling it.

   
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  Noreen 5:01 pm on April 18, 2020 Permalink  

  Sweet Day 

  WE had decided last night, today would be a road date.

  With shopping list, an insulated bag and a bottle of Boost for Dennis we headed down the highway.  Having Dennis fueled with a belly of prescription drugs, coffee and cigarettes, I am more comfortable with him having something that resembles nutrition for all cylinders to be sparking in unison.  It goes without saying that about every two weeks, we are busting out of town . . . to go to another town.  

  The choices heading into Mankato have been diminished by quite a bit.  JoAnn Fabrics and Hobby Lobby are both closed.  Oh how grateful that I have plenty on hand in my sewing studio.  Sam’s Club is a must for the four footed ones in the patio porch.  Kitty liter and Meow Mix are a staple for a good price.  I remember when the Meow Mix was an eighteen pound bag.  The bags are now 32 pounds.  There were many shelves that were less than full throughout the store.

  For the life of me we can never figure out how Hy-Vee sells out of all the pre-made trays of meats and sea foods at the desired time of freshness.  I enjoy the store’s variety.  If I step foot in the store, there is no way I am coming out without a container of the bakery’s cow pies.  All they are is pie dough that is rolled into a patty with cinnamon.  It is one of Dennis’ favorites that he deems is breakfast.

  We had a change to visit Dennis’ daughter in Mankato.  Sandy is a nurse in the hospital in New Ulm.  A time back she remarked how different things were for people coming in as patients.  With our favorite pedicure place closed for this time, and I have difficulty with my hands, Dennis scored a very personal pedicure from Nurse Sandy.  Sweet.  Believe it or not it is not easy cutting someone else’s toe nails.  I’m sticking with doing mine until small shops are open again.

  There was a pair of jeans that had been cut off and hemmed in the sewing studio.  Well, hell’s bells, with fuel being so reasonable, we headed from Mankato to Fairfax.  We had not taken the back winding roads for a long time from New Ulm to Hwy 4.  It was an enjoyable ride . . . remembering that the speed limit is not 55.  If I remember it is 45 mph.  We had some cold items in the insulated bag and thus it was a quick stop.  Long enough to do a good visual check of the Fairfax Team.  Can’t help it . . . it’s a mother thing.  

  We had our fling today and that will last for some time.  May this weekend be the beginning of days when it is a treat to be out and about.  One of these days it will be warm enough to get the Koi out of the horse tank in the garage and let them do laps in the pond.