Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:40 pm on May 27, 2019 Permalink  

  Making the Best of It 

  We really can’t fault the weathermen for being on target with the rain.  Rain began in the early morning hours and it is now 3:15 in the afternoon and it is not done yet.

  Deciding to make the best of it, I headed for the sewing studio.  I had some naked hand towels on hand.  It is always a good thing to have a few extra items stitched.  Several of our visitors are not bashful in kissing up for a hand out.  While the stitching was at it, I went through a few things in the cistern closets.  Hmm.  A box of various Command Strip items.  Keeping the colors changed out on the sewing machine, I went shelf by shelf in the sewing studio to see what the Command Strips could help with.  Items lying flat soon are covered up by other items that want to lie flat.  Hanging them up seemed to be the answer.  I could not believe that there was a bare spot on the south wall with which to trick out with the Command Strips.  Good job Grammie!

  At noon I did go out to take a peek at the yard.  Our yard has several water ponds showing.  The neighbor to the south has a full blown lake.  I snapped a photo of our rain gauge at noon.  I don’t think I need to check it again.  Dennis will be more than happy to fill me in when he comes in.  I am fortunate to stay busy when there is nothing to do during a rainy day.  Dennis is out in his rocking chair in the patio porch fearing the worst.

  As I was closing down the sewing studio, I spied with my little eyes, a trickle of water showing on the carpet on the basement steps.  The seepage water was coming out of the bunk house closet, making it’s way over the same level step and running down into the tile that we have around the perimeter of the basement.  Oh well.  We have nothing setting on the floors of the cistern closet or the bunk house closet.  It will be a matter of letting as much run into the tile until we get the shop vac flipped over from dry vacuum to the wet option.  Does it make me nervous to hear the sump pump running every 30 seconds?  No, we pretty much have it covered.  The area in the northwest part of the yard has more water than can soak up from the basement sump pump, but Dennis has a second pump standing in that area of the yard and taking water out into the street.

  May has been a soggy month.  On the up-side . . . we have been blessed with no storms.  I will take water, whether it’s in the closets, or out in the yard . . . any day.

   
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  Noreen 5:30 pm on May 26, 2019 Permalink  

  A Little Slow on the Draw 

  A good day on Stauffer is priceless.  What may happen when spring has lasted for two whole days . . . I forget to take a break.  

  Taping off the area around the new threshold on our back door was first on my list.  It is green treated lumber but that does not give a pass for it to not look smart.  I taped while Dennis shook the paint cans.  Multiple cans of black spray paint is a sure winner.  The cans were not new. Dennis and I know that when the aerosol within the can is gone, there is not going to be any paint forthcoming.  I had both doors open so I could make sure none of the new door or its frame would get caught in the mist of the black.

  With me bent in half working with the tape, Snuggles chose to jump in between my legs and she was off and running in the house.  Dennis and I both looked at each other and knew that was the least of the concerns for the moment.  After all the cleanup was done, it was time to scour the house to find one large white and black cat.  Dennis scored the find.  Snuggles was on Dennis’ bed.  Head on the pillow and the big fat body on the quilt.  Just as if Snuggles had been born to lavish naps on German napped flannel.  It did get to be a bit of a circus.  I finally went outside and broke off a catnip plant.  The aroma was oozing from the plant.  Snuggles got a whiff of the cat nip and the rest was history.  Though I did have to carry Snuggles out of the house, it went well.

  With the late spring, there is a carpet of tiny weeds and also clover, white and red, in the hostas.  Dennis mixed up a batches of Roundup in my small sprayer and kept it pumped up so I could do the evil deed.  It worked great to take pails and cover the hosta and then spray the area around each plant.  Hopefully in a day or two, there will be results.  No . . . there will be no lawsuit pending from Stauffer Avenue.

  In between keeping me in Roundup, Dennis worked on his Cub Cadet taking off whatever he could for more cleaning prior to painting.  When Dennis took something off of the tractor, he put the screws, nuts and bolts back in their place.  Nothing more discouraging than having a container of nuts, bolts and screws and not remembering where they would belong.

  A picnic like supper of BBQs and slaw finished the day off.  It felt great to get a few odds and ends taken care of . . . even if at the end of the day I am a bit slow on the draw.    

  Tomorrow is the Memorial Day that may not have as nice of weather as we have enjoyed these last two days. So be it!

   
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  Noreen 7:06 pm on May 25, 2019 Permalink  

  Quite the Day 

  This is what has been waited for . . . spring!  Lena would have been proud.  Stripped the bed and all quilts were out on the clothesline.  The breeze had its way with them.  I did not hang the flannel sheets out as I can’t handle them.  They would have needed to be rewashed as I know they would have drug on the dirt before I got them heaved over the clothesline.  Dennis’ electric mattress pad was light enough to heft it and it billowed in the breeze.  No . . . it’s not going to be put away.  As cold blooded as Dennis’ feet are . . . check back at the 4th of July time frame.  

  Dennis had taken off quite early with his Cub Cadet.  Brett’s shop has a power washer and it was just eating at Dennis to get over there and take grime and old grease off of the bottom on the tractor.  After the power wash ditty, Dennis stopped by to pick up quarters and he was off to give the Cub a once over at the car wash.  After a full day and a fresh bed, I think there is going to be some deep sleep for the ole cowboy tonight. 

  Time out.  I sat on the patio and enjoyed watching a bit of traffic.  It didn’t take long Snuggles was on my lap and stretched out as if we were going to make a full afternoon of it.  We have waited a long time to enjoy some patio time with the lilacs sending whiffs of aromas, oh so sweet.  Though not as many blooms as other years, I was thankful for what we got.  I repeat, patio time was sweet.  If one would venture off the concrete, there would be mud on the shoes.  The soil is soaked.   

  The plan is to wait until work can be done in the perennial beds while not dragging half of the gardens around on my feet.  I hate muddy shoes that need to be cleaned.  It’s all about the timing.

   
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  Noreen 3:00 pm on May 24, 2019 Permalink  

  Wedded Bliss 

  It’s taken Dennis and I a few years . . . twenty plus, to figure out our biggest challenge.  Our browsers have different processors.  When I verbalize to Dennis, it goes through to him via a processor that I upgraded for myself a long time ago.  It ain’t gonna change.  It’s totally up to me to allow him to take in what I have talked about.  Yup.  It can take some time.  It make take a second time around.  Bless his heart.   It sure is a good thing that we have finally arrived at this conclusion and know that there is no solution other than patience on both our parts.  Whew!

  Yesterday with the threat of rain today, Dennis got the nod from Charlie that his Cub Cadet was ready for pickup.  I took Dennis down the highway a good eight miles to the north so he could drive the Cadet back into town.  Dennis thought it would take him a good hour.  Right on schedule he arrived safely on Stauffer Avenue.  It’s a good feeling to know that Charlie did a barter with Dennis.  No cash changed hands and both fellows are happy.  Now the thorough cleanup can begin as the mower is off of the tractor and all those hidden greasy areas can be reached.  When it suits Dennis and his nephew, Brett, Dennis will be taking it down to Brett’s shop for use of the power washer.  

  Dennis does want to give the Cadet a paint job.  We both realize that we need to take it out to Dennis’ son-in-law, Tom, who worked in the body shop here in town.  Tom is on disability with lots of time on his hands.  Whenever I had window switches and motors to replace in the car, he was here before I finished the text.

  It’s Memorial Day weekend and we will be at home leaving the highways to the adventuresome.  Safe and sound, sounds good to us.

   
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  Noreen 3:33 pm on May 23, 2019 Permalink  

  Grab it – I’ts a Good Day 

  There may not be any sunshine, but it’s in the 60s.  We grabbed it.  It was warm enough so the fingers didn’t get cold.  A light jacket did the trick so the heavy jackets stayed on the coat hooks.

  We had not mowed the acre in twelve days!  We could have made hay.  The only spot I put a nix on was the newly seeded grass area in the backyard.  It may have been long enough to take some off of the top, but the soil is soaked and spongy and would have shown every tire track from the riding mower.  This last 3/4 inch of rain several days ago had no where to soak into.

  As we have a sump pump sitting on top of the underground sump pump tile that is at ground level, there is plenty of water to drain out to the street.  The entire area in that spot on the northwest corner of the yard is less than stable to walk on.  When I mow the front yard it does take a little re-arrangement of the hose that delivers extra water to the curb.  Yup, I moved the hose and knocked the extra sump pump off of the top of the tile.  Oops!

  When that oops happened my shoes sunk into the muck to the point I had to curl my toes to keep my shoes on as I gave a tug.  Good thing it was the last detail of my yard work.  My feet were heavy with muck.  The first stop was at the outside water faucet to rinse off whatever I could.  The next step was taking my shoes off outside and taking the shoes right down to the laundry sink in the basement.  The water pressure at the sink is great and it did short work of cleaning them off.  They may take a day or two to dry out, but they will be ready for the next round of outside work. 

  I don’t know how we ever got along without the laundry sink in the basement.  When Kevin re-routed, re-plumbed our water softener to make room for a sink, it took quite some time.  Today it gets a lot of good use.  Priceless!

  So, this day that we grabbed . . . turned out great.  Tonight the forecast is for rain during the night.  Glub, glub!

   
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  Noreen 5:47 pm on May 22, 2019 Permalink  

  Not Nice Anymore 

  The break that we have had in spring weather is not nice anymore.  One nice day followed by dreary wet days.  Surprisingly, the grass continues to grow.  Tomorrow, that is our plan of attack.  The high winds today did dry up the surface from the three-fourths inch of rain that we got yesterday, the ground is very wet and soggy.

  Dennis is close to getting his Cub Cadet home from a trip out to the repair shop.   The blades on the lawnmower were anticipated to be replaced.  Charlie said the blades are in great shape and they have now been sharpened.  New blades, when needed, will run about $275.00.  The cylinder that allows the mower to be set at various heights would not hold.  Charlie thought the cylinder seals within were shot.

  Tuesday Dennis took the cylinder to a location in Mankato.  I don’t remember the name of the industrial place.  They sent Dennis on to C & S Supply.  Dennis’ new best friend is Connie at C & S Supply.  She has the identical tractor and knew all about the naughty cylinder that doesn’t hold its place.  Her specialty is hydraulics at C & S.  There is not a replacement that can be bought due to obsolescence.  There is no repairing the oil leak as she has totally restored her tractor and allowed Dennis to know that it’s not the problem within the cylinder but the small intact at the end that allows the oil to flow backwards, making it look worse than it is.  The solution to keep the mower at a certain level . . . set it and then slide a pin under it to hold it.  When you want to disengage, take the pin out.  Dennis came home yesterday thrilled that he now knows there is a soul mate out there for further contact if needed.

  We are slowly whacking away at things here on Stauffer.  It’s a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 5:46 pm on May 21, 2019 Permalink  

  A Day As No Other 

  It was a rather scary day for me.  I got shucked out on my own to go car shopping.  I have never ever walked into a car dealership and begun talking car buying in my entire life.  

  The 1999 Lincoln that I have driven for 15 years was sitting on a lot in Odin, Minnesota.  The fellow that owned the furniture store had it sitting next to the store with a For Sale sign.  Dennis happened to see it as he was driving through Odin with a Curry’s Sanitation truck.  The rest of the story fell into place.

  This car shopping venue is the most exciting thing that I have dipped my toe into since 2015 when I purchased a sewing machine to replace my 1966 Sears sewing machine.  As scary as that was, it has been a wonderful addition to my day-to-day life.

  Recently my Lincoln has had a few issues that have caused me concern and I know that as I venture farther into driving this 20-year-old friend, more things are bound to happen.  Though it has had excellent care and Dennis said he would take off tomorrow with it to California, it’s time.  I had questions today and I turned the questioning over to the sales fellow.  This one vehicle today had me when I saw it.  Time will tell if it all works out.  Hmm.  Grammie’s moving up in the world of transportation.  I have this first hurdle jumped and it still feels scary.

   
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  Noreen 3:52 pm on May 20, 2019 Permalink  

  Check That! 

  On Easter Sunday Kevin removed our storm door due to hinges that rusted through.  Can’t do much on a Sunday when it was realized that the threshold also needed to be replaced.  The wood was totally rotten.  It was a very good thing that we still had the skeleton key for the ancient inside wooden door.  Dennis and I got very good at using the old key.

  Today was the day that we could get the new storm door on.  Carpenters in St. James are becoming harder to nail down.  I stayed totally out of the way and let Dennis do the straw-bossing . . . none of which was needed.  Mark used green treated lumber and rebuilt the entire threshold for a new metal one for the final cover.  Kevin had put in a door at their place, resulting in a spare part to the tune of the metal threshold that Mark could use.  What remains is for us to paint the exposed wood of the new boxed sill complete with enclosed ends.  Check that off of our list!  The new door is a Larson.  I must say it’s not quite the same quality as the old one.  Is anything that we purchase new today like what the old was even with the appreciated market value!  Only the bottom pane can be raised to enjoy a screened breeze.  There is no lock that can be used when we leave our home.  It’s a good thing that we will have that handy dandy skeleton key for our inside wooden door.  Grant it, we bought the door at our local lumberyard.  There may well have been choices had we traveled out of town.  Dennis feels very strongly about shopping locally and I think we did just fine with the door that we now have installed.  If this one lasts half as long as the previous one, someone else will need to think on it.

  Dennis gladly paid the fellow with a good tip.  Dennis even had a box of shells to share with Mark for one of Mark’s guns.  It doesn’t hurt to let these repair fellows know they are appreciated.  As I mentioned earlier, carpenters for small jobs are not easily found.  It turned out that Mark had a personal day to use or loose from his job as a UPS route driver.  Dennis now has Mark’s phone number in his stash.

   
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  Noreen 3:24 pm on May 19, 2019 Permalink  

  A Good Back-Up 

  When it is May the 19th and the temperature is 45, it’s always good to have a back-up so I can stay focused and balanced.  My back-up is reading.  I have been using the west house porch to put together my perch for reading.  A table to hold my book, a place for a glass of water and also three sides of windows for good lighting.  

  Yesterday I enjoyed being outside for a bit.  I could see where I needed to put in some time to keep the Hosta plants in line.  Moving around a few items of garden art for the best of show never hurts.  That was then, today is house-bound.  Minnesota . . . I do love it.  Being flexible is the key.

  On a side note, I have a new occupant and companion in the sewing studio.  She came in the mail yesterday.  She has been dubbed Mini-Meg.  I have expressed the desire to work with Megan in her next skating competition finery.  Being two hours away is not desirable when it comes to fitting seams.  Mini-Meg is multi adjustable for measurement.  I had a dress form when Carrie and Kevin were babies.  It came in handy to be able to sew with confidence, knowing the garment would be wearable.  In retrospect the dress form would have even come in handy with the Santa Project.  Pinning in sleeves is quite the challenge when all you have is a pressing ham to work around the curves.  Having a 3-D form would have been a help. 

  The next time Megan visits we will be getting the measurements and dialing them into the form.  I was very happy that the length of the torso can be adjusted up and down as well as doing the adjustments in the width of the important aspects.  Who knew we would have lots of choices for the perfect fit.  There are dials in the front, on the back and on the sides  Much improved from what had been my dress form from the 1960s.

  Dennis keeps track of my facial wound where the skin cancer was removed.  What started out as the size of a perfect round hole the size of a quarter wound, ended with an incision that Dennis measured at 2.5 inches long.  Yup, a good job of darning.  Dennis reported this morning the facial swelling is going down.  Good thing.  The right cheek did feel like something I had morphed from a chipmunk. 

  Life is sweet.  Life will see spring sometime soon . . . I hope.

   
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  Noreen 3:55 pm on May 18, 2019 Permalink  

  I Am Outside! 

  Though we had a half inch of rain overnight, I needed to have some time outside.  Putting on my oldest shoes that have been hosed off more times than I can remember, I was up close and personal with my plants that are growing under the Lilacs.  I have been quiet since Wednesday and the facial wound is feeling good.  The most important thing is to keep it clean.  With enough Vaseline on it, I doubt much could penetrate that.  With that being said, coming in and using the Hydrogen Peroxide after a hot compress will take off all the cooties. 

  While I was out an old gospel hymn came from somewhere deep in the recesses of the mind.  I didn’t know all the words and I have not looked it up since being in the house: “I sing because I am happy.  I sing because I’m free.  His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.”  There are some Bible verses that allow me to know,  He knows when a sparrow has fallen to earth, so I am assured He is taking care of me.

  Yup, I had a great day.  My fingernails got dirty. My shoes are muddy.  Grammie is back at full tilt.