Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 5:44 pm on April 6, 2019 Permalink  

  One More Time 

  I can only hope that there is just one more time of having to bundle up for a walk.  Even the Canadian geese are all humped up as they are scavenging the 2018 fall bean field.  Raw winds with humidity make it feel like it could snow.  Once it warms up, I need to switch out the bright yellow winter coat for my safety vest.  Can never be too careful as I see many people on their phones or not having their headlights on in the rains.

  The afternoon went quickly as it was intense.  Yes . . . Stauffer Avenue does have and does invite challenges that seem to make time stand still.  Positive results always makes the investment of energy and time worthwhile.  

  Tomorrow . . . hopefully . . . Dennis gets his little red pickup back.  Dennis’ daughter Sandy needed to borrow wheels after she had hit a deer last week.  Tomorrow we will find out if her car could be repaired or if she will be driving a new vehicle.  Sure am happy I don’t have to make a choice for a change in vehicles.  The 1999 Lincoln Town Car is a part of the family.

  I have no idea what Sunday will hold.  It most likely is best that way.  No preconceived ideas.

   
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  Noreen 5:49 pm on April 5, 2019 Permalink  

  What a Change 

  This morning the fog and drizzle.  Later today the sun made it feel like . . . better.  The walk was good. The chiropractor visit was encouraging.  Both of my kids called.  Contact and open dialog is wonderful.  Dennis had a good day.  Stauffer Avenue is doing well.  Priceless.  Taking the evening as it comes.  May you all do likewise.

   
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  Noreen 3:19 pm on April 4, 2019 Permalink  

  Quite the Paradox 

  With the confusion of Mother Nature, all things can run amok.

  This morning, again in winter wear, I headed out for my walk.  Sure enough . . . drizzle, drizzle.  The wind managed to get the drizzle on my glasses . . . I was walking against the wind that I had not noticed when I left our driveway.  I kept on as I knew it would feel good having the wind on my backside on the way home.

  Before I went into the warm and snuggly house, I took a look at the flowerbed on the east side of the house.  Sure enough.  Snow had been there a week ago and today there were the ruby red buds of the Fern Peony.  I could not help but smile.  These plants need to make themselves known early on.  Watching them today with a smile, just as my grandmother Laura no doubt smiled as her plants popped out of the cold soil decades ago.  The plants that I have are offspring of root bulbs that Laura had in her Penn Township gardens.  My mother Lena, my brother Michael and JoAnn, and my sister Elvera all enjoyed the bulbs that had been handed down.  I have since passed some of the precious bulbs to Carrie.  When Kevin and Kersten are ready for a garden, some of the bulbs will find a new home with them as well.

  O.K.!  I looked and enjoyed the reassurance of spring.  It was bitter and raw outside.   I needed to get inside and warmed up.  Today was a good day to spend in the sewing studio. I had just the ticket.  There was an embroidery pattern that I had saved for just this type of day . . . a Christmas ornament for the 2019 Christmas.  I have had all of the materials needed for some time.  As I was making multiples of this Bethlehem design, using silver colored thread throughout, I made sure I had a library book with me.  Enjoyment of Christmas comes when I have some unexpected stitching to share with various family and friends.  Each time I work at a project this late in the spring, I always think it will be my last before I head out to be a grounds keeper.  This is where the confusion of Mother Nature comes in. 

  It is a paradox to see my spring plants fight to surface while I am in the sewing studio most likely humming Oh Little Town of Bethlehem while changing out the hoop on the embroiderer.  It was a very good day.

   
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  Noreen 6:15 pm on April 3, 2019 Permalink  

  He’s Home! 

  Dennis is back in his patio porch.  I am not sure who is happier . . . Dennis or the cats.  You would have thought that the cats had been strung up by their tails during the duration of a wet floor that eventually went to damp floor and is now dry.  Each item that we planned on moving had Snuggles perched on it.  Harriet decided that as long as the buffet was being moved back in the patio porch so Dennis could hook up his television, she needed to crawl into one of the bottom doors.  What a zoo parade and it is . . . all Dennis’.  I can’t blame him for being excited.  Dennis was gone the entire month of February and the day after he came home, we evacuated the patio porch.  People, please . . . realize Dennis was out of his element for two months!

  I have a few things going on in my element.  The sewing studio always can be opened with just a “what if” of a brain thought.  Nothing pressing, nothing promised, just taking a flying leap to see if the project can be achieved.  There will be many days when the lights are not even turned on as I begin cleaning up the yard from the mess of branches.  

  We are getting down to the last of the cracked corn and alfalfa buds for the deer.  It was a great run and helping when everything was buried in regard to their food.  Dennis has really enjoyed the entire process.  He recalls a time when he was younger, deer were not to be found in our area.  Hunting was predominately pheasants.  Times do change.

  Times do change, but I kind of like how things are going now . . . taking each day as it comes.

   
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  Noreen 3:51 pm on April 2, 2019 Permalink  

  Let the Furnace Hum 

  Here we are April 2nd and I cannot think of not having the furnace still in full service.  Granted, it doesn’t run as often, but it does still need to take the chill off. During the night we have it set at the low 60s.  As long as Dennis’ heated mattress pad can pull kilowatts, he is tucked in and content.  For myself, I have always enjoyed a night’s sleep with the house cool.

  Spring can’t be far behind.  Dennis did a thorough check of the situation out in his patio porch.  He has access to check the concrete under the plywood floor.  He came in and give it a thumbs up.  The first step was getting the piece of indoor/outdoor carpeting pulled out of storage.  It will take some time for it to decide to lay flat.  The saving grace is that Dennis has his Korean luncheon tomorrow in Mankato.  That luncheon will take him out of commission and off of Stauffer Avenue for most of the day.  The patio porch needs to be taken slow so we are not apt to repeat anything after the first spring rain. 

  There was a Shepherd’s crook that was listing to the south after the snow disappeared around it.  On the end of the crook is a Dr. Seuss style birdhouse.  Dennis took advantage of the soaked soil and got it sunk in straight as an arrow.  Bit by bit, one can’t help themselves to step up and be a good steward of the yard.  We will have quite the bonfire when we can get at the bulk of the yard for a pick-up day.  Neighbor Bob’s fire ring will get a good workout from our yard as well as his.  Today, with the winds at 30 mph or higher, we can only hope that all branches and limbs that were whipped loose over the winter months and had been hanging on up high will have taken flight for us to pick up.

  Sun always makes the day better.  We are due lots of sunny days.  Doom and gloom needs to take a hike.

   
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  Noreen 4:35 pm on April 1, 2019 Permalink  

  Gloomy and Gray 

  The gloom and gray did not deter me from stepping out and stepping up to get the mittens and stocking cap on for a walk this morning.  The walk was scheduled so I could be at the chiropractor by 10:45.  It was 29 degrees when I left home for the two miles.  So be it.  We are making progress on the stiff neck and I do follow up with an ice pack and exercises in the evening.  It’s either “this or better.”  

  There was a lot of joy in today.  Sometimes it doesn’t include bells and whistles.  Felling good inside is all it takes.  I had a great day.  Dennis had a great day with his checkup.  His INR (blood clotting test) was right on track.  He need not show up for another for weeks.  

  I did do a bit of a walk around in the back.  It was a good check as long as I stayed on the concrete.  There is perennial greenery peeking out.  I didn’t dare step on the area that was tilled as I know my shoes would have had to have been cleaned of mud.  At this time I did not see new spears of grass.  They will need warmer temps to coax them out.  We are patient.  We have all spring to see what shapes up outside.

   
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  Noreen 2:39 pm on March 31, 2019 Permalink  

  My Day 

  In several ways, it’s “My Day.”  There are routines to follow after my feet have hit the floor.  Padding off to the bathroom is the very first on the list.  Having had bladder augmentation surgery some time ago, the first instruction I received from the doctors was to never allow pressure to be felt in the bladder.  Get the business over with before pressure can bring other problems.  Ya, I kind of had that happen years ago.  It took a good stint in Mayo at Rochester.  That . . . I do not have time for that in my schedule.

  But anyway, as I was saying, my day took me on a great two-mile walk in the morning sunshine.  It may have been 30 degrees out, but I didn’t feel the temperatures.  I was feeling good.  Today was my 75th birthday.  I don’t feel my 75 years.  I am not sure how old I feel, but it is not 75!  That does get me in trouble every once in awhile.  Over the winter months I promised myself to act my age in regard to some of the physical things that I think I can manage.  That brings me to my chiropractic schedule for some stiff muscles in the top of my shoulders and my neck.  Yup, I am going to get my neck back in good shape.  Think it through, Grammie.  

  Often on my birthday, I think back on what Mom was doing when she was the age that I am currently celebrating.  There ya go!  Lena didn’t act her age either.  It must be in the genes.  I am going to be careful with spring yard work.  The huge flower garden is either going to sprout grass after being tilled up or it will have more grass seed spread on it.  I have many quests to pursue.  If I keep the physical and the mental activity balanced . . . it’s going to be a good thing.  My children and their families need to feel secure in their own minds that mom is doing good.  Now, that in itself is a quest that I am definitely on.  Their lives and their wellbeing mean more to me than my own.  That . . . may be a telling sign of me being 75 years young.

   
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  Noreen 5:25 pm on March 30, 2019 Permalink  

  Dennis’ Favorite 

  Dennis is very mobile.  The little red pickup and Dennis are a tight duo.  As he comes and goes from Stauffer Avenue, his favorite saying is something similar to getting out and about to blow off the stink.  Whatever floats his boat.

  This morning, I most assuredly got the stink blown off of me as I headed out for my walk.  I did check the computer and it was 20 degrees with a wind gusting at 15-20 mph.  I hustled and bustled and it felt good to have gotten the two miles done. The warmth of the home felt even better when I walked through the door.  Good job Grammie.

  Dennis’ daughter hit a deer yesterday morning as she was traveling from her home in Mankato to her place of work in New Ulm.  Fridays are not a good day to process insurance estimates.  Sandy is fine and the jury is out on whether the car can be fixed or if it will be totaled.  Sandy got a ride to our home today and she will be using that sweet little red pickup of Dennis’.  In the meantime, in between time, Dennis is going to have to use our 20-year-old Lincoln for the trips to get the stink blown off.  That could peck away at his stance in the community.  Not!  For any of you who know my ole cowboy . . . it will not deter his jaunts one little bit.

  I did not open the sewing studio today.  I am taking it slow as to what the next project or projects will be.  It was a day to kick back and do a bit of reading as I was babysitting the laundry process.  It was a good day.

   
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  Noreen 2:59 pm on March 29, 2019 Permalink  

  A Calm Feeling 

  The sewing studio has been tidied.  Multiple weights and colors of threads have been put back where they need to be.  Extra fabric has been tucked away in the proper bins.  If anyone is in need of a wig or a beard, I do have a few supplies left over.  I had no idea what I needed or how much.  Once you order and are short, you may never receive the exact duplicate with the new order.  The sewing machine has been cleaned, oiled and blown out with canned air.  A new needle will be put in when I know what will be tackled next.  It was a calm feeling having finished up a rather large complicated project.  The last thing I did before letting Santa take a break, was to sew a pocket on the inside of his wide belt.  I inserted a before photo of Santa and a short note documenting the rejuvenation of him.  It seemed like the thing to do.

  It was hard to believe how cold it felt this morning when I was walking.  I hustled it toward the end as even my finger tips felt chilled inside my winter gloves.  Hard to believe that Wednesday I had only needed a single layer of a knit shirt.  Let’s hear it for the Fairfax tulips!  They are about four inches tall under the southwest windows of the house.  Full sun as it reflects off of the siding makes them feel cozy enough to spring forth.  What a winter. What a spring.  Dennis is hoping that we don’t have any hard rains for awhile.  The sponge that we have referred to as our backyard needs a whole bunch of drying days.

  Supper is planned.  By error I purchased chicken tenderloins that are breaded, but raw.  It will be interesting as to how they will turn out in the oven.  Actually, not pan frying sounds kind of nice . . . no splatter to clean up later.  Dennis made a box cake today.  I stayed in the sewing studio . . . the entire time.  It seems to have turned out great.  A peanut butter frosting was the goal.  I kept my hands off.  Dennis found out how little milk it takes to work with powdered sugar.  What to do . . . keep on adding powdered sugar prior to the peanut butter until it is thick enough not to run.  I will say that the amount of frosting on the cake looks mighty thick.  I think that is called, “live and learn.” I will say that Dennis washes up all of his dishes when he is done.  Sweet!

  By the way, the new ceiling fan in the patio porch is humming away.  Bruce is so tall that Dennis could nicely put away a ladder for the install.  We are not rushing into putting anything in the patio porch until we are sure the cement under the floor is dry.  When installed, there were air holes drilled into the entire perimeter.  We have lots of time.  Hey . . . we are the retired folks on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 12:00 pm on March 28, 2019 Permalink  

  The Rest of The Story 

  The fall of 2018 when Kevin and Kersten were cleaning up their garage, I received a text.  In essence, they needed to part with a few things.  In the rafters of the garage was apparently a box containing an old Santa that had been used in the bank lobby in Fairfax and it had been discarded right into Kevin and Kersten’s laps.  It was more than 50 years ago that Santa had made his first appearance in Fairfax.  So the text went on to ask what I thought should be done with Santa.  I suggested he be given a rest and perhaps be done away with.  I recall that there was hesitation and perhaps a few “but” words.  I could tell, that was not the response that Kevin was the happiest with.  Dennis and I finally agreed we would come and take it home with us and store it in the back garage as Dennis thought it would be fun to put it in the patio door windows of the patio porch come the Christmas season.

  When we arrived in Fairfax, neither Dennis or I was prepared for this coffin-sized box to be presented to us.  It took up the entire length of the pickup bed. It was totally tied shut with twine and that was sure needed as the box was in horrible shape.  Off to St. James we went with . . . we really had no idea what we were taking home with us. 

  Of course when we got home, the box did not go into the back garage.  Dennis’ curiosity got the best of him and into the patio porch it went.  He was like a kid at Christmas that just so happened to have Santa right there in his porch!  Santa was to turn at the waist and wave to all the world.  No go.  Off came the old velvet suit and an investigation proceeded.  After all was said and done, Santa did get some of his mobility back and he did get to rest in the back garage until Thanksgiving of the 2018 season when Dennis had him in the patio porch, right on target.  

  When Kevin and Kersten were here in the early part of January, it was agreed that Santa had to go back in the box until the 2019 Christmas season.  I took a good look at the less than appealing suit that had weathered fifty plus years.  Before Kevin returned the bulk of Santa to his box, I had the hat and jacket that I took down into the sewing studio.  It was time for a new suit.  The quest was on to gather materials.  I was not going to start until I had everything at home.  

  When Dennis left on his month long road trip with nephew Brett the first of February, I began my project.  A lot of quiet time was needed.  It was frightening to make that first cut into the velvet yardage we had bought.  One day at a time.  The stitching went slow as velvet creeps and crawls away from being anything but friendly for nice even seams.  When Dennis returned home the first of March, Santa needed to be relocated into my sewing studio for fittings.  It was now getting serious.  My goal was that as long as there was snow on the ground, I would work on the ole boy.  Once the weather would be good, I had plans to be outside.  Mother Nature took care of that!  Today is the 28th of March and our backyard still has snow.  The project was going to get done!

  I took photos as I went of what had been so I would be able to take it step by step.  I think every attachment that I had on my sewing machine was used.  I was frightened of the face and the beard and the mustache and the hat.  When I looked at the old photo, I had no idea how I was going to work with the head.  For one thing, the face was just as filthy as the old suit has been.  I dug out my Tri-Chem oil paints that I have had since Carrie and Kevin were babies and thought about how to put a face on Santa as many of the features had come off with the grime.

  What really had me bummed out was the beard and face hair.  Videos were of some help.  I knew that all the holes on the head and face were because staples had been used mercilessly.  Armed with material that I had ordered I began, head down and never doubted that it would work out the first time . . . no do-overs and most importantly . . . no staples.  All in all, I like the look of the New Santa face.  I can see an expression, where before it was a pile of fiberglass angel hair way in excess of what was needed.  

  From the tip of his hat to his patent leather boots that have been cleaned, I believe this Santa is going forward for a few more years.  He is mobile.  For my part if the motor does give out, he still looks like he could take center stage.  About the second week into this project, I thought I had bit a fat hog in the butt.  It did help that I was home alone with my thoughts and pondering. I marvel at the manufacture’s skeleton.  It is durable.  I hope you all enjoy clicking on the photos for a larger image of The Santa Project.  Dennis has checked on the photos several times and he believes from start to end, it was a hit out of the park.  It is finished and this was the rest of the story.