It has to get worse before it gets better. So very much dirt came with the high winds this winter. As the snow melts off of the edge of our concrete driveway it is grit and muck. Today we celebrated one of Lena’a favorite chores. Out came a pail and a broom and the cement by the back door got a wosh and a swosh . . . several times over. That area creates a whirl wind whether it be leaves, evergreen needles or just plain old farm dirt. Mom always believed it didn’t pay to clean the back entry if you didn’t follow up and get the area right outside the door cleaned up before it followed feet right back into the house. Smart gal she was.
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Noreen
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Noreen
Hanging Out
Considering that I was quite far away and needed to zoom in, this has been Snuggles’ favorite hang out in the afternoons. Much like the fellow in the neighboring rocking chair, hanging out in a rocking chair seems to be the best of choices until some of this snow disappears. Today was my first serious walk of 2018. I felt stepping off one mile was sufficient for the first walk until the hips, legs and feet realize that this will be the normal going forward. I do believe that using the snow pusher over the winter was a huge help in the walking today. Last year on March 18, 2017, I put in two blocks and thought I wouldn’t make it home . . . I was winded and hurt from hip to hip and everything south of them. It’s going to be a good spring.
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Noreen
A Good Save
For the first years our “forever home” sported Fur Plywood kitchen cabinets. Fur wood grains have a lot of gray and very dull grains within. My brother Michael lent us his sanders and we set about taking off the years of old varnish. White paint and new door and drawer pulls have refreshed the original cabinets. The bottom two drawers on the left are lined in tin as they were the sugar and flour bins. A bit of wood trim over the window with a Nickel finish faucet for the sink has brought Dennis and I years of satisfaction of keeping the original cabinets. Yes, the drawers are super heavy as they were made out of various types of hardwood. As of today, this wall of our kitchen has been homogenized in total. Making due with what was there originally has served us well. Our home is about 100 years old and was moved in to St. James from Rosendale Township in the 1950s. It’s ours and we love it.
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Noreen
Sitting down at four in the afternoon for a kitchen cabinet cleaning break didn’t sound like a bad idea. “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” has always been one of my favorite television shows. Entertaining as well as challenging to see if I can puzzle through some of the answers. It may be financially rewarding to the contestants. Today, I have no idea if anyone got any questions answered correctly as I must have nodded off before the first questioned was answered.
I can report that the top portion of our cabinets have been emptied, washed, some of the chips have been painted and they are restocked. When Dennis took out the kitchen waste bin I caught the look of surprise when he realized how heavy it was. Smart ole cowboy . . . he didn’t ask any questions.
When the snow is finally gone and the yard is dry, it will feel good being outside with the majority of the indoor work having been done. If only it would last. Forced air heat units, first floor clothes driers and moving people in the home, do demand attention more than once a year. Thank you Lord that my “forever home” is not large and I am migrating to living a minimalistic lifestyle . . . well . . . the first floor of our home may qualify for that status. Nuff said.
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Noreen
Dennis had been enjoying the Sioux Falls trade show since 1988. Each February he would set up his goodies for a three day weekend. This year he turned the reigns of his tables over to a very good friend. Each year upon renting those trade show tables there would be a coffee cup sitting on the tables when Dennis got there to set up. Well . . . today all of those coffee cups were pulled out of the top of the kitchen cabinets and with Dennis’ help we got them washed up. Kitchen cooking steam rising to heights that can easily be ignored over time. Not today. Kevin has taught me to let go of things that I do not have an emotional attachment to. As Dennis washed each cup and I dried each cup, there were memories of good times. The cups will remain in our home for another day of sifting and sorting . . . just not in the kitchen cabinets. They are clean and stored in several storage containers in the storage closet in the basement. If we ever need to serve coffee to a huge crowd . . . we may dig them out. Right now Dennis has a Thermo coffee cup that keeps his coffee hot for six or more hours that he is very fond of and can carry around, aka: sippy cup for adults.
I am not guilt free when it came to those cabinets. As I said yesterday I don’t have sets of special china, silverware or such. I do have some water glasses that I have an emotional attachment. It is an assortment of Noritake water glasses that give me a cozy feeling of MINE! It may take both of my hands to hold them to drink out of but . . . MINE!
There is one more day of cleaning in regard to the kitchen cabinets. How many recipe books do I actually use . . . not many. My Betty Crocker cookbook that my sister Elvera gave me in 1962 and Mom’s church cookbook are my favorites. With the Internet it is so easy to look up something on the spur of the minute. Then . . . there are some spices that need to be reviewed. Needless to say it will be an interesting day and thankfully no step stool needed. I have had enough doing the uping and downing of the kitchen step stool to last me for some time.
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Noreen
Each day I feel energized with signs of spring. I would have liked to have hung out the bedding this morning after taking it out of the washing machine. It is not to be until a whole bunch of snow has melted. I realize how much snert there is on the windows when the sun shines on them. I just go to a different portion of the house where the windows still bring in sunlight but not directly and enjoy the view of the snow shrinking and melting. The key is to keep the eyes up high enough to avoid seeing the slush and muck.
Though our home is small it is still amazing how much it takes to do one room at a time or one wall at a time to qualify what Lena would have referred to as “spring house cleaning.” Never have I had many “good dishes” – meaning fancy dishes. High utility and minimal would define our home. Shelving in our kitchen allows for quick access to what we use often. The north wall of our kitchen has yet to be tackled. It is the wall of the kitchen sink and the cabinets that do take up the entire wall. I have an idea that when Dennis and I do tackle the highest of the shelves within the cabinets there is going to be big time sifting and sorting. I can’t reach those shelves without a step stool. I don’t use what is up on those shelves even when we have guests for a meal. The Epileptic organization will be coming through St. James on the 22nd of March collecting gently used clothing and household items. This has to be more of a coincidence.
Dennis has been helping each day and we are calling it physical therapy after his carotid surgeries. The span between the right side surgery and the left side surgery did not allow Dennis to feel stable enough or strong enough to build stamina. The months before we knew he needed surgery were less than kind to Dennis. This spring, slowly but surely we have our objective . . . stamina and strength building in small doses but continual doses. The older folks on Stauffer Avenue can do this!
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Noreen
Anyone With a Paddle?
We feel like we are up a creek without a paddle on Stauffer Avenue. It will be some time before my walks will take me down this route. On the bright side, Dennis does not have any doctor appointments for six weeks. We met with the surgeon today and then with our local health care facility. It was interesting to learn from the surgeon’s assistant that though Dr. Buhs has done over 300 of the carotid surgeries, never both on a patient as old as Dennis. With Dennis’ 82nd birthday this year, it speaks to the strength of his heart and lungs. Yes, dang it, the doctors after Dennis having a lung x-ray usually comment on how good his lungs are. Needless to say that does nothing to challenge him to quit. Anyway . . . it has been a great day.
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Noreen
Surprisingly, I popped out of bed without a thought that it was one hour ahead than what it was yesterday. Yesterday upon waking, according to the clock it was 7:30 a.m. This morning upon waking, according to the clock it was 7:30 a.m. I am fortunate that the process of changing our clocks does not effect me.
Dennis and I have met our objective for the day. The corner of the kitchen that houses our refrigerator and multiple shelves above, has been tidied. Dennis also remembered that Kevin, in times past upon visiting, would offer to dust the top of the refrigerator as he knew his mom now stood considerably shorter than what he had grown to. It made both Dennis and I smile as we cleaned away.
It was beautiful outside for most of the morning. The new fallen snow was not bothered by any amount of a breeze. The birds and their early morning songs assure me that spring is just around this last snowfall. There was very little traffic noises as most were still adhering to what is referred to as “the old time.” It gave me a feeling of peace beyond all understanding as I opened all of the window blinds in our home.
A good day was had here on Stauffer Avenue and I wish the same for all.
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Noreen
Snowflakes are flying. Some are small, some are large. These too shall have to land where they fall as I have retired my snow pusher for the season. It may not look like spring outside today but the cleaning bug has hit Stauffer Avenue. Today I incorporated Dennis’ occupational therapy to assist with the kitchen range cleaning. Elbow grease, a bit of the Fresh Start cleaning solution . . . and dang if the stove doesn’t look too pretty to use. When Kevin put felt pads underneath on the skids of the range it made it easy to move it away from the kitchen wall. Considering we eat 99% of our meals at home with the range a huge part of those meals, I must say that there were no splatters where they should not have been.
Tomorrow . . . it just might be that the top of the refrigerator and all that the shelves above it hold may meet up with the wrath of the Stauffer Avenue duo. By the way, supper will be a treat that has not been fixed on the kitchen range for a long, long time . . . French toast. The secret to stay away from such goodies is to not have any syrup in the house for the last year. Yes, I caved and it found its way into the shopping cart.
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Noreen
How many crumbs can a crumb catcher in a toaster hold? A whole bunch. There are times my eyesight becomes quite keen as to what is or what has accumulated within the home. I did take a swipe at a few items today. Dennis is stable enough to have made two medical appointments here is St. James, solo. Yes . . . we are making great strides, and for that I can be patient with the stall that spring has taken. It’s either this or better.