Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 5:22 pm on February 16, 2018 Permalink  

  Seriously . . . you should keep older people in your day to day contacts. It took Dennis and me to get a jar of Mayo opened today. I was attempting to hold the jar while Dennis was doing his absolutely best to get that lid to cooperate. Do we have to have the grocery story open our purchases before we leave the store? Good grief. That lid was stubborn. I had given up and gone down to the pantry to get a second jar when Dennis called down he had gotten it. We enjoy Albacore Tuna canned in water, drained and then mixed with chopped boiled eggs, pepper and salt for a sandwich spread or to just have a bit for a snack. The Albacore tuna is a very white tuna and very chunky.  We had had some Sunkist tuna packed in water in the past. By the time it was drained, there was nothing left as it was a shredded mess.  It was also very red in color . . . not very appealing.  We are hooked on the Albacore.  Our concoction wouldn’t be much of a finished dish if there were no Mayo.

  The last of the scrappy quilts was boxed and heading out to the UPS depot here in town. I was surprised when Dennis came home and shared the news that cash was not accepted. Either check or credit card. Apparently it is a company wide policy that cash is not within the depot. Good thing Dennis had grabbed his wallet before he left home. Mainly it was to have his driver’s license with him. It would have been disappointing for him to have had to make a trip home. He left home well equipped. Amazing what small towns need to adhere to.

   
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  Noreen 4:17 pm on February 15, 2018 Permalink  

  A day of running errands. How many errands can older people have you may ask? Enough to wear me out and be thankful when we are back home.

  Dennis had a stop at the VA Clinic. It is the first time I have accompanied him. What a great group of professionals who have been taking care of my ole cowboy. With Dennis’ impending carotid surgery they made sure Dennis signed consent forms so there will be copies of tests, etc. transferred so they can stay on top of his Warfarin intake and they may interact with what their field of expertise is compared to our general practitioner and also the surgeon. Warfarin must be stopped five days prior to surgery to slow down the blood flow during surgery. It becomes dangerous when the blood could begin to be too thick and cause a stroke or heart attack. As I said the group at the VA impressed the heck out of me.

  We motored on to Mankato. First stop was Great Clips. For $11.00 I have been getting the best cuts in years. By the way . . . Dennis’ cap is a bit loose after his cut. River City Quilts in Mankato will be closing in August due to the hike in the lease. I was interested in getting fabric backing and batting for the next project I have underway. I will miss their great service. We stopped at the U-Haul store and for $.99 we have a box to ship the latest scrappy quilt to Silver Bay.

  In Sam’s Club I hit it big time. I bought two pair of pants. The fact that they were $14.99 each with a good brand of clothing label wasn’t the best. The elastic in the waist area is what I was after. The two pair that I like to wear needed to have the waist band pinned to the bottom of my bra if I were to travel more than 20 feet because . . . the elastic was shot. Dennis knows how much I hate buying clothes. Hate it, hate it. I have a shape that clothing as yet to be manufactured for. Kevin says “Mom, you don’t have a butt.” It got to the point that Dennis would not let me buy clothes unless I fit it on in the store as he was weary of return processes. Well . . . let me tell you, with arms that have less than good mobility and knees that are awkward to bend in cubicles that are 2′ x 2′ . . . in store clothes was not bought. Ironically the brand that Sam’s Club gets in does fit me. I don’t care if they may be seconds, who do I have to impress! The bras can now do what they are intended to do. Oh, by the way, we did buy a few groceries in Sam’s as well.

  Of course, we had our meal for the day in Perkins. The variety of the menu is varied. I tried the Chicken Tortilla soup and it was flavorful. I like to try new things . . . Dennis not so much.

  We are home and it looks as if we may have some snow to push by morning.

   
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  Noreen 5:29 pm on February 14, 2018 Permalink  

  With the sewing studio totally cleaned and vacuumed from the quilt project it was time to get my walking shoes on and take a walk down Stauffer Avenue to the east. As I hit the east end of our acre . . . I was very pleasantly surprised. The apple flavored deer lick that Dennis and I put out after the large 12″ dump of snow has been favored. Multiple tracks came in from the south and east right up to the treat. Not far to the south is a grove that would take them right to the creek. I have some tall plume grass that we usually don’t cut back in the fall so the birds can pick at the seeds. It was very evident that a deer or two had nestled in after having a treat. On the down side, perhaps the hosta plants that are nearby may also be a treat for the dear this spring. That really wouldn’t bother me as I have been contemplating cutting back on the gardens. It made for a very light heart coming back home. First good walk of 2018 and feeling good about helping out the wildlife.

   
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  Noreen 3:59 pm on February 13, 2018 Permalink  

  Not in the Plan 

  It was not in the plans for Dennis to need a doctor’s appointment while he is awaiting the Feb. 27th surgical date to have the right carotid taken care of.  Sure enough . . . Dennis felt wore out, slept a lot, ached all over with chills and some congestion that was deep in the lungs.  Hello . . . did that ring a bell or what.  First thing this morning I was on the phone to the clinic to make an appointment for him.  Dennis’ symptoms had been told to me in the recent past and that was diagnosed for that person as Phenomena.  We are not doing the Vicks Vapor Rub cure-all on this.  No matter how thick he slathers it on . . . come on, get real, it’s not a miracle rub.  The only thing it really is is it is hard to wash out of clothes.  Grease stains that will be there until the neck band falls off the the rest of the shirt.  From times past there is one tee shirt that has been sacrificed for multiple washings and multiple wearing.  Tomorrow morning was the first appointment I could get for him.  We need to get this nipped in the bud.

  I have been very fortunate this winter.  Of course Dennis says I am too mean and stubborn to get sick.  Hey . . . if that is what it takes, I’ll take a second helping of that.  All of his napping has put a few of our plans on hold.  I quietly have been in the sewing studio putzing away on the latest scrappy quilt.  It went fairly well.  I don’t know if I will be up for such a huge project again in the near future, but it sure took care of a lot of scraps.  I call it the Paisley Scrappy quilt as there are a lot of paisley fabric scraps in it.  The 8 inch border around the outside is paisley, and JoAnn’s Fabric had 108″ wide paisley for the backing.  The top was 95″ x 105″ and I was very pleased how everything just fit.  Squaring things up on the backing, batting, and the top on two church tables, it could be a real gamble.  Paisley is one of those prints that either you like it a lot or you hate it.  I grew up in Mom’s home where there could never be enough paisley.  After today there needs to be some serious vacuuming.  Try as hard as I might, there are threads everywhere.

  So it is about that time of the day when this mean stubborn . . . you might as well add German as I know . . . he is thinking it as clearly as if there were a ticker tape strip going across his forehead . . .  closes down the sewing studio for the day.

   
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  Noreen 5:36 pm on February 12, 2018 Permalink  

  I now know why some women I know go to what is known as “Quilt Camp.” They pack up their sewing machines and what they plan on working on and away they go. Several days and perhaps several nights of work tables provided with electrical supplies and a bunk house type housing for sleeping.

  There is no way our little home provides more than several hours without life happening. Laundry to switch out, groceries that may be needed and of course the trips up and down the steps to be a good care giver.

  On second thought . . . it sounds like a lot of commotion and work. Travel time, yaking it up with good intention table mates . . . I’ll take my chances here on Stauffer Ave.

   
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  Noreen 5:38 pm on February 11, 2018 Permalink  

  Yesterday I questioned myself as to why I would take on a huge quilt project (along with a few other items I can think of). Not only in piecing scraps but in the 95″ x 105″ size.  It was not requested of me. It was all about ME. I believe if I quit challenging myself I will be on a downward slope . . . maybe even a fast slippery slide. If my attitude is that I don’t want to do it . . . I won’t try to do it.  It may become that in time the will and want to try is there but I no longer am able to do it. I do believe my purpose in life is to grow and to do and be there when I am needed.

  This winter I challenged myself to keep moving and not loose the momentum that I had last year with walking every day.  It just so happened that keeping the driveway clear of snow was doable. Slow and steady.

  With all that being said . . . I wish I would get with the challenge of “What’s for supper?”

   
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  Noreen 4:29 pm on February 10, 2018 Permalink  

  RFD 

  Saturday is a great day for the Rural Free Delivery television programming.  Hmm.  I need to take that back.  Dennis enjoys it every day.  Seeing the tractors that he may very well have farmed with all smartened up with new paint and such brings back many memories.  Saturday late afternoons brings on some great country western music as well as gospel music.  With any luck there might be more on than television in the house and . . . we have stereo.  Dennis’ command center, aka: the west porch of our home.  Sitting in his favorite chair allows him to watch traffic, listen to good music and even work in a game of cribbage on his computer.  What a venue.  Actually its a great place for him on these cold days.  Sun streaming in from the south can make anyone feel cozy.

  Dennis did give a hand with the huge quilt project.  It is coming into its own.  It will be a lengthy stitching time for the quilt.  Extra size means extra maneuvering under the needle.  To begin the quilt stitching Dennis has helped me roll up the quilt from each end.  Fastening the rolls with a loop of thread will make it easier to work it from the center to each end.  In time, no matter how it is done, it does become a lofty task . . . literally.  The titanium shoulders will get many breaks.  Slow and steady.  It did help to put the expanded ironing board next to the church tables for support.  This happy scrappy quilt will make me wonder . . . why?

   
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  Noreen 2:49 pm on February 9, 2018 Permalink  

  I Never Gave it Much Thought 

  The sun is bright with enough wind that I hear the wind chimes in the Evergreen on the northwest corner of the house.  It was a minus three this morning when I got up at eight.  Dennis had already been out to the garage porch to enjoy his coffee, his breakfast snack that he takes with him and of course to check on his cats.  Dennis was already in his recliner for a nap when I tiptoed to the kitchen. I put a kettle on to get some eggs boiling while sipping the first cup of coffee for the day.  After a cup of coffee with the boiled egg cooling, I never gave it much thought.  I got dressed and suited up to clear the drive of the snow that had come over night.  It was a good three inches of soft fluff that could easily be pushed with my snow pusher.  I think this was the first time it had taken me long enough to get the job done that my fingers began to feel the cold when I came in.

  A second cup of coffee sure hit the spot while I warmed up.  I never gave it much thought.  I went down into our pantry and got a can of white chicken meat to make a batch of chicken mixed with boiled eggs and mayo for a noon snack.  Tasting as I went I knew it would go over good.

  Dennis is awaiting a surgical date for his right carotid artery later this month.  I think many naps are a great thing.  After checking on Dennis I headed down to the sewing studio.  When I began the project for Dennis’ granddaughter, I never gave it much thought about managing a king sized quilt.  I knew I could pull on memories of Mom and her Riverdale Quilt Club.  A small group of ladies met in each other’s homes and worked on quilts for each other.  Sandwich lunches and afternoon coffee and by the end of the day it was unlikely there was much left to quilt.  Many of the quilts were hand stitched and some were tied with yarn depending on what the owner of each quilt desired.  I don’t have a quilt club.  I don’t have a group.  I have my ingenuity.

  

  Since the fall reorganization of the sewing studio, maneuvering tables makes the work area oh so doable.

  Dennis did have an appointment out at the clinic for the afternoon.  Me myself and I decided to get things rolling for Erin’s quilt.  I never gave it much thought to take my sewing machine station down and make sure I could get around all sides of the church tables.  With the sun shining through the south windows we now had a plan.  I dug out all the weights that we have used and abused over the years.  I have my huge bag of safety pins ready.  When Dennis returns home, I will use his help to get the quilt top onto the layered batting and backing. 

  I go through my days never giving it much thought that I can’t achieve what my plans are.  One step at a time.  Sometimes it is one step forwards and several back, but . . . failure is not an option.  

   
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  Noreen 6:32 pm on February 8, 2018 Permalink  

  Six o’clock and there is still the possibility of seeing across the street before the street lights come on. I do believe we are nearing a chance of spring.

  Dennis had a coffee guest out in the patio porch this forenoon. Coffee and Rice Krispy bars made for enough visiting that the rocking chairs never lost momentum.

  I did clear the drive of snow before Doug came for coffee. Looking back over the week it has been piddling with small amounts of snow three days out of four. Being energized from the sharp cold air I worked on my happy scrappy quilt for Dennis’ granddaughter. I don’t think anyone sleeps in a regular sized bed anymore. This quilt top is finishing out at 95″ x 105″.

  Supper is over, the dishes are done and we are off the clock for the evening.

   
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  Noreen 5:18 pm on February 7, 2018 Permalink  

  Yet again there was snow to remove this morning. The walking I had done all last summer right into the early winter is serving me well. The legs and body don’t mind the snow removal. Is it all that important for us to have a clean clear concrete drive . . . no. Do I enjoy getting outside as often as possible . . . yes. I so love my sewing studio but balance to the day is more important.

  Yesterday at the Mankato clinic it was a seek and search when we pulled into the entrance. The parking lot is always chucked full. It’s a hike to get into the clinic as Carrie could testify to when she came and waited with me when Dennis had his surgery in October. When we got into the clinic yesterday I picked out a wheelchair for Dennis and off we went down the long halls to the Radiology department. Then later on it was maneuvering to the Specialty Clinic . . . more halls.

  Let’s hear it for legs staying toned over the winter months. The stretching, reaching and bending of the torso is somewhat lacking. Though in thinking it over, working with projects in the sewing studio is better than being a couch potato. I am hoping by the first of March the bike trail along the Hammond Highway heading east is clear of ice and snow.