Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 4:59 pm on February 6, 2018 Permalink  

  Today Dennis and I had a road trip to Mankato. He was scheduled for an ultra sound on the right side of his neck followed by an office call with his surgeon.

  We chatted all the way. Trooper that he is, I most likely would have been quiet and a bit nervous. As luck would have it the heater in the pickup really was kicking out a very warm pickup cab.

  We began reminiscing about vehicles we had each ridden in decades ago. I know Mom had an old quilt on the floor of the back seat. There was no back seat heater fan in the late 50s model of the green Plymouth. On cold winter car trips there was no one who cared who was touching who. No one cared who was looking at who. The four of us kids huddled together bound by a quilt over our laps and legs. Warmth in numbers. Dad loved those trips. Not once would ne need to stretch his right arm over the front seat and swipe at one of us. Today it felt good to crack a window open for a bit and take in some of the single digit air.

  We spent the entire morning at the Mankato Clinic and the wheels are in motion as to when Dennis will be checking in for surgery. Of course, he has to have a pre-op physical by our local doctor first. Then those results will be studied with what the surgeon saw in the ultrasound. Tick-tock.

  We are home safe and sound and it feels oh so good.

   
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  Noreen 5:42 pm on February 5, 2018 Permalink  

  Yesterday I spent some time recounting an instance in farming with babies. I don’t believe Carrie and Kevin remember much of that experience. We were not able to continue with “Life on the Farm.” Carrie was an infant when we settled in on a farm in Boon Lake Township in 1966. Kevin came along in 1968. I believe Kevin was in kindergarten when we left the farm life, and Carrie most likely in second grade. The farm years will always be a very favored time in my memories. Orlin and I worked hard together. I believe to this day that farm life would have been my contentment to take me to my end days. Life brings changes and with changes come events that cannot be foreseen.

  Today, I again got the snow pusher out as we had another several inches of snow. I again had quiet time. I totally enjoyed being where the good Lord has planted me. I am content.

   
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  Noreen 5:35 pm on February 4, 2018 Permalink  

  Yesterday we had a bit of snow. More snow on the drive was done by the severe north winds over night. I suited up several different times today with my snow pusher and the drive is clear. While I was at the snow removal I thought about how frivolous having a clear drive was when my babies were small. Then the importance for me was clearing a path to the livestock barns while Orlin was getting the morning milking done. Once the milkers were going there was no stopping the process to get the entire herd milked. The cows knew what the line up was and if there was a brake in the routine, the shuffling of the hoves would begin. Creatures of habit are all.

  For me, I could get back into the house often to check on Carrie and Kevin and Snoopy. It had been easier before Kevin could walk and he would stay put in the play pen while Carrie would entertain him. It was a tidy little group. Once Kevin figured out how to climb out of the play pen, mobility was the game. It’s amazing how soon little kids learn to navigate steps whether up or down. I never knew where I would find the trio. I say trio because Snoopy could easily be tempted to leave his nest in the entryway and be right in the mix of the activity.

  No one ever got hurt while left alone. Today, I would most likely be written up for leaving the kids alone for any amount of time . . . or they could’ve been put in foster care. Farming, farm kids and farm schedules had a prescribed way of living. Nothing was ever left out that could have put the kids in harms way. What am I saying? Enough kettles stacked upside down on top of a kitchen stool made the top of the refrigerator their Mount Everest.

  The good Lord gave us a pass. Those cold winter days when Carrie and Kevin were left on their own in between the times I needed be be outside to be a farmer’s wife turned out fine. Generally it was a matter of picking up what had been pulled out to play with. The yard sticks that had been wedged into the drawer pulls or kitchen cupboard doors must have not been on their radar. In hind site, the can of Garden Guard left on the back entry shelf, tucked behind jackets, should have been not there. It was not all that easy to clean up and checking Snoopy’s mouth, I knew he had not been fed any. On the upside . . . we weren’t bothered with Crickets daring to cross the thresh hold for summer seasons to come.

  So, in today’s world I suit up and keep the drive clear of snow and enjoy the fresh air and get the much needed exercise. It doesn’t hold a candle to farm days but we do what feels good.

   
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  Noreen 4:53 pm on February 3, 2018 Permalink  

  It Is In Progress 

  

  Dennis’ oldest grandchild, Erin, lives at Silver Bay and works in the Veteran’s Home located there. She has three small girls. Erin has never asked for stitching from my sewing room for herself, though some for her daughters. The other two granddaughters have not been quite so reserved. Erin would make a great “Flower Child.” She dresses the three girls in skirts and dresses and does the curls and braids. I looked through the stashes and Dennis agreed a happy scrappy quilt for Erin was due. The 72 blocks will be bordered with the pink paisley and the blue paisley will be the cornerstones. Dennis helped with pressing and cutting. It sure helps on my hands. It is in progress and it will be a slow and steady process. A perfect project after tucking away the Christmas wall hangings. Projects using what I have on hand is the best. Yes, it helps that I have inherited stashes from friends who had quilted. When I work with those fabrics, it brings many wonderful shared moments.

   
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  Noreen 5:40 pm on February 2, 2018 Permalink  

  I stuck my head outside long enough today to leave by the back door to walk down the drive to see if the mail person had left one of Dennis’ prescriptions on the front step. Our front door is like a decoration. Once we have it closed for the winter, everyone who knows us also knows where our back door is. A zip lock freezer bag of chili worked out well for supper with a grill cheese sandwich to top it off. The cold temperatures don’t phase me much. If I need to wear more clothes . . . so be it. I have been fortunate as to not have had a cold thus far. Let’s hear it for the swig of Apple Cider Vinegar . . . with the Mother that I take every morning. This cold snap will pass.

   
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  Noreen 5:23 pm on February 1, 2018 Permalink  

  It Helps a Lot 

  

  When working on a scrappy quilt it always cuts better if the fabric lies flat. It being bitter outside, Dennis lent a hand. In this type of weather, my dad, Raymond, could have been found cutting out quilt squares. When I worked on Kersten’s Pokémon quilt, Kevin ironed all my squares so I could do the embroidering. Yup, it takes family to get the jobs done.

   
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  Noreen 5:10 pm on January 31, 2018 Permalink  

  We seem to be on a roller coaster with the winter temperatures. Tomorrow is Feb. 1st and that allows me to know spring is coming and I will soon be able to begin my usual morning walks along the Hammond Highway. When we came home on Monday, I checked out what is labeled as a bike trail along the Hammond Highway, aka: the shoulder of the road. Way too much snow coverage and possible ice hiding. I’ll continue with multiple trips up and down into the sewing studio and doing the snow pusher whenever we have new snow . . . that may be this evening.

  Today was special for me. I got a great email from Carrie and a phone call from my Fairfax team . . . both priceless. Contacts from my kids quiets my heart.

   
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  Noreen 4:42 pm on January 30, 2018 Permalink  

  Who Knew! 

  

  Humph! This did close down the embroidery unit of my sewing machine faster than a power outage or a design that had become corrupt while it is being stitched. Who knew that of all my thread stashes this gold metallic has no substitute. The project has been rolled up until our next road date, most likely February 6th when Dennis has an appointment in Mankato. There is bound to be a plan “B” that will surface tomorrow in the sewing studio.

   
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  Noreen 5:24 pm on January 29, 2018 Permalink  

  Mills Fleet Farm has been in Mankato for several years. Today, Dennis and I checked it out. One word . . . huge. Dennis tried out the motorized cart and got into all corners for a peek. What did I find? 100% cotton dish towels of the same quality and size as to what the old feed sacks were from days of old. Squared and hemmed, they will be fun to work with and see what stitches they will be sporting in times to come. It didn’t hurt that Mills had Circus Peanuts as well.

  We came back to St. James in time to vote. When there was an unexpected resignation in the House of Representatives for this portion of the state, it called for campaign calls, mailers, etc. Voted once today for a choice of one in a possibility of three candidates and then on Monday the 29th, we will vote again. Did it. Got that one done. The “I Voted” sticker fell off my jacket when I got into the house and that thing fluttered to the floor. I still have a portion of the back of it that is stuck to the floor and stuck good. No good deed goes unpunished.

   
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  Noreen 5:01 pm on January 28, 2018 Permalink  

  A gray day for a Sunday. We were not expecting snow over the night hours. Out came the snow pusher . . . again. Yesterday towards evening Dennis watched deer navigate across out backyard. Of course today Dennis took me for a drive, right to Fleet and Farm for a mineral block to put in our backyard. Mineral block could not be found but . . . Deer Lick – Apple flavor.

  I had kidded Dennis that we would need a scoop shovel to put the block on and pull it to the spot where he wanted it. Naw . . . he was sure we could drive right up to the spot with the pickup. Hello! We had 12 inches of snow and how many times has the city gone down Stauffer with the blades making the snow fly? On the way home from Fleet Dennis picked up a something or other, it was not a scoop shovel. I got myself over the bank of snow using the something or other to steady myself. With the deep snow and having to keep the handle and the deer block level, it was just easier to do it the old fashioned way. I picked up the Deer Lick and headed north until I got to the spot where we hope the deer will find it. Yes, even in the flat area of our acre the snow was deep. On the bright side, I got a ride around our area and Dennis and I both enjoyed seeing where the deer had been making their trails. There are benefits living as close to rural acres as we do.