Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from Noreen Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Noreen 3:34 pm on October 30, 2017 Permalink  

  Albert Einstein’s Advice 

  As I add a birthday or two, it often crosses my mind as to what purpose I am to have.  I want to continue to grow in experiences.  I want to do for family members.  I want to give of myself whenever I am able. 

  Albert Einstein has been a notable mentor to deep thinking scientists for . . . ever.  Interestingly enough the human side of Albert was not that much different from someone such as myself.  Ask what his thoughts were of his life, there were two pieces of advice of his that have been found and that I can relate to.  First, “A quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest.” He had written that in German on Imperial Hotel Tokyo stationary. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” reads a second bit of advice that was found written on a blank piece of paper.  Such a great man with such great advice for all of God’s children.

  Each day I have no idea what my day may bring in thought, word or deed.  The scheduled life is no longer what drives my days.  If I remain open, I know that I will have something to show for the gift that each day is.   A waste of such a wonderful gift just isn’t in the cards for me.  What has helped me tremendously is taking a walk every day and letting God fill me with his grace.  I will admit the wind gusts that I have walked against these last days have just about brought me to my knees when they have subsided.  I have taken it as a sign that . . . just as Megan used to tell me when she was a toddler . . . “Grammie you can do this!”  I round the corner of the county road that will take me to my home and I feel energized and I am ready for whatever He has in store for me.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:45 pm on October 29, 2017 Permalink  

  Walking in Rain Showers 

  Walked in rain showers this morning and thankful for jackets that have hoods. Dennis drove down the highway today to Windom. It’s only about 26 miles and I know it did him good to meet up with some fellows and talk smart to each other.  This has been his first outing since his carotid surgery, hopefully the first of many to come.  

  While I loaded an embroidery design on the sewing machine I am managing to get several loads of laundry done in between time. Multi-tasking does me proud. Running the basement steps in between thread changes to change out the laundry from washer to dryer can’t hurt the gluts.

  Dennis’ grandson-in-law, Mike, was kind enough to change out our faucets on the laundry sink a week or so ago. Today I willingly took on a bit of sewing for Mike. Having a very expensive CarHartt winter coat with the logo of his previous employer . . . just doesn’t cut it. Today Mike brought over the jacket with a patch from his current employer. It will nicely fit right over the previous one and will be ready for pickup the next time Mike stops in.  This is what the barter system is meant to be.

  I have several projects going in the sewing studio.  It works best for me to have that variety.  If I am intense on a single project, I know myself well enough that I work full bore, will loose perspective, and screw up.  Now that I can walk around my two sewing tables there are multiple work areas. 

  Each night before I close my eyes for the last time of that day, I thank God for the day that I have had and give thanks for the wonderful serene and secure life that I have.  Each morning before leaving my snug and secure bed, I ask that God fill me with his grace and that I may be a better person than I was the day before.  Hey . . . I am a work in progress.

   
• 

  Noreen 2:40 pm on October 28, 2017 Permalink  

  What a wonderfully quiet day. No wind and very little evidence of the snow that swirled around yesterday. I did take notice that the bridge deck had a few slick spots on it. The sun is out this late afternoon and all is well here on Stauffer Avenue.

  You have heard no doubt of three-cheese dishes. This evening we are having three-pasta meatball casserole. It’s time to clean up a bit of this and a bit of that.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:55 pm on October 27, 2017 Permalink  

  Years in The Making 

  February of 1999, Kevin agreed to spend his weekends bringing Stauffer Avenue into the 21st century.  Where to start?  Plumbing was the answer.  During that winter Kevin made the trips from New Ulm to St.James with energy and tools on board.  Hmm,  he was among the troop just this last weekend, October 21st, 2017, that was helping us out here on Stauffer Avenue with a job jar.

  Since 1999 this little home has been worked on continually.  Kevin was on board in 1999 for the remake of the bathroom, the kitchen, and the half bath in the basement that included plumbing, wiring and heating.   In time, our contractor, Elwood, put in new replacement windows, insulation of the home and new siding.  In time, we have repaired what was needed, never to let it go until another day.  This fall it was time for new basement windows, a complete air system for the home and today was the final chapter . . . we hope, of major items.

  Today, Complete Basements came back and used the same crawl space that Kevin had worked through in 1999 putting new plumbing in.  Today, a vapor barrier was put in to seal the area’s dirt floor.  In times past, there was an exterior crawl space door, the one showing Dennis from the outside. When we had the foundation sprayed with foam that door was closed off.  We have always left the crawl space open to make sure we weren’t fighting frozen water pipes.  With it being open the chances of the dirt floor filtering in moisture and maybe a smell or two was possible.  Not after today.

  As it worked out the fellow in charge of today’s project is our contractor Elwood’s son.  Ben and his co-worker from Complete Basements came in with snow flurries abound.  It took them about five hours to maneuver around and under heat ducts, PCV pipes and water pipes.  How could I not have a noon lunch for them.  This is what Dennis and I hope is the last of the huge projects to secure our home for quite some time.  We are well aware that when you own property, it takes repairs and we will stay on top of them.

  

  We had an additional item that we have been fighting with Internet access via a wireless router.  Mediacom came with a new one on board.  When I told him the one we have had was over ten years old, he didn’t seemed surprised that we had called for a service call.  When the fellow looked at the situation, he allowed us to know that the Mediacom modem was equipped to handle the wireless situation.  I know when it came in the mail a time back, Dennis and I were just happy to get it connected to the coax cable correctly.  Ya see . . . its like this . . . older ones such as we are, not only need family to guide us through changing times but also reliable service people to take us by the hand and then . . . here we are.  We have a wonderfully safe and comfortable home, even if it takes us almost 20 years to get the job done.

   
• 

  Noreen 3:06 pm on October 26, 2017 Permalink  

  Sew it Begins 

  

  The winds are howling and I am snug in my sewing studio. A few things going on as I am multi-tasking. The flash drive is in the Bernina and the embroidery unit is stitching. At the far end of the table I have Sadie’s tee shirts cut down for her newly requested quilt. No matter how much high tech I have, I still need my paper and pencil to the right of the sewing machine to calculate how to get the achieved size of Sadie’s quilt. It helps to have work area close to the machine for needed color changes of thread in the embroidery patterns. Tomorrow I can begin finding the fabrics from my stash boxes for the quilt. My goal is “Use what I have and not purchase!” I now also have room for my trusty Sears Kenmore machine on the far end of the church tables. It came in handy to sew buttons on Kevin’s shirts after I had mended them. Let the seasons change . . . I am ready.

   
• 

  Noreen 6:30 pm on October 25, 2017 Permalink  

  It was a nicer day out than we had hoped for. The Koi are in the tank in the garage, the oil has been changed in the snow blower and all mowers have been tucked away. Dennis was feeling good today and it was hard holding him down. Maybe a bit of fresh air today was just what the doctor ordered. Man, it gets dark out fast.

   
• 

  Noreen 2:41 pm on October 24, 2017 Permalink  

  Who knew that the winds would actually last into a second day? When I suited up this morning I knew coming home from my walk would be interesting. I tied my hood quilt tight under my chin. Even as the winds are slowing down they are blowing and gusting at 25 mph.

  Dennis was enthused to make a chicken and pasta hotdish for supper. I made sure all he had to do was ask for help if it was needed as I headed to my sewing studio. Today was the first day in a month that I turned the machine on. It all felt foreign. Moving everything, and I do mean everything, around it took a bit to get my grove on. First item on the agenda was some mending that had found its way to the studio this last weekend when the job jar was emptied. It was tackled successfully . . . at least from my perspective and the parcel is on it’s way to its rightful owner.

  Even with the new basement windows the harsh winds could be heard here on the lower level. Knowing that we had everything taken care of outside, I just snuggled in that much deeper with my threads, fuzz and project.

  We have one more project for our basement and Friday is the day. The vapor barrier under the east portion of our home will be put in. The area under the bathroom, which was an add on onto our 100-plus-year-old home, does not have a basement, just a dirt floor. There is access from the main portion of the basement that allowed for plumbing, wiring and heating aspects to be included and then of course updated. That access allows for moisture from the dirt floor to have an impact onto the rest of the basement. Hey, we have tweaked every other aspect for good quality of air and utility, we are on the last biggy. Using the same company for all the work we have done in the basement, gives me a very good feeling. They are careful and guarantee their work. When they put in the windows there was a floor covering put down from the back door, and down the steps. All areas where they needed to work were cleaned up before they left. I feel very confident about this last phase and for that reason I had no qualms in using my sewing studio today, set up just as I had imagined it a month ago.

  Gotta watch us older ones on Stauffer Avenue. We get the jobs done. Knowing that family members do and have helped out, we know they have plenty on their own plates. Family that does a bang up job and knowing contract companies that work with the same quality outcome makes for two very happy people here on Stauffer Avenue.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:19 pm on October 23, 2017 Permalink  

  Quite a Busy Day 

  We needed to set the alarm for an appointment for Dennis.  He was just about to head out the door when the phone rang postponing his appointment until Thursday.  I was up and awake and when I looked up the weather forecast on my computer . . . I headed out for my walk.  It was breezy from the north but I had no idea that that was mild considering what was to come for the afternoon.  I couldn’t resist plugging in my electric leaf blower and help some leaves along to blow to the north.  Up and away! The sun made it doable but in the shade it made me pull on my gloves.

  Two plants have been on the side of the Koi pond for the last ten years.  I worked with my Fleet and Farm wagon and worked them from the wooden ledge onto the wagon.  Opening up the north patio door of the porch allowed me to pull the wagon within several inches of the opening and slide them onto small tables.  Got that one done as I think a killing frost is coming.  

  I admit, I did not wash any windows this spring.  April 1st road construction started in town and along with that was never-ending dust.  It was the most comfortable for me to not look out of the windows at the time the sun would shine full on.  Today a few windows are looking sharp.  A time back Kevin gave us a cleaner called “Fresh Start.”  It is an all purpose product.  When I can skim my fingers on the outside of a window and feel all the hardened water spots, there is no way Windex is going to cut it.  A squirt bottle of Fresh Start and a mild scrubby made short work on the bathroom windows.  Followed by a wipe down of the Fresh Start, Windex did a great follow up.  In time, I will continue to do windows.  The plus is that the remaining windows can all be tipped in for cleaning.

  Regardless how cloudy it is outside, the Northern Red Oak simply glows.  It makes my heart feel good.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:21 pm on October 22, 2017 Permalink  

  Rummaging around in the garage, I found an empty Windex window washing attachment for the garden hose. Filled with Dawn dishwashing liquid I set about to get the summer’s season of grime and grit off of the house. It turned out so good, I went ahead and did the garage as well. Stauffer Avenue is gravel and with a gravel surface there is bound to be a pot hole or two.  After heavy rains, I swear we have several travelers that make sure to hit the pot hole dead center for the gravel that has creosol in the mix to hit the south side of the garage.

  Dennis checked it all out and gave his approval. He will be back in harness before long and I will gladly return some of his duties back to him.

  The Sunday is ending with mild temps and lots of sun. Life is sweet here on Stauffer Avenue.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:36 pm on October 21, 2017 Permalink  

  What a fantastic day! Family and the commotion is just what Stauffer Avenue needed. It didn’t hurt one bit that the job jar is totally empty. Kersten, Kevin and Jeremy tackled all things electronic with complete success. Megan was right at my elbow getting our sit down meal ready. Hopefully Carrie made headway on the listing that she had clients emailing her about. Nicholas just enjoyed whatever came his way. We even had two pups meet and greet each other with nary a tiff.

  I know Dennis enjoyed the company as he took it all in dozing off and on in his recliner. He is feeling better each day. Hearing the chatter going on around him . . . he liked it, he liked it a lot.

  Stauffer Avenue is ready for whatever the week may bring.