Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 6:26 am on May 5, 2017 Permalink  

  When Megan began talking as a toddler, she had a lot to say. When the mom and dad wanted to get her attention this could be heard from the curly haired little one: “Just one more thing.”

  That is how today went outside. Some shrubs needed trimming, the lawn needed a manicure and so the morning and afternoon went. The acre looks wonderful. The patio porch is tidied and the cats have fresh baskets. It’s all a good thing. There is no longer “Just one more thing” for the older ones on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 4:38 am on May 4, 2017 Permalink  

  Today was a good day to wash up some winter clothes. Oh yes, I believe that we will have warmer weather . . . one of these days. It was the laziest day that I have had in some time. Butter Ball and I did walk the gardens looking to see what is still trying to pop up out of the cold dirt. Now at 5 p.m. the sun has finally shown itself. I’ll take whatever I can get.

   
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  Noreen 3:14 am on May 3, 2017 Permalink  

  It’s a Good Thing 

  

  It’s a good thing how this project worked out. It is the 2nd of May and time to be getting my fingers dirty out in the yards. These four quilts for the great granddaughters are quilted and hemmed, ready to add some snuggle time for Addison, Ava, Bella and Josie. It will be some time before I seek and search for any peach toned fabric to be used in the sewing studio. Whew!

   
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  Noreen 3:48 am on May 2, 2017 Permalink  

  The extensive city street work is ground to a halt due to all the rains. As I was driving home from the Old Alley Quilt Shop this early afternoon, I could have sworn the sun was going to break through. Nope, it was more rain showers that nudged it into the background. I had hit a lucky streak of 50 minutes when I had suited up for my walk right before twelve noon. Yup . . . winter coat, heavy slacks, cap and mittens over the gloves. One of these days when I can head out in just a light cotton shirt I will more than likely feel naked.

   
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  Noreen 4:31 am on May 1, 2017 Permalink  

  Cold, rain and winds kept me in the kitchen this morning. I enjoy opening the refrigerator and having options in regard to what can be put out for a light meal. Not all meals are meat, potatoes and “what’s for dessert.” Three pounds of thick sliced bacon baked out will keep in the refrigerator for some time to be used in either salads, sandwiches or additions to meat dishes and hot-dishes. While the oven was working its magic a box of strawberries were diced. They work on cereal, yogurt or on ice cream. Dennis does enjoy strawberries. my go-to snack is a boiled egg or egg salad. We do go through a lot of eggs and onions.

  The entire time I was in the kitchen we had on the RFD television channel. They were featuring the state of Washington and all of the varieties of cherries they raise. My memories went back to our round oak kitchen table with six pair of feet under the table of Raymond and Lena. We never went hungry. If it could be butchered or canned . . . we had it. One of the dessert treats was when Mom would bring up a quart jar of canned Bing Cherry sauce. They were quite expensive when bought by the crate and the season for canning cherries was short. You can only get so many cherries into a quart jar, and when there are six sauce dishes on the table for Mom to divvy up, not all is always equal. Calvin, Michael and I would make the mistake of counting the cherry pits that would be left in each of our dishes and, oh, course, we had to compare to see who had had the most of this wonderful treat. It angered my Dad to the degree that he would literally rise out of his chair. Times like that I thought his arms were six feet long. One of the three of us would get cuffed and demeaned, reminding us that we never had gone hungry and there was no threat of it happening. Ya, kids can be petty.

  By two this afternoon the rain had let up. I suited up with my winter jacket, cap, gloves and mittens to head out for my walk. It was 42 degrees with it feeling like 34 with a brisk wind. When I got home the coffee went great with a good helping of fresh egg salad lofted to my mouth on some whole grain chips. Yum.

   
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  Noreen 4:13 am on April 30, 2017 Permalink  

  Pause for Thoughts 

  

  Bleeding Hearts are the first to bloom and they care not what the temperatures may be. It made me think of own heart that does not pause to take action doing what it can, when it can without a blink of an eye. I am so thankful for my beating healthy heart.

   
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  Noreen 1:33 am on April 29, 2017 Permalink  

  I am in between projects this afternoon. It was fantastic to walk this morning with no cap and just a light jacket with a pair of gloves noticing that the wind was from the southeast. Perhaps the mittens can be stored. The cold storage warehouse was mowing their lot with a zero-turn mower that was huge. A bit farther down the county road the caretaker was mowing the two large cemeteries that lay side by side. Now that took me back. Right back to our family taking care of the St. John’s Lutheran property in downtown South Branch. The school grounds were included in the mowing as well as the ball field. Wow. We did a great job of the mowing as well with the halter-held trimmer that was used around each cemetery stone. All four of us took pride in how the property was manicured. Years later, I feel pride and satisfaction in how Dennis and I keep our acre tidy.

  Dennis is in charge of a great chicken casserole for supper, giving me a chance to begin the third of the peach quilts for great granddaughter Bella. I would be so lost without my two church tables in my sewing studio. The backing gets taped down, back side up. I do use a basting spray on the backing and then gently apply the batting. The ultimate: no wrinkles in either one. Just a light spray of basting spray on the batting and down goes the top, right side up. After a good application of the three layers I just sit back and look at it. Each time I go through this process I give thanks that I can do what I do in the manner that it needs to be done in. With my history of surgeries and replacement parts, it could have gone either way. Gotta love a willing spirit. I sure do.

   
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  Noreen 3:52 am on April 28, 2017 Permalink  

  We Are The Lucky Ones 

  We are so lucky that we did not get the snow that my cousin Mark did in the far north portion of the state.  It may not have been a huge amount, just enough to be an aggravation.

  After I had sat down for a bit in the early part of the evening, I got my second wind. With the right ingredients brought home from the market, I began making a batch of Crab Salad.  It is one of our favorites for a noon snack.  With an equal amount of celery, onions, imitation crab meat and a bit less of the green peppers, I was a dicing and chopping fanatic.  With shredded cheese added before the mayo I had a pretty good sized bowl going with a fair amount of pepper to top it off.  Dennis did sample some and he gave it the thumbs up.

  As I was making such good use of the new groceries, I have no idea where from the far reaches of my memories I began reminiscing to myself.  We had settled into Watonwan County with a job transfer for Orlin with the Moorman’s Feed Company.  The transfer had not meant a parallel move for the family income as we now had a home mortgage that far exceeded what we had gained from the Renville County home.  Nothing to do but dig deep and apply for food stamps.  Carrie and Kevin realized the circumstances.  We made it a family trip to Mankato to one of the large grocery stores.  Coming home with groceries abound it was fun packing the groceries away and making plans for the fresh produce that could be carefully stretched into the weeks ahead. 

  We remained on food stamps for some time always shopping carefully.  As we had moved from the initial house in Madelia to a second one and then to a farm site, we did then have a garden and we were raising chickens for the freezer.  When I applied and received a part-time job at the Watonwan County Assessor’s Office, I was thrilled to talk with Barb Bloom and our Human Service case worked to allow her to know we no longer needed the help with food stamps.  Happy days!

  Coming back into the present day and time: I put the crab salad into the refrigerator.  I felt like the most fortunate person in the world.  Yes, this morning we were lucky to have missed the late season snow, but back in time Orlin and I were determined to not want to settle and we changed the course for our family.  We are the lucky ones.  We did what many families may not be able to do. 

  I have no idea what may trigger my memories.  I am very thankful they come to me.  It cements into me that there is never a time when I can sit back and stay static.  Perhaps that is why now I am bucking northwest winds for my walks in this cold spring weather to prove to myself that while I am fortunate to have a good life, I can work to make that good life just a bit better and perhaps have it last a bit longer.  I really enjoy my life and loving family . . . there is no more to say.

   
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  Noreen 4:54 am on April 27, 2017 Permalink  

  This morning when I got out of bed I had decided that with the temp at 34, feeling like 22 with a 24 mph northwest wind, it was too nasty to walk my two miles. I piddled around picking up the house, made beds and did a quick check of items to put on a grocery list. Before I realized it, I had the mittens out, my walking shoes were on and I was suited up with a slathering of face lotion to protect from the wind. It may be true that it takes six weeks for an action to become a habit. I like it. I like it a lot.

  A trip to the big town and I am pooped. JoAnn Fabrics is the worst place to get service. A massive store with less than enough help to move merchandise. “Yes, I want 3.5 yards of batting” and “No, I am not willing to splice 2.3 yards to 1.2 yards to make the 3.5 yards.” Clerk: “We are instructed to use each roll up as it is sold off.” My reply, “I may not need any at all.” I did get my 3.5 yards in one cut. Now, in the quiet of my sewing studio, I can cut the yardage in half to do the last two peachy quilts. UGH!

  Our pantry has our “often used” products on the shelves in the basement pantry. We did have a late lunch at Culver’s and we have agreed that supper is not needed nor warranted. Our road date was successful. We are the happy content ones on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 3:32 am on April 26, 2017 Permalink  

  I Feel Good 

  It may be raining outside right now, but indoors, who cares.  I did get going on my walk before the clouds threatened to break open.  Yesterday I could barely stay upright from the strong winds of the south.  This morning the northwest wind was wild and it was downright cold.  I had gloves on but I can tell you a good pair of mittens over them will be what will be used for tomorrow the way the forecast predicts.

  Dennis ran errands for us today as well as made a trip to our friendly dentist for a check up on a wire on the partial that had made an owie in his mouth.  Right on target.  I had two prescriptions that needed refilling and a total of $4.00 and a few cents and I am in high cotton for the next 90 days.  I feel so fortunate that I am able to enjoy the health that I do with such a small amount of meds to keep me on track. 

  When the rain began I took coffee and put myself to work in the sewing studio.  With the radio on the stitches seem to fly.  I have two of the four peachy quilts done that are for the great granddaughters.  It’s a great feeling to be making headway and I feel good about what use can be made of fabrics that would otherwise sit on a shelf.  I think Dennis will like the news I am about to give him.  I need quilt batting.  I have fused together all that I had and now a trip to town is warranted.  We have not had a road date since the week before Easter.  He asked just as late as yesterday morning if I thought we needed anything.  I know I will also put together some grocery items and he will get to choose where we will fine dine at.  I have an idea it will be Culver’s and that would be fine with me.  The meat in their hamburgers is perfection.  But . . . in the mean time I need to get upstairs and pull some supper together minding the fact that Dennis has a sore mouth.  He did mention that it felt worse after the dentist was done digging around in his mouth.  They just love to pick around while they have you in a vulnerable spot.