I am a retired 44-year veteran of the Real Estate Assessment field. As with real estate assessing and how it applies to real estate taxes, one can make many acquaintances, but not many real friends. It was a great career choice.
It has been nearly 10 years since I reclaimed my home and my real passions within my home. I enjoy it more each day and tip my hat to those who I left behind.
Each day I try to stretch myself with the use of my computer as it relates to this site and using it to print out labels for quilts for trying to incorporate photos into my sewing. Life is so full and I know that I have room for more.
It is a sad day when your 1989 jar of High Point by Folgers instant coffee is . . . empty. I bought the jar when Mom and Dad would stop in and a hot cup of coffee would hit the spot with cookies. It was good to the last drop. The Supreme Roast will have to do. What? $7.49 for less than 8 oz!
The Easter Bunny almost worked his tail off here on Stauffer Avenue. As each of the great grands came for a visit they had an Easter Basket that Grandpa had made up. Megan and Nicholas had to work for their’s yesterday on their scavenger hunt. Today Jamisen came across the street bringing some fresh eggs from his grandma’s farm. Jamisen went home with a bag of goodies. Not to worry there are still plenty of goodies for the ole Easter Bunny. It’s like the old saying, “You never put all your eggs in one basket.”
This afternoon when all the company was gone, Dennis headed to the laundermat with what would promise to be two loads of rugs from the weekend and perhaps a few from the late winter we had been holding on to. Dennis uses the huge front load machines that can take heavy loads and what would grind our stackable to a halt. It was muddy before the rains that came on Saturday and of course no one was told they couldn’t play out in the yards when the day turned into blue skies and sun. While Dennis was gone the floors were mopped from one end to the other and, of course, Dennis’ patio porch was vacuumed. Nothing vacuums up better than dry mud. What the heck, even the basement carpeted steps needed a once over, and that lead to the basement floor. I think I have it pretty well made for housework this next week.
The end of the day is near and we are two content “older ones on Stauffer.” Dennis and I wish that for everyone.
We had Easter one day early this year. It poured rain this morning when I was opening my eyes. I thought “Oh Crap.” By the time Carrie, Jeremy, Megan and Nicholas came for noon lunch the sun was out and the best day ever followed. Nicholas is getting pretty good with the BB gun. Megan can climb the Maple tree with those long legs in a heart beat. The best part was the scavenger hunt I had for the kids. This photo was the end of the hunt. Inside these wonderful caps were their bandannas of goodies. What a photo op. I could go on but to tell the truth, I am pooped. Talk to you tomorrow.
After today there are no Hasenpheffers hiding in our yards. Four of the great grands covered every inch of the yards today. Addison at 9, Ava at 7, Bella at 5 and Josie at 2, had the best time collecting walnut shells, acorns and pine cones that were left to be found after the winter was over. Of course, cookies, rice crispy bars and water bottles kept them on track. Taking turns on the swing . . . now that was a tough pill for Josie. I could have swore her eyes were getting to be little slits, but when asked if she wanted to stop, the answer was a strong “No.” As Erin and Paul rounded up the kids for the next stop it took some time as the older two needed a little more time to say goodbye. When the last child was buckled in Josie was already asleep. Priceless.
Five in the afternoon and the sun finally decided to show itself. Dennis and I had a great road date. Driving along it was interesting that there were fields that were getting fertilizer applied. I have no doubt the soil is still very cold, but then hard telling how many acres they need to prepare.
After a trip to the Hy-Vee grocery store in Mankato, I made a side trip to the Goodwill store. Dennis decided to check his eyelids for cracks during that time. Spring cleaning is about to hit the kitty baskets in the patio porch. Out with the old. For a few dollars next to nothing I picked up a comforter that will adorn the kitty baskets over the spring and summer. There is no way I would even consider laundering all the love and fuzz that has accumulated over the winter. It will be interesting to see the response from the spoiled critters. I am sure they have grown fond of the way they can curl into the folds of the blankets just as the two legged ones here on Stauffer.
I have had a great day. My six month check up at the eye clinic gave me a clean report. In times past I have had laser surgery on both eyes for detached retinas. Cataracts are common once the age of 70 is reached. I asked Dr. Pinke how I would know if they have occurred. It would be like looking through a film. I am okay in that department. My lens did not need changing so I will continue reading and sewing to my heart’s content. Later in the afternoon I got my walking orders from Curt the chiropractor. No more appointments needed. I feel like a million dollars. The gardens have been raked off and I have good walking shoes . . . both of those items have either not caused harm or have increased good movement while walking. Tomorrow we are having a road date to Mankato. My first priority will be getting up a bit earlier to get my walk in before the ole cowboy whisks me away.
The rain had missed us and so now has the snow. I am hoping for a fairly dry Easter Sunday for Megan and Nicholas’ sake. Today the main event was “Haircut Day” on Stauffer. Friend, Jean, has moved back from Colorado. She had at one time a salon here in town. Now in her early 70s . . . hey . . . just like me, she has not renewed her Minnesota license, but gives good haircuts for a price point of a “tip.” It’s been a great day. Biscuits are about done in the oven and that will be followed by some chicken mozzarella meatballs with Penne pasta sautéed in Alfredo sauce. Dennis is a good sport when it comes to trying new items for a supper. Gotta love that guy.
The amount of rain we had didn’t amount to squat. The air was cool this morning as I could see my breath as I walked. It was a great day to spend the rest of it in the sewing studio. Dennis came down and did a lot of cutting for me. As I 
am working up the peach fabric for the three great grands . . . there happens to be a fourth great grand from Dennis’ daughter, Sue, who lives in Silver Bay, in the next block from the three great grands. This great grand lives right here in St. James. Shame, shame on the older ones on Stauffer for a brain fart. At some point when the St. James grand visits and stays with the Silver Bay grands, we didn’t want anyone to feel like they had been forgotten. Anyway, what’s one more twin sized quilt in relationship to my time, Dennis’ energy and the dastardly “stash of peach.” We might get all those yards of fabric worked up and put to good use yet.
The morning began right off the bat as mild temps and no wind. As I got back from my walk, Dennis was down for a nap. I got into cooler clothes, changed shoes and hit the gardens complete with rakes and a big yellow cat following me from place to place in the yard.
Branches about the size of the width of my thumb were everywhere. I raked them together with the intent that I would pick them up as bundles and get them burned before the rain started. It was cloudy out, but the rain held off and I continued with raking off the flower beds. No sooner would a pile of leaves been raked up than Butter Ball would have to pounce into it to see what he could find. It made the task tolerable.
As I raked and found perennials peeking though the dirt, I couldn’t help but think of Elvera. My sister and I both enjoyed flowers and checking in with each other being 80 miles apart, it was fun to see which one of us had what coming up in the early spring. I couldn’t help wonder what would become of her backyard of flowers this spring. As the spring and summer would continue, our 3 P.M. telephone coffee breaks would invariably include work that we were doing in our yards. Nothing to notify “Home and Gardens” about, but satisfying to us nonetheless. Dennis has always been on hand to help with gardening. Not ever venturing out on his own, but if I had a request, he would always be right there. It seemed like Orville also helped Elvera as he would make sure she had all the wood mulch she needed. I liked the rich black dirt around my plants and Elvera did the mulch. Did she need to keep track of weeds as I had to . . . no.
I would like to be a little garden mouse hiding in Elvera’s flowers to see if Orville’ new girlfriend will help Orville tend the backyard. I know, I know . . . it’s as I said, working with my back and my hands in the backyard there was no shortage of thoughts. Enough of the thoughts that spring from being of the lineage of the “Old Adam.”
Our neighbor, Bob, has a huge fire ring and has been very willing to let us use it. By the time Dennis was up from his nap, the plastic garbage barrels were packed with leaves ready to be burned. The bundled branches hit the fire and our spring work went up in flames. The rain is still holding off. It is just the bestest of the best feelings knowing that now plants can enjoy the spring rain and there will not be any “would have, could have, should have” in regard to getting the backyard cleaned up after the winter.
I could not wait to grab a cup of breakfast coffee and enjoy one of the lawn chairs Dennis had pulled out for the patio. He has been looking forward to sitting out on the patio for a long time. Hmm. Butter Ball was so exhausted he stretched out on the patio not even giving the birds that were almost at eye level in the low Lilacs branches a look. Now that is a weary cat. Come to think of it, my eyelids felt heavy as well. The rain will be welcomed to wash away winter’s grime . . . storms, not so much.
So it begins. The Koi pond is full of water with Dennis’ pump in place making bubbles. After several days any additives from the city water will have dissipated and then the seasonal residents will be added. Dennis took care of the pond work and I picked up branches and did a bit of raking where the leaves had really piled up in some sheltered areas. The strong winds cleaned out the huge Maple of any branches that were on the verge of letting go, and the same can be said for the winds taking most of the leaves off . . . maybe to “the cloud.”