What a great day to be outside. The sun makes all the difference in the world. Unexpected coffee guest this afternoon and a pop in from the neighbor took the afternoon. There will always be another afternoon for me to look inward doing what may have been the agenda for myself. Perhaps today was what was meant for me all along.
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Noreen
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Noreen
Today called for a road date to Mankato. Dennis had a few items he wanted to look into. As we headed east into Mankato we went past the ethanol plant at Lake Crystal. From the time that Megan could talk it was labeled the “Cloud Factory” as the plumes of steam rose from the processing chimneys. So of course that is what Nicholas was taught. It was a cloud factory for sure.
From the first visit for over night, Megan was right at home with us. Never ever cried that she was done with us and that she wanted to go home. After Megan and Nicholas had both spent time with us, it was time for Nicholas to fly solo here on Stauffer Avenue. He was a trooper. Ate what Grandpa Dennis ate and played hard outside. Afternoon naps were a bit of a hard sell. Grandpa encouraged him, telling him that there would be more fun ahead if he took a short nap for more energy. His response . . . “Guess I just miss out.” Ya right. I would get him to lay on the bed in our west porch that is totally windows. I would lay down with him and we would do “Once upon a time —-.” I would make up stories and he would gaze out the window next to the bed and watch the evergreen boughs sway in the breeze. It worked every time.
Here we are thirteen years later and Dennis and I still call it the “Cloud Factory.” Here Dennis and I are taking naps during some afternoons as we don’t want to miss out on anything. Amazing what can come to mind cruising down the highway. Sweet.
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Noreen
Gray Sunday
Spring was officially declared and the sun decided to take a break. When I went for a walk this morning it was misting. With the wet fall and winter bringing with it warm temperatures off and on, the mist and gray skies allowed for a very bad smell of all the rotting foliage along the walk. We will definitely need a good spring rain to clean things up followed by lots of sun to dry things out. Every day there is a pair of geese that are not shy about letting me know that I am not welcome. Though I am a good fifty feet from them, they feel threatened.
I have made inroads into my creative commotion. I know of many little people in the Curry clan that will make good use of some extra blankets. A color block motif will be alive and well as these peachy blocks will be pulled together using a band
of brown in between them. Getting the project to the point that I could lay some fabric blocks out for a “look see” takes the “what if” out of the equation. A new week is right around the corner. I know Dennis will be busy as his last two life long friends are both in the hospital. The good news is that their rooms are right across from each other. Dennis will be making a coffee run tomorrow as both are requesting a cup of Casey’s coffee. Apparently the hospital coffee has gotten the thumbs down. -
Noreen
There May Be a Reason Why
I had an occasion to have coffee with someone I had worked with at the courthouse. We had not caught up with each other since last fall. Hashing over news of our husbands, kids, grand-kids, etc. took a fair amount of coffee. It seems that we are doing what we enjoy and taking the time to slow things down. I had told her early on that I would have to watch the clock as I had an appointment with a chiropractor. Empathy was given referencing that spending many years in an office environment can leave aches and pains to contend with. I didn’t comment to any great degree. What I was thinking was . . . decades ago using a pick ax to chop frozen silage out of our silo most likely could attribute for some of the ware and tear on the ole body. Many farm chores of that same magnitude were just every day needs that had to be met. That may be the reason for some chiropractic appointments. If I were going back, most likely I would do it all over again. It was part of being a farm family. Good times!
That being said is why I now have the patience to deal with a few minor aches and pains and to be wise enough to seek
help before it takes over my days. That would not be a good thing. I enjoy my life of puttering. Hurry is no longer in my vocabulary. A slow persistent pace serves me quite well. Testament to that is my table of creative commotion that is looking a little better today. The embroidery unit lets me know when to change thread color and then I am off to the opposite side of the sewing studio for some fabric detail. Sweet! The tortoise would understand. -
Noreen
Creativity in Motion
Right now there isn’t too much motion going on but more commotion. I have ducks in the water like you cannot believe and the worst part is they are not in a row. If I had a larger cutting table over the current 96″ x 60″, I would have more commotion. I am not one to sit in one place very long. I am at the sewing machine for a bit and then I move over to the cutting table and poodle around, or more precisely dink around, trying to calculate out a project. In the end, all the projects do seem to get done. Right now the motion needs to be getting back into the kitchen as I have supper going in the oven and a vegetable needs to get started. I think life on Stauffer Avenue is pretty darn sweet.
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Noreen
Today as I was out for my daily walk, I headed east on Stauffer Avenue to continue on the by-pass to the industrial park. As I got to the bridge that crosses over the creek, I took time to take in the Canadian geese that were giving me the evil honks trying to get me to leave the area that I am sure they have a nest in. As I stood there and watched the water I remembered the spring when Kevin and his dad, Orlin, took a floating device down to the creek just north of our home in South Branch. Kevin on board with his dad having a tether rope attached to the floating device. Orlin walked along the bank of the creek and Kevin taking in the adventure. I do not recall how long the voyage took in either time or length. Particulars are vague. This morning at that moment in time as I was standing on the bridge here in St. James, it was a good memory. It was just one of the memories of Kevin and his dad pushing the envelope of “Why not try it.” Gosh, I love my memories.
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Noreen
Hues of Color
The morning appointment with chiropractor Curt can still be felt this late afternoon. It was a good time for me to take the rest of the day easy. He works from the base of the neck right down to the butt cheeks. As per Curt, sitting for any length of time is not a wise move. Any one position for a length of time is not a wise move. I was prompted to work with some of the stash of fabrics from my friend Lorraine. I put on many steps going from my fabric closet to the tables trying to pull together hues of the same color. Guess what colors she enjoyed! I do have an idea as to how to use portions of this collection. The pattern called for 24 different fabrics . . . bad thing is . . . only a 2.5 inch strip of each. It will be interesting.
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Noreen
The trip to the chiropractor was a very wise one. He found spots in my back that felt like a hot poker had been applied. As he kept the pressure on, it subsided and eventually he would retrace his steps and the level of discomfort became less. I have gone to Curt for decades and I so trust him. He realized my knees and shoulders situation and is very careful. I will return for however many sessions he feels is necessary. I do have to be tuned up for pushing our lawnmower in the near future. Dennis does the bulk of the acre with the riding mower but you just can’t beat a small push mower for getting close to things that should not be mowed down by the three blades that he mans.
Enough about pains and grass mowing . . . I am taking my time doing some embroidery patterns on my sewing machine. I am looking into some straight stitch patterns that I may do on my Sears machine while the embroidery unit hums away. Heck, if I could talk Dennis in to sitting still long enough I could even get him to work on my Mom’s sewing machine. NOT!
Dennis has his hands full as his last two lifetime buds are both in the hospital. Supporting visits are appreciated. I appreciate how hard Dennis works at taking care of himself – you know – upright and all.
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Noreen
This morning I knew I was not going to put off making a phone call for help. My friend Curt the chiropractor was needed. Since last Thursday there was some junk in my trunk that was familiar to times past. Same old, same old. Not a pain, not an ache, just a feeling of numbness across the lower back. The last appointment I had had for this very same malady was May of 2016. Nothing that I can think of that brings it on but I know I can’t stretch it out, walk it out or sleep it off. Hmm. A winter of shoveling snow, sewing quilts, cleaning house, washing windows and all is fine . . . until out of the blue it creeps in. I am sure it will take one or perhaps two of his magic touch treatments and I will be back to fine form.
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Noreen
It may not be spring until later this week, it sure could have fooled me today. After making sure I would have some “good eats” for Dennis when he got home from the trade show . . . I am sure it will be after his usual supper time, I took advantage of the sun and open window in our west porch. It may seem unlikely but the chair made of varnished two by fours with a pillow for a backrest is the perfect place to read. Where all the song birds came from in such short order, I only know how enjoyable it was to just relax the afternoon away. When I am home alone with no noise from a television going, I feel like the most content person in the world. Even the traffic noise from our street doesn’t seem to penetrate that peace. I like it, I enjoy it and I will enjoy it when I know Dennis is home safe and sound . . . and the sounds that come with him will be welcomed.
