Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from Noreen Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Noreen 2:38 am on August 11, 2015 Permalink  

  Whew! 

  As my Mom would be working through tasks, one could hear a “Whew” ever so often.  It came out of her almost like a word with a bit of a whistle attached.  Try it . . . “Whew.” It was either a way of re-energizing herself or perhaps used in place of a sigh.

  Dennis and I were only gone for three days, but this morning I felt like I really needed to kick it in gear.  Dennis was right in there with me.  Oh yes, I was happy to be back on Stauffer.  It’s fun to travel and see family members, but there is no place like home.  Dennis does not vent the same sentiment out loud about being glad to be home, but the time spent in the porch tells the story.

  With a half inch of rain over the night, the air this morning did feel fresh, and that meant that the old tradition of doing laundry on a Monday was on.  If bedding is stripped, that makes a great time to get the floors done.  No matter what the size of the furniture, it all can be moved as we have felt pads under everything.  I would be lost without Swiffers on the laminate flooring.  For what I can pick up on a weekly basis, I shudder to think what would be piling up if we had carpeting and some furniture only moved seasonally.  I tackled the floors in our 720 square foot home; Dennis gave me a complementary basement floor cleaning.  How did that come about?  Dennis has a wonderful warm and fuzzy quilt for cooler winter and the deal was that Dennis would vacuum the sewing room floor to rid the area of fuzz and threads.  We both came out winners: laundry basket is empty, fresh bedding, and a homogenized home from top to bottom.  Needless to say, the many and varied “Whews” from Dennis and me could have been set to music.  We realized in short order that the temps had risen right along with a higher dew point.

  I know it has been said often . . . too bad.  Life on Stauffer with my ole cowboy is down right priceless.  For a reward of a lot of domestic work, the evening meal is liver and onions with a side of boiled potatoes.  Just as we don’t often tackle the entire gamete of housework in one single day, we don’t have the liver menu often, so please refrain from sending me an avalanche of e-mail forwards guarding against heart disease.  We will be back on track with goodies from the farmers market tomorrow.  Catch ya all another time.

   
• 

  Noreen 5:56 am on August 10, 2015 Permalink  

  It is Sunday and just as anyone else, our weekend is over. Yesterday, Saturday, we were at my cousin’s home in Finland, Minnesota, for his and Dawn’s wedding reception.

  Dennis and I both agree, the north country’s lifestyle is so much different than the crop land portion of Minnesota. The general populas believe that we are workaholics. Yards are for parking vehicles on weedy green areas, or stacking items that would be in the garage if that area would be organized. The Taconite industry that grew communities such as Silver Bay and Finland is no more. In 1950 the Air Force had a huge General Surveillance Radar base in Finland that was prompted by the Korean War. It is now less than a ghost town of track homes that are waiting to be torn down. Jobs are far and few in between. Many retired people were lured into thinking that living among the pines and hills would be their destiny of utopia. Seeing all the homes that have been abandoned with “For Sale” signs posted, tell the more real story.

  We had a great weekend of visiting and taking in the sites. We returned to Stauffer Avenue; it was a treat to get the dirty laundry started from the weekend. If it were not for the 6 – 7 hours of driving, there would be more trips for us to see portions of the great north country.

  On a lighter note: since we have returned home, Snuggles and Butter Ball have had a fair share of checking out my lap as I spent some time in the porch, in my all time favorite rocking chair.

   
• 

  Noreen 9:48 pm on August 8, 2015 Permalink  

  It’s a Lot 

  When the fog from Lake Superior sweeps to shore, it is a lot of whiteout.  We had a great Friday with Dennis’ family that lives in Silver Bay.  Seeing four out of the five great granddaughters was priceless.  We took the entire kit and caboodle, seven adults and four children, out for supper to a roadhouse in Beaver Bay.  Harmonica and guitar music kept the little ones entertained while the food was on its way.  The kids cleaned their plates and were ready for dessert.  We don’t see these family members as often as we would like, due to the huge hike that it is from Stauffer Ave.  This type of evening was so much easier than having one family fix enough food for the group.  Everyone got to enjoy what their favorite was for the evening meal; we visited for several hours and were able to get up from the table and . . . no kitchen or dishes to clean up.  I may have been tapped for a future sewing project from Dennis’ granddaughter, Erin.  If I can handle it, I would be pleased to help Erin out.  Time will tell.

  Later today we are on to the next event, which is a wedding reception in Finland, just six miles up the highway to the north.  Hopefully the fog and mist lifts.  Busy, busy for these two older ones.

   
• 

  Noreen 7:51 am on August 8, 2015 Permalink  

  Fleeting Thoughts: 

  Standing on the patio, enjoying the lake air, after a time in the whirlpool tub eating a peanut butter cookie . . . priceless.

   
• 

  Noreen 2:43 am on August 7, 2015 Permalink  

  This is huge for Stauffer Avenue: the older ones are taking a weekend away beginning Friday morning, leaving the chores of feeding the livestock with neighbor, Jan. The fish won’t care as long as they have floating pellets to nibble at on the surface of the water once a day. Snuggles has pretty well kissed up to Jan as she has been out in her gardens and yard. Butter Ball, on the other hand, shies away when Jan has come over for a visit in the past. He is just going to have to follow Snuggles’ lead. Honey Bunny is not fond of anyone, so she will just come and go, ignoring the fact that, as the oldest of the kids, she could lend an atmosphere of calm . . . not! Obviously, the garage porch will be accessible, just like always.

  Guess who gets to clean the litter box? Dennis babysits his daughter Sandy’s terrier whenever she is getting home late from work or she has errands that Tix cannot go with. The ole cowboy says that turn around is fair play for “other duties as required.” Sandy came over the other evening for the full instructions. I totally stayed clear of that.

  We are heading to the north country to see Dennis’ family at Silver Bay and I have a cousin at Finland. A fun trip that is going to be a two-for. Hopefully I will have a Wi-Fi connection available for my laptop.

   
• 

  Noreen 2:29 am on August 6, 2015 Permalink  

  Dennis had his luncheon with fellow Korean veterans in Mankato today. The chapter is called The Frozen Chosin – Chapter 41. When Dennis got his shirt that is worn when the fellows are in parades, I thought the word “chosin” was not spelled correctly. I soon was checking out the documentaries on the Internet of the epic battle fought during the Korean War at the freezing Chosin Reseviour.

  Dennis can attest that while he was in Korea, his feet were, more often than not, cold enough to feel as if they were frozen. This group of veterans enjoy getting together once a month for the pure pleasure of being with each other. Pretty special.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:21 am on August 5, 2015 Permalink  

  Ugh! 

  After seven months of getting upset every time I sat down to my computer, yesterday I had had enough.  With encouragement from Kevin, I contacted the free Dell support.  Seven months ago, I had a local fellow work on my computer, and what I had asked him to fix, he did.  He fixed more than I was up for.  At the time I ordered my computer from Dell it was my wish to not have the touch pad engaged and that is how it was delivered to Stauffer Ave.  The local “fixer” worked on my computer and left.  The next time I sat down . . . the touch pad was now activated and with the grace of my wondering left thumb: the words, the letters and the cursor would fly at will.  It would take me forever to edit my work to find out just what and where the errors were.  I think the enamel of my teeth has worn a bit during this time from either gritting them or grinding them.

  After spending time on the phone taking good instructions, I was thrilled.  No more wandering text.  I was surprised this morning when I turned on the computer of the things that had changed.  Ugh!  Fess up!  Who monkeyed around during the night?  My blog address was gone, my “just plain” Google was replaced by Google by Ask.  What the heck?  I still may have a problem getting rid of that.  My mouse needed a mouse pad that would have had to have been a foot long.  As I had never been so brave as to get into the mouse’s properties, it took me awhile to realize the length of the pointer needed to be adjusted.

  Is it any wonder, why I was quick to get outside . . . and get away from the computer for a bit?  Dennis was out edging the drive and after many years of blowing mowed grass and leaves off of the drive, we had lost a good six inches of the width of the concrete drive.  Getting the drive done on both sides and doing away with all the extra stuff, we could very much appreciate the temperatures that had gotten into the warm stage.

  A bite of lunch, and Dennis was off to the farmer’s market, returning with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers.  We have a routine: Dennis cleans the cucumbers and I slice them and the onions.  The bowl with the contents is filled with cold water and ice cubes and popped into the refrig to crisp them a bit.  It won’t be long, the mayo dressing along with salt and pepper will adorn the cucumbers and be ready for the evening meal.  Priceless.  I did put together a chicken and green bean hot-dish to cover all major food groups.

  There are very few days that Dennis and I do not find something that needs our attention.  I deem that we are good stewards of Stauffer Avenue.

  P.S. It took me so much less time typing this post with the thumb pad disengaged, I have time to do some laundry.  Who knew?

   
• 

  Noreen 5:29 am on August 4, 2015 Permalink  

  Fleeting Thoughts: 

  Sometimes when I think the joy in my life has been diminished, it only allows me to become more aware of life and the loved ones around me who take me as I am; the joy returns twofold.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:00 am on August 3, 2015 Permalink  

  Mornings Are The Best 

  

  Here are the first days of August with a fair share of heat and humidity, making these mornings the best. As we sat on the east patio this morning, the breeze brought the wonderful scents of the blooming Phlox to us. We did rouse ourselves long enough to put up a birdhouse that needed a new post. What? Where we decided to put it, it could not be seen from the patio. Out came the the trimmers and the Tiger-Eye Sumac got a trim. Ah, much better.

   
• 

  Noreen 3:55 am on August 2, 2015 Permalink  

  It Can’t Hurt to Try 

  I have been feeding the gardens about every 8 – 9 days with Miracle Grow.  I have noticed over the last several years that though the perennials do come up, they are lacking the vigorous growth or size that they could be in relationship to how many years I have enjoyed them.  With trees taking moisture and components out of the soil, perhaps the perennials need a boost.  Dennis has made sure I have enough garden hose to reach the far back gardens with the Miracle Grow feeder. The fertilizer hitting the above ground leaves plus nurturing the soil around the plants could help for the 2016 spring.

  I have been doing some reading.  On my next trip to the store I am going to purchase some Epson Salts.  It is recommended to sprinkle sparingly around the base of perennials and shrubs for absorption into the soil for added nutrients.   I am all for trying to keep the plants I have going and growing.  It sure can’t hurt to try.

  Though the day warmed up quite quickly, this forenoon I got the feeding and watering done while Dennis completed the cleaning of the car garage by making nice on his workbench.  When I peeked in I did ask him, “Whose garage is this?”

  After a good week of taking care of things here on Stauffer Avenue, I think we will hit the Home Town Cafe for a bit of supper.  It’s a good thing.