Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 6:20 am on August 1, 2015 Permalink  

  A Full Day! 

  As I was thinking of getting out of bed this morning, I could hear that the handyman was already in the garage working on the overhead door in the garage for Dennis’ pickup.  It is so like us to take for granted that the 26-year-old spring for the door would last forever.   Not!  By 9:30 a.m. the handyman was packing up his tools.  The door is operational for now and Dennis is one happy camper.  It hurt that his little red pickup had to sit out in the driveway for two nights.

  Dennis began cleaning up the floor of the garage, and before we knew it, we were in full swing of cleaning the car garage. Out went the car and in came the vacuum.  The pickup garage, the car garage and the garage porch are all connected via doorways.  We just dribble from one spot to another.  Every cleaning job requires a break now and then and the rocking chairs in the porch are close on hand for just those breaks.  Everyone stores things in the rafters of outbuildings, don’t they? I donned the stepladder and began handing down odds and ends of things, some of which were in the rafters in 1989 when the house was bought.  Dennis and I have added to the stored items, and today was the day to give the rafters a lift. Dennis started the fire ring and the odd, old wood pieces were burned and the recycling bin got its fair share of items.   The dust on high was more like silt than not.  I do have to add that the garage cats also liked the rafters.  Yes, whatever I touched to hand to Dennis was nasty.  My two cane fishing polls will remain in the rafters.  You never know when you run across just the right worms to give you the incentive to wet a cork.

  

  As I was cleaning the back seat of the car, Butter Ball found his way in for what he might have known was his last hurrah. Sorry guys, no more kitty condo in the Lincoln.

  Both Dennis and I washed our hands for noon lunch and decided, as we were filthy, we might as well make it a day of cleaning.  While Dennis washed the pickup, I started to detail my car.  My bad.  In times past, I would leave the car windows partially open and the garage cats didn’t mind checking out the inside of the car on their way down from the rafters.   Once I realized what was going on, I got complacent and one month turned into several.   No more.  This was the limit.  I  went through a lot of duct tape as I worked to extract cat hair of three different colors from the car mats and anything else that was of a fabric construction.  The vacuum would only take so much, but not much can escape the sticky side of duct tape.  I was very thankful the seats are leather.  I will remember all the work it took to clean the car.  The windows will stay up on the car while in the garage.  Yes, Dennis also needed to detail his little red pickup for the self same issue.  Dang pets. They get away with more than our kids did.

  After a full day of grubbing it, showers ran a bit muddy for the first bit.  Today reminded me of the filth when Dad had us kids clean the oats bin before the new crop would be harvested.  To be truthful, getting down right dirty feels good.  We have something worth cleaning and we care enough to tackle it . . . and perhaps learn a lesson or two.  Both vehicles had been washed by six this evening and I am sure that now, at seven, if I go into the garages, I am bound to see kitty prints on the roof of the car – to see if there might be a window cracked just enough for a crawl through.

   
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  Noreen 4:05 am on July 31, 2015 Permalink  

  It’s a good thing we didn’t screw the lid tight on the job jar. Last week at this time we were pretty full of ourselves and what we had taken care of. Today . . . not so much. The overhead door’s spring for Dennis’ pickup garage has taken a dump. The lumberyard did have several sizes of springs to chose from. Of course, the first spring that Dennis was assured would work, did not. That was discovered after a full take down and resurrection.

  The word at the lumberyard was that parts are slim to none and what is available may not be what is exactly needed. This door was installed in 1989 and it does not meet current requirements of safety for overhead doors, thus parts were not reordered. All that being understood, Dennis and the handyman trudged on. After many adjustments and generally two out three attempts to raise the door failing, the boys have agreed to tackle the project tomorrow morning. The handyman insists that no piece of equipment is going to get the best of him. As a FYI, our old garage is not plumb. Who knows what the original handyman had to rig to make a perfectly sized door work in a crooked garage. It may be that when the original spring broke yesterday, and tension was released rapidly, a few other aspects of the original installation may have been compromised.

  I do have the phone number of Overhead Doors located in Mankato on my desktop.

   
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  Noreen 3:03 am on July 30, 2015 Permalink  

  Fleeting Thoughts: 

  

  This pretty much tells the story about the team of Dennis and me here on Stauffer Avenue.

  Twenty years ago today, on a bright Saturday, Carrie and Kevin were witnesses for Dennis and me to get married.  Dennis and I came together to make a home in 1989.  With serious blue eyes looking at me, my Mom had made the comment that she could hate the sin but still love the sinners.  It just may have had a bit to do with our decision.  It was a great decision.

   
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  Noreen 2:28 am on July 29, 2015 Permalink
  Tags: Creamed Cucumbers, Dennis ( 40 ), Mom ( 5 )   

  Dennis Knows How to Shop 

  

  Dennis stopped at the Farmer’s Market this afternoon and he knows how to shop for good produce. That ole cowboy picked out wonderful cucumbers and onions. The slicer that was my Mom’s might look the worse for wear, but I can’t imagine slicing cucumbers or raw potatoes with anything else. It really saves on the hands. Cucumbers, onions with dressing is co-mingling in the refrigerator for supper. It would not surprise me if Dennis had a huge portion of the creamed cucumbers with a slice of butter bread and calls it good. Dennis also knows how good the plate of Peanut Butter cookies is that he found at the same vendor. The Platz family from Springfield work hard at multiple locations with fresh produce, canned produce and the all time favorites in the baked goodies. Wait until they come with their chocolate zucchini bundt cake. Dennis is bound to bring one home touting the benefit of eating zucchini. Ya right!

   
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  Noreen 2:15 am on July 28, 2015 Permalink
  Tags: Carrie ( 12 ), Dad ( 5 ), Kevin ( 8 ), Mom ( 5 ), quilt   

  Due Diligence 

  Seeing projects through to their ends is, indeed, due diligence.  Off and on during the heat of the summer, I have been working on my scrappy quilt project.  Quilt projects are always a challenge when working with fabric and threads.  Having the vision of the final hurdle needs patience until the due diligence has been done.

  

  I did not need to use the little silver tool to thread the finer sewing needles until I reached my 70th birthday. I never fully appreciated how much easier life could be with these little freebies.

  This week, the hemming of the scrappy quilt is that last hurdle.  Hand hemming is still the most desirable option.  High loft batting, fluffy flannel, scrappy quilt top and the binding makes too many layers under the Model 1802 Sears sewing machine for a quality looking hurdle.  My Mom preferred the blind stitch for hemming.  Double quilt thread in a very sharp needle fills the bill.  Think about it: you are in the bed and tug the quilt up tight to your chin, the hem edge often times feels that tight tug.  The double threaded needle of tough quilt thread sure can’t hurt to keep the binding in place. As it is the blind stitch, I am able to use the white quilt thread I had on hand as it wouldn’t be visible.

  I don’t mind the time it takes for hand hemming.  A project such a this deserves that quality of time.  One of my Dad’s favorite sayings: “You don’t have time to do it right, but you always have time to do it over.”  Wow, what pops into my mind immediately after typing that line is the amount of farrowing crates the kids’ dad built, each time thinking the latest was the greatest.  Both Kevin and I do not mind taking the time in doing projects right the first time.  I can’t speak for Carrie, as her hubby Jeremy drives that engine.  I like due diligence.

  Regardless of how warm and humid it is outside, driving me into the sewing room to begin with, I don’t like sitting at the sewing table for long periods of time.  A tender back makes for moving often.  There is junk mail to check out, putting a new blurb onto my blog, or checking the refrigerator for what is available for suppertime fixings.  Time frames are workable when those of Stauffer Avenue are retired.  Checking the weather forecast, I think Wednesday will be a day for outside work: a lower dew point and temps in the low eighties.

   
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  Noreen 5:54 am on July 27, 2015 Permalink  

  It’s for sure Minnesota. One huge thunder clap during the night and the next thing we knew two inches of rain had fallen. We grabbed a few hours this morning outside before the humidity raised the bar to be very miserable. You know it is hot and humid when Butter Ball and Snuggles are lying on the garage floors as if they have flat-lined: “If you want to get around me . . . you will have to step over me, I’m not moving.” Even curious cats give it up in this weather.

   
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  Noreen 4:22 am on July 26, 2015 Permalink  

  This felt like a day to do just what would be needed and then . . . no more. I returned the paint at the lumberyard that was not needed on our garage roof and paid our bill. It sure feels good for these two older ones on Stauffer Avenue to have the job jar done for now. I realize we still are in the Minnesota storm season and anything could happen. For now we are going to feel pleased with what has been accomplished to keep the homestead up to snuff. As the temperature hit 90 degrees, I headed for the basement sewing room and Dennis is checking his eyelids for cracks in his recliner.

   
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  Noreen 4:54 am on July 25, 2015 Permalink  

  Wow, the sun has power today and it is very humid and sticky. It would not have been my choice to have the handyman painting our garage roof of Onduline today. When Kenny showed up this noon, what can we do but make sure that we have our supplies ready and plenty of water or lemonade for him. We had five gallons of the black latex high gloss paint and I went back to the lumber yard before they closed at 5:30 p.m. for two more gallons. He is determined to finish it this evening and how sad if the project had to be closed down due to lack of paint. I will gladly return it if it is not needed. It is clouding over and it does seem cooler than the intense sun. We have seen so many buildings with crumbling Onduline on them. We are determined, as long as we can find a handyman to hire, to squeeze the last bit of value possible out of this roof.

   
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  Noreen 4:59 am on July 24, 2015 Permalink
  Tags: Dad ( 5 ), Dennis ( 40 ), Kevin ( 8 ), Onduline   

  The Lull of Great Days 

  This afternoon it was not hard to miss that the lull we had of no humidity and mild temperatures are over for a spell.  Those wonderful four days that we did have is what makes summer sweet.

  

  Lazy mornings on the west patio. It is our own hideaway.

  As our usual morning traditions, we had coffee on the west patio enjoying the morning doves serenade us.  Both Dennis and I recalled that in times past as we, each at our own locations, would have the morning doves coo to us as we headed to the livestock barns to start the day.  Enjoying the morning, lost in our thoughts, we were taken up sharp when we heard the sounds of construction.  Our handyman had driven up to the back garage from the east without us noticing and he was hard at work putting on the metal ridge roll on its roof.  Do you think that someone could run off with our property and us not notice?

  What is amazing for small town people is that on Sunday, Dennis mentioned to Kevin that we needed to have the ridge roll replaced.  Monday Dennis looked Kenny up and ask about him working for us and by noon today the project was done. Had not the heat ramped up, Kenny would have started sealing the garage roof with the black latex paint.  By the way, in regard to that Onduline roof we put on in 1991, it was the total rage.  Most did not read the fine print of the product in that it needed to be sealed on a regular schedule. Thus, in the short years to come, there were numerous barns that looked like their roofs were made of cardboard – and lasted about as long as cardboard.  It was marketing hype from a company based in Africa.  Many lumberyards bought into it as well as Dennis and I did.  At the time, my Dad shook his head.  He must have known more than the average.  This will be the fourth time since we put the product on in 1991 that we have resealed it.  At this rate, we are confident the roof will be fine for more years to come.

  If the weathermen are correct, we should have a lull of more beautiful days next week and then wham . . . it will be August.  Where does the time go when you are having fun?

   
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  Noreen 4:03 am on July 23, 2015 Permalink  

  Dennis and I are on top of the “to do” list on Stauffer. We have our handyman nailed down to put the new ridge cap on the back garage. He delivered what he needed from the lumberyard and will start work in the morning. In visiting with Kenny, he said he would also paint the Onduline roof on the front garage. Dennis and I made a trip to Mankato for the black high gloss paint needed to seal it for the next five to six years. We would have purchased it locally, but they only had one gallon on hand. When you have a handyman on site, the last thing one needs is to have him stall out for lack of materials. As soon as I am done with this update, I will be going online for the rebate of $5.00 per gallon of paint, which will pay for the trip to Mankato.

  As we drove into the driveway from Mankato, there was a package with the new modem from Mediacom on the front steps. That has been successfully installed and all that needs to run off of it is working properly. Of course, it didn’t happen without a call for tech support. It is most likely an old lady thing working with modern technology. Dennis is already out to the UPS station with the old one boxed up. The warning was stated that there would be a $300 charge if Mediacom did not receive the old one within 5 to 7 business days. Have at it!

  We just don’t know how our counter parts, people our age, can tell us they are bored.