Fleeting Thoughts:
My thoughts about Donald Trump: he has enough money and resources behind him to say out loud, what most Americans are thinking. Sometimes “plain speak” is needed.
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Noreen
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Noreen
Today was yard day. No matter, even if we have had rain within the last 48 hours, it’s a dirty job. I have been bagging the front yard, only as it is my preference as to how the lawn looks after I have expended the energy to do it. I did fill my 2 gallon hand sprayer and covered the front wherever there was a patch of clover. It takes out good grass in a heartbeat.
I did, after cleaning up, made a trip to Fleet Farm, and tomorrow the sprayer is being used behind the lawnmower for ants. Let’s hear it for Dennis! I spent a long time reading labels. We have tried the dry applications with no luck. Believe me, it will be mixed strong, as it can’t be any worse than loosing many square feet of grass to the buggers.
It’s time to call it a day, and it was a good day.
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Noreen
What’s a Person to Do?
When the garden work is done and the grass doesn’t need mowing, there has to be a respite. We enjoyed a day away from home yesterday and today I felt like pulling in for some quiet stitching. I have often said I do not want to leave unfinished sewing projects and go on with new. It is very difficult to recapture the same enthusiasm as when a project was first started.
I can recall 1967 when my horizons were small and centered on being a farm wife and a mother of a toddler. Mother-in-
law Esther piqued my creative nature with crochet thread, embroidery and tube painting. I was able to invest in some of my own paints and Esther would allow me to use additional colors from her collection. When I saw the Sun Bonnet Sue and Overall Sam unfinished quilt blocks, I knew there would be a few cases of eggs that would jingle my fun money cup.
Sun Bonnet Sue, circa 1960s, as one of the hottest
patterns to hit the Farm Journal, lady page.At that time, I would wait until Carrie was napping, or after her bedtime and the paints would come out of the storage. I may not have had a lot of time in one block, but soon I could see some progress to Sun Bonnet Sue. Though the twelve blocks were painted, the resources it would take to piece it into a quilt top had to be put on hold. Never forgotten, but stored mindfully.
In 2014, I began checking all my stashes to make sure the forgotten were given a new lease on life. Out came Sun Bonnet Sue to be made into a quilt top and she took an early spring trip to the Old Alley Quilt Shop to be finished as a “for real “quilt. At the time when I dropped off the project, I made another appointment with Sharon for an additional project to be quilted on her long arm. I beat feet it home and the Overall Sam quilt blocks got to see the light of day. One problem: all of the paint tubes had dried tips and it was a no go for the state they were in. I got online and finding that the Tri-Chem company still was in operation, I ordered new tips. When the package arrived I organized my sewing room to allow for a painting area. There were no nap times to work my schedule around. I painted at will and still had time for gardening and keeping the home on track. Dennis never lacked for clean clothes or missing a meal.
It warms the cockles of my heart to see Overall Sam ready
for adorning any bed that is worth a night of rest.When my appointment at Old Alley came about in January of 2015, Overall Sam and I were ready. I must admit, I had noticed that my painting hand was not as steady as it had been in 1967. Life is what it is, and I enjoyed being able to complete this long lost project.
As of this afternoon, Overall Sam is finished from head to hem. This is what I do, when time allows and the humid temps keep me indoors. Right now there are no plans as to where Sun Bonnet Sue and Overall Sam will find their final home. For now, I can enjoy them and appreciate a hobby that at one time was the center of my free time. Mother-in-law Esther and I had quite the time sharing projects and even treks to purchase additional colors of paint. Oh, for the sweet memories. It is fair to think that everyone has such sweet memories, isn’t it?
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Noreen
Dennis and I have returned from the wedding at the Gilfillan Estates. What a marvelous farm it was in its day when the barns were filled with livestock and the lawns showed activity from children. The Redwood Falls County Museum now owns Gilfillan Estates, much like the University of Minnesota owns the Congdon Mansion in Duluth. How wonderful that places such as these can live on.
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Noreen
It was a quiet Friday here on Stauffer Avenue. The week held hosting luncheon guests twice this week, a banquet in Mankato Wednesday evening, Dennis having a great checkup at the VA Clinic and Dennis also passing his eye checkup appointment. A kick-back day every once in awhile doesn’t hurt. Tomorrow will be spent attending a niece’s wedding at the Gilfillan Estates and Gardens north of Sleepy Eye. Our calendar is just like anyone else’s . . . full before you know it. We do enjoy a kick-back day.
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Noreen
I firmly believe that relationships, of any type, either grow or they die.
Today was a day to nurture, encourage and empathize with two very special people who I have had in my life for decades. The three of us got acquainted through our work as assessors. Doreen hails from Nicollet County, Judy from Brown County and I, from Watonwan County.
The three of us, respectively within our own families, have shared births, deaths, divorce, medical issues, hobbies and heartaches. No one has been immune to life. It is a great time to catch up on our families, find out what has happened since we last were together, and find out what the near future has in store for our schedules.
Lunch served here in the porch on Stauffer was nothing fancy, but it filled the bill. Obviously, when guests are coming to break bread in the porch, there are certain preparations that must be done. Butter Ball and Snuggles can’t figure out why the screen doors are closed and they are on the outside looking in. Cushions are vacuumed and pet pillows are tucked into a tote for human enjoyment of the facilities today. Oh no, how could this be? The prep time is minimum to enjoy the company to the maximum.
As my guests departed, our intentions were voiced to get together oftener. Our intentions are pure, but we also acknowledged that life spins us in directions on a day-to-day basis that adheres to no set plan.
The day ended, not with goodbyes, but “See you again, real soon.”
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Noreen
A Gathering
I am posting early today, as we have places to go and people to see. Once a year, Dennis’ fellow Korean Veterans host a banquet with their annual meeting in Mankato. The chapter that Dennis belongs to is called the Frozen Chosen and they meet monthly for noon lunch with a short business meeting. There is a variety of ages of men and women who attend: Dennis went to Korea when he was 18. The summer events in the area that have parades, more than welcome their float that these fellows have put together to honor the time they spent in Korea fighting the good fight.
The sad part of recalling the years that our fellows served in Korea, it has never been called the Korean War. It has always been referred to as a “Police Action.” The powers that be have been little shysters – then as well as now.
Memories and remains of Korea. A time that
often is forgotten in day-to-day life, but has contributed
to the fellow who these belong to.Dennis recalls how time spent on the 39th parallel and with Minnesota on the 49th, the weather was not that much different. In other words, they froze for months on end. Dennis recalls his shoes were often soaked through for days on end. If there were any chance to gain an extra pair of socks, it was never passed by.
When Dennis realized that this group of fellows got together only 45 miles away, it opened a door to make, or in some cases reunite, friends. How wonderful to get out of the small town comfort zone and broaden horizons. It isn’t all chit chat about the time served. Finding out how others have spent their lives after serving their country is a good thing.
We are heading to Mankato for a night of fellowship for the boys who had to grow up fast to be the men who came home to find jobs and grow their own families. Life is good. Often, as Dennis and I sit and enjoy our coffee, there comes a memory that Dennis shares. It isn’t always a sad or a bad one. These fellows who served together became a family.
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Noreen
Fleeting Thoughts:
I cannot imagine living without frequent contact with family. It feeds my soul.
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Noreen
A Good Day After the Storms
At 5:30 this morning we were awoke with phones going off in regard to severe weather approaching our area. After two inches of rain and horrific winds, we are thankful there was no damage to our home. Our front lawn looks as if we are about to have an Easter egg hunt, substituting pine cones for eggs. Tomorrow after things dry up a bit, we will be raking many, many tree tips left from the high winds. Dennis noticed many pickup loads of branches: huge, large and small going to the tree dump north of town. Yes, we are very thankful our cleanup will just involve some arm power and raking.
By the late forenoon the sun was peaking out in time for my Aunt Lorraine to arrive for lunch. Lorraine is visiting her three Minnesota children from Arizona. We have the best time when she visits. She and Dennis poke fun at each other and the conversation never lags.
I couldn’t help but notice the box that she carried in. We had “Lorraine Show and Tell” as you can’t believe. There were projects that she has underway, that would boggle even the best of quilters. One of them entailed an older lady’s unfinished quilt pieces, which were given to her in the hope that it could become a finished project. The basis for the entire project began with squares that were two inches square and then cut in half. The fabric was from the depression era. All of the work that had been completed thus far was done by hand stitches that were so precise, I spent more time looking at the back of the work than the front. The seam allowance was a steady 1/8 of an inch. True to form, Lorraine is finishing the project, doing all the stitching by hand. What a marvel.
Needless to say, the afternoon went quickly. Lorraine is 83 and she did tell us that she doesn’t plan her Minnesota trips too far in advance as surprise health issues can pop up.
What started as a day with a very strong storm, a day with lots of wonderful chit chat and hugs from an aunt who can’t possibly weigh more than 100 lbs. soaking wet, will now become sweet memories.
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Noreen
This was a day that was spent outside. The acre has been manicured, trimmed and looking very sharp as Dennis put new blades on the rider mower. I spent time with spray on various areas as the ants are taking way too much of our turf. Whether it is the mowing of the grass or the spraying of the ant hills . . . it will need a repeat many times this summer.
