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  • Noreen 2:43 am on August 9, 2016 Permalink  

    The Honeymoon is Over 

    This was, and I repeat, was, the fourth day with zero air conditioning being on in our home.  This late afternoon, I surfaced from the sewing studio, and as my arm touched the concrete blocks on the basement stairwell . . . I knew the honeymoon was over.  It sure was nice while it lasted.  We did spend most of the morning outside enjoying whatever came down the pike.  The breeze let up and the nasty black flies began feasting.  Yuk!  Wouldn’t you know it . . . we are in between hatches of mosquitoes and the flies take over.  Just can’t cut a break.  That is when I headed down into the sewing studio and Dennis checked his eyelids for cracks in his recliner.  It’s a good thing I was searching for my favorite fabric cutter, Dennis, or the house would have really heated up in the afternoon noon and rising humidity.

    Scrappy nine patch-six inch block 006 (400x300)I do have problems cutting lengths of fabric successfully with the rotary cutter.  I don’t have the Boarders on Scrappy nine Patchendurance to push down hard enough with a long enough swipe for that sharp clean line.  Once you hesitate, the plastic ruler on the cutting mat has a tendency to move ever so sightly for an “Oh, No!”  I thought I had put an order in with Dennis for the ten cuts I needed, but I forgot to pencil in the diagonal piecing to get the correct length on all four sides.

    I am known for making lists for myself, be it grocery lists, to-do lists, or lists of things that need to be taken care of in the near future.  I am looking down on my computer desk and I have several going.  It can be rather embarrassing when something falls into the cracks that I should have had right at the tip of my fingers.  Well, my fingers are a bit more bent than they used to be and don’t hold as much, thus a clutter of lists.  It is a very good thing to have things and people that rely upon you.  It keeps the brain sharp.  I so want to stay sharp for a long, long, long time.  As my mom, Lena, would often say, “I don’t want to miss out on anything.”

    Now . . . where did that fabric cutter get to?

     
  • Noreen 5:12 am on August 8, 2016 Permalink  

    I would take days such as we have had recently right up until the first snowflake flies. We are cat sitting for our neighbors to the south. Poor Ollie, ten days out and he is weary of having the house to himself. Dennis and I go over about four every afternoon and it takes a bit for him to come out of hiding, and then the purring and the rolling and the “showing off” begins. We were told right off he does drink out of the toilet at times. Everyday Dennis flushes the toilet for cold fresh water.

    My job is the liter box, food dishes and the alternative water dish. Without fail, every afternoon I find the same little crunchy tool in the food dish. I have even taken it and put it in the living room and sure enough the next afternoon, it’s back in the food bowl. Who is playing who?

    Ollie does have the brightest greenest eyes I have ever seen on a cat. After a half hour we bid goodbye until the next afternoon. I know his owner has taken him outside for a part of every morning, but there is no way we are taking a chance. We have told Ollie, “Only five more days.”

     
  • Noreen 4:04 am on August 7, 2016 Permalink  

    Another great day of breezes, sunshine and the dew point is down. Dennis and I are on the down side of this Saturday. The acre is manicured and trimmed and the two-wheel trailer that has been collecting branches from the summer’s wind storm is now empty. For the sum of one dollar the compost site takes care of what is brought out.

    Great granddaughter Lux stayed with me earlier this morning. I was just about to have breakfast when her grandma Sandy needed to take care of some things. A wee one, not yet two, enjoys being with us. Sitting on my left leg, Lux enjoyed picking the blue berries off of the top of my bowl. If by chance she picked one up that had a smudge of yoget on it, that one went back in the bowl. We had a good breakfast. After all, what’s family for if not to pitch in when needed.

    It is time to clean up as the dirt in the grass was nasty. I am already tasting the creamed cucumbers that are chilling in the refrigerator. Small boiled potatoes with the skins on will soak up the sauce and it will Schmeckt gut (taste good).

    I hope everyone is as content and peaceful as I am. Stauffer Avenue is my heaven . . . enjoy your heaven.

     
  • Noreen 6:50 am on August 6, 2016 Permalink  

    This day and this evening I would rate a 10+ in regard to weather, supper company and a full tummy. Life is oh so sweet and I am sitting back and still taking it all in. Thank you God.

     
  • Noreen 3:49 am on August 5, 2016 Permalink  

    Rain showers off and on could only mean that the cooler, drier weather can’t be far behind. When I visited the farmers market the thunder was rolling. The family from Comfrey, Minnesota, does such a good job with all thy offer. Joel visited with Dennis last Thursday that they had 15 acres in garden produce. What an endeavor. Dennis and I sure appreciate them. Unfortunately, for some reason the powers that be in city hall did not renew the WIC (Women, Infant and Children) program that would include the items at the farmers market. Joel said it has shown in the amount of sidewalk traffic. Great fresh produce is second to none . . . especially when I realize and remember what it took in times past to have all of that produce coming out of our garden on the farm in Boon Lake Township.

     
  • Noreen 4:24 am on August 4, 2016 Permalink  

    Today was a corker. Dennis had his Korean Veterans Luncheon today in Mankato. I took advantage of riding along to visit the Hy-Vee grocery store. It must be this time of the year: I feel the need to add a few items for the basement pantry. No longer do I do the “home canning,” but it feels good to have some backup on the shelves in the basement pantry. It’s that instinct from days of old: winter is coming, stock up.

     
  • Noreen 3:10 am on August 3, 2016 Permalink  

    Never Would Have Thought 

    At the age of 72, I would have never thought that family would be far and few in between.  After visiting with my sister, Elvera who is 78, yesterday she expressed much the same sentiment.  I was relieved to hear that.  She and I remembered when there were family that lived just across the township section that could be popped in on at three in the afternoon for a cup of coffee and cookies.  We both came to the conclusion that it was a Godsend that each of us individually could keep ourselves busy, entertained and productive.  I always have had a love of fabric, but prominently sewing garments.  In today’s world, it is far too expensive to go the pattern route with yard goods; thus, I love my sewing studio where all manner of creativity takes place without worrying about a bust dart or a proper sleeve fitting.

    At the age of 72, I would never have thought that my hands would wear out.  Those joints and tendons and muscles were suppose to be able to grasp the smallest pin or pill on the first try.  It is a challenge to see how far the pill rolled as it hit the floor.

    At the age of 72, I would never have thought that I would care about a stray cat that came to our patio this winter withMy World 2016 005 (400x359) barely any life or will left in her.  I don’t think she ever thought she would not have to plow through deep snow to find a bit of food and water.  I don’t think she ever thought that being in out of the weather would be in her ancient life.

    My World 2016 004 (400x300)At the age of 72, I would never have thought that I would back away from a sewing project to enjoy a cup of coffee while whipping through and enjoying a few chapters of a library book to give my back a break.

    At the age of 72, I would never have thought that I would have a kind loving helper that has discovered the joy of being creative in the kitchen.  Bless his heart.  Just give that man his own space and leave him to it!

    At the age of 72, I would never have thought that my world would be so full of the love of children that are making homes and families on their own . . . with maybe a bit of what their ole mom taught them.

    Priceless!

     
  • Noreen 6:45 am on August 2, 2016 Permalink  

    Today was a trip north through countryside I had not been through for some time. Was it the shortest route, no. Visiting some of the sites from my father’s family. In time, I was at my sister’s home in Stewart. Eleven radiation treatments down and . . . quite a few to go. I think she will have a great Halloween.

    I traveled through New Ulm on my way home. I had promised Dennis I would bring supper home. Supper was at 6:30, a bit later than usual. The Hy-Vee stores do not disappoint in the variety.

    Dennis and I were watching television and one of the commercials was for Gelato. He ask me what it was, I had to confess that I knew it was in the ice cream section of the grocery story; that was the extent of my knowledge on it. Later on this evening Dennis will be able to try some Triple Chocolate Gelato. The jury of one will tell me what he thinks of it.

     
  • Noreen 3:17 am on August 1, 2016 Permalink  

    Visits from Silver Bay and Mankato makes for a great weekend for us to keep up with Dennis’s granddaughters. Everyone is busy, but it means so much when they care enough to check on that ole Grandpa of theirs. Great granddaughter Lux is going to be two in November. That little girl can really move. Lux enjoyed feeding the Koi and chasing Snuggles. Snuggles didn’t disappoint and played hard with the ping pong ball when Lux threw it.

    I am checking on the next door neighbor’s cat for several weeks. It takes a few minutes before he will come out when I stop in to freshen the litter box. When he does come out, it is all about the petting and the rubbing. Loneliness to the max as he will give me a very sorrowful meow as I head for the door.

    Hmm, we have really had a string of good eats over the last several nights. Fresh sweet corn for two nights running and I think both Dennis and I agree: it was good and tasty, but that has quenched us of the corn for some time. I cannot believe he has not cracked the refrigerator pickle container as yet to see if the Friday batch is good or not. Do I think he would settle for fried egg sandwiches for supper . . . probably.

     
  • Noreen 2:29 am on July 31, 2016 Permalink  

    A very quiet day on Stauffer Avenue today. I did motor up to the library for a book return and also to pick up several books. I like to have a book in the living room and also one going in my sewing studio.

    When I was at the library, I took notice of a little girl in a sun dress that was with her dad. The two of them were busy picking out an arm load of storybooks. From that part of the library they wandered over to the children’s movie selections. It warmed my heart to see how engaged they were with each other. I have no doubt there is going to be a lot of one on one for them this weekend.

     
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