Me, Myself and Memories

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  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.

   
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  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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  Noreen 3:23 am on July 30, 2016 Permalink  

  What Is It . . . 

  What is it about me that my days are filled with various projects in various places?  The truth of the matter is that arthritis prevents me from staying at one task for too long.  The “too long” could be several hours or 15 minutes.  I know my body and I sure do know the telltale signs when it is time for me to change my posture.  At earlier times, I could sit and read for hours, sit at the sewing machine all day, or be bent over the quilt frame for hours on end.  No more.  Ya, just got to keep moving so the joints within your body are in fairly constant motion . . . within reason.

  At some point in time with physical work, my joints had been irritated and the bone had been worn away.  The irritation continued and the situation ended as being chronic, meaning it is here to stay.  The cartilage protecting some of my joints had been worn away.  Though I now have new shoulders and new knees, arthritis loves it when one body position is maintained for an extended period of time and all the nerves, tendons and muscles just settle in for a snuggle and allow for atrophied muscles that can gradually make you a prisoner in your own body.  That is not going to happen anytime soon.

  

  In between time, and in the meantime, I have this nine patch that I put into a block that is 6″ x 6″ for the next greatest scrappy quilt. It may be some time before it is completed, but hey, it’s on my schedule. Those darn scraps just keep coming.

  So . . . the answer for me is to have a book to read in the living room, crafting going on in the south half of my sewing studio, the sewing machine is in the north portion and in the middle is the cutting table.  Having a computer in my sewing room as well as one in our living room allows me to roam at will.  The porch with great rocking chairs is a good place to read until I find my head nodding. The water fountain in the Koi pond can put you to sleep. Our acre of mowing and gardens to tend allow for me to have choices within my day.  With me moving to multiple corners of my world, multiple tasks are completed, but just not done to completion in one session.

  I am not complaining nor bragging.  I know that sitting and vegetating could be a prescription for a very small world. The arthritis has made me somewhat being viewed as having attention deficit disorder.  The diagnosis could be a whole lot worse.  I know I can’t stay in one place for very long so the tendency to be on the lookout for other areas in our home that may need some attention is likely.  I can take the “eye rolling” when I see it in friends and family.  Being on the move for me is how and why I feel really physically good.  I see no reason to single handedly support either the chiropractor of the physical therapist . . . but it is reassuring to know they are there if I have been naughty.
   
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  Noreen 3:15 am on July 29, 2016 Permalink  

  Those Were the Days 

  We are in the middle of the afternoon and the kitchen is cleaned up from handling cucumbers.

  The first item on our list was to get the creamed cucumbers marinating for our supper. The “new potatoes” are scrubbed and ready to be the base for the cucumbers.  That will be the sum total of our supper.  Nothing more is needed for us.

  I can’t believe I had to get salt from the next door neighbor to get the refrigerated pickles going. That does tell a bit about our use of salt . . . slim to none.

  The smells, the mess . . . it was all reminiscent of the days when I canned and processed everything that grew above the ground and below it.  If it had four legs or two legs and could be found on our farmyard, there was a portion of them in our freezer or on the fruit cellar shelves.  My Mom taught me from earlier on to take pride in having plenty of food on hand for easy fixings.  How else could I help with barn chores of every type, clean up Carrie and Kevin from trailing behind me and still have a wonderful meal on the table?

  I can still visualize the mess in our small farmhouse kitchen during canning and freezing season.  I then understood why my grandparents had the “summer kitchen,” which was a short distance from the farmhouse.  Chris and Laura had it outfitted with a cookstove that was fed with wood.  The pump for water was not very far away.  Tin boilers with scalding hot water were on hand either for use in the processing or for cleaning up.  The summer kitchen had a loft.  The younger of us grandchildren could be in the summer kitchen during a work session, if we sat on the steps and didn’t take away from those who were busy with either things from the garden or butchering chickens and ducks.  I can still hear the whistles that us kids were handed from the quills of the ducks.  Grandpa Christ knew how to cut the ends and add a slit for it to become a noisemaker that was used . . . only outside.  How lucky I am to have experienced those times.  The fact that I can recall those events as if they were yesterday is so much of who I am today.  Some people would not think it important to retain those memories. Maybe I live too much in memories.  Perhaps it is how I turn my back on the reality of what the world holds today.

  As I mentioned, our small kitchen was busy from May to the first hard frost.  Strawberries and raspberries in the earlier spring, right to the time the last of the apples were put through the press for apple juice and apple cider.  When the cabbage was readied for sauerkraut, there was always some cabbage that escaped from the cutter and flew at will.  The apples for the press were the ones that weren’t quite good enough to wrap in paper to keep for raw eating into the early winter.  You can only imagine how far apple juice can travel.  The tick, tick sound when a child’s shoe walks on sticky apple juice and continues to carry it farther into the home.  Orlin always made good use of the little gophers: Carrie and Kevin. Pails in hand they made many trips from the garden area into the house.  We were not able to remain on the farm.  I have no idea what memories Carrie and Kevin carry from that time.  I am so appreciative of those times, of those memories. Memories such as those stay oh so sweet and push back the times that were less than sweet.  It is amazing how God works in His mysterious ways.

  This afternoon as Dennis and I were getting the kitchen back to normal, Dennis did ask how soon he could try the refrigerator pickles.  The entire process is making a sugary syrup that the cucumbers absorb.  Amazingly, within several days, the thinly sliced cucumbers take on the essence of the spices, sugar and vinegar.  I believe in a couple of days  the refrigerator will be raided for that first taste.  Hark, I can almost hear the tick, tick of the shoes carrying pickle juice.

   
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  Noreen 5:48 am on July 28, 2016 Permalink  

  A great finale to a warm but satisfying day. We took a road trip north to the mega city of Fairfax. Visiting the kids is always something to look forward to. Today we met my brother Michael and his wife, JoAnn at the Casey’s store in Fairfax. Dennis and I came away with a huge amount of cucumbers and some onions from their garden. Mike’s were on their way to play nine holes of golf at Fort Ridgely.

  After checking in with Kersten and Kevin we headed south for home. Dennis and I visited the entire way home taking in the fields that look like award winning crops and some fields that could use the cork pulled to allow the water to go down.

  Here comes the finale: Dennis was treated to liver and onions, complete with mashed potatoes, for supper. We had supper a bit later than usual, but I must admit, it was a good fare. Me . . . can you believe it . . . me, I did the dishes and the cook stove cleanup. Dennis had the night off.

  Tomorrow Mike’s cucumbers will be made into refrigerator pickles. I have dug out all the spices and the cucumbers are crisping up in the refrigerator. Out came my Mom’s favored recipe for this batch of pickles.

  Tomorrow, I can guarantee the aroma of vinegar cooking in our kitchen will clean out those sinuses once and for all.

   
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  Noreen 1:38 am on July 27, 2016 Permalink  

  Giving In 

  

  After too many days of hot humid weather,
  Snuggles and Harriet have given up exploring and are content to chill.
  I have no doubt the soil feels cool to their tummies.

   
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  Noreen 4:55 am on July 26, 2016 Permalink  

  Just two days shy of a month that we went grocery shopping. We decided to make it a road date to Mankato. Sam’s Club was our choice. Buying in bulk is our preference to fill the pantry. I have comparison shopped on the price of one can of soup compared to a carton that has eight cans, etc.

  A time back I got wiser and knew if I filled my cart with all the bar codes showing, I would not have to unpack the grocery cart at the check out. I think the clerk appreciates it as much as i do. I know how much work is awaiting me at home to get the goodies tucked away. Touching each item one less time . . . it’s a good thing.

  Perhaps being a bit of a fanatic, I don’t like leaving that eight can carton in tack for the pantry. Let’s just get the cans out of the cardboard and onto the shelf already. It is a lot of work shopping for a whole month, but mini trips to the grocery store is a real nuisance.

  Dennis is very successful in making hotdishes with healthy ingredients, and I want to make his pantry shopping as enjoyable as possible. A two cup measuring cup in hand and taking that much out of the Rubbermaid container of pasta and trailing along the shelves for supplies and he is on his way for a fantastic fare for supper.

  Tomorrow, the large bag of frozen English peas will be put into smaller bags that then go into a larger freezer bag for ease per recipe. The bag of Vadalia onions will be chopped and put in small bags within a freezer bag for just the right amount per Dennis’ recipe.

  One of Dennis’ successful toppings for the hotdishes is crushed Cheezits. Sometimes it’s Panko bread crumbs that seal in the goodies of the dish.

  I have not given up my duties in the kitchen. I am allowing Dennis to experiment with foods that he enjoys eating. On my cooking days we prefer more chicken than beef or pork. Dennis loves the way I make chicken breasts, aka: chicken titties.

  A usual, our road dates to Mankato allow for us to eat out and our favorite place is Perkins. The menu is huge and the menu of the $4.00 to $8.00 meals seems to go over well as they are good values and good food.

  After dealing with groceries for most of the day, I think I will have some of the cold breakfast coffee that is left for supper.

   
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  Noreen 3:45 am on July 25, 2016 Permalink  

  We had to seize the day and get the acre mowed. The grass was long and it did not want to dry. Earlier there had been a breeze, and for the most part, the biting bugs didn’t bother. Dennis headed for the backyards while the push mower with the bagger attached and I did the area around the house and the front yard. There were mowers humming all around town. It was the nicest day in quite a few as far as temps and humidity.

  Dennis looked as if he had moss growing on him by the time he was done mowing. Using a strap he kept the shield up as to allow the grass to fly as far as possible from the mower deck. Yup, it did. Up and away and back on Dennis. The cut grass did windrow to some degree. Hopefully a brisk wind will take some of it farther down the way after it has a chance to dry. It’s been a very active year for the mowers.

  We stirred up a cold spam and pasta salad for supper. This will take the last crust out of Dennis’ beloved bread wrapper. Boo Hoo.

   
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  Noreen 4:36 am on July 24, 2016 Permalink  

  I can thank Dennis for the wonderful leftovers we will be having for supper. He makes a mean hotdish and the concoction is a two-for . . . enough for two evenings. We have been really cleaning out our corners in regard to groceries, both in the pantry and the refrigerator. We had one of our two large grocery stores close and I am not too pleased to have to change our shopping habits. Personalities should not be the deciding factor, but I like being greeted with a smile or perhaps, “Thanks for shopping with us.” I’ll get over it. It does make making meals a fun challenge as to what we can put together. I can guarantee you we are not going hungry. It will be interesting when the two crusts in Dennis’ bread bag are gone. For Dennis, what is a hotdish without a piece of buttered bread. Hopefully today is the last of the brutal heat and humidity. The rain showers this morning didn’t help.

   
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  Noreen 2:42 am on July 23, 2016 Permalink  

  These extremely uncomfortable days, I am very thankful for a home that can be kept comfortable with air conditioning. What makes it even more comfortable is having creative hobbies within my sewing studio to take my energies.  If the weather outside would be such that the gardens could take some of my time, I would be plodding around in mud-laden shoes. The soil in the gardens is like walking on a sponge until your shoe breaks through. Dennis has commented that the grass looks as if it has given up on standing upright. Wouldn’t you know it . . . there are rain and thunder showers in the forecast. The least of ours, the cats, can be found stretched out with their tummies on the cool-feeling concrete in the garage. They have been going through a lot of water . . . some for drinking and some for splashing their feet into. Everybody seems to know what makes them feel the best.