Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 4:55 am on March 20, 2015 Permalink  

  Spring has sprung. If in doubt, ask Dennis. The Koi pond is filled with city water and will be pumping away for a few days to make sure the chlorine has dissipated before the Koi go in. Later in the day he went to the far east lot line and burned off the plume grass left from last year so the new growth can spring forth as the temps get warmer.

  The real blessing that Dennis and I are so thankful for is that this is the first spring in many we did not have to evacuate the garage porch due to fast thawing snow while the ground was still frozen causing the porch to flood. What a treat to enjoy these days while actually being in the garage porch. Life on Stauffer is good.

   
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  Noreen 4:28 am on March 19, 2015 Permalink  

  It has been two weeks of having nothing physical to show for my days. Seriously, It doesn’t bother me in the least. Who is this person taking up space?  I do pray every night that the tomorrow yet to come will bring a change in my physical condition followed by enthusiasm. I have had a lot of time to think, remember and literally dream during my many naps.

   
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  Noreen 6:04 am on March 18, 2015 Permalink  

  Just enjoying another wonderful spring day with lots of sun. We may have more late winter type days, but today sure beats the alternative.

   
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  Noreen 2:51 am on March 17, 2015 Permalink  

  – And It Shall Be Done 

  

  This ole cowboy had a plan and there was no taking any breaks.

  Yesterday Dennis mentioned freshening up the North wall of the potting shed.  The Koi pond’s south side is the North side of the potting shed.  Once the weather turns warm, Dennis may decide in a heart beat to get the Koi out of the horse tank in the garage and turn them loose in the pond.  For several years, after the Koi are in the pond . . . “Oh yeah, we were going to paint first.”

  

  The potting shed is ready to be a part of the Koi pond.

  I heard Dennis get up this morning and with one eye cracked, I could see it was still dark out and thus the eye closed for another two hours.  When we did meet for coffee in the porch, Dennis had the project all planned.  Today the temps were to be 60 – 70 degrees.  Exterior painting can be done with temps at minimum of 55 degrees.  Dennis had already brushed all the cob webs off of the North wall and after breakfast he would be heading to the lumber yard for paint.

  I was told I was to be on hand for supervising.  With Dennis balancing a pail of paint while on a ladder that was balanced on two planks on the bottom of the Koi pond, I would have not been anywhere else.  I must say, the project went off without a hitch, just like Dennis had anticipated.  By 12:30 Noon time, the  painting was done.  It was then just a matter of washing up the items that were on the potting shed for trim and decorations.

  I was encouraged to make a trip into my basement stashes to find some new greenery.  I must say, we are way ahead of ourselves this spring.  March 16th and the painting that was needed to be done can be checked of the list.  We spend a lot of time on the back patio and it will just be so much sweeter having had the potting shed with an update.

   
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  Noreen 5:46 am on March 16, 2015 Permalink  

  Today was a lot of rocking chair time in the porch soaking up all the sun. Dennis cleaned out the Koi pond of winter’s collection of leaves. As we sat in the porch and mulled things over, the north side of the potting shed needs to be painted before water is put in the pond. It’s a matter of putting down ply-wood on the bottom of the pond and then using the stepladder to get the job done. A good decision.

   
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  Noreen 5:34 am on March 15, 2015 Permalink  

  Dennis and his friend Lyle arrived home this afternoon. Lots of chit chat to catch up from the trip to Nevada and Arizona. Life is back to normal on Stauffer Avenue. I am turning the reins back to Dennis for the care of his livestock: fish and cats.

   
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  Noreen 3:54 am on March 14, 2015 Permalink  

  Yesterday I had a clinic appointment here in town. I made sure I parked at the far end of the parking lot. Well, yes, I did need the extra bit of exercise, but more importantly I really wasn’t ready to have anyone pass judgement on my car. I don’t think there was a five inch square anywhere on the hood, trunk or top that was not covered with kitty foot prints.

  I am not up to washing my car yet, but today I took charge of doing things a bit different in the garage and the garage porch. Butter Ball and Snuggles both like to stand in the water dish with their front feet. About three feet away Dennis has always had the litter box. Out of the water dish and a walk past the litter box and you have the perfect recipe for feet ready to leave paw prints as they jump up onto the car to sit in their favorite spots in the rafters. As of today the food and water dish are now in the porch sitting on the carpet. The proximity to the car of the litter box has not changed, but the wall mounted vacuum has a long enough hose to be looped onto a hook near the litter box. It takes five seconds to run that vacuum across the area in front of the litter box to pick up any litter that may come out on the paws of the cats.

  I have no idea how this will sit with Dennis as it is a break in his routine. I won’t know if this will make a difference on the decoupaged car until I get it washed.

  I had to have something today for local effort and time will tell if my car can sit in any parking lot without passersby conjuring up images of a crazy cat lady.

   
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  Noreen 5:21 am on March 13, 2015 Permalink  

  Each day, regardless of how I feel, I need to apply some local effort to keeping the home in good stead. Some days I have more energy than others. Today with the sun warming up the garage porch, I could not resist taking the wand and hose from the wall-mounted vacuum and run over the carpet in the porch. Needless to say there was a mixture of crushed leaves and, of course, cat hair. Butter Ball and Snuggles disappeared when I flipped the switch. Taking a few breaks in between also meant that both were back out in the open to check everything out. It may only be a 12′ x 16′ carpet, but it made me feel like I had put out and could see some results. All the cat toys were pitched into a box and of course it didn’t take long and Snuggles had to tip it over.

  I made sure to change out the water in the heated water dish on the patio, as I can’t imagine having a water dish with leaves floating in it. I no more than heaved the dish to empty it and Snuggles was in the wrong spot at the wrong time. I took some consolation in the fact that the water had not been ice cold and the 65 degree temps would allow for him to dry off fairly soon.

  So much for local effort for the day. It felt like it was a good day.

   
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  Noreen 5:44 am on March 12, 2015 Permalink  

  This afternoon is one for the books. I showered this mid-morning and all I could think of was how good Oatmeal would taste. I dolled it up a bit with cinnamon and a swirl of honey. It was about 2:00 p.m. and I took my favorite little quilt and sat on the sofa to read through the mail – mostly junk for the recycling bin. When I opened my eyes it was 4:30 p.m. I could not believe I had napped that long. I must have been totally content. Usually when I check my eyelids for cracks it might be for 15 – 20 minutes. The sleep had been so deep, I felt totally zapped trying to figure out what day it was and if I was indeed home alone or if Dennis was here. I had to get outside and walk the driveway several times to wake up. This may be a first of many deep naps, or just a fluke.

   
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  Noreen 5:40 am on March 11, 2015 Permalink  

  Oh, The Energy 

  

  Spring is in the air. There is nothing more entertaining than watching Snuggles and Butter Ball working off some energy. By the way, Snuggles has no idea that he is the light-weight in this exchange, he just loves being the one on top.