Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 4:10 am on October 12, 2014 Permalink  

  Today was a day that my laptop computer left home for a sleepover. Quite a few years ago, I was going to download the latest version for that time, of Windows Exployer. It did not go well, so I moved on to Google and then Google Chrome. Within the last week I could no longer get the updates that were to happen automatically. A few days later I could not connect to the router that is at Dennis’ command station. It’s a good thing that I had a “rain check” to cash in.

  Six years ago a young fellow had an ad in the paper for computer repair. As luck would have it the DVD drive on Dennis’ unit was out of commission and I had Paul come over and install a new one I had purchased at Best Buy. Paul had just finished his college coarse for computer based work and was just beginning to find a client base. After that day, I went to the courthouse and sang Paul’s praises to our IT fellow who was in the process of writing up a job description for an assistant. The ad went into the newspaper. Paul applied and was chosen for the next newest Watonwan County employee.

  Six years later I had the joy of spending this morning with Paul in our home working on my laptop.

  The problem with the Internet occurred when someone tried to piggy back our internet service and for some reason my laptop was not able to connect the next time I sat down for some computer time. Paul has now installed passwords and that will not be happening again. The Window’s based updates could no longer forgive the mess I had made years before with a download gone bad. Paul took my laptop home with him and he is going to strip it down and then reload everything. It should result in a faster computer and one that has also been cleaned up. Paul and I went through the entire list of programs and there were several that were no longer needed or used.

  I am so thankful that Dennis has a computer unit that he has been sharing with me for posting on my blog and checking my emails. The keyboard is horrible to use. Let’s face it, I have been spoiled with my laptop and will so appreciate it after it has been tuned up. Here was a fellow that was happy to come and make a house call and in between his tweaking, it was fun visiting with him in regard to his transition from being a fellow wanting to start his own business to an employee with a very strong future with the county.

   
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  Noreen 5:01 am on October 11, 2014 Permalink  

  Today was a family funeral on Dennis’ side of the family. Lots of visiting and catching up with those that traveled to be here. I think I am “worded” out. Catch ya tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 3:10 am on October 10, 2014 Permalink  

  Perfect Partner 

  

  “Enough with the garden dirt.”

  Today Dennis is off to the Sioux Fall airport to pick up son Ken for a family funeral tomorrow.  The plane was to land at 2:00 p.m. and now the arrival time is at 8:00 p.m.  It’s a hurry up and wait.

  I decided to do some gardening, in the method of chopping down the greenery.  It is spent from a few light frosts and no longer has an appeal to me.  It is time, and why not do it before the fingers are getting frostbite?

  There was no way for me to get lonely today.  Kitten, Butter Ball, was with me the entire time.  He is the perfect pet.  He loves to be wherever Dennis and me are at, whether in the porch or outside.  Butter Ball follows along and snips at leaves, bugs and his shadow.

  I don’t stand a chance of overdoing it as Butter Ball inspects the plants as they are lobbed off.  I have to back off as I sure would hate to clip his little feet with the garden shears.  I have never had a cat that liked me enough to stick it out with me as this one does.  Generally, our first garage cat, Honey Bunny, looks very bored and takes off and returns when she darn well feels like it.

  When Butter Ball decided to take time out of the dirt and take “five” on the grass, I got the hint that perhaps I also needed to take a break. It didn’t take long and we both knew it was time to hang up the tools and call it a day of good gardening.  Obviously, I had to find new digs, as Butter Ball claimed my rocker.

  Dennis and I are so enjoying this little addition to our home.  Butter Ball is the perfect partner in crimes of gardening – or just stealing the show.

   
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  Noreen 6:16 am on October 9, 2014 Permalink  

  A Good Deed Done 

  Yesterday my day started early as I needed to be on the road before breakfast.   There was a task I had signed up for and wanted to do, so it was full speed ahead.

  A friend, Judy, is visually impaired to a huge degree from Macular Degeneration, but had the want of putting together a quilt for  her granddaughter’s graduation in the spring of 2015.  Oh, a quilt top, that didn’t sound too bad.  A second friend, Doreen, was right and ready to  help.  Admittedly, Doreen has never quilted, but she was determined to help.  With food items in tow we were ready to start the day at Judy’s.

  Over time, Judy had saved a pattern that was to be used for this time along with the fabric.  The fabric was 18 different patterned prints.  Judy can make out shades of color, but nothing definite.  The eyes felt like the ball in a “gone bad” pinball machine . . . where to focus first?

  We started with the zeal of new calves when they are let out of the barn after a long winter and they smell all that fresh air that is to be had.  The printed pattern was weird, really weird, but we plugged on.  After several hours we scrapped the pattern and made our own original design using the fabric.

  Doreen took verbal instructions like a trooper as she was either cutting, ironing, sewing or giving me the “deer in the headlight look.” Whatever I ask of her, she did.  At one time she said, “It sure seems silly to cut up all this fabric and then sew it back together.”  Bless her heart, I need to bring her into the quilting fold and get her hooked.

  I think at four in the afternoon I announced that I was really tired of hearing my own voice.  Working in the depths of my sewing room with just ghosts of my past keeping me company is a lot different than verbalizing every step of every one of the 35 nine inch wild print quilt blocks.  It’s a good thing laughter was a large portion of the long day.

  The end result was a completed twin sized quilt top with just a few scraps remaining of the original 18 fabrics.  The steps to complete the project will be at a time somewhere down the road.  After all, you add the batting in one piece to the back of the top . . .  add the backing of the quilt in one piece and it’s a quilt ready to be tied and hemmed. Getting the top of any quilt that is pieced with various colors and fabrics takes a huge amount of math to come up with something that will be used for comfort on a bed and not used as a component for one of Nicholas’ forts.

  Good job, Doreen, and thanks for all the hugs, Judy.

   
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  Noreen 6:31 am on October 8, 2014 Permalink  

  A long day doing a good deed – catch ya all tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 5:30 am on October 7, 2014 Permalink  

  A Little Humbling 

  I am one who thinks that if I tough it out long enough the pain will subside.  Well, this pain in the butt, literally, would not budge.  Arthritis is no stranger to me, but I prefer to keep it at arms length.

  I attended a lot of family functions this summer that usually took a two hour car trip, one way.  The function would begin and I was either in a church pew or a hard folding chair and then back on the road for several hours.

  I did all my exercises to combat the stiffness, even to the point of sitting on a pair of tennis balls to allow the Ham Strings to stay flexible rather than knot up.  Before I knew it I was back in the car for another errand or event and squirming to find a comfortable spot.

  Today I threw in the towel and I did get set up with several sessions at physical therapy for later on this week. I also went and bought the biggest bottle of Aleve Gel Caps that I could find.  We had gotten so accustomed to just having Acetaminophenin in the house, I had forgotten to try something else for inflammation.  My doctor said he has had just as much positive results in his patients dealing with arthritis as those using Celebrex.   Time will tell if $15.98, compared to $192.00, will bring relief in conjunction with several appointments at physical therapy.

  Dennis says it’s tough to get old.  I say “the old” is only between the ears.

   
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  Noreen 4:15 am on October 6, 2014 Permalink  

  We knew this day would come: Dennis’ sister-in-law succumbed to the long fight she had with Parkinson’s disease. Her struggles are over and peace is hers.

   
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  Noreen 2:54 am on October 5, 2014 Permalink  

  The sun is out and the world seems a happier place. It may be cool in the low 50s, but I’ll take it any day over clouds that feel like doom and gloom. We can take heart, there will be many nice days before the cool turning cold strikes us for long term.

   
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  Noreen 2:42 am on October 4, 2014 Permalink  

  45 degrees with the addition of 8/10th inch of rain makes it feel mighty chilly. The house plants that have been adorning the Koi pond were brought into the garage porch today as there is the word “snow” being bantered around by the meteorologists on the news. The furnace has been flipped on to take the chill out of the house. Hmm . . . not liking the idea of that being the norm from here on in. I am just wondering how long it will be before Dennis brings the flannel sheets down from the closet shelf. Dennis equates warmth with weight . . . me, not so much.

   
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  Noreen 4:42 am on October 3, 2014 Permalink  

  Today was a little-known national holiday: Dennis’ 78th birthday. We celebrated in good style by having a great workout at the Super 8 pool and then spending time in the hot tub. Both of these do wonders for Dennis’ legs, which suffer from neuropathy (nerve damage). Weekdays there is so little activity out at the pool, we know we couldn’t have better quality digs if we had our own set up here at home. The gals there are on top of water control and cleanliness. It does feel at times like our own spa. Our noon was topped off with his favorite fried egg sandwiches. Life is good on Stauffer Avenue.