A quiet Sunday as the warmer temperatures have returned. I did walk out to the east yard this afternoon and check on my two tomato plants. I have a dozen on the vine in various sizes. If anyone drove past on Stauffer Avenue they would have thought I was dancing along with the music from my ear buds. No, I was just trying to keep the mosquitoes at bay.
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Noreen
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Noreen
And Thanks Went Heaven Bound
Yesterday I received a phone call from my brother Michael. He was calling me from the swing on his porch having coffee. Is that really a cause for prayers? It really is. For the first time since the middle of April he was able to swallow a liquid. Michael was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in January of 2014. The radiation and chemo treatment began and so did the waiting game for my brother and his family. It was the surgery that needed to take place after the chemo and radiation that became a “wait and see” for possible recovery.
There is no need to do medical terms to high heaven. The radiation burned his throat but still allowed for drinking and nourishment even though he could not taste anything. From April until this last week Michael could not swallow anything, even his own saliva. This next week he will able to have the feeding tube removed and soft foods will be totally enjoyed.
I realize that members of my family have had TIAs (light strokes with little to no after effects), full blown strokes with definite life long effects, breast cancer and uterine cancer. I am not making light of those family members and what they endured. Thankfully those family members received timely help and have gone on with regular visits to make sure there is no recurrence. No, there are no guarantees for any of those family members. Prayers of blessings that those with cancer are, for now, free of cancer. In the case of strokes, each day is watchful with the lifestyle they live.
The survival rate for esophageal cancer is slim as the cancer moves quickly to the brain or elsewhere. It does take both of my hands to count acquaintances that Dennis and I have lost to esophageal cancer. I know Michael will regain the excessive weight loss in time to come. His energy will revive itself slowly as he putters around the farmyard. A huge part of the recovery he has had to this point is a wife with a surgical career. JoAnn was on alert 24/7 and picked up on the slightest of abnormalities. I am sure their vehicle could find itself to Rochester much like a radio-controlled car.
Today is just a day of good feelings knowing that Raymond and Lena’s family still has a head count of four children to be there for their children and their grandchildren. Speaking as one of those four, I love my life knowing that my three siblings are just a phone call or an email away.
In life, please give and have no memory of it, or take and remember it always.
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Noreen
It’s 10:00 p.m. and we are home from a trip to the north country for a wedding. It feels so good to be home. Catch ya all later.
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Noreen
Luncheon out with former colleagues can’t be made slight of. Working together over numbers and formulas now takes a backseat in our conversations. It’s far more relaxing to chat about family photos that are going to be organized, quilt patterns to try and garden produce that is coming into its own. Plans are underway for the three of us to do a day of quilting as the first granddaughter of the three of us will be graduating in the spring of 2015. We need to pitch in as a trio, the graduate’s grandmother is virtually blind, but her determination is second to none. Though we had to read the menu to her today, she knows just what will be needed to move the project along. Priceless.
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Noreen
We had notice today that grand daughter Megan had eight teeth pulled getting ready for braces. That takes me back to when Megan’s mom was in the need for braces. At that time there was nothing such as dental insurance that we were aware of. Who knew that a love of antiques that Carrie’s dad and I shared would save the day? The Black Walnut pump organ was put on the auction block and the tidy sum went straight to the dentist to cover the total cost. Do you think the tidy sum of $1,500 covers the cost of braces today? I think not. The cost becomes less important when the beautiful smile after the braces are taken off goes on for a lifetime.
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Noreen
And the Bounty Begins
Fried Zucchini rounds for supper to go with an Angus beef patty off of the grill. I used a dash of turmeric sprinkled in a fry pan with olive oil to preheat while I prepared a bit of dry Bisquick powder with all seasoned salt in a baggie. With a whipped egg in a bowl the 1/2″ Zucchini rounds were coated with the egg followed by a toss into the baggie of dry ingredients before they hit the hot fry pan. Frying them about three minutes on each side coincided perfectly as Dennis was bringing in the grilled Angus patties.
The interesting thing about Zucchini season is that the plants continue to bear until the frost kills the vines. I know before long there will be a host of new recipes circulating, some really weird, to try to use up the ever-bearing produce. The gal that gave us this treasure this morning shared that generally one plant will keep a family of six in fresh produce during the season. Angela has eight plants and her garden used to be a horse pasture. Need I say more?
Dennis, known as a good trooper, had two of the rounds and passed on any additional. For the next several days when I open the refrigerator the remainder of the Zucchini will be haunting me until I try one of those less than usual recipes.
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Noreen
There have been reports of bad weather to…
There have been reports of bad weather to the west and to the east while Minnesota is enjoying another great day of low humidity and mid temps. What the . . . ? This is such great weather and Dennis brings up going to Arizona this winter. I need to slow this fellow down to enjoy these great days. I admit, I cringe when Dennis brings up high mileage road trips as the pedal hits the medal and I thank the good Lord when the vehicle needs refueling. The highway with moderation is not in this ole trucker’s vocabulary. Maybe there needs to be a reminder as to how stiff he feels as he get out of the car after driving the 45 miles to Mankato.
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Noreen
All the windows are open in the house and it truly feels like a preview of the fall season that is just around the corner. I did take Dennis’ offer of taking today off. Nothing serious got accomplished and that included making a lot of fuss over the meals of the day. Dennis and I sat on the back patio this evening and just enjoyed the time taking in the sounds of a happy neighborhood. It has been a long time since the patio could be enjoyed due to biting bugs. 72 degrees and a brisk to strong wind . . . I could take this from now until the snow flies. I will be sad if high temps and humidity become the norm for August.
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Noreen
Wonderful, much-needed showers of rain this morning. About 5:30 this late afternoon I heard Dennis’ rider mower idling in the driveway. I played nice and the mowing brigade of “two” began. Let’s hear it for an 18″ Toro lawnmower! This last week and a half had been the longest we had been able to go without mowing since we began in April. After taking the time to cool down there is still plenty of a Saturday evening to enjoy. I can assure you the enjoyment will be right here on Stauffer Avenue. Maybe a root beer float will be the culmination to a great day. Dennis said I get tomorrow off. Priceless.
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Noreen
A low key day that felt right to just stay on Stauffer Avenue. It had to be that kind of day as Dennis hasn’t even left the property. That is very unusual, but then, the day doesn’t end until midnight tonight.