Dennis and I had a road trip date today to Mankato. More snow is forecast for this evening and this seemed to be the best chance. I was amazed how many vehicles had visited the ditches between here and there. After all the errands were run, Culver’s seemed the the best spot for a meal. Great getaway. When we got home Dennis checked over the snowblower as it will be needed tomorrow — again.
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Noreen
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Noreen
Seriously – More Snow?
Dennis is Determined to Enjoy the Garage Porch During One More Snow Fall
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Noreen
Today is five weeks out of shoulder repair and this morning I could put lotion on the left side of my face with my right hand. The right arm cannot quite make the sharp bend that it takes for the hand to reach the right side of the face. This is definite progress.
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Noreen
Fleeting Thoughts:
In life – the punishment that is dealt out should fit the crime.
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Noreen
Gearing up for Winter Olympics on Stauffer Avenue
It’s time for the next test of endurance here on Stauffer Avenue. Go Stauffer Avenue Olympics! Shoulder surgery does not have a successful ending if the patient does not follow up on the excellence of the surgeon. I have been working with the elastic band that is hooked to a doorknob here in the house. The band is pulled high, the band is pulled low, the band is pulled wide, and as the days pass I grasp the band closer to the doorknob for a bit of extra resistance. Whatever movement of the arm and shoulder I expect to have in the future, I mimic those movements with the band. Oh, how much is taken for granted. I do forget that at five weeks all is going according to the plan of recovery. I’m a true blue German and I get impatient.
Dennis and I have talked about going out for a Valentine supper this Friday. We agreed to postpone the holiday supper as eating with my left hand is getting me by, but not very gracefully and when using the right hand I may end up with more food on the floor than in my mouth. Just not socially acceptable.
Generally, an exercise bike may not seem as if it would play into the next step for physical therapy of a reverse shoulder surgery. The exercise bike we have has the back and forth motions of the handlebars as the bike is peddled. What a great way to extend the arm and rotate the shoulder as it requires firing up some muscle power, giving the legs a free ride for the motion.
This exercise bike is a 23-year-old jewel that has been used to no end. Dennis checked the bike over this morning and disappeared for a bit as one of the pedals needed a bit of attention to detail in the shop. Nothing would be worse than a pedal coming off the shaft and finding myself in a recovery of another body part. I don’t think Dennis would be up for that as well. So, in days to come, I hope to give the shoulder a new challenge for movement. Tuning into the Winter Olympics on NBC while I give it a whirl should be great incentive. It’s either this or better.
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Noreen
Today Dennis’ porch cat Honey Bunny had an appointment at the veterinary office for her yearly shots. Dennis said she bawled all the way as she was peeking out of the carrier. It’s a good thing it was still below zero for outside temps and everyone had their vehicle windows shut. Someone may have mistaken the commotion as a child that was being mistreated. Oh yes, she can wind it up that loud and that consistent. Once the vet pulled her out of the carrier she never made a peep and took it like a little hero. Honey Bunny spends a lot of time outside roaming the back yards and there is no telling what she may get into and pay the consequences later. Dennis’ porch bud is good to go. Check that off the list of “must do.”
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Noreen
The cowboy made it home from the Sioux Falls trade show without out a hitch. Lots of news to share from buddies that came from far and wide. Everything is back to a usual schedule here on Stauffer Avenue. What also is usual and customary are the sub-zero temps. It can’t last forever, but even for me — the one who likes winter — it is getting to be a bit much. Catch ya later.
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Noreen
She Brings Thoughts of Spring
Sun Bonnet Sue in Her Glory
It’s not a new concept that mothers of small children need “me” time. I am not saying that it was a huge block of time each day when Carrie and Kevin were toddlers but I took what I could get.
We were full blown farmers in the mid 1960s with chickens, cows, pigs, ducks and big gardens. I was no different than any other farm wife and mother in our area. Farm houses brought no income to the family and that determined the work schedule and also Carrie and Kevin’s schedule. Meals and naps were not always at the same time each day but it always was a goal to attain. The first order of business every day was livestock chores that needed doing morning, noon and night. Though chickens only lay one egg a day, the egg nests were used by multiple hens. Those darn chickens would certainly decide if it was worth your time to pick the eggs out of the nests several times a day, because they would either scratch too hard to find the perfect spot to drop their egg and one would be broken all over the rest or they would poop in the nest. Payback was not good. Just like the family, noon lunch was always looked forward to by the young calves and dairy cows. Hay was needed in the bunks at noon and then Carrie and Kevin were the spotlight for lunch. It was all usual and customary.
Carrie and Kevin’s Dad , Orlin, had taken an off-the-farm job at 3M to supplement the farm income, and depending on which shift of the three possible shifts he was on, I was the go to person for the farm animal schedules combined with my kids and the house. Somehow it all fit into 24 hours of the day. I will say that the kids did get a lot of fresh air and wore themselves out to the point that naps and bedtimes were not fought. A nice warm washcloth on their face and hands after noon lunch and it was the peace that passes all understanding for me.
Orlin’s mom, Esther, was a crocheter and my mom was a quilter. I enjoyed doing them both. The dining room table was my area for play when the kids napped. The huge old dining room oak buffet was the storage spot for my goodies in between time. Somewhere along the line Esther got into fabric painting and of course it piqued my interest. All I
had to do was rearrange my buffet and there was room for one more hobby I could enjoy when time allowed. Tri-Chem oil paints for fabric painting was fun and allowed for being creative. It was resilient for being washed and Esther enjoyed using the paints on dish towels rather than everything being embroidered. Who used dish towels that were not embellished? Esther kept her mind young by embracing new ways to do what she enjoyed. Her wares were sought after by people in Hector to be used as shower gifts for bridal and baby showers.With Esther and my Mom as role models, of course I found “me” time. Tri-Chem was the craft I could pull out from the buffet in short order in a small contained box and while away time when the kids were napping or off to bed at night. My sister, Elvera, had sewn herself a rose-colored shift dress (strait design with seaming and darts for form fighting). Elvera ask me to paint Sweet Pea flowers and vines that would cascade diagonally down the front of the dress starting at one of the shoulder seams. It turned out great. I enjoyed the creativity of it all and decided to mix the quilting with the painting and thus came about Sun Bonnet Sue quilt blocks to paint and then incorporate into a quilt top.
Sun Bonnet Sue Ready for Spring
The Sun Bonnet Sue quilt top had been in the cedar chest since the late 1960s. Before I had shoulder surgery I took the quilt top to the Old Allie Quilt Shop in Sherburn, Minnesota, for Sharon to work her magic. When Sharon called several weeks into the recovery of the surgery that she had it done, it gave my spirits a lift to no end. Sharon’s quilting did not disappoint and I was thrilled that Sun Bonnet Sue was brought to life for enjoyment. Looking at the quilt made the coming of spring seem possible after this long cold winter. The finished project and the bright spring colors just make me smile. Dennis could not believe the outcome and thought it might be too pretty to use. Sun Bonnet Sue has seen the last of her dark storage world. Our west porch bed will welcome her with open arms.
Considering my stashes of creativity it’s no surprise that I still have the Tri-Chem paints. I have used them over the years but with no huge project in mind. There in the cedar chest, next to where the Sun Bonnet Sue quilt top had been resting, is 12 Overall Sam quilt blocks. I had started them, but life happened along the way. There may be “the rest of the story” to come.
In life, please give with no remembrance, or take and remember it always.
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Noreen
Waking up from a nap this afternoon with…
Waking up from a nap this afternoon with the Will and Grace Marathon going on in the background it took a while before I could realize what day it was, what time it might be or if Dennis was home or not. Deep sleep naps are wonderful and I am sure Dennis had a slight pain in his neck in Sioux Falls right about that same time.
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Noreen
My Ole Cowboy is on R & R
For the last several days Dennis has been organizing and packing up for Sioux Fall, South Dakota. Each year there is a trade show for collectors of various makes and models of guns. I am pretty sure this is Dennis’ 22nd year of some great cowboy R & R bonding. I so appreciate the fact that Dennis’ acquaintances stretch beyond the five day a week buddies here in St. James. There are fellows from Utah and Nevada that Dennis looks forward to visiting with and broadening horizons is always a good thing. Over the years Dennis has bought, sold and traded. It has been a lot of fun plus quite financially successful.
It’s a huge project deciding what to take to show on the tables that he has rented. Friday the dealers get set up and buy and sell from each other before the doors are open to the public on Saturday and Sunday. I have been with Dennis various years and it is non stop people checking out the 300 plus tables of goodies.
I got the full lecture before he left this morning. No driving unless an emergency as I cannot work the seat belt with the right arm. No attic adventures – I am to stay down on the main floor. Basement travels are allowed but no carrying items up or down – just me navigating the steps. The last four weeks Dennis has been taking care of me morning, noon and night and this trip felt right for both of us. After we had gone over all the ground rules there was one happy cowboy heading out in his red pickup. I know tonight I will get a phone call and it will be a “just checking in” type of call. Gotta love it.
