Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 11:34 pm on September 28, 2013 Permalink  

  Rebuilding the Garage Wall 

  

  Rebuilding the Garage Wall

  As I have mentioned in several of the previous posts we really have taken on a full load of work before the fall weather turns cold.  Dennis’ pickup garage has had insulation and paneling on the wall for the last twenty years.  As we did an outside perimeter check we noticed that the east wall of his garage was moving off of the sill.  No pre-treated lumber was used on that 50 plus years ago.  In fact that part of the garage was built with cast off wooden pallets from one of the manufacturing plants here in St. James during World War II.

  Our garage kitty, Honey Bunny, has always been let outside during the day and she shows up at night to be closed in for a night’s sleep in her box lined with polar fleece.  In fact she has the run of the entire garage and garage porch.  It’s all her territory.

  We took down the wall in the garage on Monday and for four nights it was a free for all for Honey Bunny.  No more curfew for Honey Bunny.  The wild that was no doubt breed into her was at its peak as she came and went whenever she felt like it.  We knew she came into the garage sometime during the nights as her food bowl had been tapped.

  By six on the evening of yesterday (Friday) the new wall was enclosed and we could enjoy the forecast that rain was coming on Saturday.  Friday night the darkness came and no Honey Bunny.  I am sure while she was tripping the night’s fantastic it was a rude awakening to find the wall closed up.  On a second check on her Dennis had already closed up the patio door to the garage porch.  It wasn’t like he had not called for her many times.  She was locked out.

  

  Honey Bunny All Cleaned Up and Wore Out

  This morning when we went out for coffee to the garage porch it didn’t take long for Honey Bunny to come trotting in like no one’s business.  What a sad looking kitty.  Wherever she had holed up for the night she was covered in sand burrs.  I had never had her jump up on the table to be brushed as quickly as she did this morning.  She took the brushing like a trooper and it took a long time before she looked her normal gray and not gray with green polka dots.

  The wild that is in Honey Bunny can be tamed with a hairbrush every time.

   
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  Noreen 5:38 am on September 27, 2013 Permalink  

  Dennis and I are deep in the mix of repairs here on Stauffer. The lumber yard came through with materials and there is primer, caulk, siding, shingles and trim boards – what to handle first. The temps got a bit warm but the breeze felt very soothing on skin that was a bit touched by the sun. Catch ya later.

   
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  Noreen 6:40 am on September 26, 2013 Permalink  

  Here we are at the time of year when the squirrels have nothing on Dennis and me as we get ready for winter. The cool weather had us sitting on the back patio and taking stock of our real estate. The list was started and it grew and it grew much like the magic bean stalk. We had a whiz bang start until our local lumber yard didn’t have some of the basics on hand that we needed. Hurry up and wait. Hey they have five locations and somewhere along the way I can envision the wagon being pulled by mules and at each stop they are picking up items that we need. We’re not building a two story dairy barn, we are repairing a portion of some very small buildings. As luck would have it they did have paint on hand and when asked what type of paint I wanted I said I wanted an excellent latex that would last at least five years. Why five years? There is no way I can see myself painting heights above my head when I am 75. Stay tuned for the rest of the story.

   
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  Noreen 6:24 am on September 25, 2013 Permalink  

  Dennis and I love egg salad sandwiches or… 

  Dennis and I love egg salad sandwiches or even having some ready for adding to a lettuce salad.  What spoils it is when the eggs are impossible to peel.  Here is a tip that has worked 100% of the time for me.  When the eggs are put on to boil I add a splash of white vinegar to the water.  When the water and eggs come into a full boil, just remove from the heat and cover the saucepan for about 20 minutes.  Cool down with cold water running over them.  With this tip there is no longer a chance of the shells coming off in a million pieces.  Priceless!

   
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  Noreen 6:08 am on September 24, 2013 Permalink  

  Recently we were asked to an outside wedding… 

  

  Stauffer Ave. folks out for the day.

  Recently we were asked to an outside wedding in a park adjacent to a lake. This time of the year we were prepared with jackets in tow.  Saturday came and the sun came out and it was a perfect day.  Dennis and I found a park bench and we sat back to enjoy watching all the preparations.  So much going on to get every detail just right.

  As we were watching everyone, someone was watching us and took this wonderful photo.  Dennis and I agreed we were the best looking couple there — other than the bride and groom.

  We had a great time and of course the best was saved for last: coming home and getting comfortable in our robes as we sat out on the patio enjoying being home.

   
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  Noreen 9:55 pm on September 22, 2013 Permalink  

  Angels on High — Part 2 

  

  The Amazing Machine

  After a great bit of work trimming the Lokre Oak tree Friday night, yesterday brought about the true value of this huge machine that Brandon Lokre was using and running.  This machine can raise its lift to 90′ and the sole control of moving the base as well as the lift is done entirely from inside the basket which can rotate 360 degrees. When I saw the ease of Randy, Brandon and Jaren replacing a second floor window with this lift and being able to maneuver the heavy window for perfect placement — I was in awe.

  When I went back into my memories I recalled how struggles were met in days of old with nothing more than heavy wooden ladders. My Mom would hold her breath as Dad had the two wooden ladders connected and extended to it’s max as Dad fixed the hay loft lift in the far tip of the barn roof.  The length that the ladder was extended combined with the weight of the ladder and my Dad’s weight caused a bow to the ladder that caused one standing on the ground to hold the breath in respect to what was happening.  Grant it, farming operations have changed drastically but yet this is the ultimate in ease of awkward work and safety.

  Then, just as now, angels on high both watching over those that work as well as the worker themselves. Hats off to new technology and the trained operators.

   
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  Noreen 9:12 pm on September 21, 2013 Permalink  

  Angels on High 

  

  Brandon and Jaren

  We had a ringside seat last night to a huge event.  Our neighbor the Lokre’s to the north have an oak tree that has towered over our lots from a time when our area was a pasture located in the then-St. James Township.  Stauffer Avenue came about during the city sprawl. I have always known it pays to know people in high places but this brought it to within feet of our garage porch.

  Brandon and Jaren have never known any other neighbor to their south other than Dennis and me.  Yes, we have a long history as we watched these boys grow into hard working men.  Friday night the biggest toy I have ever seen came in and gave the majestic oak a trim.  Brandon and Jaren manned the huge machine as if it were a part of an Erector set taking out dead limbs that hovered over their property and our garage porch.  I maybe should not have put down the patio umbrella as it could have been used as a net.  They continued maneuvering around the entire tree making short work of what could have been devastating if a hard storm had brought the dead limbs down on garages or vehicles.

  A huge thanks goes out to the Lokre Team as there was no cleanup that was needed from Dennis and me.  That was priceless.  I could not believe how much the bucket on the lift could hold until it could be unloaded close to their trailer.  Thanks again fellows.

   
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  Noreen 2:12 am on September 21, 2013 Permalink  

  All in Good Time 

  Dennis and I are not the handiest or the fastest but we do tend to our home in just the right fashion and with a lot of passion.

  Today we buttoned up the drier vent on the exterior of the house by installing a new one.  The old cover was so brittle it cracked into many pieces when Dennis went to check it.  Check that off the “seasons are changing” list.

  We have had the sweetest little refrig in the garage for a number of years.  Absolutely the worse possible location ever.  It now is easily accessed in the best location ever, not far from the base of the basement steps for those extra items that can take up too much space in the refrigerator in the kitchen.

  Dennis and I are rocking it this fall season.

   
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  Noreen 7:18 am on September 20, 2013 Permalink  

  Don’t tell anyone but, I found myself napping 

  Don’t tell anyone but I found myself napping this evening. I sat on the sofa looking through some mail with the television on for background noise and the next thing I knew 30 minutes had gone by. We have been putting in some very busy days and it may have just caught up with me or I may just be that relaxed after knocking our job jar down to very few items. Catch ya later.

   
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  Noreen 9:00 am on September 19, 2013 Permalink  

  It’s been such a great day of running errands on items than need to be in place as fall is fast approaching. We have a garage in the far back of the lot and of course my potting shed. Just to be on the safe side we always put down rodent pitch packs for the field mice to munch on as they try to find a great hiding spot before winter. Replacement furnace filters are now on board and we are on the list to have the furnace checked out. When I checked on the furnace filter stash, or lack thereof, in the basement it started a little cleaning here and a little cleaning there and before long everything had been picked up or moved and vacuumed under. Dennis came down and with his help we nailed it. Whew! How did I ever have time to hold down a W-2 Form job? Catch ya later.