Double Duty Favorite
Water Glass/Rolling Pin – Priceless!
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Noreen
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Noreen
No Wants Here On Stauffer Avenue
Several days back as Dennis and I wound up checking our Christmas lists of items we wanted to do for the families, Dennis asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I couldn’t give him one idea and Dennis had no wants as well. We have a wonderful simplistic life that is full and rich. So – today my Major Elf pitched in right beside me as we prepared the home for various families that will be coming and going these next days. Priceless!
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Noreen
Dennis is in the Kitchen
Dennis is in the Kitchen
Today brought about a very windy cold seven degrees above zero. The saving grace is that the sun peeked out once in awhile. No matter what the weather the kitchen needs to be maned. Meals for two can be easy and sometimes a challenge. I could hear the kitchen cabinets opening and closing so I knew something was a foot. Dennis was scrounging through the pantry items to see what we had as available ingredients.
Last night Dennis did indeed fix supper for the two of us as I was finishing up some sewing room cleaning. I stayed out of the way as I know I can intimidate when he is wheeling the wooden spoons and the pots and pans. You just don’t want to discourage or squelch enthusiasm – it may not return. At five thirty I was called up from the basement and I was treated to fried Spam with an entry of wild rice and carrot soup spooned over mashed potatoes. Hey, if I don’t have to cook, it tastes as if Julia Child were here on Stauffer Avenue. It was a win, win. When I heard the kitchen commotion today I figured Dennis was on a roll. Far be it from me to hold him back.
Today Dennis was in the mood for macaroni cold salad. I volunteered to run to the store for a list of some items and I left Dennis chopping an onion and also opening another can of Spam to chop – after all Spam is the favorite meat of people in Hawaii. When I returned with what Dennis needed for his dish, I started a batch of ground beef Sloppy Joes. It didn’t take long and we had our evening meal prepared cooling and simmering. Having differing ideas as to what a meal will offer – it’s a good thing. P.S. Dennis is great at doing dishes as well. Who needs another appliance taking up space!
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Noreen
Fleeting Thoughts:
On my hubby Dennis’ computer he has only three sites on his “Favorites”: The St. James Plaindealer Obituaries, The Mankato Free Press Obituaries and my blog. If Dennis logs on and he sees my daily post he knows I am o.k. That is really quite romantic when you think about it.
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Noreen
Thanks for the Gift
Dennis With His New Snow Shoveling Mittens
In the cold of winter the thoughts do travel beyond making warm quilts. I would have to thank my children’s Dad, Orlin Schafer, for teaching me how to crochet during the time that we lived in Riesel, Texas – way back when. By the time we moved back to Minnesota I had the basics down to a science. Spending time with Orlin’s mother, Esther Schafer, gave me the next round of the more difficult stitches and she also taught me how to be creative to alter a pattern for a specific size.
When I decided these last weeks to bring out the crochet hooks I knew I wanted to stay with small projects. The arthritis had not done the finger dance necessary to create good tension with the left hand of yarn entwined as it feeds the yarn to the right hand for the stitches in a long time. The first night I could feel the challenge that the hands are done. Dennis was already anticipating putting liners in the crocheted mittens for wonderful insulation when working out in the cold.
Being able to create something from nothing is truly a life
long gift that was given and has been a joy. I couldn’t even begin to count the number of projects that the skill has created. Orlin’s dad Arthur would sit in his chair and comment how women could spend so much time making holes with string. I don’t think he minded one bit the slippers that he was wearing on his feet when he would comment. Priceless.With Dennis in his mittens and me in my cap we settled in for a long winter’s snow and cold.
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Noreen
Can You Hear Me Now?
This is a red letter day for hubby Dennis. Dennis is sporting his first pair of hearing aids. So far so good. We were both amazed as to how small they are. The Audiologist was wonderful in explaining the entire process. The best part is that there are no and I repeat no adjustments that can be made by Dennis. He sat in the chair about six feet from the Audiologist with the aids in his ears and she turned to her computer screen with her hand on her computer mouse. She ask Dennis questions as to what he could hear as she made adjustments to her computer screen and how it impacted the hearing aids Dennis was wearing. Talk about wireless transmissions. When the battery for either ear is in need of replacing there will be a definite three note tune that Dennis will hear in the ear that the battery needs to be replaced for. No second guessing there. There will be so squealing noise via the aids as the hearing loss that Dennis experiences is for specific letter sequences.
This could mean so much for Dennis’ day to day quality of life. The aids are not to be worn while lawn mowing or snow blowing, in the shower or in a swimming pool. The daily maintenance is quite easy but very necessary. Dennis and the Audiologist left the sound prof room as Dennis is to have a clear reaction to the noise that was going on in the clinic’s waiting room and halls. When we were traveling home the comments of what Dennis was hearing of the traffic noise was interesting.
Time will tell as to what Dennis will be hearing.
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Noreen
Getting plenty of fresh air and exercise.
A quiet day after raking snow off of the house, garage and porch roofs. Amazing how heavy the fluffy snow becomes after it has slid down in a pile.
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Noreen
Eyesight Versus Insight
Behold the Light of the Moon
Last night as the moon filled the kitchen I had to nab a photo through our skylight window. The ice and snow crystals on the exterior of the window made a perfect frame. In my day to day life I have realized how much I can see when I take the time. The most minimalist of everyday moments are breathtaking and amazing.
Yesterday I traveled to have coffee with someone that also shared the common denominator of the property assessment field. Over coffee her frustration showed itself in the day to day events and the growing trend of negativity in the people that come into the office for assistance. In that vain we were given many seminars as usual and customary training on how to deal with angry people. Angry people are so overwhelmed there is a chance the smallest of triggers will escalate them and there is no reasoning with them. We were encouraged that once the voice was raised we were to step back and not respond. More times than not once the rage was out and done the normal conversation could continue but there were some cases where they left as angry as they had become. Something had a deep hold on them.
One of the examples dealing with anger presented at one of our seminars was that of being much like a spider web. The center is where it begins and it just grows from there. Unresolved issues can be the core of anger and just like the spider you never know when it is going to drop for an unexpected confrontation.
In my day to day life here on Stauffer I am very content using my eyesight for the next breathtaking and amazing site to behold right before me. Insight can be a wonderful attribute, but you cannot judge or begin to imagine what the other is dealing with and consequently the result can go either way.
As my friend and I parted ways we promised to keep our hearts light and our thoughts positive and know that each day will not disappoint in amazing us one way or another.
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Noreen
Fleeting Thoughts:
Peaceful Calm
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Noreen
Heavy Clouds
It was a very gray cold day (7 degrees as the high). The highlight of the day was the pair of Cardinals that flew among the Lilac bushes taking advantage of our neighbor Jan’s bird feeders. They moved from the feeders to Dennis’ heated water dish several times before they flew off. I wonder where they call home during this cold. Grant it the Sparrows outnumber the Blue Jays, Chickadees and Cardinals but hey, everyone needs to be taken care of in the cold. Catch ya later.
