It’s been a day of heat and humidity but life does not stop. Dennis and I are doing a tag team effort of stopping in to see and check on Dennis’ son’s wife Sarah. Sarah is dying of brain cancer and the difficult time is coming for Ken to decide that Sarah should not be staying by herself at all for any duration during the day. Sarah wanted to be in her home when she died. In April all medication to control the cancer was stopped. The only medication she is on is just to keep her comfortable. Her cognizance is diminishing while her spirit is strong. Ken needs to maintain his employment for insurance purposes but also for a sense of balance in his own life. Now is the tough love time for Ken that Sarah may not have her wish honored. Sarah needs more care than can be given in her home. Times like this I cannot help but count my blessings with my own children.
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Noreen
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Noreen
July Heat Is Here
Just like Christmas the July heat comes every year but not with the same anticipation. Dennis and I had a great time in the cooler temps in the Duluth area last week and having granddaughter Megan with us for the weekend prolonged reality. In the early morning hours as I was coming to after a good night’s sleep I enjoyed listening to the Thrush family of birds as they serenaded in the large evergreen right off of the northwest corner of the house. A great way to start the new week.
After I was up long enough to get some coffee to take out to the patio I saw Dennis walking the backyard. Yup, I knew reality was back. With several rain showers since we had last mowed the yards Dennis had that gleam in his brown eyes. Dennis loves nothing better than tidy yards. The only saving grace to prolong getting the mower going was the heavy dew but the promise of the day getting hot early in the day made choices slim to none.
Yellow Lillies Do Not Mind the Heat
I did take some time to see what there was to enjoy for blooms. The joy of perennials is that at any given time there will be something that is showing off. As I poked around I also poked loose mosquitoes – lots of them. As there is no way I feel comfortable letting Dennis tackle the acre by himself I got into my finest garden garb to assist – after I was totally infused with spray that contained Deet. I use the push mower to do our original yard and use the trusty weed whip to trim anything that either mower can’t get close to. Dennis is in his grove using the rider to mow the remaining area that makes up our acre. The end result made Dennis a happy camper: he had a tidy yard. It might have been a hot one today but the results may last a bit as the grass is showing it’s July tendency to rest and conserve moisture. Catch ya another time.
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Noreen
Super Easy Apple Dessert
• Spray 9″ x 12″ baking dish
Super Easy Apple Dessert
• Layer with unpeeled sliced apples
(the thinner the easier to bake through)
• Sprinkle dry, yellow-boxed cake mix
• Drizzle one stick of melted butter
over the dry mix
• Preheat oven at 350 degrees
• 35-45 minutes until top bubbles
Granny Smith apples or Honey Crisp work
great. Delicious apples – not so much.
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Noreen
An Addition We Picked Up
As we had plans to be in the northern part of the state for family visits and attending a benefit, it seemed only reasonable to swing through Eden Prairie and pick up grandchild Megan. Megan had not been at our home for visit without her brother Nicholas for a long time. There definitely needed to be some one on one.
Megan at the Laptop
It never amazes me how much longer Megan’s legs have gotten. Megan used to curl up on the couch and there was room for me to sit next to her: now her legs hang over the edge. The body has stretched but her heart is still this tender little marvel. The favorite breakfast that is requested each and every time; each and every visit is French Toast. ‘Grammie you just make the best French Toast Ever.” The activities range from painting garden art, applying bling to flip flops, showing me up on the computer techniques to sewing.
Sweet Reward of Many Stitches
This visit culminated in the finished nine-patch quilt that Megan has been working on for several visits to St. James. Colors from my scraps were picked and Megan soon learned what a 1/4 inch seam allowance was all about. Dang if the tread was not pulled out far enough to start sewing and the needle would need to be re-threaded. For the first project it was deemed a huge success by Megan and of course Grandpa Dennis thought it would work just great on his bed – not!
Once the rush of activities are completed the quiet time takes over with the Schleich farm animals the kids have been collecting since the beginning of their visits with Dennis and me. Each visit means a trip to Fleet and Farm for a few more to be added. The doll house has now become the animal shelter. Long legs and all, nine-year-old Megan reverts to good old pretend play. Priceless. It is getting harder to plan visits with all the activities but I feel a good weekend spent with her is so worth keeping the car gassed up to fetch her. Nicholas had second thoughts of being left in Eden Prairie but there will be many more times when he will have us to himself or make it a duo with both of them here.
Building memories is what life is all about.
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Noreen
Home – Oh So Sweet
Oh my gosh, I have only been gone since Wednesday morning and here we are Friday evening and it feels like it’s been weeks.
My cousin Mark lives at Finland, Minnesota, following in his parent’s footsteps of being a part of a community of less than 200. Mark and his wife Monica have faced huge financial crunches from Monica’s triple valve heart surgery. Mark has served on the fire department and rescue squad for fifteen years and his fellow volunteers put a benefit on for them Thursday evening in Finland.
Leaving on Wednesday gave us a chance to check into a motel in Silver Bay just nine miles from Finland. Dennis’ daughter Sue and granddaughter Taylor made the ten minute trip from their home to come and enjoy the indoor pool. It didn’t take long and granddaughter Erin and her two toddler daughters had their towels under their arms to join in the mini family reunion.
I did check out two quilt shops in the area but came out without so much as a stray thread to make the trip back to my sewing room. It was fun to look and to touch but I have plenty on my plate here at home.
Well, back to the reason we traveled up north: the benefit was a huge success with a turnout that would compare to any opening of a Harry Potter film. The food was fantastic, the live entertainment was foot stomping and the amount of items on the raffle table were surpassed only by the tables full of silent auction items. I scored a wooden cane made out of Diamond Willow that Mark himself had made. Beautiful craftsmanship.
Dennis and I are a bit out of our element doing almost 400 miles in a day of driving. We are home safe and sound and thankful to have shared in an event that meant so much to a family member. I think I was in my bathrobe within a half hour of being home. I love it here.
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Noreen
A New Addition
Addition to Our Garage Wall Art
I have always used our gently worn north garage wall to display garden art. What can it hurt to have one more nail or hook embedded into the wood? It’s our home and we want our home to reflect who we are. Dennis is an old time rodeo cowboy from the days when he would enter the rodeo when it came to St. James. By putting his name on the entrance it granted an immediate $20.00 in his pocket. If he had success it could mean additional money. His last rodeo was when he was 40 putting himself on a bucking bronco. That little ditty speaks to the wall art that is now a part of the garage wall art.
My addition to the garage wall came about today after being at physical therapy from my reverse should replacement. I knew I could find some exercise at some place at our home to replicate what I had experienced at the hospital gym. What was at the gym looked like it could reconfigure itself to be a part of the Terminator movies. My left arm needs to gain strength in the back portion of the deltoid muscle. I don’t think I will be ready for any sequel to the “Rocky” movies but this was what I could come up with for an arm work out in addition to the once a week physical therapy appointments that will soon be coming to an end. I need to stand two to three feet from the wall and use the elastic band in each hand to pull and punch out at shoulder height. I am determined and time will tell with my next visit to see Mike at the hospital on the 22nd of July. Catch ya later.
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Noreen
It is quite miserable today with humidity and the chomping mosquitoes. They are not just stinging they are chomping. Catch ya later.
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Noreen
There is Always Something That Needs Doing
My parents in 1937
It is the time of heat and humidity in July. Why are we surprised? It comes every year without fail. On days such as these my body tells me to take it easy so that my kids can think about me rather than read about me having had a heat stroke – or any other type of stroke for that matter. It is hard to tone it down when I am happiest when I am the busiest and that includes being a busy body causing others to perhaps have a stroke. I follow in the foot steps of my parents: Raymond and Lena Wendlandt. Neither one of them knew how to ignore what needed to be done. They were great role models.
I do know that if I just think about it for a bit I will come up with some activity to burn off my energy level until such time I can be content doing some hand quilting or reading. That agenda of events happens every day as that is who I am and what I am all about. I am not one to sit still willingly for any length of time. Dennis is well aware of “me” and graciously follows his plan for the day until I am spent. Is all of this activity a bad thing? Not at all. As I am getting older it is easier for me to get the radical activity over with and settle into a mellow place for the remainder of the day.
As it turns out I did get some organizing done in the back garage so there is room for Dennis’ son, Ken, to store some items as they have just moved from a large old farmhouse into a rental home for the time being. After a bit of a cool down I have my needle threaded for the afternoon’s activity. It’s a good thing.
Thanks Mom and Dad.
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Noreen
Today is a lazy day here on Stauffer Ave. We knew Dennis’ niece and his sister would be in town and we enjoyed some time catching up over a great noon lunch as to what has been happening their way in Alexandria. This evening was a great time for Dennis and me to clean up some left overs in the refrigerator. I would really enjoy someone coming and loading up my refrig with leftovers. Meals would be grazing rather than preparing followed by kitchen clean up. It’s very hot out with little breeze so I think I will do a bit of hand quilting on a wall hanging that is in progress. Catch ya later.
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Noreen
True to Their Names
Fire Cracker Lily
The Fire Cracker Lily does not disappoint. Regardless how hot the sun beats on them they show up ready to bring the brightest of red.
Of course I would have this particular lily as I already had a fire cracker of a son. Kevin was born July 4th, 1968. He decided to become a part of the celebration on a great day that Carrie and I were taking Orlin’s mother to Redwood Falls to see her good friend Mrs. Conners. I am here to tell you that neither the plant nor the child show any signs of loosing their fizzle.
Just as I look forward to the plants that return to me each spring I have the same enthusiasm as I sit back and see what Kevin is going to be up to in his fairly new roll as head of his household. It’s a good thing.