Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 12:47 am on July 23, 2013 Permalink  

  Empathy Gives Moral Support 

  

  My Space – My Time – My Day

  I keep hearing that the temps are going to begin dropping and the mid 70 degree type of weather would be here for us to enjoy. I am waiting patiently.  When the calendar shows me it is May followed by June and now it is July – I want to be outside.  I have been forced in and down, right into my sewing room.  It just isn’t fair.  I listen to forecasters when they say no one should be outside if they can prevent it.  I can prevent it and my heart goes out to those that had to work in the beast of the heat last week.  It was with relief when news would come at the end of those hot days, the work had been successful in the heat and now it was time to rejuvenate for the next day.  I know in my younger days I was perhaps stacking hay bales behind a New Holland baler in that very same type of heat.  I can so empathize with those that are now in that place where no matter what the heat the work needs to get done.  Mentally I send lots of moral support and that is all I can do.  Who would have thought that one day I would be at an age where that is all I can offer.  In my mind I still think I could be out there with the best of them with the attitude of “bring it on.” It’s a good thing the body sometimes speaks louder than my mind.

  In the shelter of my sewing room I am keeping busy waiting out the weather.  By being busy I feel that I am contributing and have something to show for the day the good Lord has given me.   I did learn that life’s lesson from my Grandmother Laura.  For me, at the end of each day I need to mentally lay down my physical work of the day for the Lord to see I really appreciate and like my life and my day was not wasted.  My old Sears sewing machine is in good working order and it will be my saving grace until the heat and bugs break and I can be outside getting my finger nails dirty.  It’s important to give myself a batch of moral support to stay strong and vital.  Catch ya later.

   
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  Noreen 6:20 am on July 22, 2013 Permalink  

  This is the day the Lord has made and I am so enjoying it. No huge amount of bells and whistles just a feeling of liking where I am and what I am doing with my day. Catch ya later.

   
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  Noreen 7:54 am on July 21, 2013 Permalink  

  What a great day. Could we please have many more? I had been playing it low key during the heat and humidity and this morning I had energy to burn. The patio porch had been cleaned after the winter snow thaw but we had a downpour of rain afterward, totally flooding the patio and the porch. The silt needed to be washed and broom brushed off of the exposed agate patio. That led to realizing how many birds had deposited their business on the patio glass doors. In the end, Dennis was inside the porch running the vacuum and organizing his collection of items. It was such a great day we hated to call it quits when we needed to clean up and get to the VFW to sell tickets for the monthly steak fry. I am hoping tomorrow is a repeat. In the meantime, in between time, what a treat to sit out and about after the cleaning frenzy. Dennis knows that all I believe I deserve in our day to day life is a clean home, and as much as we use the patio and the patio porch, it definitely is part of our home. Catch ya later.

   
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  Noreen 4:36 am on July 20, 2013 Permalink  

  A Day with Friends 

  

  Three Assessor Friends

  It’s not very often that we can spend a relaxing time with friends that have shared a work history that is quite unique.  Doreen, Judy and I have spent the majority of our W-2 Form work days much like Nicodemus of the Bible times.  No, we have not hidden in the tree to protect ourselves as we were known as tax collectors but at times it would have been a good place to take refuge.   The three of us have worked as County Assessors, actually Doreen still has a few years before she will be retiring.  Judy is retired from Brown County, I am retired from Watonwan County and Doreen is still slugging it out in Nicollet County.  All three counties are in Minnesota.

  The three of us managed to form a bond outside of the offices as we share a love of grandchildren, flower gardens and good food.  Today Doreen hosted Judy and I at her home for a five star noon lunch.  In times past our gathering would be a day-long trip to the Minnesota Arboretum or stopping at various greenhouses and nurseries to see if there may have been a plant that had eluded us.  The size of the trunk was important as to who would drive or often Doreen manned the wheel as she had a van.  Fun times over decades.  Most recently we spend time chatting over luncheons catching up with each other.  Relationships either grow or they die.  Some of the plants we were in pursuit of may not have made it but the relationship within our small group is alive and well.  The photo is of a year or so ago when we treated ourselves to day at the beauty college in Mankato.  Getting a little TLC made for a lot of fun.   Today we were too busy chatting to think of a photo.  We’ll get it the next time.

   
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  Noreen 8:37 am on July 19, 2013 Permalink  

  What can I say? Heat and humidity took the starch out of me today. Catch ya later.

   
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  Noreen 5:19 am on July 18, 2013 Permalink  

  Crock Pot Chicken 

   Crock Pot Chicken

  

  Crock Pot Chicken
  

  Spray Crock Pot with Pam

  •  4 Skinless chicken breasts
  placed in crock pot

  •  Pour 1 Can of beer
  over chicken

  •  Sprinkle with:
  1 Teaspoon pepper
  1 Tablespoon seasoned salt
  1 Teaspoon garlic salt

  4-5 Hours on high setting or
  6/8 Hours on low setting

   
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  Noreen 6:47 am on July 17, 2013 Permalink  

  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 6:16 am on July 16, 2013 Permalink  

  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 6:22 am on July 15, 2013 Permalink  

  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 2:27 am on July 14, 2013 Permalink  

  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.