Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 5:14 am on July 13, 2013 Permalink  

  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 12:53 am on July 10, 2013 Permalink  

  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 6:00 am on July 9, 2013 Permalink  

  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 11:49 pm on July 7, 2013 Permalink  

  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 5:43 am on July 7, 2013 Permalink  

  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 3:24 am on July 6, 2013 Permalink  

  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.

   
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  Noreen 2:46 am on July 5, 2013 Permalink  

  Saladette Cold Salad 

  

  Saladette Spam Cold Salad

  •  Large Ring Macarroni – 1/2 of lb. box boiled

  •  1 Can of Spam diced

  •  4-6 center stalks of celery diced

  •  1 Medium onion diced

  •   6 Oz. of frozen peas thawed

  •  Mayonnaise as creamy as you want

  •  Salt and Pepper to taste

   
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  Noreen 2:30 am on July 5, 2013 Permalink  

  Saladette Cold Salad 

    • Large Ring Macaroni (1/2 of  lb. box boiled for 10

  minutes)

  • 1 Can Spam diced

  • 4-6 Stalks of Celery diced (center stalks are more

  tender

  • 1 Medium onion diced

  •  8 oz. of frozen green peas (rinsed in hot water to

  thaw)

  • Mayonnaise to suit your taste

  • Salt and Pepper to suit your taste

   

   

   
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  Noreen 7:15 am on July 4, 2013 Permalink  

  It’s been a good day. Dennis enjoyed his Korean Veteran’s monthly luncheon in Mankato and it gave me a chance to pick up a few groceries. Talk about a mob in the Hy-Vee. Dennis is going to have his favorite cold salad to enjoy on the 4th. Catch ya another time.

   
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  Noreen 12:54 am on July 3, 2013 Permalink  

  Blooms at Their Best 

  

  Weigela in Full Bloom

  July is often a month when the garden is left on its own.  More importantly are the family vacations that need to get squeezed in from all the summer activities that school-aged kids look forward to and get enrolled in.  I must admit that I do feel as if I am in a generation gap.  In my youth, aka: the dark ages, summer months were when my Dad had us kids fixing portions of the cow yard fences, painting the out buildings on the farmyard and hoeing out and pulling up unwanted weeds from the oat and bean fields.   Those items speak to me from being a farm kid through and through.  The fun part of the day was after the evening milking was done we would be taken to Lake Allie and cool off swimming in the lake.   Truth be told, I don’t think there are too many lakes in today’s world that I would want my grandchildren to swim in.

  I may not be spending a lot of time out in the dirt  now as the tomato and cucumber plants are just now setting blossoms.  With little time invested at this point, my garden in July never disappoints as the Weigela bushes spring forth with a gala of color that makes me smile each and every day while they are in bloom.  The bushes have hardwood branches that do need pruning every so often as they get a bit wild with over growth.  The Weigela picks up right after the last of the lilac varieties have brought color – sorry, no aroma but it sure makes up for it in the bright color.

  Catch you another time.