Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:05 am on July 2, 2013 Permalink  

  So, What’s My Part? 

  In my life I am at a time where there are no real schedules or mandates. As I enjoy a slow pace in the mornings I make appointments, if possible, with medical and others beginning after ten in the forenoon. When a receptionist asks me what time I prefer I tell them “any day of the week after ten in the morning.”

  Sometimes when I am lollygagging with more coffee than Dr. Oz says I should be drinking I do wonder if I am missing the boat and maybe should be doing more for my part in the whole scheme of things. Then I turn back into the mode of being an assessor and insist that I give myself more facts. Do more where? The community has multiple options for volunteer work and I have sat back and observed the playing field here in St. James. Nothing really trips my trigger.

  It may have started out to be my slanted suspicion but now I hold it to be very true. While I was in the W-2 Form world of employment there were individuals that would find a way to wine and dine in the most discrete way to obtain one goal: theirs. All the attention was focused with the most positive of compliments. On several occasions I had spent untold home hours using skills from my work hours to help the next greatest event or function. Time went on and I realized that after working on an event those in charge didn’t know you well enough to greet you while passing them on the sidewalk. It actually can smack of politics. Check that type of involvement off of my list of things I would like to dip my toe into. Since retirement, I have come to realize just how much of an introvert I really am. There are no triggers for me to trip.

  I have many passions and many interests and I can feed all of them from my home. I never shy away from family when I know I can lend an ear, a shoulder or a skill. And you know what? Family is my part. No appointed time is needed when I am needed.

  My skill set of play and creativity is highly enjoyed by Megan and Nicholas when they come for a stay. Did you know that rotary cutting mats make wonderful table covers for painting birdhouses? Forever I will be able to see the array of colors that the completed birdhouses wore so proudly. The paint will be there forever as the measurement grid disappeared when I tried to take the paint spills off. Is it a bad thing? Not at all as we just rack up more memories.

  Adult family members know that with me that if there is a will there is a way when it comes to requests for mending or sewing projects or – anything. I am totally in my element. Cellphones come in handy when there are any questions or concerns that the kids think I can help with. Who would have thought that land lines that are busy do not lead to a dead end when mom is needed. The most wonderful thing at the end of the day is when my computer tells me that I have an email from family. Oh, so priceless!

  For as long as possible I want to be a part of, to play a part of what makes the world go around for my family. I do appreciate those that take part in the civic duties of the community, but my heart tells me I belong right here on Stauffer Avenue being available when needed for family. And don’t think that in between time I am twiddling my thumbs. As I think about the day I am going to enjoy I unconsciously split the day with gardening (based on the hunger of biting bugs), taking a few stitches on the latest hand quilting project, running up a few quilt squares on the sewing machine, reading a bit and oh, supper also needs to be planned. Dennis can play the trump card whenever he wants and then the day is shifted to fit around a road trip to run an errand or two. I ride one heck of a shotgun in the passenger seat of his little red pickup. No schedule is etched in stone as all are subject to change.

  I can’t spend anymore time on reviewing what my part consists of in the world as it continues going around and around. Dennis’ son Ken just stopped in to ask me if I would re-pot several house plants that Ken’s wife Sarah really likes. Sarah has terminal brain cancer and I am needed to make Sarah’s plants healthier. Oh how I wish I had the power to make her healthier. My small part will bring a smile to Sarah when I bring the pots back to her. Let’s see, where in the potting shed is that bag of Miracle Grow potting soil?

  In life, please give and have no memory of it, or take and remember it always.

   
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  Noreen 3:07 am on July 1, 2013 Permalink  

  Low humidity and in the high 70’s – just about a perfect day if it were not for the biting bugs. It takes almost gale force winds to keep them at bay. I filled my pockets with a thimble, a spool of thread, scissors, needle and carried a quilting project to enjoy the breeze as it blew through the screen doors of the patio porch. It’s not quite like being outside but it sure beats the itches of those hungry bugs. A glass of iced tea will round out this afternoon quite nicely.

   
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  Noreen 6:55 am on June 30, 2013 Permalink  

  A great start to the day was a bridal shower for grand daughter Sadie. After three tours with the army she is going to have a great life. A bit of weeding while the wind was high enough to ward off bugs took me into the afternoon as I worked on the porch rockers a bit with steal wool to take out any air bubbles from the Teak oil. It always feels good to get a little physical each and every day.

   
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  Noreen 5:59 am on June 29, 2013 Permalink  

  Two – As in a Pair 

  I can honestly say that Dennis and I can be called “a pair to draw to.”  Dennis retired several years before I did and I could have filled a notebook with all of the advise and warnings that we were given when there would be a pair of retired people living in a relatively small home. Silly people.

  The day came when I did I retired and the sky did not fall.  Dennis and I each have our interests and surprisingly our home is large enough that we find ourselves seeking and searching the other out at times.  Dennis has several garages complete with work benches in each and of course I have my sewing and craft area in the basement.  The porch off of the garage is the mutual space where we sip coffee twelve months out of the year, watch a bit of television, keep tabs on the Koi in the pond and enjoy a yard that has had a lot of man hours spent on it.

  

  Rocking Chairs Getting a Break

  One thing we agreed upon immediately when we were visiting the Sam’s Club in Mankato were the rocking chairs that were on display.  It’s always a good thing to run errands with the pickup as you never ever know what you are going to find to bring back home.  The pair of rockers for the elderly folks living on Stauffer Avenue rocked happily in the back of the pickup on the trip home.  If we were able to receive the amount of cents per mile that can be claimed and payed on business vehicle use, the amount of miles we have put on our rockers in the last three years would enable Dennis to add onto the garage yet another time.

  Today I went out, wet my finger in my mouth and held it to the air and there were no cotton balls flying off of the huge Cottonwood tree in the neighbor’s yard.  The breeze was strong enough that the biting bugs were nonexistent in the shady area of the yard.  The humidity was less than it had been in weeks and this was my day to give the pair of rockers a coat of much needed oil.  Tomorrow Dennis and I will be back in business whiling away some part of the day enjoying our rocking chairs.

   
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  Noreen 3:40 am on June 28, 2013 Permalink  

  A day to help out as Dennis decided new blades needed to be put on the rider mower. It should be just sweet if we continue mowing every week. Humidity is lower than yesterday and with this wonderful breeze the bugs were not a problem. I would like to order many more bug free days. If it was a choice for me, I would pick bug free over heat and humidity free. Burgers are on the grill and it’s time for the retirees to kick back a bit. Catch ya another time.

   
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  Noreen 10:48 pm on June 26, 2013 Permalink  

  The Ah-Ha Moment 

  

  Prickly Pear Blossoms

  Every gardener has that moment when a plan does comes together.  Renee Nett shared with me a bit of her Prickly Pear Cactus several years ago.  I put it in a spot that I soon realized was a bad choice as I never checked in on it.  Each spring I would acknowledge that it had made it through the winter and then off I was to plants that were more fun and less hurtful.  I mean to tell you if you get some of these prickles in your finger you know they are there but they are almost impossible to take out with a tweezers.  The prickles are finer than the finest of hair.

  Realizing that I was missing out on the blooms, I have transplanted them under the south west corner of the house so I can keep an eye on them.  The heat is intense and the overhang of the house makes it almost impossible for them to get rain water.  Earlier this year Dennis noticed one of the plants had broken off from the parent plant and he was going to put it into the garbage.  I got a pair of gloves on and made a bit of a hole and stuck the plant back in the dirt.  The photo is of the plant that almost had been part of Waste Management’s pick up.  It is such a perfect bloom it could pass for wax.

   
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  Noreen 2:55 am on June 26, 2013 Permalink  

  Thanks Goodness for Click and Ship 

  Time does get away from even those of us that are retired.  A trip to Fairfax is not that far away, but here I found myself looking into the last week of June’s schedule and the July wall hanging was still in my attic for the Fairfax Printing wall.  The next week’s schedule was filled with “must do” items and I felt the crunch.  In fact, the day that I lost my telephone and found it in the attic was the day I decided to get my act together.

  

  Pattern Pieces for Flying Eagle

  I do have several wall hangings to represent the 4th of July, but this year I chose the Flying Eagle I had done in the winter of 2010 when I had first retired.  I had had the pattern for some time but knew I would need some uninterrupted sewing room time. The pattern was done in the “paper pieced” technique.  It allows for the smallest of pattern pieces to be added onto to give great detail.

  I was very thankful to have several Click and Ship boxes on hand.  The Flying Eagle was put in the mail on the 21st of June (Friday) and Kevin emailed me on the evening of the 22nd (Saturday) that he had delivery of the wall hanging.  Talk about snail mail having been improved over the years.  Not that the price of gas is important when it comes to family, but for $5.15 I would not have gotten very far on my trip to Fairfax.

  

  Flying Eagle Flying Proud

  I do plan on doing more of the paper-pieced patterns – and why not?  Uninterrupted sewing room time is no longer at a premium.  No mater how many years or how many patterns are tried, it still takes a fair amount of concentration to get into the mood to see a project through.

  It surely does help that Dennis is on hand for consult whether it’s the color of the fabric I am trying to decide on or if it is time to have that blessed cup of coffee delivered when he thinks I have been at it long enough and I may need a break.  I do try and sneak in a suggestion that maybe he may want to try his hand at the fabric fun, but to no avail.

   
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  Noreen 3:18 am on June 25, 2013 Permalink  

  Sausage/Cheese Rolls 

  

  Bite Sized Sausage and Cheese Rolls

  •  1 lb. seasoned pork sausage
  •  10 oz. shredded cheese
  •  Three cups of Bisquick

  Mix ingredients and drop by teaspoon onto a baking sheet
  (about the size of a ping pong ball)

  Bake at 375 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes.

  Drizzled with pancake syrup while hot makes for a great breakfast treat!

  This was a recipe I picked up from the Pioneer Woman on the Food Channel.

   
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  Noreen 4:31 am on June 24, 2013 Permalink  

  Just a Fantastic Week 

  I have had a week like I have not had in years perhaps even decades.  In the span of this last week I have been able to visit with all three of my siblings and their spouses, my children and their spouses, my grandchildren and my grand puppies.  Life really is sweet and that is all I have to say about that.

   
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  Noreen 10:18 pm on June 22, 2013 Permalink  

  Humor is a Must 

  Today I am looking forward to having my Eden Prairie family come for a visit.  It is Rail Road Days here in St. James and a lot of things are added to the venue to attract as many people from out of town as possible. The All School Reunion is bringing daughter Carrie and her family here.  Megan and Nicholas will stay with Dennis and I while reunion activities take Carrie and Jeremy to the Hickory.

  I was flitting about the house with the every morning routines with I spied with my little eye an empty telephone port.  It is not like we have a multi-thousand square foot home.  How many places could a portable phone hid in a 720 square foot home?  My cell phone would surely be able to ring my home number and the lost would be found in a heart beat.  The last time one of the phones disappeared it had been wedged into the sofa pillows so naturally I stood in the middle of the living room and dialed our home number – nothing.    I went into the sewing room in the basement and redialed – nothing other than the phone in the basement telephone port ringing.  Shaking my head I did recall last Christmas when my cell phone went missing and it ended up in Eden Prairie. I had packed it up and sent it home along with the rest of Carrie’s Christmas goodies.  I still laugh when I think of the many times I dialed the cell phone number to find it in the house.  As the kids were driving home Megan told Carrie and Jeremy repeatedly that she could hear a lady talking.  It was the automated voice announcing no one was able to take the call and a message should be left.

  In my mind I retraced the events of Friday and I had not been anywhere but at home and no one had visited.  Out I went to the garage to see if the garbage bin would ring – nothing.   The potting shed offered no orphan ring.  This ole gal had to slow down and have a bit of cold morning coffee at the dining room table.  I looked around totally at a loss as I knew when Dennis came home this would be right up his alley to say “tables reversed — how does it feel?”

  I decided to let the hunt go for a bit and just keep busy with housework.  I had been working on some hand quilting and as I moved the project the light bulb went off.  Yesterday I had gone into the attic to retrieve a quilted wall hanging I wanted to send to Kevin for his 4th of July birthday.  I had taken a phone up to the attic so I wouldn’t be prone to scramble down the steps in the event a family member called.  The lost was found and I am still chuckling at myself.  The older I get I do know that finding humor in some of my doings is healthier than being upset.