Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:05 pm on April 19, 2025 Permalink  

  A Saturday 

  A Saturday afternoon and the house is quiet.  Carrie and her family came for an early Easter.  It was wonderful.  Nicholas seems to have grown several more inches in height.  Colleges have ben visited for Nick’s 2026 graduation year.  Megan brought Jarrod to meet us.  Jarrod and Megan have been in college together for several years.  Megan will be through with her college in May.  Carrie’s store keeps her busy.  Jeremy is checking out different employment options.  The world keeps on spinning.

  Our plans for a hot meal came off without a hitch.  I can see leftovers for us.  Who doesn’t like leftovers!

  Megan asked to get out the step ladder as she needed one more time up in the huge Maple tree in our yard.  Jarrod joined her.  Oh for the memories that Dennis and I have.  Sweet.

  Our Easter Sunday is going to be quiet.  Dennis’ son Ken, having come to Minnesota for the summer, plans on stopping in.  He has retired from driving for Heartland and is going to help someone out hauling grain from Northern Minnesota to the Shakopee terminals and return with a load of fertilizer to the northern Minnesota area.

  It got quite nice out today.  No winds to speak of.  The morning doves are cooing.  It is a sound that has always brought comforting feelings to me.

  I am out in my bedroom porch with not much in plans, just reflecting on today, the yesterdays and what will come in the tomorrows.

  For now, I think I will thread a needle and do a bit of stab and poke stitching.  Dennis seems content at his computer playing solitaire.  This afternoon is the peace that passes all understanding.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:00 pm on April 18, 2025 Permalink  

  Good Friday 

  It is a great day for this Good Friday.

  This was a great day for a 12:15 PT appointment.  Does the level of discomfort after PT shed light on the one giving the discomfort?  Mike is doing a good job.  I had my afternoon arranged ahead of time, so I could take it a bit easy. 

  I made sure to call Aunt Janet in Brownton this afternoon to wish her a Happy Easter.  My cousin Dan is having church services in the Penn church tomorrow evening.  Janet is looking forward to seeing many that she has not seen since the Christmas service he had.  A minister from Winthrop is more than happy to do the services.  I think it is wonderful.

  We had rain in the late afternoon yesterday.  It continued to thunder and lightning up to the time I went to bed.  At the six news, we will find out just how much rain we got.  I know Iowa in the Spirit Lake area had a tornado.  Dennis’ grandson Adam could contact his family here in St. James today with a cell phone as there is no electricity in the town as yet.

  Let’s hear it for Subway for supper.  I gave Dennis a choice of Oatmeal or Subway.  Subway won out hands down.

  From my bedroom porch and a cup of coffee, I am doing some stitching and watching of traffic.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:15 pm on April 17, 2025 Permalink  

  Silent Night 

  It was a very silent night at our home last night as from supper time to our bedtime, we had nothing in regard to internet or Samsung television.  I did call Mediacom to find out it was their issue, nothing on our end.  Dennis could have gone out to the patio porch as one of his televisions gets content off of the Godahl tower.  Dennis opted to play solitaire.  I stitched a bit and read.  This would not have happened if Chuck Pessac from days of old were still manning the television waves. 

  Today I determined I needed some studio time.  I had been running some measurement through my mind in regard to what was needed for the backing of my purple quilt.  I had it nailed down in my mind and it was time to act on it.  It is now mid-afternoon.  The six yard piece of purple plaid flannel has been cut. Two pieces of 44″ wide fabric by two pieces 62″ in length has been sewn together for the 54″ x 72″ quilt.  The total size of the backing is 62″ wide by 88″ in length.  The seam is across the width.  It is a bit more than I needed but sometimes to make it work . . . so be it.  I pressed the seam on the backing and all has been left flattened on the church tables.

  It does look as if we may get a bit of rain.  Purple clouds and the thunder tell the story.

  Dennis has been manning his patio porch today.  No news is good news.

  Our supper is going to be a hodge-podge . . . a little of this and a little of that.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:37 pm on April 16, 2025 Permalink  

  A Day 

  Hello,

  This is a day in the life and times of an elderly farm gal.

  If I had known I would have need of a Mike at PT to try and undo what I have done to this sweet old body, I would have taken better care of myself.

  Today, I got home at 2:30 and didn’t quite know where to park myself.  I decided to walk up and down the cement drive until everything from the waist down was assured all was still attached.  Mike must take his elbows in for sharpening on a regular basis.  The good thing is, I trust him beyond measure.

  The grocery store was busy this morning.  I have all I need for Saturday and if I don’t . . . I’ll get along without it.  Piece of cake, Dennis knows I have this in the bag.  One comment from the ole cowboy was in regard to hopefully enjoying leftovers.  Gotta love the guy.

  I have some stitchy items for Carrie and Megan.  Kersten took hers home when Kevin’s had come for my birthday.  Is it hard to know who is stitch worthy for me to share with?  Absolutely not.  My two children grew up around both of their grandmothers that knew no bounds with a needle and thread.  I followed suit.  The amount of threads, yarn and fabric for the end result is a mere fraction of what that end result represents.  Boundless amounts of blood sweat and tears over often, quite a few laborious hours that can turn into weeks and even months.  I think a true stitcher can smell who would appreciate something from the studio.  When an item is given, using it is the greatest thank you gift a stitcher can ask for.  If the use wears it out, a replacement would not be out of the question.  Sometimes the oftener it requires laundering, the softer it becomes.  The kid’s grandmothers sewed with very harsh fabrics of a not many thread count fabric.  Guess what!  I am still enjoying those items and they become more cherished over time.   No . . . if there is not interest for those that visit me in what the studio holds . . . there is no stitchy shared. 

  My coffee this afternoon has been a boon to help me unwind and heal . . . until 12:15 of Friday the 18th.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:40 pm on April 15, 2025 Permalink  

  Tuesday the 15th 

  We are persevering as each day a few things are tackled for the weekend.  Carrie’s are coming on Saturday and today we found out Dennis’ daughter Sandy, the nurse, will be coming on Sunday.

  I like doing a bit at a time in prep.  I don’t get wore out that way.

  While there was bacon baking out in the 325 degree oven on two cookie sheets lined with Reynold’s Wrap, I tackled our refractory table top.  The table is used every day with many different drops of liquid here and there.  If needed, it can seat eight comfortably when the ends are pulled out.   All remaining soft chairs can be easily pushed to a side.  I will add a side-note on the bacon.  Black Label thick cut yields 12 slices per pound.  The baking process needs the thick cut in order to end up with a respectable slice of bacon.  I bake it about 50% to finish, so when it is needed, a quick stint in the microwave takes it to completion.  Dennis said he could smell the wonderful aroma when he came in at noon.  Had the bacon been out of the oven by that time, he would have needed a sample.

  In between time today, I wrote out several bills.  One being our real-estate taxes.  I like to pay the entire amount rather than splitting it into two separate payments.  Get it over with!

  When I moved into St. James, I bought this property for $8,500.00.  I had no credit rating, the bank would not touch me.  The owner wrote up a contract for deed, allowing a monthly payment to him directly.  The rather humorous thing is that the county now has it valued at $98,000.00.  The home has not been added onto and the garage would still be listing to the south if not for my dad stringing support cables and then Kevin giving us a steel beam to cement in about 12′ from the garage with another cable.  Ah yes, life is interesting.

  Supper will be a bowl of soup and a bacon sandwich.

  With that I will take my leave.♥

   
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  Noreen 1:50 pm on April 14, 2025 Permalink  

  Cold Fingers 

  This morning at 10:30, I had cold fingers, cold hands and a cold nose.  When I heard the howling wind as I awoke from a night’s rest, I knew I had an agenda.  Our little flag at the end of the front steps was standing straight out to the south as the north wind was merciless. 

  I bundled up and out the front door I went.  My little black six inch rake was waiting for me.  Our Russian Sage cuttings that were left after we had cleaned up from last week were nestled to the south side of our drive caught by the grass.  It looked really less than good.  I propped my cane onto the stop sign at the end of Stauffer so it couldn’t fall to the ground.  With a bit of a twist from my body I scoped up the cuttings off of the cement and the boulevard and sent them flying down Stauffer Avenue.  As the amount grew it had rolled itself into an elongated roll from the wind.  All I needed to do then was nudge the elongated roll down Stauffer to the East until it was even with the garbage bin.  I picked up the entire roll and it was said and done for tomorrow’s pick-up of garbage.  I made my way back to the stop sign to retrieve my cane.  The rake had been a huge support for me.

  When I came in, I could not believe how cold 45 degrees had felt with that howling wind from the north.  I was soon feeling better with a cup of hot coffee.

  During the remainder of the day, I chased a few dust bunnies around.  We are getting company on Saturday, the 19th.  Any dust bunnies that want to find their way onto the first floor of our home between now and Saturday . . . make yourselves to home as you apparently need a resting spot more than I need the satisfaction of having done the prep.

  Dennis has been doing due diligence in his patio porch in prep for Saturday.  Megan and Nicholas always end up spending quite a bit of time with grandpa and the kitties in the patio porch.  Needless to say, helping Dennis is beneath my pay grade.  He has his ways in the patio porch just as I have my ways in the house.

  We are having Tilapia and hash browns for supper with green beans.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:41 pm on April 13, 2025 Permalink  

  A Day 

  This is a kick-back day of not much going on.

  No . . . I did not go out and rake up some of the Russian Sage cuttings.  As much as the robins are digging around for bugs, worms or nesting materials, if they would try a bit harder I am sure some of those cuttings could be utilized.  Throw your beak into it!

  All is well here on Stauffer Avenue.  When there is ample food in the house and the bills are current nothing more could be asked for.

  My long time friend, Judy, called last night.  She had been the Brown County Assessor.  Unfortunately Macular Degeneration took her sight shortly after she retired in 2009.  An assisted living in Mankato geared to someone with her frailties was her most recent home.  Her daughter shared with me that Judy had a very serious UT that took her stability and she had fallen.  Oh yes,  a bladder infection can do that as the kidneys malfunction.  Judy was to go to a nursing home until she was again stable.  That was almost three months ago.  I fear Judy may not return to her apartment.  Judy is just a few months younger than I am.  The third friend that was the county assessor of Nicollet County passed away from cancer shortly after her retirement.  Doreen, Judy and I all took our positions in the same year and were similar in age.

  As I said . . . all is well here on Stauffer Avenue.

  Hark!  I hear commotion in the kitchen.  Could there be a new chef?  Nay! 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:26 pm on April 12, 2025 Permalink  

  High Winds 

  There are high winds on this Saturday.  About the time the shoulder has been put to the direction its coming from, a gust comes and dang near pushes you over from a different direction.

  The air was cool this morning.  Dennis and I decided to make use of the strong winds from the southeast.  The two of us tackled the remaining Russian Sage canes from last year’s blooms.  The majority of the canes were swept away, some were not.  Sure enough, there were several little green plants that had pushed through the soil.  Dennis commented that it looked as if the canes we were lobbing off would put out new growth had we left them be.  Many were three feet long.  Boy what a tangled mess that would have been.  If the old cane was not nipped off, I think it would have been strong enough for Tarzan to swing from.  Very wiry.  Perhaps tomorrow I will rake up what remains on our drive . . . maybe not.  Both Dennis and I called the yard work for today done.  Dennis went to the patio porch and I went to my bedroom porch to take a stitch or two with thread to unwind. 

  I have a cousin that does income tax work in the Riebe neighborhood of Dassel.  Each day on Facebook Caryn posts much like the countdown for Christmas.  A very short window of stress, but nonetheless.  I am sure the tails she could tell would be priceless.

  Dennis gets to choose which Banquet meal he wants for supper.  I will do oatmeal topped with flax meal and cinnamon.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:23 pm on April 11, 2025 Permalink  

  A Go-Gettum Type of Day 

  When I awake and from deep down inside of me, I feel it is going to be a “Go-Gettum” day.

  Last night while waiting for the sandman, I envisioned where all my supplies were to clean the windows on the front storm door and the back storm door.  Oh my gosh, looking through those windows after the cleaning lends itself to maybe tackling one or some of the eight windows in the bedroom porch . . . but not today.  I also recalled that last year I had purchased two small USA flags for the steel rod next to the front sidewalk.  I will give the first one a congrats on how long it lasted with the horrific winds of last fall and this winter.  Today I felt a new flag was needed outside our home.

  The next project was to try a no-bake pie.  By this suppertime I will know if it set up to cut a slice or if “you all bring a spoon and dig in” type of pie.  Whatever, I know it won’t go to waste.  If it turns out, I will share the recipe.

  Under the south windows of my bedroom porch grow the most hardy perennial Russian Sage plants.  The purple blooms are beautiful until the hard frosts of fall.  Right now, I am tackling about a lineal foot a day to cut back last years plants.  The goal is to get the six foot planter cleaned out before the roots want to spring forth with new growth.  It’s not difficult work but patience is required.  Ya . . .  I have grown some of that since 2021.

  This evening I am looking forward to a hot meatloaf sandwich for supper. 

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:48 pm on April 10, 2025 Permalink  

  It’s Thursday the 10th 

  It is Thursday and I am back from my hiatus.  Wednesday was a full day for this Grammie.  PT at 8:30 had Mike working on the knots where tendons and muscles seem to have gotten cozy where they should not.  I grin and bear it.  I know going to PT is not suppose to be a walk in the park.  At 9:30 when the session was over, I amazed myself to be able to walk to my car.

  I got home and Dennis had a cup of coffee waiting for me.  Folgers to the rescue.

  Dennis’ appointment with the foot surgeon was 3:15 in Mankato, allowing us to do an errand or two before then when we got to town.

  I had a shopping list for Sam’s Club.  There are staples that I know from comparison shopping here in town quite a bit of money can be saved.  Would I make a trip to Mankato if no appointment were needed . . . no.   The savings would be eaten up by the gas tank.  We did take note that April 15th, the four-lane 169 through Lake Crystal will be closed for infrastructure work through the summer.

  I did also go to Hobby Lobby.  I gritted my teeth as the pushing of a lame cart through Sam’s club had taken its tole on the already sore butt cheek.  With J0anne’s closing, I knew I would need stabilizer when Sadie brings her tee-shirts over.  Of course the fabrics are located to the far back of the store.  Talk about a busy department of people waiting to have yardage cut.  They will continue getting busier as it will be the only place to look at, touch and decide on what yardage to purchase.  I needed woven interfacing for the back of tee-shirts.  That area was picked clean.  More inventory was expected.  I left empty handed.  Amazon in a pinch with no shoe-leather spent.  

  We got home at five with the good news that Dennis need not come back to the surgeon . . . unless he, we see something that doesn’t look right.   By now, Grammie is all over the “doesn’t look right.” 

  Today the groceries we had bought at Sam’s club have been removed from the shroud of heavy cardboard when multiples of the same item are packaged.  The recycling bin caught hell.  My 90-day supply of catheters came today from Handi-Medical in St. Paul. $1,688.00 with no co-pay.  For years, because its possible, I would reuse them by a boiling water bath.  Since 2021, I use and dispose.

  We are having an oven meal for supper of meatloaf and baked potatoes with veggies on the side.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥