Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from June, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:54 pm on June 8, 2025 Permalink  

  Perfect Day 

  With the clouds, mild temps and a brisk breeze, this would be my all time favorite perfect day.

  After a walk, I went right down into the studio.  The first thing I did was to cut open with the Worx scissor the four pack of C batteries I had bought in the grocery store yesterday.  I almost choked on the $13.98 price tag of them.  I had been without a radio for over a week in the studio.  I knew they were on the list for Sam’s Club the next time we went to Mankato for a better price in a larger volume container.  I had waited long enough. 

  The Worx scissor is going to come in handy for the encased plastic containers that are horrible to get open.

  Today was a tidy up day in the studio.  Odds and ends of purple fabric needed to be put away.  Some of the fabric was piecing materials and some of it was leftover flannel that I had used for the backing.  A Christmas placemat that I had embroidered.  I used my eight inch stool to take down the metal box of memorabilia items to add to it.  Wall shelves to the east and church tables to the west.  I had support.  Some of those items were taken down from the attic when Kersten was lending a hand.  Get it tidied up before the tee-shirts would take over!

  I picked out two red, white and blue wall hangings from the totes.  Bright colors for the living room.  Sometime the amount of wall hangings in the totes will need to be addressed with the kids.  Also there are two quilts that I did with Tri-Chem fabric paints.  One pattern is of Sun Bonnet Sue and the other is of Overall Sam.  I have kind of been kicking around selling those two.  Again addressing that with the kids sometime.  Not soon . . . just sometime.

  When Carrie’s had been here the day before Esther, Megan noted a few small ants in the bathroom.  I kidded her about having live entertainment.  Over time, they had been increasing.  Every day I would add another drop of Terro Ant Killer to the two pads in the areas behind the sink and next to the heat run.  I went outside to the east area that the bathroom was on the house.  No sign of ants outside.  Today, there was a lessening.  I have no idea what they were after.  More drops of the Terro for any late-comers.

  Dennis is feeling the day of walking at the acre with his brush killer yesterday.  The ole cowboy still thinks he is in his 20s.  I can’t do anything to change his mind about what he wants to do.  The 500 mg bottle of Tylenol rattled as he headed to his recliner for a nap.  I hope it helps where ever it hurts.

  We are having Manwich sandwiches, potato chips, coleslaw and pickles for supper.   

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:38 pm on June 2, 2025 Permalink  

  On Line 

  It is four thirty and we have had no internet for most of the day.

  I spent quite a bit of time taking care of my sewing machine in the studio.  Lots of fuzz under the hood.  I made sure to clean the cutter blades.  Having a sewing machine that cuts my thread saves on my right wrist.  Also the needle threader is another perk that saves on the right wrist.  Oil has been added and of course a new size 12 needle.

  Dennis unpacked the electric scissors this afternoon.  It is charging the battery as I type.  Dennis has a blade in it.  Tomorrow we may take the scissor on a test run of one of Sadie’s tee-shirts.  Dennis is in it, to win it.  With him cutting off the sleeves and cutting right across under the neck band and maybe up the sides, that would help a lot.  That would leave me to figure out the dimensions of the design to save per shirt.

  I will check out Amazon as I know I will need a bolt of iron-on stabilizer per tee-shirt front, allowing it to be handled as if the tee-shirt is woven.

  It is warm closing in on hot this afternoon.  When I did a load of dark clothes, I threw in a pair of slip-on shoes from the studio.  I had not worn them for some time, so getting them cleaned up was a good call.  I put them out on the front deck this mid afternoon for drying.

  It is going to be chicken titties, pan fried, plus some steamer veggies for supper. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:08 pm on May 30, 2025 Permalink  

  Summer 

  Summer is coming this weekend.  I have enjoyed the cooler temps.

  Today is the first day of the cotton seeds flying from the Cottonwood tree to the northwest of us.  It can play havoc on air filters when lawnmowers are running just sucking them up.  The one tree that did show us some grace was the huge Maple.  The tree seeds that spin in the air like small airplanes were slim to none.

  The studio felt cool this forenoon.  Enough so that I wore a sweater.  The sump pump continues to run intervals.  That announces the fact that cold ground water is running on three sides of the studio via the tiling.

  When I work on the purple quilt, I can see daylight at the end of the tunnel.  What I can also feel is the action of the binding that is needed to finish off the raw edges.  Sewing the yards of binding on one side of the perimeter of the quilt is step one in a two-step process.  Step two is taking that binding and bringing it over to stitch it to the top of the quilt, meaning my right hand needs to grip that half inch of binding fabric to cover the edge of the quilt to feed it under the needle for the last hurrah.  I let those two steps to be done in just as many days, showing some mercy to the ole body.

  For another day in the studio, the eight blocks that are eight inches by ten inches need to have some stitching to ward off the batting bunching up.  I sized up the process for possibilities.  I do believe I need to think on this.  Most likely the solution will come to me as I lay in bed this evening before dozing off.  In the mean time, the lights went dark and the radio was turned off.

  I put a pork steak into the little blue speckled roaster for the oven to be ready for our supper.  A bit of bold and spicy marinade on the top will seal in the flavors.  The pork to fix for meals today is not the pork for meals that I grew up with.  It is now by far leaner and more flavorful.  Instant potatoes and green beans will round out the fare . . . plus whatever else we come up with.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:06 pm on May 16, 2025 Permalink  

  A Day! 

  What a difference a day makes.  24 little hours.  I can hear that song in my head.

  Yesterday we went to the Limb-lab for Dennis’ appointment for new shoes.  They give excellent service to the veterans.  Dennis’ shoes will be in the shop for pick-up in several weeks.

  The Limb-lab is right around the corner from the JoAnn’s store that is in the process of closing.  I had to have Dennis stop so I could check it out.  Most of the store was cordoned off.  If there was one packet of upholstery needles, there was 2,000.  The warehouses are circling the wagons to have the retail stores try to clear it all out.  I found three items for mending and spent $7.00.  At that it was ringing up as 60% off.  I looked and was satisfied that I had checked it out.

  We had no groceries to purchase and we headed home.  I have never ever been in such a horrible dirt storm.  It was beyond a dust storm.  There is a huge detour as Lake Crystal is getting a huge overhaul.  The traffic of every type of every vehicle imaginable was caught in coming and going on a two-lane highway with visibility sometimes next to nothing.  The situation did get better the closer we got to home.  I was so happy to be home safe and sound.

  

  Before we left yesterday I took a photo of the east side of our home.  The Hosta, the Fern Peony and some Lilies of the Valley were the backdrop of the Star of David flowers that were blooming in the yard.  They are just too cute for words.  You never know how far or where they will spread to.  In a short time all their greenery dies back and you wouldn’t know they were even something the camera’s viewfinder would see.

  With the horrific winds that were had, by the time we got home, the Fern Peony blooms were wind-whipped and gone as were the Star of David blooms.  The white lilacs had turned brown with the hot, whipping winds.  Not much pretty was left.  The Hosta plants somehow made it.  Well . . . those that the deer haven’t been lunching on.

  The strong winds of this morning did bring a shower of rain.  I missed most of that as I was in the studio.  The For Sale sign that Kevin had put out and up for us was totally bleached out from the sun.  Dennis had brought it to the studio for Grammie to work her magic.  The black oil paint is drying on both sides of the sign.  I did the best I could.

  Yesterday was blistering hot and today it feels like 32 degrees out.  Go figure. 

  For our evening meal, we are having the refrigerated beef tips with gravy, instant potatoes, cranberries and cottage cheese.  I really enjoy the tart cranberries over the cottage cheese.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:55 pm on May 14, 2025 Permalink  

  Oh Happy Day 

  Today was my six month eye checkup with Dr. Pinke just five blocks up the street.  When my eyes are dilatated, Dr. Pinke can see oh so much more.  In times past, when Dennis had had his eye checkup, that was how Dennis knew his corraded arteries were clogged . . . big time.  I will gladly go in every six months.  I have a hint of macular.  That hint has been there for ten years.  The test for glaucoma was a pass.

  Today there was another change for Dennis and me.  Going forward, Dennis’ son-in-law, Tom, will be using our zero-turn with our gas to do the 1.3 acre mowing as well as our residential home lot.  There was and is an amicable monetary agreement.  Dennis used the Sear’s rider to show Tom the lot lines.  As with me . . . there is a reasonable amount of energy to be expended for our not so young bodies.  Everyone is happy with what has been made off.  Tom is AJ’s dad.  Tom will be using his own zero-turn to keep up with the back garage lot for AJ.

  I knew that grocery shopping was in the cards for this hump day.  Dennis removed several of the glass shelves in the refrigerator so I could work my magic before groceries would be bought.  Something had either gotten spilled or something had leaked to the point that my little jar of minced garlic was not able to be moved.  It was schmucked down tight.  Another day, I will wash out the crisper drawers and also remove the multiple storage pods in both of the refrigerator doors for a freshening.  A bit every day and none of it feels overwhelming.  But . . . as I have said before, what my eyes see the mind cannot ignore.

  I worked in the studio for a time today.  Someone special has asked me for an embroidered item.  I used the Tool Box software program to pull a design together.  I did share the image as I had taken a photo of it.  Today was time spent pulling together stabilizer and various spools of bright colored thread.  Time will tell how it all turns out.

  When I was at the grocer’s, their steam tables of their noon specials were turned off.  At that time each day they portion it out and sell it in the cooler area along with other items such as Mrs. Gerry’s products.  Yup, we are having tater tot hotdish for supper with Mrs. Gerry’s coleslaw, cranberries and cottage cheese.

  Last night was a shot in the dark.  I had bought a bag of Simply Potatoes from the refrigerator section in the grocery store.  It was the option that contains some spices.  I had used half of the bag last weekend.  Last night I put the potatoes on a paper-plate, covering it with a damp paper towel.  While giving it two separate blasts of two minutes each in the microwave, I was heating up a small can of Dinty Moore’s Stew.  The stew spooned over those hot spicy hashbrowns, made a great tasting meal.  The potatoes soaked up the gravy . . . it was a very easy meal.  Of course Dennis liked it as it was a hot meal.

  Not to be surprised if there is no post tomorrow.  At 1:45, Dennis has an appointment at the Limb-Lab in Mankato.  It’s in the old Madison East shopping area.  Once a year, the VA writes a prescription for a pair of leather shoes that the lab makes the orthotics to fit into allowing for the space that toes would generally fill.  They don’s assume to order the shoes from last year’s mold.  They begin the process from step one. They also make sure that the right shoe has the correct innards for stable, even walking.  Sweet.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:54 pm on May 11, 2025 Permalink  

  Oh Happy Day 

  I am having a happy day here on Stauffer Avenue.

  I was able to get the rest of the story on Megan’s graduation in Virginia.  Megan received three degrees in Bachelor Science of Psychology; Criminal Psychology, Psychology Counseling and Developmental Psychology.  From Grammie’s point of view it was a heavy load to accomplish.

  Carrie’s family is traveling today and tomorrow moving Megan home for the summer.  She found out Minnesota has a higher rate for pay with employment.  Funding is her goal before going after her Master’s degree.  Her honey is going into the National Guards this summer via Georgia to help pay educational goals.  Plans abound. 

  Dennis took the day off.  His bucket list is empty.

  I took several cups of coffee on the front deck this morning with a strong breeze from the southeast.  What my eyes see, my mind cannot deny.  Just get it done!  I completed my bucket list here on the first floor by twelve noon.  At times we say we have a few ants because they are seeking moisture.  At times we say we have a few ants because it is so dry.  Whatever!  The sticky ant bait was brought out.  Take that to your nest!

  I again noticed wasps in the corner channel of the siding by the back door.  Last year it cost Dennis a new hip by spraying up the channel.  In and out they fly without a care in the world.  I had a biscuit of steel-wool in the basement.  I pulled it apart and the entire thing got stuffed up the channel.  Try and get through that!  RW would have been proud.

  It is in the 90s out today.  The inside of the house is comfortable.  I gave Dennis the basics for supper.  He will let me know when I can come to the table.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:00 pm on May 8, 2025 Permalink  

  Full Day 

  It felt cool out this morning.  My fingers felt it when I took command of my new dandelion poker.  The old one turned within the metal shaft of the wooden handle.  I took quite a few of them out.  A few more tomorrow is on the docket.  By noon I had spent my gardening energy.

  At one, I had a front row seat at Megan’s graduation commencement ceremony in Lynchburg, Virginia’s Liberty College.  How sweet was that.  She completed her four year degree in three years.  At Easter she said she needed to work for awhile to save some money for her Master’s education.  I can so understand that.  I did get several good photos of Megan as she made her way across the stage for grandpa to see.  When he looked at them, all he did was put his hand out, knee high, referencing how fast time has gone.  I so agreed.

  The mail brought the bill for the installation of the new electric water heater, $269.00.  I really thought it would have been more.

  The mail was brought by our postmaster introducing us to our new carrier.  Oh my gosh.  Michael Nett, out of the Air Force coming back to St. James.  His mom, Renee, had worked for and with me for years.  Small world.

  Dennis took Watson’s check to the mail box and will be returning with a Tuna Sub for supper.  

  As I said, it was a great full day.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:12 pm on May 3, 2025 Permalink  

  Saturday 

  What a great spring day.

  This morning, the studio found me deciding on the fabric for the binding of the purple quilt.  It will take 260 inches for the binding.  I cut enough three inch wide strips to equal that.  The strips are sewn together.  I checked the temps outside and the studio went dark.

  I got in some gardening this morning.  Twenty plus years ago, I had bricks outlining a flower bed off of the concrete patio.  It was time to realize that those perennials had not made it through this last winter.  Too many warm days, followed by cold rains that left a layer of ice.  We have the sweetest three tined fork.  It was perfect for me to use the fork to flip out the bricks that were in the dirt.  It will allow the mower to get closer as grass is spreading.  The bricks are on the west end of the patio.  I do have a barter system going with Dennis’ granddaughter Sadie.  When she visits and brings her tee-shirts for a quilt, grandpa Dennis will know by that time where he wants the bricks put.

  I have not kept up with the public school’s calendar.  Today is prom day.  I give Dennis’ daughter from Silver Bay credit for coming to St. James for Addison’s prom.  It has given the opportunity for visiting and catching up with her siblings and for Dennis and me.   

  Dennis has his two-gallon gas cans filled.  Batteries in the Sears rider and the zero-turn have been checked.  I have an inclination that tomorrow the 1.30 acre is going to be mowed.  We drove past it this last week and I would say it has greened up nicely.

  Last night as I was winding down snuggled in my bed, I ran through ingredients I had for a Saturday night supper.  Sure enough.  I now have my blue speckled round roaster ready for the oven.  A bag of refrigerated shredded hashbrowns, a diced onion, 8oz of sour cream, 1 can of cream of chicken soup, two cups of shredded cheese and some bacon bits tossed in for good measure.  I had two different types of the shredded cheese.  350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.  I know there will be a container to put in the freezer for another day.

  We do enjoy pan seared raw, deveined shrimp.  I took a batch out of the freezer this morning.  Enough butter in a fry pan to coat the bottom.  The shrimp get tossed about until their gray appearance turns pink . . . and they are done.   Five o’clock supper coming on.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:37 pm on April 29, 2025 Permalink  

  April Showers 

  I think what we had yesterday was a bit more than a shower.  We have an old steel folding chair on the front deck.  That I picked off of the sidewalk.  We were very fortunate. 

  The tree across from us left a huge amount of pollen on the street.  What a mess.  The city had their street sweeper out this morning for here and several other areas.  When I went outside this forenoon, I do believe the forceful rains did a great job of washing the house off.

  Dennis is taking it slow today.  Over the weekend and yesterday the ole cowboy’s adrenalin had been kicked into high gear.  Several days of R&R, he will be back.  

  My studio time went well today.  Seeing the quilt sandwiched on the table is a lot different than getting the heft of it under the needle.  There is no race for completion.  I did have a chair next to me to help with the heft of it.  One pass around the 52″ x 74″ and I called it.  I had a few items to take care in the checkbook division.

  Our homeowners insurance increased to the point, I looked at it twice.  We have not been singled out.  The insurance and the sharp rise in estimated market value for 2026 real estate taxes has been spoken of in various settings. 

  Supper is Manwich sandwiches, coleslaw, dill pickle flavored chips and perhaps some real pickles.  We kind of like the bread and butter ones.  Lots of turmeric flavoring.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on April 27, 2025 Permalink  

  A Sunday 

  Yes, I would call this a day of rest for those at Stauffer Avenue.

  Much was accomplished yesterday.  I started out the cool morning on Saturday with a gallon size pump sprayer with weed killer in it.  The sprayer was half full as I was using up what had been left in it from last fall.  It still seemed plenty heavy to carry while also using my cane.  Several postings back I had visited about Dennis and I taking out last year’s Russian Sage.  On Friday when I fixed the small flag off of the front deck, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.  The Russian Sage are in a raised bed next to the south side of my bedroom porch.  We had put pavers in years ago to give give our small home some dimension.  It worked.  What I had not counted on was that this year, for the first time, there were little Russian Sage plants coming out in between where the pavers met.  So many, so many looking way too healthy.  Not only there, but in the cracks of the cement sidewalk off of the front deck.

  Dennis told me the spray would take several days to show itself working.  Believe me, I will be keeping an eye out.  Nothing like giving them a second treatment if needed.  Many had told me how unusual it was to see Russian Sage come back year after year.  I must have gotten a hardy variety when I purchased these three plants from Drummer’s in Mankato.  This will be the fifth year of them in this spot.

  That is how our Saturday had begun.  From there it had just kept rolling.

  After a slow Sunday morning, Dennis chauffeured me about town.  We needed kitty litter from the Family Dollar Store.  From there it was to the Dollar General for the hard candy called Lemon Heads.  In Dollar General they are $1.00 for a five ounce bag.  In the grocery store they are $1.89 for five ounces in a box.  Go figure.

  The grocery store was our last stop.  Dennis needed distilled water for his CPAP machine.  The store has great carry-out fellows, so I bought three gallons for what will last for three weeks. I had not shopped since the week before the Easter weekend.  The groceries are unpacked and the day of errands is over.

  Dennis called Charlie and Dennis can go out to Charlie’s to unload the Cub tomorrow after five.  Good news.  The little red pickup with the loaded trailer has been in our drive since yesterday.  Dennis had hoped that the rain that was forecast for last night would have been a bit more forceful.  Not.  When we got home from errands, Dennis rinsed off the tractor and mower deck from the winter’s dust of being in the back garage as well as leaves caught on the mower deck from using it last fall.

  This next week is a quiet one.  I could not get any PT appointments for this next week and Mike thought it would be a good test run to see if he and I are making good head-ways.  I will continue with my exercises each and every day.  Appointments are on the calendar for the two weeks following.

  The coffee shop in the grocer’s had biscuit and gravy for one of their breakfast specials.  I brought home a boxed meal for supper.  It is one of Dennis’ favorites.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥