Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from July, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:24 pm on July 26, 2023 Permalink  

  Hmm 

  At 6:15 this morning the rain shower came.  At 6:30 the rain shower was history.  Just enough to feed the uncomfortable day that was dawning.

  Nephew Brett came over this forenoon with some work for Dennis.  It is a gun that needs a lot of cleaning.  Right up the ole cowboy’s avenue.

  I had a thawed pork roast with bone in that went into a baggie with Worchester marinade.  I sliced into the roast with a sharp knife to allow the marinade to seep in during these next 24 hours.  Tomorrow morning, it will hit the crock pot.  It will just be too dog gone hot for anything more than that.

  This afternoon, the furniture store from Hanska delivered our two occasional chairs.  Free delivery along with a $20.00 check.  I had thought they would need to take the sleeper sofa with them, thus the $20.00 charge.  Our carpenter will enjoy the sofa sleeper in his new home.  Priceless.  Dennis got a recliner in 2015.  These two chairs are taking the place of the sleeper sofa purchase from 25 years ago.  We are not a household that purchases furniture often.  I very much enjoy my teak wooden rocker that was purchased in 2009.  We are set.

  It is very uncomfortable outside this afternoon.  The mail did deliver the five office chair casters that I ordered on Amazon yesterday after we returned from Mankato.  At noon lunch, we decided to take this next step slowly.

  In the mean time, I am switching off from reading to stitching until supper time.  That may well be a chicken salad sandwich.

   
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  Noreen 1:20 pm on July 24, 2023 Permalink  

  A Day of Quiet 

  As we were having our last night’s meal of fried egg sandwiches, Dennis and I recapped our day.  Both of us had worked with garden tools to make an inroad on the blue barn acre, and . . . we did.  Neither of us got hurt or fell.

  Today, being Monday, we each pulled into our own selves resting up for a repeat in the near future.

  Shh!  Today felt like the peace that passes all understanding.

   
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  Noreen 3:23 pm on July 22, 2023 Permalink  

  Quite the Day 

  The main objective for the day was laundry.  When Dennis works outside, it doesn’t matter if two t-shirts hit the laundry or a dozen.  Clean clothes is desirable.

  By 10:30, I was ready to ride shotgun over to the blue barn acre.  Lopper and weed whip in the pickup and we were off.  There is a lot of the Kudzu vines in the trees.  We did cut a lot of it off, down to the roots.  The next step will be our little pumper gallon sprayer with a strong mixture of RoundUp to go around the trees.  There is one Black Walnut tree with a crop of nuts in the greenery.  Right next to it is a very old Mulberry tree.  The ground around it is full of berries that fell once they were too ripe to hang onto the branches.  Every time Dennis mows it is looking better.  Once tall weeds are cut, it gives the good grass a chance to stool out.

  By twelve noon we were home, giving legs and arms a break.

  I did go down into the studio and check the YouTube video on what the next steps would be for my project bag.  Watching a video over and over breeds familiarity.  What needed to come first was a good cleaning under the hood complete with oiling and a new needle after the embroidery I had done for Kersten.  Using the machine doesn’t hurt as long as I keep it cleaned and oiled.  Just like a valued vehicle.

  Tomorrow may see some actual stitching.

  When Dennis visited the studio, we agreed on soup with a fried egg sandwich on the side.

  Happy Sunday coming around the corner.

   
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  Noreen 2:46 pm on July 16, 2023 Permalink  

  Sunday, Sunday 

  No good deed goes unpunished.  Having had a light supper last night, a dish of vanilla ice cream sounded good at eight last night.

  Wouldn’t you know it!  Four a.m. a bathroom visit was needed.  I went back to bed with eyes wide awake.  The dang birds were tweet tweeting to high heaven.  I got up and sat on the front deck and took in a fair amount of traffic watching.  Dennis got up at his usual time, six, and I greeted him with “Good Morning.”  I was sitting in my rocking chair.  He was surprised that I was up.  Once I could smell the coffee, I knew I was up for the day.  When the coffee was done, we both sat on the front deck with that freshly brewed black stuff.  Dennis, then with his breakfast box under his arm and his thermos type of coffee cup headed to the patio porch.

  I went into the studio and got some items together that I had started yesterday.

  By eight Dennis was in for a nap and I put a jacket on and went out to the gardens.  The weed that had put out such beautiful purple flowers was now done for the year.  Honey Bunny joined me and we pulled them up by their shallow roots.  Another bundle of greenery awaits drying by Dennis’ burning ring.  I even beat the bumble bees that love the Russian Sage by nabbing a hefty growth of nightshade in one of the corners of their purple blooms.

  With energy spent I came in and settled down to watch some YouTube videos.  My day just kept rolling along.  I now have Dennis’ favorite cold salad cooling in the refrig.  It’s the one with the pasta little rings, diced Spam, diced onion, green peas, diced celery and mayo.  Both Carrie and Kevin like it as well.

  Guess who is going to be in bed earlier than usual tonight, and . . . no ice cream.

  Tomorrow Dennis is going to Mankato to pick up his first pair of specialized shoes since the left foot has totally healed from . . . no toes.

  I am heading to New Ulm in the afternoon tomorrow to have a repair on my car.  Yippee!  It is covered under my warranty.  My favorite daughter-in-law will rescue me from the several hour wait as we go for a soft drink.  Sweet.

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on July 6, 2023 Permalink  

  My Element 

  On this chilly morning, I was up early and in my element, bent over getting after a few weeds that I knew would pull up well from the half inch of rain we had earlier in the week.

  Where the old Lilacs were cut down there is no shortage of sucker plants coming.  Not all are going to make it.  I reserve the right to set literal boundaries.  Realizing that my set time for gardening was fleeting, I set about putting three pails over three Hosta.  Let the Roundup commence.  I left the pails in place as tomorrow morning, I will protect three more Hosta before spraying.  Take that you nasty clover plants!

  I do put a time limit on my gardening.  If I waited until my arms began to ache . . . it would be too late.  If restless legs are difficult to contend with, the left arm, from the stroke, will keep me up all night as the nerves retaliate from too much for too long.

  Dennis was just getting up from his morning nap when I came into the house at 10:30.  His task was mowing the remaining yards.

  After washing up, I was content having a cup of breakfast coffee and reading in my bedroom sitting upon my cherry red chair.  After a bit, I worked on my counted cross stitch.  I am really enjoying the project.  I don’t stay at it for long lengths of time as the right hand tends to want to fall asleep from gripping the needle.  Everything in my world is doable if I listen to my body.  It all ends up giving me a balanced day and a balanced life.

  Tomorrow on my agenda is to do an embroidery design that I have been mulling over.  I will let you know how that turns out.

  This evening we are having the last of the two-minute meals we had purchased in Mankato this last Monday.  It will be meatloaf accompanied by our very own instant mashed potatoes.

  Don’t you just love this weather!

   
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  Noreen 2:52 pm on July 4, 2023 Permalink  

  4th of July 

  Hello!  This is my son’s double nickel birth date.  My how time has flown.  I have wonderful memories that could fill volumes.  Kevin shares my abilities to recall memories, perhaps even better than I can.  A sweet trait.

  Our town is really quiet today.  Hard telling what the twilight hours will bring for firecrackers. 

  Dennis and I sat on the front deck this forenoon with coffee cups in hand.  I will say, since this deck has been put on the house in April, Dennis has been more about sharing his memories than ever before.  It’s a good thing.

  A quiet day for us means light eating.  I have a very good batch of a cold tuna spread going for sandwiches.  Dennis cares more for a tuna spread than a ham spread.

  We had a light sprinkle of rain this forenoon.  It evaporated on the concrete immediately.

  Tomorrow will feel like a Monday on a Wednesday.  I will take it as it comes as I know you will.

   
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  Noreen 1:42 pm on June 25, 2023 Permalink  

  A Sunday on Stauffer 

  A content day on Stauffer.  Dennis found his recliner for a forenoon nap.  He had talked himself out yesterday with many of his classmates.  The golf club’s restaurant scored three different class reunions.  Talk about noise.  It became lip reading 101.  Towards the end, getting outside was the best place to visit.

  I did wake during the night to hear thunder and see lightning.  The rain didn’t amount to a hill of beans.

  I took the day to bounce from stitching to reading and back to stitching.  In between, I sat on the front deck and watched traffic.  The sandwiched quilt is coming along nicely with the stitching.  The task of using weights to keep the fabric evenly placed is the challenge.  When the bobbin needed to be refilled, I took the time to clean out fuzz from under the needle plate and put in a new needle.

  We are having pork roast commercials for supper.  The refrig has kept everything chilled, ready for this evening.

  Our coming week is quiet, keeping us right here on Stauffer Avenue.  I have not looked online to see the weather forecast. 

  Catch everyone tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 1:18 pm on June 23, 2023 Permalink  

  Alerts for Air Quality 

  Alerts can be given for the air quality, but life does go on for many in their respective jobs.  This July weather in June . . . sucks.

  I usually have KNUJ radio on in the studio.  When I heard a commercial from Chuck Spaeth, I dug my phone out.  It had rang a bell.  I had the oil changed not too long ago and I recalled the cheat sheet that I was given when I left.  Today, I was acting on that one item.  I had googled the “drivetrain” and it took in a whole bunch of stuff.  When I spoke to Nick at the service desk, he looked up our car.  Nick told me he would call back with an estimate.  Hmm.  Sure enough, Nick called back.  It is the power steering pump that has multiple leaks.  The estimate of $780.00 will be covered under my warranty.  The part needs to be ordered.  When Nick calls, I will set up an appointment and get it taken care of.

  Dennis has been checking his eyelids for cracks today.  That was one of Raymond’s favorite sayings.  Yesterday’s heat was tough on the ole cowboy, but dang-nabbit that mowing was going to get done.

  With a good supply of safety pins, I am slowly working away pinning the sandwiched quilt for stability for a time when I do the free motion stitching.

  We have agreed on chopped roast pork sandwiches with Mayo for supper.

  Tomorrow we are to be at the golf supper club at 11:30 a.m. for Dennis’ 69th class reunion.  The all school reunions are held during the Railroad Days celebration week.  We were tickled that it is over the noon hour and not in the evening.  Everyone orders off the menu.  Another good thing. 

  Take care my peeps over the weekend.  There is a chance of rain, but no promises.

   
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  Noreen 2:17 pm on June 22, 2023 Permalink  

  Not a Nice Day 

  For me it was not a nice day and I didn’t even have to do much outside.  Dennis decided to mow and I wanted to help by picking up the downspout around the perimeter of our home.  We have PVC pipes as down spouts.  I couldn’t stand them upright but I did get them off to the side on concrete.

  Dennis finished mowing shortly after twelve noon.  Oh my gosh, I watched from afar.  The dust just rolled.  The rain dances are deemed a failure.  Even if we get rain this weekend, the grass will continue to struggle as the weeds do not.  All I could do was give moral support.

  Yesterday I had picked up a 6.5 lb. shoulder pork roast that I cut in half when we got home.  One half went into the freezer with the other half being put in a gallon sized zip bag. I marinated it overnight with teriyaki sauce.  I flipped the bag over every time I came near the refrigerator.  This morning the roast and the remaining contents of the bag went into our small crockpot with the low setting.  I must say this mid afternoon it has a good aroma.  Giving Dennis ample time to rest and shower, we will have a later supper than usual.  I have a bag of seasoned diced precooked potatoes to go with the roast.  Cranberries will top it all off.

  Having kept an ear out on Dennis and the mower, I headed to the studio this forenoon.  My goal was to get the second quilt top sandwiched.  My weights came in handy to keep everything held down and squared.  I did do some pinning as well.  Having done the first quilt in the same fashion, I now know, I need not do quite as many safety pins on each of the sixteen blocks as I had done prior.

  My prayer and wish for everyone is to take the afternoon heat carefully.  The highest temp often comes in the late afternoon.  Nothing is as important than our wellbeing.  Rest and hydration so the morrow can be taken on.

   
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  Noreen 1:54 pm on June 17, 2023 Permalink  

  Early to Rise 

  Early to bed and early to rise.  That was me this morning.  I always go to bed at nine, but most days I am still in bed at 7:30.  Six this morning, the birds in the evergreen right outside my bedroom were exceptionally loud.  So be it . . . I got up.  I punched the coffee maker and decided to sit on our front deck whilst the brewing commenced.  Nothing like a cup of rich Folger’s coffee. 

  My dad never drank anything but Folger’s.  At some point, flavored coffee might find its way into the farm house via a gift of well meaning people.  Nope, Raymond would rather drink Folger’s instant coffee than the flavored.

  I had my studio time planned out for today by the time I had turned off all the studio lights yesterday.  It is now mid afternoon and my objectives have been met.  Once I had the rotary cutter ready to go on some orange material for the binding, it was just as easy to cut enough material for the binding of both quilts.  Stitching lengths together was next.  Keeping yards of 2.5″ fabric cut tidy is difficult.  It was a wise choice to go ahead and press it in half and then wind the lengths using a hard covered medium of some sort.  That was the extent of today’s stitching.

  Our plans for the rest of the weekend are on the quiet side.  As early as I was out on our front deck, I could see many were zipping by with campers and boats.  Bless their hearts.  Neither one of those options would trip my trigger.

  I see that Dennis has company in the patio porch.  I will be retiring to my cheery red chair and a good book.  Dennis took out two hamburger patties for supper with leftover beans. Supper is planned.

  Everyone have a great Father’s day.