Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from July, 2021 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:26 pm on July 30, 2021 Permalink  

  A Dribble of Rain 

  Smokey air is one thing.  Add to that a dribble of a rain shower.  Not the most welcoming for the weekend.  Never mind . . . it’s the weekend . . . rejoice!

  Right now my church tables in the studio look as if we have nothing going on.  That would be correct.  The tablecloth has been cleaned up of extra threads and fuzz and pressed.  I had an extra wide hanger that I measured to see how narrow the tablecloth would need to be folded widthwise to lie flat over the rod. One fourth of the width did it.  I put a freshly washed towel over the rod before putting the tablecloth over it.  That will keep the cloth from getting a marked fold line in the future.  A clean dry cleaner bag over the top and it is now hanging from a hook in the ceiling of the studio.  The click of the light switch echoed me saying “Amen.”  

  I think I can say with confidence, “If not at 100%, I am going to be just fine with my mobility.”  

  As I sit in my old comfy chair in our west porch watching traffic, I know how I am going forward fixing meals.  No more asking “What are you hungry for”?  If it arrives on the table at supper time . . . it is what it is.

  Yesterday when we were in the grocery store, Dennis picked up a container of Lloyd’s pulled pork from the cooler.  Last night we had hot pulled pork sandwiches on toast.  That took a fairly small amount out of the round tub.  It was very tasty.  I put on my thinking cap.

  I had mentioned we shopped for a variety of staples yesterday. Tonight for supper, in a sprayed 9″ baking dish, I broke up six tortillas to cover the bottom.  One diced onion had been caramelized than I added a can of refried beans to heat them to soften them up.  That was spread on the tortillas.  The Lloyd’s pulled pork was spread over the onions and beans.  To top it off, shredded cheddar cheese to cover.  It will go into the oven at 350 degrees until it hits the heat of 155-160. 

  For sure, this was not in Mom’s church recipe book.  I don’t even know if Dad would have gone for it.  He was pretty much meat, potatoes and what’s for dessert.  Dennis and I both like Mexican flavored food once in awhile.  Do we ever go out for a Mexican meal?  No.  Dad’s favorite saying, “Talk is cheap but it won’t buy whiskey.”  Silly as it is, Dad never drank whiskey, but . . . he wouldn’t turn down a Fuzzy Navel: a shot of vodka with orange juice.

  I got waylaid.  As I have gotten older, meals have been a challenge for supper.  We don’t eat as much as we used to and our pallets have changed.  Wait until I bring out the chow mien noodles.  As I have mentioned, our café up town does not discriminate.  They would take Dennis’ money any hour of any day.

  Rejoice for all, the Lord allows for us to be his stewards.

   
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  Noreen 3:10 pm on July 27, 2021 Permalink  

  At Last 

  Our McDonald’s has opened their interior several weeks ago.  At last, today Dennis and his buds are back on track to get together for the Tuesday morning session.  Many of them had drug card tables and lawn chairs to the parking lot over the extended covid shut down.  That was not up Dennis’ alley.  Good for him.  He was not that desperate to being social.

  While Dennis was out with his coffee group, I was in the studio.  Small steps make the project doable.  Miters are sewn down and all the raw seams, via the overlocking foot and stitch are secure.  There would be nothing more miserable than laundering  a tablecloth and having seams wanting to ravel.  The last step and that may be happening tomorrow is hemming the project.  I will be using my Best Press in preparation before stitching.  Best Press is a light starch and will help prevent any stretching.  We surely do not want a hem that has a ruffle look.

  At last, we got haircuts today.  Being tipped back in the chair was not on the agenda before now.  I am not sure who’s haircut is shorter . . . mine or Dennis’.  It matters not right now. Ease of managing in the hot weather is of prime importance.  A week later new growth will be showing.

  We are having a Chicken Ruben oven meal today.  Cubed raw chicken breast meat in the sprayed bottom of an oven dish.  Sprinkle with poultry seasoning.  Spread one can of drained sauerkraut on top of the chicken.  Lightly cover the kraut with 1,000 Island dressing.  Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degree.  Remove and cover the top of the dish with Baby Swiss Cheese, the kind with the holes.  Return to the oven for an additional 15 minutes.   It’s been a long time since I have fixed this and yes . . . I am running out of ideas that really trip Dennis’ taste buds.  Fixing this is more appealing to me than eating out or soup.

  I pray that wherever you are, that if nothing else, not in the sun and air moving about you.

   
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  Noreen 2:13 pm on July 24, 2021 Permalink  

  Nothing Special 

  This was a nothing special Saturday.  Now that I am on the downhill side of this Saturday, it feels special.

  I am in my element when I can have a tidy home and a supper to put forth.  I had a lot of energy at seven this morning.  As I got up out of bed, I took the bedding right with me to the washing machine in the bathroom.  Bubbles churning, I put together my breakfast.  One of Dennis’ scones sure was tempting.  Not.  I did do my yogurt, flax meal, apple sauce and blueberries.  Maybe tomorrow morning I won’t be as strong.  I feel better if I lay low on the refined sugar and white flour.

  On to the supper.  I rough chopped the last of an onion and sautéed it to get a good caramelization. Pasta, lean ground beef browned, a cup or so of corn kernels, the onions and then churned with the contents of a jar of Clssico Tomato and Basil.  It is a warm day to have the oven going later on.  Equally, it is a good day to put out a good meal . . . with leftovers guaranteed.  

  By twelve noon the fresh bedding was back on the bed and the older ones on Stauffer will not be going out for supper.  It did feel good to take a break in our west house porch.  We have Thrush  birds that nest under our awning.  It makes for fun to watch them flit from the evergreen to and from their nests.  Their song is a joyful one.  I had a cup of coffee left from breakfast.  Add to that . . . even watching some traffic was relaxing.

  There was one seam stitched and ironed this afternoon.  I am making headway even if the back doesn’t appreciate the sewing studio time. 

  I am not overdoing it in my day-to-day routines.  I am participating in all my usual activities, just not to the max.  It feels special to be on track after six months of . . . not so much.

   
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  Noreen 1:17 pm on July 15, 2021 Permalink  

  Mild Temps 

  What’s not to love when the temps are mild right into the late afternoon.  

  We had errands to run.  Dennis does the driving and I do the in and outing of places.  It is actually good exercise for me, as me and the cane have one speed . . . slow.

  The grocery store was in line after the post office.  When we had some pork steak as an oven meal, there were leftovers.  Leftovers make good repurposed meals.  I needed some egg noodles, and sour cream.  I have had some of the refrigerated “Better than Bullion” in the sautéed onion and garlic flavor on hand.  It is in a jellied form in a small jar.  When the noodles were still hot, I whipped in a large tablespoon of the sautéed onion bullion, a bit of olive oil and a cup of sour cream.  The diced pork was the last be be folded in.  I topped it off with fresh ground pepper.  It looks very appealing to be popped in the oven latter on.

  The last stop had been the Lewis Drug.  If I could do a happy dance and remain upright I would have as there was no co-pay due on Dennis’ three month supply of Warfarin.  We feel so blessed that our insurance premiums each month, that amount to a few cents over $15.00 for each of us, serves us well.

  I do have supper ready and the kitchen prep has been cleaned up.  I am ready for some chair time.

  As a thought:  a kind friend brought me donuts for my Wednesday and Thursday breakfast.  How could I not accept them and then go on to enjoy them these last two mornings.  They did taste oh so good as I have not had anything from the pastry counter in months and months.  I told Dennis “not again.”  The sugar high wore off both mornings and I could feel a downward spiral.  I will be sticking to my plain yogurt, flax meal topped with blueberries or apple sauce.  Every once in awhile falling off the wagon does teach a valuable lesson, much like not having carbonated soda beverages which are hard on the kidneys loaded with . . . nothing good, in the house.

   
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  Noreen 2:51 pm on July 9, 2021 Permalink  

  There Are Times 

  There are times when the stomach may growl.  What to put in it . . . hmm.  Nothing appeals.  Even thinking of all the contents and aisles in a store . . . nada.  Dennis and I were determined we would get this figured out.  I made sure I had on good shoes and I headed down Stauffer Avenue thinking I needed a fairly good walk to clear my head and work up an appetite.

  I walked east far enough to knock on Chuck and Bonnie’s door to bid them a hello.  I knew that they were leery of coming to see me in the event I didn’t feel up to a visit.  We did indeed have a good visit while I sat on their patio bench and caught my breath before making the return trip home.  Yup . . . pushing myself a bit felt wonderful.

  When I got home Dennis had cauliflower chunked, two cans of water-packed chicken, Alfredo sauce, pasta measured and a can of green beans for color ready to open.  It was a plan.  I pitched in and we will be eating a great supper . . . and perhaps a helping for two to pop in the freezer for another time.  Meals on Wheels eat your heart out.

  Naps during the day are getting slim.  I still hit the rocking chair but the eyes now don’t immediately fall shut.  I am in bed by nine each evening and do sleep well.

  Life is sweet.  I can assure you the dust bunnies are not getting the upper hand.

   
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  Noreen 1:43 pm on May 29, 2021 Permalink  

  A Kitchen Day 

  A bit too chilly for coffee on the patio right off the bat.  The bright sun does promise a bit warmer later on.

  There is always a load of laundry to set the day in motion.  By pushing a few buttons, it freed me up to start an oven meal for tonight.  Classico tomato sauce with browned hamburger, pasta, caramelized onions and chopped up canned green beans.  Chopping canned green beans was easy.  I opted to put the hunks of onion in the blender with some water.  It doesn’t take that long to blot the the minced onions dry and finish them in a fry pan.

  Dennis was on board to help with the dishes and the freezer scored a portion of the oven meal in a small loaf pan with instructions taped to the top for the day that will come . . . “What’s for supper.” Later this afternoon the kitchen will be picking up the aroma of a hearty supper. 

  I did sit for a break to see what the junk mail held . . . nothing.  It was enough of a break to decide to make a Dump Cake.  Easy as one, two, three.  A huge can of sliced peaches, juice and all, into a 8×10 or so cake pan . . . no pan prep.  Sprinkle one box of dry cake mix on top.  I used yellow cake mix.  Cutting up one and a half sticks of butter into the half marks on the wax paper and placing the butter patties throughout on top of the dry cake mix.  Next, bake at 350 degrees for an hour or so.  The top will have taken on a wonderful color, perhaps with peach juice bubbling through.  

  It felt good to spend some time in the kitchen, knowing that this will be the beginning of feeding the freezer for a time when Dennis is home alone while I am in the hospital, or, an easy meal for the two of us when I am again home.  Not to worry.  I can promise you it will not be in the freezer long enough to catch freezer burn.

  Have yourself a great Saturday evening.  I think I need to check out what has kept Dennis busy in the garage after he escaped KP duty.

   
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  Noreen 2:35 pm on April 26, 2021 Permalink  

  Robo Calls 

  The increase of robo calls have been over the hill in the last weeks for auto insurance or auto warranty.  How annoying.  They had cooled down until lately.

  Dennis ran errands this morning, in part, getting ready for a “job jar party” on Mother’s Day.  Gotta love his enthusiasm.  We actually do the job jar quite well on our own.  Some things we keep hands off of as they are beyond our pay grade . . . retired with the wrong tools.

  We had stocked up on some groceries right before I had the stroke.  A lot of the groceries had not been put away in our pantry . . . the cistern closet in the basement.  Once I was in the basement I stayed put.  Multiple items of one type in a cardboard box needed to be unpacked to make it easier when we want to fetch one item off of the shelf rather than fight a heavy cardboard packing box.  It also refreshed me as to what we have on hand.  We won’t be going hungry anytime soon.  It was a good stint of energy and time.

  Shore Land has some great prepackaged soup mixes.  Not all grocery stores carry it.  Hy-Vee is where we found it.  Chicken Noodle is what we are having for supper.  We first had it at JoAnn’s when we had delivered the Koi to her farm last fall.  A bag of the soup mix and a can of canned chicken makes a great soup with the flat noodles, peas and carrots. 

  The day is cool with gray clouds threatening showers.  Spring is in the wings . . . any day now.

  Tomorrow I resume PT.  I now know, after a week on my own, where more PT is needed.  No guessing required.

   
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  Noreen 5:02 pm on December 17, 2020 Permalink  

  Forgotten 

  I had forgotten how sticky things can get when one is making candy with sugar and syrup.  I was determined to step out of my comfort zone with treats this Christmas.  All I had to loose was perhaps 5 lbs of sugar and a lot of stirring over boiling goodies.

  The cocoa fudge did turn out and it tastes just like what my Grandma Laura would make.  It is a grainy surgery finish.  Back then, cocoa was the thing to bake and cook with.  I don’t think chocolate chips were abundantly available, more so the bar of bitter sweet chocolate to shave off what was needed.  Indeed a flavor from times back.

  I had some evaporated milk left from the 12 oz can, so today I tried my hand at milk chocolate chips and marshmallow cream out of a jar.  It’s too soon to tell.  Getting my sticky dishes cleaned up is always a good thing to do.  Hot sudsy water does soak its way through the worst of it, you just can’t rush it.  

  It’s always sad to learn when an old friend and neighbor passes away.  Martin Duesterhoff was such a good person.  He lived just a bit up the gravel road to the southeast.  He and his wife Fern never had children.  The entire community had him as a fellow that could be counted on.  Martin passed away at age 96.  

  I went down into the basement today and the fact that it got a good cleaning yesterday, gave me the best feeling.  It’s all tidy!  The sewing machine is taking a vacation until after Christmas.  I have no doubt I will keep busy as well.  Tomorrow, after a quick visit to the VA clinic here in town, we will be heading to New Ulm to pick up the little red pickup from the spa treatment.  Exciting to say the least.  

  Hmm.  It’s supper time.  I did pull out a pan of refrigerator rolls from the oven.  They should go well with some chicken tenders, fried potatoes and green peas.  A supper fit for this candy-making queen . .  oh I am sure Dennis will enjoy it as well.

   
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  Noreen 5:03 pm on December 6, 2020 Permalink  

  A Busy Day 

  Today I spent some hours in the sewing studio.  Out of 25 blocks to piece, I have five remaining.  When the back started feeling tight, all was shut down for the day.  Too much of a good thing will have payback later on.

  JoAnn cued us in on some soup mix, Shore Lunch.  Today I mixed up a batch of Chicken Noodle.  I had leftover chicken from the other night also with some corn and added it to the noodle, carrot and peas that were freeze dried.  8 cups of  boiling water and it was soup on its way.  It smells wonderful and supper is underway.

  We have had the Christmas tree up since Thanksgiving and it had been out in the west porch.  I decided to make room for it in the living room and today it was decked out with decorations.  A pencil thin, seven foot tree is not the easiest to decorate and the branches are not very long.  I think it turned out great.  Many of my decorations will have to wait for next year when they get to take a turn.  I am short of flat spots for my Nativity sets.  

  It is five and it is dark out.  After supper I will be doing a stint in my chair and the heating pad on my back.  Priceless.

  A new week awaits and so does more wonderful weather.  Enjoy and know that no matter what our day brings, we do not walk alone.  An extra hand that can be felt on our shoulder brings support and peace.

   
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  Noreen 5:37 pm on October 30, 2020 Permalink  

  Sweet Day 

  My fellow stitchers said “all aboard,” and I answered the call.  After meeting up in Mankato, two vehicles with lots of chit chat fueling the trip headed for Rochester to the Pines and Needles Quilt Shop.  I had never visited said shop.  

  I had a bit of a list and came home with . . . not so much.  Each shop has its specialty and unique line of fabrics.  Between you and me and the fence post The Old Alley Quilt Shop in Sherburn had this one beat.  But . . . it doesn’t hurt to expand the horizons.

  We spent two and a half hours visiting in Panera Eatery.  That was the best part of the day.  Sharing, encouraging and listening . . . sweet day.

  Home is always sweet, and due to the lateness of my return we had smorgasbord for supper.  Dennis peeled the boiled potatoes that were on hand, threw in the corn left from last night, cracked two eggs in the pan and sprinkled with Asiago shredded cheese.  It tasted great and we were  content.   

  That brings to mind what contentment means to me.  Contentment for me is knowing that my world is enough for me.   

  We are on a streak of great weather.  Have at it everyone before someone else gets their hands on it.