Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from January, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:39 pm on January 15, 2025 Permalink  

  Tuckered Out 

  Today is Wednesday and at this writing, I declare that I am tuckered out.  That is what happens when this Grammie does the “Merry Maid” thing.

  I didn’t even go near the studio today.  I had an agenda and having stuck with it, there was no energy or time left.  We do have a batch of chili ready to enjoy for supper.  There will also be several meals of the chili going into the freezer for another day.  I like to use one pound of 80/20 ground beef and one pound of plain ground pork.  The Italian seasoned pork has too many flavors I do not want in my chili.  Dennis opened three cans for me and one jar.  I use the quart jar of Classico red sauce.  I started the process of dicing a rather large onion and sautéing that in my soup kettle before adding the meat.  When the onion is sautéed the onion pieces turn translucent and not as noticeable as when you pitch in the onion right from the cutting board.  To get the meat into the nice sized pieces, I use two forks to pull at the meat while the kettle is hot and the browning of the meat can begin.  A dash or two of Cayenne pepper, a sprinkling of bacon bits and a swizzle of molasses.  I used two cans of red beans and one can of refried beans.  I have a circular ironclad plate to put on the burner.  At a low simmer the entire bottom of my kettle gets evenly hot.

  When Dennis decided to sample . . . he gave it a thumbs up.

  Our wonderful lightweight vac was pulled out of the closet and I did the floors on our first floor.  It was time to do a thorough tidy of the bathroom, making sure to vacuum out the area of the lint filter in the clothes dryer.  Giving the chili a stir once in awhile I got the damp mopping done.

  The “Merry Maid” is enjoying the last of the cold breakfast coffee while I type.  I have had a great day with much self satisfaction.  I so enjoy our little home after a day such as this one.  Will the tidy, tidy last?  Absolutely not.  Our home is meant to be lived in from the east end to the west end.

  The studio will wait for another day after Grammie has had a good night’s rest.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:56 pm on January 10, 2025 Permalink  

  Friday the 10th 

  The first thing I did today, the 10th, was to message my primary doctor to refill my prescription on the 11th that needs a message every month before it can be refilled.  It really doesn’t take that much time to get it done.  The 11th is on a Saturday.  Lewis Drug is open until three on Saturdays.  The prescription cannot be refilled on the 10th, it is quite fussy about the coverage that I have.  It can be requested after the 11th but not one day sooner.  I do have the prescription covered if I need to go until Monday to pick it up.  It’s called covering your bases.

  Dennis spent the forenoon in his recliner.  He had a headache and best to acknowledge it as he doesn’t get a headache often.

  I went about getting everything together for a chicken Rueben oven meal.  I had taken the chicken tenderloins out of the freezer last night in preparation.  I thought I was being smart by purchasing a small container of poultry seasoning that I was sure had a shaker cover.  Not.  When I was going to pull off the little round sealer of the container, I pulled off the barest of the sealer, so I could still use it as a shaker rather than having the entire container’s contents exposed.  The seasoning does add flavor but can also add way too much if not careful.  I strained the sauerkraut through a thin dish towel to get the kraut as dry as possible.  There is no way the chicken or the kraut will be dry patted dry enough to avoid a bit of juice when a totally dry scoop is wanted when the dish is table ready.  I had just enough of the 1,000 Island dressing to cover the kraut.  I poked holes through the kraut with the handle of my wooden spoon to incorporate some of the dressing down onto the cubed chicken.   

  In the past I had mentioned that a piece of fabric I had was just barely large enough for a new pattern I wanted to stitch.  I had already sewn on some matching fabric to use as a mat on each side.  Top and bottom would not be a problem.  Today was the rest of the story.  I started on the upper left hand side of my fabric.  My goal was to see how I would come out on the far upper right hand side.  Breathe.   Yup!  I have met my challenge.  I have a consistent right hand margin from top to bottom.  I will be using two strands of floss over one stitch.  The fabric mat along both sides of the design is what Carrie had helped me choose to go with the floss.  By the way, on the left side of this stitching fabric I have the huge amount of two extra stitches.  Grammie, Grammie.  I can and will work with this.  After all . . . we do what we can on what we have to work with.

  It’s time to get my oven pre-heating for supper.

  With that I will take my leave.

   
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  Noreen 4:04 pm on January 9, 2025 Permalink  

  A Fluttering 

  So it was promised, but at three this afternoon, it sure took its time to give us a fluttering of flakes.

  The air is dry but it didn’t take long to cover the streets and give less visibility as I look out of my bedroom porch windows to the roof tops.

  Our errand for the day was a trip to Lewis Drug.  We had that accomplished before noon.  Our car has not been driven on wet salty streets and today was no exception.  Using the car as we drove out on the Hammond highway was good to get everything realizing it still must work when called upon.  As I watch the traffic now, there is wet sticky stuff coming up from under the vehicle tires.  

  I take Metamucil everyday.  It’s not a laxative, but more of a binder for my body’s waste.  It is also very good for my heart.  After paying the high price at Lewis Drug for a container, I know when we travel to Mankato on Monday for Dennis’ eye injection, I will be purchasing several containers for the same price I paid for one today. 

  The only good buy there is here in town is at the Dollar General.  After Dennis had surgery for a blocked salvatory gland, he said his mouth always felt dry.  Carrie tuned him into the hard candy called Lemon Heads.  Tart is the key word to get the saliva going.  Our grocer sells the bag of some 4 ounces for $1.89.  Family Dollar sells the save size for $1.29.  Let’s hear if for Dollar General at $1.00.  Other than some colored Life Savors in their own little bag, the Lemon Heads take center stage.  I may have one or two for the day.   Dennis goes through many of them each day.  If not a cigarette, it’s a Lemon Head. 

  The day is heavy and gray.  It hasn’t done much for my level of energy.  Even less than good days are part of the process.  I just don’t make a habit of having too many in a row.

  It has been a no-account day so our supper will be light.  There are several meal entrées in the freezer that will be brought out with Mott’s apple sauce on the side as well as the last of the jellied cranberries from the refrigerator.

  The snowflakes have ceased fluttering, but I must say this week has quickly fluttered by.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:31 pm on January 7, 2025 Permalink  

  Tuesday the 7th 

  Each day for me, being retired, is never the same one unto another.  Each small nuance can shift the energy.

  This morning, the coffee smelled especially good as I poured out my cup of the 14 total cups.  The hot steam just rolled across the top of the cup.  My coffee cup sits in the kitchen cabinet which is on the north wall of the kitchen.  As hot as that coffee comes out of the pot which is on a hot burner, the coffee is hitting a cup that is quite cold.  I don’t mess around enjoying it as it can cool quite quickly.  I dare not sip while I walk me and the coffee to my bedroom porch.  I am not steady enough to sip coffee and walk at the same time. 

  When I got myself settled on the cherry red chair, I found myself gawking.  My command center from where I read, stitch, check out the computer and watch traffic was a cluttered mess.  I have to take credit for it as other than Dennis perching in the guest chair at least once a day, it’s my own personal doings.

  The mail slot is four feet from my chair.  As I sort through it each day, there was a pile of junk mail that didn’t need to take up space.  I am finishing a stitching project and the extra floss hanging from a light fixture over the desk should be taken care.  My stash of books yet to be read has tipped over from the tidy array they had been on the west window sill. 

  The only thing to my credit is that there were no empty drink containers or used silverware adding to the mix.

  I did get on it and decided a few items needed to be put back in the basement studio where I had fetched them from when I was finishing some small Christmas pillows.  When I got to the studio, I got sidelined as there were some of my treasures from embroidering that needed a bit of a tidy.

  As the day went on with me drinking coffee as I went from location to another, I did make inroads in my bedroom porch as well as in the studio.

  It is now that part of the day to think on making supper.  The fare will be baked potatoes, tilapia and cranberries.

  Tomorrow morning, when I have toddled into my bedroom porch to enjoy that cup of hot coffee, I can perhaps sit in my cherry red chair, give it a swivel enjoying the tidy surroundings . . . for whatever short period of time that may be until it becomes looking very liked-in and all mine.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:57 pm on January 6, 2025 Permalink  

  Set the Clock 

  I can set my clock by Dennis’ timeline.

  At eight, Dennis has opened his eyes, been to the bathroom, has a cup of coffee sealed so as to not spill, his breakfast box filled and out the door to the patio porch all by the time of 8:10.  I will greet him for the day when he comes in at 12:30 after he has caught the noon news on one of his two televisions in the patio porch.  Dennis is one that follows his habits and then is ready for the day in every good spirits.  There is no way I am going to mess with a routine that serves both of us well.

  From the time I get up, which is also eight, I have the run of our home’s first floor.  Believe me, I could literally run someone over.  It’s all about an agenda to keep hearth and home running like a clock . . . just not Dennis’ clock.

  When Dennis comes in at 12:30, I am up for whatever plans Dennis has for the remainder of the day.

  Today, we made a trip to our Dollar General here in town as Dennis was in need of distilled water for his CPAP.  I had an item I needed for the studio out of the school supply isle.  All of the new OESD designs have been printed off and it is time to get them into the embroidery library.  Sheet protectors I had, I needed a ring binder.

  While Dennis was parked to watch the traffic, I was using their bright yellow cart cruising the aisles.  Surprisingly I found quite a few items as I was checking their prices.  The orange juice of 64 ounces was a much better price, quality to quality, than when our grocer has 52 ounces on sale.  So I was impressed.  Our local Super-Fair is expensive.  I plan on shopping again sometime using a bright yellow cart.

  Dennis’ oven meal was fantastic.  He used the remaining shredded pork roast with medium sized cooked ( a bit on the gelatin side) egg noodles.  He added two cans of green beans he had diced and topped it off with a jar of Alfredo white sauce.  As I said, it was fantastic sitting down to a flavorful meal and all the prep work left the kitchen as clean as if I had been at it.  The remaining of his oven meal is for this evening.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:08 pm on January 3, 2025 Permalink  

  Coffee 

  I do drink a fair amount of coffee through the day.  Our coffee pot is set to go off at six in the morning.  It will stay hot on the burner for four hours.  We can continue punching it until the coffee has been totally consumed.  We like our coffee rick and strong.  No flavored coffee for us.  Folgers all the way.  I may sleep in to various hours in the morning, but once I am up, I juice up with Folgers and I have been activated.  Within the first ten minutes of my morning I may have started the laundry and gotten a crock pot with the components of what will be our supper.

  Dennis is not a morning person anymore.  When he was a poultry transportoligist he had his 18 wheeler ready to go in a heart beat.  Now he is ready for conversation by noon.  He and the kitties need the patio porch time.

  Yesterday the pork roast was tender done by four in the afternoon.  I decided to make it a pulled pork supper with the boiled potatoes.  If we have ever been to an event or in a restaurant, I can guarantee you I will pass on their rendition of pulled pork.  By the time I was done 99% of the pork roast was in pieces no longer than an inch.  Longer than an inch I find it stringy and hard to bite and chew.  I left the shredded pork in the crock pot and it soaked up all the juices of the cooking process.  No flavor went by the wayside.  This evening, I can see having wonderful hot pork sandwiches with Mayo, or . . . heating the pork in a serving dish in the microwave with a damp paper towel over the serving dish.  I know the pork having all the juices within is not going to be dry to go with the fried potatoes left over from being boiled last night.  We don’t do much frying of our meals, but who doesn’t enjoy American fried potatoes with the edges having a bit of a crisp.

  The studio being a bit chilly, I kept my nose to the stitching today.  I did do a query about the yardage in a full hank of silk floss.  Minimal there is 1,000 yards of 6 ply floss.  Working with two strands each time the needle is loaded compared to a skein of six ply DMC, that entails many stitches.  DMC has 8 yards of six ply per skein. 

  We had and do not have any reason to go out into the cold in the next several days.

  I just finished the last of the 14 cups from the coffee maker.  

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:23 pm on January 2, 2025 Permalink  

  Thursday the 2nd 

  So much grayness after a few fleeting minutes of sun this morning.

  Our post master himself was delivering mail this forenoon.  I greeted him as I do each day whoever deliveries the mail.  It’s the least I can do when they are moving as fast as possible and they can hand off the mail rather than getting the mail into the small slot in the house wall.  I am not sure if there is a heater in their small vehicle that is parked several blocks away as they make deliveries in a loop.

  The kitchen is filling with the aroma of a pork roost in the crock pot.  I plan on doing boiled potatoes and green beans for supper.

  Dennis’ report came from his last lab work of the VA’s.  More foods with iron will need to be on Dennis’ menu.  Yup.  I was on the internet like a flash and each day’s menu will have what is needed.

  My stitching entails finishing the bell-pull that I have been working on.  The band across is 40 stitches.  I am using the variegated silk embroidery floss that was Carrie and Kevin’s grandmother’s.  Esther Schafer passed away in 1973.  I do know for a fact that from the time I knew Esther, 1963, she was totally into crocheting.  This full hank of silk floss would like to tell tales.  I feel very honored to be working with it.  My goal is to find enough projects going forward to use the majority of it up.  This bell-pull is my one current work in progress.  Well . . . there is one project I started in 2023 on fabric that is 20 stitches to the inch that takes one strand of floss in the needle at a time.  Esther’s project takes two strands over two stitches as it is 40 count making it equivalent to the 20 count.  This Grammie has a good feeling about wrapping up the bell-pull.

  I have a heavy duty mystery book I am just about to finish.  It is spell-binding.  It is less than 100 pages out of the 456 pages.  The reading, I usually do before turning in for the night.  Mark Greaney is the author and I have scored two additional books of his.  I have several authors that I like.  My stash is such that I do not blow through all of the books from one author but interject a break from one to another.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:31 pm on December 30, 2024 Permalink  

  Bearings 

  After a discombobulation of a holiday in the middle of the week, it’s difficult to get my bearings straight.  Yes, Grammie this is a Monday.

  Both Dennis and I slept late this morning.  If it were not for the mail person sliding mail into my bedroom porch via the slot, hard telling when the feet would have hit the floor.  

  The same will happen this week with the new year on a Wednesday.  I don’t think it will impact us the same as this week we are sticking close to home.  

  Dennis took the utility bill to the drop-box at city hall.  By the way, our city hall is almost a mile from us now as they have converted the old hospital out by the Dairy Queen into the brains of the city.  I think they are encouraging us older folks to have the utility bill as directly taken out of our checking accounts.  We are not buying into that.  I still enjoy seeing what each and every item adds up to for the total amount.  Water, sewer and electric amounts do not even add up to half of the line items to make the total.

  I decided to come into the studio.  I flew a few items past Carrie yesterday in fabric choices and today I am going to start working on that.

  I only have one project in the works for my stitching in the cherry red chair in my bedroom porch.  Perhaps after today the fabric choice will be paired up with a new stitchy design.  Time will tell.

  Supper will be the remaining items from yesterday’s noon meal and then new meal plans will need to be put in place. 

  Dennis reported that the fog is worse than it was earlier today.  I think it will take having the wind come from the north rather than the south, to clear the air.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:59 pm on December 29, 2024 Permalink  

  Fog Setting In 

  The day was dark and cloudy all the day long.  The fog began setting in about four this afternoon.

  Carrie’s family left Eden Prairie in the fog this morning.  By the time they reached Mankato, all was clear.  They will be traveling home in the fog.

  I lightened the load a bit in the studio.  Megan was seeking fabrics.  I had an unused tote bag.  Who knew it would be the perfect thing!  It handled a small cutting board and I paired that with a small rotary cutter.  Megan had quite the variety by the time her and I came back upstairs.

  Nicholas was thrilled that there were scalloped potatoes in the mix for dinner.  The potatoes did cause me some concern as I had to alter the ingredients.  I had mistaken a container of heavy whipping cream when my intention had been milk.  It all turned out just fine.

  The kids took turns being out in the porch for some “Snuggles time.” 

  The day went well and the kitchen is as if no one had used it today.  Carrie and Jeremy did the dishes before anyone was ready for dessert.

  Dennis and I will be ringing in the new year on a quiet note.  I won’t mind that one bit and I am sure Dennis will agree.

  I will be getting into my robe shortly and putting my feet up.

  I will admit, yesterday was a kicker for me.  Sadie’s home is an extreme split-level home.  From the front door to the living area it was 12-14 stairs at a very steep assent.  The afternoon plus taking photos at street level and then back upstairs for lunch.  My legs were weary last night.  

  The new week is here and I am sure most people will take it in stride . . . I sure will.  Yup, I am spoiled and am the first to admit it.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   

   
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  Noreen 3:36 pm on December 27, 2024 Permalink  

  Pea Soup 

  The thickest pea soup has nothing on the fog that has swallowed us up.  I checked the advisory just a minute ago and we were were to be lucky, it is .1 mile that we could see out of the windshield.  That right there sends shivers down my spine as I know there are brave hearts that will be out in it.

  Dennis had an appointment up the street at the VA this morning at nine.  It was a blood draw to check on his red blood count.  The VA checked it after he came home from the nursing home and it was low then.  It could have been from the hip surgery.

  Dennis picked up a med for me from Lewis Drug before he came home.  It would have been $36.69 for a three month supply, but our co-pay was zero.  Sweet.  Our prescription insurance this 2024 calendar was $.50 each month for me and the same amount for Dennis.  We just got the new rate in today’s mail for 2025.  It stated the premium for January at $.00.  Or neighbors to the north have the same plan and their statement also read $.00.  Our carrier is Well Care.  Our policy was written by our insurance agent in Madelia.

  Our Blue Cross Blue Shield will be going up $21.00 a month for each of us.  We have always been told to never change it as that policy is no longer written but it cannot be taken away from us.  We never have a co-pay whether an office call or a surgery.  Dennis and I would be in the poor-house if that were not true.

  We are having a skillet supper this evening.  A mixture of sautéed onions, fried potatoes and eggs scrambled.  Sounds tasty to me.  The chicken tenderloins were great last night.  As soon as the meat thermometer hit 151 degrees, I shut the burner off.  A table knife cut them up perfectly.

  No stitching today.  A bit of housework and reading.  The damp weather has taken its tole.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥