Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from July, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:19 pm on July 14, 2025 Permalink  

  Bit on the Warm Side 

  This morning before Dennis was up for the day, I was on my way to Chuck Spaeth’s in New Ulm.  I had noticed within the last month, that when I was heading down Stauffer Avenue the car would hesitate.  It would do it several times.  I didn’t hesitate when they gave me an early, for me, appointment.

  After about an hour or so of watching other customers in the waiting room, I got a one on one.  It was a wind-something, or maybe an air-something that had not been secured tightly during the last oil change and the sensor for that component was activated.  Believe me, it was over my head.  No charge.  If I notice this same situation again, I am not to hesitate but give them a call and a new sensor will be ordered and it will be under my warranty.  That info is now on my record at their shop.  I was relieved that I would not break down somewhere when I traveled.  Just because we carry Triple-A does not mean it could be very inconvenient.

  About three-thirty yesterday afternoon we got company.  Sadie came to make good on our barter agreement: a tee-shirt quilt for yard work.  I was in charge of keeping Charlie B, a second grader, and Maverick, a four month old dog, out of the biting bugs.  It didn’t take me long to engage Charlie in a computer game that came up on Dennis’ laptop.  It was called “Coin Flip.”  I was tails and she was heads.  She had a paper score card and this was serious.

  Dennis told Sadie where all of our garden goodies were in the potting shed and she went to work.  Using his walker that he can turn around on and sit, he kept his granddaughter company.  Nothing was spared.  From the huge Maple to the far west edge, within ten feet of the house, it all came down via a weed-whip, looper, or a clipper.  Sadie raked it all off and using our wheelbarrow, it is on the burn ring.  When it’s dry, Dennis will burn it.  With all the tours she had had in the military, she was fit for it.  No breaks until it was done.

  After her and grandpa came in the house, Sadie washed up and was ready to see her quilt.  She loved the two sided idea of using the tee-shirts.  This was a wonderful barter.

  When I got home from New Ulm, Dennis had already filled his Harbor Freight pumper up twice with Brush killer.  All the open stems of what Sadie took down will let that brush killer go down to the roots quickly.

  How do I feel about giving up gardening?  I have had the best of it.  Even when Orlin and I lived in Riesel, Texas, I had flower gardens.  It means more to me now that I can be as independent as I am, than putting stress on this body that has done its share.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:09 pm on July 13, 2025 Permalink  

  Sunday the 13th of July 

  The air index from the smoke can definitely be seen and felt today.

  I have been thinking a lot today about an invite the came from the Riebe group posting.  It is a Riebe annual pot-luck get together on Aug. 2nd in the Darwin City community hall at twelve noon sharp.  Surprisingly, the majority of the Riebe family line has settled right around that very same area.

  I do know that probably sometime this week, I will contact the cousin that is ram-rodding this and send my regrets.  It might sound as if the regret is self-serving.  Hmm.  That would hit the nail right on the head.  At a minimum of a two and a half hour car trip one way for a three hour event . . . that is only part of the refusal.  We have taken part in this gathering several years ago.  Taking in the acoustics for several hours allowed for noise at a decimal that made my brain go wonky.  Wonky as in the fact that since the stroke the loud confusion takes a very real physical effect on my stability.  The chairs are of the metal type that one would find at an event where they are stored for each what is needed for a group.  Having had fourteen sessions with PT, concentrating on the lower back and hips . . . chairs of this type are not a good fit for me.

  With all of this being said, I would be paying too high of a price for this gathering.  I currently am doing very, very well in my home and its surroundings.  Being able to manage with medication for physical discomfort and being able to move from place to place often to offset muscle spasms is working very well.  I don’t want to rock the boat.  With so many people about, there might be a span of five or ten minutes with a meaningful conversation with any one person.  If this event was for either Carrie’s family or Kevin’s family there would not be a moment’s hesitation . . . Grammie would be right there, regardless of what the recovery would entail.  Kenny Rodgers, the singer, had a great line in one of his songs: “You have to know when to hold them, you have to know when to fold them.”

  As a comparison, yesterday for Dennis’ class reunion, it was a ten minute car ride to the event.  The seating was on cushioned support.  We were gone from home for two and a half hours.  Sweet.

  It is very difficult becoming selfish in what works and what does not for just a short time but for the long haul.  I plan on hauling this ole body around as comfortably as possible for a very long time.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:16 pm on July 12, 2025 Permalink  

  A Date 

  Dennis and I had a date for this noon.  We headed to the River’s Edge Golf Course’s restaurant. 

  Today was Dennis’ Class of 1954 reunion from the St. James District 840 school.  I have attended quite a few of his reunions and of course know most of his classmates and their mates that have remained in the area.  I got Dennis’ clothes ready as well as my own.  Nothing fancy, just a bit out of the norm.  Yes!  Grammie even opened up her tiny pull-out drawer of some cosmetics.  

  One small calendrical screw top container has been my staple since Carrie introduced me to the Mary Kay cosmetic line of goodies.  It is a container called bronzing beads.  Multiple colors of beads made from compressed powder, each a hue of a tan color.  You dance around a cosmetic brush picking up a bit of this color and a bit of another color.  I have not been outside to speak of this year, so it was a brush full of color going from the forehead down to the chin and then across each of the cheeks.  Grammie was ready.  

  I remember Carrie went somewhere on a plane fight and of course with her, her cosmetic bag.  The air compression in the plane or such, when going to use the beads at sometime later, unscrewed the lid.  All the beads had popped, leaving a container of loose bronzing powder.  Too funny.

  Well unfortunately, Mary Kay no longer makes the bronzing beads in their line-up and I don’t do glamour very often.  Mine should last for some time.

  Anyway . . . back to the class reunion.  Dennis had a great time.  The girls in his class all came up and gave him a hug.  Someone had their yearbook.  Under his photo was the ditty, “Happiest and jolliest fellow!”  I will say, he had a ball joking with those girls recalling those school days.  The other fellows, men, didn’t seem to be at the same party.  There were group photos taken.  This is the last reunion this class voted on going forward.  In truth, they were all getting close to 90 years of age.  The remaining funds of the class, a whooping $200.00 for postage, will be used in reprinted photos and mailed out to the classmates.  The info sheets that were handed out listed 39 deceased.  Dennis’ class was the largest class ever, through the 60s, 140.

  The food at River’s Edge was wonderful . . . way too large of servings.  Guess who brought a box home!  Dennis will be having supper of lobster mac and cheese and I will be doing chicken strips and fries.

  A great day and it’s great to be home.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:57 pm on July 11, 2025 Permalink  

  Heavy Air 

  This is Friday and we may be in store for a thunderstorm or two.

  Today, I stayed on the first floor of our home.  It was a day where I stayed quiet in my bedroom porch.  My body was resting, but my mind, as always, is curious and busy.

  I enjoy what I can glean via YouTube.  Stitching and quilting from around the world is there for me to seek and search.  New ways of doing the same old.  I remain intrigued by watching what others are quilting.  I do not believe I have another quilt in me.  I may continue piecing quilt tops from my stashes for the ladies at the church to finish up.  It’s hard to put by the wayside the threads and fuzz completely.  It no longer temps me to visit a quilt shop to touch and feel the newest fabrics.  Been there and done that.

  I admit my energy level here within my own home is all I could ask for.  From eight in the morning to nine in the evening, I can still pack in a good day’s effort, though a bit slower than in times gone by.  I enjoy keeping our home tidy.  Navigating the stairs to the studio does not pose a challenge: that’s where my passions lay.

  I do enjoy my stitching in my bedroom porch.  On my list is a visit to Michael’s in Mankato for a piece of foam board.  I have the dimensions written down for the two pieces I will purchase.  I have the Quaker Christmas II that I stitched, that I will stretch onto one of the foam boards.  The Santa’s of days gone by are taking a break from our living room.  I am ready for a change.

  I did go to the grocery store this afternoon.  I was actually seeking and searching a certain soup brand of bean soup.  Both Dennis and I really enjoy it as a break from the chicken noodle.  No such luck today . . . try, try again another day.  I picked up several items for Dennis’ breakfast box that he takes out to the patio porch each morning with his coffee.  I no longer do any baking from my kitchen other than the occasional tray of frozen cinnamon rolls.  Looking 89 in the mirror, Dennis likes his sweets and who am I to withhold them.  Sweets and cigarettes have not taken him down thus far, so let the man enjoys what he likes.  I, on the other hand, am capable of making my own choices out of the grocery store.  I kind of like the readings from my last workup at the clinic. 

  We are having some wonderful cold chicken sandwich spread that I made up from leftover rotisserie chicken.  Of course it has chopped onions in it.  A cup of hot soup will accompany it.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:48 pm on July 10, 2025 Permalink  

  Thursday 

  About 2:30 this morning we had a real gully washer of a thunderstorm.  The lightning lit the sky as the rain ran off in sheets from our front awning.  The wind blew so hard there were evergreen tips from the evergreen tree on the northwest side of our home on the south edge of our driveway.  No hail.  I had checked the weather map before I had gone to bed so it was not a surprise.

  Yesterday it began.  Dennis’ son-in-law mowed down the foliage from around the base of the huge Maple tree and shredded it.  No more Hosta, ferns or Bleeding Heart plants.  Yes, there was also a lot of less than good greens.  After that area has had a chance to dry from last night’s rain, Dennis will use brush killer and treat that area.  As I said, so it begins.  Slowly but surely Grammie’s love of perennials will be no more.  That’s all I have to say about that for now.  Thanks, Forrest Gump.

  Dennis went to check on his life-long buddy, Lyle Grove, on Wednesday afternoon.  Rather than a nursing home there is a gal north of town that took Lyle in.  She works from home for the Watonwan County Human Services.  When Dennis came home and told me her name, I could put a face to her.  Her home was clean and welcoming.  Sandy had coffee and cookies for the two fellows as they chatted about days gone by.  Lyle said he was very content.  Lyle has little site remaining and has had hearing loss his entire life.  Eighty-nine years ago, families didn’t pick up on hearing loss until a child struggled in school.  Dennis felt better about Lyle’s situation after he had checked it out. 

  This evening we are doing Tilapia fillets, with refrigerated Simply Potatoes, hash brown style.  I already have the onion diced for sautéing before I add the hash browns.  Cole slaw will round out the meal.  Oh, I can’t forget the bread n’ butter pickles.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 11:08 am on July 9, 2025 Permalink  

  Well, Well 

  This morning the song “The Old Gray Mare” came to mind.  

  I have had a good run in the studio that was quite timely.  The old adage that no good deed goes unpunished does have a ring of truth; being tuckered.  Yesterday the close of the day found the tee-shirt quilt folded.  Done!

  
  Yesterday when Carrie visited I was able to take care of some business with her, just as I had with Kevin.  Sweet.  Great to hear that all was well with the metro family.  Carrie helped me with the new phone as there was enough crap that came on it to totally boggle my mind.  My goal:  receive a phone call, make a phone call, receive a text, send a text and take a photo.  As Bugs Bunny used to say . . . “That’s all folks.”

  With so much goodness happening in the studio and with family, was it any wonder that I rolled out of bed at 9:05 on this Wednesday morning.  I had not heard Dennis getting up and taking his breakfast box to the patio porch.  But . . . it sure does make for a short morning.

  I do have a plan for the afternoon.  My studio floor is in great need of a vacuuming.  Here a snip of fabric, there a snip of quilt batting.  It was halfway through the project where I left behind the need to hit the circular file for threads and fuzz at each venue.  I have always kept my heavy-duty Filter Queen canister vac in the studio plugged in and ready to go.  I cannot believe how heavy  the wand is for doing the floor.  It is full-grade metal.  Right now looking over the studio, it is not the welcome I need to begin a new endeavor.  A little bit of time will get it whipped into shape.

  This is earlier than I usually post, but it felt right to slowly work myself into being more active.  Studio . . . here I come.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:19 pm on July 5, 2025 Permalink  

  Steamy Out 

  We did have rain overnight and today it is steamy out.

  We have no intentions of going off the homestead this weekend.  Dennis and I both feel that all of the picnics and gatherings taking place over this long weekend . . . be safe in your enjoyment.

  I worked in the studio this morning.  Dennis was doing up what dishes were in the sink from last night’s supper.  I put out a SOS.  Dennis came down to see how he could help.  I had been using exercise weights to help anchor the tee-shirt quilt as it needed to go under the needle.  It wasn’t working as well as it had the two previous days.  I think it was me that was the culprit.  My shoulders were either barking or bucking . . . maybe both.

  Dennis sat down being immediately to my left.  With his strong arms he could keep the quilt somewhat aloft so the weight would not pull against the needle.  When doing free-motion quilting, if the fabric is not moving under the needle, the sewing machine will not stitch.  Dennis sure did help.  I would like to tell you I was doing flower designs and such.  I was thrilled to be able to do a meander that may have been mistaken as a lot of loops, none the same size as another. 

  My machine never missed a beat.  We didn’t break a needle throughout.  Halfway through, I had cleaned under the hood, gave it some oil and put in a new needle.  It may seem like small stuff but it’s amazingly simple to keep the machine preforming well.

  The mail at noon, brought the bill from Boekett Lumber in Truman for the materials of the garage make-over.  As I was typing, Dennis’ little red pickup came home from taking the payment to the mail.  Sweet.  A huge job done and done well.  A month ago we didn’t even have the project in mind.  In a small community it pays to have “people.”  It’s important to pay your bills so people will agree for work that is needed to be done.

  For the remainder of the day, my spot is my bedroom porch resting the body.

  Oh, by the way . . . This session Kansas and Nebraska will no longer be taxing social security income for a total of 41 states.  What the hell is Minnesota waiting for!

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:27 pm on July 4, 2025 Permalink  

  July 4th,2025 

  It is a very warm 4th of July.

  Decades ago, we would be hosting a huge family gathering on the west lawn, under shade trees at our Boon Lake farm.  

  Orlin’s family with his mother, Ester, enjoying every moment of it.  My family, both the Riebe family and the Wendlandt family.  The invites were given and those that could make it rounded out a rather huge group.  On one 4th, Kevin had just gotten over the chicken pox, thus no long contagious.  Orlin’s nephew Frank, aka: Butch, gave the little ones rides around the circle drive with our lawnmower and trailer.  Lots of food.  No one went hungry.  Orlin’s mother always had her harmonica with her.  My uncle, Norman Riebe, had brought along one of his concertinas.  Both played by ear.  The tunes that those two entertained us with were amazing.  Even the hammock between two Oak trees gave great fun as the kids would take turns being pushed forth and back.

  If I remember correctly, 1974, was the last time we had a July 4th celebration.  At that time we lived at rural Buffalo Lake.  The two story brick school house was soon to be our home.  We resided in a 14′ x 80′ mobile home during the interim.  That 4th of July gathering included the same families as other years, plus we had neighbors that joined in.  Across the road Bill and Ester Mueller walked over.  With no family of their own, they truly enjoyed the hub-bub.

  For me, these events were as if yesterday.  I have a tendency to harbor memories.  Sweet.  Not to worry, I absolutely live in the present.

  Yesterday we took a road trip.  I could not believe how good the crops looked.  There were many working in the heat as the road-side hay was either being cut, side-raked or baled.  There were round bales, huge rectangle bales.  Both must be extremely heavy.  One farm was still baling the size of bales that I remember hefting, mostly between 80 and 100 lbs.  The arthritis can attest to that.

  Speaking of arthritis: I got a follow-up call from my primary on this Wednesday.  I was concerned if one of the implant screws that I have in both feet, had shifted causing some discomfort, the redness and swelling of my toes on my right foot.  Nope.  It’s just the all invading arthritis.  It was relief.

  This evening we are having sauteed peeled and deveined shrimp and steamed veggies.  It doesn’t take long to toss the defrosted shrimp after totally drying them in paper towels with butter in an open skillet.  When they turn from a hue of gray to pink, in short order, they are done.

  BY THE WAY:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SON, KEVIN!

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:20 pm on July 2, 2025 Permalink  

  The Wasp – Part Two 

  Late yesterday afternoon, I paid attention whenever I would catch a glimpse of the nasty huge back wasp.  It never seemed to take a break and land somewhere.  As I was making supper, I saw it swoop down and land under the dining room table.  With my fly swatter in hand, praying my titian knees would let me swat that far down, I literally lunged at it.  It took a second hit before it stopped wiggling.  With a wet paper towel for surface traction, I scooped him up and flushed him down the toilet.  Whew.

  I knew I could rest easy.  What came to mind were the wasp type of insects that we had when we lived in Riesel, Texas.  Within a short amount of time they could get into your home and find a quiet spot to make a nest.  They called them “mud daubers.”  Their saliva wove the nests.  Makes me shiver to think of the day I found a nest in one of our open closets.  I have no idea if they stung when they were irritated.  It was my own personal irritation that carried with it a feeling of an unclean home.  Yuck.

  This forenoon Jan from across the picket fence came down into the studio to see what I was doing.  She had had no idea what crappy tee-shirts could be used for.  I encouraged her to take a good look-see as there would never be another one on my church tables.  About two, the studio went dark and I will pick up the pinning of the layers sometime this weekend.

  With a fresh batch of steamed veggies, we are having leftovers from last night’s stew and potatoes for supper.  As a treat Dennis will get some orange juice.  There is just so darn much sugar for it to be a daily thing.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:26 pm on July 1, 2025 Permalink  

  A Wasp 

  We have a huge black wasp that has gotten into the house either via a door as it was closing or riding in on clothing.  Ishi.  I have a fly-swatter close at hand.  Of course he is nowhere to be seen right now.

  I did look at the radiology reports of my x-rays of the bone density and also my feet.  I will rely on my primary to channel the next course of action, if one is needed.  There were no fractures noted.  Charts of indication of osteo arthritis as to yesterday compared to two years ago.

  I have voluntarily cut back on my coffee intake.  No longer does the coffeemaker perk out 12 cups of liquid.  I have it set for six.  Dennis has always taken what amounts to two cups in his thermos cup and I had been drinking the remainder over the course of the day.  I remember Orlin was a heavy coffee drinker during the work week.  We didn’t make coffee over the weekends.  Invariably, by Sunday he would have a headache.  Maybe from the withdrawal, maybe not.  I feel comfortable giving the cut-back a try.  I have one additional prescription added daily.  It is a 2.9 blood-pressure pill.  I already have an appointment in two weeks to have an RN check my blood-pressure.  The objective is no undue pressure on the heart.  I will make sure to do my part.  Upon that visit, I have an appointment in three months with my primary.  More to come on the x-rays.

  I had a stint in the studio this forenoon . . . until 1:30.  The two equal rectangles of tee-shirt blocks are now sandwiched with Mountain Mist batting.  Kersten had found several additional measuring matts for me.  They are 36″ x 70″.  Coupling them with the one previous, I used thumbtacks to get the ball rolling.  Slowly I managed to square everything up.  The next step will be the wonderful wonder of the easy to manage safety pins that Amazon delivered via Kevin.  They have been put to use several successful times.  That may well take more than one session in the studio.

  Supper is going to be beef stew over instant mashed potatoes with a side of steamed vegetables.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥