Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from June, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:21 pm on June 28, 2025 Permalink  

  Garage Work 

  The two fellows came back at noon after the rain had stopped for the day.  In tow was the new service door that had come into the Truman lumberyard for this morning’s pick-up.  I greeted them and left them to what they know best.

  My morning project was Dennis’ bedroom, complete with getting the bedding into the laundry.  I began putting the bed back together this afternoon and I could only imagine what being outside would feel like . . . humid.

  Yesterday I spent quite a bit of time surfing the Mayo website for the Mankato site. As I will need a new interventional cardiologist by the late fall, I began searching and reading.  A cardiologist takes care of me after the main event.  The interventional cardiologist may prevent me having a main event.  I am now on Dr. Singh’s list of patients at Mayo in Mankato.  I see no reason that if the doctor is not in Rochester, they would not be a wise choice.  I feel very comfortable going forward.  Advocating for one’s self when possible brings that feeling of comfort.

  When there is activity in the garage from strangers, the kitties flee.  Snuggles saunters back after the fact.  Harriet had been gone for four days and three nights.  Dennis had to check one more time last night after he had locked up.  I could hear her crying when Dennis opened the back door.  She wanted to beat him into the safety of the garage.  After the garage work today, it will be interesting what nightfall brings.

  The Subway hit the spot last night for supper.  This evening we will be having a hot supper.  Dennis can go without a hot supper, but not for a very long time.  I don’t get that.  Oh well.

  I watched for the mail today . . . no quilt batting.  That allows my arms and shoulders a bit more rest. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:18 pm on June 27, 2025 Permalink  

  Good Grief 

  It is unbelievable what some believe in.  I think it is called holistic medicine.  Essential oils are right up there with the hype.

  Dennis came home from Silver Bay with what he thought would be a great comfort for me.  Hmm.  It was a grounding bedsheet.  Sold to him from the granddaughter that is big into essential oils.  It is to be plugged only into the grounding port of an electrical plug in.  It is then plugged into the organic grounding bedsheet.  It is to tap into the wealth of free electrons from the earth’s mobile electrons via the ground wire benefits.  A cure all to promote blood circulation, anti-aging, removes stress and arthritis.

  Give me a break.

  The only thing that kept me from laughing in Dennis’s face was the simple fact that the electrical plug-in behind my bed did not happen to be an electrical plug-in with a ground wire.  I gently told him that I felt that running an extension board/cord equipped with a ground option would be too dangerous as I use a step-up and step-down when I get in and out of bed with the fear of tripping and falling.  Whew, he bought it. 

  Medicine men are still alive and well, they just no longer use covered wagons to roam for patsies.

  On a lighter note, I am in the waiting room, awaiting my quilt batting to be delivered from Amazon.  It may be tomorrow or Monday.  A good time for doing some cleaning in the studio from snips and wayward threads.

  Subway is on the docket for supper. 

  Many small town celebrations for this weekend.  I hope all works in the favor of those that participate or help in the planning.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:10 pm on June 24, 2025 Permalink  

  A Good Day 

  Actually, this was beyond a good day . . . downright wonderful.

  I had blood work this morning.  Before I closed down the studio for the day, I opened my patient portal and printed out the information:

  Triglycerides  95  150 is normal range

  Cholesterol, Total 151  200 is normal range

  LDL Cholesterol 55  100 is normal range

  HDL Cholesterol 79  130 is normal range

  All of the items in the Basic Metabolic Panel were in the normal range

  Next week I have the actual doctor visit.  I need to ask her how I go about finding an Interventional Cardiologist.  I got a letter on June 12th that Dr. Sarraf is no longer with Mayo.  I can view profiles on the Mayo web site.  I plan on doing that before my appointment on the 30th.

  The carpenters have the west, driveway side, left.  I am partial, but the job is really good with the Gutter-Helmets in place, there is now a vinyl soffit enclosing the ends of the roof boards.  The doorway trim of the pickup garage opening is of black metal bent and molded.  Class job all the way around.

  The bad news is that great grand Addison was going to make some extra money scraping and painting the garage.

  Last night when Dennis was going to close down the patio porch, it took a while for Snuggles and Harriet to get in.  I have no plans on telling Dennis that for the week he was gone, I had always left the east screen popped open about eight inches.  They came and went on their own.  No way am I going to sit until dark for two cats to saunter in.  I knew they were in at one time or another via the food, eater and litter box that I took care of.  I actually hadn’t laid eyes on them in days.  What the ole cowboy doesn’t know in regard to the livestock can’t hurt him. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on June 22, 2025 Permalink  

  Warm Wind 

  I dare say the wind is quite brisk.  Everywhere the greenery is being whipped about.  25-30 mph hour winds with these temps could dry out any type of soil. 

  I have been giving the patio kitties fresh water every day.  Their water dish sits on a concrete block and I have no doubt it might feel good to splash about a little.  Yesterday when the carpenters were working in the garage, there was so sightings of them until I went to check on them before dark.  How dare strangers be in their space.

  There is talk of a possible thunder shower cropping up during the night.  I will need to close the small crack of the windows in the little red pickup that is sitting in the drive before bedtime.  As hot as it has been, I didn’t want a window blowing out from the heat.  Do vehicles still have that threat in the heat of the day.

  I was relieved that the carpenters didn’t return today.  Nothing is so important that working in the glaring of the heat reflected off of a white building is needed.

  Dennis called yesterday.  The Duluth event of the race was in full gear.  It’s grandma’s something, something.  One of the tunnels going north out of Duluth towards Silver Bay has construction going on.  Even in the Silver Bay area the traffic was fierce.  He and his son Ken, plan on striking out for home on Monday.

  So . . . how have I been doing on my own for this last week?  Very well indeed.  Dennis’ son-in-law, Tom, mowed the yard and the acre on Friday.  I made sure to imbursed Tom for the agreed amount.  He let me know that two of the three small gas cans would need to be filled before the next cutting.  With this hot dry wind, it may not be in the cards for this next week.

  I was satisfied how the sewing went in the studio.  I will say, even with the woven iron-on stabilizer, some of those tee-shirts are pathetic.  Any respectable out-house would reject them. The perimeter is nailed down but the guts of the twelve inch square is very which way loose.  The tees with the rubberized designs need to have my Teflon sheet put over them to be able to work with.  Breathe.  Note to self:  no more Grammie will do it.  Dennis has three daughters, four granddaughters and five great-grand daughters and none with an ounce of domestic inclination.

  The fellows on the crotch-rockets can pick up so much speed from our four-way stop, they are just a blur.  It is surprising how many are running around in this heat.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:37 pm on June 20, 2025 Permalink  

  Small Glitch 

  Small glitch in letting Brian pick up garage materials on this Saturday.  Vaughn thought they had a thirty inch service door . . . not to be.  It needs to be ordered.  As the concrete foundation blocks have allowed for a thirty inch door, so goes the new door.  It doesn’t really matter if it is this week or next week for the garage start, as long as it is known that it will be done.

  This morning I knew I was hungry for cold tuna sandwiches.  I boiled two eggs for the tuna mixture, Lena’s recipe.  I diced up the half of Vedalia onion I had double bagged in the refrigerator.  I opened two small cans of the Albacore tuna.  After eating the white Albacore tuna packed in water, any other tuna, just seems slimy.  Personal preference.  All mixed together to chill and let the flavors co-mingle.

  I have the studio work going in such a fashion that I don’t need to overdue any one aspect of it.  I can machine stitch for a while, then stand at the ironing board for a while and let the rotary cutter have a crack as well.  It’s all about planning.

  This week, I achieved my objective of getting the finished quilts from the basement that I have done from A-Z, four, into the cabinet in the living room.  Also one of grandma Lena’s that she had finished for grandma Ester.  Ester had pieced the top out of grandpa Art’s shirts.  A lot of small prints found in dress shirts of the times.  Grandma Lena completed it by hand stitching the full sized quilt.  Sweet.

  My next project, about to boggle my mind, that the cabinet holds is a very lot of photos.  Eenie, meeny, miny, mow.  Somehow sorting through them and then handing them off in a very neat Segway.  I haven’t gotten past that point yet.

  The humidity at 72% , the dewpoint at 74%, not a good feeling outside.  I do take care of the livestock chores, but even the critters are not very active.

  No news from the north country.  No news is good news.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:54 pm on June 19, 2025 Permalink  

  Hungry Deer 

  Just a few days ago, I marveled at the one Hasta that was about four feet across.  The rains had done it proud.  This morning, I looked out the bathroom window and I saw stalks of what was left of the proud broad Hosta.  When I went out and checked, there were quite a few that had been munched on.  The greenery next to the Hosta, aka: weeds, were untouched.  We are a short distance from a creek that leads into good coverage for wildlife.  Discriminating tastes.  Oh well.  

  Dennis called last night from Silver Bay.  The three great grands are keeping him and his son Kenny busy and entertained.  Good for them.

  While I was at the church tables in the studio making plans for cutting some one inch strips, I got a phone call from my carpenter, Brian.  He had his list of materials that the lumberyard would be getting ready for him.  The yard will have it inventoried and ready to be picked up Saturday morning.  His question was about the new service entrance door that will be going in.  If I wanted it plain or with primer on it.  I opted for the primer so to have it hung and with time to get paint for it.  Any special finish would make it an order to be picked up later and he assured me, it would add to the cost.  He also mentioned it would be good to put the materials inside.  I assured him, the little red pickup would be put on the concrete drive while he and his partner worked on the project.

  Brian’s Hispanic English is good if not a bit broken.  Not so much broken as hesitant to make sure for the understanding coming and going.  He can make his sketches and measurements very easy to understand. I make sure to speak slower.  I know Dennis and I are very comfortable with Brian on board doing a good job.  It’s still going to be an old garage made up and out of wood pallets . . . just with less maintenance on the outside.

  It is heating up quite nicely outside.  It was forecast, so no surprise there.

  With that I will take  my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:41 pm on June 17, 2025 Permalink  

  Shh! 

  It’s just me and the kitties home.  Monday morning, Dennis’ son picked up Dennis and they headed to Silver Bay.  I didn’t ask for how long.  It mattered not.

  It has been different in a nice way.  Yes, I was alone when Dennis had the hip replacement going on.  It was being on call for anything from extra hankies that were needed, or his Facebook wasn’t working.

  My schedule has not changed here on Stauffer Avenue.  I slept like a rock and got up by 8:30.  The studio time is about three to four hours with breaks to retrieve hot coffee.  By two, the lights go off.  Head-ways is being made on tee-shirts.  While fiddling with tee-shirts, I have KNUJ radio on.  I am learning a lot about trap shooting, clay pigeon shooting and skeet shooting.  Young people by the 1,000’s are at Alexander for this yearly event.

  I had a prescription to pick up at Lewis Drug.  I got change back from a five dollar bill.   On my way home, I did do a drive through the acre yard.  About a week and a half ago, Spring Touch did a weed spray.  They used fifteen gals of their solution.  The spray is working and is very evident.  Grass is beginning to stool out since much brush has been cleared off.

  So . . . what does Grammie eat when alone?  Last night I had scrambled eggs with bacon bits and buttered toast.  This morning I had peanut butter and jelly bread.  Lots of peanut butter.  Tonight, it is going to be oatmeal with ground flax and milk.  I can assure you, I will not go hungry.  After all, I am only five minutes away from the grocery store.

  The home is quiet.  I took care of the kitties last night and I am sure that they wondered why the television had not been on all day in the patio porch.  The television remote here in the house may get some lint and dust on it.  When in the house, Dennis spends a lot of time on his lap-top.  He has figured out how to get country music on in bits and pieces in between the solitaire games, that while the television is on to a “48 Hour” cop show.  I do tap the volume button when I walk by.  This is Dennis’ home and he likes it, he likes it a lot.  I can easily adapt.  May I reach that age and point in my life that I too will have a volume on that needs tapping.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:56 pm on June 16, 2025 Permalink  

  Times Change 

  There is no certainty in our lives, nor has there ever been.  Ironically, we pull up our boot-straps, we acknowledge the changes and adapt.  No family, no business, no community is immune.

  Oh my gosh, if I get Dennis going, the litany knows no bounds.  Our community is the county seat for our Watonwan County.  A certain pride goes with that. 

  We have many empty storefronts.  We have an empty lumber yard that had been a multiple location family-owned business for decades.  Our family restaurant on main street is listed as “For Sale.”  The family bakery that is in its fifth generation is listed as “For Sale.”

  The saddest listing came last week was the College.  Karen has as close to a general mercantile as not.  She fought when covid tried to close her down as “not essential.”  Karen won that fight.  Her business is for sale and she will continue as if nothing has changed.  It is a viable business for sale for someone to walk in and call it theirs.  What has changed is the hours that her doors will be open allowing for the fact that she can pretty well tell when it pays to keeps the lights on.  I’ve known Karen for decades, as she was the clerk for the City of Lewisville.  A very fine person.

  Our community is service orientated with a Mayo hospital/clinic, a Veterans’ Clinic, a Lewis Drug, a dentist, an eye clinic, an active Fleet-Farm store, one large grocery store, several attorney offices, and, of course . . . the courthouse. 

  Surprisingly, a new laundromat and car wash broke ground this last week.  It will be located to the south across from the Fleet-Farm.

  From Stauffer Avenue’s perspective, we have everything we need for our wellbeing.  We are very grateful.  There just isn’t much to entice new families or new business ventures.

  Well, that’s about all the trivia that was running through my mind today.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:14 pm on June 15, 2025 Permalink  

  It’s a Sunday 

  It’s a day when all fathers and father-types that go over and above taking care of their families get some TLC.  Unfortunately there was no sunshine to shine bright on them.

  Dennis had an early celebration last night at Sadie’s party.  Dennis’ entire family, less one granddaughter, was together for the event.  I couldn’t have been happier for my ole cowboy.  Denise had him home by eight.  He was tuckered but happy.  Dennis slept until nine this morning.  Sweet.

  My studio time today paid off big time.  All has been prepared for the sewing machine to begin assisting in making this project get real.  While in the studio, I listened to KNUJ church service from Grace Lutheran Church in Gaylord.  A great send off to the week coming tomorrow.

  Dennis’ request for a supper meal of French Toast, sausage and orange juice, that is so doable.

  I checked in with Aunt Janet from Brownton last night while I was home alone.  We always have plenty to chit-chat about.  Other than my brother Calvin, she is my only and oldest remaining from my father’s family.  Janet is ninety three and enjoying her own home.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:38 pm on June 14, 2025 Permalink  

  A Saturday the 14th 

  This was a look-forward-to appointment today.  It was time for haircuts and pedicure.  Marie allocates  Dennis and me two hours every four weeks.  The best time spent ever.  We both come away feeling renewed.  Coming home we had a light snack as a lunch.

  As for the studio today . . . it remains dark.  I have thought through plans for Sadie’s thirty-six tee-shirt menagerie.  I will use eighteen shirts sewn together color to color.  No sashing in between the twelve inch blocks.  Eighteen on the front and eighteen on the back.  I will use a lightweight batting.  It may end up fifty by sixty, as she said she didn’t want a full sized quilt, but a throw.  I am not up to doing two individual projects with the batting, the backings and the binding. 

  This afternoon, Denise just picked up her dad.  Denise, Tom and Dennis are traveling to the community center in Eagle River, right north of Mankato.  Sadie is having a bash for her retirement of 25 years in the military as well as her 40th birthday.  Sadie entered the Minnesota National Guards in between her junior and senior years of high-school.  Good grief, she looked and acted young.  There will be people fifteen feet deep from military to friends and family.  The event is slated to begin at six.

  To my awareness of self, I do not do well in huge crowds with a lot of noise and commotion.  I don’t feel or stay centered.  Dennis knew immediately, that I would be staying home. I will be here welcoming him with open arms.  I was very thankful that Dennis had acquiesced to ride with Denise rather than he and his little red pickup heading out on their own.

  I am on stitching and watching traffic duty this afternoon.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥