Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from August, 2020 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:31 pm on August 9, 2020 Permalink  

  New Day – New Energy 

  Perhaps a half inch of rain washed away all the arthritis discomfort of yesterday.  I do know a good night’s rest is a huge part of the equation.  Today I had good energy.

  Dennis and I have been playing it close to home since March.  Not that we were such gallivants, we have hunkered down playing it safe.  That being said, we have made work being fun in our home.  Tweaking this, cleaning that . . . the time does pass.

  These last seven months have not been much different than how I grew up.  Farm families always had a lot of work.  There wasn’t such a thing as a family vacation in the summer months.  Cows needed milking twice a day come hell or high water.  All of our neighbors were in the same boat.  Bringing someone strange in to take over the milking for a time, would surely put the cows off on the milk.  There was no down time on the farm 24/7.

  Now, just as then . . . home is where I do my best and am my best.  Balance in place, the time is well spent over the weeks and months.  

  I have been yipping about doing some sewing, but I manage to get waylaid.  Having been busy outside since early spring, the housework was a just a lick and a promise as I looked as to what was needed outside.  Hmm.  Recently my bifocals zoomed in on the stair railings that needed TLC.  It was a job well done and well deserved. With just a bit of a tip of my head, I looked up the back steps of our entry and realized that the kitchen oak woodwork has been neglected.  How many years since the new flooring and woodwork was installed?

  When Dennis came into the house he found pillows, towels, a wet Mr. Clean Eraser and me on the kitchen floor.  Pillows work great for the knees.  With a kitchen counter extending over the flooring, it was easier for me to get close and personal.  I don’t rush.  I get all my needs around me, much like a nest, and proceed to get at the task at hand.  I believe the poly finish needed a thorough cleaning and then a follow up with Murphy oil wipes.  Those wipes do an amazing job of putting on a protective finish to the wood. 

  No . . . I am not a neat freak.  I do know that keeping busy brings me self satisfaction.  It also allows for me to take multiple breaks, read a couple of chapters in my library book, hit it again and I end up with a job well done.  No more all-day jaunts and then feeling like my joints are coming undone. Working smarter and not harder . . . it has taken me many years to come to that.

  It is not the nicest outside.  Dennis and the patio cats can attest to that.  I did put a tin of cinnamon rolls in the oven to pair with pasta hotdish that I had taken out of the freezer for supper.  

  The month is rolling on quicker than one realizes.  I do hope kids get to start school.  It’s one thing for us older folks to stay home.  Children need to be in a classroom bonding with classmates and putting in a good day of the “3 Rs.”

   
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  Noreen 2:53 pm on August 5, 2020 Permalink  

  Feels like Fall 

  It feels like fall and it smells like fall.  The smelling part might be my imagination.  There were no sliding patio doors open today in the porch.  I was a bit surprised that Dennis had not put on a jacket.  62 degrees often calls for one.  When I did go out for a visit, Snuggles was in a cardboard box, and . . . Dennis had covered him up with a blanket.  All that could be seen were two ears and they were not wiggling.  He had buried himself in.

  I have been multi-tasking today.  With a paint brush in hand it was a good day to paint up the exterior of our octagon exterior window as well as the threshold of our back door.  Just a few tweaks here and there when I think of it.  It has been thought of in times past when it was too cold to get the paint cans open.  As of late the high temps dried the paint on the brush before getting it to the target.  Tidy, tidy.

  Dennis and I have been removing some caulking by the back door.  It was not doing what it was intended to.  Out with the old.  Applying caulking is not in either of our wheelhouses.  We are saving that for someone that does a bang up job of it.  I checked on the Internet and “Goo-Gone” has been added to our next shopping trip.  Having a totally clean surface for the next go-round is what we are aiming for.

  Working in the sewing studio today included finding some scraps for the Christmas stockings for the fellows.  The flouncy socks for the gals are completed.  In regard to the scraps, you knew I would find it!  It may seem strange to some to be working on Christmas in August.  I have found that Christmas has a way of sneaking up on me.  I like being prepared and I don’t do well under stress.  I will keep futzing on socks, while the entire time thinking of what I will tackle next.  Most likely I will be up at the post office in the next weeks to see what kind of envelope I can use for the lest amount of postage.  It could be a real disaster to be in line at the post office to find I had not done my homework.

  I do believe it is going to be a scrambled egg and sausage night for supper.  Hmm.  I can smell the hot buttered toast as I type.

  Yes . . . we will be getting a bit more warm weather, but these last few days . . . a true gift.  May all of you have enjoyed it to the fullest.

   
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  Noreen 3:18 pm on August 4, 2020 Permalink  

  Energy is Back 

  With such great weather, I had energy today.  Yesterday, I think someone would have had to have held a mirror in front of me to see if I was at full capacity.

  I was pulling up some quack from the front yard, when neighbor Jan walked over.  We had not visited in quite some time.  Jan works in the library at our public school and it seems as if there is a September 8th start day for school . . . full bore. I hope all goes well.

  As we had been determined to clean that almighty potting shed, there were several long and heavy planks that had been there long enough that they had settled into the dirt along the east side of the interior.  I am sure that the settling occurred as over the last several decades as we have been flooded several times to the degree that the potting shed was not spared.  We pulled out the planks and yup, the eyes burned.  There was mold.  We pulled them outside to let the sun work its magic.  In the end, we have donated them to nephew Brett’s concrete company.  They use so many different materials to form up, load up and walk on with various job sites.  I didn’t want to take a chance that we believed them to be free of mold and then fight it all over again by putting them back in the shed.  

  I have mixed up one of our small hand sprayers with strong bleach water and once a day the area inside where these planks were and also the north wall . . . a mist of bleach water is applied.  The north wall of the potting shed is also the exterior of the south wall that the Koi pond is attached to.  Yup . . . we had so much stuff inside on that wall that we missed the fact that there was evidence that the pump of the Koi pond had splish splashed enough to have gotten the sheeting damp and had soaked through.  This spring Dennis moved the pump far enough away from the exterior wall so as to keep it dry.  Oh yes, the joys of home ownership.  We actually don’t mind taking care of the homestead.

  In between, I did spend time in the sewing studio.  June from down the street popped in while I was down at the machine and she came on down.  June had never been in our basement before and she now realizes why the lights are on as often as she sees them.  She commented that when she took Home Economics in school, she was more into the portion of the school year that did baking and cooking.  She has never had a sewing machine.  Hmm.  

  I look around and I have four machines.  The oldest one is a White brand.  Older than the hills.  No emotional attachment as someone dropped it off here.  I have Mom’s machine.  I have sewn with it and it works fine.  My Model 1820 Kenmore works well.  It was purchased new and I have had that since 1965. It is older than Mom’s.  The Bernina has made its home here since 2015.  How time flies.  I will keep the threads and fuzz flying as it is better than any tranquilizers.

  Enjoy this week and the wonderful evening hours, just as much as all the fire flies that have been in abundance.  I never tire of seeing them.

   
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  Noreen 3:40 pm on July 31, 2020 Permalink  

  A Serene Day 

  I traveled to Mankato today solo.  That doesn’t happen often.  Our stitichers group met today in one of the city parks.  We each were armed with our own chair and a snack if we preferred.  

  The shade trees with a breeze blowing . . . it was a serene type of day for us.  I had not seen the gals since February.  There were eleven of us in a huge circle staying six feet apart.  Social distancing to the letter of the law.  That was until some of the gals had brought what they had been working on during the covid.  Then . . . it was as if bees were brought to the honey.  Of course we needed to take a closer look.   

  We checked out the seam allowances.  Where had the pattern been gotten?  How many yards of fabric had it taken, etc.  What a fun time of sharing. Being able to take in what others had been doing during these months was better than a shot of Adrenalin.  Many had not missed a beat in gathering fabrics as needed.  Websites were easily maneuvered and the fabrics appeared on their doorsteps.  Others had traveled and picked up supplies curb side after checking out sites and ordering via credit card.  Tips and ideas were shared.  Concerns for health issues were also shared.  The talk was open and frank. 

  As I had been very preoccupied this season with painting and sifting and sorting, I took in ideas to bring back to my sewing studio.  I felt regenerated and I hope we can do this several more times this fall season.  I have not felt the need to replenish my supplies and am content pulling from stashes.  

  I am getting that feeling.  I am getting that itch to spend some quality time in my sewing studio.  Dennis still has a pass for playing solitaire on the old Dell laptop in the sewing studio and snacking on the dish of nuts to the right of the laptop.  He may look, he may watch . . . but no touching.

  I believe after today, I can imagine how our grandchildren feel about being able to go back to school.  If only they could do safe distance in a classroom and share and learn.  They would also feel the serenity of a normal exchange with their piers as Grammie had today.

   
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  Noreen 3:00 pm on July 30, 2020 Permalink  

  It’s a Thursday 

  It’s a Thursday, let us rejoice and be happy!  Things can happen on a Thursday.

  There are many family and friends that I think of during the year.  I have been trying to pull it all together during the Christmas season, but letting them know I do hold them dear.  Last year there were quite a few pair of embroidered felt tree ornaments that were popped into the mail.  I had really been searching the brain as to what to do for 2020.  The stash of flannel scraps piqued my interest. 

  Yup, it’s Thursday and I got my groove on in the sewing studio.  Dennis has a wonderful flannel quilt on his bed that allowed a bit of extra flannel fabric to find its way into the stashes.  I decided to send out some small treat stockings this year.  I labored over one after another to find just the right feeling in the gut.  Wonder of wonder, out came the treasures from the Fairfax team.  Pearls attached to a lace . . . perfect.  I had made a list of all those who were remembered last year.  The first item to get done was putting on a personalized letter on the front of  5″ x 5″ pieces of red checked flannel.  That brought to mind the assembly line process.  It was easier to do each stocking one step at a time.  It made it so much easier than doing one by one from start to finish.  I am not finished as yet, but it is going well.  Of course the lace is for the girls, and I will dig through the flannel stashes to find just the right material and finishing touches for the boys.  There have been several new babies since last year within the families and my list has been updated.  

  I had spent some time outside earlier this morning.  I checked the acre and all was intact.  Sitting still on the patio didn’t trip my trigger, staying busy was much more appealing . . . so that is what I did.

  By the way . . . yesterday I had mentioned that Dennis and his friend Dwayne were going to take some items of Dwayne’s to an auction site in Windom.  They never got it done.  When Dennis went out to Dwayne’s farm site by the 9 a.m. appointed time, Dwayne had fallen and Dennis found him where he laid.  The two 84 year young friends managed to determine that nothing was broken and Dennis got Dwayne to the ER.  Dennis stayed with Dwayne as he was checked out.  Dennis returned home at one this afternoon, totally wore out. The Adrenalin had worn off.  Dwayne is resting at his home in St. James, and the auction items will need to wait until another day.   

  What a day.  It’s Thursday and many things can happen so unexpectedly, it does take one’s breath away.  It’s still a day to rejoice!

   
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  Noreen 3:37 pm on July 28, 2020 Permalink  

  I Got Lost 

  I had great intentions of going down into the sewing studio and getting involved in some paper craft.  Oh my gosh . . . I had no idea it had been quite some time since I had gotten into it for real.  I was at a point where I wanted to make a greeting card . . . where oh where to start.

  Getting to the chase:  I had a great time coming up with ideas for the card.  I can see myself doing a bit more in time to come.  I do enjoy piecing of quilt tops.  How many quilts do I need on hand!  I do enjoy the machine embroidery aspect of the sewing machine.  How many hours do I want to spend on one design that is loaded on a flash drive!  Paper crafting is all about dumping out a file of bits and pieces of paper and letting the thought grow from there.

  My goal as this 2020 winds down is to put more balance in the time that I spend in the sewing studio.  I need to appreciate the mobility that I have in my hands and shoulders, using them for multiple movement and not staying at some one thing for hours on end.

  These last summer months have challenged me to a great extent of what the ole body can take.  I know Carrie told me often that they could come and help with getting the outbuilding scrapped and painted.  It just doesn’t work that way anymore for me and where I am at with mind and body.  Alright!  My age has something to do with it.  I know myself well enough to know how to pace myself with a project or a job.  It’s me and me alone.  With other wonderful helping hands I believe the fast paced day of many hands would totally blow me away.   The angst of that much movement that would need answers, lunch breaks and organization . . . nope.  I would not be at a good place.

  What Carrie did do for us, was to bring down frozen prepared meals for us to enjoy after we had called it a day after being busy.  Sweet.  Though our busy time is over, we still have a few dishes in the freezer.  In fact this evening we are having baked Zita with sausage,  Dennis calls everything pasta.  Yes . . . there are multiple types.

  The years of retirement and the quiet have settled in for us on Stuaffer Avenue.  The pace is different.  The noise is different.  What had taken us several hours to do, is now perhaps a two-day job.  

  Right now our biggest concern is to get the recycling bin out every other Friday, and the garbage bin out every Tuesday.  Mellow times are ahead for the remainder of the summer.  About the time I state that, things are subject to change.  We can handle that.  We may have slowed down a bit, but we still know how to kick it in gear when it is called for.  Getting lost in my sewing studio doesn’t hold a candle to what I can roust out.

  Enjoy this week and know we are not bored.  Only boring people get bored.

   
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  Noreen 2:50 pm on July 24, 2020 Permalink  

  An Ish of a Day 

  Ish!  I really don’t have to add much to that comment about the weather outside.  Even Dennis is not inclined to stay out in the patio porch for very long.

  Dennis went without the Methadone prescription for six days.  He now knows that it does do him well in regard to the level of pain in his hands and feet.  Everyone has a certain degree of pain throughout the day. There is no point in enduring it when it can’t be put away through activity or rest.  Pain can take a huge amount of energy to endure it.  Well tried Dennis.

  This afternoon I went outside long enough to pick up the sign that neighbor Jan and I had used yesterday.  Her and I had put several things out at the curb with “Free” on the sign.  It turned out well.  I am now taking a sabbatical on all things concerning potting shed and garage cleaning.

  This noon Dennis and I worked on listing his 1966 Ford Galaxie on Craig’s List for southwestern Minnesota. We had quite a few photos to include.  Dennis did have Kevin’s friend look at it last spring and had an idea of what Brian had thought.  Brian’s thought was more than what the car dealer in New Ulm offered when we purchased the Lincoln MKX.  We had it ready to post by twelve noon.  Though I had not given my email address, I had two messages by twelve-thirty.  One of the individuals wanted to have us call him as soon as we received the email.  It is all up to Dennis.

  Time will tell if the fellow from the metro does visit tomorrow.  Dennis has enjoyed the vehicle over the years and feels that it is time for someone else to enjoy it.  Looking back, my mom, Lena, enjoyed the ride years ago when we picked her up from the health care facility and took her for a ride down the highway to my sister and her husband’s 50th wedding anniversary.  Mom had her first ride in a convertible.  Sweet.

  It seems as if we all have an interior message center that allows us to know what is best for us and when and how we need to act on it.

  I know I need some quiet time in my sewing studio.  It has been far too long that the lights have been turned.

  Stay safe in this heat.  Yes . . . put off until tomorrow what needs to be done . . . I don’t often encourage that.   Sunday was the best day of comfortable weather.  

   
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  Noreen 3:18 pm on July 17, 2020 Permalink  

  Prototypes and Opioids 

  Every project needs a prototype. I believe that for 2020, I will be doing small socks for the wee ones . . . well maybe some that are not so wee.  Putting on individual initials will make them  personalized socks to receive.  Right now my thoughts are about 5″ with just enough room to slip in a treat prior to mailing them out this Christmas season.  Of course I went to the scrap box for the sample.  I am one step closer to an actual project.  Before I cut out my actual pattern it will get tweaked a bit, making sure to size it up here and there.  I think a lid to an ice cream pail will be the perfect weight of plastic for the pattern to be traced on.

  Today when Dennis went to Lewis Drug he picked up my blood pressure prescription for the three months at a whopping price of $2.99 in total.  Dennis’ Methadone prescription for 30 days was $7.43.  We do have Blue Cross, Blue Shield prescription coverage.  Does one balance out the other . . . I am not sure.  Dennis did make an announcement when he got home.  This morning was the last time he is going to take the Methadone, an opioid .  He is going to try to go without it.  Dennis takes the Methadone for his Nephropathy pain.  The pain is in his hands and feet.  While in Korea, on the 39th parallel, he shared that the weather was consistent with Minnesota’s.  The winters were horrible.  Feet and hands were always wet and freezing cold.  The nerves in his hands and feet took a toll.  When fellow soldiers didn’t make it, the field hospital personal always saved the fallen’s socks and gloves to share where needed.

  I give Dennis so much credit for trying to stay off of this drug.  Dennis thought perhaps he had been on it long enough that the effect was no longer being felt.  The pain was tough to take at times taking the med.  Time will tell.  At least the prescription will be here if he feels that it was doing its intended job.  Dennis put me in charge of keeping the prescription safe and away from him for this upcoming trial. 

  We have taken precautions of getting done what we needed outside today.  Tomorrow tells to be a bit worse.  Today it is 89 degrees, feeling like 101 degrees.  Humidity is 68% and dew point is 75%.  We have cleaned the filters in the Koi pond and “that is all folks.”  I hope and pray that all take heed and stay safe and healthy through the weekend.  I would rather think of all of you than read about you.

   
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  Noreen 2:45 pm on July 16, 2020 Permalink  

  Shifting Gears 

  This morning Dennis and I both have recovered from the day of yard work that we enjoyed yesterday.  The acre looks stunning.  The areas where there are Hosta and such . . . stunning.  

  We are realizing that with the summer conditions our mowing will be slowing down.  With these summer fluctuations of heat and humidity, we are so thankful that the physical work on the out-buildings are done.  That “done” will remain for several years to come.  It was slow and steady since the first of May.  Hello July 16th!  There isn’t so much as a penny to rattle in the job jar.  We are awaiting some shutters to come via Home Depot.  We were told in the first part of May that the covid would be delaying deliveries.  When they do arrive the prep work of the patio porch has been completed.

  This morning as Dennis and I were sitting on the patio, I was asked what my day held.  Rare as it may seem . . . I was speechless.  I definitely need to shift gears.  My early afternoon was down in the sewing studio checking things out.  When Dennis came down to play a game of solitaire on the old Dell laptop, he found me with pencil in hand jotting down a few notes.  Dennis took that as a good sign that I may be onto something.  On to something is where I am at.  Checking to make sure that what I have in mind is what I already have on hand.  Last year I had made Christmas felt tree ornaments for send-outs to family and friends.  This year I need to hatch out a new item . . . all of it coming from what is within the sewing studio.  Given enough head scratching and “what ifs,” July is a good time to get things rolling.

  I sure have missed getting together with the stitchers for a luncheon in Mankato.  It seemed as if the ideas flew around Baker’s Square like a wind storm and solutions were abound.  February seems like a lifetime ago.  But . . . here we are on a Thursday. Thursdays are always rewarding.  The day brings satisfaction to what has been done and it also gives us a window as to what the weekend may have in store.  It’s a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 2:11 pm on July 2, 2020 Permalink  

  They are Good Photos 

  Yesterday when the kids came for the afternoon, we were able to show Megan that her quilt top is now a completed quilt.  She was happy to have one of her own, as in times past she had made Nicholas a Harry Potter quilt.  Megan and Nicholas are both tall as I am.  Seriously?

  I had planned on taking a quick walk this morning down Stauffer Avenue when I spied a large branch that had come down in the far east of the acre.  Taking care of that, I also spied that the two Hosta beds in the east needed some TLC.  We had been so focused on the garages that there was some serious work to be done with unwanted stuff.  

  Dennis had run errands and he was tucked into the recliner for a nap.  I grabbed a bottle of water and several of my favorite garden tools and headed out east.  Slow but sure the damp soil of the last half inch of rain gave up that which was not wanted.  When I headed to the patio porch, I had no idea that it was almost noon.  Dennis had been up and keeping an eye on me from his rocking chair.  With the water bottle emptied, I headed to the house to peel off sweat-soaked clothes.  It is a good thing that I sweat like Dad.  There had been a slight breeze and it made the morning time go by quickly.  It was a good local effort in the Hosta.  

  When I got back to the house, I had missed several calls and text messages.  I don’t carry my phone with as sure as heck, I would lay it down somewhere and forget where it was.  The squirrels would have a heyday of a time trying to bury it.

  One of the text messages was from Megan doing a follow up on the sad little flower bed area next to the south east corner of the house.  Megan has given me tips on what plants I could try that would do good in direct sun for a large portion of each day.  There was also a thought on amending the soil so plants had a chance to thrive.  There!  I got it from the professional that is up for being promoted to assistant manager of the perennial portion of the Mustard Seed Nursery.  Good Lord, how special is that . . . the advice as well as the work ethic that Megan has.

  I have slowed way down for this afternoon.  Showering and putting on dry clothes was the key for enjoying the rest of the day.  Dennis did shake his head about the morning I had, but he also knew it was needed and that he could not have been any help when it comes to good plants and bad plants.  I had his moral support.  That meant a whole bunch.  The only outside chore left is to water down the newly-seeded lawn area.  The sprouts have really been filling it . . . success!