Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from August, 2019 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 4:00 pm on August 12, 2019 Permalink  

  One More 

  When Dennis comes in and asks for “One more favor” I put down what I am doing and get it done.  His one more could fill volumes. It reminds me of when Megan was little.  In thinking we had her settled, she would come back with “Just one more.”  I have kidded him that some day when my ashes are returned to him in a shoe box, Dennis will open the lid and say “Just one more favor.”  It didn’t take Dennis long for him to come back with a comment.  Yup . . . I will have one more favor. . . “Please can I come with.”  Priceless.

  There was one more Cricut cutout that Dennis wanted.  It had not been included in the purchase packet of decals that we had ordered.  Dennis wanted the shift pattern placed on the tractor.  That sounded doable.  Dennis got the Cricut out and side by side we decided what size, etc.  We got it on and Dennis was pleased as could be.  The next step was for him to take off all the paper that he had used to protect the tires.  Even the seat got a coat of white.  Well done and I believe the tractor is done.

  After we had the Cricut project done, I got back to what I had been doing in the kitchen.  Today was the day to pull the kitchen range out and do some tidy, tidy work under it and around it.  God bless the felt pads Kevin put under it.  It slides out slick as a whistle.

  I think it was time to expand the cookie options.  Molasses and peanut butter are great but enough was enough.  I found a recipe for Mound cookies.  Great!  I had some coconut that needed to be used up.  It was a bit dry but I really chopped it up fine and I knew it would soak and expand in the batter.  Good grief.  It asked for 2 cups of coconut and 5 cups of chocolate chips.  It also asks for 4.5 cups of flour . . . a large batch indeed.  In regard to the chocolate chips, I only had four cups and called it good.  All that is left is to tuck some in the freezer, right next to a bag of molasses cookies.  It is great to have some on standby. 

  It is heading on five in the afternoon and we are having rain showers that are quite strong.  Just when we thought the mowing of the acre was dwindling down.  This will perk everything up.  Who knew!

   
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  Noreen 4:59 pm on August 9, 2019 Permalink  

  She’s Ain’t What She Used to Be 

  That was a phrase from the old time song “The Old Gray Mare.” I do believe I qualify for that this evening. 

  Dennis realized he was 500 miles over his oil change in the little red pickup with Jiffy Lube in Mankato.  That was a first.  That attests to the fact that Dennis has been busy this summer with his Cub Lo Boy.  When we checked in at Jiffy Lube, the computer records indicated that the last time we had the automatic transmission taken care of was in 2015.  We got it all taken care of as that little red pickup is going to be a part of Stauffer Avenue for a long time.

  Our next stop was for pedicures.  Since Dennis had to have a portion of one of his large toe nails removed after an ingrown situation,  Dennis is on board to take care of the feet.  We had to sit and wait for some time as their were clients ahead of us.  Who cares!  We each sat soaking our feet in warm water with the massage chair doing its thing.  No, Dennis . . . we can’t have one similar to it for our home.  The place was hopping today.  They always ask what color we want for the nails.  Nope . . . just naked nails.  I am not a fan of the gel nails with the fancy designs painted on them. 

  It was decided that Dennis needed one more can of white paint for the tractor.  The four wheels had always been white.  Dennis spent a lot of energy on painting everything else and had been a point where he might have been burned out on the job.  Not any more!  he has been taping off the tires so he can paint the wheels so they look as bright and white as the rest of the tractor.  I pulled the short straw in regard to going into Walmart for a can of Krylon gloss white primer and paint.  I could understand his decision.  Why leave it incomplete.

  My stop of the day was JoAnn’s Fabric Shop.  Whether I am working on a hand bag, t-shirt quilts or stitching out an embroidery design, I always pull out my Pellon Shape Flex 101 woven fusible interfacing.  This week they had 76% off.  I had picked up on the private Facebook group that I am in that wherever there was a Joann’s the interfaces and stabilizers were being scooped up.   I also had the coupon for an additional 10% off at the checkout.  Just like all the squirrels in our yards seeking Black Walnuts to bury for another day, I am prepared for my next projects.

  Sam’ s Club was the last retail stop.  Dennis filled up with gas as I did the aisles picking up what we needed the most.  It was unbelievable that a pound of butter here in town was $4.65 cents.  That was the store brand.  Land O Lakes was $5.45 a pound.  I use some for baking, some for toast . . . who doesn’t like butter!  Sam’s Club butter is $3.00 a lb.  No . . . I am not a chemist to pick apart the ingredients, I am trusting Sam’s to be legit in their products. 

  We ended up in Perkins for the meal of the day.  We had started out early with each of us having a bottle of Boost for a high content of protein.  I don’t do well running on fumes and I know Dennis needs more than meds in his system.  

  We are home and so glad of it.  What a day.  The tick list is empty.  All that running around did tell me, I ain’t what I used to be for power shopping.

   
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  Noreen 2:35 pm on August 8, 2019 Permalink  

  A Request 

  It has taken a few years for our neighbor Jan and I to become good friends.  I was working, Jan was working.  We seemed to pass each other by. 

  Several winters ago when Dennis had become quite fragile, Jan’s husband Randy, he’s the one with the pretty John Deere green toys, came over and blew our driveway out. Randy had just spent time during that fall in Dubai teaching farmers how to put machinery together.  Yes, it was John Deere equipment.  His bonus was a brand new mini-tractor complete with snow blower and few other pieces of equipment for the tractor.  Randy enjoys playing in the snow.  Whatever.  It broke the ice between us.  

  

  Waiting in my sewing studio today is a project that Jan has asked of me.  Her first grandson will be baptized later this month.  Jan found the adorable elephant in a shop here in town.  Her thought was how wonderful of a gift to have Brayden’s name and birth date on one ear and the baptism date on the other ear.  It was a very creative thought.  I have the designs stitched out.  I am now contemplating on the best way in making them into a patch resembling the shape of the ear and sewing them on.  I have got the thought done and down but needing to take a break.   

  While taking a break, Dennis asked for a favor.  Could I please give him a haircut.  WTF!  Not even four days out of cataract surgery with eyes that don’t want to play nice together . . . Hmm.  Dennis was determined as he headed out to the patio with the clipper container in hand.  By the time I got outside, the electrical cord was attached, the chair was waiting as well as a table to hold all the gear.  Have I ever cut his hair with one eye open at a time.  Not!  I took it slow and wouldn’t you know it?  Dennis was very thankful for the favor.  I did not get adventurous, just took it one swipe at a time. 

  The moral of the story is that retired people that say they have nothing to do must live on another playing field.  With Dennis’ new lightweight leaf blower, I blew off the hair from him and he was as happy as can be as he went over to the back garage to check on his tractor.  

  Requests come in all forms when you least expect it.

  Here is my definition of intimacy.  It may be physical, it may be sexual.  In my book it is being totally vulnerable with one’s partner . . . totally!  Dennis and I were intimate this afternoon out on the east patio.  Priceless!

   
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  Noreen 3:00 pm on August 4, 2019 Permalink  

  Cushions for Eggs 

  

  This is what sewing cushions trading for an ever supply of farm fresh eggs looks like.  Mom Lena’s tip for sewing this type of cushion cover made it a breeze.  With that being said a batch of potato salad using potatoes that the neighbor brought over from his garden used up a whopping six of those wonderful brown and green eggs. I have had a great day and I am now off of the clock here in Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 5:25 pm on July 27, 2019 Permalink  

  No Down Time 

  Dennis’ final wish for letters to be cut from the Cricut has been granted and applied.  As Dennis was checking out the tractor he declared he needed to make a trip to the parts store.  He had noticed that the exhaust pipe from the tractor was not going to prevent his red paint from blistering.  When Dennis got home he had a chrome extension for the situation.  What a fellow.

  I had heard people work to preserve healthy trees by making sure the root system gets enough water.  The rule of thumb is to water at the individual tree’s drip line.  Where the longest branches can drip rain is an indication that the roots of that tree may extend that far out from the trunk.

  I am here to tell you that our kitchen’s cupboard drip line gets attention often and regularly.  I don’t have rugs on the floors within our home as it is a hazard for those of us that are elderly.  Good grief . . . I hate owning that.  I enjoy baking and the kitchen counter top may not be huge but it is totally used.  Dennis is always helping with dishes.  No, there is no automatic dishwasher.  You can only imagine what the kitchen floor can end up looking like from the drip line of the kitchen counter top from both of us.  It may well tell what the activity has been in the kitchen within the last 24 hours.  

  I did take some time in the sewing studio.  I was very curious what would happen if I would work with upholstery vinyl for a handbag.  I may not tackle vinyl again but I am not displeased with how this handbag turned out.  It was also my first time making my own custom length zipper.  I ordered the zipper ribbon by the yard and with it came a goodly amount of zipper pulls.  It seemed that the fabric that was some of Mom’s was the perfect fabric for the lining to pair with the butterfly.  It’s all a challenge and it is enjoyable to have the time to experiment to see what can be achieved. 

  Neither Dennis nor I have a lot of down time.  It’s not to say we are at it 24/7, we take our time and enjoy the day.  It seems as if there is always something popping up to keep us on our toes.  It’s a good thing!

   
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  Noreen 4:46 pm on July 22, 2019 Permalink  

  I Ran Away From Home 

  This date on the calendar was highly anticipated. There is a varied group of us that meet at Baker’s Square in Mankato once a month to share stitching tales and sometimes woes.

  I do not believe that if I stitch with my fuzz and thread until I can no longer have the strength to turn the sewing machine on, I will not have learned it all. Fresh ideas and tips and tricks . . . what is not to like.  The best part is that Baker’s Square doesn’t mind us lingering on our Noon lunch.  At three this afternoon we bid each other farewell until next month.

  When I got home Dennis had the two-wheel trailer heaped with limbs and branches from the Saturday storm.  In the far back of the acre a fifteen foot tree top was snapped off of one of the evergreens.  Needless to say the new electric chainsaw came in handy.  I changed clothes just in time to ride out to the compost site and help him unload.  Dennis feels good to have everything tidy, tidy . . . tidy.  On that note, Dennis has become quite the homeowner over the years.  Nothing gets left sitting out.  Nothing gets piled up behind a garage.  It’s a good thing.

  The weather today renewed my belief that summer need not be like living in a cast iron fry pan inches above the corn cob fire.

   
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  Noreen 12:46 pm on July 16, 2019 Permalink  

  I Need a Favor 

  When I hear Dennis come into the sewing studio and out comes “I need a favor”  I have learned that I had best allow him to know that I will . . . if I can.  Generally he scores 100%.

  The mower for the Cub has been in the process of being painted in the garage on the east end of the acre.  I have not gotten involved as I didn’t want him to think it was no longer his project.

  Today the favor meant that out of the cabinets in the cistern closet, the Cricut cutting dynamo needed to see the light of the sewing studio.  Dennis needed a decal for his mower.  There had been a name plate on it at one time, but it was so degraded that the information was barely visible.  Dennis knew just what he wanted as the end result.  I invited him to stay for the process.  It was a matter of “hand me this . . . I can’t reach the ceiling electrical outlet . . . pick out the white exterior scraps of vinyl.”  I wasn’t doing it to do for any other reason other than to let Dennis know what it takes for a “favor.”  The end result was that Dennis had not realized how much time it takes to get a project set up before seeing any results.

  We did a few test cuts before Dennis decided what size the letters needed to be and what font would look best.  It pretty much took the better part of the forenoon.  

  Dennis has done a great job on the Cub tractor and the mower.  The final detail was the mower decal.  Once I had it measured out, wiped down and had put pressure on each of the outlines of the letters, it was no more than fitting then to let Dennis pull the protective paper off for the reveal.

  Oh for the glory that there would always be a project in the works for Dennis that had captured his energy and ambition the way that the Cub L0-Boy tractor has.  Time will tell.  Taking it one day at a time is the best alternative.

   
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  Noreen 3:33 pm on July 14, 2019 Permalink  

  It Works 

  When it doesn’t feel good to be outside, there are choices and it works.  Then there are times when there is no choice but to get it done. 

  Dennis’ fur buddies can get into mischief and not one of the three owns up to it.  When Dennis went out to the garage today, there on the floor . . . was a mess.  We have always used the cheapest gallon of laundry soap to wash grime off of the house siding.  Some four footed body was climbing and knocked the container off of the shelf onto the cement floor.  The cap cracked.  Of course the rest of the story . . . liquid soap on the floor next to the car.

  What’s a fellow to do but clear out as much as possible of the garage and get the water hose and broom out.  The scent of the soap was lavender.  It sure did smell good as bubbles were broomed out into the driveway.  Of course that did bring the cats out to check out what was going on.  I gave Dennis credit for not accidentally spraying them.

  With three patio sliders in the patio porch and both garage doors raised a foot or so, Dennis did spend a bit of time in the patio porch watching the RFD television channel.  There is always a good tractor auction on or a rodeo.

  My choice was to move between the sewing studio and the west porch of the house.  I know enough of myself to know not to spend too much time in any one place.  Arthritis can’t make me immobile if I keep moving.  I know I can’t win the war, but the battles need to be taken in stride.  Dennis’ 2 x 4 chair in the west house porch is the perfect spot for a bit of reading.  Kevin refers to it as Dennis’ “Captain Kurk’s Command Center” chair.  It is very comfortable whether Dennis is on his computer or if I take it over from time to time.
  July is what it is.  Summer!  Not a thing we can do about the heat, humidity or bugs.  Each day I try to remember to tell myself that it is my choice as to how I take the day.  I can be crabby, sad, withdrawn, lazy or happy.  It’s all up to ME because I can do nothing to change the weather.  By and large, I usually talk myself into something that seems to work out for the best.

   
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  Noreen 3:34 pm on July 12, 2019 Permalink  

  We Are Not Fighting It 

  There was much in the news of this being a hot uncomfortable Friday.  We are not fighting it.  There was not one thing that needed to be done outside after our first burst of the morning when we checked out the acre.  Things have happened during the night that would have gone unchecked if we don’t pay attention.  

  Dennis had a marathon on one of his television channels in the patio porch.  He truly was having a relaxing day.  No . . . he didn’t get lonely as Snuggles was right there at his elbow. 

  I wanted some time in the sewing studio.  Having UFOs (unfinished objects) lying around is not my level of comfort.  Having finished a handbag in between the tractor commotion, there were sewing supplies that needed to be cleaned up.  This bag went together very well.  The first time in the four bags I have done that I did not need to watch a video.  The directions in each have some repeat in techniques.  I can make a check on the list of  “Can I pull this off?” I did dig around until I found some items as a zipper pull on the outside of the bag.  The original pattern did not call for an outside zipper, but I knew it would be handy.  

  Megan’s quilt top was completed when she last visited.  As a Grammie I decided to put the sandwich together for her.  With not having a quilt frame, it is a challenge to get the backing, batting and then the top to lie taut enough to begin using ump-teen safety pins to contain the layers.  I knew all the hand weights that we had used and they were now stuck in the closet would come in handy.  8 lbs.?  It’s hard to believe I did work out with them a time ago.  Anyway . . . the weights were a huge help in keeping things where they needed to be.  There is nothing more dis-heartening to think all is well and then see there is a huge wrinkle in the backing when it is too late to fix it.  There is still plenty of work to be done on her quilt for Megan the next time she comes.

  July is marching on.  Though I have no reason to keep in mind when school starts, I am sure families are in crunch mode to get everything done while they can.  Dennis and I don’t fight the calendar.  We take each day as it comes and are oh so grateful for each one.

   
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  Noreen 2:49 pm on July 1, 2019 Permalink  

  Deflated on a Monday 

  I can tell that I am different today than I was perhaps fifteen years ago after a visit from Megan for a weekend.  I don’t bounce back as quickly on the Monday after her visit as I did then.  Then, and in the years going forward, it was all about play time, meal time, craft time and bed time.  No expectations.  Things changed about three years ago.  

  When Megan comes to visit now, it is with a clear agenda.  No mucky, mucking around.  Once Megan had experienced the world of sewing the wheels began turning, turning into finishing a project once it was started.  Sounds like Dennis with his lawn mowing.  Grammie has to keep up with both of them.  No time out may be called.

  This weekend was a full one.  The sewing project had been purchased a year ago at the Old Alley Quilt Shop in Sherburn.  It took both Megan and me time to revisit the fabrics and the pattern.  Getting the lay of the fabric placement was the ultimate.  The quilt shop had included enough of eight different fabrics for completion of the quilt top.  The secret was for wise cutting of each fabric to have enough when all was said and done so it would look like the photo on the pattern.  Hmm.  

  There is no way that I can stay at a quilt project all day, let alone a fifteen year old that only stitches twice a year.  Of course we took a lunch break and . . . a Blue Bunny Carmel Sea Salt ice cream break.  Grandpa Dennis got in on that.  Yum.

  Megan and I did stay on track.  My portion was to press seams as Megan stitched them.  Pressing is oh so important for matching up seams.  When Sunday came we spent some time getting the batting ready.  I did not have one large piece.  What I did have were several of the same weight as had been left over from previous projects of my own.  A bit of fusible web ironed on multiple pieces and we had it nailed.  It was up to Megan to decide what fabric she wanted on the back of the quilt.  I have my instructions as to what to look for.  As there is a fabric that resembles barn yard boards . . . that will be my “go to” seek and search the next time Dennis and I go to Mankato.

  I did some laundry today and then took a good long walk to wind down from the weekend but to also energize me from having a busy weekend with not a lot of physical moving.  I am not, and will not count the rush of mowing the front yard on Saturday.  That was more of a Dennis induced pressure walking. My legs respond to more of a relaxed one step in front of the other type of walking.

  All is good on Stauffer.  I have a frozen dish of meatloaf to bake out for the evening’s  supper.  Stopping and visiting with my neighbor June on the far end of Stauffer during my walk has given me a feeling of normalcy.  Yup, I am no longer feeling deflated.  I feel fortunate to have had this last weekend.  It was priceless. 

  Megan shared with us that next year she can drive herself to come and see us.  Megan’s Grandpa Mark is selling her Grandma Karen’s 2004 Toyota Highlander for $1,500.00 this fall.  It has had little hard use and is low mileage.  Megan’s Grandma Karen can no longer drive and it will be a great opportunity for the grandparents to find a good home for a vehicle that has been gently used.  Megan is excited.  Her Mom and Dad . . . are accepting the next step for Megan gracefully.  Life is sweet.   

  Hmm. Just got an alert on the cell phone that we could possibly have a thunderstorm headed our way.  From the sounds of what I can hear down here in the sewing studio . . . the rain has arrived.