Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from August, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Noreen 3:53 pm on August 31, 2023 Permalink  

  We are Home 

  We are home from the big town of Mankato.

  The staining of the spindles on the deck steps went well.  The breeze was hard to leave.  I did have an extra cup of coffee before gathering up the phone and the grocery list to head out.

  Dennis now has a product that should work on all sorts of nuisance vegetation that usual weed killing sprays can’t take out.  Before we came home, Dennis gave me a tour of the blue barn acre.  It is showing definite signs that someone is on board in the tidy, tidy.  When I have finished the deck project, I will be on board to lend a hand.

  The traffic going to and from Mankato was a good indication that this is the last summer holiday.  We will be tucked in here on Stauffer Avenue and leave the last of the summer festivities to others.

  My studio does get a brief visit now and then.  Plans have been in place for projects and will be on hold for a bit.  After taking care of that which is needed to maintain our property, there will be many chilly to cold days to stitch to my heart’s content.  Dennis is always on the same page with me.  If repairs are put off, where do you start when it all falls down around you! 

  Nothing more is going to be started for today.  Before we left Mankato, we stopped at Hy-Vee.  There is a rib, mashed potatoes, gravy and corn meal to heat up.  A $6.00 meal that beats a fast food option.

  Perhaps some reading or stitching will close down this Thursday.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:25 pm on August 29, 2023 Permalink  

  Tuesday the 29th 

  It is Tuesday and all is well on Stauffer Avenue.

  My stint at staining went well this morning.  The ground level of the spindles has been stained on the north side of our front deck.  Not quite enough of a breeze to keep the black flies at bay.  Ignore, ignore is all that could be done.  If all goes according to plan, I will do the west ground level of the step spindles tomorrow.  Doing only the amount of staining until my known level of discomfort tells me to get that brush cleaned up.

  Dennis came around to show the ground wasp he had taken out.  Its mistake was getting into the patio porch.  They are nasty looking things even when they are dead.

  After sharing a cup of coffee with Dennis, we headed to the blue barn acre for the next quest.  The lot line to the south has been nothing but a dumping site over decades.  Don’t know whose crap it is and we don’t care.  There has been plenty of activity on the lot to allow those on the other side of the lot line to realize . . . no more.  Today my job was to drive the little red pickup along side the south line as close as I could to the point of today’s quest.  Dennis used his fork to snag foam mattresses and drag them out of the weeds.  Sitting on the end-gate of the little red pickup he could then get them drug to the pile that will eventually be hauled away while I was driving.

  Leave it to Dennis and me to stay busy while being safe.

  It is mid afternoon and I plan on doing some stitching and reading until supper time, which we have decided will be Subway.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:48 pm on August 28, 2023 Permalink  

  Bright Sun 

  The sun being bright this morning had me washing up my brush for staining by 10:30.  I did get the spindles done on the west side of the front deck.  It may have been a bit of a reach standing on the grass, but any additional height would not have allowed for me to get under the top railing.  Tomorrow I may do the north side of the spindles.  Lots of shade with no glare of the rising sun.

  I spent some time stitching after calling the deck work done for the day.  I could not believe my eyes.  I had never seen such a small ant crawling along my fabric.  My bedroom porch has just had a thorough going over and no bugs were seen.  The cloth I am stitching on is sixteen stitches per inch.  You can see the squares of the fabric in the photo.  You really have to look closely to see anything on the fabric.  But . . . the ant is there, barely the size over one of the squares.  Even kitchen grease ants are larger this this one.  I looked the entire cloth over and found only one more.  What a mystery. 

  The afternoon feels warm with that bright sun.  That doggone dewpoint really makes the difference.

  I will check on you tomorrow to see how your Tuesday is going.

   
• 

  Noreen 2:53 pm on August 23, 2023 Permalink  

  Surprised 

  Surprised that a niece of Dennis’ from Mora would be out and about for a visit.  That then encouraged a cousin from Sleepy Eye to join in for a visit.  Quite the afternoon of catch-up.

  It is a bit cooler than yesterday. 

  My local effort was doing a batch of egg salad this morning.  It has been in the refrig since noon.  My way of thinking is that an egg salad sandwich trumps hot soup for supper.  

  I may finish out the afternoon with a bit of stitching.

  While I am in my bedroom porch, I have noticed a lot of wasps hanging around under the south awning.  Dennis will need to take a peek under the awning sometime.  I had noticed the neighbor across the street out with a spray can that was shooting spray up to their eves yesterday.  Lots of wasps this season.

  Tomorrow is another day.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:51 pm on August 22, 2023 Permalink  

  My Quiet 

  When the temp is nasty, I am in my quiet zone.

  Today, I am switching off from reading to stitching and then back again.  That will continue for a few more days.

  In temps such as this, I don’t think I would venture out of town.  Hot road surface, hot tires . . . not a safe mix.

  The fare for supper is frozen waffles and Jimmy Dean pre-cooked sausages.

  May everyone take the advisories seriously.

   
• 

  Noreen 2:12 pm on August 20, 2023 Permalink  

  A Breeze 

  There is a breeze out this Sunday afternoon, but don’t let it fool you.  Dennis and I went to the blue barn acre to check on his weed killing spree.  After taking a drive around the acre we did take a whip around town.  Dennis had the windows down on the little red pickup but a clammy feeling persisted.  I am back in my home, seen enough.

  The bedroom porch is totally back together.  I did several stitches on my hooped cross stitch project from my command center.  A new book is open on the angled book stand with several paragraphs read.  Yup, I remembered how it all went.  I have been using a small table that Kevin and Kersten used on the day of their wedding for a guest book.  Upon that table is a Sauder 28″ x 28″ board that was a portion of a computer stand in times past.  This makeshift, repurposed unit is perfect for the router and my book stand.  I have the clamp-on adjustable cross stitch hoop holder on the southeast corner where it can be swiveled off to the side when I am reading.

  There was wasted space on this table unit.  No more.  Dennis has fitted the 12″ square base of this table to hold a shelf that is six inches above the floor and will rest on the braces of the table.  Here on will rest my new, free library books.  I had been using the wall shelves for books and other sundry items that have now been put back up on the east wall of my bedroom porch since the paint job.  What I have since decided is that I will have some items on the bottom shelf.  The two shelves above that may remain empty for now.  I cannot reach them safely without the kitchen step stool.  I think this qualifies as living smarter.  Living safely.

  After this latest run of heat subsides, I plan on beginning to stain the front door deck that was installed around the Easter weekend.  With my 1.5″ brush and perched upon the old office chair that we have on the deck, I will be able to stain the spindles of the railing.  No bending over . . . no reaching high.

  A light supper for Stauffer Avenue.  Dennis thought he might try some of the frozen waffles that are on hand.  Hmm.  I thought oatmeal sounded good.  Whatever!

  This old wordsmith always holds all of you close.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:17 pm on August 12, 2023 Permalink  

  Hello Peeps 

  This blog update is coming today from someone that was too pooped to pop yesterday afternoon.

  My first stop was the library to pick up books from the outside “free” rack.  No worries about keeping track of renewal or returns.  I scored five books that looked of interest to me.  The next stop was our local hardware store.  With curtain sample in hand, I picked out a color of paint for my bedroom porch.  I purchased one quart.  I had already painted the wood grain paneling some twenty years ago.  It’s not a matter of the paint soaking in but rather laying on top.  I will see how well it goes for me.  It may take some time.  If I need more paint, it will be handy for me going a few blocks to purchase more. 

  It was now on to Mankato.  A list of errands in Mankato always means a lot of shoe leather will be burned as well as the tip of my cane becoming quite hot.

  Our front deck has now been in place long enough to consider staining it.  We thought long and hard before making a decision.  Home Depot was our target.  We wanted a full coverage job and not a transparent stain, and the color would be as close to black as possible . . . slate.  Our roof color, the foundation painting, and the shutters are all in that same color pallet.

  In visiting with the clerk, she said it could very well have a sprayer used to put it on with a follow up brush to work it in.  The next stop was Harbor Freight.  For $2.99 a half gallon sprayer may very well do the trick.  Three were purchased.  One for my bug spray.  We had bought one previous that Dennis is using for weed killer.  Very sweet little sprayers.  The secret will be to have the nozzle set correctly for the area being sprayed. 

  It was then on to Sam’s Club, Hy-Vee and finally to the pulmonary doctor to have Dennis’ CPAP prescription renewed.  A very interesting visit as they, on their computers, know how many hours an evening Dennis uses it.  The interesting thing is that last year when they ran a check, Dennis stopped breathing three times an hour, while using the machine.  Very acceptable.  In the recent months, it has been as high as 34 times an hour.  Wow!  In checking, Dennis’ doctor has put in a prescription for a new CPAP machine.  His, that he is using, was new in 2016.  Dennis will be doing an overnight sleep study in September so the new machine can be calibrated for current medical needs.  That’s all I have to say about that.

  Today we had company from Gibbon.  Two fellows, age eight and three, picked up their two t-shirt quilts representing their dad’s time on the Gibbon Fire department.  Sweet.  Cousin, Wayne Opitz, and his wife Jean, came along with Michael and his two sons.  What a great visit.  Good family time.

  We had rain again, four times out of five days, last night.  No storms.  Very thankful.

  It’s a great day even if there may be rain showers coming in the week ahead.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:58 pm on August 9, 2023 Permalink  

  Oh My Gosh! 

  KNUJ is telling me the Nicollet County Fair is beginning!  Did that ever bring back memories.

  When Megan stayed with us when she was a toddler, I would take her to the Nicollet County Fair on the day that was dubbed “Senior Citizen Day.”  We got to do everything the fair offered and . . . it was not over-run with people.  There was not an animal pen that didn’t have Megan hanging over the rail.  When Nicolas came along and he was three . . . to the Nicollet County Fair we continued to go again on “Senior Citizen Day.” 

  My mama and daddy didn’t raise a fool.  Of course I pulled those trips off at the right time in August as I had volunteered it would work out for us to take Megan or both for the week.  If the parents had known about the fair trip, they most likely would have been far too concerned with one Grammie and two little ones in the midst of a lot of strangers.  Bright orange t-shirts right from the dollar store donned by little blonde headed ones.  For those years that the trio went to the fair, we always had a blast.

  Memories . . . sweet.

  Today, I messed around in the studio.  I had a wild hair.  When the sleeper sofa went out the front door of our home and two casual chairs came in, they had been tested by me before I bought them.  I wanted chairs in the house that I didn’t have to dig my way out of, if I needed a break from my wooden rocker.  With these two chairs, I could easily get up and out of them easily.  I have short legs and thus, I came up short, literally, to sit back in the chair to rest my back on the chair’s back.  I had been moving about a large pillow form in the studio for some time.  I now have a pillow to sit back against when I choose to perch in either one of these chairs.  Over time, some of the heft of the pillow will be squashed and not be quite such a billowy pillow.  It really is all about what the folks need that reside here on Stauffer Avenue.

  Oh my gosh!  What can be tackled when the spirit moves me.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:42 pm on August 8, 2023 Permalink  

  So . . . Do Tell! 

  It is official from two sources, one on each end of town, that we got three plus inches of rain in a slow and steady all-day rain.

  The rain is all it took to hear the hum that had not been heard for some time, lawnmowers.  Dennis was right in there with them.  The weeds had continued to grow and they needed to be trimmed back right along with whatever else was green.  Dennis has learned to take two days to get the acreage done as the back and arms sent him a strong message. 

  Today Amazon delivered the last item for my bedroom porch’s reading and stitching corner.  Years back most shops had a clamp-on light fixture that could be angled via springs on the main hub.  My clamp-on unit that was delivered is similar but different.  There is no light fixture at the end, but a clamp to hold my hoop for stitching.  Sweet.  Until it has been used for a time, the clamp is really tight . . . enter stage right . . . Dennis.  My left hand is really going to enjoy not having to hold the hoop.  For the sum of $24.99 it does the job of the expensive wooden standalone hoop holders. 

  For several days this week, Carrie and Megan are in Las Vegas at the largest USA marketing event for 2024’s merchandise.  What a sweet event for them to share.  Later on this month, Kersten will be flying to New York for her endeavor.  My special people do get around.  When Dennis and I talked about it, he was thrilled for them, as he and I couldn’t take it.  

  I did take in some stitching this morning in the studio for my next scrappy quilt.  I realize it. I am admitting to it. I am overanalyzing the scrappiness of it.  Good grief.  It did take my repair man, Dennis, to replace the batteries in the radio for KNUJ to be enjoyed.

  Our oven meal of last night was a hit.  There will be a re-run of it this evening.

  Take care everyone!

   
• 

  Noreen 1:37 pm on August 7, 2023 Permalink  

  OttLite 

  Anyone that is anybody in the world of quilting or stitching has an OttLite.  They can be quite pricey if you want a floor model.  I knew that in time I would like more light coming over my shoulders when I read or stitch in my bedroom porch.  The studio downstairs has plenty of light overhead that is needed for all activities in the stitching world. 

  Dennis listens as well as being around when I am in my bedroom porch.  Son-in-law Jeremy totally re-glued a wooden armchair on Easter Sunday for a second seat in my bedroom porch.  It is Dennis’ perch when he comes a calling and a visit is required for decision making.

  This morning while the Monday morning laundry was in full speed, my very own OttLite was delivered to my bedroom porch.  Slowly Dennis had been cleaning and painting a stand alone light that Kevin and Kersten had found for us.  What use it would have here on Stauffer Avenue had not been identified at that time.   

  My light is very versatile.  It rolls easy and the base is very heavy while not taking up much floor space.  It nestles nicely in the corner.  With little effort it can be pulled down or raised depending on where I need the light.  The light can be zoomed in or out also depending where a halo of light is needed.  Sweet!

  When the word repurposing is bantered about . . . check with Stauffer Avenue’s older resourceful pair.

  Laundry is done as well as an oven dish for supper.  With temps not quite as hot as last week, I am taking a gamble on using the kitchen oven for an hour or so.  The contents of the oven meal also provided for two portions to be put in the freezer for another time.

  Take care everyone.