Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from March, 2014 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:45 am on March 20, 2014 Permalink  

  With winter being extended I had caught up… 

  With winter being extended I had caught up on projects that I had lined up for the cold weather as well as recovery from surgery.   A trip to the walk up attic was needed to store some extra items that we decided did not need to be under foot. It was meant to be.  Just a glance at the sewing basket my Mom had given me decades ago jolted my memory.  Ah-ha! There was my busy work as I would wait to be outside in the gardens.  I am sure that project had been waiting to be re-discovered for a minimum of twenty years.

  

  Busy work to finish out the last of winter.

  The project found its way next to my favorite spot in the living room and it came with challenges.  I have no idea if I will able to find the coordinating colors to match what has been started as the stash of balls in the sewing basket is far from what will be needed.  This may need several road trips with hubby Dennis at the wheel.  What size of crochet hook had I used?  I did pick at it and I know that over the years my hands have changed with arthritis and I will need to find the correct tension of the yarn as it flows through my fingers after the correct hook is found.

  The best part is that the vibrant colors do wonders for these late winter days that can be less than sunny.  I know that finishing this will give me a lot of satisfaction.  Unfinished projects don’t play out well, especially if they are found in the future by family that has no idea what my intentions were.  Finding a home for it after it is finished will be the least of my challenges.

   
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  Noreen 5:45 am on March 19, 2014 Permalink  

  P.S. on my earlier post of today 

  Hubby Dennis loved the raw asparagus with the fat free Blue Cheese Dressing.

   
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  Noreen 2:45 am on March 18, 2014 Permalink  

  Just about the time I think I can… 

  Just about the time I think I can take off the winter quilt and flannel sheets and change them out for lighter weight bedding we are back in below freezing temps with winds that are really raw.  It’s the time of the year when the little dust bunnies, aka: extra fuzz, from the flannel needs to cease.  How many seasons of use does it take before the shedding of fuzz stops? Actually, in time they will be the lighter weight bedding for spring and summer.  I am hoping by next week the snow under the clotheslines is gone and all the bedding can be hung out to bring in the fresh outdoor smell.

   
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  Noreen 1:34 am on March 16, 2014 Permalink  

  I Can Look But I Can't Touch – Yet 

  

  My yard will need a lot of TLC in time to come.

  We did have snow this morning, but it is to the point that it is a nuisance rather than a threat.  That was the case until Dennis told me about the forecast for this coming Tuesday and Wednesday.  We may indeed have another measurable, scoop-able snowfall.  As accurate as the forecasts have been, I am not dismissing it.

  Yesterday it was possible to walk on the stepping stones beyond the garage porch for this photo.  I stood there and took in the fallen branches, a broken bird bath via a fallen branch, and lots and lots of muck and standing water.  It was hard to not put on the five buckle farm boots and begin the pick up job of branches and other debris from the last six months.  I fought the urge and decided that I would let Mother Nature have her way for a bit longer.  In the end I may have lost a few early spring battles, but I intend to win the war and have a great looking yard once again — just a bit later than usual.

   
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  Noreen 2:16 am on March 15, 2014 Permalink  

  The wonderful season on Girl Scout Cookies is… 

  The wonderful season on Girl Scout Cookies is winding down, and when I saw a commercial last night I was taken back a bit.  Girl Scout Cookie-flavored coffee creamers.  I sure hope the scout organization is getting a slice of that pie.  The girls really use a lot of shoe leather to earn funds for their organization, and this may be just a boost to help out — at least that is what my hope is.

   
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  Noreen 5:07 am on March 14, 2014 Permalink  

  57 degrees and all we are missing are… 

  Having 57 degrees, all we are missing are Nicholas and Megan in their boots to stomp in all the water.  At times when the kids were here with us, and it had rained, they would seek and search to find the best puddles to show them who was boss.

   
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  Noreen 1:33 am on March 13, 2014 Permalink  

  We have had several nice days of sun… 

  We have had several nice days of sun and thawing snow banks.  Right on target I get the itchy twitchy feeling that I need to do something different in the house to squelch the spring fever I feel coming on.   There is no denying something must be done right now as it will be a long time before I can have dirty finger nails from working in the gardens.

  It’s amazing how moving a few pieces of furniture from point A to point B can give that newer, fresher home feeling. While removing some items and putting them in the walk up attic: “Oh, look, I can take this down from the attic and I have just the spot for it.”  It’s a very economical fix for this attack of spring fever and the best part is that hubby Dennis approves of the new look in the living room and all is deemed well on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 2:04 am on March 12, 2014 Permalink  

  A day of rain, snow showers and 39 degrees finally making for a typical spring. Catch ya later.

   
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  Noreen 1:05 am on March 11, 2014 Permalink  

  No High Tide – Just Mid High So Far 

  Yesterday I posted that we evacuated our garage porch due to the huge amount of snow we have had and there is no sign that the frost is out of the ground to absorb any of it.  I have heard that it may be as deep as 7 feet.  We are perhaps overly cautious, but after the water begins to trickle in it is just “should have, could have.”  Actually, the carpet was picked up at one in the afternoon and by 3:45 the seeping began.  Hats off to the older ones on Stauffer.  We could not believe that we had timed this to our advantage.  The temps yesterday soared with full sun.

  

  Our Reflecting Pool

  Today when I was through with a physical therapy appointment, Dennis and I hit the basement for the same precautions as the garage porch.  Complete Basements has done the perimeter of our main basement for a complete tile system and sump pump.  Oh yes, we do have a battery backup.  Our home is of the era that there was a sealed cistern in the northeast corner of the main basement.  In the south east corner was a closet area off of the main basement that had the ability to use a hand pump to get the water from the cistern via a sealed concrete tank.  Both of these areas have since been re-purposed and utilized for extra storage.  They were not able to be incorporated into the Complete Basement concept as the floor level of these closets is not consistent with the main basement.  Anything that was vaguely close to the floor has now been relocated and the wet vac is close at hand as there is nowhere for the water to drain to.  Oh, for the joys of an older home.

  We are now totally ready for “come what may.”  Today the temps are in the high 40s and the patio around the garage porch looks like a reflecting pool.  Even the Meow Mix for the stray kitties had to be moved to dry ground.  Right now their dish is about twenty feet from where they are used to finding it and it is only about four feet from our back door.  Dennis has been on the lookout and it seems that they have all found a new route to get nourishment.

  Life is good on Stauffer as all of this preparedness means spring is on the way.  Yes!  What a way to start spring cleaning and tidying up.

   
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  Noreen 1:01 am on March 10, 2014 Permalink  

  We Are Ready For High Tide 

  

  Evacuation Complete for as Long as Needed

  37 degrees and sun!  Thick ice is getting several layers melted off only to refreeze tonight.  The snow banks are becoming grimy looking.  Eventually the refreezing won’t be happening as temps stay at a normal rate for this time of year. At that time Dennis and Honey Bunny, the garage kitty, will be sitting in the higher elevation pickup garage mourning their favorite hangout.  Dennis could very well be singing Johnny Cash’s song “How High is the Water Momma.”

  Today was evacuation day for our garage porch.  It is so much easier to pick everything up and out and deal with the porch after the water has gone down.

  After we had the carpet vacuumed we called in a marker and three high school seniors came and rolled the carpet up and placed it in dry storage.  For the duration the pickup will set in the driveway and all of Dennis’ furniture has been relocated in the adjacent pickup garage complete with his cable television options.  Life is sweet on Stauffer Avenue.