Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from November, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:35 pm on November 7, 2025 Permalink  

  What! 

  What is up with this!  Those bones, oh those bones crick and crack.  No . . . it is what is holding the bones together.  Nothing out of the unusual or ordinary.  Just a case of arthritis kicking in.  The first floor was where I stayed today.

  It seemed like a good day for YouTube watching with some stitching thrown in for good measure.  I do have something to take for when it hits hard and I said Uncle at 11:45.

  When I sit in my bedroom porch and hear the windchimes clattering, it does make me glance at our small USA flag that we have strung on a sleep post.  Those narrow ribbed posts were often used for stringing electrical fencing for cattle.  It works just great for our flag.  We did have to get smart after loosing one in a horrific wind storm in the late spring.  Though the steel post is ribbed and not smooth the winds whipping eventually walked the flag up the steel post and where the flag landed no one knows.  Initially we stripped the hem down the steel post with a safety pin clipped at the top to keep it in place.  The rough top of the steel post ate a hole through the hem on the top.  I did patch the hole first with needle and thread and then a dab of glue on the spot. 

  I knew the wind would whip its way for another hole.  The cap off of a Sharpie marker fit onto the tip of the post.  A quilter’s clip meant to hold fabric firmly in place attached the bottom of the flag to the post, gripping it tight.  Each day since we did this, I am thrilled to see the quilter’s bright green clip not letting the flag budge up one inch of the steel post.  I have lots of bright green clips if one breaks.  

  We had ordered two of the small flags.  When I saw that they were stitched and not printed, the extra heft helped.

  The meds are helping.  I never take them past noon of any day as they may effect my steadiness.  My shower-time is about eight at night.  We have multiple hand holds in the walk-in shower as well as a shower stool.  Safety at its best.

  Chicken tities for supper with vegetables.  Of course bread and butter pickle chips.  We like various brands.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:07 pm on October 1, 2025 Permalink  

  Flying Dust 

  It is dry enough, with a small breeze, even the grain trucks going by can raise a bit of dust off of the concrete surface as they go by.

  We had a very good morning here on Stauffer Avenue.  I sprayed with the strong stuff.  We have, now had, every type of volunteer tree you could name coming up where perennials used to grow.  I don’t mind that the area north of the potting shed had been cleared.  The rocks that I had collected now are show-cased in the barren soil.  As many years as I toiled with various flower garden on our homestead, it saddened me when I couldn’t keep up with the care that was needed.  It was time to move on.

  Dennis decided to take care of the work that was needed after the driveway edges had been done.  The swamp grass met the weed-whip.  It got shaved back or maybe scalped would be a better word.

  It was time for a trip to our grocery store.  It was not my intention to wait until Wednesday when it is declared to be senior citizen day.  We had been limping along since Sunday.  Limping along brings out the creativity in the meal preparations.

  Before I had left for the store, I had visited with Dennis in the patio porch.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Snuggles racing towards the open slider door and he was not alone.  Snuggles had caught a pretty good sized bunny.  Oh my gosh he played with that bunny.  About the time he would need to get a better grip on it, it would be taking off with Snuggles right after it.  Snuggles had not had a workout like that in a long time.  In time the bunny’s life was no longer a challenge and Snuggles left Dennis to be the under-taker.  That cat will no doubt be done for a long nap.  Life on Stauffer. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:11 pm on September 30, 2025 Permalink  

  Home on the Range 

  Home on the range where the older ones reign.  The driveway project is 75% completed.  There is what I call swamp grass.  It has a root base that they can put out and spread that would put a smorgasbord to shame.  The curb trimming has indeed been done.  The overlay of said grass needs to be weed-whipped back.  That is for another day.

  I blew the trimmings off of the driveway in a cloud of dust.  The excess dirt was more like a silt than actual dirt.  After the weed-whipping, this project will not need to be repeated for some time.  Stauffer Avenue is actuality a gravel alley.  Over time it has been used to the extent it is wide like a secondary street.  Dennis didn’t think the county was going to spread calcium chloride for dust control this year.  Hmm.

  I came in and cleaned up to some extent as my shower of the day will be after supper.  Now . . . today . . . the black flies perched upon my arms and would not budge.  Pests, we got them.

  This afternoon Dennis has gone out to see his friend Lyle Grove.  Lyle should be in an assisted living, no I take that back, a nursing home.  Lyle cannot see well and cannot hear.  His frame has become very slight.  His son found a gal that lives in the rural area that is licensed to take care of individuals at a rate that is far less than the nursing home’s would be.  He is very isolated.  At least in a care facility there would be some interaction with people.  This care provider works from home for our county’s human services.  Lyle and Dennis have known each other their entire lives.  How could Dennis not go and visit periodically.

  With quite a bit these last few days of using the ole body, I have put off any studio time or hand stitching.  It is wise to let tendons and muscles regain from . . . taking care of things.  YouTube videos and a bottle of diet green tea does help with the passing of time.  Doing it for a day or two is fine, I cannot imagine doing it full time.  Nope, not for me.

  Thursday is Dennis’ 89th birthday.  How great that he is up for visiting shut-ins and working in tandem with me in and on our home.  Life is good indeed.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 1:54 pm on September 29, 2025 Permalink  

  Entertainment 

  As I am doing my post a bit earlier than usual, I must add that there is no lack of entertainment here in my bedroom porch.  I do face south as I type.  The south window screens are thick with the boxelder bugs all wanting their fair space.  This is the first day that I have seen them to any degree.  Did they scare off the “no see’ms?”  No, Dennis just came in and went to wash off his arms to stall the itching.

  The backdoor windows did get washed this morning before the bugs woke up.  A great treat.  Dennis and I had been talking about getting the Mantis electric tiller out to trim the cement drive from the over-grown grass that was infringing.  I had started on cleaning the areas of the car garage where the kitty litter, water dish and food dish are.  Dennis was reading the Mantis instructions.  Before we knew it Tom had stopped in.  Out came the Mantis from the potting shed, and Tom was requesting more extension cords from me.  It kept me busy following him to keep the cords away from him and the tines as he did the drive.  Mantis tillers do not work walking forward with them.  You walk backward.  Wow.  Tom put the tiller back in the potting shed and headed home.  When Tom and his chainsaw helped us out with a huge branch, Tom did the cutting but not the clean-up.  Fair enough.  I knew the drive was the same way.   I was appreciative of all he had done and Dennis and I would not have gotten that much done in one swoop.

  I needed to finish the vacuum job in the garage and put the vacuum and the many feet of hose put up before it would trip someone.  I started to clean the grass and dirt debris off of the drive, but realized I needed a break, I had had a good work-out.  Also, it had gotten warm and the bugs had been activated.  The drive clean-up will get done tomorrow morning.

  We take our days as they are given.  No harm was done to anyone today.  Had I pushed it, that may not have been how it ended.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:27 pm on September 20, 2025 Permalink  

  The Older Ones 

  The older ones on Stauffer Avenue have quite the Saturday under their belts.

  Working with the deck this last week, I realized the area around the deck needed some tidy tidy with a rake.  Pine cones and bits of dried weeds.  I took a five gallon pail and a small shovel to rake them into for their final destination . . . away from the deck.

  That pail was then taken to our round burning ring in the backyard.  Dennis got a fire going for the cones and other bits and pieces of wood that had been collected for a burn. 

  Dennis went on to give his bench a coat of the black stain while being safe in the car garage.  With a brand new clipper from Amazon, it was going to be used to tackle my next task.  A maple tree and an elm tree had gotten a pretty good start right next to the foundation on the east side of the house  It was time to clean up that entire area with stalks of faded blooms.  The stalks of the day lilies that were done in the area next to our new service door was next to be clipped.  That raked stuff went right into the garbage bin.

  Dennis’ grandson AJ stopped by to visit his grandpa and help watch the fire in the backyard.  By that time, Dennis had finished the first coat on the bench and he and AJ chatted to no end.  AJ asked, and I answered . . . yes, I had a job for him.  In short order the bathroom window was washed complete with a wipe of vinegar to finish it off.  AJ announced he had never heard of the vinegar tip.  He commented he would be using the vinegar as well for windows.  By then, AJ was on his way to check on his parents up the street.  It’s always welcoming for Dennis have him stop in.

  It may have been pushing it but the bench felt dry to the touch and it got its second coat right there on the spot.  Hey . . . it’s a much used bench made up of 2x4s for the back rest as well as the seat.  The ends of formed plastic for the 2x4s to slide into were purchased at a time in New Ulm at a “Do It Center” by Hy-Vee.  It has been in service ever since by our back door.

  Brush washing commenced and the day was called successful.  It feels so good to get a few things done that won’t need to be repeated perhaps until next year at this time.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:18 pm on September 6, 2025 Permalink  

  Not Today 

  No trip to Mankato today.  Dennis was not feeling too perky.  There is no point in perusing what the body is not up to.  What items we had planned on picking up can be done anytime, any day.

  The Amazon order was delivered this forenoon.  As well as the vitamin D and calcium, I wanted the order to be as complete as we needed.

  When Sadie cleared all the greenery north of the patio porch, my 20 year old shrub clipper threw its spring out of gear.  We never did find the spring.  Stauffer Avenue is back on track to take out that which chooses to pop up where it is not needed.  The last item in the box was a yard flag holder.  For decades we had had a small USA flag stripped over a steel electric fence post.  During the horrific winds, we have no idea where it took of to or where it may have landed.  We are now back in business with a small lawn flag at the end of the front sidewalk.

  There was no padding of any kind in the Amazon box and I was surprised the pill bottles hadn’t rolled around enough to have self-opened. 

  By the time Dennis put the new lawn flag holder together, he was feeling better.  We may try our trip tomorrow.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:55 pm on August 19, 2025 Permalink  

  Job Jars 

  I love it when I can knock off a job jar or even better . . . two.

  With all the rains, there was a small spot where the sidewalk meets the west patio right off of the garage’s service door.  That spot was now sporting thistles, nettle grasses and everything in between.

  I put on my gloves and with Dennis at my elbow, the less than good greens were tackled.  Surprising, a lot of it pulled up by the root.  My favorite hoe is one used by farm workers that work sugar beet fields.  The head is triangular with a long handle.  The closer my hands are to the end of the handle my trajectory will angle the head to slice right underneath the dirt and get at the roots.  Oh yes, it was wet dirt.  After the pile of greenery dries, it will get hefted into the garbage for next Tuesday.  There were some plants that were still showing some green and Dennis followed behind with the brush killer.

  As humid warm . . . hot that it felt outside, I was thrilled to go into the studio and work with Maria’s shop aprons.

  Everything that could go wrong was dealt with yesterday.  When Maria bought the shop on our Main Street during the covid, there was also a shop in Windom that had closed.  Maria’s husband is very handy.  The shop in Windom was called Lilly’s and done in shades of pink.  Those in Windom were thrilled. Even if it meant Lilly’s would only be open three days, Monday, Wednesday and Friday she had eager customers.

  

  Maria loves butterflies.

  Our Main Street shop was closed by the gal looking to retire, so this shop needed some spit and polish.  This shop is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

  Maria is a hard working gal that keeps her LPN license up as well as all the licensing needed for the acrylic nails.  Maria is young enough to me my daughter.  Her youngest child graduates in 2026.  Her two sons have gone on to trade schools for full time jobs.  Where they find time to purchase fixer-uppers is beyond Dennis and me . . . but they do.

  I don’t think there is much that has come easily, including moving her parents, and they are legal, from Texas to live next door to them in one of the homes they have fixed up.  How could I not do something for Maria that she never would have asked for.  The pink shop apron will be worn in Windom.  Her black shop aprons are donned here in the Main Street shop.  Doing something for someone . . . sweet.

  I didn’t count the shop aprons as a job.  I still need to do the second job and that is putting fresh bedding on . . . straight from the laundry.

   
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  Noreen 2:26 pm on August 8, 2025 Permalink  

  A Day 

  This is a humid nasty day.  Anything taken out of the refrigerator needs to have a towel, paper or otherwise, underneath it to soak up the sweat.

  No studio lights were turned on today.  Nothing needed t be accomplished.  As is my usual, I don’t leave anything to the last moment.  The cat that has be wrestling around in the bag can now be brought out as I just stated I don’t leave anything to the last moment to thus make a crisis.  Tomorrow Megan is coming!  Yaa!  Megan has ask my help with a sewing project.  Yup, you guessed it.  It is a stretchy sewing project.  All the prep that was possible has been done and now we will find out the rest of the story when she arrives.  Needless to say, we are excited to see Megan.

  It’s not uncommon that the first floor of our home gets the after-thought when it comes to the tidy, tidy when I have juicer items going on in the studio.  This morning with my cup of coffee still half full and me in my bathrobe, I had the vacuum going.  I get my best tidy, tidy done in that garb . . . nothing restricting the movement of diligence.  I happened to glance up and saw my friend Maria park in our drive.  She retrieved a plastic bag from the back seat of her car and was headed for the front door.  I didn’t even get the vacuum shut off as I wanted to greet her.  In the past, not wanting to disturb us she has left a bag of goodies on the front deck.  My pink robe and a very disheveled occupant greeted Maria.  Farmer’s Market had just been greeted at the front door.  Sweet.  Green peppers, cucumbers, onions and cherry tomatoes all in her parcel.  You’ve heard the adage, “only your hairdresser knows.”  Maria was on her way to open her salon and stopped to see us first.  Maria was beautiful in a bright red top with not a hair out of place.  She got a good first hand look as to how much her skills are needed.  We hugged it out and she was on her way.

  It is now the afternoon.  I went off to the grocery store to make sure we had some of Megan’s favorites on hand for tomorrow.  When I got home Dennis already had several cucumbers peeled and sliced and was tackling the onion.  Bless his heart.  Now . . . why didn’t his eyes tear up in doing the onion?  Mine were already watering just by coming into the kitchen.

  All that activity and Tom is mowing the yards.  Much accomplished on Stauffer Avenue.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:19 pm on July 22, 2025 Permalink  

  Some Thinking 

  Graph paper in hand, the studio found me working with ideas as to how to finish the five designs from the Congress of Eagles that I have stitched.  When Carrie’s family was here at Easter, I listened, eavesdropped, on a conversation Megan was having with her fellow, Jarrod.  I am going forward, using the graph paper and some of the goodies Amazon will be delivering.  I no longer am doing items to put into my storage here in the studio.  This totally finished item will not be staying on Stauffer Avenue.

  I am passionate in staying busy.  That is not to say I am either a genius, nor am I crazy.  I know where my level of comfort lays, aka: having something to show for my days.

  Dennis has been busy in the kitchen.  When we had some boiled potatoes last night, I had boiled the potatoes with the peelings on.  My hands don’t do well with the peeler.  Tonight, we are having the remaining of the creamed cucumbers with “peeled” potatoes ready for boiling.  When Dennis gets busy in the kitchen, I stay away.  Why squelch his enthusiasm. When I was invited to the kitchen, I was amazed how many potatoes had been peeled.  Fried potatoes with onions is always a welcomed fare to any supper.  Sweet.

  Dennis’ son-in-law mowed the properties today.  The entire process takes about two hours.  The garage lot of AJ’s, our residential lot as well as the 1.3 acre lot is a lot of mowing, and Tom takes pride in his mowing.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:06 pm on July 17, 2025 Permalink  

  Another Nice Day 

  The birds were loud this morning.

  As I lay in bed, listening, I was putting together my agenda for the day.  I have a notification that an order from Amazon may be here later this week. 

  After my two cups of coffee, I headed to the studio to check out my sewing machine.  It had really done wonders with the last quilt.  Fuzz and loose threads can cause a whole lot of problems going forward.  I had not had the radio on for several days.  Of course the broadcasts are all about the county fair taking place, with Redwood being the first.  Watonwan County fair began yesterday with entry day.  I hope they have a good turn-out.

  Earlier this week, I received notification that my cousin Shirley Wendlandt Hahn had passed at the age of 76.  Her husband, Ron, had passed away several years ago from complications of a stroke.  Prior to passing he knew Shirley was showing signs of dementia.  Everything was in place for Shirley to be living in a health care facility after he was gone.  Dementia is so hard on the organs of our body.  I will not be attending the funeral and I have let my aunt, Janet, know this.  Janet is 93 and is the youngest of my dad’s family.  Her twin brother has been gone for many years.  Janet lives alone in her home in Brownton, Minnesota.

  Shirley’s father, Lester, was one of my dad’s younger brother’s child.

  In the mail yesterday, Dennis received a summons from our district court to report for jury duty.  Refusal can be submitted after the age of 70 with the pertinent date of birth information.  Dennis put the reply in the mail today.  Nope . . . not going to do that ditty any more. 

  I continue looking out the bathroom window and seeing the barren Hosta beds.  I feel nothing but sweet relief.

  I noted on the news the 7.3 earthquake that hit Alaska on it’s southwest side.  Kodiak, Alaska was in its range.  Hmm.  When we lived at South Branch, Orlin had applied for an assessor’s job in Kodiak.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥