Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from June, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:54 pm on June 8, 2025 Permalink  

  Perfect Day 

  With the clouds, mild temps and a brisk breeze, this would be my all time favorite perfect day.

  After a walk, I went right down into the studio.  The first thing I did was to cut open with the Worx scissor the four pack of C batteries I had bought in the grocery store yesterday.  I almost choked on the $13.98 price tag of them.  I had been without a radio for over a week in the studio.  I knew they were on the list for Sam’s Club the next time we went to Mankato for a better price in a larger volume container.  I had waited long enough. 

  The Worx scissor is going to come in handy for the encased plastic containers that are horrible to get open.

  Today was a tidy up day in the studio.  Odds and ends of purple fabric needed to be put away.  Some of the fabric was piecing materials and some of it was leftover flannel that I had used for the backing.  A Christmas placemat that I had embroidered.  I used my eight inch stool to take down the metal box of memorabilia items to add to it.  Wall shelves to the east and church tables to the west.  I had support.  Some of those items were taken down from the attic when Kersten was lending a hand.  Get it tidied up before the tee-shirts would take over!

  I picked out two red, white and blue wall hangings from the totes.  Bright colors for the living room.  Sometime the amount of wall hangings in the totes will need to be addressed with the kids.  Also there are two quilts that I did with Tri-Chem fabric paints.  One pattern is of Sun Bonnet Sue and the other is of Overall Sam.  I have kind of been kicking around selling those two.  Again addressing that with the kids sometime.  Not soon . . . just sometime.

  When Carrie’s had been here the day before Esther, Megan noted a few small ants in the bathroom.  I kidded her about having live entertainment.  Over time, they had been increasing.  Every day I would add another drop of Terro Ant Killer to the two pads in the areas behind the sink and next to the heat run.  I went outside to the east area that the bathroom was on the house.  No sign of ants outside.  Today, there was a lessening.  I have no idea what they were after.  More drops of the Terro for any late-comers.

  Dennis is feeling the day of walking at the acre with his brush killer yesterday.  The ole cowboy still thinks he is in his 20s.  I can’t do anything to change his mind about what he wants to do.  The 500 mg bottle of Tylenol rattled as he headed to his recliner for a nap.  I hope it helps where ever it hurts.

  We are having Manwich sandwiches, potato chips, coleslaw and pickles for supper.   

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:15 pm on June 7, 2025 Permalink  

  Cloudy Saturday 

  Gray and cloudy is the day.  That didn’t much bother what we had on the agenda.

  Dennis mixed up a gallon of brush killer so he could in turn go to the acre and do some spraying.  His Harbor Freight pump sprayer is very doable.  The sprayer was full and the gallon jug for easy refill.  For decades there had been a tree that had had a ring of aluminum lawn fencing around it about a foot tall.  The aluminum has been long gone but the ridge of dirt around it has harbored thistles and other weeds.  Dennis got in a good amount of walking.  There was one huge stump of a tree that Ryan’s crew did not take out.  A lot of barb wire grown into the tree.  The stump is about four feet tall and Dennis gave the area around it a good spraying.  In about six days the effect of the spray will be able to be seen. 

  After my morning walk I headed to the studio to do a batch of tee-shirts.  I came up from the studio for a coffee break.  After checking things on the laptop, I decided to do a second batch of the shirts.  Well, well, the tee-shirts have been cut up with a rather huge bag of the cotton and poly leftovers geared for the garbage.  The backs of the shirts I did bag up for Dennis in the garage.  If nothing else to wipe the hands off when working with mower oil.

  Both Dennis and I had a good day of getting things done and kept under control.

  Late on a Saturday afternoon is a good time to visit the local grocery store.  Everyone buying up for the weekend have been through the check-outs.  Dennis gave me a ride in the car and kicked back listening to the radio while I headed in with my list.  Now, all the groceries have been put away in the refrigerator and or in the freezer.  I have a Maria Cullender cherry pie in the oven with the crumbles to be added on later. 

  Fixing our meals here on Stauffer is more desirable than eating out. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:05 pm on May 26, 2025 Permalink  

  Perfectly Clear 

  If Dennis is going to continue carrying a wallet, he is going to need the type of wallet that big dudes carry.  The ones with the log chains attached to the wallet and the pants of said carrier.

  This morning, very early there was a knock on the back door.  When I went to answer the door, there stood a Hispanic of about 35 and in his hand was Dennis wallet.  I asked him where he had found it.  He replied on the Hammond Highway.  That is the street that our acre runs along.  I gave him a $20 reward.  Everything in the wallet was in tact.  Dennis was asleep in his rocking chair in the patio porch.

  I had to immediately contact the two grandchildren that I had requested metal detectors from.  I let his daughter know as she and her husband Tom had helped look for it yesterday.  Come to fine out, Dennis had used the Sear’s mower to mow along the curb next to the Hammond.  Yup.  Out popped the wallet.

  What a lesson learned for the ole cowboy.  

  I tell you, keeping up with what each day asks can be a caution and can suck the energy right out of me.  I did work a bit in the dirt under the huge Maple.  Nothing serious, just getting at some young cocklebur plants that were easily taken out.  Many years ago, Dennis had gotten a bale of wild hay from one of his farmer friends in the hope to provide feed for the deer that would frequent the backyard.  He had plopped the bale up on the dirt under the Maple tree.  Ya all know that those weed seeds can lay dormant for up to seven years.  I think I might be on the sixth year of taking some out.  By the way . . . deer do not much like alfalfa or road ditch hay.  They prefer grains, Hosta plants and plants that may have been purchased in a greenhouse.  My neighbor Jan tells me that.

  So . . .  my day is winding down with some cold breakfast coffee and some stitching.  Dennis is back to the patio porch for another nap, feeling very grateful for not having to replace the ID cards in his wallet.  I feel grateful that that task did not fall on me to do.

  I will remind and make perfectly clear that the wallet does not go out in the pants if yard work needs to be done.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:05 pm on May 24, 2025 Permalink  

  A Quiet Town 

  Out little town is quite quiet for a Saturday.

  There is a whole lot of humming being done by mowers.  Two inches of a needed rain will do that for yards.  Our yards will be in for mowing sometime next week.

  This forenoon, I took my handheld clippers and clipped off a lot of volunteer trees.  I know they will be back.  I just wanted the instant gratification of not having to look at them for a time.  The Elm, Maple, Oak and Black Walnut got whacked.  I took no favorites.  I need to do a Lena.  Mom had her ways.  With rubber gloves on, she would have brush killer full strength.  She would dip a rag in the brush killer and wipe and swipe the leaves of the naughty volunteers.  It may have taken awhile for the effect to get to the stem and then the root.  Lena was a patient person.  The next sighting of a few trees, I am going to try to give them a treatment.

  The sewing machine needed some TLC after a diligent job done well.  A new needle, oil syringe, soft brushes . . . I went to work.  Behind the bobbin case, with a pair of long-handled tweezers, I got a ball of lint that was hiding.  Success!  No sewing today.  I did decide on a piece of tan suede fabric to make the pillow with for Megan’s cat to be appliqued onto it.  I have the name “William” loaded from the Bernina Tool Box onto a flash drive for the embroidery to be done.  As it is a small design, I plan on doing a prototype of the stitching first on a scrape of suede to make sure I have enough stabilizer on the back so it will lay totally flat with no puckering with the applique that is lying flat.  You know . . . don’t have time to do it right, but always time to do it over.  

  Dennis tells me the air feels cool.  It is the type of cool that I most enjoy on this spring Saturday.

  With that I will take my leave.♥

   
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  Noreen 2:06 pm on May 16, 2025 Permalink  

  A Day! 

  What a difference a day makes.  24 little hours.  I can hear that song in my head.

  Yesterday we went to the Limb-lab for Dennis’ appointment for new shoes.  They give excellent service to the veterans.  Dennis’ shoes will be in the shop for pick-up in several weeks.

  The Limb-lab is right around the corner from the JoAnn’s store that is in the process of closing.  I had to have Dennis stop so I could check it out.  Most of the store was cordoned off.  If there was one packet of upholstery needles, there was 2,000.  The warehouses are circling the wagons to have the retail stores try to clear it all out.  I found three items for mending and spent $7.00.  At that it was ringing up as 60% off.  I looked and was satisfied that I had checked it out.

  We had no groceries to purchase and we headed home.  I have never ever been in such a horrible dirt storm.  It was beyond a dust storm.  There is a huge detour as Lake Crystal is getting a huge overhaul.  The traffic of every type of every vehicle imaginable was caught in coming and going on a two-lane highway with visibility sometimes next to nothing.  The situation did get better the closer we got to home.  I was so happy to be home safe and sound.

  

  Before we left yesterday I took a photo of the east side of our home.  The Hosta, the Fern Peony and some Lilies of the Valley were the backdrop of the Star of David flowers that were blooming in the yard.  They are just too cute for words.  You never know how far or where they will spread to.  In a short time all their greenery dies back and you wouldn’t know they were even something the camera’s viewfinder would see.

  With the horrific winds that were had, by the time we got home, the Fern Peony blooms were wind-whipped and gone as were the Star of David blooms.  The white lilacs had turned brown with the hot, whipping winds.  Not much pretty was left.  The Hosta plants somehow made it.  Well . . . those that the deer haven’t been lunching on.

  The strong winds of this morning did bring a shower of rain.  I missed most of that as I was in the studio.  The For Sale sign that Kevin had put out and up for us was totally bleached out from the sun.  Dennis had brought it to the studio for Grammie to work her magic.  The black oil paint is drying on both sides of the sign.  I did the best I could.

  Yesterday was blistering hot and today it feels like 32 degrees out.  Go figure. 

  For our evening meal, we are having the refrigerated beef tips with gravy, instant potatoes, cranberries and cottage cheese.  I really enjoy the tart cranberries over the cottage cheese.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:55 pm on May 14, 2025 Permalink  

  Oh Happy Day 

  Today was my six month eye checkup with Dr. Pinke just five blocks up the street.  When my eyes are dilatated, Dr. Pinke can see oh so much more.  In times past, when Dennis had had his eye checkup, that was how Dennis knew his corraded arteries were clogged . . . big time.  I will gladly go in every six months.  I have a hint of macular.  That hint has been there for ten years.  The test for glaucoma was a pass.

  Today there was another change for Dennis and me.  Going forward, Dennis’ son-in-law, Tom, will be using our zero-turn with our gas to do the 1.3 acre mowing as well as our residential home lot.  There was and is an amicable monetary agreement.  Dennis used the Sear’s rider to show Tom the lot lines.  As with me . . . there is a reasonable amount of energy to be expended for our not so young bodies.  Everyone is happy with what has been made off.  Tom is AJ’s dad.  Tom will be using his own zero-turn to keep up with the back garage lot for AJ.

  I knew that grocery shopping was in the cards for this hump day.  Dennis removed several of the glass shelves in the refrigerator so I could work my magic before groceries would be bought.  Something had either gotten spilled or something had leaked to the point that my little jar of minced garlic was not able to be moved.  It was schmucked down tight.  Another day, I will wash out the crisper drawers and also remove the multiple storage pods in both of the refrigerator doors for a freshening.  A bit every day and none of it feels overwhelming.  But . . . as I have said before, what my eyes see the mind cannot ignore.

  I worked in the studio for a time today.  Someone special has asked me for an embroidered item.  I used the Tool Box software program to pull a design together.  I did share the image as I had taken a photo of it.  Today was time spent pulling together stabilizer and various spools of bright colored thread.  Time will tell how it all turns out.

  When I was at the grocer’s, their steam tables of their noon specials were turned off.  At that time each day they portion it out and sell it in the cooler area along with other items such as Mrs. Gerry’s products.  Yup, we are having tater tot hotdish for supper with Mrs. Gerry’s coleslaw, cranberries and cottage cheese.

  Last night was a shot in the dark.  I had bought a bag of Simply Potatoes from the refrigerator section in the grocery store.  It was the option that contains some spices.  I had used half of the bag last weekend.  Last night I put the potatoes on a paper-plate, covering it with a damp paper towel.  While giving it two separate blasts of two minutes each in the microwave, I was heating up a small can of Dinty Moore’s Stew.  The stew spooned over those hot spicy hashbrowns, made a great tasting meal.  The potatoes soaked up the gravy . . . it was a very easy meal.  Of course Dennis liked it as it was a hot meal.

  Not to be surprised if there is no post tomorrow.  At 1:45, Dennis has an appointment at the Limb-Lab in Mankato.  It’s in the old Madison East shopping area.  Once a year, the VA writes a prescription for a pair of leather shoes that the lab makes the orthotics to fit into allowing for the space that toes would generally fill.  They don’s assume to order the shoes from last year’s mold.  They begin the process from step one. They also make sure that the right shoe has the correct innards for stable, even walking.  Sweet.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:23 pm on May 13, 2025 Permalink  

  Gave Notice 

  Today was quite the decision making day for Grammie.  I gave notice that I will no longer help with the mowing.  As we have sold the double car lot to Dennis’ grandson, AJ, that takes away the mowing of the 75′ x 150′ lot.  The zero turn is equipped with dual assists for getting on and off.  It helped me as well as Dennis.

  As I have been going to PT, I have been asking questions of those that have doctorate degrees in their field of knowing all there is to know about tendons, muscles and nerves that allow movement of the human body.  I will no longer help with the mowing largely for my hands, my replaced shoulders and for my body from the waist down. 

  The break-down of cartlidge within me is irreversible and . . . as perhaps also for many others.  I will not seek steroid shots that may or may not be effective and needing to be done more than once.  The gripping of hand holds on a mower that traverses over very unstable surfaces jostling the back and hips would only be tempting fate.

  I do very well within our home and don’t foresee needing help anytime soon.  My left hand has limited strength and mobility.  My right wrist . . . is what it is.  Continued use of the right wrist staves off the calcification and immobility that comes with arthritis.  I am over the moon thankful for how both serve me. 

  Dennis came to me this forenoon and wanted me to seriously think about the pros and cons of being on the zero-turn.  Well . . . you damn well knew there were no pros.  It has to do with pride.  I have always stressed that pride goes before the fall.  It was fun last year to be helping with the mowing and feeling like the clock had been turned back.  I have been using or on a mower for many decades.  Along with a few other items, I have always been hard-wired to get right in there and . . . do it!

  Now . . . I want to continue doing what I enjoy within my home in as much physical comfort as possible.  It was more like agreeing to a good solution than it was giving notice.  

  With that I will square my replaced shoulders and leave.  🙂 ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:14 pm on May 12, 2025 Permalink  

  Doing the PT 

  There is a definite improvement in Grammie’s ole body.  Is there a lesson to be taken from this?  Yes!  Be kinder to your body when you are doing what shows itself in your day-to-day work.  You won’t remember the monetary gain of a repair job or the sales as you ring it up at the till.  But . . . it may well catch up with you when it is the last thing you need to contend with.

  Mike has given me great stretches and exercises to do.  I will see him once a week for several more weeks to come.  I believe that in the realm of insurances and med-i-care, there may be tolerances for coverage or what may be deemed as a disabling situation.

  

  After PT I drove to the 1.3 acre to take a look-see.  It has good grasses that are spreading and self-seeding.  I could not help but take a photo of the wild ferns that have enjoyed being exposed to sunlight.  After looking over the entire lot, I came home and suggested to Dennis that we need to spend some money.  Over the recent years we have bought brush killer and such, and . . . not by any cheap prices.  For the two of us to mix up the spray, keep the sprayer working and traversing uneven ground . . . just not feeling it for us.  I called Spring Touch and asked them to do a one time treatment for weeds on the lot.  They were on it with their topography specific city maps and were able to confer with me the area and its boundaries.  It will be taken care.

  To celebrate wise decisions, this afternoon Dennis and I went through the drive-through of the Dairy Queen.  We took our malts to the 1.3 acre, sat in the shade via comfortable car seats with the windows down to take in the afternoon breeze.  Sweet.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   

   
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  Noreen 2:30 pm on May 10, 2025 Permalink  

  End of a Good Week 

  This morning at ten we turned ourselves in for pedicures and haircuts.  Maria’s shop is on our Main Street.  Today Dennis and I got our exercise getting to Maria’s.  The city is tearing up the two blocks that still had the brickwork on for the street’s surface.  Those two blocks may be closed for some time.

  It felt so good to get my hair cut.  I requested a fairly short cut.  I demonstrated the mobility of each arm.  She agreed shorter hair and less of it.  That meant she thinned it out good.  What helped in the determination was I had showered last night and our water softener must have kicked in the night before. Today my “hair do” was like a bushel basket of white that had had a mix-master go through it.  Like I said, it was a good example of what my hair looks like as we get towards our spa day.

  Today was city clean-up day.  The street past us looked like the gypsies were either moving in or out of town.  Amazing how high items can be piled in a pickup or on a car.  They used to do curb-side pickup.  Those that sifted through what was put out . . . you can imagine the mess.  Now everyone takes the items to the Meadow Lark tree dump and city workers sort each vehicle’s items and collect accordingly.

  Dennis waited until two this afternoon before he took his implement trailer heaped with branches out to Meadow Lark.  Those four girls that we hired to pick up branches last night on our 1.3 acre did a great job.  It did mist once or twice but I could not believe Dennis was back home in just a bit over an hour with the trailer heaped and the girls had their stipends.  Dennis thanked them and said he would keep them in mind if we ever needed more help.

  I had been outside most mornings during this last week being a gardener.  After I got home from the spa date, I needed to spend some time in the kitchen on the cooking surfaces and the counters.  Ya . . . you know how that can get.  Right now it sparkles.  Too bad it won’t stay that way, as we do kind of like to eat.  I am taking one job away from Dennis.  Dennis has been getting the coffee maker ready to go off each morning at six for a long, long time.  Hmm.  Too many way-word coffee grounds here, there and even . . . everywhere.  It will take me longer to fill it to the twelve cup level as it it a bit of a reach.  Where am I going!  

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:26 pm on May 9, 2025 Permalink  

  Warm 

  As forecasted it is warm today.

  Dennis had to make an unexpected trip to the Mayo Store in Mankato today.  During the night his CPAP machine quit.  Nothing to do but get the little red pickup up and going down the detour to Mankato.

  After Dennis left, I worked in the area off to the side of the patio porch.  Standing in one spot, I could take out eight of the lovely blooming idiots, aka: dandelions.  Many more are feeling the effects of my spray.  I worked outside until Dennis got home.  It was high noon.  His machine was deemed to have been fixed.  After hooking everything up, it seemed to be working.

  It never ceases to amaze me that Dennis can back up to his implement trailer one time and get it hooked up.  The pickup and trailer are now parked in our drive.  At six Dennis and trailer will be in the backyard, the 1.3 acre.  Great granddaughter Addison and three of her friends will meet up with said grandpa.  The girls will be picking up all the branches from the winter’s winds and getting them on the trailer.  Rakes are included if needed.  I had texted Addison and made her and her friends an offer they obviously couldn’t refuse.  Let’s hear it for logistics and money has its own language.

  I am planning on an early supper for us.  Dennis is in and taking the afternoon a bit easy.

  When we came in it was noon.  It didn’t take long and I could feel the effects of the sun and its warmth.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥